Green plums cannot become lovers.

Kasumigaoka Utaha chuckled softly.

She put down the book, folded her hands on her knees, leaned forward slightly, and looked at Eriri with a teasing, animal-like gaze.

“Eri-kun,” she said, her tone laced with undisguised pleasure, “you’re still so easy to fool.”

Eriri's face turned completely red.

It was as red as a cooked shrimp.

"Kasumi no Oka no Uta no Yu!"

She shouted the name through gritted teeth, her whole body like a cat with its fur standing on end.

"You did this on purpose, didn't you!"

"Yes, it was intentional," Kasumigaoka Utaha readily admitted. "It's quite amusing to see you so anxious."

"you--!"

Eriri was so angry that she trembled all over, but she couldn't say a word.

Marina chuckled to herself, Ai covered her mouth, and Shizuka smiled slightly.

Even An and Asuka couldn't help but laugh.

"You...you've gone too far!"

Eriri stomped her foot, turned around, and left everyone with only her sullen back view.

But her bright red ears betrayed her true feelings.

-

On June 28th, the final exams arrived right on time amidst the students' groans.

The atmosphere in the classroom was several times more tense than usual. Students who were usually laughing and joking were now buried in their exam papers, their pens scratching on the paper. Occasionally, someone would look up at the sky with a pained expression, as if praying to a god; someone would bite their pen, staring blankly at the questions; and someone would frantically scribble down answers in the last few minutes, making more and more mistakes.

An and Asuka finished the last question, put down their pens, and checked their test papers.

If nothing unexpected happens, this time it will also be a perfect score.

He glanced at Eriri diagonally in front of him. She was frowning, staring at the last big question, her pen twirling in her hand, clearly stuck. But after a while, as if suddenly struck by an idea, her eyes lit up, and she began to write furiously.

The sun was shining brightly outside the window; it was already quite warm at the end of June. The chirping of cicadas drifted in from afar, like an announcement that summer had officially begun.

A few days later, the results were announced.

As expected, Anhe Feibiao remained the top student in his grade.

Eriri also did well on her exams, showing significant improvement over the previous semester. When she received her report card, a slight smile appeared on her lips. Although she tried to maintain a "this is normal" expression, the joy in her eyes was impossible to hide.

Marina barely passed the mark, and the moment she received her grades, she hugged Ai and jumped and shouted.

Xiao Ai and Shizuka both passed the test smoothly.

The final exams passed uneventfully.

Then--

Summer vacation is here.

-

The first day of summer vacation.

An and Asuka got up early in the morning.

The sunlight outside the window was already quite bright, casting a golden ray of light on the floor through the gap in the curtains. He finished washing up, changed into a simple T-shirt and casual pants, and slung a lightweight backpack over his shoulder.

Marina, Ai, and Shizuka had already woken up. The three of them were having breakfast in the living room when they saw him come out and all looked over.

"Are we leaving?" Marina asked, still with a piece of bread in her mouth.

“Mm.” An and Asuka nodded.

"Be careful on the road," Xiao Ai said with a smile. "Even though it's just going to the next county, you still need to be careful."

"know."

Shizuka handed over a bento box: "You can eat this if you get hungry on the way."

An and Asuka took it, somewhat surprised: "You made this?"

"Yes, I made it as soon as I woke up this morning." Shizuka smiled gently. "After all, we're going to gather materials, so we can't go hungry."

".....Thanks."

He put away the lunchbox and waved to them.

"Then I will die and leave."

"Be careful on the road—"

The three girls said in unison.

Anhe Feiniao pushed open the door and stepped into the summer sunshine.

-

Xin Yueyi - Yiling! Abandon IV?? Siwu Liusu Station, teeming with people.

On the first day of summer vacation, the train station was filled with students dragging suitcases and families with children. Announcements of train arrivals blared over the loudspeakers, mingled with the sounds of footsteps, conversations, and children's laughter.

An and Asuka stood near the agreed-upon ticket gate and glanced at the time.

There are ten minutes left until the agreed time.

He leaned against a pillar and casually scrolled through his phone.

Not long after, a familiar figure appeared in the crowd.

Kasumigaoka Utaha was dressed casually today—a white short-sleeved shirt paired with a light blue knee-length skirt and simple sandals. Her long hair was loose, draped naturally over her shoulders, swaying gently as she walked. She carried a small travel bag and held a book in her hand, seemingly preparing to pass the time on the train.

