I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Even though class was about to start, Kiyotaka was a little puzzled as to why Huang Qian came to find him at this time.

"Regarding Asuka-senpai," Huang Qian looked at Kiyora, whose expression had turned serious, "she was lying when she said it didn't matter if she didn't participate in the national tournament. She clearly wanted to participate, and there were some judges among them—"

“Mr. Shindo,” Kiyoyori said, his eyes lowered, “I know.”

"You, you know..." Huang Qian seemed to suddenly choke, unsure how to continue, "Then why..."

“This should be my line,” Kiyori was right in front of him, yet Huang felt she was incredibly distant. “Why did Kumiko come to me to say this?”

This has nothing to do with you, right?

“It really has nothing to do with me,” Huang Qian said, not caring that they were at the classroom door and it was close to class time. “My sister regrets it because she couldn’t properly convey her thoughts, and I regret it too because I couldn’t properly support my sister.”

"Asuka-senpai still has options, and Kiyoyori still has a chance!"

Don't let yourself regret it!

"Asuka-senpai cares a lot about Kiyoyori, and Kiyoyori cares about Asuka-senpai a lot too, so why won't he admit it!"

The surroundings were quiet, and all eyes seemed to be focused on him. Only then did Huang Qian realize that he seemed to have become the center of attention.

Before Qinglai could speak, Huang Qian ran away from Class 1J.

Feeling two hands patting his shoulders, Kiyotaka turned his head slightly.

The other person sighed, "Let's go to class first, Tachibana."

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

Huang Qian's words kept swirling in Kiyotsuki's mind, and he unconsciously wrote Asuka's name in his notebook. Kiyotsuki didn't hear a single word of the lesson.

Finally, the bell rang for lunch break. Qinglai didn't even take out his lunchbox before pushing back his chair and walking out of the classroom.

I hurried down the corridor, all the surrounding sounds fading away, my mind consumed by only one thought: to find Asuka.

Upon reaching the entrance of Class 3-J, Kiyora didn't even ask his seniors before quickly locating Asuka's position in the classroom. Amidst the surprised gazes of the third-year students, he walked up to Asuka, grabbed her hand without a word, and started to walk out.

"Chiang Lai?"

Asuka didn't even have time to put down the sandwich in her hand. She tried to pull her hand away from Kiyori's grasp, but she didn't expect him to be so strong.

"What are you doing, young man?"

Seemingly sensing that Kiyoyori's visit was ill-intentioned, a senior from Class 3-J came over to try and persuade him.

"This has nothing to do with you."

Kiyoshi coldly looked at the seniors around her. At this moment, she was like a little monster covered in thorns, indiscriminately releasing her emotions to everyone around her.

This is something she would never normally show.

Kiyoshi was very irritable and angry.

She didn't know why her emotions were so out of control, especially when she saw Asuka chatting and laughing with others; it was as if a fire was burning within her.

She was angry that Asuka shared a secret with Omi that should have been between them alone, and she was also annoyed that Asuka could have confided in her about these things, but instead went to Omi. She was even angrier, angry that after that day, it seemed that only she was affected.

This is not fair.

Thinking of this, Kiyoyori's face darkened as if water could drip from it, and he unconsciously increased the pressure on his hands.

The third-year student, who had been told to leave, was stunned for a moment, but quickly recovered, "Excuse me, what are you doing—"

"It's ok."

Asuka stopped the third-year student. "Let's go outside, okay?"

"Gently stroking Kiyori's hand with my other hand," Asuka said softly.

"Now."

Okay, now.

Asuka led Kiyori to a corner outside the teaching building, directly below the music classroom, a place almost no one passes by on weekdays.

"What does Kiyora want to tell me?"

At this moment, Asuka had broken free from Kiyori's grasp. With her back to Kiyori, her voice was exceptionally clear in the confined space.

“Go back to the brass band,” Kiyoyori said, having calmed down on the way, though his voice was still a little hoarse. “Everyone is waiting for you to come back.”

"Who are you all?"

Asuka turned around, arms crossed, a smile playing on her lips as always, but her eyes filled with indifference.

“Of course everyone would say that, because I’m a third-year student, because I’m the vice-captain,” Asuka said, standing three steps away from Kiyoyori. “Ah, now I should be the former vice-captain.”

“Besides,” Asuka interrupted Kiyori, deliberately raising her voice, “no one would want someone who hasn’t had proper practice for almost a month and has been absent for so long to come back. I certainly wouldn’t.”

"Asuka is different."

"What's the difference? Everyone has special circumstances, like when Nozomi was in that situation. Does Kiyoyori mean to say that I can be treated specially when it's my turn?"

Looking at Kiyori, who remained silent, Asuka felt for the first time how far apart they were.

A slight pang of pain shot through my heart.

"Kiyoshi, don't you understand?"

