I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 269

"You're so stupid! Phrases like 'Goodbye, teacher,' 'Stand up,' and 'Yes' can't be used as conditions to activate a duel. Otherwise, how many ice creams would we have to buy every day!"

"Hmm:" Kana Eto had a frustrated look on her face, but she felt that what she said made sense.

Kitahara Hakuba waved to them: "If you ever want ice cream, just tell me, and everyone can have some."

"Okay!"

As I walked downstairs, the stars shone like scattered silver dust against the dark night sky.

Kitahara Hakuba stood there for a moment, then raised his hand and gently patted his face.

They weren't concerned about whether or not they could eat ice cream; for them, interaction with friends was far more important.

I was just being delusional. ~Search.novel.net+ ~First release/

At this moment, Takahashi Kami and Eto Kana were probably exchanging barbs.

"Teacher Kitahara is such a show-off."

"You still need to learn how to understand a young girl's mind, Kitahara Hakuba." He sighed.

As soon as I stepped out of the club building, I saw Nagase Tsukiyo carrying her schoolbag coming out of the school building. The school lights shone down on her, casting a long shadow of the girl.

"Nase-kun? Why aren't you home yet, it's so late?" Kitahara Hakuba asked instinctively.

Nagase Tsukiyo heard that familiar voice and looked up in surprise.

"Teacher Kitahara"

3

"Studying in the library?" he asked as he walked up to her.

As Kitahara Hakuba drew ever closer, Nagase Tsukiyo gripped her backpack strap tightly and said:

"Well, even though I'm applying to a music school, I can't neglect my academic scores."

Kitahara Hakuba said with a smile:

"Not only do you have to play the trumpet, but you also have to stay first in the grade. It must be really tough for you."

“Hmm

A faint shadow always veiled her face, which Kitahara Hakuba noticed, but he didn't press the matter.

Did your family come to pick you up?

“No.” Nagase Tsukiyo shook her head. “I always take the tram home by myself.”

Kitahara Hakuba said with a smile:

"Let's walk to the station together. Although the tram goes in the opposite direction, it might be more reassuring to have someone accompany you at this time." Nagase Tsukiyo's originally listless face suddenly turned rosy, but it was not very clear due to the darkness of the night.

The two walked out of the school gate together. Cars occasionally drove by on the asphalt road, and the sunlight shone on her like flowing water.

The girl's figure was outlined with a soft halo.

"Are there any difficulties with the trumpet exam pieces?" Mr. Kitahara asked casually.

Nagase Tsukiyo shook her head, the light that slid past her shoulder filtering through her night-like hair:

"Not at the moment, everything is under my control."

"Then I'll feel at ease."

Kitahara Hakuba believes that if one really had to pick a representative in terms of wind instrument playing, that person would only be Nagase Tsukiyo.

She is a rich girl who works part-time in order to get into her dream university. Her love for the trumpet is unlike that of other girls.

She would never casually tell him things like "forever" or tie her beloved playing of wind instruments to him.

Among these "rare and precious" third-year students, Nagase Tsukiyo was a breath of fresh air in Kitahara Hakuba's heart.

":: Kitahara-sensei." At this moment, Nagase Tsukiyo suddenly spoke.

Her voice sounded incredibly clear amidst the sound of wheels rolling over the gravel on the asphalt road.

"What's wrong?" Kitahara Hakuba took a deep breath; the night air seemed completely different from the daytime air.

Nagase Tsukiyo's slightly rounded chest, and the neatly arranged collar of her uniform, seemed like butterflies about to take flight.

"Does Kitahara-sensei think I'm taking advantage of you?"

"What does this mean?" Kitahara Hakuba stared intently at her profile.

Nagase Tsukiyo's eyes were filled with worry and anticipation, her free left hand tightly twisting the hem of her pleated skirt:

"So, I'm using you to achieve my goals. Am I really that bad?"

As we approached Wulingguo Station, the crowd grew larger and larger. The ditch beside the street was eerie, and the murmuring water quietly blended into the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

Kitahara Hakuba's expression stiffened slightly. He didn't think his thoughts were quick, but they were definitely not slow either.

Someone must have said something to Nagase Tsukiyo, causing her to start overthinking.

"Could you be more specific? What exactly is the target?" Kitahara Hakuba raised his hand and brushed his bangs back.

Nagase Tsukiyo couldn't help but lower her eyes. She should have spoken, but her mind carefully chose the words, ultimately piecing together a statement even she didn't believe:

"It takes up your time to tutor others. I hope you can spend more time on me so that I can get into university."

"That's it?"

Kitahara Hakuba's face revealed an enigmatic smile, leaving her momentarily at a loss for words.

Did he laugh because he thought the matter was too trivial, or because he felt he hadn't told the truth?

