They all have hidden attributes!

"I won't look." Takahashi Makoto refused resolutely.

Do I need to wear a bra?

"Get dressed."

"I will be obedient."

Watching Shiraishi Junka's figure disappear to the left of the door, he changed into sportswear suitable for going out at night. Feeling a little thirsty, he went downstairs to the refrigerator in the kitchen to get a can of cola.

Pulling the metal ring, I calmed down with the help of the cool carbon dioxide, and suddenly I heard Uesugi Maya's voice in my ear.

[If the price of achieving your ideal is complete control and manipulation of another person, built upon their suffering, could you do it?]

Does being in a band mean anything to Junka Shiraishi?

If not, and she stayed solely out of her own need, or viewed her act of controlling the distance as manipulation and violence, or as a form of play, then...

Not really.

Tatsumi Yuki had just returned to Tokyo that morning, and tonight Shiraishi Junko brought another soul-searching question?

Even though he had no intention of ordering her, Shiraishi Junko's submissive and obedient attitude was even more difficult to handle than that of the extremely confrontational Hakiya.

Makoto Takahashi tilted his head back, finished his cola, threw away the can, turned and walked out of the kitchen. Junko Shiraishi, who had changed her clothes, stood blankly in the living room waiting.

The temperature was cool at the beach at night, so she changed into a long denim skirt, revealing only a section of her calves covered by black stockings, and wore flip-flops.

She wore a light blue cardigan over a white T-shirt, and her long black hair was neatly combed, giving her a gentle and sensual artistic air.

Despite his aggressive nature, Takahashi Makoto thought to himself, "He has an elegant and noble appearance."

With her long, straight black hair, soft and sexy figure, and the contrast between her alluring face and timid personality, it's almost too much of a deal. Besides, Shiraishi Junka really can cry.

Makoto Takahashi glanced at her graceful waistline and alluring curves of her hips, then walked towards the door.

"Want to go for a walk on the beach? Or would you like some late-night snacks?"

"casual."

Shiraishi Junko glanced at the dark corridor, followed him out of the villa, and asked timidly, "Can we hold hands?"

"Probably not."

Makoto Takahashi really wanted to call Yuki Tatsumi to ask for her opinion, but considering that the two of them had already exchanged "goodnight" messages on Line, he decided against it.

His attitude was ambiguous. Shiraishi Junko did not receive clear permission, so she lowered her head and played with her fair fingers, biting the inside of her mouth and remaining silent.

The evening breeze rustled through the dense foliage on both sides of the road. The two of them walked two steps apart from the private beach and came to the quiet street outside.

The bright streetlights along the coastal boulevard traced a gentle arc leading to the gently undulating headland. The twinkling stars in the night sky and the lighthouse beams floating on the sea squeezed between the two, making them feel as if they had escaped reality.

Upon reaching the entrance of a shopping street, Makoto Takahashi slowed his pace, waiting for Junko Shiraishi to walk beside him, and quietly asked:

"I don't mean to dislike you, I'm just curious why Chun Ke likes to stick to me? Is it because of the reason I mentioned before?"

"......Um."

"The band, is that just a reason?"

After a moment of thought, Shiraishi Junka raised her face and gave him a warm look: "After the performance, I can breathe, but I'm scared and I want to be honest."

Hearing her say that, Makoto Takahashi was completely confused and could only ponder the meaning of NiceFold as he walked into the 24-hour convenience store.

He casually picked up a shopping basket and put in snacks, drinks, and lemon-flavored popsicles.

Seeing the confusion on Takahashi Makoto's face, Shiraishi Jun took advantage of his inattention and threw in two boxes of small umbrellas: "In a band, being watched by others won't suffocate you. Hanaori will blind the camera, but without Makoto, the band will fall apart."

All she wanted was a space for cowards to live in.

However, Shiraishi Junka is not good at dealing with conflict and is also socially anxious. She is afraid that the band will break up, so she relies more on Takahashi Makoto and needs to constantly draw a sense of security from him.

Even if the band disappears, his world will still be a paradise.

"In other words, the senior didn't do this because she likes me," Makoto Takahashi said casually.

I like being by your side.

Shiraishi Junka felt inexplicably flustered and tightly gripped his clothes: "I don't dislike the band... um, I don't know, it's so troublesome, but I like it this way."

Expressing her inner feelings was too difficult for her.

Makoto Takahashi turned around and saw that Junka Shiraishi had her eyes downcast, giving off a "I'm mute" look. He considerately didn't press further: "Isn't shopping together like this enough?"

"...a little."

"How about I stay with you a little longer?"

"Ah."

"Then let's go back."

