I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 125

Chikao Otaki was the advisor for the brass band at Shin-Asahi Private High School last year, but he is now the advisor for the brass band at Asahikawa High School in Sapporo City. Upon hearing this name, Sakurako Yukawa's face showed a very subtle expression, and she felt a lump in her throat.

“This…” Knowing she couldn’t make the decision herself, she could only turn her gaze to Kitahara Hakuba.

Kitahara Hakuba stood up, walked to the door, and said to Akamatsu Sayaka:

Where is Mr. Otaki?

“It’s right downstairs at the door.” Sayaka Akamatsu turned to the side.

Kitahara Hakuba's knowledge of Ōtaki Chikao was limited to the internet; he had never heard any of his club members mention him.

This person has several years of experience teaching wind instruments and is a truly skilled instructor; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to lead Asahikawa Private High School to the national competition.

As soon as I entered the corridor, a man who looked to be in his forties came up the stairs.

He was tall and thin, with bright black hair, wearing a T-shirt and shirt, and had a serious expression.

The two or three-year-old members resting in the corridor were all startled when they saw him, and the originally noisy corridor suddenly became much quieter.

In the ambiguous little world of a group of beautiful young girls, this person's appearance seemed too abrupt.

"Who is this uncle?" Kuno Tachibana asked, looking through the window at the man walking past.

Rain Guard only glanced at it, and a look of surprise flashed across his face for a moment:

"Otaki-sensei?"

"Who?"

“Our former advisor, I heard, is now an advisor in Sapporo, and he even won a silver medal at the national competition last year.”

Yu Shou gripped the plastic bottle tightly, raised his handsome eyebrows, and said, "With the Hakodate Regional Conference approaching, what's the meaning of his coming here?"

Kuno Tachibana walked to the door and poked his head out:

"Ah, Kitahara-sensei is here too."

"Ugh!" Rain Guardian immediately stood up from his chair and looked out in the same position as Kuno Tachibana.

Due to their different heights, Kuno Tachibana's head is down, while hers is up.

"...Amemori-senpai, that's a bit too heavy." Kuno Tachibana felt a sudden softness on the top of his head.

"Do not talk!"

Yu Shou's attention was entirely focused on the two people who had met.

Not only her, but almost the entire brass band club members all focused their attention on the former and current advisors.

Across the hall was the oboe and bassoon player. Watanabe Hama leaned out as well, while Kirishima Mai and Kanzaki Eri remained seated. Kitahara Hakuba saw Otaki Chikao approach and immediately smiled, saying:

"Mr. Otaki, if you were coming, you could have let me know in advance so I could have picked you up at the school gate."

Whether due to his profession or age, Kitahara Hakuba believes that one should be polite.

Ōtaki Chikao's brown eyes appeared somewhat cloudy as he scanned Kitahara Hakuba from head to toe, his facial muscles relaxing slightly.

"I didn't expect the advisor that Shenxu invited to be so young. I watched the recording of the Hokkaido Music Festival last time and thought it was fake."

Kitahara Hakuba chuckled, noticing out of the corner of his eye that many club members were looking at him, and continued:

"If there's anything you need, please come with me. It's not appropriate to chat standing here."

"No need, I just wanted to hear how well the Shenxu Wind Ensemble is practicing now."

With one hand in his pocket, Otaki Chikaten said in a calm tone, "You're just a recent graduate from Sapporo University, right? It's certainly going to be difficult to teach most of the clubs right after you graduate. I came here specifically to give you some free guidance."

Ok?

Kitahara Hakuba raised an eyebrow.

一—

What is this old man talking about? Do my girls need you to teach them?

Ōtaki Chikao suddenly raised his hand and patted Kitahara Hakuba on the shoulder, speaking in a tone of someone who had been through it all:

“I know these people’s aptitude better than you do, especially the first and second ones… They’ve been in their second or third year now. In short, I’m doing my best to get them into Quan Dao, after all, I was teaching here last year.”

"As expected of a senior, your magnanimity is truly remarkable." Kitahara Hakuba asked with a cold laugh, "But how did you get in?"

"I have a good relationship with Asumi. Anyway, let's hurry up, I'm in a bit of a rush."

After finishing his sentence, Chikao Otaki was about to walk towards the first music classroom.

That security guard! He's letting just anyone in! Does he think this is some kind of fancy place?!

None of the other members dared to speak, feeling that Otaki Chikao completely disregarded Kitahara Hakuba.

But thinking about it carefully, it makes sense. They only spent two months leading a school to the national championship and winning a silver medal.

When facing a fresh graduate, one will naturally carry a bit of the arrogance of a mentor.

However, Kitahara Hakuba didn't care about any of this. Did this old man think this was Asahikawa Private High School? Didn't he open his eyes and take a look? This is Kamiya-Asahi!

He turned around abruptly, placed one hand on Ōtaki Chikao's shoulder, and said:

"I'm sorry, Mr. Otaki, but with the Hakodate regional tournament approaching, the brass band will not be performing their practice results to the public. If you would like to hear them, please check the school's club website, where information about performances to the public will be announced."

