Green plums cannot become lovers.

Kasumigaoka Utaha remained silent for an even longer time. She looked down at her manuscript again, her gaze sweeping over the familiar paragraphs, but An and Asuka's words echoed in her mind. "Too clear," "too reasonable," "cautious," "restrained"... these words were like keys, precisely touching the vague unease deep within her heart.

She had always prided herself on her rigorous logic and beautiful writing style, and editors had even praised her for her "steady writing style." But the cold reality of sales and feedback forced her to wonder if "steady" had sometimes become synonymous with "conservative."

Is she too fixated on building a flawless "paper world" where every step can withstand scrutiny, while neglecting the raw vitality and untamed emotions that the story needs most?

“You haven’t read the first volume,” Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly spoke, her voice much clearer than before, carrying a calm self-analysis, “So your feelings may just point out the misconception I’ve fallen into. In the second volume, perhaps subconsciously I wanted to correct things too much, wanted to vindicate myself too much, which made me more hesitant and stuck in a safe framework.”

She raised her head, her wine-red eyes looking directly at An and Asuka: "Knowing it's wrong but unable to resist... Caught off guard... A very interesting perspective. You're the first person to give me this kind of advice."

An and Asuka said, "I was just saying, but your work is really well-founded."

"Just a casual remark?" Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips seemed to curve into a very slight smile, so quickly that one might mistake it for an illusion. "A casual remark that can pinpoint the problem is far more valuable than countless empty compliments."

She carefully placed the manuscript into a plain-colored folder, her movements regaining their usual elegance and composure, but there was something different in her eyes. "Anhe... Asuka, right? The first-year student."

“It’s me,” An and Asuka nodded.

“You…” Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated for a moment, “You seem to have a lot of insight into story creation. Do you know anyone in this field? Or are you a colleague like me?”

“Yes, a very important friend of mine is writing a novel.” An and Asuka didn’t hide anything, but they didn’t go into details either. “So we’ve had some contact.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha understood. She stood up, her long black hair billowing gracefully in the wind. "Thank you for today."

The thank you conveyed both the return of the manuscript and the comments made earlier. "I will carefully consider your opinion."

She was also preparing to leave the rooftop.

"Senior." Anhe Asuka called out to her, a thought flashing through her mind.

Considering that Shizuka may need more industry exchanges and perspectives in the future, and Kasumigaoka Utaha is clearly a strong player who is currently in a crucial breakthrough period.

“If… you don’t mind, you can talk to me about your creative ideas or if you need a new perspective for readers in the future. Of course, that’s on the condition that I have time.” He gave a friendly smile. “Discussing each other might spark some new ideas.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. The afternoon sun cast a halo around her. She carefully observed him—his clear eyes, his sincere attitude, and the composure and insight beyond his years.

"Discuss each other?" she repeated softly, a faint glimmer of interest flashing in her wine-red eyes. "Sounds good. I'll remember that, Anhe."

She neither explicitly agreed nor refused. Leaving those words behind, she turned and disappeared through the doorway leading downstairs.

An and Asuka remained alone on the rooftop, gazing in the direction she had left, and let out a soft sigh. They hadn't expected that a casual escape to find peace and quiet would escalate into such a profound creative discussion.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, just as rumored, is a highly talented and proud person, extremely serious about her work. He understands her predicament; it's a common growing pain for creators striving for breakthroughs.

The wind continued to blow, bringing with it the increasingly noisy midday atmosphere downstairs. An and Asuka packed up their lunchboxes and prepared to return to the classroom. They had classes in the afternoon, and besides, he needed to think about how to deal with the "messengers" who might continue to come looking for them.

As he pushed open the classroom door, he immediately felt several gazes upon him. Hoshino Ai was surrounded by several girls talking; upon seeing him enter, her purple eyes immediately turned towards him, filled with concern and inquiry. Marina, chatting and laughing with her classmates on the other side, also took the opportunity to wink at him. Shizuka, sitting quietly in her seat reading a book, looked up at him as he passed by and smiled slightly, silently conveying understanding.

An and Asuka returned a reassuring look and returned to their seats. Kato Megumi, sitting in the seat in front of him, seemed to have just woken up. She rubbed her eyes, gave him a blank glance, and then turned back to her seat.

Just then, that familiar and energetic voice rang out again: "Anhe! Where did you go during your lunch break? I have something super important to discuss with you!"

With his signature messy hair and his eyes sparkling behind his glasses, Aki Tomoya once again approached An and Asuka's desk.

An and Asuka sighed inwardly, but maintained basic politeness on the surface: "Anki-kun, is there something you need?"

