I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"I'll teach you when you can produce a sound."

P.S.: Although I said I'd add more scenes, after carefully reviewing the outline, it seems a bit difficult. I'll decide based on my mood... I think I've got another mouth ulcer. Is it because of the stress of going back to work soon...? I'm really panicking.

Chapter 29, Section 190: Those That Were Destroyed

Kiyotori continued practicing on her own until she was alone by the stream again. Tsurumi was called back by the teacher in charge, and Yukinoshita had also left her original spot at some point.

The sound of the pipe stopped abruptly, and Kiyoyori sighed softly.

Last night, when she was alone with Asuka, she wanted to ask her directly about the matter Nakagawa had asked her to do, but each time she felt like she had a fishbone stuck in her throat. She knew that Asuka must have found out something, but playing dumb was always her forte, and Kiyoyori could not get the answer that Asuka was unwilling to say from her.

Originally, Kiyoyori thought, "Let it be, why bother with an answer?" But perhaps her conversation with Yukinoshita changed her mind. However, after hearing that song again, Kiyoyori began to waver once more.

She laughed self-deprecatingly, wondering when she had become so indecisive.

The sounds of splashing and laughter came from not far away. Judging from the sounds, it seemed to be Yuihama and several of her classmates. Faintly, you could also hear her calling to Yukinoshita to play in the water with her, but Kiyoyori did not hear a reply.

Perhaps distracted by the lively play of the others, or perhaps her already chaotic thoughts disturbed her peace of mind, Kiyotsuya packed up her oboe and prepared to leave the grove.

"Ah, Tachibana."

Kiyoyori bumped into Hikigaya, who was walking in this direction, and simply nodded politely to him.

"Hachiman-senpai."

"Excuse me, did I disturb your practice?"

When Hikigaya saw the black leather box Kiyoyori was carrying, he quickly guessed that the other party was practicing here. However, the overly obvious noise from not far away clearly turned the originally quiet place into a lively water play area.

"No, I'm about to leave."

"Yeah……"

Hikigaya never knew how to communicate with this junior. She was not as outgoing as Yuihama, nor as aloof as Yukinoshita. Beneath her seemingly gentle exterior lay a cold heart, which was quite different from Yukinoshita's aloofness.

Perhaps she's different only with certain people.

“Tachibana,” Hikigaya called out to Kiyori, who was passing by him, “There was something about Kasame earlier…”

Kiyoshi turned around in confusion, wondering what the other person wanted to say.

"Regarding the reason why Tanaka-senpai refused."

A look of understanding flashed across Kiyoyori's face, then he chuckled softly, "So you heard it back then, Hikigaya-senpai."

Kiyoshi didn't tell anyone about Nakagawa's request to ask Asuka why she refused Kasaki's return. Perhaps Asuka had already guessed, but she hadn't brought it up yet.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional."

Hikigaya didn't intend to eavesdrop on other people's conversation; he just happened to be there at that moment and place and overheard Kiyoyori and Nakagawa's conversation.

"Did you tell your senior?"

Hikigaya paused for a moment before realizing that Kiyoyori was referring to Yukinoshita as his senior.

"not yet."

"'Not yet'...?"

Hikigaya seemed to see Kiyoyori's once upright back suddenly bend down.

"Does Hachiman-senpai think I should ask?"

Will there be any trouble if I ask?

"Is it troublesome...maybe."

Knowing that the topic was unlikely to end, Hachiman stopped pressing the issue. "I just saw that girl named Tsurumi leave here with something in her hand. Did you give it to her?"

"It was a reed. She seemed very interested in it, so I just gave it to her."

At this point, Kiyora turned around with interest, "That child must be the reason why Hiratsuka-sensei specially brought you all here, right? Have you seniors thought about how to handle this?"

Does this mean they intend to provide assistance?

"I was just asking."

Qinglai shrugged indifferently.

"Teacher Hiratsuka is planning to hold a test of courage tonight. Would you like to participate?"

Upon hearing the words "test of courage," Qinglai's body involuntarily stiffened, but he quickly concealed his unusual behavior.

“It’s a shame the brass band has practice sessions scheduled for the evenings,” she paused, as if suddenly remembering something, “Hachigaya-senpai, you wouldn’t be going to…”

The appearance of such terms in the context of a "test of courage" event makes it reasonable for Kiyoyori to assume that Hikigaya intends to use the event for some purpose.

"Since we can't join in, we might as well destroy it."

Kiyoyori immediately understood the implication and frowned in disapproval. "I don't think this approach will change anything."

It takes a long time for a person to change, but it can change a relationship in an instant. The bond begins to crumble the moment doubt and distrust arise. In other words, the quickest way to help Rumi Tsurumi get out of her current predicament is to destroy the existing relationships around her.

"It's enough to change the status quo."

