I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Chapter 45: An Existence That Cannot Stand Idly By

Just as the two were still locked in a stalemate, the classroom curtain was lifted by a fair hand, and out emerged Ogasawara, dressed in a waitress uniform.

"Honestly, you're still slacking off outside at a time like this," Ogasawara complained to Asuka, pouting as she held the tray. "Come in and help out!"

"As ordered!"

Asuka gave the other person a salute and obediently stood up to walk into the classroom.

"Would you like to come in and sit for a while, Xiao Qinglai?"

Asuka leaned against the door frame, tilting her head slightly to get a clear look at Lai. Most of her face was hidden under an exaggerated wizard's hat, and a dark shadow enveloped her eyes, as if there was a kind of attraction that wanted to devour people, yet it also repelled any warm approach.

Kiyoshi looked at Asuka's slightly cool gaze and was speechless for a moment.

This wasn't the first time Kiyori had seen Asuka with such an expression, but he hadn't expected her to show it to him as well, as if as if she were warning him—

Do not cross this line.

Kiyoshi withdrew his hands from the edge of the table. "No, thank you."

"Asuka, go ahead and get busy. I won't bother you any longer."

Perhaps it was a lack of courage that led Kiyotaka to choose not to move forward. Perhaps standing still was the best option, giving each other appropriate space. Or perhaps, she simply couldn't catch up with the person in front of her.

At least--

Kiyoshi turned around and prepared to leave.

"Kiyoshi," Asuka called out from behind, "thank you, but I'm fine."

Thank you so much.

It was you who brought me into this world. Don't worry about me, because all of this is a predetermined ending.

"Asuka will definitely be fine," Kiyoyori turned and waved to Asuka. "See you after school."

Asuka watched Kiyori leave with a smile, the corners of her mouth gradually flattening until there was no curve left.

Perhaps, this is the only way she can go.

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

With no clear purpose, Kiyoshi began wandering around the school buildings. Even during lunch break, committee members wearing armbands could be seen working diligently, checking each class with a recorder to ensure that no accidents occurred.

On special days like the cultural festival, which is open to the public, unexpected things can happen. Since outsiders cannot be controlled, the committee has taken measures to regulate students. It's okay if it's a class like Kiyoyori's performing a stage play or a class like Yukinoshita's having an activity. As long as all the props are checked for safety before they start, there won't be any major problems. However, if it's a class activity involving food and beverages, the use of stoves is unavoidable. Even if induction cookers are used more often in such occasions, there's still a chance of tripping the circuit breaker or other accidents.

Such situations often lead to arguments and disagreements.

"I've already said, each class can only use three induction cookers!"

"It's not our class! Go ask Class A!"

"We're incredibly busy here too!"

Seeing that the two sides were about to start arguing, the committee members in charge of the tour immediately stepped forward to mediate.

"You guys really have it tough."

Kiyoyori walked up to Hikigaya, who was taking pictures around with his camera.

"You really are elusive," Hachiman said, looking at the last photo on his camera, now blurry due to his visibly shaky hand. "What are you doing here at a time like this, Tachibana?"

Kiyoyori, who was idly wandering around the school building, was clearly not in line with Hachiman's impression of her as a training fanatic.

"Of course it's because I'm bored and have nothing to do..." Kiyoyori said, glancing teasingly at Hachiman and the camera in his hand, "That's why I came here to kill time."

"Did you do this on purpose?"

Hachiman stared with his lifeless, harmless eyes, and suddenly felt an immense weight on the camera in his hand. Remembering that he had only eaten a few bites of lunch before being dragged out to work, he sighed helplessly.

"It's quite unexpected that Hikigaya-senpai is working so diligently."

"Actually, I'm looking for an opportunity to sneak away."

Although Hikigaya said that, Kiyoyori knew he was just saying it.

"Why is Hikigaya-senpai, who used to say things like 'If you work, you lose,' putting in so much effort this time?"

"Tachibana, you're the type to stay out of things you're not interested in, so why did you say those things and actively get involved in this troublesome matter?"

Hachiman retorted without backing down.

What if I said it was because of a commission?

Kiyoshi looked at Hikigaya with great interest.

"So it seems we all have the same client."

Hikigaya fiddled with his camera, avoiding Kiyoyori's gaze.

Even though they all understood that it wasn't because of the commission, but because that person was someone they couldn't stand idly by.

“Speaking of which,” Kiyoyori suddenly remembered something, “I haven’t seen Sagami-senpai since his speech this morning.”

At least, from the time Kiyoyori returned to the auditorium to participate in the class performance until she swapped bodies with Yukinoshita and took over the committee's work, she did not see Sagami.

Hikigaya glanced at Kiyori strangely, hesitated for a moment, but still didn't ask. "Ah, I haven't seen her much. She probably couldn't handle the blow this morning."

