By Monday, the Human Observation Club was already busy dealing with the "wasted club" crisis.
Seino Rin had taken it upon herself to manage the entire Wind Ensemble Club and act as a temporary advisor.
Watanabe Tetsu's task was simpler in comparison: convince the Student Council to acknowledge the Human Observation Club's legitimacy if they helped the Wind Ensemble Club secure a spot in the Kanto High School Music Competition.
In reality, the Student Council at Shinkawa Private Academy was far less influential than in anime. Most students didn't even know who the president was.
Though Watanabe Tetsu wasn't exactly an ordinary student, he didn't know where the Student Council room was either. So he decided to visit the principal's office, a place he'd been before.
"…That's basically the situation. I hope the principal can give us a chance to earn some privileges through our own efforts," he explained.
The old principal rubbed the back of his left hand with his right and carefully considered his words. "Since the founding of this school, we have always advocated for students managing other students. Watanabe-kun, it would be more appropriate for you to discuss this matter with the Student Council directly."
"Understood. Thank you, Principal," Watanabe Tetsu replied with some regret. "I'll pass your words along to Seino-san and Mikki. We'll figure something out ourselves."
"Of course," the principal said, intertwining his fingers tightly and pressing his lips together. "At Shinkawa, strength comes first. If Seino-san truly manages to get the Wind Ensemble Club into the Kanto High School Music Competition, I'm confident the Student Council will recognize the significance of your club's existence."
"Thank you, Principal! I'll make sure to tell them that too!"
"Mm. And don't let your studies slip," the principal added.
After leaving the principal's office, Watanabe Tetsu returned straight to the classroom. From here on, the Student Council's part of the work was out of his hands. The Human Observation Club—or rather, Seino Rin—just needed to get the Wind Ensemble Club into the Kanto competition.
As for Watanabe Tetsu, until the Kanto High School Music Competition concluded in August, he could focus on practicing the oboe and refining his massage skills in peace.
In high spirits, Watanabe Tetsu pulled the oboe reed from his pocket and began blowing haphazardly, playing a rudimentary version of "Jingle Bells."
After school, he arrived at the Human Observation Club's activity room and heard discussions from inside.
Pushing open the sliding door, he saw that the eight-person beechwood table was completely full—even his usual seat was occupied by Asuka Mai.
Interestingly, whether due to Seino Rin's subtle hint or simple courtesy, no one had taken the sofa where Yuki Mikki usually sat.
Seeing Watanabe Tetsu enter, the Wind Ensemble Club members chorused, "Excuse us."
"No problem," he waved, signaling them to continue.
They went back to their discussion while Watanabe Tetsu tossed his backpack onto the sofa. He unpacked the oboe, temporarily dubbed the "black recorder," assembled it carefully, and placed it to the side with a sense of solemnity.
He held the reed in his mouth, blowing softly, and flipped through Beginner's Exercises for Oboe Scales.
"…The problem lies with the upperclassmen. If they persist—" Seino Rin was mid-sentence, glancing at him.
"Bububu, bububu, bububububu—" he continued struggling through "Jingle Bells."
"…if they keep insisting, we'll have no choice…" she went on.
After memorizing a section of the book, Watanabe Tetsu brought out a tuner, set it to 440 Hz, and carefully inserted the reed into the oboe.
"Gah… gah-gah."
He stopped, repositioning his fingers.
This time, no sound came out.
No matter; he was just a beginner.
He cleared his throat, adjusted the reed depth, and straightened his posture.
The oboe was genuinely difficult. Unlike other instruments, which produced sound easily with sufficient breath, this one resisted, requiring a tiny, precise stream of air. It almost felt like holding his breath.
The CO₂ trapped in his lungs was unpleasant.
For beginners trying to sustain notes, dizziness was common; fainting from improper technique wasn't unusual.
For now, Watanabe Tetsu's goal was simple: make a sound.
He removed the mouthpiece and blew into it like a whistle, carefully observing the correct embouchure from his book.
As Watanabe Tetsu lost himself in practice, the others in the club meeting suffered in silence.
Mid-sentence, Seino Rin was interrupted by the occasional "bububu… buh—" from him.
