Green plums cannot become lovers.

Asahi Chihaya, who was walking ahead, glanced back, smiled slightly, and then turned back.

The woman with the salted lemon lowered her head, staring at her toes. Her face was burning hot, her heart was pounding, but she didn't pull her hand away.

This is fake... she told herself. This is to put Mitsuki at ease, nothing more; she didn't need to think too much about it.

But his hands were really warm.

After strolling through several streets, An and Asuka suggested going to a dessert shop to rest.

He ordered four desserts, placing the most popular one, the first one served, in front of the roasted salt lemon, inserting the straw, and handing it to her, his movements as natural as if he had done it countless times.

Asahi Chihaya watched this scene, gently touched Ayano Mitsuki's arm, and whispered, "Look, he's so good to Lemon."

Ayano Mitsuki nodded, adjusted his glasses, and remained silent. His gaze lingered on An and Asuka for a moment before shifting away.

The man with the salted lemon held the iced drink and took a sip.

It was so sweet that she felt a little dazed. She remembered when she used to go out with Guangxi, she was always the one who got his drinks, helped him insert the straw, and gave him the best food first.

She was used to taking care of him, used to walking beside him, and used to appearing when he needed her.

She thought that was how to like someone—to become the person he needed.

But this boy was different... He wouldn't let her take care of him; instead, he would take care of her. Not the kind of deliberate, performative care, but the kind of natural, effortless care, like breathing.

He pulled out her chair, carried her bag, shielded her from the sun, and wiped her mouth. He did these things with a calm expression, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Shao Shio Lemon stole a glance at An and Asuka. He was talking to Ayano Mitsuki, his profile softened by the sunlight, a faint smile playing on his lips. Ayano Mitsuki asked him about life in Tokyo, and he answered concisely, neither more nor less, just right. Asagumo Chizuru had been listening nearby, occasionally interjecting, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

She suddenly thought, how wonderful it would be if all of this were true.

Do not!no!

The thought had barely crossed her mind when Salted Lemon quickly shook her head to banish it; she couldn't think like that.

An and Asuka belong to Anna and Karen Himegami, not her. He was just helping her, out of kindness, with no other intentions. She couldn't misunderstand anything because of his gentleness, nor could she fall for him because of his thoughtfulness.

Because she doesn't deserve...and doesn't deserve such tenderness anymore.

Her relationship with this boy was nothing more than that of ordinary friends, and her current actions are simply using him.

How could someone as despicable as her possibly have the audacity to think about such sensual things?

"Lemon, what are you thinking about?"

The gentle voice brought Salted Lemon back to her senses. She subconsciously looked up and met the boy's tender gaze.

"..."

My heart started beating faster.

Volume 1: Chapter 267 I'm Going to Be Someone Else's Girlfriend

"Lemon, are you alright?"

Just then, Ayano Mitsuki's voice came from the other end, filled with concern. He looked up, adjusted his glasses, and gazed at the girl he had grown up with.

She was so quiet today. From the time we met this morning until now, she has hardly spoken a word. Even her smiles have become cautious, as if she is afraid that laughing too loudly will disturb someone.

“Yoshio-kun…” Asahi Chihaya also put down her phone and looked at her tenderly.

Both of them noticed her unusual behavior. The usually boisterous, loudest, and most talkative girl, Salted Lemon, seemed like a completely different person today. She sat there quietly, sipping her drink, gazing out the window—so quiet it was unlike her usual self.

"N-nothing." Salted Lemon snapped out of his daze and quickly shook his head, a smile playing on his lips. "It's just a little hot, don't worry."

As soon as she finished speaking, a glass of ice water appeared in front of her. Water droplets slid down the glass and pooled on the table, forming a small, clear puddle. Ice cubes clinked gently inside the glass, making a crisp sound.

"Have something cold," An and Asuka's voice came from the side, unhurried, "but don't drink it too fast."

His tone was very ordinary, without any deliberate gentleness or extra instructions.

But it is precisely this ordinariness that makes people feel that he is not "performing" his concern, but genuinely caring. Especially his deep brown eyes, when he looks at people, it's as if he can see into their hearts.

The salted lemon's face flushed slightly. She lowered her head, picked up the cup, and sipped it slowly. The ice water slid down her throat, cool and refreshing, easing the stuffiness in her chest.

