I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

While Kasumigaoka and Kiyori were making a scene, Hikigaya Asahi calmly wiped the glass and Kawasaki gave an address, asking the other party to arrive at a specified time. Then he pretended not to hear and avoided the other party's questions.

Why is it that I, who hated my job the most, am now the most dedicated one?

P.S.: I don't know why the braces actually tore the mucous membrane in my mouth, and even got stuck in my flesh. Eating every day is torture, it's so painful, this is the biggest punishment for a foodie! I'm being fed by my mom's delicious food every day, there's no way I can lose weight, *bursts into tears*.

Chapter 39, Section 98: She is mine

"So, why are you in the bar at this time?"

The four of them sat in Ms. Machida's car. Kasumigaoka, who was supposed to be in the passenger seat, forcefully squeezed between Kiyoyori and Hikigaya, who were originally sitting in the back. Hikigaya, not wanting to be affected, reluctantly moved to the passenger seat, while Kiyoyori...

Kiyoyori glanced at the spacious back seat and Kasumigaoka, which was practically pressed against him, and shrank back in pain, the plastic door handle digging into his skin.

"Speaking of which, could you perhaps move to the other side a little, Shiyu-senpai...?"

Kiyotomi tilted her head back, desperately trying to avoid the death stare from Kasumigaoka. Perhaps for the meeting tonight, Kasumigaoka was dressed very maturely in a black evening gown with a lace neckline as delicate as a cicada's wing. The sweet fragrance unique to mature women wafted past Kiyotomi's nose, and the soft touch on her arm was even more undeniable than her exquisite makeup.

“Shimizu-kun hasn’t answered my question yet,” Kasumigaoka shifted her body, pressing her soft frame closer to Kiyori. Kiyori’s expression, wanting to escape but with nowhere to run, amused her. “Going on a date with someone at a bar late at night…”

This is the second time tonight that someone has visited Kiyoyori's elbow. Compared to Yukinoshita's restrained reminder, Kasumigaoka's questioning was filled with jealousy. Through his formal attire, his skin was forcefully pinched with two fingers and then rotated. Kiyoyori could only try to free his poor arm from the other person's clutches with a wry smile.

"It wasn't a date, it was just a club activity..."

Kiyoyori maintained a gentlemanly hand and did not touch Kasumigaoka's wrist without permission, and tried to avoid physical contact with her. However, Kasumigaoka did not give her much room to escape, and Kiyoyori was trapped between Kasumigaoka and the car door with her hands and feet tied.

"Club activities? What kind of club activities would be held in a bar?"

Kasumigaoka moved her face even closer to Kiyoyori, whose head was pressed against the car window so closely that Kiyoyori could barely see Kasumigaoka's face.

"If I remember correctly, Shimizu-kun should be a member of the brass band, right? He should at least prepare his answer before lying."

"Uh……"

Kiyoyori couldn't bring herself to say the words "Service Department," so what awaited her would likely be more than just simple questioning...

"Tonight is the Service Club's club activity."

Hachiman, who had remained silent until now, spoke up, but he didn't intend to help explain what the Service Club was.

I'm sorry, Tachibana, but consider this your retribution for tricking me earlier. Please forgive me.

Hikigaya Hachiman!

Kiyoyori clearly saw that Kasumigaoka's face suddenly darkened, as if it could drip water. Her blood-red eyes radiated a "whoever looks at her dies" gaze. Her eyes were deep and unfathomable, giving Kiyoyori a suffocating feeling of being tied up and thrown into the ocean to fend for herself.

"Roar?"

Kasumigaoka's willow-leaf eyebrows were slightly raised.

“Actually,” Kiyoyori said, his voice sharp with nervousness, “the Service Club is just a general store that solves students’ problems. We’re only going there today because the people involved in the request will be there.”

There's nothing to be nervous about, and there's no need to explain it so clearly...

Qinglai cleared his throat and gradually returned to normal.

"Hmm?" Kasumigaoka let out a soft, ambiguous hum. She pulled herself away from Kiyori, then sat on the other side of the back seat, leaning against the window and coldly looking out.

The whole space seemed to refresh itself. Qinglai straightened his clothes and leaned back in his chair.

"Was Shiwa-senpai there today because of work?"

"Ah."

An eerie silence filled the car.

"Ms. Machida, you should be more careful and it's best to avoid any further contact with that man or the company behind him."

The man from earlier belonged to a newly established film company. Although it was a newly founded company, it was able to quickly gain a foothold in the film industry because of the Odagiri family behind it. This Hiroshi Ichijo was an underling of Ryosuke Odagiri, a famous playboy in the Odagiri family.

Kiyoyori's impression of the Odagiri family wasn't bad, thanks to the eldest son, Tetsuya. Unlike the younger son, Ryosuke, Tetsuya was a gentleman, polite to everyone and everything. He and Kiyoyori were close friends despite their age difference, and Kiyoyori had even received a wedding invitation from Tetsuya recently. However, even Tetsuya sighed when talking about his immature younger brother.

With the Odagiri family backing him up, Ryosuke Odagiri was infamous in the industry, yet no one dared to openly defy him.

This time, it's probably not for Kasumigaoka Utaha's works, but for the person herself.

“If it weren’t for the pressure from above, I wouldn’t have brought Shi-chan to see him,” Machida’s tone became agitated. Just thinking about the way Ichijo looked at the two of them, that condescending disdain and the way he treated them like playthings, made her want to throw her drink in his face. “Originally, the higher-ups hadn’t explained exactly what was going on, only saying there was a possibility of adapting ‘Love Metronome’ into a film, but I never expected they’d find someone like…”

“Senpai Utaha didn’t deliberately hide her identity, so they probably found out,” Kiyoyori glanced at Kasumigaoka, who was silently looking out the window. “But don’t worry, they shouldn’t bother you anymore.”

