They all have hidden attributes!

“What I mean is, you’ve also overlooked Reiko’s contributions to the band. Reiko is currently on vacation and shouldn’t need to take care of my life, but her actions have certainly made things easier for you,” Makoto Takahashi said.

Uesugi Maya couldn't deny that the rhythm of her tapping fingers on her arm had gone off, her aura was no longer calm, and her expression looked somewhat anxious.

As the rain outside the window subsided, Makoto Takahashi felt a bit parched and took a sip of his coffee.

It's so bitter, just like always, both sour and bitter.

The moment she put down the cup, Uesugi Maya lightly kicked him: "This is my cup."

"I know, and I also know I have a girlfriend."

Makoto Takahashi moved around behind Reiko Kashima, pulled out a chair, and sat down in his usual spot, directly opposite Maya Uesugi, crossing his hands in front of him.

"Maya, I actually admire you quite a bit, especially your diligence in self-reflection, but the direction you take is strange. You should understand now, right?"

True efficiency is not about dictatorship, but about enabling everyone to shine in their proper place.

"I'm not a burden to you."

Kashima Reiko snapped out of her daze, raised her face, and looked at Uesugi Maya with a calm gaze: "Can you trust me now?"

Makoto Takahashi turned his head to look at Reiko Kashima's profile. From this angle, her cute appearance, hidden by her short, distinctive hair, made her seem so innocent that one wanted to bully her.

"Maya has a very eccentric personality and would never admit it." He raised the corners of his mouth, and unsurprisingly, he was stomped on hard under the table again.

Maya Uesugi glared at Makoto Takahashi, then turned her face away, elegantly picked up her coffee, and swallowed a sip.

Tasting the sour and bitter liquid, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath to calm herself, and asked in a steady voice, "What do you want?"

Regardless, Maya Uesugi chose to respect Makoto Takahashi's opinion.

Even though the band has lost its meaning of "defeating the rival," she still believes that NiceFold will not be worthless as long as Makoto Takahashi is there.

"Maya, I should be the one asking you this question."

Makoto Takahashi adopted a serious expression, his gaze fixed on Maya Uesugi's slowly opening caramel-colored eyes: "You told me that the band is a group bound by fate, right? And back then, you were so righteous and stern."

Making the right choice is the only way to meet his expectations.

Uesugi Makoto relaxed, rested his elbows on the table, and pressed his thumbs against his temples as he fell into deep thought.

No, it's not just about meeting his expectations, learning teamwork, and trusting others; it's about the lessons that the Uesugi family lacked in their own lives.

Knowing that Takahashi Makoto was thinking of her, Uesugi Maya's mood gradually improved.

He had always wanted to tell himself through the band.

Seeing the value in others instead of proving one's own abilities and worth... this man isn't a completely useless lecherous scoundrel after all.

As Uesugi Maya thought to herself, a relaxed smile appeared on her lips.

A blood vessel-like white light shone outside the window, and in the distance, bolts of lightning struck the horizon straight down. Amidst the faint hum of the air conditioner, she asked softly:

Can I trust you?

"can."

After Kashima Reiko gave a brief reply, Uesugi Maya immediately looked up at Takahashi Makoto: "Your vice-captain appointment is revoked. Starting today, Kashima-senpai will serve as the vice-captain of the Light Music Club."

"There are no benefits anyway." Takahashi Makoto pursed his lips speechlessly.

Maya Uesugi looked away from his unhappy expression and met Reiko Kashima's clear blue eyes: "I will respect your opinion, but from now on you must communicate with me honestly."

"it is good."

Kashima Reiko agreed, then added, "Except for the young lady's matter."

"You really... no, it's nothing." Uesugi Maya swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue, gritting her teeth in resentment.

Kashima Reiko was actually quite aware of Takahashi Makoto's feelings for her.

—On a night in Kamakura, Kashima Reiko, not wanting to damage Takahashi Makoto's image in front of her, chose to resign rather than simply go through the motions.

Well, the current enemy is still Ryūki, everything will be resolved.

Maya Uesugi looked at Makoto Takahashi with a cold gaze, her voice carrying a hint of detachment: "You can leave now. We need to discuss tomorrow's to-do list."

"Me? Where to?" Makoto Takahashi pointed incredulously at his face.

"Pests go to the trash can, and so does scum. You have a girlfriend but you still like other women. It's unbelievable that you can say that so openly."

Maya Uesugi made a blatant expression of disgust, raised her face and shot a look of contempt at him, saying in a disdainful tone, "Don't take up my view here, I'm allergic to scumbags."

"Yes, yes." Takahashi Makoto raised his hands in surrender, got up and walked out of the office.

Why does Haki Night seem more aggressive?

