Green plums cannot become lovers.

"Um......"

He pondered for a moment, his voice very soft, as if answering a question, or perhaps talking to himself, “Rather than saying I like them… it’s more like I don’t want to see them sad. Children’s world is so simple, their joy and sorrow are so direct. Their hearts are still so tender, they can’t withstand too many bumps in the road… If only they could grow up happily forever.”

His tone was calm, even carrying his usual gentleness, but Kasumigaoka Utaha detected in it a deep, almost protective desire, and... a faint, indescribable sense of heaviness. It wasn't the sentiment that a fifteen-year-old boy would usually have.

Before she could ask anything more, clear guitar strumming and an intro suddenly came from the direction of a small stage in the distance. The street performance had begun. They were playing an old song with a light and cheerful melody, and the lead singer's voice, with its youthful huskiness, quickly attracted a small crowd.

Music drifted across the square at dusk, mingling with the hustle and bustle of the crowd, the cries of vendors, and the laughter of children, creating a vibrant urban twilight scene.

An and Asuka turned their heads to look towards the stage, their profiles appearing somewhat hazy in the dimming light.

"Want to go take a look, senior?" he asked, his tone returning to its usual calm.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him, her wine-red eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the twilight. Many questions lingered on her lips—about his past, about his music, about the tenderness and gravity that seemed beyond his years. But in the end, she simply nodded gently.

"Ah."

The two walked side by side toward the direction from which the music was coming from, their figures gradually blending into the growing crowd in the square.

As the sun completely sank below the horizon, the city lights lit up one after another, like a galaxy on the ground.

Kasumigaoka Utaha finally confirmed that the owner of the Bicobico account was Anwa Asuka.

The reason was simply that when she was browsing the authors and topics she followed on Bicobico, a familiar account updated a post in the homepage recommendation stream.

There were no new works, only a photograph and a short line of text.

The photo was clearly taken at dusk today. The composition is somewhat casual, but it captures a vivid moment—two hands each holding a cup of colorful fruit tea, with cool water droplets condensing on the glass walls, reflecting an amber-like luster in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The background is a blurred street scene and crowds, with the focus on the gently touched rim of the cup.

The caption was just one sentence: "After school today, I went out to play with my senior."

The poster is a musician account with two million followers named "Flying Bird".

Kasumigaoka Utaha's finger hovered over the screen, stunned for several seconds. She tapped the photo, zoomed in, and looked closely at the two hands. One of the fingers was long and slender, with distinct knuckles; she had just seen it that afternoon, holding a drink cup, turning the pages of a book, and putting a band-aid on a little girl.

The corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up slightly.

This guy

They are both incredibly capable and incredibly modest.

The flowers droop low, cradling the poems of late spring; the shadows lengthen, delivering the invitation to midsummer.

The June winds begin to carry the heat of summer, and the cherry blossom trees on campus have already donned their lush green summer attire. As the semester enters its middle stage, various activities are gradually increasing.

On the first Monday of June, right after lunch break, An and Feiniao were called to the office by their homeroom teacher.

The homeroom teacher was a woman surnamed Lin, around forty years old. She was strict in her teaching and quite caring towards her students. She pushed up her glasses, looked at An and Asuka standing in front of her desk, and her face showed an expression that was a mixture of helplessness and unyieldingness.

"Anhe," Ms. Kobayashi said bluntly, "don't you feel like your high school life is missing something?"

An and Asuka blinked, somewhat puzzled: "Really? I feel... quite fulfilled."

His time is almost entirely filled with academics, music, spending time with the three girls, and occasionally discussing creative ideas with Kasumigaoka-senpai.

"Fulfilling?" Ms. Lin raised an eyebrow. "Tell me, have you joined any clubs?"

"No," An and Asuka answered honestly.

There were indeed club recruitment events at the beginning of the semester, but he was busy adapting to the new environment and taking care of Xiao Ai's early idol activities. In addition, he didn't have any existing clubs that he was particularly interested in, so he put it aside.

"If you don't have one, then go and get one for me." The teacher's tone became firm.

