Green plums cannot become lovers.

Just now, whether she saw the food at the stalls or the fun games, there was a secret glint in her eyes, but now she's acting like this, so she must be struggling with something.

This is such a hassle. I could just stop thinking about everything.

"I'm very happy, so thank you very much."

The girl couldn't deny that she was truly happy today.

"But you've seen how everyone looks at me, haven't you? If you continue to stay with me, everyone will definitely dislike you."

She didn't want to see this scene, and she didn't want the boy to suffer ridicule because of her.

That would be terrible.

"So, you'd better leave me now."

The girl clenched her fists slightly and spoke earnestly. But what she received in return was a crisp and decisive rejection from the boy.

"No."

"..."

"You're unhappy because you overthink things," An and Asuka said helplessly. "If I were you, I would cling to anyone who would take me around like this."

"..."

The girl was stunned by what she heard. She thought the idea was too strange. Wasn't this just causing trouble for others?

"You're probably thinking this will cause trouble for others, right?"

"I..." Why could the other person guess my thoughts so easily?

"But you need to think this through. Would someone who's willing to help you and take you around find these things troublesome and back down?"

"I don't know how it would be for others, but I would never do that."

"Since I've decided to take you to the festival, I'll wait until I get tired of it."

The boy's voice was firm and resonant, but it was quickly drowned out by the surrounding noise. The girl, however, was still stunned for a moment by his words.

"Then, when will you get tired of me?"

"Well..." An and Asuka smiled, "We'll talk about it after today."

After today, won't it be too late for everything? By then, everyone will know that a boy is getting close to her, and maybe those who bullied her before will bully him too.

Thinking of this, the girl felt like crying and said, "Don't you consider my feelings?"

"I'm not considering it." An and Asuka raised an eyebrow upon hearing this: "Right now, I'm going to keep you by my side and let everyone see."

The girl's feelings were a sense of unfulfilled regret, so he wanted to make her happy.

"And don't worry, I'm not from this school, so I won't be bullied because of it."

He's not the kind of person who will take things lying down; anyone who tried to bully him has already been beaten down by him.

"..."

The boy's actions were clearly against her will, no different from those who bullied her. Yet, for some reason, she felt no sadness at all, but rather an undeniable sense of joy.

This is the first time someone has been willing to do this for her.

"Let's go explore some other places together."

An and Asuka extended their hands to the girl, and looking at the slightly larger hand in front of her, the girl hesitated for a moment before slowly raising her hand as well.

Just as their hands were about to touch, the hand suddenly pulled away.

My heart stopped for a moment, but the next second the hand was back, holding a colorful rope in its palm.

"Our hands are sweaty in this heat, let's tie them together like this."

The boy tied the colorful rope into two loops, one on her hand and the other on his own.

Sulfur art? Seven I? Er? Dam Si 6a? "......

This is even more eye-catching than holding hands.

"By the way, what's your name?"

"Ai... My name is Hoshino Ai."

"Ai Hoshino... what a hopeful name."

"hope?"

Hoshino Ai was somewhat surprised by the boy's interpretation of his name. She had never felt that her name was full of hope, after all, her life had been too terrible all along, and any hope would be worn away.

"Yes, love is inherently a kind of hope."

Otherwise, so many works wouldn't depict it as a ray of light in despair.

“I can’t tell.” Hoshino Ai shook her head, not indicating her agreement. “I think it’s just a very ordinary name.”

"...Yes, you're right."

An and Asuka did not refute the girl's words, perhaps because the name did not have any special meaning in the girl's heart.

"Then do you know my name?"

"do not know."

"My name is Anwa Asuka. You can call me Anwa or Asuka."

Anhe Flying Bird

"So what does your name represent?"

Hoshino asked curiously.

“Me?” An and Asuka raised an eyebrow and smiled, “My name represents the sun.”

"sun?"

“Yes,” An and Asuka said confidently, “Legend has it that the sun is a divine bird, and birds can fly, so my name represents the sun.”

"..."

That's a far-fetched explanation; no matter how you look at it, it can't possibly represent the sun.

However, when Hoshino Ai looked at the confident smile on the boy's face, she felt that what he said might actually be true.

Because only the sun can dispel the shadows and the cold.

Volume One: Chapter Fifty-Six - Reluctance

After showing the girl around for a while, An and Asuka decided to end their outing. He had an appointment with Anna, and he couldn't keep her waiting too long.

