[TS] Miiro no Alto Sax Ch 8

Miiro no Aruto Sakkusu
The Ocean Blue Alto Sax
Author: Yuzuki Gao (https://www.pixiv.net/member.php?id=11166)

Raw: https://www.mediafire.com/file/jzczc6cqkwyal18/Shikisax_08_raw.7z/file
Typeset: https://mangadex.org/chapter/996296/
Previous: https://mangadex.org/chapter/945491/

Page 1
Last Time:
Having chanced upon an Alto Sax and an old recording, and having started down the path of Jazz, Shikinami catches Isonami snapping pictures of her playing and forms a jazz band with her. In the course of the band's search for new members, temporary members Asashimo and Kishinami experience the thrill of performance when they throw a concert to convey their feelings to Hamanami, becoming official members. Now a proper four-member band, or quartet, with a new place to practice, the jazz band moves forward!

Kishinami:
You were out here, Asa-chan?
Asashimo:
Sup.
[Pew pew]
Kishi:
I was looking for you. You didn't come back after exercises.
Asa:
Y-Yeah...

Kishi:
...did you have that on you during exercises?
You aren't afraid it's going to rust?
Asa:
I-I'm taking care o' it.
I won't let it get wet.

Asa:
So.. it's fine, 'kay!?
Kishi:
I wonder...

Arashi:
[Stagger...]
Good work today...

---

Asa:
A-Arashi!
You were in exercises earlier, huh!
Arashi:
That's right...
Asa:
You didn't look so good, you aight?
Arashi:
Eh? Me?

Asa:
You were all spaced out during shooting drills.
Normally yer all fired up.
Where ya shootin'?
Background:
[Boom]
Gyaa!!
Kishi:
Oh, that is odd.
Arashi:
Uh,
just a little short on sleep is all.

Arashi:
Uhh, ermm, how do I put this...
Promise not to laugh?

Arashi:
Do you believe
in ghosts?

---

The weather's good, let's take a quick break.

---

Shikinami:
...
...yes?
Nowaki:
[Stare...]

---

Shiki:
She's staring right at me...

Shiki:
N-Nowaki?

Shiki:
You said you came after seeing my poster?
Nowaki:
[Nod]
Yes.

Shiki:
...so do you
want to become a band member?
Nowaki:
Yes.

Shiki:
Y-You're not here for something else?
...for real?
Nowaki:
Yes.

Shiki:
[Pinch]
Nowaki:
Shikinami-san!?

---

Shiki:
Oh, sorry.
I was just a little surprised.

Shiki:
Thought it wasn't like you.
Nowaki:
!
Do you... think so?

Nowaki:
As a former piano player, I have some knowledge of-
Shiki:
!

Shiki:
You have musical experience!?
We'd love to have you!

Shiki:
So the piano...
Nowaki:
...?

---

[Ping]

Nowaki:
Good sound.

Nowaki:
A piano...
So there was one besides the one in the auditorium?
Shiki:
It was in an unused classroom covered in dust.
Commander told us about it.

Shiki:
We had it brought here and tuned,
but we had nobody to play it...
So I think we'd love to have someone who could.

---

Shiki:
...with a piano
I bet our jazz band would be better, probably...
Nah.
Not probably, for sure.

Shiki:
So... so uhm, if anything, we should be the ones asking you to join?
Nowaki:
...

Nowaki:
Fufu.
Shiki:
!
W-What?

Nowaki:
Sorry. I was thinking this isn't like you either...
I always saw you as the reserved type, Shikinami-san.
But...

Nowaki:
You were actually a "passionate" person, huh?
Shiki:
Eh!?

---

Shiki:
That's...
I wouldn't... say that?

Shiki:
... are you sure?
Nowaki:
Yes.
Oh,
that's just my personal opinion, it's not necessarily credible...
It's just...

Nowaki:
I think it's wonderful.

Shiki:
Why do you want to play jazz, Nowaki?
Doesn't seem like it's because you've played piano before.

---

Nowaki:
The other day, when we were on a mission together with another division,
they said something.
Inazuma:
Good work~
Nowaki:
Yes, you all did well too.
Ikazuchi: What are you up to?
Nowaki:
I'm currently recording the battle results and resource ledger.

Nowaki:
"Nowaki, you're so serious,"
she said.

Nowaki:
I was a little surprised.
Nobody ever said that when I was with my sisters.
Oh, but...
I do know I can be like that.

