I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Chapter 64, Section 124: It was clearly her who did it to me!

The flute is like an anomaly among woodwind instruments. Although it is different from other woodwind instruments and is also made of metal, it is classified as a woodwind instrument. This is because it was originally made of wood, and only with the development of technology has it become what it is today. Unlike most expensive woodwind instruments, the price of the flute varies greatly. It is small and eye-catching, and can produce a clear and high-pitched sound. However, unlike the piccolo, which specializes in the high register, it can also produce a gentle and deep sound.

It is a favored instrument.

Just as in the woodwind section, where the personnel are far less evenly distributed than in the brass section, the flute section is one of the sections with the most members.

Unlike the oboe.

The flute club should be the third to start the election. Through the glass, Kiyoshi can see the flute club members sitting together. The third-year students in the lead are comforting the nervous first-year students. Every now and then, the members' faces will show slightly uneasy smiles, but the atmosphere is very good. The senior students will also take time to tutor the first-year students in their practice.

Strangely, although the flute club has many members, most of them are third-year and first-year students. There is also an upperclassman who plays the piccolo, a branch of the flute, which is also a rare instrument. There is only one second-year student.

"There's only one second-year student in the flute club. I remember, it's Inoue-senpai, right?"

Rather than asking Mizore, Kiyori seemed to be talking to himself.

When Kiyoyori mentions the flute, he inexplicably thinks of the senior he met briefly in the corridor leading to the infirmary, whose name was probably Kasaki Nozomi.

For some reason, the sound of a flute echoed in my ears, like her high ponytail swaying with her body, playful yet gentle, intertwining with the melodious oboe. Immersed in the music were her gazing out the window and the other gazing at her.

And who's standing in the hallway...?

Perhaps it was because the sunlight was too bright, but Kiyotaka felt a little dizzy. She staggered and used her hands to support herself on the edge of the table to steady herself. She shook her head uncomfortably.

Mizore did not notice Kiyori's abnormality. She seemed to be staring at the pufferfish in the fish tank, or perhaps at the flute club classroom, but it was unclear what she was looking at. It was as if she was searching for something through the members who were smiling and holding their beloved flutes. Her fingers were tightly gripping the edge of the table, and her already pale fingers had lost all color.

She was like an insecure kitten, curling herself up into a ball, saying nothing, just quietly watching and waiting.

Kiyoyori glanced at the fish tank, then at the flute section directly opposite it, and seemed to understand something.

Mizore ignored Kiyoshi's gaze, staring blankly at the pufferfish swimming around in the fish tank, while on the other side of the tank, the figure could no longer be found.

"Shall we go back?"

Even though Kiyoshi had a thousand questions she wanted to ask Mizore, she couldn't bring herself to ask them. Curiosity aside, she wouldn't trespass on someone else's private space. Besides, she hoped to have a fairer and more just competition with this genius senior.

Just then, Reina was bowing to the two teachers in front of her in the practice room, preparing to leave.

Ying did not respond.

"Senior Mizore?"

"Ah."

Mizore's expression didn't change; she seemed to have returned to her usual self, simply nodding.

Let's go back.

but,

Some things can never be undone.

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

The wait was always more nerve-wracking than the actual exam. His heart was pounding. This wasn't the first time Kiyotaka had experienced such a wait; the oboe club was usually last in line, but this time it felt much longer than before.

Time had moved from morning into afternoon, and the sun had become even hotter. The anxiety of waiting and the sweltering air had worn away Qinglai's appetite. Even with her mother's carefully prepared bento box in front of her, she didn't know where to begin.

Mizore, as always, enjoyed her meal.

After the bass section comes the selection of the oboe family. The bassoon is in front of the oboe. Although there are only two bassoon players, they are two strong third-year students.

Taki seemed to have done this intentionally; he did not arrange the sections entirely according to the number of people in each section, but instead placed the trumpet section, which has a solo, and the oboe section first and last, respectively.

This might explain why he didn't follow the academic year order and didn't call another third-year student, Kasano Sana, after Nakasago, but instead skipped the entire second year and called her Reina.

Because he knew that the trumpet solo would come from one of these two, or, he knew more precisely.

Asuka's selection process seems to be progressing faster than expected. Putting aside the rarity of euphonium, Asuka's talent makes it impossible for her to be left out. In contrast, Nakagawa, a second-year student, is much slower. This kind of torment is very evident in the case of the last euphonium contestant, Kyoumae.

……………………………………………………………

"Um," Huang Qian knocked on the door of the oboe club classroom, holding a golden euphonium, "Senior Yorizuka, the selection process for the two senior bassoonists has begun."

Mizore stood up, nodded, and walked out of the classroom with her oboe. Kiyoshi swallowed back the words of encouragement he was about to say. For some reason, Mizore seemed not to want Kiyoshi to say those words to her.

"how?"

