I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Now, we will select roles for this play." It was a similar scene to before, with the class monitor standing on the podium presiding over the overall situation, while Qinglai...

Kiyoshi remained staring blankly out the window.

"Tachibana-san, do you have a preferred casting choice?"

"Tachibana-san?"

Kiyoshi was brought back to reality by a kick to his chair from behind. Perhaps out of consideration for Kiyoshi's overtime work, the class monitor did not deliberately tease him this time, but repeated the question from before.

“No,” Kiyoshi shook his head, indicating that he would leave the decision entirely to the other party. “I think it would be best if everyone voted or if they nominated themselves.”

"I understand."

Watching the class monitor turn around and write all the character names on the blackboard one by one, and then distribute the script to each student.

Holy Grail Exploration

As I stared at the conspicuous black print on the white paper, my focus gradually blurred.

This is a script that has not been edited by Kasumigaoka. It was written entirely by Kiyoyori himself. To be precise, Kasumigaoka refused to revise it. In their words, they were interested in and looking forward to the play that carried Kiyoyori's ideas.

Kiyoshi didn't know why she wrote such a story and compiled such an ending. Perhaps it was Haruno's words that influenced her, or perhaps she didn't want to be a puppet controlled by fate.

The classroom was filled with the sound of pages being turned, but what Qinglai heard most was her own heartbeat. This anxiety, which felt like a public execution, made her feel somewhat anxious for the first time in a long time.

When the sound of the pages being turned stopped, Kiyoyori let out a soft sigh.

Has anyone raised any questions or suggestions for revisions to the script?

The audience was completely silent.

"Alright, let's begin casting."

……………………………………………………………

"Kiyoshi, you seem to be spacing out all day," Reina said to Kiyoshi, who had been looking vacant, as she flipped through the script. "Tachibana Kiyoshi!"

"Ah, ah... I'm sorry."

When Qinglai came to his senses, he realized that the black pen in his hand had drawn a crooked, wavy line on the white paper, which was extremely conspicuous.

“I’m saying,” Reina said, bracing herself against Kiyoyori with her fingers as she suddenly moved closer to him, their noses almost touching, “Kiyoyori, could he be in love?”

"……what?"

Kiyoshi was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to refute Reina's sudden burst of inspiration.

"Isn't that right..."

Based on Reina's understanding of Kiyoyori, she could tell from just this one interjection that Kiyoyori was indeed not in love.

“Although I don’t know where Reina got such an absurd conclusion from, Kiyoyori smiled gently as he poked her soft cheek with his pen, “I’m fine.”

"Really?" Reina looked unconvinced, then sighed in an old-fashioned manner, "If Kiyori is this careless during practice, I won't forgive you so easily!"

"Yes Yes."

Making a throwing gesture, Kiyoshi solemnly promised that he would not slack off during practice.

"Speaking of which, did Reina volunteer to make the props this time?"

"Hmm, I'm quite interested."

Despite having the face of a beautiful young girl, she firmly rejected the glamorous front desk position and chose prop making without hesitation.

"Hmm... I should say, as expected of Reina..."

Kiyoshi muttered to himself in a low voice.

"Huh? Kiyorai, what did you just say?"

"nothing."

As the screenwriter who was forced to become this time, Kiyotaka was once again semi-forced to become the assistant director. The reason she was called "assistant" was because of the brass band, the performance, and the national competition. However, at least she didn't have to watch others rehearse every day after school.

"I think Kiyoyori is quite suitable for the role of Galahad, the protagonist."

Reina quickly flipped through the script.

"why?"

"Because Kiyoyori is of mixed race."

"Huh?"

that's all……?

"Okay, that's settled."

Kiyoyori, who had been expecting a different answer, was speechless for a while. "Hmm... as expected of Reina..."

Seeing Reina wink playfully, Kiyoyori realized that Reina was teasing her. "Reina—"

"Tachibana-kun," before Kiyoyori could finish speaking, the class representative came over with some documents, "Hiratsuka-sensei said that you would like to submit these documents to the executive committee."

"Hiratsuka-sensei?" Sensing something amiss, Kiyoyori withdrew his hand, which had been reaching for the documents. "Why?"

“Because this script was written by Tachibana,” the class monitor pointed to a blank space on the form that read “Script Outline,” “the executive committee needs to review all projects, whether they are performance programs or other forms of activities, to ensure that there is no illegal content. I think it is more appropriate for Tachibana, who is the original author, to fill in this part.”

Reina turned away with a sly smile, ignoring Kiyoyori's pleading eyes.

