Green plums cannot become lovers.

"How about... we leave first? Let's give someone some room to maneuver?"

"Hey, why are you leaving! You all know Xiao Xun is shy! Anhe, tell me! Have you been plotting against Xiao Xun all along?!"

The ward door was opened wide again, and Sawabe Tsubaki, Watari Ryota, and Kashiwagi Nao crowded in the doorway, their faces filled with excitement at "catching a big news story," good-natured teasing, and a burning passion for gossip.

Even the usually composed Arima Kousei stood a little behind, his face showing a helpless yet somewhat amused expression, clearly also quite shaken by what had just happened.

Kaori Miyazono shrank completely under the covers, revealing only her wet, blushing amber eyes and half of her flushed cheeks. She wished she could disappear into the ground or bury herself completely under the covers.

Her bold response to that kiss had exhausted all the courage she had mustered during her illness. Now, facing the teasing looks and jokes from her friends, she could only bury her head in the sand like an ostrich.

An and Asuka stood by the bed, becoming the only barrier against the "firepower." His face was slightly unnatural, and the heat in his ears had not completely subsided, but his expression had regained most of its composure.

He cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation away from that awkward morning kiss: "You've arrived? You brought quite a lot of things."

"Don't change the subject, Anwa-kun!" Sawabe Tsubaki wasn't buying it. Hands on her hips, her eyes flashing menacingly, "Confess now! When did it start? Was it back in our hometown... Ugh!"

Before she could finish speaking, Kashiwagi Nao gently tugged at her sleeve, signaling her not to go too far.

Ryota Watari stroked his chin, looking like he'd seen it all along: "No wonder Kaoru's eyes light up every time she mentions 'Asuka'... So that's what it was all about! You guys kept it a secret for a long time!"

Arima Kousei finally spoke, his tone gentle yet with a hint of seriousness as he asked, "Anwa-kun, Kaoru's health... won't getting too emotional have any impact?"

His concern was genuine, and his gaze was filled with worry as he looked at Kaori Miyazono.

An and Asuka replied seriously, "Thank you for your concern, Arima-kun. I'll be careful and won't let her get too tired." This answer indirectly acknowledged a certain relationship while cleverly avoiding a direct response to the specific question of "when it started."

The group then engaged in some lighthearted and indirect questioning, leaving behind the game consoles, snacks, and new comics they had brought. They promised not to tell their aunt and uncle, and only after Kaori Miyazono protested in embarrassment and An and Asuka reluctantly promised to "treat you to dinner next time" did they leave the ward with a laugh. Before leaving, they thoughtfully closed the door, leaving behind an ambiguous look that seemed to say, "You guys continue."

The ward finally returned to silence, with only the two of them breathing slightly rapidly, and the air thick with an intense, almost palpable, sweetness and awkwardness.

An and Asuka turned around and looked at the girl on the hospital bed who was almost wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon.

Kaori Miyazono remained huddled under the covers, only half of her face showing. The blush on her cheeks showed no signs of fading, and even the tips of her ears were bright red.

Her eyes darted away, unable to meet his gaze. The boldness with which she had just embraced his neck and deepened the kiss seemed like an illusion; now, only endless shyness and belated panic remained.

Seeing her like this, An and Asuka finally couldn't help but let their tightly clenched lips curve upwards into a clear arc, a low laugh escaping their throats. It wasn't mockery, but rather a smile full of pleasure and a gentle, relieved feeling, like a burden being lifted.

The laughter reached Kaori Miyazono's ears, making her feel as if she had been burned. She quickly pulled the blanket up even higher, and a muffled voice came from under the covers: "What...what are you laughing at!"

The girl's tone was tinged with embarrassment and annoyance, but it lacked any real power.

An and Fei Niao walked to the bedside and gently patted her arched belly through the blanket: "Qi Er Yi San? Ling Shi (Jiu?) Qi San Si, now you know how to be shy? Just now..."

He paused deliberately.

"Just now... just now that was..." Kaori Miyazono's voice grew even more muffled as she tried to explain, but couldn't find the right words. In the end, she could only mutter in despair, "You... you were the one who kissed me first..."

Although she was the one who took the initiative to hug him and not let go... she didn't dare say that.

"Yes, it's my fault." An and Asuka readily admitted their "crime," their tone devoid of any reluctance, but rather tinged with indulgence. Instead of continuing the topic and making her more embarrassed, he held out his hand, palm up, to the edge of the blanket. "Alright, don't stay cooped up. Want to get up and wash up? I brought your blueberry muffins and honey milk, but they might be a little cold; you'll need to heat them up."

The blanket stirred a few times, and a slender, fair hand with pink fingertips slowly emerged from the edge of the blanket, hesitantly placing itself gently on his warm, dry palm.

