Chapter 8: Moon River Ballad

Where Hiroe and Kiriko found the time to meet with Haruka in the run-up to their exams was a mystery. One Aoi did not delve into too deeply. Someone needed to check up on her, and despite the occasional twisting of Aoi's heartstrings, the exam stress won out. As Mamoru would describe in their study sessions: this was an insoluble problem. The only way to find time for both was to be like Asuka, a genius. She never seemed to be studying, at least according to Kaori. Hardly an option for an average person.

Comparing exam timetables only hammered home that fact. Many in the band finished their papers before July was even over, leaving Aoi envious. Although her friends from Doshisha were impressed by the number of papers she was taking, it would mean nothing if she could only scrape by. In fact, it would prove she did not belong in her university. Without any respite between exams and the resumption of practice, summer vacation remained a fantasy despite having begun. By their final rehearsal a few days before the Tanabata festival, Aoi found herself actually looking forward to a seperate tedious event she had been dragged into.

The tickets were bought before Aoi even said yes. Though it was impossible to refuse Haruka anyway. While being in the audience instead of performing was a welcome change, what made the concert potentially unpleasant was going backstage. Ordinarily, that kind of access was a tantalizing opportunity. Definitely not for any concert held late on a Friday morning. It even dashed the first opportunity in months she had to sleep in.

"Aoi? Are you making your own breakfast? It's almost nine."

"No time! I'm heading out today."

"Again? Where?"

Aoi let her mother's question hang in the air as she glided down the stairs. Reaching the tatami covered landing with a thud, she only broke her silence as she rounded the corner into the living room. "Do you really need to know?"

Her mother was poised to reply, mouth half open and index finger extended. But, instead, a hearty burst of laughter cut her off. "Let her be mysterious. She's that age now."

"Dad…" Aoi replied with a slight frown. "Can you not say it like that."

His greying hair was on full display, bent over a pile of papers while twirling his brass fountain pen. Their low table was cluttered with the remains of breakfast, laptops, and the odd book.

"Aren't you two supposed to be at work?" Aoi said as she began rummaging through the kitchen.

"Teachers have summer vacations too, you know." He replied.

"What are you looking for." Her mother sighed as she walked over to the divider between the two rooms. "There's some extra rice and miso soup left. I bought more natto for you. It's in the fridge."

"I can't walk and eat that. Where's the bread I bought?"

The sound of brass dropping onto their wooden dining table put an end to the futile search. "The melonpan was yours? You never eat that."

"It was for a friend." Aoi huffed. "What happened to the anpan then?"

"I had a late night with all the marking. Needed the energy." He laughed, gesturing to the papers in front of him. "You want to read some of them? Your friend's essays are probably somewhere here."

Aoi held up her hand, her frown deepening. "I don't want to think about exams…."

Her father's eyes disappeared into his smile. "Alright, alright. It was a joke. Tell us about your results when you get them."

Nodding without any intention of following through was something she had gotten used to. With her breakfast pilfered, the only option was to starve until the afternoon. Though based on who they were meeting, their post-concert lunch appointment seemed to suppress her appetite anyway.

As she prepared to leave, the creaking of their genkan's shoe cupboard triggered another wave of questions. "Aoi, where are you going?" Her dad asked. "You're not wearing any of your usual shoes."

"Not now. I'm looking for my pumps."

"Is it a date?" Despite the wall between them, Aoi could practically hear their grins.

"No! I'm meeting my friends."

"Must be a very fancy meeting for you to wear that dress." Her mother added.

Their curiosity was insufferable now that it was peaked. Aoi sighed, knowing the only resolution was to satiate them. "I'm going to the Kyoto Kaikan."

"Ah," Her mother said. "The band competition, right? Some of my students said they are going to be there too. Probably scouting prospective high schools bands they want to join. Is Kitauji performing?"

"Yeah… they will be." She gritted her teeth as her shoes continued to elude her.

"I see," Her father replied. "Say hello to Kumiko-chan and Shuichi-kun while your there."

Finally, her black pumps clattered to the ground before she slipped them on. "That's what Haruka planned…" She muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing! I may not be back for dinner."

Before they could reply, she was already halfway through the garden, almost at their wooden gate.

"Did we have to leave right after the concert?" Haruka sighed, slumping down into her seat.

Their bus crawled along Higashioji avenue, lazily moving at its off-peak pace towards Gion. Aoi gazed out the window, occasionally rasping her knuckles on the glass. Their surroundings were mundane, a chaotic mix of low-rise housing, shop houses and the occasional machiya. But bland scenery was far better than Haruka's pouting.

"You didn't even talk to Chikai-chan." Haruka continued.

Aoi drummed her fingers against the glass. "Nozomi-chan and Yoroizuka-san sounded amazing, didn't they?"

"We should have told them that."

"It's not good for senpai to get too involved after graduation."

"Hmph," Haruka fold her arms.

"I'm not saying we should be like our senpai."

"But they made it to the Kansai competition this year…."

"You're barging into their celebration. It's their turn."

"How can you be so detached…." Haruka muttered. "That's something Asuka would say."

Aoi almost growled, only clamping down at the last moment. "Is that why she didn't turn up today?"

"I think she's actually busy?" Haruka placed a finger on her chin. "It's not like Kaori to lie. Yuuko-chan is the president too, so she has no reason not to come."

"Maybe Asuka's influence is rearing its head." Aoi's words were reduced to a choppy mess with the full weight of her head resting on her palm.

Haruka's gaze dropped to the floor of the bus. "That's…"

"I mean, we're about to meet them for lunch. What could be so important in the morning that couldn't be moved?"

