I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Fortunately, Qinglai was a clever child and immediately understood his mother's meaning. "Hehe, this gold one is so pretty!"

She knew that Asuka's euphonium was silver, and Asuka's mother must have known that too.

Aso withdrew his gaze, took Asuka's hand, and said, "Thank you, Kiyoyori. Asuka can come and see the golden instrument another time; it is indeed a bit late today."

"Yes, Asuka-neechan still has to go to school."

Yuanzi tried to smooth things over.

"Mmm," Kiyoyori tugged at Touko's leg and waved to Asuka, "Goodbye, sister."

Leaving the Tachibana house, Asuka looked up at her silent mother, a little uneasy, "Mom..."

Just when Asuka thought Aso was going to say something like that she shouldn't associate with Kiyori too much, Aso spoke up, "Auntie treated you to dinner today. Asuka, please take good care of Kiyori from now on."

Seemingly surprised by her mother's words, Asuka didn't react for a moment. She thought that her mother would not allow her to become close to Kiyoyori, who came from a musical family.

"You're the older sister, you need to take care of your younger sister, understand?"

"Ah."

With the tacit approval of both families, Kiyoyori and Asuka's relationship grew closer. Since they attended the same school, Asuka would pick Kiyoyori up from the Tachibana family home every morning to go to school together, and they would also go home together, just like real sisters.

In return for Kiyora providing a safer and better-equipped practice location, Asuka also shared her little secret with Kiyora:

That was because my euphonium and sheet music were sent by my father.

It was at this time that Kiyoyori learned that Aso actually didn't like Asuka playing the euphonium.

Asuka knew that Kiyoshi didn't like music, so she didn't force her to practice with her. But for some reason, Kiyoshi always liked to stay by her side and watch her practice, whether in the Tachibana family's practice room or under the bridge by the river.

"Why does Asuka continue playing the euphonium even though Aunt Aso disagrees?"

Was it to chase after her father? Kiyotsugu didn't know. She wasn't actually interested in people who had the title of "father." Touko and Carol were enough for her; she didn't need another father.

"Because I like it."

No matter how much time has passed, Kiyoshi still remembers that evening and Asuka's sincere smile. From that moment on, Kiyoshi knew that Asuka truly loved the euphonium.

One day after that, Kiyoyori waited at home for a long time but Asuka didn't come to knock on the door. So he went to the Tanaka family next door to look for her and rang the doorbell for a long time, but no one answered the door.

She ran all over the neighborhood where Asuka might be, her little legs carrying her, until she was drenched in sweat, but she still couldn't find Asuka. Kiyoyuki was so anxious she wanted to cry, but neither of her mothers was home, so she could only sniffle and continue searching on her own.

Finally, Kiyoyori found Asuka curled up in a rubber pipe in the park.

This is where Qinglai hid when they played hide-and-seek before.

"Asuka?"

The figure hiding in the shadows trembled slightly.

Kiyoshi didn't wait for Asuka's reply, so he crawled over on his hands and feet.

"Don't come any closer!"

Kiyoshi froze in place.

"Don't come any closer..."

Asuka's voice was clearly choked with sobs. She hugged her knees and buried her face in them, as if she didn't want Kiyori to see her expression.

The setting sun shone in from outside and fell right on Asuka's arm. Kiyoyori saw through the light a mark that shouldn't have been on Asuka's body.

Although she was young, she knew what it was.

"Please, Kiyoshi, don't say anything..."

Kiyora sat silently beside Asuka, hugging her knees, keeping her company quietly.

After a long while, until the sun was almost setting, Asuka finally spoke, "I envy Kiyori so much. No matter what you do, Aunt Touko and Aunt Carol will support you. Kiyori can get everything he wants, but I..."

She remembered the euphonium that had been taken from her today, and the sheet music that had been torn in two.

"All I have left is music..."

"Asuka, you still have me!"

Kiyoshi knelt beside Asuka and reached out to hug her.

“That’s different,” Asuka shook her head. “It was a gift from my father, a gift to me… but it’s not mine…”

Her yearning for music was borrowed; now that she has finally come to truly love it, it no longer belongs to her.

Kiyoshi knew Asuka was talking about that euphonium, but it seemed like she was referring to more than just that euphonium.

"It's okay! I can become Asuka's euphonium!"

Although she didn't know what to do.

"Huh?"

Asuka tilted her head and looked at Kiyoyori, who was making a solemn promise.

“Asuka’s euphonium is gone, but I can be Asuka’s euphonium,” Kiyoyori grinned sheepishly, then hummed the familiar tune, “See, I remember it all.”

