I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

I don't know why, but I always feel a little sour inside.

"Hachiman-senpai and I are usually the ones being mocked by Yukinoshita-senpai."

“That’s different!” Yui shook her head vigorously. “I’m actually a little jealous of Kiyora and Himachi.”

Oh, you lying child.

“Kiyoshi, Hijiri, and Yuki, the three of them seem to have a great understanding. Sometimes I don’t even understand what you’re saying, but Kiyoshi and Hijiri always manage to understand Yuki’s thoughts very quickly,” Yuihama said, counting on her fingers and looking down, not daring to look at Kiyoshi. That junior’s sometimes overly sharp gaze made it hard to breathe. “Besides, Kiyoshi and Yuki are from the same world…”

And all I have left is a small business...

"I'm not as smart as Xiaoqing, and I know nothing about the committee's work. If I go to help, I might just cause trouble for Xiaoxue."

Kiyoshi blinked.

That seems to make some sense... I didn't expect Yuihama-senpai to be so self-aware.

"Xiaoxue insisted on taking on this commission herself, she must have her own reasons, she must not want us to get involved. Besides, apart from cheering Xiaoxue on, there's nothing I can do to help her in any substantial way..."

Yuihama is right. Yukinoshita's actions are meant to tell Haruno that she doesn't need to rely on others.

"But if that's the case, then my getting involved in this matter would also—"

“Kiyoshi and Hachiko are different from me,” Yuihama finally looked up and stared directly into Kiyoshi’s eyes. “Hachiko is a member of the executive committee, so it’s only natural for him to assist the vice president. As for Kiyoshi…”

"Excuse me, I just ran into Haruno-neechan. She was in the brass band club."

Kiyoshi frowned upon hearing this. What was Yono doing at the music troupe?

“She mentioned casually that she saw Kiyora in the executive committee classroom before, and it seemed like they had some kind of argument,” Yuihama said, turning her head away sheepishly. “Yono-neechan said that Kiyora probably said she wanted to help Yuki in a fit of anger, but I…”

Qinglai appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly he felt as if a thunderclap had struck from the ground.

A dispute? Could it be referring to the time when she and Yukinoshita-senpai switched bodies?

But how could that be...? Even if it was Haruno, could she possibly guess from just a few words that the person controlling Yukino Yukino's body at the time was not Yukino Yukino?

This is impossible...

Perhaps it was a fabrication by Haruno to deceive Yuihama, and then use Yuihama's words to force herself to help, because she was sure that Kiyoyori cared enough about Yukino Yukinoshita and wouldn't embarrass her in front of Yuihama.

Qinglai forced himself to calm down.

"Little Qinglai?"

"Ahem," Kiyoyori came to his senses, "Yuigahama-senpai, are you also asking Hikigaya-senpai this favor?"

Yuihama was taken aback by Kiyoyori's question, "Um, um..."

"Where is Hikigaya-senpai?"

"You've been working hard, haven't you?" Yui gave an awkward, bitter smile.

"Then, may I ask about Yuigahama-senpai's plans?"

“If Yuki doesn’t come to me on her own initiative, I won’t help her,” Yuihama took a deep breath. “I trust… Kiyorai.”

Yuihama put her hands behind her back and clenched her fists from an angle where Kiyoyori couldn't see her.

She didn't want to see Xiaoxue tormenting herself like this, but she also didn't want Xiaoqi and Xiaoxue to get too close. She respected Xiaoxue's choice and understood that the two people on the committee couldn't avoid contact, but she didn't want them to have any deeper contact if Xiaoqinglai appeared between them.

At least, Xiaoxue's attention won't be entirely focused on Xiaoqi anymore...

This is what Yuihama couldn't tell Kiyoshiro. Perhaps even if she did, Kiyoshiro wouldn't understand, because they are such different people. Kiyoshiro, like Yukinoshita, possesses a charm that makes it hard to look away, but Yuihama is just an ordinary high school student.

Her jealousy was something that someone like Kiyora couldn't possibly understand.

“Ha—” Kiyoyori sighed, “This kind of unfounded trust is really a headache.”

Kiyoshi could tell that Yuihama was hiding something, but she didn't care. What concerned her more was what Haruno had said.

"So, did Xiao Qinglai agree?"

A glint of light flashed in Yuihama's eyes.

"This matter—"

"Chiang Lai!"

Before Qinglai could finish speaking, he was interrupted by a panting voice from the side. The person was supporting himself on his knees with both hands, breathing heavily and completely losing his composure.

"Kaori-senpai?"

Kaori's arrival was completely unexpected, and she had obviously come to see him.

Qinglai's heart sank suddenly.

Aside from Asuka, she couldn't think of anything else more important that Kaori could have that would make her rush to find her.

Is that Asuka?

Kiyoshi asked anxiously, while also supporting Kaori with his hand.

Kaori recovered quickly; her usual trumpet practice hadn't been for nothing.

