I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"Have you started making lunch yet? Let me help!"

A voice that was weak and listless one second ago, but full of energy the next, rang out from behind the two of them.

"Please make sure to stay at least one meter away from the kitchen, Yuihama-senpai!"

Are you kidding me? If Hihama-senpai were to join us today, tomorrow's headline would be—

"Shocking! Five high school girls have died mysteriously at home, suspected of poisoning but no toxic substances have been found! Is this the extinction of humanity or the decline of morality?!"

P.S.: Thinking back to when I wrote this part of the story, it went very smoothly. Unlike now, it feels like a difficult birth. I suddenly realized that, apart from Kiyoyori, many of the main characters in my story seem to have three-character names: Yukinoshita, Asuka, Kasumigaoka, Nakazeko, Yuigahama, Ogasawara, Eriri... It's like I've discovered a new way to pad out the word count.

Chapter 22, Section 79: Let's "persecute" Yuihama-senpai together!

Because today's lunch was for five people, there were quite a few ingredients to prepare. Yukinoshita and Kiyori were busy in the kitchen, while Yuihama, who had been ordered to stay away from the kitchen, sat at the table, watching the two busy figures with nothing to do. A silent understanding arose between the two. Although busy, Kiyori was quite enjoying himself.

"Hehehe," Yuihama said, resting her chin on her hands and letting out a hearty laugh, "Looking at it this way, I feel like I've married two virtuous brides~."

Kiyori and Yukinoshita both paused at the same time, then turned their heads:

"Did Yuihama-senpai have trouble sleeping last night? Why are you talking in your sleep with your eyes open in broad daylight?"

"It's illegal for minors to drink alcohol, Yuihama-san."

"You guys are really going too far..."

Yuihama, who had only meant to lighten the mood, suddenly felt incredibly stupid for giving these two people the chance to attack her.

"That's true. It should be Xiao Qinglai and Xiao Xue who get married, since they're so in sync."

The unexpected counterattack had an unexpected effect.

Kiyotomi and Yukino looked at each other for a second without saying a word, then immediately turned back to their work. Only occasionally, when their hands accidentally touched each other, there would be an unnatural pause.

"Ding dong."

"Little Qinglai, someone's ringing the doorbell."

"Could you please open the door for me, Hihama-senpai? It should be Tanaka-senpai and Nakazeko-senpai, who are third-year students."

Kiyotomi couldn't do it herself, so she had to ask Yuihama to do it instead.

"Third year?" Although she was puzzled as to why Kiyoyori would invite a third-year senior to her home, she still quickly walked towards the entrance. "Please wait a moment!"

"Little Qinglai!"

"Sorry to bother you."

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Asuka carrying a beautifully packaged bag.

"Ah... um, Kiyorae is in the kitchen right now, um, I am..."

Yuihama was so startled by Asuka that she almost couldn't speak properly.

"Hello, Yuihama-san," standing behind Asuka was Nakazeko, who was carrying a small trumpet. She considerately stepped forward and eased Yuihama's tension with her warm smile. "I am Nakazeko Kaori, and this is Tanaka Asuka. We are both third-year students. I'm sorry, Asuka scared you just now."

"Ah, no..." Yuihama chuckled and scratched her cheek. "Please come in, seniors."

"I'm sorry, Yui-chan," Asuka said familiarly, patting Yui-chan on the shoulder. "Kaori and I bought a cake. Let's eat it together later as an apology."

"Oh, I can't accept this!"

Yui waved her hand helplessly.

"It's okay, it's okay, you don't need to be so reserved off campus."

Asuka casually kicked off her shoes, took out her slippers as if she knew exactly what to do, and walked straight into the living room.

"Asuka is really something..."

Kaori knelt down and neatly placed their shoes next to Yui's and Yui's shoes. Then, she put on the guest slippers and said to Yui with a smile, "Let's go in too, Yui-san."

"Asuka, could you please pour a glass of water for Nakasago-senpai? If you want something else, there's something in the fridge."

Kiyoshi glanced at Asuka, who was searching for something in the refrigerator, amidst his busy work.

"Where's the Coke I bought this morning?"

"In the middle drawer."

"What would Kaori like to drink?"

Asuka took out orange juice, apple juice, and cola.

"Just like Asuka."

"Then let's have Coke."

Asuka took out two cans of chilled cola.

As the master of the house, Kiyoyori temporarily stopped what he was doing and looked at Nakagaku, who was holding an iced cola.

"Nakashiko-senpai, welcome. Thank you for taking care of Asuka."

