I play wind instruments in Kansai.

"Ah~~ It seems you've always been very perceptive. Look over there."

Kohinata reluctantly raised her eyes and immediately noticed a girl chatting and laughing with others.

But she only glanced at it before looking away, and said in a low voice:

"I know."

Kondo Suzuna said:

"See? All the things you did were meaningless. The people you once protected have long since become one with them. They don't need you to stick your neck out anymore. Now they've gotten into the A section as they wished, and she didn't even speak up for you afterwards."

Does this mean I should mind my own business?

"You must protect yourself before you can help others."

"So you didn't speak up for me back then."

“If I had spoken up for you, I wouldn’t be standing here lecturing you now, and my name wouldn’t even be on the A-list.”

Kondo Suzuna glanced back, seemingly unintentionally, her expression not very happy.

"The fact that the Kansai bronze medalist has prevented us from qualifying for the national tournament has somewhat dampened the spirits of this club. Well, for most of the brass bands in Waka Prefecture, Hoshibayashi is still an unattainable dream."

Although Da Gaoyang and Xinglin are both top contenders in their respective fields, with one consistently winning bronze and the other silver, neither can make it to the national tournament. However, they are considered the king and the little king in their local area.

Kohiko Hina's brows furrowed as she looked down at her feet, where the concrete surface appeared exceptionally clear.

"We only have three years. Seizing the opportunity is the most precious thing. In the future, Hina will have plenty of time to play the hero. You should probably admit that by now."

"Admit what?"

He admitted to doing many foolish things, saying, "I was wrong, Rena was right, I should have listened to you."

Kondo Suzuna glanced at her, rubbed her chin, and said with a confident expression,

"And I've heard that you've been doing odd jobs in Zhimu, haven't you? What's wrong? Are you getting frustrated because you can't touch an instrument and go on stage? Have you realized that this club is definitely doomed, and you're trying to distract yourself?"

Koharu Koharu's hands clenched tightly, her left fingernails digging into her skin, leaving deep marks on her palm.

"You've always disliked the decisions I make, haven't you?"

"......"

Kondo Suzuna remained silent for a moment, her eyelashes drooping slightly, the light and shadow in her eyes appearing fragmented.

“Every time I talk to you, Hina, I have this feeling that you are wielding the sword of justice in front of everyone, but you yourself seem very fragile. In the end, everyone seems to be the villain, and you are like an angel. After you leave, everyone seems even worse.”

Kohika Hina gripped the dancing stick tightly, wanting to swing her arm and fling it into the air.

"Well, I have a pretty good relationship with the minister now. The ministers from each school should know each other, since they all go to the Wind Ensemble Federation for meetings."

Kondo Suzuna's tone became increasingly relaxed, even tinged with a hint of teasing.

"As long as you admit your mistake, I'll help you however you want."

After she finished speaking, she winked at Kohinata and stuck out her little tongue.

Kohinata looked on with a grimace, furious. Her shoulders trembled, and she snapped, "..."

"I'm going back!"

As soon as I turned around, I saw Gong Lingwang standing behind me. I was so angry that I didn't look carefully and almost bumped into him.

"What are you doing! Get out of my way!"

"So polite."

Consumed by her anger, Gong Lingwang couldn't help but complain.

"hiss--!"

Upon seeing it was him, Kohika Hina didn't say anything, but simply walked towards the Osamu Brass Band with the Terminator-like gait.

Her powerful stride caused many people on the street to quickly make way for her.

"Hello."

Miyamine raised his hand and greeted Kondo Suzuna.

She had already noticed Miyamine Nozomi, and had been standing silently behind Kohika Hinana, raising her index finger to signal her to keep quiet.

Kondo Suzuna glanced at him, her tone unconsciously softening:

"What do you mean? Can someone with her personality even have a boyfriend?"

"We're just ordinary friends. Sorry, I have to go now."

Kondo Suzuna raised her hand and waved, saying:

"Bye-Bye."

At this moment, Gongling Wang suddenly turned his head and reminded him:

"She's a really nice person."

"......Um."

"Goodbye."

Watching the two figures disappear into the distance, she murmured to herself, a mixture of jealousy and relief in her voice:

"Misfortune and fortune come in pairs, Hina."

◇

Miyamine Nozomi quickly followed, and when they returned to the Haruki Brass Band, she found that Kohikana Hina had already lost the temper she had on the way.

"How many times have I told you! Don't run around when you get to the venue! Don't run around! Do you know how many people I've called to look for you?!"

An Hechun straightened her back and sternly reprimanded Koharu Hina. When an angry person meets an even angrier person, there must be a winner.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!"

Knowing she had done something wrong, Kohinata Hina clasped her hands in front of her lower abdomen and repeatedly bowed to An and Jun in apology.

"Seriously—!"

Seeing her sincere attitude, An Hechun had no choice but to give up. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gong Lingwang walking over, pointing between the two of them with his right hand.

"Gong Ling, keep an eye on her."

Gongling Wang frowned in confusion and said:

"Why? Doesn't she have any friends? Does she need me to watch over her?"

“I’m very busy,” Anhe Jun said casually, leaning on his hip with one hand. “You seem very capable, and I’ll feel more at ease with Hina when she’s with you.”

