Chapter 1

Hundreds of gazes focused on the same spot. The atmosphere was tinged with a swirling, feverish energy that brought a flush to the girls’ faces. Kumiko slowly exhaled, trying to steel herself against the contagious emotion. Her heartbeat hammered in her eardrums. Her fingernails pressed crescent-shaped marks into the sweat-sticky palms of her clenched fists. “I’m so nervous I might actually die,” murmured Azusa next to her, unable to endure the tension silently. “Me too,” replied Kumiko, her rapt eyes widening. ALL-KYOTO CONCERT BAND COMPETITION, read the simple, vertically lettered sign. In pursuit of making it to the Kansai Regionals, this was the third time Kumiko had come to this concert hall since starting middle school. She unconsciously tightened her fists. “This is it—” came the words from no one in particular. Men carrying a large sheet of paper slowly advanced to the front of the stage. All eyes were upon them. Kumiko felt like her heart was going to leap, flea-like, out of her chest. She was feverish and faint. She pressed her hands hard against her reddening cheeks and watched the paper intently. The men slowly unrolled the banner, revealing a list of middle schools. Next to the names were written the characters for “gold,” “silver,” and “bronze.” Before Kumiko could even think of finding her school, Azusa’s voice rose in a delighted shout. “Gold!” The exclamation spread infectiously and was soon followed by shrill cries. “Gold! We did it!” Some schools were shouting in celebration, but others had fallen silent at the stark reality of the results displayed before them. Kumiko noticed that the students from another school next to them looked like they were at a funeral. She hesitated briefly, unable to be as happy as she imagined she was supposed to be. “Kumiko! What’re you spacing out for? We got gold! Gold!” Feeling Azusa’s sudden embrace, Kumiko finally let a smile slip. “…Yeah. Thank goodness.” “I’m gonna go tell Asami. She was so nervous she shut herself up in the bathroom.” “Gotcha. Just don’t be late for the closing.” “Roger that!” replied Azusa cheerfully before heading farther into the hall. Her black hair was tied back into a ponytail that bobbed as she went. Kumiko slowly opened her locked fists and looked out again at the banner displaying the results. “Gold Prize” was indeed written next to her middle school’s name. It was gold, all right, but fool’s gold—they wouldn’t be advancing to the All-Kansai regional competition. Still, it felt like a passing grade. She glanced at their director, who wore a satisfied expression and was heartily applauding. Thank goodness! We got gold! Within Kumiko, the reality of it was slowly beginning to sink in. She breathed a sigh of relief, and with it, her legs untensed. She realized anew just how nerve-racked she’d been. Kumiko was just about to congratulate the others in her instrument section when she sensed something was off. Her gaze wandered as she searched for its source, and then quite suddenly, her gaze met Reina’s. She was standing there stock-still and unsmiling, her trumpet gripped tightly in her hands. “Are you crying from happiness?” At Kumiko’s timid question, Reina silently shook her head. Her eyes radiated her intensity, but a skim of moisture was welling up in them. “…ate this.” “Huh?” “I hate it. I hate it so much I could die. Why is everybody so happy about gold? I thought we were aiming for Nationals.” Tears began spilling from Reina’s eyes. Kumiko hastily broke her gaze, as if to escape. Her own face suddenly burned with heat. She was ashamed of having been so relieved to get gold. “…Did you seriously think we could’ve made it to Nationals?” Reina violently wiped her eyes, then sniffed. Her pale pink lips quivered in accusation and anger. “You mean you don’t hate it?” she spat, and her accusation stabbed right through Kumiko’s heart. “Well, I do. I really, really hate this.” Her strained voice carved itself with unpleasant clarity into Kumiko’s brain. It was the last competition of middle school. When she remembered the moment, it was always Reina’s eyes that came to mind. And whenever she thought of them, Kumiko wanted to run as far away from that summer as she could.