They all have hidden attributes!

"Yes."

Her voice was trembling.

Makoto Takahashi saw Uesugi Maya's expression turn gloomy in an instant, then immediately covered with a layer of coldness to conceal her thoughts.

The blue sky was crystal clear, and the Tokyo Skytree stood tall in the distance, with thick cumulonimbus clouds piling up behind it. The dazzling sunlight gently touched the two of them, and the cold atmosphere between them seemed to be slowly melting, but unfortunately, it could not penetrate the boundaries of Uesugi Maya.

"She's definitely a troublesome woman," Takahashi Makoto thought to himself.

Even so, he couldn't just abandon Maya Uesugi and let her run around alone.

Unlike Hina Nekoya after losing the match, she exuded an aura that showed no sign of confusion, only the irritation of enduring pain and disgust.

Since he accepted the 15 yen monthly "friendship fee," Makoto Takahashi at least wanted to do something that would put his mind at ease.

Without understanding Uesugi Maya's feelings or knowing her backstory, he didn't offer any words of comfort, but simply accompanied her on a aimless stroll.

Maya Uesugi has a strong ability to regulate herself. How could someone who can say "I don't depend on anyone" be fragile?

After walking for more than half an hour, the aura she exuded returned to that aloof and unapproachable feeling.

After calming down, Maya Uesugi remembered that she needed to buy lunch.

She glanced sideways at Takahashi Makoto, whose face was filled with boredom, and managed to squeeze out a sentence:

"You are smarter than most people in the world if you don't think you can read other people's minds."

"Hmm, I want to eat McDonald's."

Makoto Takahashi didn't pick up on that topic, instead saying what he was concerned about: "Buy one for Hina too. I made an appointment with Kashima-senpai for her. Shall we go watch the game together this afternoon?"

His attitude of simply keeping her company completely eased Maya Uesugi's still somewhat stiff expression. At this moment, any extra behavior would be seen by her as a foolish attempt to take advantage of her vulnerability.

After catching her breath, Maya Uesugi spoke again, her voice now stronger: "Okay."

Hearing her readily agree, Takahashi Makoto looked at her with a playful gaze, a smile playing on his lips: "I'm curious how you're going to eat at McDonald's."

You should know that Uesugi Maya doesn't even touch the seats on a train, let alone a fast food restaurant with extremely high foot traffic, especially since it's almost lunchtime.

"Heh." She sneered, offered no explanation, and strode toward the golden "M" sign on the street corner.

The answer is to take it to go and have lunch back in Tsurumizawa.

Upon stepping back into the courtyard, Maya Uesugi's high-ranking father, the flowers, and the smashed cake were all gone.

The two went to the badminton club's gymnasium and sat on the nearby steps to have lunch.

"I don't drink carbonated beverages."

Maya Uesugi placed the cola from the set meal next to Makoto Takahashi, walked down the steps to the bottom, and sat down, keeping a distance of one step between them. She then pressed her hands against the hem of her skirt.

"When you sit in someone else's chair, do you feel like your butt is pressed against theirs?" Makoto Takahashi asked curiously as he unwrapped his hamburger.

Clearly, he had forgotten Uesugi Maya's advice that "curiosity killed the cat."

What are you trying to say?

After receiving her cold response, Makoto Takahashi continued, "So, sitting on the steps, doesn't it feel like someone is kicking your butt?"

Uesugi Maya didn't answer, but just glared at him with annoyance before silently getting up to eat her lunch.

Until Nekoya Hina arrived, the cold beauty didn't say another word to Takahashi Makoto.

The morning was sunny, but after Nekoya Hina arrived at the academy and the three of them finished lunch, a sudden clap of thunder rang out, and the sky quickly darkened.

Makoto Takahashi watched helplessly as leaden-gray clouds pushed in from the direction of the Tokyo Skytree. The weather during the rainy season, like a woman, is as fickle as a leaf in the wind.

The girls from the badminton club, who were originally training on the playground, rushed into the gymnasium. Because they had informed Kashima Reiko in advance, Takahashi Makoto and his group followed them in.

A blinding flash of lightning ripped through the sky, and raindrops pelted down, striking the stadium roof and splashing water in beautiful parabolic arcs.

The bright lights inside the gymnasium contrasted sharply with the strong winds and heavy rain outside. Standing in a corner, Makoto Takahashi watched the girls from the badminton club who were making the most of their time to prepare for the national tournament. Suddenly, he felt a surge of excitement.

"Thigh stretch—"

The girls lying on the ground changed their positions, and his passion vanished.

Noticing his gaze, Uesugi Maya's eyes revealed a hint of disdain: "Men really do like unhealthy images, how boring."

"This distance is hardly a health issue."

Makoto Takahashi withdrew his gaze, glanced at Hina Nekoya who was also lying on the ground, stretching her legs, and then looked at Maya Uesugi who was hugging her arms.

Whether from a distance or from the front or the side, her beauty is breathtaking, especially her exquisite curves that are neither barren nor overly full.

When Uesugi Maya noticed that his gaze wasn't lingering on Nekoya Hina, she asked suspiciously, "Why aren't you looking at her?"

