Green plums cannot become lovers.

Previously, I was just providing accompaniment, but now I need to sing.

He also heard from Teacher Songyue that the school seems to be planning to use this song as the new school song, and that they will send someone to discuss it with him.

An and Asuka dismissed it as a joke from Ms. Matsue. They'd heard their school song had been in use for over twenty years; how could they possibly change it so easily?

An and Asuka were thinking this, but their homeroom teacher's words made them pause for a moment.

"Anhe, come with me to the principal's office after class."

When An and Asuka arrived at the principal's office, they discovered that there was more than just the principal; there was also the grade head, the academic affairs director, and even Ms. Matsue.

"Anhe, I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Upon seeing him, the teachers in the office all lit up.

Volume 1: Chapter 74 The Feeling of Home

"Anhe, please sit down."

An and Asuka sat down at the desk in front of several stern adults, wondering if what Teacher Matsutsuki said earlier wasn't a joke.

He looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, waiting for him to speak.

The man didn't keep him waiting long. With a kind smile, he said, "Anhe, you have always been the pride of our school! You are smart, hardworking, and a genius. We all have high expectations for you."

This wasn't just polite encouragement; it was the truth. The boy before him was the smartest child he had seen in his more than ten years as the school's principal. If it were him, he might actually get into a good university and bring honor to their school.

By then, their school, which was on the verge of collapse, might be able to have a second spring and no longer have to worry about being closed down.

"So you have to study hard when you get to junior high school. If you have any difficulties, come back to us. Although our school is not big, we will do our best to help you."

"We have also learned about your situation, as well as that of Kirisaka and Kuze. Our school will cover your tuition fees and two-thirds of other expenses in the future."

"..."

An and Asuka, who had assumed the other party was there to discuss other matters, were taken aback by the principal's words.

“Anhe, please don’t think we’re stingy. We have our own difficulties too.”

"How could that be! I am so grateful to the principal and the school!"

An and Asuka quickly stood up and said that this had really helped him a lot.

He and the girls had already decided on their junior high school: a private junior high school in the city. Although they could reduce expenses by applying for financial aid and there was a scholarship system, even so, the tuition for the three of them would still cost more than 600,000 yen a year.

This is still a considerable expense for them.

But now that the school is helping them like this, it's like a godsend for him.

"There's no need to get so excited, and don't just thank me. This was an idea proposed by Ms. Songyue, and it was unanimously approved and supported by all the teachers in the school."

Including him, their school only had thirty faculty and staff members. They could only manage this much by piecing things together here and there.

Upon hearing this, An and Asuka couldn't help but look at Ms. Matsutsuki standing to the side. The other woman seemed to have anticipated his actions, and after seeing his gaze, she winked at him smugly.

An and Asuka turned their gaze back to the teachers present. Seeing that everyone was looking at them with kind and encouraging expressions, a strange and indescribable emotion welled up in their hearts.

Now that things have come to this, even the most unruly student would be making a vow in their heart that they must not let these people down.

"I am truly grateful to the principal and all the teachers!"

An and Asuka were filled with an unprecedented sense of emotion, and he felt as if he had taken on an additional responsibility.

"You're welcome. Just study hard from now on."

"Once you get into university, please help promote our school."

"You have to work hard, child. This is all we can do to help you. The rest of the journey is up to you."

After expressing their gratitude and exchanging pleasantries, the office returned to normal.

"By the way, Anhe, we have one more small request."

"Please speak, Principal."

The man who spoke kindly and selflessly when helping him was so cautious when mentioning his so-called request.

"Yes, we want to use your song 'Hotaru no Hikari' as the new school song."

This is a decision that goes against the ancestors' wishes. After all, they had been using their previous school song for more than 20 years. Although it wasn't pleasant to listen to, it had a rich history.

Now, they have to change the school song, and it's a song written by a child. This is incredibly stressful, because if the school still closes down in the end, it will be a negative example of forgetting one's roots.

But no matter what, the school song must be changed. A good school song is also a criterion for some students or parents when choosing a school. As long as it can inject fresh blood into the school, they will do it.

Furthermore, the lyrics and music of "The Light of Fireflies" are both very profound. Some of his discerning old friends loved it so much after listening to it that they kept asking him who wrote the song, but when he told them, they didn't believe him.

However, he believed that the pearl would never be tarnished, and that the boy's future would surely be bright.

So their current actions are essentially an investment. If this young man actually succeeds in the future, they'll make a fortune.

"Of course, we won't let you make any effort for nothing. Just tell us what you want, as long as our school can afford it."

"No need, Principal."

An and Asuka shook their heads and said, "If the school wants to use this song as its school song, then go ahead and use it."

The school has already done enough for him, how could he possibly ask for anything more from them?

"Really?" Not only the principal, but everyone else was surprised when they heard the decision.

“Yes.” An and Asuka nodded and smiled, “I will not accept any payment, now or in the future. Besides, being used as the school song is a meaningful thing.”

That's wonderful.

Looking at the young man before them, everyone present felt immense satisfaction. This proved once again that they hadn't misjudged him; this young man was the kind of person who knew how to repay kindness.

That put their minds at ease.

"Anhe, I wish you a bright future!"

