Green plums cannot become lovers.

A strange, warm emotion quietly welled up in her heart, rippling subtly yet persistently across the usually rational and calm lake of her mind. This feeling was different from the joy of having her work recognized, and also different from the sudden enlightenment of solving a creative problem; rather, it was a feeling of being supported with such meticulous care and respect.

“Anhe-kun…” she called softly, the mist in her wine-red eyes seeming to dissipate, revealing a rare softness in them, “Thank you.”

“If you really want to thank me,” Anwa Asuka’s smile deepened, with a hint of encouragement, “you should write an even more wonderful story to repay me, senior. I look forward to the next volume.”

“…Mmm.” Kasumigaoka Utaha responded softly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing the tabletop. The light in the bookstore gradually warmed, enveloping the two in a quiet and subtle atmosphere, as if unfinished words and a tacit understanding were quietly growing in the air.

"Alright, senior, the staff are almost done cleaning up, we should..." Before An and Asuka could finish speaking, a series of hurried footsteps and slightly exaggerated shouts broke the tranquility as they approached from afar.

"Please wait a minute! Ms. Kasumiko! Wait for me!"

Aki Tomoya, drenched in sweat, clutched his backpack strap in one hand and held a copy of "Love Metronome" aloft in the other, sprinting towards the event at breakneck speed, nearly bumping into the staff who were moving tables. He abruptly stopped in front of the autograph table, panting heavily, his glasses slipping down to the tip of his nose.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Xia Shizi! I'm late!"

He gasped for breath as he hurriedly held the book up to Kasumigaoka Utaha, his eyes wide with excitement. "Could you please sign this for me? Please! I'm your most loyal reader! I've been following you ever since you started serializing your short stories in the magazine!"

He completely ignored the wrap-up scene and the helpless expressions of the staff, and turned on his fanatical fan mode.

"You wrote so well! I've read 'Love Metronome' at least twenty times! Every time I read it, I discover something new! Especially Sayuka's complex feelings when facing the male protagonist—clearly caring but desperately trying to hide it—and her monologue under the cherry blossom tree at the end, that intertwined loneliness and longing, are portrayed so vividly! I'm moved every time I read it! This is definitely one of the best youth romance novels in recent years!"

"Excuse me," a staff member couldn't help but remind him, "the autograph session has ended, we're packing up..."

"Huh?! Is it over?!" Aki Tomoya was struck dumb, his face instantly filled with despair as if the sky had fallen. "No! I just got here! Teacher! I ran all the way here to get to your autograph session!"

He clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture, his gaze darting back and forth between Kasumigaoka Utaha and the staff, as if to say, "I won't leave until you sign this."

An and Asuka, who were standing to the side, couldn't help but facepalm, sigh, and ask, "Anki-kun, why... where were you all this time?"

This guy was at Shizuka's autograph session this morning, how come he has so much energy?

"Anwa-kun?! It's you again! What a coincidence!" Aki Tomoya only then noticed Anwa Asuka's presence, pushed up his glasses in surprise, and then, as if he had found an ally, explained in a fast-paced manner.

"I attended Shizuka-sensei's autograph session this morning, then went to an anime merchandise store where there was a long queue, and then I remembered that Kasumi-shiko-sensei's autograph session was in the afternoon, so I quickly looked up the address and rushed over! My schedule was too tight!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha listened to this chaotic explanation, then looked at the overly excited junior in front of her, a barely perceptible hint of helplessness flashing in her wine-red eyes.

She was rather reluctant to accept this overly intense and inconsiderate "enthusiasm." However, seeing the man sweating profusely and looking earnestly, coupled with the familiarity he showed with the details of the artwork, she felt it didn't seem fake.

She sighed softly, nodded slightly to the staff, and then reached out to take the book from Aki Tomoya's hand.

"Just this once." Her voice returned to its usual calm, but it was still polite.

"Yes! Thank you so much, Ms. Kasumi Shiko!" Aki Tomoya was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly.

Kasumigaoka Utaha quickly signed her name and handed the book back. Aki Tomoya held it in his arms as if it were a treasure. He wanted to say something more, but under Kasumigaoka Utaha's calm and unwavering gaze, he swallowed back all his words, thanked her again, and left with a look back every few steps, reluctant to part.

Watching him disappear around the corner, Kasumigaoka Utaha let out a barely audible sigh. Anwa Asuka, standing beside her, chuckled softly, "You've seen your share of troublemakers at our school today, senpai?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at him, her lips seemingly twitching slightly: "I was deeply impressed."

The sky outside the bookstore was bathed in the glow of the sunset, gradually changing from a fiery orange-red to a gentle purple-pink. The streetlights on both sides of the street lit up one after another, blending with the light of the sky that had not yet fully sunk below the horizon, creating a hazy and warm hue unique to urban dusk.

