They all have hidden attributes!

Now that things have come to this, [the cat's potential] must also be put to use.

As soon as Uesugi Maya hung up the phone, Tachimi Yuki peeked in from the gently pushed-open door, smiling and waving to greet her: "Makoto-kun, I missed you so much, so I came straight here."

Upon seeing his girlfriend suddenly appear, Makoto Takahashi immediately realized why Maya Uesugi had suddenly called.

"Please sit for a while; I need a little more time."

The dance studio, which was temporarily converted from a meeting room, still had tables and chairs, and Makoto Takahashi was sitting in one of them.

Li Jian sat down next to him and obediently agreed, "Okay."

Makoto Takahashi continued his conversation with his teacher across the ocean, gaining valuable insights and resolving all his doubts before ending the video call.

Covering the tablet, Tachibana Yuki took his arm, placed it against her chest, and suggested with a soft smile:

"Chengjun, how about staying here tonight? This hotel just upgraded its smart devices this summer, and the bedding is the latest model."

Makoto Takahashi lowered his brows and looked at her with a somewhat helpless expression: "I think I just mentioned yesterday that I was going to stay at Reiko's place temporarily?"

"Just try it out, it won't take long." Tachikami Yuki gently rubbed her cheek against his arm.

As expected, she only targeted Uesugi Maya, not Kashima Reiko.

Makoto Takahashi believed that if he dared to mention Maya Uesugi's name, Yuki Tatsumi would immediately back down, and he would lose his last right to concede.

Knowing when to advance and when to retreat is both a virtue of the young lady and a means of controlling him.

To break this deadlock, there's only one option besides satisfying her: make her happy.

We can't lose all our cards before spring break even starts.

As for the option of acting cute, it will not be considered unless it is a blissful time spent in bed.

"Fortunately, after thinking about it carefully, I still think the Christmas gift I'm giving you isn't quite right."

Makoto Takahashi looked at Yuki Tachibana with a tender gaze, gently touched her head, and said with a gentle smile, "How about we go shopping together later? One Christmas present isn't enough to express your place in my heart."

The dissatisfaction brewing in Tachibana Yuki's eyes gradually dissipated, and Takahashi Makoto continued to gently comb through the golden hair with his fingers, enjoying the soft touch:

Is there anything you want?

"Chengjun, actually, I've been feeling like I'm missing some accessories lately."

Tachibana Yuki raised her left hand, examining her slender, fair fingers closely: "When should we get married?"

"I want to make the engagement ring myself; carving is also an art form."

Makoto Takahashi kissed her forehead, using a romantic statement to mask his intention to stall for time: "We can go to the nearby jewelry store and do some research."

The reason of "finding material" is far too versatile.

Meeting his affectionate gaze, Ritsuki readily agreed, a rare occurrence for him: "Alright, then I'll let Yoru go tonight."

"Did you bully Sayo again?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

"How can you say it's bullying? She was the one who showed off first."

Yuki Tatsumi quickly composed herself, pretending to wipe away tears, and complained, "Being affectionate with my boyfriend like that is too much, Makoto-kun~"

Makoto Takahashi patted her back gently to comfort her. Knowing his girlfriend as he did, he knew that Yuki Tachimi must have made the first move, taken advantage of him, and then tried to act cute with him.

Even a slightly mischievous angel is quite adorable.

"Let's experience the hotel another time. I'll definitely get scolded if I keep A-Ye waiting too long."

"Isn't there any other compensation for what happened to me when I was bullied by Sayo?" Tachikami Yuki raised her moist, deep blue eyes and looked at him with a pitiful expression.

Makoto Takahashi kissed her light red lips, and only after she let out a comfortable breath did the two of them go downstairs together.

In the hotel lobby, Uesugi Maya, having composed herself, stood with her arms crossed under the bright lights of the bar, holding a disposable paper cup in her hand.

Her long black hair obscured her profile, making it impossible to see her expression. Her occasional glances towards the elevator lobby gave her a cold and aloof air.

When Makoto Takahashi and Yuki Tachimi came into view, Maya Uesugi turned her head sharply like an antenna, her beautiful caramel-colored eyes revealing a look of contentment.

"Have you made arrangements with Reiko?" Makoto Takahashi asked casually.

Maya Uesugi finished her coffee from the disposable paper cup, threw it in the trash can, and casually said, "She said it was convenient."

"Let's go buy some souvenirs nearby, Aunt Maki is home too."

Before Tachimi Yuki and Uesugi Maya could make eye contact, Takahashi Makoto put his arm around Tachimi Yuki's slender waist and led her outside: "Yuki, do you want to go? Jiyugaoka."

"I won't go, otherwise Aunt Maki will definitely feel awkward."

Tachibana Yuki turned around and looked at Uesugi Maya with a provocative gaze, while snuggling closer to him: "It would be better to buy a ring first, we can't let our girlfriend be unsatisfied."

"A ring? Unsatisfied desire?"

Uesugi Maya seemed unable to understand the deliberate yet inexplicable choice of words. Takahashi Makoto lightly patted Tachimi Yuki's pert buttocks and abruptly ended the topic without further explanation: "I'll take you back to the main family later."

Perhaps because Uesugi Maya had been humiliated that night, and Tachimi Yuki was in a good mood and captivated by Takahashi Makoto's affectionate gaze, no conflict erupted that night, and the atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful.

