I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Just because Yukino Yukinoshita doesn't know something doesn't mean Hayato Hayama doesn't know it either.

How could he possibly miss anything related to Yang Nai?

"Is there any reason why not?"

Yang Nai's gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, revealing a smile of relief mixed with melancholy.

She had waited so long for this scene that she had almost forgotten why she was doing it. She should have given up long ago, but why did her heart still ache?

However, if fate forced her to make another choice, she would still resolutely walk the same path.

She suddenly flashed her usual smile: "Hey~, I wanted to ask everyone, how many of you are making your own special chocolate tonight~?"

Yang Nai's voice wasn't loud, but it had a significant "deterrent" effect. The noisy classroom immediately became quiet, and most people became shy and awkward. Yui Hama glanced at Hikigaya very quickly and obviously, while Miura, who was in the same group, also looked at Hayama shyly.

Even though Yukino was prepared, she still paused her movements abruptly.

"Looks like quite a lot~"

Haruno glanced at Kiyori and Yukinoshita, noticing that Kiyori was more clearly wavering than Yukinoshita, while Kiyori continued making the chocolate cake without making a sound.

Will Yukino prepare chocolates for me, my older sister, this year?

"will not."

Yukino answered without hesitation.

"Ugh~ That's so mean!" Haruno feigned sadness, drawing out a long, drawn-out tone. "Back when we were little, you used to give my older sister chocolates every year, and you even said they were your special chocolates~"

"How dare you bring this up?!"

When Yukinoshita recalls being teased as a child, she gets really angry.

"Arara! That was scary~" Haruno made a frightened face, "But it's okay, I'll at least receive a present this year!"

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Kiyoshi, who had suddenly stopped moving.

Yukinoshita had obviously noticed it too. She silently walked to Kiyori's table, intending to borrow the mold, but was caught off guard when Haruno poked her in the waist, causing her to drop the mold on the ground.

"What exactly do you want?!"

"It's nothing~"

The two spoke in hushed tones, not wanting to disturb anyone else. However, Kiyoshiro, who had been observing silently from the beginning, noticed them. She crouched down to pick up the mold, but inadvertently touched Yukinoshita's hand, who was also crouching down.

An electric shock-like sensation began to spread from their touching fingertips. Both of them simultaneously withdrew their hands, and the mold fell to the ground again with a crisp sound.

Perhaps because Haruno's teasing went too far, Yukinoshita blushed as soon as she met Kiyori's gaze. She crossed her arms over Kiyori's hand and avoided eye contact.

Don't waver...

Kiyoshi, who had initially thought nothing of it, now felt a burning sensation all over his body.

Hesitantly, I didn't know whether I should reach out again.

At that moment, Hachiman suddenly stepped forward, picked up the mold that had slipped to the side, and said, "Here you go."

"……Thanks."

After receiving the mold, Yukino hurriedly returned to her table.

Kiyoya stood up and walked back to the table. She raised her eyebrows in the direction of Hinano, who immediately returned an enigmatic smile, then put her hand to her lips and made a zipping motion.

As Kiyotaka continued making the cake, she lost the focus and seriousness she had shown earlier.

"Xiao Qinglai made such a great dish! I really can't wait to see what it tastes like!"

Yui followed the scent to Kiyori's side, where she had already finished making and wrapping the gift.

Would you like to try some?

Kiyoyori pretended to cut off a small piece and hand it to Yuihama.

"Ah, no, no, no!" Yui Hama quickly waved her hand, "Today isn't Valentine's Day yet, it's better to save it for tomorrow! Besides, I can't make a difference if I wait one more night."

Yuihama shyly twirled the end of her hair with her hand, "So Kiyori, you have to give it to me early tomorrow, okay?"

"Yes Yes."

The event was a great success. Although it ended a little late, everyone was very satisfied overall.

When they left, the former members of the Service Department, unusually, came together again.

The desserts made by Yuihama and Yukinoshita were relatively small, and it was hard to tell what they looked like when they were in their backpacks, while Kiyoyori was carrying a box specifically for holding the cakes, which shows that the cakes were not small.

"I have a feeling that Kiyotaka will be very busy tomorrow."

Yuihama rarely teases Kiyori, "Kiyori is going to give out so many gifts tomorrow, I wonder how many he'll receive?"

"Hmm... at least one, right? I saw that Yuihama-senpai prepared one for me."

"Ugh, this is so boring!"

Yukinoshita and Hikigaya walked quietly to one side.

