After the Inter-High, I finally started living the life of a typical high school student preparing for exams. Many third-year students retire from their club activities before and after the Inter-High.
As promised to Dad and Mom, I wake up early to study, and on weekdays, I attend study groups at “MAHO-do” or at Tsukasa-san’s house. On weekends with practice matches, I attend club activities. When Pop is practicing the piano with Mom, I do housework or cook dinner, and study before going to bed.
Sometimes in the afternoon, when it’s hot, I go to the library to study. The library isn’t just a place to borrow books, there’s also a room called the study room. It’s quiet, cool, and there are many students like me, so I feel like I can study better… What, does everyone already know that?
When I talked about studying in the library, Seto-kun and Chinami-chan, the junior managers, were considerate and listened to me, but Kotake’s face, who was listening nearby, looked like he couldn’t believe it. He seemed to say, “Isn’t that common sense?” It was shocking to receive that kind of look from Kotake of all people. But well, it can’t be helped. I didn’t even go to the school library that much… Hmm, it’s not something to brag about, right? I’m glad I didn’t say it in class, really.
Anyway, when you put it all together, it looks like the life of a high school student preparing for exams. Since I started studying in the morning, I don’t stay up late anymore, so it’s a pretty healthy life as a student preparing for exams. Maybe too healthy.
My best friends are also preparing for exams like me, but we are all different. Because of FLAT4, our actions were the same until the Inter-High, but since then we’ve all been doing different things.
Ai-chan seems to be getting scouted by the track and field club at a corporate team, but she wants to become a sports trainer, so she plans to go to university.
In the 400-meter race at the Inter-High, she achieved decent results, but her challenge is that her speed decreases when going around curves. Ai-chan’s signature rocket start on the straight line, which used to be her strength, can no longer be done as before. Now, she wants to make up for the speed lost on the curves and increase her overall speed.
It’s not going well, and she said with a tough face, “I feel like I’ve reached my limit.” But I think it’s still quite impressive.
Even though Momo-chan is twice as busy as I am, she’s still enthusiastic about participating in the confectionery contest this autumn. She’s confident she’ll pass the preliminaries and wants to win this time to attend a confectionery school in Paris. She’s still active in the cheerleading society, but I worry if she’s getting enough sleep.
As for cheerleading, it’s going well with the support of Tamaki Reika and Kudo Mutsumi-chan. Of course, Hana-chan is even more enthusiastic than Momo-chan.
On the other hand, Onpu-chan has been confirmed to appear in next year’s Taiga drama. She will play a young warlord who is supposedly based on a real person. I’ve heard about it, but I don’t know the name. She’s started studying the Warring States period and going to a horseback riding club recommended by Hazuki-chan’s father. Although the drama shoot is still far off, there are many things to do before that. Recently, she started learning tea ceremony. You might be wondering why tea ceremony for a warlord? I was also curious, but apparently, tea ceremony was one of the hobbies of warlords in the Warring States period. Did you know that? Don’t tell me I’m the only one who didn’t know that?
As for the university entrance exams, Onpu-chan said she couldn’t find anything she wanted to study specifically at any of the universities. She still wants to go to a drama school overseas, or something like that. After going through a tough audition, she got a role in a musical, and her successful performances in the UK and France were the beginning of Onpu-chan’s new challenge. Since then, she’s had more opportunities to perform on stage and in dramas in Japan. She was even offered a recurring role in a TV drama series, but she declined it to prioritize her studies in high school. Although her role in the Taiga drama is a supporting one and not for a long period of time, there’s still a possibility her part will increase in the middle, so it will be difficult to balance with university life.
Even my best friends, who have been striving towards their own passions and future dreams long before me, are putting in so much effort every day. What should I say? It’s like they’re on a different level or something. Everyone is working so hard, and it feels like they’re getting results too. It’s not just me who feels motivated, but I also feel a similar amount of pressure.
Still, I have to be true to myself. I have no choice but to work hard steadily. My grades have certainly improved if I think about when I first enrolled. Or rather, why didn’t I work harder in middle school? That’s a common story.
During the last weekend of summer vacation, we all gathered at MAHO-do and decided to stay there overnight. We wanted to do it on the last day of summer vacation, but the duration of high school summer vacation varies by school, so we did it on the weekend.
Come to think of it, this is already our last high school summer vacation. Only half a year left until the end of high school life. No matter what season it is, even if it’s extreme, each day is only once in a lifetime, but starting next year, we’ll really be separated from our best friends.
I thought it was still a long way off, but time seems to be speeding up faster than when I was in elementary school. The other day, Tsukasa-san said, When you're my age, a year goes by in the blink of an eye. I wonder if that’s really the case.
But anyway, when it comes to the hot topic, it’s got to be Hazuki-chan.
Hazuki-chan passed the qualifying round of the competition to be held in Paris in November, and is increasing her lesson time for the finals. However, her lifestyle has changed since last year, and her individual practice in the lesson room at school is now the main focus. The competition this time is more prestigious and historical than the one she participated in last year. If she wins, it could open the door for her to study abroad.
Karen Girls’ Academy is famous in Japan for having a well-established music university department, but Hazuki-chan’s level of performance is now world-class. I hope she wins and becomes known all over the world as “Fujiwara Hazuki”. Hazuki-chan stands out from the others this year. I don’t want to put any pressure on her, but I have a feeling she’ll definitely make it.
Also, there are still some stories I want to hear. But that’s a secret for now.
And today, I hurried on my way to MAHO-do. Ahh, school starts next week.
Even though it’s summer clothes, the school uniform is hot, and there’s no air conditioning in the classroom, only a fan. I envy Karen Girls’ Academy, which is fully equipped with heating and cooling. I ran a little as I was basking in the sun that was enough to make me want to complain.
To tell the truth, I’ve been looking forward to today’s sleepover party! It’s like the feeling of spending time leisurely away from my family. Talk aimlessly with my friends, eat delicious sweets. Yeah, it’s the best. It’s a pleasure that can only be enjoyed because it rarely happens.
To avoid showing it on my face, I woke up as usual and studied hard at home in the morning. I was careful not to smile too much because I was too excited, but Mom and Dad probably knew it. But they sent me off happily. I think it’s the result of my efforts this summer vacation. The large PET bottle of drink they gave me was really heavy though. And the asphalt was hot. Even the colorful MAHO-do in front of me seemed to be swaying like a mirage.
“Ahh, MAHO-do is so cooool!”
I jumped into MAHO-do and changed into the patissiere outfit. Maybe it’s because of the magic clothes. It’s light and very comfortable. For high school students like us, it feels a bit too cute though.
“Huh? Am I the first one here?”
