I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Chapter 69, Section 306: Older Sister and Senior Sister

Since the concert at the station building, the brass band's practice life seems to have returned to normal. Looking at the profile of the familiar senior sitting next to me, I feel a sense of security, but also an inexplicable fear.

Perhaps life has never returned to its original state, or perhaps it has simply drifted further and further away from the life it once was.

"I told you I'm serious!"

"But in another year, Mingming will graduate from university."

"That would be too late! It can't be done now!"

"But why did Mamiko suddenly want to become a beautician?"

The mother and sister were talking about something they had mentioned before: the sister wanted to drop out of school to study makeup, but the parents couldn't understand it.

"Suddenly?" Mamiko laughed with a hint of sarcasm. "I've been saying this since middle school, but Mom has always been against it, hasn't she? I've always lived according to Mom's wishes, keeping all my thoughts to myself! Just because I'm the older sister! I have to set an example!"

Ugh, so annoying.

"Mamiko."

The slightly deep voice belonged to the father.

The more Kumiko tried to ignore their conversation and pretend she hadn't heard anything, the more those hurtful words still pierced her heart.

"I really didn't want to transfer schools or take the college entrance exam," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I wanted to stay in the club like Kumiko! I didn't want to give up the trombone either!"

What is this...?

Kumiko's finger hovered in mid-air as she swiped her phone. The screen remained frozen on the screen where she had said goodbye to Reina the day before, until it automatically turned off. There, Kumiko saw her reflection in the phone screen.

"Since you're so unwilling, shouldn't you have said so before you entered university?"

Her father's words clearly angered her sister, but she still managed to control her emotions. "Who on earth created this situation that makes people speechless?"

"Perhaps your parents have put pressure on you, but even so, it was you who decided to go to university and take the college entrance exam, wasn't it?"

"If you really want to drop out of school, then leave this house. You'll have to figure out your own living expenses and the cost of your beauty lessons, understand?"

After saying that, the father left his seat first. "Don't think that pursuing ideals is risk-free. Everything you just said was just about your own feelings! If you're serious, show me your determination!"

"Mamiko, Mom won't say anything to make you—"

"Oh!"

It was the sound of a door being closed.

This debate, before it even ignited into a full-blown conflict, had already ended, but for some reason, the lingering smell of gunpowder remained in the air.

Kumiko sat expressionlessly on the sofa, aimlessly scrolling through her chat history with Reina, as if that would allow her to escape from this awkward place.

She wanted to go to a place where there was only Rena and music.

There, she didn't need to think about the future.

Her mother behind her began to sob, her soft whimpers disturbing Kumiko's already tangled mind.

"Mom, I think my sister is serious."

She looked at the beauty magazines on the coffee table, covered with notes and labels, but her mind was on another sentence her sister had just said.

[She clearly didn't want to give up the trombone either.]

So that's what my sister was really thinking?

She had never known, much less thought...

Kumiko recalled excitedly running to Mamiko's room to ask her why she had given up the trombone, even though she hadn't had a chance to play it with her sister yet.

The only answer she received from Mamiko was:

I'm so annoying.

Kumiko pressed on, but no matter how much she pressed, her sister's answer was always the same.

You're so annoying! If you keep talking nonsense, I'll shut your mouth!

Later, my sister said:

She hates the trombone the most.

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

The water in the cup overflowed and flowed down the side of the cup onto my hand; it felt a little cold.

Isn't that how my sister is too? She clearly loves the trombone to an overflowing degree, but all that extra emotion is wasted, like flowing water.

"What are you daydreaming about, Huangqian-chan!"

Someone suddenly patted my shoulder from behind, and a lot of the water in my cup spilled out.

"Ak... Asuka-senpai?"

"Practice is about to begin!"

Asuka walked towards the music room without looking back, and Huang Qian had no choice but to hurriedly follow.

The water glass hadn't been filled up yet.

"You don't seem to be feeling well, are you okay?"

When I sat down, I was somewhat surprised, but not entirely surprised, to receive care from my seniors.

"It's barely passable."

After all, her mother had said that she couldn't tell anyone that her older sister was going to drop out of university.

After all, she and Asuka-senpai didn't seem to be that close.

"The huangqian sauce really does look just like huangqian sauce."

Asuka's words are always so incomprehensible.

What do you mean?

Asuka glanced at Huang Qian without making a sound, and gently fiddled with the euphonium on her lap.

"I suppose this is a compliment."

The senior was still the same as before, with an unfathomable face, speaking in ways that were incomprehensible to others. Even so, he failed to bring Huang Qian any greater sense of security.

I always feel that Asuka-senpai, like this, might disappear without me even noticing.

She didn't know why, but she just had this premonition.

She didn't know why, but the thought of Asuka-senpai leaving the club and giving up the euphonium made her heart ache unbearably, as if her whole heart was being seized and squeezed by an unseen hand.

Until blood was everywhere.

This feeling, however, is so familiar.

She looked up at Qinglai's back as he sat in front of the band.

Did Tachibana Kiyori feel the same way?

Practice began, and Huang Qian no longer had time to think about these things.

After morning practice, Huang followed Asuka to the storage room and happened to see her putting the euphonium back into its box.

"that."

"Ok?"

Asuka stopped what she was doing and looked up at her junior, who seemed a little awkward standing in front of her. "Kiyama-chan? Is something the matter?"

"Asuka-senpai, you're not going to quit the club, are you?"

Asuka pursed her lips slightly.

Huang Qian clenched his fists behind his back.

"You won't be kicked out of the department, will you?"

"Won't--"

Suddenly, a hand reached out and pinched her lips. Looking at the increasingly enlarged face of her senior, Huang Qian inexplicably recalled the scene when she questioned her sister and the other sister forcefully slammed her textbook on the table.

"Alright! If you keep nagging, I'll sew Huangqianjiang's mouth shut!"

The lines were all too familiar, and Huang Qian struggled to speak.

But unsurprisingly, he was blocked by the other party.

"By the way, Huang Qianjiang, are you doing well on the midterms? You just started high school, is it going to be tough studying?"

Even after all this time, she still couldn't get used to Asuka-senpai's sudden change of topic.

"Uh, ah, well... math is indeed a bit..."

"I'll teach you!" Asuka seemed very excited about it. "Kiyoshi's grades are too good, he doesn't need my help at all, and lately he seems to be secretly getting tutoring from other people, really!"

Huang Qian didn't know what this meant.

"Let me see," Asuka said, pulling out her notebook. "Practice should finish early next week, so come to my house."

Huang Qian, startled by the successful change of topic, asked, "Home?"

"Then it's decided!" Asuka gave Oumae no chance to refuse. "Goodbye~"

Before they could even react, the person vanished like a wisp of wind.

Disappeared.

P.S.: Tomorrow is Lunar New Year's Eve, so I won't be updating. I won't be eating at home, and I'll probably get home very late. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year in advance!

You should be able to understand Chapter 70, Section 307.