radicalducati Page 550
Page 550
Kami Takahashi clapped her hands, and the fine dust particles appeared distinct in the air:
"This time it's not an A-style performance; the focus of the performance is on the small group ensemble."
Seeing that some members were confused, Kana Eto explained:
"The term 'small group' refers to an ensemble of three to eight people, with no set piece to choose from, a time limit of five minutes, no conductor, and the instruments allowed to combine freely. But the most important thing about having everyone here today is not this."
After she finished speaking, she stepped aside and looked at Kitahara Hakuba, who had been silent since entering.
"Thank you for the introduction, Minister."
Kitahara Hakuba casually quipped, then stepped forward, interlacing his fingers as he spoke.
"Actually, this decision was made on short notice, but since all the cadres have made the same choice, I can only accept it as the current advisor."
"The first thing is that the Shenxu Wind Ensemble has announced its entry into this year's ensemble competition."
As soon as these words were spoken, the members of the First Music Classroom couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, because the time was simply too tight.
Kurosawa Maki proactively raised her hand and asked:
"Teacher Kitahara, isn't the ensemble competition all over?"
"That was the National Wind Instrument Competition, I mean the Ensemble Competition."
"Hmm, I don't quite understand what you're saying."
"Well, to put it simply, it's just another national competition, except that many schools are focusing their efforts on the national wind instrument competition."
Kana Eto explained.
“I understand!” Kurosawa Maki nodded and continued, “Then why didn’t you say so earlier? Why are you only saying it now?”
Kitahara Hakuba smiled and continued:
"Because the time is very tight, the competition in the Hakodate area is at the end of December, the competition in the whole country is in February next year, and the competition in the whole country is in March. This means that third-year students cannot be added. Ensemble competitions are a rare opportunity for new students to cultivate collaboration and musical depth among small groups."
"Can everyone go?" Matsuoka Nobuyuki asked. "No, only one team can go."
Kana Eto smiled awkwardly, explaining why other schools preferred the National Wind Ensemble—because it had a large enough student body.
Upon hearing that only one team could go, the members' relaxed expressions instantly turned tense.
Although the competition is fierce, there are many students in the club who think, "I really want to play, but I don't want only a few people to go up and play. Since there are so few, I won't go."
"How should we conduct the competition? Like the auditions for previous competitions, should we let Mr. Kitahara select the contestants?"
"this
Kana Eto stared blankly at Hakuma Kitahara, her hands kneading her lower abdomen repeatedly.
Kitahara Hakuba clasped his hands together and said tactfully:
"No, you will decide on the teams yourselves this time, but I think it's best if everyone lowers their expectations for this ensemble competition."
Don't fantasize about getting gold immediately.
At this moment, Hiraishi Memeko, sitting in the front row, dared to raise her hand and stammered:
"Excuse me, even if there's only one team, doesn't that mean they can receive individual coaching from Mr. Kitahara while participating in the competition?"
While the other girls were fantasizing about receiving individual tutoring, Kitahara Hakuba shook his head, looked at the club members, and forced a gentle smile, saying:
"I will not be providing private guidance to the teams heading to the conference this time." — "Why?"
"Because I'm about to leave the company."
Chapter 389. 388. New Loot (6 in 2)
The news arrived on an ordinary day, like a silent bomb dropped into the first music classroom.
The weather is lovely today. The sun is shining obliquely, and the air is filled with the smells of chalk dust and teenage sweat. Outside the window, you can hear the rustling of leaves in the north wind.
Absolute silence descended, leaving only the buzzing of blood rushing to the ears. Almost all the members froze in place, like groups of statues suddenly frozen in time.
Kana Eto felt a little scared by the gazes of her fellow club members, and at the same time, she noticed Kami Takahashi beside her and glanced at everyone with unusual unease.
On each youthful, innocent face, the expressions were blank, confused, and incredulous; the extreme astonishment was like the first crack in the surface of ice.
Some girls are very emotional; their eyes redden almost instantly, but they just bite their lower lip tightly and don't make a sound.
"This is my first and last academic year teaching in the Shenxu Wind Ensemble."
When Kitahara Hakuba finished speaking, there was still no reply. Only the radiator was moving. Then, someone suddenly moved, breaking the almost unbearable silence.
"Teacher Kitahara!"
Sitting in the front row, Mizuno Kaze quickly stood up and asked with a tense expression, "Is there anything that makes you unhappy?"
As soon as she spoke, the other female members echoed her with slightly trembling voices.
"Yes, yes, we can change it, we can change it however we want."
"Teacher Kitahara, could you please not leave?"
"Didn't everyone win the national gold medal? Why are they still leaving?"
