Green plums cannot become lovers.

"Okay, see you next time." An and Asuka touched the spot where she had been kissed, their smiles gentle.

Watching Kaori Miyazono walk into the station gates, An and Asuka were in a good mood. The date had relaxed them both physically and mentally, and they had even unexpectedly obtained an important clue about Kita Ikuyo.

Indeed, going out for a walk was the right thing to do.

He turned and slowly walked towards the apartment. His phone vibrated; it was a message from Kaori Miyazono, containing only a cute cheering emoji.

He smiled and put his phone away.

That evening, An and Asuka had just finished dinner and were organizing the practice schedule for the "Praise Music" band next week when their phones rang again. It was a message from Kaori Miyazono.

Kaoru: Asuka! I've found out!

—Kita Ikuyo is indeed a student at our school, a second-year student, in the same grade as me!

Should I give you Xiaochun's contact information? Or should I have Xiaochun try contacting her first?

An and Asuka looked at the information on the screen, a slight smile playing on their lips.

found it.

Although they obtained crucial information about Kita Ikuyo from their girlfriend Miyazono Kaori, An and Asuka did not immediately take direct action to make contact.

He always does things at his own pace and with his own considerations.

Having agreed to Ichiji Nijika's request for help, he would do his best to resolve the issue more effectively, rather than simply acting as a middleman relaying messages.

Kita Ikuyo's sudden disappearance from the band, even cutting off daily contact, may have more complex reasons behind it. Was it simply a spur-of-the-moment decision or an emergency? Or did she have irreconcilable conflicts with the band members? Or perhaps she is facing some personal difficulties?

If it's the former, then everyone is naturally happy; if it's the latter two, hastily "bringing her back" might only exacerbate the problem. An and Asuka felt it was their responsibility to try and figure out the situation within their capabilities. This was both a responsibility to the band and to the guitarist they had never met.

Two days later, in the afternoon, An and Asuka appeared near the main entrance of Kaori Miyazono's school.

This is a private high school with elegant school buildings and cherry blossom trees planted at the entrance. The cherry blossoms have already faded, but the leaves are still lush and green.

It was dismissal time, and students in uniforms walked out of the school gate in twos and threes. Laughter, farewells, and shouts from club activities mingled together, full of youthful vitality.

An and Asuka stood under a roadside tree diagonally opposite the school gate. To avoid being easily recognized and causing unnecessary trouble, he wore a low-key dark gray baseball cap with the brim pulled down slightly.

However, his height, demeanor, and the clearly defined jawline that was half-hidden under the brim of his hat made him stand out from his surroundings, quickly attracting the attention of some passing girls.

"Hey, look at that guy over there... doesn't he look familiar?"

"Where? Ah, the one under the tree? She seems to have a nice figure and profile..."

"No! I mean, doesn't he look like... that 'flying bird'?"

"Huh? Which bird?...Wait, isn't it the one that's singing?!"

"Really? That can't be right! Why would a celebrity come to our school gate?"

"But look at that hat, that vibe... I've seen his street style photos on social media, and he looks so much like him!"

"You're dreaming! He's a very busy person, why would he come to our school gate for no reason? You must be mistaken."

"But I really went to his concert! His back view and overall feel are so similar!"

"Tsk tsk, I think you've got your idol obsessed with celebrities. Everyone looks like your idol. Hurry up, the convenience store is having half-price potato chips!"

The girls argued quietly while glancing back curiously, but ultimately didn't dare to go forward to confirm and quickly left.

Volume 1: Chapter 212 I've Found You!

An and Asuka were already used to these subtle stares and whispers, and usually chose to ignore them unless they were surrounded by a large crowd. He calmly scanned the flow of people pouring out of the school gate, searching for that familiar figure.

Not long after, Kaori Miyazono appeared at the door. She was walking out chatting and laughing with two classmates, her golden ponytail bouncing over her shoulders.

As if by telepathy, she looked up in the direction where An and Asuka were waiting, her gaze instantly locking onto them, her amber eyes immediately brightening as if filled with stars.

"Kaoru, what's wrong?" The girl next to her noticed that she suddenly stopped and looked into the distance.

"Ah, it's nothing! I saw... a friend came!" Kaori Miyazono's tone was light, with barely concealed excitement. "Sorry, I have to go now! See you tomorrow!"

"Friend? Huh? Wait, Kaoru—"

Before her companions could ask any questions, Kaori Miyazono, like a cheerful little deer, trotted across the sidewalk and went straight to Anwa Asuka.

"Flying Bird!" She stopped in front of him, tilted her head slightly, and called out with a bright smile. Her voice was clear and melodious, and it was still distinct in the slightly noisy background noise of school dismissal.

