They all have hidden attributes!

In his view, Nekoya Hina stood up straight, a bright smile on her handsome face: "Kashima-senpai told me that she will guide me, and in exchange, Makoto will help her friend train in archery."

“After all, we are friends, and I don’t want you to stay depressed.”

Makoto Takahashi's expression and eyes remained as cold as ever, which made Hina Nekoya pout in dissatisfaction. She then reached out and hooked her arm around his neck, leaning her head closer.

"Ah Cheng is clearly the worst at dealing with strange women, um... it makes me not know what to say."

"Don't worry about it." He turned his head away, not wanting to smell the sweat, even though he didn't smell any unpleasant odor.

Hina Nekoya keenly noticed the subtle movement and widened her eyes, asking, "Hey, Makoto, you're not disgusted by me during such a touching moment, are you?"

"..."

"Damn it, I was just about to say that I would appoint you as my lifelong best friend."

"Many people are watching."

Makoto Takahashi wasn't used to putting his arm around her in public, but luckily Kashima-senpai crawled under the net and came over. Hina Nekoya immediately stopped being playful and put on a serious expression.

Kashima Reiko stopped in front of the two, exchanged a glance with Takahashi Makoto, and said to Nekoya Hina:

"Your judgment is poor, your playing style is immature, and you only attack and don't defend. I will develop a training plan."

Her tone was flat and emotionless, like a machine reciting a data analysis report.

"Thank you for your guidance, senior."

After Nekoya Hina thanked her, Kashima Reiko secretly glanced at Takahashi Makoto, and after a moment of silence, suddenly said to Nekoya Hina, "I envy you."

Makoto Takahashi was still wondering why she looked at him twice when he heard this and suddenly paused, turning his head to exchange glances with Hina Nekoya, only to see that her brown eyes were also filled with confusion.

What's there to envy?

Is it really a case of unrequited love?

A system panel suddenly popped up in front of me.

[You realize that she may appear calm and collected, but she is actually very emotional.]

[Rewards: Perception +30, Constitution +10]

[A Myriad of Thoughts: There's a small chance to trigger Friendship Training while playing, granting a slight boost to all attributes]

Did I realize it? Makoto Takahashi still couldn't believe that Kashima-senpai had a crush on him.

She must have meant something; mere unrequited love isn't enough to describe it as a complex mix of emotions.

Kashima Reiko offered no explanation, turned and left, leaving him and Nekoya Hina staring at each other, at a loss for what to do.

“I hate riddle tellers,” Makoto Takahashi said.

"Kashima-senpai has always been a man of few words."

Hina Nekoya withdrew her hand from his shoulder, scratched the back of her head, and gave him a bright smile: "Cheng, I still really love playing badminton. I will train hard and redeem myself next year."

"Okay, good luck." Takahashi Makoto nodded indifferently.

"Acheng, this is not a good thing to do."

She narrowed her eyes slightly, feigning anger: "You should say something that fits the mood now; you might be able to take advantage of the situation."

"Stop messing around, I haven't suppressed myself to the point of harming my good brother."

Takahashi looked at the idiot with a disapproving gaze, then turned and walked to a corner of the gymnasium: "Since you want to continue playing badminton, then don't get involved in the band."

"Huh? Cheng, you don't think I'm in your way, do you?"

Makoto Takahashi didn't see the footsteps of Hina Nekoya chasing after him, but the way she looked at Maya Uesugi was a little strange.

"It shouldn't be. It shouldn't be."

"Why do you have to say it twice?!"

"Just kidding."

Amid the noisy atmosphere, the two returned to a corner of the gymnasium. After thanking Uesugi Maya, Nekoya Hina packed up her sports backpack.

The atmosphere between the two seemed to make Hell Girl feel a little uncomfortable.

She glanced coldly at Takahashi Makoto, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips, and said softly, "Congratulations, you've gained a sparkling friendship."

"I believe that everyone has light in their heart."

Makoto Takahashi spread his hands and shrugged to indicate that he hadn't done anything: "For the sake of the friend fee, if you're envious, I can also give you a sparkling friendship."

"Are you an idiot? Or mentally challenged? I've already said it, I just have no interest, not a lack of social skills." Uesugi Maya turned her face away, her caramel-colored eyes casting a disdainful glance.

Hearing her contemptuous words, Hina Nekoya, who was squatting on the ground organizing her backpack, had a fleeting flash of anger in her eyes.

Although he received some help from Uesugi Maya, he still couldn't stand her.

However, Ah Cheng wanted to be friends with her, so he couldn't hold it against her.

Thinking of this, Hina Nekoya stood up, picked up her sports backpack, and smiled brightly at Maya Uesugi, revealing her white teeth, saying, "Thank you again this time, Uesugi-san."

"No need. I didn't intend to help you; I was just offering advice while playing the role of his friend," Uesugi Maya replied coldly, showing no desire to get closer to Nekoya Hina.