An and Asuka took her hand and gently pulled her out of bed. Kaori Miyazono's hair was a little messy, with a few strands sticking to her flushed cheeks. Her eyes still sparkled with shyness, but she finally dared to look up at him.

The next second, An and Asuka bent down, just like yesterday, supporting her back with one hand and slipping the other under her knees, steadily lifting her up horizontally. The sudden feeling of weightlessness made Kaori Miyazono gasp softly, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.

A familiar embrace, a familiar scent. But unlike the pure comfort of yesterday, this intimate contact, because of that kiss and the unspoken understanding that had just been established, carried a completely new, heart-pounding meaning. Kaori Miyazono gently rested her burning cheek against his shoulder, able to clearly hear the intertwined heartbeats of theirs, thump, thump, fast and loud.

An and Asuka carried her, their steps steady as they walked towards the private washroom inside the ward. During this short walk, silence returned, but it was no longer the quiet or awkward stillness of before; instead, it was a sweet tension filled with a subtle electric current.

Finally, Kaori Miyazono's voice, nestled on his shoulder, trembled slightly but carried immense courage as she softly uttered the question that had been swirling in her mind since earlier, making her restless:

"That... Asuka..."

"Ok?"

"What...what is our relationship now?"

After asking the question, she immediately wanted to bury her face even deeper. Good heavens, how could she have asked such a blunt question! But... but they'd already kissed, they couldn't still be "their most important friends," could they?

An and Asuka paused almost imperceptibly. He could feel the stiffness and tension in the girl's body in his arms, and the arms around his neck tightened unconsciously.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead carried her into the bathroom, carefully placed her on a cushioned chair, and then turned to squeeze toothpaste and get warm water for her.

His silence made Kaori Miyazono's heart sink deeper and deeper. Could it be... could it be that he was just acting on impulse?

Just as she was about to fall into a panic of self-doubt, An and Asuka handed her a toothbrush with toothpaste already squeezed out and a cup of warm water, then squatted down in front of her, their eyes level.

He looked into her somewhat uneasy and evasive eyes, his face showing no mockery or hesitation, only a clear and earnest expression.

"Hmm..." He deliberately dragged out the sound, as if he was seriously considering an extremely complex problem.

The drawn-out tone made Kaori Miyazono's heart leap into her throat. She couldn't help but look up at him, glaring at him with a mixture of grievance and annoyance: "Hey! You, you wouldn't... be trying to back out, would you?"

Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness and a touch of hurt that she herself was unaware of; she had been so proactive.

An and Asuka looked at her, their smiles deepening, but they shook their heads. "How could that be?"

He asked softly, then reached out and gently wiped away the few tears that had welled up in her eyes again with his fingertips. "I was just thinking..."

He paused, his gaze fixed on her eyes, his tone carrying a rare, almost mischievous probing: "Xiao Xun, it seems you've never said you liked me before? Am I 'plotting something'? What if... Xiao Xun doesn't like it?"

Kaori Miyazono was stunned.

Immediately, a strong surge of emotion, a mixture of misunderstanding and a desperate urge, welled up within her. Almost without thinking, she blurted out:

"How could I not like you! I like you!"

A clear and loud sound echoed in the small washroom.

The moment the words left her lips, Kaori Miyazono herself froze. She looked at An and Asuka's deep eyes, which suddenly lit up as if they had fallen into a galaxy, and belatedly realized what she had said. Her cheeks flushed bright red again, more vividly than ever before.

"Ah—!! You, you bad guy! You big bad guy!" She was filled with shame and indignation, and raised her weak fist to punch his shoulder, but he gently grabbed her wrist.

An and Asuka could no longer hide their smiles; their smiles were like the rising sun breaking through the clouds, warm and bright, carrying an unprecedented sense of relief and joy.

He held her hand, and with his other hand gently embraced her waist, which trembled slightly from embarrassment and anger, and pulled her towards him.

His forehead gently touched hers, their noses met, and they could hear each other's breath. At such close range, Kaori Miyazono could clearly see her reflection in his eyes, and the deep, unyielding affection in them.

“I like Xiaoxun too.” His voice was deep and gentle, like the most melodious sound of a cello, each word striking her heart clearly. “It’s not the liking of a friend, not the appreciation of a musical partner. It’s the kind of liking that I want to be by your side forever, that I want to see you playing the cello, running, and laughing happily, that I want you to be my girlfriend…”

The world seemed to stand still at that moment.

All the shyness, panic, and gloom brought by illness were dispelled by this straightforward and solemn confession. Kaori Miyazono's tears rolled down again without warning, but this time, they were pure tears of happiness.

She looked at the boy who was so close to her, the boy she had liked for so long and waited for for so long, and looked into his eyes that were full of tenderness and promise. The last bit of unease in her heart vanished.

"Well......"