Looking around, there was no one in the kitchen. Precisely, there were only Dodo and the others, Majorika, and Lala. Freshly baked pastries and cookies were placed on the work table, and in the refrigerator, jellies were set. Dodo and the others were diligently packaging and finishing them. But the store seemed to be empty.
“Doremi-chan.”
Hazuki-chan appeared from the store and waved her hand. I put the PET bottle in the refrigerator and brought out the jelly instead.
“You’re early, Doremi-chan.”
When Hazuki-chan received the jelly tray from me, she put it in the showcase. More than half of them were already in it.
“Momo-chan and Hana-chan will come after cheerleading practice. I came here after morning practice at school. When the two of them come back in the afternoon and Ai-chan comes, I’ll practice on the second floor. So, I came early.”
Hazuki-chan explained the situation at once, smiling as usual… Huh? Although the tone of her voice was the same, her expression seemed a little stiff.
“Doremi-chan, umm…”
Hazuki-chan looked at me with teary eyes. Her big eyes were even more intense than usual, so I was puzzled and asked,
“What’s wrong, Hazuki-chan? Is your violin performance not going well?”
“No. It’s about Masaru-kun…”
“Huh?”
As I tried to urge her to continue, the bell at the entrance of MAHO-do rang with a “tinkle”, and a customer came in. Immediately,
“Welcome~!”
I was surprised at Hazuki-chan, who switched to a sales smile and reacted quickly, but another set of customers came in, so I followed her lead and greeted them with a smile. After all, even though it’s a part-time job, we get paid for it. We, the store clerks, are the intermediary point between the beautifully made sweets that Momo-chan woke up early to prepare and the customers who will enjoy them. We can always chat about personal stuff after the store closes.
By the way, Hazuki-chan’s boyfriend, Yada Masaru-kun, went to America at the beginning of summer vacation, leaving Hazuki-chan behind. He didn’t go on a solo trip but rather with Gabriel Baker-san, also known as GB-san from “Five Pennies”, and his family.
Oh, “Five Pennies” is the name of a club. GB-san, a pianist, and his wife Madoka-san, who is in charge of vocals, perform live mainly on weekends at this jazz club, which is rather famous in the jazz world. The food is delicious, and they are quite popular. GB-san is originally based in America and has released several CDs. But now he loves Japan and is an African-American jazz musician.
Hazuki-chan sent Yada-kun emails every day during summer vacation, but his replies were curt, and she was worried that he might not come back even after the vacation. However, he returned at the last moment.
The hot topic I mentioned was, in other words, about Yada-kun. It’s amazing that he’s gone to America for a whole month, even though he’s a high school student preparing for entrance exams. He had made up his mind to become a jazz trumpet player and was taken to America, but I’m curious about what kind of month he had there.
Surely, in addition to souvenirs and stories about them, I was expecting to hear plenty of jokes from Hazuki-chan today, but the atmosphere seemed suspicious.
In the evening, because almost all of the sweets at MAHO-do had been sold, we decided to close the store a little earlier than planned. While Hazuki-chan and I were preparing to close, Onpu-chan arrived.
“Good work~. Ai-chan seems to be a little late,” she said.
When we went into the kitchen, Onpu-chan was helping Momo-chan and Hana-chan prepare for tomorrow. She smiled and waved at us.
As the four of us, excluding Ai-chan who had contacted us to say she would be late, prepared for closing, the conversation naturally turned to Yada-kun.
“Yada-kun came back. How was New York? And did he go to New Orleans too? It’s the birthplace of jazz.”
“New York? Nice, Hana wants to go too. Yume-chan is also in America. Hey, Majorika, after the exams are over, we should all go together.”
Momo-chan and Hana-chan were excited even before Hazuki-chan started talking. Yume-chan might start going to elementary school in the fall. I want to go too.
“…Well, Masaru-kun was an assistant for GB-san’s live and recording. Rather, it’s more accurate to say that he was taken there by GB-san’s kindness. It seems that they went to New Orleans in between as well. GB-san wanted to show Masaru-kun the real jazz there. He was really looking forward to it before he left.”
Hazuki-chan said, sounding like she was confirming something. Hazuki-chan didn’t seem too happy, so Onpu-chan asked her directly.
“So, in other words, Yada-kun didn’t have a very enjoyable trip?”
Hazuki-chan’s face turned pale and replied,
“Actually, he seems to be feeling down. He’s comparing himself to the skill of the trumpet players his age and the positive reaction to their improvisations during their live performances, and then…”
She stopped talking and let out a sigh. We were waiting for Hazuki-chan’s next words, but we already had a good idea of where the conversation was going.
However, I always thought that Hazuki-chan was Yada-kun’s staunchest ally. There was an incident at Yada-kun’s part-time job before. Hazuki-chan believed in and stood up for him. Conversely, when Hazuki-chan’s father’s movie was shelved and they had to sell their home and were hounded by the media, Yada-kun protected her.
Although they are boyfriend and girlfriend, they are also childhood friends and feel like family. They are like siblings. I envy their relationship.
Yada-kun is still the quiet type and talks normally with his male friends, but he doesn’t talk much with girls. Nevertheless, he’s popular. It’s known that he has a girlfriend, but he’s still popular.
For some reason, female classmates and juniors naturally know that he works part-time at a jazz live house and occasionally plays trumpet there. He has all the elements to be popular. Maybe it’s because he’s cool and handsome.
If it’s just about being popular, Kotake is doing pretty well now, but Yada-kun is on another level. Whenever I see Hazuki-chan and Yada-kun together, I can’t help but feel a little envious. If I were in her position, I’d be a bundle of nerves, but Hazuki-chan is always so calm and collected. Oh, did I stray from the topic again?
I turned to Momo-chan,
“Hey, Momo-chan, is jazz a popular genre in New York?”
Hazuki-chan fell silent, so I asked Momo-chan, who shrugged and replied,
“I only lived there when I was a kid and in junior high, so I’m not really sure… I think it’s more popular than in Japan, though. There are a lot of live houses for jazz. But, you know, people our age tend to prefer pop and rock, right? I think that’s true worldwide.”
Then Onpu-chan seemed to remember something and said,
“There was a jazz live performance at Doremi-chan’s high school before, right? We recognized some of the songs, and when we found out they were jazz, we were surprised.”
Finally, Hazuki-chan spoke up,
“Jazz is also used in movie soundtracks, and sometimes popular songs are arranged in a jazz style.”
Oh right, now I remember. If it weren’t for Yada-kun, I wonder if I’d ever have a chance to listen to jazz like this. Dad is also a jazz fan, but I never had any interest in it.
Hana-chan said in a cheerful tone,
“Hazuki’s live performance of ‘Five Pennies’ was really cool. I thought Yada-kun was really into it at the time too.”
Then, as if remembering something, Momo-chan said,
“Oh yeah, Hazuki-chan also played pop music at a concert in the hospital.”
