I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Senior, were you living abroad before attending Soubu High School?"

After a long silence, Kiyose asked this question.

Although she didn't know why the other person would suddenly ask about this, Yukinoshita answered, "Yes."

"Back then, the relationship between my elders and their families..."

Are you asking about my relationship with my sister back then?

"That's it."

Kiyose gave a vague answer.

“My sister always teased me. When I was little, I didn’t know any better and she always got her way. But as I grew up, I inevitably found it troublesome. Actually, my relationship with her back then was pretty much the same as it is now.” As she talked about the past, Yukino’s breathing became a little rapid, perhaps because there were too many people around. “Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”

"Because I don't think I've ever heard of my elders in the family before."

Kiyose told a lie.

"Is that so?" Yukinoshita wasn't surprised. "After all, the Yukinoshita family is more famous for her older sister. I just don't have much of a presence."

Perhaps that's why she wanted to go abroad in the first place—to always hide in the shadow of someone named Yukinoshita.

But if that's the case, why come back?

Yukinoshita seemed to have forgotten the answer as well, and only subconsciously glanced at the people around her.

Chapter 56 Unintentionally

Because there were too many people at the shrine, after the worship was over, the considerate Yuihama suggested that they go to another place to eat. Yukinoshita and Hikigaya naturally did not object, but Kiyoyori, who usually obeyed the arrangements, looked reluctant.

"Little Qinglai, what's wrong?"

The four of them had now left the crowd and were heading towards a nearby restaurant.

"I have some plans for later today, so I need to go back early to prepare."

Tonight is the day I'm supposed to meet with the Yukinoshita family for dinner, but the Yukinoshita in front of me probably doesn't know that.

"tonight?"

Yukinoshita subconsciously repeated the sentence. She remembered that her parents and Haruno seemed to have some important gathering tonight, but fortunately, they didn't force her to attend.

Yes, tonight.

Kiyoshi's heart was in her throat; she didn't want Yukinoshita to know about this.

"Huh? Does Xiaoxue have something to do tonight too?"

As Yuihama expressed her doubts, Kiyoyori involuntarily held his breath.

“No,” Yukinoshita shook her head, “I’m going back to my apartment today.”

"Isn't Xiaoxue spending the New Year with her family?"

"They are very busy."

As the topic drifted away, Kiyoyori secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to suggest leaving early again, a familiar voice came from behind her:

"Ching Lai."

All four of them instinctively looked in the direction of the sound and saw Touko dressed in a kimono.

"Mother?"

Kiyoshi never expected to run into Touko again, even though they had previously agreed not to come looking for her.

"Mother?!"

The one who exclaimed in surprise was Yuihama, who seemed astonished by Touko's unusually youthful appearance. "Kiyoshi, your mother is so young!"

"Oh, thank you so much."

Touko naturally reached out and took Kiyori's arm. "You're all Kiyori's seniors, right? My Kiyori has really received a lot of care from you all."

Faced with such a perfect Yamato Nadeshiko, Hikigaya couldn't help but avert his gaze.

"Aren't you going to introduce me? Kiyorae."

"Ah," Kiyori finally realized after being reminded by Touko, "These two are seniors from the Service Club, Yui-senpai Yuigahama and Hachiman-senpai Hikigaya, and..."

"Mrs. Tachibana."

Compared to the other two, Yukinoshita was clearly more composed.

"You must be Yukino?" Touko smiled gently. "I often hear Kiyori mention you."

"Cough cough."

Qinglai cleared his throat awkwardly, "Mom."

"Really, this child is shy." Touko gave Kiyoyori a meaningful look.

"Should I be mentioned...?"

Yukino glanced at Kiyori, who was pretending to admire the scenery, and a slight smile inadvertently appeared on her lips.

“Yes,” Touko’s gaze swept over the two of them seemingly casually, but she understood somewhat. “However, Yukino gives off a very familiar feeling, is it because she looks a little bit like Kiyori?”

To Yuigahama and Hikigaya, this might just be a polite remark to get closer, but between Yukinoshita and Kiyori, who already had a secret, it was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

It's important to know that during the unintentional body swap between the two, unlike Yukinoshita who lives alone, Kiyoyori has more opportunities to spend time with his family. After the body swap, Yukinoshita will inevitably encounter such situations as well.

So strictly speaking, Yukinoshita is not unfamiliar with Touko, and has even called her "Mom." Although that was only through Kiyori's body, it inevitably evokes a different feeling when viewed in the current context.

Kiyoyori and Yukino both seemed a little awkward at the moment.

"Where's Carole's mother? Isn't she with you?"

