I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

It would be foolish for anyone to accept such a thankless task.

"The reason? Yukinoshita."

Hiratsuka Shizuka seemed to have anticipated this outcome. She habitually reached for a cigarette, but then, mindful of the four students present, she twirled her fingers and put the cigarette back into her pocket.

“The core principle of the Service Club is ‘give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime,’” Kiyoyori said, putting his hands together and placing them to his lips. “This commission, to put it bluntly, is only concerned with the final result. In other words, all you care about is whether I can keep those first-year students, which goes against the principles I set out to uphold.”

"But, Yukinoshita, that seems to me to be nothing but your sophistry."

Hiratsuka Shizuya refused to budge an inch.

Kiyoshi sighed. "To be realistic, you, as direct seniors and juniors, must have already tried to persuade both sides, but obviously to no avail. In other words, neither side's determination to do this can be shaken by simple words. So, do you really trust me, who is not related to you at all?"

"To put it another way, this is the kind of thing that should be handled by the club's advisors. It would be too presumptuous for a student like me to interfere in the work of the teachers."

"You don't need to worry about that, Yukino. Since I brought them to you, it means I've made the necessary preparations. You just need to accept the commission and do your job."

“It sounds like I have no choice but to agree, Hiratsuka-sensei.”

Hiratsuka Shizuka picked up the cigarette again and fiddled with it in her hand. "That's right, Yukinoshita, are you just going to admit that you're not capable of taking on this job?"

“Despicable provocation, Hiratsuka-sensei. I don’t think admitting one’s incompetence is a shameful thing; on the contrary, it shows self-awareness,” Kiyoyori said, taking a sip of the slightly cooled green tea he had brewed earlier. “However, having said that, I will go and check out the brass band.”

“Very good!” Hiratsuka Shizuka snapped her fingers. “Then I’ll be going now. I’ll leave the rest to you, Yukinoshita.”

Hiratsuka Shizuka left swiftly, as if her only purpose in coming here was to cause trouble for Kiyori.

That's definitely a big problem...

Kiyoshi sighed with a headache. This was a thankless task with an 80% failure rate. The remaining 20% ​​was the trust she placed in Yukino Yukinoshita.

In this silent confrontation with Hiratsuka, she suffered a complete defeat.

"Then, let's take Yukinoshita to the activity room first."

Ogasawara-senpai wiped away her tears, her voice still thick with a nasal tone, and gave Kiyoyori a forced smile.

"Senior, please."

Kiyoshi made an inviting gesture, indicating that the two seniors should go first.

Walking beside Kiyoyori was Asuka-senpai, who had only uttered one sentence from beginning to end. She walked silently beside Kiyoyori, keeping a considerable distance from the two senpai in front of her.

Tanaka Asuka—Kiyori glanced at this senior without making a sound. She was completely different from the Asuka Kiyori remembered, yet so similar. The Asuka who had grown up with Kiyori in his memory would never have shown her such a cold expression, but her every word and action unconsciously revealed an indifference that said, "I don't care what others do, as long as it doesn't affect me." Even so, she had always been the guiding light that Kiyori sought, the person he admired. Even though he knew they couldn't possibly be the same person, Kiyori couldn't help but think:

If they are the same person, then is the Asuka in her heart merely a beautified version of Asuka, a one-sided imposition of her own idealized fantasies about her onto the other person?

Just thinking about it made Kiyoshi begin to despise himself.

Why do we still have to continue in the end?

Asuka suddenly spoke up, showing a sudden interest in this seemingly aloof junior, who also resembled a child she knew.

Huh...? Little kid? Who is it?

"Because I had no choice but to agree."

This is just the truth. Hiratsuka Shizuka clearly intended to force her to accept, and even used such an obvious provocation. It seems that Yukino Yukinoshita might be surprisingly a person who doesn't give up easily.

"The most foolish choice."

Asuka said softly.

