They all have hidden attributes!

Shiraishi Junko's lips were moist when she unexpectedly met Uesugi Maya's sharp gaze, and she avoided looking behind Takahashi Makoto.

"Hanaori will be starting school next year, so we should be careful about things like indirect kissing."

“Junko-nee will be graduating next year, so she doesn’t need to worry about these things, right?” Hanakawa Kaori snorted through her small nose and immediately organized a counterattack.

She wanted to remind Shiraishi Junka that to achieve her goals before graduation, it was best not to offend herself.

But Shiraishi Junka had already successfully escaped, completely ignoring her threat, her wine-red eyes gazing tenderly at Takahashi Makoto's profile:

"It's alright, Makoto won't leave me."

Makoto Takahashi rubbed his temples, his head aching, and didn't dare to look at Maya Uesugi's face.

With her keen observation skills, how could she not guess the situation now?

The most urgent thing is to buy some Dreamy Cream Puffs for Uesugi Maya to eat; that might cheer her up a bit.

"Bai Shi, it is a very foolish thing for a woman to take advantage of being favored."

Amidst the tense atmosphere, Maya Uesugi tossed a strand of black hair over her shoulder, a disdainful smirk playing on her lips, and slowly said, "I suggest you pay more attention to the existence of the band."

The blizzard-like atmosphere was extremely oppressive, and the cold wind sweeping across the street stole away the warmth of the sunlight.

Meeting her sharp gaze, Shiraishi Junko reverted to her meek demeanor, biting the inside of her mouth and remaining silent.

Uesugi Maya turned her gaze to Hanakawa Kaori, who was nodding vigorously in agreement, and her voice suddenly turned cold: "You are not allowed to buy any more ice cream before you finish eating this."

"Okay." Hanakawa Kaori said dejectedly.

The arguing temporarily subsided.

Just as Takahashi Makoto was trying to ease the tension, a joyful cheer came from behind him.

"Acheng! I'm here!"

He turned around and saw Hina Nekoya waving and running towards him with a bright smile on her face.

Upon getting closer, she bumped into Makoto Takahashi. Only after he caught her did she greet the others.

Hina Nekoya's habitual excessive physical contact now seems somewhat offensive to Junka Shiraishi, but she doesn't have the courage of Maya Uesugi to attack directly, so she can only watch silently.

"Hina-nee, what are you doing here?" Hanakawa Kaori looked Takahashi Makoto up and down with a suspicious gaze.

“Acheng said he was coming to Otaru City today, and I promised to treat him to ramen.”

Hina Nekoya patted Makoto Takahashi on the shoulder, helping him out of the awkward situation while also inviting him, "Let's all come together, [the first one] is nearby, the thick noodles are super delicious, and so is the chashu."

“Let’s go.” Makoto Takahashi looked directly at Maya Uesugi.

"Ha, what happened to the barbecue you promised? You untrustworthy scum." Uesugi Maya said with a contemptuous sneer.

"Yes, yes." Hanakawa Kaori nodded emphatically, reluctantly.

Makoto Takahashi reached out and patted her head, comforting her, "Let's eat ramen first, then we'll go eat barbecue."

Kashima Reiko and Shiraishi Junka had no objections. The group went to [First Generation] Ramen, ordered their food, and then Uesugi Maya suddenly stood up.

"Come with me to buy cream puffs."

After saying that, she left without waiting for Takahashi Makoto's reply, leaving him no choice but to chase after her.

The sunlight slanted across the old European-style buildings on both sides of the street, and the air felt crisp and cracking like ice.

Uesugi Maya crossed her arms and looked at him coldly: "Tachimi agreed, because of that brown bear?"

"Yes," Takahashi Makoto frankly admitted.

"Damn it, that brown bear should be mine."

“We ate the bear paws last night. The bear skin will be used to make carpets, and there should be plenty of meat.”

Hearing him say that, Uesugi Maya took a deep breath, her eyes growing even more serious and cold: "You couldn't wait this morning?"

"No." Takahashi Makoto dared not admit that he had acted first and informed the authorities later.

What if she goes to Tachimi Yuki to complain?

Based on his understanding of Maya Uesugi, he knew she was capable of doing such a thing; after all, she was the Hell Girl who would stop at nothing.

Maya Uesugi rubbed her aching temples and said nothing more.

When Makoto Takahashi made up his mind, she couldn't stop him. Now that Yuki Tatsumi is letting it go, Maya Uesugi has even less reason to dissuade him.

The two are currently just friends, or to put it nicely, "close friends," but to put it bluntly, neither has the right to interfere in the other's private life.

The fact that he was able to stop Takahashi Makoto from having affairs was already a result of his respect for himself, just as Uesugi Maya advised Shiraishi Junka that she wouldn't be foolish enough to take advantage of his favor.

Makoto Takahashi may like himself, but he is definitely not hopelessly in love.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Maya suddenly felt a little anxious. She wanted to take a tough stance to get closer to him, but Takahashi Makoto's current situation was holding her back.

“Scum, pest, rubbish,” Uesugi Maya suddenly cursed.

If we stagnate, we will only suffer a slow death. Hanakawa Kaori has wolfish ambitions, and the situation will definitely continue to deteriorate.

To snatch Makoto Takahashi away from Yuki Tatsumi, Reiko Kashima, and Junka Shiraishi, we must use drastic measures against him once we return to Tokyo.

After making up her mind, she stopped and forced herself to maintain a calm expression, her ears burning.