"I have absolutely no ulterior motives towards my good brothers," Makoto Takahashi said earnestly.

"—8, 9....cough cough."

Hearing this, Nekoya Hina, who was counting down the time, suddenly coughed, sat up, and glared at him with displeasure: "Sei, that's too much! I'm a girl too."

I wouldn't have any expectations if I saw you take your pants off.

After Takahashi Makoto said this listlessly, Nekoya Hina immediately stood up from the ground, stood in front of him, took off her sweatpants, revealing the athletic shorts underneath for easy movement.

"Okay, I'm ready!" She took her racket out of her sports backpack and swung it in the air.

"Kashima-senpai should be here soon."

As soon as Makoto Takahashi finished speaking, the gymnasium doors opened from the outside. He turned his head and saw Reiko Kashima and a tall woman entering one after the other.

"Who is that?" he asked Uesugi Maya.

"The badminton coach, Akane Shirakawa, was once a very high-ranking women's singles player in the world."

Judging from Uesugi Maya's nonchalant tone, it was clear that this was nothing surprising at Tsurumizawa, a former prestigious girls' school.

"Training is suspended. Please clear the field."

Following the coach's instructions, Nekoya Hina took her badminton racket and walked to the court, facing Kashima Reiko, who had just warmed up.

Makoto Takahashi didn't move, watching the arena from afar: "Speaking of which, why did you specifically name Kashima-senpai?"

“If it were someone else, she might win.” Uesugi Maya’s lips curled into a cruel smile.

Chapter 17 A Shining Friendship?

What's the point of playing a game you're destined to lose?

Makoto Takahashi did not receive a reply from Maya Uesugi, and Hina Nekoya did not know the reason either.

She knew very well that she was no match for Kashima Reiko, but her desire to win never died, and she had no time to think about unimportant things.

The screeching sound of my sneakers against the floor made my heart race, my breathing became uneven, and all I could see were my opponent and the flying shuttlecock.

Cornering, chasing, smashing – no matter how you attack, it's useless; you'll always get hit back.

Hina Nekoya glanced at the scoreboard on the side of the court: 18-0. This fleeting opportunity was seized by Reiko Kashima, who hit the shuttlecock into the corner.

She took two steps back, then jumped back to catch the ball, only to fall to the ground, her racket not even touching the ball.

"Within the zone, 19-0."

The coach's merciless voice rang in her ears, sweat dripped down, and Nekoya Hina stood up, looking at Kashima Reiko, who was playing with ease and expressionless on the other side of the net, and gripped her racket tightly.

In a corner of the gymnasium, Makoto Takahashi withdrew his gaze from her exhausted figure and looked sideways at Maya Uesugi, who stood beside him with her arms crossed.

"It seems like Kashima-senpai is ambidextrous?"

"That's right, she is dominant with both her left and right hands."

"That's talent."

Hearing his remark, Uesugi Maya frowned almost imperceptibly and asked in a cold voice, "Can you distinguish between talent and hard work?"

Honestly, no.

There is no clear boundary between talent and hard work.

Takahashi Seiichi was speechless for a moment, and Uesugi Maya, who was standing beside him, pressed her advantage.

"If you can't, don't say such irresponsible things, as it might hurt people who are both talented and hardworking."

"You actually realize that your words can hurt people?" He turned to look at Maya Uesugi with a surprised expression.

Is there a problem?

"So, you know that your statement of facts will hurt others?"

"of course."

She nodded slightly, her fingertips twirling a strand of long hair that fell over her shoulder, and said in a smug tone, "I anticipated the possible conflict and can ensure that I can get out unscathed."

"Her personality sounds terrible," Takahashi Makoto's lips twitched slightly, unsure how to comment on her behavior.

"Thank you anyway."

He took a deep breath and sincerely thanked Uesugi Maya: "If you hadn't reminded me, I might have really helped Hina keep running away."

"You just need to study bass seriously to repay me." There was a clear sense of distance in her words.

Makoto Takahashi suddenly realized that perhaps Maya Uesugi's way of doing things was to keep her distance from everyone and deliberately keep herself alone.

That's why they hurt others with words, refuse any kindness, and use "friendship fees" to maintain relationships.

A lone wolf.

"Out of bounds, 21-0, End."

Upon hearing the coach announce the result, Makoto Takahashi glanced at Maya Uesugi, who was still motionless, then bent down to take out electrolyte water from Hina Nekoya's sports backpack and strode towards the court.

Hina Nekoya's last shot hit out of bounds on the opponent's court, resulting in a point for Nekoya. At this moment, she is leaning over, panting heavily, with her hands on her knees.

A few strands of chestnut hair clung to her face, sweat trickled down her cheeks and dripped to the ground, yet a contented smile graced her lips.

When the first match ended 21-0 and Hina Nekoya insisted on playing the second match, Makoto Takahashi knew that Maya Uesugi hadn't lied to him; it was indeed the right choice.

"Give."

He handed the electrolyte water to Nekoya Hina, then looked up at the other side of the net. Kashima Reiko looked incredibly relaxed, with only a few beads of sweat on her forehead.

"Acheng, thank you."

Hearing the uneven breathing, Makoto Takahashi looked away and turned to his side.