I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

“Of course, we’re not in the animal kingdom,” Qinglai said, changing the subject as the atmosphere turned icy and the room temperature continued to drop. “A cultural festival shouldn’t be just one person shining, right?”

"This is not a cultural festival for one person."

Did you hear that?

"It is the product of everyone's hard work."

Yukinoshita-senpai.

The classroom remained silent for a long time, until—

"Tachibana, come out with me for a moment."

P.S.: I was so naive to think there would be Wi-Fi in the hospital. This Wi-Fi is practically useless; I'm using mobile data now... So I'll be posting earlier these next couple of days. By the way, the food at this hospital is really not as good as the food at my workplace.

Chapter 32, Section 254: Arriving Quietly

Obediently following Hiratsuka Shizuka out of the classroom, behind them were Hinano's thoughtful gaze and Yukino's ambiguous look.

It was still that familiar office, a familiarity that wasn't pleasant in every way, making Kiyotsugu momentarily feel like a bad student who was always being called in for a talk, even though she was clearly about to be taken in for a talk now.

The office was empty. Even the few teachers who remained smiled and said goodbye to Hiratsuka Shizuka when Kiyoyori walked in. For a moment, only Kiyoyori and Hiratsuka Shizuka were left in the large staff room.

The overhead fan slowed down as the power was cut off, and the corners of the exam papers on the desk, which had been covered by a mug, were no longer blown around in a mess.

The place was eerily quiet, like the calm before a storm, sending chills down your spine.

"Please sit down, Tachibana."

This time, Hiratsuka Shizuka did not sit at her desk, nor did Kiyori stand beside her desk. Instead, she was called to a small cubicle for a private conversation.

Two rows of vertical screens divide the office into a relatively independent space, where two sofas and a coffee table are placed. Next to the sofas is a window that is closed, with the curtains fixed to the wall. The off-white sofas are tinged red by the setting sun.

Qinglai sat down on the sofa on the side closest to the screen, his posture upright.

Hiratsuka Shizuka sat opposite Kiyori, her legs crossed. Her long, shapely legs, encased in tailored women's trousers, cast long shadows in the orange sunset. She leaned back on the sofa, her white coat open and lying beside her. She loosened the collar button that was tightly fastened at her throat and frowned as she tugged at her tie.

Then, Hiratsuka Shizuka casually took out a pack of cigarettes from the inside pocket of her coat, skillfully flicked one out of the opening, and put it to her lips. She paused for a moment, tapped the filter on her knee with her fingers, and finally put it back to her lips.

As a small flame ignites the cigarette, white smoke drifts from the burning tobacco, and a slightly pungent, yet not entirely pleasant, aroma quickly fills the air.

This was the first time Hiratsuka Shizuka had completely disregarded Kiyori's feelings and smoked so directly in front of her.

But perhaps that's not the right way to put it, because Hiratsuka Shizuka didn't actually smoke; she just lit a cigarette, held the smoking motion, and let it burn quietly.

Kiyoshi didn't like the smell, but she didn't show any sign of rejection, not even frowning, and simply maintained her upright posture.

Silence continued until the cigarette was almost burned down to the filter, and the ash, unable to withstand gravity, fell onto the coffee table, the embers gradually fading away.

Hiratsuka Shizuka took the cigarette, which was almost entirely reduced to a filter, from her lips and casually stubbed it out.

"How does it feel?"

She asked Lai calmly.

"While smoking is harmful to health, waste is also shameful."

Kiyoshi gave a vague and evasive answer.

“I mean,” Hiratsuka Shizuka said, no longer willing to play along with Kiyori’s evasive tactics, “how do you feel about Tachibana knowingly lighting a cigarette in front of you when he knows you don’t like the smell of cigarettes?”

Kiyoshi remained silent.

She knew that Hiratsuka Shizuka's implication was merely a veiled reference to her behavior at the committee meeting earlier.

Should I be angry about this?

Hiratsuka Shizuka sighed.

“I am indeed angry about this,” Kiyoyori said in a calm tone, without any trace of anger. “Teacher, you must know very well that what Yukinoshita-senpai did was wrong. She had no idea how to help Sagami-senpai. She did things that she shouldn’t have done, but you didn’t stop her. You even watched it all happen.”

“I am outraged by this.”

The smell of tobacco still lingered in the air, so strong that it nearly suffocated Kiyotaka.

"I would prefer that Yukinoshita herself notices this."

"Obviously she can't."

"Tachibana, do you really have that little faith in Yukinoshita?"

"That's not the point..."

“That girl, Yukinoshita, is too serious,” Hiratsuka Shizuka stood up and forcefully opened the window, letting fresh air rush into the small space and dilute the smell of tobacco. “She refuses to become Haruno’s shadow, yet she still follows in Haruno’s footsteps.”

