Any exceptional private school wind ensemble holds regular concerts.
If the group qualifies for the national competition and has a decent skill level, they can even sell tickets.
Of course, a wind ensemble without notable achievements can still hold regular concerts, though free admission doesn't guarantee anyone will show up.
At the start of the new semester, perhaps unwilling to let their private school life end on a bland note, the "upper echelon" of Kamikawa Private School's Wind Ensemble made a decision:
They would participate in the Kanto Private Schools Competition.
It wasn't just a slogan—they backed it up with real action: more intense training and proactively signing up for the regular concert.
Then, at their first concert, they were mercilessly criticized.
And not just mildly—criticism that completely crushed morale.
According to Asako Hanada, she spent the entire day afterward lying in bed, utterly defeated by the comments.
"Just leave with happy memories… at our level, no matter how much we practice, there's no way we'll make it to the Kanto Private Schools Competition."
Someone, an upperclassman, muttered this first, and more joined in, turning the once-passionate plan to compete into a meaningless phrase written on the blackboard.
Whether they gave up or not didn't matter, but the concert they'd feverishly signed up for still had to be performed, as promised.
Near Sophia High School stood a music hall called Kioi Hall. From Yotsuya Station, take the train, get off at Kojimachi 5-chome, and walk 500 meters.
Kamigawa Private School's wind ensemble held their regular concerts here.
It was Saturday. A soft, non-annoying rain fell. Watanabe Tetsu, holding a transparent umbrella, stood at the ticket gate of Yotsuya Station.
Today was also a Human Observation Club activity: attending the wind ensemble concert to study Aoi Ichiki's love story.
Tetsu had no idea how the two were connected.
But before school ended yesterday, Rin Seino, in a gentle yet commanding tone, issued a "you absolutely must come" order. With too many stakes to ignore, he had no choice but to comply.
Still, going to a music hall on a rainy day wasn't unpleasant.
If he didn't understand the music, he could always nap.
As he stared at the rain, lost in thought, a familiar set of footsteps approached from behind, exuding the kind of self-awareness that screamed, "The whole world is waiting for me."
Tetsu turned around in disbelief.
Yuki Miki stood there, wearing a vintage light blue blouse and a white high-waist skirt.
My Miki is halfway across the ocean… I must be hallucinating because I miss her too much.
Miki squinted. The misty rain air thickened instantly, turning the atmosphere from fresh to heavy and oppressive.
Of course, this was exaggerated—only Tetsu's perception had changed.
"Where are you going?" she asked, arms crossed, a cold smirk on her face.
"Well…" Tetsu hesitated for a second, then decided to be honest.
He recounted everything about his recent interactions with girls: where he met them, what was said, how far apart they were.
Naturally, he omitted the incident with Mai Asuka. Too perverse. Mentioning that would be… suicidal.
He also modified the dream from that morning, making Miki the only woman in it.
After listening, Miki studied him with a meaningful gaze.
"My Tetsu… you seem rather close to Rin Seino, huh?"
"Not at all. At most, she's just an acquaintance. Didn't I just say I humiliated her in P.E.?"
"So then," Miki stepped under his umbrella, "why did you follow her into the infirmary?"
"…"
"Hm?" Miki's soft, delicate hand rested lightly on his shoulder.
This simple gesture drew the envious gazes of many at the station.
Little did they know, this position let Miki put more force into a kick with her right foot!
Tetsu dared not move.
Carrying Miki, in uniform, was easy enough—but what then? A Yotsuya Station deathmatch?
Miki looked at the speechless Tetsu and laughed, leaving him floating in suspense.
"Look at you… so cute." She tapped his chest lightly. "Let's go."
Tetsu exhaled in relief. "Where to?"
"Aren't you going to the concert? I have free time today. Consider it my girlfriend duty to accompany you."
"Really? Miki, you're way too cute!" Tetsu grabbed her hand. "I wish I could take you home for the summer."
"Want me to meet your parents?"
"No. I just can't bear not seeing you for over a month. I want to tie you up and hide you in a locker."
"Mhm—good idea. Next time I travel abroad, I'll hide you in my luggage too."
"…" Tetsu changed the subject. "Have your official duties been resolved?"
"No." Miki turned to him, smiling. "You pitifully called saying you missed me, so I came to see you."
"Miki, I love you." Tetsu's eyes welled up.
"Hehehe… good boy."
Hand in hand, walking side by side, they laughed and boarded the train to the music hall, like a real couple.
Latest Human Observation Report:
Just like the sun, the light of stars comes from the distant past. Everything humans experience now is already predetermined by the past.
Vice President Watanabe Tetsu's advice: never randomly call someone when your mind is fuzzy. And never say, "I miss you!"
Many people came to the concert on weekends for free. Couples walked hand in hand; families with children came along.
Entering the hall, Tetsu held the glass door for Miki. Behind her, a woman carrying a baby approached, and he waited patiently.
"Thank you," the woman nodded.
Miki, however, mercilessly stepped on his foot.
"I…" Tetsu gestured toward the woman, "she has a child, she's a mother… can't I just help her a little?"
"No."
"…"
"Any woman under sixty? No exceptions."
"…"
"If I ever catch you holding a door for a woman again, it won't just be a foot stomp next time." Miki's gaze fixed on his face; the next target was clear.
For some, this punishment might be a perverse reward—but not for Tetsu.
"Fine, can you move your foot now?"
"I thought you liked being stepped on?"
"…"
"Don't like it?"
"It's… comfortable, actually. If you keep doing this, I might make weird noises."
Miki hummed softly, interested.
"But here? That would shame the Yuki family. Better we do it secretly."
"You're getting sly," Miki said, finally moving her sandal-clad foot off Tetsu's sneaker, satisfied.