A blur of crimson flashed by as their bus dashed through a junction, managing to beat the changing lights. With the red gates of Yasaka shrine shrinking behind them, it signalled the time to alight.

"Please tell me we're not eating at some fancy Kaiseki place," Aoi said as they walked along Shijo road, deeper into Gion.

Haruka shook her head, remaining fixed on her phone. "No, Kaori can't afford that." Her pace slowed further, eyes darting between the screen and her surroundings. "We're supposed to meet them somewhere nearby, but Asuka isn't replying."

Turning onto the cobblestones of Hanamikoji street, their surroundings morphed into the Kyoto of the past. Every other pedestrian seemed to be dressed in yukatas, matching the wooden facades of the buildings lining their path. Of course, not all the shophouses were historical; some obviously recent constructs, barely weathered or made with a modern architectural flair.

Their stroll in the midday sun was growing increasingly uneasy, leaving behind most of the cheap restaurants and cafes at the edge of the district. Asuka told them to bring at least 15,000 yen, and they were running out of explanations for it. Although both of them could afford occasional opulence, it was ill-advised to spend on a whim, especially on an unremarkable Friday afternoon.

After another volley of text from Haruka, they finally receive an order to wait at a junction. A hand shot out of a noren from one of the nearby shops, beckoning to them. Aoi's initial hurry quickly devolved into heel-dragging once she deciphered the monogram on the shop's entrance curtains.

"So this is what the money is for." Aoi sighed as they stepped into the 'Oe Traditional Clothing Shop'. Worse, this was a kimono specialist. A far cry from the average chain stores a university student would be shopping at.

"Hey!" Asuka replied. "I didn't choose this, but it seems perfect for snobs like you."

The urge to dig her nails into her palm faded fast, replaced with a sigh of resignation. "How's Kaori going to afford this…" Aoi said, shaking her head.

"Don't worry about that." Asuka's smile was coy.

Half the store was clad in tatami flooring instead of lacquered wood, requiring them to remove their shoes to move deeper inside. They passed shelves full of vibrant cloth bolts, glowing in the light diffused by the straw-coloured walls. Midnight blue silk embroidered with gold thread phoenixes, blazing vermillion cotton adorned with autumn maple leaves in a rushing river; each piece of fabric on display bore intricate patterns. So vivid they seemed to shine without light striking them directly. Yet the magnificent brocades only inspired further dread. The cloth alone was poised to shatter her wallet, but even more foreboding was the few ready-to-wear pieces in sight.

A bespectacled lady in a kimono, brownish hair tied into a bun, greeted them with a bow. Her posture remained immaculate as she gestured for them to join Kaori. The nursing student sat in a perfect seiza, a myriad of cloth strips in front of her. Giving them only a brief glance as she gestured for them to sit on the tatami. "I knew these patterns would match you."

"This was your idea?" Aoi sighed. "I already have a yukata." Haruka's elbow dug into her side, stopping her hand midway to her forehead. Her pout returned in force, her eyes insisting Aoi behave herself as though she were their mother.

"How old is it?" Kaori's words merely drifted towards them as she continued to inspect the bolts of cloth.

"Three? Maybe four years old?"

"So that was the last time you grew," Asuka straightened her back, bringing herself up to full height.

"A-su-ka" Haruka leaned in the opposite direction, delivering another swift jab.

"Alright, alright." She said, raising her hands.

"How did you two find out about this place anyway?" Haruka continued.

"Kyouko-chan told us." Kaori's gaze was still fixed on the cloth, recently eliminating all but the floral patterns. "I thought Aoi would know."

"Why would I?"

"Kyouko-chan found out about this shop from a friend in your course. Her family just opened a branch in Kyoto."

"… Oe-chan? The waka poetry girl."

"You're friends with my daughter?" The lady said, breaking her silence.

Aoi's back immediately straightened. The jabs from Haruka were not to head off their bickering. It was to stop them from embarrassing her.

"Umm, she's an acquaintance." Aoi started. "We have a mutual friend. I don't get to talk much with her since I didn't take classical literature last semester."

Mrs Oe nodded politely, radiating a warm smile. "I'm sure you'll get to know her. There's plenty of time before you graduate."

Come to think of it, Aoi knew almost no one in Kyodai outside of their band. Most of the time she spent on campus was studying was with Mamoru, Yuki, or Mirai. And even Kyouko was only present on occasion, constantly rotating through her multiple groups of friends. Not that Aoi was about to complain too much about her absence.

"We'll take these four designs," Kaori said, pushing the last failed contenders aside.

"Eh?" Haruka squeaked. "I didn't get to choose."

"Don't worry. These flowers are perfect for us."

"Wait," Aoi interjected. "How much is this going to cost?"

Asuka leaned in, using her height to cut across Haruka. Stopping right next to Aoi's ear, her eyes narrowed and lips straightened out. "What, a rich girl like you can't afford this?"

"How's Kaori going to pay for this?" Aoi retorted, straining to keep a neutral expression.

"Kaori's little brother got a junior high scholarship this year. A student tutor from Kyodai didn't hurt his chances either. Her dad also got a raise." Asuka's words were barely a whisper. "… I'm paying."

Aoi held in her breath, forcing her eyes back from their widening state. What exactly had they walked into?

"You girls don't need to worry." Mrs Oe said. "This is our line for young customers on a tighter budget. Yukatas also take far less fabric than something more formal."

Kaori gestured to Mrs Oe, confirming their intent to purchase before any protest could mount. As she left to retrieve the ready-made yukatas, Kaori gingerly grabbed the four cloth strips and began assigning them to each person.

"Aoi, this is for you." She said, holding up a daffodil yellow piece of fabric.