Anwa Asuka and Kasumigaoka Utaha walked out of the bookstore side by side. The early summer evening breeze carried a slight chill, dispersing the somewhat stuffy air in the bookstore and ruffling Kasumigaoka Utaha's smooth black hair.

"Thank you so much for today," Kasumigaoka Utaha said again, her voice particularly clear in the twilight. This time, her thanks seemed to carry a more complex meaning—not only for his company and recommendations that afternoon, but perhaps also for acknowledging his perfectly timed understanding and support.

"You're too kind, senior." An and Asuka strolled leisurely, hands in their pockets. "To witness a book signing event go from quiet to bustling, to see an author go from despondency to shining again, is meaningful in itself. And..."

He turned to look at her, a smile in his eyes. "I meant it. Your work deserves to be seen by more people. I just... helped push open that door that was already half-closed."

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't respond immediately, but simply walked on quietly. After a moment, she whispered, "Love Metronome... actually, the sales of the first volume weren't ideal, and the publisher is also cautious about the second volume. Today's signing event was originally supposed to..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her meaning was clear.

“The market can be slow to react or easily misled by superficial excitement.” An and Asuka spoke calmly. “What matters is whether the story itself touches the reader. Aren’t the reactions of the readers today the best proof? They didn’t come because of my recommendation, but because they genuinely liked your story.”

These words precisely soothed the deep-seated unease that Kasumigaoka Utaha was unwilling to acknowledge. She did crave recognition, but what she craved even more was confirmation of the intrinsic value of her work, rather than fleeting popularity.

"You're quite good at comforting people, Anhe, junior." Her voice carried a very faint, almost teasing tone.

"I'm just stating the facts," An and Asuka smiled. "Besides, Senpai will probably be even busier from now on, right? The release of Volume 2, the readers' expectations, and... the idea for Volume 3?"

When the topic of writing came up, Kasumigaoka Utaha's eyes immediately focused: "The revised manuscript for Volume Two has been submitted to the editor. The framework for Volume Three..."

She paused, seemingly hesitant about whether to speak, but seeing An and Asuka's calm and attentive profiles, she continued, "I have some ideas, but I'm still exploring them. I want to try something more... groundbreaking, but I'm worried it might disrupt the overall feel of the series."

"Is it about the development of Sayuka and the male protagonist's relationship? Or is it to introduce a new dimension of conflict?"

An and Asuka naturally chimed in. Their conversation on the rooftop over this period had made him quite familiar with the characters and plot of "Love Metronome".

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at him with some surprise, then nodded: "Both. I want their relationship to go beyond the ambiguity and tentative exploration of school life, and incorporate some more realistic external pressures, such as college entrance exams, family, and future choices... so that 'love' is not just a sweet thrill, but also includes the weight of responsibility and the growing pains. But wouldn't writing it this way seem too heavy, deviating from the 'lightness' that light novel readers expect?"

This is a typical creative dilemma: finding a balance between commercial viability and the desire for expression, and between reader expectations and the author's breakthrough.

After a moment's thought, An and Asuka said, "I think 'lightness' is not necessarily the same as avoiding depth. As long as the core of the story is still the real and moving emotional connection between the characters, even if there are twists and turns or pain in the process, readers will be willing to follow along."

Moreover, judging from today's observations, the readership of the senior student seems to be slightly older than that of readers of typical campus romance novels; they may be more receptive to and appreciate this realistic portrayal of growth.

He recalled that many of the readers at today's book signing looked like college students or young people who had just started working.

Kasumigaoka Utaha seemed lost in thought. An and Asuka's perspectives had indeed offered new insights. She had previously been more concerned with "how to write," while he reminded her of "who to write for" and "what the readers can accept."

The two unknowingly arrived at a crossroads, which is usually when they had to part ways.

"I should go this way." She stopped at the intersection.

"Okay." An and Asuka nodded. "Then be careful on your way, senior."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him, a few strands of her hair ruffling in the evening breeze. After a few seconds of silence, she suddenly spoke: "Next week...the rooftop, will we still go?"

An and Asuka paused for a moment, then smiled: "If the weather is nice and I don't have anything else to do during lunch break, I'll probably go. What about you, senior?"

“Perhaps.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s answer still carried her characteristic noncommittal reserve, but her wine-red eyes appeared much brighter than usual in the light of the streetlights. “If the idea for the third volume gets stuck, I may need to trouble the ‘advisor’ to provide some more ‘brains’.”

An and Asuka understood her unspoken meaning, and their smiles deepened: "You're welcome anytime."

“Well then,” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded gently, “goodbye, Anwa-kun.”

