I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Kiyoyori forced an extremely ugly smile. "Yeah, that's nice, Reina..."

"Okay! We'll talk about it again when you get back!"

Then please, have mercy on me...

"Ah."

After Reina hung up the phone first, Kiyoyori finally dropped his forced smile, and his worried expression was reflected in the black screen.

Takigaki...

Why you of all people...?

You're the last person I want to see...

Chapter 55 A Secret Kiss in the Dead of Night

"What happened, Shimizu-kun?"

Kasumigaoka sat on the bed with her legs crossed, one finger supporting her body, the other hand adjusting her wide-open collar.

"Um, it's nothing, just something about going to college."

Kiyoshi awkwardly touched his nose with his hand, then sat down on the single sofa furthest from Kasumigaoka.

Kasumigaoka narrowed her eyes, but did not force Kiyori to sit next to her.

"Don't worry, Shimizu-kun," Kasumigaoka said with a half-smile, looking at Kiyori, who was a little wary of her. "At least tonight, I promise I won't do anything out of line again."

Is this only for tonight...?

As if he had grasped the key point of that sentence, Qinglai smiled wryly and shrank deeper into the sofa, then picked up the water glass on the coffee table and took a sip as if to cover something up.

Kasumigaoka, who had initially been slightly displeased by Kiyori's unconscious action, immediately narrowed his eyes with delight.

"That's my cup."

"Pfft—cough cough cough!"

Qinglai blushed, put the water glass aside, and then wiped the water off his face with his sleeve.

"Just kidding."

Please don't tease me...

Qinglai's voice became dry and hoarse due to his violent coughing.

“Because Shimizu-kun is really cute when he’s flustered, it’s completely different from his usual calm and serious self,” Kasumigaoka pulled out a tissue, walked over to Kiyori, gently wiped the saline solution from the corner of her eye, and then sat down on another sofa. “So what happened? You look terrible.”

Kasumigaoka took two clean cups, filled them with water, and seemed to be planning to have a long talk with Kiyori all night, but Kiyori deliberately tried to avoid the topic.

"Is it alright regarding Shiyu-senpai's matter? Didn't you say—"

Kiyoshi instinctively tried to change the subject, but suddenly realized that the topic seemed very unfriendly to him as well, so he immediately shut up.

Kasumigaoka sighed helplessly, "I just wanted Shimizu-kun to help me choose the ending. Since Shimizu-kun is more willing to see my choice, then I don't need Shimizu-kun anymore."

She spoke so casually, as if Kiyoyori were trash that could be thrown away at will, but Kasumigaoka herself knew very well what this choice meant.

“If,” Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke again after a moment of silence, “Shimizu-kun doesn’t tell me obediently, I might go back on my word.”

Realizing what the other person was talking about, Kiyoshi's expression changed. "Please let me go, and I can tell you."

"Then I'll be all ears."

Kiyoshi frowned, organized his thoughts, and began, "That was my childhood friend, she was originally—"

"Childhood sweethearts?"

Kiyoyori heard a dull yet clear stomping sound on the carpet, and a strange red light seemed to emanate from Kasumigaoka's eyes.

"Please continue."

“Uh…” Kiyoshi swallowed nervously. “She was originally recommended to Tachibana University, which is a very famous and strong school for brass music in Uji, specializing in marching brass.” Afraid that Kasumigaoka might not know, she thoughtfully explained, “After all, we all aim to become professional musicians, and graduation certificates from strong brass music schools and gold medals in competitions are very prestigious.”

"But she refused to go to a top school and chose to go to Kitauji instead?" Kasumigaoka recalled part of what she had just heard. "Isn't Shimizu-kun also going to Kitauji? Isn't the brass band there strong?"

The person being asked the question smiled wryly and said, "Don't even mention it's not strong; to be precise, it's utterly terrible."

“Reina changed her mind about going to Kitauji because of the consultant she’ll be working for there next year,” Kiyoyori said, his fingers clasped tightly together. “He is…the person Reina has always admired since she was a child…”

"So, Shimizu-kun, what's wrong?" Kasumigaoka suddenly realized a possibility, her legs shaking so much she could almost flip the coffee table over. "Jealous?!"

Childhood friends and secret crushes strive for the same goal, but the friend falls for a more mature and outstanding man. Unable to express his feelings, Shimizu silently supports him, keeping his love hidden deep inside. He thought his friend and the man would never cross paths, but now the man is about to become their mentor, and the persistent friend will seize this opportunity. A forbidden love will then unfold before Shimizu! Poor Shimizu can only bite his handkerchief and weep silently…

“Teacher… describe the scene you’re imagining…” Kiyoyori looked at Kasumigaoka, who was about to transform into a demon, “Should I say as expected of you… but then again, that’s not how it is at all…”

"Isn't Shimizu-kun even a little bit jealous?"

Kasumigaoka relentlessly pursued them.

"Ah... there is a little bit..." Kiyoyori forced a bitter smile.

Perhaps more than a little... but whose jealousy is he actually harboring...?

Before Kasumigaoka could get any angrier, Kiyoyori hurriedly continued, "That new advisor was once my mother's student. My mother and his father also knew each other. In fact, I've known him since I was a child."