Hinata Kohinata timidly raised her arm and said:

"Um, Anhe-senpai, I can take care of myself."

“People who make mistakes should shut up!” An Hechun pretended to be fierce and raised her finger, poking her smooth forehead hard.

"Ughhhhh—!"

Kohikana had her eyes tightly closed, and her head was being poked and tilted back.

"Wakayama Municipal Haruki Ensemble! Wakayama Municipal Haruki Ensemble! Line up!" a staff member wearing a baseball cap shouted nearby.

The previously orderly club suddenly became somewhat chaotic because of this sentence, and began to line up in the street.

I don't know what school is ahead, but I keep turning my head to look at them every now and then.

“Gongling, Gongling, look at me, look at me.”

Kato Ai, standing in the first position, turned around holding the main card and stood straight in front of him.

"Is there anything strange? Or is there anything that needs to be changed?"

Although she loves being the center of attention, it's undeniable that Ai Kato is beautiful, and her personality actually makes her more popular with boys at school.

“There’s nothing strange about it,” Miyamine Nozomi said.

"Wow, I didn't feel anything at first, but now I'm so nervous."

Kato Ai raised her hand and gently patted her bulging breasts, saying,

"The pressure is so intense! I feel like everyone is watching me!"

It wasn't just her feeling; it was a fact. Miyamine Nozomi could sense that there were significantly more photographers and supporters on both sides of the street.

At first glance, one might really think that Haruki is a very popular brass band.

What's absurd is that Miyamine Nozomi subconsciously felt it was understandable, because although the Haruki Brass Band was terrible, the girls in it were pretty and could "fly bricks with great strength".

“Odaka (大高阳)——!”

A tall girl with a single ponytail suddenly shouted loudly. Her voice was not shrill, but very clear and crisp.

The leader of the team at the front raised his right hand, which was clenched into a fist, and everyone's eyes were immediately drawn to him, as if they were being attracted by a magnet.

The next second, dozens of voices merged into a thunderclap:

"Tension! (Full power!)"

The band in front erupted in enthusiastic cheers, as if no matter what happened, it would propel the band forward.

Miyamine Nozomi now finally understands why there are so many people; it's not because the girls in the Haruki Brass Band are too pretty.

It's not because the team in front is the dominant Da Gaoyang, but because wherever they are, they become the center of attention.

The Haruki Concert Club could only be said to have benefited a little from the situation. Even when they heard others cheering, they couldn't help but feel a surge of enthusiasm for brass music, which made them feel elated.

"Kato-kun, everyone's probably not looking at you," Miyamine reminded him.

"I know......"

Now that things have come to this, Kato Ai no longer had the courage to hold on. She leaned to one side and spoke to An and Jun, who were leaning on their arms.

"Senior Anhe, don't we have a slogan?"

An Hechun twirled the staff in his hand with great flair, clearly showing that he had put in a lot of hard work.

Yes, keep it up!

"Eh..."

It's too ordinary; in fact, it doesn't inspire any fighting spirit at all.

"The club is basically a big pyramid scheme. How can it function without slogans?" Kato Ai said, puffing out her cheeks.

"Then you can handle the slogan," An Hechun said with a smile. "Anyway, there aren't many occasions where you'll have to recite it."

"Whether you have shoes to wear or how far you walk has nothing to do with it!"

Kato Ai moved her right hand, which was holding the sign, up and down, causing the sign to bounce back and forth.

Even if you blow a bad tune, you still have to show your spirit!

There was no announcement of the bands' appearances on the radio; the only way to identify the bands was by the signs they were holding.

"One, two, three, four—!"

The young girl leading the group in Otakayo counted the beats loudly, and when the first timpani fell, Miyamine Nozomi could feel the ground beneath her feet tremble.

The band from Da Gaoyang marched forward in perfect unison, their black low-heeled shoes clicking on the asphalt, the sound of their instruments creating a surging tide that flowed from the front to the back of the procession.

It's "Down by the Riverside," a very common parade piece. It's common because it's in Kyoto Tachibana's performance repertoire.

In the Kansai region, schools that participate in marching bands subconsciously look for songs in Kyoto Tachibana's repertoire, and there are also readily available marching video performances that can be used as a standard.

Liu Mujie Deng stood still, the sycamore leaves by the roadside swaying back and forth overhead, the applause of the onlookers occasionally breaking into the music.

Performing behind such a strong school, it's impossible not to feel pressure.

The girls in the odd-numbered rows are spaced evenly apart, and no matter where they are, their voices are full of confidence, and the orchestral and woodwind instruments can produce sound at the same time.

With stable intervals, each instrument can produce a beautiful sound.

Willow Wood Lamp's breathing suddenly quickened, her delicate eyelashes trembled, and an unspeakable embarrassment stirred in her eyes.

In her mind, if Da Gaoyang's walking was so excellent, then his seated playing, which he specialized in, was even more outstanding.

If a team like this can only win silver at the Kansai tournament, it's hard to imagine how terrifying the strong schools in other regions must be.

Back in the department, she believed that they shouldn't participate in the marching competition, but should instead focus on selecting pieces and then starting training.

But now, she is somewhat glad that she came to the Music March.