Goodbye, Kasumigaoka-senpai.

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned and walked in the opposite direction from her home—she needed to get to the nearby station first. Her slender, upright figure gradually blended into the twilight and the flow of people on the street, her black hair swaying gently behind her.

An and Asuka watched her leave until she was out of sight before turning and walking towards the apartment. His phone vibrated in his pocket; it was a message from Shizuka, asking when he would arrive home. The celebratory dinner was ready, and Ai and Marina were waiting.

The text was followed by a somewhat abstract but joyful doodle by Marina, depicting a "victory celebration."

He couldn't help but laugh out loud, replied "Coming soon," and quickened his pace.

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't go straight home. Instead, she turned around in the twilight and headed in the opposite direction from home.

Passing through the still bustling streets, Kasumigaoka Utaha arrived at the editorial building of Shinazugawa Bookstore. Compared to the daytime hustle and bustle, the building was relatively quiet at this moment. She took the elevator to a certain floor with practiced ease and walked towards an office that was still lit up.

The door was ajar. Kasumigaoka Utaha knocked lightly and then pushed the door open to enter.

Her editor, Sonoko Machida, sat behind her desk, one hand supporting her forehead, the other unconsciously twirling a pen. The documents laid out before her seemed untouched for ages. The lamplight illuminated half her face, highlighting the clear worry between her brows.

Hearing the noise, she looked up and the moment she saw Kasumigaoka Utaha, her expression quickly changed. She tried to force a relaxed smile, but the smile looked somewhat forced and tired.

"Shiyu? Why are you back? Is the autograph session... over?"

Machida Sonoko stood up, her voice filled with concern, but also a hint of barely perceptible tension. As Kasumigaoka Utaha's editor, her absence from the book signing wasn't due to a lack of respect for the author she had discovered and placed high hopes on, but rather because she was on another "battlefield," fighting for a slim chance for the young girl.

The market response to the first volume of "Love Metronome" was far below expectations, with dismal sales figures standing before us.

According to Shinazugawa Shoten's usual standards, such works often face the fate of being mercilessly canceled by the third volume. However, Machida Sonoko always believed in the unique value and potential of the world created by Kasumigaoka Utaha and was unwilling to see this talent buried.

Therefore, taking advantage of the shift in attention today, she argued her case forcefully, trying to secure a chance to turn the tide for this work and for Kasumigaoka Utaha.

After difficult negotiations, she did manage to bring back an opportunity.

The publisher agreed to observe the sales of the second volume and the response to today's book signing before making a final decision on the series' fate. However, this so-called "opportunity" is actually more like a cold ultimatum; if the sales figures remain dismal, cancellation is inevitable.

Machida Sonoko understood the despair better than anyone. Given the poor sales of the first volume and the publisher's limited promotional resources, the possibility of a significant sales leap for the second volume was extremely slim. Looking at the talented young woman before her, who might face setback, she felt a deep sense of powerlessness.

She forced a smile, trying to make her voice sound cheerful: "How are you feeling? Tired? Leave things at the company to me, you should go home and rest."

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood at the point where light and shadow met in the doorway, her wine-red eyes calmly watching the editor who was trying to conceal her emotions. She didn't answer the question about her weariness, but instead took a few steps forward and said clearly:

"Ms. Machida, I've come to tell you some news."

"News?" Machida Sonoko's heart tightened, instinctively thinking that the worst-case scenario had arrived ahead of schedule. She forced a smile, trying to comfort her, "It's okay, Utaha. Whatever the outcome, we've done our best. Your talent won't be ruined by just one..."

“It’s good news,” Kasumigaoka Utaha interrupted her.

"Good... news?" Machida Sonoko was stunned. At this point, besides the miraculous surge in sales, she really couldn't think of any other "good news."

Was Shiyu trying to comfort herself?

"Yes." Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, her tone still calm, but with an undeniable certainty. "Today's book signing event ultimately sold a thousand copies. The event can be considered... a successful conclusion."

A brief silence fell over the office.

Machida Sonoko blinked, her face still frozen in that expression of bracing for bad news. She thought she might be hallucinating due to the immense pressure.

"I knew it... I told you not to worry too much..." She subconsciously followed her preconceived pessimistic line of thought, but only realized her mistake halfway through her sentence, and her voice stopped abruptly.

and many more.

What did she just hear?

One thousand copies? A book signing? A successful conclusion?

"You... what did you say?" Machida Sonoko's voice suddenly rose, trembling with disbelief. She walked around the desk, took a few steps to Kasumigaoka Utaha, and instinctively grabbed the girl's arms, her eyes wide. "Utaha, say it again? How many did you sell at today's autograph session?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha let her hold her hand and clearly repeated, "One thousand copies. The exact number may need to be checked against the cash register records, but it's roughly this number. The audience response... was also much better than expected."