Nowaki:
It wasn't being called serious that surprised me...

Nowaki:
More the realization that other people thought the same of me...
I don't know why, but it bothered me a little.

---

Nowaki:
It was then that...
Maikaze:
Nowacchi! Look, look!

Nowaki:
I heard your performance.
It was the warm sound when you think of someone,
without a hint of doubt.

---

Nowaki:
Seeing you all express your feelings
so clearly through sound,

Nowaki:
I envied you all...

Nowaki:
To be able to see even a little into people's hearts -
If this "jazz" music can do that...
"I want to try it, with these people."
I wanted to break out of my shell.

---

Nowaki:
I found the poster afterward,
and I decided to come and ask.
Jazz and classical music are different... I wonder if I can...
Maikaze:
You can!

Nowaki:
Maikaze's cheered me on too...
Maikaze:
Letting everyone see your good side would be great, Nowacchi!

Nowaki:
... so, uhm,
is it really okay for me to be with...?

Shiki:
Gotcha!

---

Shiki:
That's perfectly fine.
Like I said earlier, we'd love to have you.
Nowaki:
T-Thank you very much.
Shiki:
I'm sure everyone will agree.

Shiki:
So our performance back then
moved someone this much?
Nowaki:
Y-You think so...?

Nowaki:
?
Is something the matter?
Shiki:
N-
No, not at all...!

---

Shiki:
R-Right,
piano!
[Flapping]

Shiki:
We came so you could give it a play.
Could you do it now?
Nowaki:
Yes, no problem.

Nowaki:
Mind if I play classical for now?
Shiki:
Please, play whatever you'd like.
Nowaki:
Okay.

Nowaki:
Then... I'll start with this piece...

[Stretch...]

---

Isonami:
...ehehe.
Got some good shots again today...!

Iso:
I need to get the data transferred and...

[Melody...]
Iso:
!
That's a piano...

Iso:
It's coming from the warehouse.
An arabesque... maybe. * a passage or composition with fanciful ornamentation of the melody.

Iso:
[Sneak...]

---

Shiki:
Ah, Isonami.
Weren't you taking photos with Uranami?
Iso:
!
Nowaki:
Thanks for having me.

Iso:
[Sparkle]
Shiki:
Your face!

Iso:
Er, uhm... Nowaki-chan!
So you play the piano!
[Breathe]
Shiki:
Seems so.
And she wants to join the band too.
Iso:
Eh!? Really!?

Iso:
I'm so gladdd, thank youuuu
[Shine]
Nowaki:
R-Right.
Is this going to be okay...
[Shake shake]

---

Iso:
Oh right.
I met Kishinami-chan on my way here.

Iso:
Said she won't make it today, had something to do.
Shiki:
That's unusual.
Iso:
Seemed important.
I think.

Iso:
Something about a "Special Night Battle Fleet".

---

DDs:
[Peek...]

Asa:
Not a peep.
Kishi:
Let's move forward.
Asa:
Yup!
Arashi:
...
[Silence...]

---

Arashi:
.... so... yeah?
The moment I mentioned "that thing" during the day,
I knew this was coming.
I knew, but...

Arashi:
Walking like this is hard!
[Cling]

Asa:
But this makes you - feel - safer, doesn't it?
Kishi:
Leave your flanks to us!
Arashi:
Like there's anything to expose them to here!
... no, you two are being too nice to me...

---

Arashi:
Seriously,
y'all are great.

Arashi:
Do you believe
in ghosts?

Kishi:
Arashi.
Asa:
You really are beat, huh.
Hit the sack already.
Arashi:
Sorry! I'm sorry for asking like that!

Arashi:
Gahhhhhh, forget it, forget I asked!
[Scratching]
These past few nights,
I haven't been able to sleep, cause of some weird noises I've been hearing.

Asa:
Arashi!

Asa:
Tell us more!
[Bam]
Arashi:
You're having fun with this!

---

Arashi:
Hagikaze was aactually the first to notice.
[Rumble...]

Arashi:
It was really weird, a sound you could only barely make out.
Really ruined our sleep, Hagi and I.

Arashi:
So we asked around.
Figured the folks up all night might know about it.
But seemed no one knew.

Arashi:
Wanted to pin it down already, but walking around at night...
[Sigh]
Hey,
you two don't happen to kn-

[Grab]

---

Asa:
Leave it ta us!

Asa:
Haven't found a thing.
[Turn, turn]
Kishi:
Must be the kind of ghost that wouldn't reveal its form so easily.
Arashi:
I told you, drop the ghost thing.