The sun had set, and the already dimly lit rubber tunnel was now completely dark.

Asuka had never felt the sunlight to be so dazzling.

She reached out and silently embraced the little sun in front of her.

"it is good……"

P.S.: That's all for Asuka. Although I've been writing about how special Asuka is to Kiyora, the reverse is also true.

Chapter 76, Section 313: The Furthest Distance

"If Tanaka-kun cannot confirm whether he can return this week, then Nakagawa-kun will take his place on the euphonium."

This is what Takigaki left for everyone at the end of today's training.

Qinglai walked home in a daze, with only this sentence in his mind.

If, if Asuka doesn't come back...

I had imagined every possible outcome and tried my best to set up defenses in my mind, but it was all just talk. No matter how many times I told myself that, when I actually heard those words, Kiyoshi's mind went completely blank.

After training, Nakagawa approached Kiyoyori, saying she had come to apologize, expressing her regret for taking Asuka's place.

Kiyoshi forgot how she answered. She thought she would be very angry, and even hoped that she would be angry, even though she knew that Nakagawa had not done anything wrong.

But more than anything, it was disappointment in myself.

Reina seemed worried that Kiyoshi might get into trouble, so she insisted on walking with her home, helping her open the door, and finally giving her a silent hug.

Kiyoshi didn't go home. She just stood at the door, stunned, for a long time. She stared at the Tanaka family's house number until her vision blurred and her gaze lost focus.

The hand hanging by her side rose and fell again, the lines she had rehearsed in her mind were burned away in the flames of "cowardice".

This won't do, but she doesn't know how to move forward. The wooden door blocking her way is like the Milky Way separating her from Asuka, and they are on opposite sides of the world, drifting further and further apart.

The words he dared not speak were like a pile of rotting leaves, stinking in Qinglai's heart.

They reaped what they sowed.

After hesitating for a long time, Kiyoyori let out a painful sigh and wanted to turn around and leave.

"Chiang Lai?"

An unexpected voice rang in my ears. It was Asuka, dressed in her own clothes, holding a white plastic bag in her hand. She stood there gracefully, and the plastic bag seemed to contain today's dinner.

"What's wrong, Qinglai?"

"Forgot your keys?"

Qinglai opened his mouth, then shook his head.

"By the way, I ran into Aunt Yuanzi when I went out just now. She said she wouldn't be home tonight and sent you a message, but you didn't reply."

Upon hearing this, Qinglai took out his phone and indeed saw unread messages from his mother.

Oh no, the ingredients at home...

"Come to my house for dinner," Asuka said, walking over, unlocking the door with her key, and taking Kiyori's hand in the process. "Mom's not home these days."

"Aunt Aso isn't here?"

Then why don't you participate in club activities...?

Asuka seemed not to understand Kiyori's implied meaning, "Yeah, I went to Tokyo on a business trip and won't be back for a few days."

Holding Kiyori's hand all the way into the kitchen, Asuka finally let go, put on an apron, and asked, "Would you like some saury?"

"Um……"

Taking the apron's tie, Kiyoya instinctively helped Asuka tie it, as if it were a habit, something she'd done a million times. Asuka took out another cartoon apron and, while Kiyoya was still in a daze, put it on her, wrapping her arms around Kiyoya's waist and tying a knot behind her back, all the while muttering:

"I bought shrimp, so I can make Kiyora's favorite tempura later. I also have some pickles at home. Can I have the miso soup the same as before?"

Asuka seemed oblivious to Kiyoshi's odd behavior, focusing solely on her task.

Or perhaps they're just pretending not to have noticed.

"Asuka..."

I want to talk to you.

"I...I want to eat fried chicken nuggets..."

Asuka blinked. "Okay." She turned around, took the chicken out of the refrigerator, and sighed softly from an angle where Kiyoshi couldn't see her.

If Kiyoyori can't make up her mind, then she'll have to be the bad guy.

I secretly glanced at Qinglai, who seemed to be picking vegetables but was actually daydreaming.

Asuka swiftly chopped the chicken into appropriately sized pieces.

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

After the meal, Asuka kept Kiyoyori behind to do their homework together. The two sat in Asuka's not-so-spacious room, and for a moment, it was a little awkward.

Having spent nearly ten years with Asuka, Kiyoyori had never felt such an obvious awkwardness between them. She noticed that the books on Asuka's bookshelf that were originally related to music had disappeared, and in their place were reference books for entrance exams.