I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 83

"Answer me as soon as possible!" Kitahara Hakuba emphasized.

Yuka Isomoto was startled, her whole body tensed up, and she quickly shouted:

·...yes!""

"Yuka, that's too loud..." Saito Harutori, unable to bear the volume, laughed and covered her ears.

"I'm...sorry..." Yuka Isomoto blushed.

They did it! They really did it! They held onto their spot!

But immediately, she heard a sob coming from the girls around her, and in an instant, the joy that had welled up in her heart was suppressed by the crying.

"Next up is the bass section—" As Kitahara Hakuba announced the list of bass section members, a turbulent sound could be heard from time to time in the classroom. The girl could be heard moaning, but there was no clear outline of her words.

"Next, the clarinet—"

"Third year, Sakurako Yukawa."

"Yes!"

As Kitahara Hakuba read out each of the third-year students' names, Nagasawa Miya became increasingly nervous, her fingernails almost digging into her flesh.

She performed fewer solos compared to other members, which means that Kitahara-sensei thinks she's not qualified.

If I really miss out on working with Editor A, what will become of my image in Goto Yu's eyes? Will she still rely on me?

"First year, Goto Yu."

"Yes!"

This was the first time Goto Yu had responded with such a loud voice, but compared to the others, she still sounded delicate.

"First year, Nagasawa Miyabi."

Upon hearing her name, Nagasawa Miyako, with a look of joy on her face, quickly responded.

"Yes!"

Goto Yu secretly glanced at Nagasawa Mia. Her long eyelashes were trembling, her hands were shaking, and crescent-shaped marks from her fingernails were left on the back of her hands.

My heart skipped a beat the moment my name was announced.

“Next, the oboe—” Kitahara Hakuba’s expression was calm, seemingly completely unaffected by the emotions of his subordinates.

"Second grade, Eto Kana."

"Yes!"

The moment she heard her name, the girl instinctively blurted it out and took a deep breath.

Before the list was even fully announced, even bigger ripples spread through the already rippled music classroom.

She skipped the third year and went straight to the second year, which means that Kanzaki Eri, who was a third-year student, was not selected.

No one spoke up, and no one raised any objections, because Eri Kanzaki herself remained expressionless, her eyes fixed on the sound-absorbing carpet on the floor.

If she herself doesn't react, how can others support her?

Sakurako Yukawa lowered her eyes sadly, feeling a swelling deep in her nose. Even though she wasn't the one who lost, she felt a sharp pain in her heart.

Kitahara Hakuba paused deliberately at this point before continuing:

"First grade, Kirishima Mai."

"Yes!"

Next, Kitahara Hakuba read out the names of all 55 members of Division A. Everyone who was read out was capable, and no one objected.

What's most off-putting is the oboe player, Eri Kanzaki. Her talent is undeniable, but everyone knows she was off-key during the auditions.

Sobbing could be heard from time to time in the classroom, mostly from third-year students whose rankings had been taken by their juniors.

The first-year students who were not selected did not show much emotional fluctuation, with an expression that said, "So what if I didn't make it? I'm a first-year student, I still have a long time ahead of me."

"The above is the list of participants in the All-Round Tournament. Next, we will announce the solo list."

This time, there are quite a few instruments used in both the theme piece and the free verse; the theme piece includes the piccolo, and the free verse includes the flute.

Soli for clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, and oboe.

"Theme song, piccolo, Yoshie Suzuki."

"Yes!"

The recorder section leader, Suzuki Yoshie, raised her hand excitedly and immediately cast a provocative glance at Akamatsu Sayaka.

Sayaka Akamatsu raised her hand, scratched her face, and made a funny face at her.

"The following is a freestyle piece, flute, by Hiraishi Meiko."

"Yes!"

"Clarinet, by Sakurako Yukawa."

"Yes!"

"Bassongguan, Watanabehama".

"Yes!"

Each time a name is called, a very loud voice is heard. The members who play solo are all the most powerful people in the wind instrument club, and there are congratulatory voices everywhere.

"Small trumpet, Kuno Tachibana."

"Yes!"

Kuno Tachibana's powerful response echoed in the classroom. She was quite confident in her solo performance, so she wasn't particularly moved when the results were announced today.

"Oboe, Kirishima Mai".

"Yes."

After Kirishima Mai finished responding, a surprised "?" and "Not Eto?" could be heard from someone else.

