The Future of Kitauji

Author Note and Disclaimer:

**SPOILERS** If you have not watched the first two seasons of Sound! Euphonium, the movie Liz and the Blue Bird, and the movie Sound! Euphonium Oaths' Finale - then this story will spoil some things for you. I recommend you watch all of the aforementioned stuff anyway, as for one, it's far more entertaining than this story will be, and so you get all the information you need to follow along.

I am not Japanese and my knowledge of the workings of a high school in the Kansai region of Japan is quite limited, so I can only write this from the point of view of a foreigner trying their best. This story will be told like an average Westerner might tell a story. That being said, I hope you will enjoy it.

Chapter 1

It wasn't so long ago that Kitauji High School's Wind Ensemble had failed in their goal to go to the national competition. In the time since, the band tried their hardest to perfect their playing as individuals, as sections, and as an ensemble as a whole. Some of the most dedicated members being the third-years. After the failure to make nationals the third-year students in the ensemble wanted to be sure that no matter what, the ensemble would continue with the strength and fortitude needed to get gold next year, even in spite of those same third-year students no longer being present soon enough. The Club President, Yoshikawa Yuuko and Vice President, Nakagawa Natsuki wanted to ensure particularly that next year's leadership would be able to supersede their own efforts this year.

Yuuko and Natsuki tiredly walked away from the Kitauji High School grounds after a long evening of band practice. It was quite a dark night, and they left a short time after most of the other students. They were each silent since they left the school building, both with similar thoughts in mind. Finally Natsuki spoke,

"Well, it's almost time for us to let them know what we think." She had said it as if it followed Yuuko's own internal dialogue on the subject, something the blonde, hairbow-clad girl didn't bother questioning. Yuuko sighed loudly,

"I know. Do you think they will refuse?" She looked to her friend with almost an almost pleading expression.

"Hmm...they have every right to, and after our defeat this year, every reason." Natsuki rubbed her temples, "I don't know for sure. I know that we chose the best of the bunch though." Her hands fell back into the swing of their walk.

The two young leaders carried on down the network of streets and into the more commercial areas of Uji. They made their way to a familiar restaurant that Natsuki had chosen. Last year she had treated Oumae Kumiko to a treat here to boost the girl's confidence in her place in the band. The Vice President hoped that on this night she would be able to extend a similar boost in confidence to Kumiko, and the two other second-year students that would be accompanying her.

Yuuko and Natsuki met just outside with Kumiko, Tsukamoto Shuuichi, and Kousaka Reina. The five students all greeted each other and moved inside. Kumiko offered to be the one to pay for the table's food but with Yuuko's insistence that it be her and Natsuki's place to do so, the second-year reluctantly backed down. When they were all seated, Yuuko gave a small smile and at first spoke to no one in particular,

"I'm sure you have all heard rumors of what's in store for next year." She looked directly at Kumiko, "We wanted to invite you all here this evening to let you know what the plans are and see how you feel about the changes we're making." Kumiko nervously swallowed half of a fry.

Natsuki spoke up, "For one thing, everyone was pretty set on making the role of Drum Major an independent thing. We agree that that's a great idea, and we think that you are perfect for it." All other eyes followed Natsuki's and fixated on Reina. The trumpet ace was slightly taken aback, and the Vice President continued, "Kousaka, will you be the Drum Major?" Natsuki's tone was pleasant, and she wore a smile to match.

Reina considered what it would mean for her to accept the role of Drum Major, though it did not take her long. She returned an uncommon but polite smile, "Yes, of course I will. Thank you very much for choosing me."

Yuuko felt some slight relief, but refocused on Kumiko, who seemed quite happy for her friend having recieved the role of Drum Major. "Oumae." Yuuko began, with an odd mixture of nearly imperceptible determination and excitement in her expression, "We want you to be the next President, and Tsukamoto to be the Vice-President."

