I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"It is said that the General Affairs High School's brass band made it into the national competition this time. Although they missed out on the gold medal, they have made rapid progress compared to the past. This is probably thanks to the addition of a highly skilled player like Kiyose."

"Being able to enter the national competition is thanks to everyone's efforts and the guidance of the advisors; it has little to do with me personally."

"Kiyose is being modest."

The back-and-forth exchanges were mostly polite compliments. Of course, given Yukinoshita's status, she didn't need to flatter Kiyose. But for Touko and Carol, having their child recognized was perhaps something that made them even happier.

"Speaking of which, I remember Yang Nai went to the last national tournament, right?"

Mrs. Yukinoshita naturally steered the conversation toward Haruno. She could certainly see the awkwardness between the two children. To be precise, Kiyose was deliberately avoiding Haruno, but unintentional touches and eye contact were hard to avoid in such a confined space.

Even though they tried their best to hide their emotions, they still couldn't escape Lady Yukinoshita's discerning eye.

Although Carol and Mrs. Yukinoshita were in charge of this meeting, the real protagonists were Kiyose and Haruno.

“Yes, Mom,” Yang Nai answered frankly. She sat upright at the table with her back straight. Her gaze paused slightly when it met Kiyose’s, but did not linger. “I happened to be in Kyoto at the time and had some things to take care of. After I finished, I had some time, so I went to see her.”

"I also ran into Ms. Touko."

"Really? What a coincidence?"

Lady Yukinoshita showed just the right amount of surprise. Of course, she already knew that Haruno had met Touko back then, but she didn't expect Haruno to bring it up at this time.

“Yes, I happened to receive an invitation to be a judge for the national competition,” Yuanzi picked up the conversation. “It had been a long time since I had attended such an event, and I also rediscovered some of the feeling of being a teacher.”

"Did Ms. Touko also work as a teacher?"

Yang Nai seemed very interested in this topic.

"Yes, I taught at the music university before Kiyose was even born, when I was still very young."

Touko naturally accepted the topic raised by Yono.

Kiyose, who was once again excluded from the topic, glanced at Haruno, who was chatting with Touko, with mixed feelings. Even Kiyose could see that Haruno was changing the subject, deliberately not letting the focus of the conversation fall on Kiyose, so that Mrs. Yukinoshita would have the opportunity to introduce a more advanced topic. How could Mrs. Yukinoshita not see it?

This topic was already assumed to be the focus of today's meeting even before we met.

What's the point of Yang doing this...?

"It's thanks to your guidance that Kiyose is able to give such an outstanding performance now."

Of course, Lady Yukinoshita could easily steer the conversation back on track.

"Lady Yukinoshita, you flatter me. It is thanks to your guidance that Haruno is so outstanding."

Touko deliberately avoided mentioning Yukino Yukinoshita.

“Speaking of Haruno,” Mrs. Yukinoshita covered the corners of her slightly upturned mouth with her hand, “Haruno also has her own little band at university, right? They even performed at the Soubu High School cultural festival last time, did Kiyose see it?”

"Of course, it was fantastic."

Kiyose smiled gently as always.

"Yono is quite talented in music, I don't know when she started to get into it," Mrs. Yukinoshita praised Yono generously. "Perhaps Kiyose could talk to Yono more about music."

Here it comes...

Kiyose took a deep breath.

“Yono and I have different ideas about music. We’ve discussed it before, but I’m more into wind instruments and less into rock music, so it might not be a good fit.”

Although the conversation was about music, everyone present knew what the conversation was actually about, but no one would point it out.

Kiyose felt her foot being touched by the person next to her.

It's Yuanzi.

"That's just a temporary mismatch. Maybe we'll discover something new after communicating more."

Lady Yukinoshita wasn't angry; she just smiled and said it.

Kiyose smiled politely, "That depends on what Haruno thinks."

"As for exchanging ideas about music, I certainly have no problem," Haruno's answer was ambiguous. "But Kiyose will definitely be going to a music university in the future, right? Her views and insights about music may change in the future, after all, she hasn't seen enough yet, has she?"

This was probably the first time at dinner that Kiyose and Haruno's eyes met so openly, with a hint of teasing in each other's eyes, yet it also seemed as if Kiyose was genuinely questioning her:

Will you change your mind?

After seeing a wider world.

Will Yukino Yukinoshita still be your first choice?

"Even if things change, those will be the first to come into contact with a wider world. As for me, my world is very small."

Aren't you the first person to change?

Yang Nai.

Chapter 58 A Borrowed Wish

The conversation was still proceeding in an orderly manner, but it had changed from Kiyoyori and Yono having room to interject to only the adults talking throughout.

Even when faced with an exquisite dinner, Qinglai found it tasteless and unappetizing.