It sounded like a rather irresponsible idea, but Kiyoshi couldn't find any flaws in it, or rather, she couldn't find any other way to break Tsurumi Rumi's predicament in a short time.

"Does Hachiman-senpai believe that something that has been destroyed can be restored to its original state?"

"That depends on what exactly is being destroyed."

Although Hikigaya gave this answer, he had another answer in his heart. He knew that Kiyoshi's answer was the same as his.

Of course it is impossible.

Once something is destroyed, it can never be restored to its original state.

Whatever it is.

“Then I’ll take my leave now. After the Service Club’s activities end tonight, you might still be able to catch the Brass Band’s activities,” Kiyoyori raised his hand and waved it in the air, “though it’ll just be a little firework.”

"Wasn't it said that there would be very rigorous training?"

"A balance between work and rest is essential for long-term training results."

Kiyoshi deliberately emphasized the word "long-lasting," and Hikigaya opened his mouth slightly, showing a hint of surprise, but said nothing.

"Xiao Qi, what are you doing here? Let's go together—"

Yuihama, who suddenly ran out of the bushes nearby, stopped abruptly. She saw the two people who seemed to be alone together and her expression froze.

"Little Qinglai is here too? Do you want to play with us?"

Her face was already adorned with her usual smile, and she warmly invited Kiyoshi to join the event as always.

“No, afternoon practice is about to begin, and I should head back,” Kiyoyori said, taking a step toward the edge of the woods. He noticed Yuihama letting out a silent sigh of relief. “Hikigaya-senpai, we had a pleasant conversation.”

"what?"

Hikigaya blinked, seemingly puzzled, but under Kiyoyori's meaningful smile, he nodded vaguely, "Um, ah..."

"Then I wish you success in your plans, senior."

Kiyotomi and his two seniors nodded and walked away without lingering. In the distance, one could still faintly hear Yuihama asking Hikigaya what the two had been talking about.

P.S.: I almost completely forgot about posting this... I've been grinding FGO's free quests lately and I'm practically going crazy, only to realize that the anniversary quests are permanent... I guess that's a relief, since I have to go back to work soon.

Chapter 30 Strawberry Oden? (Section 191)

There was still some time before the afternoon practice, but the members of the wind band had already returned to the practice room one after another. The afternoon was the usual ensemble time. Perhaps because the brass, woodwind and percussion instruments were practiced in groups, the members belonging to the three groups had developed a sense of competition. Perhaps this was a way of expressing that their teacher was the best.

Yes, even the two Spartan-style training instructors were universally respected and loved.

Kiyoshi placed the oboe in his seat. Mizore was already sitting next to him, scribbling on the sheet music, seemingly unaware of Kiyoshi's arrival.

Good afternoon, Senior Mizore.

Seemingly startled by Kiyoshi's sudden outburst, Mizore's back jerked violently, and she shrank her shoulders like a frightened kitten.

"Ching Lai."

Despite his tone remaining flat, Kiyotaka somehow detected a hint of complaint and coquettishness in his voice.

"Sorry, sorry," Kiyoyori said with a grin, clasping his hands together. Although he said sorry, he didn't really mean it. "I scared Mizore-senpai. Here, have a drink. What would you like?"

"Cola."

"You really like carbonated drinks." Kiyoyori bent down and took a small, transparent thermos from his purse. "Then please wait a moment, Mizore-senpai."

Mizore nodded obediently, then watched Kiyoyori's retreating figure until it disappeared behind the door.

As Kiyoyori left the practice room, he encountered several members of the brass band who were walking towards the practice room on his way to get some water.

"Good afternoon, Qinglai."

"Good afternoon, Kaori-senpai."

Kiyoyori greeted the smiling senior in front of him, and subconsciously looked for Asuka beside her, but only saw Ogasawara walking alongside Kaori. "Good afternoon, Ogasawara-senpai."

"Good afternoon, Tachibana-san."

Seemingly noticing Kiyoshi's probing gaze, Kaori spoke knowingly, "Asuka just said she was going somewhere else, she should be back soon."

Kiyoyori let out a soft breath, "Thank you for taking care of Asuka, seniors."

"No, no," Ogasawara waved his hand sheepishly. "It's not so much that we took care of Asuka, but rather that Asuka took care of us. We're the ones who caused her trouble."

"Lately, has Asuka been...?" Kiyora paused, perhaps she shouldn't have been so explicit, "...different from usual?"

"Different from usual?"

Kaori and Ogasawara exchanged a puzzled look.

“Asuka seems a bit tired these past two days,” Kaori said, resting her chin on her hand as she carefully recalled Asuka’s unusual behavior over the past two days. Although there was a strange feeling stuck in her heart, she couldn’t describe it in detail, so she could only express it vaguely, “She didn’t seem to sleep very well at night either, and this morning too, she went out very early.”

"But everyone must be pretty tired lately, with all the training camps and stuff. We're not here for tourism."