Green plums cannot become lovers.

She smiled slyly: "Perfect timing. I know a few nice apartments for rent nearby, and I think one of them is perfect for you. Why don't we go take a look now? We can settle everything today so you can have peace of mind."

An and Asuka thought for a moment. Since they were already here, and Sister Zhuyin had obviously made preparations, they nodded in agreement: "Thank you, Sister Zhuyin."

The apartment that Akane Akasaka took him to see was in a quiet residential area between Toyonosaki Academy and the Rouge en Rouge headquarters. It was a mid-rise apartment building that wasn't new but was well-maintained. The room they saw was on the fifth floor, with three bedrooms, a living room, and a small balcony. The room faced south and had excellent natural light. Although they would have to furnish it themselves, the walls and floors were very clean, and the kitchen and bathroom were fully equipped.

Most importantly, it's about a seven or eight-minute walk from here to Toyosaki Gakuen, a five-minute walk to the subway station, and only about a ten-minute walk to the Rouge en Rouge building.

Standing on the balcony, one can see the city's green spaces in the distance, offering a wide and open view. An and Asuka imagined what it would be like for the four boys and girls to live here—walking to school together in the morning, going to the agency to study or work after school, and returning to this shared "home" in the evening.

"How do you feel?" Akane Akasaka asked.

“Very good.” An and Asuka turned around, their faces showing the most relaxed smile they had shown in days. “This is fine. Thank you, Sister Zhu Yin, for your trouble.”

With Akane Akasaka's help, the lease was quickly finalized. Holding the keys to their new apartment, An and Asuka felt a huge weight lifted off their shoulders. With their school and accommodation settled, they had finally taken their first real step towards Tokyo.

Back on the Shinkansen in Aichi, the setting sun bathed the carriage in warm colors. Akane Akasaka leaned back in her seat, watching Asuka Anwa across from her, her eyes filled with contemplation and calm anticipation as she gazed at the fleeting scenery outside the window. She spoke softly:

"Well then, starting tomorrow, you can start packing your things and get ready to move in. Here in Tokyo, keep the keys. If you need anything, just let me know. Also, make sure you get your entrance exams sorted out... A new life is about to begin, Asuka."

An and Asuka withdrew their gaze and looked at Akane Akasaka, their eyes clear and firm.

"Ah."

The scenery outside the window rushed past, like the past being bid farewell.

Volume 1: PS: It's been recommended, so I'm posting a bounty here.

It's been recommended online, so I'm posting a reward here.

I've been updating at least 8000 words a day for more than ten consecutive days, but the data is still getting worse. So, I'm posting a bounty here while I'm getting recommended.

Starting tomorrow, I will continue to update with no less than 6000 words every day, but on top of that...

+1 update for every 1000 recommendation votes.

100 monthly tickets + 1 update

150 blades + 1 more

5000 cat biscuits + 1 update

I hope everyone will support me. Thank you.

Volume 1: Chapter 163 A New Life

The next day, at the first light of dawn.

An and Asuka woke up earlier than usual. He quietly got up, not wanting to disturb the three girls who were still asleep, and walked to the window alone. Outside, the small town of Aichi Prefecture was still shrouded in a pale blue morning mist, the outlines of the distant mountains were soft, and a few early-rising sparrows perched on the nearby rooftops. This was the place where they had lived for fifteen years, and every inch of the scenery was as familiar as the lines on their palms.

Today, they are leaving.

It wasn't a short trip, nor a few days' stay in Tokyo for work; it was a true migration—taking all my belongings to that huge, unfamiliar city full of endless possibilities and challenges to start a completely new life.

A slight noise came from the kitchen; it was Marina's mother.

This gentle yet strong woman hadn't slept all night, getting up early to prepare lunchboxes for their journey. An and Asuka went over and said softly, "Auntie, let me help."

"No need, it'll be ready soon." Marina's mother turned around, her eyes a little red and swollen, but she forced a smile. "Asuka-kun, go wake them up. The car... will be here soon."

An and Asuka nodded and turned to go upstairs. He gently knocked on each door in turn, his voice more so than usual: "It's time to get up, children."

There was no lingering in bed, no complaining. Soon, the three girls appeared in the living room, all dressed neatly. Each of them carefully packed their luggage—in fact, they had already finished packing yesterday, but now they were just checking it repeatedly, as if touching those familiar objects would allow them to carry away a bit more of the warmth of their hometown.

Marina took one last look around the room where she had lived for several years. Some manga drafts that hadn't been torn down were still pasted on the wall, a few frequently read reference books remained on the bookshelf, and the small plant on the windowsill had been solemnly handed over to her mother.

"Mom, please take good care of it for me." Her voice was a little hoarse.

"Yes, definitely." The mother nodded vigorously, her hand trembling slightly as she took the flowerpot.

