CHAPTER 476: 223. RESTLESS VALENTINE’S DAY (2)

The day after, specifically February 3rd, was sunny following rain.

In the morning by the shoe lockers, Kiyono Lin told Dubian Che to go with her to the Wind Instrument Club at noon.

After morning classes, Dubian Che followed her to "inspect the subordinate department."

"What exactly is the matter?" he asked.

"About the regulations," Kiyono Lin simply replied.

Dubian Che didn’t ask further; he wasn’t interested in these issues, and he would naturally find out in due time.

Passing students in the hallway cast curious and gossipy glances at them walking together.

Both of them could be influential figures in the school based solely on appearance, let alone the endless bizarre tales about them.

Normally, it wasn’t evident because Kiyono Lin never chatted with classmates. Even within the Wind Instrument Club where they had strived together, no one could become her friend.

And Dubian Che only roughhoused with the boys in his class, giving no indication of intentions to befriend others.

They ignored all kinds of stares.

Upon reaching the third floor of the club building, they heard no sounds of instrument practice.

Approaching the music room, they gradually heard intense arguments.

Because of the soundproof doors, the voices seemed distant.

"We’ve already said multiple times! We’ll train properly next term!"

"Imai Kasuko..."

"When we set our goals originally, you sophomores agreed to aim for ’national gold,’ didn’t you?"

"Ryou..."

"So what? You think we’re like you freshmen? Next year we have to face entrance exams, not everyone is going to Music University!"

"Fumi..."

"Does going to Music University even matter? Didn’t everyone also train and study together last year? Why is it a problem now?"

"I say, aren’t you freshmen being too arrogant?"

"So what about it!"

At the door, Dubian Che grinned at Kiyono Lin, "Think there’ll be a fight? I bet there will be, one week of club cleaning."

Kiyono Lin first glared at him taking pleasure in the disaster, then said, "There won’t be."

They continued listening to the commotion inside.

"Everyone stop bickering!" Ayane Kumi’s voice was firm yet tender.

"Speaking of which! President Ayane, why let outsiders intervene in our Wind Instrument Club’s matters?"

"Kiyono is not an outsider."

"Huh? After we tried to retain her, she still decided to leave, now what right does she have to intervene? And to impose rules that we must follow?"

"Kiyono is doing this for the good of the Wind Instrument Club!" a freshman said.

"For the good of the Wind Instrument Club? Does she have any right to control?"

"Don’t you dare speak about Kiyono like that!" Ichiki Aoi spoke up.

"That’s right! Kiyono led us to national gold before, trust her, she’s definitely right!" Yuzao Haomei also chimed in.

"Led, led, haven’t we also put in the effort? You just listen to her, pity she doesn’t even respect you!"

There was the screeching sound of chairs scraping the floor.

Dubian Che, hands in pockets, leaned his body stiffly to the right, close to Kiyono Lin’s ear:

"It seems Miss Lin might lose."

Kiyono Lin didn’t respond and pushed open the thick door of the music room.

"Hey! Hey! That’s not how you do this!" Dubian Che spoke softly yet urgently in protest.

The door opened, and the music room fell silent.

After the seniors resigned, sixty-something remaining members of the Wind Instrument Club were all present.

Most huddled in the corners spectating, while seven or eight argued in the center, with chairs toppled on the floor, and Ayane Kumi looked uneasy.

Everyone looked over.

"Kiyono?!" Ayane Kumi approached as if seeing the real club president, breathing a sigh of relief.

The freshmen gathered around, each showing a relieved expression.

However, the more respectful they were towards Kiyono Lin, the more discontent the sophomores became.

"Why are you here at the Wind Instrument Club?" a sophomore named Imai questioned.

"Let me make one thing clear," Kiyono Lin, completely disregarded the individual, "I don’t look down on freshmen..."

"That’s right!" the freshmen looked angrily at the sophomores.

"I look down on all of you."

"...Eh?"

"Hahaha!" The sophomores laughed mercilessly at the stupefied freshmen.

"That," Dubian Che raised his hand, "Miss Kiyono?"

"I meant all of them."

"Please continue."

Kiyono Lin looked at the sophomores: "Had enough laughs?"

Her voice cold as ice, the laughter abruptly stopped.

"Enough laughing, let’s start training." Her tone was indifferent, as if nothing had happened.

The Imai girl snapped back to reality, and said sharply, "On what basis should we listen to you!"

"From today, I’m resuming my role as an advisor to the Wind Instrument Club. Any other objections, Imai Kasuko?"

Referring to a senior as ’classmate’ was a custom from last year when Kiyono Lin dominated the Wind Instrument Club.

"Kiyono, is that true?!" Ayane Kumi exclaimed excitedly.

"Fantastic!" Yuzao Haomei cheered.

"We can surely achieve a second consecutive national gold this year!"

The previously belittled freshmen all cheered.

Not only them, but even other club members, aloof from the situation, showed happy smiles, whispering among themselves, filled with hope for the future.

"What are you still doing here? With this attitude, you won’t even make it into the nationals." Kiyono Lin, face stern, mercilessly dampened the freshman’s enthusiasm.

"We will work hard! We won’t disappoint you again, Kiyono!" the freshmen declared loudly.

It seemed they had concocted their own reasons for Kiyono Lin’s disdain.

Kiyono Lin detested those who didn’t strive — last year, the Wind Instrument Club had after all come to that conclusion about her.