"Do I still need to join clubs?" An and Asuka asked earnestly. In his view, club activities were certainly part of high school life, but not a necessity, especially for someone like him who already had a clear direction and many other things to do.

"Nonsense!" Ms. Lin nearly slammed her hand on the table. "You don't want your club points anymore? School rules state that every student must participate in at least one club, or have an equivalent extracurricular activity record, otherwise it will affect their overall evaluation!"

An and Asuka thought for a moment and calmly replied, "Teacher, even without the club points, my current grades are still the best in the grade. The overall evaluation... shouldn't be affected, right?"

He wasn't showing off; he was simply stating a fact. In the major exams since entering university, he had consistently ranked first with a significant advantage.

Ms. Kobayashi was momentarily speechless, pointing at An and Asuka. You know what, even without club points, this kid's terrifying academic performance and supposedly outstanding artistic talent would easily earn him an A or higher overall.

"You, you..." Ms. Kobayashi took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and changed her perspective, "Anhe, this isn't about grades! High school life isn't just about studying! Club activities are important ways to cultivate interests, develop teamwork skills, and make friends!"

Look at you! All you do every day is study and hang out with...and those girls. Your social circle is so narrow! This isn't good for your overall development!

She paused, her tone softening slightly, adding a touch of admonition: "Besides, you might as well take the free credits. I know you might be busy, but even just having your name listed and showing your face occasionally would be fine, right? At least you're meeting the requirements of the system."

An and Asuka were silent for a moment. The teacher's words made sense. Although he believed that his "social circle" and "all-round development" might not be as narrow as the teacher thought, the system was still the system.

Furthermore, Marina joined the art club, Shizuka is a key member of the literature club, and Ai, though busy, is nominally affiliated with the "Idol Culture Research Club." Of the four, he is indeed the only one in a "clubless" state.

“Okay, teacher.” He finally nodded. “I’ll find a club to join as soon as possible.”

"That's right!" Ms. Kobayashi breathed a sigh of relief, a smile spreading across her face. "Choose carefully; there are many clubs in Toyonosaki, surely one will interest you. Give me your answer by this week!"

Leaving the teachers' office, An and Asuka walked down the corridor back to the classroom, their brows slightly furrowed.

Finding a club or organization... easier said than done.

During his lunch break, he made a special trip to the club bulletin board outside the student union office. The dazzling array of posters and descriptions was overwhelming: sports, culture, arts, and more.

He looked at them one by one, but found it difficult to muster any real interest. The sports categories required a lot of time for training, which he couldn't spare the time for; many of the cultural categories leaned towards academic discussions, which didn't quite align with his current focus on practical application.

In the arts, the art club has Marina, the literature club has Shizuka, and the choir and orchestra may be related to music, but he vaguely heard that the level of these two clubs in the school is uneven and the management is somewhat loose. More importantly, he did not want to participate in group rehearsals as a "member," as that might limit his personal creative and practice pace.

Ideally, I'd like to establish my own light music club, just like I did in junior high. I could freely create, rehearse, and enjoy music with my friends. But this idea was quickly dampened by reality—Toyonosaki Academy already had a "light music club," which, although not very active, existed in name only, and clubs with the same name weren't allowed to be the same.

Even if he could find a way to solve the name problem, what about the people? His junior high school friends had all gone their separate ways, and at his new school, he couldn't think of many familiar, like-minded people who also had time to participate in club activities.

An and Asuka sighed softly. It turned out that finding a club was such a troublesome thing.

After school in the afternoon, unusually, he didn't immediately go to pick up Marina and the others. Instead, he wandered around the campus alone, passing several clubrooms where activities were taking place. The sounds of running and shouting came from the soccer field, a faint smell of turpentine wafted from the art clubroom, and Shizuka could be seen quietly reading from the literature club window.

He walked to the vicinity of the music building and vaguely heard intermittent piano and violin sounds coming from the practice rooms, but the level of the music seemed to be only that of an ordinary enthusiast.

An and Asuka leaned against the window in the corridor, gazing at the sky in the distance, which was dyed red by the setting sun.

Perhaps, all we can do is casually register with any club or organization? For example, that "book club" that supposedly only requires you to sign in once a week, or that "astronomy observation group" with extremely infrequent activities.