Shizuka quietly tucked her most cherished novels and manuscript paper filled with notes into the innermost part of her backpack. Ai, on the other hand, carefully placed the small bag of hometown snacks that the orphanage grandmother had secretly given her the night before into the corner of her suitcase.

Breakfast was eaten in unusual quiet. The familiar miso soup, the familiar grilled fish, the familiar rice, but each bite seemed to have a different weight. No one spoke much, only the soft clinking of cutlery and the gradually brightening light outside the window.

After finishing their meal, the group set off for the station.

They didn't have much luggage: a few suitcases, some musical instruments, and An and Asuka's old backpack that they always carried with them, containing sheet music and composition notes.

The only person who came to see her off was Marina's mother.

This usually cheerful woman now had her lips tightly pressed together, her eyes red-rimmed, but she desperately held back her tears. She hugged each of the three girls tightly for a long time.

"Marina, you must listen to Asuka-kun and not be willful."

"Shizuka, remember to eat on time and don't stay up all night writing."

"Xiao Ai, no matter how busy you are with training, you must take care of your health..."

Each word of advice was choked with emotion, and the three girls nodded, tears finally streaming down their faces uncontrollably. Even Marina, usually the most lively and outgoing, held her mother's hand tightly, her face filled with a deep sadness and reluctance rarely seen at her age.

This place is not only their hometown in a geographical sense, but also the first true "haven" they found after their turbulent journey.

Finally, Marina's mother walked up to An and Asuka. Looking at this boy, who wasn't much older than her daughter but had already become the pillar of this small group, she had a thousand words stuck in her chest, but in the end, they all turned into a deep bow.

"Asuka-kun... I'm entrusting them to you."

An and Asuka quickly helped her up, their expressions extremely solemn: "Auntie, please don't worry. I will take good care of them. You should also take care of yourself, and we will come back to see you often."

All the farewell words had been said, and the moment of parting finally arrived. An and Asuka gestured for the girls to get in the car. Before getting in, Marina turned back and hugged her mother tightly one last time, then quickly slipped into the car, afraid that if she looked at her mother any longer, she would lose the courage to leave.

Shizuka and Ai boarded the car one after another, waving through the window to the elder who cared for them like a mother.

An and Asuka were the last. He nodded to Marina's mother again and then opened the car door.

He paused for a moment before stepping into the car.

The spring morning sun shone brightly, warmly bathing him, the passing crowds, and the fragrance of unknown flowers. In the distance, the roar of vehicles starting up could be heard. All of this formed the backdrop to his entire life for the past fifteen years.

This time, it's really time to leave.

This is not a short trip, nor a short-term job in Tokyo, but a complete uprooting of his life's focus, transplanting it to another place hundreds of kilometers away. This small town, which holds all his childhood memories, pain and healing, loneliness and encounters, will truly become his "hometown."

He glanced at it twice, his gaze deep, as if trying to etch the image into his heart. Then, without further hesitation, he got into the car.

Just then, the engine started, and the car slowly pulled out of the platform, moving steadily towards the station. Outside the window, Marina's mother's figure grew smaller and smaller until it became a blurry dot and disappeared around the street corner.

Only when the train carrying An, Asuka, and the three girls completely disappeared at the end of the road, and only when the faint sound of a train whistle leaving the station could be heard in the distance, did two figures slowly emerge from the shadows of the station.

It's about Anana Hachimi and Hana Himegami.

They arrived early, but chose to hide. There was no grand farewell, no sentimental goodbyes, just a quiet, secret viewing. Perhaps it was because some partings seem pale when spoken face to face; perhaps it was because they wanted to remember each other's laughter, not the tearful moments.

"They're gone," Himegami Karen said softly, gazing in the direction the train had disappeared along the railway tracks.

"Mm." Banami nodded, her hands clasped tightly in her coat pockets. The morning breeze ruffled her short hair, revealing her smooth forehead and a pair of slightly vacant eyes that were also gazing into the distance.

The emotions swirling in her heart were complex and indescribable. Sadness was inevitable, as if a piece of her heart had been ripped out, leaving an empty void. The boy who always had a gentle smile, who could offer guidance when she was confused, and who silently accompanied her when she was down, the boy who occupied the most important place in her life for most of her junior high school years, would now live in a city that required taking the Shinkansen to reach.

But besides sadness, there was also a strange calm and anticipation that she herself had not anticipated.

They went to Tokyo, to pursue a wider sky and brighter stars. The others, however, will remain in Aichi, steadily moving towards their chosen high schools and their planned futures. Their paths have diverged, but they are not going in opposite directions; they are simply climbing different peaks.

“When we meet again,” Anna suddenly spoke, her voice soft, as if she were talking to Karen Himegami, or perhaps to herself, “we’ll definitely have new friends, new circles, and new stories around us.”

