The silence still lingered, filling the concert hall.
Slowly, the air began to grow tense, and a few audience members even started to whisper among themselves.
But when Dubian Che put the reed to his lips and breathed into the oboe, the world was left with nothing but a sorrowful, melodious tune.
It was as if the notes could extend to the ends of the earth, driving away all unease and restlessness, filling every inch of the concert hall.
Everyone’s hearts beat violently, shaking their eardrums.
The timbre, as always, intoxicated Chisako, moving her soul and resonating powerfully with her.
In a trance, a bluebird hatched from the oboe.
It grew slowly, lazily stretching its wings, getting accustomed to its body, then, spreading its wings, it took flight with a cry.
Responding to its call, all the clarinets joined in, with the brass section assembling behind, following the bluebird like a flock.
Just as everyone was mesmerized by the ensemble, captivated by the torrent of sound, the bluebird suddenly let out a haughty, piercing cry.
This call broke through the air, disrupting the harmony of the ensemble, forcibly piercing everyone’s eardrums, whether they liked it or not.
The audience, the judges, the backstage crew from Yunbei, and everyone watching the live broadcast on TV, all watched dumbfounded as this unfolded on stage:
Whether it were the clarinets or the brass, they were all abandoned by the bluebird, who danced alone, soaring higher and higher, its brilliance intensifying, its colors becoming more vibrant.
As it circled the concert hall, bathing everyone in its radiance, everything and everyone was utterly convinced.
Chisako felt as if her brain was melting.
"Please, representatives from each school, line up on stage."
Before anyone could react, the award ceremony had already begun, the echoes of the oboe still lingering in everyone’s eardrums.
A row of golden trophies glistened under the stage lights, further fueling everyone’s desire.
"First, Beilu representative, Yiyang Business High School, bronze."
A disappointed sigh came from a corner, but no one paid it any mind.
"Fourth, Kantou representative, Tokyo Metropolitan Kozose High School, gold!"
"Ahh—" Amid the boys’ roars were sharp screams from girls, mixed with cries of joy.
The schools still awaiting results turned pale; only thirty percent received a gold, and each additional school awarded decreased their chances.
"Fifth, Kyushu representative, Yuming Women’s High School, gold!"
Yuming Girls’ High ran and jumped, girls embracing each other under fluttering skirts, a usually captivating sight now ignored by others.
"Sixth, Kantou representative, Tokyo Metropolitan Katakura High School, gold!"
The cheers were thunderous.
The sound waves harshly battered the heads of students from all remaining schools.
Three consecutive golds.
Although aware that it wasn’t controlled by people and wouldn’t switch to silver or bronze just because golds were clustered, the seventh entrant already looked hopeless, the female members couldn’t stop themselves from starting to sob.
Goda High’s faces were equally grim.
As representatives of Kantou, two schools already had gold, would the last one receive gold as well?
Would the judges dislike Kantou’s dominance, or think that Goda, entering the national competition for the first time, deserved only a silver?
"Seventh, Shikoku representative, Shikoku University Affiliated High School, bronze."
The people from Shikoku University Affiliated High School somberly covered their faces, some boys grinding their teeth as if hating their own helplessness.
On stage, Komatsu Misaki’s hands were ice-cold, her heart’s throbbing transmitted through her bones to her entire body, her feet starting to go numb.
Behind her, Mayi Asuka’s lips were pressed into a thin line.
"Eighth, Northeast representative, Iwate Prefectural Sunrise Swamp High School, silver."
Breathing heavier, Komatsu Misaki looked woodenly as the representative of Sunrise Swamp High School accepted their trophy and certificate with relative satisfaction.
If Goda only received a silver, she would never forgive herself.
Goda, a school where graduates felt embarrassed to attend reunions if they hadn’t gotten into Imperial University, couldn’t accept going all out and then losing to other schools!
"Ninth, Kantou representative, Tokyo Metropolitan Goda High School..."
Everyone from Goda held their breath.
Girls clasped their hands in prayer with closed eyes, boys glared with unwavering eyes, fists clenched, staring hard at the emcee announcing the results.
In the eerily silent hall, the emcee’s resolute voice rang out:
"Senpai—!!!" A junior girl flung herself into the arms of her senior in the music club.
"Don’t cry, we got gold! Don’t cry... Ah!" As she comforted, the senior herself couldn’t help but start bawling loudly.
The moment she heard the result, Komatsu Misaki felt like she was going to collapse.
The sounds faded, the scenery stilled, that brief second stretched into what seemed like hundreds times longer. Under the stage, everyone hugged each other, their screams of joy sounding as distant as if in a dream.
It was so wonderful, truly wonderful.
"Misaki," Mayi Asuka called softly.
"Yes," Komatsu Misaki held back her tears, proudly lifting her head as she walked forward with Mayi to receive the trophy and certificate.
The emcee’s steady voice, filtered through the microphone, continued.
"Tenth, Kansai representative, Kyoto Prefectural Yunbei High School, bronze."
"I just feel like the photos are never enough!"
"Senpai, what more do you want to do? It’s such a hassle, we just want to go have a big meal!"
"That’s not how you were acting when you were crying in my arms just now!"
"Stop nagging! You’re turning into an old lady!"
"All right, all right, Yitiao, what else do you want to do?"
"Um... Ah, I’ve got it, let’s make a video, and let’s sing our school song! Keep it in the Wind Instrument Club!"
"Eh— There are people all over the square, singing the school anthem is too embarrassing!"
"That’s right! No way, absolutely not!"
"Wait, wait, wait, I’m not ready yet! What’s the first line again?!"
"Shibuya Hills, crows skimming past the school, our alma mater, Goda!"
Passersby stopped to watch this group of youths, their cheerful singing mingling in the dusk of autumn in Nagoya.