I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

“I remember…” Nakazeko put her hand, which wasn’t holding the trumpet, to her lips, “Yukinoshita-san is the representative student of the first year, right? I really didn’t expect you to be willing to take on our request.”

Actually, I didn't want to...

But even Kiyoyori can't say such things now, "The trumpet playing of the Nakajiko-senpai was excellent, he must have practiced a lot."

“Hmm,” Nakajiko nodded, gently stroking the trumpet in his hand as if looking at a beloved lover, “because I really like it.”

Zhong Shigu's gentle voice dissipated with the wind, and apart from the few people standing in the classroom at that moment, no one could hear her bitter sigh anymore.

"Then I shall take my leave." Kiyoyori bowed to his seniors.

"Okay, be careful on your way home," Ogasawara waved to Kiyori, and watching him leave, she couldn't help but add, "Ah! Don't push yourself too hard..."

"Thank you."

Kiyoshi nodded and left without looking back. She wanted to take the opportunity to talk to Nozomi Kasaki, but when she returned to the flute club classroom, it was empty.

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

Apartment

After struggling to finish the assignment that was supposed to be Yukino Yukinoshita's, Kiyoyori, feeling utterly exhausted, threw himself into the Yukinoshita family's bathtub. Thinking that it wouldn't matter since they were both women, Kiyoyori generously admired Yukino Yukinoshita's body, which was that of a slender and beautiful girl.

"So comfortable~".

Soaking in the comforting hot water, Kiyotaka let out a tired sigh. The steam warmed Kiyotaka's drowsy mind, and fine water droplets clung to the marble wall before dripping down with gravity.

If only it were a dream, so she could go back to being Tachibana Kiyoyori, who was single-mindedly devoted to studying music, instead of Yukino Yukinoshita, who was constantly racking her brains to solve requests.

"I really want to go home!"

Kiyoshi's feeble cries echoed in the bathroom; of course, no miracle would happen.

Suddenly not wanting to soak any longer, Kiyotaka left the bathtub and returned to her room. She took out a notebook and wrote down everything she had done that day, including the unreasonable request she had made, with a special note about Kasaki Nozomi from Class 1-C.

After doing all this, Kiyotaka climbed into bed, praying that he would see the familiar ceiling when he woke up the next morning, while simultaneously scorning his overly optimistic thoughts.

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

"I'm back!"

The next morning, Kiyotaka finally saw his familiar ceiling and the familiar weight on his chest. Excited, Kiyotaka picked up the sleeping dumpling and threw it into the air.

"Meow!"

Kiyoshi buried his face in the dumpling's soft belly and took two deep breaths.

"I'm back!"

"Meow!"

I know! Let me go right now!

At this moment, the sky was just beginning to brighten.

Chapter 07 Chief Crisis?!

So it really was just a dream of mine?

That's why it appears in dreams...

Who will appear?

Kiyoshi paused as she reached for the bread, as if something had scooped a piece out of her. She suddenly couldn't remember the name she wanted to say; it was right on the tip of her tongue, but she just couldn't recall it.

Oh well, it really was just a dream, which is why I only have fragmented memories.

Kiyoshi sandwiched sliced ​​tomatoes and bacon into a bread roll, drizzled it with creamy white cheese, and quickly finished her sandwich before starting to prepare her lunchbox.

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

I'm going out.

Kiyotaka said something in the empty living room, then picked up his schoolbag and oboe and went out.

Still preoccupied with something he hadn't thought of earlier, Kiyora, with a bag of milk in his mouth, rode his bike toward the meeting place with Reina.

"Little Qinglai!"

A familiar voice came from the Japanese-style bungalow beside him. Kiyoyori stopped the car, put one foot on the ground, and waved to the person who was closing the door and preparing to leave.

"Morning, Asuka."

"Hmm, good morning~!" Asuka approached Kiyori with light steps, casually pinching her cheek. "How's your cold? Are you feeling any better?"

"No problem."

Kiyoshi removed the other person's hand from his face, then jumped off his bicycle and chatted with Asuka while pushing it.

"Don't push yourself too hard, it will make me feel bad."

"What are you saying..." Kiyoyori pouted. Asuka always liked to tease her. "Asuka, it's the other one. The Kyoto Prefecture Tournament is coming up soon. How's the Kitauji brass band doing? Did they get elected?"

Although asking the last question would be pointless, Asuka's skills had already surpassed those of ordinary students, and she could even rival those of top brass schools.

“After all, there are very few people who can play the euphonium,” Asuka didn’t answer directly. Kiyori, walking beside her, could only see her long, slightly drooping eyelashes. “Little Kiyori is not allowed to come to the Kyoto Prefecture Tournament to listen, okay?”

Her tone was cool, carrying an undeniable forcefulness: "Why?"

