They all have hidden attributes!

He was certain he had no memory of cutting the cake. He got up, left his bedroom, and went downstairs. Tachimi Yuki and Kashima Reiko were already sitting at the dining table.

Breakfast was the same as last time I stayed overnight: bread slices, jam, and milk.

"Did no one eat the cake from last night?" Makoto Takahashi walked towards the bathroom, intending to wash up first.

“Ryoko doesn’t like sweets,” Tachimi Yuki said.

"The jam must be sweet too, right?" Makoto Takahashi asked.

Jam is not considered a snack.

Kashima Reiko followed him into the bathroom, turned on the mirror of the sink, and saw that the storage space behind it was neatly stacked with new toothbrushes.

"There are way too many of these. He really does have a hoarding habit," Makoto Takahashi thought to himself.

However, she appears clean and tidy, is very good at organizing, and doesn't mind hoarding household items, which is actually quite endearing.

"Then why choose Liberty Hill?" He squeezed toothpaste onto his toothbrush.

When it comes to Jiyugaoka, the most common places to visit are cake shops and coffee shops.

"Suitable."

Kashima Reiko took out a prepared towel, hung it beside her, and said in a completely emotionless tone, "Miss and I have to go to work. We'll have time to help you plan your apartment after the cultural festival."

“Okay, don’t worry about me.” Takahashi Makoto nodded nonchalantly.

Last night, Hina Nekoya was going to thank Maya Uesugi for tutoring at her apartment, which would definitely make a mess. Given Maya Uesugi's personality, she would definitely force Hina Nekoya to clean up before leaving.

"Remember to come and meet the family tomorrow night."

Kashima Reiko took a key out of her jeans pocket, placed it on the edge of the sink, and turned and walked out of the bathroom briskly: "I'll tell you when I'm on vacation, don't forget the international multi-sport competition, the free theme."

Before Makoto Takahashi had finished washing up, Yuki Tachimi and Reiko Kashima left the house together. He put away his keys, locked the door, and took a taxi back to his apartment in Toshima Ward.

Even after he unlocked the door and returned home, he still felt a sense of unreality.

—Since both Tachimi Yuki and Kashima Reiko's attitudes were too ambiguous and they didn't express themselves clearly or directly, he was too embarrassed to ask.

Stepping into the entryway and turning on the lights, the messy living room is filled with a faint smell of beer.

Beer cans were piled up haphazardly on the coffee table, and Nekoya Hina and Hanakawa Kaori were still in bed.

The former was lying on her side on the sofa, hugging a blanket, with the edge of her white underwear showing through her wrinkled sweatpants, and her fair, long legs were eye-catching; the latter was curled up on the sofa, with her neck and below buried in the blanket, only her cute head showing.

Makoto Takahashi tiptoed through the living room, entered the studio, activated the system, and selected [Assessment].

He cut out the canvas, fixed it to the drawing board, and mixed the paints before quietly contemplating how to depict his feelings from the previous night.

The cicadas have already stopped chirping; summer has passed, and autumn will arrive in due time.

Life may have many summers. This past summer may not have been the most intense or the grandest, but it was both short and long, enough to be remembered for a lifetime.

With that in mind, Makoto Takahashi steadily picked up his paintbrush and began to depict the clear skies of Kamakura, Chiba, and Tokyo on the pristine white canvas.

......

After finishing "Summer", the sky outside the window was once again tinged with twilight.

Makoto Takahashi put down his paintbrush, turned around to look at Hanakawa Kaori, who had been quietly watching him paint, and asked in a puzzled tone, "Don't you guys find it boring?"

He could hear the sounds from the living room. After being dragged by Uesugi Maya to clean, Nekoya Hina went back to Tsurumizawa to participate in badminton club training, while Hanakawa Kaori stayed behind.

"No, I love watching Chun Ke draw."

Hanakawa Kaori shook her head, blinked, and said, "Besides, Uesugi-nee's cooking is super delicious, so I'll just stay and mooch a meal."

"I happen to be a little hungry."

Makoto Takahashi stood up and stretched his stiff body, suddenly realizing that he seemed to have gained another reason to become stronger.

As expected, for now, it's best to maintain a negative attitude towards Shiraishi Junka.

Because Tachimi Yuki said that, he had to be even more cautious.

Chapter 126 The Feeling of Love

As dusk falls, the city's hustle and bustle is gradually swallowed up by the twilight.

The silhouettes of the skyscrapers appeared exceptionally soft in the setting sun, and the dim streetlights along the long street lit up one by one from east to west, casting the shadows of pedestrians.

On the Uesugi family's balcony, Makoto Takahashi sat down in his camping chair, listening to the noise of cars passing by below, and lazily leaned back.

Uesugi Maya was cooking in the kitchen when Hanakawa Kaori brought a chair from the dining room and placed it beside him.

As soon as she sat down, Hanakawa Kaori raised her hand to cover her mouth and yawned softly.

"Did you stay up late again last night?" Takahashi Makoto turned to look at her.