At a high-end jewelry store in the port area, he carefully selected a sapphire ring and personally put it on the left middle finger of Tachimi Yuki.

The young lady was very satisfied, and Uesugi Maya did not make any sarcastic remarks. Only Takahashi Makoto owed the young lady an engagement ring in addition to the oil painting.

Fortunately, he has many miscellaneous skills, including carving. Once he buys the right materials, he can simply use skill points to upgrade them.

After dropping Tachibana Yuki off at home, Takahashi Makoto and Uesugi Maya traveled together to the Kashima residence.

On the way, he searched online for information about auctions and sapphires. The world's most recognized "best" sapphire is the Kashmir sapphire, which is now extinct and is famous for its unique "velvety" texture.

As I was concentrating on reading the information released by the auction house, Uesugi Maya, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up:

"You can actually act cute?"

"what?"

"Lijian said that you really like to act cute towards her."

“Occasionally.” Makoto Takahashi nodded.

Having received confirmation, Maya Uesugi lowered her arms from her chest and said casually, "I want to know what happened."

"What's going on? What do you mean?"

Makoto Takahashi looked up at her with a troubled expression. Maya Uesugi cleared her throat and raised her head slightly: "Do it to me too."

"Even if you say that, there's nothing I can do. Half of those things are done on impulse."

"Where is your other half?"

"Excited." Makoto Takahashi shrugged helplessly.

"Tsk, scum."

Uesugi Maya instantly put on a disgusted expression, glaring down at me with her squinty eyes: "No matter what, I'm giving you the right to act cute towards me."

“…Okay.” Takahashi Makoto pursed his lips speechlessly.

Although they really wanted to say, "Then I won't be polite," the two of them weren't that close yet.

Simply put, the atmosphere it exudes is inappropriate.

Upon arriving at the Kashima residence, Maya Uesugi politely greeted the Kashima mother and daughter, presented them with a gift, and invited them to stay for dinner—a gesture so natural that it surprised Makoto Takahashi.

Thinking about it carefully, from the very beginning, Maya Uesugi was not lacking in social skills, and even understood the unspoken rules among girls, but she just wasn't interested.

On her first visit to a friend's house, she naturally wouldn't be sarcastic.

After dinner, Maya Uesugi declined Maki Kashima's invitation to stay overnight and returned to her apartment, while Makoto Takahashi chose to stay.

As night fell, Kashima Reiko made up the bedding in her bedroom, and the two of them went to the bathroom to take a shower together.

"Are the Hagiri sisters very strong?" Takahashi Makoto asked Kashima Reiko, whom he was holding in his arms, while taking a bath.

"They are very strong; they were selected for the national team's Group A during the summer training camp."

As she explained the intensity in detail, Makoto Takahashi looked up at the ceiling with concern: "I hope there's still something I can do."

"If it were you, you definitely could."

Kashima Reiko spoke expressionlessly, turned around, pushed his chest to face him, and looked into Takahashi Makoto's eyes from above:

"Besides, they might not necessarily lose."

Kashima Reiko's expression was calm, but her waist rippled beneath the surface like waves, expressing her dissatisfaction that he was thinking of someone else.

"It's my fault." Takahashi Makoto hugged her tightly and, in response to Kashima Reiko's actions, kissed her.

Chapter 180 Words Hidden in the Heart

December 28, Keio Stadium, Tokyo.

At 9 a.m., the whistle blew precisely on time for the women's doubles semi-final.

"The first match this morning will be between Tokyo Tatsumi Sports and Kyoto Toyama Club. The two Ms. Hagiri from Toyama Club, as members of the national team's Group A, are this year's dark horses and favorites to win the championship..."

Sitting in the VIP audience seats, I could hear the commentary and smell the refreshing scent of citrus.

Makoto Takahashi stared at the twin sisters in the arena and asked Reiko Kashima, who was sitting next to him, "Reiko, is it possible that twins really have telepathy? And that they can use it to cheat?"

"Even if such a cheating method exists, it will not be considered a foul."

Kashima Reiko's gaze followed Hanakawa Kaori's petite figure, her hand resting on Takahashi Makoto's: "If Kaori gets serious, there should be hope."

"Is there any hope?" Makoto Takahashi asked.

“Yina is actually a bit behind Hanaori’s pace. When dividing the areas, Hanaori has been taking on the majority of the responsibility. This kind of competition is not like playing house in the national tournament.”

No sooner had Kashima Reiko finished speaking than Nekoya Hina conceded the first point due to poor defense.

She said something that sounded like an apology to Hanakawa Kaori, her expression tense, but she still seemed out of sorts.

“Sports competition is a cruel thing.” Makoto Takahashi clearly saw her struggle.

“We can put pressure on the Hagiri family,” Kashima Reiko suggested.

“I don’t want to resort to underhanded tactics; it wouldn’t be fair to them.” Makoto Takahashi shook his head without hesitation and refused.

Of all the things he could do, helping Hanakawa Kaori and Nekoya Hina win today's match was definitely not among them.

As the match continued, Nekoya Hina was targeted as a weak point in the defense, but once she found her rhythm, her powerful offense overwhelmed her opponent.

Best-of-three, single-elimination format, the brutal competition tests the mental fortitude of the four players on the field.