Chapter 2: April 8, 2024 - Meeting Before the Entrance Ceremony

"Morning, Mito! Yes! We're in the same class!"

"Morning, Miku. I'm so glad. Let's do our best here, too. Our seats are right in front of each other, too."

Miku, who was in the band club with me at Shosei Middle School, called out to me.

Yahagi-Kita High School is the second most prestigious prep school in Okazaki City, so unlike middle school, there are plenty of smart-looking boys and girls everywhere.

Since it's just before the entrance ceremony, students who checked the class lists posted at the entrance are trickling into the classroom one by one, looking nervous.

Having a friend from the same middle school in a situation like this is really comforting. Just seeing Miku smiling eases my tension. Same class, seats right next to each other—just that alone makes me feel like today is going to be a good day.

Miku plopped her bag onto the desk in front of mine, sat down, and turned around.

"By the way... hey, Mito."

Lowering her voice slightly, Miku rested her elbows on my desk and spoke mischievously.

"Did you see anything? ...Or rather, haven't you seen him yet?"

"Eh? Seen what?"

"Yo Ishigami. You know, that conductor."

"...Eh?"

My thoughts stopped for a second. Ishigami? The conductor? The one I saw on TV...?

"It's not exactly a common name, is it? Seriously, I don't think it's a coincidence. His name was on the class list, really! He's in our class!"

"...You mean that famous person? No way, right?"

—Yo Ishigami. He became famous last fall after becoming the youngest winner of the Charles-sur International Conducting Competition in France, a gateway for young conductors.

I saw him in interviews on TV all the time, and on YouTube too.

I assumed he lived in Tokyo or somewhere like that... but here? And in the same class?

Miku leaned in closer, pressing on.

"Remember that TV show 'Untitled Concert' around winter? When Ishigami-kun was interviewed, he said he wanted to go to 'a local public high school,' right? The host looked so confused."

"Ah... yeah. I do remember him saying something like that."

"But still, who would have thought his 'local' meant Okazaki, and 'public high school' meant Yahagi-Kita... right?"

Miku laughed as if she couldn't believe it herself.

"Actually, do you think... maybe he'll join the Band Club?"

After saying those hopeful words, she laughed shyly at herself. "Ahaha."

"...Probably not. Orchestras and wind bands are different, and he might have different plans."

I muttered quietly, but certainly.

"But... someone who did music in the real home of classical music... that's amazing, isn't it?

I'd love to play music with someone like that."

In that moment, I saw Miku clench her fist tight.

"I want to do it. Together. I want to go to the Nationals."

Her words made my chest feel hot.

The memories of that summer, that day, that regret came rushing back.

Last year, our school, Shosei Middle School, had many good members and we made it to the Tokai Tournament for the first time.

But the National Competition was out of reach.

Especially since Miku was the club president, she blames herself every time it comes up.

Ever since I excitedly told her about watching the Nationals at Fumon Hall when I was in elementary school, she has held the same dream.

I answered her.

"...Yeah. I want to go too. It's been my dream for a long time."

...It was then.

Rattle—

The sound of the classroom's back door opening.

Naturally, everyone's eyes gathered on the presence entering.

Black hair, refreshing features. A tall male student quietly stepped into the classroom.

After looking around a bit, he checked the attendance numbers on the blackboard and walked towards us.

Then, confirming the number on the desk to my right... he directed a gentle smile at us.

"...I'm Ishigami. Nice to meet you!"

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

The person who sat next to me was—

The "real" Yo Ishigami, whose name we had just been chasing.

(He really... exists.)

...It doesn't feel real.

(In the same class... and the seat next to mine?)

But inside my chest, something was trembling quietly.

"...Ishigami... kun? You mean, the conductor, Ishigami-kun?"

"Haha, I'm just an amateur who likes it, really. I'm Ishigami."

It's really... that Yo Ishigami-kun.

He's right next to me now.

Is he about 180cm tall? He looks bigger than on TV.

He seems much gentler than when he's answering interviews on TV.

Miku grabbed my shoulder hard.

"See! I told yooouuuu!!!"

I remained frozen by the sudden turn of events.

But his atmosphere was much kinder and more normal than on TV—.

What is it about this person...?

It's not pressure. But just by "being there," the air changes.

That kind of presence.

Then, from the back of the class, a boy with a mushroom cut and a girl with a long bob approached him.

"Yo!"

"Yo-kuuun. We're together again~~."

"Hiroto! Mion!"

Ishigami-kun put his bag on the desk next to mine, approached the two, and held out both hands in fists. The two who spoke to him also put out their fists, and they happily did a three-way fist bump.

"Haha, we did it! Hiroto and Mion are here too!"

"Yeah. But being with 'Mr. Perfect' outside of club activities is gonna make me depressed."

Even while saying that, the mushroom-cut boy looked very happy.

"You shouldn't compare yourself~~. Hiroto-kun, you should just accept it like me and hand in your tests blank~~."