Himegami Karen paused for a moment, then took her arm and nodded vigorously: "Yes! But Asuka and the others, and each other, are definitely still the most important! Even if we make new friends, this place—"

She tapped her heart with her finger, "There will always be a place for it."

The two girls smiled at each other, a smile still carrying the faint shadow of parting, but more so a bright light of relief. The words that needed to be said had already been said a thousand times over—under the festival fireworks, in the graduation songs, and in countless days spent together.

What remains is to carry each other's blessings, shine brightly in different places, and look forward to seeing each other even more dazzling when we meet again.

They took one last look at the empty platform, then turned and walked side by side in the opposite direction from the railway tracks. The morning light cast long shadows of them, and the road ahead was also bathed in the spring sunshine.

The Shinkansen train speeds across the spring fields.

Inside the carriage, in the four-seater area, the atmosphere was initially somewhat somber. Marina sat by the window, her face pressed against the cool glass, watching the pastoral scenery rushing past—familiar rice paddies, farmhouses, and distant mountains were being left behind, gradually being replaced by unfamiliar landscapes.

Shizuka looked down at a book lying open on her lap, but didn't turn a single page for a long time. Ai, on the other hand, hugged her small backpack, her eyes somewhat vacant.

An and Asuka sat in the aisle seat, quietly watching them.

He understood the silence. Although they had all experienced hardships and pain in this land, it was still their hometown. It was the place where Marina's mother waited for her, the place where Shizuka lived, the first place where Ai found warmth after being an orphan, and the starting point where he met them and struggled together to build a "home".

More than a decade has passed, and whether it was joy or sorrow, it has been deeply etched into the rings of life. Suddenly stripping it away will always bring a sense of bewilderment and emptiness.

The train passed through a long tunnel, and the carriage went dark for a moment, with only the emergency lights casting a faint glow. When the light returned, Marina suddenly took a deep breath and sat up straight.

"Hey!" She turned around, forcing a signature, energetic smile, though her eyes were still a little red. "What are we doing! It's not like we're never coming back!!"

Her words were like a pebble dropped into still water. Shizuka closed her book, looked up, and a gentle smile curved her lips: "Yes. Besides, we went together. As long as we're together, anywhere can be home."

Xiao Ai nodded vigorously, her purple eyes refocusing and sparkling with longing: "I want to sing on a bigger stage in Tokyo."

As An and Asuka watched them encourage and support each other, the thin mist of sorrow in their hearts was gradually dispelled by their bright conversation.

He smiled and said, "You're right. Tokyo has new schools, new homes, new challenges, and new scenery waiting for us. Let's explore them together."

The atmosphere completely relaxed. Marina began excitedly discussing the delicious food she had heard about in Tokyo, while Shizuka took out her notebook and planned out her schedule for the next few days of tidying up the new house and reviewing her studies. Ai hummed a song softly, a new melody about "departure" that An and Asuka had recently written.

The scenery outside the window kept changing, gradually transitioning from the familiar landscape of my hometown to increasingly dense towns, and finally, on the distant horizon, the unique, dense and towering outlines of urban buildings began to emerge.

The train smoothly pulled into Tokyo Station.

Stepping out of the train car, they were instantly enveloped by the massive crowds, announcements, and footsteps of the station. In stark contrast to the tranquility of Aichi Station, this place was filled with the efficient yet slightly alienating bustling atmosphere unique to metropolises. The three girls instinctively moved closer to An and Asuka, their eyes reflecting both the trepidation of newcomers and an irrepressible sense of wonder.

An and Asuka took a deep breath—even the air smelled different, mixed with a more complex urban atmosphere. He gripped the luggage handle tightly, his tone steady: "Let's go, let's go to the new house first. Sister Zhu Yin should be waiting for us."

After exiting the subway station, it was less than a ten-minute walk to the quiet residential area where I found the apartment building. As soon as I got downstairs, I saw Akane Akasaka standing at the door, directing two workers to unload a brand-new-looking sofa from a truck.

"Akane-nee!" Marina was the first to wave and call out.

Akane Akasaka turned around at the sound of her voice, her face immediately breaking into a bright smile. She quickly stepped forward, first giving An and Asuka a "well done" look, then said to the three girls, "Welcome to Tokyo! You must have had a long journey!"

"Sister Zhu Yin, what's going on here...?" An He Fei Niao looked at the busy workers with some confusion.

"Oh, I'm just adding a few pieces of furniture and appliances for you." Akane Akasaka said casually, as if she had just bought a cabbage. "I thought you must be lacking things since you just arrived. The landlord provided the basic bed, table, and cabinets, but I think it's more comfortable to use new sofas, washing machines, and microwaves. They just happened to be delivered today, so I came over to supervise the installation."

