They all have hidden attributes!

Hearing the sound of knuckles tapping on the table, Makoto Takahashi suppressed the smile that had unconsciously crept onto his lips, cleared his throat, and dialed Haruna Nekoya's number.

"Yin Cai, it's me."

"Do you remember what happened yesterday afternoon? Yes, I do. Okay, there's some misunderstanding I need to clarify..."

When Takahashi Makoto explained to Nekoya Hina exactly as he had described it, without embellishment, that the two had never actually dated and it was just a joke, Uesugi Maya turned her face toward the restaurant window, her beautiful eyes flickering slightly.

She spent the entire night analyzing the newly acquired intelligence, and combined it with her understanding of Makoto Takahashi, she came to a conclusion.

—I have a very high chance of winning against Tachibana Yuki.

Hina Nekoya's consistent disadvantage stems from Makoto Takahashi's slow-burning nature, which is not hesitation but rather a cautious attitude.

She doesn't want to start a half-hearted relationship, and she doesn't want to make a commitment only to regret it later. This aligns with the initial relationship counseling results, except that she does indeed have a lustful side.

This is just as normal as the possessiveness that humans have, and Yuki Tachimi has only grasped this point so far.

But how exactly can I win his heart?

This issue is no longer closely related to whether or not one can win.

Maya Uesugi was certain that Makoto Takahashi's love was probably the precious thing she had always dreamed of.

—High standards are backed by high levels of dedication, which become an integral part of life.

But she had absolutely no experience in dating, and no friends to consult.

She had no choice but to devote more time and energy to their relationship, giving him opportunities to do things for her, seizing opportunities to get closer and understand each other, and... making some concessions.

“I made it clear to Hina that if similar rumors about Tsurumi Sawa surface, she will help clarify them, including those about Sachi.”

Seeing Takahashi Makoto put down his phone and look at the vegetables in front of him with a troubled expression, Uesugi Maya finished the last cream puff, got up and walked towards the kitchen: "The cream flavoring at this shop is very good. I'll go buy some with you this afternoon."

"This is a shop recommended by Senior Sister Lengzi. You can ask her if she has any other recommendations."

"understood."

"Aren't we rehearsing this afternoon?" Takahashi Makoto asked, raising his voice as the distance increased.

"With the current online popularity, the debut battle can make a lot of money. This afternoon, I'll go to the LiveHouse and talk to the owner. We want to get the majority of the ticket revenue."

Maya Uesugi returned to the restaurant, handing over a bowl of sizzling grilled beef and delicate tamagoyaki: "Today I plan to record full versions of four songs and post them on my online account. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Not until the live performance is over?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"The version produced in the recording studio is perfect in terms of lyrics, music, and sound. The atmosphere is more important in a live performance, and there might even be improvisations. For my debut performance, I plan to add a bass solo to the sheet music."

"good to eat."

Seeing him eat a piece of roast beef and show a happy smile, Uesugi Maya breathed a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, they didn't go too far.

She sat down in her chair and took the boiled vegetables in front of Makoto Takahashi: "Before going up to the Tokyo Dome, I don't plan to let the band engage in excessive commercialization, such as selling merchandise and albums."

"I don't understand these things, you can decide for me."

"The profit margin will be very small... Never mind, I'll contact the recording studio now, notify the club office to gather, and we'll pack our performance costumes and head out."

When Uesugi Maya gets serious, she always makes people subconsciously trust her abilities. Takahashi Makoto took out his phone and sent a message in a Line group chat.

After breakfast, the two went out together and took the streetcar to Tsurumizawa.

As I walked through the atrium toward the special building, I saw Hanakawa Kaori running on the playground. Her twin ponytails swayed, and the purple highlights in her hair gave her a youthful and energetic look.

"She seems to idolize you," Makoto Takahashi said casually.

"It's an illusion. She just doesn't want to be ignored, she wants attention and recognition, so she wants to be friendly with everyone," Uesugi Maya commented incisively.

"Don't you feel hypocritical anymore?"

"Some resistance is inevitable. However, although she likes to use interpersonal relationships to achieve her goals and is a bit worldly and hypocritical, since she is someone you approve of, I will not reject her too much."

Upon hearing this, Makoto Takahashi looked at Maya Uesugi's profile with surprise. She flicked her long, loose hair and said coldly:

"You really should go to the hospital to get your ears checked. Didn't I say I'd be a little biased towards you?"

"You're not angry anymore?"

"Are you an idiot? I've told you so many times, stay away from that woman."

Upon arriving at the 5th-floor corridor, Kashima Reiko was once again the first to begin practicing, playing the drums to the beat of a metronome in the rehearsal room.

The drummer is the conductor of the band, a position where mistakes are absolutely unacceptable.

Through his recent studies, Makoto Takahashi has learned how troublesome it can be if a drummer makes a mistake, but he feels very reassured knowing that the drumbeats are handled by Reiko Kashima.

Like the fragile arpeggios on a keyboard, played by Junka Shiraishi, they possess an inexplicable allure.

Upon entering the clubroom, Maya Uesugi's first action was, as always, to make coffee. Makoto Takahashi pulled out a chair, sat down, and took out a light novel from his desk drawer to read.

Amidst the bitter aroma of coffee, the sunlight streaming through the window gradually intensifies.

Once everyone had arrived, Maya Uesugi announced today's plans, and the group, carrying their respective instruments, set off for the pre-arranged recording studio.

This is a professional recording studio located in Bunkyo Ward. It not only has professional equipment but also a dedicated changing room with a very spacious interior.

The large dressing room is divided into eight small cubicles, each separated by curtains, and includes a makeup mirror, a table, and a sofa for resting.

