I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

At the same time, Taki's reputation as an advisor has become well-known in the industry.

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

"Speaking of which, this cultural festival can also be considered a way for the school to showcase itself to the outside world, right?"

While flipping through the posters from before the festival's opening, Hachiman tore open the sandwich packaging. "The brass band performed exceptionally well this time. They should attract quite a few freshmen who already have a musical background, right?"

He was speaking to Kiyoyori, who was eating quietly, but his eyes kept glancing unnoticed at Yukinoshita, who was sitting on the other side of the table.

Oh no, this is terrible! These two are so weird, the clubroom is turning into a freezer!

For some reason, the seating arrangement in the Service Club has been problematic since the start of the new semester. Originally, Hachiman was supposed to sit in the furthest, most cornered seat from the girls, but now Kiyoyori has taken that seat, successfully achieving the feat of maintaining the furthest distance from Yukino during Service Club activities.

A clear dividing line seemed to be drawn between the four of them: Yukinoshita and Yuihama sat on one side, Kiyori and Hikigaya sat on the other side, and there was enough space in the middle to fit two more wooden stools.

With the intention of easing the tension, he took the initiative to bring up a topic: the upcoming cultural festival, which the student council had just distributed flyers to recruit staff for planning the festival.

however--

"I never expected that Hikigaya-senpai would pay attention to cultural festivals, which require team participation."

"Would Hachiman be interested in this kind of activity? Did he find a great doctor during the summer vacation?"

Unsurprisingly, it was met with widespread ridicule.

Foreword retracted; these two are indeed birds of a feather.

Hachiman took a sullen bite of his sandwich and chose to shut up.

Kiyoshiro and Yukinoshita, sitting at opposite ends of the long table, exchanged a glance before looking away again before the war without gunpowder had even begun.

"However, Hikigaya-senpai is right. The success of the brass band this time will inevitably attract a group of people who want to enroll, especially freshmen who have already studied brass bands."

"That's what's called brand effect. At least it's a good thing for your wind band."

It was Yukino who spoke to her, her tone as calm and collected as ever.

Kiyoshi pursed his lips, unsure of what he was sulking about, and simply replied curtly, "I suppose so."

Seeing the atmosphere, which had been showing signs of easing, plummet again, Yui hurriedly forced a slightly strained smile. "Speaking of the cultural festival, what activities are Yuki and Kiyora's classes planning?"

"It hasn't been decided yet."

Yukinoshita always answered Yuihama's questions, while Kiyori's reply was simply a shrug.

"Our club will definitely have a performance, but the class project hasn't been decided yet."

When the date for the cultural festival was first set, there was already a heated discussion in the class. Everyone's choices were traditional, with most boys preferring maid cafes and haunted houses, while many girls were more interested in stage plays.

If you want Lai Ching-te to vote...

Then she would not hesitate to cast her vote for any option other than the haunted house.

"Does Yuigahama-senpai have any thoughts?"

"Eh? Me?" Yui blushed and twirled a strand of hair that fell beside her ear with her fingers, her eyes darting towards Hachiman, who was lost in thought. "I think a coffee shop would be nice, the guys could wear suits and stuff..."

"Wouldn't a maid outfit be more attractive to customers than a suit for men?"

Hikigaya responded indifferently.

"I actually think it would be more impactful if a guy wore a maid outfit."

Kiyoyori's words immediately drew Hachiman's deadpan gaze, but after a moment, as if remembering something, he suddenly blushed, "Tachibana, I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable..."

Kiyoshi gave a thumbs-up before the other two could react.

"Eh?! Hachiman wants to wear a maid outfit?!" Yuihama clearly didn't understand what Kiyori and Hachiman were talking about. She first showed a very surprised expression, then her face turned into one of confusion, a small blush appearing on her cheeks. "If Hachiman wants to think like that... it's not that it's not a bad thing..."

"Hey! Hey!"

"If Yuihama's class really does this kind of activity, I suggest giving every customer a pair of sunglasses at the classroom door."

It's an eyesore.

"But speaking of the cultural festival," Kiyorai flipped through the simple promotional notice, "is the committee member Zhang the student council president, or is he elected from within the committee by vote?"

"Theoretically, it's self-recommendation."

I take a sip of red tea under the snow.

"Yeah……"

Kiyoyori didn't know why he was holding a grudge against Yukinoshita on one hand; he just felt that he was being childish, yet he didn't want to back down, it was like...

It felt like I had lost.

"Did Xiaoxue join the executive committee?"

Yukinoshita paused, then said, "Yes."

"Is Yuihama-san interested in this?"

"Ah, no..." Yui Hama hurriedly waved her hand, "I'm definitely not suited for this kind of work, but it's a bit of a surprise that Yuki will participate."

Indeed, but—

Kiyotomi glanced discreetly at Yukinoshita, who had opened the paperback edition.

"Didn't Xiao Qinglai participate in the committee?"

“No, I already have activities in the brass band to attend to, and after qualifying for the national competition, our training will only double, not decrease,” Kiyoyori said, feeling a faint tingling sensation on his lips as he mentioned the topic. “Besides, we also have performances at the cultural festival, so it will be difficult for me to focus on my work as a committee member.”

