They all have hidden attributes!

Makoto Takahashi's hand went around her shoulder and caressed Junka Shiraishi's back. She closed her eyes obediently, enjoying the caresses.

The two lay comfortably on the bed until the door clicked open from the outside.

"I brought the brooch."

Dressed impeccably, Kashima Reiko entered the bedroom, stood by the bed, placed an exquisite wooden box on the bedside table, and stared intently at Takahashi Makoto with her emerald eyes.

"The inspection of Tsurumizawa's house is complete, and we can move in today. The newly released light novel is on the coffee table. Would you like me to make breakfast?"

For the past few days, she has been staying at Tachimi's house, and her long-lost calm voice has cheered Takahashi Makoto up a bit.

Seeing that Kashima Reiko had changed into a gender-neutral outfit of black straight-leg pants and a hoodie, instead of the Japanese-style clothing she wore during the New Year, he sat up in bed and asked, "Is your New Year's holiday over?"

“Yes, let’s get to work today.” Kashima Reiko nodded.

"There's no need to be so serious at home. I'll go make breakfast."

With that, Makoto Takahashi got out of bed, picked up the pants he had thrown on the bench at the foot of the bed, put them on, casually draped a shirt over his shoulders, and headed towards the kitchen.

Having lost her body pillow, Shiraishi Junko grabbed his pillow, gently rubbed it against her cheek, and continued sleeping.

Kashima Reiko helped her pull the blanket over her, then turned and followed Takahashi Makoto into the kitchen.

The refrigerator has a decent stock of food, enough for at least breakfast, but the timing is a bit awkward because I was too lazy to get up today.

It's still early for lunch, and eating breakfast seems a bit unnecessary.

Despite bringing out more ingredients, Makoto Takahashi stood beside him, and the two cooked together, the cool white light in the kitchen creating a harmonious scene.

"I wanted to ask you about it a few days ago, but you haven't come back yet."

Makoto Takahashi slowly and methodically cut the beef into neat cubes, in preparation for making borscht later: "Yo said that during elementary school, Sachi was always targeting her, and Sachi said that she took good care of Yoo. What do you think?"

Is there anyone who knows this better than Reiko Kashima? No.

She's usually quiet, and unless Takahashi Makoto asks, she'll never bring it up on her own.

"When Uncle Lijian was alive, he taught the young lady to protect the important people in her life, and since then the young lady has always cared about her."

Kashima Reiko did not say it explicitly because Tatsumi Yuki had her own judgment and "protection" methods, which she did not allow others to criticize.

Makoto Takahashi understood perfectly well that the young lady's "protection" was also mixed with a strong desire for control.

"It wasn't easy for her either. Ah Ye's personality forced her to be sensible, so she lacked playtime from a young age."

"After Uncle Lijian passed away, the young lady became increasingly cold-hearted. But in the last few days, I saw her happy smile again."

Kashima Reiko wanted to say that this was all thanks to Takahashi Makoto, since everything that made the young lady happy was related to him.

Takahashi Makoto couldn't help but smile, putting the sliced ​​beef into a bowl: "That means I'm doing alright. What do you think, Yoru?"

"I don't know, she hasn't contacted me recently."

"When did it start?"

"After the New Year."

"You didn't send her New Year's greetings, did you? Ah Ye holds a grudge."

Hearing him say that, Kashima Reiko fell into deep thought.

She originally planned to offer her blessings in person, but the time to go to Tatsumi's house completely missed Uesugi Maya. The only opportunity was when they played mahjong together, but Hanakawa Kaori kept making a fuss at that time.

"Let's send a text message to Aya," Takahashi Makoto suggested.

Kashima Reiko deftly placed the borscht ingredients into the stew pot, turned on the heat, took out her phone from her pocket, and sent a message to Uesugi Maya.

The two chatted for a long time until Makoto Takahashi finished frying the bacon, eggs, and ham, at which point Reiko Kashima put down her phone.

"She told you to go home early and prepare to move."

"I'll go back after breakfast," Takahashi Makoto nodded.

"Do you need any help?" Kashima Reiko asked.

"No need. I'll buy new things for everything except art supplies. I'll still go back to stay there occasionally."

"I will go to clean it often."

