I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Oh, it's Kiyorae?" Asou's voice softened, just like her usual self, not as hysterical as before. "Looking for Asuka?"

If Kiyoyori hadn't learned about what happened in the music office that morning from Huang Qian, he wouldn't have noticed anything unusual in Aso's voice.

"Yes, I heard from Asuka's classmates that Asuka left school early, and I was a little worried that she might be feeling unwell, so I wanted to come and see her."

This excuse was something Kiyoyori had thought of beforehand; she tried to avoid talking to Aso about anything related to music and the euphonium.

There was a long silence on the other end of the walkie-talkie, so long that if it weren't for the faint breathing sounds coming from the other end, Qinglai would have thought that the conversation had been unilaterally cut off.

"I'll have her come out and find you."

The conversation was abruptly ended, and without permission to enter, Kiyoyori had no choice but to wait outside.

"Tachibana-san."

An unexpected figure appeared not far away. It was Xue Shita, who was there for some unknown reason, and she was carrying a schoolbag and a leather box that clearly did not belong to her.

"Yukinoshita-senpai?"

Why is she here?

Seemingly noticing Kiyoyori's confusion, Yukinoshita held up her bag. "I just ran into Yorozuka-san. She said you left something important at school, and since she doesn't know Tachibana-san's address, she hopes I can help you return it."

What Yukino didn't mention was the matter of returning the money; it was actually her own idea, as a way of repaying a previous favor.

Kiyotomi's mind was clearly elsewhere; she simply thanked him blankly and took her schoolbag and oboe from him.

"Thanks……"

The door was opened from the inside, and Kiyora finally saw the person she had been longing for.

Asuka, standing before me, was dressed casually in cartoon slippers that didn't suit her style. These were a prank gift from Kiyora, which Asuka surprisingly liked.

Her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, but it wasn't as smooth as it was at school; it was a little rough and partially covered one side of her face.

They stared at each other for a long time, oblivious to everyone else. Kiyoshi and Asuka remained silent. Asuka's eyes were calm, as calm as a lifeless pool, but Kiyoshi saw the turmoil beneath the calm surface. When this feigned calm met the undisguised heartache.

A sharp claw instantly shattered all illusions.

"Asuka..."

Kiyoshi wanted to reach out and touch Asuka's injured face, but was surprised to find that his hands were already occupied.

Chiang Rai...

They can only see each other.

A warm body suddenly crashed into Kiyoshi's arms, her waist embraced by a pair of strong but trembling arms. Strands of hair fell into Kiyoshi's collar, and the fragrance of his post-bath enveloped him. The body in his arms trembled slightly, and the collar of his clothes was wet with hot tears.

Suppressed sobs pierced Qinglai's already broken heart.

The backpack fell to the ground with a thud, and Kiyoshi hugged Asuka tightly with both hands.

Asuka!

Asuka.

Asuka...

The person beside me had disappeared into the wind at some point.

P.S.: Feel free to leave a comment about what kind of New Year's Day bonus episode you'd like to see—a sweet little treat or something a bit saccharine. I'll try to write it when I have time, but it might not be posted on time. Just to reiterate, smut is absolutely out of the question!!

It's almost the end of the year, and I've been busy with work and exams lately. I'll be changing departments next month, so I don't know how busy I'll be. If I have more free time, I might resume daily updates, or even update more frequently than I am now. However, I have more important certification exams next year, so my focus will still be on my main job. Thank you all for your continued support during this time!

Chapter 58 Special People (Section 281)

Asuka's absence from the brass band practice spread to every member of the band immediately. Like many rumors, there were many versions of why she was absent, and even her temporary absence was interpreted as her leaving the band. This caused a great deal of anxiety among the members. Although Asuka was not the club president, she was more like their spiritual leader. No one could accept her leaving, let alone Kiyoyori.

"Chiang Rai! Chiy Rai!"

Reina waved her hand in front of Kiyoyori, but the person whose name was being called still stared blankly ahead, resting his chin on his hand, looking deep in thought.

With a heavy sigh, Reina lowered her hand and stopped trying to wake Kiyoyori, who seemed to be in deep meditation.

These days, Kumiko also gets distracted from time to time, but she's not as exaggerated as Kiyoshi. She's also been working harder on her euphonium practice, as if she's eager to prove something.

Reina didn't have the same deep feelings for Asuka as Kumiko and Kiyori. She didn't know what had happened, and she felt more regret than Kiyori's worry.

Because Asuka Tanaka is truly a talented and passionate musician.

Reina knew what Asuka-senpai meant to Kiyoyori; there was no room for anyone else to interfere between them.

However, continuing like this is not a solution for Qinglai.

Without hesitation, he reached out and pinched Kiyoshi's nose, then flicked the other's forehead lightly with his other hand.

A brief feeling of suffocation pulled Kiyoshi out of his own world. Before he could recover, he felt a flash of pain on his forehead.

"Hmm, Reina..."

"So Kiyoyori does know who I am."

Qinglai was speechless for a moment, then pursed his lips.

"Asuka-senpai," Reina suddenly mentioned, causing Kiyoyori to pause in surprise, "Will you really leave the club?"

