They all have hidden attributes!

The waitress brought over sandwiches and black tea. Makoto Takahashi picked up the sandwich, took a big bite, and looked at the book on the table.

"Lamb Boiled in Goat's Milk" is a book whose title alone is enough to make one lose interest.

He swallowed the food in his mouth and asked curiously, "I understand that you like literature, but why do you want to learn tango?"

"Get the materials." Uesugi Maya's attitude was perfunctory.

For cartoonists, writers, and artists, finding inspiration is a universal excuse.

As long as it's under the guise of "gathering material," doing anything strange becomes perfectly acceptable, and it's also the best excuse to conceal one's feelings and intentions.

“Okay.” Makoto Takahashi sensed her ill intentions, but had no reason to refuse.

Only when someone considers another important person will they try to improve communication.

If you give up on communication and don't solve problems, relationships between people will become very fragile.

"What are your plans for today?"

"Let's go to Chobu City to watch the badminton match."

“I’ll go with you,” Uesugi Maya said without hesitation.

Chapter 165 They were itching to make a move

From Ikebukuro, you can reach the Tokyo Keio Stadium in less than an hour by private car via the Expressway Line 4.

It was the weekend, and also a match day, so long queues formed at highway tollbooth exits, and the actual arrival time was slightly later than expected.

During this time, Makoto Takahashi began to peruse the books that Maya Uesugi had given him.

"Lamb Boiled in Goat's Milk" tells the story of a disillusioned writer who, after getting drunk, makes a bet with someone, claiming that he can turn a semi-illiterate person into a famous writer within two or three months.

He succeeded. Through comprehensive packaging, he transformed a simple-minded and dull sailor into a rising literary star overnight, even winning international awards.

"So, you're going to give up the Yomiuri Literature Prize?" Makoto Takahashi asked casually as he got off the train.

This book is extremely satirical of the hypocrisy of the literary world, so it's no wonder he thinks this way.

"I really didn't plan to come forward to accept the award."

Maya Uesugi got out of the car from the other side, wrapped her coat tighter, and walked with him towards the arena entrance: "Besides that, don't you have anything else you want to talk to me about?"

"No," Takahashi Makoto replied immediately.

Which part left the deepest impression on you?

Under Maya Uesugi's persistent questioning and intense gaze, he thought for a moment and answered seriously, "I agree more with the chapter 'Overture in the Sky'."

"About ideals?"

"The realization of ideals relies on spiritual strength, but it is consumed in the struggle for survival," Makoto Takahashi said.

Seeing his expression of agreement, Uesugi Maya rested her chin on her hand, pondered for a moment, and then shook her head:

"Another situation is that some people, if they don't struggle to survive, will only become morally degenerate."

"The expression on your face when you said that was as if you were about to summon the Trisolarans."

"You've actually read 'The Three-Body Problem'?"

Maya Uesugi looked up, giving him a surprised look. Makoto Takahashi pursed his lips and remained silent, powerless to do anything.

In her mind, she probably saw herself as a useless person who only knew how to indulge in light novels and comics.

As they spoke, the two arrived at the VIP seats in the audience. The man in the suit, who had been waiting for a long time, bowed politely on behalf of the event organizers.

Makoto Takahashi casually waved him away, then sat down and looked around the room for Hanakawa Kaori and Nekoya Hina.

Since it was only a preliminary round, three matches were played simultaneously on the same court.

Hina Nekoya and Kaori Hanakawa were positioned on the far right side of the court, both wearing athletic uniforms. The petite Kaori Hanakawa occupied the front of the net, while Hina Nekoya was positioned behind her.

This was the first time Makoto Takahashi had ever seen Hanakawa Kaori, who exuded an aura of desperate struggle.

Her long black hair was tied into a high ponytail with a silk scarf, and her youthful face was shrouded in shadow. Even from a distance, one could see the terrifying light in her eyes.

"Is there any point in Hanaori doing this?" Takahashi Makoto unconsciously asked Uesugi Maya beside him.

I participate in doubles matches because I have an opponent I want to defeat, but no matter what, I can't undo the past.

"It's very similar to when you participated in the National Archery Championships," Uesugi Maya commented objectively.

"Is there?"

"Back then, you also exuded that chilling aura, focused yet empty, with nothing but the bullseye in your eyes."

Hanakawa Kaori is the same now, with only badminton in her eyes and the net court where she is.

Teammates, opponents, score, audience... none of it mattered, and there was no mood to enjoy the game.

Makoto Takahashi watched silently as she blocked all the balls at the net. Her tricky shots wore down her opponents' stamina, leaving them exhausted.

A tricky smash, the badminton shuttlecock's sidespin was more powerful than the opponent expected, and the two opponents, who were knocked down and disoriented, collided and fell to the ground.

The score is now 12-0.

