I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Yang said something with a hidden meaning, glancing at Kiyoyori with a teasing look. He expected Kiyoyori to vehemently refute him, but instead saw a stunned expression on his face.

"Little Qinglai?"

No younger sister...?

Yes, Yukino Yukinoshita has always been the only daughter of the Yukinoshita family and the sole heir of the family.

Why would she ask that?

Kiyoshi suddenly felt a dull ache in his head.

"I'm sorry, I remembered it wrong."

Kiyoshi glossed over it lightly, but the intense nerve pain made her less composed than she appeared.

Speaking of which, apart from Yukinoshita Haruno, she seemed to have almost no impression of the other members of the Yukinoshita family.

Yang Nai didn't dwell on the topic and proactively changed the subject.

“My mother brought up the old story again recently.”

Yang dropped a bombshell in an extremely calm tone.

"I thought this matter had been made very clear."

Kiyoyori disliked getting involved in family matters, especially those concerning family interests. Unlike Eriri's father, Carol, despite holding the title of diplomat, actually managed a portion of the family business, something Kiyoyori was very reluctant to get involved in.

"The Yukinoshita family wants to cooperate with your company."

“You should be saying these things to my mother, not me.”

“If I bypass you and go directly to Ms. Carol,” Yang Nai blushed slightly, tapping her fingers lightly on the wooden table, “can you be absolutely certain you have complete freedom?”

"Don't forget, your mother didn't completely refuse at first either."

"At that time, we will be completely passive."

Chapter 51 Please come to the hotel and disturb me!

Dinner with Yukino Yukinoshita ended unhappily as usual; in fact, it's true that there's never a happy time when dining with her.

Of course, before those things happened, they had a happy time together.

Kiyotomi stood at the entrance of the restaurant, feeling the biting wind lashing her skin. The snow was falling even harder than when she arrived, and the goose-feather-like snowflakes turned the streets into a dazzling white. She exhaled, and the white mist quickly dissipated in the air. Kiyotomi walked into the heavy snow in a daze.

After declining Yang Nai's offer, Kiyoyori left the restaurant alone. The trams were out of service due to the heavy snow, and there were very few vehicles on the road. The only thing still running was probably the subway.

This place is not far from the venue of the Kyoto Prefecture Grand Prix.

Qinglai suddenly thought.

Four months later, Kiyotaka suddenly had the idea to revisit the place, even in such terrible weather. For some reason, she just wanted to go again.

It wasn't because she was unwilling to accept the scrap gold, nor because she longed to continue participating in the future; she just inexplicably wanted to go back there, as if a voice was guiding her.

【Tachibana-san.】

The voice's words, its unfamiliarity in calling her name, were enough to bring tears to Kiyoshi's eyes.

Kiyoshi didn't know whose voice it was; it was so unfamiliar, yet so familiar.

So she decided to go to the venue for the competition.

Step by step, we trudged through the white snow, making a grating "squeak" sound. The streets weren't exactly bustling, but they weren't empty either. There were quite a few people, some walking briskly with umbrellas in hand, others strolling leisurely, enjoying the romance of the falling snow.

They are different from Kiyoshi.

As you leave the relatively bustling streets and gradually approach the venue, the number of pedestrians gradually decreases until there is no one at all.

The snow covered the entire sidewalk, with only Kiyoyori's solitary trail of footprints on it. The snow was so perfect that Kiyoyori felt a mixture of guilt and pleasure at ruining it.

She walked alone on the road, surrounded by a quiet environment where she could hear the sound of snow falling.

【Tachibana-san.】

【Tachibana-san.】

But Kiyoyori can hear someone calling him.

"who are you?"

Kiyoshi spoke softly, her sigh melting into the cold, snowy night; no one could answer her question.

Qinglai stood on the sidewalk at the entrance of the venue, across the road from the competition venue.

The streetlights flickered above Qinglai's head. Even on such a quiet snowy night, when no one would pass by, the traffic lights on both sides of the road dutifully alternated.

A green figure appears on the screen, making a walking motion, while Kiyoshi remains standing motionless in the same spot.

Snow piled up on her head, and the snow close to her scalp melted into water from her body heat, seeping into her hair and flowing down her skin into her clothes. Qinglai shivered from the cold, her toes almost numb. Snowflakes fell into her collar, making Qinglai involuntarily shrink back.

In a daze, Kiyoyori seemed to be able to see the day of the Kyoto Prefecture Tournament on a hot summer day.

People come and go, cars flow constantly. They wear winter school uniforms in the sweltering summer heat, sweating profusely. On the stage, they pour out their sweat and passionately express their love for playing wind instruments.

