I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

The classroom, which had been silent for a moment, was suddenly filled with whispers again, mostly complaining about Takigatsu's attitude. Kiyotaka, unable to bear it any longer, quickly picked up his bag and left the mob.

In a small storage room at the end of the corridor, Kiyoyori spotted Asuka leaning against the window, looking down at the building with a blank expression, through a narrow crack in the door.

The sound of the trumpet, intermittent and fragmented, reached my ears through the air; it was a solo performance.

It wasn't as awe-inspiring as Reina's trumpet playing; the intermittent sound seemed to be focusing on details, typical of medieval times. But since the soloist had already been chosen, why was she wasting time practicing parts that didn't require her participation?

As Kiyotaro approached the door and opened it, the trumpet sound became much clearer.

"Oh, Kiyotaka really knows how to pick a spot."

Asuka tilted her head to look at Kiyoshi, her red-rimmed glasses sliding down her straight nose, making her look somewhat comical. However, the slight upturn of Asuka's lips prevented Kiyoshi from smiling.

"He is a medieval predecessor."

"Hmm—" Asuka drawled, "In the end, you still couldn't give up, Kaori."

Following Asuka's gaze, Kiyoyori looked down at Nakazeko.

She stood alone in the sunset, the orange sunlight casting a long shadow of her. She stood in front of a black shelf, on which lay thick sheet music. Although the writing on it was illegible, one could vaguely see the marks of colored pens. She stood there upright, exuding a desolate air of being abandoned by the whole world.

"Is Kiyora starting to feel sorry for her?"

Upon hearing this, Kiyoyori glanced at Asuka, who still wore a frivolous smile.

I am not qualified.

Asuka smiled. "She has no complaints about the selection results, nor does she want anyone's sympathy. She just can't accept herself."

"Approval?"

"Yes, she also wants to be recognized, just like how Xiao Qinglai also hopes to be recognized by Aunt Touko and Teacher Chihiro."

Kiyoyori turned his head, placed his hand on the windowsill, and stared blankly at Nakaseko downstairs, who was practicing his solo over and over again.

Where's Asuka?

"Ok?"

"Doesn't Asuka want Mr. Shindo's approval?"

"Me?" Asuka rolled her eyes as if she were thinking, "I just want to keep playing the euphonium. After all, I don't have the ability to ask for those things, do I?"

Asuka's words made Kiyoshi's heart clench; she regretted her thoughtless words.

What's wrong with her today? She keeps doing things that make people sad.

"Don't make that face."

Asuka gently tapped Kiyori's head with the half-empty bottle of mineral water she was drinking, then pinched Kiyori's soft cheeks with her fingers.

"Like a pitiful little puppy, it's just so irresistible!"

"you--!"

Kiyoshi, embarrassed and annoyed, tugged at Asuka with his hand.

To everyone's surprise, the other person suddenly let go.

"Don't overthink it. These are not things we need to worry about. Whether it's who will do the solo or how to train next, just let Mr. Taki worry about it. In the end, we can't interfere. We just need to take care of our own part."

"You can just do it the way you used to."

Asuka walked past Kiyori and headed towards the door.

"Today, Reina told me I 'hate' her."

"Hmm?" Asuka turned around. "Want me to give you a warm hug to comfort you?"

Does Asuka approve of Nakasago-senpai's playing?

Why do you ask that?

"Because she cares about you?"

Kiyoshi looked at Asuka's unfamiliar gaze and began to doubt his own thoughts, but the next second, Asuka smiled again, as if her indifference was just an illusion.

"After all, we're friends!"

Without giving Kiyoyori a chance to speak, Asuka disappeared by the door.

"is that so……?"

P.S.: When I say "sweet romance," I mean the chapters I'm currently writing. What you're seeing are my previous drafts.

Chapter 72 Daisies and Sunflowers (Section 132)

Kiyoyori lingered at the window for a while, and just as he was about to leave, he bumped into Ogasawara, who happened to be walking into the door. She had a sling around her neck for suspending her saxophone, and had obviously just finished practicing.

"Tachibana-san?"

"Ogasawara-senpai".

Kiyoyori straightened up from leaning against the window and nodded to the gentle-spoken company president.

"So you found this place." Ogasawara smiled kindly. Unlike the other two third-year seniors who had more distinct personalities, she was not so dazzling. In fact, it was hard to understand why she, who seemed so unassuming, would become the president of the brass band.

"Has Tachibana-san seen Asuka?"

"She just left."

"what……"

Ogasawara looked knowing, then walked to Kiyori's side with a wry smile.

