I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Kiyoshi found it rather strange; it seemed more concerned about the brass band than the national competition.

"The senior seems to care a lot about the brass band."

After saying that, I was stung by the look in the other person's eyes that seemed to say, "Are you an idiot?"

"Given that unscientific phenomenon, I just think I need to prepare in advance."

What she said was indeed correct, but Qinglai always felt that there was some other reason.

"Speaking of which, why did you decide to help Kasaki-senpai return to the brass band?"

Speaking of Kasaki, since she returned to the club, the average level of the flute club has almost risen linearly. In just a few months since her return, Kasaki Nozomi has successfully become the principal flute player. Kiyoshi dares to say that if Kasaki hadn't made a promise not to participate in this competition, Taki would definitely have put her in Group A.

Yukinoshita paused for a rare moment, not replying immediately, "This is a request."

"A commission, huh..." Kiyoyori couldn't help but recall the conversation that took place by the lake under the moonlight, "but it seems to me that you have other motives, senpai..."

Yukinoshita remained silent and continued walking forward in silence.

"I already know about what happened last year."

These words were like a thunderclap out of nowhere. Yukinoshita was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered. It seemed less surprising than she had imagined, and more like something she had expected.

"Is that so?" she asked softly. "Then Tachibana-san should understand why this matter needs to be kept a secret, right?"

Suddenly, something flashed through Kiyoyori's mind: "I guess so."

The ambiguous answer left both of them silent for a moment.

Perhaps sensing Yukino's dejection, Kiyoyori hesitated for a moment before speaking, "That wasn't your fault, Senpai. In that situation, there weren't many or better options."

There are so many things I want to say, but all I can offer is such dry, empty words of comfort. I guess only I can say that.

Kiyoshi secretly regretted it.

“That was the Service Club’s first request,” Yukinoshita looked up at the dark night sky, “and also the first request I wanted to refuse, and the first request that failed.”

Perhaps it was the night that stripped away the barriers of human defense, revealing a vulnerability beneath the snow that Kiyotaka had never seen before.

"But the senior completed the second request perfectly."

Yukino turned around, and in the hazy moonlight, Kiyoyori only saw a complicated smile.

“Tachibana-san, perhaps you are right. I accepted Kasaki-san’s request out of my own selfish reasons,” Yukinoshita stood in the shadows that were not illuminated by the streetlights, the shadows falling on her face making it impossible for Kiyoshiro to see her expression. “Because I really wanted to see the ‘future full of flowers’ that Hiratsuka-sensei mentioned. I wanted to know Kasaki Nozomi’s ending.”

I also want to know the impact of everything I've done, and even more so, whether that decision was right or wrong.

"Perhaps, all of this originated from my own selfish desires..."

Her words were scattered in the air, drifting past Qinglai's ears in fragments.

Goodnight, Tachibana-san.

Before they knew it, the two had arrived at the apartment.

The transparent automatic door separated the two. Kiyoshiro watched Yukinoshita's small hand gently waving, and unconsciously raised his hand to say goodbye to her, until Yukinoshita's figure disappeared on the other side of the door.

Kiyoshi stood still for a long time, seemingly waiting for something. Not far away, a black sedan silently glided to the side of the road, almost blending into the night.

"She has arrived home safely."

There wasn't a soul in sight around Qinglai.

“I’ve been following you all this way, so it’s about time you came out.”

The crisp sound of high heels clicking on the ground was exceptionally clear in the quiet night.

Good evening, Qinglai~

P.S.: Headache. Exams are in ten days, but my mind feels completely blank. I'm so tired. By the way, yesterday when I was writing about the scene where Asuka was asked to leave the club by her mother, it reminded me of a scene from the anime. It broke my heart.

Chapter 53, Section 276: Quite the opposite

Emerging gracefully from the corner was Haruno, who had been left with Hiratsuka Shizuka earlier. Unlike Kiyori, who wore a suit jacket, Haruno wore only a thin shirt. The sheer long sleeves, as thin as cicada wings, accentuated her fair skin under the light, making her appear like a beauty veiled in gauze, possessing an indescribable hazy beauty in the cool moonlight.

Kiyoshi awkwardly looked away.

Yang Nai stood in the cool breeze as if oblivious to the cold, but when Qing Lai looked away, she deliberately spoke to her in a trembling voice, trying to be affectionate:

"Little Qinglai, it's so cold~"

"Then hurry back to your car."

Kiyoshi secretly regretted provoking this woman to appear. He turned around and wanted to leave, but his legs, as if frozen in place, could not move according to his will.

At a distance that was neither too close nor too far, Kiyoyori only hoped that Haruno could leave as soon as possible.

"How cold," Haruno's sweet voice drifted gently into Kiyori's ears on the wind, "yet she's so gentle with Yukino."

With an unfriendly expression, Kiyoshi turned to stare at the person who had said those outrageous words. Kiyoshi stood there silently, his thoughts drifting away.