She should be a house cat now.

As soon as I opened the door, I felt a slight bump on my back, and body heat came through the fabric. A pair of hands wrapped tightly around my waist.

"Can you go on a date with me after the music festival?"

Kashima Reiko's muffled voice sounded calm, yet it carried a pleading quality that made it hard to refuse.

"Heh, I don't recommend you agree," Uesugi Maya said with a cold laugh.

Makoto Takahashi turned around and looked at her. She was playing with the ends of her black hair, and her caramel-colored eyes were filled with a vast expanse of snow.

My feelings are a bit complicated.

Even knowing there would be many more chaotic situations in the future, he didn't expect that one wave would be followed by another. Kashima-senpai, couldn't you have waited until you walked out the door?

“It’s an unspoken rule, there’s nothing I can do about it,” Makoto Takahashi said.

Given Maya Uesugi's personality, she would never do something as dirty as engaging in unethical practices; otherwise, she would despise herself.

If she were to also sexually harass him, Makoto Takahashi wouldn't mind.

fair.

Hearing his agreement, Kashima Reiko released her hands, pushed Takahashi Makoto out of the office, and quietly closed the door.

"I won't keep your secrets."

Uesugi Maya's face hardened, and she stared at Kashima Reiko with an oppressive gaze. The latter remained unfazed by the threat, her expression calm.

"You won't betray me, I trust you."

"The Light Music Club prohibits members from engaging in any form of harassment or sexual harassment!"

"We can discuss it."

"Unhealthy relationships between men and women are prohibited!"

“The young lady is also a member of the light music club.” Kashima Reiko suddenly became eloquent.

On August 25, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Maya Uesugi, Reiko Kashima, and Makoto Takahashi, all preparations for the music festival were completed.

After today's rehearsal, Kashima Reiko insisted on confirming all the details of the music festival one last time. Uesugi Maya also had time tonight, so she didn't need to help prepare dinner.

Tonight, after a long time, we finally had dinner alone with Makoto Takahashi and Maya Uesugi.

They got off at Kikomojin Station, went to a supermarket together to buy groceries, and then walked back to their apartment in silence.

In the late August evening, the roads were still filled with thick moisture after the rain.

Orange light bathed the streets, and the setting sun was reflected in several puddles, shimmering and sparkling. All around was so quiet that only the chirping of cicadas could be heard.

Makoto Takahashi glanced to his side, while Maya Uesugi stared at the road ahead, her pink lips tightly closed, her caramel-colored eyes gleaming faintly.

"To be honest, I've always thought our band didn't have much of a rock and roll feel," he added.

"Hmm?" Uesugi Maya replied casually.

"For example, if Chunke's keyboard were replaced with a tomahawk keyboard, wouldn't it sound more like a rock band?"

"Ah."

"Also, I plan to give the audience the middle finger tomorrow."

"The songs we released this time belong to electronic pop, not rock."

Maya Uesugi frowned as if she had a headache, her voice tinged with a helpless sigh: "You can't even tell the difference between J-Rock and J-Pop?"

“I also write rock songs,” Makoto Takahashi said.

"whatever."

"How about you try smashing the guitar? Or burning it right here?"

"Shut up."

As they spoke, the two stepped onto the pedestrian overpass.

As the sun sets, the long, slanted shadow of the pedestrian overpass divides the road below into two areas of light and shadow. The sky remains a bright blue, its edges tinged with a deep purple.

Maya Uesugi glanced to her side, and a strong sense of loneliness suddenly welled up in her heart.

She stopped and stared at Makoto Takahashi's broad back as he carried shopping bags. The warmth of the setting sun lingered on his cheek, making her feel uneasy.

"Sincerity".

"what?"

Makoto Takahashi slowly turned around and met her gaze with gentle eyes: "What's wrong?"

Maya Uesugi involuntarily stared intently at his face, asking in a calm, gentle yet icy voice, "You and Kashima—"

She saw Takahashi Makoto's smile fade, his dark eyes filled with unwavering determination.

This man is utterly rotten.

Maya Uesugi suddenly regretted knowing his feelings too well.

Neither of them said anything; silence echoed around them like a tide. The pedestrian overpass shimmered in the afterglow, casting long, dark shadows of the two.

"Are you sure? Li Jian isn't a good person. And I've said it many times: ideals and reality are two different things."

Maya Uesugi raised her hand to tuck a strand of hair that was being blown by the wind, and said irritably, "You shouldn't be an idiot. There's already enough stupidity in this world; there's no need to add to it."

"..."

"Let me think about it and I'll give you an answer later."

"I didn't ask anything." Takahashi Makoto smiled at her sheepishly.

The Chiba Prefecture Music Festival opened on August 26.