They all have hidden attributes!

It would be too much to not respond to such an initial expectation.

But Shiraishi Junka has already left the Shiraishi family, and she has entrusted her future to him. It's one thing for Tachimi Yuki to be negligent, but it would be too irresponsible to neglect her because of Uesugi Maya.

There's no other way but to tough it out on my future self.

Takahashi Makoto sighed deeply, looking somewhat troubled: "I'll go with you to buy it, that's all?"

“As I just said, this is the first time I’m looking forward to celebrating a holiday with another person.”

"I heard you."

"What are your thoughts?" Uesugi Maya asked coldly.

Makoto Takahashi remained silent, waiting for her to make a request. Maya Uesugi kept a cold face and didn't speak. The two walked into the teaching building in a tense atmosphere.

When she arrived at the shoe cabinet, she stood aside and waited for Takahashi Makoto to change into his indoor shoes.

Ayako Furuta, a classmate, happened to pass by and greeted Makoto Takahashi: "Good morning, Takahashi-kun."

"morning."

Makoto Takahashi closed the shoe cabinet, nodded in acknowledgment, and then suddenly asked, "Will you be coming to the academy for Christmas, Mr. Takahashi?"

Makoto Takahashi turned to meet Maya Uesugi's gaze and compromised, saying, "I'll ask for leave."

“…Okay then.” Ayako Furuta left dejectedly.

Uesugi Maya raised her face, a wicked smile playing on her lips, and asked knowingly, "Why do you suddenly need to take leave?"

“Come with me to Roppongi on Christmas Eve.” Makoto Takahashi turned and walked towards the stairs.

"it is good."

"Chunke will come to the apartment on New Year's Eve."

"No."

Uesugi Maya, who was walking beside him, stopped in her tracks. Her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling aura.

New Year's Eve, also known as Ōmisoka, is the last day of the year and holds great significance for Uesugi Maya.

Makoto Takahashi turned around on the third step, looking down at her and said, "On the first day of the new year, I'll go with you to the shrine."

"midnight?"

"daytime."

“No.” Uesugi Maya pondered for a moment, then shook her head in refusal, her attitude as firm as expected.

After the school trip, Uesugi Maya and Shiraishi Junka barely spoke to each other, so it was only natural that she would refuse them so forcefully. Fortunately, there was still time before the New Year.

Takahashi Makoto had no intention of easily persuading her, and turned to continue upstairs alone.

Maya Uesugi crossed her arms, watching his back with a furrowed brow, pondering how to get Makoto Takahashi to favor her so they could spend the New Year together.

Makoto Takahashi pondered how to deepen the relationship between Junka Shiraishi and Maya Uesugi, then walked through the corridor and entered the classroom of Class 1-C through the back door.

Next week is the final exam. The classroom is quiet, and everyone is in their seats, reviewing the knowledge required for the exam.

Makoto Takahashi took out his phone and sent a message to Reiko Kashima.

[Takahashi: Can Yoru go to Roppongi with me on Christmas Eve?]

[Reiko: I have no objection]

[Reiko: Junko wants to put a Christmas tree in her apartment]

[Reiko: I don't want it]

[Takahashi: I told her]

He put away his phone, turned to look at Nekoya Hina who was studying, gently tapped her desk, and lowered his voice:

"Yinna, what are your plans for lunch with Hanaori?"

"Aren't you coming with us?" Haruna Nekoya asked, peeking over her shoulder.

"Xing isn't here today; I want to go find Chun Ke."

"Then I'll go to the student cafeteria with Hanori, so as not to disturb your date."

"Call Lengzi over, it's on me."

Makoto Takahashi clasped his hands together in thanks, then sent a message to Junka Shiraishi, inviting her to lunch at the student council president's office.

On Thursday, the last period of the morning for Group A of Grade 1 is Physical Education.

Makoto Takahashi remembers it clearly because Maya Uesugi once defeated the Kendo Club in PE class, but accidentally twisted her ankle and went to the Light Music Club office alone to show off.

The bell announcing lunch break drifted in from outside the window. He quickly walked out of the classroom, went up the stairs to the 4th-floor corridor, and waited in front of the classroom of Group 3A.

After most of the upperclassmen had left the classroom, Shiraishi Junka slowly walked out.

Seeing Takahashi Makoto extend his hands, her clear, wine-red eyes softened, and she took two quick steps to rush into his warm embrace.

"Cheng, I designed a very beautiful Christmas outfit."

Shiraishi Junka closed her eyes, rubbed her cheek against his chest, and said in a soft, captivating voice, "Can we go buy fabric together this weekend? I want to make something by hand."

