I am only one world away from Yukinoshita.

Kiyoshi let out a few awkward laughs at Mizore's evaluation.

"Speaking of which, shouldn't Mizore-senpai have met my mother before? During the Sunrise Festival?"

Ying tilted her head cutely, "I don't remember."

"That's true. Back then, Mizore-senpai only had Eriri and Utaha-senpai in her eyes."

"Kiyoshi, are you jealous?"

Kiyoyori remained silent for a while. "May I ask where this conclusion was drawn from...?"

Senior Mizore sometimes says some truly outrageous things.

"Aren't Kiyora and Kasumi-sensei a couple?"

With the whistle in her mouth, Kiyoshi suddenly exerted force, and the small whistle flew out from between her loosely pursed lips, accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound.

"How is that possible?!"

Faced with Kiyori's red-faced rebuttal, Mizore simply nodded calmly, as if she believed that Kiyori was just hiding something. "It was Asuka-senpai who told me."

Asuka! !

Kiyoshi turned and stared intently at the black-haired senior who was tuning the euphonium. Asuka, very sensitively, immediately looked up and met Kiyoshi's fiery eyes. Seemingly realizing that her prank had been exposed, Asuka made a funny face, then pouted and blinked, shamelessly acting cute.

Ignoring the fact that Kizaru had just witnessed the scene and was looking like she'd seen a ghost, Asuka laughed unrestrainedly at Kiyori's back, which had already turned away. From her angle, she could just see a glimpse of the girl's crimson earlobe peeking out from her hair.

With a gesture from Taki, the pipe music in the room immediately stopped. He looked at Kiyoshi, and as the oboe began to play, the other instruments gradually joined in the tuning process. It was as if one could feel the vibration of the eardrums, and the tuning produced perfect overtones.

The fist that clenched in mid-air stopped the pipe music. Taki stood silently in front of the stage, seemingly preparing what he should say. After a moment of contemplation, he suddenly showed a relieved expression.

“In the spring, you were determined to participate in the national competition,” he said, his gaze sweeping over the members sitting in front of him. “You are all ambitious, hardworking, and playing music.”

"Be proud, we are the Soubu High School Wind Band."

He spoke the most inspiring words in the most understated tone.

We are the General Military High School Wind Ensemble.

Today, all the audience members, judges, and their opponents will know their names.

"We're about to officially begin, everyone. Are you ready to surprise everyone in the audience?"

Go, go tell everyone that the Soubu High School Brass Band is about to be born.

A hush fell over the crowd; no one answered first. Something heavy seemed to weigh on everyone's hearts—

An expectation called hope.

Looking at the silent students, this time Takigaki didn't reprimand them. Instead, he gently continued, "Are you back to how things were before? I'm asking you. Are you ready to surprise the entire audience?"

His unwavering gaze and slightly upturned lips seemed to say, "I believe in you."

Taki raised his hands, without urging or pressuring anyone; he simply waited quietly for everyone's response.

"Yes!"

“Well then, everyone, go ahead,” he said, walking to the door, pulling aside the heavy soundproof panel, and gesturing to everyone, “to march into the whole country.”

……

The group stood backstage, separated from the stage by a heavy curtain. In the dimly lit preparation area, they encouraged each other.

Kiyoshi found Asuka leaning against the corner without any surprise. She was holding a silver euphonium with a blank expression, not saying anything to anyone, just quietly watching the people in front of her trembling with tension, as if everything in front of her had nothing to do with her.

"What are you doing all alone in the corner?"

Kiyoshi walked over to Asuka's side, hugged his oboe, and leaned against her.

"I just wonder why everyone is so happy?"

Kiyoshi leaned against the wall, turned to look at Asuka's profile, and asked, "Aren't you happy, Asuka?"

Qinglai's voice was very low, like a cello playing a lullaby.

“I’m so happy,” Asuka turned her head as well, their breaths mingling slowly. “Now, my promise to Kiyori has finally come true.”

"Agreement?"

"Oh dear, Kiyori, have you already forgotten? We agreed to play together on stage." Asuka moved a little closer to Kiyori, pressing herself against the wall, until she became blurry in Kiyori's eyes.

"Asuka..."

He whispered the other person's name.

"It's going by so fast..." Asuka's words, almost like a whisper, drifted into Kiyori's ear. "If only this summer could last forever."

They were too close; Kiyoshi couldn't see Asuka's expression clearly. He just felt as if he was being sucked away by the sadness in her eyes, like a whirlpool or a swamp.

Asuka...

"Sōbu High! Time to depart!"

A soft call came from ahead, and the beam of light from the stage shone through the pulled-back curtain into the dark backstage area.

Kiyoshi took the first step forward, turned around, grabbed Asuka's hand hanging by her side, and pulled her forcefully towards himself.

"What are you talking about? This is just the beginning. We're going to go all over the country. If we're going to stand, we'll stand at the highest point."

