Hello again, so I'm turning this into a one-shot collection since I have way too many thoughts about this amazing ship.
This is from Kaori's POV
"I would like to quit the band."
Your blood runs cold as the words wash over the band. The valves on your trumpet seem unusually stiff when you press them down in frustration, and your mouth goes dry as Taki-sensei and Aoi continue to talk. Didn't she just say yesterday she would hold on until the competition? How could she do this to the band, and right in the middle of practice?
Yoshikawa starts whispering harshly to your right, and you pretend not to hear her harsh criticism as Aoi finally stands and boldly strides out of the classroom. Should you go after her? That would be the right thing to do. You have known each other for three years after all.
A first year who you're pretty sure is named Oumae beats you too it, and unsurprisingly Haruka is only two paces behind her. You try to catch Haruka's gaze as she exits, but her eyes are trained forward, tears forming at the corners of her eyes as she disappears from sight.
You hear another bout of whispers as the door swings shut, but this time you turn to hush your chatty kouhai. Unfortunately more chatter breaks out, but Taki-sensei brings everyone back with a brisk tap of his finger on the podium. "Please focus everyone, you can gossip all you want once band practice is over."
The group falls silent and you take the opportunity to strain your ears towards the hallway. All you can hear is muffled voices that kind of sound like Aoi and Haruka, but really it's impossible to tell from within the classroom.
You want to go after them. Not for Aoi or that new student, but Haruka's sake. Haruka must be hurting so badly by all of this, and she even ran after Aoi to confront her in the hallway. She'll need a friend once everything settles down out there. Taki-sensei seems ready to return to playing, so you decide to go for it and raise your hand slowly to get his attention.
Suddenly, Asuka pops up out of her seat in front of you, effectively blocking your hand. "I'll go check on them. We do need them for practice after all," Asuka's voice is bubbly as usual, and though you're sure the taller teen is upset about Aoi leaving, it's hard to tell from her lack of concern towards the situation. Taki-sensei nods in agreement and you drop your hand back down to your trumpet. As long as someone's checking on them you suppose it doesn't need to be you.
You still wish you could have gone, but it only takes Asuka about 30 seconds to get Oumae and Haruka back into the practice hall. It probably would have taken you longer.
Haruka's eyes are still red and puffy from her cry session outside, and you fight the urge to walk over to the saxophone section and smother her with concern as she settles back into her seat. Taki-sensei ignores the unbalanced condition of his president, choosing to resume rehearsal.
Haruka glances over her shoulder and when her eyes meet yours you can tell things are far from settled. She forces a half warbled grin onto her face, and you do your best to send one back.
Alright that's all I've got. Everything I write for this fandom is so short I need to work on something a bit longer next time.