This was the most widely circulated rumor, and the outcome that all the members of the brass band dreaded most. Kiyoyori wanted to shout to everyone that Asuka wouldn't leave the club, that she wouldn't leave until they fulfilled their promise, because Asuka was a person who kept her promises, but—

She couldn't convince herself with even such reasons.

Will Asuka quit the club?

she does not know.

“I don’t know…” Kiyoyori’s expression was gloomy, and she clasped her hands together anxiously. “I don’t know, Reina.”

Her fingertips still seemed to retain the warm touch of yesterday's embrace of Asuka, her waist seemed to still feel the other's tight hug, and her neck seemed to still have tears sliding down her eyes, burning her heart as they ran down Kiyori's skin.

From what day did Kiyoyori stop seeing Asuka's vulnerable side? Should it be defined as "growing up"? She didn't know, but this kind of growing up seemed too bitter.

It's been such a long, long time since I've seen Asuka so fragile.

"Kiyoshi, are you alright?" Reina placed her hand on Kiyoshi's hand, gently stroking it. Her soft fingertips caressed Kiyoshi's skin, causing him to close his eyes in pain.

A throbbing, aching sensation surged wildly outwards from his chest, filling every cavity of his heart, pounding against Qinglai's chest again and again with each heartbeat.

“I’m so scared, Reina,” Kiyoshi said, squeezing Reina’s hand back. “I’m so scared.”

Even though Kiyoyori maintained her usual calm demeanor, Reina could see the unease surging within her.

In the slightly noisy classroom, no one paid attention to Kiyoshi and Reina. As if isolated in a quiet little world, Kiyoshi let fear surround her.

Reina stood up, walked to Kiyoyori's side, and gently pulled his head into her arms. "What are you afraid of, Kiyoyori?"

The reassuring scent dispelled the surging unease, "the fear that she might leave."

“But even if Asuka-senpai leaves the club, she will still be Kiyoyori’s Asuka, and that won’t change.” Reina gently stroked Kiyoyori’s hair, which was surprisingly not tied up today.

“Reina wouldn’t understand…” Kiyoyori knew that this was rude, so she leaned against Reina’s lower abdomen and gently rubbed her nose against her. “Asuka is different from all of us.”

Reina wasn't angry; she just patted Kiyoshi's head reassuringly. "I really can't understand Asuka-senpai. Given the reality, she has to prepare for her exams soon, and her mother doesn't approve of her staying in the club. So why does she want to stay?"

"Because I like the tukulele."

Kiyoshi answered in a low voice.

“That doesn’t mean you have to stay in the brass band. Asuka-senpai and Kiyori’s promise was to play together, and that promise was fulfilled the moment we participated in the Tokyo Metropolitan Competition. In my opinion, senpai no longer has any reason to stay in the brass band,” Reina felt the breathing of the person in her arms suddenly become heavier. “If you like the tutti, you can continue to like it even if you’re not in the brass band. Rather than someone who is ‘likes this club,’ Asuka-senpai is probably the type who is ‘as long as I can continue playing, nothing else matters.’”

Reina has always been straightforward, and what she said was absolutely right; Kiyoshi couldn't find any way to refute it.

"Parents should not be the decision-makers for clubs, nor should they be the decision-makers for college admissions."

“Reina is real,” Kiyoyori said with a bitter smile where no one could see, “She’s never changed since before.”

They're different from me and Asuka.

“I’m increasingly unable to understand what Asuka is thinking,” Reina said, a faint fragrance emanating from her, a fragrance that neither Kiyoshi nor Asuka possessed, or rather, that had been deliberately forgotten and lost. Kiyoshi took a deep breath. “I also don’t understand what I really want.”

She felt like she was moving forward, following the figure she had been chasing for ten years, but she seemed to have lost her way.

The figure disappeared.

I don't know when it happened.

“The gold medal in the national competition,” Reina’s voice became clearer in my ears again, “If Kiyoyori doesn’t know what he wants right now, the gold medal in the national competition is our goal, and that’s the only thing that will never change.”

"That's wonderful, Reina. You're always so brave and determined."

This is something Kiyoyori cannot possess, and it is also what makes Reina special.

Surely it won't change...?

Memories of the past flood back, yet the faces of familiar people are indeed so blurry.

Now that we've come this far, no matter what, we must go nationwide and let everyone hear our performance!

Asuka, what are you thinking?

So what exactly do you want to do?

This time, is it possible?

Don't exclude me anymore.

P.S.: I have an exam next week, and my head hurts so much. No!!!

Chapter 59, Section 282: Concert at the Station Building

As if mocking everyone else's worries, Asuka, after making headlines with news that shocked the entire brass band, appeared in the music room with her usual smiling expression. Her every move was no different from usual. Holding her gleaming silver euphonium, she sat at the back of the orchestra, smiling and greeting her juniors.

It was as if nothing had happened.

Kiyoshi kept glancing back at the person surrounded by club members. She was sitting in a chair, her face obscured by the crowd of people who came to greet her. Kiyoshi could only see the person's smirking face through the gaps.

Unlike the others, Kiyotaka didn't go up to offer her help. Instead, she sat quietly in her seat, absentmindedly tuning her oboe. Unlike the other members, she had witnessed Asuka's vulnerability, her tears, and her compromises. Asuka had hidden all of this, which was why she was here now. Kiyotaka couldn't turn a blind eye, much less pretend not to see it.