Green plums cannot become lovers.

"I thought the senior students would rebel," he laughed, his tone ambiguous, neither joking nor stating a fact.

Then, he made a decision that surprised everyone. He handed the stack of coins, which he had just received and were still slightly warm, back to the representative, untouched.

“Take your friends out for a nice meal, senior.” His voice remained calm, yet it seemed to possess a strange penetrating power. “Consider it… a reconciliation meal?”

"..."

Everyone, including Sato, was stunned, staring blankly at An and Asuka, completely unprepared for this turn of events. Had he just asked for money merely to...trick them? Or was it a different kind of leniency?

"Then let's leave it at that."

An and Asuka didn't give them much time to think, as if the act of handing back the money was just a casual gesture. He picked up the trash bag he hadn't put down yet, his movements fluid and natural, as if the tense yet unexpected interlude had never happened.

"I haven't taken out the trash yet, I'm leaving now."

After saying that, he ignored the petrified figures behind him and walked straight to the garbage collection point not far away. With a flick of his arm, the garbage bag drew a precise parabola and fell into the designated recycling bin.

Sato and his friends remained standing, watching as An and Asuka finished everything cleanly and efficiently, then walked away towards the teaching building without looking back, the setting sun casting a tall and somewhat lonely shadow behind them.

The group had mixed feelings, like a jumble of emotions.

"Anwa-kun...that's so nice." The bespectacled boy murmured, looking at the two thousand yen in his hand. His feelings were complicated, a mixture of relief at being pardoned and a sense of submission after being completely overwhelmed by the other's aura.

"I think Anhe is also...very charming."

Another burly guy scratched his head and uttered this sentence. He originally thought that idols were only dazzling on stage, but he did not expect them to handle such troublesome matters so skillfully, and even with a bit of an inexplicable wicked sense of humor and... strange gentleness?

Hayato Sato fell completely silent, his face burning with shame. More than just anger and shame, he now felt an indescribable remorse and self-doubt. The boy's final act made him feel far more ashamed than any reprimand or punch.

As An and Asuka walked back to the teaching building, the golden rays of the setting sun gently enveloped them. He recalled the crisis that had just begun but ended in a disastrous failure; Sato's threats were like child's play, utterly ineffective.

On the contrary, it was the group of senior students who suddenly switched sides and claimed to be his fans, and their astonished expressions when he returned the money they had raised without hesitation, that made him realize more clearly the influence of music, which was quietly spreading and beginning to transform into an intangible capital without his deliberate efforts.

However, the feeling of being supported to his face and even called an "idol" still felt somewhat unfamiliar and distant to him. He pursued fan value for that cold and lofty goal, not for these vibrant, passionate, and sometimes even troublesome interpersonal ties.

He subconsciously brought up the system panel, and the number of fan points seemed to have jumped almost imperceptibly again after he finished dealing with what he had just done. This proved that he was on the right track, and that continuous exposure and performance were effective.

just

He recalled the stubborn look in Yanagi's eyes when she pressed him about his "feelings," and the complex, unspoken gazes of the upperclassmen he had just seen.

The complex and elusive emotional ripples around him, caused by him, seem to be becoming clearer and clearer, and increasingly difficult to ignore or process as simply as system data.

Volume 1: Chapter 144 A Steady Happiness

Since the reconciliation by the garbage dump, Sato Hayato indeed hasn't caused any more trouble. On the contrary, whenever he encounters An and Asuka on campus, his attitude becomes unusually warm, and he'll even offer to help carry things or pass on some trivial messages.

An and Asuka did not refuse. He was not a saint, and since the other party was willing to express their apology and gratitude in this way, he accepted it without hesitation, which would also save him some unnecessary energy.

At the same time, he began to observe the girls around him more carefully, especially Anna Hachimi, and their attitudes toward him.

These past few days, Anzu's behavior has long since transcended the cold, hard numbers or the simple label of "best friend." If she were merely a best friend, would she have shown such undisguised disappointment and bitterness upon seeing someone confess their feelings to her? Would she have reacted so intensely, almost to the point of collapse, to a joke about "love"?

Probably not.

True friends may tease or be curious, but they generally won't experience such strong, possessive emotions, nor will they be saddened by it.

That's his reasoning, but deep down he wasn't entirely sure. After all, this was the first time in his life he'd had such a close and long-lasting "best friend," and there was no precedent to follow.

In any case, he decided to pull himself together and observe and think more carefully.

And what if the girls... especially Anzu, really have feelings for him that go beyond friendship? How should he respond then?

To be fair, Anna Hanami is beautiful, cute, cheerful, and energetic—the ideal girlfriend type in many people's eyes. Having her by your side like that would undoubtedly attract countless envious glances. Logically, spending every day with such a girl, it would seem perfectly natural to fall for her.

But his heart remained like a deep pool, unmoved by even the slightest ripple of romantic feelings for her. Not only her, but Marina, Shizuka, Ai... every girl around him was beautiful and lovely, each with her own unique personality and skills, and all were exceptionally talented.

