They all have hidden attributes!

"Makoto, do you want to move to the port area with her, or would it be better to buy a house for her and Reiko?"

When Tachibana Yuki gave the choice, Takahashi Makoto looked at Kashima Reiko's blue eyes with a questioning gaze. She opened the bento box expressionlessly and handed over chopsticks.

"I also can."

His tone remained calm as always.

Makoto Takahashi looked up at Maya Uesugi, who was sitting alone at her desk, and felt a pang of reluctance as he thought of her newly bought beanbag chair.

"Apartments suitable for two people seem nice in Roppongi."

"I'll arrange it."

Takahashi Makoto's earnings in the art field all went to Kashima Reiko, who immediately stood up and went to the art department to find Shiraishi Junka.

Tachibana Yuki glanced at Uesugi Maya without leaving a trace, realizing that she had influenced Takahashi Makoto's choice, and tightened her grip on her chopsticks slightly.

"Makoto, ah~" She smiled and picked up a slice of zucchini, feeding it to Makoto Takahashi.

Kashima Reiko was very efficient; she and Shiraishi Junko moved into a luxury penthouse apartment in Roppongi over the weekend.

Makoto Takahashi went to celebrate the housewarming and was relieved to see that the two got along well.

In November, his life became relatively stable.

Aside from occasionally visiting the Uesugi family's apartment to enjoy the leisure of lying on the beanbag chair and petting the cat, he spends most of his time at the Tachimi family's house.

On weekends, she helps the young lady with her work, occasionally goes out with Nekoya Hina and Hanakawa Kaori, and stays in Roppongi at night.

Successfully unlocked the new two-player assistance card. Shiraishi Junka and Kashima Reiko share the hidden attribute of being [a terrible player but addicted to it].

Going to school, taking exams, and drawing have become the main themes of life. The assistance card has changed its approach, focusing on addressing weaknesses and promoting balanced development.

Uesugi Maya is busy writing books, Tatsumi Yuki is busy with her work as heir, Shiraishi Junka and Takahashi Makoto attend various art exhibitions together, and their studies are almost abandoned.

After Nekoya Hina changed her subject to humanities, she passed with ease and devoted more energy to badminton, where she became Hanakawa Kaori's doubles teammate.

After Kashima Reiko moved out of the Tachimi main house, she had more free time and devoted herself almost entirely to being Takahashi Makoto and Shiraishi Junka's manager.

As temperatures gradually drop, it's December.

After the December assessment, all system panel attributes will break through to A level, and charm will break through to S level, which is just around the corner.

On December 16th, Tokyo experienced its first snowfall.

On Wednesday afternoons, the two periods are long class meetings.

Chihaya Nana explained the time of the final exams, telling everyone that it was a national unified exam. After that, while collecting statistics on each student's subject choices, she tearfully lamented the difficulties of the approaching end of the year.

"I drew a very unlucky fortune stick."

"Regarding marriage, the person you are waiting for will not come."

"Is this reasonable?!"

"The gods must be too lazy, right?"

Chihaya Nana held up the ominous sign for her classmates to see. The student on duty, responsible for collecting exam papers, went up to the podium and earnestly suggested:

"Supervisor, if you draw such an unlucky number, it's better to stay at the shrine, otherwise you'll really remain single, okay?"

"Oh no, I forgot! I'll go now!"

Chihaya Nana walked quickly away with the [Ominous] sign and the feedback form, and the classroom instantly filled with a relaxed atmosphere.

Hanakawa Kaori moved a chair and sat down in the aisle between Takahashi Makoto and Nekoya Hina, asking with a beaming smile:

"Brother, what are your plans for Christmas?"

"Not at the moment." Makoto Takahashi shook his head, took out a light novel from his desk drawer, and opened it.

"What about the New Year?" Hina Nekoya asked.

"Happy New Year."

Makoto Takahashi looked on with a nostalgic expression and slowed his speech: "I used to live alone, but this year seems to be a bit troublesome."

Uesugi Maya and Shiraishi Junka are homeless. During the summer training camp in Kamakura, he promised Tatsumi Yuki [New Year's Eve Shooting], and he couldn't just stand her up.

Seeing his troubled expression, Hanakawa Kaori immediately gave up on the New Year and focused on Christmas, or if that didn't work, Christmas Eve would also be fine.

"Brother, in recent years, Christmas has been called the second Valentine's Day."

She emphasized, adopting a serious expression, "I suggest we have a lively Christmas party so everyone can have fun together."

Takahashi Makoto doesn't object to the "lively atmosphere," but he's suspicious of the "fun," hence his hesitant gaze.

"Let's think about these things after the final exams. Are you two going back to your hometown for the New Year?"

He raised his face and looked at the two of them with a questioning gaze. Hanakawa Kaori and Nekoya Hina exchanged a glance and then fell silent.

"Aren't you planning to go back?" Takahashi Makoto asked, frowning in confusion.

"Well, actually, Acheng, there's something I'd like to ask you."

Hina Nekoya raised her hand and touched her chestnut-colored high ponytail, her smile slightly awkward: "Maybe that was a bit much, but it's okay if you refuse."

Hanakawa Kaori, her lips moist and pink, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and made a devout gesture in prayer.

The two women both acted overly serious, which only made Makoto Takahashi more curious about what they wanted.

