chsdbacks Page 127
Page 127
She was very conflicted. She only asked Mr. Kitahara to change her partner when the competition was approaching, which was a complete disregard for his efforts. But she couldn't easily overcome her inner conflict.
The desire to help Kitahara Hakuba was torn between her own fear and her own desire to help, making it increasingly difficult for Isomoto Yuka to breathe.
Because she was frightened by her own weakness.
What if she makes a mistake on stage? Then she would be even more betraying of that trust.
She has betrayed trust several times already.
"I think the other members in the bass section are also very good. If it were Mr. Kitahara, it would definitely be perfect..."
Kitahara Hakuba glanced at her; a few strands of the girl's black hair clung to her cheeks.
"Are you really going to give up?" he asked.
"Because I don't want Kitahara-sensei to be ruined."
Yuka Isomoto's eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and large tears slid down her cheeks. She kept wiping them away with her sleeve, saying...
"I don't want outsiders to say that Kitahara-sensei is a person without vision... You've been so good to us..."
Kitahara Hakuma put his hands in his pockets. Isogen was under too much pressure and already believed that he would definitely make a mistake if he went on stage. This strange certainty was imprinted in her heart.
"In that case, we should go up on stage and prove to those people that Mr. Kitahara was not mistaken!"
Just then, a clear, cold voice reached their ears, and a girl in a green tracksuit walked forward, panting.
The bangs on her forehead were stuck to her forehead because of sweat.
"Moonlit night..."
Yuka Isomoto instinctively took a step back, avoiding her gaze as if fleeing.
The wind was strong at the top of the mountain, and she felt a little cold in her school uniform, except for the breath she exhaled, which still carried a hint of warmth.
"Teacher Kitahara," Nagase Tsukiyo greeted Kitahara Hakuba. "Sorry, I was changing clothes, so I'm a little late."
Yuka Isomoto was a little stunned. Did her words mean that Kitahara-sensei had called her here?
"Yuka, we've come this far, do you want to give up?" Nagase Tsukiyo walked forward, panting, her face flushed.
Hmm...
Yuka Isomoto said helplessly, "Anyway, Tsukiyo looked down on me from the very beginning... otherwise she wouldn't have quit the club, right?"
The headlights of moving cars on the street flickered on and off, while at the foot of the mountain, there were golden lights that looked like twinkling stars, somewhat like the color of musical instruments gilded with gold lacquer.
Nagase Tsukiyo bit her lower lip lightly, and held her slender shoulders with both hands, saying:
"Yuka, you're such a silly little pig! Silly pig, silly pig!"
Yuka Isomoto narrowed her eyes in fright, her uniform wrinkled from her grip.
"You're not that silly little pig who only knew how to eat desserts anymore."
Nagase Tsukiyo said with a hint of disappointment,
“I’ve seen all your efforts. As a friend, I don’t like to see you discouraged. At the very least, I don’t want you to be afraid after putting in the effort. So, be brave and go for it.”
These words sounded like a plea to Yuka Isomoto, and she was speechless for a moment, letting out soft sobs through her tightly clenched teeth:
"Moonlight, do you think... I'm qualified to share the stage with you now?"
Nagase Tsukiyo's gaze flickered violently, and an indescribable sense of guilt suddenly rose in her heart, causing her to grimace as if she couldn't bear it.
Yuka wasn't the only one who made mistakes in last year's competition; she was just the most obvious one. Everyone in the brass band actually made mistakes.
"I'm sorry, Yuka."
Nagase Tsukiyo wrapped his arms around her slender body and said comfortingly,
“I’m so happy, I’m really happy that you’ve become so strong. I’m so sorry for what I said to you back then.” Yuka Isomoto buried her face in Tsukiyo Nagase’s shoulder and burst into tears. The emotions she had suppressed since the April flowers bloomed finally erupted in one breath.
"I...I really wanted to stand on the stage with everyone again! That's why I worked so hard! But...but now...everyone has fallen apart, and I...I'm so lonely!"
Yuka Isomoto cried uncontrollably on the mountaintop, attracting the attention of many people who had come up to enjoy the scenery.
Nagase Tsukiyo's full under-eye bags were somewhat red and swollen, and her arm was tightly gripped by Nagase as if seeking help.
"What are you saying? Even if we're not in the brass band, we're still friends."
The girl promised in a gentle tone,
"Don't worry, I'll be with you. I'll be there to cheer you on on the day of the competition. Okay, there are so many people here, it won't look good if you cry." After hearing her words, Yuka Isomoto finally managed to stop the tears from flowing.