"Then let's leave it at that."

After leading the girl to the foot of the teaching building, An and Asuka untied the colorful ropes from their wrists and spoke to the girl.

Are you leaving?

"I'm going to visit my friend."

"Oh, I see. Then you should go quickly."

The girl's tone was light, showing no sign of reluctance. Seeing this, An and Asuka didn't say anything more, simply nodding to her before turning to leave.

Goodbye then.

As the boy turned away, a hint of sadness finally crept onto Hoshino Ai's face. Although she had long suspected that he might have made plans with someone, it was still somewhat heartbreaking to see him actually leave.

The excitement that belonged to her had come to an end, so suddenly and so soon. The boy was going back to his true friends, and she was going back to the shadows.

The fairy tale of the prince and Cinderella could never happen to her. The dazzling prince will eventually return to the sunlight and be surrounded by people, while Cinderella will have to spend her life alone.

Even so, she was already very satisfied. More than regret, she felt happy because this time she was no longer just an observer, but a true participant in the lively celebration.

She'll probably never forget this day.

In her gray and dark world, a boy suddenly broke in, shining like the sun and warming her whole heart.

The girl stood rooted to the spot, pursed her lips, and watched the boy take a step forward. However, at that moment, the boy suddenly stopped and turned around before she could react.

"..."

She saw the boy give a mischievous smile, and then he came back to her.

"What are you doing back here?"

Her tone unconsciously became slightly hesitant, which made the boy's smile deepen.

"I thought you really wanted me to leave, but it turns out you don't want me to leave at all."

An and Asuka laughed. When they were playing together earlier, the girl had urged them to leave without any change in expression. When they were about to leave, she didn't show any reluctance at all.

His reaction made him wonder if he was meddling in other people's business, when in fact the girl didn't need his help at all.

In hindsight, it turns out she was simply unwilling to show her vulnerable side. But thinking about it, it makes sense; in such an environment, showing weakness would only make things worse.

"I didn't..." Hoshino Ai looked at An and Asuka in front of her, and hesitated for a long time before finally saying this.

"Nothing?" An and Asuka asked with a smile, "Is it that you're not reluctant to part with it, or that you're not willing to part with it?"

"..."

This question silenced Hoshino Ai, and her face even began to flush slightly under the gaze of An and Asuka.

How could she bear to part with him? She hoped that the boy would pay more attention to her and spend more time with her, so that this hard-won happiness could continue.

However, if she said that, it would undoubtedly cause him trouble, since he still had to meet his friends. If they found out they were together, it would affect their friendship.

"Weren't you going to see your friend?"

Ultimately, Ai Hoshino chose to change the subject.

"If we don't go now, we'll keep them waiting."

"You mean that guy? Actually, I was dumped by her."

"Huh?" Hoshino Ai was taken aback when she heard this, and then felt it was absurd. Would anyone choose to abandon such a friend?

"So now I'm going to confront her."

"Settle the accounts?"

Yes, would you be willing to help me?

As An and Asuka spoke, An extended her hand to Hoshino Ai with a smile.

Seeing this, Hoshino Ai hesitated. She could tell that the boy was exaggerating about 'abandoning' and 'settling accounts'; he wasn't actually angry.

This is enough to show just how good the relationship was between the boy and his so-called friend.

So, if I go along, I'll just be a third wheel.

"I won't..." Hoshino Ai gritted her teeth and chose to refuse, but before she could finish speaking, the boy in front of her grabbed her hand without saying a word.

"It's too late to refuse now."

"Come on, I'll take you to meet my friend."

"..."

The boy's palms were still warm, and although he wasn't very strong, she couldn't break free.

When An and Asuka found Anna, the girl was guarding the door. However, judging from her listless expression, she seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the job.

"Apricot."

Anzu, who was still feeling a bit irritable, immediately turned around to look after hearing the familiar voice.

Sure enough, the boy appeared beside her at some point.

"Where have you been? Why are you so late?"

However, the first thing he said upon meeting her was a small complaint.

"I just wandered around for a bit," An and Asuka said with a smile, "and made some new friends."

"A new friend?"

"It's her."

Seeing the girl's puzzled expression, An and Asuka pulled Hoshino Ai, who was hiding behind them, out. Upon seeing her, Anna's eyes widened in surprise.

"you you......"