"Also, here is the complete script. I've added the names of the lead actors we just voted for, as well as the names of the other classmates and the main staff members in charge." The class monitor opened the title page, and Kiyora immediately saw his own name written at the very beginning.

What's going on? This inexplicable mix of shame and pride...

"Please have Tachibana fill it out and hand it to the executive committee."

After putting down the stack of documents and scripts, the squad leader left Qinglai's desk as quickly as if he had slipped on oil.

"wait--!"

Qinglai reached out, but couldn't even grab a corner of the class monitor's clothes.

"Pfft," came a smug laugh from the front seat, "Work hard, Kiyoshi~."

Kiyoshi took a deep breath.

"what--"

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

Reluctantly carrying the materials, Qinglai walked to the student council classroom. Suddenly, she felt an itchy sensation in her heart, as if a cat was gently scratching her with its paws, sometimes close, sometimes far. A sense of irritation gradually welled up in her heart. Qinglai clenched her fists hidden in her pocket, curled her toes, and lightly tapped the ground with her toes.

She didn't want to admit that she wanted to see Yukino because of Asuka and Haruno's words, but she couldn't ignore the little bit of expectation that welled up in her heart when she couldn't refuse the task assigned to her by the class president.

She wasn't worried about that stubborn, inflexible minister.

Once again, through that small, round, transparent window, he saw that figure working diligently in front of the computer. Kiyotaka gripped the documents in his hand tightly, but couldn't tear his gaze away from the other person.

Whether it's the way the other person is typing on the keyboard, exchanging information with other committee members, or frowning and pinching the bridge of their nose with their fingers because they've been staring at the screen for a long time, it doesn't matter.

Damn!

Kiyoshi sighed heavily as he looked at the closed sliding door, scratching his hair in frustration.

Admit it.

You're just damn worried she'll exhaust herself.

P.S.: Regarding the incident where I went to work at the hospital but ended up being a mover and cleaner.

And another thing, not giving us a holiday for National Day is one thing, but not even a weekend?! Working until the 8th?! Have some decency!

Chapter 230, Section 08: Could that woman be a ghost?!

Yukino sat at the very front of the classroom, with a laptop and stacks of documents on the long table. She stared intently at the screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard, occasionally answering questions from other committee members.

There were several empty chairs next to her, showing no signs of being moved, and the corresponding tabletops were also completely blank.

Except for a sign that reads "Chairman of the Executive Committee".

Yukinoshita was so busy that she didn't notice the spy outside the door.

Qinglai's knocking was drowned out by the loud conversations in the classroom. She opened the door, took a deep breath, and slowly walked in.

All around him were people walking to and fro, and there were documents that had been accidentally dropped on the ground. Looking around the classroom, Kiyoyori even spotted Hikigaya working diligently in a corner.

Compared to Yukinoshita, who was so busy she even wanted to borrow a cat's paw, Hachiman was obviously much more free, if you ignored the messy pile of papers next to his computer.

"Hachiman-senpai," Kiyoyori walked up to Hikigaya's desk, only to see that the other's already lifeless eyes seemed to have become even more dull, "I'm here to hand in the class activity documents. May I ask which person in charge I should give them to?"

"It's a class activity," Hachiman peeked out from behind the computer and gestured towards the other side, "over there."

Kiyoshi looked in the direction he pointed and saw several figures carrying documents, just like her. The person in charge there seemed to be extremely busy.

"Why are you so busy?"

Kiyoyori had participated in the executive committee of a school festival once during junior high school. Because it was so ordinary, it didn't leave a deep impression. She simply followed the president's instructions step by step to complete her assigned tasks. She even had extra time to complete practice tasks that were not expected.

Hikigaya was silent for a moment, his gaze drifting to the direction of the snow. "The executive committee member Zhang, who was supposed to take the lead, is actually not very effective. Instead, some people who did not voluntarily join the committee have started to slack off. In order not to let them fall behind, we can only hand over their work to other people who are more efficient."

"...Hey! What's with that surprised look on your face?!"

“Ah…” Kiyoyori shrugged. “Hachigaya-senpai obviously didn’t participate voluntarily. I thought he would take the opportunity to slip away.”

"I'm so sorry to have disappointed you."

Hachiman looked away, clenched and unclenched his hands on the keyboard before continuing to type.

"What kind of work does Hachiman-senpai do?"

"Logistics records".

Kiyoshi covered his mouth and chuckled softly, "It really suits you, senpai."

"That's right, that's right! I'm just perfect for this kind of unimportant, invisible job!"

The fingers that were typing on the keyboard suddenly stopped. "Is it really okay to just let her be like that?"

Suppressing her smile, Qinglai lowered her eyes and said, "Who knows?"