Green plums cannot become lovers.

Page 197

To be honest, I have been a bit negligent these past few days.

With the school festival approaching, rehearsals for the stage play have taken up a lot of my after-school time, severely compressing my time for club activities. Although I still try to go to the activity room to practice the pieces every day, I haven't felt that fully engaged state for several days.

After thinking it over, An and Asuka made a decision.

I'll stay overnight.

"Stay overnight?" Marina's eyes lit up instantly at the suggestion. "Really!"

“Hmm.” An and Asuka nodded. “We’ve been rehearsing too much these past few days, and our touch and form have slipped a bit. Let’s practice a little more tonight and get our form back.”

"Yay!" Marina excitedly raised her hands. "Tonight! Tonight!"

Xiao Ai clapped her hands happily: "It's like a school trip!"

"Then I'll bring some food with me."

"That sounds interesting."

Eriri had an "whatever" expression, but there was a hint of expectation in her eyes.

The campus was much more lively at night than I had imagined.

They weren't the only club staying overnight. Walking down the corridor, you could see several classrooms still lit up in the distance, with faint sounds of discussion, laughter, and occasional singing drifting through the air.

The direction of the art department was brightly lit, probably because they were rushing to finish the final exhibits; the sound of instruments could be heard intermittently from the light music department, clearly indicating that they were also making the most of their last moments to practice.

"It's quite lively here." Marina looked around curiously.

“After all, it’s the eve of the school festival,” Shizuka Kuze analyzed. “Many clubs will choose to stay overnight to make final preparations.”

"It feels like we're all staying up all night together!" Hoshino Ai looked around. "It has such a great atmosphere!"

In the activity room, they laid out the quilts and mats provided by the school. The six quilts were divided into two sides—the girls squeezed together on the side by the window, while An and Asuka's quilts were placed in the corner by the door, separated by several tables pushed together, forming a symbolic "Chu River and Han Border".

Eriri looked at the boundary and felt a little bit more at ease.

Although she knew that An and Asuka wouldn't do anything outrageous,

Forget it, I don't want to.

The practice lasted from evening until nine o'clock.

The sounds of musical instruments rose and fell in the activity room. "If I Can Shine," "With You," and "Play" were played over and over again, each time flowing a little smoother than the last.

Eriri stood in front of the keyboard, her fingers dancing across the keys. She stole a glance at An and Asuka beside her; he was playing the guitar intently, his brow slightly furrowed, as if carefully listening to each note.

Still so serious.

She looked away and continued playing her part.

At nine o'clock sharp, An and Asuka put down their guitars and clapped their hands.

That's all for today.

Marina let out a long sigh and slumped onto the drum stool: "I'm exhausted—"

"You've worked hard." Shizuka handed her a bottle of water.

Xiao Ai was doing her final relaxation exercises beside her, humming the melody she had just heard.

Kasumigaoka Utaha put down Yoshiyuki and rubbed her fingers: "It's much smoother than the past few days."

"Yes." An and Asuka nodded. "You're back to your old self."

He glanced out the window—it was dark, but a few lights were still on in the distance.

"Let's tidy up and get ready to rest."

After everything was packed up and the blankets were laid out, the atmosphere in the activity room became somewhat subtle.

Six people, two rows of blankets, with several tables in between.

We see each other every day, practice together, eat together, and are already very familiar with each other. But now, lying in the same space, I feel a strange... inexplicable sense of novelty.

"Then I'll turn off the light." An and Asuka walked to the light switch.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a pillow landed squarely on his face.

"Replenish supplies and sleep!"

Marina stood next to the blanket, holding another pillow in her hand, laughing like a child who had just pulled off a prank.

"It's such a rare opportunity, it would be such a waste to go to bed so early!"

Xiao Ai immediately responded: "Yeah, yeah! It's not easy for us all to spend the night together!"

Shizuka smiled as she looked at them, making no attempt to stop them.

"Junior, it seems your plan to turn off the lights has been rejected."

Eriri sat on her blanket with her knees drawn up to her chest, looking like she was saying, "I'm not involved, but I'm not stopping it either."

