Chapter 136: Koshien, It's Coming!

After thanking the audience, the next steps were the award ceremony and interviews.

A long time had passed by the time everything ended, and the Seido group left the venue to head outside.

"Nii-chan!"

Huangqian Kumiko had been waiting outside for a long time; amidst the envious and jealous gazes of the others, she rushed over and took Huangqian Yangyi's arm.

"Nii-chan, congratulations on winning the championship," Kumiko said.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled, "Thank you, Kumiko."

"Mm," Kumiko nodded her head.

"Director."

Huangqian Yangyi turned his head to look at Director Kataoka, who nodded and then signaled for the others to get on the bus.

"Huangqian! You bastard!"

Kuramochi bit his collar, envious to death.

"Let's go, get on the bus."

Miyuki grabbed Kuramochi's clothes and dragged him onto the bus.

"Huangqian, no rush, we'll wait for you," Dong Qingguo, the last one to board, shouted while holding the trophy.

Huangqian Yangyi smiled and nodded, then looked at the two sisters, Mamiko and Kumiko.

"Kumiko, you're going back to Kyoto today, right?"

"Mm, the afternoon train ticket." Mentioning this, Kumiko looked heartbroken; clearly, she did not want to part with her brother.

Cupping his younger sister's small face and rubbing it, Huangqian Yangyi said, "Final exams are coming up soon, and there's the Kyoto Prefecture Wind Music Competition afterward. Your Wind Instrument Department must be quite busy, too. Kumiko, you haven't forgotten, have you? You have to win the national gold medal."

Hearing this, Kumiko pouted. Her Euphonium playing was good, but the overall level of the Kitauji Wind Music Club was currently somewhat unsatisfactory; they might not even be able to make it to the National Competition.

"I will work hard!" Kumiko nodded heavily.

As she spoke, Kumiko took two small toys out of her small backpack.

"These are gifts for Nii-chan: anthropomorphic figures of the Euphonium and the Trumpet. Oh right, the Trumpet was a gift from Reina," Kumiko said.

Huangqian Yangyi took them, "I will keep them safe. Thank Reina for me."

"Mm-hmm."

"Sis, I'll leave it to you to take Kumiko to the station," Huangqian Yangyi turned his head and said to Mamiko.

Mamiko gave an affirmative sound and stepped forward, placing her hand on Kumiko's shoulder, "Let's go, if we're any later, we'll miss the train back."

Kumiko waved her hand reluctantly, "Nii-chan, come back early during the break."

"Mm, I will."

After seeing Kumiko off, Huangqian Yangyi returned to the bus and was immediately surrounded by his friends, who began gossiping.

The group returned to school happily. At the school gate, the principal, who had been waiting for a long time, brought a large group of students and teachers, holding flowers and pulling banners to welcome the team's victorious return.

The Cheerleading Squad and the Wind Instrument Department, who had returned a step earlier, were not resting. The young ladies of the Cheerleading Squad each held flowers, presenting them to every First String player amidst the music of the Wind Instrument Department.

"Director Kataoka, congratulations on achieving your wish," the principal said with a smile on his face, excitedly reaching out to Director Kataoka.

Having yearned for Koshien for several years, Seido had finally done it; the principal still felt it was somewhat unreal even now.

Director Kataoka was not as stern as before at this moment; he shook the principal's hand and said, "Thank you for your support over these years, Principal."

As the two talked, the Seido players were already impatient to enjoy a grand meal; needless to say, today's food would definitely be super rich!

"Hey, Yangyi, you should have a lot of dietary restrictions for your injury, right?" Miyuki covered his mouth and laughed.

"Ah?! Dietary restrictions!" Huangqian Yangyi only just realized this and hurriedly looked at Chris; he didn't want to be drooling while watching others eat.

Chris shook his head, "No particular restrictions, just eat normally."

Hearing this, Huangqian Yangyi rolled his eyes at Miyuki; this black-bellied guy was truly detestable.

The next morning, after the intense competition the previous day and the wild celebrations at night, Huangqian Yangyi struggled to climb out of bed.

"Ouch, ouch~"

The pain coming from his waist swept away his fatigue. His gaze swept around the room; Chris had already gone out, while Dong was sprawled on his bed, snoring loudly.

Supporting himself to get up and put on his clothes, Huangqian Yangyi finished washing up and went for a walk to the field. Although this was only the first day after the competition ended and Director Kataoka had given everyone a day off, quite a few people still followed their daily habits and began self-training.

Especially the substitute players of the First String; there were only 18 spots for the upcoming Koshien tournament, which meant that out of the current 20 members of the First String, two would be kicked off the roster.

Huangqian Yangyi didn't even need to think to know that one of them was definitely Kuramochi. As for the other, it would likely be chosen from the second-year seniors. Because of this, the second-year substitutes in the First String were training even harder than usual at this moment; no one wanted to be kicked out at the final hurdle.

"Huangqian."

"Hm? Senior Tanba." Huangqian Yangyi turned back; Tanba was walking over carrying a bat.

"Why are you here so early? You should rest properly if you're injured," Tanba said with a frown.

This kid was clearly injured but still climbed out of bed so early; he really didn't know how to cherish his body at all.

"I'm just used to getting up early. I just came over to take a look. What about you, Senior Tanba? It's hard-won time off, after all," Huangqian Yangyi said.

Tanba looked at the field and said, "I don't have time to rest. For the upcoming Koshien, whether you can play or not, I will be prepared to complete my own mission."

Hearing this, Huangqian Yangyi smiled. He knew about the devilish schedule of Koshien, "Then, I'll leave it to you, Senior."

Hm? Tanba looked at Huangqian Yangyi in surprise. This guy would actually say something like that?

"We want to win the championship, don't we? We can't do it without anyone's strength," Huangqian Yangyi said.

Tanba was stunned. Indeed, Seido's goal had always been only one: to dominate the nation!

To achieve this, whether it was Huangqian Yangyi or he, Tanba Koichiro, both had to contribute their own strength.

"Rest your injury well. When you come back, don't forget, you are the ace of our team!" Tanba said solemnly.

"Mm," Huangqian Yangyi nodded with a smile.

Time passed day by day, August 3rd.

Huangqian Yangyi, who had been nursing his injury for more than ten days, had almost recovered and started doing some simple training items. Regarding this, both Director Kataoka and the two department heads were astonished, but also very happy. In this way, he might be able to make it in time for the Koshien tournament!

"You certainly won't be sent onto the field for the first two rounds," Director Kataoka said.

Huangqian Yangyi felt helpless and could only pray that Seido would not encounter any overly formidable opponents in the first two rounds.

"Go back and prepare well, pack your things; we set off tomorrow, so don't forget anything you need to bring," Director Kataoka instructed like an old father.

"Understood, Boss."

Emerging from Director Kataoka's office, Huangqian Yangyi happened to run into Takashima Rei, who was walking toward the field with her head down, clutching a stack of documents and looking extremely busy.