P.S.: Something unexpected happened today, and I have a headache, a really bad headache.

Chapter 84, Section 322: A Confession of Love

“‘I want Asuka-senpai to come back.’ ‘I want to play with Asuka-senpai.’” Asuka mimicked the monotone tone of her voice, devoid of any warmth. “Of course everyone would say that, because Asuka-senpai’s return is impossible, and Natsuki’s replacement is a done deal. So as long as they say that, no one will be hurt, and no one will be offended.”

"Doesn't Kiyoyori understand this better than I do?"

"What grounds does Ching Lai have to use the word 'everyone'?"

Asuka slowly walked to Kiyori's side. She saw his stiff back and clenched fists, and felt a slight pang of sadness, but she continued speaking:

"Isn't Kiyoyori the one who stands the furthest away from 'everyone' and observes from the sidelines?"

“It’s hard to imagine that Kiyori would say something like ‘Everyone wants you to go back,’” Asuka said, bringing her lips close to Kiyori’s ear. “He always has a gentle demeanor, but in reality, he keeps a distance from everyone. He will never take the initiative unless someone crosses into his territory. He says he doesn’t want others to get hurt, but in reality, he just doesn’t want to get hurt himself.”

Do you really think that's how you win someone's heart?

It felt as if a cannonball had exploded in Qinglai's ear, leaving her physically and mentally shaken.

"That's the best outcome. Let me fade out of everyone's sight."

Asuka patted Kiyori's stiff shoulder, bit her lip hard from an angle where he couldn't see her, paused for a moment, and then walked toward the door behind her.

Kiyoshi's shoulders trembled. At this moment, she felt an endless rage about to erupt from her body. She reached out and grabbed Asuka's wrist, holding it tightly in her palm.

"fade out……?"

"Are you kidding me...!"

Kiyoshi breathed heavily, like a fish about to suffocate, his breath trembling.

"Who barged into my world with their euphonium?! Who stubbornly clung to my side as my older sister?! Who made that vow to play with me?! Who do you think I enrolled in this school for?! I won't allow you to just barge into my life and leave so easily! What do you take me for? A tool to be used and then discarded?!"

"I don't care what others in the club think, it has nothing to do with me! All I want is for you to play with me. I want to play with you, stand on that concert hall together, and walk on the highest stage with you. That's been my dream since I was a child!"

Kiyoshi lowered her head, not daring to look into Asuka's eyes. Through her blurry vision, she could see that Asuka's hand, which she was gripping tightly, was flushed an unhealthy red.

"Kiyoshi is a high school student, yet he says such childish things."

Asuka stood in the shadows, with sparse sunlight falling on her face.

"What's wrong with being a child?" Kiyoyori shook off Asuka's hand, glaring at her fiercely. "Don't think that just because you're three years older than me and call yourself 'older sister,' you're really an adult. Asuka, aren't you just an ordinary high school student?! Aren't you a self-interested person? Sacrificing yourself for the greater good isn't your image! Put away that arrogant idea that sacrificing one person can make everyone happy. Isn't that just self-satisfaction?!"

"Didn't you want to play for Mr. Shindo?!"

Kiyoshi could no longer see Asuka, who was only a step away from him.

They were standing within arm's reach, yet they drifted further and further apart.

"You admire me, don't you? Then come and chase after me! If you're going to give up, at least do it after you've tried! Don't make a choice you know you'll regret!" Kiyoyori roared hoarsely at Asuka, tears streaming down his jaw. "If I can't be Asuka's euphonium, then Asuka will support me!"

"At least this time, I'll stay here and wait for you..."

I always thought you were the one leading the way, but it turns out that was just wishful thinking on my part.

I have become your cage.

Kiyotaro hastily wiped his face with his sleeve, sniffed sharply, and stared intently at Asuka with his deep blue eyes:

"Then I will surpass you."

We will eventually go down completely different paths. I will no longer chase after your shadow, and you will no longer need to be confined to the role of the perfect older sister.

I will no longer be a shackle binding you.

Therefore, I will surpass you, I must surpass you.

This is my determination.

Kiyoshi clenched her fists and let them hang limply at her sides. Her face was flushed red, and even her neck and ears were tinged with a bright crimson.

"I……"

Kiyotomi bit her lip, her gaze fixed on her toes, then roared as if giving up the struggle:

"I love Asuka! I've always loved Asuka the most!"

"As...as family! As partners!"

Her face was so hot it could practically boil an egg, but she didn't regret her rare frankness.

Asuka stared in astonishment at Kiyori, who had never expressed such emotions before. She chuckled and strode toward Kiyori, who was practically burying his face in his chest.

"What is this? A confession that's like a declaration of war..."

"Kousaka-san will cry."

But she had never been so happy before. She realized that accepting someone's feelings so directly was such an exciting thing.

"She already has Kumiko..."

Is this jealousy?