I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"And did you see the expressions on Toyosaki and his group's faces? They were truly spectacular!"

"Alright," Yukinoshita interrupted their discussion, "Don't spread today's events around. Just handle the routine documents as before. We need to reconsider the specific plan for the event, just in case. We should have our own backup plan. Everyone go back and think about it."

"Okay! No problem!"

Stepping out of the elevator, Yukinoshita looked up and saw Kasumigaoka standing in the lobby, holding a paperback book, but her gaze wasn't on the book.

It seems they are waiting for someone.

And the person she was waiting for was self-evident.

The group remained frozen in place for a moment.

"You guys go back first," Yukino said to the people behind her.

The members hesitated, glancing at Kasumigaoka and then at Yukinoshita.

For some reason, the atmosphere between the two seemed a little strange.

"Yukino Yukinoshita is better seen than heard about."

Seeing the dangerous angle of the other person's lips, Yukino knew that this person had come with ill intentions.

Chapter 35 The Battlefield Without Gunfire

"I have long admired your name, Kasumigaoka-senpai."

It was as if this was a formal meeting, even though we had already greeted each other in the conference room.

An awkward atmosphere spread between the two. Neither of them spoke, but their eyes met without any relaxation, as if they were arguing about something.

The thought of "not being able to lose" surged again, but Yukinoshita didn't know what she was insisting on. However, one thing was certain: the senior in front of her, who was more similar to her in temperament, had ulterior motives. At least, his support for Soubu High School in that situation was not just because he couldn't stand the behavior of the Toyonosaki Student Council.

This person seems to know Tachibana Kiyoyori.

Recalling their last meeting, it was the other person who greeted her first, and at that time she appeared as Tachibana Kiyori.

Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've been in contact with that person...

Kasumigaoka keenly noticed Yukinoshita's absent-mindedness. "Is Yukinoshita always so distracted when she's talking to others?"

"If this can be considered communication."

Although she was distracted, Yukinoshita's counterattack was still swift, and her expression remained as usual, showing no embarrassment at being exposed.

"Since Yukinoshita is so eloquent, why was she constantly being held back by those good-for-nothings from the Toyonosaki student council during the meeting?" Kasumigaoka spoke bluntly, not caring at all about calling his fellow alumnus a good-for-nothing. "Rumors about you are rampant between the two schools. Of course, I don't think you are that kind of person, but Yukinoshita doesn't seem as unyielding as I imagined."

Kasumigaoka certainly knew why Yukinoshita was being held back by Sakura and the others. However, the person who could attract that child should not be someone who could be viewed in the usual way. But apart from her outstanding appearance, Kasumigaoka did not see any other qualities in Yukinoshita that could attract Kiyoyori.

Perhaps this is wishful thinking, imposing one's own expectations on others, only to be disappointed when they fail to meet those expectations. Kasumigaoka certainly understands how terrible this idea is.

Perhaps out of some selfish motive, when she and Yukinoshita were in the same space, Kasumigaoka couldn't help but compare herself to the other. Or perhaps, only in this way could she find a reason to give up.

"Or is it that those unfounded rumors have affected you, leading you to choose to endure?"

Come, Yukino Yukinoshita.

"You can't even hold onto sovereignty, you're being led by the nose by an idiot like Sakura, and you can't even refuse her demands. Is this how you repay that child?"

Prove to me that you are a better match for her than I am.

“I suddenly remembered that the child was very depressed for a while. Now it seems that the time should be around the time of the Soubu High School student council president election. If I’m not mistaken, Kiyoyori is troubled by your matter.” It’s not difficult to connect all these things. Moreover, Kasumigaoka had already caught a whiff of the news. “You know that she’s not doing well lately, why do you still want to add to her troubles?”

If you can't even protect her this much, then what right do you have to stand by her side?

Obviously...

But this is not a matter of first come, first served.

Kasumigaoka is very clear.

Has Tachibana Kiyori been having a bad time lately?

The moment that name appeared, Yukinoshita subconsciously frowned.

What's wrong with you?

She now understood why Kasumigaoka had suddenly appeared here. It was not hard to see from her words and actions that she disliked the Toyonosaki Student Council. So why did she do these things that she knew would make her unhappy?

Kasumigaoka didn't come for this event; their target from the very beginning was Yukino Yukinoshita.

"Kasumigaoka-senpai must have misunderstood something. Of course, I'm very grateful for Tachibana-san's support, but that doesn't mean my gratitude needs to extend to caring about everything she does. I'm sure Tachibana-san wouldn't want others interfering too much in her private life," Yukinoshita and Kasumigaoka frowned simultaneously, seemingly unsure who she was speaking to. "On the other hand, Kasumigaoka-senpai, taking on work you don't want to do because of something like this, can you really guarantee the quality of your work?"

Under the snow, she tightened the backpack straps, suppressing the urge to take out her phone.

Although they say they don't care, they still subconsciously want to know.

Kasumigaoka narrowed her eyes, then chuckled softly, seemingly mocking, "Please rest assured, Yukinoshita-san, I am a professional no matter what. No matter who the client is, I will complete my job perfectly. But Yukinoshita-san, can you really do your job well?"

Upon hearing this, Yukinoshita's eyes immediately sharpened.

