I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

As more and more people squeezed onto the train, the distance between passengers standing in the carriage became closer and closer. Although it was unavoidable, Qinglai frowned uncomfortably as her safe space was severely violated. Despite trying to minimize physical contact with others by shrinking her body, she could not help but feel the body heat from others.

Asuka's hand, whether it rescued Kiyoyori from the crowded throng or pushed her into an even more terrifying abyss, was unclear. At least by the time Kiyoyori realized what was happening, she was already sitting on Asuka's lap.

It was as if they were children sitting together on a chair. Asuka would habitually lift the petite Kiyori onto her lap, then wrap her arms around Kiyori's waist to prevent the little girl from slipping off her lap.

Of course, such an action is not strange when it is performed by young children, and it is not a big deal when it is performed between two teenage girls. But the problem is that there is a third person nearby.

Kiyoshi stiffened his back, trying his best to minimize the area of ​​physical contact between himself and Asuka, but he was held by the waist and pinned to Asuka's legs as if he had been frozen in place.

Behind her was a gaze as intense as fire, as if Qinglai could be burned to ashes by the raging flames if she turned around.

Kiyoshi believed that if a test pen were used to measure her wattage at this moment, it would definitely be off the charts.

Suddenly, I felt my butt bounce twice. "Qinglai, have you gained weight? Have you been secretly eating cake lately?"

Kiyoyori has a sweet tooth, but she rarely eats cake in order to manage her figure. However, recently, Touko seems to be developing new desserts, and Carol, who is almost driven crazy by desserts, insists on no longer consuming these sources of sin. Therefore, the heavy job of tasting can only be left to Kiyoyori.

Although she has been exercising every day recently...

Kiyoyori, whose sore spot had been touched, immediately tried to get off Asuka's lap, "You talk too much!"

“Oh dear, Kiyori was cuter when he was a soft and cuddly little kid,” Asuka said, pressing Kiyori’s abs with her fingers. “Although Kiyori is quite charming now too.”

The gazes behind him were like blades stabbing at Qinglai.

She began to suspect that Asuka had done it on purpose.

Only when they arrived at their destination did Kiyora finally escape from that suffocating gaze. If the gaze had a physical form, she would probably have been riddled with holes.

Today's goal is to find a suitable swimsuit.

Originally, Nakazeko wasn't included in today's swimsuit purchase plan. It was only when Asuka mentioned adjusting the time that Nakazeko said she also planned to buy a new swimsuit, so they decided to do it together.

Kiyoshi had no intention of being a third wheel, but he couldn't resist Asuka's enthusiasm as she carried around one swimsuit after another, as if enjoying a real-life dress-up game.

Swimsuits can be tried on in physical stores, but when trying on more revealing swimsuits, things that shouldn't be shown may be exposed.

"Asuka..." Kiyori, standing in the locker room, held the swimsuit that Asuka had just handed him. "This doesn't look like something a human could wear!"

It's less of a swimsuit and more of three lines of a certain width that barely cover the important parts.

"Kiyoshi has a great figure, so he should be able to pull off this type of look."

"That's not the issue, is it?!"

After getting dressed, I hung the overly revealing swimsuit back in its original place. "I've already decided which one to buy. What about you, Senior Medieval Ko?"

"Kaori went to pick out a swimsuit."

Asuka clearly didn't care much about where Nakajiko was.

Holding the red and white swimsuit in her hand, Kiyotaka sighed helplessly as she prepared to pay at the counter. "Asuka, do you want to buy a new one too? We bought the previous one a while ago, didn't we?"

Even if Kiyoyori intends to create opportunities for the two of them, it depends on whether Asuka is willing.

Just as the long silence continued, Kiyoyori thought Asuka would refuse.

"Great, this is a rare opportunity."

She squinted, her smile like that of a fox who had just succeeded in doing something bad, making it impossible to tell what she was thinking.

"How about I choose the same style as Xiaoqinglai?"

"No need."

Kiyoshi quickly rejected this suggestion, which sounded like it would lead to someone's death.

“Black suits Asuka quite well,” Kiyoyori said, glancing at the matching swimsuits beside him, one black and one white. “How about this one?”

"Hmm," Asuka took the swimsuit, glanced at it, and also caught a glimpse of the white swimsuit, "Kiyori really likes this mature style."

This is a pure black two-piece bikini. Although it is solid black, it is decorated with lace. While it is not exactly revealing, it has a touch of sexiness.

Kiyoshi pouted; she couldn't refute that point, and judging from Asuka's reaction, Asuka must have already seen through Kiyoshi's little scheme.

As Asuka leisurely walked into the changing room, Kiyoyori immediately picked up another white swimsuit and headed towards Nakaseko.

“Nakashiko-senpai,” Kiyoyori said, still feeling uneasy about what had happened on the train, “Asuka went to try on a swimsuit. This is the same style.”

Nakashiko blinked in surprise, and Kiyoyori could only respond with a shrug.

"Thank you, Tachibana-san."

Nakashiko took the white swimsuit and smiled shyly at Kiyoyori.

