chsdbacks Page 51
Page 51
"Please come here to pay, and I will arrange for a technician to come and assemble it as soon as possible." Shinomiya Haruka's tone towards the customer became much gentler.
Kitahara Hakuba glanced at it and saw that it was a Yamaha YA121EX entry-level upright piano, priced at just over 600,000 yen after the discount.
She quickly finished serving the customers, and Kitahara Hakuba subconsciously asked:
How much profit can you make selling a piano like this?
Shinomiya Haruka chuckled teasingly, "What? Seeing how much it costs to sell one, you want to join in?"
"No, I'm just curious, can a music store really operate in Hakodate?" Kitahara Hakuba asked.
Hakodate is not a big city.
"It's alright. The schools here all buy from me, so there's nothing to worry about. Most of them are companies buying from me, not individuals."
Shinomiya Haruka held a black pen and was writing something on the paper.
"But like the one just now, the net profit was about 100,000 yen, since I was the only employee."
Kitahara Hakuba nodded, then asked, "You should have soundproof rooms here, right? I'd like to rent one."
"What are you doing? You're too embarrassed to do it outside, so you insist on bringing it here, right?" Shinomiya Haruka narrowed her eyes slightly.
"The way you're saying that makes it sound like I'm bringing a mistress into my home..."
"Haha, just kidding." Shinomiya Haruka sat in a chair, crossed her legs, and said, "Yes, there are, but they're not cheap."
"No problem, how much? I want the biggest one."
Money is not a problem now; he has over three million in savings, so renting a soundproof room is quite easy.
Shinomiya Haruka smiled, spread her fingers, and said, "This number is for one month."
"Fifty thousand? Okay, let's sign a contract, shall we?"
"Half a million."
"How many?"
What kind of soundproofing materials are used in this soundproof room? Even if it's made of soundproof aluminum alloy doors and windows, it shouldn't be this expensive.
Seeing his expression as if he'd seen a ghost, Shinomiya Haruka couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter, gently patting his back:
"Just kidding, how could I possibly want 500,000 from you? You should keep it to buy a car and a house."
She has a very cute smile, her eyes are like crescent moons, and her full eye bags are also very charming.
"You look so serious, I was almost convinced," Kitahara Hakuba said with a helpless sigh. "You always trick me like this."
With her elbows resting on the table and her hands cupping her cheeks, Shinomiya Haruka smiled and said:
"Because Kitahara, your confused look is so cute."
"......"
Cute? How could such a nonsensical word be used to describe him? It's obviously a lie!
"Oh dear, are you blushing? Let me see."
She seemed to be enjoying it immensely, and Kitahara Hakuba quickly stood up and said:
"Let's get down to business. I really need to rent a soundproof room from you. It's not as useless as you think. I just need to bring some members here to practice because my current apartment isn't soundproof and my neighbors keep complaining about it."
Seeing his serious expression, Shinomiya Haruka also suppressed her desire to tease him, and said while stroking her chin:
"According to Hakodate prices, a soundproof room of about 20 square meters would cost 50,000 yen per month. Is that acceptable?"
“I thought you would say it was free,” Kitahara Hakuba said.
"Wouldn't you feel uneasy if I didn't ask for money?"
Shinomiya Haruka raised the corners of her mouth as if she found it amusing.
"At least I know what it means to proceed step by step."
Although it sounded a bit strange, Kitahara Hakuba felt much better. If Shinomiya Haruka were to offer it for free again, he might choose to go to another store.
Next, Shinomiya Haruka showed him the soundproof room. The 20-square-meter space was neither too big nor too small, just enough.
The equipment is very complete, including soundproof doors, windows, vibration damping platforms, ceiling vibration dampers, soundproof carpets, vibration damping bricks, and even power sequencers.
It perfectly matches Kitahara Hakuba's fantasy of a soundproof room.
"Did you pay for all of this yourself?" Shinomiya Haruka asked curiously.
"Ah."
“You should ask the students for something; how much is your monthly salary?”
“That won’t do. If your uncle finds out I’m taking money from students for tutoring in private, he’ll kill me.”
Shinomiya Haruka couldn't understand it at all, and even thought that Kitahara Hakuba was so stupid that he couldn't live without her.
How could anyone think of paying out of their own pocket to teach students selflessly? Isn't that just stupid?
"Sigh." She raised her hand and rubbed her temples.
"Why are you sighing?" Kitahara Hakuba was still happy, finally he didn't have to practice in his rented room anymore.
"I'm just sighing because you're so stupid. What are you sighing about?" Shinomiya Haruka shook her head and said, "Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're a rich young master."
