I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

"I want you to take care of it?"

What was Huang Qian's reaction?

“Huh?” Reina thought for a moment, “Kumiko said I’m different from others, no one would bring instruments up the mountain to play together on the day of the festival.”

“Eh~ ‘Kumiko’,” Kiyoyori stood up and sat down next to Reina, “I’m not asking about her reaction to mountain climbing, but her reaction to seeing you in a white dress.”

"Lustful?"

Reina's answer amused Kiyoshi. It wasn't that she hadn't seen Reina in a dress before, but neither of them would specifically choose such an outfit for the other. Just as Reina wanted to leave her beautiful image in Kyou's heart, Kiyoshi also had a beautiful image of someone wearing a white dress in her heart.

"It seems like there's been a problem with the bass section lately."

"is it?"

"Didn't Asuka-senpai tell you that?"

"She won't bring up things like that on purpose."

“That’s true,” Reina nodded in agreement. “Asuka-senpai doesn’t seem like the type of person who would be interested in that kind of thing.”

"Is this related to Huang Qian?"

Reina nodded. "It seems it's because Kato was rejected by Tsukamoto."

Tsukamoto, on the other hand, was in love with Oumae, a fact that Reina and Kiyoyori both knew perfectly well.

"I see. So Kato's poor condition affected her bass practice? Or did she blame Huangqian?"

Friendships between girls can be very fragile at times, like decorations displayed in a glass case, which can easily be shattered.

Reina shook her head. "The one who's not feeling well is Kawashima. It seems like he feels responsible for affecting the relationship between Kato and Tsukamoto."

"What about Huang Qian? It seems that she's just someone who's been dragged into this."

"It seems like Kato is going to help Tsukamoto pursue Kumiko."

Reina wore a complicated expression.

"I thought Rena wouldn't be interested in this kind of thing."

Kiyoyori looked at Reina with interest. "You don't think Tsukamoto and Oumae have a good chance?"

"Kumiko is easily influenced by the people around her, and I don't want her to make choices just to please others."

“That’s great, Reina.”

Qinglai leaned back against the rough tree trunk.

I hope Huang Qian is worthy of the care you give him.

"Let's not talk about the bass section anymore, what about your trumpet section? There are a lot of people in the trumpet section, so the competition must be pretty fierce, right?"

Kiyoshi was well aware of Reina's playing ability, but she was also well aware of Nakayoko's popularity. Reina competing with someone like Nakayoko for a solo spot would probably provoke dissatisfaction from the other members, although she herself probably wouldn't care.

“The seniors are all very kind,” Rena said, downplaying the issue, “but I will strive for a solo performance opportunity; I want to stand in the most prominent place on stage.”

"I want to be special."

Ah, I'm so envious.

Kiyoshi looked at Reina, who was gazing at her with unwavering eyes in the dappled sunlight. The wind blew through their hair, the leaves above their heads, and the shadows of the leaves fluttering at their feet, but it could not shake the determination in Reina's eyes.

I want to be special, to be different from others, unwilling to be just another face in the crowd, but only to be the brightest star in the night sky.

This is Reina Kousaka, and her resolve has never wavered.

When will Kiyoyori be able to say something like, "I'm playing for myself"?

Perhaps I will never be able to say such a thing.

because……

"What about Kiyori? You'll also do your best to get a solo performance opportunity, right? Although Yoroizuka-senpai's voice is perfect, Kiyori can surpass her. The soloist should be chosen by the strongest person."

"Of course, I have no intention of giving up this position."

Even though she can't play for herself like Reina does, she has a promise to keep here at Soubu High School's brass band. She can't fulfill this promise without giving it her all, so she will do her best to play for her.

This is the last time.

"After all, we're going to the national competition."

P.S.: It's been raining so much lately, I feel like I'm turning into mold... The humidity in the South is really evident when you can't dry yourself properly with a towel after a shower...

Chapter 62 Selection (Section 122)

The audition was scheduled for this weekend. In order to select all the members of Group A at once, Takigaki chose to start the audition early in the morning. The selection method was naturally to play a random segment from the selected pieces and the free pieces. The two teachers decided which section to start playing and which section to end playing. Therefore, there was absolutely no chance to cheat in this audition.

