Green plums cannot become lovers.

"Kasumi no Oka no Uta no Yu!"

Her voice was low, but full of anger.

"Who are you calling a puppy!"

"Whoever is in a hurry gets to decide."

"you--!"

As An and Asuka listened to their conversation, the corners of their mouths couldn't help but turn up slightly.

He opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling.

Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a faint streak of light on the ceiling.

These two people clearly can't stand each other, yet they're always entangled together.

really interesting.

-

The next day, the three of them went out together.

Although it was supposed to be a research trip, Eriri's presence completely changed the atmosphere.

Kasumigaoka Utaha wants to visit the old town, while Eriri wants to stroll through the shopping street. Kasumigaoka Utaha wants to stay at the beach a little longer, but Eriri says the sun is too strong. Kasumigaoka Utaha wants to go into a café that looks very old, but Eriri says it looks too worn and she doesn't want to go.

“Eri-kun,” Kasumigaoka Utaha took a deep breath, “what exactly do you want?”

"I don't mean anything by it," Eriri blinked innocently. "I was just expressing my opinion."

"You have too many opinions."

"Is there?"

The two were deadlocked.

Finally, An and Asuka spoke.

"How about this? We'll go to the old town in the morning and the shopping street in the afternoon. We can go to the beach in the evening when it's not so sunny. As for the coffee shop... if Eriri doesn't want to go, we can go look around somewhere else first. My senpai and I will go in, sit for a while, and then come out."

He looked at the two of them.

"May I?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha paused for a moment, then nodded.

Eriri nodded, though her expression still showed some reluctance.

And so, the itinerary for the day was set.

-

In the old street in the morning, Eriri followed behind the two the whole time, trying her best to look like "I'm not interested in this place", but her eyes were looking around aimlessly.

As she passed the candy store, Kasumigaoka Utaha stopped in her tracks.

“This is the one,” she said to An and Asuka, “the one I mentioned yesterday.”

An and Asuka looked at the candies in the glass case and nodded.

"Want to go in and take a look?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha hesitated for a moment.

Then she pushed open the door and went inside.

Eriri stood outside, peering inside with some curiosity.

"This is……"

"It's the shop my senior used to frequent when she was little," Anhe Asuka said.

Eriri paused for a moment.

She looked at the figure inside who was looking down at the candy cabinet and suddenly felt a little unfamiliar with him.

The Kasumigaoka Utaha she knew was a woman who was always composed, always sarcastic, and always left her speechless with her sharp tongue.

But at this moment, the woman stood in the candy store, and her back view looked somewhat...soft.

Eriri didn't say anything, she just stood quietly outside and waited.

After a while, Kasumigaoka Utaha appeared.

A small paper bag appeared in my hand.

"What did you buy?"

"Goldfish candy." Kasumigaoka Utaha handed him the paper bag. "I ate it when I was little, and I want to try it again."

An and Asuka glanced at it and smiled.

"Would you like to try some?"

"Ah."

Kasumigaoka Utaha opened the paper bag, took out a goldfish-shaped candy, and put it in her mouth.

"How about it?"

"Just like I remember, it's very sweet."

Eriri, who was watching from the side, suddenly spoke up.

"Is...it delicious?"

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

"Want to know?"

"Ah."

"Buy it yourself."

Eriri: "...Stingy."

But she still went into the store and bought a bag too.

When she came out, she had a goldfish candy in her mouth and tried to look nonchalant, but her eyes were sparkling.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her and chuckled softly.

-

Eriri was noticeably more active in the shopping street in the afternoon.

It was a place popular with young people, with all sorts of general stores, clothing stores, and jewelry stores, and her eyes lit up.

"This is so cute!"

"This one is good too!"

"Ah, I've seen this online before!"

She moved between the shops, completely forgetting that she was there to "monitor" others.

Kasumigaoka Utaha and Anwa Asuka followed behind, walking at a leisurely pace.

“Eri,” Kasumigaoka Utaha suddenly spoke up, “Didn’t you say you came here to have fun? Why aren’t you buying anything?”

"I'm looking!" Eriri said without turning her head. "I'll look first and then buy!"

"You've looked at three stores, but haven't bought anything."

"That's called careful selection!"

Kasumigaoka Utaha smiled and said nothing more.

As An and Asuka looked at the hopping figure in front of them, they suddenly realized that Eriri was still Eriri after all.

No matter where they are, their vitality cannot be hidden.

-

In the evening, they arrived at the beach.

The setting sun was painting the entire sea a golden-red hue. Seabirds circled overhead, their calls ringing out. The beach was quiet, with only a few couples strolling and a few children chasing wildflowers.

Eriri took off her shoes and walked barefoot on the beach.

"Wow, so beautiful..."

She stood by the sea, looking at the scenery before her, and became unusually quiet.

Kasumigaoka Utaha stood beside her without saying a word.

The waves lapped against the shore, bringing a refreshing coolness.

An and Asuka stood behind the two, watching this scene unfold.

The afterglow of the setting sun fell on the two girls, giving them a soft golden halo.

Eriri's blonde hair fluttered gently in the wind.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's long hair was also blown by the wind, with a few strands brushing against her cheeks.

The two stood side by side, looking at the same sea.

—This scene was unexpectedly harmonious.

An and Asuka took out their phones and quietly snapped a picture.

-

When I returned to the guesthouse that evening, Machida Sonoko was already back.

She raised an eyebrow when she saw the three of them enter together.

Did you have fun today?

"It's alright," Eriri said.

"Mm," Kasumigaoka Utaha responded.

Machida Sonoko looked at this one, then at that one, and finally looked at An and Asuka.

An and Asuka nodded.

"pretty good."

Machida Enko smiled.

"That's good," she said. "Tomorrow is the last day, so cherish it."

-

That night, the three of them slept in one room again.

But this time, the atmosphere seemed less tense.

After the lights were turned off, Eriri suddenly spoke.

"Kasumigaoka."

"Ok?"

"That candy store today...did you really go there when you were a kid?"

"Ah."

Why didn't you go back later?

There was a moment of silence.

“Because my parents were busy,” Kasumigaoka Utaha’s voice was calm. “They didn’t have time to come after that.”

Eriri didn't say anything.

After a while, she said in a low voice.

"...When I was a child, I often went out with my family, but that became less frequent later on."

Kasumigaoka Utaha did not respond.

But in the darkness, the corners of her mouth curved slightly.

An and Asuka lay in the innermost part, listening to the conversation between the two, and suddenly felt a sense of warmth.