They all have hidden attributes!

Hina Nekoya shifted her feet sideways, hooked her arm around Makoto Takahashi's shoulder, and patted him lightly twice: "Isn't confidante or best friend okay?"

"I'm afraid that won't work. It has to be a identity that allows her to disregard boundaries, rely on me freely, and breathe on me at will."

"Breathing?"

“Just like a cat.” Makoto Takahashi smiled.

If Uesugi Maya really is a cat, then neither of them will have any worries, and even if Tatsumi Yuki is petty, there's nothing he can do.

"If there's such a good thing, remember to call me along." Nekoya Hina twitched her lips and rolled her eyes at the sky.

Upon hearing this, Takahashi Makoto gave him a complex look.

Almost forgot, there's also a secret admirer here who's lusting after me.

Does she really have a crush on me?

Makoto Takahashi even had some doubts, feeling that Hina Nekoya came to Tokyo just to play badminton, and that everything else could be put on hold.

However, such identities do exist, such as those of Kashima Reiko and Shiraishi Junka, but Uesugi Maya would not accept them, as she still wants to compete with Tachimi Yuki.

Nekoya Hina has a very high sense of morality, so it's best not to mention her.

"Hey, Makoto, this is what it's like to be a jerk, isn't it?" Nekoya Hina kicked the snow on the road.

"probably."

Takahashi Makoto led her to a dessert shop, opened the glass door, and a warm breeze carrying a sweet aroma wafted out: "I never thought I'd end up being a jerk like Yoru."

"You don't like her?" Nekoya Hina stared wide-eyed in surprise.

“I like her, but she used to say that I’m not a jerk.”

Makoto Takahashi didn't continue the topic, turning his attention to the various cakes and breads. Besides cream puffs, the white chocolate and pineapple buns also looked quite good.

"Is there anything you'd like to eat?" he asked casually.

"I'll pass, I still have dinner to eat later."

Hina Nekoya waved her hand lightly, directly betraying Tatsumi Yuki and Uesugi Maya: "Tatsumi-senpai said we're having barbecue tonight, so it's all up to you!"

Seeing the trusting look in her eyes, as if she expected him to grill the meat, Takahashi Makoto returned a puzzled look: "Sachi? Where do you grill the meat?"

“Your home, huh?” Nekoya Hina answered matter-of-factly.

So tonight wasn't a date with the young lady?

Are we really going to have a Christmas party?

Kashima Reiko said she would help her catch Tachibana Yuki, so it was tonight?

So they must already be in the apartment?

When delivering a Christmas gift to Maya Uesugi, Makoto Takahashi suddenly had a bad feeling. He quickly ordered the food, forgetting to chat with Hina Nekoya.

Carrying the packaged desserts, he hurried back to the parking lot.

Nekoya Hina barely kept up, asking breathlessly, "What happened, Makoto? You still haven't asked me what Christmas present I prepared for you."

"After I get back and deal with Miss, and Junko too," Takahashi Makoto said.

"Are you sure it wasn't Senior Li Jian who dealt with you?"

"After I dealt with her, she was too exhausted to deal with me."

"Huh?" Nekoya Hina looked completely bewildered.

Makoto Takahashi didn't have time to tutor her right now, so he called the driver to go back to the parking lot.

When the two arrived, the driver had already started the vehicle and was ready to leave at any time.

Makoto Takahashi sat between Maya Uesugi and Reiko Kashima, while Hina Nekoya went to the passenger seat. As soon as she got in the car, she smelled a pungent, unfamiliar odor.

"What kind of fragrance is this? It smells awful." Nekoya Hina pinched her nose and frowned.

"Heh." Uesugi Maya sneered disdainfully.

A hint of sympathy flashed in Kashima Reiko's eyes, but she remained silent.

"Drive back to the apartment," Takahashi Makoto instructed.

The vehicle slowly drove out of the parking lot and headed towards Toyoshima Ward along the street lit up by streetlights.

Makoto Takahashi handed the paper bag from the dessert shop to Maya Uesugi, coughed twice seriously, and placed his hand on Reiko Kashima's thigh beside him: "Maya, Reiko, there's something I want to discuss with you."

The girl's body temperature, which had not yet subsided, was transmitted to his palm through the fabric of his kimono.

“Miss Kashima told me that I don’t mind if I can help you.” Kashima Reiko said expressionlessly.

Makoto Takahashi turned to Maya Uesugi with a calm gaze and tentatively asked, "Maya, would you like to play in a band with Sachi?"

"No," Uesugi Maya refused decisively.

She didn't want to see Li Xian at all right now, not just because she disliked her, but also because she felt ashamed in front of her.

"I wrote a song for Xing, it would be a shame not to release it."