It couldn't possibly be that she asked herself to break up with Tachimi Yuki, could it?

"Tell me about it, I'm curious." He closed the light novel he had just opened with a serious expression.

"Acheng, do you know about the All-Japan Badminton Championships?" Nekoya Hina asked tentatively.

"I don't know." Takahashi Makoto shook his head.

"The gateway to becoming a professional player is to win the championship, which guarantees a place in the national team A team."

Hanakawa Kaori opened her phone and showed him this year's tournament information: "Hina-nee and I want to get a spot in the doubles tournament through the club."

The All-Japan Badminton Championships is the highest-level and longest-running badminton tournament in Japan.

It is usually held in late December each year at the Keio Stadium in Chofu City, Tokyo. As the "gateway" to becoming a professional athlete, the competition is extremely fierce with very strict eligibility requirements.

"Actually, I am eligible to participate, but it's singles."

Hanakawa Kaori flipped through a page of pictures on her phone, showed Takahashi Makoto a news screenshot, and said with a mischievous grin:

"The doubles players she's training will also be competing this year, so... please, brother! I'll do anything for you!"

The heavy words fell silent instantly.

Makoto Takahashi looked away from her mischievous purple eyes and turned to Hina Nekoya: "Are you sure you don't want to go back to Hokkaido?"

The timing of the event meant that Hina Nekoya would not be able to return to Hokkaido to spend the New Year with her family during winter break.

“After telling my family, my mom said she was going on a New Year’s trip with my dad, and I want to give it my all.” Nekoya Hina nodded emphatically, her expression resolute.

One wanted to go pro, and the other wanted revenge; they hit it off immediately.

The Tachibana family has dabbled in various industries, including sports clubs. Makoto Takahashi took out his phone and sent a text message to inquire.

"Is qualifying for the preliminary rounds acceptable?"

"Of course... that's fine."

Hina Nekoya's eyes lit up with surprise, and she was about to drag her chair closer when Hanakawa Kaori beat her to it, reaching out to hug Makoto Takahashi.

"That's awesome, brother! I'll let you have your way in the competition, even if it means using underhanded tactics~"

She put on a knowing look, and Takahashi Makoto's lips twitched slightly. He raised his hand and chopped her on the head: "If Sachi hears this, you can forget about participating."

"Hehe, a Christmas party, what are you thinking, brother?" Hanakawa Kaori was still up to her old tricks.

"I have no ideas."

Makoto Takahashi decides to go to the student council president's office after school to consult his girlfriend and cat before making a decision.

"Acheng, let's go eat hot pot together after school, it's on me."

Hina Nekoya moved a chair over and squeezed in, tugging at Makoto Takahashi's uniform jacket: "I feel so ashamed to trouble you with something like this."

"There's no need, we're friends."

Takahashi Makoto said matter-of-factly, and Hanakawa Kaori, who was clinging to him, nodded in agreement: "That's right, that's right, Hina-nee is too polite."

Turning her head, she asked Takahashi Makoto, "Can I come to Maya-nee's house for dinner tonight? Will my brother bring me back?"

Ever since Uesugi Maya bought the beanbag chair, Hanakawa Kaori has been refused entry every time she tries to go there.

She suspected there was a secret in the apartment, that both of them were hiding something from her.

"You have to ask A-Ye; I can't decide for her."

When Makoto Takahashi saw the message from Maya Uesugi, he stood up and walked out of the classroom through the back door: "I have to go to the student council."

The sky was overcast, and countless snowflakes slowly and quietly fell to the ground.

Passing through the windless courtyard, I entered the standalone red-tiled building where the student council was located, and arrived at the end of the corridor on the third floor, where I pushed open the heavy wooden door.

Under the warm, bright lights, there was a bitter aroma of coffee in the air.

Maya Uesugi sat behind her desk, flipping through a hardcover book. Beside her was a steaming cup of bitter coffee.

Li Jianxing sat elegantly on the sofa, knees together, her beautiful legs encased in white stockings, sipping red tea. A chess set was laid out on the black slate coffee table.

The atmosphere was a little tense; the two had probably just had a fight and were currently on a temporary truce.

As for the reasons for the arguments, they were varied and unsurprising to Takahashi Makoto, as long as they didn't concern him.

"What's the matter?" He walked to the sofa opposite Tachimi Yuki to play chess with her, and asked Uesugi Maya.

"The Red and White Song Festival has sent an invitation, should I go?" She turned a page of the book in her hand, her voice indifferent and clear.

“I’m not going,” Takahashi Makoto replied without hesitation.

Hanakawa Kaori needs to prepare for the tournament, so it's best not to distract her. Also, the Kohaku Uta Gassen is held on New Year's Eve, and Takahashi Makoto doesn't want to spend New Year's Eve working.

"What are your thoughts on the New Year's Eve dinner?"

As soon as Uesugi Maya finished speaking, Tachimi Yuki put down his teacup and said with a smile, "Makoto-kun promised me that we would hold a New Year's archery contest, but I'm afraid he has no intention of doing so."

"Is that so?" Uesugi Maya raised her face, frowning as she shot him a cold gaze.

"The training camp in Kamakura should be scheduled for the first day of the new year." Makoto Takahashi nodded, indicating that he would not back out.