She drank a little too quickly, and a small stream of water spilled from the corner of her mouth, trickling down her chin. Before she could reach out to wipe it away, a tissue was already pressed against the corner of her mouth.

An and Asuka's fingers gently brushed across her skin through a thin tissue, the movement light and quick, like brushing away a fallen leaf.

The woman's face flushed crimson, the color spreading from her neck to her ears, and then down to her cheeks, as if someone had lit a fire beneath her skin. She lowered her head, staring at the cup in her hand, afraid to look at anyone. Her heart was pounding so hard she felt everyone around her could hear it.

Ayano Mitsuki and Asagumo Chihaya exchanged a glance at this scene and smiled simultaneously. It wasn't a mischievous or teasing smile, but a reassuring one.

An and Asuka's movements were so natural—handing water, wiping their mouths, withdrawing their hands—each step flowed as if they had rehearsed countless times. If it were an act, it would be impossible to act so naturally and harmoniously.

"It's good that you're alright."

Ayano Mitsuki smiled, leaned back in his chair, and relaxed his shoulders. He was finally certain that this boy was Lemon's boyfriend. He wasn't someone temporarily brought in to fill a spot, nor was he just someone they found to act.

He truly loves her and genuinely takes care of her. As for what Lemon said yesterday, it was probably a farewell to herself and a sense of relief.

She was telling him that she had finally chosen to move forward.

"You two are really a perfect match."

He spoke his mind, his tone devoid of bitterness or reluctance, only genuine joy for her.

“After all, Lemon is very cute,” An and Asuka replied with a smile. “I want to take care of her more.”

The woman with the salted lemon lowered her head even further, unsure whether her blush was from shyness or guilt. It was all fake, an act, something he had helped her put on.

But when he said "Lemons are cute," his tone was so natural that she almost thought it was true.

"By the way, how did you two meet?" Asahi Chizaki asked curiously, resting her chin on her hands, her eyes sparkling.

"We met at the Literature Club's training camp," An and Asuka said, half-jokingly. "Actually, it hasn't been that long."

Ayano Mitsuki nodded. He knew that Lemon had recently gone to a training camp and seemed to be in a good mood when she came back. Although she didn't say much, it must have been around that time.

They got together after knowing each other for a short time, which sounds a bit fast, but if it's these two people... He watched An and Asuka handing Lemon tissues, water, and wiping his mouth—it didn't seem strange.

"To become a couple after knowing each other for such a short time," Asahi Chihaya's voice carried a hint of envy, "you two must really like each other."

“Yes,” An and Asuka smiled at the salted lemon. “I really like lemons, don’t you think, lemon?”

That "Lemon" sounded so natural; it wasn't "Salt-burning classmate," nor "Lemon classmate," it was just "Lemon."

The roasted lemon looked up and met his gaze. Her reflection was in his deep brown eyes, small and seemingly filled with her.

She opened her mouth, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes, it is."

She said it, in front of Mitsuki, in front of Chihaya, in front of An and Asuka. It was as if she had finally found a safe outlet for the words she had kept hidden in her heart for a very long time.

Ayano Mitsuki smiled, and Asagumo Chihaya smiled too.

Looking at them, and then at the relieved smile on the face of the boy she had grown up with, Shao Yanmeng felt a sharp pain in her heart.

It wasn't the sharp, piercing pain that made you cry out; it was a dull, muffled pain that slowly spread from the deepest part of your heart. It felt like someone inside you was cutting you, bit by bit, with a blunt knife.

She smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescents, her lips curving upwards, her smile as radiant as ever. No one could tell that she was feeling the rain in her heart.

After leaving the dessert shop, the group went to the zoo.

The sun was shining brightly, and the animals lazily lay in the shade, occasionally wiggling their tails to shoo away tiny insects that seemed to fly in from nowhere. Salted Lemon walked ahead, watching the giraffes with Asagi Chihaya.

An and Asuka walked behind. The two boys walked side by side, with a person's width between them. Ayano Mitsuki had his hands in his pockets, walking at a moderate pace. An and Asuka walked beside him, occasionally glancing at the roasted salt lemon walking ahead.

“She looks very happy,” Mitsuki Ayano suddenly said.

"Ah."

"Thank you."

An and Asuka glanced at him.

"Thank me for what?"

"Thank you for taking care of her."

Ayano Mitsuki's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself, "She seems carefree, but she's actually very thoughtful. She keeps everything to herself, not wanting others to worry. Before..."