All three second-years wore a surprised expression. "Huh?" Kumiko and Shuuichi said in unison. Reina smiled at them, not having taken long to comprehend why such a decision would be made.

"...b-but why?" Kumiko blurted out, covering her mouth just afterward. Shuuichi, just as thoughtlessly, followed her by saying "Is that a good idea?" At this, Yuuko and Natsuki exchanged a look of worry. Sensing the change in their Senpai's demeanor, Reina spoke, "Well why not? I don't think anyone in the ensemble would disagree."

Yuuko took a deep breath, "Look, you can refuse if you really want to. It's not like we chose you guys for no reason though."

"You both know how to handle first-years very well and show them the ropes. We would not have gotten as far as we did this year without the effort you both put in to teach them." Natsuki said it in such a matter-of-fact way that Kumiko almost didn't question it.

Shuuichi looked at the table for a moment and nervously tapped his fingers a couple of times. He looked to Kumiko next, who was eyeing the food on the table as if to distract herself. Finally his eyes met with Yuuko's, "I-I accept!" His own words caught him offguard, a feeling that Kumiko shared, as she looked shocked.

The lack of a response from Kumiko only drew more attention from the other four. "Kumiko?" Natsuki said with a hint of concern. "Are you okay?"

"Yes!" The second-year seemed to trip over the word. She cleared her throat, "Sorry, yes. I accept as well." She wasn't sure if it was as obvious to them as it was in her own mind, but she had some reservations she didn't quite know how to articulate at the moment. "If you think it is best, that's what we should do." Faced with the weight and responsibility of such a decision made her feel as lost as she sometimes did during her first year at Kitauji.

Yuuko and Natsuki, grateful they had the answers they needed now shared a look of relief and a bit of pride. "We are happy to hear that, from both of you." Yuuko said excitedly. Natsuki spoke up once again, "And you know we'll teach all of you everything you need to know before we leave Kitauji." Her excitement matched Yuuko's now. "We know you will do the very best you can no matter what."

They all backed into small talk or chat about school after that, and made quick work of their food and drinks. Before long, they were all departing the restaurant and headed home. Natsuki and Yuuko went a way seperate from the other three.

Shuuichi was the first to return them to the topic of their new places in the band. "I guess we should have known they didn't invite us there just to talk over a meal." Kumiko jabbed him in the arm, "Don't remind me." Reina raised an eyebrow at the two of them. "I don't know what you two are worried about. They had good reasons for picking us."

"Easy for you to say, they are right about you being perfect for Drum Major. You'll surely be noticed for how special you are in that role." Kumiko pouted. Reina blushed slightly but maintained some of her usual stoicism. "Just don't let Tsukamoto outshine you." The newly-appointed Drum Major teased.

"I'm right here!" Shuuichi laughed nervously. "You know, it's always nice getting to spend time with each other and the other club members outside of school or camp." Kumiko and Reina exchanged a smile with each other and Shuuichi at that statement. It did often feel like so much of their high school life was taken up by ensemble and maintaining their grades that just a meal with friends seemed few and far between.

Reina got stuck on those thoughts, even as Kumiko and Shuuichi exchanged banter all the way home. She bid them goodnight as her path split from theirs. Reina couldn't help but think that she had missed something since she started at Kitauji. She felt it too when Kaori-Senpai had moved on to college, as though something was unsaid. She had her bad moments and drama with Kaori and Yuuko, but they had all come to terms with how things happened and grew to respect and trust each other more in Reina's first year. There have been plenty of times where doubt crept into Reina's mind about one thing or another and Yuuko was there to assuage those feelings. Other times it was like Yuuko could sense those doubts before Reina even knew they were there, and would try to lift her up above them. Reina probably wouldn't share the kind of close friendship with Yuuko that she would with Kumiko, but Reina knew she had to make it clear to her Senpai that she would be forever grateful for all the support she gave her along the way. Now she just had to figure out how she could do so.