"You're right, a foolish choice."

Kiyoshi looked at the two figures in front of him, their silhouettes sometimes lengthening and sometimes shortening as the light changed.

"The leader of the first-year students is Nozomi Kasaki from Class 1-C. She is in charge of the flute and was the head of the school's brass band in junior high school. If you want to know anything about the first-year students, just ask her."

Kiyoshi glanced at Asuka with considerable surprise, as she had assumed that her senior was completely indifferent to the matter.

“Then I won’t keep you company any longer,” Asuka suddenly stopped, putting some distance between herself and Kiyori who continued walking. “I’m going to practice now. I’ve already wasted enough of my time today.”

After Asuka finished speaking, she went into a room, and then left carrying a heavy euphonium that gleamed with silver light.

Kiyoshi stared at her retreating figure, unable to recover for a long time.

Chapter 06 The Pet Owner Wakes Up as a Psychopath

Kiyoshi couldn't possibly mistake that euphonium. She remembered the day Asuka excitedly ran to her house to borrow a practice room with an euphonium that was almost the same size as her. She also remembered that every day after that, Asuka would visit her house with her precious euphonium. It was at that time that they became close.

Why? Why would another Asuka Tanaka appear in Chiba?

"Yukinoshita-san?"

"Yukinoshita-san!"

Kiyoshi suddenly snapped out of her daze and turned around to see the two seniors waiting for her not far away. "Excuse me."

Ogasawara smiled understandingly and said, "She's a very special person, isn't she?"

"Hmm?" Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow.

“Asuka, she’s always so perfect, whether it’s her studies, her playing the flute, or her interactions with others,” Ogasawara’s voice trailed off. “Asuka, she can get along with anyone, no matter who they’re with. That’s what makes her special…”

"Is she special..." Kiyoyori looked in the direction Asuka had left. "Is she a neutral party?"

“Ah, um,” Ogasawara nodded, “She’s not interested in these things. As long as it doesn’t affect her, she’s a contestant anyway.”

Were they selected?

"Actually, there is no formal selection process, and there are very few people in the bass section, and even fewer who play the euphonium."

Ogasawara shook his head with a wry smile.

“I see, that’s very much her style,” Kiyoyori nodded. “May I ask what your respective roles are?”

“I’m a baritone saxophone, Aoi… Ah, Saito-kun is a tenor saxophone, we both belong to the saxophone club.”

Ogasawara hurriedly changed her words, nervously counting on her fingers. For some reason, this junior always gave her a very strong aura, somewhat similar to Asuka.

"It is also a relatively rare instrument."

Saito opened his mouth reluctantly upon hearing Kiyori's words, but ultimately swallowed back the words with a bitter smile.

"If you don't mind, could you show me around the practice sessions for each section? I can only hear some of the instruments playing, but it's clearly not an ensemble."

Kiyoshi was genuinely curious about what the daily life of this defunct brass band was like. In her memory, the brass band members practiced relentlessly, even practicing extra hours to secure a spot in a competition. As a result, the campus of Taipei Middle School was filled with the sounds of musical instruments whenever it was time for club activities. However, at Soubu High School, she could only hear a few scattered sounds of practice.

Saito and Ogasawara exchanged an awkward glance. "Of course, please come with us."

Kiyoyori followed behind his two seniors, keeping a respectful distance. When he saw the trombone club, Kiyoyori was shocked. He didn't even see the huge instrument, let alone whether anyone was practicing. Several third-year students were sitting around a table, chatting and laughing while playing Joker. Some of them noticed Kiyoyori and his two friends standing outside the window, but quickly turned back as if they hadn't seen them and continued playing.

He passed several other sections, and it was the same every time. It wasn't until he got close to the flute section's practice room that Kiyora heard the flute's unique high notes pierce through the walls and enter Kiyora's ear. Sometimes it was melodious and beautiful, sometimes lively and cheerful, like a dancer who was immersed in her own world, moving her body in ecstasy and releasing her charm.

