I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Qinglai opened his mouth speechlessly, but could not deny anything.

"Kiyori is only willing to get close to me because he is curious about me, but I am a boring person. Kiyori will leave me one day, just like Nozomi."

"Nozomi seems to really like Kiyora..."

"Kiyoshi is also a very warm person, just like Nozomi, but I am not."

Therefore, I need you, but you don't need me.

Even though it was unspoken, Kiyoyori somehow heard it.

“You’re not alone, Senior Mizore. Senior Yoshikawa has always been by your side.”

I only caught a glimpse of a yellow figure by chance near the classroom window close to the corridor. The slightly flamboyant headdress was peeking out from the wall, but the figure restrained itself from rushing in at that moment.

"Yuko just feels sorry for me."

The figure outside the window trembled noticeably again, and Kiyoshi could tell how much self-control the other person had used to restrain their almost explosive temper.

“Mizore-senpai always manages to stab you in the back when you least expect it,” Kiyoyori said, clutching his heart with empathy as he silently wiped away a tear for Yoshikawa Yuko, who was eavesdropping outside the classroom. “Yoshikawa-senpai would cry if she heard this.”

"but--"

“Mizore-senpai,” Kiyoyori said, disregarding etiquette and distance for the first time, cupping Mizore’s face in his hand. “No one becomes friends with someone just because of ‘sympathy,’ especially since Yoshikawa-senpai isn’t cut out to be an ascetic. She will always be by your side for only one reason.”

"Li You?"

Because her face was being held in her hands, Ying spoke in a muffled way, but it was unexpectedly cute.

“Although Mizore-senpai was right about me,” Kiyoyori saw the evasive look in Mizore’s eyes, but he held her face to prevent her from escaping. “Since senpai has found out, I might as well be honest with senpai this once in a while.”

“I am very interested in the existence of Mizore Yoroizuka,” Kiyoyori raised his voice so that the person outside the door could hear him clearly. “It would not be an exaggeration to call you a genius. You have not been exposed to music for as long as I have, and you do not like music, yet you have been able to gain the approval of Mr. Niizan. To be honest, I am jealous of your talent, which is even greater than mine.”

Startled by Kiyori's words, Mizore's eyes widened.

"But this is not your full strength, senior. Your oboe is only burning for Senior Umaki, isn't it?"

"I want to hear that voice, and then I'll defeat you."

Kiyoshiro Mizore revealed a domineering yet irritating smile, "This is a challenge, and senior has no choice but to accept it."

What's wrong with openly admitting your bad behavior?

"Therefore, my interest in Senior Mizore is far from over. If Senior Mizore wants me to be by your side, then please show me your true strength."

Mizore finally found a glimmer of direction amidst her confusion: "Will Kiyori always be here?"

"Yes."

I will neither stray far from you nor get close to you, because the place around you has already been taken.

The figure outside the window had disappeared without either of them knowing.

P.S.: Yuko's mom's heart is pierced, but, well, this pairing is surprisingly sweet! However, the next chapter will have to return the little angel to Umbrella Brother. By the way, subscriptions have been so low lately...

Chapter 57, Section 222: Yingbao Flies Bravely, Mom Will Always Be With You

"Thank you for your concern for Mizore."

Yoshikawa, huddled in the corner of the booth, pressed down his baseball cap and stared fiercely at the direction behind Kiyoyori.

"Your eyes and tone don't match at all, Yoshikawa-senpai," Kiyoyori said slowly, taking a sip of his coffee. "You're welcome."

The fast food restaurant, playing popular music, was bustling with customers coming and going, but only Kiyotaka and her friend were alone in their booth. The other customers seemed to sense this and walked around them.

"If Yoshikawa-senpai doesn't rein in his murderous aura, which is about to materialize, he'll be discovered very soon."

Kiyoshi glanced at the people around them and noticed the way they were being looked at. Among them was a high school girl dressed in a school uniform who seemed to be watching them very warily, holding her phone as if she was ready to call the police at any moment.

"Shut up! I can't hear what they're saying!"

If I remember correctly, those two were seated on the other side of the fast food restaurant, right? How did Yoshikawa-senpai manage to hear their conversation in such a noisy environment...?

Could this be a human-shaped listening device?

Suppressing his inner urge to complain, Kiyoshi used his coffee cup to cover his twitching lips.

"Nozomi...I really want...Nozomi...the flute..." Yoshikawa squinted, staring intently at the two people two tables apart, muttering something under his breath. "Ah, Mizore's voice is too soft, and her lip movements are too small! I can't see clearly!"

"Ha—Yoshikawa-senpai, that's enough," Kiyoyori said, feeling the gazes coming from all directions. To avoid being asked to leave by the staff, he had no choice but to stop Yoshikawa's increasingly outrageous behavior. "Mizore-senpai isn't a child anymore. Meeting Kasaki-senpai was her own choice, which shows that she has learned to look forward. It's best not to take the mother role too seriously."

"Besides... is it really necessary to go this far...?"

This wasn't the first time Kiyori had asked herself this question; in fact, she felt she must have been out of her mind to agree to Yoshikawa's request.

Today was an ordinary day, the same practice, the same training, except for one thing—

Today is also the day that Mizore and Kasaki had agreed to meet.

Of course, before meeting in person, they still used Qinglai as a means of communication.