"Hollyhocks…" Each pattern used a mix of two flowers, one dominant and the other peppered throughout for variety. "How original."

"There are wisterias as well," Kaori said, pointing to the strings of violet flowers.

"You even used my last name."

"You and Kyouko-chan both have the same kanji in your last names," Kaori said with a giggle.

"The kanji in her first name also means polite…." Aoi huffed.

"I think the wisterias are good," Asuka smug expression deflated any hopes of an actual compliment. "Only nobles used them in their kimono patterns. Perfect for an aristocrat."

"You're one to talk," Aoi shot back. "I bet the purple one is for you."

Asuka flicked her wrist towards herself. "Of course, I'm royalty."

Aoi was about to purse her lips when Asuka shot them a blatant wink. Her whole head bobbed with the closing of her right eye, the corner of her lips curling up, making her endearingly insufferable.

"Haruka," Kaori said as her giggles subsided. "this one is yours." She held up the only design with a gradient, the light pink growing in intensity to a full magenta once it reached the sleeves.

"You chose all these flowers for a reason, right?" Haruka brought the fabric toward her face, staring intently at the print on the cotton.

"My ikebana is a bit rusty, but I'm still sure the azaleas fit you," Kaori said with a wide smile.

"They can also mean fragile."

Kaori waved her hand, trying to assuage her coming irritation. "There are peonies as well."

"Bravery? Is that supposed to be sarcastic? ...Or maybe just ironic."

Asuka's hand landed with a thump on Haruka's shoulder. "Don't overthink it. A compliment is a compliment."

"Liar," Haruka turned away, but her puffed cheeks were still clearly visible.

Kaori held up the remaining two fabric patterns, one a dark violet and the other a deep crimson. While they were decorated with different flowers, they both had a common bamboo motif.

"Eh, this is kind of generic," Asuka said, going over the pattern in detail. "Sakura and red camellias."

"You don't need anything special to look good."

Aoi twitched, resisting the impulse to break out into a wave of shivers. There was nothing particularly striking about Kaori's choice of words. In fact, it was a compliment that was thrown around quite often. Passively listening in class or at the band room was enough to hear something along those lines uttered at least once a week. There was a powerful undercurrent at play now, threatening to sweep Aoi up in its wake.

"Why does your yukata get special flowers," Asuka said, her hand gently brushing the crimson cloth in Kaori's hand.

"The Nadeshiko?"

"No, the little blue ones."

"Oh, gromwells. There's nothing special about them." She held out the fabric, the flowers barely a quarter the size of the camellias. "I chose them because of a poem. The twentieth one in The Ten Thousand Leaves."

Aoi preemptively raised her hands. "Don't look at me."

"If you don't want to ask Kyouko-chan, I'm sure Saki or Shouko know about it," Kaori said, still smiling at the cloth pattern in her hands. "It's by Lady Nukata."

Mrs Oe reappeared before Aoi could reply, four wrapped parcels of cloth cradled in her arms. As they emerged one by one from behind the shop's changing screens, it became undeniable that Kaori choices were excellent. However, a clear divide remained within the group with Haruka and her saddled with pastel colours. While Haruka glowed in the light pink, Aoi wished her yukata had a more intense hue. She might have protested if this were all Asuka's idea, but Kaori's sincerity sapped any will for that.

Kaori spun around, the sleeves of her yukata gliding through the air. "Let's go take a picture!"

"Is that okay?" Haruka said, turning to Mrs Oe.

"Of course," She smiled. "Gion Corner and Yasaka Shrine are nearby. You can leave your bags here."

No other customers were in sight, giving Aoi enough assurance that it would only be a minimal inconvenience. However, all attempts to hurry them to the shrine's red gates were dashed by Kaori and Asuka, deciding to relish each moment in their new clothes. Wearing a yukata with pumps felt unnatural and poised to last far too long at this rate.

"Thanks for going along with this," Kaori said as she dropped back to walk alongside Aoi. "I know you're quite picky with your clothes."

"Is this your way of trying to get us to reconcile?"

"Nothing that grand." Covering her smile with the yukata's long sleeves, Kaori appeared even more playful. "It's only a reminder. And a chance to wear something nice together. Just the four of us."

Ahead of them, Asuka seemed to be teasing Haruka. Or maybe it was just another barrage of bad jokes, the taller girl striking strange quasi-martial arts poses ever so often.

"Are we… are we intruding on something?"

"I asked you to come, didn't I?"

"What about Asuka?"

"She's just a little irritated by what happened this morning." Kaori's smile was still unwavering. "I'm sure you can see it too. She's happy that both of you are here."

"Got enough alone time in the morning, huh?"

"We can hear you!" Asuka wrapped her arm around Haruka's neck, forcefully dragging her into an about-face.

"Asu-ka. I. can't. breath."

Barely lightening her grip, she continued her mock tirade. "Kaori never should have told you two."

"We would have found out eventually." Haruka croaked.

"I doubt it," She replied, releasing her prisoner before continuing their leisurely stroll. "None of you guys would have had the guts to ask."

"I know someone that would," Aoi said. "She was looking for you this morning, you know. Kumiko."

Asuka smile instantly turned impish. "I was her most important senpai after all. So it's only natural."

Despite Aoi's wishes, there was no denying the truth in Asuka's words. Even when they were said in jest. "Why didn't you come for the concert then?"

"It wasn't important enough. I expect them to make it past the Kyoto competition."

"You've seen the results?" Haruka asked.

"Definitely not. I have nothing to say to them if they lose. And if that happened, they probably won't want to see me either."