“That’s right. Hazuki-chan has surprised us many times this year.”
Onpu-chan said and winked playfully at Hazuki-chan.
On Valentine’s Day, when Hazuki-chan played jazz on the violin, we all went to see it. Just as Hana-chan said, Hazuki-chan’s bold transformation, the harmony between her violin and the band, and Yada-kun’s trumpet were all perfectly in sync. It was really cool. Only Ai-chan had actually heard the performance at the hospital, and she said it was lively, gentle, and enjoyable, a really great performance.
Hazuki-chan seemed to reminisce as well, looking into the distance with a smile, but then let out a sigh.
And then it happened.
The back door of MAHO-do opened, and Ai-chan, who had said she had an urgent matter and would be late, came in and said,
“Sorry for being late. I was called by the club advisor and lost track of time…”
She came in with her usual energetic voice, looked at our faces, and tilted her head.
“What’s up? I feel like I’m in the same atmosphere as the old guys drinking sake at the food stall.”
Even though it was just a metaphor, it was kind of mean to call us old guys. While I was thinking that, as expected of Ai-chan. She read the atmosphere in one go.
“Aiko, where’s that food stall selling sake? Hana wants to go too!”
“Hana-chan, I’ve never been to that kind of place either. It’s all about the atmosphere, atmosphere.”
When Hana-chan, who doesn’t read the atmosphere, said this with sparkling eyes, Onpu-chan replied with a wry smile.
“Ai-chan… But yeah, it might really feel like that,” I said.
Ai-chan put her bag on the shelf and sat down on a chair with a triumphant expression on her face. Seeing that, we all burst out laughing. When I looked at Hazuki-chan, she had a smile on her lips. The atmosphere had changed.
After Ai-chan arrived and everyone was together, Ai-chan and I made dinner while the other members split up to prepare and clean up the store for tomorrow. Our teamwork was great and we quickly got to work, and after an hour, Majorika, Lala, and Dodo and the others joined us for dinner.
Even though we made a lot of food for everyone at the end of summer, it disappeared in no time. As expected of active high school girls, everyone has a big appetite. Hazuki-chan was also eating with a smile on her face.
We saved dessert for the night’s enjoyment, and we separated again to take showers and make our beds one by one, laughing and giggling until the whole process was finished.
“Good night!”
Hana-chan said loudly to Majorika and Lala, and Majorika waved us off with a wry smile. I think she meant to tell us to go up to the second floor quickly.
“Actually, I think Yada-kun went to New York and had some thoughts about it.”
Onpu-chan resumed the conversation that was interrupted. Ai-chan didn’t know the situation, so I briefed her on what had happened so far after dinner.
“Yes. He said he still has a lot to learn. He was blessed with supportive people around him, and his trumpet skills were improving. He thought he could become a professional if he continued to work hard, but maybe he lost confidence in America.”
Hazuki-chan said unexpectedly calmly, which surprised me. She had been crying and pleading with me in the morning, but after half a day now, it felt like she was saying, “What happened?” even though we were together. It was strange.
“What’s up, Hazuki-chan? You’re taking it quite lightly.”
Having learned from my explanation, Ai-chan seemed to have expected a more dramatic development and had a somewhat disappointed expression.
“But, he’s still a high school student. Does he have to take it that seriously?”
“Momo-chan, aren’t you a high school student yourself?”
Onpu-chan chuckled and continued,
“But Momo-chan, you’ve decided to attend a confectionery school in Paris and become a patissiere after graduation, right? The path to becoming a professional might be closer than you think.”
When asked further, Momo-chan furrowed her brows and said,
“Of course, I want to become a patissiere. But I’ve never studied with people who have the same goal or actually worked in a pastry store… Maybe I’m being naive. After the competition is over, I want to research more about it.”
Momo-chan knows herself well. And in the end, she always remains positive. Sometimes I think she’s a bit dry, but she’s truly amazing.
Suddenly, Hazuki-chan took Momo-chan’s hand and said,
“That’s right. Normally, people would think that way.”
“Uh… Uh-huh?”
“But, Masaru-kun got depressed after going to America once…”
“Hazuki-chan, if you say that, I’m always depressed too.”
I poured drinks from the PET bottle I took out of the refrigerator into everyone’s glasses.
“That’s right. Doremi-chan’s ups and downs are too extreme. But Yada-kun is the type who takes time to become positive, right?”
Ai-chan said and passed the glass to Hazuki-chan.
“I’m going to ‘Five Pennies’ next weekend to ask GB-san. Yada-kun must know that his performance is still lacking. I think there’s a reason why GB-san and his wife showed Yada-kun the professional world.”
Hazuki-chan had an even brighter expression than before, even though we were having a serious conversation. It’s been a day where Hazuki-chan’s face changes like a cat’s eyes.
“That’s right. Yada-kun is clearly not good at explaining things. Hazuki-chan seems the same way. Of course, it’s concerning. We’re also curious, so can you tell us when we meet next time?”
Hazuki-chan replied to Ai-chan with a smile,
“I had various events during this summer break, and I wanted to talk to Masaru-kun about the competition, but he had a distant attitude, so I was disappointed. But it’s okay now.”
Onpu-chan comforted Hazuki-chan and said,
“Yada-kun may have been shocked by various things. He’s not good at explaining, but maybe he doesn’t talk much because he doesn’t want to worry you, Hazuki-chan.”
I think that’s true, but it’s so obvious to Hazuki-chan. It might be counterproductive. Hazuki-chan isn’t that fragile.
Yada-kun and Hazuki-chan have a telepathic connection, but sometimes their excessive empathy causes them to go off track.
“That’s right. Even when Hana says, ‘Good morning!’ to Yada-kun, he only responds with ‘…morning’ or something like that. When we were in the same class, if I tried to talk to him, he would only say ‘yeah’ or ‘not really’. I think just because he’s not talkative doesn’t mean he’s cool.”
“…Hana-chan, you’re completely off topic,” Momo-chan retorted.
“Eh~~~?”
Hana-chan looked disappointed and turned to me. I couldn’t help but laugh at Hana-chan’s natural airheadness. I wonder if she was really listening to Hazuki-chan and our conversation.
“Anyway, try asking GB-san and his wife, Hazuki-chan. I’ll tell you what’s going on at school. Only you can support Yada-kun.”
Everyone agreed when I said that.
“Just talking to everyone made me feel so much better. Having best friends is really great.”
We didn’t really talk about anything substantial and the conversation about Yada-kun kind of fizzled out, but since Hazuki-chan was smiling, I guess it’s okay. She’ll probably tell us more about it next week. Hazuki-chan has become even stronger than I thought.
Momo-chan brought homemade sherbet and we all ate it while starting various conversations.
