I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Gradually, she even forgot about it.

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

The weather is overcast.

The weather has gotten a bit cooler these past few days. School life is the same as always, and so is my life. I hope my older sister can interfere less in my life, but she seems to be showing up all the time lately. There haven't been any club activities either. Since the incident with the brass band, I haven't received any requests, but that's fine.

Will it snow this year? She seemed to have said she wanted a white Christmas.

Ah...who is she...?

**

Lately, Yukino has been experiencing headaches from time to time, as if she has forgotten something important. But she knows her own memory; if it were something important, how could she forget it?

The girl whose face I couldn't see clearly in my memory.

What is she saying?

I can't remember.

But Yukino is never one to sit idly by and wait for death; if there's something she wants to figure out, she'll do everything in her power to find out.

She will definitely remember.

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

Sunny

Today, my teacher asked me about my future school applications again. She seemed quite surprised by my answer; it's probably the first time I've seen such obvious surprise on her face. It's strange. I've never been interested in these things before because they're so easy to learn, lacking any challenge. But why am I so determined this time? I've never even touched on them before…

Oh right, I think I remember her name now, Tachibana Kiyoyori.

I will find you someday.

**

When school ended today, Yukino unsurprisingly saw Haruno waiting for her at the school gate.

She knew that Hiratsuka Shizuka and Haruno had a close relationship, and that her resourceful older sister would never miss such a crucial matter as future career paths for a large family.

Yukino was prepared to be questioned; she expected to see the same disdainful smile on her sister's face as always.

But she didn't.

Haruno looked at her with a complex gaze that Yukino couldn't understand, but Yukino knew very well that Haruno was blaming herself.

Why is she blaming herself?

Yukino didn't understand.

Haruno did not take Yukino home, even though she had been ordered by her mother to take her younger sister back to the main family home. She insisted on taking Yukino back to her apartment.

Throughout the journey, Yang Nai remained unusually silent, saying nothing.

This made Yukino somewhat uneasy.

She had never met a sister like this before.

It wasn't until the two returned to the apartment and sat facing each other at the table that Yang Nai held a mug, trying to draw some warmth from it.

"Tell me, Yukino, why did you say you wanted to go to the music university? Why did you suddenly want to learn a musical instrument?"

Faced with Haruno's questioning, Yukino gave an answer she had prepared beforehand.

"I received a commission from the brass band when I was in first grade, and I think I started to become interested in music after that. Is there a problem?"

Although the explanation was far-fetched, Yukino knew that no matter how she explained it, she would not gain support.

"Then, why the oboe?"

"The oboe is the most difficult woodwind instrument to learn, so it shouldn't be too boring."

Whether it was Yukino's words that struck a nerve with Haruno, she slammed her mug on the table. "Don't approach music with this attitude! The future isn't a joke, nor is it something you can decide on a whim!"

Thinking about it carefully, Yang Nai doesn't seem to have ever been this angry before.

Seeing her sister's surprised face, Yukino realized she had lost her composure. "I'll talk to Mom about this, but Yukino, you need to think it through. Mom definitely won't support you if you've really decided to pursue music..."

Yang didn't continue speaking.

Later, as Haruno said, her mother strongly disapproved of Yukino's "impulsive" decision and even tried to stop her by depriving her of the right to live alone and restricting her daily expenses.

So Yukino started figuring out how to work so she could afford a musical instrument.

only……

A month later, Yukino received a gift from Haruno—

A beautifully crafted, custom-made oboe.

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

Sunny

After receiving the oboe from my sister, I left the service club and joined the brass club, which seemed to surprise everyone.

I have to say, I was actually quite surprised myself.

This year, the brass band's instructor is no longer Mr. Matsumoto, but Mr. Taki. He gives people a completely different feeling from Mr. Matsumoto, and I feel that they can compete for awards this year.

The oboe doesn't seem as difficult as I imagined. I feel like I've learned it before, but that must be just my imagination.

Oh, right, Tachibana Kiyori, I still remember her name. My sister's reaction was a little strange when I mentioned "Kiyori" last time; I'll just ask her directly next time.

**

Since joining the brass band, Yukino's life has become richer and her social circle has expanded. However, in terms of how close she is to Asuka, she probably gets along the best with her. Even though their auras seemed a bit off last year, Yukino could sense that Asuka was very interested in her.

She was the same.

In terms of music, Yukino is making rapid progress. As Asuka describes it, you can't tell at all that she's a beginner. However, Yukino still makes the mistakes that beginners make. It's probably only at this point that you realize that Yukino is actually new to wind instruments.

Of course, Yukino's goal of becoming a professional musician was still opposed by her mother, but contrary to her usual behavior, Yukino supported her and even used her own savings to find a teacher for Yukino privately.

It must be said that during this period, the relationship between the two sisters improved a lot.

Until the end of this year's national competition, Soubu High School's brass band won the national gold medal with an outstanding performance that left everyone else in the dust, and Yukino's efforts were finally recognized by her family.

However, according to Haruno, Lady Yukinoshita only wanted to confirm whether Yukino had really decided to take this path.

So, during the enrollment period in the second year of the Lunar New Year, Yukino became the second person from Soubu High School, after Asuka, to be admitted to Tokyo University of Music.

…………………………………………………………………………

Rainy weather

I'm a bit tired from work; this is probably the first time I've felt this way in years. After graduating from university, Asuka invited me to join her band. Although the band didn't explicitly forbid office romances, I always felt it wasn't quite right, but Asuka didn't seem to care much about it.

My mother is bringing up the arranged marriage again. Although I've said it many times, she still won't give up. I hope Asuka won't be angry.

My sister seems really tired lately. Is she busy investigating Tachibana Kiyoyori, which I asked her to do last time? I'm a little hesitant to ask.

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

Rainy weather

Asuka and I had a fight today. This is probably the first time we've ever argued since we started dating, and I feel so tired. I think we'll probably break up this time. I don't know why, but I feel a sense of relief, even though it's rude of me to say that.

But I'm the one who's in the wrong.

I am sorry.

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

Rainy weather

It's been raining a lot lately, which is a bit depressing.

I went to see my sister today.

I remember now...

**

"What's wrong, Yukino? You actually have time to come see me today?"

After her relationship with Yukino improved, Yukino would occasionally ask her out for meals, so Yukino didn't think much of it at first. However, she didn't expect that Yukino would bring her such a shocking surprise today.

"Where is Tachibana Kiyori?"

Yang Nai could barely hold onto her teacup.

"Who?"

"Stop playing dumb, sister. I remember now." Yukino frowned. "Although it sounds absurd, I know that this person really existed, and I had a very fantastic experience with her."

"I just want to know where she is."

"Okay, what are you going to do?"

Yang looked at Yukino with deep eyes.

Yukino paused, then said, "I don't know..."

"What's the point of that—"

“I don’t know, but,” Yukino looked back at Haruno earnestly, “I’m sure she’s the reason.”

"She also studies oboe, right?"

That day, the two sisters parted on bad terms. Haruno didn't say anything, and Yukino got nothing in return, but she wouldn't give up so easily.

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

The weather is overcast.

I applied to leave the band today. I have already received an invitation from another band, which I accepted because there are more world tours there, and I will have more opportunities to go abroad. I know this decision is stupid; it should be the stupidest decision I have ever made in my life.

But I don't regret it.

Asuka came to see me, and we had a good talk.

**

Upon learning that Yukino had left the group, Asuka rushed to the apartment where they had previously lived together.

She moved out after the breakup.