In crossover anime, who isn't a childhood friend?

"I have my own judgment, and you don't need to worry. I also quite like Kazusa."

"..."

What do you mean by saying you "also" like Kazusa? Does that mean you're certain I have the same feelings for her?

Yuan Qianye remained silent and did not respond further.

Because he also discovered that he was exactly as Saeko had said, without the slightest deviation.

"Qianye."

"Ok?"

"No matter what, you must take care of your health and stay healthy in the future."

"..."

The words were well-intentioned, but given the current context and Saeko's earnest tone, Chiyo felt something was off; she sensed that Saeko was implying something.

"This is also for our future. I'm thinking of living to be a hundred years old with Qianye."

"..."

Okay, with this sentence added, Yuan Qianye can be certain.

He gently stroked Saeko's cheek.

"It's been a while since I've had your cooking. I'll stay at your place tonight."

This made her realize once again that her physical condition was something she never needed to worry about and was the least likely to have problems.

On a slightly chilly morning, Yukino Yukinoshita arrived at the school earlier than usual.

It was just past seven o'clock, still a long time before class started, and there weren't many students in sight from the school gate to the central courtyard.

On the other side of the playground, many students from sports clubs were doing physical training. The morning sun shone on them, reflecting the glint of their sweat, making them look youthful and energetic.

Yukino didn't dislike this scene.

But she also had her own things to do, so she quickened her pace.

After changing into her indoor shoes, she didn't go straight back to her classroom, but instead went to the door of the staff office.

I knocked gently on the door.

"Please come in."

Yukino pushed open the door and went inside.

"Is there anything I can help you with, student?"

An elderly teacher in the staff room looked at her kindly.

Yukino remembered that he was the head of student affairs and had given a brief speech following the principal at the opening ceremony.

She bowed slightly to the other person and explained her purpose.

"Hello teacher, I previously applied to form a new club, and now I'm here to submit the club establishment application form and the club's philosophy statement."

"I see." The head of student affairs nodded, then looked to the other side: "Ms. Hiratsuka."

"Yes."

Hiratsuka Shizuka stood up near the window in the staff room.

"Mr. Yamato hasn't arrived yet. Could you help this student with his problem first?"

"Okay, I see."

Yukino bowed her head again to express her gratitude and went to Hiratsuka Shizuka's desk.

"You want to start a new club, huh?" Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at Yukino with interest, as if she were looking at an old friend, and maintained a friendly smile on her face: "Then let me see the application form and concept statement first."

Yukino unzipped her backpack and handed over the document she had prepared in advance.

"Come, sit down. Let me take a look first. Please wait a moment."

As Hiratsuka Shizuka said this, she pulled over a small chair from the side.

Yukino then sat down and waited patiently.

Hiratsuka Shizuka looked at the documents Yukino handed her.

In the top section of the club application form, write the name of the new club as "Service Department".

The handwriting on the club's motto was neat and beautiful, making it a pleasant and pleasing sight to behold.

"...Those who have it give it to those who lack it with compassion. People call them volunteers. The essence of the Ministry of Service is to serve without expecting anything in return. Therefore, in the simplest terms, extending a helping hand to those in need is the mission of this ministry."

Hiratsuka Shizuka softly read the last sentence of the concept book, then nodded thoughtfully.

As expected of the top student in the class she was in charge of, who, like Yuan Qianye, ranked first in the entrance exam.

Putting aside everything else, just looking at the club's principles and goals written in the documents in front of her, one can see her efficiency in thinking and her own excellence.

Like her sister, she is truly rare.

Hiratsuka Shizuka nodded: "Okay, I've read the application and the concept statement. There are no problems. But according to the procedure, you still need to answer some questions for me."

Upon hearing this, Yukino stood up, straightened her back with a serious expression, and looked solemn as if she were about to face a great battle.

Seeing this, Hiratsuka Shizuka quickly said, "There's no need to be so nervous. They're just some routine questions. You can just sit down and answer them."

"Yes."

Yukino sat down again.

This child seems much more proper than her sister... Oh well, that's a good thing.

"First, if you were to form this club later, how many times a week would you plan to hold activities?"

"Unless something unexpected happens, I should stay in the club room until around 6 p.m. every day after school."

"So, club activities will continue as usual every day?"

"Yes."

