I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Kiyoyo impatiently shook off Haruno's arm and distanced himself from her again. "How much do you distrust Yukinoshita-senpai?"

"No, of course I believe Yukino."

“Yes, otherwise you wouldn’t have done that,” Kiyoyori took a deep breath as he looked at Haruno’s unwavering expression. “Back then, you deliberately encouraged Sagami-senpai to intensify the conflict between Sagami-senpai and Yukinoshita-senpai. You brought the conflict that was originally hidden under the calm surface to everyone’s eyes. You were forcing Yukinoshita-senpai to make a choice and were curious about how she would choose. But this was also your way of reminding Yukinoshita-senpai.”

"Why use such a twisted method? You clearly care about Yukinoshita-senpai, don't you? Can't you just say it properly? There are clearly better options—"

Yang Nai's smile faded somewhat, but a hint of bitterness crept in.

"Why did Xiao Qinglai choose this method?"

Yukino's sudden interruption left Kiyori speechless. "If you wanted to remind Yukino, couldn't you have waited until after the meeting? Why did you have to say those things during the meeting?"

"That is……"

"Isn't it because an enemy has appeared? Even if that enemy isn't that powerful."

That person said I was still too weak as an enemy.

Something seemed to flash through Kiyoyori's mind.

"enemy……?"

"Having enemies is a good thing; it can help you grow quickly, just like what Hachiman did."

"Yang Nai...you wouldn't..."

"Oh dear," Haruno stepped forward and touched Kiyori's lips with her finger, the soft touch sending electric shocks through her skin, "I don't like Kiyori being so sensitive at times like this~."

Kiyoshi moved his lips hesitantly, stood still for a moment, then turned and walked in another direction, but stopped after taking a few steps.

"Some words, if kept hidden for too long, will never be spoken."

There was no chance to say it again.

Kiyoyori didn't turn around, so she couldn't see Haruno's expression.

Yang Nai, standing behind her, seemed to remember something, and her expression became dazed for a moment. Countless pain and regret flashed in her eyes, and she even stopped breathing for a moment.

But in the blink of an eye, everything returned to calm.

"Does Xiaoqinglai regret what she didn't say?"

Kiyoshi, unusually calm, replied, "Yes, there are many."

Why didn't you say so?

"Who knows?"

Something seemed to well up in his mouth, "Little Qinglai..."

Kiyoyori turned his head to the side. "Hmm?"

"This time, I won't make a mistake again."

"what?"

Kiyotomi didn't understand what Haruno said, but she quickly came to terms with it, because perhaps she had never understood Haruno at all, and she no longer wanted to understand the person in front of her.

only--

Yang Nai's smile was like scattered cherry blossoms.

It was an expression that Qinglai had never seen on her face before.

It is an indescribable, poignant beauty.

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

Kiyotaka left the office and walked alone toward the music room. Since there was no group practice scheduled for today, the members of the brass band had all gone back to their classes to help out, and the music room area was unusually quiet.

As Kiyoshi entered the oboe club classroom, he saw someone. Her appearance was unexpected, yet also quite reasonable.

Are they here to settle scores with her?

Qinglai hesitated for a moment at the door.

"Tachibana-san."

Despite facing the window, Yuki called out Kiyori's name accurately, "Please come in."

Her tone was calm, showing no signs of anger.

“Yukinoshita-senpai,” Kiyoyori placed the leather box containing the oboe on the desk by the door, “I thought you should be busy with the cultural festival right now.”

“I’ve temporarily handed over the work to Sagami-san,” Yukinoshita said with a slight smile, as Kiyoyori looked on in surprise. “Based on Tachibana-san’s ‘suggestion’.”

"You mean to use the word 'sarcasm'?"

"It's so good that Tachibana-san has the self-awareness to know better."

Kiyoyori was relieved that Yukinoshita was not angry.

"but--"

Kiyoshi took another breath.

“I still don’t like what Tachibana did in the meeting just now,” Yukinoshita said seriously. “As an outsider, Tachibana did not criticize the committee or Sagami’s position, let alone make such blatant sarcastic remarks in the meeting, which will dampen the committee’s enthusiasm.”

"Really? Wouldn't anyone with even a little ambition feel resentful and eager to prove themselves?"

"Tachibana herself said, 'Anyone with even a little ambition.'"

Kiyoshi chuckled softly.

"However, thanks to Hachiman, the committee seems to have found a goal now."

"'Thanks to Hachiman-kun,' huh..."

Kiyoshi repeated in a low voice, in a muffled tone that he himself didn't even realize.

"Thanks to Tachibana-san, I've also found some direction."

The setting sun cast long shadows on her profile beneath the snow, making her features appear even more striking.

"This is not just a cultural festival for me alone; the desire to make it a success is shared by everyone."

"Thank you."

That was a smile that Kiyoyori could never forget in his entire life.

A hint of heat crept onto Qinglai's cheeks.

I wasn't blushing, I was just being bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

P.S.: Sorry, I had some things to take care of today, so I'm a little late. We've actually been quite sweet lately, and there might be even more little interactions between the two of them coming up. This is the last update for now. Would you like some votes and tips? See the announcement later for details.

Chapter 34, Section 257: Is it necessary for Yan Shu to show his face as well?

Time passed slowly but surely. In the last few days, the festival's executive committee finally showed some of its true colors. No one resigned without cause, and even Sagami dutifully attended every day. Although she still handled fewer documents than Yukinoshita, she at least acted like a responsible person.

only--

There are still quite a few people secretly mocking Sagami.

Puppet Queen.

After that day, the committee members privately gave Sagami a nickname.

Kiyoyori had no idea what happened next. After that meeting, she never participated in the committee's affairs again, not because she was unwilling, but because Yukinoshita had asked her not to participate.

She's still angry, isn't she?

The brass band's training is progressing smoothly. The national competition remains the focus of their training. After more than half a year of working together, the members have developed a certain tacit understanding and a deeper understanding and bond with each other. As for the cultural festival performance, Takigaki did not get involved. After selecting the pieces and starting the training, Asuka took on all the conducting and adjustments.

It was a peaceful scene, yet it always carried the air of calm before a storm.

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

Class J, Year 1 on the day of the cultural festival

"Hey! Where did Galahad's longsword go?!"

"Is Kiyoyori with you?"

"No……"

"Wasn't it placed in the logistics department after it was finished yesterday?"

"They weren't in the props box!"

"Did he/she join the costume department?"

"Huh? But everyone's already started trying on clothes!"

The classroom was full of people dressed in strange ways, especially—

Kiyoshi was staring blankly at a cardboard prop of a tree with a hole cut out of it.

"Ah! Galahad!"

"Wow! Don't talk to me! I forgot my lines!"

The classroom was in chaos.

"Yo, Kiyora!"

A tap was patted on the shoulder. Reina walked over to Kiyoyori with her costume in her arms. It was a bodyguard costume without any lines.

"It suits you perfectly."

"Where is it appropriate?!"

Qinglai gritted his teeth and gripped the cardboard.

I don't know who came up with this terrible idea, but they said they wanted more people to participate in stage plays, not just behind the scenes, but to let everyone experience the tension of being on stage.

Since the script couldn't be significantly modified, the number of extras was "appropriately" increased, and then the others participated by acting as background figures.

For example--

Become part of the tree!