"Mingming, Teacher Kitahara"
"
Kitahara Hakuba rubbed the back of his hand repeatedly with his thumb, his eyebrows slightly lowered.
Just as he was trying to figure out how to explain, Kana Eto stepped forward and raised her voice, saying:
"Everyone, Mr. Kitahara still has his own things to do. He is not leaving because we are not working hard enough. In my eyes, you are all excellent members. In the days that Mr. Kitahara will not be here, we must maintain the same confidence and attitude as this year, unite as one, and go to the national competition! We must win the gold medal!"
Kana Eto spoke at length in a high-spirited tone, but this time, unlike usual, no club members echoed her passionately. Even some men, such as Sora Tenkai, seemed somewhat at a loss.
A bitter smile appeared on Takahashi Kami's lips as she tilted her head slightly and whispered:
"At this point, how can we expect everyone to say 'yes'?"
This was the first time that no member had echoed the minister's motivational speech. Kana Eto realized this as well, swallowed hard, and her fingers, which were sticking out of her sleeve, trembled slightly.
If managing the Shin-Asahi Brass Band were a simulation game, then Kana Eto would surely see in the upper right corner of her vision that the cohesion of the members is steadily declining.
Mizuno Kaze looked at Kitahara Hakuba with a determined gaze and took the initiative to ask, "Kitahara-sensei, is this a transfer order from the school?"
The moment those words were uttered, without any confirmation, the members were filled with righteous indignation.
"That dog of a principal, he has no sense of propriety at all! This is outrageous!"
"A bunch of bastards, they've been marketing Kitahara-sensei all this time, and this is the result?"
"Go and bite them all to death!"
Seeing this, Kitahara Hakuba quickly raised his hand and said:
"Quiet."
As soon as he spoke, the classroom went silent, with only the soft sobs of some girls echoing quietly in the room.
“It has nothing to do with the school; this is my own decision, but I will try my best to come back to see you every year.”
Kitahara Hakuba tried to force a familiar, reassuring smile, but the smile only moved the muscles at the corners of his mouth and failed to reach his eyes.
As a mentor, he wasn't so heartless as to show no emotion towards these people, but Kitahara Hakuba believed that these were all experiences one had to go through.
Just get through it.
The members looked at each other, remembering how they had been abandoned by their advisors before the conference.
But in their hearts, Kitahara-sensei was completely different from Otaki-sensei. He was gentle yet strict, and he was the one who accompanied everyone from the beginning to the end.
Mr. Kitahara's departure this time seems to signify his success and fame.
"Then what's the point of us going to the ensemble competition?" At that moment, Hiraishi Memeko, who was playing the flute, lowered her head, her bangs obscuring her eyes.
Mizuno Kaze, who was standing, hardened her expression, looking quite imposing like a rain guardian, and glared at the source of the voice, saying:
"Who said that?!"
"Hmm," Hiraishi Meiko lowered her head even further, not daring to say a word.
"Starting to predict the worst before it even begins? Is this really a member of the Shin-hwa Wind Ensemble Club?!"
Mizuno Kaze's voice trembled slightly, her breathing became erratic, and her fists, hanging at her sides, clenched tightly.
"If anyone thinks there's no hope if Kitahara-sensei leaves, then get out of the club right now! The Shin-Asahi Brass Band doesn't need people like that!"
The classroom was already quiet, but the almost scolding voice of Mizuno Kaze made the auditory senses extremely strong; even Kitahara Hakuba felt his eardrums vibrating.
Kuno Tachibana glanced at Mizuno Kaze, whose face was slightly flushed.
For some reason, she suddenly thought of the stray cat near her home. It had a bad temper and would bristle its fur as soon as it saw people approaching, arching its back like a McDonald's sign.
In her eyes, Mizuno-senpai was no different from that cat. On the surface, she was scolding those unambitious club members, but in her heart, she was terrified.
Kitahara Hakuba clapped his hands, trying to ease the oppressive atmosphere of skin-licking in the classroom:
"Alright, everyone, look up at me."
Some members reluctantly raised their heads, while the girl with swollen eyes from crying was still wiping away her tears.
"Now listen to what the minister is saying. Everyone must listen carefully, understand?" Kitahara Hakuba said.
No one replied, and even if someone did, it was only sporadic and weak responses.
Kitahara Hakuba took a deep breath and said calmly:
Give me an answer.
Member: Yes
Clap clap!
He clapped his hands loudly and said sternly:
"The voice is too soft, I can't hear it, speak louder."
Member: "Yes!"
Kitahara Hakuba glanced at the two executives beside him, signaling them to continue.
Kana Eto's throat bobbed repeatedly. What she was most worried about was the mental state of the club members after they learned that Kitahara-sensei was leaving.