He knew very well that someone like Sagami, who was usually so arrogant, would probably feel very embarrassed if she faltered at a crucial moment. Moreover, deep down, Sagami believed that she was inferior to Yukinoshita. She used arrogance to cover up her inferiority complex, like an actor performing a one-woman show with no audience.

Are you very concerned about Sagami?

Hikigaya didn't know why he would ask a question he already knew the answer to.

Could it be that he actually had some expectations of someone named Tachibana Kiyoyori?

Kiyoshi's answer was as expected.

"I'm not concerned about Sagami-senpai, I just happened to be involved with her."

Kiyoshi, who spoke those words in an almost indifferent voice, did not notice the slight change in Hikigaya's eyes.

"The rest is the committee's job; you don't need to worry about it."

Hikigaya picked up his camera and, while taking pictures to be put into the recorder, spoke to Kiyoyori.

"That's true. With Hachiman-senpai here, there's nothing to worry about."

Qinglai shrugged.

"Hey, don't have too many expectations of me."

"Is it superfluous?" Kiyoyori skewered the slightly cool takoyaki with a bamboo skewer. "I don't think so."

After saying that, he put the takoyaki into his mouth. Perhaps it had been sitting for a while, because the bonito flakes on the sauce had become soggy.

Hmm, it really does taste better when it's hot.

P.S.: I naively thought I could eat normally after the board was removed, but I continued on a semi-liquid diet for another month. Haha, haha, hahaha, I'm going crazy.

Chapter 46, Section 269: Do you believe in the existence of gods?

The afternoon activities in the auditorium were held as scheduled. The seats had already been filled by the audience who arrived earlier, so Qinglai found a corner and leaned against the wall.

The performers on stage were not only students from the school, but also members of social groups. One such social group was a troupe of musicians led by Haruno. Watching Haruno conduct passionately on stage, Kiyoyori would always involuntarily think of the years after her teacher passed away, which were also the years she met Haruno.

Everyone says that the past is too painful to recall, but it is the most beautiful memory that Yono left in Kiyori's heart.

However, this memory now seems rather ironic.

Putting aside the performances of Yuuki and the others, the students of Soubu High School were constantly coming up with new ideas, especially the stage play of Class 2-F, the class to which Hikigaya and Yui Hama belonged. Although it was the well-known "The Little Prince", the screenwriter was a genius who managed to write a plot full of homoerotic undertones. The two lead actors lived up to expectations, and their superb acting skills made the girls in the audience scream one after another.

As the performance came to an end and the red curtain fell, Kiyoshi couldn't help but applaud.

"I heard that Hachiman-senpai was originally supposed to play?"

Kiyotomi raised an eyebrow at Hikigaya, who was standing next to her.

Hachiman shuddered. "Thank you, Committee."

"I never would have guessed that Totsuka-senpai would be so perfect for this role."

"That's Totsuka!"

For some reason, Hikigaya Asakiyo suddenly became excited and gave a thumbs up.

It's not like I'm praising you...

Before Kiyoyori could speak, Hikigaya was called away by the committee members.

“Compared to this play based on ‘The Little Prince,’ a voice suddenly whispered in Kiyoshi’s ear, ‘I definitely prefer Kiyoshi’s ‘The Holy Grail Quest.’”

"Ugh!" Kiyoyori covered his ears and moved to the side, looking at Haruno who was still approaching him with an unfriendly expression.

It has to be said that Yono is truly as her name suggests. Even in such a dark environment, she has a dazzling aura. Kiyoyori can even picture her smiling face in his mind.

"I'm truly grateful for your kind words."

Kiyoshi's first words were full of sarcasm, as if he wanted to roll his eyes to the heavens.

Yang didn't press further, but simply leaned against the wall, tilting his head to see Lai's profile clearly. "Galahad, who found the Holy Grail, did not voluntarily give it up. Instead, he followed the king's instructions and made a wish for the future of this country."

Kiyoshi looked at Yono in confusion, unable to understand what this woman was trying to say.

“I think this change is quite interesting,” Yono smiled. Although there was no light here, Kiyoyori subconsciously felt that the other person was smiling, a smile that could not hide sadness. “Do you think Galahad succeeded in the end? After all, the play ends here.”

"Who knows?"

Kiyoshi hadn't thought about this question. She originally thought that Galahad, who had voluntarily given up the Holy Grail, had gained something more important than the Holy Grail. But for some reason, she used her pen to write a completely different ending in the script.

"It's clearly the original author?"

"I haven't thought about this kind of thing; I'll leave it to the audience to imagine."

Although it sounds irresponsible, that's exactly what Kiyoyori was thinking.

"Does Kiyoyori think that Galahad's wish was made for himself?" Yono tilted his head slightly, seemingly lost in thought.