Lonely Rock, Liang is my fiancée

The long training finally bore fruitful results. Although Ito Rin had never trained with them, she had witnessed their efforts at school during the holidays.

For the same goal, we are heading to the national tournament, Kousaka Yuuna-san, please shine even brighter!

The infectious power of the music was reflected at this moment. Classmate Hong Xia, who was pulled together by him, unconsciously held Ito Rin's arm tightly and silently cheered for the classmates on the stage.

……

"I'm so nervous!"

"Koizumi, do you want to watch other schools' games?"

"I don't want to. Where is Kumiko? Where did she go?"

The results of the Kanto Tournament will not be announced until all schools have finished competing, and schools that finish early not only cannot leave, but also have to endure the uncertainty of not getting a definite result.

Most of the dozens of members of the wind band were overwhelmed by nervousness and paced in front of the door with their instruments in their arms. Only those members with good psychological qualities and confidence in their abilities were pulling others to watch their opponents' game.

The true masters go one step further.

"I feel so satisfied. I got up too late this morning and didn't have breakfast." Kumiko Asakura swallowed the omelette rice in her mouth, which relieved the discomfort of playing the euphonium on an empty stomach, and she felt revived again.

"Playing the euphonium requires a very high lung capacity, right? How can you play it so well on an empty stomach?" asked Ito Rin.

When Kumiko escaped, she brought Ito Rin along with her, and he brought Nijixia along as well. Together with Kousaka Yuna who had always been by her side, they formed a basic team of four.

It’s a pity that this is the home ground of wind music, otherwise we could start forming a rock band.

"Of course, I'm very good at it." Kumiko put down the plate and left the stall with a reluctant look on her face.

“So are you confident that you can enter the national competition?”

"Of course there is, don't you think so, Yuna?"

"Fifty percent probability."

"Are you so modest? I think your performance is amazing." Hong Xia said in amazement.

"No matter what, the final result will be either advancement or failure. Instead of spending energy discussing this kind of problem, it is better to use probability theory to decide the answer." Kousaka Yuuna said honestly.

"So it's just perfunctory." Ito Rin laughed, then said seriously: "If you add in the effort and talent of everyone, will the 50% who failed back off?"

"...70%, or 80%."

"You're really difficult, Yuna. You already have the answer but you still won't say it. It's really frustrating."

"Anyone has the right to say that, except for the bad-tempered Yumiko. And I'm hungry."

The relationship between the school girls is really close, and what she said is also right. Yumiko, who had just had breakfast, still looks hungry. There is still some time before the results are announced. Instead of going back to the door and being nervous with everyone, they might as well find a store to solve the problem of hunger.

"There's a ramen restaurant nearby that has good reviews. Do you want to go?" Hong Xia, who is good at using mobile phone apps, found a suitable place. Ito Rin glanced at the crowd outside the concert hall from afar and felt that it would be more appropriate to accompany the girls for a stroll outside.

"Are we going to continue eating ramen after eating omelet rice?" Asakura Yumiko frowned, looking worried.

It was just Kousaka Yuuna, who was most familiar to her, who spoke coldly and ruthlessly.

"We'll eat together, you just watch."

"No, eating continuously is a challenge for me, and I love challenges the most!"

Hongxia glanced at her and wanted to complain but didn't say it out loud. She suddenly felt that she seemed to have seen Yumiko's personality and tone somewhere before.

After walking for a distance following the map, I could hear voices of conversation behind me.

"Won't I get fat if I overeat?"

"Of course, but as long as you control where you gain weight, you'll earn money."

"Don't gesticulate when you talk, idiot."

"Damn it, Yuna, why did you hit me? Let me see yours!"

These words that might be misunderstood attracted Hongxia to turn around. The two school girls were staring at each other eagerly. The embarrassed Ito Rin quickened her pace, walked to her side, and acted as if she didn't care.

After they quieted down, Ijichi Hongxia held her mobile phone in her right hand and took pictures of the scenery not far away. With her other hand, she put it under her pleated skirt and tapped out the melody she had heard in the competition just now.

"Shouldn't we listen to the size question from them?"

