I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

But her imposing manner didn't last long. Under the watchful eyes of many students, Kiyora watched as the girl's face grew increasingly red, "Um..."

"Tachibana-san! I'm a fan of your mother!"

"Huh...?"

"But ever since I listened to the national competition, I've also come to love Tachibana's voice! I hope you continue down the path of music, just like Ms. Touko! This is a gift for you! If you'd like, please enjoy it with Ms. Touko! Goodbye!"

Before Qinglai could react, a box of chocolates was shoved into her hand, and then the girl ran away as if fleeing.

All that remained was the disheveled and alone Qinglai.

"Haha—I can't take it anymore! I'm dying of laughter!"

"Stop laughing..."

Kiyoyori glanced helplessly at Asuka, who was laughing so hard she leaned on his shoulder. "How rude of me."

"No, pfft! I really can't hold it in!" Asuka took off her glasses and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. "Looks like Aunt Touko's charm hasn't diminished at all, hahaha!"

Kiyoshi helplessly wrapped his arms around Asuka's waist to prevent her from laughing so hard she fell to the ground.

Finally, Asuka stopped laughing. She took out the chocolate she had prepared earlier from her bag and handed it to Kiyoshi amidst his surprised expression.

“This is Kiyori’s share,” Asuka said, reaching out and affectionately pinching Kiyori’s cheek. “Let me deliver it for you this once in a while.”

In the past, Asuka was always the one to return the gift on White Day, but with their separation imminent, she wanted to change her stance.

"We need to keep going and encourage each other."

After Asuka finished speaking, she walked towards the third-year school building.

"Wait a minute," Kiyoshi grabbed Asuka's hand and placed the beautifully packaged small cake into her arms. "Don't forget the things. I've already made them, so don't waste them."

"As ordered!"

Asuka raised her hand and gave a bright smile.

……………………………………………………………

The subsequent gift-giving process went much as Qinglai had envisioned, sending gifts to close friends and seniors, and not forgetting his beloved homeroom teacher.

Kiyoyori could never forget the expression on Hiratsuka Shizuka's face, an expression that was hard to tell whether she was happy or sad.

After all, the other party doesn't have the tradition of receiving chocolates, whether it's Valentine's Day or White Day.

That leaves only two.

Kiyoyori planned to take Kasumigaoka's portion after school, but for Yukinoshita's portion, he couldn't find a suitable time, so it was delayed until after school.

Kiyoyori originally planned to go to the Service Club to find Yukinoshita, since they had made plans to meet, but he never expected to see Kasumigaoka at the entrance of Sobu High School.

She stood at the door holding a novel, clearly waiting for someone.

Qinglai stopped in his tracks, feeling that he was attracting some attention.

"Senior Shiyu".

Kasumigaoka turned around in response. The moment he saw Kiyori, a charming smile appeared on his previously indifferent face. "Shimizu-kun."

"What brings Senior Shiyu to Zongwu High School?"

"Well, I wanted to talk to Shimizu-kun about what happened with Sawamura-kun before, and coincidentally..." Kasumigaoka's gaze fell on Kiyoyori's backpack, "Does Shimizu-kun have anything to give me?"

“Of course,” Kiyoyori said, taking out a chocolate cake with the same wrapping as the gift he had given her earlier. “Happy Valentine’s Day, Utaha-senpai, this is—”

“I know about the obligatory chocolate.”

Kasumigaoka accepted the gift with an unreadable expression. "Thank you, I will definitely savor it carefully."

"Then please don't forget to send me your feedback on the tasting."

“Of course.” Kasumigaoka smiled like a fox, glancing subtly at the three people not far away.

"Since this concerns Eriri, let's talk about it somewhere else."

"No, I have an appointment with the editor later, so I'll talk here."

At this moment, Kasumigaoka is still maintaining social distancing.

"Sawamura-kun has decided to leave Aki-kun's club, and thanks to her, I've joined it too."

"But I believe that Ms. Xia Shizi will make Ms. Hongyin look at her in a new light."

"Of course! I am Kasumi Shiko!"

As Kasumigaoka spoke, she suddenly leaned closer to Kiyori, "However, after taking on this project, I might have to go to Kansai for a while, so as for the White Day return gift..."

"Ah, it's okay if you don't reply..."

"Of course I'll go back, but—"

Kasumigaoka reached out and grasped Kiyori's chin, pressing his lips to Kiyori's before Kiyori could react.

