Green plums cannot become lovers.

"Hmm, I didn't expect Sawamura-kun to be able to tell that?" Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her head and said with a hint of teasing, "Looks like you've heard it quite a bit too."

"What's wrong? If you can listen, why can't I?" Eriri glared at her and retorted.

"No, I'm just surprised." Kasumigaoka Utaha raised the corners of her mouth slightly and continued, "I just don't know how much Sawamura-kun knows about this piece."

Anyway, she knows even the author, while this girl seems to be kept in the dark.

"Then I know far more than you do!"

Eriri seemed a little proud upon hearing this. Just as she was about to speak freely, a noisy commotion came from the other end of the corridor, growing louder and breaking the tranquility.

"Aki-kun, when are you finally going to finish the proposal? It's been almost a month!"

"Don't worry, don't worry! It's already being written! I guarantee I'll have an amazing proposal for you before summer vacation!"

"Alright then... We believe in An Yi's abilities. But you'd better hurry, our art and programming students are all waiting."

"No problem! Leave it to me!"

The noisy conversation was particularly clear in the empty corridor, accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps. An and Asuka frowned slightly, initially not wanting to pay attention, and quickened their pace with the two girls, wanting to leave the corridor before the group arrived.

However, the laboratory building only had one main corridor, with various laboratories and activity rooms on both sides. In the end, the two groups met at the middle stairwell.

Aki Tomoya walked at the front, followed by three or four boys, who appeared to be members of his "game club." They were having a lively discussion, gesturing wildly and in high spirits.

The moment Aki Tomoya saw An and Asuka, his voice trailed off. He paused, his gaze lingering on An and Asuka's faces before sweeping over Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri beside him. A complex mix of emotions flashed through his eyes—surprise, envy, and then a clear sense of resentment.

But he quickly adjusted his expression, put on a warm smile, and took the initiative to greet her: "Anhe! What a coincidence, you just finished your club activities too?"

His voice was louder than usual, as if he wanted to emphasize something. The boys behind him also stopped talking and looked at the three people opposite him with curiosity.

An and Asuka nodded calmly: "Mm."

His response was brief and distant, clearly indicating he didn't want to elaborate. But Aki Tomoya seemed oblivious, instead stepping forward and glancing between Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, his tone clearly probing:

"How's the club activity going? I heard you haven't been able to find enough help these past few days, and you're having a hard time managing it all by yourself."

He paused, then deliberately feigned concern. "Do you want me to help you? Even though we're rivals, we're still classmates, so it's only right that we help each other out."

These were well-spoken words, but everyone present could hear the boasting and provocation in them.

He was simply trying to imply that Asuka's abilities were insufficient and to show off that he had built up the team and his own capabilities.

Upon hearing this, Kasumigaoka Utaha slightly raised her chin, her wine-red eyes coldly sweeping over Aki Tomoya. A half-smile curved her lips, but she didn't speak. The contempt in her eyes said it all.

An and Asuka's expressions didn't change much; they simply raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "No need, it's enough."

His answer was brief and firm, without explanation or rebuttal, simply stating a fact calmly—I have my own team and don't need your help.

This composed attitude made Aki Tomoya a little embarrassed. He chuckled awkwardly, "Don't be so polite. We're classmates, aren't we? Besides, when it comes to making games, many hands make light work..."

"An Yi-kun." An and Asuka interrupted him, their voices still calm but carrying an undeniable authority, "We have something to do, so we'll be leaving now."

He turned to the two girls beside him, his tone softening naturally: "Senior, Sawamura-kun, let's go."

Kasumigaoka Utaha gave a soft "hmm" and started walking. Eriri immediately followed, and as she passed Aki Tomoya, she gave him a complicated look, but said nothing.

The three of them walked through Aki Tomoya and his companions, heading towards the stairs. Aki Tomoya opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he only managed to utter a single, "Hey!"

Nobody stopped.