Hiratsuka Shizuka continued, "After the club is established, the number of club members, including the club president, must reach at least three within two weeks. Can you do that?"

Yukino thought for a moment and said, "I have no problem."

"Great! Every club needs a consultant. Have you decided which consultant you want to ask to be your club's consultant?"

This time, Yukino remained silent for a slightly longer period of time.

Under Hiratsuka Shizuka's gaze, she stood up, then bent over at a ninety-degree angle.

"I would like to ask Hiratsuka-sensei to serve as the advisor for the Service Club."

Hiratsuka Shizuka was surprised by Yukino's sudden standing up and bending over, but after Yukino said those words, she laughed heartily.

"I'm currently only in charge of one club, which is fairly relaxed, so it's not that I can't consider it. But I'd like to hear your reasons first. Why don't you choose other teachers and instead ask me for help?"

Yukino straightened up and explained, "I have an older sister named Yukinoshita Haruno. She is a graduate of Soubu High School. Before I enrolled, she told me about the general situation of the school. Among them, she said that the teacher she respected the most, liked the most, and thought was the most serious and responsible was you, Hiratsuka-sensei."

Most respected, most liked...

Hiratsuka Shizuka thought about her former student, Haruno's expression when she said those words. Although she was somewhat moved, she also felt a little creeped out of it for some reason.

“I see. That’s why you thought of asking me for a favor… When your sister graduated, she also came to me privately and said that her younger sister would be enrolling later and hoped that I could take good care of her. Given her special request and your trust, it seems that I really can’t refuse.”

Yukino understood the unspoken meaning behind Hiratsuka Shizuka's smiling words.

"Thank you, Hiratsuka-sensei. I'll be careful not to cause you any trouble in the future."

"There's no need to be so polite. If you have any trouble, you should still come to me for help. Otherwise, what kind of advisor would I be? Besides, if you can carry out the club activities well and help other people in need, I, as the instructor, will also be proud."

Hiratsuka Shizuka put the documents into a file folder and put them away.

"Alright, give me the application form. I'll submit it for review later. It should take about two or three days for the Service Department to be officially established, and then you can officially start club activities."

"Thank you, teacher."

With the matter settled, Yukino left the staff office and returned to her class feeling somewhat relieved.

As she walked down the corridor, she saw through the window a truck parked on campus, with campus security guards helping several workers unload the cargo.

She paused with particular interest because, although the goods they were unloading were wrapped in thick cardboard boxes, she could easily identify them as pianos from the "C.BECHSTEIN" logo on the surface of the boxes.

This is probably the expensive piano that Touma Kazusa's mother donated to the school...

Thinking back over the past few days, every time they met at noon, Yuan Qianye would bring that piano girl along.

I recalled what my sister said to me in the apartment before the start of the school year.

Yukino took a deep breath, her previously hesitant gaze suddenly fixing, and she secretly made a decision.

…………

Chapter 009: The Shift in Mindset and Detection Regarding Her

On the morning of April 4th, Kudo Miyoko drove to pick up Gen Chiya and take her to school.

This isn't the arrangement every day; it's just that I had some work to report to him immediately today.

Rikka was delighted to be able to hitch a ride to school with them.

She had long wanted to experience being driven to the school gate in a luxury car, just like Yukino, and then gracefully getting out of the car amidst the surprised or admiring gazes of her classmates, receiving that attention.

A young girl's slight vanity is only natural.

"Good morning, boss, Rikka."

"morning."

"Good morning, Miyoko-nee. Oh, the car smells so good."

"Yes, I put in a bottle of gardenia-scented perfume," Miyoko explained, glancing at Chiyo with concern.

He was pulling on the passenger seatbelt when he casually replied, "This subtle fragrance is quite nice."

Relieved, she reminded Rikka in the back seat to fasten her seatbelt before stepping on the gas and setting off.

Rikka was experiencing the heated and ventilated seats in the back seat when the two people in the front started talking about serious business.

"There are two things. First, you need to make time during the day this weekend, boss. There's a book launch event on Saturday in collaboration with Kodansha. We've also arranged for a TV station to film it, and clips of the filmed content will be broadcast along with your interview on the program 'Literature Face to Face'."

There will be an offline book club meet-and-greet on Sunday, and some reporters will also be there. Afterwards, there will be a two-hour book signing event. Both days will be quite tiring, so boss, you'd better get some rest and recharge.