Green plums cannot become lovers.

Marina pouted and complained, "We're waiting for you to come back to decide what to eat tonight! Shizuka has even prepared the ingredients!"

An and Asuka changed into slippers and looked up. Shizuka was standing quietly at the kitchen door, still wearing her simple floral apron, holding a soup spoon, her gentle gaze on him filled with concern and inquiry.

Xiao Ai jumped off the sofa and ran over barefoot, her purple eyes sparkling. Although she didn't speak, her expression was exactly the same as Marina's—she wanted to know where he had gone.

This familiar feeling of being waited for and relied upon filled An and Asuka with a touch of guilt, but mostly with a reassuring warmth. He reached out and ruffled Marina's hair, then smiled at Shizuka and Ai: "Sorry, something came up and I didn't have time to check my phone."

"What could make you disappear for an entire day?" Marina pressed, tilting her head. "You didn't even come to club activities! Kasumigaoka-senpai was asking about you!"

An and Asuka hesitated for a moment, then decided that there was no need to hide this matter, nor could it be hidden. He walked to the living room sofa and sat down, gesturing for them to sit as well. The three girls exchanged glances, vaguely sensing that what he was about to say might be unusual, and obediently gathered around him.

“I went to see someone,” An and Asuka said calmly.

"Who is it?" Xiao Ai couldn't help but ask curiously.

An and Asuka's gaze slowly swept over the three familiar faces, their eyes filled with only pure curiosity.

He softly uttered a name: "Xiao Xun".

"Kaoru...?" Marina blinked, not quite understanding at first.

Shizuka's eyes widened slightly, and her fingers tightened around the spoon: "Could it be... Miyazono-kun?"

Xiao Ai also let out an "Ah!" and covered her mouth.

"Miyazono-kun?!" Marina finally realized what was happening and jumped up from the sofa. "That...that Miyazono Kaori who played the violin with you and then suddenly transferred schools?!"

“Mm.” An and Asuka nodded.

The living room fell silent instantly. The three girls all wore expressions of varying degrees of shock. The name Kaori Miyazono was not unfamiliar to them.

During their time in Aichi Prefecture, this girl with light brown hair, a bright smile, and exceptional violin skills was one of the few, besides them, who could truly get close to Anwa Asuka and immerse themselves in the world of music with him. Her sudden transfer to another school caused some minor gossip and regret at the time.

"She...she's in Tokyo?" Shizuka's voice was soft, filled with disbelief.

"Ah."

"She...is sick? In a hospital in the Central District?" Marina pressed, her brows furrowing. She remembered that Kaori Miyazono's health had never seemed particularly robust, but she hadn't expected it to be so serious that she would be hospitalized.

“Yes.” An and Asuka didn’t hide anything. “The situation… is a bit complicated. I’m going to see her today.”

The girls took a while to process the news. After the initial shock, a wave of concern quickly washed over them.

"Is she alright? What illness does she have? Is it serious?" Xiao Ai asked anxiously, her purple eyes filled with worry.

"Can we go see her?" Marina immediately interjected, her eyes resolute. "She used to be our friend! And she must be so lonely being hospitalized alone in Tokyo."

Shizuka nodded slightly in agreement. Although they weren't particularly close to Kaori Miyazono, they were friends who had shared moments of peace and music with Asuka. That bond was real, especially when they learned of each other's illness in a foreign land, which made them feel even more heartbroken.

An and Asuka felt a warmth in their hearts as they looked at their sincere and concerned eyes. He nodded, "Okay. Tomorrow's the weekend. If you have time, let's go see her together. She just... said she wanted to see you too."

"Really? That's great!" Marina clapped her hands immediately. "Then let's go early tomorrow! Shizuka, shall we make something delicious to take with us? The patient needs to replenish his nutrition!"

"Okay. Let me see what's in the fridge, or maybe we can go to the market early tomorrow morning to buy some fresh food." Shizuka had already started thinking about the menu.

Xiao Ai nodded vigorously: "I can bring some relaxing music that won't disturb her! Or I can tell her about interesting things that happened at school!"

Seeing them immediately begin making plans, An and Asuka's lips curled into a slight smile. That's just who they are; they always express their kindness and warmth in the most direct way.