This person left so decisively back then, yet unexpectedly maintained only a lingering connection with me. Yukinoshita Haruno is like that; she only gets close to those who interest her, and when that interest fades, her "favor" also disappears. She seems to be able to chat with anyone, but in reality, she leaves herself enough room to turn around and leave.

Kiyoshi wouldn't believe in laughable reasons like "because it's a special existence".

The reason why Yukinoshita Haruno still keeps in touch with her, someone she has no interest in, is simply because she still has some use for her.

This is Kiyora's deep-seated prejudice against her.

Yukinoshita was also well aware of this.

It's more accurate to say that she orchestrated this whole thing.

Looking at the girl who wanted to be as far away from him as possible, Haruno gently curled the corners of her lips.

The fact that Tachibana Kiyoyori, who always greets others with a smile, would show such undisguised disgust towards her is perhaps what makes him so special.

"Thank you for your hard work, Knight-kun," Haruno said, walking closer to Kiyoyori in her high heels. "You even went so far as to lie to get Yukino home; it really makes me jealous~"

"It has nothing to do with you."

Kiyoshi immediately took a step back, warning the other party with his eyes not to come any closer.

Yang Nai also wisely refrained from approaching further, saying, "Let me take you home."

"no need."

Kiyoshi refused without hesitation.

“Ms. Carol is indeed having dinner around here tonight,” Yang Nai said without pressing the matter. She rested her index finger on her chin and winked innocently at Kiyoyori. “But she certainly won’t be leaving this early tonight.”

Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes, keenly sensing something amiss. "How come you..."

“Because your mother is there too,” Haruno continued unhurriedly, but Kiyora’s heart felt like it was being held by a stone. “If Kiyora doesn’t want to go home, I can go to the venue with you.”

"However, I think Kiyoyori understands why we're appearing together, right?"

At this moment, Kiyoyori's face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with anger towards Haruno that was almost overflowing.

Kiyoyori now only has one choice left. Rather than being sent home by Haruno, she can't accept appearing at this meaningless banquet with Haruno at this time.

After all, Yukinoshita Haruno had hundreds of ways to force her into the car.

Qinglai abruptly turned a corner and walked towards the van parked on the side of the road without looking back. He opened the car door impolitely, or rather, he slammed the door shut to express his extreme dissatisfaction.

It was a rare treat to see the other child's behavior, and Yang Nai happily squinted her eyes.

The temperature inside the car was vastly different from the outside, and Qinglai's anger gradually subsided under the gentle warm breeze.

This woman always managed to find her weakness, which made Kiyoshi very uncomfortable, but he was helpless to do anything about it.

She felt like a prisoner trapped in an interrogation room. Haruno always stood on the other side of the two-way mirror, able to clearly see her every move, even her emotional changes, while Kiyoyori could only sit in front of the mirror reflecting her own image, completely unaware.

Qinglai sat on the far side of the back seat, close to the car door, with his elbows on the armrests, gently supporting his chin, his gaze following the greenery outside the car window as it receded, his index finger lightly tapping his thigh.

Yang Nai sat on the other side of the back seat, also looking out the window, but secretly watching the dazed girl's face under the cover of night.

“You,” Kiyorai’s gaze remained unfocused, as if he were talking to himself, “was it done on purpose?”

But her voice remained as clear as ever, not at all like she was in a daze.

"what do you mean?"

Yang turned his head and met Shang Qinglai's probing gaze.

"Stop playing dumb," Kiyoyori chuckled. "You deliberately told me about what happened in the brass band a year ago, didn't you? It wasn't for Yorozuka-senpai's sake."

What if that's the case?

The answer was almost affirmative, but Yang Nai did not say "death."

"Could it be," as if a thread had connected all the key points, Kiyoshi clenched his fist, his knuckles turning slightly white, "that all these so-called incidents were orchestrated by you, weren't they?"

"I'm not that free yet~"

Yang Nai shrugged nonchalantly, "The origin of that incident was nothing more than an inevitable outcome that would happen within the brass band."

"And you just took advantage of that result."

"You can't just say things without evidence, Qinglai."

Her signature smile vanished behind her stretched-out lips, and Yang's cold gaze made the warm indoor space feel like a strong wind was blowing outside. "Especially things I have no memory of at all."

Kiyoyori has always adhered to the principle of not making unwarranted comments or speculations, but when all of this is associated with the name Yukinoshita, she always seems to be able to cross the line she shouldn't cross.

Kiyoyori sighed deeply, knowing she couldn't get any more information from Yono.

only--

This attitude, which was almost tantamount to tacit agreement, also allowed Kiyoyori to know what the other party was thinking.

Don't tell anyone.

in particular--

"What exactly are you..." Kiyoshi leaned back in his chair, letting out all his strength, and looked out the window at the familiar buildings.

The car stopped.

"How much do you like Yukinoshita-senpai... "

“Hmm…” Yang raised her head slightly to think, “It should be a little more than what Yukino thinks.”