Aoi's anger was constricted to a mere flash, extinguished by Kaori's unbroken smile. It was still a struggle to see beyond Asuka's crass words even with the reminder. Whether it was a simple inability to say something nice or a deflection from the lack of a compelling reason for their absence was impossible to tell.

Haruka's stride locked up, the shrine's red gates just coming into sight. "You won't even go to the Kansai competition?" As much as she tried to hide it, she was still plain to read. Her lips scrunched up, eyes narrowing in the usual prelude to beadiness. "It's in Kyoto this year. It won't take much of your time."

Asuka gave her a flicker of the wrist before turning away. "I bet you were too flustered to have a proper conversation with any of them this morning,"

"I wasn't awkward!" Haruka shot back, only to receive a dismissive glance from Asuka. "Maybe it's not as smooth as before…."

Before Aoi could point out the generous interpretation of what constituted awkwardness, there was a violent tug on her sleeve. Haruka ferociously latched on to her, both hands squeezing tightly on her forearm.

"Aoi will be there… You need to come too."

A faint chuckle escaped as the corners of Asuka's mouth gently rose. They were the very definition of conspicuous, standing in the middle of the path in their bright yukatas. Despite the increasing attention on them from the lunchtime crowd, Haruka remained steadfast. It was another declaration without asking. But how could anyone refuse her?

"Stop teasing her already. You were talking about buying tickets before they came." Kaori said as she gave Asuka a gentle nudge. "What happened this morning wasn't that bad."

Asuka let out a huff, blowing a strand of her fringe aside. "We could have gotten it for cheaper."

"Eh? Your complaining about price?" Aoi interjected. "Don't you live in a small villa?"

"I don't have an endless amount of money." She replied with a shrug.

Finally, Haruka released her vice grip. "What happened this morning that was so important."

"Sorry, we couldn't reschedule it." Kaori brushed her hair behind her ear, maintaining her amicable smile. "This was the only day our agent was free."

"We finally found an apartment," Asuka added drily. "I still think we could have shaved a few thousand yen off the rent."

"It's in the perfect location for us. I don't think they would have believed our bluff of looking elsewhere."

"Are you doubting my negotiation skills?"

"They haven't been the best recently." She giggled.

There was a low grumbling from the euphonist. "Still good enough to get us an apartment on Kawarmachi street. Right next to your school."

"It wasn't much of a challenge," Kaori replied, resuming their walk to the shrine, a fresh flutter in her step. "I'm sure they much rather rent to a pair of girls than those boys."

"They did look like they would mess up the place." Asuka conceded with a wink only Haruka and Aoi could see. "Maybe I really am a bad influence on you. Letting you take advantage of prejudice like that."

"How else did you think we were going to find someone to take photos of us?"

A quick glance at Haruka was enough to see she was not just satisfied with the reason for their absence but in awe. Moving out was no small matter, with Asuka's mother being who she was. However, Kaori's family presented the opposite problem. She loved being around them, making it hard to imagine her moving out at all.

Did any of them know the two of them were more than just two friends renting an apartment together?

"Aoi! Haruka!" Kaori called out. "We found someone."

"We're taking a photo of all four of us?" Haruka replied in confusion. The other two had gone on ahead while they were lost in thought, successfully accosting another visitor to be their cameraman.

"Of course!"

Even with the concert venue near Doshisha, moving any distance outside of campus was a hassle. Their budget was non-existent, with Haruka reluctant to charge club fees, leaving manual labour as the solution of choice for their problems. Knuckle's access to a truck proved invaluable again, saving them either buckets of sweat or the ire of their miser of a treasurer.

Trickling in throughout the late afternoon, half the band assembled at a car park near the Kojin bridge on the Kamo River awaiting their instruments. Still in the midst of the summer wet season, the swollen waters reached the park's edge running along the riverbanks. Although the festival grounds stretched further up and downstream, only the area in front of Kaori's university was wide enough to accommodate them. They began gradually moving their equipment to an elevated platform in the centre of the stalls and decorations. As a temporary structure, it was nothing impressive. Yet the strings of lights draped above the stage had the makings of a mesmerizing sight.

With most heavy lifting complete before the sun started to set, only a final set up and run through was left before the festival began. The decision to have everyone wear yukatas was a fanciful change, their first time performing in something other than school uniforms. Unfortunately for some, it created no shortage of mayhem. Not just the chaotic kaleidoscope their clothes made or the somewhat jarring contrast between traditional wear and brass instruments. It led some members to have too much fun.

"What are you they doing?" Aoi said, standing exasperated at the conductor's podium. Half the chairs and music stands were still out of place. Dropping off the chair she was holding, Haruka could only respond with a shrug.

"Musashi! You dare arrive late to our duel?" Hideri howled, brandishing a folded music stand.

Mei wore her usual fed-up look. "Who the hell is Musashi?"

Despite her boyfriend's sharp appearance, thanks to his navy blue yukata and swallow patterned haori, it had little effect on his behaviour.

Twirling two long marimba mallets in each hand, Knuckles emerged from the percussion pit clad in grey-blue robes. "The challenger arrives as he pleases, Sasaki."

Circling each other in the space between the woodwind section and the conductor's podium was the clumsiest martial arts display in existence. It was also the dullest, with their drab colours drowned out in the rainbow sea of the girl's yukatas. With only sporadic laughter from the horn section and waves of groans, their juvenile act found few admirers.

Aoi stepped off the podium, prepared to intervene.

"Let them unwind," Asuka interjected. "We're ahead of schedule anyway."

"What are they doing anyway?" Aoi sighed.

"We're watching a historical drama that's airing now," Mamoru said, joining the executive committee at the podium for a better view. "They're reenacting a famous duel."

Aoi shook her head. "I wouldn't count this as acting."

