I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Umaki obviously recognized it too.

"They all say that Taki-sensei knows Kosaka-kun, so Kosaka is in charge of the solo selection this time!"

Kiyoshi frowned in displeasure; she had never shown her feelings so clearly before.

"Yuko..."

Another voice carried a sense of helplessness.

"I already said, this is definitely the reason, absolutely!"

Yoshikawa's loud voice made Kiyoyori clench the can in his hand.

"Is that so?" Zhongshigu's voice was flat. "That's not true."

Perhaps it was the gentle voice of the senior she admired that soothed Yoshikawa, whose emotions had been running high, that softened her voice quickly, "But..."

“I’ve already given up,” she interrupted Yoshikawa’s rebuttal. “Taki-sensei thinks Kosaka is more suited to a solo than me. Isn’t that what selection is all about?”

"So the problem lies in this selection process—"

Kiyoshi took a deep breath and tried to step forward, but Usaki grabbed her arm. She put her index finger to her lips and shook her head at Kiyoshi.

“Yuko,” Nakazeko put her hand on her junior’s shoulder, “you’re also going to participate in the music competition. From now on, we’ll work together towards the goal of winning the gold medal, won’t we?”

A familiar sense of helplessness welled up in Yoshikawa's heart, and she clenched her fists.

“Go tell the others to stop saying these baseless things,” Nakajiko stepped back, distancing himself from his junior. “See you tomorrow.”

How familiar this scene was, but this time, Yoshikawa could no longer stand doing nothing.

"Kaori-senpai, please don't give up! This is your last music competition!"

This is the last year...

"Don't give up..."

It was Kaori-senpai who told me not to give up...

"Kaori-senpai, Kaori-senpai's dream must be realized!"

I also want to do something for Kaori-senpai who helped me, so please don't give up...

Zhong Shigu paused, the setting sun casting a long shadow over her.

"otherwise……"

"Thank you."

Zhongshigu turned his head and gave a slightly bitter smile.

"Thank you."

After the two left, Kasaki released Kiyoyori's hand.

Kiyoshi rubbed his arm against his school uniform.

"First-year student Kousaka has taken over the solo role from third-year student Kaori-senpai. What do you think, Tachibana-san?"

"The strong prey on the weak."

Umbrella Wood paused for a moment, then smiled:

"Yes, I think so too."

P.S.: Yuko's only embarrassing moment is coming. I was quite angry when I first saw this part, but it was also very realistic. However, when I saw the final chapter of the oath, I felt sorry for her. It wasn't easy for Yuko as the club president, and her growth was clearly visible.

Is it because of the recent weather? I feel really down and can't seem to write anything good. Looking at how few drafts I have left is giving me a headache.

Chapter 68 That Rain

Rumors spread like the flu, quickly passing from person to person.

When Kiyotsu walked into the practice room, Taki was directing everyone to spread blankets they had brought from home onto the floor and even hang them on the walls. This was to absorb sound; the classroom full of blankets would absorb the volume of the performance, and in order to achieve the original volume, everyone had to work harder, since they were not performing in a classroom, but in a very spacious concert hall.

Arrange the indoor shoes neatly at the doorway, and Qinglai steps onto the soft blanket.

Although the rumors spread among some people, most people didn't seem to take them too seriously, since they were just baseless rumors.

But there will always be someone who breaks through this ambiguous state.

"Excuse me!"

The familiar voice shattered the harmonious atmosphere. Yoshikawa mustered her strength and walked out of the crowd, heading straight for Taki, who was standing in the center. Suddenly realizing what the other was about to do, Nakaseko immediately reached out to pull her, but only brushed against the hem of her clothes.

"Yuko, no!"

Nakashiko couldn't stop Yoshikawa; she still walked up to Takigatsu.

Taki was a handsome man with a tall stature. His gentle tone and words always made people feel at ease. But at this moment, Yoshikawa stood in front of this young consultant, looking up at him. He didn't say anything, but with a slight upturn of his lips, he exuded a chilling aura.

Yoshikawa took a deep breath. "Is it true that Taki-sensei and Kousaka Reina knew each other before?!"

The moment she asked the question, Kiyoyori sensed something was wrong. Nakaseko stood anxiously in the crowd, looking at the back of her junior, hoping that the other person would stop talking. But it was as if something was choking her, preventing her from saying a word and making it hard for her to breathe.

The previously enthusiastic atmosphere cooled down at a visible speed, the temperature dropped to freezing point, and everyone looked at Yoshikawa and Taki in the center of the classroom.