Seeing that Uesugi Maya was looking at him with a softer gaze, Takahashi Makoto met her eyes with a puzzled look: "Are you angry?"

"Love hotel, if you don't go now, then pretend I never said anything." Uesugi Maya desperately tried to calm her heart, which was sending heat through her body, and to reduce her body heat and shame.

She knew that Makoto Takahashi cared about her a lot and would definitely not go now, which is why she dared to say that.

To increase her standing in Takahashi Makoto's heart, she couldn't let him get her easily—this was a lesson Uesugi Maya had recently learned through online study.

That's cunning, but she's always been ruthless.

"Unfortunately, I'm not really available today." Makoto Takahashi spread his hands, shrugged helplessly, but there was no regret on his face.

Hearing his gentle tone as always, Uesugi Maya gently stretched out her hands.

As his cool fingers touched her cheek, Makoto Takahashi gazed at her caramel-colored eyes peeking through the gaps in her long, flowing eyelashes, feeling a sweet current surge up his spine.

"This is compensation."

With a cool and melodious voice, Uesugi Maya's fair and delicate face was adorned with a touch of light red makeup, and her provocative gaze made reason stand still.

In the blink of an eye, he felt a tugging sensation, a warm scent of cedarwood brushed past his nose, and his lips brushed against a soft touch.

A strand of black hair drifted past my field of vision, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Makoto Takahashi turned around, staring blankly as the tall, slender, beautiful figure disappeared around the street corner.

Are you kidding me?

Has Uesugi Maya abandoned all sense of morality and shame?

Never mind, it's good that she's not angry.

Makoto Takahashi took several deep breaths to calm himself down and think things through before quickly crossing the street to buy the Dreamy Cream Puff from the dessert shop.

What was Uesugi Maya's mindset when she did this?

Compensation, impulsiveness, or the clarion call to attack?

When we got back to the ramen shop, the girls were already eating ramen. The shop's specialty is thick noodles, which are coated with layers of broth and paired with melt-in-your-mouth char siu, making it incredibly delicious.

Makoto Takahashi placed the cream puff next to Maya Uesugi, who was eating ramen in small bites, and sat down in the seat between Reiko Kashima and Junka Shiraishi, opposite her.

Just as she was about to pick up her chopsticks, Uesugi Maya swallowed the food in her mouth, a mocking smile playing on her greasy lips: "I see the wavering in your eyes."

"I do not have."

Seeing his firm denial, Uesugi Maya raised her face and tucked her long black hair behind her ear: "Men being arrogant is really disgusting."

“…” Takahashi Makoto ignored her and picked up a large piece of char siu and put it in his mouth.

“Makoto, it’s salmon season now.” Shiraishi Junka picked up a white porcelain plate; the salt-grilled Hokkaido white salmon emitted an enticing aroma.

Kashima Reiko silently reached out and handed over the beef.

Seeing this, Hanakawa Kaori, not wanting to be outdone, pushed the fried chicken nuggets in front of her over: "Brother, this spicy cumin is super delicious."

Takahashi Seiichi was at a loss as to how to start eating.

Hina Nekoya's gaze shifted between the three. Reiko Kashima remained expressionless, revealing nothing, but she still sensed something was amiss from the subtle atmosphere between Hanakawa Kaori and Shiraishi Junka.

what happened?

Did I miss something important just because I stayed home for two nights?

The scene before her eyes resembled the scheming and intrigue in a shoujo manga, and Nekoya Hina fell into deep self-doubt.

Makoto Takahashi noticed Hina Nekoya's clear, bewildered expression, and his lips twitched slightly.

There seem to be far too many things she doesn't know.

Chapter 157 Night at the Cat House

"Wow, it's exactly the same as in the movie!"

Hanakawa Kaori stood in the middle of Funamizaka Road, trying to stand on tiptoe. The sunlight shimmered over Ishikari Bay, a classic camera angle from an old romantic movie.

After finishing their ramen, Kashima Reiko suggested that they eat barbecue later, so the group decided to set off for Tengu Mountain as their destination for a pilgrimage.

Walking down Funami-zaka, you can see Otaru Central Market and historical buildings from the Meiji period. Hanakawa Kaori kept asking Takahashi Makoto to take pictures of her, radiating youthful energy.

When a suitable scene comes up, Hina Nekoya will help take a group photo of the band, and Hanakawa Kaori will upload it to the band's account after the school trip ends.

Thirty years have passed, and Otaru City and the scenes in the movie have hardly changed.

The telephone poles, houses, warehouses, and JR trains all bear traces of the movie.

The cable car at Tengu Mountain can accommodate 30 people at a time. In October, before it snows, it is not the peak tourist season, and it is quite spacious for 6 people to ride in one cable car.

Hanakawa Kaori leaned against the window, and as she was lifted up, the entire city of Otaru and the sea gradually came into view. Her eyes widened slowly.

Despite the spaciousness of the room, Maya Uesugi and Junka Shiraishi squeezed together on either side of Makoto Takahashi, while Reiko Kashima sat opposite the three of them, with Hina Nekoya next to her.

The atmosphere was somewhat subtle; overall, it was relaxed and harmonious, but a faint sense of tension lingered.

Makoto Takahashi was used to it; this atmosphere had long been a part of his daily life.

As long as Tachimi Yuki and Uesugi Maya don't clash head-on, subtle friction is good for their physical and mental health and the band's unity.