I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"To be precise, it hasn't been a month yet."

Yukinoshita was clearly having a headache over this matter.

“I see,” Kiyoyori said gently as he looked at Yukino, who looked tired. “Since you came to me about this, it means that you think this collaboration is not entirely impossible.”

Yukino hesitated, which was uncharacteristic of her. "The achievements of the brass band in the national competition are obvious to all. Although the current retirement of third-year students has greatly reduced the strength of the brass band, I think that appropriately increasing the exposure may have a positive impact on recruiting new students next year."

"Of course, I don't mean that the brass band has to perform. Even without working with Toyosaki, I think I can still get the opportunity for the Sobu High Brass Band to perform solo."

In this way, there's no need to cater to Toyosaki's demands.

"I cannot make a decision on this matter. I will convey the message to the minister and advisor and ask them to make the decision. Please wait for our reply."

"Then I'll leave it to you."

It seemed to have been resolved very easily, Yui blinked in confusion.

"So, did Xiaoxue only come to us for this matter?"

If it's only related to the brass band, there's no need to specifically gather the service club members and meet at the club.

"This is only part of it." Yukinoshita was sitting in the client's seat, where Isshiki had originally been.

"Actually, I'm here to make a request."

"The content is the Christmas event we're collaborating on with the Toyonosaki Student Council."

"Please, lend me a hand."

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

"So, Yukinoshita wants us to participate in this Christmas event."

After listening to Kiyori's retelling, Yoshikawa drew a precise conclusion: "Tachibana, what do you think?"

"I think that appropriate exposure is also beneficial to us. Moreover, after losing the third grade, everyone's morale seems to be a bit low. Through this event, we may be able to regain our former state."

Yoshikawa gave Kiyoyori a meaningful look, but said nothing.

Kiyoshi added, "Of course, while the idea is wonderful, we also have to consider reality. Putting aside Toyosaki's ideas, it's simply unrealistic to expect us to master one or even more entirely new pieces of music and perform them in a play in just half a month."

"Moreover, dealing with the Toyosaki student council might not be so easy."

What you said isn't entirely unreasonable.

Yoshikawa leaned against the window frame, silently gazing towards the practice room. It was lunch break, but even so, the sound of music coming from the practice room could still be heard.

"Both student councils held meetings today, right?"

Since taking over as department head, Yoshikawa has matured a lot. She has put away her occasional eccentricities and become a very reliable senior in everyone's eyes.

"Yes, according to Yukinoshita-senpai, they will continue their discussion today."

Yoshikawa frowned. Since taking over the brass band and getting involved in management, she had become much more sensitive to this.

With less than a month until the event, they are still holding meetings and discussions, and they haven't even finalized the specific performance program yet, which shows their work efficiency.

"I'll report this to Mr. Taki first. Also, please tell Yukino that after school today, you and I will be attending the discussion as representatives of the brass band."

"Whether or not to participate, we will make a decision after we finish this meeting."

"I understand."

………………………………………………………………………

"That concludes our explanation of the wind instrument section."

Yukino saw a long string of text appear in her chat with Kiyori.

"I understand. Then I'll trouble Tachibana-san and Yoshikawa-san to attend today's meeting... Please be sure to tell Yoshikawa-san to be mentally prepared..."

Kiyoshi seemed to pause for a moment before replying:

"I will."

Yukino looked at the chat interface hesitantly, pondered for a moment, and then deleted the "I'm sorry" message from the chat box.

Chapter 44 A Harmonious Reciprocation

When school ended, Kiyoyori and Yoshikawa asked for leave together. They didn't tell the other members of the brass band the specific reason for their leave, but just mentioned it casually. Mizore seemed a little worried, but Yoshikawa quickly reassured her.

"You took Tachibana to that meeting? You're not actually planning to let Tachibana take over, are you?"

Nakagawa stood at the door of the activity room, looking somewhat surprised at Kiyoyori, who was standing silently next to Yoshikawa.

“It’s not because of that,” Yoshikawa said, glancing at Kiyoyori. “As for who will be the next minister, I’ve already decided.”

"Huh?"

"Anyway, the department is in your hands today. Don't let your practice fall behind. You can start preparing the surprise you promised to give your seniors," Yoshikawa seemed very used to arranging everything. "As for the follow-up results after today's meeting, let's talk about it when we get back."

"After all, it's hard to say what will happen next."

"How mysterious," Nakagawa said, narrowing his eyes in displeasure.

“Yuko must have her reasons for doing this,” Kasaki said as always, acting as a peacemaker. “Let’s just wait and see.”

As Kasaki spoke, he smiled at Kiyoyori, as if he had already sensed something.

“Then we’ll be going now,” Yoshikawa picked up his backpack, turned around and called out to Kiyoyori, “Tachibana.”

"I'll take my leave now, esteemed seniors."

Kiyoshi jogged to catch up with Yoshikawa and left the teaching building.

She deliberately didn't act with the Service Club today, clearly indicating that she appeared as the representative of the Brass Band. However, the actual decision-making was still made by Yoshikawa, the club president.

"I've learned a little about Toyonosaki's student council."

