I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

That was a reply from beneath the snow, as concise and clear as ever:

"I see."

This is a reply to a previous email.

The unread messages quickly turned grayed out as read, but there was no further communication between them.

In the sweltering heat of summer, for some reason, there was a touch of icy desolation.

..................................................................

The fireworks display was the last bit of relaxation before the Kanto Tournament.

The next day, all the members of the wind band left behind the joy of the fireworks display and threw themselves back into intense, intensive practice.

The empty school building was only occupied by members of the wind band. In the teaching building, the neat and loud sound of their playing echoed. Sweat soaked their clothes and fell into their eyes, causing a burning pain that made it hard to open their eyes.

Mizore beside him seemed to be playing the same tune as always, without any fluctuations. It was as perfect as a machine, absolutely perfect in an ensemble, but in the solo that Kiyoyori overheard by chance, it was a bit of a flaw.

During the break, the members gradually left the sweltering practice room, while Shinzan walked into Kiyoyori and Mizore.

Originally, he thought that Johor Bahru had something to discuss with him. Just as Kiyotaka was about to greet him, the other party bowed in Mizore's direction.

"I'm sorry, Yorozuka-san, I apologize for my past behavior."

Clearly, neither Kiyoyori nor Mizore had reacted in time.

“I originally thought that for someone of Yorozuka’s age, who only started playing wind instruments in junior high school, this level was already good enough,” Niizan said sincerely, looking at Mizore and also glancing at Kiyori sitting next to Mizore. “Since you are not a soloist, I did not hold you to the same standards as I did for Kiyori, and I set a limit for you without your consent. I’m very sorry.”

While Mizore might still be confused, Kiyoyori had already reacted.

Johor Bahru has acknowledged Ying's talent in wind instruments.

Although on the surface, Miyazaki is a year older than Kiyoyori and is a senior in the department, so she is naturally a cut above Kiyoyori, in reality, Kiyoyori is the senior in terms of the length of time she has been exposed to wind instruments. Moreover, she comes from a musical family and her mother is a nationally renowned performer. Knowing this, Nissan would naturally pay more attention to Kiyoyori.

“Actually, I overheard Yorozuka’s solo performance by chance,” Niizan explained. “While ensemble playing requires uniformity and the suppression of personal emotions, solo performances can reflect the performer’s state of mind. If we were to compare your and Kiyoyori’s solos to beverages, Kiyoyori’s solo would be like a carbonated drink, fully expressing the composer’s boundless vision and constantly stimulating the listener’s imagination. But Yorozuka, your solo is completely the opposite. It’s a sadness that is completely different from the original piece, like a universe that can never be reached in a daydream, full of bitterness. I would prefer to compare it to black coffee.”

“But,” Johor Bahru’s change of heart stirred up a strange emotion in both of them at the same time, “in this bitterness, I heard a possibility, a possibility that I had presumptuously concluded.”

“Yorozuka, you are very talented and capable of reaching a higher level. I apologize for my recklessness. Please give me another chance. I will hold you both to the same standards.”

Mizore simply nodded blankly, while Kiyoshi, though outwardly calm, was inwardly in turmoil.

For the first time, she felt threatened by the senior who always hunched over and had a blank expression.

Even though the senior himself was unaware of this.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, Kiyotaka maintained his usual calm and composure, barely even hearing what Kiyoyama said next. He bowed and left unhurriedly, steadily departing from this place that made him feel somewhat suffocated.

Kiyoshi splashed cold water on his face, braced himself against the sink, closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing. An emotion was growing wildly in the dark corner of his body. Kiyoshi hated himself like this, but he was powerless to do anything about it.

My fingers gripped the edge of the sink, the sharp edges pricking my palms and sending a faint stinging pain through my skin.

"Damn it..."

The pale nail bed reveals the turbulent inner world of Kiyora.

"Tachibana-san."

A clear, cold voice pulled Kiyoshi out of the darkness. The voice pierced through the vines that bound Kiyoshi and drove away the spreading darkness.

"Can we talk in private for a moment?"

P.S.: I'm so tired. It was supposed to be a weekend where I could sleep in, but I didn't get to sleep in today, and I won't be able to sleep in tomorrow either... No way!!!

Chapter 53, Section 218: You Are Also My Client

"Yukinoshita-senpai."

Kiyotomi didn't turn around, remaining in her original posture. "How come you have time to go back to school, senpai?"

"Because the commission is not yet finished."

The person standing by the pool seemed to take a deep breath. Yukino saw Kiyori turn around and see her collar and hair tips wet with water, as well as her long eyelashes with water droplets. Her lake-blue eyes seemed to have become even more watery at this moment.

"I have done everything I was supposed to do. Now, please take care of the rest, senior."

Leaning casually against the edge of the pool, Kiyoyori had no intention of leaving with Yukinoshita. She pursed her lips, trying to refuse to continue talking to her.

"'What should be done'," Yukinoshita didn't intend to let her off the hook, repeating Kiyori's words lightly, yet they echoed clearly in their ears, "Does Tachibana-san mean that what follows is something that shouldn't be done?"

Kiyotori gazed quietly at Yukinoshita, and after a moment, he softly parted his lips, "I don't think this is something I can define."

Agitated thoughts continued to swirl around Kiyoshiro, and a gloomy atmosphere enveloped her once again. She tried to banish those awful thoughts, but to little avail. She had no desire to continue her charade with Yukinoshita; she just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible and get as far away from these troublesome things as possible.

