Ome Quartet of Snow Country

Chapter 419 Lantern Parade
In the gymnasium, all the lights dimmed.

Only the projection screen in the middle of the stage was on, showing the sweat and efforts put in by all the students in the school over the past ten days to prepare for the Tsudaka Festival.

Morimi stood under the stage, looking up. As one of the people who had stayed the longest in the activity room on the second floor, her face appeared on the screen several times.

Sometimes she sits alone in front of the computer, sometimes she stays with her team members, and most of the time, in the sweeping shots, she and Naruse are the only ones discussing something...

She looked at the bottom of the screen again, in the darkness where all the lights were turned off. He also raised his head and looked at the video above that witnessed everyone's efforts.

Her work is almost over, at least she has nothing to do for now, so now she can stand in the audience and watch, while his busy work will continue for three days.

After a while, the video ended and the lights turned on in time.

Amid the prolonged applause from the audience, the principal, who continued to speak, once again thanked everyone for their sweat for this grand ceremony, and then returned the stage to those who organized the event.

The Chairman of the Executive Committee walked to the microphone, looked around, and officially announced that the 150th Anniversary Tsutaka Festival had begun.

"Oh—"

Amid louder applause and cheers, Naruse bowed slightly and then retreated backstage.

The festival was winding up outside. On the first day of the Tsudaka Festival, the focus was entirely on the lantern parade that started in the evening. After the opening ceremony during the day, there was basically nothing else going on.

——This is for most of the students who have turned into participants, but for the organizers, the really tense and busy time has just begun.

"...Next is the patrol group, you now go and confirm the situation of each class.

One is the condition of the lanterns, whether they can go on the road normally;

The second is the situation of students participating in the parade, whether any are absent from school.If so, what duties are you responsible for, and can you find someone to replace you?

If there are any problems, we will help solve them, and if they cannot be solved, we will report them.Remember, solve the problem first, then find the cause. "

"Yes!"

After returning to the activity room and explaining the next task, Naruse had no time to stop and followed him downstairs to the back of the teaching building where he made lanterns and also parked them.

The production of all lanterns was completed yesterday. Thirty cars of lanterns from three grades are waiting for nightfall to usher in their only appearance that will last forever.

The members of the patrol team were checking the status of each class. Naruse watched as they walked and stopped in front of the greenhouse of Class A of the second year.

He is the chairman of the executive committee and the executive committee member of Class A in the second year.

"is that OK?"

Looking at the lanterns being installed on the parade frame, Naruse asked Morimi, who came first.

"There was a little accident...but it should be fine."

"What accident?"

She was a little helpless, "When we were assembling it just now, Mr. Suga's head was not fixed and fell off."

Naruse suddenly became nervous, "It wasn't broken, was it?"

"No, do you think it's a rag made by the first grade?"

Morimi motioned him to look at the lanterns being assembled, "See for yourself."

Walking around the lantern, he paid special attention to Sugawara Michizane's head, but fortunately he didn't see anything wrong.

"The head fell off...is this an ominous sign?" He muttered.

"Well, Thor gets angry and then it rains or something."

"Don't be crowed."

Morimi just smiled.

The electric drill buzzed, and screws were used to connect the wooden structure at the bottom of the lantern to the wooden frame used for support.

Naruse watched for a while and said to Morimi, "I'll leave this to you. I'll go look elsewhere."

"Well, I will take good care of our crystal."

"..."

He ignored her and left the shed of Class A, passing by Class C and staying for a while.

"It suddenly occurred to me that Chunhai has been staying with the executive committee and still doesn't know anything about making lanterns."

"It's true...it seems that next year I can only continue to help the executive committee."

"Will you continue to be the chairman of the committee?" Shangzi smiled.

"That's too tiring. Let's go to the external coordination group and go out to play in the name of investigation and visit like Guang."

"Just say that I have been working hard."

"If you ask her if she has played, she won't deny it."

