Green plums cannot become lovers.

The market reaction was even more enthusiastic than Akane Akasaka's most optimistic predictions.

On its first day of release, the user review section of the Stream store page was flooded with positive reviews:

"I was captivated by the music and visuals within the first five minutes... Is this really an indie game?"

"The three female leads are so well-developed! They are lively yet delicate, quiet yet resilient, and gentle beneath their cool exteriors... Each character is brought to life."

"The text quality is amazing! It's not the kind of formulaic dialogue found in visual novels; it's a truly moving story. I even cried when I played the third chapter..."

"The CG is so beautiful it could be used as wallpaper! Every frame of the starry sky scene is a work of art!"

"The music deserves special praise! When will the soundtrack be released? I definitely need to buy it!"

"4800 yen? This quality is worth 20000 yen!"

While receiving rave reviews, sales figures are also climbing rapidly. Stream sold over 2000 units on its first day, and data from other platforms such as DMM is equally impressive. Pre-orders for the limited physical edition are even more popular, with some stores exceeding 500 pre-orders within three days, forcing them to urgently increase their quotas.

On social media, discussions about *Where the Stars Fly* spread rapidly. Classic lines from the game were screenshotted and shared, CG sequences were parodied, and music clips were used as background music for short videos. Players even spontaneously formed communities to discuss story branches, share gameplay experiences, and create fan art!

Akane Kousaka compiles the latest sales data and user feedback into a daily report and sends it to the team group. Each update to the numbers elicits small gasps and cheers from the girls. The tangible feeling of their creations being recognized and loved by countless strangers is more exhilarating than any praise.

Late August, Akihabara.

As usual, Aki Tomoya spent his weekend afternoons visiting various game and anime stores, searching for potentially overlooked gems or noteworthy new titles. His "Game Research Club" project was progressing well; the proposal was already written, and the next steps involved writing the text, artwork, and music.

They've taken a giant leap forward, and he believes it won't be long before they create a masterpiece!

As he walked into his usual gaming section, his eyes were drawn to a refreshing blue color on the counter.

That was a prominent spot in the new releases section, where an exquisite promotional display stand stood. The main visual of the stand was a picture of three girls standing side by side gazing at the starry sky, with a deep and dazzling Milky Way in the background. The title, "Where the Stars Lead," was in a handwritten font, and the bottom right corner read "Released by Rouge En Rouge."

The display stand featured excerpts from user reviews: "The most healing encounter this summer," "A perfect fusion of words and music," and "A delightful surprise among indie games."

The price tag reads: Digital version 4800 yen, physical limited edition 10000 yen (including bonus items).

"Oh? A new release from Rouge En Rouge?" Aki Tomoya leaned closer.

He recognized the company; he knew it had various business segments including comics, novels, and idols, but seemed to have limited involvement in the gaming industry. The fact that it was displayed so prominently suggested the store had high hopes for the game.

There happened to be two customers who looked like college students discussing something nearby.

"Is this the game 'Where the Stars Are Leading,' which has been getting a lot of buzz on the forum lately?"

The boy wearing glasses picked up a physical sample box and carefully examined the cover.

"Yes, I heard that Xiao Guang cleared the game yesterday and cried his eyes out."

The other person took out his phone and was looking at something. "He was raving about it on Twitter, saying it was the best visual novel he'd played this year, bar none. The text, art, and music were all top-notch."

"That's incredible? Can indie games really go this far?"

"That's why it's so popular. Look at the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Stream; it reportedly sold over 10,000 units in its first week. And..."

The man lowered his voice, "I heard the production team's average age is less than eighteen, it seems to be made by a few high school students."

"High school student? Really?!"

"The official Rouge En Rouge team didn't say anything, but it seems that a few participants have hinted at it on Twitter. Anyway... it's terrifyingly powerful."

Aki Tomoya listened to their conversation, a thought suddenly striking him. A team of high school students with an average age of under eighteen? They created a game that sold over 10,000 copies in its first week and received rave reviews?

A sense of crisis regarding music welled up in Aki Tomoya's heart, and a bad thought popped into his mind.

But he quickly dismissed the thought. How could that guy have done it? They couldn't even get a team together.

He picked up a physical sample copy. The packaging design was indeed exquisite, the starry sky painting on the cover was of extremely high quality, and the character illustrations and scene previews on the back were also of excellent quality. The original soundtrack CD and art book included with the limited edition were also a testament to the company's sincerity.

"Excuse me..." Aki Tomoya turned to the clerk, "If I buy this game now, do I get all the limited edition bonuses?"

"Yes, the initial batch of bonus items is plentiful," the clerk replied enthusiastically. "This game has been selling very well recently, and the reviews are high. Many customers come back to buy a second copy as a gift for their friends."