This call, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up even larger ripples around it.

The girls who had been arguing about whether "it looks like the real thing" hadn't gone far when they heard the voice and turned around in unison, dumbfounded. Many other female students who were walking out of the school gate or waiting for their friends at the gate were also drawn to the call and Miyazono Kaoru's undisguised familiarity.

"W-Is it really Miyazono-san calling him?"

"She called him 'Flying Bird'?! Which flying bird?!"

"Miyazono-kun actually knows... Wait, could it really be him?!"

"I already said it looked like it!"

"My God! Alive! A live bird!"

"How does he know Miyazono-san? What's their relationship?!"

"Quick, take a picture! No, wait, let me check first!"

Whispers quickly spread, and surprised, curious, and excited gazes were suddenly focused on the two of them like spotlights.

Some of the bolder girls stopped in their tracks, hesitating whether to approach, while many others stood watching from a distance, their faces filled with disbelief and excitement.

Kaori Miyazono belatedly realized the "commotion" her shout had caused. She stuck out her tongue, a little embarrassed, but mostly with a touch of girlfriendly smugness. She quietly moved closer to An and Asuka.

An and Asuka were also somewhat helpless, but looking at Kaoru's adorable expression, that helplessness turned into a indulgent smile. He raised his hand and naturally tidied a stray strand of hair that had been blown onto her cheek by the wind, a gesture that was very affectionate.

This subtle movement caused the girls watching to gasp in shock, and their speculations and whispered gasps grew even louder.

"They... seem to have a good relationship?"

"It's more than just good! That move!"

"Could it be that Miyazono-san is...?"

"No way?! I've never heard of that before!"

"But it looks like..."

An and Asuka knew they couldn't stay any longer, or they would soon be completely surrounded. He whispered to Kaoru, "Shall we leave here first?"

"Okay!" Kaori Miyazono nodded immediately and took his hand. "Come with me, I know a quiet place!"

She took his hand and turned to walk quickly down a side alley, in the opposite direction of the main flow of people. An and Feiniao pulled down their hats and followed her.

Behind them, a chorus of suppressed excitement and discussion lingered among the students.

Kaori Miyazono led An and Asuka through two quiet alleys, arriving at a traditional Japanese confectionery shop that looked quite old.

"This is where Xiaochun and I sometimes chat. The owner is very nice and won't bother us."

Kaori Miyazono explained, pulling An and Asuka to sit down at a table. She then breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest. "Really... I wasn't paying attention just now. Asuka, are you alright? Were you scared?"

"I'm fine, I'm used to it." An and Asuka shook their heads, took off their hats and put them aside. "But you, you might get questioned at school tomorrow."

"It's alright," Kaori Miyazono laughed, her tone nonchalant. "They'll find out sooner or later anyway. Besides..."

She raised her eyebrows slightly, looking somewhat smug, and said, "Being with a bird isn't something that needs to be hidden; in fact, it's quite bothersome."

Her straightforwardness always warmed An and Asuka's hearts.

"Yes, that's right."

After a brief moment of warmth, the conversation returned to business.

"So, Asuka, you came here today specifically to ask about Kita-kun?"

Kaori Miyazono asked, "What do you need me to do? Call Tsubaki over? She has sports club practice today, but it should be over soon."

"No need for now."

An and Asuka pondered, "I'd like to learn more about Kita Ikuyo first. For example, what's the general impression she gives at school, her usual personality, have there been any obvious changes or abnormalities recently, what special hobbies she has besides the guitar, or places she frequents... the more detailed the better."

He paused, then added, "I don't want to approach her rashly, or let her friends confront her directly. I want to try to find out the possible reasons for her 'disappearance' from the sidelines first."

If she voluntarily chose to leave the band and had a reasonable explanation, then respecting her choice might be a more appropriate approach than forcibly trying to persuade her to return.

Kaori Miyazono listened attentively and nodded: "I understand. Asuka is afraid of doing something wrong with good intentions, so she wants to figure out the situation first."

She rested her chin on her hand, recalling the bits and pieces of information she'd gleaned from her friend. "About Kita-san... I don't really know much about her. She seems to be quite well-known in the class, not in terms of grades or athletic ability, but... well, she's very noticeable?"

Xiao Chun said she's super cheerful, like a little sun, and can quickly become friends with anyone. She's especially popular in their sports club.

"As for the recent changes..." Xun frowned, trying hard to recall, "Xiao Chun seemed to have mentioned that she had declined several invitations to have lunch together or go out to play after school recently, saying that she had something to do."

She'd also missed several club activities. Everyone assumed she was busy with something important, or something was wrong at home. She didn't seem unhappy; she was simply "busy."