“She just said she was hungry and went to buy snacks,” Touko said, noticing that Kiyori didn’t want to continue the previous topic, so she changed the subject. “Honestly, I don’t know where she went to buy them.”

As she spoke, she took out her phone.

"By the way, hasn't everyone had lunch yet? Why don't you join us?"

Kiyoshi, who had finally relaxed after the topic was changed, was tense again.

"But Kiyorai said he has something to do tonight, so he needs to go back early to prepare. Is that alright?"

Kiyoyori knew that Yuihama didn't mean it, but when she brought it up in front of Touko and Yukinoshita, she was always worried that Touko would "accidentally" let something slip.

"It's just lunch, it won't cause any trouble. Consider it our way of thanking you for taking care of Kiyoyori," Touko said with a flawless smile, but secretly she gripped Kiyoyori's elbow tightly. "You agree, right, Kiyoyori?"

"...Since Mom says so..."

Kiyoshi forced a smile.

"Then it's settled!"

Touko happily clasped her hands together, while Kiyoyori, who had finally escaped the clutches of evil, silently covered the still throbbing part of his body with his hand.

Touko seemed to really like Yuihama, and the two immediately started chatting familiarly, while Hikigaya stood to the side and occasionally chimed in with a comment.

Feeling helpless after being tricked by his mother, Kiyoshi could only hug himself in despair.

"Are you okay?"

Yukinoshita didn't miss the way Touko pinched her and the fleeting look of pain on Kiyori's face. If Yuihama and Hikigaya, who met Touko for the first time today, only saw her gentle side, then Yukinoshita, who had more opportunities to spend time with Touko, had fully understood the woman's occasional mischievous side.

"Mom is as ruthless as ever."

Having found someone to confide in, Kiyoyori unusually revealed a miserable expression.

Yukinoshita covered the corners of her slightly upturned mouth with her hand. "Isn't it fine?"

She envied this kind of parent-child relationship. Even though both were "forced," Touko's approach was much closer and more humane than Yukinoshita's mother.

Kiyoshiro, who was about to complain, saw the envy hidden in Yukinoshita's eyes and changed his mind, saying, "It's really nice. This is how our family gets along."

Kiyoshi wanted to say a few more words of comfort, but found that he couldn't bring himself to say them, so he could only leave his words hanging there awkwardly.

"When you said you had something to do tonight, was it because of that family gathering?"

Yukinoshita withdrew her gaze from Touko and turned it to Kiyori, whose posture was somewhat stiff. "The Yukinoshita family also has something to do tonight."

"Is that so?" Kiyoyori took a slow breath, trying to make his reaction seem more natural. "So, I'll be able to see you again tonight, Senpai?"

"No, I never participate in such occasions. Generally speaking, it's enough for the younger members of the Yukinoshita family to have their older sister make an appearance."

"Besides, I don't like those kinds of occasions either."

"hypocritical."

As if stabbed hard by something, Qinglai instinctively covered his chest with his hand.

Chapter 57 Unchanging

Meeting with the Yukinoshita family tonight is the most important thing today. Even though neither Touko nor Carol brought it up, Kiyose still made thorough preparations.

There were some things she needed to ask Yang Nai, and she could only ask her.

When they arrived at the hotel, they happened to run into the Yukinoshita family, who were also dressed up, at the entrance. Of course, Yukinoshita Yukino was not among them.

Lady Yukinoshita was dressed in an elegant kimono as always. What was unusual was that Haruno was also wearing the same kimono, but in a brighter color. However, Haruno was wearing a furisode, while Lady Yukinoshita was wearing a tomesode.

On Kiyose's side, only Touko was wearing a kimono.

The other three, though not dressed in traditional Japanese formal attire, still exuded a sense of solemnity.

Because the topic of conversation at today's dinner table is destined to require such seriousness.

After some pleasantries, the six of them entered the hotel together. Carol and Mrs. Yukinoshita, who were in charge of the meeting, naturally walked at the front, followed by Touko and Mr. Yukinoshita, and then Kiyose and Haruno.

Kiyose tried her best to keep her eyes fixed straight ahead, and fortunately, for some reason, Haruno was unusually polite tonight and didn't tease Kiyose as usual.

Perhaps it's because Lady Yukinoshita is there.

But this only made Kiyose more nervous.

According to the strict hierarchy, Kiyose and Haruno could only sit at the very end, and face to face with each other.

Having already entered university and gradually taken over the family business, Haruno naturally had more topics to talk about with the adults, while Kiyose, who was still a student and had no interest in this, didn't even have a chance to interject.

Like an invisible person sitting in her seat, that's fine, but even so, whenever the topic is deliberately steered towards her, Kiyose still has to bite the bullet and answer.