"Mion, how did you even get into Yahagi-Kita...?"

The three of them laughed together. It seems they are from the same middle school.

"When are you going to join the club, Yo-kun~~?"

"Right after we're dismissed today, probably. They're recruiting outside after this, right?"

"No, I think the Welcome Concert is being held in the conference room downstairs."

...Watching them for a while, Miku froze when she heard the words "Welcome Concert." Her eyes darted back and forth between the mushroom-cut boy and the long-bob girl, and she slammed her hands on my bag and stood up.

"Aaaahhh! The Brass Quintet! You're the Brass Quintet from Mishima Middle School! You guys! Look, Mito! It's the Mishima Golden Five that beat us at Tokai!"

I realized it too, and my mouth fell open.

The Tokai Ensemble Contest held in February, where Shosei Middle School's Brass Quintet also competed. It was the last competition for the members who went to the Summer Tokai Tournament, and they went in fully prepared.

But Miku said they were "overtaken" by the completely unknown Mishima Middle School Brass Quintet and missed the Gold Prize. Shosei got Silver.

If I recall, Mishima Middle School didn't even make it to the Prefectural Tournament in the summer, and only got Silver or Bronze at the District Preliminaries.

"Sorry for shouting! I was playing Euphonium in Shosei's Brass Quintet. Ah, sorry. I'm Miku Karino.

...Umm, sorry. Hiroto... kun, and Mion... chan? Are you two joining the Band Club too?"

The two stopped in surprise, but after looking at each other, Hiroto-kun spoke to Miku with a calm smile.

"Of course, that's the plan. Nice to meet you, Karino-san."

Miku smiled so wide her cheeks puffed out, and jumped up.

"Wow! I'm soooo happy! To be able to do band with such an amazing Bone (Trombone) and Pet (Trumpet)! Nice to meet you! Ah, you can just call me Miku! Can I call you guys by your first names too?"

Miku asked while happily holding Mion-chan's hands, and both of them nodded.

"Ah, and this is Mito, who played flute at the same middle school. Ah, she's Mito Kawai. She was in the Ensemble Contest too. We were just talking about joining the band together!"

"Is that so~! I remember Shosei's Brass Quintet and Flute Quartet too~~. You were very good~~. Miku-chan, Mito-chan, nice to meet you~~."

Mion-chan happily offered us a fist bump. Is fist bumping popular in Mishima? I put out my fist too and replied.

"Mion-chan, nice to meet you. I'm Mito Kawai. I remember too. I remember Mion-chan's high notes in Mishima's 'Libertango' were incredible. I'm happy to do band together. Everyone... can call me by my first name too."

Centering around the three girls, we talked about random things like "When did you start playing your instrument?"

Watching the scene with gentle eyes, Hiroto-kun sat in the seat behind Yo-kun.

Behind Ishigami-kun, so maybe his last name starts with "I"?

Mion-chan sat in the seat to my left.

Miku in front of me, Mion-chan to my left, Yo-kun to my right, and Hiroto-kun behind him. That's how it is.

...We're clustered together, and I'm kinda happy.

Miku leaned out from her seat and spoke to Hiroto-kun, who was wiping his glasses with a handkerchief.

"Hey, Hiroto-kun. Can I ask something weird? Mishima's Brass Quintet at the Feb Ensemble Contest was just too amazing. When I first heard it at the district prelims in December, I was seriously scared.

But in the summer competition... sorry for saying this, but Mishima didn't make it to the Prefectural Tournament, right? Did something happen? Like being in a slump?"

I remember too. I heard Mishima's performance at the summer district prelims, but I don't remember any particular impression. I remember Aoikita and Mutsumi-Minami were good, but I don't recall any other school having exceptionally good brass players.

If there were brass players who could play 'Libertango' that well, they would have changed the atmosphere of the place.

"Did something happen... huh."

Hiroto-kun deliberately looked away from Miku and looked at Yo-kun. Yo-kun looked troubled, glancing at Hiroto-kun and smiling shyly.

"?"

Just as Miku and I were wondering.

"Aaaahhh! There he iiiiissss!"

A girl with semi-long hair pointed loudly at Yo-kun from the window on the hallway side, right next to him.

"Wait, ...Asumi! You're too loud...!"

Another person pulling her other hand...?

"Hey, I'm Kiriya, the president of the Band Club! I've been waiting ever since I heard Ishigami-kun was coming to Yahagi-Kita!

Please! Ishigami-kun, join the Band Club! I want to go to the Prefectural Tournament this year! You absolutely have to come to hear the Welcome Concert today!"

"Asumi!! It's before the entrance ceremony! You said you were just going to say hello! Stop it!!"

A tall female upperclassman, who seemed to be the brake, dragged Kiriya(?)-senpai away while apologizing.

While being dragged by the scruff of her neck, she waved both hands at us saying "Please~~", and the two disappeared from view.