Feeling he was starting to get the hang of the embouchure, he reinserted the reed and occasionally produced a note resembling a duck call.
Whenever this happened, everyone went silent, waiting for the sound to end, while Seino Rin rubbed her temples in frustration.
"Knock, knock, knock."
The activity room door was suddenly tapped.
"Come in."
Two boys and a girl stood at the doorway, glaring. "We're from the neighboring Calligraphy Club. Could you try not to produce such shrill sounds?"
Seino Rin smiled faintly at Watanabe Tetsu.
"Sorry, sorry. I'll practice somewhere else," he said, putting the oboe down.
After the complaint, all he could do was study theory and whistle softly through the reed.
"Watanabe-kun, for the oboe, you really should find a proper teacher," suggested a girl from the Wind Ensemble, sporting a hairstyle reminiscent of a yakuza wife.
"Ah, thank you," Watanabe Tetsu said, nodding.
Once the group left, Watanabe Tetsu prepared to continue practice when Seino Rin asked, "Did the Student Council agree?"
"Yes."
Seino Rin frowned. "Be honest."
He paused his whistling, recounting the visit to the principal that afternoon.
"Next time the Student Council gives you trouble, just send them to the principal. He'll definitely help persuade them," Watanabe Tetsu concluded.
Seino Rin nodded, borrowing a bit of the Seino family authority for leverage. She wouldn't misuse privilege, but she also wouldn't prevent others from using it, and with or without her, the Yuki family situation wouldn't change.
"What about you? Any trouble?" Watanabe Tetsu asked.
"I'll handle it." The sun setting behind her, Seino Rin picked up a book wrapped in a dust jacket.
It turned out the matter was trickier than Watanabe Tetsu expected. After several meetings, by Thursday, Seino Rin finally informed him that everything was resolved.
"Too slow," she frowned. "We wasted several days of practice."
Bringing the Shinkawa Private Academy Wind Ensemble to the Kanto competition required every second of preparation.
Of course, this had nothing to do with Watanabe Tetsu.
"Can I come with you?" he asked.
Seino Rin tilted her head, confused.
"I want to practice a little longer," he said, pointing at the oboe on the table.
Even in his rental apartment, he faced complaints, so he could only practice by the riverside mornings and evenings—but progress was slow, and summer mosquitoes were relentless.
If he could practice in the Wind Ensemble's music room, he could avoid bugs and gain several extra hours daily.
Still, Watanabe Tetsu had a bad feeling: by July, he might still be battling duck-call-like noises.
All he could do now was try his best. Perhaps Yuki Mikki would forgive him for his efforts—or at least only punish him with massages.
On Friday, after a day of clear weather, the rainy season returned.
Watanabe Tetsu was in high spirits, even staying up late the night before.
June 21st marked twenty-three days since he confessed to Yuki Mikki in the courtyard on May 29th.
She had agreed to date him during lunch break, so by today's lunch, they had officially been together for one month.
The entire morning, Watanabe Tetsu cheerfully whistled—not from frivolity, but as a beginner's oboe practice technique.
At lunch, with a little time left before the official sign-in, he went with Seino Rin to the music room.
All Wind Ensemble members seemed to be present; the room was packed.
They whispered amongst themselves—quiet individually, but with over eighty people, it became a cacophonous roar.
"Please quiet down. The meeting is starting," shouted Komatsu, the club president, raising her voice.
Gradually, the room settled.
"After discussion and with teacher approval, we have decided to officially appoint Seino Rin as our temporary advisor," Komatsu announced.
Seino Rin walked to the podium, unafraid of facing eighty students.
Watanabe Tetsu followed, hiding near the window.
"I'll introduce myself," she began, her voice steady. "I'm Seino Rin. I specialize in trumpet and will guide all brass instruments. For woodwinds and percussion, I'll find top-tier instructors."
No one opposed her. Watanabe Tetsu guessed that during her previous efforts, she had already proven her brass proficiency.
'Too bad—I really wanted to see her single-handedly take down the Wind Ensemble Club! But isn't that what I, the "main character," should be doing? Why am I stuck with the easy, dirty work?' he thought.