Just yesterday, Mizore took the initiative to express her desire to meet with Kasaki, who readily agreed, while Kiyoyori simply watched as the situation unfolded.

The agreed location and time were quickly set.

Instead of going to a coffee shop, which is more suitable for heart-to-heart talks or dates, they chose a fast food restaurant.

Kiyoyori had never quite understood this. Perhaps it was a desire for a quick and decisive victory? Kiyoyori wasn't clear on the matter then, but now she understood—it was simply that Mizore-senpai liked eating French fries…

Maybe these two people just happen to lack any romantic flair...

Let's put this matter aside for now.

In short, Yoshikawa somehow found out that Mizore and Kasaki were going to meet in private. Although he didn't express his distrust of Kasaki to Mizore's face, and even supported Mizore's choice, in reality...

"Tachibana, meet at the small park next to W's place half an hour after training ends."

Seeing the mixture of anticipation and nervousness on Mizore's face, Yoshikawa solemnly gave Kiyoyori the notification.

That's right, it wasn't a discussion, it was a notification.

"what?"

Kiyoshi didn't understand what the other party was trying to express for a moment.

"I said! I'll treat you to dinner at W's tonight!"

W-ji is the fast food restaurant that Mizore and Umaki agreed to go to.

"Why did I have to eat at W's for dinner..." Kiyoyori suddenly realized, "No way..."

"Anyway, that's how it is. I'll be waiting for you in the park!"

Although Kiyori did not give a clear answer when Yoshikawa left, but—

I don't know why she still went...

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

"Of course it's necessary!" Yoshikawa rubbed his eyes, which were a little sore from staring for too long. "If Nozomi hurts Mizore again, I definitely won't let her off easily!"

"It really wasn't easy for Kasaki-senpai."

Kiyoyori was about to turn his head to look in the direction of Mizore and Kasaki when Yoshikawa pulled him back with his hand.

"Don't turn your head so obviously to look! What if you get caught!"

"I think instead of worrying about whether I'll be exposed, Yoshikawa-senpai should try to tone down his intimidating aura."

"Kasaki-senpai is not a monster, nor will he eat Mizore-senpai, so why is Yoshikawa-senpai so worried?"

"Do you have the right to talk to me like that?" Yoshikawa sipped his cola through a straw, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Lai. "Even though you said it was unnecessary, you still came over here, weren't you?"

"If you say I'm the mother, then what are you, the father?"

Perhaps it's a case of being influenced by one's surroundings, but Yoshikawa somehow picked up Mizore's startling remarks. Kiyoyori, holding his coffee cup, was momentarily at a loss for how to react.

Seeing Kiyora's stunned expression, Yoshikawa nudged Kiyora's calf with his toe under the table with disdain. "Shouldn't you be making sarcastic remarks at a time like this?"

Chiang Lai: "..."

"Never mind," Yoshikawa said, biting his straw and making a cheeky face with his baby face, which felt incredibly incongruous. "Anyway, thank you. This way, Mizore's knot in her heart can be untied, and Nozomi can come back..."

Yoshikawa paused, his five fingers gripping the paper cup tightly. "That guy's wish has been fulfilled."

Although she didn't specify who "that guy" was, the only person Yoshikawa could refer to as that is probably that bickering couple.

"It must be really tough for Yoshikawa-senpai, having to care about Mizore-senpai on one hand and worry about Nakagawa-senpai on the other."

“What can we do?” Yoshikawa gave a bitter smile. “You know what? Mizore once told me before she joined the Sobu High School brass band that she wanted to win the gold medal.”

"Unbelievable, isn't it?"

Yoshikawa seemed quite pleased with Kiyori's surprised expression.

“That child, who had no desires or wants, actually said something like ‘wanting to win the gold medal,’” Yoshikawa said gently, playing with the water droplets that slid down the side of the cup. “But she hasn’t mentioned it again since Nozomi left.”

"I later found out that it was because of her promise to Nozomi: to win the gold medal in high school."

"In Mizore's heart, there has only ever been Nozomi."

That sigh contained a bitterness that Kiyoyori was unaware of.

“However, Mizore has also grown, thanks to Tachibana-san,” Kiyoyori saw such clear and pure gratitude in Yoshikawa’s eyes for the first time. “At least this time, Mizore did it of her own volition.”

"I'll trouble you to take care of the child from now on."

P.S.: Yuko's mom has had it so tough. I was originally planning to write about the conversation between Mizore and Umbrella-kun... but I'll just consider it a possible side story later. My subscriptions have been dropping pretty badly lately... it's really discouraging me from writing!

Chapter 223, Section 01: The Upcoming Cultural Festival

Time raced forward in the sweltering summer heat. With Kasaki's safe return, the brass band returned to a brief period of peace. Mizore, having reconciled with Kasaki, seemed to have received some kind of superhuman boost, truly showing everyone what it meant to be "enlightened."

Meanwhile, the Kanto Tournament was drawing ever closer.

Perhaps due to their previous experience in the regional competitions and their intensive training that could be described as working day and night, Soubu High School's performance in the Kanto Tournament was even more stable and winning. With an amazing momentum, they won the gold medal and successfully entered the national competition. They successfully transformed from an unknown participant who was just participating to a dark horse that attracted everyone's attention.