"Remember to come back and visit more often in the future, otherwise you might not see us again one day."

"Remember, as long as our school exists, we will always be your support."

"Keep going, kid, we'll always be there for you." (This is a fragment of a longer text, possibly a news article or social media post. A direct translation isn't possible without further context.)

Listening to the teachers' encouragement and support, An and Asuka suddenly felt their eyes sting. A feeling of 'this is home' welled up inside them.

Is he now the hope of the whole village?

After leaving the office, Matsue Sakura bumped An and Asuka's shoulders in a manner completely unlike a teacher.

She teased, "Kid, go ahead and cry if you want to."

"I wanted to cry, but I couldn't cry when I saw Ms. Matsue's expression."

"Huh, why?"

Upon hearing this, Songyue Ying blinked, somewhat curious.

"Because Ms. Matsue is probably the one who wants to cry the most, right? After all, everyone is about to leave."

An and Asuka stopped and turned to look at the woman in front of them. They said softly, "Matsuzuki-sensei, if you want to cry, then cry. I'll be here with you."

"What...what are you saying... Waaah..."

Matsue Sakura's eyes gradually blurred.

All the students she liked were leaving.

Volume 1: Chapter 75 Graduation Farewell

The woman's suppressed sobs echoed in the deserted corridor.

Scenes of being with everyone kept flashing through her mind: laughter, playfulness, seriousness, enthusiasm... It was truly a happy and fulfilling thing for her to meet so many lovely students on her first day as a teacher.

Especially the boy in front of her, he was her favorite student. He was mature and steady, yet also a little cunning and mischievous. He had amazing talent but was humble and polite. More importantly, he had a sense of responsibility that was beyond the reach of children his age.

The time I spent with him was always the most pleasant, and my memories of him are the most abundant.

But now, in the blink of an eye, we are about to part ways.

She knew this was inevitable; children grow up, and fledglings leave the nest—it's an unavoidable law of growth.

But thinking about it still makes me feel uncontrollably sad.

It seems that all beautiful scenes are created to leave behind a memory for people to cherish when parting.

"Waaah..."

An and Asuka stood to the side, looking at the azure sky outside the corridor, silently listening to the woman's weeping.

The March wind carries a hint of farewell, but those about to leave seem oblivious, enjoying their final celebration before parting.

The sixth-grade students gathered in their classrooms, their laughter and chatter filling the air. The classroom loudspeakers occasionally broadcast songs, recitations, and wishes, all urging them to part ways.

However, few people cared; everyone was immersed in the joy of growing another year older and reaching a higher level.

In the broadcasting room, An and Asuka were about to appear when the girl who had wished everyone a bright future left with tears in her eyes.

After letting out a breath, he sat down in front of the microphone and said, "Hello everyone, I am Anhe Asuka."

"Today I want to sing a song for everyone called 'The Light of Fireflies,' and I hope that everyone will remember the time we spent together."

Upon hearing the announcement over the loudspeaker, the students in each classroom suddenly fell silent. The boy seemed to be doing well at school; they were willing to listen to him.

A gentle prelude broke the silence, the melodious piano music seemingly carrying something within it. But before the students could figure it out, the boy's singing began.

"The light of fireflies, the window of snow."

"Studying diligently day after day."

"When I look back suddenly, the years have already passed."

The boy's singing voice was gentle, a voice that most of the people present had never heard before, because most of the time his voice was cheerful and confident.

But now they realize he has this side to him.

The boy's gentle singing voice echoed in their ears, or rather, it felt more like he was whispering something in their ears than singing.

"Wishing you happiness, let's harmonize with a song..."

At that moment, something seemed to have been planted in the hearts of the students, but they could not feel it upon closer examination.

After the song ended, everyone was still in a daze for a long time, as if a part of their hearts was empty.

So what exactly is it?

The last day of sixth grade ended with the children's melodious singing and blessings.

The late-blooming cherry blossoms stand at the school gate, watching over the petals that fly away into the distance.

"Shizuka, Marina, wake up."

At seven o'clock sharp, An and Asuka went to wake up the two girls who were still sleeping.

"Um, Asuka, what time is it?" Marina asked groggily as she got up.

"Seven o'clock."

"Seven o'clock... that's so early." I usually don't sleep until eight o'clock.

"Otherwise what? You're middle school students now, you can't be as lazy as elementary school students anymore."

An and Asuka walked to the two girls' beds, pulled off their blankets, and then threw their clothes on them.

"Get up quickly, or you'll miss the bus."

Their junior high school is in the city center, unlike elementary school where it's just a short walk of ten minutes; they now have to take a bus.

"Okay, fine."

Despite still feeling sleepy, Marina got up and groggily unbuttoned her pajamas, revealing her fair skin.

Seeing this, An and Asuka glanced behind them and said expressionlessly, "Breakfast is ready, you two hurry up."

After saying that, he turned and left.

He didn't feel ashamed at all, after all, there's really nothing to see in a child's body, not to mention that they had such a good relationship.

"Shizuka, what should we do? Asuka's expression hasn't changed at all."

After An and Asuka left, Marina's eyes cleared up considerably, and she pouted as she complained to Shizuka Kuze beside her.

"I already told you, birds won't take the bait so easily."

"So what should we do?"