Green plums cannot become lovers.

“This is the End Band.” He pointed to the four girls behind him, “Drummer Nijika Ijichi, guitarist Ikuyo Kita, bassist Ryo Yamada, and guitarist Ichiri Goto.”

Then it pointed to the opposite side.

"This is MyGO!!!!! Guitarist Chihaya Aine, bassist Nagasaki Motoyo, vocalist Takamatsu Akari, guitarist Kaname Rakuna, drummer Shiina Tatsuki."

The two bands sized each other up.

We had actually met a few times before, but this was the first time we had stood together formally like this.

Hello!

Kita Ikuyo greeted him warmly.

"Hello!" Chihaya Aine responded warmly.

Ichika Nijika smiled and nodded, Yamada Ryo nodded expressionlessly, and Goto Ichiri shrank back and whispered, "H-hello."

Then the other girls also greeted her, and the atmosphere was surprisingly harmonious.

After An and Feibiao finished exchanging pleasantries with the others, they finally spoke:

"Ijichi-kun, today's training session is a match against the members of MyGO."

The four girls who had just finished their band performance were stunned.

"Huh?" Kita Ikuyo blinked. "A match?"

“Okay.” An and Asuka nodded. “The two bands will take turns playing and giving each other feedback. The losing team has to buy drinks.”

“But I have no money,” Yamada Ryo said expressionlessly.

Upon hearing this, An and Asuka couldn't help but laugh and asked, "So, does Yamada-kun assume he'll lose?"

"I didn't say that."

"That's settled then, good luck."

An and Asuka didn't say much; time was of the essence. The girls from the two bands exchanged glances, their eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

“Interesting.” Shiina Ritsuki’s lips curved into a rare smile.

"We won't lose!" Chihaya Aine clenched her fist.

“Neither will we!” Kita Ikuyo immediately replied.

Ichi Nijika smiled and looked around, finding the scene inexplicably amusing.

An and Asuka nodded in satisfaction at their reactions.

"Let's go then, the practice room has already been booked."

An and Asuka rented a large practice room.

The size of the room was beyond the girls' wildest imaginations. The moment the door opened, the four girls who had just finished their band performance and the five girls from MyGO!!!!! were all stunned.

This practice room is at least three times the size of our usual room. The soundproof walls are inlaid with professional sound-absorbing materials, several adjustable lights hang from the ceiling, and two complete audio systems are placed in the corner.

One wall is a full-length mirror, making it easy to observe one's movements during practice; another wall has a row of comfortable sofas for people to use when resting.

The most outrageous thing is that there are two complete musical instruments in the room—two drum kits, four guitar amplifiers, two bass amplifiers, a keyboard, and several separate microphone stands.

"This...this is too big..." Kita Ikuyo's mouth dropped open, her eyes wide open.

Ichika Niji was also stunned, and after a long while, she murmured, "It's even bigger than the STARRY stage..."

Yamada Ryo rarely showed an expression that said "this is good".

Goto Ichiri huddled at the doorway, too afraid to go inside.

The girls from MyGO!!!!! had similar reactions.

Chihaya Aine rushed in, circled the room several times, and muttered to herself, "Wow! This speaker! This light! This mirror!"

Nagasaki Motoyo looked around in surprise, then looked at An and Asuka.

"Anhe, this practice room... isn't it expensive to rent?"

An and Asuka smiled but did not give a specific answer.

"It's alright, I've been practicing here for the past few days. If it's effective, it's worth the price."

Shiina Riki walked up to the drum set, gently tapped the cymbals, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.

"Good drum."

Yoro Nai had already walked to the mirror with her guitar, strummed a few notes, then tilted her head and looked at herself in the mirror, seemingly lost in thought.

Takamatsu Akari whispered, "Wow, that's amazing..."

An and Asuka clapped their hands, drawing everyone's attention.

"Alright, the rules are simple. The two bands will take turns playing, and the other band will listen."

He paused.

"Not only should you listen, but you should also look for problems. Rhythm, pitch, coordination, emotional expression—you can point out anything that seems off."

The girls exchanged glances.

"So," Chihaya Aine blinked, "we're going to nitpick at each other?"

“You could say that,” An and Asuka nodded. “But the goal is to help the other person improve, not to discourage them. So be mindful of how you offer advice.”

He looked at them.

"Can you achieve that?"

There was a two-second silence.

Then Kita Ikuyo was the first to raise her hand.

"can!"

Chihaya Aine was not to be outdone.

"We can do it too!"

Ijichi Nijika smiled and looked to both sides, Shiina Tatsuki nodded, Nagasaki Motoyo smiled gently, Goto Ichiri huddled in the corner but nodded slightly, Takamatsu Akari whispered "Mm", and Rakuna was still looking in the mirror.

