"Next stop, Yotsuya Station, Yotsuya Station."
Sae Kitahara jolted awake, clutching her instrument case as she rushed out of the train car. The moment her foot hit the platform, the doors slid shut behind her.
"That was close."
She let out a relieved breath, only to be hit immediately by a wave of stifling heat.
It was July. Even at seven in the morning, any brisk movement could make her body feel unbearably warm.
I need to get to the music room quickly, she thought, pushing through the ticket gate and starting up the incline.
Wind ensemble practice on holidays ran from nine in the morning to nine at night. Today, Sae had arrived two hours earlier than usual.
The reason? She lowered her head, looking at her legs peeking from under her plaid pleated skirt—slightly thicker than she wished.
Taking a deep breath, she broke into a run, the hem of her skirt brushing her skin with each step.
She sprinted up the hill and reached the school gates. Passing the towering oak trees, she saw the playground was empty; the sports club members hadn't arrived yet. The school was silent.
Perfect! I'm the first one here!
Sae clenched her fists in quiet determination. Today, she was going to master that particular section.
Despite the heat making her sweat quickly, her steps into the school building were light and springy.
Then, a rich, mellow, and resonant sound floated from above.
It was the tuba.
Someone had arrived before her.
Curious, Sae hurried up the stairs, the sound growing clearer, echoing down every corridor.
At the fifth-floor elevated corridor, she peeked out. There sat Mai Asuka, cradling her gleaming tuba, perched elegantly on a steel chair.
Sae stared, dumbstruck, at her fingers gliding deftly across the keys, her long, shapely legs under the pleated skirt, and her delicate features framed by cascading black hair.
Like a goddess carved from ice and snow.
She couldn't imagine what kind of boy could stand confidently beside a senpai like Mai.
To be the boyfriend—or husband—who could casually wrap an arm around such a perfect senpai, sharing a bed every night… that level of excellence was beyond her imagination.
If only I could become someone like her… yesterday's humiliation would never have happened.
Sae drew a deep breath and abandoned her plan to retreat to the air-conditioned music room. She approached Mai.
"Good morning, Mai-senpai."
The tuba sound ceased. Mai Asuka nodded at her, expression calm.
"Do you come this early every day?" Sae placed her instrument case on the floor.
"Yes."
"Wow! I could never get up this early!" She pulled out her saxophone. "Senpai, shall we practice together?"
"I'm going back to the classroom."
"Eh?! Am I disturbing you?!" Sae stammered, switching to formal speech in surprise.
"The sun."
"The… sun? What do you mean?" Only after speaking did Sae realize: Ah, senpai means it's hot because of the sun.
"I can't sweat."
With that, Mai Asuka turned and walked down the corridor as if she'd said everything clearly.
Sae held her saxophone, unsure if she had heard correctly.
She doesn't want to sweat…?
The blazing sun rose over Tokyo Bay, cicadas chirping incessantly in the courtyard.
A bead of sweat slid down Sae's temple, seeping into the collar of her summer uniform and disappearing at the edge of her undergarments.
Forget it… better head to the music room.
"Senpai! Wait for me!"
Not bothering to put her saxophone back, she carried it in her hand, grabbed her instrument case, and ran after Mai Asuka's retreating figure.
By nine, everyone had already gathered, finishing basic training long before Watanabe Tetsu leisurely entered the increasingly stuffy music room.
Wearing a short-sleeved summer uniform shirt, he looked refreshingly clean, like a freshly hung white sheet under the sun.
A reed in his mouth, he wasn't playing the sheet music but "Jingle Bells."
Once seated, Rin Kiyono's gaze swept the room.
"Today's plan: continuous ensemble until the afternoon performance."
Ignoring the groans, she continued, "Start tuning."
"Yes," Yukiko Niwa answered, placing her lips on the clarinet mouthpiece.
"Wait," Rin interrupted. "From today onward, tuning will be handled by the oboes."
The quiet in the room shifted to tense silence.
One girl protested, standing up: "Rin-san, everyone is used to tuning with Niwa-senpai. Nothing's ever gone wrong. I don't see a reason to change!"
"I don't care about the past or your habits. I only pursue the best," Rin replied flatly, dismissing her.
Watanabe Tetsu blew through his reed, producing long, triumphant tones like a train whistle: "Puh—puh—."
The girl slammed back into her chair with a loud squeak.
Rin looked at Watanabe Tetsu: "Start."
"Time to show you. Even tuning has its skill gap." He slid the reed into his oboe, ignoring the glare of others, and began to play.
Unlike his irritating speech, the oboe's bright A note cut through the air with perfect clarity.
It struck their minds like a heavy punch, vibrating their eardrums.
Even though it was just the same note, why did it sound so different?
The paralyzing beauty of that tone… how could one even produce it?
As the others froze in awe, the tuba sounded—Mai Asuka's tuba.
Oboe and tuba harmonized, weaving through the stifling summer music room.
Then came the bassoon, the double bass, the trombone…
By the window, a transparent water bottle trembled in time with the music, sunlight scattering through the ripples.
Rin raised her hand: "Enough."
A collective sigh. The students put down their instruments and glanced around.
Watanabe Tetsu casually wiped his reed, looking unimpressed.
A spark of admiration immediately turned into frustration.
"One, two, one-two-three-four!"
With Rin's baton, the drums set the beat, followed by brass and woodwinds—just like yesterday.
