Chapter 4: April 8, 2024 - "Takarajima" / The Reason I Chose Yahagi-Kita

[Note: Performance Reference]

To help you visualize the "Hade-Kita Sound," here is a performance of "Takarajima" by a Japanese university band. Please listen to it while reading!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bVEBHnlqJ9M

Clank-clank-con-con, clank-clank-ca-con-con...

Hmm? Was the rhythm a little unsteady?

But the drums that came in afterwards had dynamic strokes and a great groove.

...Here comes the snare fill-in!

Ta-ta-tan!

Baa-ba-ba-ba-baaa-ba-ba-baa-baaa—!

Loud!? It was loud! Was it because of the room's acoustics!?

Both the brass and woodwinds had incredible power!

Bathed in the sound, I felt a sudden pressure deep in my chest.

It felt like I was being attacked from all sides—it was startling.

Wow, amazing. This is a band that really roars.

Even in a concert hall, this would have incredible impact.

Entering the A-melody, the woodwinds were in unison... but the senior boy on tenor sax was totally in the zone.

He was playing so happily that he alone was changing the atmosphere of the stage.

The famous alto sax solo... was even more intense! It was blaring... maybe he was taking too much of the mouthpiece into his mouth?

Anyway, it was very assertive.

In the chorus, it was a vortex of sound where brass and woodwinds seemed to crash into each other.

It felt like a wind was blowing through my chest.

Everyone was playing as if to say, "We are all the main characters!"—they looked like they were having so much fun.

The atmosphere must be good. I could feel it.

The first-years listening seemed to feel it too.

In the middle of the song, the rich alto sax solo started again, followed by the famous brass unison session.

They seemed to be dropping the high notes an octave down, but it was still just loud.

The teacher's conducting was compact, but because he was wearing a dress shirt, his flesh jiggled a bit.

Since he was conducting with a big smile, both the conductor and the seniors looked like they were having fun.

The details were rough, but they created a sense of unity with a thick sound that didn't care about such things.

Riding the mood of the finale, everyone finished together.

The teacher finished by raising his right arm high and twirling his wrist.

...I thought the way he stopped was kind of cute.

 * * * 

The second song began. "African Symphony." This is also a staple in wind bands, often heard at high school baseball games.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EeZPz_rSD_4

This was also loud... eh? The horns were amazing!

The opening horn fanfare, imitating the cry of an elephant... was synchronized to perfection.

That tall senior girl who was with the president seemed to be the principal player.

But is a horn section playing in high unison supposed to be this synchronized? I could even hear the overtones.

The flute player was a male senior. And the clarinet principal was... Kiriya-senpai from earlier.

The unison was ringing well, but maybe they weren't quite in sync?

I thought I couldn't hear the oboe melody, but maybe there wasn't one. So, no oboe...

Nearing the end, the trumpets and trombones were blasting, and the three percussionists were beating out a fierce rhythm.

...It was like some kind of live rock concert.

Even though there were many girls, this power was amazing.

I felt like I was at a gig.

I didn't know how to put it. It felt like they were expressing, "Music is fun! We love flashy songs!"

So, that's the "Hade-Kita Sound."

Even after the sound stopped, the rhythm was still continuing deep in my body.

...I see.

I looked to the side and saw the four of them listening with different expressions.

Hiroto-kun had a serious face.

Miku was smiling, but I could see a little anxiety.

Mion-chan looked happy.

And Yo-kun... his eyes were wide open, and his lips were slightly tightened. It was the face of someone welcoming a challenger.

Our eyes met. When he saw my face, he raised the corners of his mouth and nodded slightly.

?

I wonder what he thought.

It seemed like he was conveying some kind of happy feeling to me.

The performance reached its finale.

After a crescendo of driving eighth notes from forte-piano, a chromatic scale, and finish!

Huge applause erupted from the first-years, and friends looked at each other happily.

The second-year seniors also looked accomplished and happy.

The teacher had everyone stand up and bow to us. The applause grew even louder.

The president stood next to the conductor's podium again.

"Thank you all for coming to listen today! For those who wish to join, we are accepting applications at the back of the hallway, so please head over there!"

After the greeting, two seniors, who must have arranged this beforehand, put down their instruments and guided the first-years, saying "This way~". In response, most of the first-years headed from the room to the back of the hallway.

Some students who probably just came to watch politely said "Thank you very much" in loud voices and left the Conference Building.

The second-years started warming up again, and sounds like individual practice began to fill the room.

Since the five of us were at the back of the room, we were at the end of the line leaving, still standing there.

Then, the president came towards us.

That tall horn senior was also talking to the teacher, but noticing the president's movement, she approached us with the teacher.

"Thank you all for coming today. How was the performance? Did you enjoy it?"

"Yes, of course. It was wonderful."

Miku answered, and the seniors looked happy.

"Thank you. As you might have realized from listening, everyone here really loves wind music, and they are all good people.

...Like I said this morning, I really want to aim for the Prefectural Tournament with these members and the new first-years for our last competition."

The president looked straight at us.

But the end of her gaze—who she was looking at quietly at the end—was Ishigami-kun.

"...For that, I want you to lend us your strength. ...What do you say?"

My breath caught for just a moment.

The president's eyes were somewhat desperate and serious.

Something was pressing tightly against my chest too.

But—Ishigami-kun quietly opened his mouth.

"...I'm sorry, but—"

Wh-!?

At his first words, my heart jumped.

Mion-chan leaked a small "Eh...?" and Miku's eyes wavered slightly.

"I cannot aim for the Prefectural Tournament."

The president's eyes and mouth tightened with tension accompanied by confusion.

Next to me, Miku stared at Ishigami-kun with her mouth shut tight.

"I... want to go to the Nationals with you all."

"Eh..."

The president let out a voice.

"Listening to today's performance, I became convinced. You guys can definitely do it. With you all, and the new first-years... I thought we could aim for the Nationals."

The performance earlier. It might have been rough.

But I also thought it was straightforward and honest.

The president's mouth moved slightly. But no words came out.

Ishigami-kun continued slowly.

"For that purpose, I have... prepared everything. That is also why I chose Yahagi-Kita."