Green plums cannot become lovers.

Marina's expression stiffened for a moment. She scratched her hair, her gaze shifting, and a rare look of unease appeared on her face. After all, the idea of ​​several girls liking the same person and willingly sharing him seemed utterly unbelievable to outsiders.

“Don’t tell me,” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s lips curled into a slightly sarcastic smile, but her voice was eerily calm, “that all three of you are dating your juniors?”

She didn't use a question, but a statement. Her confident tone made it sound like she was stating a fact she had already known.

The activity room fell silent again. This time, even breathing could be heard clearly.

Marina didn't speak, but her flushed ears betrayed her. Kuze Shizuka lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously tracing the edges of the pages, a faint pink tinge spreading across her fair cheeks. Hoshino Ai bit her lower lip, her purple eyes flickering uncertainly, as if she wanted to admit something but feared criticism.

"Yes."

Finally, it was An and Asuka who spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a stone thrown into stagnant water, creating huge ripples.

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha both widened their eyes at the same time.

For a few seconds, the only sounds in the activity room were the faint, distant noises from the playground outside the window. The sunlight continued to move, and patches of light climbed from the tabletop to the whiteboard on the wall, illuminating the somewhat faded writing.

"You, you guys are joking with us, aren't you?"

Eriri's voice trembled slightly.

She looked at An and Asuka, trying to find a trace of mockery on his face, but saw only calm composure. Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't speak, but the knuckles of her fingers gripping the spine of the book had turned white.

The two women felt a certain understanding of each other crumbling. In their hearts, An and Asuka had always been synonymous with integrity, kindness, and gentleness; he would never laugh at her secret and would selflessly lend a helping hand when she was in trouble.

But now

“No.” Hoshino Ai stepped forward, her small body radiating an astonishing determination. “We’re serious.”

“That’s right!” Shizuka Kuze raised her head, her gaze clear and unwavering.

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha exchanged a glance, both seeing incomprehensible confusion and a hint of... disappointment in each other's eyes.

It was a complex mix of shock, confusion, and a sense of betrayal. It wasn't that they couldn't accept their childhood friends becoming lovers; in fact, they would sincerely wish them well if any one of them were alone with An and Asuka. But all three of them at the same time—

This exceeded their understanding of the boundaries of "normal" and "moral".

“Wait, let us explain—” Marina hurriedly began, but was interrupted before she could finish speaking.

“Asuka,” Eriri’s voice was soft, yet chilling, “you have disappointed us greatly.”

“Junior,” Kasumigaoka Utaha stood up, looking down at Anwa Asuka, her eyes, which always held a playful smile, were now as cold as a winter lake, “You are too greedy.”

After saying that, the two left the activity room one after the other without looking at anyone else. The door closed softly with a "click," which sounded particularly jarring in the silence.

The remaining four people in the activity room remained silent.

Marina bit her lip, her eyes reddening slightly: "Was it... that I shouldn't have said that?"

Shizuka gently shook her head and reached out to hold her hand: "We'll have to face this sooner or later."

Hoshino Ai, looking at An and Asuka, her purple eyes filled with worry: "Asuka..."

“It’s alright,” An and Asuka said softly, their gazes calmly fixed on the closed door. “You don’t need to worry about it.”

His voice held no grievances, no explanations, only an almost stubborn firmness. He would not change his relationship with the girls because of others' doubts, because long ago, at an age when he didn't yet understand what "love" truly was, he had already made a promise to protect them for life.

And now, they have entrusted their future to him—a trust that is heavier and more precious than any rumors.

The three girls exchanged glances, each seeing the same determination in the other's eyes. They wouldn't let those two continue to misunderstand, nor would they let An and Asuka bear unwarranted accusations.

Over the next few days, the atmosphere in the activity room became subtle.

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha never appeared again. Occasionally, they would meet in the corridor, but they would quickly look away and hurry away, skipping even the most basic greeting. That deliberate avoidance was more painful than direct accusation.

An and Asuka didn't say anything about it, and continued to come to the activity room on time every day to continue the development of "Ember Knight", organize the tracks for the new album, and prepare for the midterm exams.

But behind his silence, the three girls could sense a kind of suppressed exhaustion.

Finally, one Thursday after school, Marina stopped Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha as they were about to leave the classroom.

"Please give us some time." She used honorifics, which was unusual for her, and her expression was serious, unlike her usual self. "There are some things we want to tell you."

Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow, seemingly wanting to refuse, but Eriri tugged at her sleeve.

The five of them went up to the rooftop of the school building. The evening wind was strong, making their school uniform skirts flutter loudly. In the distance, the streetlights of Tokyo were lighting up one by one, like stars on the earth.

“We know it’s hard for you to accept,” Shizuka said first, her voice soft in the wind, “but please listen to our story first.”