I wanted to find an opportunity to talk to Haruno alone, but I couldn't find one.

What are your thoughts on this matter?

What is this matter?

Seeing that Kiyori was completely distracted and not paying attention to what was being discussed at the table, just as Haruno was preparing her response, Kiyori suddenly spoke up:

"I want to talk to Yang Nai, just the two of us."

These words, like a pebble dropped into a lake, created ripples. The five people at the table had different expressions, but none of them reacted until Lady Yukinoshita, Asahino, nodded, and only then did Asahino stand up with permission.

Even after leaving the room, Kiyotori suppressed the urge to question Haruno. Only when they were completely out of his elders' sight did Kiyotori finally lose his temper and grab Haruno's wrist, roughly dragging her to a corner of the hotel lobby.

"What's the rush?"

Even when treated roughly, Haruno maintained her usual smile, gently waving her arm to hide her reddened wrist in her sleeve.

Kiyoyori then realized the impoliteness of his actions and immediately took a step back, distancing himself from Haruno.

Yang Nai still had a smile on her face, but her eyes held a hint of coldness.

"There are some things I want to ask you..." Kiyoshi thought about how to phrase it, unsure of where to begin.

Some of the facts were so far-fetched that Kiyoyori even wondered if he would be ridiculed by Haruno.

"What is it? It's not about the topic we were discussing today, is it?" Yang raised her hand, covering half of her face with her sleeve. "Just so you know, if Kiyori doesn't object, I don't mind either."

“Speaking of which, you seemed to have the same attitude last year, didn’t you?” Kiyoshi looked out the window, where light snow was beginning to fall. “It was snowing just as well.”

Yang Nai's smile faded, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes, but it was quickly concealed by deliberate confusion. "Last year? What are you talking about, Xiao Qinglai?"

"Of course it's about a marriage alliance, don't you remember?" Although Kiyori could never see through Haruno, she believed she understood her to some extent. "Back in Kyoto."

"Kyoto?" Yang was startled, but didn't show it on her face. "Why do I have to go to Kyoto to meet with Kiyori? Isn't Chiba better?"

“Yes, why did I go to Kyoto…” Even though it was a warm indoor space, Kiyoyori felt like he was standing in the snow. “Then can you tell me why I’m in Chiba?”

Yang Nai did not speak.

“I remember you said that day that you are an only child and don’t have a younger sister.”

As the originally vague dream became more and more real, and as every word echoed clearly in his mind, Qinglai could no longer ignore it, nor could he pretend that nothing had happened.

It's not that I haven't considered that those scenes are the result of fantasy, but why would memories that have never appeared before appear from Kasumigaoka's mouth? And when those ridiculous dreams are connected with Kasumigaoka's memories, a terrible guess is made.

She had to admit that perhaps what she called dreams was the reality, a past she had forgotten.

So what is everything now?

"Then what about Yukinoshita-senpai? I asked her, and all these years, she's just been studying abroad. Given your personality, you wouldn't deliberately erase her existence from my sight, would you? The loopholes are too big, and it's not like you."

"Or are you not Yukinoshita Haruno at all?"

Kiyoyori's questioning relentlessly pressed on, as if she had cornered Hinano with no way to escape.

With all her paths blocked, Haruno finally removed her mask. She stared coldly at Kiyora, a sarcastic smile playing on her lips.

"You remember now?"

"As expected—" Kiyoyori's breath hitched. "You knew everything?!"

"So what if I know?"

"Tell me!" Kiyori pressed closer to Haruno again, the distance between them now far exceeding standard social distancing. "Why did Yukinoshita-senpai disappear? Soubu High School doesn't even exist! And I should be living in Uji!"

Therefore, everything I saw in the brass band felt strangely out of place, so—

"**Mountain."

Kiyoshi suddenly mentioned a place name, but to the two of them, the pronunciation of the name seemed to be deliberately obscured, and they only heard the sound of "mountain".

"really……"

Details that are usually overlooked or deliberately concealed become evidence at this moment.

“I can’t explain it, because there’s no such place in Chiba, right? It’s only found in Uji—” Daikichiyama.

Yang Nai maintained her indifferent expression.

"Speak!"

Seeing Qinglai's anxious look, she suddenly laughed, "What? So you still don't know anything."

"Then tell me!"

“Sure,” In stark contrast to Kiyori’s eagerness, Haruno regained the initiative. “If Kiyori agrees to get engaged to me, I’ll tell you.”

Kiyoshi was stunned. She knew that Yono had a bad personality, but she never expected that she would say such a thing.

"Are you kidding me...?"

Since that's your answer.

"Are you kidding me! Don't treat people's feelings like toys!"

Then why did you push me away in the first place?!

*****

Those eyes seemed to say: So this is the kind of person you are.