I play the wind instrument in Hokkaido.

Page 105

“I know who this person is, and I also know her motives and purpose.”

Her tone was very calm, which made Kitahara Hakuba a little curious.

"Who? Is it Saito-kun?" he asked bluntly.

"Teacher Kitahara, you know?" Nagase Tsukiyo blinked in surprise.

It really is?

"My guess."

Kitahara Hakuba shook his head, his gaze falling on the cup she had already finished drinking from.

"Let me pour you another glass."

"Thank you." Nagase Tsukiyo pursed her lips.

I picked up the cup and went back to the kitchen, taking out a family-sized bottle of barley tea from the refrigerator.

Kitahara Hakuba had only ever considered being reported by other teachers or competitors from other schools, but he never imagined being reported by his own students. He even thought they were so cute that they wouldn't do such a thing.

But now it seems ridiculous. Saito Haruka may be a girl, but she is already seventeen years old and has long been capable of distinguishing right from wrong.

Kitahara Hakuba didn't intend to blame her. Perhaps she was simply worried about Isomoto Yuka. After all, anyone would suspect something had happened if their friend stayed at a man's house so late.

Just as Kitahara Hakuba returned to the living room with his rambling thoughts spreading like vines, he found Nagase Tsukiyo sitting on a chair with one knee drawn up to her chest. He could vaguely see the girl's snow-white thighs and the rounded curves of her hips.

She took off the sock from the bent foot, revealing her fair ankle and beautiful toes, with her nails displaying a pale cherry-red hue.

Kitahara Hakuba didn't actually smell anything, but he couldn't help but breathe more heavily.

It's not that he's a pervert, he's just curious what these feet would taste like... Wait, how can you just take off your socks like that?

Nagase Tsukiyo rested her face on her knees, reached between her toes and pulled something out; the muscles on her pretty face twitched slightly.

Just as she was about to throw it into the trash can, she happened to see Kitahara Hakuba standing there observing, his probing gaze making her hold her breath.

"Sorry, there seem to be small pebbles in my socks. I don't remember taking them off..." Nagase Tsukiyo quickly curled her toes and put her white socks back on.

The girl was very smooth, and it went in easily.

“It’s alright, I encounter this situation often too,” Kitahara Hakuba said.

You should have gone to the bathroom, but you're taking your clothes off here. You don't just want me to see your jade, do you?

Nagase Tsukiyo lowered her head, her face slightly flushed. White socks with blue logos embroidered on them came into view.

"Why Saito-san?" Kitahara Hakuba asked, trying to divert her attention from the question and quickly returning to the main topic.

Nagase Tsukiyo, however, seemed somewhat restless:

"I don't have any concrete evidence, it's just a premonition, because whether it's Sakurako, Yuuka, Sakurako or Eri, or even me, we've all changed because of you, and she's probably going to do something..."

Her voice was calm, but when she said "it's still me," her face flushed slightly, and even her tone became much lower.

"What is her purpose? To drive me away?" Kitahara Hakuba asked.

"Yes, that might be the case."

Nagase Tsukiyo concluded in a somber tone.

"Because you, Kitahara-sensei, have taken too much from her."

"Me? What can I take from her?"

Kitahara Hakuba was still a little puzzled. He had been doing his best for the brass band, so what conflict of interest did he have with Saito Harukori? Didn't she want the brass band to have a good ending?

Nagase Tsukiyo noticed the confusion on his face, placed her hands gracefully on her lap, and said sternly:

“Now the entire brass band is revolving around you, Kitahara-sensei. Everyone is gradually no longer needing Harutori. She probably feels that she has become meaningless because of you, Kitahara-sensei.”

Her words hit the nail on the head, making Kitahara Hakuba realize that he had unknowingly become Saito Haruki's enemy.

"Really?"

That's so stingy!

"Ah."

Nagase Tsukiyo tossed her hair, revealing her almost translucent, snow-white skin, which contrasted beautifully with the golden sunlight falling on the floor.

“I went to see her today, but she instinctively avoided me, which made me even more convinced that she was afraid of being questioned by me.”

"You did it, but you're afraid?" Kitahara Hakuba couldn't understand.

"Because she is actually very timid. When she did something bad since she was a child, she would just hide, knowing in her heart that she would be scolded by me."

The sound that Nagase Tsukiyo made was very helpless, and a barely audible, anxious sigh came from between her teeth.

She also seemed uneasy about Saito Harutori's actions, her fingers lightly gripping her arm.

"I've known Qingniao since we were little. She was always alone, so I asked her if she wanted to play a musical instrument."

After that, she stayed with me. We joined the brass band together in junior high school, and that time was really happy.