Makoto Takahashi walked to the cashier, took out his wallet to pay, and saw the cashier with a bob haircut take out two boxes of small umbrellas from the basket. He glanced at Junka Shiraishi speechlessly.

"Senior, we don't need this kind of thing."

He withdrew his gaze from the idiot and said politely to the cashier, "Sorry, I took the wrong one."

"Ah, yes!" The cashier suddenly blushed and accidentally bit her tongue.

After paying, Makoto Takahashi, carrying shopping bags, and Junka Shiraishi strolled back along the same route they had come from.

Besides the convenience store, only one izakaya was still open. Makoto Takahashi wasn't very interested, but he still asked Junka Shiraishi a question.

Want some late-night snacks?

"Listen to Cheng."

"When we get back later, do you want me to do something with you to pass the time?"

Shiraishi Junka bit the inside of her lip, thought for a long time, and then looked up at Takahashi Makoto walking beside her: "What should I do?"

"Junko, were you just playing along with me at the convenience store?" Takahashi Makoto had a vague sense of unease.

"A little."

"You think this is obedience?"

"Did I...make the wrong choice?" Shiraishi Junka's eyes dimmed, as if she had been rejected, and a deep sense of loss covered her charming face.

Makoto Takahashi turned his head and saw her wine-red eyes, which were covered in shadow, and felt uneasy for no reason.

Shiraishi Junka's core logic remains "obedience," making choices based on observation and interpretation, much like playing a game according to a strategy guide, where all that's needed is to give the correct answer.

Even if you don't like living together this way, it's okay, as long as you have enough space to survive.

trouble.

Makoto Takahashi sighed, suddenly realizing that she had only put one item in the shopping basket, and that he had rejected it.

He didn't want to build his ideal band on the basis of manipulating Shiraishi Junka, but without the band, her living space would only shrink again.

"Is it a lie to say you can breathe in a band?" Makoto Takahashi suddenly asked, snapping out of his reverie.

"The truth."

"Don't lie to me, or it will affect how I control you."

"But......"

"lie?"

"The truth."

Shiraishi Junka wrapped her arms around his, pressed her soft body against him, closed her eyes, and smiled happily.

Makoto Takahashi felt even more troubled; [No Lying] was a true way of controlling her.

This is terrible, it feels like punching cotton.

He believed that even if he ordered Shiraishi Junka to befriend Uesugi Maya, Shiraishi Junka would overcome the pressure and social anxiety to do so, but that would truly be building her ideals on her pain.

For now, we can only take care of Shiraishi Junka first, and then consider Uesugi Maya after we have properly educated her.

Back at the villa, the living room lights were still on. Makoto Takahashi placed the snacks he had bought on the coffee table and pulled Junka Shiraishi to sit down on the sofa side by side.

"Are you in a good mood now?"

"It's neither here nor there, it's a bit uncomfortable."

Shiraishi Junka hugged his arm, buried her head in his shoulder, and breathed out warm, moist air: "Help me."

"Can we do something else? Or can you figure it out yourself?" Takahashi Makoto's lips twitched slightly.

"I can't help it without side dishes."

"Senior, no matter what, I have a girlfriend."

"Oh, it doesn't matter."

Shiraishi Junka's gentle voice took on a slightly hoarse tone as she raised her face and met his gaze with her moist, watery eyes: "I don't like it."

"Wait, I didn't mean to leave you here."

Makoto Takahashi grabbed her restless wrist, intending to negotiate, when he heard a "thud," as if something had fallen to the ground.

He turned his head and saw Hanakawa Kaori standing in the shadows where the hallway and living room connected, wearing a bear-patterned pajama set, staring at the two of them in disbelief, with only a popsicle stick left in her hand.

The thought that she had said she saw Kashima Reiko standing in front of Uesugi Maya's door last night gave Takahashi Makoto an even bigger headache.

He raised his wrist and glanced at the time on the watch face; it was already past midnight.

What's wrong with eating popsicles in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?

"Hanaori, staying up late will stunt your growth."

"I'll clean up and then go to sleep."

Hanakawa Kaori blinked, her purple eyes filled with curiosity: "Brother, what are you and Junko doing?"

"Let's have a late-night snack."

Makoto Takahashi pushed Shiraishi Junka's head away, picked up the convenience store bag and gestured, "I bought you lemon-flavored popsicles, remember to put them in the freezer."

"Oh, okay." Hanakawa Kaori walked over blankly, took the popsicle, turned and headed towards the kitchen, her gaze occasionally drifting to Shiraishi Junka's flushed face.

Before being discovered by the others, Makoto Takahashi surrendered to Junka Shiraishi: "Can I have your clothes?"

"......perhaps."