They all have hidden attributes!

Even if she couldn't understand Takahashi Makoto's thoughts for a while, she wouldn't change her respectful stance, even if she was a little jealous.

A white sedan, drenched in fine rain, slowly pulled up in front of the [Baishi] art supply store.

Before the female driver could get out of the car and open her umbrella, Makoto Takahashi jumped out of the car, ran quickly into the store, selected his art supplies, paid, and then quickly returned to the car.

The light rain dampened my hair slightly, but thankfully it wasn't too cold in early autumn.

The vehicle restarted and drove along the main road toward the highway. To the soft strains of a piano, Maya Uesugi took a clean handkerchief out of her pocket.

"Wipe it off." She tossed it over dismissively.

"I thought you only had a compass, a craft knife, and disinfectant wipes in your skirt pocket."

When Makoto Takahashi received a girl's handkerchief for the first time, he blinked curiously. As he wiped the rain from his forehead, he smelled a warm scent.

“The variety of stupidity has increased again.” Uesugi Maya said dismissively, flipping through the hardcover book in her hand.

The Remains of the Day

She actually spent the whole day reading this book that sounded so boring just from the title. Takahashi Makoto was only thinking about the third volume of "Playful Relationships" which was going to be released tomorrow.

He handed the handkerchief back to Uesugi Maya and leaned closer to ask, "How's your book coming along?"

“I remember you said you had no interest in literature,” Uesugi Maya said coldly.

"It always makes me curious when someone I know is writing a book and it's selling very well, and now they're writing a new one."

Makoto Takahashi looked at her with a thoughtful expression and a clear yet foolish gaze: "Kirishima, what kind of place is it?"

Uesugi Maya understood what he meant; he was probably very interested in books related to her.

She glanced at Takahashi Makoto with a look of disdain and helplessness, and asked in a deliberately impatient tone, "Weren't you born in Kirishima?"

"I went to Yamanashi when I was very young."

I have some impression of it, but not much. Kirishima City is a poor, remote place with not many interesting places to visit.

What Makoto Takahashi was truly interested in was Kirishima, the character created by Maya Uesugi.

When Takahashi Makoto asked her question, Uesugi Maya raised her hand to push his head away, turned her head and revealed a mysterious smile: "When my new book is released, go buy it yourself, and I will sign it for you."

"To boost sales?" Takahashi Makoto asked unhappily.

As Uesugi Maya's closest person, he didn't have any special privileges and even had to pay for it himself?

"Yeah, just think of it that way." Uesugi Maya tossed her hair and touched her burning earlobe.

Who would tell the recipient the contents of a love letter before writing it?

Although it's strange to make the recipient pay for the love letter herself, at least this way she won't feel too ashamed.

“Tell me, and I guarantee you’ll win the Nobel Prize in Literature.”

Makoto Takahashi raised his wrist and glanced at the watch. It was past 5 p.m., and the car had only just entered the highway. There were still more than two hours to go before reaching Izu. He needed to find something to do.

"You promise to let me win the Nobel Prize in Literature?" Uesugi Maya looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Didn't President Amelia successfully win the Nobel Peace Prize? Even if it was a second-hand one." Makoto Takahashi was confident that she would win the brand-new Nobel Prize in Literature.

"No need, thank you."

Maya Uesugi's expression was so indifferent, as if she were rejecting a telemarketing call, that Makoto Takahashi shrugged helplessly: "Well, anyway, I'm a little bored right now."

What do you want?

"Tell me about literature? Don't be so boring."

Hearing this, Uesugi Maya pinched the bridge of her nose, her delicate face showing a troubled expression of being unable to refuse such affection. She sighed and said, "Are you interested in 'Crime and Punishment'?"

"Why did you think of this book?" Makoto Takahashi asked.

"The male protagonist is someone who, even when he is destitute, will take out his last living expenses to help impoverished families."

"That's so stupid."

"He killed two people, which led to internal strife. Before discussing the reasons for the killings, you need to understand the historical context..."

Maya Uesugi's explanation was easy to understand, and Makoto Takahashi listened with great interest, immersing himself in her clear and ingenious interpretation.

Before the story was finished, the vehicle had already arrived at the [Bamboo House] hot spring inn.

It wasn't raining in Izu. The tranquil night enveloped the mountains and forests, the shadows of the mountains stretching vaguely into the distance, and the dense foliage rustling in the chilly wind of the early autumn night.

Takahashi Makoto got out of the car, lifted the curtain, and walked into the hot spring inn with Uesugi Maya: "Shall we go for a soak in the hot spring later?"

The plot is currently at its most nerve-wracking point, and he wants to hear the whole story.

"Ha, scum."

Uesugi Maya followed him upstairs with a cold laugh, sarcastically saying, "Don't you remember you have a girlfriend now?"

“I will ask for Xing’s permission; she will definitely believe that you won’t do anything out of line.”

Makoto Takahashi paused for a moment, then continued, "Actually, I was also thinking of inviting you to stay with us tonight, or the four of us could stay together."

Only four people arrived in Izu today: Hanakawa Kaori, Shiraishi Junka, and Uesugi Maya. Tomorrow, Tachimi Yuki will arrive with Kashima Reiko.

Makoto Takahashi invited Maya Uesugi to join him, not only to listen to her stories, but also because he wanted to be wary of Junka Shiraishi, the young lady who was the most dangerous person.

