Chapter 412

Snap! Bang! Thump!

As the morning sun fully rises, it completely evaporates the slight morning mist that could still be seen by those who arrived at the Sakurakoji Talent very early.

After 9 o'clock, cannons were fired in the arena to announce the start of the event.

Sitting cross-legged in the audience, wearing a mask to conceal his face, Sakurakoji Talent looked at the students from the Wind Ensemble Club of many high schools in Uji City below, who had already filled most of the playground, with a joyful expression in his eyes.

It's finally about to begin; if it doesn't start soon, he'll have to take a nap in this warm weather.

Ah, of course, the warmth was only for the stationary spectators like him. For the students below, whose march was about to begin, the weather, while not as intense as summer, was certainly not comfortable.

Spring is not over yet, but the temperature always arrives a step ahead of the season.

Spring is always so comfortable and fleeting, but is it inherently short, or is it just too pleasant, making people unconsciously forget about time? That is the question!

Below, on the playground, stands a group of people, all dressed in cute uniforms in blue, white, yellow, and red.

A middle-aged female teacher with neat short hair, dressed in a white shirt and belted trousers, tall and with a face typical of most schools—serious, strict, and discipline-oriented—was reprimanding her students.

Listen up! You people!

"It's finally time to go on stage!"

"If you dare to slack off, I won't let you off the hook!"

"Yes!"

X N.

Dozens of students echoed in unison.

"Just play your usual game and there won't be any problem!"

"Yes!"

X N.

"Show some spirit! Your voice is too soft!"

"Yes!!!"

X N.

"Very well, I've finished speaking."

The female teacher— Matsumoto Michie, whose talent rivals that of Sakurakoji Talent, Hands and concluded her pre-battle pep talk like a sergeant.

Just then, a young man dressed casually, wearing an overcoat and trousers, glasses, and with messy but somewhat handsome hair, jogged up to the front of the line, panting.

"I'm so sorry! I'm a little lost!"

He pressed his chest and looked at his senior among the teachers, as well as his assistant and deputy advisor, Matsumoto Michie was standing beside him.

Where is Teacher Matsumoto?

I'm done talking!

Matsumoto Michie's voice was always serious and unsmiling, even when facing her colleagues—or rather, when facing her colleagues in front of her students.

"Yeah,"

The advisor teacher at Kitauji High School, Taki Noboru, recovered and stood up to face the students. His expression was completely opposite to hers; he smiled gently as always.

"Well, I don't have anything else to say. I'm really looking forward to your performance."

After the two finished encouraging each other, whispers began to circulate below.

"Haha~ I feel like there's quite a difference between my current image and reality."

Kato Hazuki student in Class 3 of Grade 1, sighed as she commented on the two teachers.

"That's true..."

Her classmate, Kumiko Oumae, agreed in a low voice.

Following the advisor, at the very front, the current Club President of the Wind Ensemble Club, third-year Ogasawara Haruka, nicknamed "Rain Woman" (because she's a crybaby), began giving instructions. "Now, everyone, please tune your instruments!"

"Yes!"

X N.

Following other schools, noisy and chaotic instrument testing sounds also began to rise from the Kitauji High School team.

"Kumiko- chan,"

Kumiko Oumae, a classmate of Kawashima Midori Oumae and a passionate Wind Instrument Music, tugged at Kumiko Oumae's sleeve as she tested her Euphonium (also known as the Euphonium), "That's Luqiu!"

She was in charge of Double Bass, but due to its size and weight, it couldn't be brought Marching, so today she served as the flag bearer.

As for someone with such a petite figure learning a large instrument like the Double Bass... well, the contrast is what makes it so endearing!

If I can't join a band in the future and have fewer opportunities to participate in activities, switching to Bass like someone else might be a good option.

Kumiko Oumae turned her head in the direction of her gesture and saw a group of people wearing matching white shirts, red pants, red ties, and bow ties.

"Oh, really!"

She gasped softly.

"Is that school that wears sports shirts really strong?"

Kato Hazuki, one of the three members of Class 3, Grade 1, leaned over and asked a question.

The three of them belong to the Low Tone Section of the Wind Instrument Club. She is in charge of the Tuba, but since she only started playing this year, she is also unable to play. Today's task is to carry the cheerleaders' hand-held flower and perform Kitauji's "Mysterious Dance Steps".

"It's a strong school that has consistently participated in the Kansai Regional Competition for the past ten years."

Kawashima Midori knows them all like the back of his hand.

"And then, over there is Rikka."

A woman's voice sounded behind the three of them, startling them.

The speaker Natsuki Nakagawa, was in the Low Tone Section, just like the other three, and played the Euphonium, just like Kumiko Oumae.

"Rikka, you mean Rikka High School?"

Kato Hazuki sought confirmation from Kawashima Midori.

Even though she had no interest in Wind Instrument Music, she had heard of the prestigious reputation of this girls' school.

"That's right, their Marching skills are astonishing!"