We talked about the disappointing episodes of the FLAT4 members, the fact that Tamaki Reika is working part-time at her father’s company again this year, and the summer vacation date between Hasebe-kun and Kudo Mutsumi-chan. When I said I had a photo of Tsukasa-san, everyone got really interested. It seems like my description was accurate. They said he was just as they had imagined.
Our chatter continued until late at night, and when Hana-chan started looking sleepy, we decided to go to bed. We initially thought about putting the beds in the guest room together to make a super king-size bed, but Hana-chan magically made it bigger. Carrying a bed would have been too much hard work for delicate girls like us. Just kidding.
We each found a comfortable spot and flopped down. We talked quietly for a while, but I only remember that much until Momo-chan and Ai-chan fell asleep. I wonder if Hazuki-chan was the one who stayed awake until the end. Or maybe it was Onpu-chan.
Yada-kun started the new school year and came to school as usual. He still left quickly after class, though.
I mustered up the courage and approached Yada-kun, who was getting ready to leave after school, and said,
“Yada-kun, you were in America for a while, right? How was it being in the birthplace of jazz?”
I had actually heard it from Hazuki-chan, but I pretended to ask. Yada-kun seemed surprised that I had suddenly talked to him, but since we’ve known each other for a long time, he knows that I’m the type to butt into anything.
“Yeah, I realized the birthplace of jazz was different.”
He started talking relatively honestly.
“Actually, I’m worried because you seem less energetic since the new school year started. Hazuki-chan doesn’t say anything either. Yada-kun, are you trying to act cool in front of your girlfriend?”
When I tried to tease him, he replied,
“…It’s not like that… She’s just a worrier. Well, I realized that the world is vast. There’s too much I’m missing…”
“Wow, sounds like you had a good experience.”
Thinking he had talked too much, Yada-kun quickly put his bag on his shoulder and said,
“Well, that’s it then.”
Is that how you end a conversation? I watched Yada-kun leave the classroom in a hurry. I thought Yada-kun would say something like, “Leave me alone”, so I was surprised that he answered me. Like at the sleepover with Hazuki-chan, talking to someone can make you feel better.
If that’s the case, I guess my meddling was somewhat successful. Yada-kun seems to be struggling, but he knows what he’s doing, right? Maybe time will resolve it after all.
As soon as September began, Hazuki-chan said she wanted to ask GB-san about Yada-kun’s one-month stay in America. I agreed, but I was still curious, so I suggested that we use magic to transform ourselves into hamsters and check it out.
I could somewhat understand Yada-kun’s state of mind, but I was curious about GB-san’s thoughts. If Hazuki-chan was disappointed by what she heard from GB-san and didn’t want to burden us with the conversation, there was a possibility that she wouldn’t say anything. Of course, everyone agreed.
Then, on a weekend afternoon, during the break time of “Five Pennies”, which is busy in the evening, Hazuki-chan went to meet GB-san. We left the store to Dodo and the others and joined Onpu-chan, then we transformed ourselves into hamsters and waited near the back door of the club. It seemed like Hazuki-chan had arrived. We could hear the voices of GB-san and his wife from inside the door.
“…It’s okay, Hazuki. We knew that things wouldn’t go well for Masaru.”
“Yeah, until now, he’s only had experience playing on stage that we set up ourselves. It’s the real thing all of a sudden, so it’s not going to go well from the beginning.”
After GB-san, his wife Madoka-san’s voice could also be heard. The conversation seemed to have progressed quite a bit. But both of their voices were bright.
“I was worried that Masaru-kun might give up on the trumpet…”
As if to dispel Hazuki-chan’s worried voice,
“I thought that a while ago too. But remember when Masaru played jazz at our club, Hazuki? Seeing him at our last performance together, I thought it’d be okay.”
“That was a pretty rough treatment. But the result was okay. I thought Masaru couldn’t have felt nothing after seeing your challenge… Oh, it’s about time Masaru comes.”
GB-san and Madoka-san’s voices continued. I could feel that they both must have had similar experiences.
“Oh, then I’ll go back. Thank you for listening to me. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Masaru will be okay. Actually, give him some encouragement, Hazuki.”
We could hear GB-san and Madoka-san’s laughter, and Hazuki-chan laughed along. We looked at each other’s faces.
“There was nothing to worry about.”
As Onpu-chan said,
“I don’t know much about the jazz world, but Yada-kun was fortunate to encounter a good mentor.”
And as Ai-chan said, that’s right. Yada-kun must understand the feelings of both of them. We high-fived each other with hamster hands and returned to MAHO-do, feeling satisfied.
And then came Monday. It’s the day when everyone gathers at MAHO-do. Hazuki-chan was supposed to tell us what she had talked about with GB-san. It’s a secret that we heard it by transforming into a hamster.
Hazuki-chan was worried about Yada-kun’s condition at school, but she seemed relieved when I told her that he was fine as usual.
Anyway, there was a paradise in front of me… I mean, a large amount of sweets. What happiness. In front of us who had finished preparing for the MAHO-do closing, there was a lineup of Momo-chan’s special roll cakes.
Hana-chan, who seemed more proud of herself than the one who made them, was standing in front of me, Ai-chan, Majorika, and Lala.
“Momo-chan, you’ve made a lot,” I said.
While it wasn’t exactly one roll per person, having five of them was quite impressive. A great scent was wafting through the air.
“Hey, hey, let’s cut it quickly!”
Without giving Momo-chan a chance to react to my curiosity, Hana-chan took out a knife.
“STOP! Hana-chan. Let’s wait until everyone is here.”
In response to Momo-chan’s stern yet wonderful pronunciation of “STOP”, Hana-chan was surprised and withdrew the knife.
“Hana-chan, let’s prepare the tea together. Hazuki-chan and Onpu-chan will be here soon. Right?”
Prompted by Ai-chan, Hana-chan began preparing iced tea. I wiped the table and brought plates.
“By the way, it’s a lot. Is it a contest prototype?”
“Yep. I tried a lot of prototypes at home and got tired of eating them. Finally, I’m satisfied with the result. The remaining ones will be taken home as gifts by everyone.”
“Wow, that’s great. My family are all big fans of Momo-chan’s sweets. They will be thrilled.”
Hazuki-chan said the same impression as me when she came with Onpu-chan. Oh, by saying to cut it after everyone was here, maybe Momo-chan wanted the latecomers to see it too. Are we being sorted into the group without tasting? When I looked at Momo-chan with such meaning,
“No need to worry about that.”
With a vigorous shake of her head, she gave an impressively fluent response. Phew~~.
When the iced tea was lined up in front of everyone,
“Okay, I’ll cut it.”
Momo-chan held the knife and started cutting from the edge into thick pieces.
“Oh~~!”
