I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

“Yes, she always liked to talk about you with everyone in the band,” Shindo said with a nostalgic expression. “She loved you very much.”

"I know."

"It's not easy to have persisted until now; the tone is truly delightful."

Kiyoyori looked up at Shindo, and in the other's face, she seemed to see the shadow of Asuka. Shindo's gaze, through her, also seemed to see the shadow of her hidden in Kiyoyori.

"Thank you."

"No,"

There was a barely perceptible tremor in Shindo's voice.

"I should be thanking you."

"Thank you for staying with her all this time."

P.S.: It's candy.

Chapter 98, Section 336: You've done very well.

"Ching Lai."

After parting ways with Shindo, Kiyoyori ran into Touko, who had finally managed to escape from the crowd. "Your performance today was great!"

"Hmm." Although he had received his mother's approval, Kiyotaka wasn't as happy as usual. "Mom is still so popular."

Without commenting on her daughter's clumsy attempt to change the subject, Yuanzi knew she didn't really want to talk about the national competition, so she went along with it, saying, "Some of them are students I used to coach; it's probably been a long time since I've seen them."

"Oh……"

An unusual silence fell between the mother and daughter.

"How was the meal with Haruno-chan?"

"good to eat."

Yuanzi helplessly patted Qinglai's head, "You know perfectly well that's not what Mom was talking about."

"It would be even better if you went with your mother."

Touko sighed. She wanted to mend Kiyori and Haruno's broken relationship, but she didn't know how. To be honest, she was very angry when she found out that her daughter had been hurt by Haruno, but later...

Whether it's Kiyori or Haruno, they are both people who don't know how to let others into their world.

"Okay, then let's go as a family next time."

As dusk approached, Kiyoyori returned to Soubu High School's group after exchanging a few words with Touko. The members gathered in twos and threes, mostly with their own voices, but Mizore clearly didn't need him, so Kiyoyori stood a short distance away, lost in thought.

She had previously refused to help Shindo pass on a message to Asuka, so she figured the other person might find someone else, but that was no longer Kiyori's business.

"How could you say such a thing..."

If I say it out loud, I'll definitely find it even harder to accept separating from Asuka.

I watched quietly as Asuka and Omi talked, as Taki found them, and as Asuka excitedly hugged Omi.

Qinglai lowered his head.

"Do you want your big sister to hug you?"

The all-too-familiar voice appeared again.

"You haven't left yet?"

She still looked at him with disdain, but Kiyoshi wouldn't admit that she actually hoped someone could comfort her.

This time, Haruno didn't maintain a proper distance and hugged Kiyori without saying a word.

"You've done a great job."

A sour and astringent feeling filled his entire nasal cavity. Qinglai clenched his fists, and all the grievances and resentment that he had previously been unable to express erupted at this moment.

For the National Tournament, for Asuka, for Haruno.

Emotions erupt in silence, and then vanish in silence.

There were no words, no tears, just two already wounded people briefly finding solace in each other.

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

"We third-year students are retiring from this position."

All the members of the Sobu High School Brass Band stood in the venue, lined up in three rows, and listened quietly to Ogasawara, who was standing at the front of the line, speak.

"Finally, I want to thank everyone for your continued support of this incompetent minister," Ogasawara tried her best to keep her voice steady, but the bittersweet feeling welling up in her heart made her want to cry. "A lot has happened this year, a lot... unsettling things, things that... made everyone worry—"

His voice trembled uncontrollably, and by the end it had become an almost inaudible sob, "But more than anything, it was the joy of playing with everyone..."

Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably, and the more I wiped them away, the more they flowed.

Everyone raised their hands and applauded for the minister who was prone to tears but always cared about everyone.

“Let me say a few words on behalf of this crybaby minister,” Asuka gently patted Ogasawara’s head. “To be honest, I have nothing to complain about regarding today’s performance. Soubu High’s voice resounded throughout the country. We did our best, and everyone really worked hard.”

“Then the third-year students will retire from here,” Asuka said, glancing at Kiyori who seemed lost in thought. “Next, it will be the second-year students’ turn to take over, and I’m quite worried about that!”

"As you all know, I'm not one to beat around the bush, so let's get straight to the point," Asuka said, putting away her playful tone and placing one hand on her hip as she looked at the group of juniors in front of her. "I'm very unwilling to accept this result, but the third-year students no longer have a chance to redeem themselves, and I don't want you to have the same regrets."

"So next year, we must win the gold medal."

This is not encouragement from a senior, but a promise between a senior and a junior.

"This is the Deputy Minister's final request, do you hear me?"

"Yes!"

The atmosphere was a bit serious, and Asuka once again pulled out her signature move, "Very good! I've remembered your answers! Even after graduation, I'll still come to check on you every day!"

"Senior, this is terrible..."

"Huh?! Wait a minute! What does this mean?!"

It successfully made everyone laugh.

"elder sister!"

At that moment, Huang Qian spotted Mamiko flashing through the crowd. Without thinking, she rushed over to her.

"Kumiko?"

Reina had barely taken a step when Kiyoyori grabbed her hand.

"Huang Qian, you must have your own things to deal with too."

Huang Qian followed in Mamiko's footsteps, just like before. Her older sister, who was born a few years earlier, was always ahead of her, while she could only always follow behind her.

She started playing instruments because she admired her older sister, and she fell in love with the euphonium because she wanted to play with her sister.

But Mamiko always walked steadily ahead, and then gradually disappeared into the crowd.

"elder sister!"

She didn't see Mamiko clearly until she had chased her all the way out of the venue.

In that instant of turning around, so many emotions surged into her heart, and this time, she would no longer hold back.

"Kumiko...?"

"Sister! I love the tutti!"

"It's because of my sister that I fell in love with the euphonium!"

"It's because I have an older sister that I came to love playing wind instruments!"

"Sister, I love you the most!"

Standing at a distance that was neither too close nor too far from Mamiko, Huang Qian finally spoke the words that had been buried deep within him.

"I also love Kumiko the most!"

Finally, a response was received.

All the pain of being deliberately distanced from has turned into sweetness at this moment.

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

hum-

My phone suddenly started vibrating in my pocket. I took it out and found an unexpected name on it.

"Hachiman-senpai, what happened?"

According to the message sent by Yukinoshita in the afternoon, the Service Club should be completing a previous request regarding confessions.

But no matter how he thought about it, Kiyoshi couldn't find a reason for Hikigaya to call him.

Hachiman's voice on the other end of the phone was somewhat low. Although he had never been very energetic before, he seemed rather dejected at this moment.

"Sorry, I'm calling now."

"No, is there anything I can do for you?"

“Ah,” Hikigaya paused, “Could you please come over here? Yukinoshita should have sent you the address before.”

"What exactly happened?"

"...I'm leaving Yukinoshita to you."

P.S.: The office's been so busy lately... Every day before I leave work, I clear out most of the beds, but when I come to work the next day, I find they're all full again from the night shift... What's going on...?

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