They all have hidden attributes!

As I entered the cafeteria, the surrounding noise became loud again.

"Anything else?" Hina Nekoya asked curiously, half a step behind him.

"It would be best if we could grow together."

"Acheng, you're being too rational. No one could possibly do that."

"Maybe."

The two arrived at the beef bowl stall. While Nekoya Haruna was thinking about what set meal to order, Takahashi Makoto ordered his meal and then looked around boredly.

He saw a table in the center of the cafeteria, where several girls were sitting around Tachibana Yuki, like stars surrounding the moon.

Senior student Lijian smiled gently and chatted with everyone, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Before she could even notice his gaze, Makoto Takahashi looked away. Seeing that Haruna Nekoya was having trouble making a decision, he offered to order for her:

"Yakitori and beef combo set meal, plus two servings of beef."

“I like Makoto the most.” Nekoya Hina immediately flashed a bright smile, she’s so easy to understand.

As a result, because he saw the beauty of senior student Tachikami at noon, and Takahashi Makoto did not pay attention in class in the afternoon, he naturally did not have the opportunity to trigger the friendship training.

Finding out that a gentle and beautiful senior likes him is still too exciting for a virgin.

After school, Makoto Takahashi made a promise to meet Hina Nekoya later at the archery club, and then hurried off to the light music club.

Of course, he didn't forget to bring his violin bag, otherwise he would definitely be under pressure from Uesugi Maya again.

Upon arriving at the 5th floor of the special building, Makoto Takahashi discovered that the Light Music Club's area had increased.

The Light Music Club, which used to be located in a classroom on the left at the end of the corridor, now has a door and a newly built wall blocking the corridor, and a brand-new sign reads "[Light Music Club]".

There is no doubt that Maya Uesugi occupied the space that was originally in the corridor, and possibly the classroom that was originally on the right.

He pushed open the door and went inside. The door to the Light Music Club was open, as was the other door, just as he had expected.

The original space of the club office remained largely unchanged. Uesugi Maya sat at four desks pushed together by the window, flipping through "The Arranger's Handbook for Modern Musicians."

Seeing her beautiful profile, Makoto Takahashi's mood calmed down slightly.

He slowed his pace, walked over, took off his violin case, and asked Uesugi Maya, "Why didn't you reply to my messages?"

Hearing this, she smiled, her delicate and lovely face breaking into a smile, and said without even looking up, "I thought you wouldn't ask me."

Why would you think that way?

"Aren't you the one who cares most about manners?"

Indeed, in the strange place that is Japan, not replying to a text message is a clear sign of attitude, and it is extremely impolite to ask the person involved for clarification.

Makoto Takahashi pulled out a chair, sat down opposite her, took his bass from his instrument case, and held it to his chest: "You and Tachimi-senpai are quite familiar with each other, aren't you? Kashima-senpai said—"

“We’re not familiar with each other.” Uesugi Maya interrupted him rudely.

The visit was silent; for a moment, only the sound of raindrops tapping on the windows and the turning of pages filled the office.

Makoto Takahashi stared at her for a while, trying to put pressure on her.

A few minutes later, Uesugi Maya, as if she couldn't take it anymore, slammed the book shut and looked up to meet his gaze.

"I understand, I will be a close friend." Her tone carried a hint of helplessness, which made people feel good.

Makoto Takahashi started by talking about Yuki Tachimi himself, and made it clear beforehand that he did not mean to speak ill of others behind their backs.

"What kind of person is Li Jian in your eyes?"

"I have the right to keep my opinion of anyone; that is a matter of personal privacy."

"Let me put it another way: what do you think about the fact that Senior Li Jian likes me?"

Upon hearing this question, Uesugi Maya leaned back, habitually crossed her arms, and played with her long black hair hanging down her shoulder with her right hand.

Makoto Takahashi saw a glint in her beautiful caramel-colored eyes, and her always downturned lips gradually straightened and then curled up slightly, as if she had heard something ridiculous.

That's quite an intriguing expression.

However, the fact that Maya Uesugi did not immediately deny it already speaks volumes.

This at least proves that Kashima-senpai wasn't lying.

Chapter 24 Hell Girl's Advice

The sound of rain was soft and gentle.

The cool white light of the office building outlined Maya Uesugi's profile, and there was a clean scent in the air.

After a long silence, she suddenly chuckled softly, her refined beauty causing hearts to race involuntarily: "Let's have a relationship consultation."

This romantic comedy-like atmosphere made Makoto Takahashi very uncomfortable.

—The girl sitting opposite him is Hell Girl, with a paper cutter and a compass in the pocket of her pleated skirt.

"Is this also a friend's obligation? I just want to know about Ritsumi-senpai's matter."

"I can't give you a direct answer, but she's someone whose face can't be shown in the media or on social networks," Maya Uesugi said in a cruel tone.