“Something very important…” An and Asuka pondered. For high school students, what could be “something very important” besides academics and club activities that requires such dedication, to the point that they neglect their usual social life and band practice? Part-time job? Exam preparation? Or…?

"Oh, right!" Kaori Miyazono suddenly remembered something. "Tsubaki mentioned before that Kita-san's family has high expectations for her and hopes she can get into a good university. She also cares a lot about her grades. Could it be that there's some important mock exam or college entrance-related event coming up soon?"

That's a reasonable assumption. Academic pressure, especially during the crucial second year of high school, is enough to make many people temporarily put aside their hobbies.

“That’s possible,” An and Asuka nodded. “However, if it’s just a matter of being busy with studies, they usually wouldn’t completely cut off contact with the band; they would at least explain the situation. But the band can’t reach her at all; she doesn’t reply to Line messages or answer phone calls, which is a bit unusual.”

"That's true..." Kaori Miyazono also realized the problem. "Even if she's busy, she should have time to reply to a message, right? Unless... she's deliberately avoiding it?"

Deliberately avoiding it... This is another possibility that An and Asuka are also considering.

Perhaps there was some unspoken conflict or estrangement between Kita Ikuyo and the band, which led her to choose to "disappear" as a way of coping.

“It’s no use just guessing here.” An and Asuka decided, “Kaoru, could you ask Tsubaki to keep an eye on Kita’s situation without disturbing Kita herself?”

“No problem!” Kaori Miyazono immediately agreed. “Tsubaki is very reliable, and she cares a lot about her friends. I’ll contact her after her training and explain the situation. She should understand.”

"Thank you." An and Asuka breathed a sigh of relief. Having someone like Tsubaki, a classmate who knew Kita Ikuyo, help with the observation was much more effective than him conducting his own blind investigation.

"Why are you being so polite with me?" Kaori Miyazono said reproachfully, then looked at him with some concern, "But Asuka, haven't you been too busy lately? Your own band, helping other bands, and worrying about finding people... You should take a break."

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” An and Asuka smiled. “Besides, it’s not really about worrying, it’s more like… solving a mystery? Getting to know different people and encountering different stories is interesting in itself.”

"Seriously, treating this kind of thing as fun..."

Kaori Miyazono shook her head helplessly, but her eyes were full of gentle smiles. "But this is Asuka."

The two sat in the backyard of the confectionery shop for a while, sharing a piece of the shop's signature sakura mochi and chatting about their bands' recent interesting events.

Kaori Miyazono recounted the chaotic scene when her band first played together, where Ryota Watari's bass line almost swayed Kousei Arima's keyboard rhythm, and Nao Kashiwagi forcefully pulled everyone back on track with a guitar solo.

An and Asuka recounted how Eriri and Kasumigaoka Utaha, members of the "Praise Music" band, argued for a full half hour over the choice of a timbre, and Marina finally managed to stop them by banging her drumstick on the table.

Time slipped away quietly amidst lighthearted laughter.

Before leaving, An and Asuka put their hats back on.

"I'll let you know as soon as the investigation progresses."

“Okay, keep in touch.” An and Asuka nodded. “You be careful too, don’t put Tsubaki in too much of a difficult position, just know when to stop.”

"Know it!"

"Okay, then you should go back now."

"Okay, goodbye."

"Be careful on the road."

An and Asuka hugged the girl briefly before quickly letting go. The girl, completely satisfied, skipped happily towards the station.

Halfway through the run, she suddenly turned back. When she saw the boy still standing there watching her, she happily waved.

Then, he turned and left again.

Watching the girl's retreating figure, An and Asuka smiled and lowered their hands.

He then took out his phone, opened the map app, and entered his apartment address. The route showed that going through the small park ahead was a shortcut.

After pecking at the rice, he put away his phone, checked the directions to the left and right, and then walked towards the park entrance.

This is a typical community park, not very large, with a sandpit, slide, swings and a few benches, surrounded by some common trees.

As evening approached, the park was not crowded. Only a few children were still playing, and an elderly man was taking a leisurely stroll in the distance.

As An and Asuka reached the park entrance and prepared to walk straight through, a series of intermittent, extremely unskilled guitar sounds suddenly entered their ears.

"Ok?"

He subconsciously stopped in his tracks, his brow furrowing slightly. It wasn't that the music was disturbing him, but rather... the playing was simply terrible.

The notes were clearly out of tune, the fingering looked awkward, and the sound produced a hissing noise. The rhythm was even more chaotic; what should have been a smooth, simple chord progression was broken up into fragments, sometimes fast, sometimes slow, with obvious pauses and incorrect notes. Even someone completely unfamiliar with guitar could probably tell from the player's unfamiliarity and struggle.