"I invited A-Ye to go shopping for Christmas presents together, the three of us?"

"it is good."

Shiraishi Junka obediently agreed, and Takahashi Makoto gently stroked her long black hair, then put his arm around her and led her to the stairs: "On Christmas Eve, Aya will also be going to Roppongi."

“…Okay.” Shiraishi Junko nodded with a slight hesitation.

When the two arrived at the shoe cabinet on the first floor, she looked up with a puzzled expression and suddenly asked, "Is she going to study next to me? I'll be shy."

“No, it won’t.” Makoto Takahashi’s expression was strange.

He believed that Uesugi Maya did not have this hobby.

"Want to hear?" Shiraishi Junko asked tentatively.

"We'll find her something to do then."

"There's one music box left; I'll give it to her as a Christmas present."

Her expression was one of genuine concern for Uesugi Maya, and her sincere eyes showed no trace of malice.

Makoto Takahashi leaned down and kissed Junko Shiraishi's charming and beautiful face, comforting her, "It's good that you don't feel wronged. If you have any thoughts, please tell me in time."

"No, I'm happy as long as I can be with Cheng."

Shiraishi Junka raised her hand to her chest and took a deep breath as if to confirm her feelings: "I have no complaints, I'm not lying to you."

"What if there's no Christmas tree?" Makoto Takahashi asked.

"It doesn't matter, Cheng must come."

In Shiraishi Junka's soft voice, there was a barely perceptible firmness: "I don't need much, just genuine affection is enough."

"Let's decorate Yui a bit."

"Okay, she's been accumulating a lot of flower buds lately."

"winter?"

"The room is warm and there is a lot of love."

After changing their shoes, the two walked out of the teaching building together, crossed the courtyard, and headed towards the student council.

The sun shone down, and the windless weather wasn't cold at all. Shiraishi Junka clung to Takahashi Makoto's arm with both hands, stubbornly snuggling into his embrace.

"You're wearing stockings today, do you want to see them later?" she asked softly.

"You want to go to Xing's lounge?"

"Ah."

"Remember to prepare a Christmas gift for her too," Makoto Takahashi said.

The two found the driver of the Tachikami family in the parking lot next to the student council building to pick up their lunch boxes, went upstairs, and pushed open the heavy wooden door at the end of the corridor.

Directly opposite the bright floor-to-ceiling window, Maya Uesugi sat in a chair behind her desk eating lunch.

A Belgian flask, its metal sheen gleaming, sits on the side of the desk, an alcohol lamp burning quietly, the warm air filled only with the faint scent of cedar.

"Aya, Junko and Reiko have agreed to let you go to Roppongi to spend Christmas Eve."

Makoto Takahashi took off his coat and hung it on the coat rack along with Junka Shiraishi's coat: "Remember to bring strawberry cake and fried chicken. Leave the rest of the dinner to Ryoko."

Hearing the implication in his words, Uesugi Maya put down her chopsticks, raised her icy face, and looked at him with eyes as sharp as knives:

"Let me go with you, can't you do it yourself?"

"..." Takahashi Makoto was speechless.

From this perspective, the arrangement for Christmas Eve was actually a compromise made by the three of them to give him face.

Uesugi Maya had no reason to compromise with Shiraishi Junka and let her spend the New Year at her apartment.

What should I do?

Makoto Takahashi pondered anxiously, trying to find a reason to persuade her.

Getting Uesugi Maya to agree will be no easy task; she must first acknowledge Shiraishi Junka before there is even a chance.

With no other option, we had to invite the entire band to a party on New Year's Eve.

This way, if you pinch the back of Uesugi Maya's neck more often, the likelihood of her accepting it will increase significantly.

Makoto Takahashi, thinking to himself, sat down on the same side of the sofa as Junka Shiraishi, looked up at Maya Uesugi, and said:

"Let's go shopping together this weekend and buy Christmas gifts. Chunke wants to buy some fabric."

They had originally agreed to go together, but now he insisted on inviting Shiraishi Junka as well. Uesugi Maya immediately started to act up, exuding a distant and unapproachable aura.

"No, I'm not interested."

Her dissatisfied expression seemed to say, "I am such a narrow-minded woman."

Makoto Takahashi casually opened the lunchbox, took the chopsticks handed to him by Junka Shiraishi, and ate lunch with her.

About five minutes later, Uesugi Maya finished her lunch, packed up her lunchbox, and just then, the Belgian flask extinguished the alcohol lamp with a "click".

She picked up the hardcover book from the documents, intending to read it while drinking coffee.