The following day, the autumn air was crisp and clear.

An and Asuka led three girls, each carrying a gift and looking a little nervous and expectant, into Kaori Miyazono's hospital room.

When the ward door opened, Kaori Miyazono on the hospital bed raised her eyes and met the gazes of several people who filed in through the door. For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

Four years is enough time for the girls to shed their last traces of childishness, grow taller, and develop more defined features. Marina's lively and cheerful personality has intensified, Shizuka's gentle and serene demeanor has gained a scholarly air, and Ai has blossomed into a more beautiful young woman, possessing the radiance unique to idols. As for Kaori Miyazono, lying on her sickbed, though pale and thin, her amber eyes and the natural smile on her lips still bear the mark of my memories.

The initial awkwardness was quickly broken by the surprise of being recognized.

"It really is Miyazono-kun!" Marina exclaimed first, her eyes wide with surprise.

"Miyazono-kun, it's been a long time." Shizuka gave an elegant bow with a gentle smile.

"Kaoru! Hello!" Ai greeted cheerfully.

Kaori Miyazono's face instantly lit up with a bright smile, a smile filled with pure joy and emotion: "Maria! Shizuka! Ai! It really is you! Long time no see! Come in!"

Her voice rose slightly with excitement, and a healthy blush appeared on her face.

The girls gathered around the bed, and after a brief moment of awkwardness, their words flowed like a dam breaking. They shared their experiences over the past four years, inquired about Kaori Miyazono's health, and marveled at the wonder of time and the smallness of the world. An and Asuka stood a little further away, watching this reunion with gentle eyes.

However, the perceptive girls quickly sensed something unusual about the atmosphere in the ward after the initial greetings and expressions of concern.

Kaori Miyazono's gaze would always involuntarily drift towards Anwa Asuka, who stood quietly to the side. And whenever Anwa Asuka's eyes met hers, it was as if an invisible thread was connecting the two of them, and an extremely natural yet unusually intimate understanding would instantly flow through the air.

When Kaori Miyazono speaks, she subconsciously seeks affirmation or supplementation from Asuka and Anwa's eyes; Anwa and Asuka occasionally interject, and the familiarity and gentleness in their tone far exceed the scope of ordinary friends or even old partners.

It was a sweetness and tranquility that needed no words to proclaim, yet permeated every exchange of glances and every pause in their breath. It was as if they had built a quiet and solid little world between them, one that was difficult for outsiders to easily intrude upon.

Marina, being very easygoing, initially just thought, "Asuka and Miyazono are still such good friends."

But Shizuka lowered her eyes slightly, her slender fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on her skirt. Ai blinked her big eyes, looking at Kaori Miyazono and then at An and Asuka, seemingly puzzled by something.

The visit ended in a harmonious yet slightly delicate atmosphere. The girls left behind carefully prepared bento boxes and gifts, promised to come again next time, and told Kaori Miyazono to get some rest.

On the tram back, the three girls, unlike their chattering on the way there, were rather quiet. Each of them gazed at the street scenes rushing past the window, their minds replaying the details of the hospital room—the undisguised dependence and adoration in Kaori Miyazono's eyes when she looked at An and Asuka, the unique, almost indulgent tenderness in An and Asuka's response, and the indescribable, harmonious atmosphere between them that no one else could penetrate.

That atmosphere... it's so similar.

Like the couples they occasionally see in TV dramas or comics, who have just started dating and only have eyes for each other.

But... how could this be? They've only been back together for less than two days! Even if they were close before, things shouldn't have progressed this quickly, right?

However, the natural intimacy they felt could not be explained simply as "old friends reunited after a long separation".

A mix of confusion, unease, and a vague sense of loss that even they themselves didn't want to delve into quietly began to grow in the hearts of the three girls.

That evening, a quiet, unspoken tension filled the apartment. Usually after dinner, everyone would gather in the living room to chat, watch TV, or do their own thing. But tonight, Marina unusually didn't cling to An and Asuka, bombarding them with questions; Shizuka was slower than usual at clearing the dishes; and Ai huddled in a corner of the sofa, seemingly distracted.

