They all have hidden attributes!

After having lunch in Chofu City, the four of them returned to Tokyo around 1:30 p.m., which was about the time when the young lady finished her afternoon nap.

Makoto Takahashi bid farewell to the three of them and, carrying the book "Lamb Stewed in Goat Milk," arrived at the Tachimi family's residence.

After passing through a winding corridor, we arrived at a room with a sliding door made of washi paper. A gentle maid in a kimono opened the door, and inside, Tachimi Yuki and Tachimi Kotoha were playing Go.

"Xiao Cheng, you've come at the perfect time."

When Tatsumi Kotoha saw him, she rolled up the wide sleeves of her kimono, revealing her slender wrists, and picked up her teacup: "Koyuki's chess skills have become more and more exquisite lately, and Mother is a little unable to keep up."

“I’m on Sachi’s side.” Takahashi Makoto sat down close to Tachimi Sachi, put his book aside, and picked up the tea set to pour himself some tea.

Over time, he now feels no different from going home when he visits his ancestral home.

"Cheng-kun, what is that book—"

Yuki glanced at the title of the hardcover book and stretched out her hand with her palm up: "If I remember correctly, Yoru really likes European literature."

"Oh dear, Makoto, that was so careless." Tachimi Kotoha put down her teacup, a smug smile on her face, making her look very young.

"Aya gave it to me." Takahashi Makoto honestly handed over the book.

Li Jianxing has a high opinion of himself, so he wouldn't do anything to a book.

She turned a couple of pages, moved over, and let Takahashi Makoto sit down: "You can play chess with Mother."

"I have other things to do."

"what's up?"

"draw."

Makoto Takahashi swallowed a mouthful of tea, pointed to the corner of the Japanese-style room, and instructed the maid, "Bring my painting supplies here and put them here."

After saying that, he turned his gaze to Kotoha Tachimi: "I haven't decided what Christmas gift to give you, so I've decided to paint a portrait of you."

"Honestly, Makoto, you always know how to please your mother." Tatsumi Kotoha stroked her cheek with one hand, revealing a kind smile.

Yuki Tachimi tossed the book to Makoto Takahashi, picked up a Go stone, and launched a fierce attack.

The young lady seems to be a bit too jealous, even indiscriminately.

Makoto Takahashi pondered this as he quietly sipped his tea.

On Sunday, I naturally stayed overnight at Lijian's house.

December 21st, Monday, the first day of final exams.

Fewer students chose humanities, less than a quarter of the first-year students, and the exam room wasn't even full.

Makoto Takahashi sat by the window, reading in the bright sunlight. A little while later, Maya Uesugi walked into the classroom through the front door with a cushion.

She looked around and walked straight to Makoto Takahashi, pulling out the chair in front of him and sitting down.

"Good morning," Makoto Takahashi said, looking up at the door.

"I've made contact with the teacher. He's Italian and will come to Tokyo after Christmas."

Maya Uesugi took out her phone and showed him the information about the dance teacher, a blonde woman with a great figure, but with an overly serious expression.

Makoto Takahashi suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to tell Yuki Tatsumi about learning tango yesterday.

He closed the book in his hand and asked Uesugi Maya seriously, "What conditions would I have to pay if I wanted Sachira to study with me?"

"Impossible." Uesugi Maya's face instantly turned cold.

"Can't we discuss it?"

"This is the bottom line."

"Okay." Makoto Takahashi frowned, looking troubled. He put the book in the desk drawer and pondered how to explain to Yuki Tachimi.

At that moment, Nekoya Hina, dressed in her school sports uniform, ran into the exam room, panting, and sat down in the seat next to Takahashi Makoto.

Good morning, Acheng.

"Good morning."

Makoto Takahashi turned his head and asked curiously, "Aren't there any matches today?"

"I'm worried about the makeup exams conflicting with the main competition this afternoon, so I'll try to have as few makeup exams as possible." Nekoya Haruna opened her pencil case to check.

"Where did Hanaori go?"

"I stayed up late reading comics last night and am catching up on sleep in my dorm."

The answer was as expected.

Even after the exam ended the next day, Makoto Takahashi still hadn't figured out how to explain it to Yuki Tatsumi. He couldn't very well keep it a secret from her and secretly study with Maya Uesugi.

When the young lady finds out, it won't be as simple as just being jealous and easy to appease.

Final exams are over, and there are still three school days left in this semester, including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The winter vacation will officially begin after school ends on Christmas afternoon.

At the long meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Supervisor Chihaya announced the holiday arrangements.

“时间是从12月26日到1月10日，1月11日开学，到时会公布全国联考的成绩。”

"Everyone, please be careful during the holidays."

"Don't wander around late at night, the college discourages attending tutoring classes during holidays and neglecting rest, and be cautious on social media..."

Amidst the patient and repetitive instructions, Makoto Takahashi focused his attention on the pages of the book before him.

It's a long satirical novel full of dark humor, and it's quite good. I imagine Uesugi Maya carefully selected the books to stimulate his reading interest.

