Green plums cannot become lovers.

Chihaya Aine was still not quite convinced, but seeing how serious he was, she didn't dare to question him anymore.

"Then why do you participate in roadside concerts?"

"I just decided to participate." An and Asuka raised an eyebrow. "And also to gain some experience in major competitions."

“I see…” Chihaya Aine nodded.

"Is there anything else you want to ask?" An and Asuka checked the time.

"Yes!" Chihaya Aine immediately asked, "Where do you usually practice?"

"STARRY, a livehouse in Shinjuku."

"What pieces do you usually practice? Are they all original compositions?"

"Yes, most of them are original."

"Then you..."

Chihaya Aine asked one question after another, as if she had opened a floodgate. An and Asuka answered them all patiently.

Gradually, the topic shifted from the band competition to other things.

Chihaya Aine started complaining about the embarrassing things that happened during their rehearsals, like how Akari once forgot the lyrics halfway through a song and stood there stunned for several seconds; Kaname suddenly saying "I'm hungry" halfway through a rehearsal and then running off to buy food; and how Shiina Tatsuki was too strict, causing everyone to complain...

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

This band, despite their strong skills, is surprisingly easy to get along with.

They chatted for over an hour, and by then it was completely dark outside. Several groups of customers had come and gone in the coffee shop, but their table remained lively.

An and Asuka glanced at the time on their phones and stood up.

"That's settled then, I should head back."

"Eh—are we leaving already?" Chihaya Aine seemed a little reluctant to leave.

"Yes, I have things to do tomorrow." An and Asuka picked up their notebooks and said, "Thank you for chatting with me for so long today."

“We should be thanking you,” Nagasaki Motoyo said with a polite smile. “You answered so many questions.”

An and Asuka nodded to them, then turned and left the coffee shop.

-

Shoko Nitoyakawa sat in her seat, watching An and Asuka's departing figures, feeling somewhat anxious.

For the past hour or so, she barely got a chance to speak.

Chihaya Aine had too many questions, one after another, and she couldn't find a chance to speak.

But she still had a lot to say.

There are many... questions I want to ask.

She watched the figure disappear through the doorway and bit her lip.

Then, she stood up.

"Well, I'll head back now. You two can continue your chat."

"Huh? Xiangzi is leaving too?" Chihaya Aine blinked.

"Yes, something's come up." Toyokawa Shoko said hurriedly and walked quickly toward the door.

-

An and Asuka had only taken a few steps out of the coffee shop when they heard hurried footsteps behind them.

"senior!"

He turned around.

Toyokawa Shoko jogged up to catch up, her cheeks slightly flushed from the exertion and her chest rising and falling gently.

"what happened?"

Anhe and the flying bird stopped in their tracks.

Toyokawa Shoko stood in front of him, her hands unconsciously twisting together, her lips pursed, as if hesitating about what to say.

"I, I want to..." Her voice was a little soft.

"Hmm? What are you thinking about?"

"Um..." Toyokawa Shoko took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and looked up. "Could we exchange contact information?"

Her eyes were bright, filled with both anticipation and trepidation.

An and Asuka couldn't help but laugh at her nervous expression.

"can."

"Huh?" Toyokawa Shoko was stunned.

She had expected to be rejected, or at least asked "why," but the other party agreed so readily.

"What? If you don't want to join, I'm leaving," Anwa Asuka said with a smile.

"Yes!" Toyokawa Shoko quickly pulled out her phone, her movements so fast it was as if she was afraid he would change his mind.

The two became LINE friends.

Shoko Toyokawa looked at the newly added contact on her phone screen. The profile picture was a simple bird, and the name was "Asuka." This made her heart beat a little faster.

"Okay, okay." She looked up, her face beaming with an irrepressible smile.

An and Feiniao put away their phones.

"I'm off then. Good luck in the competition."

"Yes! Senior too!"

Toyokawa Shoko stood there, watching his figure gradually disappear into the night.

A summer breeze blew by, carrying the warmth unique to summer. She touched her cheek—it was a little hot.

She looked down at the newly added contact on her phone, and couldn't help but smile.

