They all have hidden attributes!

As if not wanting to disrupt the relaxed atmosphere, Tachibana Yuki looked around the coffee shop. The slanting sunlight fell on her pure profile, making one's heart flutter.

Makoto Takahashi cleared his throat heavily, indicating that he did not want to continue running away.

"Xing, do you think I cheated on you?"

"Hmm~ I don't really want to talk about topics that give me a headache right now."

Tachibana Yuki looked troubled, then immediately put on a gentle smile and asked him, "Why did you choose this shop, Makoto-kun?"

"The chocolate is very good. I bought all the chocolates I brought you these past few days from here."

"I see. It seems that Makoto is indeed seriously dating you. As for Jiyugaoka—"

She was halfway through her sentence when she noticed that Takahashi Makoto was still staring at her with a cold gaze. She sighed helplessly, "This won't do, Makoto-kun. You need to be careful with your approach."

"Method?" Takahashi Makoto looked puzzled.

"Even in a confession session with a married person, they won't say it directly."

Tachibana crossed her legs, narrowed her eyes, and adopted a serious tone: "Besides, I've already said it before, there's no option to break up."

"How early was that?"

"It's good that Chengjun doesn't deny saying it."

Seeing her cold expression, Takahashi Makoto rubbed his temples with a headache: "That's going to be troublesome."

"Yes, so let's leave this topic at that, since the sunset was beautiful tonight."

"Alright, Lengzi should be home by now."

Makoto Takahashi raised his wrist, glanced at the time, picked up his warm black tea and drank it all in one gulp. He stood up and said, "Let's go, we should celebrate my birthday first."

"Does Cheng-kun want to know what gift I've prepared?"

Tachikawa picked up the bag on the table and naturally took his arm: "It's underwear and socks, a whole box of them, all her favorite brands and colors."

"Is there any symbolic meaning?" Makoto Takahashi asked.

"No, actually, Ryoko has a bit of a hoarding habit, but she organizes things so well that no one notices."

"You really know her well."

"Of course."

The two walked out of the coffee shop together and strolled along a quiet road in the residential area toward the Kashima house. The wind, carrying the sound of rustling leaves, blew against their faces and ruffled Tachimi Yuki's golden hair.

The atmosphere unconsciously became somber.

Unable to understand her feelings, Makoto Takahashi silently walked to the gate of the Kashima family's house and rang the doorbell.

Kashima Reiko stepped out from behind the open front door, opened the courtyard gate, and welcomed them in her usual calm tone: "Please come in, dinner is ready."

"Sorry to bother you," Takahashi Makoto said.

"Do you like the gift?" Tachimi asked with a smile.

"Mm." Kashima Reiko nodded gently and led the two into the house. Two pairs of slippers were already placed in the entryway.

Suitable for all seasons, these couple's rush slippers come in black and white.

“I thought about it, but in the end I didn’t buy the disposable ones,” she explained awkwardly.

"Alright, Lengzi, it's your birthday today."

Tachikawa Yuki let go of Takahashi Makoto's hand, took off his shoes, put on slippers, and led Kashima Reiko by the hand through the corridor: "Makoto-kun prepared a gift for you. Even I'm looking forward to it."

Makoto Takahashi followed the two to the Japanese-style room, which was perfect for appreciating flowers. Apart from the closed paper sliding door leading to the courtyard, it was unchanged from his last visit, still spacious and clean.

To be honest, the low wooden table that was originally placed in the center of the room was replaced with a larger table. In addition to the sumptuous and exquisite dinner dishes, sake was also warmed, and a beautifully designed double-layered cream cake was placed in the center of the table.

Two cushions were placed side by side on one side of the low wooden table. Kashima Reiko originally thought that Tachimi Yuki and Takahashi Makoto would sit together, but Tachimi Yuki pulled her to sit down and let Takahashi Makoto sit directly opposite the two of them.

It had the air of a joint trial.

After a moment's thought, Makoto Takahashi carried the cushion to the side where he was positioned in a "V" shape with Reiko Kashima and presented the gift: "This is a drawing I made."

"Chengjun's painting is very suitable in terms of both sentiment and value."

Yukimi Kashima Reiko took the painting, tore open the parchment, and leaned over to look at it with interest, her face suddenly darkening.

"Thank you, I like it very much."

Kashima Reiko got up, moved the painting to the wall, then returned to its original position, looking up at her: "I won't sell it."

"I'm glad you like it." Makoto Takahashi nodded gently.

"Chengjun, must you be in such a hurry?"

Yuki Tachibana sighed, raised his hand to brush his hair from his forehead, his cold eyes filled with dissatisfaction: "How about you consider Reiko's feelings a little? This is her once-a-year birthday, you know."

She understood art, knew Kashima Reiko's personality, and was aware of Takahashi Makoto's inner thoughts, so she forcibly suppressed her terrible mood.

Even if Makoto Takahashi doesn't want to run away or accept the solution he proposed, it's still Kashima Reiko's birthday, after all.

Yuki Tachibana desperately wanted to celebrate her birthday, struggling to control her emotions as she was on the verge of collapse under the pursuit.

"I don't want you to go to bed with a bad mood, otherwise it won't be a pleasant meal."

Makoto Takahashi paused briefly, looked directly into her eyes, and showed no intention of avoiding her gaze: "This is also to allow Reiko to spend her birthday in peace. She's been living in fear lately."