Makoto Takahashi adopted a more conciliatory tone, but Maya Uesugi gave him a cold glance and brought up the question again: "How important am I to you?"

She didn't expect to be the most important person, but at the very least, she couldn't be helpless when facing Tachimi Yuki.

When confronted by Kashima Reiko, Takahashi Makoto found it difficult to answer.

Feeling a bit strange, Hina Nekoya, sitting in the passenger seat, turned around, her gaze shifting between the two of them.

"Acheng, you just said you wouldn't be a jerk to Maya, but now you're acting like you're pursuing her." She said intuitively.

Takahashi Makoto silently gave his good brother a thumbs up in his heart, and immediately declared: "Yo, I've decided to officially start pursuing you from today."

Although Maya Uesugi had asked him in return, Makoto Takahashi never took the initiative.

Now that she's been given a high status and her pursuit has been made clear, the cat can hiss without restraint and challenge Ritsuki.

In Kashima Reiko's view, after Takahashi Makoto won her over, Uesugi Maya was no different from her and didn't need to be bothered.

She's already married to Makoto Takahashi, so if we actually win her over, wouldn't she be even worse off than Junka Shiraishi?

"..." Kashima Reiko looked at him with pity.

"Ha, pests."

Uesugi Maya sneered, giving him a look as if he were trash, and asked with a forced smile, "What time?"

Spring break.

"You're coming too."

"of course."

Makoto Takahashi adopted a pursuing attitude, reaching out to Maya Uesugi's slender waist: "I'll be in charge of the piano part, and Yuki will still be on bass."

Uesugi Maya kicked his shin, but after a moment's thought, she didn't stop the arm that was gently around his waist.

She hasn't had time to learn about being pursued online, because of her personality and the fact that she's never experienced it before.

It shouldn't be a problem to let Takahashi Makoto take a little advantage; it's rare for him to take the initiative, so we can't dampen his enthusiasm, Uesugi Maya thought to herself.

The fact that he has a girlfriend and still wants to pursue me is enough to show that he has nothing to fear about finding love soon.

Thinking of this, Uesugi Maya's mood quickly improved, and she decided that even if the Christmas gift was a little perfunctory, she wouldn't hold it against him.

Back at the apartment, as expected, Tachibana Yuki's black sedan was parked downstairs.

The four of them went upstairs together. Makoto Takahashi took out his key and opened the door. The moment the door opened, the confetti and cannons fell with a "pop".

"Merry Christmas!" Hanakawa Kaori shouted with a bright smile.

"Get dressed," Uesugi Maya commanded coldly.

Hanakawa Kaori, standing in the entrance hall, was wearing only light purple cargo pants and a white tank top.

Tank tops are something I can't even wear out in the summer because I'm petite and there's a risk of my budding breasts being visible from above.

The wide-leg cargo pants accentuate a slender waist, fair skin, and youthful figure, evoking a sense of dominance and a desire to do whatever one wants.

"No, I don't want to. I'll wear a down jacket when I go out."

Hanakawa Kaori raised her face and pointed to the short purple down jacket hanging on the coat rack in the entryway: "The air conditioning and heating are on too high."

"..." Maya Uesugi grinded her teeth.

Makoto Takahashi patted Hanakawa Kaori's head and took off his coat for her: "Is Sachi here?"

"In the art studio."

Hanakawa Kaori obediently hung up the clothes and squatted down to arrange the slippers: "Junko-nee was in charge of preparing all the ingredients for the barbecue, and surprisingly, there were no kitchen accidents today."

"She's not stupid."

Makoto Takahashi walked into the living room without looking to the side. Maya Uesugi was very satisfied with his performance and glared at Hanakawa Kaori.

"Tch." Hanakawa Kaori pouted, unconvinced.

She only joined forces with Tatsumi Yuki because Uesugi Maya was utterly useless, and that was to protect the band. Why should she glare at her?

Seeing Hanakawa Kaori's rebellious expression, Uesugi Maya gave her a disdainful look, straightened her back to accentuate her beautiful curves, and said: "Barren."

"?" Nekoya Hina's expression was strange.

"..." Kashima Reiko felt offended.

Haki, what are you doing?

Makoto Takahashi didn't expect that as soon as he calmed down Maya Uesugi, she would start breathing on everyone in the same way.

They probably wouldn't dare to destroy the house.

"Just make yourself at home, since you all come here often anyway."

Makoto Takahashi quickly grabbed Maya Uesugi's wrist and strode toward the art studio: "Let's go get our Christmas presents."

"painting?"

"Yes, it should be dry by now."

A vibrant oil painting on the easel directly opposite the studio door instantly caught Uesugi Maya's eye.

The bluish-purple night sky, with its dazzling stars, seemed unreal, exuding a pure and serene beauty.