They all have hidden attributes!

"For Lengzi, this is just the beginning, isn't it?"

Makoto Takahashi held her hand tightly, his body heat transferring to her. Reiko Kashima rubbed her cheek with her other hand, keeping her expression calm.

She turned her head, and her bright eyes betrayed her feelings.

Will you always see and understand me?

“Of course.” Makoto Takahashi hugged her tightly, asserting with certainty.

"Don't forget to change the meeting time," Kashima Reiko reminded him.

"I'm telling you now, it seems that Hina and Hanaori stayed overnight again last night."

As Makoto Takahashi took out his phone and sent a message to Maya Uesugi, he prayed, "I hope they can get along well."

A dozen minutes later, the vehicle drove into the underground parking lot of a shopping mall.

The two strolled leisurely on the marble floor. Due to the bad weather on the weekend, the indoor shopping mall was crowded. Takahashi Makoto held Kashima Reiko's hand to prevent them from getting separated, which unexpectedly attracted the attention of many passersby.

Most of them are young and beautiful girls.

"It seems like I've been recognized?" Makoto Takahashi hesitated, wondering whether he should wear a mask.

Kashima Reiko, unconcerned about the stares around her, said calmly, "It's possible that it's been misunderstood as BL. Many shoujo manga these days are of this genre."

Hearing her say that, Makoto Takahashi suddenly felt that it wasn't so bad that Hanakawa Kaori liked works featuring younger sister characters; at least it was normal.

The two shook off the annoying gaze and entered the arcade.

As Makoto Takahashi inserted the banknotes into the coin exchange machine, he noticed Reiko Kashima's gaze shifting towards the claw machine area.

Once the clinking of the tokens subsided, and because the environment was too noisy, Makoto Takahashi leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Is there anything you want?"

"Can you catch him?"

"Claw machines? I'm pretty good at those."

Under Kashima Reiko's surprised gaze, Takahashi Makoto led her towards the claw machine area.

The claw machines in Japan have very strong arms that can easily grab items. With a little knowledge and skill, you can win surprisingly easily.

Thanks to Nekoya Haruna, whenever the two of them occasionally came to the arcade together, she would always fully demonstrate her versatility, which greatly benefited Takahashi Makoto.

He's incredibly strong now; there's nothing he can't catch for a few hundred yen.

"Which one do you want?" Makoto Takahashi asked.

Kashima Reiko pointed to the first machine piled with rabbit plush toys; judging from its position, one token would be enough.

Makoto Takahashi casually tossed a coin in, manipulated the boom to align with the connection point between the head and body, released the lever, and pressed the button.

The claws successfully hooked onto the head, and although the rabbit doll's body was drooping, it was eventually held in place with its head fixed in place, and finally fell automatically into the retrieval opening.

Makoto Takahashi bent down to take out a rabbit plush toy, turned around and waved it in front of Reiko Kashima: "The crane arm in this shop is very strong, which is perfect for beginners. I can teach you how to catch it."

"Okay, wait a moment." Kashima Reiko nodded in agreement and left with the rabbit doll.

Where are we going?

Makoto Takahashi followed her retreating figure with a questioning look, only to see Reiko Kashima push a shopping cart to the second machine.

“Teach me,” she said seriously to the entertainment-oriented machine.

It's a character from an unknown work.

"You recognize this?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

Seeing Kashima Reiko shake her head, he suddenly remembered "hoarding" and pressed, "Are you planning to grab one of each doll and take it back to your home in Jiyugaoka?"

Kashima Reiko turned her head and gave her a look that said, "Is it not allowed?"

Takahashi Makoto unconsciously smiled, came up behind her, covered Kashima Reiko's hand with his hand, and demonstrated the operation while explaining it to her in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Their upper arms and palms were pressed together, and the scent of mint shower gel wafted over their skin.

The grappling hook moved according to Makoto Takahashi's instructions and successfully grabbed the doll.

Although it wasn't a particularly impressive technique, it seemed to be a novel experience for Kashima Reiko, whose expression remained bright throughout.

The thought that Takahashi Makoto didn't mind the trouble he caused, was willing to patiently teach him, take care of his strange quirks, and didn't mind that grabbing all the machines was a waste of time, immediately filled his heart with happiness.

Kashima Reiko thought contentedly, "I'll take all these dolls back with me and keep them safe."

-----------------

Toshima Ward, Mejiro 2-chome.

The rain poured down, and the tram rumbled past in the chilly air.

Maya Uesugi sat on the sofa in the Takahashi family home, gazing at the oppressive sky outside the window. On the coffee table in front of her, the alcohol lamp of the Belgian kettle burned quietly.

"Uesugi-nee, I have news about you." Hanakawa Kaori sat on the carpet at Uesugi Maya's feet.

She glanced at the phone on the coffee table, then looked back at the screen, engrossed in playing the game: "It seems to be from my brother."

The crisp sound drew Uesugi Maya's attention back. She picked up her phone, glanced at it, put it back, and reopened the hardcover book on her lap.

"Hanaori, your body is crooked," Uesugi Maya casually reminded her.

