Green plums cannot become lovers.

“Right, right!” An and Subaru nodded repeatedly, leaning forward. “Asuka-kun is really amazing! He’s impeccable in both music and games! Many people in our school are his fans, some have even joined a fan club, and some collect all of his works!”

The girl seemed to really like the boy; her eyes were shining as she spoke, as if she were talking about some amazing treasure.

Anhe Tiantong saw this and smiled kindly.

"Is Subaru also a fan of Asuka-kun?"

Of course she knew the answer.

How could Subaru, as her grandmother, not see how much she liked that boy? Every time Asuka was mentioned, the child would become exceptionally excited, talk more, and have brighter eyes.

However, Xiao Mao still doesn't know that the boy she admires is actually her older brother.

“Of course!” An and Subaru nodded frantically, their twin ponytails swaying with their movements. “I wish I could be as amazing as him! Handsome, talented, and so gentle…”

She paused, then suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Anhe Tiantong.

"By the way, Grandma, why don't you invite Asuka-kun over as a guest?"

She had kept this question to herself for a long time.

That boy hadn't visited their house in a very, very long time. Grandma clearly liked him so much, and everyone clearly wanted to see him, so why didn't they take the initiative to invite him? If only they could visit more often and help that boy out.

Anhe Tiantong remained silent for a while.

"Him..." She looked at the green bamboo in the courtyard, her tone tinged with helplessness and heartache, "When he wants to come, he will naturally come on his own."

"Why?" An and Subaru asked, puzzled. "Wouldn't it have been enough to just invite them?"

Anhe Tiantong shook his head without offering any further explanation.

How could she not want to invite that boy to Anhe's house as a guest? If she could, she would love to let that boy recognize his ancestors, she would love to hear him call her "Grandma" in person, and she would love to make up for the years of missing companionship.

But it's impossible.

To that boy, they weren't family yet. They were connected by blood, but there was no emotional bond. Forcing them closer would only push him further away.

Perhaps only when he comes to terms with it will they truly become family, and only then will he be able to genuinely call her "Grandma".

Looking at his grandmother's expression, An and Subaru nodded as if they understood.

She didn't ask any further questions, but simply stayed quietly by her grandmother's side, watching the green bamboo in the yard sway in the evening breeze.

-

Meanwhile, at the Sawamura family home.

When Eriri returned home, the corners of her mouth were still turned up in a smile.

That smile wasn't the usual arrogant "I'm in a good mood today" kind of smile; it was a genuine, heartfelt smile that couldn't be hidden. She smiled as she changed her shoes, as she put down her bag, and even when she took a drink from the refrigerator, the corners of her mouth never left her lips.

Sawamura Sayuri, who came back with her, naturally saw all of this.

She was at the stage play that afternoon and watched the whole thing.

Naturally, they also noticed their own daughter's performance.

To be honest, compared to that boy, Eriri's acting was rather mediocre. Her lines were occasionally halting, her expressions were sometimes stiff, and her movements weren't natural enough. But for a beginner performing on stage for the first time, this is normal, and you could even say it was quite good.

But there is one place where she performed exceptionally well.

Or rather, that wasn't acting at all.

Balcony scene.

"Do you love me?"

Her voice trembled slightly as she asked the question, and her deep blue eyes were filled with anticipation, trepidation, and a hint of vulnerability. At that moment, she wasn't acting as Juliet; she *was* Juliet.

"I love you."

The boy's answer was so heartfelt.

Then, the light in Eriri's eyes was so real.

The emotion of being moved by the response, the overwhelming happiness, the feeling of wanting to cry but desperately holding it back—all of these flowed out naturally, without any trace of acting.

Sawamura Sayuri could see it clearly.

That's not acting.

That was her daughter's genuine expression of emotion.

Her daughter Eriri seems to have fallen for the same person again.

No, perhaps it should be said that she never disliked him. It was just that for some reason, she temporarily buried her feelings deep in her heart. Now, the opportunity presented by the stage play has reawakened them.

Normally, Sayuri Sawamura wouldn't say anything; in fact, she'd be quite pleased. Her daughter had finally found someone she liked—that was a good thing. She'd met the boy a few times, had a good impression of him, and thought he was someone she could entrust her life to.

However, to her dismay, the boy named An and Asuka probably already had a girlfriend.

In other words, Eriri from her family no longer has a chance.

He has become a complete loser.

