I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 39

The man before her seemed inexplicably gentle, with a distinct and elegant facial structure that captivated the young woman, who was deeply affected by her recent setbacks.

My heart was pounding higher and higher, and my body was secreting an ambiguous sticky fluid.

"...Teacher, why are you so kind to me? Everyone knows you prefer first-year students," she said, wiping away her tears.

Kitahara Hakuba paused for a moment, then smiled and said:

"What nonsense are you talking about? I like you people who love to join in the fun too."

A sentence suddenly popped into his mind—

"A calm sea cannot train a skilled sailor, and a comfortable life cannot create a great man of the times."

Yes! Very inspiring!

Kitahara Hakuba wanted to make a red banner with this sentence and hang it at the entrance of the brass band, but after thinking about it carefully, he realized it was too embarrassing, so he decided to put the matter aside.

Having received his seemingly "confession" of affection, Yu Shoukan's face turned even redder. She knew in her heart that she was just someone looking for trouble.

but......

"Really... Kitahara-sensei, you are such a kind person."

"Thanks. It would be quite a headache if I were considered a tyrant."

Kitahara Hakuba raised his hand with utmost seriousness and patted her slender arm, saying...

"Keep it up, I'll always keep an eye on you, you're no worse than Kuno."

◇

A former music education professor once told Kitahara Hakuba—

"Don't be fooled by the fancy things in textbooks. In fact, if a teacher is good-looking, half of the students' psychological problems can be solved."

Who wouldn't want to look up when they're crying and find that the person comforting them, saying "disappointment is actually a form of growth," is a handsome man or a beautiful woman?

He cares about me!

My mood instantly improved by half!

Kitahara Hakuba didn't know what the consequences would be if things continued this way, but he knew it would be extremely useful; ten sentences from others couldn't compare to one sentence from him.

He chatted for a while with the members of the performing arts department who came to hand over the right to use the auditorium.

The president of the acting club was a bespectacled girl who watched the entire performance and gushed that she wanted him to accompany the acting club on the piano.

But he had many things to do, so Kitahara Hakuba politely declined with a smile.

Stepping out of the auditorium, I saw Kuno Tachibana washing his silver-plated mouthpiece at the outdoor sink.

Clear water flowed continuously downwards, forming a transparent film on the silver nozzle, and the water in the channel occasionally reflected the orange-red sunlight.

She tightened the tap, wrapped the mouthpiece in a handkerchief to wipe the wet part, and then put the mouthpiece back into the instrument.

He didn't know whether the mouthpiece was the one that Kitahara Hakuba had blown earlier, since most mouthpieces were silver-plated.

"Kuno, come here." Kitahara Hakuba called out to her.

Kuno Tachibana, like a little soldier, quickly jogged over and stood in front of him.

"What instructions do you have, Kitahara-sensei?" she asked, blinking her large eyes.

instruct......

"It's okay to be arrogant, but you have to pay attention to your relationship with your fellow members. Although we often say, 'I don't believe that a certain group can't function without someone,' in a brass band with clear goals, this statement can easily come true."

Thinking Kitahara Hakuba had come to reward her, Kuno Tachika's slender shoulders immediately slumped.

"I'm easy to talk to unless you provoke me. And teacher, you're really mean. I bragged so much and you didn't praise me, but instead went to comfort other women first."

She pouted and kept casting meaningful glances at me, as if asking for a reward.

“This is what you should do for yourself.” Kitahara Hakuba’s tone was very clear. “Besides, I treat everyone the same. Go practice.”

He didn't want people to think he was deliberately protecting someone, as that wouldn't be good for the harmonious development of the department.

"Teacher, I won't stay to practice today!"

Kuno Tachibana tucked the trumpet under his armpit, clasped his hands together, and said...

"My mom made me chicken soup. If I go home too late, my brother will eat my legs off."

Kitahara Hakuba didn't even bother to question the authenticity and simply nodded in agreement.

He actually trusted Kuno Tachibana quite a bit; her strong personality meant she was unlikely to slack off, and she most likely really was going back to play PUBG.

Back at the club building, Kitahara Hakuba patrolled past each section like a patrolman.

Unlike in the past, more people stayed today.

But now, whenever his figure appears at the classroom door, the members inside tense up and bow their heads as if in mourning.

Because they were afraid of being instructed, they didn't even dare to play the notes in front of others.

