Green plums cannot become lovers.

Very sweet.

It was so sweet that her eyes welled up with tears again.

She lowered her head and ate the cake piece bite by bite. Cream got on her lips, which she wiped with a tissue, then folded the tissue and placed it next to the plate.

She looked up and gazed out the window.

The sunlight was bright, shining on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard, on the clump of rain-washed green leaves in the corner of the wall, and on the treetops in the distance. The cicadas were chirping again, one chirp after another, as if celebrating another sunny day.

Xiaoju suddenly remembered what she had said yesterday at the beach, under the moonlight.

The moon is beautiful tonight.

She really was talking about the moon.

But at this moment, looking at the sunlight outside the window, at the food on the table, and at the people around her, she suddenly felt...

The wind must be very gentle today.

Volume 1: Chapter 267 Planting a Seed in the Heart

The training camp has ended.

Although there were some minor hiccups, overall it was a satisfactory outcome.

At least Anna Hanami and Karen Himemiya were satisfied with the trip.

The group parted ways at the station.

The two girls walked on either side of An and Asuka, their steps light and quick, their canvas bags swaying back and forth, occasionally bumping against each other and making a soft rubbing sound.

"I'm so happy."

Seeing Anja stretch and raise her arms above her head, looking as if she had been soaked in the sun, her voice still tinged with excitement, "It's been so long since I've played like this."

Himegami Karen walked beside her and nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I was so happy." Her voice lingered with a hint of reminiscence. "We were together from morning till night, eating, writing novels, setting off fireworks, splashing in the water at the beach... everything was so much fun."

This was a summer worth remembering.

An and Asuka listened to the two girls' words, a slight smile playing on their lips. Sunlight streamed down from above, shrinking the three shadows into a small ball at their feet. The chirping of cicadas came from the roadside trees, in waves, as if accompanying the tail end of summer.

Looking at their smiling faces, he suddenly remembered the wheat fields he had seen from the bus window the day he returned to Aichi. Time had almost made them drift away, but thankfully he had returned.

"Oh, right, Asuka." When Hana saw Anja suddenly turn her head, her eyes sparkling, as if she had remembered something important, "What did you talk to Komari about last night?"

"Hmm?" An and Asuka looked at her.

“It’s by the sea.” Bana saw Anja lean closer. “You went to see her and stayed for so long before coming back. And when you woke up this morning, Komari seemed to be in a much better mood. We thought today would be awkward, but she was more normal than anyone else.”

Himegami Karen nodded, her eyes filled with curiosity: "Yes, I thought we'd be in a cold war, but Komari even spoke to the club president this morning."

An and Asuka smiled.

"He didn't say anything."

"You're lying." Himegami Karen didn't believe her, her tone carrying a hint of coquetry. "She must have said something. You even brought Koko back last night. You haven't known each other for very long, how could she trust you so much?"

"Do I look that dangerous?" An and Asuka blinked.

Upon hearing this, the two girls looked the boy up and down. Sunlight fell on him, clearly illuminating his features. He had dark brown eyes, a slightly upturned mouth, and his white T-shirt clung to his body in the wind, making him look clean and neat.

Then they said in unison, "Yes!"

He's handsome and has a great personality; he's too dangerous.

An and Asuka were amused by their reactions.

"Since you all think I'm bad, then I'm even less likely to say anything."

"Hey—no!" When Yana heard Anja drawl, she reached out and tugged at his sleeve. "We were wrong. You're not bad at all. You're a really good person. Tell us, tell us!"

Himegami Karen mimicked her, gently tugging at his sleeve from the other side, her voice soft: "Tell us."

The two girls were as vibrant as the rising sun in the sky.

Anzu's coquettishness was grand and dramatic, as if she wanted the whole street to know she was begging for help; Karen's coquettishness was quiet, just a small gesture and a soft tone, yet equally irresistible. An and Asuka were caught in the middle, pulled from the left and tugged from the right, their walking rhythm completely disrupted.