Naruse said and looked at Haixing again. She was also a member of Class C's lantern parade team and the one responsible for shouting slogans.

"What's wrong..." She also looked over.

"It's nothing, just get ready." Naruse said, "We're going to shout all the way, so you can prepare some throat lozenges or something first."

Haixing was startled, and Shangzi said, "I will help Haixing prepare it."

Naruse nodded, "I'm going somewhere else."

After the second grade, there was the third grade. After patrolling all the way, he came to the atrium again, where preparations were also being made.

Several people picked up a taiko drum, placed it on the stand, and beat it twice to test the sound.

Boom, boom!

During the parade, the lanterns of each class will be followed by a band playing fifes and drums, and the musicians are naturally composed of students from each class.

In fact, counting the people pushing the class mascot to clear the way, the atmosphere group shouting slogans, the people pulling the float, and the band following at the end, basically all members of each class participate - even if they don't know anything, they often Just adjust the atmosphere.

But after the parade started, he himself could not stay in the team of Class A of the second year - the three lanterns specially built by the handicraft club commissioned by the student union also needed people to pull them, and he was the "cartman" of the lantern in front.

"Chairman!"

Someone came over from the side and said, "The beam of a shelf is broken, and the taiko drum cannot be placed."

Naruse raised his eyes and asked him to take him there without saying anything.

"This way!"

When he came to the broken taiko drum stand, he fiddled with it, and a large amount of dust immediately fell from the red strap on the wooden stand.

"It seems it was discontinued last year."

Naruse thought for a moment, "Go and borrow two pieces of wood, borrow a few nails, and nail a new bracket on the side for temporary use. Wrap a circle of red cloth around it so it won't be visible."

"Okay...uh, where can I borrow it?"

"You can't just go to any class and borrow this kind of thing..."

Naruse paused and gave clearer instructions: "You can borrow it from Class A of the second year, just say it's what I mean."

"Ok!"

The man quickly went to borrow something.

The taiko drums from the warehouse are being brought out one after another. These drums can be played with hands. They only need to repeat a monotonous rhythm, so they do not require much practice. They are only brought out just before the parade, and they fall off as soon as they are knocked.

"When you practice, just wipe it off."

"Okay, Chairman."

The transverse flute in the band requires more skills. Practice started two weeks ago, and he selected the flute players in Class A.

Naruse walked around in a circle and returned to the activity room to listen to reports from the members of the patrol team who were returning one after another.

"The diesel generator of Class A of the first year cannot be started. The supplier has been contacted."

"The generator of Class C in the first year is also broken."

"When Class E was assembling the lantern in the first year, the lamp surface was accidentally punctured. We are working hard to repair it."

"Two people from Class F took leave of absence this year."

"The head of the lantern in class A of the second year has fallen off..."

There were a lot of problems, especially for the first graders. Naruse was more concerned about the results. After asking a few questions, he let them continue to watch or help.

The lanterns are the most important part of today's parade. In fact, other aspects can be adjusted temporarily. For example, the taiko drum set that broke just now cannot be repaired and can even be removed directly.

After that, he didn't run around. Except for some special circumstances, he basically sat in the activity room.

This is an activity that all students in the school participate in. There are no problems that require his presence to be solved. He stays there honestly and saves other executive members from having to find someone when they have problems.

At around [-] o'clock in the morning, Morimi also dragged himself back to the activity room.

"No problem?"

"Yeah. It's assembled perfectly. There's no problem with the sound and lighting. It doesn't look like it's going to fall apart."

"Can't you be more certain?"

"Well, it won't fall apart even if there's an earthquake."

Morimi took off his glasses and lay down on the table, looking a little tired.

"Thanks for your hard work."

She took off her glasses and buried her face in her arms, "I would be happier if you could come down and help me."

Just as Naruse was about to speak, an executive member hurried into the activity room.

"Chairman, the lantern of Class G of the first year overturned, and Yukichi Fukuzawa's head was crushed!"

