I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 262

She didn't speak, but the look she gave seemed to express confusion.

"Um, have you seen Kirishima-senpai?" Yukawa Sakurako asked, realizing what was happening.

Kanzaki Eri hesitated for a moment, holding the disassembled tube, and said:

"The bathroom, maybe."

"Oh, thank you." Sakurako Yukawa took a few steps, then turned back and smiled at her, saying, "Eri, congratulations on becoming the National Soli."

Kanzaki Eri paused for a moment, then a gentle smile appeared on her fair face:

"Thank you."

Sakurako waved and continued walking towards the restroom.

Eri Kanzaki lowered her head, touching her oboe, a slight smile playing on her lips:

"It's so great that the National Congress can help."

1

Upon reaching the sink, I saw Kirishima Mai washing her hands with her head down, and I could hear the gurgling sound of water flowing into the drain.

"Kirishima-san?" she called softly, but there was no response.

Sakura stepped forward, gently patted her shoulder, and said:

"Kirishima-kun?"

"Ok?"

Kirishima Mai was startled and quickly looked up. The water flowed gently down her palm like a crystal ribbon.

Sakura took a deep breath, realizing that from the moment she met this junior, she didn't know what to say.

"Are you OK?"

"fine."

Kirishima Mai shook her head, and the transparent water flowed between the back of her hand and the base of her thumb, forming tiny streams.

"Why don't you want to participate in the national tournament?" Sakurako Yukawa pleaded in a very gentle voice.

However, Kirishima Mai looked at her with a strange expression, to the point that she suspected it wasn't "personal reasons".

“Isn’t that right?” Yukawa Sakurako twisted the hem of her skirt with her fingers.

Kirishima Mai did not respond, but continued washing her hands, the water droplets dripping from her fingertips creating tiny ripples on the surface of the water.

In fact, she didn't know how to answer either.

From her own perspective, she was capable of getting into the A-level program, but she was indeed dispensable, and whether or not Professor Kitahara selected her was completely unimportant.

She thought that Kitahara-sensei would put her in the A section, but not give her a solo performance. To her surprise, Kitahara-sensei rejected her outright at the national competition, not even allowing her into the A section.

Kirishima Mai is worried that her relationship with Kuno Tachibana will worsen as she fails to get into the A section, and that Kuno will think that "she didn't give it her all."

"This time I really meant it."

Kirishima Mai pressed the tap, took out a light-colored handkerchief from her skirt pocket, and said softly, "But Kitahara-sensei didn't choose me."

Sakura took a shallow breath, the air filled with a faint lemon scent:

Do you want to join Section A?

.

Kirishima Mai wiped her hands back and forth, looking flustered and conflicted.

However, in Sakurako Yukawa's eyes, this dilemma was interpreted as "wanting to get into the A section".

"I don't think the A section of this national competition will be changed again, but wait for me, I need to ask Mr. Kitahara what exactly went wrong in your audition."

Sakurako's tone was exceptionally gentle as she reached out and touched her back to comfort her. Through the thin uniform, she could feel the bra straps.

"In this way, we can continuously improve on the mistakes. Actually, as the club president, I have always had high hopes for you. Don't give up, and don't let the rumors that may appear in the club shake your confidence in Kitahara-sensei's selection process."

Kirishima Mai shook her head, her tone tinged with apology and helplessness, as if she was afraid of hurting someone, yet unable to avoid the predicament before her:

"Thank you, Minister Yukawa, but I have never questioned Professor Kitahara."

"That's good." Sakurako Yuukawa pursed her lips. "Then... I'll be going now?"

"Ah."

Sakura left with a tense face. She rarely comforted someone like that, especially someone with such great talent.

Will what I say seem too childish in front of her?

But no matter what, it is the minister's job to make sure that there are no grudges among the members and to unite everyone!

Go for it, Sakura!

Silently encouraging herself, Kawai Sakura walked through the elevated corridor to the staff office, passing by the college entrance exam counseling room along the way.

The results sheet from the last mock exam is posted above.

My current club activity is playing wind instruments, but I'm going to be a nurse in the future... ::

As Yukawa Sakurako walked to the staff office with a sigh, she saw Kitahara Hakuba drinking coffee as soon as she stood at the door.

"Teacher Kitahara Ichi"

"Oh, Minister Yukawa."

Kitahara Hakuba put down his mug, gently moved the chair away, and smiled at her respectfully.

"Thank you so much for your support in the music room just now."

Impressed by his politeness, Yukawa Sakurako clasped her hands in front of her and quickly shook her head, saying:

"No, no, this is what the minister should do, and what he said is the truth."