"You're really bad at bragging. I don't want to pollute Kiyora's ears," Asuka said, a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth, but no smile in her eyes. "Speaking of which, isn't Kita-Chū the main focus? What are you bragging about this time?"

"The optional piece is 'Orfeo in Hell Overture'."

"Oh ho ho, it seems like Kiyora will have another chance to show off her skills~!"

"Asuka, you're acting a little strange..."

Kiyoshi wanted to throw the empty milk carton into the trash can, but Asuka took it instead.

"what do you mean?"

Asuka walked towards the trash can, leaving Kiyori with only her back view.

"Nothing happened at school, right?"

No.

Asuka paused, her back view faltering.

“Liar…” Kiyoyori muttered, “Nothing happened during club activities or anything?”

Asuka straightened up, without turning around, still with her back to Kiyori. "Why do you ask that?"

"Why..." Kiyotomi opened her mouth, but the indirect questions she had prepared seemed to have been wiped away in an instant. Something was on the tip of her tongue, but her mind was blank. "No... why... that, feeling, it's just..."

why?

Kiyoshi herself wondered why she had never inquired about Asuka's school life before, because Asuka was perfect, she was special, and she knew her well enough.

Is it really?

This question suddenly popped into Kiyoyori's mind.

"What kind of reason is that...?"

Asuka smiled and affectionately tapped Kiyori's forehead with her index finger. Then, she stopped smiling and said in a gentle tone, "This is not Kiyori's business. You just need to take care of yourself and don't worry about me."

That means something really did happen.

But Kiyoshi didn't ask any further questions, because she didn't want to know the answers she wanted to know, and no matter how much she pressed, she wouldn't get any results.

The two people standing at the crossroads waved to each other. Kiyotaka watched Asuka's tall figure grow smaller and smaller on the tram tracks. The alarm sounded, the barriers blocking the flow of people fell, and the next second, the tram roared past Kiyotaka's eyes. People flashed in the windows, but she could no longer see Asuka's figure. The distance between her and Asuka grew wider and wider until they went their separate ways.

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

"So slow!"

As soon as Kiyoshi arrived at the meeting place, he saw a magnified image of Reina's impatient expression. She tapped her watch to express her dissatisfaction with Kiyoshi's lateness.

"I'm sorry," Kiyoyori said, putting his hands together and giving Reina, who was throwing a tantrum, a pleading look. "I ran into some friends on the way and we chatted for a bit."

"gone."

Reina tossed her head, her long black hair tracing a graceful arc in the air, carrying a hint of her unique fragrance.

I was riding slowly to school. The streets were empty; it wasn't yet the usual time for students to go to school.

"It seems you've returned to normal today."

The two stopped at a red light. Reina turned to Kiyoyori and said something, while also giving her a once-over.

Kiyoshi deliberately crossed his arms and feigned a flustered expression, asking, "Reina, what are you doing?"

"Pervert." The girl spat lightly. "You were in a terrible state yesterday. I thought you'd lost your mind from the fever."

"Well..." Kiyoyori's expression became complicated when yesterday was mentioned, "After all, I had a fever..."

Moreover, yesterday was the anniversary of her death...

The light turned green, and Qinglai was the first to rush out.

Reina caught up from behind, "Are you ready to practice today?"

Kiyoyori felt extremely uncomfortable at the questioning look on the other person's face. "What are you talking about? When have I ever been unprepared?"

“Yesterday,” Rena shrugged matter-of-factly, “your solo performance yesterday was completely silent. It’s the first time I’ve ever seen you get kicked out by the teacher. Are you really okay today? If you’re still forcing yourself like yesterday and affecting our practice, I won’t let you off the hook.”

Qinglai was shocked and stopped the car right in the middle of the road.

"Get me out...? Me?!"

It can't make a sound?! How is that possible?!

"Have you lost your memory? Is it because yesterday's ordeal was too terrible? It would be a Waterloo for me too, but I couldn't possibly have this kind of problem," Reina said with a mocking expression. "What do you call this? Post-traumatic stress disorder?"

The fact that she couldn't produce a sound on the oboe was even more bizarre to Kiyotaka than the time travel story itself, considering that even her mother had praised her talent.

Seeing Kiyora completely petrified, Reina got out of the car and waved her hand in front of the now-obscured Kiyora, "Kiyora?"

Did I say something too harsh? Although there was a minor incident yesterday, it wasn't actually that serious.

"Although the teacher said they'd consider replacing you if you didn't play well, judging from your performance today, you should be fine. But you did manage to play it yesterday, didn't you? Even though the pitch was the same as usual, but—"

However, it didn't feel like Kiyora's style; it was more like mechanically playing a piece of music without infusing it with one's own emotions.

Rena has always believed that yesterday was just an accident, and she has great confidence in her childhood friend's playing ability.