Lost in his musings, he noticed someone staring: Tamamo Koumi, a beautiful girl, quickly looked away.
Seino Rin pointed at the blackboard, on which "Kanto High School Music Competition" was written, and said, "This is your goal for this year."
Many students looked ashamed; others expressionless.
Her gaze swept over everyone before she decisively drew a large X over "Kanto High School Music Competition."
'Hey! Publicly humiliating them in front of eighty people? Even I would run with you!' Watanabe Tetsu thought.
Then Seino Rin added, "Change your goal to this."
"National Competition Gold Medal"
The room erupted. Even the bass section looked surprised—they hadn't expected this.
Before anyone could object, Seino Rin's cold voice cut through.
"You don't have to care about the goal. Even if you just want to perform once, that's fine. You must follow my instructions and carry out my arrangements strictly."
A sharp voice challenged her, "That's easier said than done."
Seino Rin's gaze landed on Inoue-senpai and others. "I don't care what you think. My goal is the National Gold Medal. Unlike you, once I set a goal, I will achieve it."
More whispers arose.
"And I never fail—and I will not allow failure. This time will be no exception."
A sarcastic voice retorted, "You're Seino-san, how could you fail?"
Watanabe Tetsu watched Seino Rin. She had never used privilege before; she would not now. Any help others offered would not diminish her achievements.
Would she be angry? No. She didn't even respond, setting down the chalk.
"First order of business: tonight, I will personally select the fifty-five members of Group A who will compete."
"What?"
"Impossible!"
"Do we get a chance?"
"Isn't it natural for senpai to perform?"
Seino Rin coldly interrupted the chaos. "Those speaking up now are probably aware they won't make it."
Watanabe Tetsu inhaled sharply.
[You have a new message]
'Chief, watch your tone!'
The room erupted again. Some students jumped up, chairs screeching.
They yelled at Seino Rin.
"You're a freshman! What do you know?"
"Even our advisor wouldn't dare decide this!"
"Having her as a guide is a waste of time."
The door opened. Inoue-senpai and others stormed out.
Remaining students exchanged anxious glances.
"Good riddance to those who can't stick with their own decisions," Seino Rin said casually. "I'll repeat: you may be uneasy, refuse to participate, dislike me, even hate me. But if you choose to compete with me, obey my arrangements from now on!"
She picked up a stack of sheet music from the podium.
"Komatsu, distribute these to everyone."
"Ah, yes!" Komatsu quickly complied.
Everyone received the music. Watanabe Tetsu got a copy too.
"These are the assigned and optional pieces for selecting official members. Practice well."
"And don't assume that being in Group A is permanent. Until the competition, if a Group B member surpasses someone in Group A, I will move them immediately."
"Participation in today's post-school selection is optional. But consider your experience in the concert hall last Saturday. There are only two more regular performances. Do you want to continue like this?"
"Lastly, I repeat: since you made the decision, I hope you persist."
The room fell silent. Seino Rin swiftly turned and left the classroom.
Watanabe Tetsu followed.
"Couldn't there have been a nicer way to say it?" he asked.
"Better to let conflict erupt early. I won't allow anyone to quit after trying for a while," she replied.
"Makes sense, but aren't you afraid of being disliked?"
Seino Rin stopped and looked at him. "I'll tell you why I'm so good."
"Go ahead."
"I care only about those I care about. What others think doesn't matter."
Watanabe Tetsu nodded. "There was no one in the classroom worth caring about."
Seino Rin glanced at him. "Why are you rambling? Aren't you supposed to practice?"
"Ah, right!" He slapped his forehead, remembering not practice but the sign-in reward.
[Sign-in Days: Yuki Mikki · 30 days]
[Player receives sign-in gift]
[Points · 200,000]
[Money · 100 million yen]
[Charm Discount Coupon (3% off if charm <10, 7% off if >10)]
[Intelligence Discount Coupon (3% off if IQ <10, 7% off if >10)]
Plain, no surprises.
But Watanabe Tetsu loved it.
A full 200,000 points!
"Mikki, I love you!"
"You want to die? Do you even know what time it is?!"
"Beep beep."