The fox-colored roll cake and the white cream inside, along with the colorful fruit, made for a beautiful contrast. The other one had nuts mixed into the dough with a good coffee cream filling. It had a slightly more adult-like image.
Onpu-chan took a bite and looked at the surrounding plates.
“I can see the same amount of fruit on every plate. It’s a great success. The cream is a bit firmer because of the moisture in the fruit.”
Next, Hazuki-chan had a few words to say.
“The amount of coffee cream is small and the sugar is moderate. The taste of burnt caramel is the accent. It’s fashionable to use it for decoration on top of the roll cake. It’s a good idea as a guide for equal slicing.”
Hmmm, I can feel the difference in vocabulary. I don’t think I could be a food reporter. Not that I’m planning to be one.
Momo-chan’s sweets are still the best. Although the task is to make a roll cake, Momo-chan’s unique style of “colorful” and “fashionable” has been added this year, unlike last year.
I don’t know what kind of roll cakes the other people will make, and I think it will be somewhat similar, but Momo-chan’s roll cake seems to have a good balance of appearance, taste, baking degree, and ingredients. It’s definitely going to win.
With our stomachs full of sweets, Hazuki-chan started talking about Yada-kun’s experience in America, which she had heard from GB-san. We all listened intently to the second half of her story. Even though I thought I wasn’t showing it on my face,
“Everyone, you were all at the back door of GB-san’s club, right?”
While saying “everyone”, Hazuki-chan looked at Hana-chan with a beaming smile.
“Eh, Hazuki, are you clairvoyant or something?”
“……”
The rest of us exchanged glances except for Hana-chan.
“Hana-chan, you’re too gullible.”
Ai-chan cut in, and we all apologized to Hazuki-chan. They say that when witches use magic nearby, they can sense each other, but…
“How did you know?”
When I asked, Hazuki-chan replied,
“I thought it was strange that Doremi-chan gave up so easily on getting more information about him. Masaru-kun said you stopped him to talk too.”
There’s a detective among us too. I couldn’t help but bow my head as if prostrating myself. Hazuki-chan chuckled and said,
“Thank you all for worrying about us. GB-san seems to recognize Masaru-kun’s trumpet skills. Rather than the level of the trumpet, he wanted him to know practical things like how to improvise during a live performance and respond when suddenly called upon.”
Hazuki-chan’s way of speaking sounded quite objective. GB-san is probably like Ran-san or Ikoma-san to Momo-chan.
“In other words, it’s about flexibility.”
“That’s something Yada-kun seems to be lacking.”
Ai-chan and Onpu-chan immediately reacted. I thought the same way, but they both said it bluntly.
“GB-san and Madoka-san have many acquaintances in New York, so they’ve performed as guests in small clubs and large stages several times. Of course, there have been times when it was the other way around. It seems Masaru-kun was also given a chance to go up on stage during one of those occasions.”
When Hazuki-chan said that, she let out a sigh, similar to when we met at the end of summer vacation.
“He had trouble getting into the groove.”
When I said that, Hazuki-chan nodded.
“When people are on stage together playing the same part, there’s a sense of timing, knowing when to come forward and when to hold back. Even among his peers, those who are accustomed to improvisation can handle it naturally, but he couldn’t.”
It seems that improvisation is common in jazz performances. Even with the same song, depending on the arrangement, the tempo and melody can change. Phew~, live performances are quite challenging.
“But isn’t that just a matter of experience?”
As Momo-chan pointed out, there’s also the language barrier, so I think it’s only natural. Hazuki-chan looked sharply at Momo-chan and responded,
“Exactly. You just have to get used to it. And it’s only natural that there are people who are better than you. Technique is something you acquire through practice, but playing style and characteristics are individual traits. Preferences vary between people too, so I don’t think there’s any need to feel inferior.”
I was surprised by Hazuki-chan’s passionate speech, but…
“That’s right. The world of performing music has nothing to do with being a high school student or an old man. If you’re bad, you’ll get booed, but if you’re good, you’ll be well received. But doing nothing is the worst.”
“It’s about entertaining the audience that’s there. In other words, whether you can enjoy playing music yourself. It’s the same on stage. Sometimes actors throw in improvisation. When it syncs well, you think, ‘Yes!’”
“Yeah, live performances need to be enjoyable for both the performer and the audience. Like the Valentine’s Day live performance.”
Ai-chan, Onpu-chan and Momo-chan started to discuss. I see. I’ve only experienced competition among people of the same age, but everyone’s world is different.
I think Ai-chan, Onpu-chan, Momo-chan, and of course Hazuki-chan are all among the top of high school students, but their world is not limited to just being high school students. Hana-chan is in the same boat as me, preparing for university entrance exams, but she’s destined to become Queen. Speaking of which, even Kotake will compete for positions with people twice his age when he graduates from high school and enters the professional world.
“Aaahhh~~~!”
“What’s wrong, Doremi-chan?”
When I let out a big sigh, Momo-chan and the others looked at me. I felt embarrassed, but I lifted my head and said,
“Yeah, I just think everyone is amazing. My world is really limited, but thanks to that, I can see things from different perspectives. I can only do what I can do, but I’m grateful to have you all as my best friends. I can see so many different worlds through all of you.”
I always have insecurities, but I shouldn’t let them consume me, right? I know that everyone is working hard. I can only do my best in my own world.
“That’s right, Doremi-chan.”
Hazuki-chan approached me with her big eyes.
“Huh?”
“I’ve felt similar feelings many times before too. There are so many wonderful violinists in the world. Last year, when I missed out on winning the competition, I felt the same way as Masaru-kun. But, like you, I always thought I had to stay positive. I was disappointed that Masaru-kun didn’t come up with that mindset right away.”
“So you gave it to him straight. Madoka-san told you to pump him up too.”
When Ai-chan said this,
“Last year’s competition was my first international competition. I played well, but I still felt a significant gap between me and the winner. Most of you remember that. The winner was a man who played in a way that drew the audience into his own world. I felt like I had been hit in the head for a while. Masaru-kun felt the same way.”
“So, how did Yada-kun react?”
Hazuki-chan didn’t answer my question with a yes or no.
“I was able to find the areas where I lacked during that competition. Since then, I’ve been challenging myself and trying to expand my horizons, wanting to see how much I can accomplish. The upcoming competition is the same. I used to play pieces that were like textbook performances, but this time, I intend to perform with a spirit of challenge. That’s why I chose a piece for the competition that I’ve never performed before too. The competition may be an evaluation, but I want to approach it with a mindset of taking on challenges and being proactive.”
Hazuki-chan’s firm words made her look very mature. She seemed like a challenger. Come to think of it, Yada-kun said something similar too.
Onpu-chan, who had been listening while resting her chin on her hand, said quietly,
“Yada-kun might also need some time, just like Hazuki-chan.”
