I play wind instruments in Kansai.

As soon as he said those words, an unusual silence filled the entire music store, and Shiraishi Hitomi's fingers were very tense.

Silence is the answer; Miyamine Nozomi tried her best to make her tone as gentle as possible.

"Shiraishi-kun, do you really think it's okay even now? If Kirishima-kun leaves the brass band in the future, will you really stay?"

“I will,” she said.

"If she started her own wind band and asked you to join her, would you still stay?"

"......"

She suddenly stopped, and the answer was obvious.

Yuiyuu's worries were not unfounded. Hitomi Shiraishi was extremely dependent on Ruka Kirishima, and if a second brass band were to appear in the school in the future, she would be the first to leave.

For Hitomi Shiraishi, Ruka Kirishima was the most important friend in her life, and she had long been accustomed to suppressing her true thoughts when faced with her requests.

Miyamine Nozomi continued:

"Do you really enjoy playing the piccolo? Is it possible that your willingness to listen to her too much has reinforced the stereotypes about Kirishima?"

"..."

"Shiraishi-kun, if there's anything you don't want to do, you can—"

"Xiaotong, we have guests?"

A woman walked out and interrupted Miyamine Nozomi's 'talk therapy hypnosis'. She was wearing a loose cotton dress and carrying a plate of fruit.

However, judging from her appearance, this woman does not resemble Hitomi Shiraishi at all.

43. Unicorn's Heavenly Finger

She wore light makeup, her back was straight, and she didn't have the obvious femininity that Gong Ling's mother possessed.

It's not quite the same as what Miyamine Nozomi imagined in her mind.

Bai Shi's mother put down the small fruit plate and said with a smile:

"I won't bother you any longer, Xiaotong. Would you like some dessert? I'll bring it back for you later."

Shiraishi Hitomi shook her head, but Miyamine Nozomi could keenly notice that her neck twitched slightly.

"Need not."

"it is good."

Shiraishi's mother didn't greet Miyamine Nozomi in any way, but simply gave him a bright smile.

After she left, Gong Lingwang whispered:

"I don't seem to resemble you much, Shiraishi-kun."

"Ah."

No denial.

Shiraishi Hitomi's expression remained unchanged as she placed the flute on the velvet cloth and carefully fastened the lid of the instrument case.

"All right."

"Thank you."

Gongling Wang naturally didn't want to leave just like that.

"Are you planning to continue like this? Not talking to people, or are you afraid that people will dislike you if you talk to them?"

Shiraishi Hitomi paused, subconsciously stroking the edge of the care box with her fingers, before finally saying:

"Keeping my mouth shut saves me a lot of trouble."

Hitomi Shiraishi's eyes were fixed on the three-note mark on the flute case. Beneath her nonchalant demeanor and the layers of her tone, a hint of anxiety could be detected.

"Isn't Gong Ling the same? He doesn't say anything, which saves a lot of trouble."

“I’ve been talking the whole time.”

"no."

Shiraishi Hitomi's dark eyes, devoid of any emotion, stared unblinkingly at his hand as she spoke.

"You don't speak up or stand out within the department, isn't that to save trouble? Why are you saying here that I 'intend to continue like this'?"

"..."

Gong Ling looked at her, completely surprised that she would say such a thing.

Perhaps I underestimated her. She is actually very emotionally intelligent and has strong observation skills; she's just not good at speaking.

"What you're saying is that I'm actually no better than you, and there's no need for me to lecture you?" Gong Lingwang asked.

"Well......"

Shiraishi Hitomi remained silent for a long while, her eyes drooping slightly, as if she had said something wrong again.

"Don't feel embarrassed, I'm not angry, and what you said is true."

Gongling Wang said calmly.

"There are usually three arguments to support the effort put into something: First, if the outcome is not pleasant, then the process is important; second, if I do not know the outcome, then the outcome is the most important; third, if I do not care about the outcome, then the present moment is the most important."

"Well?"

The gaze that Shiraishi Hitomi cast was no longer as ethereal and dreamlike as before; it seemed to have gained some substance.

Miyamine Nozomi continued, unconvinced:

"Based on the current situation, the outcome of the Haruki Brass Band is bound to be unpleasant. The members are not in good condition, so the process of getting along will definitely be uncomfortable, so pass. Second, I already knew that we were destined to lose, so pass. Third, I care a lot about the outcome, so pass. So can you understand me?"

Hitomi Shiraishi blinked and raised her right hand to stroke the strand of hair that fell from her left earlobe.

“I’ve been keeping quiet for a reason, but that might change now,” Miyamine Nozomi said.

"what?"

"This leadership is willing to try reforms, and as the best flutist in the department, I am naturally willing to try as well."

Gong Lingwang turned to the side, tilting his head slightly as he looked at her and said,

"So can you understand the difference between you and me? I have my own considerations, but you, Shiraishi, are different. You always put others first, constantly breaking your own promises. You're just wasting your own life."

I think that's why Liu Mu is angry with you. She's really a girl who's tough on the outside but soft on the inside, and I quite like her."

