I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Please enlighten me, senior!"

“You’re afraid,” Yukinoshita said, seemingly oblivious to Kiyori’s emotional fluctuations. “Afraid that Tanaka-senpai will leave, Tachibana-kun. Pretending you weren’t involved won’t change the outcome.”

"I……"

She wasn't afraid of this day coming, but rather that it was coming so soon.

"Would Yukinoshita-senpai help someone who refuses your help?"

"Will do."

"why?"

"A refusal does not mean that the other party does not need it."

Yukinoshita tapped her index finger lightly on the table. At some point, this gesture had become a habit of hers. "The more two-faced a person is, the more they crave to be bound."

And the more difficult it is to fulfill this desire, the harder it becomes.

Perhaps sensing the meaning behind Yukinoshita's words, Kiyoyori silently moved his lips, finally swallowing the words on the tip of his tongue along with the tea.

"Senior, you are invading someone else's territory."

"That depends on whether the other party gives you a chance."

"Is that so..."

The only person whose domain has been invaded by someone named Yukino Yukinoshita is probably the current Kiyoyori Tachibana, who looks like a defeated dog. She shouldn't have shown her vulnerability in front of Yukinoshita, but she always unconsciously revealed it, giving the other party the opportunity to invade.

The girl named Yukino Yukinoshita may have already taken on a different meaning.

"Senior, I'll take my leave now."

Kiyoshi placed the still-steaming tea on the table, pushed back his chair, stood up, and bowed slightly to the snow.

Unlike her usual style of neatly bundling her hair up, Kiyotaka simply tied her hair up today. Playful strands slipped down as she bent over, and the image of that poor little cat suddenly reappeared in Yukino's mind. Her blue eyes held too many indescribable emotions, as if she wanted to be comforted.

"Excuse me."

Despite speaking in a way that creates a sense of distance, she is constantly enticing Yukinoshita to come closer.

"Wait a moment."

Before she could react, Yukinoshita reached out and grabbed Kiyoyori's wrist. When Kiyoyori looked at her in confusion, she suddenly realized what was happening.

"I have something for you."

After saying that, he stood up and walked to the kitchen, leaving Qinglai standing at the table, completely bewildered.

Opening the refrigerator door, Yukinoshita gently took out a cake packaged in a transparent box.

This is what she made yesterday.

Although it was just a whim to try making a new dessert, I don't know why I kept a piece of it. I wrapped it up and put it in the refrigerator without thinking. Perhaps out of comfort for this poor junior, Yukinoshita decided to give her the cake.

Even though the decision came to her in a fleeting moment, she remembered that the other person liked desserts.

She always has a very good memory.

Or perhaps,

The moment she invaded Kiyoyori's domain, her own domain was also invaded by her.

It's hard to deny, and there's no need to deny it.

She didn't dislike this feeling.

Yukino awkwardly brushed the hair around her neck, trying to dissipate the heat from her ears, but then, as if realizing something, she covered her slightly reddened ears with her hair.

"Take it back."

After placing the cake in Kiyoshiro's hands, Yukinoshita returned to her seat.

"This is?"

"Cake, doesn't Tachibana-san have eyes?"

Her embarrassment made her speak without thinking.

“I know,” Kiyotaka said, not caring, but not understanding the other’s sudden action. It seemed like a gesture to keep her, but Yukinoshita’s words did not indicate that she wanted to stop her from leaving. “Why did you suddenly think of giving me a cake, senpai?”

And it's clearly handmade.

"Isn't the brass band going to the station building for a music festival tomorrow?"

Yukinoshita hastily found a plausible reason: "Consider it a gift of comfort."

“I see,” Kiyoyori said, carefully holding the cake and smiling slightly. “So, can I take that to mean I’ll be able to see you at the concert at the station building tomorrow?”

Yukino paused in her writing motion.

"If that's what you think."

P.S.: New ideas are starting to emerge, including supernatural and mystical themes. I wonder what everyone thinks. Of course, no matter how many ideas come up, I'll definitely prioritize finishing this story first.

Chapter 67, Section 304: I've decided to play a solo.

For this concert at the train station building, the main band of the Wugao Wind Ensemble chose performance outfits full of youthful energy: simple green T-shirts, with the girls wearing white mini pleated skirts and the boys wearing pure white trousers, simple and refreshing.