“Standing stiff on stage is embarrassing. Boys are surprisingly sensitive to criticism.”
“Yeah, but Hazuki-chan, did you really say it so clearly to Yada-kun?”
Onpu-chan, Ai-chan, and Momo-chan looked at Hazuki-chan with a mixture of anticipation and suspicion. Hazuki-chan, who had been passionately speaking up until now, suddenly became evasive.
“I thought about it, but maybe it’s not something to say out loud. That’s why I told him about last year’s competition, but nothing more…”
She trailed off, avoiding the topic.
“Go on, say it loud, say it proud, Hazuki! Give him a resounding smack with your words!”
As Hana-chan spoke encouragingly in a rhythmic, peppy tone,
“…Probably Masaru-kun is aware of GB-san’s thoughts too. He should be grateful to GB-san for giving him a chance to know himself and the world… Masaru-kun isn’t the kind of person who doesn’t realize it.”
Hazuki-chan spoke passionately again, while we were left disappointed and Hana-chan’s face was clearly downcast,
“…So, have we just endured an epic lovey-dovey monologue?”
Ai-chan muttered under her breath.
“No, no, that’s not it, Ai-chan!”
There’s no need to say it three times. Hazuki-chan adamantly refuted with a flushed face. Hmm, I began to feel like I’d been subjected to some boasting too. Ai-chan’s knack for commentary is truly exceptional. No wonder she’s from Kansai.
Onpu-chan laughed while listening, but suddenly turned to Hazuki-chan,
“I want to listen. Hazuki-chan’s challenging violin playing.”
She said directly.
“I want to listen too. You always practice on the second floor of MAHO-do. I want to listen to that incredibly rhythmic piece.”
“That’s right. I’ve never listened to it carefully. Hana wants to listen too!”
Momo-chan and Hana-chan appealed to Hazuki-chan with their usual high spirits.
“I’m sorry.”
Hazuki-chan bowed her head slowly and continued,
“I also want everyone to listen to it. But I haven’t been able to perform to my satisfaction yet. Please wait a little longer. I’ll make sure it’s ready before we have to leave.”
She said “make sure” with a very strong tone.
“Okay, Hazuki-chan. We’re also looking forward to it. Please let us listen to it for sure,” I said.
Hazuki-chan nodded vigorously. Maybe it’s better to silently watch over Yada-kun like Hazuki-chan and GB-san do.
As night fell, we hurriedly began cleaning up. Momo-chan put the leftover cake in a small box and gave it to us to take home. I can imagine the happy faces of Dad, Mom, and Pop.
Onpu-chan, who was texting the manager, suddenly realized and asked,
“You said this would be a challenge, but are your costumes going to reflect that?”
Momo-chan and Ai-chan also chimed in,
“Are you going to wear something cool like the Valentine’s Day live performance? But the piece for the competition is a classical one, right?”
“Come to think of it, Onpu-chan looked really sharp when she played the role of a professional shogi player. I thought the same during the period drama. Costumes really do have an effect. Is it the same for competitions?”
Suddenly changing the subject, Hazuki-chan seemed bewildered and said,
“I think any outfit that’s easy to play in is fine… but I think women tend to wear longer dresses. I’ll choose one from the dresses I have. I bought a violin bow with my savings.”
That’s right. Hazuki-chan’s family had to sell their big house and now lives in a small apartment. She was even considering giving up playing the violin. The part-time job at MAHO-do is still more for the violin bow than for the costume. I guess the sound quality really changes.
Then, Onpu-chan went up to Hazuki-chan with a serious expression and held her hands.
“Hazuki-chan, would you let me give you a dress as a present? Thanks to the introduction from your father, I’ve been able to talk to senior actors at the horseback riding club, and it’s been a great learning experience. I’ve been wanting to do something to show my gratitude.”
Hazuki-chan quickly withdrew her hands.
“What are you talking about, Onpu-chan? I just passed on my best friend’s request to Papa. There’s no need to thank me with something like that. I have a few dresses and I can even modify Mama’s dress. Your feelings alone are enough.”
I don’t know how much a dress costs, but it’s a considerable amount.
“Onpu-chan, there’s no need for such a big thank you between us.”
Ai-chan quickly interjected. Onpu-chan also regained her composure and replied,
“…Yes, that’s true. But this time, I also got to hear various stories about period dramas from Director Fujiwara, and I can’t come to MAHO-do often, so the most I can do is buy souvenirs from filming locations…”
I immediately responded,
“That’s more than enough, Onpu-chan. Even during the Inter-High, you adjusted your schedule to come and support us.”
I had never thought that Onpu-chan was thinking in such a way.
“But thanks to Hazuki-chan, I was able to get advice from Director Fujiwara.”
“Papa often tells me that Onpu-chan will become a great actress in the future. I didn’t tell you that just because you’re my best friend. And besides, you always help us. I’m really happy just with that feeling.”
Onpu-chan had a serious expression, and Hazuki-chan showed no signs of backing down.
“I just need to be able to play the violin. Any dress will do.”
Both were making valid points, and we couldn’t say anything. If they continued like this, it would turn into a situation like the old ladies trying to split the bill at the cash register, for lack of a better analogy. Then, Onpu-chan suddenly had an idea.
“I have a lot of acquaintances in the fashion industry. Maybe they can modify the dress you already have. If it turns out not to be your taste, you can wear another dress. Wouldn’t it be fine if you lend me a dress you’ve worn before and have it redesigned for a more mature look?”
It’s true that Onpu-chan has a lot of acquaintances in the fashion industry because of her job.
Momo-chan patted Hazuki-chan’s shoulder and said,
“Hazuki-chan, in this case, why don’t you leave it to Onpu-chan?”
Hana-chan also suggested,
“Yeah, it’s not a big deal, Hazuki. Let’s consider Onpu’s feelings here. Right, Aiko?”
She joined Momo-chan with a tone similar to Ai-chan’s. Of course, Ai-chan was the one in charge.
“We’re going in circles. Maybe we should take action and resolve this,” Ai-chan proposed.
“Exactly. Until now, the outfits Hazuki-chan wore were mostly modest and cute. The competition is in Paris, and if you win, your photos and videos will be shared worldwide. It’ll be interesting to see how Onpu-chan will remake the dress.”
I said, finally eliciting a smile from Hazuki-chan.
“It feels like the expectations have become more demanding… But on the other hand, it would be great if the remade dress became famous all over the world thanks to Hazuki-chan’s performance.”
Now Onpu-chan felt a greater sense of responsibility.
“I’m looking forward to Hazuki-chan’s performance, and now I’m also looking forward to the outfit. What do you think, Doremi-chan?”
“That’s right! Hazuki-chan has transformed before. A slight change in the outfit can make a big difference.”