Anhe and Asuka nodded in satisfaction.

"Let's begin. Who wants to go first?"

-

The five girls from MyGO!!!!! walked to one side of the room and each picked up a musical instrument.

"The piece we've been practicing recently is called 'Shadow Dance'," Chihaya Aine explained. "It's our original composition, and we haven't performed it in a formal setting yet."

The four girls who had finished their band performance sat down on the sofa, ready to listen attentively.

An and Asuka stood to the side, also ready to take notes.

The music is ringing.

"Shadow Dance" is a very rhythmic piece, with a powerful opening drumbeat. Shiina Tatsuki's drumming is as steady and powerful as ever, with each strike appearing precisely calculated.

Yoro's guitar solo was brilliant; the notes flowed smoothly from her fingertips, carrying a unique personal style. Her expression remained unchanged, but her hand movements were fluid and effortless.

Motoyo Nagasaki's bass provided a steady foundation for the low notes, perfectly complementing the drumbeats. Her playing style was gentle yet firm, offering a solid base for the entire piece.

Chihaya Aine plays rhythm guitar, primarily responsible for chord progressions. While her technique isn't as flashy as Kaname's, it's consistent and complements her bass very well.

Finally, there was the sound of Takamatsu Akira.

The moment she spoke, the atmosphere in the entire room changed.

That unique penetrating power, that force that strikes straight to the heart, draws you in effortlessly. She sang with complete absorption, her eyes slightly closed, her whole being immersed in the music.

Two Cold Two Er (One) Three Ages bα One song ends.

The four girls who finished the band applauded.

"Amazing!" Kita Ikuyo exclaimed first. "That guitar solo was absolutely incredible!"

"The drums are very steady," said Nijika Ichichi. "The rhythm is amazing."

Yamada Ryo succinctly commented, "The bass line is good!"

Goto Ichiri whispered, "The lead singer... is amazing..."

An and Asuka nodded, then looked at them.

"What's the problem?"

The girls paused for a moment, then began to think seriously.

"Um..." Ichiji Nigatsu hesitated for a moment, "During the **, Chihaya-san seemed to be a little out of sync?"

Chihaya Aine smiled sheepishly.

"You found out..."

“Everything else is perfect!” Kita Ikuyo quickly added, “It’s just that one small section that was a little rushed.”

Nagasaki Motoyo nodded thoughtfully and looked at Chihaya Aine.

"Aiyin, have you been too rushed when you practice lately?"

“Maybe…” Chihaya Aine scratched her head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, “I was too excited during the chorus, and before I knew it, it was almost over.”

"Go back and practice the slow tempo a few more times," Shiina Tatsuki said. "Try to fully grasp the rhythm."

"it is good--"

An and Asuka listened without interrupting.

Letting them discover the problems themselves and come up with their own solutions is more effective than him saying a hundred things.

-

Next up is the closing band.

The four girls walked to the other side of the room and picked up their respective musical instruments.

"Our piece is 'Four-Leaf Clover'," Nijika Ijichi introduced with a confident smile, "and it's an original composition."

The five girls from MyGO!!!!! sat down on the sofa, ready to listen attentively.

The music is ringing.

The prelude to "Four-Leaf Clover" is a guitar solo, with Ichiri Goto's fingers gently plucking the strings, and tender notes flowing out.

Her expression was focused, and her eyes were gentle, completely unlike the socially awkward girl who usually cowered in a corner.

Kita Ikuyo's lead vocals have a clear and bright voice, full of youthful energy.

For the reunion three years later

We made a long-standing promise.

I hope to see you again in three years, unchanged.

Ryo Yamada's bass was steady and powerful, while Nijika Ijichi's drumbeats were light and rhythmic. The four of them worked together seamlessly, with every note perfectly timed.

The five girls from MyGO!!!!! listened intently.

Chihaya Aine stared intently at the stage, her mouth slightly agape. Nagasaki Motoyo gently rested her chin on her hand, her gaze soft. Shiina Tatsuki rarely showed such focused expression. Takamatsu Akari's eyes reddened slightly, moved by the lyrics. Kaname Rakuna also stopped looking in the mirror and listened quietly.

The song ended.

The room was silent for several seconds.

Then--

"It sounds so beautiful..." Chihaya Aine murmured.

Nagasaki Motoyo nodded: "Really? It's really great."

"The song, the lyrics... are so gentle..."

It was rare for Yoro to say a complete sentence: "I like it."

The four girls who finished the band performance were a little embarrassed by the praise, but they all had smiles on their faces.

An and Asuka looked at the members of MyGO!!!!!

"What's the problem?"