Though ensemble, the oboe's voice dominated like a solo. Even the players couldn't help but focus on its beauty.
"Stop."
Rin lowered the baton, deep in thought, then fixed Sae Kitahara with a cold gaze.
"Yes, senpai?" Sae responded softly, head lowered, as Watanabe Tetsu blew his reed teasingly.
Oboists usually didn't touch their reeds once tuned. Even slight adjustments could alter the sound dramatically.
Former oboist Ritsuko Sato never removed her reed unless cleaning.
But Watanabe Tetsu? He played it like a whistle whenever he pleased.
"Yes," Sae murmured, embarrassed.
The room fell into agonizing silence; everyone knew what was coming.
"Practice until you can reach the level we just heard at any time."
Her words cut off the teasing reed sounds. Sae's eyes widened, lips parted, disbelief written across her face.
"Did you hear me?" Rin's cold stare bore into her.
Tears pricked Sae's eyes, emotions ready to erupt like a volcano.
"Yes!"
"Trumpet, clean it up here…"
During the break, Watanabe Tetsu, parched from teasing and acting all morning, decided to head to the Human Observation Club room for some juice.
The refrigerator in the corner was stocked daily with luxury snacks and fruit juices.
Sipping watermelon juice, he watched Rin Kiyono across the table, scribbling notes on her sheet music.
"You did well earlier. Suddenly popular, huh?"
"I never intended to be popular with them."
"You just needed someone like me. Someone bolder than you, and people will notice your brilliance."
"Bolder than me?" Rin looked up.
"Exactly," Watanabe Tetsu said, savoring a chunk of fruit.
"You mean I'm too much?"
The girl's gaze grew sharp, and he decided to test the waters.
"You probably… want the truth, right?"
"Don't hesitate. I just want the truth."
"Promise you won't get mad or sulk?" He had learned from experience: never fall for the same trap twice.
Rin's refined face betrayed a hint of amusement.
"Fine, I won't get mad or sulk, but—" Her eyes sparkled teasingly, "it's so hot. I want iced juice."
There were only two sources for iced juice in the school during summer:
Miki Yuki's fridge. Watanabe Tetsu could drink it himself, but giving it to another girl—especially Rin Kiyono—was out of the question.
The vending machines on the first floor.
Given the scorching heat on the fifth floor, he decided to show a little weakness.
"How am I too much? You just told the truth, and some people can't handle it."
Rin snorted, rolled her eyes, and returned to her music.
She seemed… more girl-like than before.
After a while, Rin grabbed her annotated sheet music and went to guide the other members.
With the calligraphy club taking a break, Watanabe Tetsu practiced in the Human Observation Club room.
His goal was to provoke the wind ensemble, not to stay in a room full of people who disliked him.
Soon, the door opened.
"Back so soon… senpai?"
It was Mai Asuka, standing outside the door with a clear, watery gaze.
Tall and graceful, she quietly closed and locked the sliding door.
The click of the lock made Watanabe Tetsu swallow hard.
"Mai-senpai, what brings you here?"
"Call me Mai."
"Ah?"
"Call me Mai." She walked closer.
Feeling trapped by her presence, he instinctively stood.
"Senpai, is something wrong?"
With each step, Mai pressed him against the wall.
I'm getting wall-pinned? His brain froze.
Panic surged, but he didn't dislike it… just… another time, another place!
Rin could come back at any moment.
The third floor was the music room. And all the training rooms were lined up—anyone looking out could see them.
He wasn't the same Watanabe Tetsu from before Ochanomizu. Being caught here would be deadly.
"Um… senpai?"
Their eyes met. Her cheeks flushed pink.
He opened his mouth to speak, but his throat dried. No words came out.
Mai remained silent, lips pressed together, clearly enjoying his gaze.
The AC couldn't combat the summer heat. Sunlight streamed through, highlighting her figure under the white shirt.
Watanabe Tetsu swallowed hard, throat still parched, wondering if he'd actually swallowed anything.
Could he have just dozed off? Was this all a dream?
The school building, the blazing summer, the white cloud-like uniforms… the girls and boys.
Breath mingled.
It felt like a scene from a light novel cover or an anime opening sequence.
Just as he worried about being seen, Mai tilted her face.
"Huu—"
She exhaled a sweet, misty breath and staggered back, sitting on Watanabe Tetsu's steel chair.
Done?
Senpai… unexpectedly ineffective?
He felt frustrated.
The pink haze vanished. Cicadas chirped harshly outside.
"Senpai, why… do this?"
"I don't know." Her cheeks still flushed, eyes like clear springs.
"Don't know?"
"Mm." She murmured dreamily, "Nothing matters… except you, Tetsu."
The outside world couldn't stir her emotions. Only he could.
"But… I did that in the wind ensemble. Why…" He didn't know whether to say like or obsessed, "…do you come close to me?"
"Tetsu is kind to everyone. I don't care." Mai shook her head; her greenish, lively bangs swayed adorably.
"I have a girlfriend."
"I don't care." Mai raised her legs slightly, hands moving under her skirt.
Though unseen, it was clear she was pulling something downward.
"Senpai!"
No! The only girl he could touch freely had to be Miki Yuki.
He admitted he was a bit lustful, but he wasn't reckless. He wouldn't risk his life or harm anyone for a momentary impulse.
He could wait until Miki returned.
Even with Mai's tempting figure and forwardness, he couldn't…
"I'm going back."
With that, Mai walked out as if nothing had happened.
...
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