Aki Tomoya hesitated for a few seconds. 10000 yen was not a small amount for a student, but fortunately he worked part-time often and was quite well-off.

"Then... give me a limited edition."

As Aki Tomoya walked out of the store carrying his shopping bags, his feelings were somewhat complicated. The weight of the game inside seemed heavier than he had expected.

After quickly returning to his room, Aki Tomoya unpacked the package.

The limited edition is indeed well-made: it includes the game box, original soundtrack CD case, full-color art book, special booklet, and one of three mini shikishi (art boards) included randomly.

He first put the original CD into the player, and a clear piano prelude flowed out, which was the theme song called "Beyond Memory".

With its beautiful melody, exquisite arrangement, and delicate emotional expression, this level of skill could never be the work of an amateur.

"I'd like to see just how impressive this is compared to my game."

With a thought of comparison in mind, Aki Tomoya turned on his computer and inserted the game disc.

Install and run.

The quality of the opening animation surprised him once again—the storyboarding was professional, the animation was stable, and the atmosphere was exceptionally well-crafted. When the title screen appeared and the background music started playing, Aki Tomoya had completely abandoned his initial dismissive attitude of "I'll see how good they are."

He clicked "Start Game".

Then, they played for four hours straight.

I was completely immersed in it.

The text was far more nuanced than he had expected; the characters' dialogues were natural and realistic, the psychological descriptions were precise and accurate, and the plot unfolded with a good balance of tension and release.

He originally intended to quickly browse through the pages to look for any flaws or clichés, but he was unknowingly drawn into the atmosphere of that summer town, becoming interested in every interaction and every choice made by the protagonist and the girls.

The original artwork is impeccable, with vivid and endearing character designs and rich, expressive expressions; the scenes are full of life, and the lighting and shadows create a powerful atmosphere; the event CGs are beautifully composed and highly expressive. In particular, the key starry sky scenes are magnificent, profound, and beautiful enough to captivate the viewer.

And the music... Aki Tomoya even paused the game several times to listen specifically to certain background music. It wasn't just "pleasant to listen to," but truly integrated into the narrative, becoming an indispensable part of the emotional expression. In some melodies, he could even clearly feel the loneliness, hope, tenderness, and relief flowing within the notes.

Is this really something a high school student could make?

Four hours later, the game reached the ending of the first route. "Beyond Memories" played again, and the credits began to roll.

Aki Tomoya leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath. His eyes were a little sore, and his chest was filled with a sense of fulfillment from being moved by a good story.

He lost.

He had already suffered a crushing defeat before the official competition even began.

His "project," which was still undergoing repeated script revisions and hadn't even assembled a core team, was like a child's doodle compared to a master's oil painting when compared to the work before him, which was outstanding in terms of completion, quality, and emotional expression.

Resentment, envy, frustration, admiration... a complex mix of emotions churned within me.

Just then, the credits, scrolling to the very end, suddenly caught Rukia Kojima's attention.

[Production staff]

Planning, Director, Programming, and Music: Anhe Asuka

Script: Shizuka Kuze, Utaha Kasumigaoka

Original illustrations and character designs: Marina Kirasaka, Eriri Sawamura

Artwork assistance: Ai Hoshino

Special thanks to: Akane Kousaka

Aki Tomoya's pupils suddenly contracted.

His breathing stopped.

My fingers hovered stiffly above the mouse.

My eyes were fixed on those names on the screen—

Each name was like a heavy hammer blow, slamming into his understanding.

It was the words 'Anhe Asuka' that made him almost unable to breathe.

The game that captivated him for four hours, moved him to tears, and forced him to admit in his heart that it was "perfect"... was actually made by those few people?

Was it An and Asuka who were in charge?

The room was eerily quiet. The only sounds were the low hum of the computer fan and the distant noise of traffic outside the window.

Aki Tomoya sat blankly in his chair, staring at the production credits frozen on the screen, his mind completely blank.

Then, a wave of emotion ten times stronger than before, a mixture of shock, disbelief, a sense of absurdity, and a near-despairing realization, overwhelmed him like a tsunami.

He recalled their chance encounter in the lab building corridor, An and Asuka's calm, tearful words, "That's enough," and the composed demeanor of the two girls beside him.

It turns out that it wasn't just a bluff.

It turns out that this was the most understated statement from someone who already held the trump card to someone who was still collecting cards.

As if he had lost all his strength and ability, Aki Tomoya lay down on the chair and gradually slid to the ground like a puddle of liquid.

That guy

That guy!!!

Outside the window, Tokyo's night was deep. The city lights, like a galaxy on the ground, were dazzling yet cold, reflecting off the only lit computer screen in his room.