Kawashima Midori affirmed, "Their unique stride is befitting a prestigious school known as the Azure Demon '."

[Note 1: The Wind Instrument Music competition is divided into Seated Performance and Marching (playing while walking).]

Note 2: The selection process is roughly divided into prefectural (county) competitions, Regional Competition (according to research, there are a total of 11, not just Kansai; Kanto is even divided into East Kanto and West Kanto), and a National Competition. Some regions initially have pre-prefectural selections. Because there are 11 regions, Kansai only has 3 spots for the national competition.

"They're all cute girls, but as soon as the competition started, they were laughing and playing while jumping and skipping around. What a terrifying bunch!"

Tanaka Asuka, a third-year student who was leading the Low Tone Section today, casually tapped her shoulder with her long Conductor's Baton's baton, looking troubled and with a furrowed brow.

She was Hidemi, with a figure that was quite pleasing to the eye for a high school student, and she was Ouka Mai. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that she was the tallest girl that Sakurakoji Talent had ever seen.

Even with red-rimmed glasses, her already strong and free-spirited leadership aura remained undiminished; instead, it added a unique charm to her.

Among the girls in the Wind Ensemble Club, who already have a high average appearance, she stands out even more.

The only downside is that at such a young age, she's already starting to adopt that mature, married-style hairstyle with a strand of Black Stockings falling down her front...

Chapter 386 Himemiya Chihaya, please come!

"Speaking of which! On the Program List..."

The last girl in the Low Tone Section, Nagase Riko, glanced at Sunfes' Performance Order Sheet and her eyes filled with despair.

"Ugh... The order is definitely first Rikka, then us, and then Luqiu!"

The so-called Sunfes is an annual parade of Parade Wind Instrument Formation Wind Instrument Club the many high schools near Uji City.

Of course, different schools have varying strengths. Rikka and Luqiu are Traditional Strong School, while Kitauji High School... before the arrival of the New Advisor Taki Noboru this year, they couldn't even get past the first round of the Kyoto Prefecture Preliminary Competition every year.

"Hey? What's wrong with that?"

Kato Hazuki peered out, puzzled.

"This is the worst possible outcome,"

Natsuki Nakagawa frowned as well, "We might be overshadowed by their brilliance and appear completely unremarkable."

"Hey~ I don't want that!"

As a tense atmosphere settled over everyone, a cute girl with Trombone ponytail, holding a trombone, waved from the Rikka camp they had just been watching, not far from the playground.

"Kumiko ~!"

Kumiko Oumae looked over there. "Oh, Azusa..."

"Acquaintance?"

"Yes, he was a classmate from my Junior High Wind Instrument Club."

She looked around. "There's still time, right? I'll just go over there for a bit!"

After saying that, she picked up her Euphonium and jogged toward Sasaki Azusa.

"What?! Kumiko, you're in Kitauji?!"

"Yes! Azusa, you went to Rikka!"

"Haha~ I've always wanted to wear this uniform, and just like I imagined, the training is incredibly rigorous!"

"After all, it's Rikka."

Kumiko Oumae gave a wry smile.

Her gaze inadvertently drifted to her much larger breasts, which she found inconvenient. Instead, she envied her own frontal armor. A slight smile played on her lips, and the joy of their reunion turned into something ambiguous.

"Speaking of which, Kumiko, it's you who went to Kitauji! Why did you go there?"

"Huh?"

"There must be some reason, right? Is it because you have a friend over there?"

Sasaki Azusa guessed, then suddenly remembered something, "Ah, right! If it's Kitauji, Kōsaka Reina should be there too, right?"

"I heard she turned down Rikka's guaranteed admission and went to Kitauji instead!"

"Eh, eh? Is that so?!"

Kumiko Oumae was taken aback; she hadn't known this information either.

"Everyone says there must be some reason, like there are a lot of handsome guys or something... Haha~ That can't be right!"

Sasaki Azusa smiled and shook her head, shifting her gaze back from her own school group.

"Hey, Kumiko, haven't you heard about this? By the way, is there anything special about Kitauji?"

"I don't know! Is there anything special about it?"

"Amo~ Tell me!"

Feeling the vibration, she stopped her cute swaying motion. "Sorry, wait a minute."

She took her phone out of the pocket of her blue uniform and glanced at the messages.

"Hooray! Minami Uji High School is here! Let's go check it out, the Parking Lot is nearby!"

"Huh?"

"Most of us from junior high went to Uji, right? Everyone must still be there!"

"That..."

Kumiko Oumae hesitated.

"Alright, hurry up and go! It's been so long since I've seen Asami and Yoko!"

As she walked, Kumiko Oumae stopped.

Sasaki Azusa turned around in confusion. "What's wrong?"

Turning her head to glance at the Colorful Team in Uji, she saw Kato Hazuki dancing along, Tanaka Asuka chatting indifferently, and Kōsaka Reina staring intently at her own Trumpet... Kumiko Oumae's eyes kept flickering.

"Hey, shall we go?"

Sasaki Azusa urged him on.