Chapter 416

"The adjectives others use to describe me."

"..."

Kasamaki Nozomi blinked, then laughed even harder, "Should we add 'narcissistic' to that too?"

"That's indeed something some people have said."

"Haha~! Then I'll add another interesting tag for you!"

She wiped her eyes, took a bite of the last piece of Donut in her hand, quickly puffed out her cheeks, and stretched.

"Thank you for your suggestion, I will consider it!"

"That's good, but do it quickly, don't wait until you regret it."

His tone was meaningful, "And I have a feeling that this year, they might be able to make it into the National Competition."

"Huh? Really?! Is Kitauji really that good now?"

Kasamaki Nozomi stared in shock, her eyes wide.

"Of course not! But we can look forward to their growth; my gut feeling tells me so."

Himemiya Chihaya sighed, "But we can't say for sure about next year. After all, every year is a new beginning..."

After saying that, he glanced at her beautiful profile with pity.

Poor kid, from junior high to high school, how come you're always the one who can't make it in time when something happens...?

Objectively speaking, Kasamaki Nozomi is top-notch in both personality and ability, but her luck is practically nonexistent.

She, along with Tsuruzuka Mizore, Natsuki Nakagawa, and others, graduated from Minami-Uji Junior High, which had previously been able to enter the Kansai Competition. However, in the year she served as the club Club President, due to the high difficulty of the chosen piece, they only won the Silver Prize in the Prefectural Preliminaries and were unable to advance.

In my first year of high school, I encountered a counselor who was just giving up and senior students from the third year. Due to various factors, I led a group of people to quit the club.

She missed the national competition in her second year of high school, and her last major competition in her third year ended in Kansai. She wanted to get into the Music University like Tsuruzuka Mizore, but her skills weren't as good as hers... What bad luck!

[Note: Kasamaki Nozomi, Tsuruzuka Mizore, Natsuki Nakagawa, and Yoshikawa Yuko are collectively known as the "Minami Junior High Four Princesses." They are all currently second-year students. The first two are a couple, and the last two are a couple...]

"Alright, here's my contact information. Since we seem to have a connection, feel free to contact me if you need anything, whether it's about everyday matters or music. There's no consultation fee."

He chuckled and handed her a note with writing on it, then waved and walked towards the Parking Lot: "Oh, by the way, there'll be a performance in the Parking Lot after it's over, remember to come watch! Ghana~"

Since she has changed her name, he couldn't very well give her Ogura Asahi's business card, so he could only give her a piece of paper instead.

"Goodbye..."

Kasamaki Nozomi's gaze darted back and forth between the note and his retreating figure, her expression strange and complicated.

How strange—what an eccentric person.

On the other side, the Kitauji contingent returned to the playground after the parade.

"Wow~ I finally made it through! I was so nervous!"

"That's right, I don't even remember what just happened!"

"Hey! Did we make a mistake just now?"

"Who knows! Everyone's only focused on their own part!"

"I feel more handsome than ever today!"

"But it should be considered pretty good, I've heard some audience members praising it!"

"Those opportunists..."

"..."

Just as a solemn and heavy exam is followed by a cacophony of voices, the small group of dozens of people who had been lined up instantly scattered like birds and beasts, chatting with their familiar classmates and seniors about how they had felt just now.

"Asuka, how are you feeling?"

A girl with neat short black hair, red eyes, a graceful figure, and a golden Trumpet in her hand, who looked gentle and lovable, walked up to Tanaka Asuka and asked her a question.

"Oh~ it's Kaori, you're the best!"

Tanaka Asuka, twirling her Conductor's Baton, faced her third-year friend who had spoken to her, laughing heartily and tilting her head to give a thumbs-up.

"If you say that, then there shouldn't be any problems, right? That's great!"

Nakasako Kaori gently patted her chest.

[Note: Tanaka Asuka, Nakasako Kaori, and Ogasawara Haruka are collectively known as the Third Year's Three Kaorus." Among them, Nakasako Kaori, like Tanaka Asuka, is stunningly beautiful and is called the " Madonna of Wind Instrument Music Instrumental Club." She serves as the treasurer of the Wind Ensemble Club and the Trumpet Section Leader, and harbors feelings for Tanaka Asuka that are similar to those of a koto player...]

"No, I'm not a teacher, my opinion doesn't count!"

Tanaka Asuka shrugged, frowning and smiling slightly as she dismissed the idea.

Despite the high expectations everyone had for her, she only wanted to do what she liked, didn't want to interfere with others' actions, and didn't want to take on too many responsibilities.

Therefore, she is the Vice President, not the Club President. Ultimately, she doesn't have that kind of leeway...

"Hehe~ You're always like this."

Nakasako Kaori didn't dwell on that question, but instead asked about something else that she was somewhat concerned about.

"Speaking of which, Asuka, who was that person who talked to you when you were lining up earlier? The one wearing the mask."

She had wanted to ask about this before, but she and her friend weren't standing together when they were lining up.