Her little face was flushed, and her eyes were full of happy light.

-

Back at the coffee shop, several girls looked at her with mischievous eyes.

"Yo—you're back?" Chihaya Aine drawled, "Someone chased after you for ages~"

Toyokawa Shoko's face flushed even more.

"I...I just..."

"Just want your contact information?" Nagasaki Motoyo replied with a smile.

How did you know?!

"Just a guess," Shiina Riki said expressionlessly.

Toyokawa Shoko covered her face and sat back down in her seat.

Chihaya Aine leaned closer and whispered, "How is it? How is it? Did you add it?"

"……Um."

"Wow!" Chihaya Aine's eyes lit up. "Then you two can chat from now on!"

Toyokawa Shoko didn't speak, but she couldn't suppress the smile on her lips.

Gao Songdeng whispered from the side, "Xiangzi, that's amazing..."

Rakuna looked up at Toyokawa Shoko, then lowered her head again to continue eating her matcha candy.

Nagasaki Motoyo sighed softly, but her eyes held a smile.

"Alright, alright, we should go back now." She stood up and clapped her hands. "We have practice tomorrow."

The girls packed their things and prepared to leave.

Toyokawa Shoko walked last, still holding her phone in her hand.

The screen was lit up, displaying the newly added contact.

She looked at that profile picture and thought to herself—

This must be fate.

A band with the same name as her band.

After returning, An and Asuka searched for information about Ave Mujica.

This search really gave him a shock.

Not only did they perform at the Budokan just over a month after their debut, but they also participated in multiple tours, all of which were sold out. Online discussions about them are extremely heated, and their fan base is huge and fervent. Even more astonishingly, this band is backed by the behemoth, the Toyokawa Group.

He originally thought it was just a game for rich girls—rich girls who formed a band out of boredom and built their fame through resources.

But when he clicked on Ave Mujica's performance video, the idea was immediately rejected.

This shows real ability.

The lead singer's voice is incredibly powerful, effortlessly handling the high register and brimming with emotion in the low register. The guitar arrangement is intricate and exquisite, with the solo flowing seamlessly. The bass is steady and strong, the drum beats are machine-like precise, and the keyboard tones are perfectly chosen. The five members work together flawlessly, as if they've been collaborating for years.

They're much better than those bands at roadside concerts.

After watching several videos, An and Asuka remained silent for a while.

Thankfully, this band doesn't participate in roadside concerts, otherwise the competition would be even fiercer.

He closed the webpage, leaned back in his chair, and rubbed his eyes.

Just then, my phone vibrated.

It's a LINE message notification.

He picked it up and saw that it was a newly added contact—the one with the blue octopus avatar and the nickname "Toyokawa Shoko".

Toyokawa Shoko: Good evening, senpai. Did I disturb you?

The message was followed by a blue octopus emoji; the chubby octopus stared with big eyes, its expression endearingly clumsy.

An and Asuka couldn't help but laugh when they saw the meme.

To be honest, this octopus's expression does have a certain resemblance to Toyokawa Shoko herself—both have that soft, cute feel.

Anwa Asuka: No, what's wrong?

The other side replied quickly.

Toyokawa Shoko: It's nothing, I was just curious if you were composing a new song again.

An and Asuka were taken aback.

Composing a new piece?

He glanced at his empty desktop, then at the open webpage next to him—which still displayed Ave Mujica's performance video.

Anhe Flying Bird: No, I'm just slacking off.

Toyokawa Shoko: Huh?! Is Senpai outside? It must be dangerous to be out slacking off so late.

An and Asuka looked at the message and fell into deep thought.

Slacking off...

This girl seems to have some misunderstanding about the word "slacking off"?

He thought for a moment and then typed out an explanation.

Anhe Flying Bird: Not the kind of "slacking off," but rather means not doing anything productive and being lazy.

The other side remained silent for a few seconds.

Then--

Toyokawa Shoko: Ah!!!

Toyokawa Shoko: I'm sorry, senpai! I misunderstood!

Toyokawa Shoko: I thought you were out playing in the water and catching fish...