Yoshikawa, who was walking ahead, suddenly spoke up, "Tachibana, don't speak casually later. I'll handle everything."

"Why?" Kiyotaka blinked, puzzled.

"Don't speak unless absolutely necessary."

Kiyoyori frowned, but then Yoshikawa continued, "You should know what to say when the time comes."

…………………………………………………………………………

When the two arrived at the agreed location, the Service Club members and the Soubu High School Student Council delegation were already waiting there.

"I had to take care of some things at the club before I came. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

It must be said that Yoshikawa at this moment is very much like a minister.

“No,” Yukinoshita shook her head. “Then, Yoshikawa-san, it’s the same as we agreed before.”

Kiyoyori looked at Yukinoshita with a puzzled expression, but the other person seemed completely oblivious.

"These three are members of the Service Club: the current club president, Iroha Isshiki, and two other members, Yui Yuigahama and Hachiman Hikigaya."

Yukino briefly introduced the personnel.

"Is that so? He is..." Yoshikawa's gaze lingered briefly on Hikigaya before they exchanged a simple greeting. "I'm Yoshikawa Yuko, the head of the brass band club. I look forward to working with you all this time."

"Then let's go up first. Toyonosaki should have arrived by now."

Having said that, Yukinoshita glanced lightly at Kiyoyori.

Kiyoyori couldn't find a chance to talk to Yukinoshita because she and Yoshikawa were walking in front, while Kiyoyori was walking with the Service Club and a few members of the Student Council.

Yoshikawa seems to have reached some kind of agreement with the Service Department, but no one has informed Kiyoyori about it.

As they were about to reach the conference room, Qinglai took a deep breath and suppressed his doubts.

The meeting with the Toyosaki student council was relatively harmonious, but Kiyoyori immediately spotted the person who had harassed Yukinoshita and felt dissatisfied.

Unsurprisingly, Kasumigaoka was seen engrossed in reading a book in the corner of the conference room. However, Kasumigaoka seemed surprised to see Kiyori there, showing a momentary look of astonishment before turning her gaze towards Yukinoshita with displeasure.

The meeting began quickly, with the student council president of Toyosaki sitting in the main seat and once again pretending to preside over the meeting.

Unsurprisingly, he continued to ramble on about empty and meaningless topics, which sounded sophisticated but were nothing more than empty talk.

Perhaps because many people had given her a heads-up, Kiyoyori wasn't too surprised by this, but Yoshikawa, who was sitting next to her, was clearly getting impatient.

Looking at Hachiman and the others on the other side, they were clearly also surprised by this turn of events.

Across from him, Kasumigaoka was still hiding his face with a paperback, and Kiyoyori wasn't even sure if the other person was listening.

Sakura seemed to have finally run out of things to say. He picked up his water glass and took a sip. "What do you think, President Yukinoshita and Department Head Yoshikawa? I believe that if our two schools' best clubs join forces, we'll definitely be able to put on the most successful Christmas event ever!"

Just as the other Toyosaki student council members echoed this, a very clear cold laugh came from the meeting room, clearly mixed with flattery.

The atmosphere in the meeting room suddenly turned cold.

But everyone's expression was natural, as if the sneer had appeared out of nowhere.

But as the person in the meeting room who knew the other person best, Kiyoyori was 100% certain that it was Kasumigaoka's voice.

Yoshikawa took a deep breath. "Is Sakura-sama joking? It's cold, just like the season!"

Kiyoyori didn't expect Yoshikawa's words to be so confrontational. She glanced at Yukinoshita's expression; the other woman seemed to have no intention of interfering. Yoshikawa, as if sensing something, reached out from under the table and gently placed his hand on Kiyoyori's leg, signaling her not to make any rash moves.

However, Yoshikawa himself clearly had no intention of shutting up.

"I think Minister Sakura probably hasn't done any overall planning or coordination work? Putting aside whether this plan is feasible, just selecting music for the play will take a lot of effort, not to mention that the script is not yet finalized. Furthermore, with less than a month to go, it is impossible for the brass band to perform these pieces perfectly, not to mention that they also have to cooperate with your school's drama club for the performance."

Yoshikawa sneered, "I can only say that this is utterly absurd."

"To put it more bluntly, rather than considering this idea as an activity plan, I thought it was your school deliberately trying to make things difficult for us."

The conference room fell completely silent.

Kiyoshi knew that Yoshikawa's words were already pushing the other party to their limit.

“Yoshikawa-kun, please calm down. Of course, we have no intention of deliberately making things difficult for the brass band,” Yukinoshita spoke up at this moment. “Inviting the brass band to participate is also to give them further exposure, which is beneficial for next year’s enrollment, isn’t it?”

Yoshikawa fell silent after being comforted by the snow.

“But as Yoshikawa-san said,” Yukinoshita turned to Sakura again, “aren’t Sakura’s demands a bit too harsh? If we really want to consider cooperation, I think we should find a more compromise.”

Yukinoshita and Yoshikawa spoke in unison, as if they had planned it beforehand.

Kiyoyori looked at Yoshikawa's hand, which was still pressing down on him, and then he realized what was happening.