They all have hidden attributes!

"Let's talk outside."

"it is good."

The two left the classroom together and went to the vending machine in the corridor. Takahashi Makoto took out his wallet and bought himself a can of Coke.

He asked Kashima Reiko, "What would you like to drink, Kashima-senpai? It's on me, consider it a return gift for buying me the light novel."

"The cat house has returned the gift on your behalf."

"Oh, is that so? Did you come to see me specifically for something, senior?" Takahashi Makoto retrieved the change from the vending machine and bent down to pick up the fallen drink.

Kashima Reiko waited for him to stand up before speaking expressionlessly: "Do you want to join the student council?"

"Do not want to."

"why?"

"Although the student council has a simple structure, the premise for its efficient operation is that senior student Tachikami squeezed every last drop of energy from everyone," Takahashi Makoto said with certainty.

Reiko Kashima, recalling her daily work, nodded: "You're right."

"And I feel like Ritsumi-senpai is a bit strange. Is she like this to everyone, or is she just special to me?" Takahashi Makoto pulled the metal tab off the can of Coke and looked directly into her eyes as he asked.

"If you want something, you have to get it yourself." Kashima-senpai didn't answer directly, but said something strange.

"What do you mean?"

"What you can't have is worthless."

"..."

Makoto Takahashi fell silent. Reiko Kashima's pitying gaze made him feel a little scared.

Seeing that he still didn't understand, Kashima Reiko thought of 18+ light novels and used a more colloquial way of saying it: "She wants to beat you down to your knees and take you back to be her slave."

She deliberately wore a serious expression when she said this.

After a long silence, Takahashi Makoto finally uttered, "Huh?"

"I'm going back."

Seeing Kashima-senpai turn to leave, he quickly chased after her and asked, "Is it okay for you to tell me something like this, senpai?"

After all, she's a maid; if she easily reveals the truth, she won't have a good ending.

"It's alright, you can't escape." Kashima Reiko said indifferently.

"So, Ritsu-senpai likes me?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"Probably." Kashima Reiko expressed doubt about this.

Brown bears' fondness for migrating salmon is a kind of preference, and given Yuki Tachimi's personality, Makoto Takahashi is probably his favorite top-quality ingredient.

Upon reaching the stairs, Makoto Takahashi asked one last question: "What did you mean by saying you envied Hina? I'm curious."

Kashima Reiko stopped after climbing two steps, turned around, and looked down at him with envy: "She can choose her life, stick to what she loves, and has friends who support her."

"Is the senior referring to her giving up badminton?"

"I don't like badminton." After saying that, she turned around and quickly went upstairs, returning to the floor where the second grade was located.

As expected, Kashima-senpai didn't have a crush on him. After figuring out the situation, Takahashi Makoto walked towards the classroom of Class 1-C.

After learning that Tachibana Yuki had feelings for him, Takahashi Makoto didn't pay attention in class all morning, spending the whole time thinking about [love].

Of the four major anxieties at this age, love is undoubtedly the most tormenting and complex issue.

He had never thought about the standards for his first girlfriend before. Apart from classical requirements such as loyalty and purity, there was only one feeling left.

When it comes to love, feelings are definitely the most important thing, right?

Ultimately, when it comes to love, there's probably no such thing as a "right answer."

No matter what choice you make, you may regret it in the end. In that case, it's better to listen to your most intuitive feelings.

Do you like Okita Sumi?

To be honest, after learning that her strange behavior was because she had feelings for me, I didn't dislike her, but I didn't feel any sudden attraction either.

Considering practical factors, the system does not provide financial assistance, but Yukichi Rita is able to fill this gap well and help on the road to achieving her ideals.

However, Makoto Takahashi is confident that he can achieve financial freedom through his own abilities and does not necessarily need to take shortcuts.

Considering the infinite possibilities she has in the future, if they were to actually date, she would be the one who benefits more. Compared to the upper limit of the system panel, even a chaebol is nothing.

After careful consideration until lunch break, Takahashi Seisai finally made up his mind.

Considering that Senior Lijian is beautiful, has a slim waist, long legs, and a sexy figure, let's learn more about her first.

They've only known each other for a few days, and he doesn't even know about Tachibana Yuki's hidden attributes yet. Even if she confesses her feelings directly, it would be difficult for her to agree.

It would be terrible if she were a hidden landmine.

If you're certain that Lijian is the only one for you, that she's not the kind of person who's easygoing, and that there are no issues with her, then you could try dating her.

Makoto Takahashi values ​​his first love highly. If possible, he hopes that his first love will be his lifelong choice, otherwise it will be very troublesome after he becomes the strongest on Earth.

However, the rich girls in light novels seem to never have the concept of breaking up; they only experience things like widowhood.

This is also a kind of stereotype.

To be honest, neither Uesugi Maya nor Tatsumi Yuki fit my stereotype of a rich young lady.

—Wait a minute, if you really want to understand Ritsumi-senpai, you should go find a comrade of justice.