An and Asuka sensed something was amiss, but he didn't bring it up. He sat in his usual spot, flipping through a sheet music, his expression calm, as if nothing unusual had happened during the day.

Finally, Marina, the most straightforward of them all, couldn't hold back any longer. She sidled up to the sofa next to An and Asuka, hesitated several times before finally nudging him with her elbow, her voice low and filled with extreme caution and probing:

"Birds..."

"Ok?"

“Um…you and Miyazono-san…” Marina carefully chose her words, her eyes fixed on An and Asuka’s faces, trying to catch any subtle change in their expressions, “You two…seem to be even…closer than before?”

She chose a relatively conservative word.

Shizuka stopped wiping the table, turned her back to them, but slightly tilted her head to listen. Ai also raised her head from the cushion, her purple eyes staring at them without blinking.

An and Asuka paused slightly in their flipping through the sheet music. He looked up, his gaze calmly meeting Marina's probing eyes, then sweeping over Shizuka, who seemed busy, and Ai on the sofa. He knew, of course, what they were asking, what they were wondering, and what they were vaguely worried about.

He had no intention of hiding it. They would find out sooner or later, and they should find out.

He gently closed the sheet music and placed it aside. He leaned back on the sofa, relaxed, but his expression radiated an unprecedented earnestness and openness.

Without beating around the bush or laying any groundwork, he answered Marina's hesitant question in a clear and calm tone, responding to all the speculation and unease hanging in the air:

"Oh, yes."

He paused, his clear gaze sweeping over each of them, as if to make sure they heard every word that followed.

"Kaoru and I have become lovers."

"..."

"?!"

"!!!"

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched and frozen at this moment.

Marina's expression froze instantly, her mouth slightly agape, as if she had heard some incomprehensible language from another world. She blinked, then blinked again, as if trying to confirm whether she was hallucinating.

Shizuka's hand, which was wiping the table, stopped abruptly. Her slender back stiffened for a moment, then she slowly, extremely slowly, turned around. Her usually gentle and calm face was now blank with confusion, and beneath that confusion, a turbulent storm that even she herself had not anticipated was rapidly rising. The rag in her hand silently slipped to the ground.

Xiao Ai gasped sharply, covering her mouth with both hands. Her purple eyes widened, filled with pure, unadulterated shock, followed by a complex and indescribable sense of bewilderment that quickly spread from the initial shock.

The living room was deathly silent. Only the wall clock ticked away, its second hand moving with a particularly jarring, loud sound.

"L-lover...?" Marina finally found her voice, repeating the word hoarsely as if she were hearing it for the first time. "You...you and Miyazono-kun? You've only...only been reunited for two days?!"

This is even more unbelievable than the US president having diarrhea in public.

An and Asuka nodded, their expressions calm: "Feelings have no necessary connection with the length of time. Some bonds and confirmations are enough at the moment of reunion."

He paused, then added, "Actually, should we say our relationship was a bit of a blur or just a natural progression? Anyway, we naturally became lovers back then."

"And I don't dislike it either."

That girl was the only one among all the girls he knew who shared his interests and hobbies.

This is a choice made in accordance with one's heart, not a frivolous act.

However, these words struck the hearts of the three girls like a heavy hammer.

It turns out that, unbeknownst to them, a profound seed had already been planted in the heart of that girl named Kaori Miyazono, a seed they were unaware of.

And the companionship they had considered their closest companions over the years, in a way they were unwilling to delve into, suddenly seemed to be... different in light of this unexpected "romantic" relationship.

Marina felt a tightness in her chest, a surge of emotions mixed with absurdity, grievance, resentment, and immense disappointment welling up inside her, making her nose sting and her eyes instantly redden. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found herself unable to utter a word. She could only abruptly turn her head away, biting her lip tightly to prevent the shameful tears from falling.

Shizuka stood silently, her face paler than usual. She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling violently, concealing all the turbulent emotions in her eyes.

She silently bent down to pick up the fallen rag, her fingers clenching so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her usual gentleness and rationality seemed to have vanished in an instant, leaving only a cold, dull pain in her chest and a buzzing roar in her mind.