"First-year students volunteer to serve as committee members, unlike second-year students who are required to have one boy and one girl per class. So in previous years, there haven't been many first-year students participating."

Yukinoshita added, her eyes never leaving the book.

"However, Hikigaya-senpai seems quite depressed?"

From the moment the topic of the committee was brought up, Hachiman remained silent and sorrowful, like a lamb to the slaughter.

"Ah... Xiao Qi has been selected as an executive committee member..."

Yukinoshita also showed a surprised expression, just like Kiyori.

"Hey! You must have seen me at yesterday's meeting, Yukinoshita! Why are you making such a surprised face!"

"I just think this expression is more suitable for the current situation."

"you--"

What interrupted Yukinoshita and Hikigaya's impending argument was the unexpected opening of their clubroom door.

"Excuse me!"

P.S.: A brand new volume has begun! Speaking of which, it seems I'm the only one consistently updating Sound! Euphonium right now... The author who used to update twice a day is gone forever. I work during the day and write at night, and I think I'm doing alright as long as I haven't missed an update. I don't know why "commissioner zhang" is a sensitive word... because this word will appear many more times later, so I just typed "zhang" instead of "commissioner" for now. I'm really puzzled.

Chapter 224, Part 02: Going it Alone

The door was flung open without warning, and with a bold "Excuse me!" a short-haired girl strode in, head held high. "Eh~? So the Service Club was set up by you, Yukinoshita?"

As she spoke, she turned around and let out ambiguous laughter with the two girls beside her.

Kiyoshi frowned at the arrogant and unpleasant tone of the man, who seemed to be acting like a high-ranking official from ancient times on a private visit.

Yukinoshita didn't answer, but just looked at the girl who spoke with indifference.

Seemingly stung by that indifferent gaze, the girl withdrew her slightly uncomfortable posture and instead showed a troubled expression. "I heard it from Hiratsuka-sensei. It is said that the Service Club can help students fulfill their wishes."

Kiyori narrowed his eyes, about to make a sarcastic remark, when he was interrupted by Yukinoshita's cold voice, "So, may I ask what brings you here?"

Yukinoshita turned around again and explained to Kiyoyori, who was still clueless, "This is Sagami from Class 2-F. He became the executive committee member of the cultural festival yesterday."

Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow, cleverly concealing the disdain in his eyes, and revealed a standard social smile, "Sagamami-senpai is truly a hidden master in the city."

Whether or not the other party truly didn't understand Kiyoshi's implied meaning, Sagami feigned shyness, putting his hands behind his back and lowering his head slightly, looking pitiful. "Even though I've become the executive committee member, I still lack confidence~."

Kiyoshi's feigned concern almost made her vomit up her lunch. Since Yukinoshita didn't tell her to leave, Kiyoshita didn't say anything and just held her teacup to cover her mouth.

“So,” Sagami looked back at his two little followers, “I hope you can help me!”

Although Kiyoyori didn't know the specifics of what had happened, he could deduce some things from the few words he heard. First of all, the selection of committee member Zhang was a self-nomination system. So, since even Yukinoshita hadn't taken on this role, it must have been a result of her own volition for a student she had never heard of before to become committee member Zhang. Generally speaking, people who take on such an important responsibility are either capable or confident. As the face of the important cultural festival, committee member Zhang is the main person who bears both praise and criticism.

It is not unreasonable to assume this role voluntarily in order to gain some kind of benefit.

but--

Kiyoshi saw only the words "green tea" on this person's face.

What's with this character who's so annoying from the very first appearance?

Kiyoshi took another sip of tea, swallowing back the sarcastic remarks that were about to burst forth.

"'Personal growth'," Yukinoshita didn't even glance at Sagami, still staring at the paperback in her hand, "is the goal that Sagami-san was advocating yesterday. I think such behavior has already gone against this goal."

Kiyoshi noticed that since Sagami came in, the pages of the Yukinoshita Bunko book had not been turned, even though he had been able to multitask very easily while chatting with them.

"That's true~" Sagami said in a high-pitched, coquettish voice, "But causing trouble for everyone is the worst thing, after all, nobody wants to fail~."

Then you might as well not be a committee member at all.

She secretly rolled her eyes. This kind of low-level concealment was like Sima Zhao's intentions. Kiyoyori saw through Sagami's purpose immediately. She and Hikigaya exchanged a silent glance, and they both understood.

I doubt that Yukinoshita-senpai would accept a request that's clearly an attempt to use the Service Club to achieve her own goals.

"Moreover, helping others accomplish something is also a form of growth!"

To say something like that requires an extraordinary amount of shamelessness.

Even Kiyoshi couldn't help but sigh.

Just when Kiyoshiro thought Yukinoshita would immediately activate her taunt skill, he heard an unexpected response from her.

"Simply put, it's to assist your work, right?"

Wait a minute, is there something we forgot?

"Yes, yes, that's right!"

Sagami's joy was palpable.

Amidst the unanimous expressions of surprise from the other three, Yukinoshita inexplicably agreed to this request that clearly had ulterior motives, saying, "Since that's the case, then so be it. I am an executive committee member after all."