Just as he was considering these compromises, a familiar voice came from behind him, carrying its usual calmness and a hint of barely perceptible concern:

"Junior, what a coincidence! You're standing here alone, lost in thought. Are you having some trouble? Do you need my help?"

An and Asuka turned around.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was standing not far away, holding a stack of books that seemed to have just been borrowed from the library. Her wine-red eyes, like melting jewels in the setting sun, looked at him with a smile.

"Club?"

A gentle breeze swept across the rooftop, carrying the slightly intoxicating scent of early summer vegetation. Kasumigaoka Utaha, hearing Anwa Asuka's question, flashed a knowing look in her wine-red eyes.

She gracefully brushed a strand of hair that had been blown against her cheek by the wind and asked in return, "Junior, did the teacher 'pay attention' to you?"

"I guess so." An and Asuka smiled helplessly and briefly explained the requirements of their homeroom teacher, Ms. Kobayashi.

Kasumigaoka Utaha listened quietly, a faint, almost playful smile curving her lips: "So, junior, you're troubled by not being able to find a suitable club?"

Volume 1: Chapter 169 Let's have a match, Anwa Asuka!

“You could say that,” An and Asuka nodded. “Toyonosaki has a lot of clubs, but I can’t think of one I particularly want to join right now. What about you, senior? Have you joined any clubs?” He remembered that this senior was also a top student who dominated the grade rankings, so she should be facing the same “comprehensive evaluation” requirements.

Kasumigaoka Utaha gently shook her head, her black hair swaying as she said, "No."

"Huh?" This answer surprised An and Asuka.

“Because our teachers… don’t really care about me.” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s tone was flat, as if stating a perfectly natural fact. “As long as my grades and attendance are fine, they won’t make any demands on me in this regard.”

She paused, then added, "They probably think that rather than letting me waste time in clubs I'm not interested in, it's better for me to read more books and bring honor to the class."

An and Asuka were speechless for a moment. This kind of "privileged" treatment, to some extent, was in line with the impression this senior gave people: someone whose talent and achievements were outstanding enough that the rules would give way to her.

“However,” Kasumigaoka Utaha changed the subject, her wine-red eyes looking at him, her voice carrying a hint of suggestion, “if you really can’t find a suitable one, why don’t you consider starting your own club?”

"Found it yourself?"

"Ah."

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, her tone still calm, yet carrying an air of "this is simple" certainty. "If you start a club, I can join. That way, your club's member requirement will be met." Toyonosaki Academy stipulates that a new club must have at least three members and a registered advisor.

Anhe and the flying bird felt a surge of energy, their two neighbors moved, and the four doves stirred. This is indeed a line of thought. But...

"What kind of club should I start?" he pondered. "There needs to be a clear direction and activities."

“Anything is fine,” Kasumigaoka Utaha replied casually. “A book club, a film club, even an ‘afternoon tea party’ or something like that. Anyway,”

She turned her head slightly, gazing at the red brick wall of the teaching building in the distance, and lowered her voice, "I just want more time... to discuss the creative process. Sometimes the lunch break isn't enough."

She spoke casually, but An and Asuka sensed a deeper meaning. It wasn't just about helping him solve club problems, nor was it merely about "discussing creative work." Perhaps she also cherished this relaxed exchange that took place on the rooftop and hoped it could continue and expand in some form.

This realization warmed An and Asuka's hearts.

"Let me think about it." He didn't agree immediately, but considered it seriously. If he really wanted to start a club, he didn't want to do it casually. At the very least, it had to be a place where participants would find it interesting and rewarding.

Ideally, we could also combine everyone's strengths.

“Okay.” Kasumigaoka Utaha didn’t urge her. She simply picked up the paperback book beside her and immersed herself in the world of words again, leaving An and Asuka a quiet space to think.

However, An and Asuka's "quiet contemplation" did not last long.

The next morning, as soon as he stepped into the school gate, before he even reached the shoe locker area, a familiar and energetic figure rushed towards him at an astonishing speed, almost causing him to bump into her.

