They all have hidden attributes!

“Houses near Waseda are not cheap. When I bought this apartment, my savings were almost gone.” Uesugi Maya was reluctant to agree easily.

She had to get this lousy man to show his sincerity before she could state her principles.

Of course, neither of them is short of money; the band's earnings could easily buy a house in Tokyo. The so-called sincerity refers to things like [going back to Tatsumi's house on Friday night to have dinner with his mother].

Takahashi Makoto ignored her question, turned his head to look at her, and said with a playful smile, "I guess I'm the only one who can freeload a meal."

"Otherwise what?" Uesugi Maya asked matter-of-factly.

"Actually, I've always thought of you as a younger sister, and I know that feeling very well."

Makoto Takahashi sighed heavily, looking like he didn't know what to say: "She has always cared about you, but she just doesn't know how to make you happy. It's been like that since the beginning, and it still is now."

This is not a lie; Makoto Takahashi has been watching Tachibana Yuki's attitude towards Uesugi Maya all along.

"Ha, to make me happy, it's simple: just break up with me."

Upon hearing him speak to Tachimi Yuki, Uesugi Maya's attitude instantly turned cold.

Seeing the obvious disgust on her face, Takahashi Makoto swallowed a sip of coffee and slowly said, "There's some misunderstanding between you two. Maybe you'll figure it out if you change your attitude towards her. I know words alone aren't enough—"

After a moment of contemplation, Takahashi Makoto revealed a determined expression, his eyes suddenly hardening: "How about this, the three of us will share an apartment and move in together."

Chapter 190 Invitation to Live Together

"Enjoy your tacos and egg toast!"

The waiter's energetic voice broke the long-silent atmosphere in the store.

The sunlight streaming obliquely through the glass cast long shadows of the two people on the wooden floor. The air was stiff, making one feel a little guilty.

"Aren't you being too arrogant?"

Maya Uesugi took a sip of coffee, finding it a bit too sweet, and without thinking, blurted out a blatant sarcasm: "Do I look like a stupid woman who would be obsessed with male escorts? That's ridiculous."

In her opinion, it made no sense for Makoto Takahashi to suddenly say such a thing.

Even so, I was overjoyed and wanted to agree immediately, but then I felt that it would be too frivolous.

Makoto Takahashi believes that living together and getting to know each other is the best way to improve a relationship.

Living together allows you to gradually and deeply understand each other, until the bond becomes profound.

His girlfriend and the cat couldn't get along, which would definitely cause him headaches in the future. He decided to focus all his energy on this one thing during the rest of his winter break.

"Don't you think this is a good idea?" Makoto Takahashi picked up a taco, took a bite, and chewed slowly.

He met Uesugi Maya's gaze with a calm yet powerful look, swallowed the food in his mouth, and continued:

"If Xing agrees, it means she actually cares about you a lot; there's no other reason for her to agree."

"..." Meeting Takahashi Makoto's gaze, Uesugi Maya's slender fingers slowly tightened their grip on the paper cup.

That cannot be refuted.

If Tatsumi Yukiko really agrees, no matter how Takahashi Makoto tries to persuade her, he will be able to prove that he made some mistakes in the past.

Li Jianxing is a woman with strong self-esteem, assertiveness, and a bit of a perfectionist.

If it weren't for self-pity, she would have had no reason to allow herself to join their cohabitation plan.

"How do you plan to persuade her?" Uesugi Maya swallowed another sip of coffee, probing coldly.

She mustered her strength, her eyes gradually turning cold, trying to put pressure on Takahashi Makoto, but the expression reflected in her eyes remained gentle.

"If you're willing, Xing won't refuse at all."

Makoto Takahashi, feigning nonchalance, reached out and handed the taco to Maya Uesugi: "Try it, this sauce is quite unique."

Despite some disbelief, Uesugi Maya took the taco and took a small bite from the side he hadn't tried before.

Her lips, smeared with a little sauce, shimmered with a slightly glossy sheen in the sunlight.

Makoto Takahashi looked away and started eating his fried egg toast. The taste was ordinary and had no special features.

"Salsa sauce, tomatoes, onions, black pepper... Although it's homemade, it's just a standard recipe."

Maya Uesugi put the taco back on her plate, pulled out two napkins to wipe her mouth, and turned to Makoto Takahashi with a cold gaze to continue their previous conversation:

"What do you plan to do if I disagree?"

Makoto Takahashi liked her cold gaze; it was independent, confident, and calm. Being stared at by her would make him feel guilty, as if his gaze had pierced his chest.

"Give up, what else can we do?"

He swallowed the food in his mouth and took a sip of coffee: "I can't let my girlfriend down. She was happy all day yesterday because of it."

"Ha, what a heartless man."

Maya Uesugi finished the last sip of her coffee and said expressionlessly, "You clearly want to be with me more than with her."

She pinpointed the problem incisively.

"Yes, you're right."

Makoto Takahashi nodded noncommittally and said with a calm smile, "I do hope you can stay by my side, but I also don't want to disappoint Sachi."

Upon receiving a clear answer, a fleeting look of admiration and a hint of self-reproach flashed in Maya Uesugi's eyes before she quickly suppressed all her emotions.

Whenever Tachibana Yuki takes the stand of being his girlfriend, Uesugi Maya always tries to pull Takahashi Makoto out of his sense of responsibility, but this is also one of the things that initially attracted Uesugi Maya, so she can't bring herself to be tough.

—If Makoto Takahashi hadn't been responsible for the Light Music Club back then, the two of them wouldn't be where they are today.

