Green plums cannot become lovers.

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled lightly: "You guys are really addicted. This efficiency would make even capitalists weep."

Everyone's eyes were drawn to An and Asuka.

An and Asuka stopped and turned to face them. The festival lanterns formed a warm river of light behind him, casting flickering shadows on his face.

“There won’t be a ‘next time’ for now,” he said slowly, his voice carrying clearly through the noise. “At least not in the short term.”

The girls were stunned.

“I’ve seen how much everyone has sacrificed for the game over the past three months.” An and Asuka’s gaze swept over each person’s face.

He recalled every day of hard work everyone had put in for this game during the summer vacation. They all seemed to have put in their best effort until the day the game was completed, when they finally relaxed.

“That’s not a normal, sustainable workload. We’ve overworked ourselves.”

He paused, his tone softening, but with undeniable concern: "Now that the game is won, what we should do is not rush to the next 'battle,' but to rest well and return to a normal life."

And school is about to start, Marina's manga serialization is resuming, Shizuka's novel needs a new volume to prepare, Ai's training and activities will only increase, and Kasumigaoka-senpai still has follow-up work on "Love Metronome." And me...”

He smiled slightly. "I also have some things I need to focus on."

These words silenced the girls. The clamor of the festival seemed to be separated by a layer, and a quiet and solemn atmosphere filled the small circle they had formed.

Marina lowered her head and kicked a pebble at her feet: "But... it's really fun when we play games together."

“Being happy doesn’t mean endlessly pushing yourself.” An and Asuka reached out and ruffled her hair, the gesture as natural as if they’d done it a thousand times before. “We have a long time ahead of us, and many opportunities to create together again. But not now. Right now, you need to build up your strength for your own dreams and paths.”

Shizuka nodded gently. She was always the one who understood the deeper meaning in An and Asuka's words the most: "Asuka is right. We can't lose our way because of one success. Only when our foundations are solid can we go further in the future and make our cooperation last longer."

Eriri turned her face away and muttered softly, "I know, I know... You're making it sound like we're immature kids."

Xiao Ai nodded vigorously, her ponytail swaying back and forth: "Yes! I'll listen to Asuka! I'll focus on being a good idol and studying hard!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't express her opinion, but simply nodded in agreement.

The discussion seemed to have come to an end. The group continued to wander aimlessly through the festival streets, passing through the air filled with the sweet aroma of fried noodles and cotton candy, past the laughter of goldfish scooping and ring toss games, and past racks adorned with prayer plaques. Silence flowed among them, but not awkwardly; rather, it was a tacit understanding and relaxation born from having weathered storms together and shared glory.

No words are needed; each other's very presence is a comfort.

A deep, resounding boom echoed from the distant river, followed by the first firework bursting brilliantly in the dark blue night sky. Golden rays of light fell like raindrops, illuminating the upturned faces of the young men and women.

Then came the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth... Crimson, indigo, silver-white—a series of dazzling colors exploded one after another, painting the night sky into a flowing scroll of light. The roaring sounds, the gasps of the crowd, the shouts of children—all mingled together, creating the grandest symphony of late summer.

An and Asuka stood at the edge of the crowd, looking up at the sky that was constantly being lit up and then returning to darkness. The light of the fireworks flickered in his clear pupils, reflecting a distant yet resolute thought.

Marina squeezed next to him, excitedly pointing to the sky: "Look, Asuka! That purple one is huge!"

Shizuka stood a little behind, her hands clasped together, silently making a wish upon the fireworks. Ai jumped around happily, while Kasumigaoka Utaha remained elegant, a faint, genuine smile playing on her lips.

Eriri stole a glance at the profile of the boy beside her. The flickering light of the fireworks outlined his defined jawline and straight nose. He was watching intently, as if searching for something eternal in those fleeting glitters.

At that moment, she suddenly felt that this always calm and composed young man might be hiding a story in his heart that was more vast than the starry sky and more lonely than fireworks.

As the hustle and bustle of the festival faded, life was quickly filled with the busyness of the new school term.

The new semester at Toyonosaki Academy has been unusually disrupted by the unexpected popularity of "Where the Stars Lie." As An and Asuka walk through the campus, they constantly feel gazes from all directions—curious, inquisitive, envious, and occasionally a few less friendly ones.

"Look, that's An and Asuka, the genius in the first year. I heard that he was the one who spearheaded that really popular game."

"Really? Isn't that a commercial work released by Rouge En Rouge? How much involvement can high school students have?"

"Who knows? Anyway, the name matches. He's always been number one in his grade, and now he can even make games, tsk tsk."

"I saw the recruitment poster for the game development department before, and I thought it was just a small-scale operation... I regret it so much!"

"Don't even think about it. He's a big shot now, he wouldn't just hire anyone."

Rumors followed him relentlessly, but An and Feibiao remained steadfast in their attitude. He nodded to every classmate he encountered, polite and courteous, neither deliberately overly friendly nor coldly distant.

Until he turned the corner in the corridor and met Aki Tomoya again.