"Anhe! We've finally found you!"

Aki Tomoya sported his signature tousled hair, his eyes sparkling behind his glasses, and his face beaming with the excitement of finding a savior. He was also clutching a bulging folder covered in various anime stickers.

An and Asuka steadied themselves, somewhat helplessly saying, "Good morning, An-yi. Is there anything I can help you with?"

"I heard you're looking for a club!" Aki Tomoya's voice was unusually loud with excitement, attracting the attention of several classmates who were changing their shoes nearby. "Is it true? Is it true?"

Anhe Asuka frowned slightly: "How did you know?"

He had just mentioned this to Kasumigaoka-senpai, so it shouldn't have spread so quickly.

"Uh..." Aki Tomoya paused for a moment, then scratched the back of his head and chuckled, "Yesterday after school, I passed by the teachers' office and overheard Ms. Kobayashi talking to another teacher! She said she absolutely had to make you, this 'outsider,' fit into the group! It's like fate!"

Anwa Asuka: "..."

Fate? He just thought it was troublesome.

"So!" Aki Tomoya suddenly stepped forward, clasped his hands together in a slap, making an extremely earnest gesture, and said in a loud voice, "Anwa-kun, please join my club! I need a companion like you!"

The sudden and enthusiastic invitation made An and Asuka instinctively take a half-step back, trying to create some distance. "Your club? What club?"

"Game Development Research Society!"

Aki Tomoya immediately puffed out his chest, a proud gleam on his face, "In short, 'Game Research Society'! I founded it! Our goal is to create the best, most touching bishoujo games! To let players experience the ultimate emotion and joy!"

"A visual novel..." An and Asuka's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. He could roughly guess what it was about.

"I'm sorry, An Yi, I'm not very familiar with this field, so it might not be suitable for me." He tried to politely decline.

"It's okay if you don't know! You can learn!" Aki Tomoya's enthusiasm didn't wane at all; in fact, it grew even stronger. "Anwa-kun, you have such good grades, your learning ability must be very strong! Besides, I heard you're really good at music! And you can write stories too! Isn't that exactly what we need? Music! Scripts! And..."

He stared intently at Anwa Asuka, "You have so many outstanding beautiful girls around you to reference! That's an absolute advantage!"

That last sentence made An and Asuka frown deeply. "Anki-kun, please don't joke about my friend."

"Ah! I'm so sorry!" Aki Tomoya realized his slip of the tongue and quickly waved his hands. "I didn't mean that! I meant... well... inspiration comes from life, right? Anyway, Anwa-kun, please really consider it! Our club has a really bright future! I've already come up with a super—amazing project! Once it's completed, it will definitely shake up the entire doujin game industry!"

He became increasingly excited as he spoke, almost gesturing wildly, attracting curious glances from more passing students. An and Asuka felt a familiar headache coming on—this one-sided outpouring of enthusiasm, disregarding the feelings of others, was truly hard for him to handle.

"I really don't..."

"Please! Don't rush to refuse!"

Aki Tomoya seemed to sense his impatience and hurriedly rummaged through the folder covered in stickers. "Let me show you my initial ideas! Although it's not a complete project proposal yet, the outline is there! Worldview, character settings, core plot development... Ah, found it! Look at this..."

He pulled out several sheets of loose-leaf paper covered with dense writing and hastily drawn diagrams, and eagerly handed them to An and Asuka.

An and Asuka intended to leave immediately, but their gazes inadvertently swept across the paper, and they paused slightly.

Game production

This word, like a pebble thrown into a lake, has created new ripples.

If it's about making a game...

Music requires background music, theme songs, and sound effects. Painting requires character illustrations, scene CG, and UI design. Writing requires scripts, dialogue, and world-building. Programming requires the technical ability to integrate all of these.

This seems... to be a field that can indeed integrate multiple talents.

Marina loves to draw, Shizuka is good at writing, he himself is skilled in music, and even Ai might be able to voice a character or sing a theme song if she wanted to... And he himself has that "childhood friend system" that is always running in the background, providing all sorts of wonderful skills and bonuses.

In the complex and creative process of game development, systems can provide unexpected assistance.