But he still didn't develop any feelings of 'liking' for any of them.

【Xiaomei,】

He whispered the system's name in his mind, a rare hint of self-doubt in his voice: "Am I... lacking some kind of emotion?"

[What are you saying, host!] The system's electronic voice immediately blared, with an almost frantic urgency. [You're physically healthy, mentally stable, and all your indicators are perfect! You lack nothing! Besides, if you lacked emotions, wouldn't I, the system assisting you, be useless?!]

Hearing the system's somewhat clumsy but protective words, An and Asuka's lips unconsciously curled up slightly.

"Xiaomei, don't talk about yourself like that," he gently corrected her.

He has known the system for three years. Although he is sometimes speechless because of its eccentric remarks, he has never looked down on it, and he does not want to hear it belittle itself.

The existence of the system is the cornerstone of his rapid growth, that much is undeniable. Without its guidance and empowerment, relying solely on his own exploration, it would have taken him countless hours to reach his current level.

[...] Deep within its consciousness, the system gazed at the boy's youthful yet serene face on the glowing screen, and at the familiar, gentle curve of his lips.

As always, it has never changed.

["Waaah, host, you're so gentle."] The system's voice had a simulated sob in it.

"Because you're my partner," An and Asuka replied matter-of-factly, "Of course I'll be good to you."

This statement caused another surge in the system kernel's data flow, almost breaking through a pre-set blockade and revealing its deeply hidden secrets.

But it ultimately restrained itself.

Some secrets cannot be spoken, not out of fear, but because they are subject to higher-level, irresistible rules.

Just like the anomaly in the "affinity module," it wasn't a random malfunction. Sometimes, overly clear and quantifiable data can become a constraint on natural development, especially for a host with deeper emotional attachments.

Thank you, host.

The system finally spoke softly, its light flickering slightly, as if lost in silent reminiscence of shared past experiences.

The past is too complicated to describe.

After a brief exchange with the system, An and Asuka's consciousness returned to reality. Just then, the iron door to the rooftop was gently pushed open, and Bana saw Anna's head peeking in before walking in.

"I didn't expect you could still find me even though I've hidden here." An and Asuka looked at her with some surprise.

Upon hearing this, the girl rolled her eyes in annoyance: "Where else can you hide besides here?"

As she spoke, she naturally walked over to him, sat down, and opened the lunchbox in her hand. The school rooftop was spacious, but apart from the boy beside her, few students came up there; it had practically become his private "secret base."

He didn't come here often before, but recently, sneaking in during his lunch break seems to have become his new habit.

The two ate a few bites of rice in silence. When Anna suddenly spoke up, her tone was deliberately light, but her eyes were fixed on the rice in the bento box: "Asuka, do you... find me annoying?"

"Huh?" An and Asuka were taken aback, wondering if they had misheard.

The girl's fingers unconsciously tightened, gripping the edge of the lunchbox, her voice still maintaining that deliberately nonchalant tone: "What I mean is, if you think I'm too noisy and always causing you trouble... you can just tell me, and I'll be more careful in the future."

She never looked up at him. This period of reflection had allowed her to start to reconsider.

My outgoing and cheerful personality might just be seen by others as a romanticized version of a "troublemaker."

For this sensitive, gentle, and reserved boy, have those unintentional jokes, overly enthusiastic advances, and incessant sharing become a burden? If he truly feels it is a burden, given his personality, he would probably just silently endure it and would never say anything to embarrass her.

This thought made her feel a tightness in her chest.

However, the expected tactful response or awkward silence did not materialize.

A warm hand suddenly and gently covered her forehead.

"You don't have a fever either." An and Asuka's voices were close at hand, carrying a hint of doubt, as well as a pure concern that made her heart flutter.

"I...!" When Hachina saw Anzu suddenly look up and meet his clear, inquisitive eyes, her cheeks instantly flushed red, whether from anger or embarrassment, it was hard to tell. "Who has a fever! I'm serious!"

“I’m serious.” An and Asuka withdrew their hands, looking at her frankly. “Anna, why do you think that?”

His directness left Xingcai speechless for a moment. She opened her mouth, but those self-doubting, chaotic thoughts stuck in her throat, and she didn't know where to begin.

“Look,” she finally said, her shoulders slumping in a hint of self-reproach, her voice lowering, “I’m always so loud and boisterous, saying whatever comes to mind, often acting without thinking, always making mistakes during practice that you have to correct, and always stealing your snacks… and what happened that noon too, if it weren’t for me…”

"Stop." An and Asuka interrupted her increasingly low self-listing.

He put down his chopsticks, turned around, and faced her with an unusually serious and earnest expression.

"Hanami Anna, listen carefully."

