I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Because it was a joint event, there were actually some free-up staff. This was decided to accommodate students like Asuka, Kaori, and Ogasawara who had club activities or national competitions. Third-year students also had heavy coursework, so this plan received unanimous praise.

Asuka and Saito belong to Class J, while Kaori and Ogasawara belong to Class E.

Since they didn't need to participate in the wind club's practice, the group went back to their classroom to help out. Asuka was clearly very enthusiastic about this activity, helping out here and there, looking for all sorts of opportunities to promote playing wind instruments, especially the euphonium.

Although they were all rejected.

She still made a cardboard decoration in the shape of an euphonium and was eager to hang it in the classroom.

Just as she stepped onto the wobbly chair stacked on the desk, something unexpected happened.

Kaori nervously gripped the chair and table with both hands, but she didn't expect that Asuka, who was always reliable, would stumble on it. Before Kaori could react, Asuka was already falling.

If it weren't for a male classmate who happened to be passing by and instinctively stepped in to cushion the fall, Asuka's condition would likely be more than just a slight fever.

The students quickly took Asuka to the infirmary. After a brief examination, it was found that Asuka only had some low blood sugar and sleep deprivation. Shortly after she fell asleep, she also developed a slight fever.

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

Kiyoshi stood at the foot of the bed with her lips tightly pressed together, her eyes flickering with light and shadow.

Asuka on the bed suddenly let out a low, intermittent sound, "Sei...Sei..."

Feeling a pang of sadness, Kiyotaka walked to Asuka's window, knelt down, and gently comforted her with her hand.

"I'm here."

Seeing this, Ogasawara got up from the stool and handed the seat to Kiyoyori.

Before anyone could speak, the school doctor, who had been enduring the girls' chattering and whispering outside the bed curtains, grew impatient and wanted to shoo away the extra people.

"Only one person needs to take care of you! You all hurry back to your classrooms!"

"but--!"

Before Kaori could finish speaking, Ogasawara, with a serious expression, grabbed her wrist. "Let's go back."

"Haruka!"

“Kaori,” Ogasawara said, gripping Kaori’s wrist tightly, his words clear and distinct:

"Let's go back."

Before leaving, Ogasawara turned back one last time and saw Kiyori nodding at them, pointing to his shoulder.

Qinglai's heart sank suddenly.

P.S.: Happy holidays everyone! I was shocked to see the news of Satomi Ishihara's marriage today, which reminded me of the fear of being ruled by ordinary employees back then... Another wife gone, I hope you'll be happy!

Regarding the class assignments for Asuka and the others... well, that's it... it's not important. As for Saito's grades and the fact that she didn't get into her ideal high school in the original story... well... she's not the main character anyway... okay, I don't know how to explain it, so let's just leave it at that.

Chapter 15 (Section 237) This is none of your business

After asking for leave from her class, Qinglai stayed in the infirmary to wait. Although she was reading by the window, the words on the book seemed to be ants with legs, slowly crawling in front of Qinglai's eyes.

The once immersive story had turned into difficult and obscure sentences. Qinglai had no desire to continue reading, and her mind drifted elsewhere. She stared blankly at the pages where the writing was gradually fading, completely unaware that the person on the bed had quietly opened their eyes.

Twenty minutes ago, Qinglai was pulled aside by the school doctor, who had been in a bad mood, and had a few words spoken to him.

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

"Hey you over there, come here for a second."

Kiyoshi pointed to himself with his finger, making a puzzled expression.

"It's you, come out with me for a moment."

She closed the paperback and placed it beside the bed. Kiyotori tiptoed toward the school doctor. Before leaving, she took one last look at Asuka, who was still fast asleep, and the blankets that were pulled up almost to her neck.

Kiyoshi took a deep breath.

Following the school doctor to the outside of the infirmary, Kiyora kept a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the doctor, and did not speak first, but simply followed silently behind the school doctor.

She thought she probably knew what the other person was going to say.

The school doctor walked to the window in the corridor where few students passed by, and casually took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from her white coat. She opened the pack with one hand, skillfully took out a cigarette, and was about to put it to her lips.

Do you mind?

It seems to be seeking Kiyoyori's consent.

Kiyoshi stepped back and gestured to the other person, "Please."

The school doctor paused for a moment, then chuckled and put the cigarettes and pack back into his pocket.

"He really doesn't act like a child."

She leaned casually against the window, one hand in her pocket and the other seemingly playing with a lighter.

She opened and closed the lighter case lid repeatedly.