On the screen, the ending scene of "Where the Stars Fly" remains there—a boy and a girl sit side by side on the top of the observatory, gazing up at the boundless starry sky.

Meanwhile, off-screen, another boy was seeing for the first time with such clarity the vast, despair-inducing distance between himself and that boy.

He remembered the "one-year promise" he had shouted earlier, and suddenly had a suicidal thought.

How could he have the nerve to say something like that?

No, isn't that guy a bit too amazing? The group was only founded in June, and it's not even September yet, and they've already produced such an amazing work in just three months?

The more Aki Tomoya thought about it, the more frustrated and unable to accept it became.

Is the gap between them really that big?

P.S.: The pricing issue has been corrected.

Volume 1: Chapter 178 That Girl

The popularity of "Where the Stars Fly" is like a refreshing autumn breeze, sweeping through the entire ACG culture circle, and its afterglow lingers for a long time.

Akane Akasaka flipped through the sales report; the upward curve and the continuous influx of media reviews made her afternoon in the office seem exceptionally bright.

She picked up her slightly cooled coffee, her gaze falling on the profit forecast at the end of the report, a genuine and satisfied smile playing on her lips. The aloof boy who played drums at her junior high school anniversary celebration three years ago had now grown into a pivotal figure capable of stirring up waves. She couldn't help but marvel once again at the accuracy of her initial judgment.

Lost in thought, she picked up her phone and dialed that familiar number.

"Hello, Grandma Tendo, it's me, Akane."

"Xiaoqian," came Anhe Tiantong's gentle voice from the receiver, with the faint clinking of teaware in the background, "You're calling at this hour, do you have any good news to tell me?"

Akane Akasaka relaxed and leaned back in her chair, the Tokyo sky outside the window clear and bright. "It's about the game made by that kid Asuka. The first-week data is out, and both sales and reviews have exceeded our most optimistic expectations. Many professional media outlets have given it high scores, and the feedback from the player community has been very enthusiastic."

She paused, her voice filled with genuine laughter and a touch of emotion: "Grandma Tendo, he did it. A work led by a team of high school students has achieved success both commercially and artistically."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by Anhe Tiantong's soft laughter, which contained relief, pride, and a long-settled sense of peace.

"Is that so...that child never disappoints."

Her voice was soft, as if she were telling a treasured secret, "Although I don't understand those games, I know that as long as that child does something seriously, it will definitely be good. He has the persistence and pride that Anhe family has inherited in his bones, but he uses it in a broader and warmer place."

Akane Akane could imagine the old man's expression at that moment—his eyes must be gentle and radiant, and the lines etched by time must be filled with love.

"How has he been lately? He must be exhausted," Anhe Tiantong asked with concern.

"It looks alright, but it's definitely not easy. However, the team atmosphere is great, those girls..." Akane Akane recalled the warm and noisy scenes in the apartment, her smile deepening, "They take good care of him and support each other. You don't need to worry."

"That's good. Having true friends by your side is better than anything else." Anhe Tiantong sighed softly, "Xiaoqian, thank you for taking care of him all this time."

“It’s what I should do.” Akane Akasaka looked out the window at the rows of tall buildings, her gaze distant. “Moreover, it is a kind of luck for me to witness such growth.”

The call ended, and silence returned to the office. The numbers on the report remained striking, but Akane Akasaka felt a more complex mix of emotions. That boy's path seemed even broader and more limitless than she had imagined.

On the last day of August, the summer heat lingered, but the night breeze carried a hint of coolness. The festival along the Sumida River was brightly lit and bustling with activity, creating a vibrant and lively scene.

An and Asuka, dressed in simple yukatas, moved slowly with the flow of people. Marina and Eriri were drawn to a shooting game by the roadside and were struggling with a doll that didn't look very smart. Shizuka and Ai stood in front of the goldfish stand, carefully trying to scoop up the lively and cunning little creatures.

Kasumigaoka Utaha, on the other hand, seemed listless, simply following behind the group, occasionally glancing at the noisy crowd with her wine-red eyes, her gaze always eventually settling back on the back of the boy walking at the front.

"Flying Bird, what kind of game should we make next time?"

Marina finally gave up shooting, clutching the small keychain she had won, and excitedly approached An and Asuka, "RPG? Action-adventure? Or should we continue making visual novels?"

Shizuka also came over carrying a plastic bag containing two small goldfish and gently joined the discussion: "If it's an RPG, the world view and character settings will need a much larger framework."

"Action games require strong programming support and motion design..." Eriri thought seriously for once, "But if it's Anwa-kun, he should be able to learn it quickly, right?"

Hoshino Ai winked: "I'm fine with anything! I can help design the choreography or singing parts!"