As she spoke, she led them into the building: "I've had the rooms cleaned in advance, they're very clean. All this will be taken care of today, and you'll be able to settle in comfortably tonight."

They stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the fifth floor. The elevator doors opened, revealing their new home. Akane Akasaka used her spare key to open the door, and a refreshing scent wafted out. Sunlight streamed through the clean glass windows, filling the living room. The wooden floors gleamed; the room was indeed spotless, just as she had described, empty yet brimming with potential.

The three girls excitedly went into each room to check it out, discussing which room would be for whom, where to put a desk, and where to put a keyboard. An and Asuka went to the balcony, looking at the urban green space not far away and the campus where they would soon be attending school, feeling a sense of peace.

Akane Akasaka walked up to him, followed his gaze, and smiled, "How about it, not a bad spot, right?"

"Yes, very good. Thank you, Sister Zhu Yin," Anhe Feibiao said sincerely.

"Don't be shy." Akane patted his shoulder, then turned to the girls who were excitedly exploring the room and announced, "Alright, girls, don't rush to make plans! Put down your luggage, let's go out for lunch! Consider it a celebration of your successful arrival in Tokyo, and also wish you all the best in your entrance exams!"

"Yay!" Marina cheered.

"However," Akane Akasaka's tone became more serious as she looked at Anwa Asuka and the three girls, "after you finish eating and settle your things, starting tomorrow, you all need to focus on your studies. Although with your grades, getting into Toyonosaki shouldn't be a problem, it's always better to be safe than sorry. Don't worry about the agency's work for the next few days; focus on your exam preparation, understand?"

Her arrangements were thoughtful and considerate, reflecting both the care of an elder and the rationality of a producer. An, Asuka, and the three girls all nodded solemnly. A new chapter of life was unfolding before them, and they knew that taking each step steadily and practically was the best way to respond to this expectation.

The warm spring sunshine shone on the streets of Tokyo, and also on the small apartment that had just welcomed its new owners. A touch of homesickness for leaving their homeland was overshadowed by a fervent anticipation of their new life.

Time marched on, and unsurprisingly, the entrance exams were passed with ease.

Volume 1: Chapter 164 A New Beginning

The new semester at Toyonosaki Academy officially began on a sunny morning in early April.

An and Asuka stood at the apartment door in their brand-new stand-up collar uniform, the morning light clearly outlining their tall figures. The dark blue uniform made their skin appear even fairer, adding a touch of refined elegance that fell between youth and adulthood. They adjusted their tie slightly and looked into the apartment.

A short while later, accompanied by light footsteps and laughter, the three girls, now ready, appeared at the door.

"Flying Bird, what do you think? Is it pretty?"

Marina twirled gracefully in front of him first. She wore a light-colored sailor uniform top, a dark blue pleated skirt, and a ribbon tied into a neat bow at the neckline. Her golden ponytail swayed with the movement, and her face beamed with an irrepressible, slightly smug smile. This outfit added even more of the bright, youthful energy characteristic of a high school student to her already lively personality.

Immediately after, Shizuka stepped forward, a little shyly. Wearing the same sailor uniform, she appeared exceptionally quiet and refined. Her black bob hair fell smoothly against her cheeks, her deep purple eyes were calm and gentle, and her skirt swayed gently with her light steps. She resembled a quietly blooming hydrangea, exuding an understated yet elegant aura.

Xiao Ai was the last to come out. She seemed a little unaccustomed to the skirt being shorter than in junior high, and her fingers unconsciously tugged at the hem. But when she looked up, her purple eyes sparkled with clear curiosity and excitement as she gazed at An and Asuka. The school uniform outlined her figure, which was gradually shedding its childishness, and the upright posture she had gained from idol training gave her a unique star quality amidst her youthful awkwardness.

They had actually received their school uniforms a few days ago, but they had tacitly saved them for today to wear for the first time. This carefully prepared little "surprise" made An and Asuka's lips unconsciously curve into a smile.

"Beautiful." He nodded earnestly, his gaze sweeping over their youthful faces one by one. The outfits truly suited them, perfectly highlighting each person's unique charm, exuding the beauty that belongs to their age.

His gaze then naturally drifted downwards, landing on the skirt, which was shorter than he remembered. The fashion sense of Tokyo's private schools was indeed different from that of public junior high schools in Aichi.

"Are you wearing your safety shorts properly?" he asked casually, with the self-assured concern of a guardian.

The girls were taken aback at first, then looked at each other and burst into a burst of clear laughter.

"Don't worry, it's all taken care of!" Marina patted her thigh, answering Ryuzaki Ichiya with a hearty laugh.

"Yes, I'm wearing it." Shizuka blushed slightly and confirmed in a low voice.