He paused for a moment, then didn't continue.

An and Asuka did not ask any further questions.

They walked a little further when two girls ahead stopped to take pictures. Asahi Chihaya held up her phone, while Shiozumi stood beside her, making a peace sign. Sunlight shone on their faces, making their smiles shine brightly.

An and Asuka saw the roasted salt lemon smiling, but her eyes didn't smile.

After leaving the zoo, they went to the aquarium.

The aquarium was dimly lit, and the blue light of the water shone through the huge glass walls, falling on everyone's faces and turning their skin a light blue.

A school of fish swam overhead, casting shadows on the ground like a large, moving cloud. Salted Lemon stood in front of the glass wall, tilting her head back, watching the fish of all sizes swim past her.

A large ray swam close to the glass, its belly white and its mouth curved as if it were smiling.

An and Asuka stood beside her, not looking at the fish. He looked at her profile illuminated by the water, at the perfect curve of her lips, and at her hands hanging by her sides, slightly clutching the hem of her skirt.

"lemon."

"Hmm?" She turned her head.

Give me your hand.

She paused for a moment. Without waiting for her reply, An and Asuka reached out and took her hand. This time it was a firm grip, their fingers interlocking, gently holding each other.

His hands were large, completely enveloping hers. Salted Lemon's heart raced again. She knew this was all an act, knew that Mitsuki and Chi were already standing behind them, knew she should play along, should return the handshake, should act like "we're a couple."

They walked around the aquarium for a long time, the blue water shimmering on them, and schools of fish swimming overhead. It was hard to tell whether they were watching the fish or the fish were watching them.

Finally, they stopped in front of the huge tank. Asahi Chihaya pulled Ayano Mitsuki to the other side to see the penguins, leaving just the two of them.

Shao Salt Lemon stood in front of the glass wall, watching the sea turtle swimming slowly inside. The sea turtle was very old, swimming very slowly, its limbs paddling with a leisurely rhythm, as if it wasn't in a hurry to go anywhere.

"Anhe," she began.

"Ok?"

"Thank you."

"You've said that many times today."

“But…” she lowered her head, “I really don’t know how to thank you.

An and Asuka were silent for a moment.

"No need to thank me then. Just treat me to a meal when you've truly moved on."

The fingers of the roasted salt lemon tightened slightly; she didn't know why she was nervous.

“…Okay,” she said with a smile.

After their visit to the aquarium, their last stop was a livehouse.

“There’s a livehouse nearby that I used to go to a lot when I was in junior high school.”

An and Asuka took out their phones from their pockets and checked the time. "It's still early, do you want to go take a look?"

Ayano Mitsuki and Asagumo Chihaya exchanged a glance and nodded, and the roasted salt lemon also had no objections.

She simply followed behind, walked through that inconspicuous door, down the narrow stairs, and pushed open that heavy, soundproof door.

Unlike the large livehouses in Tokyo, this place is very small. The stage is only slightly above the ground, and the audience seats can squeeze in about a hundred people.

The walls were covered with posters of various band performances, some faded and curled at the edges, looking quite old. The air was filled with the unique smell of old wood, metal instruments, and a hint of sweat—the kind of smell that belongs to an "old haunt."

The receptionist was wiping cups when she saw An and Asuka walk in, and almost dropped the cup in her hand.

"Flying Bird?!" Her voice suddenly rose, "What are you doing here? Wu? I'm here?"

"I brought a friend here." An and Asuka walked over and leaned against the bar, as easygoing as ever. "Do you still have tickets?"

"Tickets?" The young woman put down her cup, put her hands on her hips, and glared at him. "You're talking to me about tickets? Do you know how much a ticket costs? Our little temple can't afford someone as important as you."

"Stop fooling around, Tamura-nee." Anwa Asuka laughed. "Do you have one or not?"

"Yes, there is." The young woman thought for a moment, her eyes darting around, and then she gave a sly smile. "But you have to promise me one thing."

"What conditions?"

“Come on stage and sing a song,” she said confidently. “You can sing anything. One song of yours is enough to sell out all the tickets for tonight.”

An and Asuka glanced back at the three people behind them. Ayano Mitsuki and Asahi Chihaya both looked expectant, while Yakitori Lemon stood at the very back, head down, lost in thought.

"Okay." He turned back and said, "Then it's settled, just one song."