Kiyoshi took the opportunity to ask about Huang Qian, who hadn't left yet.

Huang Qian looked around and, finding no one else, realized that Qing Lai was talking to him.

"Taki-sensei is so intimidating, and Michie-sensei is as serious as ever."

She gave an awkward smile and didn't look directly at Qinglai.

"You seem very confident. It looks like we can continue playing together."

Kiyoshi said it seemingly casually.

"Eh?! No, no, no, that's not true!" Huang Qian waved her hands in a slightly flustered manner, her eyes darting around as if she had done something wrong. "Asuka-senpai is definitely going to make it into Group A, look, and there's also Natsuki-senpai from the second year," she gestured excitedly, almost dropping her euphonium. "As for me..."

There are very few people who play the euphonium, and it is impossible to select only one contestant. There must be at least two, so one person will inevitably be eliminated. For Nakagawa, who has only been playing the euphonium for two years and has not practiced properly, she is facing two opponents who have been learning from her since childhood.

Even though she displayed an astonishing talent for playing the wind instruments.

What did you do to Reina on the day of the festival?

To Huang Qian's surprise, Qing Lai easily moved on from the previous topic, but the topic that was about to be discussed did not seem to be very friendly to her.

"W-what!? How could I possibly do anything to Reina!"

She was the one who did it to me.

Huang Qian silently grumbled to himself.

"Then why have you been looking at me like a thief lately?"

"I didn't—!"

"Tachibana-san."

Just as Huang Qian was about to defend himself, the senior of the bassoon knocked on the door.

"it's your turn."

P.S.: This rain is making me feel like I'm going to mold, and it's so cold it doesn't feel like summer at all. I just bought some popsicles and ate them a few days ago, and now they're just sitting in the fridge getting bored. Ugh, I really want to be lazy today. Praying I get my perfect pull in today's Princess Connect Re:Dive gacha!

Chapter 65 Selection in Progress

Kiyoshi entered the classroom. Taki and Matsumoto Michie, who were sitting at the desk, seemed to be writing something on a piece of paper. Their low conversation was very indistinct, and Kiyoshi could not hear what they were saying.

"My apologies, please excuse me."

Qinglai's voice was especially loud in the empty classroom.

The two teachers turned around at the same time. "Tachibana, please come in."

Taki smiled and pointed to the bench in the center of the classroom.

Qinglai walked up to the two teachers, bowed, and then slowly sat down in the designated spot.

Her heart was unusually calm; even looking at Takigatsu's familiar, almost tiresome face evoked no particular emotion. But Kiyoyori disliked his gaze—that inescapable look, like a net woven with tenderness, luring her step by step into a trap, then telling her in his deep, gentle voice—

Don't struggle.

They all knew exactly why they had come here, why they were sitting here, and why they were standing there.

"Tachibana-san."

"Yes."

"Don't be so nervous," Taki smiled gently as always. "May I ask how long you've been learning the oboe, Tachibana-san?"

It was as if we were complete strangers who had never crossed paths before, just like every other member, who was simply an advisor and student.

Kiyoshi's expression didn't change much. Pretending to be unfamiliar with the other party was the best choice, no matter how you looked at it.

"I started learning about it in elementary school, so it's been seven years."

Taki remained expressionless, while Matsumoto-sensei beside him showed a momentary look of surprise.

"It seems we can look forward to Tachibana's playing skills even more."

Qinglai pursed his lips. "You flatter me."

The already tense exam atmosphere seemed to instantly become even heavier. It was a silent confrontation between Kiyoyori and Taki. Matsumoto noticed this and looked at Kiyoyori, then at Taki.

Their eyes met but no sparks flew; they were like two stagnant pools of water, the channel that once connected them now blocked by dust.

"Well then, Tachibana-san, please begin,"

Taki put the cap back on the pen.

"Let's start with that little section of the solo."

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

As Kiyotomi stepped out of the practice room, she took a deep breath of fresh air, filling her lungs until she could inhale no more, then slowly exhaled.

After standing there for a moment at the door, he started walking towards the oboe section.

The passing sections didn't emit any laughter or chatter, but rather a neat and resounding ensemble. Even after the selection process, no one dared to relax, because everyone held onto the hope of being chosen. What awaited them was only even more rigorous training and a tighter schedule.

Taki gave all members the same hope.

No one will give up this hope.

Mizore was also practicing in the classroom, and the piece she was practicing was a solo excerpt from "The New Dance of the Sun and Moon." Her playing stopped abruptly as Kiyoyori stepped into the classroom.

Welcome back.

Kiyoshi stood steadily at the door, holding his oboe.

"I am back."

Neither of them asked the other about the selection process. Perhaps they could guess what the other was thinking from the moment Takigaki entered and asked to play a solo piece.

He acknowledged their playing skills and also assumed they would both practice the solo passages, so...