Seeing the other party's resolute attitude, Yukinoshita slowly walked up the stairs, step by step approaching Kiyoyori who had almost nowhere to retreat. "According to Tachibana-san's information, Tanaka-senpai refused Kasaki-san's return to the club because of Yorizuka-san. However, there is only a misunderstanding between Yorizuka-san and Kasaki-san. The solution is simple: just clear up this misunderstanding."

"If it were that simple, things wouldn't have developed to this point. Yukinoshita-senpai is surprisingly naive."

Kiyoshiro scoffed, showing his disdain for Yukinoshita's nonchalant words.

Yukino frowned, but not because of the mockery. "Did something happen to Tachibana-san?"

She didn't seem angry at all.

Kiyoshi put away his mocking smile.

In those eyes, Kiyoshi saw doubt and inquiry, but not a trace of anger.

She had hoped to provoke Xue to leave in a huff, thus freeing herself from this situation, but she failed.

That look...

It was as if they were showing concern for her.

“I don’t think this has anything to do with Yukinoshita-senpai,” Kiyoyori said without needing to deny it, knowing that Yukinoshita’s question already gave him the answer. “It’s just my personal matter.”

"Could a personal matter really cause that Tachibana-san to lose her composure like this?" Yukinoshita seized the opportunity to immediately return the sarcasm to Kiyori. "Even I can't help but feel curious about this matter."

Kiyoshi forced a stiff smile. "Thank you for your concern, senior."

"Is it related to the commission? Is that why you're so unwilling to see me?"

The snow pressed closer and closer, leaving Kiyoyori with nowhere to retreat.

Looking at the senior in front of him who was clearly shorter than him but had an exceptionally imposing aura, Kiyoshi straightened his back.

"Senior Yukinoshita is being far too presumptuous."

Adopting the same insincere demeanor he displayed at the banquet, Kiyoyori smiled and uttered words that contradicted his expression.

"But I think Tachibana is escaping reality."

She had never been so close to Yukinoshita before, so close that she could almost count her fine eyelashes, so close that she could almost feel her gentle breath. The faint fragrance was a novelty unlike any woman Kiyori had ever encountered. It was not as dangerous as Haruno, who was like a thorny rose, nor as alluring as Kasumigaoka, who was like a poppy, nor as warm as her teacher, who exuded the warmth of sunshine.

She is like the ephemeral beauty under the moon, blooming only briefly, yet pursuing her dreams with unwavering devotion.

Before Kiyori could react, Yukinoshita had already returned to the perfect distance.

That moment of closeness seemed to be just Kiyora's illusion.

"What is the reason why Tachibana-san doesn't want to continue participating in the commission?"

She seemed to have lost interest in Kiyoyori's private affairs and instead inquired about the commission again.

Before Kiyori could answer after a moment of distraction, he was interrupted, "Is it really because of some high-sounding reason like not wanting to hurt Yorozuka-kun?"

At this moment, even Kiyoshiro couldn't help but sigh that the Yukinoshita sisters were truly alike.

She actually saw a shadow of Haruno in Yukinoshita, who was extremely reluctant to have contact with her older sister Haruno.

"Is it not allowed?"

Kiyoshi concealed the tremor at the end of the sentence, feigning composure.

“I once,” Yukinoshita paused, staring intently at Kiyori’s expression, but quickly shifted her gaze to the scenery outside the window behind her, where the midday sun shone brightly on the ground, so dazzling that it was hard to open one’s eyes, “I once heard Kasaki-san and Yorozuka-san’s duet.”

His hands, hidden in his pockets, clenched into fists, and Kiyoshi's expression gradually became serious.

"I've also heard Yorozuka's solo performance."

Kiyoshi didn't speak, but just silently looked at Yukinoshita, his eyes deep.

“That was back in first grade,” Yukinoshita’s expression faltered for a moment, then she frowned slightly. “It was like a flame that was about to burn everything to ashes. It’s hard to imagine that someone like Yorozuka would play music like that.”

"But things seem different now."

Whether it was regret or something else, Yukinoshita wore an expression that seemed helpless.

Kiyoshi didn't want to understand the meaning behind the other person's words, nor did she want to interpret the meaning of that expression, which made her despise herself.

"Tachibana-kun, perhaps you are more suited to be an actress than a musician."

His breathing became heavy, but Kiyoyori showed no anger at being offended, just as there was no sarcasm in Yukinoshita's words.

"But it seems I'm a terrible actor."

A silence fell between them, and the atmosphere became unusually tense.

"I won't give up on Tachibana-san like this, no matter what your choice is." Yukinoshita raised her chin, as domineering as her title of "Ice Queen".

“You are the minister. The decision-making is done by your senior, not me. How to resolve this task, whether to let those two people go with the flow or to forcefully intervene, is your prerogative.”

"I'm not talking about Kasaki-san and Yorozuka-san, but Tachibana-san."

Yukino crossed her arms and ruthlessly interrupted Kiyori.

"What exactly is the senior here for?"

"I'm here because of a commission."

“You’ve got the answer you wanted, senpai,” Kiyoyori said, scratching his head impatiently. “Can you leave now?”

“Of course,” Yukinoshita turned to leave, but stopped at the top of the stairs.

"Please don't forget, Tachibana-san,"

"You are also one of my clients."

“I said it,”

"Even if it's you, I will still reach out to you."