My Stepsister in Kyoto

As the result of the mid-term was announced, not everyone got a good score.

Still, those who were related to Mizuto somehow got a good score, but those who weren't and didn't have much effort could hardly hide their helpless expression when they came to the clubroom. 

However, it didn't matter since once they held their musical instrument, they could forget everything. 

Unfortunately, not everyone was like that. 

As everyone did their rehearsals, it happened so abruptly. 

Taki tapped his table to stop everyone and said, "Can I hear just the saxophones play that part once more? Up to the oboe solo." 

"Yes." 

Following Taki's instruction, everyone prepared themselves as they waited for his cue. 

"One, two, three..." 

The play started once again, but—

"It sounds disjointed." 

Taki stopped them once again. "Could you make it more connected and smooth? Lead the oboe in gently." If he didn't feel annoyed, then he would be lying, but he calmed himself, didn't mention the cause of this disjointed play, and still kindly instructed them. 

"Yes." 

"Tenor Sox, your entrances were shaky. One at a time." 

However, Taki knew that he needed to guide this person in a special way, or else this problem might spread to everyone. The competition wouldn't wait for anyone, and they had to take every rehearsal seriously, or else reaching the National was nothing but just a talk. 

"Saito-san..."

"Yes." 

Aoi Saito, one of the third year and the tenor sax player, answered. "Yes." 

Mizuto glanced at Saito, a young woman with shoulder-length hair tied in two braids with bangs clipped back by two light blue barrettes on both sides. He wasn't too close, or rather, he hardly talked to her, but it was normal, right? After all, sometimes, even in the same class, club, or class, it wasn't like you knew everyone. 

Still, if there was a reason why he talked about Saito, it was because she was the one who messed up the rehearsal. 

"Three..." 

Once again, the play started, and Saito blew her tenor sax. 

"....." 

Everyone was in silence, and no one said anything, but their eyes kept glancing at Saito from time to time with uncomfortable expressions. 

Saito ignored that gaze and played as if nothing had happened. 

"Once more." 

However, when Saito finished her play, Taki said once again. 

Still, this time, Saito didn't play. 

"What's wrong?" 

"Aoi..." 

Saito's friends started to get worried, and the quiet made many feel restless. 

Taki looked at Saito for a while, but Saito said nothing and just kept quiet. He felt helpless, then said, "I understand." He knew that he had to say something, or else this girl would continue to play like this. "Aoi Saito-san..." 

"Yes?" 

"When will you be able to play that part well?" 

Saito said nothing and just lowered her head. 

"Unfortunately, the competition won't wait. Choose a time frame and set your goals. Unless you attain your goals and improve, we won't be able to give a good performance. Do you understand?" 

"Yes." 

"We need a beautiful harmony to accompany the melody. You alone are muddying the sound, tenor sax. I know you are busy with the entrance exams, but at the same time, you're a concert band member preparing for a competition. I will ask again. When will you be able to play that part?" 

As Taki asked that question, Saito held her tenor sax softly, rubbing one of the keys with her thumb, then said, "Sensei..." 

"What is it?" 

The silence permeated and filled the entire room; then, at that moment, Saito broke the silence, "I quit the band." 

"...." 

"Eh?!" 

At that moment, the noise spread to everyone, and many showed shock due to Saito's decision. 

Taki closed his eyes, showing regret, pain, and helplessness, before he opened his eyes and asked softly, "Can I hear the reason?" 

"Because at this rate, I don't think I will be able to make it into my college of choice," Saito said calmly as she made this decision after she thought it over again. "I have considered this for a while. I know that I am the only tenor sax player, and I am selfish in making this decision during this important moment for everyone, but when I consider that the practice will get even longer, I can't continue." 

"I see." 

Yes, Saito Aoi was the only tenor sax player. 

If she decided to quit, then the band would be in big trouble, yet as expected, the club wasn't everything. 

Which was more important? 

Saito's future or the competition? 

If it were others and those who decided to focus on the competition, then they would say competition, but could they take responsibility for Saito's future? 

Taki also understood this problem, but he knew that he didn't have the power to stop Saito, and even if he retained her by using a moral attack, her play wouldn't be good, and in the end, her play would become nothing but worse and even make everyone's state worse. 

The beautiful play would become muddy water, and at the same time, this wasn't something that he wished to do, but this girl was the only tenor sax player, which made everything become so complicated. 

Only—

Taki glanced at one of the members of this concert band, then made up his decision. 

"I understand. Please come to the staff room later." 

Everyone was shocked when they saw that Taki hadn't tried to retain Saito. 

"Yes." 

Still, Saito felt relieved since she was able to say what she thought, and Taki didn't make everything difficult for her. 

Only the rest couldn't accept it. 

"Please don't quit, Saito-senpai!" 

"Aoi, wait!" 

Yet, Saito didn't listen to them, and she didn't change her decision, no matter how much they pleaded. The result of her mid-term exam was like that, and if she continued to train in the concert band club, then her future was as good as in shambles. 

Still, when this happened, no one knew what was happening, and at the same time, they also wanted to curse Saito, considering how their hard work might have gone into the sink due to Saito's selfish decision. 

"Dammit..." 

One of them suddenly muttered as they thought all of their hard work had become useless. 

Tenor Sax...

This is one of the wind instruments that was easy to learn, but it takes a long time to get especially good at, particularly tone-wise.

Could they find someone to play this instrument? 

They couldn't answer this question, and they wondered why Taki let go of Saito so easily when she was the only tenor sax player. 

Naturally, while Taki did nothing to stop Saito, others tried to stop her, and the first one that moved was Kumiko, who was Saito's childhood friend. 

On the other hand, Haruka Ogasawara, the leader of the concert band club, crumbled under the pressure and only moved when everyone pushed her. Yet this was something that she had to do as the leader, even though she didn't think that she was fit to become one. 

With the two left, they hoped that they could change Saito's decision, and at the same time, they all looked at Taki, wondering what he planned to do. 

Taki regretted that something like this happened, but as expected, playing in the National wasn't something easy and natural; everyone had to train harder, especially when their base was so horrible. 

However, without the tenor sax player, how could they continue? 

Only Taki looked at one of the most famous members of this concert band, who was the reason why he could let go of Saito easily. 

"Irido-kun." 

When his name was said, everyone quickly looked in his direction. 

"Can you play the tenor sax?" 

"....." 

Mizuto's lips twitched, and he was extremely speechless.