I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Chiang Lai?"

"Um... actually, I have to go back to the auditorium soon, and I still need to prepare for the class play," Kiyora stammered, trying to find an excuse. She was trying to dodge the attacks from Kasumigaoka while also playing a game of cat and mouse with Eriri to avoid being attacked even more fiercely. "It's not too late to meet after my class's performance."

“Kiyoshi,” Eriri’s voice suddenly became a little strange, “Actually, I’m with Aunt Touko right now.”

Kiyoyori froze, "Uh..."

She suddenly heard her mother's voice on the other end of the phone.

Is Kiyora dating someone else?

"It's not a date!"

Kiyorai and Eriri both retorted.

"Ara."

Yuanzi chuckled.

Kiyoshi sighed helplessly, "I'm currently in Class 2-A, so I'll go to your class."

After hanging up the phone, Kiyotaka downed the perfectly warm black tea in one gulp. "I'm sorry, Shiwa-senpai, my mother is waiting for me at my classroom. I need to go there."

Kasumigaoka picked up her phone and casually swiped the screen. If Kiyotaka wasn't mistaken, there was a series of missed calls with the contact name "Sawamura Eriri".

Chiyorai:......

Under Kiyoyori's gaze, Kasumigaoka casually smoothed her long hair, then slowly sipped her coffee. "I'll go with you. Sawamura-kun is really persistent."

Qinglai opened his mouth, but still couldn't say anything.

“However,” Kasumigaoka said with a wicked grin, approaching Kiyoyori and slipping his long fingers between Kiyoyori’s fingers, “if we can see Ms. Touko, it’s not so bad to put up with that noisy ERO artist.”

Kiyoshi immediately pulled his hand back as if he had been electrocuted, and rubbed it awkwardly on his school uniform. "Ahem, let's go, Shiwa-senpai."

The soft sensation still lingered between his fingers, and Kiyoshi clenched his fist tightly, trying to banish the feeling from his mind.

The corridor was as lively as ever. Kiyoyori Kaika walked ahead, but considerately didn't go far, occasionally turning back to check if the other was still following behind.

"Well--!"

When he turned around to check again, Qinglai bumped into a soft, bouncy object.

After covering his forehead and taking a few steps back, Kiyotaka saw a comically shaped hamster costume. It was a mascot costume, and the person inside seemed to be waving at Kiyotaka.

"Huh?"

The brown hamster also had a banner hanging on its body that read "Welcome to Class 3-J".

Isn't that Asuka's class?

Kasumigaoka helped Kiyori up from behind, "Are you alright, Shimizu-kun?"

"Uh, I'm fine."

Kiyoshi and the hamster doll stared at each other.

Could it be... Asuka...?

"Is he someone Shimizu-kun acquainted with?"

"Well……"

The hamster doll reached out and took off the headgear with the exaggerated expression, revealing her delicate face. Sweat soaked her hairline, but she had a happy expression on her face.

"Kiyoshi, did you hurt yourself when you bumped into something?"

"Kaori-senpai?!"

Kiyotomi glanced at the doll-like costume, which was completely at odds with the other person's gentle, goddess-like aura. Even the most goddess-like person would look like a mere—

Just a crazy woman...

"Ah, I'm fine. Thanks to this outfit, it doesn't hurt at all."

"Phew—" Kaori awkwardly wiped the sweat from her drenched hands, which were covered by a mascot costume. She also had a headband to fix her hairstyle. "It's hotter in this outfit than I expected!"

"Why is Kaori-senpai wearing this outfit?"

"Yes, because I'm the promotional ambassador," Kaori said, making a very cute gesture, though it looked a little clumsy against the backdrop of her mascot costume. "Welcome Kiyora and your friends to come play in Class 3-J!"

Kaori seemed to be really enjoying her job.

"Well, if you have time, please come to the auditorium to watch our class's stage play."

"Of course!"

Kaori put the hood back on and gave Kiyoyori a thumbs-up with difficulty. "Well then, I'm going back to work."

Kiyoshi was momentarily stunned as he watched Kaori's swaying figure disappear into the distance.

"Is this another one of Shimizu-kun's 'seniors'?!" Kasumigaoka's voice seemed to be tinged with resentment. "There are definitely more and more beautiful girls around Shimizu-kun!"

Kiyoshi gave an awkward smile.

But it seems like the other person previously considered me a rival in love.

Indeed, in Kiyoyori's eyes, Kaori's feelings for Asuka were blatantly obvious, and there were always some intimate actions between the two that went beyond the scope of friendship, which, to put it bluntly, was—!

