Green plums cannot become lovers.

She nodded through her tears.

And then he just disappeared.

She never saw him again after that.

But she remembered his words and bravely made it to where she is today.

Eriri looked at the blurry boy's face in the photo and suddenly felt a little dazed.

He smiled very gently at that time.

Just like when the birds laugh today.

She shook her head and put the photo of her father back in the drawer.

What are you thinking about?

That person has long since disappeared.

And the people beside her were An and Asuka.

A man who already has a girlfriend, someone she's destined to never have.

She closed the drawer and lay down on the bed.

Outside the window, the rain has stopped.

Sunlight streamed through gaps in the clouds, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

She stared at the ceiling, the events of the day flashing through her mind.

The boy who appeared in the rain.

The handkerchief tucked into my shoulder.

That line, "I believe Eriri will not leave me."

And then there was the faint scent of soapberry that she could smell when she got close.

She turned over and buried her face in the pillow.

"Fool......"

He muttered to himself.

But the corners of his mouth curved into an unyielding smile.

As summer vacation approaches, everyone is getting increasingly nervous.

For students, the last hurdle before summer vacation is always that headache-inducing thing—final exams.

During this period, you can see people everywhere on campus holding textbooks and reciting their lessons.

The library seats were full every day, and the discussions in the activity room had shifted from game planning to Q&A sessions. Even Marina, who was usually the most carefree, started taking notes diligently, although she would sometimes fall asleep at her desk while doing so.

An and Asuka weren't too worried.

For him, the difficulty of high school courses was nothing. What truly kept him busy was the dual task of band practice and game development. The final exams were just a minor episode, over once they were over, but the script for "Small Town Family" still needed polishing, and the band's arrangements needed adjustment.

However, no matter how busy you are, you still need to eat.

At noon, he carried his lunchbox and pushed open the door leading to the rooftop.

The sunlight was a bit dazzling, and the June wind already carried the temperature of summer, blowing with a hint of warmth.

And that familiar figure was sitting on a bench, holding a book in his hand.

Kasumigaoka Utaha.

She was wearing her school's summer uniform, a white shirt paired with a dark pleated skirt, her long hair fluttering slightly in the wind. Hearing the door open, she turned her head, her wine-red eyes looking over through her glasses.

"Good afternoon, senior." Anhe Feibiao walked over.

"Ah."

Kasumigaoka Utaha gave a faint reply, then looked away and continued reading the book in her hands.

An and Asuka walked over to her and sat down naturally. The rooftop bench was warm from the sun, but not scalding.

He placed the lunchbox on his lap, opened the lid, and inside were neatly arranged dishes—rice, fried eggs, several side dishes, and a fried pork chop.

He picked up the fried pork cutlet and handed it to Kasumigaoka Utaha.

"Let's eat something nutritious."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked down at the fried pork cutlet, then at him, a hint of amusement in her eyes.

"Now you remember there was someone waiting for you here?"

Her tone was somewhat resentful, but it didn't sound like she was really angry; it was more like a teasing remark.

An and Asuka were taken aback.

"Huh?" He blinked. "Didn't we just have dinner together last week? And we see each other every day at club activities, don't we?"

"But it's been a week since we last ate together..."

Kasumigaoka Utaha's tone became even more resentful, and she even turned her head slightly away from him.

An and Asuka looked at her and couldn't help but laugh and cry.

"Senior, you know I'm very busy, right?"

“Indeed.” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, a mischievous glint in her wine-red eyes. “I’ve been so close to Eriri lately, of course I’m busy.”

"...What does this have to do with Eriri?"

"No?"

"No."

"Oh." Kasumigaoka Utaha responded casually, took the fried pork cutlet, and took a small bite.

An and Asuka looked at her and sighed helplessly.

"So what does the senior want me to do?" he asked directly.

Kasumigaoka Utaha chewed on her fried pork cutlet, not answering immediately.

After a while, she slowly and deliberately spoke.

"Come with me on a research trip during summer vacation."

"Fetching materials?"

“Yes.” She nodded. “I haven’t had any inspiration lately, so I want to go out for a walk and find some new material. It’s too boring being alone; I need someone to keep me company.”

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"I see..."

"Okay." He thought for a moment and nodded. "Anyway, I don't have much to do during summer vacation."

"Really?" Kasumigaoka Utaha raised an eyebrow.

"Ah."

"It's a deal then." A slight smile appeared on her lips. "You can't go back on your word when the time comes."

"Will not."

Anhe Feiniao picked up another piece of food and handed it to her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha took it and ate it slowly.

The two sat side by side, one eating his lunchbox and the other taking a free lunchbox, neither of them saying much.

A gust of wind blew across the rooftop, lifting a few strands of hair.

In the distance, the sounds of a physical education class on the playground drifted over, occasionally punctuated by laughter and whistles. Further still, the city skyline shimmered softly in the sunlight.

"Senior."

"Ok?"

"Do you have any specific plans for researching during the summer vacation?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha thought for a moment.

"Not yet, but I want to go to the beach."

"seaside?"

"Yes. In summer, the beach is a must. And for the next volume, I want to write a story about summer, so I need to do some on-site research to see the atmosphere."

An and Asuka nodded.

"Sure. Are there any other places?"

“We could consider the mountains,” Kasumigaoka Utaha continued, “or a small town. Preferably a place with a fireworks festival.”

"Fireworks festival..."

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"There are quite a few places you can go."

“So I need your help with the planning.” Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him. “Aren’t you very good at arranging these things?”

"...Is that considered a compliment?"

"of course."

An and Asuka smiled.

"Okay, I'll go back and think about it."

The lunchbox gradually emptied.

The sunlight shifted its position, casting new shadows on the ground.

Kasumigaoka Utaha closed the book in her hands; it was a standalone novel she had written, with an exquisitely designed cover. She gently stroked the cover and suddenly spoke.

"Birds".

"Ok?"

"Have you and Eriri... something happened recently?"

An and Asuka were taken aback.

Why do you ask that?

“It’s nothing,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said. “I just feel that the child has been acting a little strange lately.”

She paused.

"I'm more prone to spacing out than before. And my gaze is different when I'm looking in a certain direction."

An and Asuka were silent for a moment.

He remembered the rain last Saturday, Eriri's words at the fast food restaurant, and her red-rimmed eyes as she pretended to be okay.

"It's nothing, just some small things."

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him.

In his wine-red eyes, there was a knowing understanding that saw through everything.

But she didn't ask any further questions.

"That's good."

The bento box is finished.

An and Asuka packed up their lunchboxes and stood up.

"I'll head back now; I still need to help Eriri with her studies."

"Ah."

He took two steps, then turned back.

"Senior, I'll take care of things during the summer vacation."

Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"I'll wait."