They all have hidden attributes!

Preparations for all the music festivals are progressing smoothly. Even if Maya Uesugi can't gain everyone's trust through her achievements, once the band becomes a hit, she will be able to earn everyone's recognition and voice through her own contributions and hard work.

Heavy rain fell in Tokyo on August 24.

While having breakfast, Makoto Takahashi heard from Reiko Kashima that Shibuya Station had been flooded. He was somewhat skeptical until the three of them saw the traffic chaos caused by the heavy rain on their way to Tsurumizawa Academy.

The torrent of rain poured down on the city, and on the flooded roads, horns blared incessantly as the congested traffic moved slowly with their hazard lights on.

Listening to the heavy sound of raindrops pounding on the car roof, Takahashi Makoto was secretly relieved that the young lady hadn't sent him a Maybach.

— He didn't know if it was true or not, as there were rumors online that the roof of his Maybach leaked.

Using the car's interior light, Makoto Takahashi opened the light novel that Reiko Kashima had given him, "The Faculty of Science." After joining a band, he had less time to read light novels, but he still genuinely enjoyed them.

Sitting beside her, Maya Uesugi silently took out her phone, opened a professional weather forecast video on YouTube, and heard an AI voice that was even more emotional than Reiko Kashima's.

"Tokyo has just issued a special heavy rain warning, and the active rain clouds are expected to dissipate in the early hours of the morning."

Maya Uesugi breathed a sigh of relief; the broadcast continued.

"Several subway stations are flooded. Commuters along the Arakawa and Sumida River lines will definitely lose their perfect attendance bonuses today. There are currently no plans to open the Yamanote Line. In addition, there are significant delays and postponements on all railway lines in Tokyo."

"This summer's torrential rains are not at the level of a disaster. I strongly suggest changing your mode of transportation or simply taking leave."

"Of course, don't choose a taxi either. The queue at the station is so long you'll have to wait until the rain clouds clear. Speaking of taxis in Tokyo, my impression is..."

Today's downpour sounds like just a normal summer downpour, but the person who made the video not only had a joking attitude, but also seriously discussed Japan's taxi pricing issue with themselves.

Makoto Takahashi turned a page of his light novel and asked Maya Uesugi, "How much of the preparation work for the music festival is left?"

"It won't be affected by the weather."

Maya Uesugi turned her face away, her gaze fixed on the faint neon lights shining through the rain, and said indifferently, "I'll take care of the rest."

Upon hearing this, Kashima Reiko, sitting in the passenger seat, cast a suspicious glance at Uesugi Maya through the rearview mirror, her eyes dark and unsettling.

It was past 9:30 a.m. when the vehicle finally entered the gate of Tsurumizawa.

When the three entered the rehearsal room, Shiraishi Junka and Hanakawa Kaori were practicing on their own. The countdown numbers for the music festival on the whiteboard had been changed to [2] the night before. The atmosphere was slightly tense amidst the dull thunder.

"Where is the cat house?" Uesugi Maya asked.

"The badminton club is short-handed today, so Haruna-nee went to help set up the gymnasium for the cultural festival."

Hearing Hanakawa Kaori say this, Uesugi Maya nodded indifferently, her gaze sweeping over Shiraishi Junka, then turning back to Takahashi Makoto and Kashima Reiko, before finally returning to Hanakawa Kaori.

"After rehearsal, go to her and get the band account back. From now on, you will be in charge of it, and you must have me review any information you post."

"Yes!" Hanakawa Kaori readily agreed, her crystal-clear purple eyes shining with surprise.

On the day her vanity flared up, she didn't bring up Makoto Takahashi, and Maya Uesugi agreed to go to Izu, though she lectured her for a long time.

In Hanakawa Kaori's eyes, Uesugi Maya's current image is much better than her mother's; she is a trustworthy older sister, only a bit strict and unapproachable.

After the morning rehearsal, Maya Uesugi announced that the afternoon was free for her to do as she pleased, explaining that the new song was flawless and she could relax a bit.

As usual, Makoto Takahashi went to the student council to have lunch with Yuki Tachimi. He stayed with her in the lounge for a short nap, and when he returned to the special building, it was still raining.

The corridor was dimly lit, and occasionally thunder rumbled, its sound echoing through the exterior walls, creating a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

As he stepped onto the fifth-floor corridor, he caught a glimpse of Kashima Reiko's profile. Seeing her push open the door and enter the clubroom, Takahashi Makoto felt a sense of foreboding. He quickened his pace to the door of the clubroom, pricked up his ears, and pressed his ear against the door to eavesdrop.

“I want to confirm the details of the music festival,” said Reiko Kashima.

“No.” Uesugi Maya refused.

"Especially regarding the parts you're directly responsible for: the reporting on the connection and debugging of the band's free equipment, the workflow coordination for technical rehearsals, and also remuneration and taxes—"

"I don't need to prove anything to you."

Maya Uesugi interrupted her, her voice suddenly turning icy: "I will handle everything and take responsibility for the band."

"I didn't mean anything by it, I just wanted to double-check all the procedures from the beginning," Kashima Reiko said calmly.

"unnecessary."

"I want to protect the band."

"I am the minister!" Uesugi Maya slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her icy aura suddenly exploding, even lowering the temperature in the corridor by several degrees.

Kashima Reiko is stubborn and won't give up easily, while Uesugi Maya has a troublesome personality that easily leads to conflict. Let's stop them from fighting before they start.

With these thoughts in mind, Makoto Takahashi pushed open the door to the office and quietly closed it behind him.

Outside the window, everything was a white blur. Under the silent lamplight, the noise of raindrops hitting the glass was particularly jarring, and the sticky, stagnant air made it hard to breathe.