Arashi:
Anyway, I don't even hear the noise.
It must not be coming from the dorms.

Asa:
Aight, maybe we should check outside?
Kishi:
Toward the school building too.

Arashi:
...

[Grasp]

---

Arashi:
You two didn't have anything planned for today?
Asa:
Huh?

Arashi:
Come on.
Didn't you tell Isonami-san, "We won't make it today" or something?
Asa:
Oh, oh that.

Asa:
Heheeee, ya didn't know?
We're doin' a jazz band with Shikinami and Isonami!
Kishi:
We're just starting to learn, though.
Arashi:
Jazz, huh?
Wow, you two are up to something interesting.

Arashi:
Weird grouping you got,
but that's pretty cool, a band.
Asa:
I know, right!?
I knew you'd agree!

[Frozen]

---

Kishi:
I think you'd like music, Arashi.
Arashi:
Huh?
Asa:
Yeah. Wonder which instrument she'd play?

Kishi:
Right, well...
Let's say a sax...
Arashi:
Hey now...
[Puff puff] * you know like a dream cloud

H A N D S O M E * or cool dude or something
[Fluff]

Asa:
You'd be popular.
Kishi:
With the girls.
Arashi:
Stop.
I said stop.
Kishi:
No doubt our band would get all the attention.
Arashi:
Why're you making me a member already?

Arashi:
... sheesh.

Kishi:
You don't seem against it...
Arashi:
S-
Shut up!
[Gust...]
[Rustle... Rustle...]

---

[Rumble...]

Arashi:
... ah!

Arashi:
That's it...!
The sound!
Asa:
Oh!?

Kishi:
Is it coming from outside...?
Asa:
Think it's thataway.

Arashi:
Let's go!

---

[Wahhh]
Arashi:
This way!

Arashi:
The heck is this basement?

[Clatter]
[Shock]

Arashi:
Maybe this way!?
Kishi?:
... huh?

Kishi:
This route...
[Pitter-patter]
Arashi:
It's close!
Asa:
I think we come by here pretty often now...

Arashi:
...!
This is it!
[Bam]

[Slam]
Arashi:
I found you!!
Kishi:
...

---

Iso:
H-Hi!?
[Jump]
Shiki:
[Surprised...]

[Pause...]
Nowaki:
Eh?
Arashi!?

---

Arashi:
Ahaha!

Arashi:
Seriously?
The band...
it was the instruments...
Shiki:
Arashi...

Shiki:
Sounds like we were bothering you... Hagikaze too...
Sorry.

Arashi:
Nah, it's my bad.
For barging in like that...

Arashi:
I'm just glad to know where it's coming from.
Should be enough for Hagi too.
Shiki:
You sure...?
I had no idea though...
That we could be heard as far as the dorms.

Iso:
It might have something to do with how the wind is blowing.
[Gust...]
Shiki:
I think noise travel more easily at night or something too. * apparently this is actually true, refraction or some shit
We'll have to think of some kinda soundproofing...

---

Arashi:
Anyway,
Nowacchi.

Arashi:
When the heck did you join a band!
Nowaki:
Just today.

Nowaki:
I wanted to try out jazz...
and they let me in.
Arashi:
Oh?

Arashi:
...

Shiki:
What'll you do now, Kishinami, Asashimo?
Kishi:
We're already here, might as well play a little.
Asa:
Same here!

---

Asa:
Got some newbies without even knowin'.
I'll show ya the ropes
[Pat]

Asa:
of this jazz thing!
Shiki:
Nowaki got the hang of it pretty fast.
She already knows all the basic chords.
Asa:
Fer real!?

Asa:
B-But, I started first!
I'm the senpai!
Nowaki:
R-Right!

Arashi:
I'm heading back.
Hagi's waiting and all.
Shiki:
Alright.
Let Hagikaze know we apologize.

Arashi:
...
oh, and

---

Arashi:
Do you mind
if I come by tomorrow?
Shiki:
!
Please do!

Arashi:
Later then-
DDs:
Arashi!

[Running]
Nowaki:
Wait, Arashi.
Asa:
Arashiiii!
Arashi:
Huh?
What's the matter...?

Kishi:
Can you make it back yourself?
Arashi:
Oh...
......... would you mind?
To be continued

A sextet finally forms, with each of them bringing their own feelings into the mix!? The next issue will go on sale June 11.