It was as if a ray of light shone into my world. She was so dazzling that I couldn't help but follow in her footsteps. Even with my back to the light, I could imagine her expression, her enthusiasm, her confidence, her unwavering steps, and her ever-present smile.

"Asuka, I want to see the scenery there with you!"

Ah, if there truly is a God, please give me a little more time.

at least,

Let me accompany her on her final journey.

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

When the curtain finally fell from above, Kiyoyori unconsciously clenched Touko's hand beside her. Her gaze followed the gradually dispersing curtain, her heart felt like it was going to jump out of her throat, and her dry throat made even breathing painful.

Her gaze moved from bottom to top, and when she saw Soubu High School at the Gold Medal, she heard the restless crowd around her. But this was only the first step. Kiyotaka gripped her mother's hand tightly and bit her lower lip.

"The schools that participated in the Kanto Tournament are—"

Her heart felt like it was being held high in the air, and Qinglai clutched the clothes on her chest in her hands as if she were holding onto an award.

A hand gently stroked her back, but Qinglai had no time to enjoy the tenderness her mother was giving her.

The whole world seemed to have been muted. Qinglai could only see the lips of the people on the stage opening and closing, but there was no sound in his ears until the name that had been silently recited hundreds and thousands of times in his heart appeared, until the name that had been prayed for hundreds and thousands of times was spoken.

A deafening cheer erupted from the Soubu High area.

The vibrating eardrums conveyed joy to the team members.

Qinglai had never heard such pleasant noise before.

She rushed into her mother's arms, bursting into tears of joy.

Teacher, have you seen it?

This will be our first step!

P.S.: Thank you everyone for your support. This is the last dose of stomach medicine in this volume; please refer to certain content from Volume One. And now, are you ready?! Starting tomorrow, it's all sweet treats! Please prepare your toothache medicine, and if you find it sweet, remember to give me a reward!

Chapter 162, Part 01: Long Time No See

The summer heat swelled in the corridor with the windows open, and even the intermittent cool breezes could not dispel the stuffy heat trapped inside.

The sound of pipes echoed throughout the teaching building of Soubu High School. Since the success of the Tokyo Metropolitan Competition, the entire brass band has been like a wound-up machine, running tirelessly. The large blank schedules indicate that they are training all day by default, with only two days of rest marked on the Obon festival, which is a school holiday and clubs are not allowed to use.

However, independent practice is still allowed.

As if they had been injected with adrenaline, every member was full of energy.

However, the wind band remained as restless as ever.

During her break, Kiyotaka came out of the oboe club classroom to get some fresh air. She walked to the pool, turned the tap up toward herself, and turned it on. The cool, sweet water drew a perfect parabola in the air. She brought her lips close to the cool water and immediately felt her lips, which had become dry from practice, were soothed.

She didn't seem to care much about the few drops of water that dampened her collar.

However, in the bass section not far away, Huang Qian, Kawashima, and Hazuki seemed to have been kicked out of the classroom.

Kiyotomi raised her head to wipe the water from her lips. She didn't greet the three people who were leaning against the door as if eavesdropping, but simply left the sink in silence.

She didn't want to get involved in any more troublesome things.

But ever since that day, she has vaguely heard rumors from other members that a second-year senior wanted to return to the brass band. It is said that the senior was one of the members who left the club last year.

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

"Senior Yukinoshita, is there anything I can help you with?"

Kiyoshiro had just finished the first round of ensemble playing and hadn't even had a chance to stop and have a sip of water when he received a call from Yukinoshita. The two hadn't been in touch for a while. Perhaps because he was preoccupied with the brass band training, Kiyoshiro hadn't received many messages from the three senior members of the Service Club. Apart from Yuihama's frequent summer greetings, Kiyoshiro had also politely declined their idea of ​​bringing homemade cookies to visit the brass band.

Of course, it would be most welcome if Yukinoshita-senpai could visit with her homemade desserts.

Kiyoyori still wants to eat Yukino Yukinoshita's exclusive cheesecake, which was given as a congratulatory gift for winning the gold medal at the Tokyo Metropolitan Competition, a second time.

It's a real shame that the other party seems to have no intention of doing it again.

"Would it be convenient for you to meet at the coffee shop next to the school after your practice today?"

Kiyoyori paused for a moment. "Is there something you want to say?"

"Service Club activities."

The answer was as expected, but Kiyoyori didn't expect that the Service Club would have club activities during the summer vacation.

"I see."

Although it is unknown what kind of commission this senior has taken on, in any case, Kiyoyori has a perfect excuse not to attend. Attending the event or meeting now would be a matter of etiquette.

After packing his belongings and saying goodbye to Mizore, Kiyoyori set off for the agreed meeting place, only to run into an unexpected person at the school gate.

"Kasaki-senpai."

After exchanging greetings with this senior he only knew by nodding, Qinglai picked up his bag and walked out of the school gate.

"Ah, Tachibana-san."