Hanakawa Kaori was playing a racing game. This game doesn't require a gyroscope, and the controller doesn't have a gyroscope sensor, but her body still kept tilting to both sides like a pendulum.

"What did my brother say?"

Hanakawa Kaori swayed left and right as she tried her best to drive the vehicle, her serious expression quite adorable.

"Let's meet again when we go to the movie this afternoon. Let the cat shop buy some lunch on the way back."

As Maya Uesugi said this, the car on the screen was about to go through a sharp bend, and Hanakawa Kaori leaned forward with a large step, finally falling onto Maya Uesugi's thigh with a "thud".

She pressed the pause button, looked up and gave him a concerned look: "Sister Uesugi seems to have something on her mind today?"

"nothing."

"It's not good to be sulky, especially since your brother isn't here."

"You...no, it's okay." Uesugi Maya shook her head, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

At that moment, the door opened from the outside.

"The rain outside is so heavy, the raindrops have formed continuous lines. Luckily there's no wind, otherwise we would definitely get soaked."

As Nekoya Hina spoke cheerfully, she closed the door, took off her waterproof jacket, and walked in carrying a damp convenience store bag.

"I bought beer, drinks, potato chips, cookies, and meat buns. Has Acheng not come back yet?"

"He's not coming back."

Uesugi Maya raised her face, revealing a cold expression as if she were informing a married woman that "your husband is cheating on her": "He's probably on a date with his girlfriend somewhere, and in this weather, they're most likely in bed."

"Oh, I see. I'm actually looking forward to that movie."

Nekoya Hina's performance was beyond Uesugi Maya's expectations.

She glanced at the coffee table with the Belgian teapot, put the bag on the floor, took out a meat bun and took a bite, seemingly unconcerned about being stood up.

"Uesugi-nee was just kidding you. My brother said we'd meet up again this afternoon when we go to the movies." Hanakawa Kaori grabbed the bag and started rummaging through it.

The plastic bags of the snacks made a rustling sound.

"A lie?" Nekoya Hina asked in surprise.

Seeing the incredulous look on her face, Uesugi Maya closed the book in her hand, frowned, and asked, "Aren't you completely unconcerned about being stood up?"

"It's not that I don't care. Well, given our relationship, if Acheng stands me up, there must be some unavoidable reason."

Nekoya Haruna chewed on her food and mumbled, "Besides, there's no way I can help it when I have to spend time with my girlfriend. I don't want to put him in a difficult position."

"Hina is a good woman."

Hanakawa Kaori finally found her favorite flavor of potato chips in the bag, tore the bag open with both hands, and put it on the coffee table: "It's a pity she's so stupid. She had a good opportunity but she chose to find a coach for the badminton club."

"I'm the minister!" Nekoya Hina said, stuffing the rest of the meat bun into her mouth in a fit of frustration.

She looked completely displeased, which made Uesugi Maya's face darken, and she let out a soft sigh.

“You are a better match for him than me and Lijian.”

As soon as the words were spoken, the atmosphere instantly became somewhat subtle. The apartment fell silent, and a sense of frustration permeated the three of them.

Their eyes met, and seeing the puzzled looks from Hanakawa Kaori and Nekoya Hina, Uesugi Maya pursed her lips and explained:

"When a person's burdens increase, they will discard the burdens of the past. That's how it is to live. But Cheng is different. He will keep all the burdens. Your burdenless personality can help relieve a lot of pressure for him."

After saying that, seeing Hanakawa Kaori's face covered with frost, clearly showing disappointment and resistance, Uesugi Maya's body stiffened almost imperceptibly.

The alcohol lamp went out with a "pop".

"If that's the case, wouldn't it be more suitable for you to date your brother?"

Hanakawa Kaori asked, her face tense, word by word, "All along, Uesugi-nee has been helping brother share the burden, and you are the person brother trusts the most."

"I mean, aren't you two very close? Why are you suddenly saying things like this?" Nekoya Hina tilted her head, completely bewildered.

Should we get along?

Is that how they see it?

Uesugi Maya hesitated for a moment, then asked the two of them, "Do you think he likes me?"

"To be honest, I've always been surprised that Makoto suddenly started dating Tachimi-senpai instead of you." Nekoya Hina nodded frankly.

"It is very strange," Hanakawa Kaori nodded in agreement.

In her opinion, Makoto Takahashi's relationship with Maya Uesugi was much closer than his relationship with Yuki Tachimi, especially the atmosphere when they were together, which was just too natural.

The two agreed, and Uesugi Maya rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought.

It turned out to be the case.

She had no friends before, never received the affection she deserved, and grew up in a cold environment, which made it impossible for her to effectively distinguish between various feelings such as friendship, admiration, liking, and love.

This led to her failing to recognize Makoto Takahashi's feelings for her, mistakenly believing that they were still within the bounds of friendship, thus missing the best opportunity to make him fall in love with her, and allowing Yuki Tachimi to succeed first.

Therefore, Makoto Takahashi hopes to become friends with Hina Nekoya and recognize the differences between different kinds of affection.

Only in this way can we learn how to deepen our feelings.

In that case, haven't I missed many opportunities to deepen our relationship?