Green plums cannot become lovers.

“It’s Poppin’Party!” Yutenji Wakana shouted.

An and Asuka nodded.

He had seen this band at Ring before, but their performance today was clearly an improvement. The song they played was called "Time Lapse," with a catchy rhythm and easy-to-remember lyrics, and their coordination was even better than when they last met.

It seems they've put in a lot of effort.

An and Asuka admired each other greatly.

But the band that ended is no longer what it used to be.

As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. Some whistled, others shouted for an encore; the atmosphere was so enthusiastic it felt like the stadium roof would be blown off.

The members of Poppin'Party bowed to the audience, and the lead singer, a girl with a smiling face, waved goodbye.

By the time Group B finished performing and the first half of Group C finished, it was already five o'clock.

As the sun began to set, the crowd in the stadium gradually dispersed. An and Asuka checked the time and prepared to go home.

"Senior Anwa, we'll be going now!" Toyokawa Shoko waved to him.

"Well, be careful on the road."

The two girls turned and left, and An and Asuka also walked in the opposite direction.

I hadn't gone far when I heard hurried footsteps behind me.

"Senior Anhe! Wait a minute!"

Anhefei彡private bellqier?栮死Ⅷ four birds turned around.

Yutenji Wakana jogged after him, her short purple hair fluttering in the wind, her face showing a hint of nervousness, but even more so, anticipation.

"What's wrong?" An and Asuka stopped in their tracks.

Yutenji Wakana stood in front of him, took a deep breath, and then handed over her phone.

"Um... could I have your contact information?"

Her eyes sparkled with obvious anticipation.

An and Asuka paused for a moment, then laughed.

"Okay. [Medical treatment/treatment]?"

He took the phone and entered his LIN?i?g斯?I崎八把E account.

Yutenji Wakana's whole body lit up when she saw the four words "Anwa Asuka" appear on the screen.

"Thank you, senior!"

She held her phone, as happy as if she had found some treasure.

An and Asuka looked at her and suddenly became curious.

"Miss Yutenji, why do you call me senpai?"

She looks very mature, is taller than the average girl, has a mature demeanor, and doesn't speak like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl.

Upon hearing this, Yutenji Wakana covered her mouth and laughed.

"Because I'm only sixteen years old."

"Huh?"

An and Asuka were taken aback.

Sixteen years old?

He looked closely at the girl in front of him—she was indeed taller than her peers, but upon closer inspection, her face still had a touch of childishness.

"How about that, are you surprised?" Yutenji Wakana smiled even more broadly, her eyes curving into crescent shapes. "Many people think I'm over twenty!"

"It was indeed a bit of a surprise," An and Asuka honestly admitted.

“Furthermore,” Yutenji Wakana continued, “a senior is a senior, regardless of age. Because I really like your music, you are my senior.”

She spoke with such conviction, as if it were something perfectly natural.

An and Asuka nodded.

"Alright. Since Miss Yutenji says so."

“Just call me Meow Dream, Senpai!” Yutenji Wakana immediately retorted, “Everyone calls me that!”

"Meow Dream..."

An and Asuka read the name aloud and couldn't help but laugh.

It really suits her; this tall, purple-clad girl smiles like a contented cat.

"Okay, Meow Dream."

Yutenji Wakana's eyes shone even brighter.

"Then, senior, let's talk later! Xiangzi is still waiting for me!"

"Well, let's go."

Yutenji Wakana waved to him, then turned and ran away.

An and Asuka stood there, watching her figure disappear into the crowd.

Sixteen years old, that's quite an age!

-

When An and Feiniao got home that evening, they turned on their phones.

There are a few new messages on LINE.

Yutenji Wakana sent me a photo, a stage photo she had just secretly taken, with the caption "Today's front shirt is super cool."

This was followed by a string of emojis.

Toyokawa Shoko also sent a message, which was simply, "Is the senior home yet?"

An and Asuka replied to each of them.

Just after replying to the two girls, Ichiji Nijika sent another message.

Ichi Niji Natsumi: Anwa-kun, our competition is tomorrow.

Anwa Asuka: Yes.

Nijika Ichi: Where do you think we'll be ranked?

Ichi Nijika: Ah, it's not that I don't have faith in us.

Ichi Nijika: I just wanted to know your opinion.

Asuka looked at the screen, she could sense the girl's feelings on the other side.

Nervous, expectant, and a little uneasy.

He thought for a moment, then instead of answering her question directly, he sent her a message.

Anhe Asuka: Are you at STARRY or at home now?

Nijika Ijichi: At STARRY, what's wrong?

Anhe Asuka: Okay, I understand.

He put away his phone, grabbed his coat, and went out.

-

Twenty minutes later, An and Asuka pushed open STARRY's door.

On the sofa in the lounge area, Ichiji Nijika was staring blankly at her phone. Hearing the door open, she looked up, paused for a moment when she saw who it was.

"Anhe, what brings you here?"

An and Asuka walked over and stood in front of her.

"Come on, I'll take you somewhere."

"Huh?"

Ichi Nijika didn't react immediately and blinked.

An and Asuka didn't explain much, they just extended their hands.

"Let's go."

Ichi Nijika stared at the hand extended in front of her for several seconds, stunned.

Then, she slowly reached out and grasped it.

An and Asuka pulled her to her feet and walked outside.

Ichi Nijika was pulled a few steps before she finally came to her senses.

"Wait, wait a minute! Where are we going?"

"You'll know when you arrive."

-

The two sat side by side on the tram.

Ichi Nijika looked at the rapidly receding night view outside the window, then secretly glanced at the boy next to her.

He was looking at his phone, his profile softly outlined by the carriage lights.

She recalled the feeling of his hand when he held hers earlier.

Warm, dry, and firm.

She looked down at her hands and subtly curved the corners of her mouth into a smile.

-

When the two stood at the entrance of the ring, Ichiki Nijika finally knew their destination.

"Ring?" she asked, somewhat surprised. "What are you doing here?"

An and Asuka pointed inside.

"To watch a performance."

"Huh? Now?"

“Hmm.” An and Asuka nodded and said, “There are a few bands performing inside, and they’re all pretty good.”

He looked at her.

"Aren't you nervous? Watch how others act, it might help."

Ichi Nijika was stunned.

She looked at the boy in front of her, unsure of what to say.

Did he make a special trip just to bring her to see the show?

Just because she said "nervous"?

"What are you standing there for?" An and Asuka had already walked inside. "Let's go, it's about to begin."

Ichi Nijika snapped out of her daze and quickly followed.

-

The lights in the ring's performance hall dimmed.

A band is playing on stage. It's a rock band with a dense drumbeat, a virtuoso guitar solo, and a very powerful vocalist.

Nijika Ichichi stood at the back of the audience, listening attentively.

"This drummer has a very steady rhythm," An and Asuka commented from the side, "but his filling is a bit too full; there are some places where he could leave some space."

Ichi Nijika nodded, silently making a mental note of it.

The next band to take the stage had a completely different style, performing lyrical ballads.

"The lead singer's emotional expression is very good," An and Asuka continued to comment, "but the guitarist is a bit behind, he's dragging the beat."

As she listened, Ichi Nijika observed the movements, expressions, and teamwork of everyone on stage.