I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Victory! The match is over!"

Sitting in the referee's chair, Totsuka declared the Service Club the winner.

“As expected of the heir to the Spencer family.” Ye Shan stepped forward and extended his hand.

Kiyoyori chuckled lightly. "Who is it?"

In the instant Hayama was stunned, Kiyoyori withdrew his hand and walked towards Yukinoshita.

P.S.: It seems like fewer and fewer people are reading these past few days. Although I didn't have high hopes to begin with, I'm still a little disappointed. But thank you to all the readers who have been following the story. The sweet treats you've been asking for should be here this weekend, if I remember correctly, and it'll be a big giveaway!

Chapter 12, Section 69: Artemis in the Sunlight

"I've already joined club activities."

Kiyoyori looked at Hiratsuka Shizuka-sensei, who had pulled him over after class and, without a word, pulled out a club application form and demanded that he write his name on it.

Perhaps there were signs of something going on from the first day of school, but because the life guidance teacher never came to see Qinglai again, Qinglai mistakenly thought that the teacher was just showing concern for the student and that the relationship was waiting for her here.

“I know I don’t need you to quit the brass band, but you should also participate in the service club activities.”

Hiratsuka Shizuka flicked her fingers and stuffed the cigarette back into the cigarette case.

"The training in the brass band alone is already exhausting. I'm sorry, I don't have a second body to participate in another club's activities."

Also, what is the Service Club? Why does it sound as terrible as Eriri's illustrations?

“I’m granting you special permission to be a ghost member. Of course, you can focus on training in the brass band, but that doesn’t mean you’re just a figurehead,” Hiratsuka Shizuka said, holding a cigarette between her lips without lighting it, while fiddling with a lighter in her other hand. “I’ll arrange for the other members of the club to accommodate your schedule.”

"What's the point of this? Or rather, what exactly is this so-called 'Department of Service'?"

Kiyoshi glanced at his watch; the department should have already started training.

“Let the head of the Service Department explain that to you. Now let’s go to the activity room,” Hiratsuka Shizuka stood up, “so as not to affect your training.”

“It’s already had an impact,” Kiyorai said irritably. “Besides, I didn’t agree to participate, teacher. At least give me a reason to ask me to join.”

"Entrustment".

"A commission?"

“Hmm,” Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded calmly, “It’s a request from an old friend who said they absolutely must get you into the Service Club.”

"May I know who that person is?"

Hiratsuka Shizuka shrugged. "Someone you know."

Kiyoyori frowned in confusion. "What benefits would joining the Service Club bring me?"

"Won't you find out after you join?"

"So it sounds like I have absolutely no choice but to agree."

Kiyoshi took a deep breath, suppressing his displeasure, feeling that this scene seemed very familiar.

"Don't be so quick to draw conclusions. Maybe you'll change your mind after you see the members of the Service Department."

Kiyoyori walked behind Hiratsuka Shizuka, giving a silent sneer. Her reasons for joining Soubu High were already in the brass band, and nothing else could attract her any more.

Hiratsuka Shizuka turned to look at Kiyoyori, who was walking behind her at a certain distance. Before she even saw the name, someone had made the unreasonable request to "pay more attention to a student named Tachibana Kiyoyori." After checking, she found out that he was from the Spencer family. Thinking back to what had happened before, the person's actions were not incomprehensible. However, what Hiratsuka Shizuka did not understand was why the other party, after pushing her away, would go around asking her to take care of him, especially by insisting that the girl be allowed to join the Service Club.

What was her answer back then?

By the way, "Since they are my students, I will definitely pay attention."

However, this student's problem seems to be more serious than imagined.

He's completely the opposite of Hachiman Hikigaya.

It would be better to balance out these two kids.

"arrive."

Hiratsuka Shizuka placed her hand directly on the sliding door.

"Wait a minute, Hiratsuka-sensei, let's knock first—"

"brush--!"

Before Kiyori could finish speaking, Hiratsuka Shizuka had already gone inside.

With a helpless sigh, Kiyoyori glanced at the sign hanging on the wall that read "Service Department," and reluctantly walked in.

“I’ve brought the person to you,” Hiratsuka Shizuka said, pointing to Kiyori, who was still standing at the door, “Yukinoshita.”

Upon hearing the name, Kiyoyori abruptly looked up and saw the girl sitting behind the long table, having just closed her book. Soft sunlight streamed through the glass window, illuminating her profile beneath the snow, creating a hazy halo around her. Her long eyelashes, like two small brushes, brushed against Kiyoyori's heart almost imperceptibly. A gentle breeze stirred the curtains and lifted the smooth black hair beneath the snow. Her icy blue eyes were cool and clear, and Kiyoyori could almost see his own reflection in them.

She parted her cherry lips slightly, "Hiratsuka-sensei, please remember to knock before coming in next time."

“And this is Tachibana,” Yukinoshita said, her gaze falling on Kiyori, but not lingering for long. She then looked directly into Kiyori’s lake-blue eyes. “Have you finished writing your club application?”

Kiyoshi suddenly snapped out of his daze. "Sorry, not yet."

As if she had anticipated Kiyoyori's answer, Yukinoshita nodded without surprise, "Then please hand in your application form tomorrow."