Naruse was shocked, ran to the window and took a few glances, then followed the man down.

"..."

Morimi turned to look in the direction he left, and closed his blurry eyes again.

"Ok."

The sound of taiko drums, noises, and the faint sound of flutes kept drifting into the activity room on the second floor.

She lay down for a while and then came to the window again, but she couldn't see him.

It was almost twelve o'clock when he came back.

"Solve it?"

"Almost...I finally repaired the skeleton. There are still a few footprints on Fukuzawa Yukichi's face, but you can't see them unless you look closely. I can only be glad that the lamp surface has not been stepped on."

Naruse said, leaning back and raising his eyes.

"I now understand why we start cruising at six in the afternoon and have to start preparations at nine in the morning..."

Morimi smiled and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

He glanced at her and suddenly asked: "Have you eaten?"

"Not yet, I'm waiting for you." "Then eat."

Because we were very busy today, we didn't have dinner together as usual.

Taking out his lunch box, Naruse had no intention of chatting and ate quickly, because he never knew when problems would come to his door.

Morimi dragged a chair to sit next to him, which was much more leisurely.

"You haven't seen me wearing a yukata yet."

“Does the hotel’s yukata count?”

"What do you think?" She glanced at him sideways, then smiled quickly, "Are you looking forward to it?"

"Ah."

"Really?"

"If I say no, you'll probably have to say a bunch of meaningless things again."

"Just swallow these unnecessary words with the lunch box."

Naruse said nothing and took a bite of the lunch.

Morimi didn't say much. After all, no matter how much he said, it would be better to put on a yukata and show him.

And when he put on his yukata, he couldn't hide even if he wanted to.

"What time did Shangzi get up in the morning? At this time, there is still time to make such an exquisite bento... give me a piece of beef."

"It was prepared last night."

After finishing the bento first, Naruse tidied up and continued busy.

Sen saw that it was not interesting to eat alone, so he finished it in a few bites.

In the afternoon, Naruse was still dealing with all kinds of imaginable and unexpected problems.

One and two issues that would affect the lantern parade were resolved with priority.

"First grade completed."

"Second grade confirmed."

"There's no problem with third grade."

At three o'clock and four o'clock, all the lanterns were moved to the passage from the teaching building to the school entrance, arranged in order, and continued to adjust lighting and other issues.

"The lights can't come on. Is there something wrong with the generator again?"

"Check the wiring first."

At half past five o'clock, Naruse took time to go to the dressing room and change into the dark blue yukata prepared for today.

Returning to the activity room, Morimi immediately looked over.

"It's so simple."

She had also put on her own yukata, which was also a dark color, but the patterns on it were slightly more colorful than his.

"If it's too fancy, it won't be stable enough."

"Would you care about this too?"

"This is a recommendation from the school."

"There's so much to manage."

There was not much time for chatting. The parade was about to begin. Naruse came downstairs, where students from each class had gathered near their respective lanterns.

At 45:[-], Naruse issued the order as planned:

"Line up and get ready to go."

The executive committee members scattered along the passage immediately waved their flags and upon receiving the signal, the lantern parade began to arrange in an orderly manner.

While patrolling and reorganizing the team, he walked from the end of the team to the starting point, and then walked back from the other side. After two trips, he hurriedly returned to the school gate and got into the frame of the lantern car at the front.

On the float, huge characters indicate the nature of this parade.

[Congratulations: The 50th anniversary of the founding of the Tsudaka Festival! 】

There are two people already waiting inside, one of them is Morimi, and the other...

"Shangzi?"

Naruse couldn't hide his surprise, "Why are you here? Where is the student council president?"

According to the previous arrangement, the three people holding the leading lantern should be the student council president, the executive chairman, and a handsome man or beautiful woman who makes up the number.

As the third candidate, Naruse originally planned to let Hikaru Takigawa come, but she gave up this opportunity to Morimi.

