I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"You really can't judge a book by its cover."

Asuka finished the remaining sake in her cup in one gulp, frowned slightly, and breathed a sigh of relief. "Indeed, the sake tasted very good today. I can't help but want to take a bottle home."

She casually placed the sake cup on the bar, then held the sake bottle in both hands and refilled the cup.

Thank you~

Mizore silently added some sake to her cup and made a silent "cheers" gesture with Asuka.

Drinking alone has somehow turned into drinking with someone.

"So," Asuka said, resting her chin on her hand and gently swirling the gleaming sake cup in the lamplight with the other, "is there something you want to tell me, Mizore?"

She had never interacted much with this junior, and she rarely interacted even with extroverted people like Kasaki Nozomi, let alone the introverted Mizore who hardly ever spoke.

Although Asuka always treats most of her juniors equally, she can't be completely impartial.

She always subconsciously favors a few people.

"It's nothing." Ying shook her head, still holding the wine cup, her voice as usual. If you didn't observe carefully, you wouldn't notice that her reaction was several beats slower than usual. However, with her wet, puppy-like, bewildered eyes, you could tell that Ying was a little drunk.

Perhaps infected by Mizore, Asuka's reactions also became sluggish.

After a long pause, Asuka shook her head with a smile, "Could it be that you just happened to sit next to me by chance?"

Even though almost all the seats near the bar were empty, there was no need to sit in the seat closest to her if you were just enjoying a drink alone.

As if only now remembering, Mizore said, "Because..."

"I just saw Asuka-senpai carrying a euphonium."

Ying lowered her head, seemingly a little drunk, but her speech remained clear.

Asuka didn't speak, but simply narrowed her eyes slightly, as if waiting for Mizore's response.

"Kiyoshi," Mizore said haltingly, as if she were organizing her thoughts on the spot, "said that she really wanted to play a duet with Asuka-senpai again."

She paused for a moment, then said to Kiyoyori, "Just tell Asuka-senpai like this."

“But,” Mizore’s voice trailed off as she crossed her arms on the table, resting her forehead gently against them, “Kiyori just told me ‘it’s impossible.’”

I asked her why again.

“She just smiled,” Ying paused awkwardly, as if she had hiccuped, “but I felt she was very sad.”

Asuka was momentarily distracted by her junior's intermittent narration. Perhaps it was because she had consumed too much alcohol that day, but Asuka could even imagine Kiyori's bitter expression at that moment.

Mizore continued to mutter to herself, as if she were talking to Asuka, or perhaps just babbling on the verge of falling asleep. Her face was almost buried in her arms, just like when she was taking a nap at her desk while studying.

"But she seemed very happy when she walked in today..."

"He kept staring at Asuka-senpai's back and smiled happily."

"I'm happy too..."

"Really,"

"Very good……"

Mizore's voice grew softer and softer until it was completely drowned out by the noise of the crowd. Asuka looked at her evenly undulating back and was momentarily speechless.

Asuka felt as if something had struck her heart, not too hard, but not too soft, leaving only a faint bitterness that she didn't know how to shake off. So, she silently poured herself another glass of wine.

The chilled sake flowed down her throat, leaving a cool trail in her burning esophagus, stimulating Asuka's gradually dulled nerves. The lights in front of her blurred, and even the mixed sounds around her faded away.

She mimicked Ying's posture and slowly drifted off to sleep.

……………………………………………………………

"Waaah..."

When she woke up again, only a night light was still on above her head; the rest of the place was dark. She could hear the sound of water dripping. Through the frosted glass, Asuka saw a slender silhouette, a soft mattress beneath her, and a faint fragrance wafting from her nose.

His clothes had been changed, and even the strong smell of alcohol on him had disappeared.

Asuka raised her arm to cover her eyes and exhaled.

Are you still in the hotel...?

"Awake?" Kaori, wearing a bathrobe, walked towards the bed while drying her hair. She placed the honey water in her hand next to Asuka's bedside. "Does your head hurt? Kiyori just found you. You were sleeping with Yoroizuka. Kiyori specially booked a room for you so you could get some rest."

"Yeah……"

Asuka's voice was a little hoarse, "Thank you for your help, Kaori..."

"I didn't find it troublesome at all."

I felt a pair of hands gently massaging my temples.

"Kaori".

"Ok?"

"Let's go to the New Year's shrine together."