Ai-chan and Momo-chan grinned.
Onpu-chan suddenly panicked as we all looked at her and wondered,
“Um… is everyone… expecting a lot from me? Did I make it too challenging?”
Onpu-chan grabbed Hazuki-chan’s shoulders with both hands and said,
“I have high expectations for Hazuki-chan’s performance, but let’s lower the expectations for the dress.”
It’s been a long time since I saw Onpu-chan in such a flustered state. She left us as soon as the manager’s car arrived. Either way, she would be taken home by the manager’s car as usual.
“Fufufu. Well then, I absolutely have to win.”
Hazuki-chan also said the word “win” firmly.
Yada-kun, Hazuki-chan is several, even ten times more resilient than you. You can do it.
On a mid-October Saturday, we gathered at “Five Pennies” for Hazuki-chan’s violin concert.
However, the audience consisted of only us, Hazuki-chan’s father and mother, members of GB’s band, and Hamada Itoko-chan, Iida Kanae-chan, Kudo Mutsumi-chan, and Tsukasa-san. Also present were Seki-sensei, Tamaki Reika, and Niwa Hinako-chan, who helped with her hair and makeup. Yada-kun was responsible for recording and filming backstage.
GB-san offered his “Five Pennies” because they sometimes record live jazz performances and have the necessary equipment. It’s perfect for a final check.
Hazuki-chan felt apologetic, but apparently, Yada-kun asked GB-san for the favor. Of course, GB-san was happy to lend it. It was a private rental for only an hour before the club opened.
Hazuki-chan raised her violin and took a small breath. Then, she began playing all at once.
The first song started with a whispering, quiet sound that gradually became soft. Before we knew it, it had become a passionate performance. It wasn’t a performance where she tossed her hair around, but rather, it felt like the bow was sticking to the violin, and her body was also gently swaying in unison. It was the first time we had heard the song, but it suited Hazuki-chan’s image well. To put it in an analogy, it felt like riding a yacht across the sea.
The next song started with a rhythmic performance, and then it became soft in the middle, and then the tempo increased again. And then, just when I thought it was serious… it changed again, flipping back and forth between moods. Her fingers pressed the strings and the bow moved finely.
It was the first time we had heard Hazuki-chan perform like this. We knew it was a very technical song, but that wasn’t the only thing. Perhaps this song was the most suitable for Hazuki-chan’s “challenge” keyword.
Hazuki-chan played a piece by a composer named Paganini, which was a bit difficult among the competition pieces. We didn’t know how the others would play it, but Hazuki-chan’s performance was undoubtedly her own sound, yet it seemed like someone else had taken over her body.
Yada-kun was holding his breath and staring intently at Hazuki-chan, which left a strong impression. Hazuki-chan probably wanted Yada-kun to be the first one to listen.
Ever since her childhood, Hazuki-chan has always been associated with the violin. I wish I could have let Baaya-san hear Hazuki-chan’s violin. It sounds amazing.
Hazuki-chan has always been positive, but maybe she had many difficult experiences that she didn’t tell us about. Karen Girls’ Academy is a tough place where promising pianists and violinists from all over Japan compete. It’s so challenging that it could make Pop feel like giving up. Hazuki-chan resumed being a witch apprentice, started working part-time at MAHO-do, Hana-chan, a candidate to become the next Queen, came along, and her father’s movie couldn’t be screened just before its release… Although she might not have practiced enough compared to the others, perhaps it was just a matter of time.
It’s not something that can be done along with entrance exam studying, but listening to Hazuki-chan’s performance gives me encouragement. I’m sure Yada-kun feels the same way.
It’s really difficult to express music in words. Especially for me. Maybe music exists because it can’t be expressed in words. I looked around. Not just my classmates, but even Seki-sensei was looking at her with tears of joy in her eyes, and Tsukasa-san was listening intently with his eyes closed. Hazuki-chan’s performance is still evolving. I’m really looking forward to it.
When I listen to Hazuki-chan’s performance, I feel like Karen Girls’ Academy and Japan are too small. I really feel like I want people all over the world to hear Hazuki-chan’s performance.
About a week after the performance in “Five Pennies”, in the midst of the season heading towards winter, Hazuki-chan set off for Paris. The competition was finally beginning.
We watched nervously in front of the TV screen at MAHO-do, regardless of the time difference.
When she made it through the semi-finals, I was worried that Hazuki-chan might run out of energy. Her performance had been so heartfelt.
But I truly realized Hazuki-chan’s amazingness during the finals. It felt like she had reached an even higher level of “challenge” in the finals. Not just me, but also my best friends and even the people in the audience, who were occasionally shown on the screen, were gazing at her in awe and holding their breath, as if under her magic spell.
As the performance ended, Hazuki-chan quietly lowered her violin and deeply bowed her head. At that moment, a huge round of applause erupted throughout the venue.
We also stood up instinctively. Onpu-chan was so impressed that she exclaimed,
“A lot of people are standing up!”
“It’s a standing ovation!”
“Hazuki-chan is so cool!”
“That was amazing, Hazukii!”
Momo-chan, Ai-chan, and Hana-chan hugged each other with tears in their eyes. With Hana-chan’s magical powers, it would be easy to see the competition on the spot in Paris, but we were watching it on TV just like last year. But maybe that was better. After all, we had completely lost our composure. It was okay to make as much noise as we wanted here.
This competition was long, from the preliminaries to the finals, and only Hazuki-chan and one other man made it to the finals among the Japanese contestants. Hazuki-chan was the only one from Karen Girls’ Academy participating. Tamaki Reika said that since Hazuki-chan’s skills were so overwhelmingly superior, perhaps the academy’s rivals would participate in another competition.
“The applause won’t stop yet.”
Hazuki-chan, holding her violin, walked towards the backstage. Onpu-chan was watching her figure intently.
Even though Hazuki-chan left the stage, the audience continued to applaud. It wasn’t until the last performer walked onto the stage from the side that the applause finally stopped. Being one of the finalists, I thought the woman who performed before Hazuki-chan and the man who was performing now were both really good. But it’s not just favoritism, Hazuki-chan’s performance was truly wonderful.
Hazuki-chan’s costume was really good too. As Hazuki-chan emphasized, the original dress wasn’t changed much in terms of its shape.
As Ai-chan gazed admiringly at the dress, she said to Onpu-chan,
“Hazuki-chan’s dress looks like a starry sky.”
Onpu-chan also looked pleased,
“It’s just a little modification of the original costume.”
While listening to the next male performer, Onpu-chan added the explanation. The final piece had a longer playing time compared to before. However, the dress was never shown up close, so we couldn’t discern the intricate details. Onpu-chan said it was a “secret” who and how the costume was remade, so we saw it for the first time when Hazuki-chan stood on stage.
