I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Chapter 55, Section 278: The Imperfect Senior

"Huang Qian, could you please take these materials to the office and give them to Mr. Matsumoto?"

I received a large stack of paper documents from the class monitor. These were files from a previous college application survey, outlining each student's future plans, such as what kind of job they wanted, whether they would start working after graduating high school, or which university they wanted to attend. Zongwu High School emphasizes future planning from the first year, even though most of them hope to continue their education.

Education is always an overly pragmatic thing; no matter what industry you work in, those with professional education always have more opportunities.

The same applies to playing wind instruments.

Huang Qian looked at the survey paper on the top of the table, which bore the name "Kawashima Midori" and featured his friend's neat and distinctive handwriting.

Become a professional cellist and work in an orchestra.

I really wish I could write this sentence with that same confidence.

She sighed inwardly, recalling the words she had written at her parents' urging.

"Hey……"

He couldn't help but sigh again.

"what happened?"

Thinking the other person was unwilling to make the trip to the office, the class monitor asked in confusion, "I'm sorry, Kumiko, I have other things to do, could you please help me?"

Indeed, the wrap-up work for the cultural festival is not yet completely finished, and the class monitor, as the person in charge of the class, always has endless things to do.

“Ah, no,” Huang Qian shook his head, “I’ll take it.”

She held the stack of papers, which seemed light, but for some reason felt something heavy pressing down on her arm.

To avoid further misunderstandings, Huang Qian hurriedly left the classroom and headed towards the music office.

Speaking of which...

On the way, she inexplicably thought of things from third grade.

It's time to clarify our choices by third grade...

She suddenly remembered the older sister she had grown up with who had given up playing instruments to pursue her dream.

Then I suddenly remembered that senior who was always the first to arrive at the practice room. Her playing skills were superb, her management skills were outstanding, her grades were excellent, and her appearance was outstanding.

Asuka-senpai, there shouldn't be any problem, right?

Speaking of which, it seems that my senior really likes the euphonium. Will she choose to become a professional musician like Reina?

Huang Qian couldn't quite explain what Asuka, as a senior, meant to her. She was admired by all the juniors in the brass band. Compared to the club president, Haruka, or Kaori, who was known as the Madonna of the brass band, Asuka seemed to be more admired by everyone.

Unlike Reina, Huang Qian could sense the complex feelings he had for Asuka.

Even someone as perfect as him has an imperfect side.

She had to admit that she was somewhat curious, yet found it hard to imagine.

And then there are the expressions that the other person sometimes shows, expressions completely different from her usual ones.

Or perhaps, they never truly understood the real Asuka.

Lost in thought, Huang Qian unknowingly arrived at the music office.

I glanced at it briefly, but I didn't see Mr. Matsumoto, who should have been sitting in his seat.

The music office wasn't as crowded as the other offices, but a sharp sound unexpectedly broke the silence.

"How are you going to compensate us?!"

It's hard to imagine such words, which sound like debt collection, appearing in a school, and—

Huang Qian followed the sound and saw Takigawa standing calmly behind his desk, his glasses slightly reflecting the light, his fingers touching.

That's the action he usually does.

He seemed unmoved by the woman's questioning.

Huang Qian then saw the elegantly dressed woman. She had short, neat hair, wore a knee-length pencil skirt and a fitted plain suit. She was carrying a leather handbag in one hand and a piece of paper in the other, and she angrily shoved it in front of Takigatsu.

"Our Asuka is going to take college entrance exams! How can she waste her time in such a silly club at such a crucial time!"

It wasn't until he heard that overly conspicuous name in the sentence that Huang Qian belatedly realized what was going on.

The long-haired girl who had been standing quietly beside the woman, with her head bowed obediently, was actually Tanaka Asuka-senpai.

Taki remained silent, but a teacher with thinning hair standing next to him spoke up, "Mrs. Tanaka, the brass band has achieved unprecedented results this year. It can't be said that this was just a joke."

He downplayed the issue, intentionally trying to ease the tense atmosphere.

The usually eloquent senior also remained silent.

But this statement seemed to further enrage Aso. "I said our Asuka is going to university! Why waste Asuka's precious time on something that has no future value?!"

Huang Qian stood there in shock. She had never imagined that someone would describe the music and playing she loved as "useless stuff," and that this person was the mother of Asuka-senpai, who could play heavenly music.