"Alright, alright," he sighed helplessly. "I'll talk."

The two girls immediately quieted down, all four of their eyes fixed on him.

"Actually, I just told her that she did a great job."

"That's it?" Bana asked, seemingly unconvinced by Anzu's statement.

"Also, when I asked her if she regretted it, she said no. I said that was her courage."

The two girls fell silent for a moment.

"And then?" Himegami Karen asked softly.

“Then I asked her what she wanted to eat for breakfast tomorrow, and she said she wanted cake.” An and Asuka paused. “So I made her a cake this morning.”

Hanami Anna and Himegami Karen exchanged a glance.

"That's it?" Anna asked.

"that's it."

"Tch, this is so boring." Bana saw Anja's pursed lips.

She had imagined it would be a dramatic struggle, a struggle to dissuade someone, and talk about bonds and friendship.

An and Asuka didn't reply to this, they just smiled.

The three continued walking. The sunlight bathed the entire street in a white glow, and the asphalt on the road surface softened slightly under the heat, giving the illusion of sinking in when stepped on. In the distance, several elementary school students were gathered around a vending machine at a convenience store, discussing which flavor of popsicle they wanted to buy.

An old lady was walking towards us from the opposite direction with a Shiba Inu on a leash. The Shiba Inu had its tongue hanging out and was walking very slowly, but the old lady didn't urge it on.

the other side.

Komari and Salted Lemon walked on another road.

There was an awkward silence at first. Roasted Lemon walked half a step ahead, not skipping around as usual, but moving very slowly. Little Chūka followed beside her, clutching the strap of her canvas bag, head down, watching her toes as she took each step forward.

The sound of cicadas chirping came from overhead, dense and loud, making the street even quieter.

"I'm sorry, Xiao Ju." Salted Lemon suddenly stopped, turned around, lowered her head, and said in a much softer voice than usual, "I shouldn't have asked you that question yesterday."

Xiaoju Zhihua was stunned for a moment.

She watched as Salt Lemon's head drooped, and a few stray strands of hair shimmered in the sunlight. Salt Lemon's fingers twisted the bag strap tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white.

"N-It's okay." Komari Chika shook her head, her voice soft. "I'm not angry."

That's the truth. At first, she might have been a little lost, her mind a mess, unsure how to face everyone. But she just happened to lose the truth or dare game. Since she played the game, she had to accept the consequences; that's the rule, and she wouldn't blame anyone for it.

Besides, she said those words voluntarily. She wasn't forced or coaxed; she said them herself.

Perhaps the music of that young boy also played a part—the song "Wedding in a Dream" shattered the walls around her heart, finally giving her the courage to speak out.

In short, she was the one who chose to say those words.

"Really?" Salted Lemon looked up and asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"Mm." Xiaoju Zhihua nodded, a small smile curving her lips. "You don't need to worry, I've already let it go."

Although being rejected hurt her deeply—a feeling like something was blocking her chest, making it hard to breathe—her mindset had changed significantly after spending so much time by the sea last night, talking so much, crying so much, and being comforted by that person in that way.

Being rejected by someone you like isn't the end of the story. She still has many things to do. She can continue writing novels, continue reading with everyone in the literature club, go out for desserts with friends, and see the sea one last time at the end of summer.

At least, she still had everyone from the Literature and Art Department by her side.

Komari Chika raised her head and looked up at the sky.

The morning sun was blazing, its golden rays bathing the entire street, making the leaves on the roadside leaves shine and coating the rooftops in the distance with a warm glow.

The cicadas chirped incessantly, as if singing their final song for summer. The sunlight fell on her face, warm and gentle, gradually dispelling the lingering chill from last night around her eyes.

She felt warm both physically and mentally.

Seeing this, Shao Salt Lemon breathed a sigh of relief. Her shoulders relaxed, and her face regained its usual energetic expression.