Although I don't think the other party would risk offending the Spencer family by causing trouble again, I'd better call Tetsuya again tomorrow just in case.

“But speaking of which,” Machida glanced at the two people sitting at either end of the back seat through the rearview mirror with a mischievous look, “what did Shimizu write to that Ichijo? The way he ran away in such a panic was really gratifying.”

Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka also turned her gaze to Kiyori with some interest. She tilted her head and asked silently, while Kiyori immediately became restless and reached out to tug at the tie in front of his neck, deliberately avoiding their gazes and turning his head towards the window.

"It's nothing, just some scary nonsense."

"Is that so?"

Kasumigaoka turned her head away without pressing him further, seemingly sulking and refusing to speak to Kiyori.

At this point, Kiyoyori no longer had the energy to pay attention to Kasumigaoka. Although she had written those words herself, she still felt somewhat ashamed when she thought about it. Even if it was just a temporary expedient, it was still a rather disrespectful act towards Kasumigaoka.

Hey--

Kiyoshi sighed secretly.

I guess I really am a bad kid...

STAY BACK

SHE'S MINE.

SPENCER

P.S.: The title is not written from Kiyoshi's perspective. If I remember correctly, the next wave of sweet moments seems to be just around the corner; at least I have two more in my drafts.

Chapter 40, Section 99: Be My Leading Lady!

Saki Kawasaki's part-time job situation eventually ended with her resigning.

Because of the brass band training, Kiyoyori did not participate in the final wrap-up work, but only learned about the content of the last few people's meeting from Yukinoshita.

As Kiyoshi guessed, the reason for working part-time was to earn tuition fees for summer tutoring. The Kawasaki family was not wealthy, and Kawasaki's parents were already exhausted from paying for their younger brother Taishi's tuition. The considerate Kawasaki Saki did not want to impose additional pressure on her parents, and her concealment of the matter from Taishi was simply because she did not want them to worry about her too much.

Hikigaya's suggestion also provided Kawasaki with another effective approach: applying for scholarships and grants. Through negotiations with Professor Hiratsuka, the incident was finally resolved perfectly.

……………………………………………………………

"Um--!"

Kiyoshi stretched and yawned, tucking the oboe between his legs.

Most of the team members around me were in the same posture. The soreness in my limbs caused by sitting for long periods of time was not obvious when I was concentrating, but it appeared in every corner of my body when I relaxed.

"Let's take a 20-minute break and continue later."

Taki clapped his hands, announcing the end of the first phase of training for the day.

Members gradually stood up and moved around, but many more slumped in their chairs, panting. Playing the ensemble was already physically demanding, and the two-hour-plus performance had almost completely drained the members' energy.

"It's so hot..."

The larger the instrument, the more physical effort the player needs to put in. The trombone and bass players in the back row felt this keenly. Hazuki, holding a tuba that was even bigger than herself, was panting heavily as she wiped away the fine sweat with the towel hanging around her neck. She stretched out her legs, but because there wasn't enough room, they were spread apart in an unseemly manner.

"You have no manners, Hazuki."

Kawashima, who came from a prestigious school, spoke up to remind them. Her naturally curly brown hair was plastered to her forehead, and her fingers were wrapped in white bandages to protect her fingertips.

"Kato-chan!" Asuka, sitting in the front row, turned around and adjusted her glasses. "How can a girl do something like that! Let me see!"

As she spoke, she bent down, deliberately making a gesture as if she were going to "admire the scenery."

"Wow—!" Hazuki immediately covered her skirt and kicked out, "Asuka-senpai!"

"Oh ho! What's this?!" Asuka remained in her pose, even though she hadn't seen anything, she still teased her adorably responsive junior.

"Asuka."

The considerate Nakazeko called out to Asuka at just the right moment, gesturing with her trumpet mouthpiece, "Shall we go to the sink together?"

"Go~".

Asuka stopped her teasing and, without hesitation, put her arm around Nakazeko's shoulder as they walked out of the practice room.

"It's really hot..."

Kiyoshi covered his face with a towel, tilted his head back, and leaned against the chair.

"Yes, it's very hot."

Next to me, Ying sipped her now-cold cola.

The crowded classroom already created a visual impression of "it's so hot," and with only one air conditioner working properly in this not-so-spacious classroom, coupled with the members constantly sweating inside, this little bit of cool air was only enough to scratch the surface.

Even under these circumstances, no one dared to slack off in their practice, because in a week they would be facing the selection for this competition. If they didn't train hard now, they wouldn't be able to perform on stage later, which was a very real problem.

"By the way, Senior Mizore, I was just about to ask about this part..."

Kiyoshi turned the sheet music to the section on the oboe solo.

"Kiyo Lai~!"

Asuka's call interrupted Kiyotsuya, who turned around and saw Asuka waving at her from the classroom door. Next to Asuka stood a boy with a backpack and thick glasses, who was slightly hunched over and looking into the classroom from a short distance away.

Someone's looking for me!

Asuka Asahi winked playfully.

Renya-senpai...?

Kiyoshi frowned, stood up suspiciously, and walked towards the door. He found his own shoes among a large pile of indoor shoes, put them on, and walked up to Aki under Asuka's mischievous gaze and Nakazeko's kind smile.

"Is there something you need, Tomoya-senpai? Why did you come all the way here?"

As expected, it would likely be the same thing as before. Kiyotaka leaned against the window, slightly impatient. She hadn't expected that the other party would actually come all the way to Soubu High School to find her at this time.