P.S.: Sigh, I think I'll skip the side stories next time. Chapter 13 is the end. Not many people are reading it, and it hasn't been very successful. I've really lost my motivation lately.

Chapter 300 Extra - New Year's Day 12

Asuka was dragged out of her warm bed early in the morning by Kaori.

"Sleep a little longer..."

Feeling lingering weariness, Asuka sat up, clutching her blanket. Her fluffy black hair was a mess, and her loose collar slipped down to her shoulders, revealing faint red marks.

Kaori awkwardly looked away, but in the end, she couldn't help but reach out and tug at Asuka's collar, muttering something unintelligible.

"Didn't Asuka say she was going to visit a shrine for the New Year today?"

"Wasn't Kaori the place I originally wanted to go to..."

Perhaps she wasn't fully awake yet; normally, Asuka would never let such words slip out of her mouth.

Seeing Kaori's slightly somber expression, Asuka suddenly realized what she had said, and her previously blurred sense of reason quickly returned.

Oops……

"Okay!" Kaori released Asuka's arm and turned to walk out of the room. "Then Asuka can stay home alone!"

"Wait, Kaori—!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by the sound of the wooden door being slammed shut, and the angry footsteps outside gradually faded into the distance.

"what--"

I must have been infected by that awful junior who always blurted out his true feelings.

Asuka smoothed her messy long hair with her hands, but when she lowered her head, a relaxed smile appeared on her face.

After she finished getting ready and left the room, she found Aso and Kaori, who should have left, in the living room.

Both women were dressed in neat kimonos, understated and elegant, yet stunningly gorgeous, like a Japanese Nadeshiko stepping out of a period drama, with perfectly timed smiles on their faces.

This left Asuka, who was wearing a down jacket that reached her knees, somewhat bewildered.

My clothes seemed completely out of place with theirs.

Asuka's hand, adorned with a scarf, froze in mid-air. She looked around but didn't find an extra kimono.

"What are you standing there for?" Aso, who had rarely spoken to Asuka in recent days, came to her rescue. "Your kimono is already in your room, why don't you go and change into it?"

It was still a commanding tone, but surprisingly, it didn't make people angry.

"If you keep wasting time like this, you can forget about going to the shrine today."

The shrine is always packed with people at this time of year, and although Asuka rarely participates in such events, she is now feeling a little excited.

This was the first time she had gone to a New Year's shrine with Kaori. Even though they had known each other for so many years, they still maintained a certain distance.

The kimonos they wore suited them perfectly, and the three of them standing together looked like a family.

Do not,

They are family.

……

As expected, the shrine was bustling with people, colorful kimonos, and votive plaques and fortune slips, creating a festive atmosphere for the New Year.

Strangers brushed past her, their faces unfamiliar yet radiating the same joy. Asuka felt she should be infected by this atmosphere, but for some reason, a lingering sadness always clung to her heart.

She saw her mother and Kaori walking hand in hand ahead, and the faces of passersby, whom she couldn't see clearly, separated her from them. She saw her figure getting further and further away.

The man didn't turn around until he disappeared into the crowd.

"Asuka?"

Asuka's wrist was suddenly grabbed by a warm hand, and she was caught off guard by Kaori's concerned gaze.

"What's wrong? Why are you spacing out at a time like this?"

Asuka moved her fingers, but couldn't grasp Kaori's hand in return. "It's nothing."

Kaori wanted to ask more questions, but Aso's urging voice came from behind her, so she had no choice but to give up. Instead, she held Asuka's hand tightly and led her forward.

"We're going to visit the shrine."

Asuka saw Kaori's dazzling, star-like smile as she turned around.

Amidst the comings and goings of people, she could only see Kaori.

The two threw the two five-dollar coins they had prepared into the offering box. Asuka and Kaori stood on either side, reached out and shook the bells on the thick rope, put their hands together, and closed their eyes in prayer.

The reason for choosing five is that "yuan" is similar to "yuan" (缘), and "wu" (五) is similar to "you" (有). Put together, it means "having a connection". Other numbers with the number "wu" also represent different degrees of "having a connection".

Only the number "ten" is different.

Peeking open her eyes at Kaori, who was praying devoutly beside her, Asuka noticed the slight upturn of her lips and couldn't help but smile as well.

I want to know what kind of wish Kaori made.

But I decided not to ask anymore.