She walked up to An and Asuka and stopped.

"Wait for a long time?"

"Just arrived." An and Asuka put away their phones.

Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at him, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"You're dressed quite casually today."

“It’s summer after all.” An and Asuka also looked at her. “So is it, senior.”

“Of course,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said matter-of-factly. “When you’re out gathering material, your appearance is very important.”

An and Asuka smiled and did not refute.

Where is Ms. Machida?

Machida Sonoko, editor in charge of Kasumigaoka Utaha.

This so-called "source gathering" was actually her idea—to help Kasumigaoka Utaha change her mood and, incidentally, to experience the summer atmosphere firsthand, thus gathering material for the next volume of the novel. As the editor, she naturally had to go along.

"Buy a drink over there," Kasumigaoka Utaha pointed to the convenience store not far away. "I'll be right there."

As soon as she finished speaking, a woman in business attire walked out of the convenience store. She was carrying a plastic bag containing three bottles of drinks and some snacks.

Machida Sonoko, in her thirties, wears round-framed glasses and always has a capable yet gentle smile on her face. She is Kasumigaoka Utaha's editor and one of the few people who can keep this genius girl in check.

"Hey, Asuka-kun!" she greeted warmly as she walked over. "Long time no see!"

"Hello, Ms. Machida." Anwa Asuka nodded.

"Oh, no need to be so polite," Machida Sonoko said with a smile. "I'm so sorry to trouble you to come with us on this research trip. I always worry about Shiho going out alone."

"Who is a person?" Kasumigaoka Utaha retorted calmly.

"Didn't you always say you could take care of yourself?"

That's true.

“But last time you went out alone, you left your wallet at the hotel.”

"...That was an accident."

"The time before last I got lost, and they called me to come pick me up."

"...That was an accident."

"The time before last—"

“Ms. Machida,” Kasumigaoka Utaha interrupted her, “Give the drink to your junior.”

Machida Sonoko smiled, refrained from further criticizing her, and handed a bottle of drink to An and Asuka.

"Here, have some water. The drive will take about an hour. We can explore Chiba at our leisure once we get there."

"Thank you."

The three of them walked through the ticket gate and boarded the train bound for Chiba.

-

There weren't too many people on the tram.

They found three seats side by side: Machida Sonoko sat by the window, Kasumigaoka Utaha sat in the middle, and An and Asuka sat on the outermost side.

The tram started moving, and the scenery outside the window began to slowly recede.

Skyscrapers gradually faded into the distance, replaced by increasingly expansive skies and fields. At the end of June, the Kanto Plain was a lush green. Occasionally, one could see farmhouses, quilts drying in the yards, and people working in the fields.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked out the window, lost in thought.

An and Asuka leaned back in their chairs, somewhat lost in thought.

Machida Sonoko took a tablet computer out of her bag and started looking at something.

The tram swayed rhythmically, emitting a regular rumbling sound.

“Junior.” Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly spoke.

"Ok?"

What are your plans for summer vacation?

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"Let's finish this research trip first, then go back and continue working on the game. The script for 'Small Town Family' still needs polishing, and the band's arrangement also needs adjustment."

"that's it?"

“I might go to STARRY a few more times.” He paused. “After the band finishes, I’ll go check it out occasionally.”

“You’re really busy,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said.

"Fortunately."

There was a moment of silence.

“Eri-ri,” Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly mentioned, “sent me a bunch of messages again yesterday.”

"Ok?"

"They asked me about the specific arrangements for this research trip, where we were staying, and when we would be back." There was a hint of a smile in her voice. "They also said things like 'be careful' and 'don't cause trouble for the birds.'"

An and Asuka were taken aback.

"She cares that much?"

"Am I concerned about you or me?" Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at him with a half-smile. "Junior, what do you think?"

An and Asuka did not answer.

Machida Sonoko listened with great interest, her eyes darting back and forth between the two.

"That girl named Eriri," she interjected, "does she like Asuka-kun?"

“Ms. Machida.” Kasumigaoka Utaha glanced at her.

"Huh? Can't I say?"

"Too direct."

"Oh, sorry, sorry." Machida Sonoko smiled, but her eyes clearly said, "I understand."

An and Asuka shook their heads helplessly.