"Asuka fainted and is in the infirmary now," Kaori's words were simple and clear, but her voice couldn't hide her worry and tension. "Haruka is with Asuka in the infirmary, and we don't know why she fainted yet."

"I'm coming right now!"

Kiyoyuki was so anxious she wished she could fly there, but considering Kaori who had rushed over to tell her the situation, she patiently waited for her.

"Um, Kiyora..."

"I'm sorry, Yuihama-senpai, we'll talk about this later."

Seeing Kiyorai and Kaori's hurried steps, Yui swallowed the words she was about to say.

P.S.: Is this year just my unluckiest year? Trouble keeps piling up, is this some kind of soap opera...? I'm so tired.

Chapter 14 of Section 236: The Woman I've Never Seen

Kiyotori strode down the corridor with her long legs. If it weren't for Kaori, who was panting behind her, her footsteps could have created a gust of wind in the corridor.

Behind her came rapid breathing, but also hurried and chaotic footsteps; Kaori's anxiety was no less than Kiyoshi's. Kiyoshi consciously told herself to wait for Kaori, who was rushing to tell her the news, but her heart was racing ahead, and she couldn't stop. It was as if she was holding her breath, and she couldn't relax until she saw Asuka safe and sound.

The infirmary was right in front of them, and Saito Aoi was standing outside the door.

Kiyoyori has never seen her since she left the brass band.

“Saito, senpai…”

Speaking with unsteady breath, Kiyoyori stopped in front of Saito, his heart pounding violently against his sternum like a war drum on a battlefield, each beat causing him excruciating pain.

Saito looked at the junior in front of him with surprise. His impression of Kiyori was still that of the amazing oboe playing when he was choosing his voice part.

"Tachibana-san?"

She wasn't even entirely sure of Kiyoyori's name.

With a throat so dry it felt like it was on fire, Qinglai answered hoarsely, "Yes."

How did you get here...?

Saito was unaware of the relationship between Kiyori and Asuka; in fact, she had never noticed their interactions.

“Yes, it’s me,” Kaori followed Kiyori to the infirmary. However, the long run and the high tension made her feel very tired. Trying to maintain an elegant posture, Kaori fanned her face, which was flushed with heat. “Kiyori is Asuka’s childhood friend.”

Saito immediately wore an incredulous expression, "Tachibana and Asuka?!"

There was no time to wait for Kaori to explain the relationship between Kiyori and Asuka to Saito. Kiyori interrupted the two seniors in time, his tone unusually flustered, "Saito-senpai, how is Asuka?"

Afraid of disturbing Asuka who might be resting, Kiyoyori resisted the urge to push open the door.

“Oh, right, Asuka,” Saito said, recovering from his shock. “Asuka is fine. The school doctor said she’s probably been too tired lately and hasn’t been getting enough rest. She also seems to have a slight fever, and we just gave her some physical cooling.”

How is Asuka feeling now?

Kaori was clearly also very anxious.

"I just fell asleep, so I'm waiting for you outside." Saito gestured for them to be quiet and quietly opened the sliding door to the infirmary.

Qinglai restrained her steps and slowly walked into the infirmary, trying her best not to make a sound.

There were four beds in the infirmary. The curtains on three of the beds were wide open, revealing the clean beds inside. Only the bed on the left side of the door was completely covered by a gray-white curtain.

The school doctor sat at his desk, glancing at the three people who tiptoed into the infirmary, a hint of displeasure in his eyes.

But clearly, the three of them were preoccupied with the student who had been brought in, and completely failed to notice her warning look.

Helplessly, the school doctor picked up his pen and continued writing something in his notebook, deciding to ignore the children to avoid further trouble.

Kiyoshi lifted the bed curtain and waited politely for the two seniors walking behind her until Kaori and Saito entered before lowering his hand.

They communicated in hushed tones.

"How is Asuka?"

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Ogasawara gently held Asuka's hand and answered softly, "Kaori fell asleep when she left," Asuka's hand was still trembling slightly involuntarily, "She was too tired..."

This sigh, however, was filled with the sorrow of helplessness.

Ogasawara didn't know why Asuka had collapsed from exhaustion in class, nor did she know where those shocking marks came from. All she could do was hold Asuka's hand tightly now, at least to let her know that she wasn't alone.

This was the first time they had seen Asuka so vulnerable; her face was as pale as a sheet of paper.

"May I ask why Asuka...?"

Has she been neglecting Asuka lately? She seems no different than usual...

It looks like...

It felt as if a hand was squeezing Qinglai's heart tightly, forcefully compressing the air in her lungs, and the painful feeling of suffocation made her clench her fists.

“There’s no brass band practice today, so we’re helping out with the cultural festival activities in the classroom,” Saito explained in a low voice. “Asuka is in charge of making classroom decorations.”

The three of them couldn't help but feel terrified when they talked about it.

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

Asuka was as energetic as ever today, especially during the preparation activities.

Because Class J of 3rd year collaborated with Class E of 3rd year to carry out the cultural festival activities, the two classes put forward a proposal such as "Witch Fortune Telling Cafe", which was also approved by everyone.