I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"I'm sorry, Shiyu-senpai, I'll call you back later."

"Shimizu-kun? Wait—"

P.S.: I only remembered when I was posting today's chapter that the pool scene was originally supposed to include a senior student... but I forgot... so I'll have to make up for it next time...

Chapter 09, Section 170: If we don't take the initiative...

"Kasaki-senpai."

The girl in the pink swimsuit turned around in response. She was holding a can of orange soda in her hand. She looked surprised when she saw Qinglai, but quickly composed herself.

"Tachibana, classmate?" Kasaki was a little surprised by Kiyoyori's attire and couldn't recognize her for a moment. Her youthful swimsuit look was somewhat different from her usual composed image.

In Kasaki's memory, Kiyoyori didn't seem like the kind of person who would spend a short vacation in such a lively place, but considering the request he had given to the Service Department...

"sorry."

Kiyoyori narrowed his eyes in confusion, "What does Kasaki-senpai mean?"

“I don’t think Tachibana would have thought of coming to the pool on her own,” Kasaki said, retracting her foot from the pool and smiling at Kiyoyori, who was inside the building. “If she only came here because of me…”

She apologetically twirled a strand of hair near her ear with her fingers.

Surprise flashed across Kiyora's eyes, finally disappearing at the corner of her lips. "It seems that I'm the one who should say 'I'm sorry'."

"Huh?"

“I’m very sorry, Kasaki-senpai,” Kiyoyori bowed slightly to Kasaki. “I apologize for my rudeness at the coffee shop earlier.”

"Ah, no—" Kasaki waved her hands helplessly, "I didn't take that matter to heart, and besides, I really did go and bother Asuka-senpai without permission..."

Asuka is here today too.

Umbrella Tree stopped abruptly. Her mouth was open, but she seemed to have forgotten what she was going to say. As if a pause button had been pressed, her movements stopped as well. A brief moment of joy crept onto her face. "Then I—"

But she quickly succumbed to disappointment, lowering her hands with a bitter smile. "Never mind, it's a rare holiday, Asuka-senpai probably wouldn't want to see me anyway."

Don't you want to...?

Kiyoshiro lowered his eyes thoughtfully. According to Yukinoshita's ambiguous statement, Asuka's refusal to let Kasaki return was not because of her resignation last year, but for other reasons. Unless there was a personal grudge between the two, perhaps Asuka had not reached the point of "not wanting" Kasaki.

"It's just saying hello, it's nothing, right? Excuse me, can I borrow this?"

Kiyoshi took the soda from the stunned Kasaki and walked into the sunlight towards the pool. Just then, Asuka, who had already played in the pool, walked ashore, still wet, and was talking to Huang and the others.

"Ah, wait a minute!"

Kasaki hurriedly followed Kiyori's steps, but was afraid of disturbing Asuka, who was obviously having a good time.

"Little Qinglai, where have you gone?"

Although she wasn't wearing her signature red-rimmed glasses, Asuka, who was wearing contact lenses instead, spotted Kiyoyori walking towards her from afar.

"I'm a little thirsty."

He shook the drink off his hand and shrugged.

Having barely escaped Asuka's clutches, Kizami, with her sharp eyes, spotted Kasaki slowing down not far behind Kiyori.

"Huh? That's..."

"Nozomi?" Asuka took a few steps forward and recognized who it was.

Huang Qian quickly glanced at the two seniors standing in place. Neither Asuka nor Kaori showed any special expression, and Kiyori nodded to Kasaki as if they had known each other for a long time.

Kasaki, who had originally planned to slip away halfway, had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward after her name was called. She didn't want to be further alienated by disturbing her senior's happiness.

"Asuka-senpai, Kaori-senpai."

"What a coincidence, Nozomi."

Kaori simply smiled gently.

"Hmph, I didn't expect Nozomi to have such a great figure," Asuka's attitude towards her seemed to be a complete reversal from how it was at school, yet it also seemed no different from before. "Kaori and I are going to continue having fun. You guys have fun too."

"Oh, by the way, Kiyoyori, I just saw Yukinoshita."

"Huh?!" Kiyora's eyes widened in surprise. "Where?"

Asuka, who had been observing Kiyori's expression, shrugged knowingly, then gestured towards the large slide with her chin, "I was just over there with Yui a moment ago."

Kiyoshi followed Asuka's directions and saw the very lively slide area.

"I didn't expect Yukinoshita to like such exciting activities."

Kaori clearly also encountered Yukinoshita.

"Kiyori," Asuka walked over and suddenly patted Kiyori's shoulder in a serious tone, "if you don't take the initiative, someone else will snatch him away!"

"what……?"

"Or is it that Kasumi Utako really is Kiyorai's destined lover!?"