The air conditioning was freezing cold. Kashima Reiko stood directly in the blast of air, staring intently at Uesugi Maya. Her usually well-behaved face remained expressionless, but she looked more serious than usual.

"Is there anything else?" Uesugi Maya sat back down and picked up her unsweetened cup of bitter coffee.

"The band isn't just yours alone."

"I am the most efficient person."

"How many more matters are you directly responsible for?"

Kashima Reiko frowned unconsciously, her usually calm voice becoming uncontrollably erratic, making the atmosphere even heavier. Uesugi Maya then turned her gaze to Takahashi Makoto.

"Take her away."

"Maya——"

Before Takahashi Makoto could speak, Uesugi Maya's expression changed drastically. She frowned and glared at him with a complicated look: "Then I'll withdraw? You can make her the club president."

"I don't want to seize power, please believe me."

Kashima Reiko turned to Takahashi Makoto, seeking his understanding and approval: "I don't support the band continuing to be dictatorial, and she's exhausted right now."

"I don't want to waste my time with you either."

Maya Uesugi turned to her with blatant disgust and said to Makoto Takahashi, "Who do you think I'm doing this for? Take her away."

Suddenly becoming the center of their combined pressure, Takahashi Makoto rubbed his temples, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

—There will be many more things like this in the future.

The clash of ideas sparked a lively discussion, and the tense atmosphere was tinged with the complex emotions that had accumulated among the three individuals...

A heavy burden fell on his shoulders, and he felt mentally exhausted. Makoto Takahashi's gaze shifted between the two of them. Maya Uesugi's face was gloomy, and Reiko Kashima's clenched fist trembled involuntarily.

They are both under a lot of pressure.

Chapter 118 Unwavering Belief

White, branching lightning flashed and disappeared in the leaden-gray clouds, followed by a long silence.

Under the cool white light, the unsweetened black coffee emitted wisps of steam, spreading its bitter aroma.

Apart from the sound of heavy raindrops hitting the glass and the three people breathing, there was no other sound in the Light Music Club office; the atmosphere was as heavy and oppressive as a blizzard.

Makoto Takahashi patted Reiko Kashima on the shoulder, gestured for her to sit down, and looked at Maya Uesugi.

She frowned unconsciously, crossed her arms, and tapped her forearm rhythmically with her fingers, looking like her patience was about to run out.

After Kashima Reiko sat down, her turquoise eyes remained fixed on Uesugi Maya. The scene looked like a game CG, exuding an aura of a protagonist facing off against a villain.

Two months ago, Makoto Takahashi would have wanted to see them fight, but now he hopes they can understand each other.

To propel the band toward their ideals, emotional involvement is necessary.

This is also to live up to Kashima Reiko's love, sacrifice, and help, as well as Uesugi Maya's efforts... Perhaps, this is the path to achieving one's ideals.

Makoto Takahashi walked up to Maya Uesugi, met her wary gaze, reached through her soft, long black hair, and pinched the back of her snow-white neck: "Maya, I should thank you."

"Let go." Uesugi Maya's face was so dark it was almost dripping with ink, and her usually indifferent tone was filled with a chilling coldness that seeped into her bones.

Takahashi Makoto persisted, smiling at her: "If you hadn't reminded me, I might have really overlooked Reiko's feelings."

As he spoke, he turned to Kashima Reiko with a look of affection.

"I've gotten used to their care that's integrated into everyday details. I guess not all drummers are like Lengzi, right? So I quite like it."

Upon hearing such a frank expression of affection, Kashima Reiko's expressionless face instantly flushed red. Her shyness drew her attention away from her composure, causing her confidence to wane rapidly.

Do you like it?

Her heart was pounding, but Kashima Reiko pretended to be calm, her loosened hands unconsciously rubbing the rough fabric of her jeans.

"I mean, romantic feelings of liking."

Makoto Takahashi spoke frankly, turning to Maya Uesugi with a serious look, gazing into her sharp caramel-colored eyes: "Reiko isn't good at expressing emotions, so can we judge by actions, not intentions?"

Hearing him say he liked it, Maya Uesugi's eyes flashed with intense jealousy: "She's just afraid the band will collapse because of my individualism, and she doesn't trust me."

The answer is no; it must be based on the heart.

"Actually, Maya isn't good at expressing emotions either, or rather, she doesn't understand them at all?"

Takahashi Makoto smiled as if he had expected this, and gently pinched the back of her neck: "Actually, Reiko told me before that she believes in your abilities."

It's not a lie; Kashima Reiko did indeed say something like, "[Uesugi Maya is a true genius]."

"And, how should I put it? Maybe I'm just being a bit presumptuous."

I've always thought that Lengzi's concern for you, his act of helping you buy coffee beans, these acts of sacrifice, were less about the band and more about his concern for me.

You must understand the principle of "love me, love my dog," right?

Ultimately, her desire to protect the band stemmed from her affection for me.

Makoto Takahashi's tone was smug, which made Maya Uesugi's expression even more terrifying.

She looked at Kashima Reiko with resentful eyes. The latter remained expressionless, but steam-like white mist was billowing from her head, indicating that her brain had clearly shut down.

Is this something I can talk about in front of everyone?

The maid falls for the young lady's boyfriend and even lets the young lady's nemesis get the information, leaving Kashima Reiko unable to think about the current situation.

After confirming that Takahashi Makoto's statement was correct, Uesugi Maya's mood plummeted.

Kashima Reiko looks dull and wooden, yet she managed to get ahead of Tachimi Yuki?

"It's not surprising that I like Reiko, is it?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"Get to the point, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Uesugi Maya slapped his hand away in annoyance and stomped on it hard: "Did I lose to her? Or is there no chance of winning anymore?"