"This is how I am in Hongxia's mind. It's so sad."

The camera moved to his side, and Ijichi Hongxia made an eggplant gesture to him, and pressed the shutter after he cooperated.

"I judge things based on what I see and hear. The image you've maintained has completely collapsed in my mind." Hong Xia rolled her eyes at him unhappily, and walked into the ramen restaurant with her schoolmates who had caught up with her and had strange looks on their faces.

Didn't I just see breasts once? How could I treat him as a guy who judges people by their breasts?

This kind of stereotype is absolutely unacceptable.

"...Hongxia, I think we should have a good discussion about the issue of aesthetics."

"What are you talking about, senior? Come and order quickly." Kumiko Asakura, who had already sat down skillfully, waved the menu in her hand, not paying much attention to what he said about aesthetics.

Hong Xia, who was sitting at the edge, clapped her hands at him, turned around and started choosing lunch.

It is not common to see high school students wearing school uniforms during holidays, and there are not many contestants participating in the Kanto competition who are as bold as them, so the people sitting next to them are all working people in suits.

"Ijichi-senpai, it tastes really good!"

“It’s better than expected.”

Kumiko raised her thumb while making an exaggerated 'slurping' sound, causing Yuna to roll her eyes.

Before Hongxia spoke, Ito Rin, who was sitting next to her, said, "Why do I feel like you came to the competition just to eat, Asakura?"

"How is that possible?" Asakura Yumiko raised her hand and retorted loudly, attracting the attention of a customer sitting next to her who was about to pay the bill and leave.

Ijichi Hongxia nudged him with her elbow under the table, signaling him to stop talking nonsense.

"How long have you been practicing the euphonium, Asakura-san?"

"...This is such an abrupt change of subject." Ito Rin muttered softly, which earned him a dead look from Hong Xia, causing him to shut his mouth obediently.

"I started in junior high school, but I didn't play the euphonium before. I switched to it in the third year of junior high school."

"That's pretty impressive too, being able to participate in the Kanto Tournament in just over a year."

Kumiko, overjoyed, became proud and said shamelessly: "The Kanto Tournament is just the starting point. Our real goal is to win the national tournament."

"Even Minister Aoyama doesn't have your confidence."

"Just wait, Yuna, until the day I become the minister!"

"Then the wind band is completely finished."

The girls' little quarrel started for no reason and ended very smoothly. When they finished their meal and slowly returned to the concert hall, the excited Deputy Minister Koizumi grabbed Kumiko and ruffled her hair like he was comforting a puppy.

“It’s the gold medal.”

But this does not mean the end. Even if they win the gold medal, they will still get wasted money and cannot participate in the national competition. If this is the ending, it will undoubtedly be a failure for them.

"When will the list of qualifications be announced?" asked Kousaka Yuna, who said she was not nervous but whose nails pressed hard on her palms, leaving clear lines.

As soon as he finished speaking, members who were asking for information came out and asked everyone to enter the venue quickly.

The judge in a suit walked to the center of the stage with the list, looked at the eager eyes below, and stood next to the microphone that had been prepared long ago, "Next, the list of those who have qualified to participate in the national competition will be announced."

"The first school, number nine, Sakura High School."

"The second school, number fourteen, Kashima Academy High School."

……

There are only a few high schools that have won gold medals, and the frustration of not being able to participate in the national competition after winning the gold medal is far greater than that of other high schools. This can be seen from the lost expressions of the school members who were eliminated between the two high schools.

Ito Rin took a deep breath. If the wind band failed in the Kanto Conference, would his plan to gain honor fail?

"The third school, number 19, Shimokitazawa High School."

"Nijixia-san." Ito Rin turned her head and looked at Ichichi Nijixia.

"Ok?"

"If I choose to quit the club now, Minister Aoyama will kill me, but I feel that I have enough places for the national competition."

Ijichi Hongxia was stunned by the joyful expressions of Kumiko and the others, and put her hand on her chin and thought: "Although this behavior is reasonable, the opponent will beat her to death. Besides, it has come to this. Isn't it better to hold on a little longer and watch the National Games with them?"

"Eh."