An and Asuka's backs were upright and steady, Kasumigaoka Utaha's steps were elegant and composed, and Eriri's golden twin tails swayed gently with each step.

The setting sun shone through the stairwell window, casting a warm glow on them, a scene so beautiful it was almost blinding.

Aki Tomoya stood there, watching the three figures disappear around the corner of the stairs. The smile on his face finally crumbled.

The boys behind him then gathered around, chattering amongst themselves:

"That's Anwa Asuka? She doesn't look particularly special."

"Tsk tsk, but he has Sawamura-kun and Kasumigaoka-senpai by his side. The guy who got first place from the entrance exam is really something else."

"It's so enviable... and also frustrating. Why does he get the attention of two beautiful girls at the same time?"

"By the way, Anki, you want to compete against this guy, right? Then we need to do our best and definitely beat him!"

"Exactly! Let's show that arrogant guy what real teamwork is!"

Their tone was half joking and half serious, but Aki Tomoya could clearly hear the envy and jealousy in their words.

He clenched his fist so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palm.

“Of course.” He took a deep breath and forced a smile back, but it was a little stiff. “We will definitely make a better game than his, definitely.”

As I walked down the stairs and left the laboratory building, a warm summer breeze blew in my face, carrying the heat accumulated during the day and the fresh scent of plants.

Eriri quietly breathed a sigh of relief, her tense shoulders relaxing—the unpleasant encounter in the corridor just now felt like a tiny thorn stuck in her heart; although it didn't hurt, it made her feel uneasy all over.

She turned her head, her gaze unconsciously drifting to An and Asuka beside her. The boy's expression was calm as usual, gazing at the lush trees on campus. The setting sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled light and shadow that danced on his handsome profile. He seemed completely unconcerned about the earlier incident, a composure that both impressed and somewhat...annoyed her.

Why is it that Aki Tomoya can say those things so casually, while this boy can be so calm?

“Um… Anwa-kun and him…” Eriri carefully chose her words, her fingers unconsciously twirling a corner of her skirt, “Does that guy… have some kind of grudge against him?”

She asked the question with some hesitation.

In fact, she knew Aki Tomoya—for some reason, they had known each other since childhood and shared common interests.

However, due to some events, their relationship gradually broke down, and in short, she and Aki Tomoya are no longer friends.

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled lightly, her voice carrying its usual sarcasm, yet hitting the nail on the head: "It's less about a holiday and more about that guy's typical excessive desire for self-expression; he needs to belittle others to gain confidence. In psychology, this is called a 'compensation mechanism,' a very common psychological defense."

Her analysis was incisive, and her sharp tongue remained unchanged.

But Eriri didn't immediately refute her as usual this time—because she was right. She was all too familiar with Aki Tomoya's exaggerated enthusiasm, his insistence on proving himself more knowledgeable and capable than others. He was like that when they were little, holding up a comic book and telling her, "The brilliance of this work lies in..." as if disagreeing with him was a sin.

“You’re right,” Eriri agreed, a rare occurrence for her, then looked at An and Asuka, her azure eyes filled with confusion. “But why didn’t you argue with him just now? It wasn’t like that at all. You…you’re better than him…”

She couldn't understand why this boy, so outstanding, would allow others to slander him, especially by someone like that.

Upon hearing this, An and Asuka smiled, their smile appearing particularly gentle and clear in the setting sun: "What's the point of refuting him? Who will win or lose in an argument? It's meaningless."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two girls beside him, a genuine warmth shining in his eyes: "What matters is what we're doing and to what extent we can achieve it. As for what others think or say... once the work is released, everything will be proven."

His words were spoken calmly and confidently, like a gentle breeze that softly dispelled the lingering unease in Eriri's heart. She stared at him, realizing once again that this man possessed a maturity beyond his years.

It's not about being slick or worldly-wise, but rather a clear self-awareness and unwavering inner strength. He knows what he needs, what's important to him, and what's not.

