Green plums cannot become lovers.

Xiao Ai blinked her big, watery purple eyes and asked in a voice that sounded like she was about to cry, "Does Fei Niao dislike the food we picked for her?"

"..." An and Asuka looked at the three pairs of eyes filled with grievance and expectation, and gave in, "...No."

He resignedly picked up the bowl and began the arduous task of tackling the mountain of food.

If the excessive care at the dinner table was barely tolerable, then the "attentive service" during the bath was really too much for An and Asuka to handle.

That evening, he had just finished lathering up in the bathroom when there was a polite knock on the door.

"Asuka, open the door!" It was Marina's voice.

An and Asuka paused, "What is it?"

"Do you need us to scrub your back?" This time it was Shizuka who asked gently.

"I brought a new bath sponge! It smells like strawberries!" Xiao Ai's cheerful voice joined in.

An and Asuka took a deep breath, trying to remain calm: "No, thank you."

"Are you sure you don't need to? There must be places on your back that you can't reach, right?" Mari Nai persisted.

“I can wash myself,” An and Asuka said firmly.

There was silence outside the door for a few seconds, then a rustling sound of discussion could be heard:

He refused...

"Were we too direct?"

"How about we try a different strategy tomorrow?"

"it is good!"

As the footsteps faded into the distance, An and Asuka breathed a sigh of relief and continued their bath. However, for some reason, they felt as if someone was still watching them from outside the door, making them feel extremely uncomfortable while bathing.

The most outrageous thing is the sleep problem.

For three consecutive mornings, An and Asuka woke up to find an "uninvited guest" in their bed.

On the first day, Marina was curled up next to him, fast asleep. Imairo's hair was spread out on the pillow, and one of her hands was on his chest.

"What are you doing here?" An and Asuka woke her up.

Marina rubbed her eyes and said matter-of-factly, "I had a nightmare... Didn't I often sleep in your room when we were little?"

Anhe and the flying birds were speechless.

The next day, Xiao Ai snuggled up at his feet like a kitten, hugging his legs and sleeping soundly.

"Xiao Ai, wake up." An and Fei Niao shook her helplessly.

Xiao Ai groggily opened her eyes, revealing an innocent smile: "Feiniao's bed is so comfortable... and it smells like birds, I feel so safe sleeping here!"

On the third day, when An and Asuka felt someone quietly climbing into their bed late at night, they opened their eyes alertly and found it was Shizuka.

“Shizuka, even you…” He didn’t know what to say.

Shizuka's face flushed slightly in the moonlight, but her voice remained calm: "My room's window is a bit drafty, and it's a little cold."

“It’s October now…” An and Asuka sighed.

"The perceived temperature varies from person to person," Shizuka replied calmly, then naturally lay down next to him and even covered herself with a blanket.

An and Asuka stared at the ceiling, seriously considering whether to add a lock to the door.

After several days of "special care," An and Asuka not only did not feel the happiness of being pampered, but also felt physically and mentally exhausted.

When I visited Kaori Miyazono in the hospital that day, he had obvious dark circles under his eyes and seemed a little listless.

"Asukasa, you don't seem very energetic lately?" Kaori Miyazono noticed his condition and reached out to stroke his cheek with concern. "Are you too tired? You don't need to come to see me every day anymore. Getting some rest is more important."

An and Asuka shook their heads and took her hand: "No, it has nothing to do with you."

"Why is that?" Kaori Miyazono tilted her head, her light golden hair gleaming softly in the sunlight. "Can you tell me?"

An and Asuka hesitated for a moment. Logically speaking, complaining to his current girlfriend about the excessive attention other women were paying to him seemed inappropriate. But Kaori Miyazono's eyes were so gentle and sincere that he couldn't help but want to confide in her.

He briefly described the "abnormal behavior" of his three childhood friends over the past few days—from feeding them like crazy at the dinner table to enthusiastically suggesting things outside the bathroom, and then to "sharing a bed" at night.

After hearing this, Kaori Miyazono was stunned for a moment, then her eyes slowly curved into crescents, and finally she couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Hahaha..." She laughed, her shoulders trembling slightly, her amber eyes filled with understanding. "So that's how it is... It seems Shizuka and the others are jealous."

"..."

Kaori Miyazono wiped away the tears of laughter. "Because I became Asuka's girlfriend, they felt threatened, so they're going to make their move on you."

She paused, seemingly lost in thought: "At first, seeing that they hadn't made any progress after living with you for so long, I thought you were just childhood sweethearts. Now it seems that's not the case at all."