"I can't believe you convinced those two to watch something like that," Asuka added, her head shaking at the same tempo.

A collective wince erupted as Hideri slashed downward with the music stand. Both moving with unnatural sluggishness, Knuckles raised his mallets, forming a cross to parry his attack. The sound of crashing metal never came, the makeshift weapons lightly tapping into each other.

As their mock duel continued, most began to warm to the idea. Though their maturity somehow regressed after graduation, Aoi could not look away from their oddly compelling antics. That is until the unusual clacking of wooden sandals approached from behind.

"Usui-kun!" Haruka said, the first of those around the podium to turn around. "You're late."

"Sorry," The bespectacled boy briefly bowed before raising a shopping bag. "The queue for these was longer than I thought. Demachi Masugata is really crowded today."

Those around the podium replied with a wave of indifferent nods, ending with a cheeky smile from Asuka. "You bought the mochi for Shouko, right?"

"Yeah…" He said, clasping the nape of his neck. His gaze quickly darted away, turning towards the 'fight'. "Oh, that looks fun."

Noriko entered the fray armed with timpani mallets and a childish grin. The clash evolved into a haphazard dance, their flailing sleeves doing more 'damage' than any of their prop weapons. At least that was the case for the two boys, constantly getting slapped in the face by Noriko's cream-coloured yukata.

The start of wooden clacking was cut short by a sharp yelp. "You're not joining them," Mirai said, grabbing onto Hitoshi's collar.

"Why not?"

"You show up dressed like an old man in a bathrobe and geta. And now you want to embarrass yourself?" Abandoning even a pretence of subtly, she pointed directly at the clarinet section.

"You came wearing a hakama. It's even a samurai-style one with split legs for horse riding."

"So? Unlike you, I don't have anyone here I need to impress."

Not uttering a word, Hitoshi gave a despondent shrug. Mamoru seemed to be stuck in the same position, rocking back and forth on his heels. At least he had the sense to restrain himself without anyone saying a word. The 'fight' remained confined to the truly carefree or those secure about their image.

"You kids are having a bit too much fun," A lady carrying a clipboard ascended to their platform. Dressed in a grey business suit, she was certainly not a vendor or performer.

Those who could see her swiftly fell silent, staring at their feet to distance themselves from the embarrassing spectacle going on before them. The silence spread through the remainder in short order. Though it took an agonizingly long time for those in the most ridiculous positions to notice and cease their play fighting.

Saki was the only person who moved naturally, approaching the side of the stage from the percussion pit. "Mom… I thought we settled the performance schedule already."

Mrs Kayama unclipped a wad of paper, handing it to her daughter. "Here are the coupons for the food and game stalls. Your club can use them in between your performances."

"Thanks…" Saki replied, weakly grasping their 'payment'.

The rest of the band bowed, only to receive a curt nod in return. The continued exchange between mother and daughter grew hushed yet more animated, the occasional gesture thrown towards Knuckles in particular. Finally, with what appeared to be a sigh, Mrs Kayama left them to their devices.

"Saki?" Knuckles asked, lowering both the mallets to his side.

"Can you grow up?"

"Huh?"

"Narai. I told you how serious she was about micromanaging us. This is what children half our age do." She turned away, ostensibly adjusting her already perfectly centred glasses.

Noriko stepped between them, still fiddling to neaten her yukata. "We were just having some fun…."

"We're not here to mess around." Saki's voice remained level, but the glare from weeks ago returned.

"Why can't we do both?" Noriko's shoulders drooped, swaying gently back and forth. "I liked that about you all. It's different from the Ritsumeikan band."

"I know you two are close. But can you stop encouraging him?" Saki's kept her gaze on her marimba, avoiding the mass of eyes now fixed on her. "It took a lot to convince my mom, and she only agreed because we're all finally university students." She finally turned to Knuckles. "At least act like it in front of her… If you still want to."

"Saki, I'm—"

Her strides were unbroken by his reply, walking up to the executive committee and thrusting the stack of coupons into Haruka's hand.

"Moms are tough," Asuka whispered. "Sorry I let them continue."

Saki forced out a smile before pivoting around. She continued past her section mates back to the percussion pit.

"Alright, everyone," Haruka said, clapping her hands. "Let's finish our set-up. We've still got a final run-through to do. I'll pass out the coupons after our first performance."

The uneasy atmosphere gradually dissipated as they began focusing on getting in tune. Instead of going through the entire program, they played only a selection of passages. While there was still polish left to be desired, actually pinpointing how was proving to be a challenge. At least they would more than meet the expectations anyone in the audience would have for a university ensemble.

"Percussion, your tempo is uneven," Asuka said as Cassiopeia's crescendo came to a close. "The cymbal crash also sounds weak."

"Sorry," Noriko cried. "The yukata sleeves keep getting in the way."

In the past, a full-dress rehearsal had been indistinguishable from any other. The idea clothes could inhibit them never occurred to anyone. From the corner of her eye, Aoi could see a scowl overtake Haruka's face. Both of them clutched their saxophones with ease, the sleeves hardly hindering their ability to press any keys. But their consideration should not have stopped there.

"Here," Saki said, holding up two white sashes. "Tie your sleeves up with the Tasuki. Make a cross over your back, like mine."

"Thank you!" Noriko was beaming, as though their confrontation less than an hour ago was in the distant past.

"How do you wear these?" Knuckles said as he fiddled with his piece of cloth. "You're supposed to hold one end with your teeth, right?"

"Saki-chan," Noriko mumbled, one end of her sashed already stuffed into her mouth. "Knuckles is never going to figure it out."

