Am I being simulated by their love affair.

Chapter 365 Suspicion Emerges
In the brass band room, where only the two of them were, Jun Matsueda looked at the girl with a sly smile.

"You play the saxophone even better than last year."

"Of course, after all, I'm constantly improving!"

Tomatsu Yuka nodded in satisfaction; it seemed her carefully planned farewell was memorable enough.

"What time do we leave tomorrow?" Jun Matsue picked up a chair and sat down, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the girl.

"9:30 a.m." Tomatsu Yuka walked around the classroom and closed the windows in the corridor and on the exterior wall—all little tricks she used to ensure that Matsueda Jun could hear the music.

"This time, Mochizuki-san won't be able to take us there. We'll all meet at the station and then take the JR Chuo Line directly to Ome."

"The seniors from the brass band will come to see you off, and Yamami-senpai will be there too."

Jun Matsue blinked. His senior had indeed told him that she had something to do the next morning, but he hadn't expected it to be about the brass band.

The two chatted for a bit about the brass band's training camp plans when Jun Matsueda's phone vibrated in his pocket. It was a message from Natsumi Imokawa downstairs after she noticed he was missing.

The boy walked out of the classroom, leaned on the railing of the corridor, and looked down. A girl with a camera was walking back and forth under the shade of the trees, looking somewhat lost.

“Imokawa—” he waved, “I’m upstairs.”

Natsumi Imokawa spotted the boy standing in the hallway and looked relieved. "What's Matsueda doing there?"

The girl walked toward the club building as she spoke, but Tomatsu Yuka's face then appeared next to the boy, startling her so much that she stood still.

Tomatsu Yuka glanced at the stunned girl downstairs. Of course, she was curious about what Matsueda and this guy were doing at school together, but asking too many questions would lower her image in the boys' eyes.

Today's goal was to create a perfect farewell, and that's now achieved; it's time to call it a day.

"Matsueda-kun, I'll head home now." She slung her small white leather suitcase containing the saxophone over her shoulder and waved to the boy.

"Let's go downstairs together." Jun Matsue walked to the girl's side. The person playing the musical notes was about to leave, so there was no point in him staying any longer.

The sound of their footsteps echoed in the empty stairwell, from the first floor to the third floor, finally meeting the sound of cicadas chirping outside.

"That's enough for now." Tomatsu Yuka looked at the profile of the boy beside her. "We probably won't see each other again until the Tokyo Metropolitan Concert."

"Good luck with the training camp, and good luck in the competition." Jun Matsueda's voice softened a bit.

Watching the girl walk towards the school gate, her white coat rippled like a wave in the summer heat. Jun Matsueda turned around and looked at Natsumi Imokawa, who was holding a camera behind him.

"You just took a picture?"

"Can't I take a picture?" Natsumi Imokawa blinked innocently. "I felt that the atmosphere of your parting was so nice that I couldn't help but take a picture."

"Whatever you want." Jun Matsueda walked towards the film crew, the girl following beside him.

"Matsue, I just used an over-the-shoulder lens, and the image quality is really great!" Natsumi Imokawa held the camera in front of him.

"Look at this image of a figure disappearing from the camera; it doesn't need any background music or dialogue to convey the emotions."

"And the way the air deforms when heated is just right."

The afternoon ended casually amidst the girl's rambling words.

The next morning, Tomatsu Yuka stood under the eaves of Kichijoji Station, surrounded by girls carrying large bags and pulling suitcases.

"I heard that Qingmei is called 'Neko-cho' (Cat Town) because there are so many cat-themed elements. I feel like I can take a lot of photos there!"

"I just wish it would be cooler in the city; Tokyo is just too hot, I don't want to go out at all."

"Isn't Ome City surrounded by mountains? What if we encounter bears?"

"If you encounter a bear, try playing a musical instrument! That should scare it away!"

Tayo-chan, the vice-president of the brass band and principal tuba player, stood in front of the girls, tiptoeing to make sure she could see all the members.

"Alright, alright, everyone quiet down a bit, I'm going to start taking attendance~" Yami Maki said with a smile, her gaze sweeping over the chattering girls.

"Everyone seems very energetic; it looks like it will be a pleasant training camp."

Tomatsu Yuka looked at the girl beside her, "I hope everyone will be this energetic when the training camp starts."

Yamami Maki chuckled softly, and Tayo-chan walked up to the two of them. "Tomoka, everyone's here. We can get ready to go."

“Okay.” Tomatsu Yuka nodded, turned to the crowd and raised her voice, “Everyone can enter the station now. Please stay close to your companions and be careful not to fall behind.”

The girls lined up and entered the station, with Tayo-chan leading the way and Tomatsu-yuka bringing up the rear. The seniors standing to the side waved goodbye to the group.

"Good luck with the training camp! Don't slack off. Back in our day, we practiced like we were going to die every day!"

"You won the national gold medal last year, so you're going to bring it back this year too!"

"I've heard that cat demons can transform into handsome young men, so don't be fooled by your childhood sweetheart's good looks!"

"If you encounter this, please give me your contact information so I can handle it!"

The laughter of young girls echoed at the station entrance, adding a restless feeling to the hearts of commuters that was not part of summer.

Yamami Maki took a candy out of her pocket and put it into her junior's hand.

"Good luck, Yuhana! I'll be waiting for you at the Tokyo Metropolitan Tournament!"

"Thank you, senior. I will do my best."

Tomatsu Yuka raised her fair fist and smiled. She grabbed her suitcase and prepared to walk towards the entrance passage.

But before taking a step, she glanced at her senior's smile.

Suddenly, as if struck by a thought, the girl reached out and gave Yamami Maki a hug.

"Eh?"

Yamami Maki was somewhat surprised. Although she often played with her cute junior, the two of them had at most linked arms before, and had never hugged like this.

Tomatsu Yuka rested her head on the girl's shoulder, took a deep breath, and inhaled the fragrance of Yamami Maki's hair.

"Um, Yuka?"

She let go of her hands, and the two separated. The girl smiled and said, "I'm a little reluctant to part with you, senior."

“You can call me~” Yamami Maki made a phone call gesture. “Voice or video calls are both fine.”

"Don't find me annoying later, okay?" Tomatsu Yuka turned around. "Goodbye, senpai~"

Goodbye, Yuuka~

The girls in the brass band quickly took their seats in the orange-painted train, chatting excitedly. Tomatsu Yuka put her suitcase in the space at the back of the carriage and sat down alone by the window.

The train started very smoothly, and as she looked out the window at the scenery rushing past, she recalled the embrace she had felt earlier.

The taste is somewhat similar. The girl's eyes unconsciously darkened.

However, the senior student's scent was very distinctly like shampoo, with a strong synthetic feel, which was different from the scent on Songzhi.
What Tomatsu Tomoka didn't know was that Yamami Maki would only spray a little perfume on herself when she met Matsueda Jun.

"Alright, all ready!" Tayo, who sat down next to her, interrupted her thoughts.

"Once we get to Qingmei, is there anything you want to do, Yuhua?"

"Hmm," Tomatsu Yuka subconsciously revealed a faint smile.

"I might call my senior a few more times."

(End of this chapter)