This young man is an incredibly strong and determined person.

I wish I were as strong as him.

The setting sun bathed the boy in its light. As Eriri looked at him, she suddenly remembered something someone had said to her long, long ago, when she was still very young.

"Eri, after I leave, you must be strong and bravely stick to your own path."

Who is that person? What does he look like? What's his name?

She couldn't remember these things over the long years; she only remembered that the other person was also small, bathed in the orange glow of the setting sun.

Volume 1: Chapter 176 A Timely Rain Knows Its Season

June ended at the end of the month amidst the students' mixed feelings of relief and lamentation.

The summer vacation after final exams should have been relaxing, but for the members of the game development department, the work had just entered its most crucial stage.

To save time commuting to and from school every day, An and Asuka suggested moving their workplace to their own apartment, a suggestion that was agreed upon by Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri.

However, when they rang the doorbell and saw Marina in her pajamas, both of them showed varying degrees of surprise.

"Excuse me." Kasumigaoka Utaha maintained a composed demeanor, but her wine-red eyes quickly swept over the several pairs of women's slippers neatly arranged in the entryway.

Eriri's reaction was much more straightforward. She stood in the doorway, her bright blue eyes wide open, her gaze shifting from Marina to Shizuka, who was organizing documents in the living room, then to Hoshino Ai, who had just come out of the kitchen with a drink, and finally back to An and Asuka's faces, her expression as complex as if she were solving an unsolvable math problem.

"You... all live here?" she finally asked, her voice filled with undisguised astonishment.

An and Asuka took the towel from Shizuka and dried their rain-soaked hair, speaking as casually as if they were discussing the weather: "Yes, we came to Tokyo together from Aichi, so it's more convenient for us to stay together and look after each other."

While this explanation was reasonable, Eriri's doubts didn't completely disappear. She glanced furtively at Kasumigaoka Utaha, their eyes briefly meeting in the air—

Eriri: Could it be that they... have already done that kind of thing?

Kasumigaoka Utaha: I don't know, but given my junior's personality, it's unlikely.

Eriri: Hmph, who knows? That pervert!

Kasumigaoka Utaha: Observe first, don't forget we're here to work.

The silent exchange lasted only a few seconds. Kasumigaoka Utaha gracefully removed her coat and put on the slippers Shizuka handed her. Seeing this, Eriri could only suppress her doubts and follow her into the living room.

The apartment was more spacious and tidy than I had imagined. A beige carpet covered the center of the living room, and the bookshelves against the wall were crammed with books and documents. In the corner stood a black grand piano, its lid spotless.

The most eye-catching feature is the long table in the center of the living room, which is already neatly set with a graphics tablet, a laptop, and several thick stacks of original artwork—clearly, this place has long been prepared to become a temporary "game development department activity room."

“Well then, let’s begin.” An and Asuka sat down at the head of the long table and turned on their computers. “Marina, Shizuka, and Ai can also join during the summer vacation, which should speed up the process considerably.”

"Huh? Are they going to participate too?" Eriri asked, a little confused. Didn't this guy say before that the three girls were too busy to participate?

"Yeah." Anhe Feiniao Eryi Shanwu Qijiu Liao nodded. "After all, it's summer vacation."

He had previously restricted the three girls from participating in too many activities because balancing their studies and careers was difficult for them. But now that it's summer vacation and they don't need to worry about their studies, they've become much more relaxed.

"Ok."

Eriri understood what An and Asuka were thinking, so she said nothing more.

Anyway, having two more people will definitely make things easier, so why not?

However, what surprised Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha was that they seemed to have underestimated the strength of these three girls.

The first thing that stood out was Marina's professionalism in visual storytelling. When discussing the storyboard design for the game's opening animation, she casually sketched a few drafts in her sketchbook, and the camera transitions were smooth and natural, with clever and precise changes in perspective.