It's strange how people are. If a companion is slightly better than them, they don't feel anything. But if the other person is excessively better, they start to feel timid and hesitant, afraid of being told they're no good or anything.

Kitahara Hakuba spent some time in each section providing guidance, and the day's practice didn't end until 6 p.m.

After working these past few days, he felt a strange sensation, a sense of sublimity that he experienced for the first time as a teacher.

The calls of birds echoed from the telephone poles, the setting sun grew increasingly dim, and the heat that had accumulated on the asphalt road throughout the day gradually dissipated.

Just like yesterday, Yuka Isomoto was standing at the classroom door waiting for him; she was going home to practice again tonight.

Just like last time, Kitahara Hakuba exchanged items with her.

"Teacher Kitahara, what other musical instruments do you play?" As they walked out of the school gate, Yuka Isomoto suddenly asked.

"I can do everything."

"You can do everything?" Yuka Isomoto looked at him in surprise and said, "How could you possibly know everything? You look so young!"

"Really, I'm not lying."

"Eulogy?"

"meeting."

"The trombone?"

"meeting."

"A cello?"

"meeting."

Clarinet and oboe?

"meeting."

Yuka Isomoto listed all the instruments in the brass band, and the only response she ever got was "Yes."

"I understand, the teacher is joking with me." She puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"real."

"I don't believe it."

"As your mentor, I must be omnipotent."

Kitahara Hakuba raised his hand to smooth a strand of hair from his bangs, his gaze resolute as he spoke.

"I am God."

Chapter 44. Don't talk about division.

The girl laughed and scratched her head in confusion. She kept talking about God, but she knew in her heart that there could not be a God in the world.

"Isogen-kun, who were you originally going to vote for today?" Kitahara Hakuba asked proactively.

"Hmm..." Yuka Isomoto subconsciously looked away, her fingers tightening on the carrying strap as she said, "Kuno-senpai, she's much better than many third-year students."

"Actually, you're thinking about Rain Guardian, aren't you?" Kitahara Hakuba said bluntly.

"Uh."

As if she had been told the truth, Yuka Isomoto's heart skipped a beat without warning, and her right hand gripped the hem of her skirt helplessly.

“After all, you and Saito are such good friends.” Kitahara Hakuba observed her expression out of the corner of his eye.

Even if Saito Harutori didn't tell her, she probably knew in her heart who to vote for, just like the tacit understanding between close friends who only need a glance to understand each other.

The girl remained silent, like a secluded path blooming with unknown wildflowers, exuding tranquility and depth.

"Teacher, why did you put me in group A? I played so badly." Yuka Isomoto didn't respond, but instead asked the question that had been on her mind for a long time.

This surprised Kitahara Hakuba for a moment.

He didn't know about the selection process at that time. Before he woke up, the selection was already mostly made, except for the oboe and bassoon parts, which he had selected.

In fact, it wasn't just Yuka Isomoto who was recruited; many low-ranking members were also drawn into the A division by him.

Kitahara Hakuba had considered re-selecting members, but considering the potential dissatisfaction among his own members, he decided to abandon the idea and wait until after the music festival to discuss it further.

But telling her the truth here probably wouldn't be believed, so I'll just have to fool her.

"I'm just being selfish, but I think you can play well before the music festival," Kitahara Hakuba smiled.

Yuka Isomoto was stunned. She suddenly found Kitahara-sensei terrifying, and sometimes she couldn't tell which of his words were true and which were jokes.

◇

There were no unexpected events during Yuka Isomoto's training, but last night's practice was not enough for her to advance.

It's unclear how many more days she'll need to come, but Kitahara Hakuba is determined to keep going.

The next morning at six o'clock, he got off at Wulingguo Station. There were many cherry blossom trees planted in the park, and when they were in full bloom, they looked like a sea of ​​flowers.

He took out his phone, took a selfie with Wulingguo Park, and posted it to the "Happy Family Group"—

Kitahara Hakuba: The cherry blossoms in Goryokaku are beautiful. I'll take you on a trip to Hokkaido sometime this summer.

No one replied; they're probably all asleep.

He had just put his phone in his pocket when he heard a reply on vibrate. He took it out and saw that it wasn't from the group chat.

Haruka Kitahara (Second Sister): Onii-chan, you're at work now, can you give me a few thousand yen for spending money?