After some fumbling, Knuckles gave her a sheepish smile before hunching over in his chair to make it easier for her. It was difficult to tell from across even the small stage, but Aoi was sure she could see both their faces reddening.

"Okay, no need for everyone to faun over them," Asuka said, swishing her baton for added effect. "I think this is good enough. Just remember the different sections of this piece and the image it's trying to invoke." She flipped through her score, looking over her annotations again. "There are more combinations of music than fast and loud or slow and mellow. But I guess this is what we get with Taki-sensei's choice in music last year."

The first lights to turn on were industrial, unremarkable, utilitarian; their illumination meant to keep work going in the fading light. As the stalls finished their preparations, the crackling of charcoal and the hiss of gas stoves filled the air, the smell of food wafting onto the stage. A nasty reminder that their habit of delaying dinner was barely tolerable. The Tanataba festival began to start in earnest as darkness steadily fell, the first visitors appearing. Mostly dressed in yukatas, it was hard not to be envious of how carefree they were without the anxiety of performing.

Seated in their sections, Aoi leaned to her left towards Haruka, "Is this what it felt like at Kyoto station last year?"

"Sort of. It feels a little easier now."

"Was it the experience at nationals that made it easier?"

Haruka shook her head, still going over her sheet music. "Maybe it's because there's no school name to worry about. Or disappointed teachers."

"There's still Asuka…."

Kiriko intentionally cleared her throat. Turning to her, the yukata she wore was suspiciously or perhaps remarkably close to her Miko uniform. "You let her handle most of the organization for this, didn't you?"

"Why not? She's the one who came up with the idea to perform her?"

"You do know she listed us as the Doshisha University Symphonic Band, right?" Kiriko said, holding up the screen of her phone to show them the festival's webpage.

"… I don't think my dad can help us if we perform badly."

The benches in front of them steadily filled as the time of their first performance approached. Nothing terrible was likely to happen, barring an actual disaster. Yet, Haruka did not take too well to the last-minute mount in pressure. Her conducting was stiffer than usual, though the band did not have any difficulty with Galaxy Express 999.

Although changing conductors for each piece seemed like a necessary evil while they were rehearsing, it turned out to fit a festival well. Irritation was plastered over Asuka's face as parts of the audience left in the miniature intermission. Expecting them to stay for all thirty minutes despite all the other festival attractions was something only Asuka could conceive of. As they went through Cassiopeia, Song of the Night Sky, and Seventh Night of July, the crowd waxed and waned but still gave them consistently warm applause.

"Everyone, there's an hour until our next performance. So please be back before that." Haruka yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth to beat the sound of the crowd.

As expected, the boys immediately attempted to take off, frothing at the mouth for the yakisoba frying next to the stage. Unable to escape taking additional orders from some of the girls, they grumbled their way to the stall as the rest of the band gathered in smaller groups. Even though Aoi could only see the stage's decorative lights from directly below, the soft amber LEDs looked like strands of stars dangling down, almost close enough to touch.

Slummed into her chair, Aoi's contemplation was rudely interrupted with a nudge. "That performance was aggressively mediocre." Asuka's face loomed over her, blocking out the artificial stars.

"It was good enough. You should be happy; Cassiopeia improved the most after that night. It's close to something you hear at nationals or a professional concert."

A gust of air rushed over Aoi's face before a piece of cloth smothered her, blotting out the light completely.

"Get your sleeve off me,"

"It's only close… I'm going to practice on my own."

"Now? In the middle of the festival?"

Asuka scooped up her euphonium and walked off the stage without a reply. Frantically scanning around, Kaori was missing too. Zeroing in on the only member of the trumpet section still around, Aoi immediately took to her feet.

"Where did the rest of your section go?" She gasped, approaching Kyouko.

"Woah, you need to relax. Nakaseko and Kasano just went to get some food."

Instinctively, Aoi tugged her braids. "The one time I need her for something."

"What? To handle Tanaka?"

"Yeah, she went off by herself." Aoi sighed.

"Well," Kyouko stood up, laying her trumpet down on her seat. "Someone's got to look for her. I bet she'll just ignore all text like she usually does."

"Huh?"

Kyouko cupped her hands around her mouth. "Oi, President, you can manage everything here, right?"

Haruka gave them a confused look from across the stage but dutifully nodded. Everyone was on a break. There was nothing to manage with half the band still hanging around in small groups.

"See, there's nothing to worry about."

"We should get more people."

"This isn't a search party." Retrieving her violently kicked off slippers, Kyouko signalled for Aoi to follow her down the stairs. "Tanaka can take care of herself. We're just making sure." With everyone else from Kyodai gone, there was really no one else that made sense to drag along.

Sifting through the endless crowd, the festival lost any impression of being magical. Even with clear skies, the stars were absent, drowned out by the light of the city and crescent moon above them. Right along the water's edge, there was a tunnel made of trellis arches. Instead of verdant climbing plants, the same strings of lights above the stage were draped throughout the tunnel. This must be the starlight experience the festival organizers were so proud of. Perhaps it would make for a nice picture. But after actual stargazing, it all felt artificial.

"Did she leave the festival?" Kyouko said as they approached the steppingstones near Kojin bridge. With the racket of the festival melting into the distance, the sound of cicadas and gently flowing water asserted itself. "It can't be that hard to find someone with a huge silver euphonium. I assume this is her ritual to blow off steam or something."

Aoi nodded with a sigh, taking a seat on the bench next to them. "She's going to run us into the ground."

"Nakaseko told me she already has a few ideas of the events we can play at after this."

"Great…"

"We'll still have a summer break." Kyouko remained standing, a broad smile flashing across her face. "I'm going back to Osaka for a few weeks."