"Can you tell me why you're asking this?"

After a brief moment of surprise, Takigaki maintained his composure.

"Everyone's saying that the teacher might have favored Kosaka during the selection process because of this," Yoshikawa looked up and stared directly into Taki's eyes. His unwavering gaze made her heart race. "Please answer me, teacher!"

“I did not show any favoritism or special treatment to anyone; I conducted a fair review of everyone.”

Taki tried to change the subject, but Yoshikawa persisted.

"So, what about your acquaintance with Kosaka?"

Takigatsu looked at Yoshikawa in silence, just when she thought he wouldn't answer the question.

"It's true."

Taki's words clearly stirred up a sense of "justice" in the hearts of many members. They began to whisper among themselves, while Kiyoyori started looking for the other protagonist in the conversation among the crowd. She didn't know much about Taki, but she was surprised by his honest answer. Even so, Kiyoyori understood Reina and knew her admiration for Taki.

Yoshikawa's actions were like dancing in Reina's minefield.

“Our fathers were old acquaintances; I knew her when she was in junior high school.”

"Then why did you keep it from us?"

"Because I don't think it's necessary to say that the guidelines won't change just because we recognize them."

Perhaps it was Taki's calm and composed tone that ignited the last spark of fire in Yoshikawa's heart.

"Since that's the case—!"

"So what if that's the case?"

Reina, standing at the foot of the classroom, finally couldn't hold back any longer and spoke up. She turned around and glared fiercely at Yoshikawa, "Don't go there and slander the teacher. You should know very well why I was chosen, right? Compared to Kaori-senpai, I'm more—"

Instead of arguing about such pointless things, we should use our time to practice.

Kiyoshi interrupted before Reina could finish speaking. She instinctively didn't want Reina to say those words, even though it was true, as it would only make the atmosphere worse.

"Chiang Lai!"

Reina looked at Kiyoyori standing in front of her with a puzzled expression, without turning around.

"You!" Even before Reina could finish speaking, Yoshikawa immediately understood her meaning. Turning her anger towards Reina, Yoshikawa strode angrily towards the window. "Don't be ungrateful! Kaori-senpai did it all for you—!"

"Yuko! Wait a minute!"

Despite rushing over, Nakajiko was still unable to stop Yoshikawa.

Kiyoyori took another step forward, completely blocking Yoshikawa's path with her body.

"Tachibana, get out of my way!"

"Senior Yoshikawa, why make everyone uncomfortable? Our goal is the national competition, the gold medal. This is not a goal for one person, nor can it be achieved by one person alone. Instead of fighting amongst ourselves here, we should focus our energy on practice."

Even Nakagawa, who was in the bass section nearby, couldn't help but come out and say, "Yuko, you..."

"Stop talking nonsense!" Yoshikawa, still angry, immediately turned his gun on Kiyoyori. "If I remember correctly, Tachibana, you and Kosaka are childhood friends, right? Coming from a musical family yourself, do you also know Taki-sensei? Maybe your solo performance is also—"

"Stop talking!"

Medieval times had never seen such a loud roar.

"Stop talking..."

As if a mute button had been pressed, everyone fell silent for a moment.

Reina took a step forward, but Kiyoyori grabbed her hand.

"Do you know Professor Taki?"

Qinglai's cold voice echoed clearly in the classroom.

"I wish I had never met him."

Kiyoyori's words caused Taki, who had been maintaining a serious expression, to show a moment of surprise and confusion.

"Me?"

"I hate Takigaki the most."

Kiyoshi's astonishing words stunned everyone for a moment, but the most surprised person was Reina. She stared wide-eyed, as if she had never known this good friend she had known since childhood. Reina forcefully shook off Kiyoshi's hand and rushed out of the classroom without looking back.

Clutching her empty hands, Qinglai stood still, not chasing after them.

Fortunately, Reina still has Huangqian.

Watching Huang Qian rush away, Qing Lai forced a bitter smile.

That's for the best. At least Reina hasn't said the most hurtful things yet.

Kiyoyori glanced at the seemingly lost Nakamori Ko and recalled that rainy night when the two of them had a conversation under the eaves.

Her heart was raining, but no one was there to hold an umbrella for her.

Although Kiyoyori disliked the kind of personality that would speak recklessly when blinded by emotions, at least Yoshikawa Yuko was upright enough. When she was concerned, she was still willing to hold up an umbrella for her admired senior, even if that umbrella was not the one that Nakazeko had hoped for.