Her youthful face was adorable.

The cool autumn breeze tousled her long, black hair, the purple highlights standing out against the setting sun. A few strands clung to her slightly parted pink lips, and her crystal-clear purple eyes held a sleepy look.

He couldn't resist reaching out and pinching Hanakawa Kaori's small nose.

"You stayed out very late last night?"

No, um.

She puffed out her cheeks like a pufferfish, her eyes darting away guiltily: "At last night's thank-you party, only Hina-nee drank beer. After Uesugi-nee went home early, I went to sleep."

"I won't yell at you."

Makoto Takahashi released her hand and gently poked her cheek with his finger: "What shameful thing did you do?"

Hanakawa Kaori's thoughts are written all over her face; even if she has bad intentions, she can't fool anyone.

"No, not at all," she said in a coquettish tone.

Makoto Takahashi looked away and didn't ask any further questions.

He's not an overly controlling parent, so it's normal for Hanakawa Kaori to have some little secrets. There's no need to pry or keep pressing him.

After a while, Hanakawa Kaori got up from her chair, put her hands behind her back, and walked up to him.

"Um, brother, could I borrow a few books?" Her voice was tinged with shyness.

Takahashi Makoto was about to agree immediately, but he had a bad feeling.

"What book?" he asked cautiously.

"Light novels".

"I only have light novels at home. Tell me the names."

Is "The Power of Art" also a light novel?

Hanakawa Kaori turned around and looked at him with a surprised expression. Takahashi Makoto's lips twitched slightly, and he was speechless for a moment.

Why do you know more about my family's books than I do?

"Did you stay up all night exploring my house?"

Makoto Takahashi rubbed his temples, looking up at her with a helpless expression: "If I remember correctly, that copy of 'The Power of Art' should be in my bedroom."

In addition, the bedroom also contains titles such as "The Saintess of ■■■■■", "Love Special Attack Drug! The Reason for the High-Class Flower and Childhood Friend ■■", and "I, the Perfect Young Lady, Will Never Kneel ■■■■"...

"I'm sorry, I was wrong!"

Hanakawa Kaori immediately clasped her hands together, put on a pitiful expression, and leaned closer:

"I didn't want to at first, but Junko asked me to sneak in. As a result, my brother's clothes were all taken by Uesugi-nee, so I just picked up a couple of light novels to read."

What about Shiraishi Junka? Takahashi Makoto was speechless.

"Brother~ can I borrow it~"

Hanakawa Kaori circled behind him and eagerly massaged his shoulders: "I want the 'Living together, it's only natural to do that kind of thing with ■■' series."

Makoto Takahashi opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

This set of books was a gift from Kashima Reiko. The two had only known each other for a short time at the time, and if I remember correctly, it was a set of works featuring a younger sister.

He looked up at Hanakawa Kaori with a scrutinizing gaze, and the atmosphere suddenly became somewhat strange.

Am I overthinking things?

No, this is just too strange, isn't it?

“No, that set of books was a gift from Reiko, and it has great sentimental value,” Takahashi Makoto firmly refused.

"Waaah, I want to cry. It's my favorite older brother..." Hanakawa Kaori pouted, and two tears welled up in her eyes and slid down her cheeks.

Fake crying is an essential skill for modern girls, and it's extremely effective at winning hearts.

"I'll buy you a set."

Seeing Takahashi Makoto raise his hands in surrender, she wiped away her tears, revealed a bright smile, and a dark light flickered deep in her eyes: "Then I'll trouble you to take me back to the academy later, brother."

Is this what they call a "little sister"—a troublesome creature?

Thinking to himself, Makoto Takahashi changed the subject and started talking to her about the academy.

"How's it like being in Tsurumizawa?"

"Hmm~ how should I put it?"

Hanakawa Kaori continued to massage his shoulders attentively, then after a moment of contemplation, she confessed, "Compared to before summer vacation, it feels like everyone is trying to please me now? It can't just be because of my brother, right?"

"What other reasons are there? Tell me." Takahashi Makoto paused for a moment, then asked with interest.

“I’m not talking about the band. It seems that it’s because I went to see Sister Xing, and after that, some people started to linger around me.”

A mischievous smile appeared on Hanakawa Kaori's youthful face, her hair fluttering in the breeze.

"That's just how society is in Japan. Even in elite academies, families are stratified. Not everyone goes to school with the goal of learning. The social circles are also very attractive."

She's much smarter than Makoto Takahashi imagined, so she probably won't be deceived in matters of the heart at the academy.

"Don't worry, brother, I understand. I will take good care of Hina-nee."

Hearing Hanakawa Kaori's confident tone, Takahashi Makoto chuckled to himself. In the dim light reflected from the curtain wall of the skyscrapers in front of him, the system panel popped up.

You deeply understand that she enjoys taking care of others, values ​​harmony, is good at maintaining close relationships, and likes to provide comprehensive support to her true friends.

[Reward Obtained: Lv.3 Weather Manipulation]