"This..." The teacher awkwardly wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, "But, this year the wind band finally made it into the national competition, which is not only a great achievement for all the members of the wind band, but also for the school—"

"What does this have to do with us!"

The woman remained as hysterical as ever.

Huang Qian couldn't see the anger in the man's eyes, but she felt inexplicably empty inside.

How did Asuka-senpai practice playing the wind instrument in such an environment?

“I said this before I decided to participate in the competition,” Taki said slowly. “Going to higher education is important, but the goal of everyone is to advance to the national competition. Those who cannot achieve both must make a choice. At that time, Tanaka did not withdraw from the club, and her performance in the competition was beyond question.”

"Leave the department?" Aso seemed to grasp something. "Okay!"

She took a piece of paper out of her bag and slammed it onto Taki's desk. "This is Asuka's resignation application. Approve it now!"

Huang Qian hurriedly took a step forward and tightly hugged the paper in his arms.

"Well... Mrs. Tanaka, Tanaka-kun is indispensable to the brass band—"

"Tanaka-kun, did you write this resignation application from the club of your own volition?"

Taki ignored everyone else and stared sharply at Asuka, who remained silent, until Asuka tilted her head uncomfortably.

“I understand,” Taki nodded slightly. “Please allow me to refuse, Ms. Tanaka.”

"what?!"

"This application was forced upon Tanaka by Ms. Tanaka and was not written by Tanaka himself. As a teacher, I respect the student's choice."

This made Aso even angrier. "Speak! Speak!"

She yelled at Asuka, "Tell him that this is your own decision to quit!"

The woman's shrill voice echoed in the empty office.

"Mom, I don't want to—"

Asuka's words were cut short by a heartbreakingly loud sound.

Huang Qian could almost hear a broken sound.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! Asuka, Mom didn't mean it!"

The strong woman suddenly pleaded with a sob in her voice, as if she were a mentally unstable patient.

Asuka, however, was used to it.

She casually straightened her crooked glasses, avoided Taki's concerned gaze, and bowed deeply to him. "I'm very sorry, Mr. Taki, please allow me to take leave from today's club activity."

Taki nodded, offering no further words of comfort.

He took his mother's hand like a child and said, "Let's go home, Mom."

This is not a kind remark.

Huang Qian stared blankly as Asuka, her face swollen and red, walked past her. She didn't greet her; she just stood there, watching her tall figure gradually disappear into the distance.

It seems that something has begun to crumble from this moment on.

P.S.: So busy, so busy, I want to sleep in!

Chapter 56 Fork in the Road (Section 279)

Qinglai knew nothing about what was happening in the music office until he bumped into Huang Qian at noon, his gaze both evasive and filled with surprise.

Kiyoshi found the other person's probing and hesitant gaze intriguing, but he didn't bring it up himself.

While packing his schoolbag before leaving school, Kiyoyori accidentally found the hair tie that Asuka had complained about not being able to find not long ago in a hidden compartment of his backpack. Perhaps he had accidentally left it with her some time ago.

To avoid forgetting, Kiyotaka tied the red hair tie around her wrist. The blood-red color stood out against her fair skin, bright and glaring, just like that person's usual style.

I received a group text message from Taki, which basically said that today's ensemble practice would be changed to individual training for each section.

This is a piece of news that doesn't attract much attention. Such things happen frequently and there's no discernible pattern. Sometimes it's due to problems with the staff, sometimes it's just a whim of Taki, or it's more accurately described as a surprise assessment.

However, the news came a little later than usual today.

Kiyoshi casually closed Takigaki's message interface, opened Asuka's LINE, and took a picture of his wrist.

"You left your hair tie with me, should I take it to the bass section now?"

Kiyotomi walked towards the practice room while waiting for Asuka's reply, but the message remained unread, let alone received a reply from Asuka. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure whether she should send another message, and stood there in place.

"Ching Lai."

Mizore patted Kiyoyori on the shoulder from behind.

“Ah,” Kiyoyori put away his phone, “Mizore-senpai.”

Mizore glanced at Kiyoyori's hastily put away phone, showing no interest. "Aren't you going to the practice room?"

They're probably practicing.

Kiyoshi dismissed any unnecessary doubts and said, "Of course."