Nagase Tsukiyo dared not confirm aloud, otherwise all the fear, hesitation, cowardice, and even scheming in her heart would be swept away.

Chapter 213, Section 212: The Wrong Person Wasn't Me at All (4K) >>

Could it be, as Eri says, that I am being selfish?

"You didn't do anything wrong, so there's no need to feel guilty."

Kitahara Hakuba sat on a wooden bench at the station, smiling easily.

"If 'using' me can get everyone into their desired universities and achieve their goals, I really hope everyone will 'use' me. In fact, as a teacher, I probably most want to be 'used' by my students."

Nagase Tsukiyo lowered her eyelashes; she should have been happy to hear those words.

But when I realized that what I said wasn't the truth, but rather a shameless attempt to portray myself as a victim, I suddenly felt very indebted to him.

The truth should be this: "I didn't tell Eri about our trip to Tokyo because I wanted to be alone with you."

But no matter what, it must not be said aloud.

Nagase Tsukiyo let out a soft sigh and turned to sit down, only to find that Kitahara Hakuba's gaze seemed to be fixed on her legs.

She paused for a moment, but then she realized that Mr. Kitahara should be watching the other side of the track to see when the mains power would come in, so how could he be staring at her legs?

He's not that kind of frivolous person.

Kitahara Hakuba's expression was solemn, his gaze fixed on the cold power line tracks to one side.

I almost got caught looking at her beautiful legs! She pretended to be... no, she acted very gentlemanly in front of us.

Nagase Tsukiyo sat upright to his right, her back straight, the station lights casting shimmer on her legs peeking out from under her skirt.

A faint halo formed.

"Since you say so, Kitahara-sensei, I feel much more at ease." Nagase Tsukiyo responded to his words with great gentleness.

The girl raised her hand, not touching the hair behind her right ear, but instead touching the hair behind her left ear, revealing her small and delicate ear to Kitahara Hakuma, making the auricle of her ear clearly visible.

"Don't worry, let others say what they want. Your teacher will be there to support you." A wise light shone in Kitahara Hakuba's clear, dark eyes.

The station lights shone with a warm glow, gently washing over Nagase Tsukiyo, and an indescribable emotion rose in the softest part of my heart.

On this star-studded night, she was very grateful that she was not alone.

Although we didn't talk about anything particularly exciting before the mains power came on, we still had plenty of time to chat and felt happy.

He was like the trumpet that appeared in her childhood, the notes he played striking her soft and sweet body, allowing her soul to roam freely in those gentle and uncertain notes.

A short while later, the tram bound for Motomachi pulled into the station. We couldn't stay, as this was the last tram ride.

Somewhat reluctantly, I got up to say goodbye, and Mr. Kitahara gently told me to be careful on the road.

"Stop, mmm."

Before she knew it, she made a somewhat childish sound, and Nagase Tsukiyo was so embarrassed that she could only quickly escape into the tram car.

After taking her seat, Nagase Tsukiyo looked up and saw the handrails swaying from side to side in the carriage.

Could it be that, as Eri Kanzaki said, she is really clinging tightly to Kitahara-sensei?

Nagase Tsukiyo's gaze swept past the car window as neon lights flashed by.

The friction between the mains electricity and the rails created a monotonous yet reassuring background sound, and the girl's breathing gradually synchronized with this rhythm.

Gentle and steady.

No, it wasn't her who was clinging tightly to Kitahara-sensei; it should have been Harutori and Eri.

"The one who's wrong isn't me at all."

The world, which was completely swallowed by darkness last night, is now shining with faint light.

The sun, not yet fully risen, tinged the horizon with orange, and the city of Aomori on the opposite shore of Honshu Island appeared and disappeared on the other side of the sea, creating a beautiful, dreamlike scene.

It's Monday again, but unlike previous weeks, this week a three-day cultural festival will be held starting Wednesday.

Kitahara Hakuba arrived at Shin-Asahi High School early as usual. As soon as he entered the staff office, he ran into Kurosaki Yuichi, the physical education teacher who often walked around in his green tracksuit.

"Kitahara-kun!" Kurosaki Yuichi, who was in his early thirties, had a loud voice. He looked as young as a high school student and wore glasses.

But Kitahara Hakuba knew that the muscles under his sportswear were huge, and Kitahara Hakuba thought that if such meat were cooked, it would definitely be dry and hard to eat.

"What's wrong, Kurosaki-senpai?"

"Were you busy this morning?" Kurosaki Yuichi chuckled and put his hand on his shoulder, but his eyes had already seen the schedule on his desk clearly.

Kitahara Hakuba glanced subconsciously at the schedule on the table, thinking that he should hide it from now on.

There is no music class this morning.

"Please do me a favor, my wife is expected to give birth naturally in the next few days ::"