"It's about 'Love Metronome'!" Aki Tomoya was completely oblivious to the subtle emotions of An and Asuka at that moment, or rather, he was so engrossed in his own excitement that he didn't care. "I just got the news that the author, 'Kasumi Utako,' is very likely a senior from our school!"

This is an absolutely mind-blowing discovery! I'm planning to start a campus-wide "Love Metronome" research group to deeply analyze the work's meaning and try to contact the teachers to express our fan support! Anhe, you're a good writer and have good grades, why don't you join us? This is a great undertaking to explore anime and manga culture!

Anwa Asuka: "..."

The image of the aloof, long-haired senior on the rooftop flashed through his mind, along with the sharp, determined light in her eyes when she discussed her work. If she knew that such an overly enthusiastic junior was planning a "research club" and intended to "contact support"... the thought was unimaginable.

“I’m sorry, Anki-kun.” An and Asuka rubbed their temples, their tone as calm but firm as possible. “I’m not interested in this project, and I don’t think it’s appropriate to disturb an author’s private space too much. If you like the work, just support it quietly.”

"Huh? How could this be!" Aki Tomoya was greatly discouraged, but quickly regained his enthusiasm. "But this is the best way to express our love for the work! And maybe it can even help the teacher! An-kun, please think about it again! By the way, did you go to collect some materials during your lunch break? Do you have some other, more amazing plan?"

Anwa Asuka felt a headache coming on. He suddenly realized that discussing creative problems with Kasumigaoka Utaha was a relatively easier conversation than dealing with Aki Tomoya.

He looked out the window; the May sky was still azure.

"Aki-kun, go have fun."

"Huh?"

The next day during lunch break, An and Asuka once again climbed the stairs leading to the rooftop.

As the door opened, Kasumigaoka Utaha stood quietly by the railing beside the familiar bench, overlooking the campus.

Hearing footsteps, she turned around, her wine-red eyes gleaming in the sunlight. Unlike yesterday, she now held a beautifully bound paperback novel in her hand.

"Good afternoon, Kasumigaoka-senpai." Anwa and Asuka greeted each other naturally.

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded in response. Then she took a few steps closer and handed the book she was holding directly to him.

“Here you go.” Her voice was calm. “You said yesterday that you hadn’t read the first volume. If you’re going to offer suggestions, you should at least understand the whole story.”

It was a brand new first volume of "Love Metronome," with a simple and elegant cover design.

An and Asuka were slightly surprised, but quickly smiled and accepted the gift: "Thank you, senior. I will gladly accept your offer."

He sat down at one end of the bench, just like yesterday, and opened his book. Kasumigaoka Utaha sat at the other end, taking out a notebook and pen from her bag, seemingly taking notes or making revisions, without disturbing his reading.

The breeze on the rooftop remained gentle, and time flowed quietly amidst the rustling of turning pages. An and Fei Niao read intently, and by the time he closed the last page, most of their lunch break had already passed.

"How is it?" Kasumigaoka Utaha had stopped writing at some point and her gaze fell on him.

An and Asuka pondered for a moment, organizing their thoughts: "After reading the first volume in its entirety, I must retract some of my hasty assessments from yesterday. Reading both volumes together, the story's framework, the characters' arcs, and the emotional build-up are far more solid and complete than I imagined. Senior has constructed a very delicate and self-consistent world of youthful emotions."

He paused, then said sincerely, "My suggestions yesterday about being 'bolder' might have been a bit out of touch with reality. With an existing complete concept, rashly changing the rhythm or adding stronger conflicts might actually disrupt the overall balance. My senior sister is able to write such a piece without needing my half-baked advice."

He did feel a little ashamed. The completeness of the first volume and the author's strong personal style demonstrate that Kasumigaoka Utaha has a clear control over her work.

However, Kasumigaoka Utaha's reaction was beyond his expectations.

She gently shook her head, her long black hair fluttering slightly. "No. I thought about it carefully for a long time last night." Her voice was clear and calm, with a focused analytical intent. "Your suggestion wasn't wrong; it even enlightened me. The problem isn't the overall story framework, but rather the 'inertia' in handling certain key moments."

She opened her notebook, which contained clear entries: "I reviewed several plot points in Volume Two and found that, as you said, in places where emotions could be more intense and choices more decisive, I subconsciously chose a more 'safe' approach, one that conformed more to the 'logic of conventional youth novels.' It wasn't a requirement of the story structure, but rather a kind of cowardice stemming from my personal writing habits."

She raised her eyes, her wine-red pupils looking directly at An and Asuka: "As a reader who hasn't even read the first volume, you've keenly noticed this 'incongruity,' which in itself proves the existence of a problem."