"I don't want her to become Hina."

“Yukinoshita-senpai and Haruno are fundamentally different.”

Hiratsuka Shizuka smiled upon hearing this, "Yes."

"However—Tachibana, you went too far this time."

"Is that so?" Kiyoyori forced a nonchalant smile. "I think this approach is quite reasonable. It warns those members who aren't doing their jobs, reminds Yukinoshita-senpai, and incidentally wakes up the self-deceiving Sagami-senpai. It kills three birds with one stone; it's practically maximizing benefits—"

"Oh!"

Kiyoshi, who had been hit hard on the head by a paper tube pulled out from who-knows-where, clutched his head in pain.

What are you sulking about?

Kiyoyori, whom Hiratsuka Shizuka asked, was speechless.

She didn't know why she said those things in that situation.

"This isn't like you. Usually, you'd just stand by and watch indifferently from beginning to end."

"I thought that Professor Hiratsuka asked me to attend the meeting because he hoped I could say something."

Kiyoshi stubbornly tried to be defiant, but his arrogance didn't last long before Hiratsuka Shizuka reached out and pinched the soft flesh of his cheek hard with two fingers.

"Ouch! Ouch! Ouch—!"

Forced to expose his gums, Kiyoshi even had a slight lisp when he spoke. He leaned forward, trying to lighten the pressure on his face.

"Although the teacher said before that she hoped you would integrate into the group, it wasn't through this method."

Kiyoshi felt that his face must have been pinched red.

"Don't learn those messy things."

"No, learn!"

As if her sore spot had been hit, Kiyoyori thought she was glaring fiercely at Hiratsuka Shizuka, but in Hiratsuka Shizuka's eyes, Kiyoyori was like a kitten whose tail had been pinched and whose fur was standing on end in anger.

"Ha—" Hiratsuka Shizuka suddenly released Kiyori's cheek and casually ruffled her hair. "When will you be able to be more straightforward about your feelings?"

"Frank about relationships?"

Kiyoshi looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka in confusion. She tried to wave her hand to avoid the other person's harassment, but the other person pressed her firmly in their palm.

"Don't they have any self-awareness...?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka withdrew her hand, ignoring Kiyori's slightly resentful gaze, and leaned back in her chair with her arms crossed.

"Why don't you put it more directly, Professor Hiratsuka?"

“It makes a big difference when someone else says it.”

Hiratsuka Shizuka waved her hand dismissively, seemingly unwilling to bring up the topic.

"If it were you, Tachibana, you should be able to figure it out on your own very quickly."

"Although the teacher doesn't agree, but—"

"This is also part of youth."

P.S.: I was shocked to be here at 5 AM for a blood test... so early?! Then the nurse didn't loosen the tourniquet when she drew my blood. I asked her if she didn't need to loosen it, and she said of course not. Maybe I took a fake nursing class... During our competition, not loosening the tourniquet resulted in a deduction of points. Okay, fine, it's your job to draw my blood, but my arm really hurt...

I'm utterly speechless at the censorship of characters; even pinyin isn't allowed!!

Chapter 33, Section 255: It's All the Sunset's Fault

"Excuse me."

Kiyoyori left the office and had just turned around when he bumped into Haruno, who was leaning against the wall.

Their eyes met silently, but Kiyoshi quickly looked away, pretending to be calm as he tried to leave.

"Little Qinglai".

"What."

Kiyoyori didn't turn around, but remained in a position ready to leave, standing a step away from Hinano.

"I never expected Kiyora to say those things."

"Isn't this what you wanted me to say?"

"When will Kiyori start doing what I want?" This time, Haruno didn't rush to get closer to Kiyori, but stood a step away. "So, is it because you're worried about Yukino?"

"This has nothing to do with you, right?"

"I'm afraid Xiaoxue won't appreciate it."

The crisp sound of high heels hitting the floor tiles echoed in the deserted stairwell. Kiyotaka turned her head slightly, and out of the corner of her eye, she could vaguely see Hinano's figure.

"That child is very straightforward, he probably didn't realize it."

"Although Kiyori sees things more clearly, in terms of effectiveness, it might be even better than what Kiyori did, right?" Haruno continued to tease Kiyori with a smile.

"Is it based on that kind of tactic that hurts the enemy a thousand while also hurting yourself eight hundred?"

Kiyoshi snorted through his nose.

“That’s just how Kiyori sees it, maybe he doesn’t think so himself? Besides,” Haruno walked closer to Kiyori and put her arm around his shoulder, “this time, Kiyori is just the pot calling the kettle black. Maybe the committee will forget about Kiyori’s matter in the future, but Yukino won’t.”