She uttered a muffled syllable, unable to speak any more. All words seemed inadequate. She simply stretched out her arms and hugged his neck tightly, burying her tear-streaked face deep in the crook of his neck, nodding vigorously, and nodding again and again.

An and Asuka felt the dampness on her neck and the trembling yet real body in their arms. They tightened their arms, holding her even more firmly in their embrace.

The morning sunlight streamed through the small window of the bathroom, falling perfectly on the two people embracing, gilding them with a brilliant golden edge.

Outside the window, the autumn sky was clear and bright, and the ginkgo leaves were dazzlingly golden.

Volume 1: Chapter 181 The Battle of Childhood Sweethearts

The morning light spread through the ward, diluting the smell of disinfectant and leaving a warm and cozy atmosphere. Kaori Miyazono sat back up on the raised headboard, with soft pillows behind her and a thin blanket carefully tucked in by An and Asuka.

A faint blush lingered on her face, but her eyes were bright, and a sweet smile lingered on her lips, like a contented yet slightly shy kitten whose fur had been carefully stroked.

An and Asuka sat on a chair by the bed, holding a rosy apple and a small fruit knife. He bent over, intently peeling the fruit. The silver blade sliced ​​through the flesh with a soft "shh" sound, and thin, even strips of peel dripped down in continuous layers.

His movements were practiced and steady, and his profile appeared calm and gentle in the morning light.

Kaori Miyazono's gaze fell on his lowered brows and focused lips, and a corner of her heart softened completely. Suddenly remembering something, she blinked and said softly, "By the way, Asuka... Ai, Marina, and Shizuka, how are they doing? I remember they used to be inseparable from you."

Her tone carried pure curiosity and a hint of barely perceptible probing.

An and Asuka continued their work, the apple peel still hanging evenly. "Hmm, very good." He nodded, his tone natural. "We both got into the same high school in Tokyo, Toyonosaki Academy. Now... we live together."

"Eh—?!" Kaori Miyazono couldn't help but exclaim softly, her eyes widening slightly. "Living together?"

After the word slipped out, she realized that her reaction seemed a bit too strong, so she quickly pursed her lips and her eyes unconsciously darted around.

Just as An and Feiniao finished peeling the last bit of apple skin, a complete ring of apple peel gently fell onto the tissue next to them.

He looked up at her, catching the fleeting, subtle expression on her face. A knowing smile played on his lips. "Yeah. What's wrong? Jealous?"

His voice was soft, with a hint of teasing, but his gaze was gently fixed on her.

"N-no!" Kaori Miyazono immediately denied, but her cheeks honestly began to heat up again. She awkwardly turned her head away and muttered softly, "It's just... a little surprising. You've all grown up, and you're still living together..."

An and Asuka cut the peeled apple into neat little pieces, stuck toothpicks in them, and placed them on the porcelain plate beside her. He didn't continue teasing her obvious jealousy, but instead adopted a more serious tone, looking at her with gentle eyes: "They... are actually all girls with very tragic lives."

Kaori Miyazono's attention was drawn back by those words, and she looked at him with a puzzled expression.

An and Asuka's voices were calm, as if they were narrating something very ordinary, but the weight in their words stunned Kaori Miyazono.

"In this world, for them, the only person they can rely on and trust without reservation is me. So I can't abandon them."

These words were like a cool and calming breeze, dispelling the nascent, bittersweet jealousy that had been brewing in Kaori Miyazono's heart.

Looking at An and Asuka's calm profile as they recounted their story, she suddenly realized that in these four years, she wasn't the only one struggling with illness; the boy she admired also carried far heavier and more complex burdens and responsibilities than she had imagined. He not only had to pursue his own musical dreams, but also, like a tree, provide shade for those equally lonely souls.

The slight awkwardness in her heart instantly turned into heartache and a touch of guilt. "So... that's how it is."

She said softly, picking up a piece of apple but not eating it immediately, "I didn't know before... I'm sorry, and I was jealous for no reason."

Seeing her somewhat remorseful expression, An and Asuka reached out and gently ruffled her hair, their gesture intimate and natural: "It's okay. You're my girlfriend now, so you have the right to be jealous."

He paused, then added, "And I'm glad you're jealous." This meant she cared, that she felt uneasy because he had other close female friends, which proved his importance to her.

"What...?" Kaori Miyazono blushed slightly at his blunt words, but felt a sweet warmth in her heart. She took a bite of the apple, the sweet juice melting in her mouth. To change the subject, and to make up for the four years she had missed, she curiously pressed on, "So... what about Himegami-san and Hanami-san? How are they doing? And everyone in the music club?"

“Himemiya,” An and Asuka also picked up a piece of apple, “she and Hanami both chose to stay in Aichi and attend the local high school.”