"You're forcing me to join," Uesugi Maya accused mercilessly, while also trying to save face for herself.

Given Makoto Takahashi's understanding of her and his experience raising cats, all he needs to do now is say a few words of criticism and the matter will be settled.

"So, it seems I was corrupted by you guys."

Makoto Takahashi ate the fried egg toast and picked up the taco: "For example, Sachi's controlling nature and lack of compassion."

"Really? What have you learned from me?" Uesugi Maya looked him up and down with a scrutinizing gaze, then lifted her foot to ask.

Makoto Takahashi put the rest of the tacos into his mouth and thought while he chewed.

After swallowing the food in his mouth, he turned to Uesugi Maya and smiled: "Maintain elegance under pressure, and stick to being a scumbag without wavering."

“Dregs, pests, the worst.”

Uesugi Maya coldly rebuked him, gently lowering her raised foot without stepping on him: "You're hopeless. She'll drown you sooner or later."

"As long as you're here, I shouldn't go so far as to be drowned."

Makoto Takahashi got up from the bar stool, turned around and walked out of the store: "Let's go to the Imperial Palace. I've already decided on the song list for the new album."

"Let me make this clear: living together is fine, but don't even think about me preparing her meals. That would be an insult."

With her arms crossed, Maya Uesugi followed Makoto Takahashi out of the store with a crisp and decisive gait, exuding an imposing aura.

"Don't do this, Aye, we can talk about it."

Makoto Takahashi slowed his pace to wait for her to walk alongside him, then put his arm around her shoulder: "How about we take turns preparing the meal? I might get up late in the morning, but I promise dinner will be very plentiful."

"Don't even think about it. Last time you brought her to my house..."

Maya Uesugi immediately brought up old grudges, showing she was even more vengeful than Makoto Takahashi had imagined.

The two slowly walked towards the Imperial Palace. Under Makoto Takahashi's persistent pleading, Maya Uesugi's attitude softened, no longer as firm as it had been at the beginning.

All that's left is to convince the young lady, and then we can begin a happy life together.

The problem is how to bring it up and how to get her to agree.

Even if Tachimi Yuki really is an angel, in practice, this matter is definitely not as simple as Takahashi Makoto said, "[as long as Uesugi Maya is willing, Tachimi Yuki will not refuse]".

The plan is at least half successful. There's always a way to overcome difficulties, and everything is moving in a positive direction. Makoto Takahashi is confident that he can clear away all obstacles.

Wandering around the Imperial Palace should be a very boring thing to do.

But being with someone you like, even just wandering around aimlessly, can be very enjoyable.

After leaving the Imperial Palace, the two shopped at a nearby shopping street, browsing general merchandise, clothing, and electronics. They returned to the Tachimi Main House around 10:30 p.m.

There weren't too many people who came to wish us a Happy New Year, but there were still a dozen or so. Almost all of them were mature women dressed in Japanese style, and there were also a few young people.

These were all close friends of Tatsumi Kotoha and Tatsumi Yuki, and since it didn't involve any personal interests, the atmosphere was even more cheerful than yesterday. Among them was Kashima Maki.

Nekoya Hina and Hanakawa Kaori were not there, and Kashima Reiko was also nowhere to be seen.

Considering that the young lady was prone to jealousy, Makoto Takahashi did not go to the lobby to join in the fun. Instead, he led Maya Uesugi to the villa, intending to wake Junka Shiraishi up.

As you push open the door and step into the villa, a lively scene comes into view.

A variety show is playing on TV, probably interviewing passersby and asking them to guess the results of a survey. Those who guess correctly can receive a gift.

Bright sunlight streamed through the windows into the living room, where Shiraishi Junka, Kashima Reiko, Nekoya Hina, and Hanakawa Kaori sat around the newly moved table playing mahjong.

The coffee table was laden with all sorts of fruits, snacks, and pastries. The cheerful "clack-clack" of the mahjong tiles created a pleasant atmosphere.

"Ah, brother."

As always, Hanakawa Kaori was the first to notice Takahashi Makoto's presence. She jumped off her chair onto the floor and ran over, saying, "Happy New Year! It's true what they say, you have to meet in person to feel the New Year's atmosphere."

"Happy New Year." Takahashi Makoto didn't have any red envelopes on him, so he reached out and patted her head.

Hanakawa Kaori closed her eyes contentedly, chuckled, and then opened them to look at Uesugi Maya: "Happy New Year, Maya-neechan."

"Yes, Happy New Year." Uesugi Maya nodded almost imperceptibly.

"You and Hina play mahjong?"

Makoto Takahashi looked at the card table with a slightly surprised expression, finally settling his gaze on Hina Nekoya.

Both she and Hanakawa Kaori were dressed in a street style today. The former wore a casual printed sweatshirt, jeans, and canvas shoes, while the latter, as always, liked purple and wore a white T-shirt, light purple cargo pants, and high-soled sneakers indoors.

"Mahjong is a must-learn skill for modern girls, brother."

Hanakawa Kaori took his arm and led him to the card table, placing her hands on Takahashi Makoto's shoulders to make him sit down: "We can't possibly play shogi, can we? That would be too ridiculous."

"A required course?" Takahashi Makoto found the question a bit strange.

No, it's not just strange, it's downright eerie.

“When I was in Hokkaido, I was taught by a senior member of the badminton club.”

Hina Nekoya raised a hand and scratched her head, looking somewhat unsure: "I only remember that I need to have a role to play, let me think..."