La Corda d'oro 54

La Corda d'Oro - Chapter 54
Pursuing a high education, or studying abroad
And what will Kahoko choose---!?

Man: Well then…

Man: I wonder what kind of kids will be here…
Amou: Extra! Extra!!
Student: What’s this!
Student: It’s the latest concour with Tsukimori-kun

Student: All the judges unanimously announce him as the winner
Student: He showed his skills in the fierce battlefield of the violin department along with all the other strong university-level competitors
Student: His magnificent performance is the highlight of the whole concour……
Hino: …is it?
Ousaki: You’re talking about the article on Tsukimori-kun?
Hino: Yes
Hino: The whole school’s been talking about it today…
Ousaki: Yeah, I’ve heard about it too
Ousaki: Though I’ve heard from a former judge that Tsukimori-kun is a winner candidate
Ousaki: It is impressive that he can win the concour just like that, don’t you think?
Hino: Yes, it is impressive
Hino: Concour is it… I only know about the school concours, but it is something of great importance after all

Ousaki: ……
Hino: What is it? Ousaki-senpai
Ousaki: Um…Actually
Ousaki: I am going to be in a concour as well
Hino: Huh!!! Isn’t that awesome?
Ousaki: Oh please…It’s nothing big really
Hino: No no, don’t be modest
Ousaki: It’s the beginning of next year
Hino: Wow~ Please try your best
Ousaki: And…that concour takes place in Europe
Hino: Europe?! No way, that’s cool!
Ousaki: Yeah, so…I apologize right now
Ousaki: Since I have to make lots of preparation for the concour
Ousaki: It seems that we won’t be able to meet each other anymore like we are now

Hino: Ah………
Ousaki: I am really sorry…
Hino: Oh, no
Hino: Not at all!
Ousaki: But…
Hino: You have been very kind to me all this time, Ousaki-senpai
Hino: So…

Ousaki: But I am really sorry to leave you here midway
Ousaki: I enjoyed having lessons with Hino-san
Hino: Thank you very much
Hino: But please don’t worry, Ousaki-senpai
Ousaki: Well then, before the concour, shall we get some practice done?
Ousaki: Oh right, about getting you a teacher
Tsukimori: I see…
Hino: Well, that means I won’t be able to meet Ousaki-senpai
Hino: I feel somewhat lonely~
Ousaki: I’ll come back right away
Ousaki: Since I am not going to study abroad
Hino: Even though that’s how it is…
Ousaki: Speaking of which, that’s Tsukimori-kun’s business
Tsukimori: …Huh?
Ousaki: I’ve heard about it, congratulations
Ousaki: You’ve made it an official decision about stu-
Tsukimori: Ousaki-senpai!

Tsukimori: Ah…
Tsukimori: Nothing, sorry about that
Tsukimori: About that…I am not ready to…
Ousaki: Ah, sorry sorry
Tsukimori: It’s nothing
Hino: “Congratulations”?
Hino: I wonder if it’s about the concour
Hino: ……
Hino: *sigh* I guess I will find some time to see if there’s a chance for me to probe about this…

Kira: So?
Kira: How many people accepted the offer?
Kanazawa: Hmm, what about it?
Kira: ……
Kira: Would you put a limit on how much you smoke?
Kanazawa: Hmm?
Kanazawa: No way no way no way
Kanazawa: Speaking of which, they say that if the places that can allow smoking decreases, the smoking population will decrease as well
Kira: ……
Kanazawa: Oh don’t make that face, Mr. Head of Directors
Kira: It’s DIRECTOR.
Kanazawa: Okay okay, Mr. Future Head of Directors
Kanazawa: So? What about it?
Kira: …Originally, the intention was to gather excellent people who are top of the class
Kira: We are still investigating if we should choose those first year students who may seem like they are worth being cultivated from now on

Kira: From the standpoint of a special lecturer, we wonder if 4 to 5 people (per class) is efficient……
Hino: Kanazawa-sensei!!
Hino: I heard that there’ll be a new teacher coming to the music faculty, is it true!?
Hino: !!

Hino: S, s, s, s, sorry!!
Kanazawa: Don’t worry
Kira: So?
Kira: What do you want to know about that new teacher?
Hino: Um, yes…actually…
Ousaki: Speaking of which…
Ousaki: Saotome-sensei is coming back…
Hino: Saotome-sensei?
Tsukimori: Saotome-sensei you say, could it be that…
Ousaki: Yes, yes, you know about him too, Tsukimori
Ousaki: It seems like he’s returning home since his contract in Germany has ended…
Ousaki: At any rate, it looks like he’s being hired to become one of the lecturers
Ousaki: Oh right
Ousaki: Saotome-sensei is the one who used to teach me and Tsukimori-kun
Hino: Huh, Ousaki-senpai and Tsukimori-kun!?
Ousaki: Yeah, we were in the same lecture
Hino: Wow, the two of you
Tsukimori: Sensei is a wonderful violin performer, so I got influenced by him

Kanazawa: Yeah, looks like he’s their onshi*
*Onshi (恩師) is basically a teacher which you owe a great deal of debt or a teacher who has a great deal of influence on you
Kanazawa: So? What about that teacher, Hino?
Hino: Um…
Hino: That uh…
Hino: I wonder if it is possible for me to take some lessons with that teacher!
Kanazawa: That…it’s too
Kanazawa: You’re just a student in the general studies faculty
Kanazawa: There are also a number of students in the music faculty that are in Satome-sensei’s class—
Hino: I understand this is an unreasonable request, but please!