"The conditions are good enough that you don't need to participate in the training. Their enthusiasm is so high. It would not be appropriate for you to give up halfway."

"…All right."

After being persuaded to come down, Ito Rin could understand everyone's excitement, but since he had no similar experience, he could not fit in and could only accompany the boys to move the musical instruments.

When the members of the wind band started taking pictures, he and Hongxia were called over.

The trophy representing honor was held by Minister Aoyama, and the certificate lay quietly in the hands of Deputy Minister Koizumi. The two sat in the center of the front row, smiling happily.

Behind them were Kumiko Asakura and Yuna Kousaka. Yumiko made a scissors gesture over Senior Koizumi's head, while Yuna had a serious expression on her face.

Ito Rin, who was standing next to the boy, made a silly gesture for a photo, while Ichichi Kouka, who was not even a non-staff member, stood quietly beside him.

When they got on the bus, Kumiko, with whom they had already exchanged Line accounts, sent him an electronic photo. After all, Ito Rin had never joined the group chat of the wind band.

"Senpai looks so silly, but he matches well with Ijichi-senpai."

Ito Rin, who had just finished moving musical instruments in the 35-degree heat and had sweat all over her head, was wondering whether she should do such hard work again for the national competition. When she saw the news, she almost doubted whether Kumiko was a student of Shimokitazawa High School.

He confessed such a big thing in public, and this guy didn't know?

"Send me a copy of the photo. I want to show it off to the group." Hong Xia poked him.

'Is there anything to brag about? And we didn't even participate in the competition.'

But since Ichichi Hongxia said so, Ito Rin could only flip to her profile picture, send the photo to her, and then see a new picture refreshed in the group chat of the ending band.

On the way back, the atmosphere in the car was very lively. Although Minister Qingshan announced that the national competition would not begin for some time, the hard-working people had already begun to memorize the scores silently.

With nothing to do, Ito Rin can only use her mobile phone to cover up her emptiness.

"Senior, are you with Ijichi-senpai?" Kita Ikuyo sent him a text message that seemed to be likely to cause misunderstanding.

“I’m just here to attend an event.”

"Did Kita-chan send you a message?" Hongxia, who was lying on the edge of the front seat and chatting with Kumiko and the others, said with her head down.

"Well, it seems to be about Pochi-chan." Ito Rin said perfunctorily.

He wasn't lying. After asking Nijixia at the beginning, Kita-san focused on the band's party.

After the last trip to the amusement park, she also realized the distance between Pochi-chan and everyone else, and felt that spending more time together would be beneficial for improving their intimacy.

"So, during the last days of summer vacation, let's go hiking!"

Among the five members of the band, two are homebodies, one suffers from social phobia, and the other two are people who are keen on outdoor activities. In this case, if a hiking trip is proposed, it will definitely be opposed by most people.

"I agree. As long as we can deal with either Hongxia or Liangjiang, the weak Goto-san will definitely not dare to object."

“Come on, seniors!”

Chapter 75: Two or Three Things About Enoshima (Part 1)

"Tomorrow is the last day of summer vacation. Why don't we use this day to let everyone go outside and enjoy the summer in Tokyo?" On August 24th, at nine o'clock in the evening after finishing her part-time job, Ito Rin stopped classmate Nijixia.

"Huh?" Yidizhi Hongxia stamped her feet.

As a semi-experienced homebody, she couldn't understand why anyone would brave the 30-degree heat to run outside to enjoy the sunshine.

Ito Rin twisted his wrist. Today, Ryo-chan did not have any work scheduled, so he would have more time to convince Hongxia. Kita-chan, who was standing beside him, gave him a look that said "leave it to you" and slipped out of Fanxing early.

"Hasn't Nijiya noticed the big problem of ending the band?"

"Appreciate further details."

"Then let me tell you the key to band building." Ito Rin, who was walking behind, closed the door and became serious.

"A band is an organization of musicians who share the same ideals and come together for better development. And you should still remember the original intention of ending the band."

"Original intention?" Ijichi Hongxia looked at him in confusion. This name had been criticized many times when it was first chosen, but no one had come up with a better one, so it was not changed.