Looking at Marina's red eyes and Shizuka's pale face, and then at An and Asuka's calm and composed demeanor, a huge sense of panic and helplessness gripped Ai.

She unconsciously clutched the pillow in her arms, her voice trembling with a sob: "Flying Bird... Lover... What about us?"

This question revealed the deepest, most unspoken fears in Marina and Shizuka's hearts.

As An and Asuka looked at the three girls who were suddenly thrown into a huge shock and chaos, at Marina's tears that she was trying to hold back, at Shizuka's fragility that made her almost unable to stand, and at Ai's bewildered panic, An felt as if an invisible hand was tightly gripping their hearts, and felt a clear pain.

He knew how much this announcement would impact them. They were not only his childhood sweethearts, but also his "family" who had relied on and supported each other for the past few years.

His life was already inextricably intertwined with theirs. This sudden romance was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up immense anxieties in their hearts about their "position," "importance," and "future."

He stood up and walked up to them. He didn't approach them, but simply stood there, his gaze solemnly sweeping over each of them in turn.

“Maria, Shizuka, Ai,” his voice was deep and clear, with an unprecedented solemnity, “Listen to me.”

"My relationship with Kaoru will not change. You are my most important family members, and that will never change."

"The paths we've walked together, the things we've experienced together, and the memories we've created together over the years—nothing can replace them, and no relationship can diminish their significance."

"Kaoru is my lover, the person I want to spend my future with. And you are my family, a part of my life, someone I will protect no matter what. These two things are not contradictory, nor should they be a reason for you to be sad."

He walked up to Marina and gently patted her shoulder, which was trembling slightly from suppressing her sobs. "Silly girl, why are you crying? Do you think I'd stop making you your favorite tamagoyaki just because I have a girlfriend? Or stop helping you revise your drawings?"

He then looked at Shizuka and said gently, "Shizuka, you will always be my most trusted partner, someone I can discuss anything with. That will never change because of anything."

Finally, he gently ruffled Hoshino Ai's hair and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes: "Ai, you'll always be my cutest little idol. I'll always be there for you whenever you need me."

An and Asuka had hoped that their sincere words would soothe the three girls. He stood in the center of the living room, looking at their lowered heads, still thinking about what else to say to ease the tension.

However, he completely underestimated the turbulent emotions churning within the girls' hearts at that moment.

Six years.

For six whole years, from elementary school to junior high, and now to high school, they have accompanied this young man, watching him come to Tokyo from his small town, watching him realize his dreams step by step, and watching the innocent feelings they had for him gradually settle into deep emotions.

Marina still remembers how Asuka helped her chase away the boy who was bullying her when she was in elementary school; Shizuka still cherishes the first literary notebook he gave her; and Ai will never forget the night he spent with her before her first performance. They thought there was still plenty of time, and that their feelings for each other, which they had spent so much time together, would naturally blossom—at least, among the three of them, someone would take that first step.

But who would have thought that Kaori Miyazono, whom they hadn't seen for four years, would pluck the fruits of their six years of protection after only two days of reunion.

This is not fair!

Marina suddenly raised her head, her chestnut ponytail swinging in an arc with the movement. Her eyes were still red, but now they no longer shone with tears, but with a kind of almost fighting fire.

“Asuka,” her voice was unexpectedly calm, even strangely sweet, “you just said we’re family, right?”

An and Asuka paused for a moment, then nodded: "Of course."

"Shouldn't family members be honest with each other?" Marina pressed on, standing up from the sofa and walking step by step towards him.

Shizuka slowly turned around, picked up the rag and placed it on the table with an elegant movement, as if she were setting out a tea set. But when she looked up at An and Asuka, her usually gentle eyes now held a chilling undercurrent.

“Asuka,” Shizuka said softly, her voice still gentle, “of course we are happy for you and Miyazono-san becoming lovers.”

These words were perfectly watertight, but An and Fei Niao inexplicably felt a chill run down their spines.

Xiao Ai jumped off the sofa, ran barefoot to his other side, tilted her little face up, and blinked her purple eyes: "Then, Fei Niao, will you still spend time with us like before? You won't neglect us just because you have a girlfriend, will you?"

The three of them formed a circle around An and Asuka, trapping them in the middle.