An and Asuka fell silent. Kaori Miyazono's words were like a key, unlocking the door to his heart that he had been unwilling to face.

In truth, having experienced his reunion and love with Kaori Miyazono, how could he, who had become emotionally enlightened, be completely unaware of the feelings those three girls had for him? He simply chose to avoid it—since he already had Kaori, he shouldn't give others any more futile hope.

"Has Asuka not noticed yet?" Kaori Miyazono leaned closer to him, her voice soft yet hitting the nail on the head, "Shizuka, Marina, Ai, they all like you too. Not the kind of childhood friend crush, but the kind of crush girls have on boys."

An and Asuka's throat felt dry. He opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Admit it? Then what should we do next?

To deny it? That would be a desecration of their feelings, and a deception of oneself.

Kaori Miyazono looked at the rare confusion and struggle in the boy's eyes, and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her. There was a touch of bitterness, but more than anything, there was understanding and tenderness.

The person she likes is always too gentle, so gentle that he can't bear to hurt anyone, but in the end, he might hurt everyone.

She reached out and gently pulled An and Asuka's heads to her chest. The hospital gown was soft and carried her unique, warm scent, a mixture of medicine and shampoo.

“Asuka,” Kaori Miyazono’s voice was as gentle as sunlight filtering through curtains on an autumn afternoon, “follow your heart.”

An and Asuka stiffened slightly.

“I know this might sound strange,” Kaori Miyazono continued, gently running her fingers through his hair, “but I don’t want to be a shackle that binds you. I love you, I want you to be happy, I want you to be blessed, not to suppress my feelings for my sake, or hurt those who cherish you just as much.”

She paused, her voice even softer: "Whatever decision you ultimately make, I will support you. Because—"

Kaori Miyazono lowered her head and placed a gentle kiss on An and Asuka's forehead.

"You deserve to be loved by many people, and you deserve to love many people."

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples in An and Asuka's hearts. He looked up at Kaori Miyazono's gentle yet firm gaze and suddenly understood something.

"Kaoru, you..." He wanted to say something, but Kaoru Miyazono gently pressed her index finger to her lips.

“You don’t need to answer me now,” she smiled. “Think it over carefully and have a good talk with them. When it comes to matters of the heart, the worst thing is to be vague.”

On their way home from the hospital, An and Asuka kept thinking about Kaori Miyazono's words. The autumn wind, carrying a chill, brushed against their cheeks, and the ginkgo leaves along the street rustled, as if they too were participating in this inner dialogue.

Follow your heart?

What is his true intention?

As he pushed open the apartment door, the aroma of dinner wafted out. Marina was frantically cooking according to the recipe, while Shizuka calmly gave her instructions, and Ai hummed a tune as she set the table. Seeing him return, the three of them looked up simultaneously, their faces lighting up with bright smiles.

Welcome back!

"I made braised pork with ginger today, which is Asuka's favorite!"

"I made miso soup using the new recipe I just bought!"

As An and Asuka looked at them, a soft spot softened in their hearts. Yes, these smiles, this warmth, these everyday moments were treasures he could never part with.

Perhaps Kaori Miyazono is right; he needs to face all of this properly.

At dinner, An and Asuka did not refuse the food the girls offered, but after finishing their meal, he put down his chopsticks and looked at the three of them intently.

"I have something I'd like to discuss with you."

The atmosphere instantly became subtle. Marina blinked, Shizuka put down her spoon, and Ai sat up straight.

"What's wrong?" Marina asked, trying to sound casual, but her clenched fists betrayed her nervousness.

An and Asuka took a deep breath: "Regarding your recent actions, and... our relationship."

Shizuka lowered her eyes slightly, while Ai nervously twisted her fingers.

“First of all, thank you for your care and companionship all this time,” An and Asuka said calmly. “I know you care about me, and I am very grateful.”

Marina muttered softly, "It's good that you know how to be grateful..."

“But,” An and Asuka changed the subject, “there are some things that bother me. Like picking up food with their chopsticks, like when they take a shower... and like when they come to my room to sleep at night.”

All three blushed at the same time.

“We just…” Marina wanted to explain, but was speechless for a moment.

“I know what you all think,” An and Asuka interrupted her, their gazes sweeping over the three of them in turn, “but I’m already with Kaoru, and that won’t change.”

The room was so quiet you could hear the ticking of the clock. Marina lowered her head, Shizuka pursed her lips, and Ai's eyes began to redden.

