I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Countless possibilities flashed through Kiyose's mind, and she subconsciously tightened her grip on Kasumigaoka's hand.

Kiyose, who rushed into the hospital, did not notice the familiar red sports car parked outside.

"What exactly happened?"

When Kiyose saw Aki waiting anxiously with his head down outside the emergency room, his anger reached its peak in an instant.

Entrusting everything to Aki was clearly meant to make Eriri happy, but why did it turn out like this?

Kiyose's grip was incredibly strong; she grabbed Aki by the collar with both hands and almost lifted him up.

“I was perfectly fine when I left today,” Aki said without struggling, letting Kiyose do whatever he wanted to him. “I wanted to call Eriri tonight to check on her, but she didn’t answer. I was so worried that I went to the villa.”

"Upon arriving at the villa, we discovered—"

"Then why didn't you stay with her the whole time?! Why did you let her out of your sight at a time like this?! Don't you even know—"

"Enough, Kiyose," Kasumigaoka interrupted Kiyose's reckless words, "I believe Aki-kun didn't do it on purpose, and Sawamura-kun isn't a child anymore. Nobody wants to see something like this happen. Calm down!"

With Kasumigaoka's reassurance, Kiyose let go of her hand and stood silently to the side, saying, "I'm sorry, Tomoya-senpai."

An Yi shook her head, "It was my fault to begin with..."

"Don't be so frustrated, and don't make such a fuss," a familiar voice suddenly rang out. "As a creator, it's not strange to have a sudden outburst. It's just that you've been temporarily burned out. You should be fine soon."

The group turned around following the sound and were surprised to see Akane Akasaka, a well-known figure in the creative world.

Also known as Akane Kousaka.

"Hey, long time no see, Kiyose." Akane waved casually at Kiyose. "I've already paid for that girl's medical bills. Didn't you run into the doctor earlier? He said she's fine now and just needs to rest."

"Sister Qian?! Why are you here?"

Akane Kousaka, Reina Kousaka's cousin, is also the other person who introduced Kiyose to the world of anime and manga.

However, Kiyose hasn't seen Akane for a long time since she started working.

"I was just passing by."

Akane stuffed all the medical-related paper documents into Kiyose's hands. "The doctor probably thinks I'm Eri Kashiwagi's family member. She'll be transferred to a ward soon, and everything should be fine."

"Now that you're here, Kiyose, I'll leave everything to you. I should be going now."

“Also, kid,” Akane turned to Aki, “I can make an exception and introduce you to our factory. Contact me if you need it.”

Qian came and went like a gust of wind, leaving before anyone could react.

"what is going on?"

“Actually…” Anki took out a stack of drawing paper, which was obviously all Eriri’s paintings, and just as she thought, they were all amazing works.

"I met Ms. Kurosaka on the street. She drove me to the villa, and that's when we found all this inside. Eriri is lying unconscious next to her, and I guess..."

"I understand," Kiyose sighed, handing the drawing back to Aki. Unable to think of anything else, she finally said, "Go see Eriri."

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

Eriri hasn't woken up yet; to be precise, she woke up briefly but fell asleep again.

Aki originally offered to keep watch here, but Kasumigaoka dismissed him with the excuse of preparing for the anime convention. Meanwhile, Kiyose contacted Eriri's mother, and they decided to keep watch until then.

"Senpai Utaha doesn't need to stay here. Eriri is alright now, so Senpai Utaha can go home and rest without worry."

“I’m not worried about Sawamura-kun,” Kasumigaoka said, sitting close to Kiyose, but surprisingly she didn’t do anything out of line. “I’m more worried about Shimizu-kun.”

"Me? I'm fine. Eriri's condition has stabilized. I just need to wait for Aunt Sayuri to arrive."

“I’m not talking about that,” Kasumigaoka sighed softly. “Does Shimizu-kun really not understand, or is he pretending not to understand?”

"Huh...?"

"You've been in a bad mood lately, why?"

Faced with Kasumigaoka's direct question, Kiyose instinctively wanted to deny it.

"Although I don't understand music, I did work with you, Shimizu-kun, for a while before."

Kasumigaoka refers to the days leading up to the Christmas events.

"At that time, although you were very tired, you couldn't hear that emotion in the music you played."

