Green plums cannot become lovers.

Yutenji Wakana pouted, looking unwilling, but still sat down.

Sankaku Hatsuka shook her head with a smile, while Wakaba Mu remained blankly focused, lost in thought.

Seeing this, Toyokawa Shoko couldn't help but laugh out loud.

She took out her phone and secretly glanced at the chat box between An and Asuka.

After that "goodnight" last night, there have been no new messages.

She hesitated for a moment, but still didn't send the message.

They must be very busy; we shouldn't bother them.

With that thought in mind, she put her phone away.

"Alright, alright, let's start practicing." She clapped her hands. "Today we need to finalize the framework of the new script."

-

Meanwhile, STARRY.

An and Asuka didn't go to Ring today; instead, they practiced at STARRY with the girls.

On one side is the end of the band, and on the other side is his own band.

The competition is in two days, and I've already gathered all the necessary information, so there's no need to go there again.

This place suits him better.

An and Asuka stood in the corridor, watching the girls on both sides of the wall busy with their own tasks.

In practice room B, the four girls who had just finished their band practice were nervously preparing. Nijika Ichi was adjusting the position of the drum kit, Ikuyo Kita was practicing her stage expressions in front of the mirror, Ryo Yamada was wiping her bass guitar expressionlessly, and Ichiri Goto was huddled in a corner, hugging her guitar and muttering to herself.

An and Asuka watched this scene, the corners of their mouths slightly turned up.

Although STARRY isn't as big as Ring Park and its equipment isn't as advanced, there's an indescribable warmth here.

There is light in everyone's eyes.

The radiance of striving for the same goal.

"Anwa-kun!" Nijika Ijichi poked her head out of practice room B. "Could you come over and listen to us one last time?"

“Okay.” An and Asuka walked over.

In the practice room, the four girls were already in their positions.

Hongxia, holding drumsticks, took a deep breath: "Ready?"

"Alright!" Kita nodded vigorously.

Liang nodded silently.

Goto Ichiri whispered, "Okay, okay..."

"Let's begin!"

The music is ringing.

This is a piece they prepared for half a month. With the guidance of An and Asuka, the arrangement has been optimized several times, and their playing skills have also improved significantly.

Kita Ikuyo's rhythm has become much more stable, no longer rushing the beat as easily as before. Ryo's bass lines are richer, perfectly complementing the drumbeats in the low register. Goto Ichiri's performance finally has emotion, every note carrying warmth. Ichika Iji's drumbeats are rock-solid, her eyes radiating the confidence of a leader.

The song ended.

An and Asuka were silent for a few seconds, then smiled.

"Very good, it's even better than yesterday."

"Really!" Kita Ikuyo jumped up with joy, her whole body like a lively little rabbit.

"Yes." An and Asuka nodded. "If you maintain this form, you'll be fine for the match."

"That's great!"

Kita Ikuyo jumped a few more times, pulling on Nijika's arm and swinging it back and forth.

Hongxia laughed as she was shaken, and it took her a while to finally free her hand.

"Alright, let's go out and rest for a bit."

"Yay! Time to rest!"

An and Asuka smiled at them, then looked at Goto Ichiri in the corner, hesitated for a moment, and then walked over.

"Goto-kun, what do you think?"

The girl's skill was the least of his concerns. Her guitar skills were solid; there were probably few players in Group C who could match her. The only problem was—she was too introverted.

The pink-haired girl trembled when her name was called. Her blue eyes flickered, and it took her a while to squeeze out a sound from her throat.

"Um……"

The sound was so soft it was almost inaudible.

An and the flying bird walked over.

When Goto Ichiri saw him approaching, he instinctively flinched, tightened his grip on his guitar, and shrank back.

An and Asuka stopped in front of her, thought for a moment, and then asked, "Do you have time after practice today?"

"Huh?"

Goto Ichiri looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.

"I'll take you somewhere."