She remembered seeing her mother in the distance before entering the venue, her heart pounding with nervousness before going on stage, the oboe solo that made her heart race, the disappointment and resentment she felt when the results were announced, Reina's heartbroken tears being mistaken by Huang Qian for tears of joy, chasing after Reina out of the venue, holding the crying Reina in her arms, and so on...

I remember how I got on the bus back to Uji feeling completely lost and disoriented.

But she doesn't remember playing the piece she chose, why she was so nervous about the solo piece she had practiced hundreds of times, or why she suddenly abandoned the heartbroken Reina and ran off to some unknown place.

No, she was right here.

Kiyoshi thought with certainty.

I stood on the other side of the road, staring intently at where I was standing.

What is she doing?

Kiyoshi could almost see himself, panting, looking at this place with longing and anticipation in his eyes.

Who did she meet here?

Who is calling her name?

Qinglai involuntarily wanted to step forward, but at that moment the green light turned red.

Kiyoshi stopped and sighed. She looked up at the black night sky, and the snow on her head slid off with her movements, falling into her clothes or sliding to the ground.

Will it be you?

Kiyoshi thought of those portraits.

Were those paintings created because of excessive longing? Then why don't you come to see me?

Did you abandon me?

That's why I chose to forget you?

Is that you...?

She recalled those diaries that seemed to be talking to herself.

Kiyoshi reached out and caught a snowflake, then watched it slowly melt in his palm.

It's all a lie, just like this snowflake; it can't accept human body temperature.

Qinglai clenched his fists, letting the cold wind steal the warmth from his fingertips.

The phone vibrated with a buzzing sound, and Qinglai used his stiff fingers to press the call button.

"Kasumi—Senior Shiwa."

Qinglai answered the phone to an unexpected caller.

"Shimizu-kun?" Kasumigaoka's voice came clearly from the other end. "Are you free these next couple of days?"

It's currently winter break, and unless it's New Year's shrine visit, Ching Lai spends almost all of his time at home.

"Yes, is there anything I can help you with, Shiyu-senpai?"

"Um... I'm in Kansai right now, or more precisely, Kyoto," Kasumigaoka's slightly hesitant voice rang out, and Kiyoyori could even sense a hint of shyness in the other's expression. "If you have some free time recently, would it be convenient for me to come and see you?"

"Are you going to meet me?"

Kiyoshi asked cautiously.

"Well, there's something I'd like to ask you, and it would be best if we could discuss it in person."

The previous shyness seemed to be Kiyori's illusion, and Kasumigaoka's tone returned to its usual calm.

Kiyotomi looked at the snowfall, which seemed to be getting heavier, and pondered for a moment, "Which direction is Utaha-senpai in now? What's the name of the hotel?"

"Huh?!" Kiyori's words clearly caught Kasumigaoka off guard. "The name of the tavern?!"

“Yes, I’m actually in Kyoto right now, and,” Kiyoyori paused, “I might have to stay here overnight for some reason. Could you please call the front desk to check if there are any rooms available? If we need to meet in person, we can do it tonight.”

"Huh?!" Hurried footsteps and the sound of something colliding came from the other end of the phone. "I, let me see... I'll send you the location."

Hearing the flustered voices on the other end, Kiyora suddenly felt her decision had been somewhat hasty. "Never mind, if it's inconvenient—"

"Convenient!" Kasumigaoka exclaimed. "Very convenient! Please come and bother me at the hotel!"

Kiyoyori suddenly fell silent, somewhat at a loss for words in the face of Kasumigaoka's unexpected enthusiasm. "Okay, then I'll come over now."

"Well, I'll wait for you."

Chapter 52 Hmm? A double room?

Why has it come to this?

Kiyotomi, wearing a bathrobe from the hotel, her soaked clothes hanging to one side, still steaming, sat blankly on the edge of the bed near the window, her back to the bathroom. Before her were snowflakes dancing in the darkness, and behind her was the sound of dripping water. The frosted glass reflected Kasumigaoka's graceful figure. Kiyotomi swallowed hard, sitting upright like a primary school student, completely afraid to look behind her.

An open suitcase lay beside the bed, and a casual glance revealed the mature lingerie that Kasumigaoka hadn't tried to hide. The radiator above was still gushing out, but Kiyorai felt the room was so hot he could hardly breathe.

The sound of water in the bathroom suddenly stopped, and a moment later the back door opened. Kiyotaka could even hear the sound of the other person's bare feet landing on the fluffy carpet.

"Shimizu-kun? What's wrong?"

Kiyoshi's back stiffened.

Really, why?

Why did she end up in this situation?