His tone carried a sense of knowing about his old friend's current situation and a touch of nostalgia, "We haven't been in touch for a while now."

"I see..." Kaori Miyazono listened, and the scene of that small music club activity room in Aichi, along with those familiar faces, seemed to appear before her eyes. Things have changed, but the beautiful memories will always be vivid.

She suddenly thought of another question: "And you? Since coming to Tokyo, besides taking care of Marina and the others, besides making music and games, have you... encountered any special or interesting people or things?"

She asked cautiously, wanting to know more about his experiences, yet afraid of hearing something that would make her heart ache.

An and Asuka thought about it seriously for a moment, then shook their heads, their smiles somewhat helpless: "Me? I don't think I've had any other special experiences. I came to Tokyo, adapted to a new school, met some new classmates, formed a game development club, and made games with Kasumigaoka-senpai and Sawamura-kun... Most of the time, I'm either at school, in the recording studio, or at home. My life is actually... quite regular."

He deliberately omitted the untold hardships he had endured to build up his fanbase, and avoided the details of his complex relationships with Akane Kousaka, Anwa Tendo, and others. To her, at this moment, he only wanted to present a calm and composed image.

"And then?" Kaori Miyazono pressed, feeling his account was too brief.

"Later..." An and Asuka's gaze fell on her face, becoming incredibly gentle and focused, "Later it was just like you see now. I tried my best to do what was in front of me, writing songs, making games, taking care of the people around me... and then, I finally found you."

He omitted the long search, the systematic tasks, and the countless nights he spent worrying that she was no longer in this world. Those heavy things were not suitable to be mentioned on this bright and sunny morning.

Kaori Miyazono sensed the unspoken meaning in his words and understood the deep affection hidden in his eyes, along with a hint of barely perceptible lingering fear. Her heart ached, she put down the apple, and reached out to gently take his hand, which was resting on the edge of the bed.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered, “I’m sorry for making you worry and for making you search for so long… In the past few years, I haven’t really had any special experiences. It’s just been constant hospitalizations, checkups, treatments, and getting to know Kousei, Tsubaki, Ryota, and Nao. My greatest joy is listening to your music and imagining what you’re doing… and trying my best not to give up.”

She tried to speak of her life during her illness in a light tone, but the bitterness and struggle still seeped through her words.

An and Asuka grasped her slightly cool hand tightly, their grip firm yet warm. "Xiao Xun,"

His voice was deep and powerful, “You will be alright. I promise.”

This wasn't a casual word of comfort, but a promise imbued with a strange certainty. Kaori Miyazono stared at him, seeing an unwavering resolve in his eyes, a light that strangely soothed the unease and despair deep within her. She nodded vigorously, flashing a radiant smile through her tears: "Yes! I believe you!"

An and Asuka really did stay at the hospital for a whole day. He ate the pancakes he brought with her, read some comics that her friends had brought her, and listened to her play a short, long-unheard violin piece on the strings—though her breath was unsteady and the sound was weak, her eyes sparkled when she touched the strings.

They talked a lot, about the fun times in the light music club, and about the things they wanted to do together after their recovery—go to concerts, see cherry blossoms, eat all the cakes at her parents' shop, and of course, play new pieces together.

As evening fell, Ryoko Miyazono brought dinner. Seeing her daughter looking more energetic than ever before, with a healthy rosy glow on her cheeks, a mixture of surprise and complex relief flashed in her eyes. She didn't ask any questions, but simply laid out the sumptuous meal and nodded to An and Asuka.

It was completely dark, and visiting hours were about to end. An and Asuka had to prepare to leave.

Kaori Miyazono held his hand, reluctant to part. "Next time..." Her eyes darted around, a hint of mischief and anticipation in them, "Next time you come, can you bring Marina, Shizuka, and Ai along too? I want to meet them, to see what the girls who 'stole' you away from all these years are like." Her tone was no longer tinged with jealousy, only pure curiosity and a desire to be a part of his life.

An and Asuka smiled: "Okay. I'll bring them to see you."

"Okay! It's a deal!" Kaori Miyazono smiled contentedly and let go of his hand. "Be careful on the road."

"See you tomorrow."

An and Asuka left the ward and walked down the quiet hospital corridor. His steps were steady, but deep inside, an unprecedented peace and hope were growing.

When An and Asuka pushed open the apartment door, the warm light and the aroma of food from the living room enveloped them as always. But tonight, there seemed to be a subtle restlessness in the air, different from usual.

"Asuka! You're back!"

Marina was the first to pounce on him. Like an energetic little animal, she almost clung to his arm, her chestnut ponytail swinging back and forth with her movements. Her face was filled with undisguised curiosity and a hint of resentment at being "neglected."

"Where have you been all day? I haven't seen you since early this morning, and you haven't replied to my messages!"