"You'd better shut up!"

Kiyoshi shoved Asuka's body and pushed her into the pool.

"Ah, how heartless, Kiyora~."

After finally getting rid of this big shot, Kiyoshi pinched the bridge of his nose with his fingers, feeling a headache coming on. "The drink isn't cold anymore. I'll buy Kasaki-senpai a new one."

"No need, this is fine."

The two walked to a pavilion and sat on opposite sides of a bench.

Umbrella opened the soda can, white smoke billowing from the small opening, and she let out a long sigh.

"Senior Kasaki?"

"Ah, it's nothing," Kasaki chuckled sheepishly and quickly took a sip of soda. Because she drank it so fast, the spiciness of the carbonated soda made her nose sting. "I thought Asuka-senpai disliked me..."

"I think that Kasaki-senpai hasn't reached that level in Asuka's heart yet."

It hasn't reached the point where it can be disliked.

Kiyoshi didn't finish his sentence; the hurtfulness of his words was perhaps even greater than Asuka's attitude.

It will only cause unnecessary trouble and estrangement for a few people.

Umaki silently sipped his drink, his eyes vacantly fixed on the tourists playing freely in the pool ahead.

"Why are you so fixated on Asuka? Is it just to help her? But if that's the case, wouldn't it be faster to just go through Taki-sensei's selection process, rejoin the brass band, and prove yourself with your actions?"

Even if it's just a roundabout way to achieve their goal, that's enough for them to get what they want. Why keep focusing on Asuka's attitude?

"Because Asuka-senpai is special."

How many times have I heard this answer?

It was as if it were one's own inner voice.

“That person seems to be able to see through everyone,” Kasaki said, squeezing the can tightly and making a shallow dent in the side. “I wanted to be recognized by that person. I was such an idiot for rejecting Asuka-senpai’s offer to stay, wasn’t I…?”

“Yeah, like an idiot…” Kiyoyori’s whisper was lost in the noisy crowd.

"Kasaki-senpai, are your eyes so narrow that you can only see Asuka alone?"

Kiyoyori turned his head, noticing Kasaki's surprised expression.

"Have you considered Mizore's feelings?"

P.S.: My driving instructor actually wants me to take my driving test (Part 3) on the 4th of next month?! I've only driven on the road once, and for about twenty minutes! I still don't know how! By the way, I haven't even taken my Part 2 driving test yet... I'm so nervous.

Chapter 10, Section 171: This time, please try your best until the very end.

"sleet?"

Kasaki looked at Kiyoyori with a puzzled expression, seemingly not understanding why Mizore's name had suddenly appeared in this matter.

"Kasaki-senpai, you didn't tell Mizore-senpai when you left the brass band, did you? So, about your plan to return this time..." Kiyoyori took a deep breath, "Don't you care about Mizore-senpai's feelings?"

Kasaki's surprised expression didn't last long, turning into a wry smile. "Of course I care..."

Her voice was very low, so low that it seemed to dissipate instantly into the hot and noisy air.

“But,” Kasaki tilted her head slightly and blinked, “there’s no need for that,” she gave an awkward smile, “there was only Mizore playing the oboe, and there were no seniors who would bother her, and besides… she was originally a member of the competition group.”

"I don't think this has anything to do with whether it's necessary or not."

Kiyoshi remembers Mizore sitting alone in the biology classroom, gazing into the distance at the flute club classroom. She kept searching for a figure that couldn't possibly be there. She was like an abandoned child, clutching the only toy she had left, but she could never find the person who had given her that beloved toy.

What kind of emotions did Mizore Yoroizuka bring to her playing that solo piece, which was full of passion and expectation for gazing at the universe, to be played with such sadness?

Is it the pain of leaving without saying goodbye?

But why continue searching for that vanished figure as if it were self-harm?

“Yoshita,” Kasaki paused, her voice slightly hoarse, “I’ve never seen her like this before, like someone playing with all the passion in her life.”

"Huh?"

Kiyoshi's eyes widened; she seemed not to have clearly heard what the other person was saying.

"She must really like music."

This seems to be the most interesting joke I've heard this year. Enthusiasm? Liking?

She had never seen such fluctuations in that senior colleague whose expression and emotions were indifferent.

"So, I just can't bring myself to say something like 'I want her to quit with me'..."

Kiyoshi lowered her head thoughtfully, perhaps she shouldn't have gotten involved in this matter.

"Has Kasaki-senpai never thought about joining Team A?"

Qinglai downloaded a video of Nanchong's previous participation in a wind instrument competition and listened carefully to the flute performance. Although it was not unparalleled, such skill was more than enough for the current Zongwu High School Wind Instrument Competition Group.