Both of them stopped in their tracks at the same time. An and Asuka were prepared to respond to the other's words, which might be tinged with resentment or provocation, just like their previous unpleasant encounters.

However, Aki Tomoya raised his head and gave him a complicated look.

There was a mix of emotions in his eyes: three parts shock, three parts frustration, three parts bewilderment, and one part that was hard to decipher.

His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just quickly lowered his head, turned sideways and hurriedly walked past An and Asuka, even subconsciously making way for them.

An and Asuka watched his figure disappear at the end of the corridor, raising an eyebrow slightly. It seemed that the success of "Where the Stars Lead" had made some people clearly see the gap, and they had even lost the courage to maintain a facade of victory.

"Fine," he said calmly, turning around and continuing toward his classroom.

This also saves unnecessary trouble.

The hustle and bustle of the first day of school gradually subsided. After the school bell rang, An and Asuka did not go home immediately, but walked alone to the laboratory building.

The activity room on the third floor waited quietly. He lifted the dust covers from the tables and chairs, and fine dust particles danced in the slanting beams of the setting sun. He gave it a quick sweep, restoring the space that held their dreams and efforts to its pristine state.

The whiteboard still stood in the corner, its densely packed writing mostly completed—plot points, character relationship diagrams, records of overcoming technical challenges. He picked up the eraser, hesitated for a moment, and finally wiped away all the writing one by one. The black ink turned into grayish-white dust and fell away in a soft rustling, like a silent farewell.

The whiteboard was clean again, reflecting the gradually dimming light of the sky outside the window.

New plans? He doesn't have any yet. At least, not the kind involving teamwork.

He sat down in his usual chair, without turning on the light. Dusk seeped in through the window, bathing the room in a tranquil blue-gray hue.

it's time.

He closed his eyes, his thoughts stirring slightly. A familiar, translucent screen unfolded in his consciousness, gleaming with a faint blue light.

【Name: Anwa Asuka】

【property:

Strength: 10 (Current maximum reached)

Speed: 10 (Current limit reached)

Intelligence: 15 (Learning has no limits, and genius has no peak)

Talent: 15 (Art has no limits, inspiration has no end)

Appearance: 10 (There's no such thing as "most handsome," only "more handsome." Who can truly unify humanity's aesthetic standards?)

【技能：吉他Lv5、钢琴Lv5、小提琴Lv4、作曲/编曲Lv5、编程Lv4、游戏引擎掌握Lv3、英语Lv4......（共计28项技能）】

[Fan Value: 498,410]

His gaze lingered on the last line of numbers for a long time.

498,410.

It's less than 2,600 points away from 500,000.

My heart beat steadily and powerfully in my chest, but a deeper throbbing, like a new sprout breaking through the soil, spread slowly and firmly with a touch of painful anticipation.

More than three years have passed. From the shock and worry of learning that the girl had little time left to live, to the desperate gamble after accepting the system's mission.

Practicing piano until fingers were numb, studying late into the night, seizing every opportunity to gain "attention"—street performances, online submissions, forming bands, making games.

All the seemingly spontaneous displays of talent, all the amazing “gifts,” are tied to an invisible thread. On the other end of that thread is the girl who made a promise to him in the snow to “find me soon.”

He opened his left palm, and his right index finger unconsciously wrote stroke by stroke on the dusty table. Where his fingertip traced, the dust receded, leaving clear marks:

Palace—Garden—Incense.

The three words, though crooked and twisted, carried immense weight.

Just a little bit more.

He was just a hair's breadth away from pushing open that tightly closed door, touching that world isolated by disease and distance, and fulfilling the promise etched into his very bones on that snowy winter day.

He slowly curled his fingers and clenched his palm, as if trying to hold onto that name, and all the memories, emotions, and determination that surged up with it.

The fireworks will eventually fade, the festival will eventually come to an end, and the story of summer will temporarily come to a close.

But some journeys are only just beginning to reach their truly important starting point.

He raised his head and gazed at the boundless night sky outside the window. His eyes were as calm as a deep pool, but in the deepest part of that pool, sparks had already begun to ignite.

Find her.

Heal her.

Bring her back to see the cherry blossoms.

This is an agreement.

The September wind began to carry a hint of autumn, pouring in through the open windows of the Toyonosaki Academy experimental building, stirring a corner of the activity room curtains, and brushing against the girls' hair of various colors.

The afternoon sun, no longer as scorching as in midsummer, had become gentle and clear, casting a warm, golden glow on the long wooden table, illuminating the open sketchbooks, scattered notes, and cups of steaming tea.

Although the "Where the Stars Lead" project has come to a successful conclusion, the tense atmosphere of focused creation in the game development department's activity room has been replaced by a more relaxed and leisurely atmosphere. However, this is still their most frequent "gathering place" after school.

Marina, biting the end of her pencil, frowned at the unfinished manga storyboard sketches on the digital screen; Shizuka leaned against the window, a thick book of literary theory open on her lap, occasionally looking up at the window in a daze.