Immediately afterwards, voices of confusion rose and fell, and the question, "What exactly happened to the oboe?" slowly spread through the crowd.

Kirishima Mai, caught in the eye of the storm, subconsciously looked to the side.

Kana Eto stuck out her little tongue, gave her a thumbs-up, and even gave her a cute wink.

It's easy to see that she is genuinely happy that Kirishima Mai is able to take on the role of soli.

Kirishima Mai's pretty face finally broke into a smile, and she nodded at her.

Kitahara Hakuba closed the blue folder, his gaze sweeping over the members' flushed cheeks, many of whom had red and swollen eyes from crying.

"Regarding the personnel arrangements for the Hakodate Regional Tournament, I imagine everyone has some feelings about it, but I'll reiterate: the selection is solely based on ability, not grade. Before the tournament, if your skills surpass those of other members, there's absolutely no chance of not being selected. Meanwhile, members of Group B should continue practicing the assigned pieces and freestyle pieces."

His resolute answer gradually eased the expressions on the faces of some of the unsuccessful candidates.

It's not that there's no chance.

"Everyone's mood may be affected today, and I won't force you to stay and practice. But starting next week, you must be in top form and aim for the gold medal at the competition."

"Yes!"

"Teacher Kitahara, may I say a few more words?" Sakurako Yukawa gently raised her hand.

Kitahara Hakuba nodded, took a deep breath, turned around, and her three braids swayed nimbly, eventually landing above her rounded buttocks.

What did she want to say? Something like "I'm sorry" to the members who weren't selected for Squad A? Saito Haruka thought to herself, arms crossed.

She couldn't figure out what Yukawa Sakurako was thinking anymore.

Sakurako's eyebrows drooped slightly, her lips parted slightly, and the blood in her body surged wildly, causing her to clench her fists tightly.

"Today's selection results are different from the music competition, but I firmly believe that this is the strongest lineup of the Shenxu Wind Band! The time before the competition is actually very tight! Let's go to the national stage together this year! Let's see the red curtain!"

The members responded in unison:

"Yes!"

Sakurako Yukawa blushed, puffed out her chest, clenched her small fists, and raised her hands, saying:

"Kami-Shin-Asahi High School Brass Band, f-f-f-fight!!!"

Her sudden shout startled the team members below, who, bewildered, raised their arms and shouted in unison:

"Oh, oh oh oh!!"

Chapter 93, Section 92: Who is the Victim?

The selection process for Group A has come to an end.

After Kitahara Hakuba told them that formal training would resume on Monday, he left the first music classroom and went directly to the first audiovisual classroom in Class B.

The first audiovisual classroom is downstairs, and its space is naturally not comparable to the first music classroom, but the number of people in Class B is only more than thirty, and the instruments are more simplified.

Balancing both formations A and B simultaneously presents considerable pressure for Kitahara Hakuba.

Because the repertoire for Arrangement B in the competition could not be the same as that for Arrangement A, and the arrangement of the two parts was completely different, Arrangement B was destined not to be able to play the same effect as Arrangement A.

Arrangement B does not require playing a specific theme; only a free-form piece needs to be performed.

Landscape painting of the East Coast.

In most schools, there are principal advisors who guide students in group A and assistant advisors who guide students in group B.

However, Shin-Asahi Private High School did not expect that this year's brass band would be in such a dejected state, which is a departure from the previous years, resulting in Kitahara Hakuba having to do two jobs by himself.

But complaining too much now is useless. The only thing we can do is promote departments A and B, unless Shinomiya Haruka or someone else can help mentor B, but that's something the school has to do with hiring people.

Upon entering the first audiovisual classroom, Kitahara Hakuba was greeted by mostly students with growth stats of C or D, as well as students who had come simply to enjoy playing the instruments.

Girls like Yuka Isomoto, who blindly rush forward with a sullen face, are extremely rare in that they eventually succeed in entering the A-class.

Courage, confidence, perseverance, and self-reflection are all indispensable.

However, the two people in the oboe section were completely out of place with the rest of the B ensemble.

Eri Kanzaki is an A-rank, and the other is Kami Takahashi, who is a B-rank.

There's no way around it; there are already too many oboists, and it's impossible for them all to be assigned to the A section.

"The selection process is over. Now, think carefully about what to do next. Do you plan to try and get back into the A-level team?"

I'm still planning to stay in Editor B.