Hanakawa Kaori walked to the net, looked down at the two panting players and said something, then turned and walked out of the court, leaving Nekoya Hina looking bewildered.

The two opposing players, heads drooping, said something to the referee, and then the announcement came over the loudspeaker.

"At venue number 3, the Xiangshan Club player has withdrawn, and Lijian Sports Club has advanced."

Even from a great distance, Makoto Takahashi could feel the despair of the two who had forfeited. He really didn't know how Hina Nekoya managed to win the second match 21-0 when she was defeated 21-0 in the first game against Hanakawa Kaori.

"Let's go, today's match should be over."

Makoto Takahashi got up and walked backstage, with Maya Uesugi following behind him. She asked indifferently, "Aren't you going to talk about her?"

"what?"

"Disrespect for the opponent."

"Aya, it would be more suitable for you and Hina to go."

He knew that Hanakawa Kaori wouldn't listen to what Nekoya Hina said, but given his current situation, it was better not to provoke Hanakawa Kaori's girlish heart.

Maya Uesugi crossed her arms and began to consider the necessity of the situation.

The contestants' preparation area was off-limits to visitors, and Makoto Takahashi couldn't very well force his way into the female contestants' territory, so he sent a message to Hanakawa Kaori and waited on the bench at the entrance.

While waiting, he looked up at Uesugi Maya, who stood beside him like a bodyguard, exuding an aura of "do not disturb," and asked her:

What are your plans for learning tango?

"Please hire a professional teacher to come to Tokyo to teach us."

"That sounds incredibly expensive."

"My goal isn't socializing; I just want to enjoy simple pleasures. My budget is 1 euros."

Maya Uesugi spoke casually, and Makoto Takahashi successfully learned the new currency unit.

Fortunately, the band has been consistently making money, otherwise he would have had a hard time coming up with this sum of money. All the income from the oil paintings is in the hands of Kashima Reiko, who just bought a luxury apartment in Roppongi in October.

"What about the time?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"Every morning during winter break."

"I don't want to get up early."

“No, you want to.” Uesugi Maya’s attitude was firm, her face cold and unyielding.

Makoto Takahashi recalls the summer vacation when he didn't sleep in for even a single day, and feels powerless to resist.

After waiting for a short while, Hanakawa Kaori jogged out of the contestants' preparation area, her black twin ponytails and backpack swaying back and forth, with a sunny smile on her face.

"Brother, I'm so sorry to have kept you waiting!"

Her energetic and adorable appearance is completely different from the terrifying demon king on the field.

Makoto Takahashi stood up from his chair without extending his hands, causing Hanakawa Kaori's forward lunge to stop naturally. She tilted her head to look at Uesugi Maya:

"Sister Maya, you're here too."

"Why don't you respect your opponent?" Uesugi Maya asked coldly.

Meeting her sharp gaze, Hanakawa Kaori blinked and put on an innocent expression: "I didn't, it's just that it's futile for them to keep fighting, it's completely meaningless."

Uesugi Maya parted her pink lips slightly, about to begin her lecture, when Hanakawa Kaori dove behind Takahashi Makoto before she could speak:

"Maya-nee has no right to talk to me like that. Aren't you the same way in Tsurumi-zawa? You don't respect anyone's thoughts except for your brother."

Uesugi Maya's face was gloomy, and her caramel-colored eyes flashed with a cold light.

"Hanaori, don't say that."

Makoto Takahashi patted Hanakawa Kaori's head. She pouted unhappily and looked at him with a reproachful look: "Brother only knows how to protect Maya-nee."

Gazing into his bright purple eyes, Makoto Takahashi gently rubbed his youthful face and asked in a calm voice, "Why are you so fixated on this competition?"

"I want to tell her that I don't need her anymore." Hanakawa Kaori looked down at the floor at her feet.

"Heh, all you can do is talk nicely to him?" Uesugi Maya's lips curled into a cold smile.

"A little bit~"

Hanakawa Kaori made a face at her, then instantly switched to a lively smile, looking up at Takahashi Makoto and saying, "Brother, how about we go get pizza for lunch? Nearby..."

The differential treatment was too obvious, and Uesugi Maya gritted her teeth in anger.

At this moment, Nekoya Hina arrived late.

"Acheng, you're here."

Before Takahashi Seigo could even reply, Hanakawa Kaori immediately chimed in, "Hina-nee, you're too slow. We've already decided to go for pizza for lunch."

"Did we see that house on our way here?" Haruna Nekoya asked.

"Hmm, it looks very high-end, it should taste good too." Hanakawa Kaori nodded.

Makoto Takahashi and Maya Uesugi exchanged a knowing glance. After exchanging a look, he spread his hands, indicating that he was powerless to help.

He dared not provoke Hanakawa Kaori in her current state, or he would be in serious trouble.

Let Uesugi Maya and Tatsumi Yuki worry about it.