What I need to do is not to overturn everything and start over, but to give myself more courage at these 'nodes' to truly bring the characters to life, rather than simply serving a predetermined plot curve.

This profound and honest self-analysis filled An and Asuka with awe. He sensed the senior's extreme dedication to her work and her pure pursuit of perfection that transcended pride.

"It's really impressive that you think that way, senior," he said sincerely.

“Well then,” Kasumigaoka Utaha closed her notebook, her tone returning to its usual calm, but if you listened closely, there seemed to be a faint hint of expectation, “After I’ve adjusted the parts of Volume Two that need revision based on these ideas, could you take another look for me? From the perspective of ‘the person who first raised this question’.”

This is neither an order nor a simple request; it's more like an invitation from a creator to another "insider."

An and Asuka nodded without hesitation, "Of course, as long as you don't mind my humble opinion, senior."

"Hmm." Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips seemed to curve slightly.

A few days later on the rooftop, the revised manuscript of the second volume of "Love Metronome" was once again handed to An and Asuka.

After reading it, he clearly felt the difference—the parts he had previously pointed out as "better to let go" were now emotionally richer, the characters' choices were more impactful, and the overall reading experience, while still smooth, had a more gripping tension.

“It’s much better than before,” he said, giving a positive assessment and pointing out several improvements that impressed him. “Especially the part where Sayuka decides to face her past scars alone; the revised psychological struggle and final determination are very moving.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha listened quietly, her wine-red eyes sparkling with focused satisfaction. These past few days, they had engaged in several deep and candid exchanges about their creative process on this quiet rooftop.

From story pacing to character development, from dialogue design to thematic expression, An and Asuka, though calling themselves "halfway done," often provide Kasumigaoka Utaha with unexpected inspiration due to their keen intuition, clear logic, and unique sense of structure influenced by their musical compositions.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's profound literary skills, rigorous creative attitude, and deep insight into the world she created also greatly benefited Anwa Asuka.

A friendship based on shared passion for creation and mutual respect quietly blossomed under the gentle breeze and sunshine of May.

After yet another discussion about the fate of a certain side character, Kasumigaoka Utaha casually brought up:

"By the way, the publisher has arranged a book signing for 'Love Metronome'."

"Really? Congratulations, senior!" An and Asuka offered their sincere congratulations. They knew this was an important milestone for a light novel author.

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, gazing at the distant sky, her tone calm: "The time is set for May 20th, Saturday afternoon, and the location is... Kadokawa Bookstore."

She paused for a moment, then turned her gaze back to An and Asuka's faces, her wine-red eyes holding a rare, subtle hint of anticipation.

Will you come that day...?

Upon hearing this, An and Asuka had a sudden thought flash through their minds—Shizuka seemed to have mentioned before that her autograph session was also scheduled for mid-to-late May, but what was the exact date? He needed to confirm. However, he didn't hesitate much in the face of Kasumigaoka Utaha's invitation.

"May 20th afternoon, Kadokawa Shoten, right?" he confirmed, then smiled. "If I don't have anything else important to do that day, I will definitely go. After all, I am one of the 'witnesses' to the revision process of this work."

"Mmm." Kasumigaoka Utaha responded, lowering her head again, her fingertips brushing across the manuscript cover. Her slightly relaxed shoulder line seemed to betray a hint of her joy.

An and Asuka were mentally calculating that they needed to immediately ask Shizuka about the specific arrangements for the autograph session when they got back. They hoped the timing wouldn't clash too badly.

Volume 1: Chapter 167 After helping one, help another [15,000 words]

Coincidentally, both Shizuka and Kasumigaoka Utaha's autograph sessions were scheduled for the same day, but fortunately their schedules were staggered.

Shizuka is in the morning, and Kasumigaoka is in the afternoon, so he can take care of both of them.

On the morning of May 20th, Shizuka's autograph session began.

The youth novel "Little One's Summer," which I started writing in my second year of junior high school, has now reached its tenth volume and has sold over 1.5 million copies. Although not a phenomenal blockbuster, it is a steadily rising and well-regarded bestseller with a considerable influence among young readers.

According to industry practice, with a work reaching this level of popularity, the author should have already held a book signing event to increase brand awareness and solidify reader loyalty. However, Akane Kousaka, for long-term considerations, had previously protected Shizuka very well. On the one hand, she was concerned about Shizuka's young age at the time, and on the other hand, Shizuka was in the crucial final year of junior high school preparing for her college entrance exams, so it was not advisable to add extra pressure or exposure risks.