Machida Sonoko stared at her blankly, as if trying to confirm whether she was joking. But Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze was calm and serious, without a trace of mockery.

Immediately afterwards, a tremendous, overwhelming joy mixed with a sense of relief crashed down on Machida Sonoko. Her eyes instantly reddened, and her grip on Kasumigaoka Utaha's arm tightened involuntarily, her voice choked with overwhelming emotion:

“A thousand copies…a thousand copies! That’s wonderful! Shiyu, that’s wonderful! This…this is simply…!” She was incoherent, not knowing what to say for a moment.

For a work by a relatively unknown author with mediocre sales, selling a thousand copies at a single book signing is no small feat. It's like a shot in the arm, signifying not only real sales figures but also genuine reader recognition and support—one of the most powerful pieces of evidence demonstrating the work's potential to the publisher!

"I...I'll go check right away! Immediately!"

Machida Sonoko released her grip, as if she had been recharged, and turned to rush to the phone on her desk. Her fingers trembled with excitement as she dialed the number, and the gloom that had lingered on her face all day was replaced by a blush of ecstasy.

Kasumigaoka Utaha quietly watched the editor's joyful figure disappear into the distance. A faint, warm ripple spread across her wine-red eyes under the office lights. She gently smoothed her crumpled sleeves and walked to the window.

Outside the window, Tokyo's night had fully fallen, neon lights flashing, and traffic flowing like a river. She recalled the afternoon's transformation from quiet to bustling, the boy who had sat quietly to her side but brought about a turning point at a crucial moment, and the words in the twilight: "Write even more wonderful stories to 'repay' me."

Her nerves, which had been tense all day, finally relaxed. She knew that the road ahead was still full of challenges, but at least tonight, she could bring a piece of good news to those who had always supported her, and to herself, a precious comfort and the confidence to continue moving forward.

Machida Sonoko hung up the phone, her smile as radiant as the brightest light outside the window. She turned to Kasumigaoka Utaha, her voice filled with strength:

"Shiyu! Preliminary confirmation, the data is fine! We...we have a chance!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha turned around, met the editor's excited gaze, and nodded slightly.

"Ah."

The image of that boy unconsciously surfaced in her mind.

"But why were so many suddenly sold?"

After the initial excitement, reason returned, and Machida Sonoko's doubts surfaced. She knew better than anyone the previous sales figures and market popularity of "Love Metronome." Selling a thousand copies at a single book signing event could not be explained simply by "word-of-mouth" or "coincidence."

There must be some key variable behind this.

"I was helped by someone." Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't hide anything and gave the answer directly. She walked to the chair by the window and sat down, her posture still elegant, but the slight lean of her back revealed a hint of relaxation.

"Huh?" Machida Sonoko was taken aback, countless TV drama scenarios flashing through her mind in an instant, and blurted out: "Could it be... that you met some 'domineering CEO' or mysterious investor who appreciates you?"

She half-jokingly said this, but her eyes held a genuine worry, fearing that the author she had carefully nurtured might have taken some unpredictable "shortcut."

Kasumigaoka Utaha gently shook her head, a faint, almost helpless smile flickering in her wine-red eyes. "No, it was a junior student. He... helped me promote it."

"Junior?" This answer was even more unexpected for Machida Sonoko.

She blinked. "High school student? From your school? Wait... someone who can generate this kind of publicity can't be just an ordinary high school student, right? Could it be a social media influencer with an amazing number of followers? Or some low-profile social media big V?"

She quickly switched into editor's mindset and began analyzing the possibilities.

"I guess... I guess so."

Although the boy had told her not long ago that he was promoting her on social media, she hadn't inquired about his influence in detail. However, judging from the timing of the influx of readers in the afternoon and his nonchalant attitude, the account must have considerable power.

"What's his name?" Machida Sonoko's professional instincts kicked in; she leaned forward slightly, her eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry. A promoter who could precisely drive offline sales was definitely worth paying attention to.

Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment. To utter that name felt like exposing a somewhat private connection—one belonging to the rooftop, to creative discussions—to professional scrutiny. She pursed her lips slightly.

“Oh, what’s there to keep secret?” Machida Sonoko noticed her hesitation, waved her hand, and relaxed her tone. “I’m not going to eat him. I just want to know which ‘benefactor’ helped us so much. If we have the chance in the future, we should thank them, or... see if there’s any possibility of cooperation.” She tried to dispel Kasumigaoka Utaha’s concerns with a light and businesslike tone.

“...Anwa Asuka.” Kasumigaoka Utaha finally uttered the name. The syllables were clearly audible in the quiet office.