"Your loud and boisterous personality keeps the practice room and everyday life lively and prevents any awkward silences. Your willingness to say whatever you want makes it easy for me to understand what you're thinking, without having to rack my brains. Everyone makes mistakes during practice; the meaning of a band is to correct and improve together. As for snacks..."

He paused, a barely perceptible smile flashing across his eyes.

"I gave you permission to take those. If I hadn't allowed it, you wouldn't have gotten a single piece."

"..." Seeing Anja staring blankly at him, Banai noticed that Anja's eyes were unconsciously reddening.

These words, plain and unremarkable, without any fancy embellishment, were like a warm breeze, dispelling the gloom that had accumulated in her heart.

“Furthermore,” An and Asuka continued, their tone softening, “the one who was wrong about what happened that noon was the guy who didn’t know how to respect others, not you. You don’t need to question your own worth because of someone else’s mistake.”

He looked at her slightly reddened eyes and nose, sighed softly, and his tone returned to its usual slightly teasing calm: "So, don't think about anything else. If you suddenly become quiet and polite, I'll start to suspect that you've been switched at birth, and that would be a real problem."

That last sentence was like a key, instantly unlocking the shackles in Xingcai's heart.

"What?!" She finally burst into laughter through her tears, raised the back of her hand to wipe her eyes haphazardly, and then habitually gave his arm a light punch. "You! You have to subtly insult me ​​while comforting me!"

“I was just stating the facts.” An and Asuka shrugged, picked up their chopsticks again, as if their serious conversation just now was just part of casual conversation.

"Hmph!" Bana saw Anja wrinkle her nose, but her face cleared up and her signature, lively smile returned.

The heavy self-doubt in his heart miraculously vanished in just a few words.

Yes, that's who she is, that's the kind of person Asuka knows. If he really found it annoying, given his personality, he would have already drawn a clear line with his actions, instead of having dinner with her and saying all this to her.

"Oh! Right! I brought some super delicious tamagoyaki today! I'll share half with you! Don't say no!"

She immediately regained her energy, deftly picking a large golden egg roll from her lunchbox and placing it on Anwa Asuka's rice without a word.

"Hey, that's too much..."

"Stop talking nonsense! Eat your food!"

The afternoon sun shone on the rooftop, casting long shadows of the two people. The air was filled with the faint aroma of food and the familiar, lighthearted banter.

The relationship seems to have returned to its original track.

However, between meals, An and Asuka would occasionally glance at the girl's bright smile from the corner of their eyes, secretly trying to guess what was going on in her heart.

Even when the girl discovered he was peeking, and even when she glared at him, he didn't look away; he simply returned a faint smile.

A gentle breeze rustles, heralding the departure of spring. Dappled shadows of the trees sway, reflecting the summer's beauty.

Not long after the midterm exams ended, An and Asuka were called to the office. When they arrived, the teacher was grading the papers.

"Ms. Takanashi, is there something you need from me?"

"Yes, there's something I need to ask you." Takanashi Tomoyo stopped what she was doing, turned to look at the boy beside her, and said seriously.

"Please go ahead, teacher."

An and Asuka could tell from the teacher's expression that this matter was definitely going to be troublesome. Generally speaking, he didn't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble, but it was a different story when the other party was a teacher.

After all, to gain a teacher's favor, good grades and a good personality are not enough; you have to show the teacher your efforts in order to make them like you more.

Tomoyo Takanashi nodded and said, "The school anniversary is coming up soon, so I'd like you to be in charge of the class's theme planning."

"I see." An and Asuka hesitated for a moment, then agreed: "If you trust me, then I will do my best."

I thought it would be a lot of trouble, but it turned out to be much simpler than I imagined.

"Then I'll trouble you." Takanashi Tomoyo smiled with satisfaction as she saw how easily the boy agreed.

Unbeknownst to her, she had come to trust this boy so much, even though he wasn't the class monitor or any committee member. In her heart, he was more trustworthy than anyone else.

This boy has been very reliable and reassuring since he enrolled in school. His academic performance is excellent, and he has a great personality, able to get along well with his classmates. More importantly, he is very thoughtful.

He was the only one in the class who knew her birthday and gave her a birthday present. While this isn't a standard for judging a student's character, it's hard not to like a student like that.

After leaving the office, An and Asuka returned to the classroom. During the break, he shared the news with everyone.

Theme planning is really simple; you don't even need to write a proposal. Just collect opinions from classmates and hold a vote. As for the details, that's something everyone needs to work on together.

If all else fails, there's always past experience to refer to. Last year, their class's theme for the school anniversary was a haunted house adventure, and they still have a lot of the props they made before; they can just reuse them this time.

However, if possible, he still felt it would be better to try something new.

"Please feel free to share any good suggestions you may have."

An and Asuka stood on the podium, looking at the eager students below.

"Open a bubble tea shop!"

"A snack stall!"

"The literature exhibition is great!"

The students eagerly raised their hands and shared their thoughts. Although it was a bit chaotic, An and Feibiao still managed to write them all down on the blackboard.