"Hmm—he seems to be a tourist from Tokyo. He said he's interested in Kitauji, so he came to take a look."

"To Kitauji?"

Nakasako Kaori, blinked her warm, large eyes.

Although she didn't say it directly, Tanaka Asuka fully understood what she meant.

To outsiders, Kitauji was previously an unknown nobody, so unknown that even whether he participated or not was unclear, and not worth remembering.

"That's what he said."

Asuka nodded firmly.

"Him? Was he a boy with long hair?"

"Yes~ and her name is very feminine too! It's called Himemiya Chihaya!"

"Wow, it really is..."

Nakasako Kaori covered her mouth in slight surprise, "Will he come again later?"

"I don't know, maybe they'll just leave, after all, they're tourists."

"Yes, that's true."

"..."

Not far from them, Kumiko Oumae, holding Euphonium, was breathing heavily. Beads of clear sweat trickled down her forehead and cheeks, pooling on her rounded chin before dripping down.

The vast blue sky, the fast-moving white clouds, the gentle breeze that caresses the body and carries away the heat... everything in the senses is so clear.

A special feeling welled up inside her; she had a premonition that she was one step closer to the Mirai she wanted.

"Kumiko! How are you feeling?"

Kato Hazuki led Kawashima Midori to her side, and the trio from Class 3, Grade 1, reunited.

"I don't know~"

When asked this, her expression fell, her eyes narrowed into slits, and she looked languid. "But I tried my best."

"Me too! Dancing in front of so many people is so nerve-wracking!"

"It's better if I'm the one being 'greened,' since it's just waving the flag."

"Wow, I wish I had signed up for this too!"

After recovering for a moment, Kumiko Oumae glanced sideways towards the direction of the Trumpet group, where a handsome, ethereal girl, who barely interacted with her seniors and peers, was standing alone, seemingly oblivious to the world around her.

"Kousaka student, you're still as calm and cool as ever~"

She heard these words spoken to her.

"Huh?"

She turned to look at Kato Hazuki.

"After such a tense and tiring activity, she still had that same expression. That's amazing!"

Added by Kato Hazuki.

"Ah, that's true."

Kumiko Oumae looked back at Kōsaka Reina and sighed.

Looking back, she had been like this since junior high school.

Is she aloof, inarticulate, or simply composed? She can't yet discern the truth, given her casual relationship with her.

However, she felt that such a beautiful figure was somewhat alluring...

The announcements kept playing over the loudspeakers, but none of them paid any attention to what was happening at other schools.

As the sun moved, all the schools finished their parades, and finally, after the closing ceremony—

"Thank you all for your hard work today! I think you all did a great job, and your efforts over the past few days have been worthwhile!"

With his large Hands Taki Noboru together and his gentle smile still on his face, Takigatsu praised the members who were lined up below.

With the consultant's praise, the members of the Wind Ensemble Club beamed with relaxed smiles, interspersed with quiet whispers.

"Teacher Matsumoto, is there anything you'd like to say?"

After finishing his speech, Taki Noboru tossed the microphone to the deputy advisor.

Matsumoto Michie, her face stern, opened her mouth and spoke in a concise and efficient voice, "You all performed well today! But you must continue to work hard. The later competitions will be much more difficult than today's, so don't let your guard down!"

"..."

Silence fell below. The smiles on her face vanished, her expression stiffened, but she felt that this was the real her.

Hehe~ No, hehe...

"Alright! Grab your belongings and instruments, line up in an orderly fashion, and head to the Parking Lot to catch the bus back to school, Club President!"

Matsumoto Michie ignored them and proceeded to issue the orders.

"Yes!"

Ogasawara Haruka stepped forward, facing the group, and said, "Group leaders, please check if anyone is still missing!"

"If you don't have any, start from here and follow me. Don't fall behind!"

"When we get to the Parking Lot, could you guys please help the girls with loading the instruments onto the truck? Thank you!"

"Then, let's go back!"

"Oh!!!"

X N.

Upon receiving her instructions, which were like guiding fledglings home, the atmosphere instantly eased, and everyone walked in an orderly fashion while easily chatting with those around them.

Solo in front of the audience after Chapter 389 concludes.

There was a person standing at the entrance to the Parking Lot.

A stereo was placed at his feet, and he held a gleaming Saxophone in his hand; it was none other than Himemiya Chihaya.

He had been leisurely lying in the car enjoying the air conditioning, but after seeing students gradually arriving to gather and board the bus, he grabbed his things and stood over there.

Ignoring the curiosity and scrutiny of people from different places, he stood on a small mound and observed the road connecting the entrance to the stadium.

"Hey~"

"Um?"

Himemiya Chihaya looked at the person who greeted her in surprise. The person with arms behind her back and a familiar middle-parted ponytail hairstyle was none other than Kasamaki Nozomi with not long ago.

"What's wrong, Nozomi-chan?"

"Don't call me 'chan~'!!!"

Kasamaki Nozomi complained dissatisfiedly.