The strong aroma of coffee irritated her nose. Just how fragrant was this coffee? But she'd heard that the stronger the aroma, the more bitter it was.

Kitahara Hakuba lowered his head, his two thumbs lightly tapping back and forth in a certain rhythm:

"You came to see me because of the conference list?"

Sakurako Yukawa was like a newly transplanted seedling, not yet adapted to the new soil; every word she uttered was tinged with cautious probing.

"Regarding the selection of oboists this time... some members find it unbelievable..."

Kitahara Hakuba had known for a while that she would ask this question, and that Kawa Sakurako, as the department head, was doing a good job.

"So, you want to know, in what ways is Kirishima inferior to Eto?"

"This... Can I talk about it?" Sakura asked cautiously. For some reason, she felt hot all over when she talked about it, and her uniform was sticking to her back. She really wanted to reach into her clothes and take out her bra to relax.

Kitahara Hakuba made no attempt to hide his words:

"Actually, judging solely from the level of completion of a single instrument, Kirishima and Kanzaki are on the same level, while Eto is indeed a bit weaker."

Hearing this, Sakurako Yukawa became even more confused:

"Then why...:::"

"But highly skilled performers are not the only ones I consider."

After saying this, Kitahara Hakuba remained silent for a moment, then spoke.

"However, for you as performers, it is indeed a difficult decision to accept that Kirishima was not selected."

"A performer with exceptionally high technical skill...isn't that a consideration for everyone?"

Sakurako murmured the same phrase repeatedly, but then seemed confused, frowning as she spoke.

"Isn't the purpose of auditions to select performers with exceptionally high skills? And Kirishima-kun is more of a fit, isn't he?"

Kitahara Hakuba nodded and said bluntly, "You're the department head, so there's no need to hide anything from you. Kirishima-san doesn't actually care about Editor A."

"Don't you care?"

"Yeah, I find it quite strange that she doesn't care at all about whether she goes on stage to compete. It's amazing that there's someone in the department with such great talent who turns a deaf ear to it."

When Kitahara Hakuba said this, his tone was clearly somewhat helpless: "Kirishima-san's personal will is very strong. The Hakodate Tournament, and even the National Tournament, couldn't change her mind. I really wish that will could be channeled elsewhere. Right now, she feels like she has no soul."

Apart from a few members who lack talent and just wanted to experience youth, everyone else in the department was single-minded and desperately wanted to get into the A section.

We should fight for any solo performance that offers even a chance.

The competition was extremely fierce, as evidenced by the announcement of the audition list.

Sakurako Yukawa felt a sense of déjà vu. She had read books about people who were extremely talented in certain fields but were indifferent to their own development in those fields.

But in reality, she genuinely hasn't encountered that, and it's truly due to personal reasons...

"But... what do you mean by saying that highly skilled performers don't consider all performers?" Sakurako Yukawa asked in a low voice.

A sticky silence clung to her skin, and the sound of Kitahara-sensei's suddenly heavy breathing could be heard.

"Actually, as a teacher, I hope that everyone in the wind band can feel music, like music, and enjoy music. Winning the national gold medal is just a goal for us to achieve these three things, but it is not the end."

Highly skilled performers can be found everywhere, and I admire them, but I don't aspire to that level. What I yearn for is to stand on the national stage with everyone who shares a dream. This is my original intention in serving as an instructor: no matter how weak anyone is, I will definitely help them improve.

Without a single flaw, Kawai Sakurako remained silent.

Mr. Kitahara's judgment was extremely reasonable, therefore what he said was completely meaningless.

To put it bluntly, Kirishima Mai is talented, but in Kitahara-sensei's mind, she doesn't deserve to be in the A-level of the Kamisaki Brass Band.

What a cruel truth, Sakurako Yukawa couldn't help but think. Could this be Kitahara Hakuba's favoritism as a teacher?

Strangely, Sakurako Yukawa didn't feel sad at all; instead, she felt a sense of disbelief and joy.

This person is the advisor for the Shin-hsu Wind Ensemble.

Chapter 209, Section 208: Only When I'm With You Can I Act Cute (4K)

Kitahara Hakuba's thin eyelids curved slightly as he smiled gently and said, "Actually, Kirishima-san told me this herself during yesterday's audition. She seemed a lot of pressure, which affected her performance. Her performance with the trumpet wasn't as outstanding as Kanzaki-san's or Eto-san's. Considering her personal preferences and current condition, perhaps letting her step back from the stage is the right choice."

"Well, there's really nothing we can do about that."

Sakurako Yukawa always pauses slightly when she speaks, as if weighing the weight of each word: