Chapter 94: Watanabe Toru's sigh, the girls' worries
Sitting by the window, Toru Watanabe looked at the reed pipe in his hand.
About 11 mm in diameter, storage time two years, made in France.
Straight, smooth and shiny surface, slightly yellowish brown with polyester brown stripes, and the fibers on the cross section are fine and tight.
This is the best material for making reeds.
On the second afternoon of the interview week, the sound of cicadas accompanied the scorching summer sun. In the classroom of Grade 4, students in groups of three or four were doing their own things.
Watanabe Toru, whose first reed began to go out of tune, used a reed planer, string, reed stand, blade knife and other tools to fiddle with the reed tube in his hand, preparing to make a second reed by hand.
"I'm back."
After the interview, Keisuke Saito seemed to have shed a layer of skin and slumped down in the girl's seat in front of Toru Watanabe.
He stared at Watanabe Tetsu who was concentrating on winding the reed for a while and asked: "What are you doing?"
"To make a reed."
"Reed?"
"Oh, right." Watanabe Toru remembered an interesting thing, "Professional oboe players usually have a good skill in making reeds, and reeds are also called reeds, so oboe players are also reed makers."
After that, he introduced himself again: "I, Watanabe, am an extremely outstanding oboe player who is destined to become a master in the future."
"Oh, and then what?" Saito Keisuke reacted calmly.
"Saito, you are such a boring guy."
"You are boring. You have no idea what you are talking about."
"I can't explain it to you, an islander."
Reed maker Toru Watanabe shook his head as if talking to a cow, picked up the reed with the thread wrapped around it, tried blowing it, and after making sure there was no problem, he used a knife to thin the top part.
Keisuke Saito didn't have the energy to argue with Toru Watanabe. While using the air conditioning in the classroom to cool down and restore his strength, he pricked up his ears to eavesdrop on the conversation of the girls in the front row of the classroom.
"……Really?!"
"Shh!"
The girl glanced over here secretly, and Saito Keisuke remained staring at the ceiling without moving.
<Reed Maker Toru Watanabe> still kept his head down, diligently making the reed, and would pick it up and blow it from time to time .
Outside the window, you can hear the shouts of sports clubs under the scorching sun.
The baseball team that Kunii Osamu is in is working hard to prepare for the Koshien preliminaries.
The girls' conversation continued.
"I didn't expect him to have such a bad character, even scolding a girl for her looks."
“What a scumbag!”
“That’s terrible.”
"dross."
Saito Keisuke nodded repeatedly in his heart. It seems that girls don't always judge people by appearance, there are also some who know what's going on.
After the reed easily produced a rooster-like sound, Watanabe Toru put the tools into his schoolbag: "I'm going to the club, do you want to go?"
Saito Keisuke leaned back and said, "I'll rest for a while. The corridor is too hot."
"Then I'll go first."
"Um."
Toru Watanabe slung his schoolbag over his shoulder, put his hands in his pockets, held the new reed in his mouth, and played "Kikujiro's Summer" intermittently according to his memory, and walked leisurely towards the classroom door.
The girls in the front row immediately quieted down.
The moment when the classroom door was closed after everyone left.
"See it! See it!"
"Mmm! The way you walk is so cool!"
"Ah-Watanabe! I really want to be scolded by him!"
Saito Keisuke: “???”
When Toru Watanabe passed by the door of Class 2, he looked inside, but didn't see Kujo Miki. Instead, he ran into Tamamo Yomi who was coming out of Class 1.
She was holding a musical instrument case containing a trombone and had a colorful hairband wrapped around her white wrist.
Tamamo Yomi glared at Watanabe Toru. She still remembered what happened last time at Shibuya Center Street.
It was unbelievable that a guy would ask her out, she agreed and they went to the meeting place, but then he stood her up?!
Toru Watanabe didn't really want to see the other person. There were many ways to go to the music classroom, but wouldn't it make him seem guilty if he deliberately took a detour at this time?
So the two of them walked in the same direction, one in front and one behind.
There were other people walking on the road, but it still felt awkward, like filming a TV series. Although there were passers-by and actors around, the camera was always focused on the two of them.
"Is this the embarrassment of running into an ex-girlfriend?" Watanabe Toru withdrew his gaze from Tamamo Yoshimi's back and cast his eyes out the corridor window.
On a hot and sunny day during the rainy season, there were still couples sitting under a tree in the courtyard, kissing each other, their arms pressed against each other. Not even the wind could get through them, and even Toru Watanabe, who was watching, felt warm for them.
He simply stared at the beautiful Tamamo in front of him.
But, anyway, it's also very hot.
It's about the weather.
"You take your instrument home to practice?"
Watanabe Toru waited for a while before confirming that Tamamo Yomi was probably talking to him.
"Um."
"Like this." Tamamo's beautiful expression could not be seen, and no special emotion could be heard in her voice.
When we stepped onto the elevated corridor leading to the community building, the sun suddenly became much brighter and we could see airplane clouds when we looked up.
"time?"
"...About two hours." Watanabe Toru thought the conversation was over and was caught off guard and didn't react.
"so."
"I say," Watanabe Toru couldn't help but ask, "Are you imitating Asuri-senpai?"
Like a volcano erupting without warning, Tamamo Homi turned her head around quickly, and her two beautiful amber eyes stared angrily at Watanabe Toru.
Toru Watanabe was startled and thought she was going to use the instrument case in her hand as a weapon to hit him, so he stopped subconsciously.
"The way you spoke just now was really similar to Senior Asuri," he explained.
"This is how you communicate with someone you hate! I hate you, and Haomei hates Watanabe Toru, do you understand?"
"If you hate something, isn't it the best way to communicate if you don't say anything?"
"you--"
Tamamo was so beautiful that she was speechless. She turned around angrily, with the hem of her pleated skirt fluttering.
"It's terrible! It's terrible! It's so infuriating!" The very cute girl cursed rudely and strode towards the other side of the overhead corridor.
Toru Watanabe was a little surprised by her overreaction.
But never mind, whether it's bad or not, whether it's annoying or not, it doesn't matter, as long as the two of them don't continue to have contact with each other.
"Well, this is for her own good. It's not just self-protection, and it's not because I'm afraid of Kujo."
It was interview week, but for some reason all the members of Group A of the Wind Ensemble were gathered in the music classroom.
"Nothing to be surprised about." Qing Ye Lin noticed Watanabe Toru's doubts, "I suggested to the school that the members of the wind band be interviewed first."
"Didn't you say you don't need any privileges ?"
"I just wanted to clarify the necessity of doing so, and the school believes that this necessity is reasonable. I don't know what privilege you are talking about."
"...Whatever you say is what it is."
Kiyono Rin glared at Watanabe Toru with dissatisfaction, who had an expression that said "you're just deceiving yourself."
After an afternoon of ensemble, Watanabe Toru was too lazy to go out for dinner because he felt too hot, so he stayed in the activity room of the Human Observation Department to eat Kujo Miki's snacks.
I haven't seen her these two afternoons. As expected of the eldest daughter of the Kujo family, she is very busy.
Toru Watanabe wished that she would be so busy that she didn't even come to school.
There was a sudden polite knock on the door and he answered it while guessing who it was.
"Excuse me." The people who walked in were Aoi Ikki and Asako Hanada.
When the two saw that Watanabe Toru was the only one in the activity room, a hint of embarrassment flashed across their faces.
Ikki Aoi nodded, and the petite Hanada Asako, as always, shyly lowered her head and didn't look at him.
Now, except for Asuka Mai, there should be no other girl in the brass band who is willing to be alone with him... Watanabe Toru thought to himself.
In fact, he still underestimated the world.
There are many people like Karin Uzumaki in "Naruto" in real life.
Besides his looks, there were many people who still admired his strong playing ability despite his trashy personality.
If Watanabe Toru did not hurt these girls, and instead raised his voice and fought for the position of the next wind band leader, he might have a chance.
But in order to allow Qing Ye Lin to better conduct the wind orchestra, he voluntarily became the enemy of "the world" - this way of saying it was cooler, so that on the surface, no one would get close to him.
However, the effect of doing so is very good. The best proof of this is that Aoi Ikki, who was once criticized by Kiyono Rin to tears, now appears in the activity classroom of the Human Observation Department.
"That Kiyono guy probably went out to eat and will be back soon." Watanabe Toru said this out of hospitality.
"Ah, thank you." Although she was a senior, Hanada Asako blushed and bowed very respectfully.
Apart from that, Toru Watanabe did nothing and the two of them stood there awkwardly.
Not to mention tea, there's not even a seat.
Just as Ikki Aoi was thinking about whether to come back at another time, the door opened and Kiyono Rin walked in.
"Hanada-senpai, Ikki-san?"
"Counselor Qingye! He's finally back!"
"Kiyono-san!"
Both girls seemed to be relieved, so much so that Kiyono Rin looked at Watanabe Toru with suspicion, thinking that he finally couldn't control his animal instincts and was going to attack the girls.
"Hmm?" Toru Watanabe didn't know what she was looking at.
Qing Ye Lin thought about it for a while and thought that he didn't have the courage to do such a thing, so she ignored his gaze and said to the two girls: "Is there something you want to talk to me about?"
Ikki Aoi looked at Hanada Asako, who puffed up her cheeks and nodded cutely as if sharing her courage.
Ichiki Aoi took a deep breath: "Advisor Qingye..."
"It's not the time for the wind band club activities now, so just call me Kiyono-san."
"Kiyono-san, um, although I know that it is inappropriate to make personal requests in this situation, I still hope that you can put me and Asuri-senpai in the same room during the summer training camp!"
Ah, it turned out to be "Ikki Aoi's Love Story: Summer Training Camp", and Toru Watanabe suddenly lost interest.
I thought he was here to secretly complain.
During the afternoon training, if Watanabe Toru remembered correctly, he "humiliated" the two girls in front of him.
It made him wait in vain.
"Sure, no problem at all." Qingye Rin nodded.
"That's great!" Ikki Aoi clenched her fists excitedly.
"Ichiki-san, do you already know the place where Asuka-senpai wants to be confessed to the most?"
"Not yet." Ikki Aoi unclenched his fists in frustration.
"I haven't paid much attention to you recently. How are you doing now?"
"Now, Senior Ming Ri hardly talks to me except for guiding me in training." Ikki Aoi's voice became lower and lower.
"Is that so?" Qing Ye Lin put her hand on her chin and lowered her head in thought, "Is it because your skills are too poor that she was disappointed?"
"Is that really the case?" Ikki Aoi grabbed the hem of her skirt in disappointment.
No, it's because you interrupted her from venting her animal desires several times, Toru Watanabe answered in his heart as he flipped through "Don Quixote".
"From what I've seen, even when Watanabe showed his disliked side, Asu-senpai didn't dislike him. I guess she is the kind of person who determines likes and dislikes based on her playing skills."
"Kiyono-san, no matter how serious your words are, your conclusion is wrong. Asu Mai is simply unsatisfied with her sexual desires." Watanabe Toru turned the page of the book.
"Is there really no other way except to train hard? There is only one and a half months left until the end of summer, and by then the senior will have withdrawn from the club! How can I train well in one and a half months?" Ikki Aoi asked anxiously.
Qingye Rin shook her head: "There is no other way except to practice harder."
The activity classroom fell into silence. When Aoi Ikki was in a daze and lost, Hanada Asako gently pulled her clothes and signaled to Toru Watanabe.
For a moment, Ikki Aoi seemed to see the light, but when she opened her mouth, no sound came out.
Kiyono Rin noticed the actions of the two people, thought for a moment, and thought that this was a good opportunity .
"Ask, it's okay."
"C-Can I?"
"Swearing is prohibited in the Human Observation Department's activity room."
"I've never heard of such a rule." Toru Watanabe didn't want to get involved in other people's troubles.
"Because I just decided it." Qingye Rin said as if it was a matter of course.
"Are these social rules that can be implemented without a democratic vote?"
"Yes, that's right." Qing Ye Lin said with a smile, "Are you envious, Watanabe-san? But I have to tell you some unfortunate news. The term of office of the minister is three years."
After saying that, regardless of Watanabe Toru's reaction, he said to Ikki Aoi, "Just ask, Ikki-san."
Why does this scene look so much like the owner is comforting the dog and letting the child touch it?
Watanabe Toru, who was planning to try to be reborn as a dog in his next life, closed the book helplessly and looked over.
Before he could even turn his gaze to Ikki Aoi, he was stunned by Hanada Asako's reaction.
This petite and cute senior with a physical strength of 8 points looked back and forth between him and Kiyono Rin with her big eyes, and clenched her fists as if she was going to rush up and hit his chest.
"What's the point of this? I guess I didn't trigger her emotional cleanliness, did I?!"
"Watanabe-san, how can I improve my performance in a short period of time like you?"