An unexpected softness, the warmth of another person, made Qinglai forget to resist for a moment. She stared at the blurry face in front of her, her mind blank.

They didn't even know when Kasumigaoka's lips left.

Thank you for the treat!

Kasumigaoka left gracefully, leaving Kiyori in a state of utter disarray and the shocked audience.

After standing in the cold wind for a while, Kiyotaka belatedly covered his lips with his hand.

My feelings are a bit complicated.

"Um, Kiyora..."

Unable to bear it any longer, Yui called out to Kiyoyori from behind, trying to remind her.

Kiyoyori turned around and, as expected, saw Yuihama looking embarrassed and Yukinoshita with an icy expression.

For a moment, I was speechless.

“That was just now, she—” was just joking.

Kiyoshi couldn't bring herself to say those words; she simply didn't know how to explain it.

"We're not in that kind of relationship..."

Kiyoshi could only offer this dry explanation.

"I know."

Yukino answered indifferently, maintaining a calm demeanor on the surface, but she gripped her backpack strap tightly, her heart churning like a stormy sea.

That was a provocation from Kasumigaoka, and Yukinoshita understood it clearly.

"Let's go. Do you want to stay here and be treated like a monkey in a zoo?"

The surrounding gazes did not lessen; in fact, they increased due to the appearance of the snow beneath. Kiyoyori had no choice but to abandon his intention to explain and followed the three out of the school gate.

Along the way, Qinglai's palms were sweaty; she didn't know when the best time would be.

It's so hot, even though it's still winter.

Will the chocolate in my pocket melt due to high body temperature?

Kiyoshi thought for no reason.

She would wait until it was just the two of them before giving the chocolate away.

Under the snow, walking ahead of Yuihama, was also waiting, waiting for the right moment.

It's not just about the gifts, but also about the sentiments and the unavoidable issues within the family.

It needs to be made clear.

They were all waiting, but they met someone they never expected.

Yang leaned against the car door, clearly waiting for them, but she didn't show her usual smile, only looking coldly at the group approaching her.

"Hi~, I'm here to pick up what I'm supposed to take."

Kiyoshi frowned. She hadn't expected Yono to come to the school, so she hadn't brought the cake with her.

"I didn't bring it, maybe later."

Under the watchful eyes of the two women, Kiyoyori had no choice but to answer.

“I see…” Yang Nai wasn’t discouraged. “Well… I happen to have something to ask Yukino. Before today is over, I think Yukino needs to know about it.”

Kiyoshi was startled. "What are you going to do..."

Yang ignored Kiyori and turned to Yukinoshita.

"Did you know, Yukino? Kiyoyori actually has a fiancée," Haruno said with an unusually cold look in her eyes, "although she's his ex-fiancée."

"Miss Yukinoshita!" Kiyori guessed what the other party wanted to say and tried to stop her in advance.

But if it could be stopped, then it wouldn't be Yukinoshita Haruno.

"That person is me."

His casual tone revealed words that shocked everyone.

Yukinoshita's body trembled, her pupils suddenly contracted, and her hand, which had been resting lightly on her backpack, clenched into a fist, crumpling one corner of the backpack. The soft sound of chocolate cracking came from inside the backpack.

She turned around to see Lai's expression, but he clenched his teeth, lowered his head, and dared not look at her.

"But it was also made clear that we're not a good match, after all, there's a four-year age gap between me and Kiyoyori. Oh, by the way, you should remember the day after the New Year, right? Mom said there was a dinner, which was actually with Kiyoyori's family, to discuss the marriage."

"However, in the end, my engagement with Kiyora was called off."

Yang smiled, but there was no hint of a smile in her eyes, which resembled Yukino's.

So, Yukino, do you understand? What I mean is...

Kiyoyori, who was standing to the side, suddenly widened her eyes. Only now did she fully understand what Lady Yukinoshita had said yesterday.

Yukino suddenly felt the air grow colder and colder. With each breath, it felt as if a thousand blades were piercing her lungs. Her breathing was trembling, and her heart was icy. The shyness and heat brought by Valentine's Day were frozen in that instant.

Yukino left on her own, leaving behind the four of them, who were aching from the cold wind, and a "Happy Valentine's Day."

"I'm leaving now..."

Kiyoyori crushed the chocolate in his pocket. Chocolate can be melted and remade, but what about Yukino Yukinoshita's heart? For the first time, Kiyoyori realized how agonizing it was to stand before a girl and receive her gaze.

"Little Qinglai..."