Green plums cannot become lovers.

Page 226

“I like him,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said. “I like him a lot.”

Eriri fell silent.

She knew about it.

I've known this for a long time.

“But,” Kasumigaoka Utaha changed the subject, “I also know that he is not just mine.”

Eriri looked up at her.

Kasumigaoka Utaha's gaze was fixed on the distance, as if she were looking at something very far away.

“He has Marina, Ai, and Shizuka.” Her tone was somewhat sentimental. “They were there for him when he was most lonely, they grew up with him, and they’ve been with him to this day. I can’t compare to them.”

"so what?"

“So I think,” Kasumigaoka Utaha turned her gaze back to Eriri, “since I’m already his, I should at least make sure I don’t have any regrets.”

Eriri was stunned.

"What...what do you mean?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Eriri, are you willing to just watch him be taken away by someone else?"

Eriri opened her mouth.

"I......"

"Do you know what you're thinking?" Kasumigaoka Utaha continued, "Do you know what you want?"

Eriri fell silent.

Of course she knew.

I've known this for a long time.

She likes peace and birds.

I love his gentleness, I love his seriousness, and I love the heartbreaking loneliness he occasionally reveals.

but

“But he has a girlfriend,” she whispered.

"I know."

"And there's more than one."

"I know too."

"Then why..."

"So I'm asking you," Kasumigaoka Utaha interrupted her, "Are you willing to give up like this?"

Eriri looked at her, speechless.

Kasumigaoka Utaha sighed.

"Eri, you know what? Sometimes I'm really envious of you."

"Envious of me?"

“Hmm.” Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded. “Although you’re stubborn, arrogant, and always say the opposite of what you mean, you’re very pure. You like what you like and you don’t like what you don’t like; you can’t hide it.”

She paused.

“I’m different. I always overthink, always calculate, and always afraid of getting hurt.”

Eriri was stunned.

She never imagined that Kasumigaoka Utaha would speak to her in such a tone.

That woman who was always composed, always sarcastic, and always left her speechless, actually had this side to her.

"So, what's that?" Eriri's voice stammered.

Kasumigaoka Utaha looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"So, I've decided to help you."

"help me?"

"Okay." Kasumigaoka Utaha nodded. "I'm meeting my junior here tomorrow. You should come too."

Eriri was stunned.

"You...you let me do it?"

"Ah."

"But......"

“There are no ‘buts’,” Kasumigaoka Utaha interrupted her. “Don’t you want to see him?”

Eriri fell silent.

miss you.

Of course I do.

but

“After I leave,” Kasumigaoka Utaha said, “you can be alone together.”

Eriri suddenly looked up.

"What...what do you mean?"

Kasumigaoka Utaha didn't answer, but simply picked up her coffee cup and took a sip.

Then she stood up.

"You need to seize this opportunity and stop being hypocritical. Okay, that's all, see you tomorrow."

She turned and left, leaving Eriri standing there, stunned.

Let's go back to the present.

The café was quiet, with only the occasional clinking of cups and saucers and the noise of the distant street.

Eriri lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously stirring the nearly melted iced coffee in front of her.

An and Asuka looked at her, unsure of what to say.

The silence lasted for a long time.

Finally, Eriri spoke.

"You...don't you have anything you want to ask?"

An and Asuka thought for a moment.

"You met yesterday?"

"Ah."

"What did you say?"

Eriri paused for a moment.

"I've said a lot, but I don't want to tell you."

An and Asuka nodded without asking any further questions.

Silence again.

After a while, Eriri suddenly looked up.

"Birds".

"Ok?"

Do you find me...annoying?

An and Asuka were taken aback.

Why do you ask that?

“Because…” Eriri looked away, “I always argue with you, I’m always stubborn, I always say the opposite of what I mean. Kasumigaoka says I can’t keep secrets, but actually, what I can’t keep secret isn’t things, it’s… it’s…”

She didn't continue.

An and Asuka looked at her.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the parasol, casting dappled shadows on her face. Her golden hair swayed gently in the breeze, and her deep blue eyes held tension, anticipation, and a hint of vulnerability, a fear of rejection.

He suddenly remembered that night in Chiba, Eriri standing on the beach, watching the fireworks in profile.

Erling Eryiling%ba i5I“Eri Li”.

"Ok?"

"You're not annoying, never."

Eriri was stunned.

“You may be stubborn, arrogant, and always say the opposite of what you mean,” he continued, his tone soft, “but that’s part of you too. Without those qualities, you wouldn’t be Eriri.”

Eriri looked at him, her eyes stinging with tears.

"You...you're talking as if you know me very well."

“I do know you,” An and Asuka said with a smile. “At least, more than you think.”

Eriri opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

She lowered her head, trying hard to suppress the bitterness in her eyes.

Then, she mustered her courage and asked in a low voice.

"Then...do you like me like this?"

An and Asuka looked at her.

"like."

Eriri suddenly looked up.

An and Asuka's gaze was calm, with a faint smile on their lips.

I've liked it for a long time.