"That's good." She patted her chest. "You scared me to death. I thought you were going to break up with me."

"No, it won't happen." Komari Chika shook her head.

The two walked side by side for a while longer. Shops on both sides of the street opened one after another, some selling breakfast, some selling stationery, and some selling flowers. An uncle wearing an apron was arranging potted plants in front of the shop. When he saw them pass by, he called out to them to come in and buy a bouquet of flowers.

After walking for a while, Xiaoju Zhihua suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, right, lemons."

"Ok?"

"How...did I get back yesterday?"

Her memory of last night only extended to sitting on the beach with that boy, listening to the waves and gazing at the starry sky. As for what happened after that, she had no recollection whatsoever.

I don't know how long I sat there, what I said, or when I closed my eyes. It was as if someone took an eraser and wiped the rest of the face clean.

“Uh…” The expression on the salted lemon’s face became subtle.

"Huh? What?" Komari's heart jumped. "Did he come back in a very unsightly way? Was he dragged back? Or was he tied up?"

"Do you really want to know?" The man with the salted lemon looked at her, his tone hesitant yet also revealing a barely suppressed smile.

"Mmm!" Xiaoju Zhihua nodded vigorously.

The roasted salt lemon pondered for a moment, seemingly considering his words.

"It was Anhe who brought it back."

"Huh?" Komari was stunned, her mind seemingly stuck, unable to process anything. "You...you brought him back?"

“Yes.” Salted Lemon nodded, her tone becoming lighter. “Last night, Xiaoju nestled in Anhe’s arms like a kitten. We all saw him carrying you back from the beach, and you were sleeping soundly with your head on his shoulder.”

Xiao Juzhihua's face began to burn.

"When we took you back to your room, you were still clinging to his collar and wouldn't let him leave," Salted Lemon added, his eyes crinkling into crescents. "It took Anhe several tugs to finally pull the collar off your hand."

The girl's face turned completely red. The redness spread from her neck to her ears, and from her ears to her cheeks, making her as red as a boiled shrimp.

She kept her head down, her fingers gripping the bag strap so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a single word.

She wanted to disappear into a crack in the ground.

“But he wasn’t angry,” Salted Lemon said with a smile. “He even covered you with the blanket before leaving.”

Komari Chika lowered her head even further.

"And he went to see you again before you woke up in the morning."

The sound of burning salted lemons softened, tinged with a touch of melancholy. "You weren't awake yet. He just stood at the door, glanced at you, and then went to make breakfast. The cake you ate that morning was made by him."

Of course she knew that the cake was made for her by the boy, because it was her own capricious request.

She remembered that crooked cake, the cream was unevenly spread, the edges were a little collapsed, and the smiley face on it was simply drawn, but it contained someone's care for her.

They haven't known each other for that long, even though they haven't known each other for that long.

Her eyes welled up again, but this time it wasn't because of sadness; it was a different, indescribable feeling.

"Xiao Ju?" Salted Lemon tilted her head to look at her. "Are you alright?"

"...I'm fine." Xiaoju Zhihua took a deep breath, suppressing the warmth, raised her head, and tried to make her voice sound normal. "I'm just...a little tired."

The roasted salt lemon smiled.

"Then let's hurry back and get some rest."

"Ah."

The two quickened their pace. Sunlight shone from behind, casting long shadows on the road ahead.

The road ahead is very long, stretching as far as the eye can see, and I have no idea what awaits me there.

She remembered last night at the beach, under the moonlight, when that person said to her when she was confused, "That is your courage."

She didn't know if it counted as bravery, but she knew that being treated like that was a very heartwarming thing.

Therefore, no matter how unknown and rugged the road ahead may be, as long as you can bravely take the first step, you will surely be able to overcome it.

When she reached her doorstep, Xiaoju Zhihua stopped and looked back at the road she had come from.

The streets were quiet, the sun was bright, and the sound of cicadas chirping could be heard intermittently in the distance.