An and Asuka took the pillow off their faces, glanced at the pillow poised to be used in Marina's hand, and then at Ai's expectant eyes, before sighing helplessly.

"...Then let's play a little longer."

"Great!"

The next second, a second pillow flew over.

An and Asuka dodged to the side, then grabbed their pillows to retaliate.

The pillow fight has officially begun.

Marina's offensive was the fiercest; she was like a vibrant little animal, running around the room with a pillow, throwing it at anyone in her path. Hoshino Ai followed behind, laughing as she threw, her aim questionable, but her enthusiasm was undeniable. After being accidentally hit a few times, Shizuka also joined the fray with a smile, her movements gentle yet precise.

Kasumigaoka Utaha initially stood aloof, observing the battle, but was then ambushed and struck squarely in the face by Marina. She paused for two seconds, then silently grabbed her pillow, expressionlessly joined the fight, and quickly locked onto Marina.

Eriri had intended to remain composed, sitting on her quilt as an observer. But when a pillow, thrown by who-knows-who, hit her in the face, her composure crumbled instantly.

"Who! Who smashed my things!"

Nobody admits it.

But everyone saw Marina secretly smiling.

Eriri squinted, grabbed a pillow, and rushed towards Marina.

The activity room was filled with laughter, screams, and the sound of pillows flying through the air.

Soon, An and Asuka, being the only boys, became the common target of everyone. Pillows flew from all directions; he dodged one but couldn't dodge another, and was eventually cornered against the wall, taking at least seven or eight blows.

"I surrender! I surrender!" He raised his hands.

"No way!" Marina said, hands on her hips. "Unless you treat us to ice cream for a month!"

"These conditions are too much..."

Before he could finish speaking, another pillow was shoved into his face.

"Alright, alright!" In the end, Shizuka finally stepped in to smooth things over.

"If this keeps up, it'll never end. I have to get up early tomorrow."

The group then slowly came to a stop.

Marina returned to her bed, panting, with Ai following behind, her cheeks flushed. Kasumigaoka Utaha tidied her disheveled hair, while Eriri tossed her pillow back into its place, pretending nothing had happened.

An and Asuka walked back to the switch.

He glanced back—the girls had already lay down, some were still whispering, and some had closed their eyes.

He smiled and turned off the light.

"Good night."

"Good night--"

Several voices came from the darkness.

The activity room gradually quieted down.

Moonlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting soft, silvery shadows on the floor. Occasionally, sounds from other clubs drifted from afar, but they seemed distant, like voices from another world.

An and Asuka lay in the blankets, their eyes closed, their breathing gradually becoming steady.

But soon he heard a rustling sound.

It was very light, as if someone was moving it carefully.

Then came the sound of the door opening, followed by a very soft sound of it closing.

He opened his eyes.

Under the moonlight, the spot where Eriri had been lying was now empty.

An and Asuka were silent for a few seconds, then gently lifted the blanket, got up, and followed them out.

The corridor was quiet.

Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a silvery glow on the tiled floor. A few classrooms in the distance still had lights on, but they were too far away to hear anything.

Eriri walked ahead, her long golden hair gleaming softly in the moonlight.

Instead of heading out of the teaching building, she turned towards the atrium.

An and Asuka didn't call out to her, but quietly followed behind, keeping a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

We've arrived at the central courtyard.

Moonlight bathed the blooming flowers, turning the entire courtyard into a soft, silvery-white hue. A night breeze rustled the branches, causing them to sway gently. In the distance, lights from the school building filtered through the treetops, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Eriri stood in the center of the courtyard, looking up at the night sky.

The moonlight fell on her face, softening her features. Her deep blue eyes reflected the twinkling stars in the sunlight.

An and the flying bird went inside.

"Eri, can't you sleep?"

Eriri turned around abruptly, startled. Her shoulders relaxed only after she saw who it was, but quickly tensed up again.

"You... how did you get here?"

“I’m worried about you,” An and Asuka said matter-of-factly.

Eriri was stunned.

I'm worried about you.

He uttered those three words so casually, without any embellishment or hesitation.

It's as if they don't need to think.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but couldn't utter a word.