The four of them walked and chatted for quite a while.

Yukinoshita was almost at her apartment when she spotted a black limousine parked in front of it, and she instinctively stopped in her tracks.

"What's wrong, Xiaoxue?"

They were just chatting a moment ago, but now Yuihama looked at Yukinoshita with some concern, as if she had seen something bad.

Following the gaze of the snow-covered figure, Kiyotaka also saw the strangely familiar car. She stopped and unconsciously straightened her already ramrod-straight back.

As expected, the car door opened, and out stepped Lady Yukinoshita, impeccably dressed in a kimono.

"Yukino, you're home very late today."

The imperative tone made the four young people feel a little breathless for a moment.

Good evening, Mom.

"Good evening," Mrs. Yukinoshita replied seriously. "When I allowed you to live here, it wasn't so that you would do things like this. I think you should know what to do at what time and what kind of people to associate with."

Snow kept her head down and didn't speak.

For a moment, all four of them subconsciously lowered their breathing.

Lady Yukinoshita's gaze fell upon everyone, finally settling on Kiyori. She spoke in a voice that could even be described as gentle:

Good evening, Qinglai, it's been a long time.

Yukinoshita immediately looked at Kiyori.

Under the scrutinizing gaze, Qinglai tried his best to remain calm. "Good evening, Madam. I didn't expect to run into you here."

"Yes, if I had known beforehand that Yukino was going out with you, I would probably have felt more at ease."

"You flatter me."

Kiyoyori tried his best to ignore Lady Yukinoshita's pointed remark.

"I just happened to run into you today. Could you please pass on a message to your mother?"

Kiyoshi knew she was referring to Carol. "Please speak," he said.

"The cooperation with your family has gone smoothly. I hope that our two families can forge an even closer partnership in the future." Lady Yukinoshita smiled as she looked at Kiyori's increasingly stiff figure. "And—"

Kiyoshita almost held her breath. She didn't want to expose the other layer of her relationship with Haruno at this time, but she didn't dare to look at Yukinoshita, let alone speak first. She could only silently pray that Lady Yukinoshita wouldn't bring it up.

"Thank you for being my friend Yukino."

Kiyoshi felt a little relieved, but still dared not relax. "Senior is very outstanding, and it is my honor to get to know her."

Lady Yukinoshita smiled with satisfaction. She turned to Yukinoshita again and said, "I will let bygones be bygones for Kiyori's sake. But Yukino, please remember that even if you live alone now, there are still some rules you must follow."

Then, Lady Yukinoshita looked at Yuihama and Hikigaya, "Thank you all for taking care of my Yukino."

Unexpectedly being mentioned, Yui and Hikigaya simply waved their hands awkwardly, "This is the place..."

"Well then, Yukino, I'll be going now," Lady Yukinoshita said as she walked back to the car. At the last moment before leaving, she rolled down the window. "Remember to get along well with Kiyoyori."

After saying that, the black sedan disappeared into the night.

The four people were left standing in the cold wind.

Yukinoshita looked at Kiyoyori with a complicated expression. It wasn't that she didn't understand what Lady Yukinoshita meant, but this friendship mixed with self-interest was like a chain binding her.

Thinking of the things in her backpack, Yukinoshita suddenly felt a heaviness in her shoulders.

"senior--"

Kiyoshi wanted to explain, but didn't know where to begin, especially since there were two outsiders around who were unaware of the situation.

"I'm going back now," Yukinoshita said, pulling her backpack strap in. "See you tomorrow."

Without waiting for the others to respond, she hurried toward the apartment door.

Because they were going their separate ways, Kiyoyori bid farewell to Yuihama and Hikigaya here, and Kiyoyori remained standing downstairs at the apartment building until they left.

She saw the lights on the floor below the snow come on.

But they lost the courage to explain.

tomorrow,

We'll see...

Chapter 65 A Broken Heart

Valentine's Day was just as lively as I had imagined.

It was only the start of school time, and there were already many students standing at the school gate with gifts in their hands. They all wanted to hand over their gifts as soon as possible, because the more popular a person was, the more gifts they would receive. Their anticipation for desserts would also decrease dramatically, and they might even feel annoyed by them.

No one wants their gift to be disliked.

Qinglai's bag was almost empty except for the gift. She naturally assumed that she was the one giving the gift, but she didn't expect to be blocked at the school gate.

It was a girl I didn't know.

"Hello there!"

The other party had a strong presence, and their loud voice drew the attention of everyone around them.

"……Hello."