Green plums cannot become lovers.

“Girl, by the light of this bright moon, its silvery glow painting the tips of these fruit trees, I swear—”

Then he stopped and gestured to her with his eyes.

It's her turn!

Eriri opened her mouth.

"Do you love me?"

Four words.

Very simple.

But why is my voice trembling when I speak?

An and Asuka looked at her, her reflection shimmering in their deep brown eyes.

Then he smiled slightly.

"I love you."

His voice was deep and gentle, as if he were stating a perfectly natural fact.

Eriri's mind went blank again.

It's not that I doubt Qi Lu Yi III Er Jiu Er because I forgot my lines.

Rather, it's because—

He said it so naturally.

It was so natural... that she almost thought it was real.

Applause and cheers erupted from the crowd.

"It's over, it's over!"

"Great!"

"Well done, Sawamura-kun!"

Eriri was pulled back to reality by the cheers and quickly looked away from An and Asuka, pretending to adjust her skirt.

But I just couldn't calm my heartbeat.

The phrase "I love you" kept replaying in her mind, as if it had been pressed on repeat.

-

After the rehearsal, An and Asuka packed up their things and prepared to go to the activity room.

Eriri walked over and stood in front of him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Eriri opened her mouth, wanting to say "That doesn't count," "Don't misunderstand," and "I was just acting."

But what came out in the end was: Erjiu?ijiu?ι??sulfur.

"......Thanks."

An and Asuka were taken aback.

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for helping me come up with a way to simplify the lines." Eriri turned her face away. "Although... although that line was a bit too direct, at least I didn't get stuck this time."

An and Asuka smiled.

You're welcome, you acted very well.

"really?"

"Really. The question 'Do you love me?' came out very naturally, and the emotion was right."

Eriri's face flushed even more.

"......oh."

"I'm going to the activity room now." An and Asuka slung their backpacks over their shoulders. "Want to come with me?"

“Mm.” Eriri nodded and followed behind him.

As I walked out of the classroom, the sun was setting.

Golden light spilled down the corridor, casting long shadows of the two people.

Eriri looked at the figure in front of her and suddenly spoke:

"Peaceful Birds".

"Hmm?" He turned around.

“…It’s nothing,” she said. “Let’s go, they must be getting impatient.”

An and Asuka glanced at her, but didn't ask any further questions, and continued walking forward.

Eriri followed behind, a slight smile playing on her lips.

That "I love you" was just an act.

But in a small corner of her heart, she couldn't help but secretly feel a little happy.

-

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

"Here I am!" Marina waved. "How was rehearsal today?"

"It's fine." Anhe Asuka put down her schoolbag.

"Where's Eriri?" Ai asked, looking at her. "I heard you got stuck yesterday? Are you better today?"

Eriri froze.

"......alright."

"really?"

"real!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha pushed up her glasses, her gaze lingering on Eriri's face for a moment, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Eri-kun, your face is a little red."

"It's hot!"

"Is that so?" Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled and didn't press the matter further.

Shizuka handed me a cup of tea: "Have some water first, we'll start practicing soon."

Eriri took the teacup, took a sip, and tried to cool down her face.

An and Asuka had already started tuning, as if nothing had happened.

But Eriri knows that Suzuki Mio knows that she will probably remember those words, "I love you," for a very long time.

-

On the way home after practice.

Eriri, An, and Asuka walked side by side.

“Um…” she suddenly said.

"Ok?"

"At tomorrow's rehearsal, will you... will you still look at me like that?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment: "What kind of look?"

“It’s like…” Eriri gestured, “It’s like that kind of… focused look, like you’re the only person in the world.”

An and Asuka were silent for two seconds.

“That was acting,” An and Asuka replied. “The way Romeo looked at Juliet.”

"I know it's acting!" Eriri said hurriedly, "I was just asking!"

“That depends on what the director wants,” An and Asuka said. “If it’s the same version as today, it should be about the same.”

Eriri fell silent.

I'm a little excited.

I'm also a little scared.

What I'm looking forward to is seeing him look at me with those eyes again.

What I fear is that I will experience the same uncontrollable racing heartbeat I had today.

She took a deep breath.

Forget it, forget it.

It's just acting anyway.

Right?

Volume 1: Chapter 221 Our Love~~ [8k]

Dinner time at the Sawamura family home is always the most relaxing time for the mother and daughter.

But today, Sayuri Sawamura noticed that something was wrong with her daughter.

From the moment she sat down to eat, Eriri was lost in thought. She would put air into her mouth with her chopsticks, chewing twice before she realized what was happening; she had to repeat herself twice before her mother would respond to her questions; her favorite fried shrimp was placed in front of her, but she ignored it, instead poking at the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks, her gaze drifting to some unknown place outside the window.

"Yinglili."

No response.

"Yinglili——"

"Huh?" Eriri snapped back to reality, meeting her mother's amused gaze, and lowered her head guiltily. "W-what are you doing..."

Sawamura Sayuri put down her chopsticks, rested her chin on her hands, and looked at her with a smile.

"Eri, you seem a little off today. Did something happen at school?"

"N-nothing," Eriri quickly denied, taking a bite of rice with her head down.

"really?"

"Ah."

“You’re lying.” Sayuri Sawamura said with certainty, “Something must have happened. Eriri can’t fool me.”

Eriri paused for a moment with her chopsticks.

Seeing this, Sayuri Sawamura's smile deepened. She knew her daughter too well; this girl, who could never hide her feelings, would always show this expression whenever she had something on her mind. She might try to act nonchalant, but her whole being screamed, "I'm troubled."

not

A mischievous smile crept onto Sayuri Sawamura's face as a sudden idea flashed through her mind.

"Could it be that she has a boyfriend?"

"No!" Eriri suddenly raised her head, her voice rising eight octaves, "Don't talk nonsense!"

This reaction

Sawamura Sayuri raised an eyebrow.

Knowing her daughter as she does, if Eriri were truly wronged, her reaction would be an angry retort, "I told you it's gone, isn't that annoying?"—not the flustered reaction she's showing now, as if her secret has been exposed.

Wow!

She gave a meaningful smile and leaned forward slightly.

"Looks like you really have a boyfriend. Who is he? What does he look like?"

"I already said there's nothing between us!" Eriri's face flushed red at a visible speed. "I have absolutely nothing to do with him! We were just acting!"

She regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth.

A triumphant smile flashed in Sayuri Sawamura's eyes.

"acting?"