In contrast, Haki Night has absolutely no offensive capabilities.

"You're not a retro person, are you?" Makoto Takahashi suddenly turned around and asked.

The "retro style" refers to soaking in hot springs openly without wearing a swimsuit or a towel.

"Hey, perverted dog."

Maya Uesugi narrowed her eyes slightly, shooting a sharp, disdainful look at him, and said coldly, "I brought my swimsuit."

"Thank goodness she agreed," Takahashi Makoto breathed a sigh of relief and asked her, "Would you like to live together?"

"Don't think about it."

"pity."

"A terrible man."

Amidst Maya Uesugi's disdainful remarks, the receptionist at the hot spring inn led the two to their room.

The two rooms were next to each other, and the soundproofing in these old-style hot spring inns wasn't very good, so you could clearly hear the sounds of people running around next door.

After confirming the room, the two went downstairs to have dinner.

Inside the Japanese-style house, which is located in the center of the courtyard under a tall maple tree, Shiraishi Junka and Hanakawa Kaori have been waiting for the two of them for a while.

The wooden cabinets placed against the wall are filled with drinks and alcoholic beverages, ranging from carbonated sodas to expensive sake.

The main course for dinner was salmon, also known as "phantom salmon," which is only found in one or two out of every ten thousand salmon. It costs dozens of times more than regular salmon, about 80,000 yen per kilogram.

Although Makoto Takahashi was not short of money, he rarely enjoyed such a luxurious lifestyle. The Hanakawa family's hospitality was simply too warm.

As I sat down at the table, Hanakawa Kaori, sitting opposite me, eagerly handed me a cup of warm sake: "Brother, this is super high-class."

"Makoto, would you like to go to the hot springs together later?"

Shiraishi Junka's wine-red eyes glistened with moisture, and her soft, mature voice was alluring: "I'm a retro type."

Makoto Takahashi had anticipated this, and immediately came up with his prepared excuse: "I'm planning to go for a soak with Maya, how about we all go together?"

Shiraishi Junka glanced up at Uesugi Maya, biting her lower lip with a dejected expression, her alluring face filled with resentment and regret.

Because of her first experience visiting the Light Music Club office, she has always been afraid of Uesugi Maya.

Hanakawa Kaori, not wanting to get involved between Takahashi Makoto and Uesugi Maya, subtly tugged at Shiraishi Junka, changing the subject:

"Sister Chunke, let's go soak in the skin-nourishing hot spring. This is the most famous hot spring in my family. It's super good for the skin. Legend has it that after soaking in it, your skin will be as smooth as silk."

Shiraishi Junka nodded and absentmindedly ate her dinner.

"I have lots of board games, let's play together tonight."

Hanakawa Kaori's youthful face was adorned with a bright smile. Uesugi Maya glanced at her and said coldly, "Rehearsals begin tonight. We can think about having fun after the performance tomorrow afternoon."

“Yes—” Hanakawa Kaori answered, pouting.

After dinner, Makoto Takahashi walked into the open-air hot spring with peace of mind.

After taking off my clothes in the Japanese-style dressing room, I took a quick shower, wrapped a towel around my waist, and stepped into the bath.

This is a private hot spring surrounded by rough wooden fences and large rocks. The nights in the mountains are very quiet, and after having the place to yourself, all you can hear is the sound of the autumn wind.

Two or three beech leaves twirled in the rising steam before gently landing on the water's surface.

Makoto Takahashi immersed himself in the pool, leaning against the edge of the rock, tilting his back to relax and enjoy the warm spring water.

A few minutes later, Maya Uesugi walked in. She was wearing a moon-white two-piece swimsuit with a bow tied at the waist. Her long black hair was styled into a bun and tied up with a towel, a standard hot spring outfit.

The swimsuit barely covered her beautiful breasts and pert buttocks. Her pale skin looked like a piece of cold jade in the misty air. Her waist was slender, her shoulders were smooth, her legs were thin and firm, and even her flat stomach was captivating.

Her slender figure is both cute and sexy, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Are we really going to rehearse later?" Takahashi asked.

"Aren't you going on a date tomorrow morning? Hurry up."

Maya Uesugi lightly touched the water's surface with her toes and slowly stepped into the hot spring. Through the mist, she glanced at his clearly defined muscle lines, and her ears began to burn with embarrassment.

She looked away and sat down opposite Makoto Takahashi, leaning against the rock, a slightly relaxed expression on her face: "The performance is tomorrow afternoon."

"I want to stay and play for a couple more days. The cultural festival in Tsurumizawa is too boring." Makoto Takahashi lazily tilted his head back.

Because it's an open-air hot spring, you can see the night sky just by looking up. There's no light pollution like in Tokyo in the mountains, and the sky is full of stars.

After a while, he continued, "I need to stay and gather more material. You guys go back to Tokyo first, and let Reiko stay with me."

Kashima Reiko likes to slack off; if you don't take the initiative, she will just wait passively.

"Tsk." Maya Uesugi clicked her tongue disdainfully.

"How about we stay together tonight? I'm worried you'll be too lonely by yourself."

"dross."

Seeing her disdainful look, Takahashi Makoto smiled. Insults don't necessarily mean rejection; she might just be being stubborn.

"Where were we on the road? 'Crime and Punishment'?" he asked, changing the subject.

“The petty and selfish civil official decided to take revenge and devised a foolish plan.”