So, on that rooftop as dusk settled, the three girls took turns recounting their past experiences that they rarely told anyone.

Shizuka Kuze talks about the days after her parents' divorce.

Her mother worked in a profession that was difficult to talk about, and it was common for her to stay out all night. The refrigerator was always empty, and the house was piled high with empty bottles. She had no friends at school because her mother's reputation had already spread. The children looked at her with a mixture of curiosity and disdain, and the teachers would unconsciously speed up their speech when taking attendance.

Until one day, a boy appeared beside her, and her life was illuminated by the first ray of light.

"Before that, I always thought there was no hope left in my life."

As Shizuka Kuze said this, her fingers gently traced the rust on the railing. "Later, he cooked for me, helped me with my studies, and fed and clothed me when I was hungry and cold. If it weren't for Asuka, I might have dropped out of school long ago, or worse."

Marina Kirasaka also shared her past.

Her father cheated on her, her parents argued endlessly, dishes were smashed, and she cried late at night. She hid in her room, covering her ears with a pillow, thinking that this would allow her to pretend that everything was normal.

"But in the end, my father still left, leaving me with nothing and my mother who didn't even have a job."

Marina smiled, but tears welled in her eyes. "If it weren't for Asuka's guidance of my mother and the material and psychological support she provided, my mother and I might still be living in that shadow."

Hoshino Ai's past is the heaviest.

A father she never met, a mother who abused her out of jealousy of her looks, and when she was in third or fourth grade, her mother was imprisoned for theft and she was thrown into an orphanage. At school, she was "the daughter of a criminal"—her textbooks were torn up, her chair was smeared with glue, and her schoolbag was thrown into the pool.

"Until the school anniversary on that day, Asuka helped me drive away the classmates who were bullying me."

Hoshino Ai's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of disturbing something, "Later, he came to the orphanage again and said he would help us."

With each story finished, the twilight on the rooftop deepened.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri listened quietly, their initial resistance gradually turning into silence, and finally into a complex mix of emotions in their eyes.

They never imagined that these three girls would have such a past.

One is a well-known author in the light novel world, another is a rising star in the manga world, and the third is a currently popular teenage idol.

Their life trajectories are enviable and enviable to outsiders.

But who would have thought that these glamorous women had such unhappy families?

"We are all children from unhappy families,"

While Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri remained silent, Marina continued, "Without Asuka, we could never be here, laughing and talking about our dreams, standing in the sunlight like this."

Therefore, our gratitude and our love are not a momentary impulse, but rather the result of years of gradual accumulation.

"We and the birds have long since become family to each other."

“And do you know?” Shizuka suddenly added, her voice carrying a gentle pain, “Asuka’s life is actually more tragic than ours. His parents abandoned him when he was very young and never gave him any support.”

Marina nodded: "But he survived all by himself, not only taking care of himself but also giving us all kinds of support. He worked to earn a living, taught himself music and many other skills. You could say we were all raised by Asuka."

“So,” Hoshino Ai turned around and looked directly at Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri, her purple eyes shining brightly in the dimming light, “we are truly grateful and love him very much. This feeling may not be conventional, but for us, it is the most real and natural choice.”

The wind picked up, tousling everyone's hair. In the distance, the rumble of trams echoed, like the city's ceaseless heartbeat.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri remained silent for a long time. They leaned against the railing, gazing at the myriad lights gradually illuminating the city below. Those lights seemed warm and distant, and behind each one might lie a story—a story of laughter and tears, of reunion and of separation.

“I…” Eriri finally spoke, her voice a little hoarse, “I need time to process this.”

Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed up her glasses, her wine-red eyes sparkling behind the lenses: "Me too."

The three girls did not insist, but simply nodded.

As the five of them walked down the rooftop together, the motion-activated lights in the corridor turned on one by one in sync with their footsteps, and then turned off one by one behind them.

In the interplay of light and shadow, everyone's expression was hidden in the dimness, making it difficult to see clearly.

They might need to get to know that boy more carefully again.

Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha exchanged a glance but said nothing.

Before today, all they had ever seen was an outstanding young man, unaware of his extraordinary background.

What kind of effort does a person have to put in to live resiliently under such circumstances and still achieve such success?

The next day during lunch break, An and Asuka sat alone on a bench behind the teaching building, eating their lunch. The cherry blossom season was over, and the branches were covered with tender green leaves, which looked as transparent as jade in the sunlight.

The footsteps grew closer, and he looked up to see Kasumigaoka Utaha and Eriri standing not far away, their expressions somewhat hesitant.

“Junior,” Kasumigaoka Utaha spoke first, her voice softer than usual, “that day… I’m sorry, we were too harsh.”

Eriri turned her face away and added softly, "It's not that we can't understand, it's just... we need time."