“But she and I are not the same kind of people. She is too sensitive. She only thinks of one or two things. She feels that if we leave the club, we will become strangers. She also feels that everyone in the club is the same. Now everyone’s attention is on you, Kitahara-sensei. She feels that no one needs her.” As Nagase Tsukiyo spoke intermittently, Kitahara Hakuba was speechless for a moment.

What to do? It's like Saito Haruki has a mental illness, but it's actually me who has to make adjustments and argue.

In Kitahara Hakuba's eyes, one should process one's own emotions and not vent them on others at will.

Is it because you want to be relied upon and get attention that you would do something like this?

Does his departure mean the brass band will rely on her again?

This idea was so naive that it made Kitahara Hakuba want to laugh, but as a teacher, he should be thinking about how to solve the problem, and mocking her was not the right solution.

These kinds of girls may seem strong, but they are actually sensitive and fragile, so you should be careful.

Even so, it would be a lie to say that Kitahara Hakuba felt no anger at all:

"Instead of having this inexplicable desire to be relied upon, it would be better to improve your playing skills and bring back a gold medal from the entire province. With strength, people will naturally come to rely on you."

"Pfft!"

Nagase Tsukiyo couldn't help but laugh out loud, her sweet smile as she covered her mouth with her small hand was quite adorable.

As expected of a young lady from a wealthy family, her smile exudes a radiance that only the most discerning can witness.

"Funny?" he asked.

"No, it just feels like something a teacher would say." Nagase Tsukiyo's eyes were like crescent moons, with full under-eye bags.

"What should we do now? Should you talk to her, or should I talk to her?" Kitahara Hakuba asked.

Nagase Tsukiyo's faint smile faded, and a blush appeared on her flawless skin.

“I want to talk to her first and ask her to come to your home and apologize to you. If she is unwilling, I will force her to leave the department so as not to affect your guidance.”

Kitahara Hakuba frowned and said, "Is this a good idea? It's affecting your relationship too much."

"It's fine."

Nagase Tsukiyo's fingertips gripped the hem of her skirt helplessly, her full breasts rising and falling slightly.

"After all, we disturbed the teacher, so it was our fault."

"so be it."

"If Harutori leaves the club, what impact will it have on the club?" Nagase Tsukiyo asked curiously.

Kitahara Hakuba looked directly into her clear eyes and calmly said:

"It won't have any impact."

Although she is the lead bassist, he is a mentor and advisor who has the ability to promote other members and replace her.

"It won't have any impact." Nagase Tsukiyo laughed self-deprecatingly, her face full of frustration.

"What's wrong? Do you think I'm sometimes too harsh with my words?" Kitahara Hakuba asked with a smile.

Nagase Tsukiyo nodded noncommittally:

"Well, it would be a lie to say I'm not sad. As a wind instrument player, everyone hopes to be needed by the orchestra."

Kitahara Hakuba smiled gently: "And you? Do you hope I need you?"

Hmm:

He asked a simple question, but his tone was so gentle that it seemed quite ambiguous, causing Nagase Tsukiyo to involuntarily straighten his back.

The toes, encased in socks, curled up nervously, and all the heat was drawn to the face.

Was it a test? If so, would he let him go back? Did he need him?

It would be a lie to say she doesn't like the trumpet; after all, she's loved the instrument since childhood, otherwise she wouldn't have gone to such lengths to find a job and get into her dream university for further studies.

If possible, she would like to return to the brass band to perform.

"The brass band is already great. I can occasionally hear Kuno-senpai's trumpet playing. It's excellent. It's fine even if I'm not there."

Nagase Tsukiyo avoided Kitahara Hakuba's gaze and said with a forced smile.

The expression on her face confirmed that this was a lie. Kitahara Hakuba gazed at the girl's fair and smooth profile, and suddenly the image of Kanzaki Eri came to mind:

"Nase-san, for whom would you play?"

"For whom?"

"Like friends or something."

Hmm:

Nagase Tsukiyo pondered for a moment, then, stroking her chin with her small hand, said...

"I haven't thought about that. What I like is the feeling of playing together with everyone, like being on a musical staff, feeling the fluctuations of various notes, a feeling of being in the most comfortable place in the world, a feeling of complete ease and contentment."

She lowered her eyes slightly, spoke gently, and her eyes sparkled with a nostalgic light.

Seeing the girl's appearance, Kitahara Hakuba felt a tickle deep in his throat; he understood her feelings.

If Nagase Tsukiyo wants to come back, he would certainly welcome her, but only if the matter of Saito Haruka is resolved.

"Sorry for staying here too long." Nagase Tsukiyo took out her phone and checked the time; it was almost one o'clock.

"Okay, I won't send any more."

"it is good."