I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Alright, everyone!" Taki clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention to him. "Put down your instruments for now and run 400 meters in 90 seconds. If you don't meet the requirement, please add one more lap."

Everyone seemed stunned by this sudden order.

"What are you waiting for? We don't have any more time! Start running now! Start the timer now."

Only when Taki took out the timer did everyone start sprinting forward along the track.

Seemingly never having seen such a spectacle before, even the students in the sports department stopped their own practice to watch the wind band's unusual training session.

Kiyoshi makes time to go for a morning run every week, so this little bit of exercise is like a warm-up. She can even be distracted by thinking that this kind of torturous training method was probably learned from her mother.

After all, she still clearly remembers how her mother used to drag her out of bed to practice every morning when she first started learning the oboe.

She crossed the finish line with perfect breath control, even running faster than some of the boys. Without waiting for Taki to remind her, Kiyoyori walked to the edge of the track, picked up her oboe, and began to play.

People gradually arrived at the finish line, and Takigaki smiled and reminded them to immediately pick up their instruments and start practicing.

The members who were just now able to play the powerful and resonant "Marine Corps" are now like punctured balloons, panting heavily and unable to breathe steadily into their instruments. They can only manage weak tones like the groans of dying people.

Very few people could keep up with Taki's pace. Besides Kiyori, who had already adapted to this kind of training, there was Asuka, who had been training with Kiyori since childhood, and Hazuki Kato, who used to belong to the sports club. The three of them played their instruments relatively steadily, which quickly attracted the attention of others who looked at them like monsters.

Besides the members who complete their tasks on time, there are also members who cannot run 400 meters in 90 seconds, such as Kumiko Oumae.

"Huang Qian, please run one more lap."

"Huh?!"

As if the sky had fallen, Huang Qian dragged her heavy steps forward and continued running. But she wasn't the last one.

Running at the back was Kiyoshi's direct senior. She had a delicate and frail appearance, and her slender legs seemed unable to support her body in the typhoon weather. Kiyoshi, who had been paying attention to her, couldn't help but worry for this simple and lovely senior.

Without waiting for Taki's prompting, Yorozuka started running forward on his own, but suddenly lunged forward at the first corner of the second lap.

"Senior Yorozuka!"

Kiyoshi handed the oboe to Asuka beside him, and then rushed forward.

Yoshikawa Yuko, who was already panting heavily, was also rushing towards them in a hurry.

"sleet!"

Kiyoshi helped Yorizuka up and gently pulled up her trouser leg, revealing her knees, which were scraped and bleeding.

"Are you alright, Yorozuka-kun?"

Takigatsu walked over to Kiyori, who immediately shifted awkwardly to the side.

"Taki-sensei, I'll take Yorozuka-senpai to the infirmary to treat his wound."

Takigatsu thought for a moment, "Okay, then I'll leave it to Tachibana-san."

"Everyone else, continue training as usual!"

Kiyoshi nodded. She couldn't wait to get away from the man in front of her. She placed her hands on Yorizuka's shoulders and knees, and with a push of her waist, she carried Yorizuka in a princess carry and walked steadily toward the infirmary.

Yoroizuka was petite and light, unlike a second-year high school student. She nestled quietly in Kiyoyori's arms, one hand gripping Kiyoyori's clothes at the shoulder.

"Senior Yorozuka, are you alright? Does it hurt a lot?"

Yoroizuka nodded first, then shook his head somewhat hesitantly.

“I’ll take you to get your wound treated. It won’t look good if you leave a scar in a place like this.”

Kiyori gently lifted the person in her arms, and her arms, which were starting to feel sore and numb, made her quicken her pace. Startled by Kiyori's sudden movement, Yorizuka clutched the clothes in her hands even tighter.

I always felt that this senior was a bit like my daughter, Tuanzi. She seemed aloof, but surprisingly, she could be quite clingy.

Kiyoshi thought to himself, a pleased smile curving his lips.

On the way to the infirmary, they bumped into someone. Kiyoyori casually apologized and wanted to take Yorizuka to treat his wounds as soon as possible, but the senior in his arms suddenly trembled and buried his head in Kiyoyori's arms.

Just as Kiyoyori was about to ask a question, he heard a voice behind him:

"sleet?"

The person in his arms stiffened again, and Qinglai awkwardly felt the straps of his bra being pulled so hard they were about to slip off his shoulders.

But clearly, Yoroizuka was unwilling to talk to someone who called her by her exact name.

She was a second-year student with a ponytail. She hurriedly stepped forward, trying to look over Kiyoyori's shoulder at Yorizuka, but Kiyoyori turned to the side and protected the person in his arms.

She could clearly feel Yorozuka-senpai's trembling body.

"Excuse me... senior, is there anything I can help you with?"

"Kasaki, Kasaki Nozomi," Kasaki casually gave her name. She was more concerned about the person being held in the arms of her junior. She felt a pang of sadness for no reason. "What's wrong with her? Is she injured? Can I take a look?"

Upon hearing the name, Yorozuka trembled even more violently, and seemed to gag.