“I can afford 50,000 a month, and besides, if I win an award at this music festival, I will receive money.”
Shinomiya Haruka's lips, which had been pressed into a thin line, curled up slightly, revealing a teasing smile:
"It hasn't even started yet, and you're already fantasizing that the prize is yours?"
"This is nothing to worry about. What's mine will be mine sooner or later." Kitahara Hakuba walked to the entrance of the music store and said with a smile, "Let's go, Haruka."
Shinomiya Haruka chuckled, her cheeks slightly flushed: "Who's your Haruka baby?"
"See you on Saturday anyway."
"Ah."
Kitahara Hakuba left the store happily, while Shinomiya Haruka lay on the counter, scribbling on the clean white paper with a black pen, thinking about how he called her "Haruka-chan".
Her face was full of a sickeningly sweet smile; she never imagined that one day she would smile like an idiot because of a title.
Chapter 58. The Music Festival! Shen Xu is here!
On Friday afternoon, with the end of the midterm exams, the ban on club activities was finally lifted.
"So, what important reforms involving politics, economics, society, and many other aspects did you choose?"
On the elevated corridor leading to the club building, Kuno Tachibana was still pestering Kirishima Mai about the answers to the exam.
By simply comparing your answers with the top student in your grade, you can basically predict your exam score—it couldn't be more convenient.
“The answer to this question is the Meiji Restoration,” said Mai Kirishima.
Why the Meiji Restoration?
Hearing her confusion, Nagasawa Miya, who was standing nearby, took Goto Yu's arm and said matter-of-factly:
"What else could you choose if not the Meiji Restoration? This multiple-choice question is practically a freebie, isn't it?"
"Huh? Isn't this the Taika Reform?" Kuno Tachibana gasped, clutching his head in his hands.
"Are you crazy? We're taking a test on modern history. The Taika Reform happened in the 5th century. That's way beyond the curriculum!" Nagasawa Miya said.
Goto Yu, as if delivering a fatal blow, spoke:
"I remember the question mentioned 'transition from feudal society to capitalist society,' so it seems that only the Meiji Restoration could have happened."
"what--!"
Kuno Tachibana scratched his hair in frustration, and a few white hairs could be seen fluttering in the sunlight streaming through the corridor glass.
Kirishima Mai asked curiously:
"If you don't get this question right, you'll fail?"
As a high school in Hakodate that prepares students for higher education, Shin-Asahi Private High School usually arranges make-up exams for students who fail a subject.
As the number one trumpet player, Kuno Tachibana's poor academic performance could affect his future training.
"No, even if I lose points on this question, I'd still probably get a B," Kuno Tachibana said, running his fingers through his hair.
Mia Nagasawa couldn't help but roll her eyes: "So what's your name?"
"Oh dear, it's just a pity, especially since I lost points on questions that I could have gotten by thinking carefully."
The four of them walked and talked until they finally arrived at the music classroom, which was already full of students who had finished their exams and were there to play together.
This time it's not just "RYDEEN," there's also the marching band performance of "Sing, Sing, Sing" on the playground later.
Kitahara Hakuba stood on the stage, holding a baton, and said with a smile:
"The exam is over. Everyone, start practicing."
◇
At 5:00 a.m. on the morning of the Sapporo Music Festival in Hokkaido, the Shin-Asahi High School brass band gathered in front of the club building.
Because it takes nearly four hours to get to Sapporo by bus, the members need to gather early.
Once you arrive at the destination, a lot of time can be wasted just changing clothes, checking formations and instruments, and if you're any later, you might miss the music procession that starts at 10:30.
To save time, the instruments for each section were loaded onto trucks by the members after practice yesterday.
The night seemed to have been filled with milk, tinged with a hint of white. Kitahara Hakuba stood beside a light blue bus and shouted loudly:
"Each section leader, check the number of members in your section to see if anyone is still absent!"
"Reporting, teacher, everyone has arrived!" Sakurako Yukawa shouted, raising her hand.
"Then get in the car quickly."
At Kitahara Hakuba's command, the team members boarded the bus one by one.
Because there are no strict rules about seating, sitting down inevitably leads to a kind of intrigue and backstabbing that seems to only happen in the inner chambers of a palace.
I thought I had a very good relationship with a friend, but it turned out he was sitting with someone else.
The first person to sit down is the most nervous. They look out the window alone, pretending not to care, but hoping someone will sit next to them.
The three inseparable best friends had to be separated because of the two-seater seating. The third member smiled and said "It's okay" as she sat elsewhere, but in her heart she was thinking—