Everyone arrived at the venue early in the morning to gather and wait for the appearance of the Chief Martial Arts Academy.

The concert was held in several venues. Because the station building is a relatively busy area and consists of several high-rise buildings, the participating orchestras were divided into several groups.

As luck would have it, Soubu was following right behind Kiyoshi.

Fortunately, this wasn't a competition, so while some nervousness was inevitable, there wasn't any real anxiety.

Just come here to enjoy the music and every moment of performing on stage.

This is what Takigaki told everyone; he can always pinpoint the problems in the brass section, whether it's a problem with playing or something else.

Clutching his team uniform under his arm, Qinglai gently turned the pages of the sheet music, his eyes unconsciously gazing toward the station exit.

"What's wrong, Qinglai?"

Reina stepped forward and poked Kiyoyori's shoulder with her finger, then followed her gaze to the bustling exit.

"Hmm?" Kiyoshi turned around upon hearing this and saw Reina, who had already changed her clothes. Compared to the more dignified Western-style school uniform, this outfit made her look more youthful and beautiful. "Why did you even change your clothes?"

There's still quite a while before Soubu High School takes the stage, and it's autumn now. Even if we change into short sleeves without any performances, we'll still feel the chill of the cool autumn breeze.

"Not everyone is as afraid of the cold as Kiyoyori."

A hint of teasing appeared in Reina's eyes, "Didn't Kiyora bring her all-purpose down vest today?"

"Speak up!"

Kiyoshi was unusually furious.

This all goes back to an interesting incident that happened in elementary school. Anyway, from then on, everyone knew the undeniable fact that Kiyoyori was afraid of the cold, and it was from then on that Kiyoyori began to pay more attention to his appearance.

"Several dressing rooms have become available, and each section is using them in rotation. It seems that the performance order has been temporarily changed, and a social group is temporarily unable to participate."

Because she was standing in the shade of the building, a gust of wind blew by, causing Reina to sneeze delicately.

"Seriously, you..." Kiyoshi sighed and unfolded his team uniform, draping it across Reina's shoulders to cover some of her exposed skin. "You should know when to stop being so stubborn."

"Um, thank you."

Reina seemed a little shy.

Kiyoshi didn't take the opportunity to make fun of him; he just shrugged indifferently.

"When you said the performance order had changed, did you mean we would be moved to another concert venue?"

Reina shook her head, half of her face hidden in Kiyoshi's clothes. "It was Kiyoshi who was moved, but because of that, our performance order was moved up. Taki-sensei told us to prepare in advance."

Which orchestra cancelled at the last minute?

Kiyoshi remembered that among the several social orchestras, there was one she liked. She had originally planned to listen to it before or after Sobu High School's performance, but now she was unsure.

"It seems to be a social group affiliated with Chiba University. Apparently, the director suddenly had something come up and couldn't make it, so they had to put on a comedic performance at the last minute."

Chiba University...?

Kiyoshi frowned slightly.

Yang Nai Me?

"Chiang Lai?"

"Ok?"

“You’re daydreaming again,” Reina gently nudged Kiyoyori’s ankle with her white sneakers. “It’s a good thing you didn’t have a solo performance today.”

"Sorry, sorry."

Kiyoshi clasped his hands together and gave a pleading smile.

"Really..."

"Rina!"

A familiar voice came from behind. Before Qinglai could turn around, a bundle of clothes was stuffed into his arms.

It was her team uniform, which was now a bit wrinkled.

"Kumiko."

Reina tossed her hair and calmly called out the name of the girl running towards them. Her relaxed demeanor in the cold wind made it seem as if the person who had just been sneezing with hunched shoulders was not her at all.

Hey, hey... this difference in treatment is way too obvious.

Kiyoshi smiled wryly and shook out the crumpled T-shirt, trying to straighten it out.

"Ah, Kiyora!"

What? It's like they only realized there was someone else here after they got here.

Qinglai silently complained to himself, consciously deciding not to be a third wheel between the two of them, "You two chat, I'm going to change my clothes."

I wonder if she'll become the center of attention in the band wearing such wrinkled clothes.