The selection process started with the vocal sections that had the most members. Kiyoyori's oboe section was the last to be selected, while Reina's trumpet section was the first.

……………………………………………………………

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, while the alarm clock blared incessantly. Qinglai rolled over, wrapped herself in the blanket, and reached out towards the bedside table, but couldn't find the annoying thing.

The alarm clock stopped ringing abruptly.

"Get up, Qinglai."

"Hmm?"

Kiyoshi opened her eyes and vaguely saw a black-haired woman leaning over and looking at her.

"teacher……"

Was it because I dreamt of my teacher last night, something I hadn't done in a long time?

Kiyoshi reached out, wanting to touch the face of the person in front of him, but the other person gently enveloped Kiyoshi's hand in their own, and sighed, "It's not Chihiro."

The person gently stroked Qinglai's face with one hand, then affectionately pinched Qinglai's nose with their fingers, "Little lazybones, you have a selection today, aren't you getting up?"

"Ugh..." Due to the brief lack of oxygen, Kiyotaka's vision gradually cleared. "Mom...?"

"You still recognize your mother?"

Touko released her hand from Kiyoyori's nose, then brushed her daughter's messy hair aside, leaned down and left a gentle kiss on Kiyoyori's forehead. "It's time to get up."

"Um……"

Kiyoshi held onto Touko's hand tightly, his watery eyes still lingering with sleepiness. His lake-blue eyes, so similar to his lover's, softened Touko's heart.

Why are you being so affectionate today?

Touko sat down on Kiyori's bedside, pulled Kiyori into her arms, placed one hand on Kiyori's back, and stroked Kiyori's soft hair with the other.

Speaking of which, the anniversary of Chihiro's death is approaching...

Touko gently rested her chin on the top of her daughter's head and sighed helplessly from an angle that Kiyoshi couldn't see.

"Let's work hard today, shall we? Let's do our part together, including the teacher's contribution."

Upon hearing this, Kiyotaka tightened his arms around his mother's waist, buried his face in Touko's neck, and nodded vigorously.

"You need to cheer up quickly. If you keep going like this, how will you keep your promise to your teacher?"

After kissing Kiyori's still-warm cheek, Touko whispered in Kiyori's ear.

Kiyoshi sniffed hard, then suddenly broke free from her mother's embrace. Although she was past the age of being spoiled, she could never help but show weakness in front of her mother, but she would always feel ashamed afterward.

"It's all set now."

She scratched her face, not daring to look at Yuanzi's smiling face, and shyly pushed her mother's back, leading her out of her room.

"Use it and then throw it away? Isn't Xiao Qinglai going a bit too far?"

Yuanzi deliberately teased Qinglai.

What are you talking about!

Qinglai's face flushed.

As her shy daughter pushed her out of the room, Touko smiled and called out from the doorway, "I've already made breakfast for you."

A muffled reply came from inside the room, "Okay!"

As he walked down the stairs, he saw his wife, Carol, sitting at the dining table reading a newspaper, and sitting next to her was Asuka from next door.

"Oh, Asuka, good morning! Kiyora just woke up. Why are you up so early today?"

"Good morning, Aunt Yuanzi. I couldn't stand staying at home any longer, so I came over to wait for Qinglai."

Asuka bowed slightly.

Yuanzi just smiled gently and didn't ask any further questions. "Have you had breakfast? Would you like me to make your lunchbox too?"

Yuanzi went into the kitchen and took out two pairs of bento boxes from the cupboard.

"Thank you for your help, Auntie," Asuka stepped forward, "Let me help you."

"Okay, then Asuka will take care of the plating."

Asuka expertly scooped out glistening, plump rice from the steaming rice cooker and placed it into two bento boxes, while Touko put the freshly fried croquettes into a plate.

"Asuka, could you go upstairs and check if Kiyori is ready yet?"

"Ok."

Asuka tied the two bento boxes into a cloth bag and then went upstairs.

As I turned the corner, I ran into Kiyoshi, who was coming out of the restroom.

"Asuka?"

Kiyoshi glanced at his watch reflexively. "So early?"

"It's best to come early if you're coming to freeload a meal."

Asuka never speaks seriously.

"Isn't Asuka nervous at all?"

"Hmm? What's there to be nervous about?"