"Kiyori, Kiyori is fine," for some reason, seeing this expression, Kiyori unconsciously closed the distance between them. Perhaps she really should take Asuka's earlier words seriously again. "I wish you success, Kaori-senpai."

Kaori-senpai, this title that seems to flow so easily from her lips, appears to have been accepted long ago.

As Kiyoyori watched the other person walk into the dressing room next to Asuka, he covered his chest in confusion.

What does it feel like?

The moment I uttered that name, it felt as if a piece of my heart had been ripped out, and a chilling wind swept through me.

P.S.: Kiyora: I don't know why, but the battleground of love and hate always seems to revolve around me. Please call me Asuka's fangirl!

Speaking of revealing swimsuits, we should tag Kuroko here. Kuroko is still full of perverted energy today, I love it (ah no! By the way, I'm having a great time shipping Mikoto and Shokuhou, and I'm really looking forward to Mikoto attacking Shokuhou... (you know what I mean, hehe).

Chapter 07, Section 168: Shaking and Swaying

On the swaying tram, Kiyoyori received a text message from Yukinoshita.

"Arrived."

As simple as ever.

The pool they visited was a combination of an outdoor water park and an indoor pool with competition-standard facilities, including a diving platform. It was the preferred choice for most people going to the pool.

As Asuka said, there will be many women wearing beautiful swimsuits here on this national holiday.

As the only male among the large group of people involved in the operation, Hikigaya asked Yukinoshita for leave because of a cold. Although Yukinoshita initially expressed extreme doubt about the authenticity of his request, she only allowed him to take leave after hearing his heavy nasal voice.

The news was delivered to Kiyoyori by Hihama, and Kiyoyori could sense the other party's disappointment from the words.

Kiyoyori put his phone back in his pocket and turned to look at Asuka, who was chatting and laughing with Ogasawara.

The situation in the brass band wasn't so simple, but the few who knew about it avoided discussing it. Kiyoyori wasn't someone who was obsessed with the truth; rather, she disliked intruding on other people's privacy. It was a matter of equal exchange; if she couldn't offer something of equal value, it was better not to know in the first place.

but--

Just like the simple phrase "Kaori-senpai," Kiyotori felt as if a hand had torn away a seal, and something was growing in her heart. While everyone else believed their public statements so readily, Kiyotori instinctively knew what they were hiding, not just from the words and actions of a few people, but as if she had always known.

But she couldn't remember.

Every time I try to recall something, the images and sounds in my mind are like layers of mosaic.

Asuka, school...club...

[Sobu - North #￥, Brass Band...]

"Uh--"

Kiyoshi covered his head, which had suddenly started to throb with pain.

"Chiang Lai?"

Someone slapped my shoulder hard, and the pain vanished instantly.

"Are you okay?"

Asuka looked worriedly at Kiyoshi's reddened eyes. She really wanted to pull Kiyoshi out of the shadow called "Chihiro", but she didn't want to hurt him in the process.

"It's ok."

Just then, the tram's announcement came over the loudspeaker that it had arrived at the station.

"You can get off now."

Kiyoshi was the first to stand up and walk towards the door.

She saw herself through the glass door, and in the darkness outside the car, she saw a version of herself that didn't resemble herself.

As the car exited the tunnel, it was instantly enveloped in dazzling light. Qinglai squinted uncomfortably, while the figure of himself in the glass door had already disappeared, replaced by the rapidly receding scenery.

After leaving the station, the heat wave that filled the air was splashed onto the pedestrians by the cars that sped by on the roadside, and the chirping of cicadas on the street further amplified the heat.

"Why is it so hot..."

The dry air felt like it was burning one's lungs; even through the soles of his shoes, Qinglai could feel the heat emanating from the ground.

"That's precisely because it's hot, that's why we need to go to the pool to cool off."

Asuka pressed the iced mineral water she had just bought onto Kiyoyori's face.

"Won't you get sunburned at an outdoor swimming pool?"

“I brought sunscreen,” Asuka said, pulling a bottle of brown liquid from her bag. “I can help you apply it later.”

Kiyoshi spotted Kaori waving as she approached from a distance.

"No need!"

Anyway, Asuka isn't my main target today, so I should find an excuse to leave them as soon as possible.

Kiyoyori has deeply experienced the pain of being a third wheel, and even admires Ogasawara for how he manages to survive so effortlessly between those two.

Following behind the three seniors who were chatting enthusiastically, Kiyora casually observed the pedestrians on the roadside. Among them were many students who seemed to be heading to the same destination as them. They were dressed in cool clothes and carried backpacks full of clothes. They formed small groups and walked towards the swimming pool, chatting and laughing.

That is...?

Qingliang spotted a familiar face among the group of girls of similar age, but couldn't recall the person's name for a moment.

The second young lady of the Kanbara family?

However, the other person's bright smile and lively conversation with his friends made Kiyoshi subconsciously want to deny it.

Is she that kind of person?

Kiyoshi remembered seeing this second young lady at a banquet once. Although she was not as composed as the eldest daughter of the Kanbara family, she was still quite proper and elegant, with the shyness and naivety of a young girl in her prime.

Why did she have such doubts?