Therefore, although countless readers are full of curiosity about this author with delicate writing and sincere emotions, no one knows that the stories that warmed their time were actually written by a beautiful girl who has just entered the first year of high school.

This is undoubtedly a carefully reserved "trigger point".

Under the "delayed gratification" effect, when the true face and identity of the "beautiful girl novelist" are finally revealed, the resulting buzz and attention will inevitably far exceed that of conventional, step-by-step publicity.

The book signing event is scheduled for May 5th at the Kadokawa Bookstore flagship store, a subsidiary of Rouge en Rouge, and will last from 9:00 AM to noon.

"Asuka, you really don't need to keep coming along."

At eight o'clock in the morning, Anwa Asuka and Kuze Shizuka had already arrived at the bookstore backstage to prepare. Looking at the faint dark circles under the boy's eyes, Shizuka couldn't help but speak softly, her voice full of heartache.

Upon hearing this, An and Asuka deliberately raised an eyebrow, trying to lighten the atmosphere with a teasing tone: "What? Do you think I'll embarrass you if I'm here?"

He had only intended to tease this usually quiet and well-behaved girl, but to his surprise, she remained calm and composed after hearing his question. She simply turned her head slightly, looked at him with her calm, deep purple eyes, and gently asked in return:

"Huh? Asuka, what did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

Despite her gentle tone and unchanged expression, An and Asuka inexplicably sensed a hint of "danger" creeping in.

He immediately changed his tune, saying, "It's nothing, I was just talking nonsense, don't mind it."

"Really... how could I possibly dislike Asuka?" Shizuka Kuze then stepped forward, reached out her hand, and gently brushed her fingertips across his cheek. Her voice was as soft as a sigh, yet it carried an undeniable seriousness. "Asuka is clearly the most important person to me."

She paused slightly, gazing into his eyes, a gentle smile curving her lips: "What do you think, Asuka?"

“...I think so too.” Anwa Asuka subconsciously swallowed, thinking to herself: When did Shizuka seem to...become a little scheming? She wasn’t like this before.

"That's more like it." Shizuka Kuze withdrew her hand with satisfaction, a gentle smile playing on her lips. She explained, "I told you not to come along because I didn't want you to get too tired."

This young man hasn't had a proper rest lately. First, he was running around helping Xiao Ai, and now he's worrying about his own book signing. He's silently shouldered so much, yet he always says he's not tired. She was both touched and heartbroken by his dedication.

“I don’t feel tired.” An and Asuka shook their heads, their gaze firm and warm. “I just wanted to witness your moment of success. This is an honor you deserve, and I wanted to be there.”

Kuze Shizuka's heart was completely softened by those words.

Yes, to outsiders, these fifteen-year-old girls have achieved remarkable success: one has become a highly anticipated new generation idol, another has become a bestselling author with sales exceeding one million copies, and yet another has also shown talent in painting. This is undoubtedly an enviable, so-called "genius-like" success.

But only they themselves know best what kind of young man stands behind this "success".

It was he who, without hesitation, reached out and pulled them to his side during the darkest moments of their lives; it was he who, with his slender shoulders, provided them with a safe haven, allowing them to pursue their dreams with peace of mind; it was he who always stood not far away, silently supporting and carefully protecting them, never taking credit for anything.

Without this young man, they wouldn't be where they are today. This realization is deeply ingrained in each of their hearts.

“In that case…” Shizuka’s smile grew even gentler and brighter, “Then please, Asuka, be our witness.”

“Yes.” An and Asuka nodded solemnly.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the book signing event started on time. Anhe Feiniao changed into the uniform of a bookstore staff member and stood discreetly by the aisle not far behind the long signing table, so as not to affect the event but to have a clear view of the whole scene.

Today he is a bookstore employee for the day.

By this time, a long, winding queue had already formed outside the store, with readers holding brand-new novels and their faces beaming with anticipation.

But as his gaze swept across the front of the line, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure.

Aki Tomoya, it's him again.

The other person was standing on tiptoe, looking ahead, holding not only the latest volume of "Little One's Summer" but also what appeared to be a notebook and pen, as if preparing for an "in-depth exchange."

An and Asuka immediately looked away, secretly hoping that the autograph session would go smoothly and that they wouldn't have too much interaction with this overly enthusiastic and troublesome classmate.

The signing event started off very smoothly. Readers came forward one by one, and Shizuka smiled, signed autographs, gave brief thanks, and occasionally answered a question or two about the work. The atmosphere was harmonious.

Until—Aki Tomoya came to the table.

"Kuse-kun! I never expected it to be you! You're the author of 'Little One's Summer,' Ms. Shizuka?!"