Upon hearing this, Tachibana Yuki suddenly exuded a suffocatingly dangerous aura, slowing his speech and asking the two of them, word by word:

"That's enough, am I a bad person?"

The unexpected question struck like a blow to the heart, plunging Makoto Takahashi and Reiko Kashima into silence.

Chapter 125 Reaching the Depths

Makoto Takahashi would rather Tatsumi hysterically berate him or overturn dinner in a fit of anger than endure such a long silence.

She sat calmly on the cushion, her back straight, and poured hot water into the teapot without expression.

The sound of the tea boiling grew louder and louder, filling the air with its aroma. It was clear that Xing showed no signs of anger, his mood only growing inward.

Kashima Reiko stared at the apple-braised chicken cutlet on the table, unable to utter a word, her eyes lifeless.

She wanted to reach out and grab the two people beside her, to let Makoto Takahashi and Yuki Tachimi stay by each other's side, but she knew in her heart that she was actually very happy, so happy that her whole body was trembling slightly.

— Takahashi Makoto's tough stance towards Tatami Yuki made Kashima Reiko feel that her feelings had been acknowledged.

Makoto Takahashi stared at the two silent figures and suddenly realized that he had never had a choice from the very beginning.

As long as you feel attracted to someone, as long as you persist in pursuing your ideals, and as long as you treat them with sincerity, you will be unable to let go of anyone.

He murmured to himself that there would be many more such incidents in the future, a thought welling up in his mind: to do everything in his power to give everyone a happy ending.

I don't want anyone to get hurt, so I have to give unconditionally.

Do you know why I've tolerated this until now?

Yuki's sweet voice sounded particularly loud.

She picked up the teacup, the gentle steam moistening her eyelashes, and brought it to her lips, but then felt the teacup was unusually heavy, so she had to put it back on the table and pick up her chopsticks.

The icy voice exuded immense pressure. Kashima Reiko pursed her lips, desperately trying to find the right words, but she didn't know what she could do.

“Reiko did not betray you,” Takahashi Makoto said.

"That's enough, Chengjun. I know you don't love me."

Yuki Tachibana let out a heavy sigh, sounding as if she were mocking herself: "Tell me your reasons for being so tough; simply not having cheated isn't enough."

She believed that if Takahashi Makoto dared to pursue her relentlessly, he must have the best solution and a reason that she could accept; otherwise, continuing to run away would be the best way for Kashima Reiko.

Tachibana Yuki knew perfectly well that she was no match for [intense attraction], and that person was definitely not Kashima Reiko.

A jar of water, a rose—that oil painting doesn't convey turbulent emotions, only a quiet warmth.

After Kashima Reiko frankly explained that she and Uesugi Maya had become friends, Tachimi Yuki also wanted to give her his trust, but one imaginary enemy was far from enough; Tachimi Yuki needed a sufficient reason.

"In any case, Chengjun, I will not refuse your request."

Tachibana Yuki stared straight at him, her cold tone like a drawn blade: "This is the promise I made to you, but can your tough stance really justify your request for me to tolerate her?"

Makoto Takahashi gazed into her deep blue eyes, and after a few seconds of eye contact that felt like an eternity, he was almost overwhelmed by the surging love in him, and became somewhat dazed.

"You can't come up with any legitimate reason, and I'd rather you hurt my feelings."

Suddenly feeling a surge of anger, Tachibana Yuki slammed her chopsticks on the table: "You always think of others, of me and Reiko, but what about yourself? Don't you think I care?"

Lost in the chaotic emotions that came his way, Makoto Takahashi rubbed his temples in exasperation, but his stiff body gradually relaxed, and he felt a sense of security as if he were standing firmly on the ground.

The young lady has already given enough reminders.

He picked up his teacup, swallowed a mouthful, and mustered his courage: "I don't want to choose."

After a brief pause, he continued, "It's not because of greed, but because I genuinely don't want to deny anyone's feelings."

Simple words that touched the very core of Tachimi Yuki and Kashima Reiko's hearts.

"As for the reason for pressing you today, there is no particular reason. I just forced myself to face it before things really got out of hand."

After he finished speaking, there was a full minute of silence in the room.

Not wanting to choose is an overly simplistic attitude.

There are many ways to interpret this statement, but in terms of the relationship between the three of them, there is no choice at all.

Kashima Reiko's loyalty to Tatsumi Yuki and her mutual affection with Takahashi Makoto are both compelling. Tatsumi Yuki will not give up her hard-won girlfriend status, and Takahashi Makoto does not want to deny their feelings for each other.

"I knew you would say that."

Yuki's innocent face instantly darkened, and she asserted, pressing, "On what grounds? Makoto-kun. How am I to define myself, how am I to accept you, and how are you to allocate resources? And—"

At this moment, Kashima Reiko finally gathered her words and interrupted her momentum, her voice trembling:

"I don't ask for equality, I just want to be recognized."

"Reiko!" Tachikami glared at her angrily.

It wasn't because Kashima Reiko favored Takahashi Makoto's position, but because the other party chose to back down.

Yuki Tachimi knew in her heart that she lacked competitiveness and could not force Makoto Takahashi to make a choice, but even if she chose to tolerate it tonight, it should not be Reiko Kashima who made the sacrifice.

"I don't want to struggle anymore, I just want to be seen."