"That's not going to stop her. The commute is only slightly longer than coming from Uji."

"Maybe." Kyouko chuckled. "We do have two members from Fukuoka. Kyushu is literally on the other side of the country."

"She'll find a way." Though, Aoi was only half-joking.

"I'm meeting some of my old bandmates over the summer. Maybe that will scare her off."

"Are you?..."

"Yeah, Chiyomi-senpai will be there." Kyouko maintained a casual posture. "Nishi-senpai is still pretty angry, from what I've heard. But she's from Toushou, so I won't have to see her."

"How did you work things out with them?"

"Charm," She said with a cheeky smile. "And I kind of threw Tanaka under the bus when chatting with them. But I don't think she'll care about that."

"Probably. It's not getting in her way of performing."

"You ever think about why she's so determined?"

"Not you as well." Aoi groaned. "I already had this talk with Kaori. She probably just wants to do it to piss off her mom."

"Well, I have no idea if that's true or not. Hiroe's gossip never seems to cover anything actually serious. But spite seems like a weak explanation."

"Anger is a pretty powerful motivator. Especially after how long it's been built up in her."

"Sure," Kyouko shrugged. "That may explain why she's playing her instrument even though her mom hates it. Or why she wants to be in an ensemble. I don't think it's enough to push someone to want their performances to be perfect."

"You know she never really cared about that before, right? We were worse than mediocre before Taki-sensei joined our school." It was hard to tell how much Kyouko knew. At least it was safe to assume she got at a summary from someone after finding out about the slapping incident.

"That just helps my point. Something changed."

"Nationals…"

"Maybe. All I know is that she wants to reach some pretty insane standards, and that kind of motivation's got to come from something pretty serious."

Aoi sighed. "Even more layers to peel back."

"Hey, at least it's interesting, right?" Kyouko said, standing up. "Let's keep looking; she's probably around here some—"

Immediately shushing the loud trumpeter, Aoi listened intently, searching the night air for the etude she knew was being played. Coming faintly from the bridge, the distinctive sound of Shindo Masakazu's composition floated across the river. Despite hearing it almost daily during high school, the tune had been conspicuously absent in recent months. Asuka's playing was colder than she remembered, having now taken on a solitary, almost haunting quality.

Without knowing it, Asuka had attracted a small crowd on the bridge. She played on, giving them no attention, staring out onto the calm waters of the Kamo River that held the moon's reflection. It was hard not to be captivated. Either by the music itself or her beautiful appearance. The flowers patterned on her yukata glowed against the deep purple cloth, her euphonium shining like pure argent in the moonlight.

Kyouko stopped as they were about to walk onto the bridge. Her expression turned serious. That only happened when she was about to discuss literature.

"When I see the whiteness

Of the frost that lies

On the bridge that magpies spread,

Then do I know, indeed,

That the night has deepened,"

Aoi pondered the waka poem for a moment. "It's from the hundred poets, right? The sixth one in the anthology."

"See, you'd make a good classics student after all." Kyouko's playful smile was brief. "Too bad Nakaseko isn't here. She'd want to see this. Maybe it would turn all romantic instead of sad."

"I think you're reading too much into the Tanabata legend. It's not like she and Kaori are separated. Or this is their bridge of magpies."

"Not literally," Kyouko gave Aoi a sharp nudge before continuing onto the bridge. "Come on, be a little more poetic. But even thinking about like a boring person, you know not everyone may accept the two of them."

It was an ugly reality to consider, potentially adding another layer of sorrow. Maybe not so much for Kaori, though there was no telling if any of their parents knew or how they would react. What did Asuka's father even think? Was she even in contact with him?

As she finished her etude, there was a small burst of applause from the people around Asuka. There was only the slightest of flinches before the euphonist turned around and bowed politely.

"Found you at last," Kyouko said as the rest of the crowd dispersed.

"It's not time to head back yet," Asuka said, still cradling euphonium.

"Aren't you happy that we came looking for you?" Aoi replied.

"I'll be happy if you guys put in more effort."

"Come on," Kyouko waved her hand, calling the pair to follow her. "I don't want to get scolded for being late again. It's not my fault for once."

Kyouko never hurried, intentionally letting Asuka and Aoi walk abreast behind her. "You didn't have to storm off." Aoi chided as they walked back down to the riverbanks. "What if the others saw you?"

"Everyone was going off for food or to look around. And It's not like they don't know I do this."

"That doesn't mean it's good. Why did you come all the way out here anyway?"

"Just getting into the mood for my solo in your piece later. You need all the help you can get."

Aoi stopped her reflex to repeat that everything was already at an adequate standard. "I told you that the rest of us couldn't conduct."

"I wish that was our only problem," Asuka replied, not bothering to soften Aoi's statement for her benefit. "They can't play anything deep or grand. I've been trying to squeeze it out of them for Cassiopeia, but they can't get the undercurrent I want." Her gaze remained locked on the moon above them, speaking more to it than Aoi. "The only thing not terrible is the solo and Galaxy Express."

"So, what am I supposed to do?"

"The saxophone and euphonium duet is the backbone of your piece." Asuka finally turned to her as the lights and sounds of the festival began to surround them. "Hiroe doesn't really cut it. Too melodramatic."

"You'd rather play it with Kaori."

"It would make it more emotionally charged, definitely better. But there's nothing we can do about that. This is a good as well get."

There was only time to take a quick bite from food Haruka had been saving for her. Topped off with a mochi offered to her by Shouko, it was hardly a meal. The lingering traces of her hunger were not enough to distract Aoi from her irritation. There was no great leap they could make just a few minutes away from their next performance. But she was determined to try. If only to prove Asuka wrong without having to directly fight her.