"That person is always like that..."

"Huh?"

"Unconventional?" Ogasawara looked at Kiyoyori and smiled helplessly. "Isn't Asuka like this in front of Tachibana-kun?"

Ogasawara had heard Asuka mention Kiyoyori before, although the introduction was very brief:

"It's a very cute little kid who lives next door to me."

After actually meeting her, I found that she was indeed gentle and refined, but not easy to get close to. Ogasawara didn't consider herself as outgoing as Asuka, nor could she be so enthusiastic in getting along with others. However, for some reason, she could see Asuka's shadow in this junior.

"No, that's true. Sometimes it's really hard to understand what she's thinking."

Kiyoshi's eyes darkened slightly; she realized that she seemed to be drifting further and further away from Asuka.

"Yeah, she is Asuka after all..."

Ogasawara looked down at Nakazeko with a gaze that Kiyoyori couldn't understand. The trumpet music never stopped, but continued intermittently until a black-haired figure appeared in this seemingly still scene, and the music stopped.

Asuka walked over to Nakazeko with a bottle of mineral water, pressed the cool bottle against his face, and the sound of the bottle stopped abruptly, eliciting a reproachful look from him.

Seeing Nakano's slightly flushed face, Ogasawara smiled with relief, "As expected, I can't make her show that kind of expression..."

However, if Asuka is unwilling to step in, then we'll have to rely on her...

"Tachibana-san supports Kousaka-san, right?"

Not understanding the other party's intention in suddenly changing the topic, Kiyoyori did not answer immediately, but just looked at her.

"Excuse me, I saw you and Kousaka-san on my way to the club today..."

Kiyoshi raised an eyebrow knowingly, then gave a bitter smile.

"Our goal is the national competition."

“I have a reason to stand on that stage no matter what; it’s a promise I must keep.”

“I understand,” Ogasawara said without pressing further, already understanding the implication. “What about Taki-sensei…”

She certainly hadn't forgotten Kiyoyori's rather offensive remarks a few days ago, which could have been quite offensive to teachers and even warranted punishment. However, Takishige didn't seem to have any intention of explaining or pursuing Kiyoyori's outburst.

"Please rest assured, that is a personal grudge between me and him, and has nothing to do with the brass band. As long as he is an advisor to the brass band, and as long as I am a member of the brass band, I will respect him."

Ogasawara saw Kiyori's trembling, clenched fist and chose to remain silent.

"In the end... I just hate Takigaki..."

"Excuse me, Ogasawara-senpai, I shall take my leave now."

Without saying another word to the president, Kiyoyori fled the small storage room that had left her breathless, almost in a disheveled state.

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

The practice time that should not have been wasted became leisure time for the members to pass the time at will because of this accident. Apart from a group of members who already had good habits of practicing on their own, the rest, especially those who were dissatisfied with Taki, went back to their old ways.

It was as if "entering the national competition" was just a slogan, as if all the previous emotions and perseverance were like fleeting clouds in the sky, blown away by a gust of wind.

With the anniversary of their teacher's death drawing ever closer, and Kiyoyori's dissatisfaction with Taki and the brass band making him feel as if he were in a low-pressure rainy season, he even brought this bad mood home.

Music doesn't lie; it truthfully reflects Qinglai's inner thoughts.

That day, Kiyoyori was scolded by his mother, Toko, for the first time.

"You are not qualified to pick up the oboe now."

Kiyoshi, who was deprived of his practice privileges, did not bring his oboe to school for the first time during practice time because his mother had confiscated it.

After school, Kiyoyori did not stay at school. He simply asked Ogasawara for leave and took a car to the cemetery.

The cemetery where the teacher is buried.

Carrying a bouquet of Italian daisies, Kiyoyori climbed up to the cemetery located halfway up the mountain. He stood silently in front of the grave and placed the flowers in front of his teacher's photo.

Chihiro Taki.

Silently pondering the name, Kiyoyori, as he grew older, no longer tasted anger and jealousy in it, but rather bitterness and regret.

"Teacher, what should I do..."

I remember this time last year, Qinglai also skipped class and left school, crying in the torrential rain, kneeling in front of her teacher's grave and begging for forgiveness. But today is a sunny day, and no rain can hide her tears.

Qinglai sniffed his stuffy nose and tilted his head back.

I don't know how long I've been standing here. My legs are starting to go numb, and the intense sunlight is making me dizzy.

"Please tell me, should I tell Lina about us? I don't want her to get hurt, and I don't want her to end up like me."