Kira: Sure, I’ll allow that
Kanazawa: Hey
Kira: However, it is impossible for me to reduce the number of students from the music faculty (in Satome-sensei’s class)
Kira: So this is outside of that matter, and you have to get Saotome-sensei’s personal permission, okay?
Hino: Thank you very much!
Tsukimori: I wonder if Saotome-sensei will accept Hino’s request……

Ousaki:…Hmmm
Kanazawa: Isn’t it difficult, Kira
Kanazawa: On top of that, saying that to Hino after knowing how difficult it is
Kanazawa: Ahh, now I feel sorry for her
Kira: Well, that’s how it is…
Kira: But in the case that he accepts her offer
Kira: It will be much more interesting, don’t you think?
Hino: ……

Hino: Alright!
Hino: Excuse me!
Hino: …Huh?
Hino: What is going on…
Shimizu: …Kaho-senpai…?
Hino: Shimizu-kun
Shimizu: What is going on…senpai?
Hino: Um…I’m trying to meet Saotome-sensei in person
Hino: So I came here but he isn’t here, how unfortunate

Shimizu: Ah…I have something that I must speak with him as well
Hino: You’ve got something to speak with him?! Shimizu-kun
Shimizu: Actually…I’ve been waiting for him here since yesterday…
Hino: Huh? Yesterday!?
Hino: Is he really that impressive as a teacher…? I mean Saotome-sensei
Shimizu: Yes…
Shimizu: He’s very famous as a performer, and he has lots of experience as a concert master in orchestras overseas…
Shimizu: He became a topic that everyone is talking about in the music faculty…
Hino: Wow…
Hino: I wonder what kind of person Saotome-sensei is…
Hino: “Saotome Shizuka-sensei”…is it…
Saotome: You called?
Hino: …Huh?!
Shimizu: Oh…

Hino: ……
Hino: Saotome-sensei……?
Saotome: Yeah, what about it
Hino: Glad to be your acquaintance!
Hino: I am Hino Kahoko, 2nd year in the general studies faculty.
Hino: Actually, I’ve heard about Saotome-sensei and your merits
Hino: And I wish that, if it is possible, could you please give me some guidance---
Saotome: I refuse
Hino: Huh?

Saotome: I’ve heard about you from Kira-kun
Saotome: I didn’t know we have a general studies student in the school concour
Saotome: What? You’re not out of your mind when you made that request? To be honest, it’s a nuisance rather than being an innocent request.
Saotome: Why must I be the one who gives you lessons? I still have to recover from the time lag of not being in Japan for 6 years.
Saotome: Just don’t bother spending your time trying, okay

Tsuchiura: What is she trying this time?
Kaji: She’s not in the classroom in the early morning, breaks and afterschool
Hino: Please hear me out one more time!
Hino: I understand how this is an audacious request!
Hino: Sensei!
Hino: Please!
Hino: Saotome-sensei!!

Saotome: Don’t call my name
Hino: What is this!!
Hino: He could’ve just hear me out a bit!
Hino: …Well, I know it’s forceful on my end….
Hino: But…

Hino: I guess I’ll go practice…
Tsukimori: Sensei, have you got used to the school yet?
Saotome: Well, yeah, more or less
Saotome: However…well…
Saotome: Recently, the students are quite mature, or maybe I should say they’re behaving very well……
Tsukimori: Ah…
Saotome: Hmm?
Saotome: Is this a student of the music faculty?
Saotome: If it is, it sounds very clumsy…
Tsukimori: …I’m afraid this is probably……

Tsukimori: Hino-san
Saotome: Ah, that girl
Saotome: You know her?
Tsukimori: Yeah, more or less
Saotome: What do you think about her level?
Tsukimori: …In all honestly, she is in the beginner’s range, and she is still very unskilled.
Tsukimori: ----But she has the melodies (that can captivate people’s heart*) which I am interested in
*I took the liberty of adding it here

Saotome: Hmph…
Saotome: It’s rare to see you compliment others, Len

Hino: Please
Hino: Please hear me out!
Hino: Please, Saotome-sensei!

Saotome: Got it…
Saotome: However
Hino: Huh?
Saotome: You must win this
(The paper reads: Classical Music Concour)

Hino: Tsukimori-kun…
Tsukimori: I heard about it, you’re in the concour?
Tsukimori: It became a widespread rumour
Hino: Really?
Tsukimori: Are you really going to be there?
Tsukimori: Isn’t it a bit too heavy on you?
Hino: Though you tried to hide it, I can see it in your eyes

Hino: If I don’t
Hino: No matter what I do, Saotome-sensei will refuse my request
Hino: So…
Hino: I said I got influenced by Tsukimori-kun

Hino: …That
Hino: I…Tsukimori-kun’s melodies are what I adore…so
Hino: If I can be taught by the teacher who influenced Tsukimori-kun when he was a child
Hino: Maybe I can follow the path which Tsukimori-kun came from
Hino: About the concour…
Hino: Although I know that Saotome-sensei may not think so…
Hino: Even if it’s something reckless…

Tsukimori: …
Tsukimori: Even if that is so, if you have the will to do it…
Tsukimori: I will see through it to the end
Tsukimori: If I have time for it, I will help you
Tsukimori: Therefore

Tsukimori: I don’t want you to give up……