Aoi had a few ideas of what to change, but it was impossible to announce them with only minutes before their performance. Everything would have to be done from the conductor's podium.

The clarinets and flutes opened Galaxy Express 999 with perfect trills, followed up in strength by the brass instruments. Overcoming her mild stage fright, Haruka was now moving expressively. Although it was the best run they had ever done, Asuka probably cared little. To her, this music was mere entertainment instead of art. Nothing more than a nostalgic sci-fi pop song from the seventies. But if there was anything the Kitauji alumni collectively excelled at, it was energetic songs like this.

Moving into the Song of the Night Sky, it was a wonder that Kaori could play something so melancholic. The only explanation was that Asuka provided her with vicarious insight into an emotion that was undoubtedly, hopefully, foreign to her. Only the best players in their band in the supporting harmony significantly bolstering her performance. Led primarily by Asuka's euphonium and Mirai's trombone, the accompaniment had a depth and resonance that not everyone in their band could achieve.

Cassiopeia pilled the pressure onto the brass section, their instruments carrying both the opening fanfare and crescendo. Even though they had enough volume, it felt as though something was missing. As Asuka said, they were loud and accurate but never quite grand. To the average person listening, nothing would sound amiss. Yet the undertones of anger, resentment that she wanted in this piece failed to materialize, no matter how fearsome her expression was. They all knew what she was aiming to do, but it was always just ever so slightly out of reach.

Finally, it came time for Seventh Night of July. Aoi desperately tried to add life to her movements, swaying and emoting instead of her usual 'academic' style of conducting. To her credit, Asuka delivered on her promise, the sound of her euphonium becoming a pure expression of a lament. But like their previous pieces, the slower swells of the music lacked a visceral bite. In fact, to anyone following along with the score in hand, they might even be described as robotic. As far as that was possible when producing music. However, this piece thankfully ended with a rousing crescendo, allowing them to make up for the more lacklustre moments.

Aoi gasped for breath as they bowed. Sweat seeped through her yukata's outer layers, and even her obi had become loose from all the movement. Once the applause ended, the crowd petered away allow Asuka to approach her.

"Thanks for trying." Her hand reached out, prompting Aoi to brace herself for a demeaning pat on the head. Though it never came, landing on her shoulder instead. "This is just another performance after all. We learnt enough to improve for the Kansai Band Festival."

"Eh?"

"Hitoshi," Asuka said, flagging him down as everyone began cleaning their instruments. "Come here for a bit. I have an idea."

"Don't ignore me," Aoi protested.

"You want to enjoy the festival, right? I'm just letting you know in advance so we can talk about it another day." Asuka said as she gestured for Shouko and her camera. "Can you go grab Saki?"

"Why?"

"I'm doing you a favour. A little bird told me you might like this."

Hitoshi, Saki, Asuka, and herself huddled together at the centre of the stage. Directly in front of them was Shouko and Momo, both with their cameras ready.

"Didn't we already take a picture with the whole band?"

"Just shut up," Asuka flung her arms around her and Saki's neck, drawing them in close. "It's a class picture."

A smile came quickly to Aoi's face. It had been a long time since she thought of herself as a member of class 3-7. It was supposed to be a privilege of the advanced class to have no changes to their composition; A chance to make friends without the anxiety of changing classes the following year. Even with that, Aoi could not say she was close to any of them. It was another promise, dream, or maybe for some expectation, of high school implanted into everyone.

There was excited chatter from the rest of the band as the four of them smiled for the camera. Haruka lit up, dragging Kaori, Shouko and Tori-chan with her towards the centre of the stage. Other small groups started to form, their composition changing from their sections to what Aoi vaguely remembered as their classes. Then again, it was not too late. Leaving high school did not suddenly mean it was all over. That was the whole point of the band.

Taking advantage of their access to the stage, they spent almost half an hour taking photos in seemingly infinite combinations; section, class, even university. Some lucky people had a picture with nearly everyone.

With the cleanup finished and their instruments stored away on the truck, Haruka announced their activities were over for the summer. Not wanting to spoil the mood and take up what little time remained before the festival ended, she said more details would come over LINE. The band gradually dispersed, going off in small groups or pairs.

It was only half-past ten, and Aoi was exhausted. With Asuka and Kaori having run off on their own, Aoi sat at the water's edge, awaiting Haruka to return with desert.

"I got you, Taiyaki. The only thing cold was shaved ice." Haruka said as she sat down next to her.

"Thanks," Aoi said, munching on the fished shape cake. "Asuka told you about what she's planning, right?"

Haruka nodded, eat a spoon full of her strawberry shaved ice. "Obon is right around the corner, so I think we'll just leave it be for a week before we actually start planning."

"I don't know how I'm going to manage all of this with coursework." Aoi sighed. "Next semester there's classical literature. And travelling takes up so much time."

"Hey…"

The continuation Aoi was expecting never came, prompting her to turn away from her view of the Kamo. The moon had finally risen to its apex for the night. Haruka's mouth was still ajar. A small mound of ice plopped on the floor, melted off from her spoon as it hung still in the air.

"Aoi, you were thinking about living at Kyodai's dorms, right?"

"Yeah. But I've seen more of the place. Most people have the same level of hygiene as Kyouko and her roommate."

"Is that the only option?"

"Yeah?" Aoi finished up her food with a final greedy bite. "I mean, I can afford renting a place. But my dad keeps saying that living with a roommate is part of the university experience."

"Then…"

Aoi forcefully blinked, finally putting together that Haruka was hesitant instead of tired.

"Since Asuka and Kaori are… do you want to rent an apartment for next semester?"