This confirms Makoto Takahashi's idea that she is not only a loner, but has also been trying to maintain her solitary state.

“I think Makoto and Uesugi can become great friends, because you two are so alike,” Hina Nekoya said, looking back and forth between the two of them with a smile.

"Reason?" Uesugi Maya asked coldly, crossing her arms and moving away from Takahashi Makoto.

Takahashi Seiya cast a questioning glance at Nekoya Hina, who hesitated for a moment, scratching the back of her head before speaking:

"Because I feel that A-Cheng and Uesugi are a bit similar, neither of them can fit into their surroundings."

At this point, Hina Nekoya stretched out her hands and waved them, hurriedly explaining, "I didn't mean to say that you would ruin the atmosphere, I just felt that you all seemed out of place, like foggy weather."

"I understand what you mean."

Maya Uesugi habitually twirled the ends of her black hair with her fingers, calmly explaining her thoughts: "Your feeling is correct. Takahashi-san's emotional stability is precisely because she has a mysterious area in her heart that she will never show to others."

"Aren't you the same?" Takahashi Makoto suddenly realized why he always felt that the mysterious woman in front of him strongly aroused his curiosity and desire to explore.

So they're the same type of Stand?

Given that, wouldn't Uesugi Maya also feel a strong attraction to him?

He saw a playful glint in Maya Uesugi's caramel-colored eyes as they met, and then he heard her continue in a calm tone:

"This area may be worthless to others, or it may be extremely valuable. Before that, you should focus on the people who are truly open to you."

After saying that, Uesugi Maya gave Nekoya Hina a meaningful look, then walked away, leaving the two of them with a proud and aloof back view.

Makoto Takahashi watched her walk out of the gymnasium and said to Hina Nekoya beside him, "Let's go too."

"I really want to eat meat after exercising, let's go get some barbecue."

Nekoya Hina patted him on the shoulder, her generous tone sounding very magnanimous: "It's on me, to thank Makoto for everything he's done for me."

"Let's go to the kendo club to get the art supplies first." Makoto Takahashi nodded in agreement.

Nekoya Hina, who has rediscovered her love for badminton, was in a great mood. In the afternoon, she dragged Takahashi Makoto to the arcade for a long time, and in the evening, she treated everyone to an all-you-can-eat barbecue.

Seeing her cheerful smile, Makoto Takahashi was very pleased. [Play] also triggered Hina Nekoya's assistance card, granting him +8 Guts.

Back in his apartment that evening, he lay on the sofa with his laptop, watching videos edited by Maya Uesugi, and sending messages to Reiko Kashima during the session.

[Takahashi: Senior, I'd like to know more about the student council.]

After the message was marked as read, a full ten minutes passed before I received a reply.

[Reiko: Okay]

[Reiko: Come to the student council tomorrow]

[Takahashi: Okay]

After putting down his phone, he studied the videos and so-called "popular ways of speaking" until the early hours of the morning, and only put away his laptop after watching them all, which can be considered as not letting down Uesugi Maya's efforts.

The system refreshes after midnight, but Makoto Takahashi is used to waking up in the morning and then selecting today's projects.

Today was different. He set up the easel in the living room, and after calling up the system, he immediately loaded the newly acquired assistance card.

[Charm: Abyss Party Invitation - Immediate Fortune]

The stats on this assistance card are as captivating as the young lady's beauty; the attributes that help with the [assessment] are simply amazing.

The other two assistance card options don't matter which one you choose; the other three assistance cards don't help with the assessment and can't be triggered today.

After the assistance card was loaded, Makoto Takahashi sat in front of the drawing board and selected the [Assessment] option.

[Assessment Item: Xuanjian Newcomer Showcase]

[Trigger Assist Card: Abyss Party Invitation]

[Please select a specialized skill]

I decisively chose Lv.2 drawing, and my skills changed.

[Lv.2 Painting Specialization complete: Lv.3 Oil Painting, Continue?]

Makoto Takahashi blinked. So specialization means strengthening something in a specific direction?

The Lv.3 oil painting skill has obviously lost the ability to draw sketches or sketches that was present when the Lv.2 painting skill was present, but the proficiency has improved, and perhaps it can actually win an award.

then--

[Lv.3 Oil painting has been specialized; Lv.4 Impressionist oil painting, should we continue?]

[Lv.4 Impressionist oil painting has been specialized: Lv.5 The ultimate light and shadow and delicate colors of Impressionist oil painting]

[Unable to further specialize]

If it's just a new talent showcase, it should be enough to win an award, right?

Makoto Takahashi shut down the system, picked up his oil paintbrush, and steadily raised his hand, as if suddenly enlightened, feeling the painting skills and experience he possessed.

The theme is: Spring

......

June 28, Sunday, cloudy and rainy.

Because he stayed up late, Makoto Takahashi didn't get up until almost noon.

Before he even opened his eyes, he could already hear the soft sound of rain. He lay there for a while longer before sitting up and reaching for his phone to check his messages.