Green plums cannot become lovers.

Page 193

What really put pressure on him was acting opposite Eriri.

It's not because she acted badly.

In fact, Eriri's performance was surprisingly good. Although she was a little nervous at first and occasionally stumbled over her lines, once she got into character, the aura of a "Sawamura family heiress" naturally came through.

Noble, elegant, with a touch of coquettishness.

It was practically tailor-made for the role of Juliet.

The issue is--

Eriri would freeze every time she made eye contact with him.

It wasn't that he was stuck on his lines, but rather that his whole being was stuck.

The balcony scene was rehearsed on the third day.

An and Asuka stood on a makeshift low platform, while Eriri stood on a chair, the two looking at each other from a distance of a few steps.

“I’m being too presumptuous, but you’re like the best angel in my heart—” An and Asuka recited their lines, gazing tenderly at Eriri.

Eriri should continue with the next sentence.

But she opened her mouth and said nothing.

Because her brain crashed at that moment.

His deep brown eyes were fixed intently on her, as if she were the only person in the world. His voice was low and gentle, each word flowing from his chest, carrying a warmth that made one's heart race.

This wasn't the first time she had made eye contact with An and Asuka.

In the activity room, during practice, and in countless ordinary days, they looked at each other countless times.

But things are different now.

At this moment, he is Romeo.

And she is Juliet.

Centuries ago, the most famous lovers were gazing at each other through their eyes.

"Eri?" An and Asuka tilted their heads slightly. "It's your turn."

"......what!"

Eriri snapped back to reality, her cheeks flushing red at a visible speed.

"I know! You don't need to remind me!"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart, and then began to recite her lines:

"Do you...love me? I...know you'll say yes, and I believe you; but if you truly love me, please swear it sincerely..."

The voice was trembling.

But at least I finished reading it.

The students around them suppressed their laughter, pretending they hadn't seen anything.

The girl in charge of directing made a note in her notebook: "Eri-kun, you tend to get stuck when making eye contact, you need to practice more."

Eriri wished she could disappear into a crack in the ground.

After rehearsal, Eriri sat alone in a corner, sulking while clutching the script.

An and Asuka walked over and sat down next to her.

"what happened?"

"It's nothing," Eriri said without looking up.

An and Asuka were silent for two seconds.

"You acted very well."

"..."

"Really, apart from that one time when I got stuck, everything else went very smoothly."

"..."

"Moreover, you memorize your lines very quickly. You were able to recite yesterday's scene completely today. Your progress is very obvious."

Eriri finally raised her head and stared at him with her deep blue eyes.

"what do you want to say in the end?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"I wanted to tell you not to be nervous," he said after a moment's thought. "Just treat it like practicing the piano in the activity room, and focus on what you're doing."

Eriri paused for a moment.

"Who's nervous?!"

"You blushed just now."

"It's hot!"

"Now it's famous too."

"you--!"

Eriri was so angry she wanted to hit someone, but when she met An and Asuka's smiling eyes, her anger inexplicably dissipated.

She turned her face away and muttered softly:

"...I'm just not used to acting like this with you."

What kind of play?

"It's just..." Eriri's voice trailed off, "...those scenes where you look at me and I look at each other, saying those cheesy lines..."

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"Then don't think of me as yourself."

"Huh?"

"I see you as Romeo, and you're not Eriri, you're Juliet. The relationship between the two characters has nothing to do with us."

Eriri stared at him blankly.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a gentle silhouette on his profile.

But for some reason, Eriri's heart skipped a few beats.

"......knew."

She spoke softly, gradually shifting her gaze away.

An and Asuka stood up.

"Keep up the good work tomorrow, I'm going to the activity room now."

"Ah."

He took a few steps, then looked back again.

Eriri remained seated, clutching her script, lost in thought. Sunlight fell upon her golden hair, casting a soft glow.

He smiled, turned and left.

The other four girls had already arrived in the activity room.

"Asuka's here!" Marina waved. "How's rehearsal going?"

"It's alright." An and Asuka put down their schoolbags. "Eri will be here in a bit."

"Huh? Isn't she rehearsing with you?" Xiao Ai asked.

"She'll stay there a little longer."

Shizuka looked at him thoughtfully: "Eri-kun... are you not quite used to acting in stage plays?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment and said, "It's alright, just a little nervous."

"Nervous?" Marina blinked. "Are you nervous acting opposite you?"

"Maybe."

Marina and Ai exchanged a glance, a knowing smile appearing on their faces.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's lips curled up slightly: "Junior, you really are... deeply sinful."

Anhe Feibiao looked at her and asked, "What do you mean?"

"It's nothing." Kasumigaoka Utaha opened the book in her hand. "Let's continue practicing the piano."

An and Asuka were silent for a moment, but quickly picked up their guitars and stopped thinking about it.

After a while, the door to the activity room was pushed open, and Eriri walked in.

Her cheeks were still a little red, but her expression had returned to its usual haughty look.

"I am coming."

"Perfect timing!" Marina patted the drum stool next to her. "Asuka just said you guys are rehearsing Romeo and Juliet? Tell us, how's the performance going?"

Eriri froze for a moment.

"...Let it be."

"What do you mean by 'like that'?"

"It means...it's alright."

Marina wanted to ask more questions, but Shizuka stopped her with a look.

An and Asuka, who were adjusting the sound, suddenly spoke up: "Eri acted very well, but she stumbles easily. She should get used to it after a few more practices."

Eriri's face flushed even more.

"Would it kill you to shut up?!"

Anhe Feiniao Erying Shanwu Jiuliu II& blinked innocently.

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled softly from the side.

"Alright, alright," Hoshino Ai said, trying to smooth things over, "Let's start practicing! We don't have much time left!"

The sound of musical instruments soon filled the activity room.

An and Asuka played the guitar with focused concentration, occasionally pausing to offer suggestions on someone's part.

Eriri sat in front of the keyboard, her fingers dancing across the keys, but her peripheral vision kept drifting in a certain direction.

She recalled the pair of eyes that had been intently watching her during the rehearsal.

I recall his words, "Imagine me as Romeo."

I remember the sunlight falling on his profile as he turned to leave.

My finger slipped, and I pressed the wrong note.