Qinglai almost subconsciously agreed, but a sudden gust of cool wind blowing into the classroom brought her back to her senses.

"I don't think I can agree yet. This matter involves not only me, but also the brass band, and the advisor—"

“If you’re referring to Taki-sensei, then he’s already agreed,” Yukinoshita said, taking out what looked like a photograph from her bag. “He wants me to give this to you.”

Yukino pushed the photo face down onto the table. "He said, if it were you, you would understand."

There was also a line of small black writing on the edge of the photo.

Kiyoshi took the photo with suspicion, turned it over, and his breathing suddenly became heavy.

That was a photo taken when she won the gold medal in the children's wind instrument competition for the first time. It was a photo of her and her teacher Chihiro under a cherry blossom tree. Kiyotori was holding an oboe, while Chihiro was holding the trophy for her. Their bright smiles were more radiant than the cherry blossoms in the sky.

The person who took this photo from behind the camera was Takigaki.

I'm going to win the national gold medal with @＃%! Little Qinglai, you have to come help me then!

【Then I'll become the most amazing oboe principal at @＃％!】

With a complicated expression, Qinglai turned his wrist over, revealing familiar handwriting in the corner of the photo:

"Then it's a date."

teacher……

Kiyoyori knew what Takigatsu meant, and she herself understood it perfectly well.

She could never become the most skilled oboe principal she had promised to be in her memories.

But why use this method?

Kiyoshi put the photo in his pocket, his expression somber. "I agree. I will join the Service Club."

"Great! Welcome to the Service Club, Tachibana-san!"

"welcome."

“Very well, then,” Yukinoshita took out her phone, “let’s exchange email addresses first.”

Her actions immediately drew the attention of two other members.

"Huh? Yuki asked for my email?!" Yuihama's surprised expression was almost comparable to Monet's "The Scream." "I never get this kind of treatment!"

“Yuigahama-san…” Yukinoshita glanced at her with a hint of helplessness, “Tachibana-san’s situation is special, so she can’t always be in the club. Therefore, if there are any requests or other activities, she needs to contact us by phone.”

"Oh, okay." Yui nodded. "Then let's exchange emails, Tachibana-san!"

Kiyoshi was a little overwhelmed by the senior's enthusiasm.

"Speaking of which, what does 'entrusting' mean?"

P.S.: I just went out for a walk with the dog and only realized I hadn't scheduled today's post, so sorry I'm late.

Regarding the question of whether Kiyori is truly the heir, let's set aside the question for now. You all focused on Hayama's question but missed Kiyori's answer. "Which one?" wasn't just a superficial inquiry about Hayama's identity, or a deliberate attempt to belittle him; it was actually a denial of her supposed heir status. After all, Kiyori showed absolutely no interest in it. However, the Spencer family's public stance can be seen from Haruno and Hayama's attitudes. I didn't really care about the surname order; using Tachibana as the surname was simply to express Carol's love for Touko and her respect for her difficult childbirth. But surely someone will manage Carol's businesses eventually? If not Kiyori, then who is it?

Chapter 13 I have a cat at home, want to come over?

"Ugh—!"

A painful groan came from the Service Club. She threw the pen in her hand onto the table and slammed her head on it with a "thud".

"It hurts..."

But the other three people in the activity room ignored her; all she could hear was the swishing sound of pens sliding across the pages.

"Waaah, Xiaoxue..."

Yui nuzzled against Yukinoshita like a puppy, then looked pitifully at Yukinoshita, who was diligently taking notes, with her big, watery eyes. Under such an onslaught, even the aloof Yukinoshita couldn't resist the adorable beams of Yui's charm.

“Yuihama-san…” Yukinoshita pulled away from the arm that was hugging her, “It’s so hot…”

"Xiaoxue, please help me!"

Yuihama rubbed her face against Xuexia's shoulder, ignoring her slightly messy hair, and pressed her advantage.

Unable to bear it any longer, Yukinoshita looked away, but didn't pull her arm away again, letting Yuihama cling to her and act coquettishly. "Which question?"

Full of helplessness and doting affection.

Meanwhile, Kiyoyori was unusually in the Service Club classroom. Her cheeks twitched, the corners of her mouth turned up uncontrollably, and her eyes narrowed to slits. Yet, she still managed to keep her smile from being too obvious. If a flashlight were placed under her chin at that moment, it would definitely scare the neighbor's child to tears. As a result, this smile made Hikigaya, who was sitting next to her, feel a chill run down his spine for no reason.

Horrible, horrible, so terrifying! What's wrong with this person?!

Hikigaya subtly observed Kiyori and noticed that she was almost staring intently at Yukinoshita and Yuihama, or rather, at their ambiguous interaction that seemed to be surrounded by pink bubbles.

Hikigaya initially thought Kiyoyori might just be jealous of Yuihama and Yukino's intimacy, after all, the other party's expression was really ferocious. But then he suddenly thought of a girl in his class with the same smile, but even more unrestrained. Rather, Kiyoyori's expression was probably because she was restraining her smile.

Could it be—!

Hikigaya secretly shuffled his buttocks, trying to get as far away from Kiyoyori as possible.