The crisp sound of metal clashing echoed in the silent air.

"You know about that girl's situation, right?"

The school doctor didn't say it explicitly, but Kiyora knew what he was implying. Unsure of what he meant, she pretended to be clueless and asked, "What does the teacher mean?"

The school doctor clicked his tongue. "Do I really have to say those two words?"

Kiyotomi pursed her lips tightly. "What exactly is the teacher trying to say?"

“This isn’t the first time this has happened, is it? I found marks on her body that were clearly from different time periods,” the school doctor paused what he was doing. “You must know that, right?”

She saw Qinglai slowly clench his fist. "When I mentioned to her classmates earlier that we should contact our families, the first person they thought of was you. I suppose you must be special to that girl. Are you just going to ignore this?"

“That’s Asuka’s family matter… I have no right to interfere.” Kiyoshi put his hands behind his back, his hands trembling, his fingernails carving shallow crescent-shaped marks on his palms.

"Yeah……"

The school doctor nodded calmly, "So you're the student Jing was talking about."

Before Qinglai could react, the school doctor continued, "So whatever I do next will have nothing to do with you, right?"

What is the teacher supposed to do?

Alarm bells rang loudly in Qinglai's mind.

"Although I am just a school doctor, I am at least a teacher in this school, and protecting every student is what a teacher should do."

The school doctor walked past Qinglai, stirring up a gentle breeze.

Suddenly realizing what the other person was about to do, Kiyora grabbed the school doctor's wrist. "Please wait a moment!"

Please don't do that!

"reason."

The school doctor's condescending gaze made Kiyoshi feel immense pressure. "Calling Asuka's mother will only make things worse."

"So it's her mother?"

"Please..."

The school doctor, however, didn't care. She pulled her wrist away from Qinglai's hand and said, "Then we should let her come even more."

"Letting Aunt Aso know that Asuka fainted will only cause Asuka to lose even more of what she truly wants!"

This was the first time Kiyoyori had spoken so loudly in front of outsiders; perhaps shouting would be a more accurate word.

The school doctor gave her a cold look.

"This is about you, Tachibana,"

"What does it matter?"

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

What does it matter?

This is probably meant to mock her earlier statement that she had no right to interfere in Asuka's family affairs.

Kiyoshi wanted to refute this, saying, "Of course there is, absolutely."

Because Aunt Aso's arrival will inevitably make the situation more difficult to control, especially if she loses control of her emotions.

The disaster still befell Asuka.

Is it because Aunt Aso doesn't love Asuka enough?

No, she loved him too much, hated the man who abandoned her too much, and couldn't stand Asuka who had fallen in love with the euphonium.

Kiyoshi can't change anything; Aunt Aso has been the same ever since she met Asuka.

Aunt Aso could easily deprive Asuka of any chance to touch the euphonium.

That's why she couldn't see Asuka collapse from exhaustion.

Kiyoshi sat anxiously on the edge of the bed, worrying about what would happen after Aunt Aso arrived, and also about how to face Asuka.

She's been neglecting him lately.

Why are they so close yet so far apart?

The pages of the paperback edition have never been turned, remaining quietly on that page. The stories I had read before seem like distant memories, shrouded in a thick gray fog, their outlines now indistinct.

"Kiyori has been staring at that page for a long time, is he thinking about Yukinoshita-kun?"

With a snap, Kiyotaka slammed the book shut, instantly pulling her thoughts back to reality. Hearing the other person's words, she replied irritably, "I was thinking about you."

Unexpectedly, Kiyori was so direct today. Asuka, who had failed to flirt but was flirted with instead, pulled up the blanket to cover her upturned lips, revealing only her curved eyebrows and eyes. "Oh my!"

Her voice was still a little hoarse, with a slight graininess. Perhaps it was because the illness struck suddenly, and the symptoms that had been hidden were suddenly exposed, making Asuka, who was always full of energy, look very weak.

The physical cooling method was very effective. Compared to Asuka, who had a low-grade fever not long ago, her fever had subsided, and her complexion was much rosier after waking up.

Kiyoshi secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Asuka hugging the blanket and drinking water.

Asuka consciously pulled up her collar to make sure she wouldn't reveal anything to Kiyori, while Kiyori watched her actions with a heart full of heartache.

"I'm sorry for making Kiyoyori worry."

“And Kaori-senpai, Ogasawara-senpai, Saito-senpai,” Kiyoyori subconsciously avoided the topic, perhaps she was the one who should apologize, “Asuka, remember to thank the seniors as well.”