He felt it was time to give the girl some special training before the competition. Technically, she was fine, but her stage presence... if she kept her head down and hunched over the whole time on stage, even the best technique wouldn't be able to shine.

"Where is it..." Goto Ichiri asked in a low voice.

"We'll find out then." An and Asuka didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Is that alright?"

silence.

Goto Ichiri lowered her head, her fingers unconsciously tracing the guitar strings. She certainly didn't want to miss this opportunity. The boy before her was someone she greatly admired—warm, sunny, talented, and always helping them.

but……

She hesitated for a long time before finally nodding slightly.

"Okay, then..."

An and Asuka smiled.

"Then it's settled. Call me when we're done."

-

Practice ended in the evening.

The girls who had finished their band performance packed up their things and prepared to leave.

"Goto-kun, aren't you leaving?"

Kita Ikuyo asked curiously.

Goto Ichiri huddled in a corner, whispering, "I...I'll wait a bit..."

"Huh?" Kita Ikuyo blinked.

An and Asuka explained from the side, "I had an appointment with her for something."

“Oh—” Kita Ikuyo drawled, her eyes darting between the two of them, a mischievous smile spreading across her face. “I get it, I get it!”

"What do you know?" Ichiji Nijika tapped her on the head. "Don't think nonsense."

"hey-hey."

As always, Yamada Ryo remained expressionless, simply saying, "Good luck."

Then the three girls left.

Only An, Asuka, and Goto Ichiri remained in the practice room.

Goto Ichiri became even more nervous.

She hugged her guitar, huddled in a corner, trying to turn herself into a pink mushroom.

An and Asuka glanced at her but didn't say anything more, simply picking up their guitar cases.

"Let's go."

-

Ten minutes later, in a park in Shinjuku Ward.

Because it was evening, there were just the right number of people in the park.

Several elderly people were sitting and chatting on a bench, while in the distance, there was a young mother with a child, and a few children who looked like elementary school students were playing in the sandpit. Scattered around, there were about thirty people in total.

Goto Ichiri stood at the park entrance, completely frozen in place.

"W-This is...a park?"

“Mm.” An and Asuka nodded.

Goto Ichiri's legs began to go weak.

Of course she knew this was a park. The question was—why come to a park?

"Why...why did we come here..."

An and Asuka found an empty bench and sat down, pointing to the open space in front of them.

"Practice right here."

Goto Ichiri was stunned.

"Practice what?"

“When you practice guitar, you usually practice in the practice room without anyone watching. Now that there are people here, it’s a good opportunity to practice what it feels like to play in front of others.”

Goto Ichiri's face turned pale instantly.

Playing guitar in front of so many people?

She looked around; there were so many people... and these weren't spectators, they were just ordinary passersby! Being stared at by passersby felt a hundred times worse than being stared at by an audience!

"I...I can't..."

"You can do it," An and Asuka encouraged. "Your technique is fine, that's what you're lacking."

Goto Ichiri shook his head frantically.

An and Asuka weren't in a hurry; they just watched her.

After a long while, Goto Ichiri remained standing in the same spot, motionless.

An and Asuka stood up and walked up to her.

Goto Ichiri flinched, thinking he was about to say something.

But An and Asuka just looked at her, their tone calm.

"Goto, do you know why you're so skilled, yet still afraid to go on stage?"

Goto Ichiri shook his head.

"Because you care too much about what other people think."

“You always feel like others are watching you, judging you, and thinking, ‘This person plays so badly.’”

Goto Ichiri lowered his head.

“But actually,” An and Asuka continued, “most passersby won’t even pay attention to you. They’ll glance at you and then go about their business. The only people who will really listen are those who are already interested in music.”

He paused.

"And those people are your real audience."

Goto Ichiri did not speak.

"I'm having you practice here today not so you can perform for anyone."

"It's to get you used to the fact that it's okay to be watched."

"I will always be here with you."