"Kasumigaoka Utaha!"

Walking angrily from the opposite side was Eriri, who had been abandoned by Kiyoyori and Kasumigaoka not long ago in the Great Hall, followed by Touko with a beaming smile.

Qing Lai suddenly felt tired.

“Sawamura-kun, this is a public place.”

"You woman!"

Eriri walked up to Kasumigaoka in a huff, but the natural height difference made her aura instantly less imposing than Kasumigaoka's.

"A year has passed, and Sawamura-kun's figure still hasn't improved much," Kasumigaoka lowered her eyes and chuckled. "Could it be that her glass-like flatness is evolving into a frosted glass-like flatness? Doesn't Sawamura-kun know the saying 'half-concealed face while holding a pipa'? Maybe a certain distance is actually beneficial to the development between Shimizu-kun and me~."

"Shut up!"

Kiyoshi stood not far away watching the two bicker, trying to sneak away, but his wrist was grabbed.

"Where is Kiyoyori going?"

"Mother……"

"Yes, that child is indeed Kiyoyori's girlfriend."

"No, that's not true..."

Yuanzi was silent for a while, then said, "Being a womanizer isn't good."

"No, I didn't!"

P.S.: I got a new phone! For the first time, I've kept up with the trend and switched to the latest Huawei phone. I've always used iPhones before, so it took me a while to get used to it, but this new phone is really user-friendly. It's just that my hands are too small, and the Pro is quite big; I can't even hold it in one hand, which is a bit of a headache. But when I see Yukino's image enlarged on the lock screen, I can't help but smile like a doting aunt. By the way, the lock screen is also the cover of this post; this lover's perspective is just irresistible!

It's been censored, but I believe that everyone who has loved anime for many years knows what ERO is, right? If you really don't know, just think about what Eriri draws and you'll understand.

Chapter 40, Section 263: A Shared Dark History

"So, where did Kiyora go to slack off just now?"

It had been a while since Class J's stage play performance began, and the main actors had gradually gotten into character. The plot was also progressing slowly as time went on. Just as the intermission was approaching, only the main actors and the background actors remained on stage, while the extras from the previous round retreated backstage.

Reina happened to be one of the extras.

She teased Kiyoshi, who was wearing a bodysuit.

"I didn't slack off..."

Kiyoshi awkwardly tugged at the fabric clinging to his body.

Although it's a cultural festival held only once a year, all expenses are deducted from the class fund. Cost control should be as economical as possible, and enjoying the process of handicrafts is also one of the meanings of the cultural festival. Therefore, the raw materials are bound to be of lower quality.

Despite the modifications made by the skillful classmates, the strange feeling of wearing it could not be changed. Of course, it is also possible that Qinglai's psychological effect was at play.

Kiyoshi was restless, tugging at this and that with his hands.

Is it really that awkward?

Rena beside him was removing her glittering silver armor.

"Why don't you give it a try, Reina?"

With annoyed, Kiyotaka rolled her eyes and picked up the cardboard tree leaning against the wall.

So why do we need a human to come when a problem that can be solved with a stent is so easy to fix?

And why does it have to show your face even if you're playing a tree?

The thought that Touko's mother, sitting in the audience, would record all of this with a video camera to write "Kiyoshi's Growth Record," which is actually "Kiyoshi's Dark History of Growth," made Kiyoshi want to smash his head against the wall backstage.

I'm sure Carol's mom will laugh at me when I get home.

Yes, she could laugh about this for a whole year.

Oh, and Eriri too.

Oh my god...

Kiyoshi leaned his head against the wall helplessly, refusing to go on stage in this damn bodysuit and prop tree.

However, the lead actors on stage could not hear Lai's inner cries. They continued to perform according to the script, and soon the stage lights went out.

The support staff quickly came on stage to prepare the props for this scene, and the lead actor also stepped down from the stage to help other students carry the props for the next scene.

"It's your turn, Kiyoshi!"

Reina patted his back lightly, and Kiyotaka, feeling utterly hopeless, followed the other students onto the stage with the cardboard tree. After standing in the designated spot, Kiyotaka, with the kind help of his classmates, stuck his head into the hole left in the cardboard tree.

Ah, just let me die like this...

Stiffly, Kiyora was posed by his classmates. Holding two small props representing tree branches, he took a deep breath in the darkness.

You can't see me, you can't see me.

You can't see me, you can't see me.