Ōtaki Chikao frowned, his gaze meeting Kitahara Hakuba's. He thought to himself that this recent graduate was somewhat ungrateful.

He came over out of kindness to offer free guidance, but he showed absolutely no respect for his seniors.

A few seconds of silence followed, before Kawa Sakurako broke the silence, clasping her hands in front of her and saying somewhat awkwardly:

"Mr. Otaki, actually, what Mr. Kitahara is teaching now...:"

"Minister Yukawa -11"

Kitahara Hakuba turned his gaze to the girl with the three braids, a gentle smile appearing on his face as he spoke.

"I am now your only instructor in the wind band."

Kitahara Hakuba's words revealed an undisguised possessiveness, causing the other members to gasp and blush involuntarily.

In the eyes of these girls, Kitahara Hakuba was practically telling them, "Girl, you can only be mine."

Even Yukawa Sakurako blinked repeatedly, completely surprised that Kitahara Hakuba would say such a thing, and said with a slightly flushed face:

"Mr. Otaki, actually the Shin-Asahi Brass Band has made great progress under the guidance of Mr. Kitahara, so you don't need to worry."

Otaki Chikao stared at Yukawa Sakurako with a serious expression, and said as if coaxing a child:

"Yu Chuan, you've been here for three years now. Don't you understand that face is not important at all? And as an adult, you don't even have this much awareness?"

He thought Kitahara Hakuba and Yukawa Sakurako were just showing off, and felt it was shameful to be instructed by him from another school.

"this.."

Sakurako's fingers kept kneading the hem of her skirt as she looked at Hakuba Kitahara for help.

Even though Otaki Chikao is no longer a teacher in the Kamiya Brass Band, she, as a student, still doesn't dare to talk back.

Kitahara Hyakuma took a deep breath and forced a smile, saying:

"Mr. Otaki, I acknowledge your coaching abilities and am grateful for your willingness to provide guidance. However, I am truly sorry, as I currently coach the Shin-Asahi Brass Band. If you were to presume to intervene, it could lead to a conflict between the professor's and the students' perspectives. As the guiding advisor for the brass band..."

You and I should both understand this principle.

Kitahara Hakuba reasoned with him, and Ōtaki Chikao, naturally unable to continue his unreasonable arguments, could only frown, cross his arms, and ask:

"This year, you chose 'The Tears of Princess Kinoda in the Fii River' for your freestyle piece. How was it arranged? What techniques were used? Which version is it?"

"I'm sorry, I can't say that. You can come and listen on the day of the Hakodate Regional Conference."

Unlike his usual arrogant attitude of "I am a senior in performance", Kitahara Hakuba's tone was relatively gentle.

If it weren't for the fact that there were too many members, he would have fired this person long ago.

However, you must never project negative emotions onto your fellow members, as this will affect their mood during the ensemble performance.

Seemingly noticing that Kitahara Hakuba was completely ignoring him, the young man was always too proud to admit it.

Chikao Otaki then passed the question to Sakurako Yukawa, who was standing to the side:

"Yukawa, how is everyone doing now? Can you get into the National High School? I heard that Otani High School next door has made great progress this year, so you need to be aware of the potential risks."

Perhaps because she had developed a habit of answering every question from her teacher, Sakurako Yukawa spoke up directly:

"Getting into the whole road should be no problem."

"Um.....

After pondering for a while with Ōtaki Chikao, he said...

“Indeed, with Saito and Nagase there, entering the whole country is not a problem.”

After he finished speaking, he turned his head and asked, looking quite puzzled:

"I don't think I see Saito and Nagase? Aren't they here?"

Sakurako Yukawa wore a deeply hurt expression, her eyes filled with melancholy.

"Both of them have already left the department..."

.

Otaki Chikao was stunned into silence, his brows furrowing even more deeply.

"Teacher Kitahara, who is the principal player for the bass and trumpet sections now?"

"Sorry, no comment."

Kitahara Hakuba didn't want to talk to him anymore, so he called out to the club members who had gathered around, "Break time is over. Members of Group A, go into the music room first. Club leader Yukawa, you go in too."

If this violet-flower-like girl doesn't go inside soon, given her personality of always answering questions from elders, she'll probably blurt out anything.

The members picked up their instruments and headed into the first music classroom.

Just as Kitahara Hakuba was about to personally see Otaki Chikao off, Isomoto Yuka, who had just stepped out of the practice room, stopped as if frozen in place, clutching her euphonium.

Kurosawa Maki, who was following behind her with her head down, did not stop, and the euphonium in her arms gently touched her.

"Isogen-senpai, why did you stop?" Kurosawa Maki asked, rubbing her forehead. It really hurt when she bumped her mouthpiece.

Yuka Isomoto leaned timidly against the wall, but the strong gaze from Chikao Otaki made her shrink back.

Suddenly, a voice reached her ears.