"I heard that Yukinoshita was once the head of the Service Club, and I also know that Yukinoshita had no intention of running for student council president before, so why are you the student council president of Soubu High School standing here now?"

"Could this be the content of the commission? If so, I have to admire Yukinoshita's dedication. It's just that your original club members have to share this responsibility with you."

Could it be that Tachibana Kiyori has told the person in front of me all of this?

Seeing Kasumigaoka's seemingly confident expression, such a thought flashed through Yukinoshita's mind, but she quickly dismissed it.

She believed that Tachibana was not that kind of person.

His eyes shifted from surprise and panic to determination, just like when he confronted Tachibana Kiyori that day.

"Whether I'm the head of the Service Club or the president of the student council, it's all the same to me," Yukinoshita raised her head slightly, facing the imposing Kasumigaoka without flinching, "because these are things I want to do from the bottom of my heart, and have nothing to do with any commission."

Speaking of which, why did she establish the Service Club in the first place? The words were just for show, but Yukinoshita knew that she had her own selfish reasons, more or less.

I want to be like that person, and I want to do even better than that person.

I want to have the same things as that person, and I want to have things that that person never had.

Even such a wicked intention can serve as the motivation to start something.

“One more thing,” Yukinoshita took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling with her breath.

"Whether it's the brass band or Tachibana Kiyoyori, they all belong to Soubu High School, so of course they should be protected by me, the student council president of Soubu High School."

After saying that, Yukino left without looking back.

Kasumigaoka put the paperback into a hidden compartment in her backpack and sighed with mixed feelings.

Shimizu-kun,

I think I know why you like her so much.

Chapter 36 Reap What You Sow

"Xiaoxue? What are you doing here?"

Yuihama looked at Yukinoshita, who was standing with the others outside Hiratsuka Shizuka's office, with some surprise. Yukinoshita was clearly surprised as well.

“It’s Hiratsuka-sensei…” Yukinoshita glanced subconsciously at Kiyori standing at the back, “Are you guys also…?”

Not only Yuihama and Kiyoyori, but also Hikigaya and Isshiki were with them. None of them seemed to know why they had been suddenly called to Hiratsuka Shizuka's office.

Yukino glanced at Kiyoshi without making it obvious. Kiyoshi was still the same as always, but she seemed to have not slept well, and her expression showed signs of fatigue.

Unable to express her concern, Yukinoshita pushed open the office door first.

"Sorry to bother you."

"Oh, Yukino, so you guys all came together?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka symbolically cleared a space on her desk, but in reality, she just piled up the messy papers on the side of the desk, then opened a drawer, seemingly searching for something in the equally messy drawer.

"Hiratsuka-sensei, is there something you need from us?"

Yukinoshita thought Hiratsuka Shizuka was only looking for her to talk about the Christmas event, but she didn't expect that the other party would bring all the members of the Service Club together.

Could it be that it's still those rumors from before...?

"I found it, I found it."

Hiratsuka Shizuka took out several crumpled tickets from the drawer. Based on Yukinoshita's familiarity with them, she quickly recognized them as tickets to Chiba's most famous theme park.

"These are the tickets I won in a lottery."

It's unclear what kind of lottery the other person participated in, but they just happened to win a group ticket. However, it's obvious that Hiratsuka Shizuka doesn't have any friends to go to the amusement park with.

It's a really sad story.

Kiyoyori glanced at the ticket in the other person's hand, then at Hiratsuka Shizuka, whose expression seemed somewhat unwilling.

She didn't speak, but waited quietly for her seniors to speak.

"What... does this mean...?"

As the end of the semester approaches, whether it's a regular student preparing for final exams or a student like Yukinoshita and Kiyoyori with heavy club activities, there isn't much time to go out and relax. It's one thing if it's just for their own wishes, but it's even more so when it's a gift from their advisor.

“You guys have been working too hard lately,” Hiratsuka Shizuka said with a smile, handing the tickets to Yukinoshita. “The Service Club has been busy with all sorts of requests lately. Tachibana has to run around to both places, and Yukinoshita, you’ve been busy with student council matters.” She paused. “And, Yukinoshita, you’re still thinking about the Christmas event, right? Go relax a bit, and maybe you can find some inspiration.”

"Are they giving us the tickets?" Yui and Isshiki were the most excited. Unlike the other three "yin" characters, they were at least outwardly "yang" characters, and naturally more interested in this kind of activity. "Let's all go to the amusement park! It's been so long since I played with Yuki!"

Yuihama gazed at Yukinoshita with expectant eyes, which Yukinoshita found somewhat difficult to handle.

"but……"

Yukino hesitated, clutching the ticket tightly in her hand.

"There are many kinds of bonds between people, but if you don't actively maintain them, they will eventually fade."

Hiratsuka Shizuka said meaningfully, "Although Yukinoshita, you are no longer the president of the Service Club, your bond with the Service Club will not end because of this. Sometimes you should maintain your relationship."

Hiratsuka Shizuo Kiyori smiled meaningfully.

"The teacher sounds very experienced."

Hiratsuka Shizuka turned her head and glared angrily at Kiyoyori. "Tachibana, if you don't speak, no one will think you're mute."

Kiyoshi turned his head away and said nothing more.

"Xiaoxue, please say yes!"

As always, Yukinoshita was powerless against Yuihama's cute and charming attacks.