"Moonlit night, will you come back?"
"Hmm... I haven't decided yet, we'll see how things go later."
Nagase Tsukiyo lowered her brows, looking troubled, her eyes flickering slightly, and said ambiguously,
"But this has nothing to do with Yuka, don't take it to heart, don't think I'm ostracizing you, I don't dislike you at all."
Yuka Isomoto was silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice:
Will Haruno come on the day of the competition?
"Sunny Bird?"
Nagase Tsukiyo paused for a moment, gazing at the girl's face, which displayed a myriad of emotions, and couldn't help but feel a bitter taste on her tongue.
Despite having done such a thing, Yuka still hoped that she could be there... Was she foolish or naive?
"Do you want her to come?" Nagase Tsukiyo couldn't help but ask.
Yuka Isomoto raised her hand to rub her eyes, her skin swollen from rubbing, the wind swirling around her ears:
"I don't know, but... I always feel like something is missing without her, and I feel really bad about it."
Nagase Tsukiyo lowered her eyes, looking at her hesitantly, before finally saying:
"I'll ask, but you've persevered for so long, don't give up so easily. Otherwise, wouldn't that be too disrespectful to you who's been working so hard and to your teacher, Kitahara, who's been supporting you?"
Hearing the words "Teacher Kitahara," Yuka Isomoto almost couldn't breathe. She quickly looked at Hakuba Kitahara beside her.
"Teacher Kitahara..."
"You seem to be alright, which puts my mind at ease," Kitahara Hakuba said with a gentle smile.
The lights from the observation deck were like stars falling beside him, shining brightly into the depths of his eyes, which were tinged with the darkness of night.
?
The three of them came down from Mount Hakodate together. Since Nagase Tsukiyo lived in a detached mansion in this area, they parted ways at a fork in the road.
As usual, Kitahara Hakuba escorted Isomoto Yuka home.
When she arrived at her apartment, the girl ran her fingers through her hair, her face growing even rosier.
"Teacher Kitahara, I want to win the All-Do Gold Award."
"Well then, aim for the All-Do Gold Award first." A gentle smile appeared on Kitahara Hakuba's lips.
“I want to embellish Kitahara-sensei’s resume.” Isomoto Yuka bit her lip lightly; this statement sounded too arrogant.
"Haha, keep it up, go for it, get some rest."
Just as Kitahara Hakuba turned to leave, Isomoto Yuka suddenly called out to him:
"Teacher Kitahara!"
"Ok?"
Yuka Isomoto clenched her fists and let out a soft sigh.
The girl slowly took a step forward, then jogged up to him, reaching out to hug him tightly. She buried her pretty face in his chest and whispered shyly:
"I like Kitahara-sensei..."
+
Kitahara Hakuba was startled and quickly raised his hands, letting the girl in his arms hug him tightly.
"I love Kitahara-sensei, I love her so much!" Her face grew increasingly flushed as she spoke. "Why is this happening? This feeling..."
Kitahara Hakuba's heart, which had been in his throat, gradually calmed down. Hearing her confession, he couldn't help but smile and say:
"As a teacher, I also like Isogen."
Hmm.
2
Yuka Isomoto remained silent for a while, but didn't say anything. She just hugged him greedily for more than ten seconds before reluctantly letting go.
"I won't give up!" the girl said, her face flushed.
"I support you."
"Don't give up, Kitahara-sensei!"
"Thank you, although I haven't thought about giving up anything yet."
Yuka Isomoto pursed her lips and shyly ran back, her brown loafers making a sound like springtime as she stepped on the rusty iron frame.
Seeing her go upstairs, Kitahara Hakuba turned and left.
That sudden movement terrified him. He reacted quickly and raised his hands to surrender, otherwise he would have been in real trouble if he had been caught.
But Kitahara Hakuba had no intention of blaming Isomoto Yuka. Suppressing the restless emotions in her heart was difficult enough, and she had already vented so much tonight, bringing out all sorts of feelings.
Afterwards, Kitahara Hakuba returned home, still carrying the lingering warmth of the girl.
>
July 28th arrived, marking the first day of the Hakodate area brass band festival in Hokkaido.
The competition was held at the Hakodate City Hall.
Even so, no one could slack off. Everyone arrived at school early in the morning to gather and practiced the competition pieces several times from beginning to end.
After that, all the instruments in the instrument management room were moved onto the truck.
"Students who are moving marimba, please be careful! These are very valuable!"
Sayaka Akamatsu raised her hand, using it as a megaphone to remind everyone.
"Of course, I'm not saying you can just move other instruments around, but be careful!"