Hanakawa Kaori and Nekoya Hina were also in the classroom. The two successfully passed the preliminary rounds, and the main competition will begin tomorrow. They are resting today.

After Supervisor Chihaya finished explaining the safety matters and left, the classroom became chaotic as everyone excitedly discussed their winter break plans.

Hanakawa Kaori carried a chair over and sat down in the aisle between Takahashi Makoto and Nekoya Hina, asking pitifully, "Brother, is there really no Christmas party?"

"No," Takahashi Makoto said, turning a page of his book without looking up.

The situation is already starting to spiral out of control; if another party is held, he'll become the cake to be divided up.

"Hina and I are so pitiful."

Hanakawa Kaori pouted her pink lips, looking at him with moist eyes: "The competition will last until the 30th, and we can't go back to our hometown for the New Year. We can only spend Christmas together."

Makoto Takahashi was completely unmoved and adopted a cold and ruthless attitude: "I can help arrange a flight to Hokkaido and a private car for you to return to Izu."

Hanakawa Kaori stopped faking her tears, replaced them with a reproachful look, and pouted unhappily: "Brother, that's too much! I just wanted to spend Christmas with you!"

"If you can convince Sachi to agree to my and Aya's winter break activities, I will allow you to come to the Tachimi family's house to spend Christmas together."

Makoto Takahashi was just saying it casually, but Hanakawa Kaori's eyes lit up as if she had seen hope, and her face was full of surprise: "Really? You can't lie to me!"

“...I’m not lying to you.” Takahashi Makoto’s tone was hesitant.

Why does it feel like things are getting even worse?

Chapter 166 Christmas Eve (Part 1)

On the last three school days of this semester, all club and student council activities will be completed, and students can leave the school directly after school.

The bell rang, and Makoto Takahashi ended his chat with Hina Nekoya and Kaori Hanakawa, walked out of the classroom, and crossed the corridor to the classroom door of Class 1-A.

A short while later, Uesugi Maya, fully armed, appeared before them.

As the weather grew colder, she not only put on a thick coat, but also wrapped herself up tightly with a knitted hat, gloves, and scarf, looking very cold.

Kind of cute.

Makoto Takahashi had an urge to pinch the back of her neck with his cold hands, but as soon as he reached out, Maya Uesugi's eyes suddenly turned dangerous.

"Go to hell." She took two steps back and moved away.

"You're exaggerating. The temperature isn't even below zero yet."

Makoto Takahashi stepped forward, cornering her against the corridor wall. Before his evil hand could succeed, Maya Uesugi coldly took out a compass from her coat pocket.

Makoto Takahashi raised his hands in surrender.

"Pest." Uesugi Maya lifted her leg, stomped on his foot, and strode towards the stairs.

Stepping out of the warm teaching building, she wrapped her coat tighter around herself, her breath forming white mist in the cold air before slowly dissipating.

"Why didn't you call a car?" Takahashi Makoto looked around the courtyard but couldn't find the white sedan.

“No need,” Uesugi Maya replied calmly.

As usual, the two took the streetcar at the tram stop, got off in Toshima Ward, and went to a supermarket to buy groceries.

The supermarket's automatic glass doors kept out the cold air, and Uesugi Maya finally relaxed her guard.

She took out disinfectant wipes from her coat pocket, carefully wiped the handle of the shopping cart, and pushed the cart toward the vegetable section.

"We'll buy the New Year's groceries in a few days. Which day do you want to do the spring cleaning?"

“I don’t like spring cleaning,” Makoto Takahashi answered frankly.

"I will go with you."

"Reiko should be coming, right?" He followed behind Uesugi Maya, watching her select vegetables, trying to resist.

“She has two houses that need cleaning, do you remember?” Uesugi Maya put the eggplant into the shopping cart and glanced back at him.

The apartment in Roppongi can't be expected to be cleaned by Junko Shiraishi. In addition, Reiko Kashima also has a house in Jiyugaoka.

Being a maid is very hard work.

Takahashi Makoto thought to himself, but his face was still full of resistance: "I'll just transfer a maid from the Tachimi family, and clean both apartments together."

“I don’t want outsiders in your apartment.” Maya Uesugi touched the outline of her ear, then turned around and picked up a tomato, examining it closely under the light.

It was rare for Hakiyo to be so straightforward, so Takahashi Makoto had no choice but to agree, no matter how unwilling he was.

"Okay, it's just cleaning at most."

"No, it's a thorough cleaning."

Maya Uesugi emphasized her words, making Makoto Takahashi a little suspicious that she planned to throw all the items related to Yuki Tachimi out of the apartment under the guise of cleaning.

After buying groceries for the next two days, Makoto Takahashi carried them back to Maya Uesugi's apartment.

Winter days are short and night falls early. After dinner, as night enveloped Tokyo, the two turned off the living room lights and sat together on the beanbag chair to watch a movie on the projector.