“No way,” Nakazeko waved his hand. “It was Asuka who took care of me. I should thank Tachibana for letting me come and have a meal with her.”

“Nakashiko-senpai, please sit outside for a while. Lunch will be ready in a bit.” Kiyoyori then glanced at Asuka, who was leaning against the sofa. “Asuka, could you please tutor Yuigahama-senpai in some of her studies?”

Kiyoyoshi Asuka winked secretly, and Asuka immediately received the signal.

"Oh dear, let me see, Yui-chan," Asuka walked to the table and picked up Yui-chan's homework under her tense expression. "This! This is very bad, Yui-chan!"

Yuihama asked with a long face, "Am I the only one here who needs tutoring?"

"What are you talking about, Yuihama-san?"

Yukinoshita, who had been focused on cooking, finally couldn't help but sigh.

"Let's drop the 'could it be', Yuihama-senpai, be more confident."

Kiyoshi returned a reassuring smile.

After all, of the five people present, three of them had won first place in their respective grades, while the other was Senior Nakajiko.

"Although I'm not as good as Asuka, I still managed to squeeze into the top 100 in the last test, right?"

Nakashiko put down her bag and smiled gently at Yuihama, "Tachibana-san, do you have any extra aprons? I'll help too."

Amidst Yuihama's pitiful wails, Kiyoyori retrieved an extra apron from the cupboard. "Then I'm really sorry to trouble you, Nakasago-senpai. I'm so sorry to have to ask you for help."

“No, I would feel bad leaving all these things to the younger generation,” Nakashiko said as he walked to the edge of the pool. “Then I’ll process the seafood here first.”

Kiyoshi and Asuka originally only planned to make the most ordinary curry, but they couldn't resist buying some fresh seafood after discovering it was a rare find in the supermarket.

How many people can handle spicy food?

"here!"

Asuka raised her hand, and Nakagaku also raised his hand to his ear.

"Senior, can you eat spicy food?"

Kiyoyori glanced at Yukinoshita.

"You can eat a little, as long as it's not too spicy."

Yukinoshita's tastes are always mild, and she rarely tries spicy food. However, if she says she can't eat it, it will increase the workload for the three of them, and the subsequent cleaning work will double. It's best not to trouble others too much when visiting someone's home for the first time.

"Where is Yuigahama-senpai?"

"Ugh... I guess I'll be the same way..."

Yuihama looked slightly hesitant.

Nakashiko placed the prepared seafood on a plate and suggested to Kiyoyori:

"How about we make two portions? The seafood curry is spicy, and the chicken curry is non-spicy, is that alright?"

She smiled and looked at Kiyotaka, "Leave the subsequent cleaning work to me and Asuka."

Asuka also gave a "no problem" gesture.

"Of course, you can choose the flavor you like, but please don't try to take over the housework from me, Senior Nakashiko."

Qinglai took out a smaller container from under the cabinet by the stove.

"Thank you."

A whispered thank you from beneath the snow brushed past Kiyoyori's ear.

"You're welcome, senior."

P.S.: As expected, fewer and fewer people are reading this. Maybe I'll be able to update every day in June, which will make things much easier for me. Sigh.

Chapter 23, Section 80: I Need You!

"I'm starting!"

Please have a meal.

Kiyoshi sat in the main seat, and as soon as she finished speaking, the others put the steaming hot curry into their mouths.

"Hoo hoo," Yui Hama eagerly stuffed a spoonful of curry rice into her mouth, "Mmm! So delicious! As expected of Yuki!"

Both curries were cooked by Yukinoshita in the final stages, thanks to Yuihama's excellent promotion, which aroused Asuka and Nakazeko's great curiosity about Yukinoshita's cooking skills.

Kiyoshi maintained a reserved demeanor, but his hands moved with great efficiency, even putting the fresh mussels into his mouth before the curry had cooled down.

The tender mussels are juicy and refreshing, paired with thick and rich curry. The plump and translucent rice fully absorbs the curry flavor, which blossoms on the lips and tongue. After swallowing a mouthful of curry rice, the spiciness of red peppers still lingers on the tip of the tongue, swirling around in the mouth.

It makes your mouth water.

"Yukinoshita's cooking skills are truly remarkable," even Nakazeko, a master of culinary arts, showed an expression of admiration. "It's definitely better than what I make."

"Senior Zhongshigu is too kind. Your curry is also very delicious."

Yukinoshita answered neither humbly nor arrogantly, but Kiyori and Asuka paused in their eating at the same time.