An and Asuka were taken aback for a moment, then gave a faint smile: "It's alright, thank you for being willing to listen to their explanation."

He didn't say "forgive" or "understand," but simply accepted their apologies calmly. That attitude made Eriri feel a pang of sadness.

He seemed to have long been used to being misunderstood, so he didn't even bother to show his grievances after being misunderstood.

Kasumigaoka Utaha sat down next to him and took out a bento box from her bag: "I made this myself as an apology. Want to try it?"

The tamagoyaki and grilled salmon were exquisitely presented, like dishes from a restaurant. An and Asuka thanked them, accepted the dishes, took a bite, and nodded: "Very delicious."

"That's good." Kasumigaoka Utaha slightly raised her chin, but her eyes were gentle.

Eriri sat down on the other side, hesitated for a moment, and pulled out a sketch from the sketchbook: "This... I drew a few versions of the new character design for 'Ember Knight'. Take a look."

The drawing depicts a knight in tattered armor, his longsword broken, yet his gaze remains resolute. The background is a burning ruin and fading embers, the overall tone somber, yet a beam of light shines through a crack in the clouds, illuminating half of the knight's face.

“Very good.” An and Asuka looked closely. “This feeling of ‘finding a glimmer of light in despair’ is exactly what I wanted to express.”

Eriri blushed slightly, but forced herself to remain calm: "Hmph, of course, I'm a professional."

The three of them sat on the bench, sharing their bento boxes and discussing games and music. Occasionally, the last remaining cherry blossom petals would drift down, landing on the bento boxes or on their drawings.

Not far away, Marina, Shizuka, and Ai hid around the corner, secretly watching this scene.

"They've made up," Hoshino Ai whispered.

"Yes." Shizuka smiled. "That's good."

Marina breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's great. I was worried they would never talk to Asuka again."

The afternoon sun shone warmly on the campus, and the new green leaves rustled in the wind. The shouts of the baseball team echoed from the distant playground, while faint piano practice music drifted from the nearby classrooms.

Everything seemed to be back on track.

Volume 1: Chapter 194 I Won't Let You Face This Alone

Kasumigaoka Utaha closed the paperback in her hand, her gaze passing through the gaps in the blinds of the activity room, landing on the cherry blossom tree outside the window that had begun to sprout new leaves. The new leaves were a tender green, almost transparent in the afternoon sunlight, with a pale golden halo around their edges.

She was beautiful, but this beauty created an ironic contrast with her current state of mind.

A week has passed since she learned the truth in the activity room that day. Both she and Eriri chose "understanding" and "respect".

They didn't utter any more accusatory words, didn't deliberately avoid club activities, and even provided professional feedback when An and Asuka offered game design suggestions.

But only they themselves know that some things have changed.

Whenever they see Marina naturally taking An and Asuka's arm, hear Shizuka say to him in that uniquely gentle tone, "The tea is ready," or notice Ai unconsciously leaning towards him when she speaks—these scenes that they once regarded as "intimate interactions between childhood friends" now carry a new meaning.

What troubles them even more is the doubt about their own feelings.

They both secretly believed that feelings don't have a first-come, first-served order. Even though An and Asuka already had three childhood friends, so what?

They are confident.

Kasumigaoka Utaha believes in her talent and insight, while Eriri believes in her artistic talent and sincerity, and both believe they can occupy a place in the hearts of the boys.

But now, their confidence has been completely shattered.

It wasn't that they lost to any one person, but rather to a relationship model that they couldn't understand or participate in. That unspoken understanding between the four of them, that eye contact that allowed them to understand each other without words, that courage to choose each other so firmly, even though it seemed incomprehensible to outsiders.

What should I do?

Eriri suddenly spoke softly, her voice almost inaudible. She didn't look up, still staring at the drawing paper, but her fingers holding the pen trembled slightly.

Kasumigaoka Utaha did not answer. Because she didn't know the answer either.

The door to the activity room opened at that moment, and An and Asuka walked in. Today he was wearing a simple white shirt and dark gray trousers, with a slightly worn black backpack slung over his shoulder—it was bought three years ago when he first came to Tokyo, and the corners were worn, but he never seemed to have thought of replacing it.

"Good afternoon," he greeted naturally, then walked to his seat and put down his bag.

"Good afternoon, junior," Kasumigaoka Utaha replied, her voice as calm as ever.

Eriri simply nodded, her gaze sweeping over him briefly before quickly looking away.

An and Asuka, of course, noticed their unease. He could see Kasumigaoka Utaha's fingers unconsciously tracing the edges of the pages as she spoke, and he could see Eriri straightening her back unconsciously when he approached. But he said nothing, simply opening his laptop as usual and beginning to work on the code for "Ember Knight".