By the way, the semifinal dress was Hazuki-chan’s themed color, orange. It was the same one she wore for a performance at Karen Girls’ Academy, a simple and airy dress. The only addition was a ribbon at the waist. It was a translucent silver ribbon that extended long in the back, resembling a bride’s veil. Just that small detail gave it an adult-like touch. However, Hazuki-chan’s gentle image remained unchanged.
And, the final dress was blue, or indigo, or rather navy blue, and judging by the design, it might have originally belonged to her mother. When the light hit it, a shimmering light spilled out from the navy dress, peeking through the thin fabric on the outer layer. The hem was also shining finely.
However, it wasn’t flashy at all. It was really stylish. It was perfect for Hazuki-chan’s theme of “challenge”. It was the first time I saw Hazuki-chan playing while wearing such a refreshing and adult-like dress.
“Oh, everyone’s coming out!”
Hana-chan pointed at the screen. The finalists were lined up on the stage. Since it was in order of performance, Hazuki-chan was at the end. Everyone was shown on camera.
“Oh, I’m getting nervous.”
“Yeah. Hazuki-chan’s performance was definitely the best, but considering what happened last year…”
Onpu-chan seemed more nervous than me. Despite being on stage, Hazuki-chan looked calm.
“Her face says she’s done it.”
Majorika, who had been silently watching, spoke up. She was right. Regardless of the outcome, Hazuki-chan’s face was filled with a sense of accomplishment.
“She did it────!”
Our loud voices echoed through MAHO-do.
The result? Of course, Hazuki-chan won. As soon as her name was called, we shouted and high-fived each other loudly enough for everyone around us to hear. We were so happy that tears filled our eyes. We wanted to run around Misora City and tell everyone. It would definitely be in the news soon.
Since the competition lasted a long time, Hazuki-chan came back to Japan right away. Before Hazuki-chan went to Paris, Momo-chan had a pastry competition, and the soccer team faced the prefectural qualifying rounds for the National High School Soccer Championship, so it was a hectic time.
When Hazuki-chan reported her victory to us at MAHO-do, her smile was soft and shy, just like usual. She looked like a different person from the one who had a determined expression while playing music.
After coming back to Japan, Hazuki-chan had a lot of interviews, but she hadn’t been to school for almost two weeks, so she had to take supplementary classes and tests, and it was a normal, everyday life for a finalist.
Oh, and Yada-kun, I heard he’s not going to university.
“What? Is he going on a lovecation?”
“Hana-chan, who did you hear that from? What kind of language is that?”
While gently scolding Hana-chan with a huge smile, Hazuki-chan looked at us.
“I didn’t teach her that,” Ai-chan said.
She shook her head and continued,
“You’re going to Paris and he’s going to New York. It’s too far for a long-distance relationship. It’s completely different from our sense of distance. Isn’t that right, Hazuki-chan? Even if you’re apart like that.”
Yes, Hazuki-chan, who was listening with a smile, decided not to attend the university at Karen Girls’ Academy and instead study abroad at a music school in Paris. The effect of winning the competition is undoubtedly significant.
“I heard there were offers for concerts and CD releases as well. Oh, and even Tsukasa-san was deeply impressed by Hazuki-chan’s violin. He said, ‘It’s rare for me to praise a girl,’ as an excuse.”
He was surprised by the variety of my best friends I hang out with.
“I heard it from Doremi-chan too. Yada-kun is going to America with GB-san, right? He’s serious about becoming a jazz musician.”
There’s no turning back anymore, huh? Onpu-chan asked Hazuki-chan.
GB-san decided to move to America with his family when his only son entered middle school. When they decided to resume their activities primarily in New York, he asked Yada-kun if he wanted to come along.
Although Yada-kun couldn’t do much on the stage in New York before, it’s not too late for him to take on the challenge. Perhaps after listening to Hazuki-chan’s performance, Yada-kun had his own thoughts. When he heard she had won the competition, he couldn’t help but feel motivated.
“GB-san is a good person. He’s thinking about Yada-kun.”
Hazuki-chan smiled at me when I said that.
“Really, Papa said he’s like his other son. GB-san is younger than he looks, fufu… That’s right. It’s no longer just a dream for either of us. I finally understand the hardships Onpu-chan went through.”
She answered in a heartfelt tone.
“Does that mean your dreams have come true?”
Hazuki-chan and Onpu-chan exchanged glances, but I couldn’t understand the meaning at all.
“No, Doremi-chan. It means that the time for dreaming is over. Right?” Ai-chan corrected.
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“That’s right. I also have a tough reality waiting for me soon.”
Momo-chan shrugged her shoulders.
“Speaking of reality, I heard from Yamauchi Shinshuu-kun at school last week that Taniyama Shouta-kun has been promoted to 4-dan. He said the sweets Momo-chan gave him as a celebration gift were delicious. Taniyama-kun didn’t have much of an appetite, perhaps due to mental exhaustion or physical tiredness, so Shinshuu-kun ended up eating most of it.”
For some reason, Shinshuu-kun apologized to me.
“I also received a message from Taniyama-kun. He apologized and said he’d eat properly next time. But isn’t Shinshuu-kun just sorry because he wanted to eat it himself?”
Too bad, Shinshuu-kun. Momo-chan had already figured it out.
“Taniyama-kun will now be playing against not only people of his own generation, but also shogi players from the older generation and even his grandfather’s generation. Among the 4-dan players, he’s on the younger side. It’s going to be tough,” I said.
“It’s been his dream since elementary school, so even if it’s tough, there’s a sense of challenge. Isn’t that right?”
Onpu-chan looked at Hazuki-chan as if asking a question. Hazuki-chan, Onpu-chan, and Taniyama-kun, their dreams have come true. If this were a story, it would have a happy ending, but in reality, the continuation is much longer.
Hazuki-chan says that while attending the music school in Paris, she’d like to try accepting concert offers, and Onpu-chan is excited about the start of filming for the Taiga drama. Maybe she’ll become the lead actress in a morning drama or a Taiga drama someday.
Even in the professional world, everyone is still at the starting line. It’s deep, or rather, bottomless, and they accept the hardships as something natural.
As for me, I’m not even at the starting line yet, but I’m not going to let that stop me. I’m going to keep running my own race, at my own pace, and I’m going to achieve my dreams.
Someday, when I become an elementary school teacher, I want to teach my students who have dreams, just like my best friends, not to give up, that their efforts won’t be in vain even if their dreams don’t come true, and that I’ll always be supporting them. There are so many great role models for them.
Supporting the dreams of my students. That’s my dream, I guess.
Thank you so much for translating the novels, even in this year! I never found anyone translating all of the books in the internet, so I’m glad I found this website.
please next part 18
thank you, I hope you can see to the end ojamajo doremi 20
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