Although Kiyori keenly sensed something between the two, she still chose to lead Yoroizuka away, saying, "Excuse me, Kasaki-senpai, I'm a little busy right now."

After saying that, without waiting for the other party's reaction, Kiyoyori immediately strode away, and the person behind him seemed to have noticed Kiyoyori's resistance and withdrew his steps.

"sleet……?"

They finally arrived at the infirmary without any major incident. Kiyoyori gently placed the person in his arms on the bench by the window, letting Yorozuka's legs dangle naturally. Kiyoyori then shook his arms and took out the necessary items from the cabinet.

Yorozuka, like a restrained elementary school student, obediently placed his hands on his thighs, habitually hunched his back, tilted his neck slightly forward, and lowered his head, making it impossible for Kiyoyori to see his expression.

Kiyoyori, holding hydrogen peroxide, knelt on one knee in front of Yorozuka and used a damp cotton ball to scrape away the blood clots stuck to his clothes. Yorozuka clenched his fists, making no sound and showing no sign of backing down.

"Does it hurt?"

Kiyoyori tried to make his movements as gentle as possible. Yoroizuka shook his head, then nodded.

Only after cleaning away the bloodstains did Qinglai place a gauze pad over the wound and begin bandaging it.

"Does Senior Yorozuka know Senior Kasaki from earlier?"

Yorizuka bit her lower lip, and her lips began to turn pale.

What happened?

Yoroizuka remained silent.

It must be admitted that Kiyori is very interested in Yoroizuka, but only in terms of music. Her oboe playing is as precise as a robot's, with perfect pitch and rhythm, showing her talent. However, her playing lacks a fatal emotion. Unlike Kiyori, Yoroizuka Mizore seems like an emotionless robot, indifferent to everyone. But after getting to know her, you realize that she is not without feelings, but her emotional fluctuations do not seem to be directed at Kiyori and the others.

The appearance of Kasame today broke the ice, and even a feeling similar to fear and disgust aroused Kiyoyori's curiosity.

However, such an abrupt inquiry was still presumptuous.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked—"

"pain……"

Suddenly, Yoroizuka spoke up.

Qinglai glanced at the two knees that had already been bandaged. Even during the most painful disinfection process, the other party did not utter a single word.

"what?"

"pain."

"It hurts."

She recounted her pain with little emotional fluctuation, tears falling onto Yorozuka's tightly clenched fists.

Kiyoshi suddenly realized that she was answering his question.

"It hurts so much..."

The trembling at the end of her voice made Kiyoyori feel a little lost.

Kiyoyori took out a handkerchief he always kept in his pocket, and while still kneeling on one knee, handed the handkerchief, which was embroidered with a cute little white dragon and the words "Chihiro," to Yorozuka.

"Once the wound has healed perfectly, it won't hurt anymore."

"Hopefully it won't leave a scar."

Who was this statement addressed to?

P.S.: You guys really enjoy tormenting Brother Umbrella? Fine, I'll grant your wish!

Chapter 09, Section 66: A Request from Takigatsu

Ever since they were confirmed to perform at the Sunrise Festival, the members of the brass band have been incredibly enthusiastic. They're always the first in the entire school to arrive for practice, and they don't leave until dark. They even spontaneously bring their instruments to the playground for extra practice during their free time. This Spartan-style high-intensity training is so intense that even the members of the sports club find it unbearable.

Takigatsu stood at the window, watching the club members eating on the playground. Instrument cases were beside them, indicating they planned to practice after lunch. He turned his gaze to Kiyori, who had been deliberately avoiding him since they met. Kiyori was talking to Yorizuka beside her. He gently stroked the photo of his girl, who was smiling brightly.

Then, as if he had made up his mind, he walked out of the office.

Service Department

"Dong dong."

The three people who were having a meal in the club simultaneously looked up. Hikigaya and Yuihama turned their gaze to Yukinoshita, who had put down her chopsticks.

Who could it be at this time?

These days, because the Service Club has taken on a request from Totsuka Saika of Class 2-F and has been conducting intensive training, they often eat together in the activity room.

Yukinoshita looked puzzled. "Please come in."

The person standing at the door was not a student, but a teacher who looked very unfamiliar. He had a gentle smile on his face. "I'm sorry to bother you at this time. I heard about the Service Club from Hiratsuka-sensei and would like to make a request of you."

Hikigaya and Yuihama may not know this teacher, but Yukinoshita, who had just dealt with the mess of the brass band last year, had been secretly paying attention to the direction of the brass band, and the teacher in front of her was the new advisor of the brass band.

"Taki-sensei, please go ahead."

Yuihama and Hikigaya hurriedly packed up their lunchboxes and cleared a clean table.

"Ah, no need to be nervous, I'll leave after I finish speaking."

Taki's gentle smile successfully eased the slightly tense atmosphere.

"So, teacher, what is your request?"

Considering the upcoming itinerary, Yukinoshita chose to get straight to the point.

“It’s like this,” Taki said, leaning back in his chair with his fingers loosely crossed on his lap, “I hope the Service Club can accept another member, who is a member of our Wind Ensemble Club.”

"Huh? Are you recommending students to join?" Yuihama asked bluntly.