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Hiiragi Rinka understood Jiuhuayue's predicament.
The more she listened, the more anxious she became. She thought that as a good friend, she should give her some advice.
Think about it carefully, Rinka!
What does Xiaoyue want now, what does Xiaoyue care about now!
After closing her eyes for a few minutes, Hiiragi Rinka thought:
"Little Moon!"
"What's wrong."
"Xiaoyue, you must still like Mr. Fujii very much, right?"
"Yes"
"Then why not start with Mr. Fujii?"
“I don’t quite understand.”
"Xiaoyue, why do you practice the trumpet so hard?"
"In order to become Mr. Fujii's 'student', to catch up with his pace, and to one day be able to play beside Mr. Fujii like Mr. Akai did in the past. Most importantly, I want to become a lover with the same hobbies, and then spend every day together supporting and recognizing each other.
"Anyway, I want to be recognized by him."
"That's right! The focus is on Mr. Fujii, Yue-chan. Your efforts are to let Mr. Fujii see your shining points, but there are more than one way to show your shining points."
"."
Jiuhuayue listened thoughtfully.
"In other words, as long as Mr. Fujii can see the shining points in you, Jiuhuayue, that would be enough!"
".But I lost to Chitose."
"Victory! Victory is the beginning of a losing battle!"
".Victory or defeat is standard issue."
"Yes, that's what I mean." Hiiragi Rinka clamped her hands between her legs and blushed, "Xiaoyue, you haven't failed in the most important aspect. Teacher Fujii still values you very much. As long as you can let Teacher Fujii see the shining points in you, Xiaoyue, naturally-"
"Rinka."
What Hiiragi Rinka said made sense, but she overlooked another problem.
This is also the most serious problem so far.
“But what about my dream of going to the national competition with Mr. Fujii? I have been working hard and I don’t want to give up this dream that has motivated me.
"If I give up, how will my mother and father laugh at me?
"They must be mocking my ignorance and then coaxing me back to Tokyo like a child. I don't want that!
“I don’t want to be a teacher’s ‘student’ as a substitute.
"If I go on stage like this, I will only watch Chitose excel on stage. Seeing her get the position I always dream of, I will be jealous of her. At the same time, I will hate my own powerlessness and hate myself for breaking my promise to Mr. Fujii.
"Isn't it a complete joke that you said you wanted to be Fujii-sensei's 'student'?
“I have become a person who does not keep his word, just like my parents!
"I don't want my own life to become so boring."
"."
Jiuhuayue's series of questions left Hiiragi Rinka speechless.
She didn't know how to answer or what to do.
Jiuhuayue, who was bursting with emotions, then realized that she was wrong. She held the Coke cup in front of her with both hands and apologized to Hiiragi Rinka in a low voice:
"I'm sorry, Rinka. I'm sorry for asking you to think about so many things for me and listen to my complaints."
Hiiragi Rinka shook her head. "I'm fine. What's important is your health, Xiaoyue. What are you going to do next?"
".Thank you, Rinka."
"Thank you. Me?" Rinka Hiiragi pointed at herself.
"Thank you for waking me up. I will continue to stay in the wind band."
"Why. Xiaoyue, you are not——"
"This is not a reason for me to give up. Although the hope is slim, there is still hope of personnel changes before being selected for the official competition. I just need to work hard to catch up during this period. I am determined not to be a substitute. I am unwilling to do so.
“I’m going to keep going and keep going and keep going.”
We’ll see, Chitose.
The show has just begun.
You won this time, but it doesn't mean you will always win. Jiuhuayue kept calm and thought so in her heart.
"."
Hearing this, Hiiragi Rinka couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
She was overthinking it.
Xiaoyue was much stronger and more resilient than she had imagined.
Xiaoyue would never admit failure easily.
“Also, although we only discussed the goals that we still need to stick to, what you just said, Rinka, at least made me understand that I must first become self-reliant. Only when I become independent can I radiate more shining points.
"I am so out of character now. I can't even be independent."
"I don't quite understand why Xiaoyue said these words." Hiiragi Rinka was confused.
"You will know later, Rinhua." Jiuhuayue did not give any additional explanation.
"Ok."
Be quiet for a while.
"Rinka, can you lend me some money? It's not much, thirty thousand will be fine."
".Eh?!"
"I ate too much today and I have no money to pay the bill. Don't worry, I will pay you back. I will use the money I earned myself."
Has Xiaoyue become so poor?
"Okay, okay."
Rinka Hiiragi turned around silently, picked up her small schoolbag, took out three 10,000 yen bills from it and gave them to Jiuhuayue.
"Thank you. I'll pay you back with interest."
"No, even without interest."
Rinka Hiiragi still didn't understand what Xiaoyue was going to do, but the way she looked now seemed to have cheered up, right?
*
On the evening of the selection day.
The work party for school teachers is over.
The purpose of the Jubei work party is to connect the teachers in the school. Food and drinks are all at public expense and participation is voluntary.
These gatherings organized by colleagues and leaders are said to be voluntary, but there are still some social conventions involved.
Fujii Itsuki had to go.
The place was chosen by the vice-president, and unexpectedly it happened to be Chitose's family's hot spring shop.
After the dinner, school leaders and teachers went home one after another.
Fujii Itsuki saw off the leaders and colleagues, and then started walking back to Chitose's home. On the way, he lighted a cigarette and picked up his phone with one hand.
Complex, tangled, doubtful.
All kinds of emotions are brewing in my heart.
On the chat input box with Jiuhuayue.
[Are you okay?] These three words were repeated over and over again, and I kept deleting and retyping them.
Although Jiuhuayue behaved normally throughout the afternoon, and she did not look hurt at all when Fujii Itsuki specifically counseled her.
But he just couldn't let go.
I always feel like something is wrong.
When he returned to Chitose's house and walked on the corridor on the second floor, Fujii Itsuki still sent out those three words.
I didn't expect to get a reply so quickly.
Jiu Huayue replied briefly, "It's okay," and attached a photo of herself doing homework at home.
'fine.'
Fujii Itsuki's anxious heart relaxed, and he typed again with concern:
"I'm also very sorry about the selection. If you have any questions, you can always tell me. Although Mr. Fujii can't favor you, please believe that I will always be by your side, Jiuhua."
Fujii Itsuki felt that words alone were not enough.
So he added another emoticon pack to encourage Jiuhuayue.
Is this good enough?
"Shu~~Brother! Surprise!!"
When Fujii Itsuki was typing, Yang Kui Chitose suddenly hugged his waist from behind. Fujii Itsuki didn't have time to pay attention to her.
"Brother Tree?"
"Wait a mininute."
Fujii Itsuki was typing to Jiuhuayue at this time, and his tone of replying to Yang Kui Chitose was a little cold.
Chitose Yang Kui noticed this.
".Today I successfully got the solo position in the trumpet group. Isn't Brother Shu happy?"