As the bell rang for the end of the last class in the morning, before the math teacher had even announced the end of get out of class, Makoto Takahashi immediately stood up and ran to find Maya Uesugi in Class 1-A.

When he first heard that a girl liked him, he was very enthusiastic.

The classroom for Class 1A was empty; the last period in the morning was probably PE, so he had to go to the Light Music Club to find someone.

Just as he reached the stairs, Nekoya Hina called out to him.

"Ah Cheng, aren't we having lunch together today?"

"Sorry, I almost forgot." Takahashi Makoto withdrew his left foot from the step and turned to her with an apologetic smile.

Since enrolling, the two have always spent their lunch break together; he didn't want to betray his routine.

Besides, Nekoya Hina even returned the gift to Kashima-senpai on my behalf.

Thinking of this, Takahashi Makoto offered, "I'll treat you to lunch today. You can choose any of the student cafeterias."

"Great, Acheng, you're so thoughtful."

Nekoya Hina's handsome face broke into a happy smile as she trotted over and put her hand on his shoulder: "I want to eat beef."

"Why are you coming so close again?" Takahashi Makoto tried to avoid her, but failed.

The two walked downstairs arm in arm, and it wasn't until they reached the shoe cabinet to change their shoes that Hina Nekoya let go of her hand.

Chapter 23: Topics in Romance (Please continue reading)

When changing out of his indoor shoes, Makoto Takahashi saw the shoe cabinet without any love letters and suddenly remembered that the only person he could talk to about love was Hina Nekoya.

"Hina, just because you like someone doesn't mean you'll send them a love letter, right?"

Makoto Takahashi took a transparent umbrella from the public umbrella lending station. He had just bought a new umbrella and was hanging it on the side of his desk, too lazy to go back to the classroom to get it.

"This is the first time A-Cheng has taken the initiative to talk to me about love. Do you have someone you like?" Nekoya Hina asked.

"I've discovered that someone likes me."

“It’s normal~ I know two people who have a crush on Acheng.” She held up two fingers and made a peace sign.

Makoto Takahashi looked displeased: "Only two people, they seem so pathetic."

No matter what, she possesses a charm that transcends human limits; it must be because Nekoya Hina's social circle is too narrow.

"Because nobody knows Acheng. Just based on his appearance, that's already a lot."

It sounds like she agrees with Uesugi Maya's theory that there aren't that many infatuated and superficial people in Tsurumizawa.

The two opened their umbrellas and walked out of the teaching building side by side, stepping on the wet pavement towards the student cafeteria.

Hina Nekoya organized her thoughts and said to Makoto Takahashi, "Aside from idiots who are obsessed with love, no one would ever do what they do in light novels: hand over a love letter, arrange to meet on the rooftop, and then confess their feelings directly."

"Why?" Takahashi Makoto asked, puzzled.

If he's sure he likes someone, he'll still want to tell them directly at the right time.

However, they probably won't say it to his face, otherwise being rejected would be quite...

“Because there are so many things to consider, when someone proposes a relationship, most people probably still want to be together for life, right?” Nekoya Hina asked matter-of-factly.

"That's right." That's exactly what Makoto Takahashi thought.

Turning her head to look to her side, Hina Nekoya stared at the road ahead, her expression firm and composed.

"That's why I'm extra cautious before starting. To get to know the other person, it's best to spend a long time together until you're so compatible that you can't be apart, and then confess your feelings. It's also important to confirm whether the other person is attractive to you, whether they have violent tendencies, and whether you enjoy being together."

"It sounds like the idea that [a confession is not a battle cry, but a victory bell]," Makoto Takahashi said.

“That’s right, exactly.” Nekoya Hina nodded emphatically, turned to meet his gaze, and gave him a bright smile.

Makoto Takahashi nodded thoughtfully, then looked back at the cafeteria building emerging from the rain and asked, "Do all girls think like this?"

“Different people will definitely have different ideas, but they should all be about the same, right?” Her questioning tone sounded completely unconvincing.

So, what would Senior Lijian think?

In some 18+ light novels, the young ladies are often very cruel; they might knock them unconscious, stuff them into a sack, take them home, and hide them in a basement for house arrest.

Senior Lijian looks very gentle and innocent, she probably wouldn't do such a thing, right?

The air suddenly fell silent, and for a moment only the sound of raindrops from a transparent umbrella could be heard. It wasn't until he reached the cafeteria entrance and saw a hand waving in front of him that Takahashi Makoto came back to his senses.

He stopped and saw Nekoya Hina peek over, her brown eyes scrutinizing his expression.

"Ah Cheng, you've been acting strange lately," she said, her expression hinting at unease.

"I'm thinking about what kind of girl I would like." Makoto Takahashi folded his umbrella and placed it at the public umbrella lending station at the cafeteria entrance.

"And the conclusion?"

"It's about soul connection, and I believe love should be pure. It shouldn't be based on interests or conditions, and the bottom line is loyalty."