Even though Kasumigaoka doesn't understand music, music can't lie. Just like the words written by the author, it will subconsciously bear the author's mark. The emotions conveyed in the words and notes are something that even non-professionals can feel.

This is the charm of musical notes and words.

Kasumigaoka, being a creator herself, understands this even better.

"But tonight, your performance was tinged with hesitation and melancholy, as if you were holding back something. Has something happened to you recently?"

Kiyose hadn't expected Kasumigaoka to be so perceptive.

She knew that she hadn't been in a good state these days. Although it wasn't to the point that Takigatsu would point it out and criticize her when they contacted each other, it was indeed different from before.

Kiyose thought Kasumigaoka wouldn't understand.

But she clearly understood and noticed it.

The words of denial that I originally wanted to say were swallowed back for some reason, and instead, a surge of urge to confide came over me like a tidal wave.

But how can Kiyose say these words to Kasumigaoka?

In what capacity should she speak, and in what capacity should the other party listen?

Senior or junior colleague? Close friend? Or someone you secretly admire or are secretly admired by?

None of them seem suitable.

Why are there so many worries?

She clearly doesn't want to hurt the other person, but why does she always end up doing things that will cause them harm?

if--

"If only I liked you..."

One sentence, yet two broken hearts.

Chapter 54 This is the last time

Kiyoyori and Kasumigaoka remained silent until Sayuri arrived at the ward. They sat by Eriri's bedside like two guardian deities.

Sayuri took over the task of looking after Eriri from the two people with the strange atmosphere and then sent them away. Even as Kiyoshi stood at the hospital entrance, he still couldn't figure out how to explain the words he had just blurted out.

Just when they were at a loss for what to do, Kasumigaoka finally gave in.

"Can you take me home, Shimizu-kun?"

The winter night was still cold. Kiyoyori subconsciously stood on the outside to help Kasumigaoka block the wind, but was pulled to the other side by the other.

"Can we hold hands? It's a little cold."

Kiyoshi didn't even have time to think of a way to refuse.

"Consider this the last time."

Giving up her attempts to struggle, Kiyoyori let Kasumigaoka hold her hand, but she didn't dare to hold it back.

The two walked side by side for a while.

"Shimizu-kun, do you like snow?"

Kasumigaoka tucked half her face into her scarf, tilting her head to Kiyoyori's side, seemingly observing his unscarved neck.

"I like it. It looks so beautiful, all white."

Speaking of snow, Kiyoyori thinks of that snowflake-like person, is it Yukino Yukinoshita? For some reason, I always feel empty inside.

Kiyoshi instinctively shrank his neck.

Kasumigaoka, who had been observing Kiyoyori, naturally noticed her actions. If it were in the past, she would probably have taken off her scarf without hesitation and forcefully wrapped the other half around the neck of the person next to her.

But she won't anymore.

Wouldn't that just cause trouble for the other party?

Let her be cold by herself then.

Kasumigaoka thought to herself that she should learn how to be ruthless towards Kiyoyori.

"It should snow this year, right?"

Kasumigaoka turned his gaze away and answered.

"why?"

"I always have this feeling."

"What...?"

Kasumigaoka didn't explain much, but gave a heartbreaking smile from an angle that Kiyoyori couldn't see, "Actually, I'm quite happy to see Shimizu-kun today, although I feel a little sorry for Sawamura-kun."

"Because I will be going to Tokyo after the start of the new semester next year, I definitely won't be able to come back as often then, so every time we meet now, we'll have one less time in the future."

Kasumigaoka spoke in a nonchalant tone, but Kiyori suddenly stopped in his tracks.

The two were still holding hands, Kiyoyori stopped walking, but Kasumigaoka did not.

Just as their hands were about to slip apart, Kiyoyori instinctively tightened his grip on Kasumigaoka.

"What's wrong? Aren't you going to keep going?"

Kasumigaoka's face was positioned against the light, making it difficult for Kiyotori to see clearly. Even though she could discern the other's expression, she couldn't fathom Kasumigaoka's inner thoughts.

"Sorry……"

"for what?"

"I'm sorry for what I said earlier."

Which sentence?

Faced with Kasumigaoka's relentless pressure, Kiyori was speechless. Of course, she wouldn't be foolish enough to repeat those words, but she also understood that even if she hadn't said them, all that remained between her and Kasumigaoka was the last remaining false pretense.

Do you like the line about snow?

"...Huh?"