The black performance costume, which was originally regarded as "mourning clothes" by Makoto Takahashi, has been redesigned by Junko Shiraishi and is no longer rigid and stiff. Every detail exudes a sense of sophistication.

When Makoto Takahashi came out wearing a black satin shirt with a low neckline, only two buttons, and no sleeves, Maya Uesugi, who had changed into a French Hepburn-style dress, was talking to Hina Nekoya.

This was the first time Makoto Takahashi had seen Maya Uesugi dressed in a dress reminiscent of a wealthy heiress. The fitted waist accentuated her slender figure, and a braided hairstyle on the side of her face enhanced her band-like presence. Holding a gleaming, luxurious guitar, she resembled a rebellious young lady.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, leaning closer.

"You suggested handing over the band's account to Cat House for management before."

Maya Uesugi turned her head and gave me a calm look, her fingers playing with her asymmetrical sideburns: "However, the everyday photos you post must be approved by me before they can be published."

“No problem.” Nekoya Hina smiled, revealing her white teeth.

"Hina looks great in photos."

Makoto Takahashi spread his hands and said to Maya Uesugi, "I wanted to ask, what's wrong with this outfit? It's loose when the buttons are removed, but it feels weird."

“I’ve discussed it with Shiraishi. Considering the market and making money, besides bass, you will also be responsible for the welfare part.”

Uesugi Maya paused briefly, her gaze falling on the muscular outline of his chest, and nodded with satisfaction: "She agreed, which will allow you to make full use of your strengths."

"Acheng, that's pretty good."

Hina Nekoya put her hand on Makoto Takahashi's shoulder, hooked her arm around his back, and boldly reached out to touch the muscle lines of his arm: "Slurp~ Slurp~"

Hearing her deliberately make lewd noises, Makoto Takahashi sighed helplessly and asked Maya Uesugi, "Why didn't anyone notify me?"

“You’ve never paid for groceries. After buying the house, my savings are in jeopardy, and I don’t have any inspiration for writing a book yet. The band needs a source of income in the early stages.”

Uesugi Maya put on a cold expression, raised her face and said, "Besides, I told you this morning that the band isn't very commercialized, so there are few profit points, and the other members are all girls. Aren't these reasons enough?"

Makoto Takahashi, naturally, wouldn't agree with the excessive exposure in other people's costumes, and his tone softened somewhat:

“I don’t mean to object, but—”

“I am the minister.” Uesugi Maya’s attitude was firm.

"I thought the profit point was something tangible, but it turns out it's me?"

"The profit comes from viewership."

"Okay, I just need to have clothes to wear."

He chose to surrender, becoming [a piece of trash who only knows how to trick women into spending money].

"Don't worry, Makoto, it's just a look. Besides, Uesugi-kun said he'll cut out any overly dramatic shots during the editing process," Hina Nekoya said, patting Makoto Takahashi on the shoulder to comfort him.

"Uesugi-senpai, the recording studio wants you to come and do some adjustments—"

Hanakawa Kaori ran in, saw Takahashi Makoto's stage costume, stopped in her tracks, and blinked blankly.

Her stage outfit consisted of black overalls paired with a white T-shirt with the band's name painted in purple. Her hair was loose, with the highlighted parts tied into a side ponytail, giving her the trendy look expected of a band's lead singer.

"Let's go to the cat house together and take some photos of the workshop as material for an update later." Uesugi Maya walked over.

"it is good."

After Nekoya Hina followed her away, Hanakawa Kaori realized she had been staring for too long and ran away shyly, leaving only Takahashi Makoto in the changing room.

Just as he was about to lift the curtain to take the clothes he had brought and hang them on the hanger, a snow-white hand reached out from the curtain next door, grabbed his arm, and pulled hard.

Makoto Takahashi remained motionless, turning his head to look over. The frail Junko Shiraishi slightly pulled back the curtain, revealing a wine-red eye observing the outside.

After confirming that only Takahashi Makoto was outside, she pulled back the curtain, her charming face bearing a wronged expression: "Yesterday, I was interrupted."

"..."

"Today's outfit is black lace."

"Chunke, I'll find some time to talk to you about it. Today's most important task is recording."

Makoto Takahashi shook his head, his voice tinged with helplessness: "As friends, how about we get to know each other slowly first?"

"This is so troublesome."

"How about we go shopping together just the two of us next time?"

"Okay." Shiraishi Junko withdrew her arm and retreated into the curtain.

After a while, she came out wearing a black fishtail dress and left the dressing room with Makoto Takahashi.

The door closed slightly, and a dozen seconds later, Kashima Reiko, dressed in a men's casual suit, lifted the curtain and walked expressionlessly to the vanity mirror to fix her hair.

The recording went very smoothly. Each song was played 3 to 5 times, and the final version that Uesugi Maya considered to be [imperfect in terms of lyrics, music, and vocals] was selected.

This meant that none of them had time to eat lunch. By the time they carried their instruments and equipment back to the Light Music Club, it was already dinnertime.

After a short rest in the rehearsal room, Maya Uesugi stood up and clapped her hands to attract everyone's attention.

"Thank you all for your hard work today. I will edit the video and release it as soon as possible. Tomorrow I will come up with a preliminary distribution plan for the band's profits, and then we will discuss the specifics."

She was the one who worked the hardest. Besides performing, she also had to take care of all sorts of miscellaneous tasks, big and small. Even Makoto Takahashi felt sorry for her.

"Thank you for your hard work, seniors."

Hanakawa Kaori bowed slightly obediently in greeting, a sweet smile playing on her lips: "To thank you all for taking care of me during this time, I'm treating you all to barbecue."

“This period of time? That sounds a bit strange,” Makoto Takahashi said.