"The lives of young ladies are such a hassle," Makoto Takahashi thought to himself.

"Before we begin the relationship counseling, here's a piece of advice for you."

He saw Uesugi Maya's eyes suddenly turn to disgust, and her tone grow colder: "Put away your feigned politeness. It's too hypocritical to cross other people's boundaries like this."

As she spoke, her usually quiet voice became less flat, revealing more contempt: "If you want to truly enjoy being in love, you must show your true self."

"..." Takahashi Makoto remained silent and lowered his head to look at the bass fretboard.

“That girl, Li Jian, is the type who won’t give up. You can be more honest with her, like when she asked me why I didn’t reply to her texts.”

Uesugi Maya's insight was even sharper than he had imagined; her so-called "politeness" was merely a facade.

Although he doesn't know how to adapt to the atmosphere, Takahashi Seiya almost never reveals his true thoughts, including towards Nekoya Hina, and he always considers maintaining their friendship in his words and actions.

If you ask why, it's normal to be afraid of losing friends, right?

It was precisely because Uesugi Maya was so purposeful that he dared to abandon his polite facade today, only to be seen through by her.

When they first met, Uesugi Maya said she had been observing him for a long time, and that must have been true.

"Now let's have a Q&A session. Please tell me your most honest thoughts." Uesugi Maya's tone softened.

“Okay.” Makoto Takahashi put his bass aside, tried to relax as much as possible, and casually took a bag of snacks from the desk drawer next to him.

"Do you like confessing your feelings in public?" Maya Uesugi asked.

"No, that would be very embarrassing."

Do you usually need enough personal space?

"Yes."

How would you feel if your partner compared you to other people?

......

The Q&A session was not brief; in fact, it was exceptionally long. Uesugi Maya had to take out her notebook and write down his answers.

Finally, she came to this conclusion.

"You have a severe case of mental fastidiousness, and your requirements for your lover are almost abnormal."

"Huh?" Takahashi Makoto was completely confused. He had always thought that his requirements were very ordinary, just a little bit old-fashioned.

In short: unreserved honesty, unconditional favoritism, and sacred and noble devotion.

Maya Uesugi looked back at the contents of the notebook, raised her face, and her eyes revealed an extremely emotional nature: "These three points alone are something almost no one can achieve."

"So you want to suggest that I lower my expectations?" Makoto Takahashi recalled Hina Nekoya saying that he was too idealistic.

In a place like Japan, coupled with the restless environment of modern society, it is indeed difficult.

"First, I said [almost], and second, I suggest you be yourself, just like me."

Maya Uesugi flicked her long black hair and emphasized in her tone, "Finally, don't settle. Listen to your heart. I really want to see her defeated expression when she can't win you over."

"That sounds a bit perverse." Makoto Takahashi stated his thoughts directly, his expression remaining unchanged as he looked at her.

He went a bit too far, asking Uesugi Maya, "What would happen if I secretly sat in your chair?"

"I'll poke you with a compass until you're clean." Her face suddenly turned cold.

"That's really violent."

"I have never rejected the use of violence. The reason why violence exists is that it is the most efficient means of solving problems for human beings."

As if asserting that she was not wrong, Uesugi Maya began to speak eloquently: "Whether it is to make the other party obey or to refuse the other party's request, violence is the most reliable and quickest way. The so-called position of law enforcement officers, or the exercise of the power of arrest, is also a kind of violent act."

In Makoto Takahashi's eyes, Hell Girl suddenly became vicious, and she even occupied public space.

However, if she were to resort to violence, given her family background, the methods she could use would undoubtedly be more legal and more powerful.

Wait, she's a lone wolf, isn't she?

Thinking about this, Makoto Takahashi asked the question that had been bothering him: "Uesugi-kun, does your insistence on being yourself mean not relying on anyone, including your family?"

“Yes.” Uesugi Maya nodded gently and reopened her music theory book.

Don't you ask your family for money?

"It hasn't happened since two years ago."

Makoto Takahashi became somewhat curious about her source of income. After all, it was hard to imagine how she could earn so much money—15 yen a month for friends—without relying on her family.

Just then, as if seeing through his doubts, a pleasant voice came from outside the office.

"Xiaoye is a bestselling author."

The two looked at each other simultaneously. Tatsumi Yuki, dressed in a full Western-style uniform reminiscent of Tsurumizawa, walked into the clubroom, smiling sweetly as she said, "My Soul Is Silent."

Makoto Takahashi remembered the name; he often saw this book displayed prominently in the modern literature section when buying light novels at bookstores, but he had never read it.

Nevertheless, he still didn't approve of Uesugi Maya's so-called adherence to her own beliefs.

Even without financial needs, the debt of gratitude for raising and nurturing can never be severed; that's what family is all about—

"This is the most painful thing for me, and the biggest obstacle in my life. One day, I will solve it."