She was the only one in the classroom. Her ponytail, which fell around her neck, swayed with her natural movements. Her feet touched the ground lightly. She was like an elf, adding touches of color to this colorless gray world.

Kiyoshi couldn't help but smile. "She's amazing."

“Yes,” Ogasawara beside her smiled, but it quickly turned bitter. “She’s the one who persuaded the first-year students to quit the club.”

Nozomi Kasaki.

She was completely absorbed in the music and did not notice the people outside the classroom.

"She loves music." Kiyoyori was certain of this.

"But we can't keep her here. Let's go to the next classroom."

Ogasawara was the first to leave the flute club's corridor. Kiyori sighed and could only follow. She understood why these second-year students had gone to such lengths to keep these first-year students in the Service Club.

After passing several classrooms, Kiyotsuya couldn't hear any more music like Nozomi Kasaki's flute that would make her stop. The members were either chatting or playing games. No wonder the first-year students disliked their seniors. If it weren't for maintaining Yukinoshita's persona, Kiyotsuya would have liked to go up and slap each of these bastards who were just occupying the toilet.

"I apologize for the embarrassing situation; this is the true state of the brass band right now."

Ogasawara could only manage a wry smile; he couldn't show any other expression.

Kiyoshi expressed his understanding, saying that in such an atmosphere, even those who are able to persevere, even those who are doing what they believe is right, will become conspicuous outcasts. Therefore, some people will choose to be assimilated, and being "different from others" is something that many people cannot accept.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying playing music; it's just that the two sides have slightly different definitions of "happiness."

From Kiyoshi's perspective alone, she cannot accept those upperclassmen who are just wasting their time doing nothing. But if we step outside the perspective of her own student who is also pursuing a career path, there is nothing wrong with enjoying club life in a relaxed manner.

"Understandable."

Qinglai nodded. In the last classroom where they stopped, the sound of a trumpet came from. This trumpet was even more captivating than the flute from before. Its steady breath and long, melodious notes were like a bird spreading its wings and soaring in the air.

"It's Kaori."

Ogasawara placed his hands on the windowsill and looked at the figure standing straight inside with a gentle gaze. The person had short, neat black hair, and from Kiyoyori's angle, he could see the person's serious profile.

She is a beauty.

"Kaori-senpai! How can you play the flute so well?"

A girl with long, creamy-yellow hair wearing a headband looked at her with adoration. Kaori put down her trumpet and gave the girl a sweet smile.

"Because I like it."

............................................................

"Asuka, why are you still practicing the euphonium?"

Young Kiyoshi clung to Asuka's arm and asked her a question, because she knew that Asuka's mother disapproved of her practicing the euphonium, and would become hysterical whenever the topic turned to playing.

"Because I like it! I like the euphonium, just like Xiao Qinglai likes the oboe!"

"Okay! Let's cheer each other on!"

"Okay, let's cheer each other on! One day, we'll be able to perform on the same stage!"

"Pinky promise!"

Two small hands are hooked together, the touching fingertips representing a promise that the two have yet to fulfill.

……………………………………………………………

“Yukinoshita-san, this is Kaori Nakazeko from the trumpet club, and this is Yuko Yoshikawa, a first-year student,” Ogasawara then turned to the two trumpeters, “and this is Yukinoshita Yukino from the service club. She… accepted our request to come and visit the brass band club.”

Nakazeko showed a knowing expression, but still glanced at Ogasawara with a complicated look in her eyes. "Hello, Yukinoshita-kun, nice to meet you."

"Hello, Senior Medieval Ancient."

"You're the famous Yukino Yukinoshita from Class J, Grade 1?!"

Clearly, Yoshikawa, as a first-year student, was very familiar with Yukino Yukinoshita's name, after all, she was a star student who became the focus of everyone's attention as soon as she entered the school.