"Shimizu-kun's mother? You mean Aunt Tachibana Toko? Doesn't she work in the orchestra?"

"Yes, but for a period of time she wasn't in the orchestra, but was teaching at the music university, and she didn't return to the orchestra to continue working until after I was born."

"So, you mean, Shimizu-kun and that advisor had something going on?"

Kiyoshi's face stiffened. "Hmm..."

"How could I possibly know?" Kasumigaoka realized that she might have already stepped into Kiyoyori's most private territory, and she was both excited and afraid.

After a moment of silence, Qinglai continued, "My teacher was once Sheng-ge's... wife."

Kiyori kept her head down, her hair obscuring her face so that Kasumigaoka couldn't see her clearly.

"once……?"

The perceptive woman realized something was amiss.

“My teacher… passed away two years ago…” Qinglai seemed to have lost her soul. She personally peeled away the deepest scab in her heart, watching it bleed profusely. “Because of illness…”

"Sorry……"

“Since then, I haven’t been able to face him. Should I blame him for not taking good care of the teacher, or should I blame myself for being too willful…” Kiyoyori’s voice grew softer and softer until it became his own murmur.

She could not forgive Taki, who had promised to bring happiness to his teacher, nor could she forgive herself for harboring hatred out of jealousy for that happiness.

Whenever she sees Taki, she realizes just how awful she is.

Kasumigaoka walked over, pulled Kiyori's head into her arms, and gently stroked her hair. "If Kiyori-kun wants to cry, I can lend you my shoulder."

"Thank you, Shiyu-senpai..." I'm sorry.

……………………………………………………………

Kasumigaoka rested one hand under his head and gently patted Kiyori's shoulder with the other. Under the warm, dim nightlight, he gazed at the girl in front of him whose eyes were slightly red and swollen. She had half her face buried in the blanket, curled up, and fallen asleep in a position of extreme insecurity.

She had seen Kiyotaka's serious demeanor, her shyness that left her speechless, and her mischievous grin. This was the second time she had seen her so heartbroken, crying like a child who couldn't find her way home. She wasn't wailing; she was just huddled in a corner, silently shedding tears.

Did she also cry like this on nights when no one was with her?

Kasumigaoka leaned in tenderly and placed a light, uninhibited kiss between Kiyori's brows.

Goodnight, Qinglai.

She crept off the bed, returned to her own bed, and glanced back at Qinglai.

I don't regret falling for you.

Looks like I'm a terrible person too.

Chapter 56 You in the Crowd, and Me Outside the Crowd

early morning

Kiyoshi was awakened by a rustling sound. She opened her tired eyelids, which were red and swollen from the tears of the previous night. She could only vaguely see a figure changing clothes from behind.

Although it was winter, she was still wearing a skirt. Black stockings ran from her fair and rounded toes upwards, gradually covering her shapely legs and obscuring the originally eye-catching scenery. The contrast between black and white, as well as the allure of the waist bending under the skirt, vanished in the blink of an eye.

Kiyoshi's blank gaze unexpectedly met the other person's eyes, which were filled with a mischievous smile.

A wave of embarrassment washed over him belatedly, and Kiyoyori slowly rolled over, turning his back to Kasumigaoka, who was secretly laughing.

Good morning, Shiwa-senpai.

Qinglai's voice was hoarse but had a magnetic quality that he rarely showed, probably because he had cried last night.

Kasumigaoka didn't rush to answer. Kiyori, feeling puzzled, turned his head in confusion. The next second, he saw the other person's beautiful face magnified in front of him, with a warm smile in his pomegranate-colored eyes.

Good morning, Shimizu-kun.

"Even with eyes swollen like a frog, you still look at me with such a lecherous gaze. It seems that Shimizu-kun has been quite influenced by Sawamura-kun. Although I don't know how much Shimizu-kun was looking at just now, but," Kasumigaoka reached out and tugged at Kiyori's loose yukata collar, "I don't mind looking back at Shimizu-kun."

Kiyoshi suddenly clutched his collar, his drowsiness instantly banished. "Actually, I didn't see anything. I wish Shiyu-senpai a smooth day at work and a safe journey."

"Then I'll head out."

Kasumigaoka smiled happily, poked Kiyori's cheek with her finger, picked up her luggage and backpack, and walked out of the room.

"Check-out time is 9:30 in the morning," Kasumigaoka glanced at his watch. "It's only a little before 8 o'clock now, Shimizu-kun, you can rest a little longer. The breakfast voucher is left by your bedside. Remember to eat breakfast before you leave."

This is like a wife gently advising her husband, but Kasumigaoka Utaha never plays only this role.

"Remember to message me when you get home safely."

Qinglai gestured goodbye to the other party with a slight movement of his hand.

"Then goodbye, Shimizu-kun."

The door closed automatically, and Qinglai, who was no longer sleepy, lay on the bed, staring blankly at the white ceiling.

It has to be said that Kiyoyori breathed a sigh of relief when Kasumigaoka left, but then felt that something was suddenly missing from the room.

However, it's really hard to imagine that the other person is so gentle... It feels like they've set up some kind of trap, waiting for Kiyotaka to walk into it unknowingly.

My phone, which was on the bedside table, suddenly vibrated. It was a LINE message from Kasumigaoka.

photo?