He didn't know what kind of communication there was between the two, but he wouldn't be surprised if she suddenly regretted it, but he never expected that Naoko would replace the student council president.

"Yoshioka-senpai changed to the car at the back," Naoko said.

At this time, the school entrance was already crowded with people, and all kinds of photographic equipment were pointed at them standing at the front. Naruse asked calmly: "What's the reason?"

"I wanted to be with Harumi, so I switched with her." Naoko smiled, "Senior sister also gave me face, and she agreed quickly."

The student council president is actually willing to give up this opportunity to be in the limelight...

"I see."

Naruse felt surprised, but did not show it on his face, and looked at Morimi who was standing on the other side.

She hasn't said anything since he came here.

She was probably as surprised as he was, Naruse thought to himself, and quickly dismissed distracting thoughts and concentrated on welcoming the lantern parade that was about to begin.

At six o'clock in the evening, a middle-aged man standing at the front of the procession shouted, and two students holding high [Aomori Prefecture Tsumae High School] lanterns stepped out of the way, and the parade officially began.

Naruse held the handle of the car, and Naoko and Morimi followed suit. The three of them dragged the first car and took the first step in the continuous flash of lights at the school entrance.

The lantern is hollow, so although it is large in size, it is very light in weight. The weight basically comes from the two diesel generators underneath that provide power. Naruse held the handlebar tightly and said, "I'll just tow the car."

"Should we put our hands down?" Morimi finally said.

"I mean no force required."

"It's okay." Shangzi also said, "I can pull it."

"We have to walk for two hours, so we can't walk too fast... After walking for so long, I feel like I can drag the lanterns back to Qingliu."

Shangzi smiled.

Boom, boom!

As we walked out of the school gate, the sound of taiko drums sounded, which was full of rhythm.

Naruse took a breath and glanced at the people watching on both sides, trying to keep his face as calm as possible.

clack clack...

There were sounds of taking pictures everywhere.

He looked ahead. The person responsible for clearing the way was actually the Aomori Prefectural Police car.

Suddenly there was applause from behind.

Naruse couldn't see it, but he clearly remembered every arrangement of the parade.

Now the principal and his entourage should be following the lanterns out and bowing at the school gate...

After them, there are the lanterns of each class from first grade to third grade.

The drumming coming from behind became more and more complex and louder, but it could not completely cover up the calls from the roadside.

"One leaf!"

Naruse followed the sound and saw Morimi and his wife waving to them on the roadside, while Hikari Takigawa's parents and Haixing's father were also nearby.

Morimi didn't react at all.

He glanced at her and saw that she was obviously distracted and didn't know what she was thinking.

Maybe I'm too nervous...

Naruse touched her arm.

"One leaf!"

When she came back to her senses, she immediately noticed her parents on the roadside, waved to them, and then exhaled.

He glanced at her and said, "Are you nervous?"

"Well, I didn't expect what it would feel like to be at the front. It scared me."

She said half-seriously, but there was no response from the side.Turning around, he saw that he was pressing Shangzi's hand on the handlebar.

"Are you nervous, Naoko?"

"I won't be nervous when Harumi is here."

"..."

After all, his parents were watching, and there were cameras on both sides of the road. Morimi resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

Although she also wanted to say so...

"Auntie may be watching the live broadcast now."

"maybe."

Naruse looked forward, then raised his eyes to the sky. He only heard the sound of aerial photography helicopters, but did not see where the helicopters were.

All he could see was the left, right and front.

This was the moment when he was most powerless in the past ten days, but also the most relaxed moment.

He didn't have to worry about anything, he just had to drag the lantern behind him and keep moving forward. Even the direction was determined by the police car in front of him.

He suddenly understood Takigawa Hikaru's mood during this period.

Although his relaxation is only for these two hours.

He decided to enjoy the moment first.

"I'm so happy."

"uh-huh."

"Yes."

　big chapter

　　
　
(End of this chapter)