Ai lay on the table, wearing headphones and quietly singing along to the latest idol training song; Kasumigaoka Utaha occupied the other end of the long table, her laptop screen displaying the initial manuscript of the fourth volume of "Love Metronome".

However, the time displayed on the computer's word processing software is quite interesting.

Typing time: 03:11

Free time: 2:15:00

Eriri is having her nth "friendly exchange" of the day with Kasumigaoka Utaha about the details of a supporting character's costume design.

"This kind of lace design is so outdated, Sawamura-kun. Your aesthetic needs an update." Kasumigaoka Utaha said without looking up, unleashing her full scathing tongue.

"Huh? What do you know! This is a recreation of the classic romantic style! Only the lighting and shadows in this scene can create that hazy, dreamlike feeling!" Eriri's bright blue eyes widened, and she forcefully poked at the design drawing on her tablet. "People who don't understand art shouldn't make random comments!"

"Oh? It seems someone has forgotten those costume designers in 'Where the Stars Lead' whose problems I pointed out incisively, and whose final revisions improved the effect by 200%?"

"Th-those are two different things!"

Amidst this familiar background noise of bickering, the door to the activity room was gently pushed open, and An and Asuka walked in carrying their schoolbags.

Instead of heading straight to his seat as usual, he paused briefly at the doorway, his gaze sweeping over each girl in the room.

Noticing his unusual behavior, the noise in the activity room gradually subsided. Even Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha, who were engaged in a fierce battle, stopped their exchange and looked at him with confusion.

“Um,” An and Asuka said, their voices clear and calm, yet they made everyone’s hearts skip a beat, “I probably won’t be able to come to the activity room every day for the next few days.”

"Huh?"

The first to react was none other than Eriri, who had been so aggressive just moments before. She seemed to be frozen in place, her expression momentarily contorted before shifting to clear astonishment and a barely perceptible hint of panic.

She almost instinctively asked, "Why? Why?"

Was it because she had argued too loudly with Kasumigaoka earlier? Or was it because... he felt there was no need to come here anymore after finishing the game? Various guesses instantly filled her mind, causing her fingers holding the pressure-sensitive pen to tighten unconsciously.

Looking into her slightly widened, confused, and uneasy blue eyes, An and Asuka gently shook their heads and explained in a calm tone, "It's not the activity room's fault, nor is it everyone's fault. It's my own... I need to focus on something else for a while."

He paused, then, meeting the concerned gazes of the crowd, uttered the words that made Eriri's heart skip a beat:

"It's time to start preparing for the new album."

"New...new album?"

Eriri repeated the word, her voice trembling slightly from the sudden shock, even stuttering a little, "R-really? You're releasing... a new album?"

Since that rainy day, the truth exploded before her like a thunderbolt—the musician she admired, "Asuka," was the boy in front of her who would argue with her about character design, patiently teach her programming basics, and brew barley tea in the activity room.

The fan-loving part of her heart stirred day and night. Countless times she opened the Bicobico account she had been following for so long, watching the date of the last post increase day by day, feeling both anticipation and trepidation. She wanted to ask, but was afraid of appearing too eager, too unreserved, or... too much like she was asking for something.

Now, the news that she had been silently waiting for for so long, but never had the courage to ask, came out of his mouth without any warning.

The overwhelming surprise, like a sweet cannonball, instantly pierced through all her haughty facade. Eriri felt her cheeks burning, her heart pounding, a mixture of excitement, exhilaration, and a certain "I knew it" pride making her almost jump out of her chair.

She pressed her lips tightly together, barely managing to suppress the cheer that almost escaped her lips, but her strikingly bright blue eyes and slightly trembling fingertips completely betrayed the surging emotions within her.

“Yes.” An and Asuka nodded, confirming her question. “It’s not a mini-album like last year’s with only three or four songs. It’s a full-length album. We’ve already finalized the plan with Sister Zhu Yin.”

While the other girls' reactions weren't as dramatic as Eriri's, their joy and congratulations were equally genuine.

Marina immediately put down her pencil, clapped her hands, and exclaimed with a bright smile, "Great! Asuka's new album! I'm going to buy ten copies to support her!"

Shizuka closed the book in her hands, her gentle eyes curving into a smile: "Congratulations, Asuka. I'm really looking forward to hearing your complete new work."

Xiao Ai took off her headphones, her purple eyes filled with admiration: "Feiniao is going to do something amazing again! Do you need my help with promotion? I can talk to her manager!"

Even Kasumigaoka Utaha stopped typing, her wine-red eyes looking at Anwa Asuka, a rare, genuinely approving smile curving her lips.

"Have you finally decided? With your inventory and creative speed, this album should have been released long ago. It seems that the previous game project really took up too much of your energy."

Her words, as always, carried a keen insight, as if she had long seen through An and Asuka's musical accumulation, which was almost overflowing.

An and Asuka smiled in response to Kasumigaoka Utaha's comment, without denying it. He turned to the group and said seriously, "So, for the next while, I'll probably be going to the recording studio at Rouge En Rouge after school. Arranging, recording, post-production... there's a lot to do, so I might not be able to come to the activity room as often."