“But that doesn’t mean you’re not important to me,” An and Asuka continued, their tone softening. “On the contrary, you are among the most important people in my life. We grew up together, we’ve been through so much together, and that bond won’t disappear because of any changes in our relationship.”

He paused, as if choosing his words carefully: "I just hope we can find a more suitable way to get along. A way that's better than family, even though we're not family."

After a long silence, Shizuka spoke softly, "Asuka, are you rejecting us?"

Her voice was soft, as soft as a feather, yet it seemed to freeze the air in the entire living room. Marina held her breath, Ai clenched her hands, and all three pairs of eyes were fixed on An and Asuka, awaiting the answer that might break their hearts.

however--

“It’s not a rejection.” An and Asuka shook their heads firmly. Under the girls’ stunned gazes, he took a deep breath, as if using up all his courage, and said seriously, “On the contrary, I like you all.”

He paused, then spoke each word clearly: "It's not the kind of liking that comes from childhood sweethearts, nor is it the kind of liking that comes from dependence on family, but rather... the kind of liking that makes me want to marry you."

Time seemed to stand still at that moment.

Marina's eyes widened, her mouth slightly agape, as if she'd been frozen in time. Shizuka's chopsticks clattered onto the table, but she seemed oblivious. Ai blinked repeatedly, as if trying to confirm if she was hallucinating.

A few seconds later—

"Eh—?!" Marina's exclamation almost lifted the ceiling. "H-Asuka, what did you just say?!"

Shizuka's face turned bright red at a visible speed, all the way to her ears. She subconsciously raised her hand to cover her mouth, but could not hide the shock and panic in her eyes.

Xiao Ai jumped up from her chair, pointing at An and Asuka, her voice trembling: "Marry, marry, marry... as my wife?!"

Seeing their reactions, An and Asuka closed their eyes somewhat awkwardly. Sure enough, those words were too abrupt and too greedy for them.

"Of course, it might be shameless of me to say this."

He reopened his eyes, a hint of self-mockery in his voice, "You are all exceptionally talented girls, deserving of our wholehearted devotion. These words of mine must be hard for you to accept..."

His hands, resting on his knees, tightened slightly. "But this is what I truly feel. I love Kaoru, and I love you all. I love each and every one of you, and I don't want to lose any of you. I..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

The next second, three figures pounced on him and hugged him tightly.

Marina's hug was the tightest, almost suffocating him: "Idiot Asuka! Do you know how long we've been waiting for you to say that?!"

Shizuka's hug was gentle yet firm, her voice choked with barely suppressed sobs: "We've always liked you too... ever since the day you reached out to us."

Xiao Ai burst into tears, burying her face in his shoulder, her voice muffled: "How could we hate you... You saved us..."

An and Asuka were completely stunned.

He had imagined countless possibilities—they would be angry, disappointed, think he was greedy, or turn away... but he never thought they would react like this.

"You guys..." He reached out somewhat helplessly, hesitated for a moment, then gently hugged them back. "Don't you think I'm being unreasonable? You're already with Kaoru, and you're still saying things like that..."

"Too much?" Marina looked up, her eyes red, but her smile was bright. "It is a little! But—"

She wiped her eyes hard: "But rather than you being too concerned about this and that and ending up not choosing anyone, we'd rather you be a little greedy!"

Shizuka looked up, tears still streaming down her face, but she smiled and said, "Asuka, feelings aren't a math problem, not a multiple-choice question where you can only choose one. If Kaoru can accept it, if we can both accept it, why can't we?"

Xiao Ai nodded vigorously, her ponytail swaying back and forth: "And Feibiao, you just said 'marry me,' right? Is that a proposal? Does it count as a proposal?"

"Wait, um..." An and Asuka's faces flushed instantly, "I mean that level of liking, not like right now..."

"Okay, okay!" Marina interrupted him with a grin, "But since we've already talked it out—"

She suddenly became serious and looked into An and Asuka's eyes: "Asuka, are you really sure? This is not a joke. You'll be responsible for all four of us at the same time, which will be very hard."

An and Asuka also became serious: "I know, but more than hard work, I don't want to hurt anyone because I'm afraid of hard work."

Shizuka asked softly, "What about Kaoru... what are you planning to say to her?"

This question made the atmosphere heavy again. An and Asuka were silent for a moment, then said firmly, "I will tell her frankly. Kaoru said she hoped I would follow my heart. And now, this is my heart."