Ikki Aoi's voice brought Watanabe Toru back from his self-reflection.
"Impossible, there's no hope, let's just give up as soon as possible." Watanabe Toru said three times without hesitation.
Qingye Rin sighed and pressed his temples with a headache.
How can we ease the relationship like this?
"Please at least tell me your training methods and schedule!" Ikki Aoi has not given up yet.
"Oh? Are you interested?" Watanabe Toru became interested.
"Yes! Please tell me!"
Watanabe Toru cleared his throat and was about to solemnly tell how he had become an amazing person, as if he was taking an oath, but Kiyono Rin spoke first.
“If you stick to his schedule, you will indeed become an outstanding person in the future, but it is impossible for you to reach his playing level in a month and a half.”
Watanabe Toru gave her a disapproving look.
Qingye Rin tilted her head slightly: "Did I guess wrong?"
“…It’s not wrong.”
"Then why are you looking at me like that?"
"...You look cute."
"Forget about such polite talk, it's a waste of everyone's time." Qingye Rin neatly lifted her long hair behind her shoulders.
Watanabe Toru always felt that this guy was very proud now.
When he looked away, he met Hanada Asako's angry gaze again.
Damn it.
"But didn't Watanabe-san become very powerful in just one month?" Ikki Aoi said loudly.
"It's half a month." Qingye Rin corrected.
"..." Ikki Aoi bowed to Watanabe Toru, "Watanabe-san, if possible, please tell me how you did it! Please!"
"You've gone to this extent for love. I recognize you." Watanabe Toru said in a deep voice, "Okay, now I'll tell you my unique trick."
"Really?! Thank you so much!"
"Normally speaking, with human potential, it is impossible to master a musical instrument in half a month."
"Hmm~"
"Then isn't it enough to just break this limit?"
"How do we break it?" asked Ikki Aoi.
"That's the point. Listen carefully."
The three of them subconsciously held their breath and stared at Watanabe Toru motionlessly.
"Actually, I am a talented young scientist. I am studying how to break through human limits and have achieved certain results. The oboe is one of them."
“…”
"Being with Miki is also for the financial resources and power of the Kujo family."
"So that's it!" Hanada Asako looked as if she suddenly understood.
"Yes." Watanabe Toru nodded solemnly.
He really wanted to know what this senior student had understood. He was really curious!
"Is, is that so?" Maybe it was because of Watanabe Toru's grades, or maybe it was because of her appearance, but Aoi Ichiki had a skeptical expression on her face.
Qing Ye Lin sighed as if she couldn't stand it anymore, and said to the two girls: "Don't care about what this man says. He is used to telling the most vulnerable lies with the most serious expression. I am also troubled by this."
"Vulnerable?" Watanabe Toru was dissatisfied. Didn't he see that the others were all frightened?
"Are you worried about this?!" Hanada Asako widened her big eyes that were as round as black grapes .
"Lie?" Ikki Aoi looked at Kiyono Rin in disbelief.
"However," Qing Ye Lin ignored everyone's reaction, "Although he always likes to talk nonsense, he is a man with many desirable qualities overall."
A dignified time traveler is only evaluated as having "good points". Girl, you have such great authority!
In the end, as expected, Aoi Ikki did not get any useful information from Toru Watanabe.
After the two left, Qing Ye Lin said to Watanabe Toru: "That was a good opportunity to repair the relationship. Why did you say that on purpose?"
"I don't plan on being friends with Ikki Aoi, so it doesn't matter what she thinks of me, right?"
"What about Hanada-senpai? Don't you think she's pretty good?"
"Yes, it's very good." Watanabe Toru thinks that emotional cleanliness is an advantage. "If I had met her before I joined the Human Observation Department, I would definitely like her."
The day I joined the Human Observation Department, the system was activated.
After having the system, emotional cleanliness becomes a disadvantage, especially when the opponent is a girl with a physical strength of 8 points who can strangle people with the strings at any time.
You don't have to buy the strings specially.
It's too dangerous!
"Oh, so you've been considering me as your dating standard since that time? No wonder you're with Kujo Miki. She can barely catch up with me in terms of appearance, but with her inner beauty, she, no one, can be as cute as me who never lies."
"……ah?"
Do all girls think like this nowadays?
Was it his own problem, or was it the problem of the extremely proud girl in front of him?