Silence, a tangible reality, lay between the two of them, and even the clock hanging behind her seemed to grow noisier in Gong Lingwang's eyes as it moved forward.

Shiraishi Hitomi's eyes flickered noticeably, just as the dim yellow light thickened, bathing her exposed, slender limbs in its glow.

"Miyare, do you like the flute?" she asked softly.

Seeing that she had taken the initiative to start a conversation, Gong Lingwang was overjoyed, but his expression remained gentle:

"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have played the flute for so many years. Have you heard the flute version of 'Bird's Poem'? It's very interesting. I think everyone in the troupe has a musical instrument they've studied for this purpose."

Shiraishi Hitomi asked:

"what is that?"

Miyamine Nozomi explained:

"In short, it's a very old piece. People our age probably don't remember it. I was recommended it by my childhood teacher. It's a very simple piece, but its chords are beautiful."

"Can you blow it?" she asked.

Gongling Wang raised an eyebrow; he had already memorized the melody of this piece.

Unfasten the silver clasp she had fastened earlier, take out the flute, and assemble it.

The opening phrase is a long E. While Miyamine Nozomi's left index finger is pressing the C key, her left little finger is placed on the E flat in advance in preparation for the descending note that follows.

The long note rose very lightly, like a feather defying gravity, and even the clock hands seemed to stop their forward movement, frozen in place, listening intently.

The flute lay across Gong Lingwang's lips, its silver body reflecting the light like a piece of water held in his hand.

The melody begins to climb, entering the first measure of the main melody, with an octave leap.

The walls were dissolved by the melody, and the ceiling seemed to be pushed open to reveal an invisible staircase. The melody spiraled up along these staircases, with graceful arcs.

Miyamine Nozomi's flute playing maintained a pure and transparent tone, and her breath control was very stable, with the air column never breaking.

The fingering for this piece is not complicated; the only difficulty lies in the numerous long notes, which tests the player's breath control.

"sharp."

Shiraishi Hitomi looked at him with a somewhat blank expression, raised her hands and clapped lightly, but didn't make a single sound of applause.

"It's alright, quite simple."

Gongling Wang smiled gently and said,

"Although it's a high-pitched instrument, you play it quite well on your piccolo."

Hitomi Shiraishi's fingers slid through her hair, and her soft whispers always made one's heart skip a beat:

"How long will it take me to train to become like you?"

"That might be a bit difficult. I consider myself to have some talent," Gong Lingwang said with a smile.

Hitomi Shiraishi asked curiously:

"Then why were you only a B-level editor in Hokkaido?"

She herself didn't seem to think that her words sounded like she was nitpicking, but Miyamine Nozomi understood her to some extent.

Gong Lingwang said with deep emotion.

"Because there are many geniuses in this world. You may work very hard, but there will always be someone who works harder than you, and those who are older than you have the advantage of time."

Even without a system, Miyamine Nozomi believed that she was a genius in playing wind instruments.

The system's appearance was merely icing on the cake for him.

He was proud but not arrogant, believing that he was still far from being a top-tier flutist in the country.

“Hmm…” Shiraishi Hitomi understood the meaning of those words to some extent.

"Like Shiraishi, you are a rare genius."

Gongling Wang gave her a captivating, clear smile and spoke in a almost hypnotic tone,

"In the entire brass section, I think you are the most talented one. With such strong musical talent, who can push you forward? Who can stop you?"

When you achieve success, everyone will pay attention to your thoughts. You won't need to be a foil for anyone, nor will you need to worry about not being able to continue without someone, because you will be the biggest support. No one will dare to say no to what you want, just like Daidouji-senpai.

His words left Shiraishi Hitomi speechless for a moment, which Miyamine Nozomi could understand.

How could a girl who has always followed the ideas of others become a "background" figure overnight?

[Market Update: Hitomi Shiraishi surges 30%]

[Interpretation of the unusual activity: Inspired by the belief that only by increasing one's strength can one better fulfill the entrustment of others, achieve goals, and be needed more, one also believes that new friends have been made]

Current value: 28.6

Current holdings: 803386 yen

Current profit: 185397 yen

The chart of Shiraishi Tong's stock price suddenly appeared before his eyes. As expected of the unicorn concept stock given by the system, this one "Heavenly Finger" made him a lot of money.

In particular, the profit points increased by more than 30 points, bringing the balance to 42 points.

In comparison, Kato Ai was incredibly weak. Luckily, she cleared out her positions early, otherwise she would have missed out on Hitomi Aoi's market performance.

Now, Gong Lingwang can buy "Heavenly Hearing" and "Conductor" in the system.

With these two, not only would Hayami Tenma-sei attract attention, but even his grandmother's Shiba Inu would be noticed.

However, these two are not necessities; for him, being proficient in musical instruments is essential.

If you're looking for a prank, that thing you can exchange five points for to implement the "All Women's Happiness Plan" is pretty good...

I don't have any other unhealthy thoughts. It's just that playing the wind instrument is tiring, so isn't it good that this can make everyone happy?

Anyway, they don't know they're doing a good deed; they just feel like someone is giving them a massage.

I'll think about which one to choose when I get back.