Sawamura Sayuri initially thought her daughter had realized this, which was why she kept her feelings buried. But judging from today's situation, Eriri seems to have fallen for her again, and even more deeply than before.

"Mom, how did I do today?"

Eriri's voice pulled her back to reality.

Sayuri Sawamura turned her head and looked at her daughter's still silly grinning face, feeling a mix of emotions.

She calmed herself down and began to speak:

"good."

He paused, then added:

"But compared to that boy, he's still far behind."

This was true, and it was also something she said on purpose—to see her daughter's reaction.

Eriri simply nodded happily.

"That's for sure, after all, that guy is so powerful."

"..."

Normally, Eriri would definitely retort defiantly, saying things like, "Where am I worse than him?", "I just lack experience," and "I'll definitely do better than him next time."

But now, she actually admitted it with a smile.

Sawamura Sayuri looked at her daughter's face, which showed no sign of realizing the problem, and sighed inwardly.

Her daughter seems to be deeply involved.

"Eriri," she said carefully.

"Ok?"

"That boy...did you know he has a girlfriend?"

Eriri's smile froze for a moment.

But soon, she returned to her indifferent demeanor.

"I know, but what does it have to do with me?"

"then you……"

“Mom, you’re overthinking it,” Eriri interrupted her. “I’m only happy because the performance was a success. It has nothing to do with that guy.”

After she finished speaking, she took the drink and went upstairs.

Sawamura Sayuri stood there, watching her daughter's figure disappear around the corner of the stairs.

That statement, "It has nothing to do with that guy," sounded too deliberate.

It's so deliberate that it sounds fake at first glance.

She sighed again.

My daughter is all grown up and has her own thoughts now, so as her mother, I can't control everything.

only……

I hope she doesn't get hurt.

-

Upstairs, in Eriri's room.

She lay in bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

The scene from the afternoon was still replaying in my mind.

The stage lights, the applause from the audience, and his words, "I love you."

She knew it was all an act.

She knew he had a girlfriend.

She knew she was a loser.

but……

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

But that line was really beautiful.

She closed her eyes, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve into a smile again.

Even if it's just acting, even if it's just fake.

She wanted to hear it again.

After the lively school festival ended, school life quickly returned to normal.

The carefully arranged decorations were removed one by one, the classrooms returned to their former appearance, the corridors were no longer filled with tourists, and the announcements of the activities were no longer played on repeat over and over again.

Everything was like a beach after the tide has receded, leaving only a few scattered seashells, allowing people to reminisce about the excitement of those two days.

But for the six members of "Praise Music," the end of the school festival does not mean relaxation, but rather the beginning of another journey.

Their band is still making progress.

Their weekly practice sessions never stopped, and their performances of the three songs became increasingly proficient, with their coordination becoming more and more seamless. Marina's drumming was as steady as a metronome, Shizuka's bass lines became smoother, Eriri's keyboard tone selection became more and more thoughtful, Kasumigaoka Utaha's guitar playing improved rapidly, and Ai's vocals were consistently strong.

An and Asuka moved among them, continuing to play the role of "coach," pointing out problems and giving advice.

But their journey didn't stop there.

In terms of games, a new journey has also begun.

The game they're making this time is a romance adventure game called "Small Town Family".

One afternoon in the activity room, An and Asuka placed the proposal on the table and told the story to the girls.

"The game tells the story of a small town where the protagonist, Tomoya, loses hope in living there due to family issues and becomes self-destructive."

His voice was calm, as if he were telling a distant story, "But one morning in his senior year of high school, on the slope leading to the school, he met a girl who stopped in her tracks. Her name was Nagisa."

"After Tomoya met Nagisa Furukawa, his life began to change dramatically..."

He paused, then looked around.

The girls listened attentively, and no one interrupted.

“This game is different from the previous two,” An and Asuka continued. “In terms of process and ending, the previous two games were happy endings.”

"But I intend to make this game a tragedy in both its process and its ending."

The activity room fell silent for a moment.

Marina blinked: "Tragedy?"

“Yes.” An and Asuka nodded. “A complete tragedy.”

Xiao Ai asked hesitantly, "Then... will the players like it?"

“Not necessarily,” An and Asuka said frankly, “but I want to do it.”

He paused, then added, "Not all stories need a happy ending. Some stories are memorable precisely because of their regrets."

The girls exchanged glances.

This is a very bold attempt.