“We can use a close-up transition from the starry sky to the heroine’s eyes here,” Marina explained as she drew. “The vastness of the starry sky contrasts with the reflection in her pupils, suggesting the theme of ‘the universe in her eyes.’”

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at the professional-level storyboard sketches, her wine-red eyes narrowing slightly. She recalled a recent issue of Weekly Shonen Jump where she had stumbled upon a new serialization, "The Vow Under the Starry Night," which used a similar storyboard technique. At the time, she had admired the author's mastery of visual language.

“Marina’s grasp of paneling is very professional,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said casually. “It reminds me of a very popular manga recently, ‘Oath Under the Starry Night’.”

Marina paused, her brush brush hesitating, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Ah... well, actually..."

"Mari is the author of 'The Vow Under the Starry Night,' right?" Hoshino Ai chimed in with a grin, her tone brimming with pride. "Her pen name is 'Mari'!"

A brief silence.

Eriri's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this.

"The Vow Under the Starry Night"! That romance and coming-of-age manga that's all the rage in the art club, and that she herself is following? The author is actually this cheerful and outgoing classmate who often discusses color matching with her in the activity room?

Kasumigaoka Utaha's expression also subtly changed. She truly hadn't expected that her casual question would lead to the discovery of such a formidable creature.

“I see.” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded gently, her tone filled with sincere appreciation. “I’ve seen your work; your control over light and shadow and atmosphere is outstanding.”

Marina scratched her head sheepishly, "I'm... still studying... and thanks to Asuka for always giving me feedback..."

Next up was Shizuka. When discussing the textual expression of the heroine's inner monologue, Kasumigaoka Utaha suggested several revised versions, but she always felt that something was missing.

Shizuka listened quietly and said softly, "Kasumigaoka-senpai's writing is beautiful, but... if you add a metaphor about 'starlight and temperature' here, wouldn't it better reflect the character's feeling of 'being within reach yet unattainable'?"

She took the computer and gently typed a line in the document. And that short line perfectly conveyed the entire meaning of the passage.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stared at the line of text, her wine-red eyes widening slightly. This delicate capture of emotion, this precise use of metaphor, reminded her of a contemporary writer she admired.

"Kuse's writing..." Kasumigaoka Utaha began slowly, "reminds me of 'Shizuka's' style."

The activity room fell silent for a moment.

Shizuka lowered her head slightly, her fingers unconsciously stroking the hem of her skirt, and said in a soft voice, "Um... I am 'Shizuka'."

Eriri's pencil fell onto the table with a "thud".

"Little One's Summer," the series of novels that made her secretly wipe away tears while reading late at night and warmed her countless lonely moments! The author is actually this quiet and gentle girl in front of me, who is always quietly organizing materials in the activity room?

"Wait, wait..." Eriri's voice trembled slightly, "Shizuka-san is 'Shizuka' teacher? Then, when will the tenth volume of 'Little Summer' be published...?"

She covered her mouth before she could finish speaking—asking this at a time like this was extremely rude!

Shizuka smiled gently: "Volume 10 is already in preparation and is expected to be released in the fall. Thank you, Sawamura-kun, for liking my work."

Finally, there's Hoshino. Although she mainly plays a support role, she can sometimes offer quite insightful advice that sounds very professional.

When Marina introduced the other person as an active idol who had received systematic training, even Kasumigaoka Utaha fell into a brief silence.

Manga artist "Mari", novelist "Shizuka", and idol Hoshino Ai, three girls who are making their mark in their respective fields, are all childhood friends of their junior/this guy?

Eriri was completely speechless. She looked at An and Asuka, who were debugging a piece of code with their heads down. Their profiles appeared focused and calm in the light of the computer screen, as if the revelation of these "truths" around them was nothing out of the ordinary.

This guy... has top grades, outstanding musical talent, amazing learning ability, and extensive knowledge... and now he also has "three genius girls gathered around him"?