"Speaking of which, are you familiar with Fujiwara, Ichinose, and the others? Did they really harbor ill will towards Yoru in the past?"

"It's hard not to have."

Kashima Reiko answered frankly, and Takahashi Makoto thought for a moment and nodded: "I suppose so."

During their relaxed chat, the two prepared breakfast and set it on the table. Shiraishi Junka was still in bed, so Takahashi Makoto didn't wake her but took the brooch from the bedside table.

After finishing breakfast, he left Roppongi alone and took a taxi back to his apartment in Toshima Ward.

All the New Year decorations on the streets have disappeared, leaving only bare roadside trees. Shop windows have also removed the New Year promotion signs, and the new business battle will not begin until Valentine's Day in February.

Downstairs at the apartment building, Maya Uesugi was putting cardboard boxes into the trunk of a white sedan, with a suitcase at her feet. The female driver who was helping with the move was carrying the cardboard boxes out of the apartment building.

"Is there a lot of stuff?" Makoto Takahashi walked over and asked.

"It's mainly clothes and kitchenware; I hired a moving company for the light music club's books."

Maya Uesugi took the cardboard box from the driver and put it in the trunk. Makoto Takahashi saw that it contained a pile of cotton and blue velvet.

"You took the doll apart?" he asked.

"Just unpacked and cleaned it. Remember to arrange for someone to take Beatrice to the airport; she bought a ticket for the afternoon." Uesugi Maya turned and walked into the apartment building.

The Latin dance class ended yesterday. Makoto Takahashi felt he had learned a lot, yet it seemed as if nothing had changed. He found it hard to say whether the money was well spent.

Oh well, I'm not short of money anyway.

The two went upstairs together. In the narrow elevator, as the floor numbers changed, the quiet air gradually took on an ambiguous hue.

Uesugi Maya had a cold expression, her beautiful caramel-colored eyes glancing to the side. Noticing her gaze, Takahashi Makoto couldn't help but focus his attention on her.

Just standing together and looking at each other, the atmosphere felt somewhat subtle; this is probably the effect of Latin dance.

Fortunately, the elevator did not malfunction and opened smoothly to both sides after arriving at the floor, accompanied by a crisp announcement.

"I've packed all my things."

Maya Uesugi stepped out of the elevator, tossing her long black hair in a pout: "Stop dawdling, I want to make lunch at the new house."

"Yes, sir." Takahashi Makoto took out his keys from his pocket and opened the door as he stepped out of the elevator.

As he stepped into the entryway and closed the door behind him, Takahashi Makoto took the opportunity to wrap his arms around Uesugi Maya's slender waist from behind, holding her tightly in his arms and inhaling the scent of cedarwood from the black hair at the back of her neck.

"Let go." Uesugi Maya's foot, encased in black stockings, stomped hard on his instep, her voice cold yet pleasant.

"I suddenly feel like hugging you," Makoto Takahashi said.

"Get out of here, you scum."

Uesugi Maya struggled in his arms for a moment, and after a few seconds of silence, she spoke with dissatisfaction: "You haven't been back to stay for a week, how dare you say such things? You idiot whose head is full of dirty thoughts."

It's perfectly normal for cats to hiss.

He clearly stated that he wanted time alone with the two of them and made it clear that he wanted to show a "heavy emotional" side, but Makoto Takahashi stayed in Roppongi and didn't come back for several days in a row.

"I might as well just die out there," Uesugi Maya thought to herself, a faint longing welling up in her eyes.

During the afternoon Latin dance class, the teacher was always present. Although the two could be close together, there was no space for them to interact.

Receiving a warm embrace after so long, my heart pounded. Cold words and sarcastic remarks were nothing but bluff.

"I'm sorry, Aya."

Makoto Takahashi smiled gently and reached into the black sweater to touch the warm, smooth skin: "Junko is also important to me, and I did it on purpose."

Upon hearing the second half of the sentence, Uesugi Maya gritted her teeth, grabbed the restless hand, and turned around in his arms.

"To be honest, I'm waiting for you to call me home. I think that would be really cute," Makoto Takahashi said with a provocative smile.

“…” Uesugi Maya stared coldly into his eyes, her pink lips moving slightly as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Makoto Takahashi slowly lowered his head and kissed her beautifully shaped pink lips, which felt moist to the touch.

Uesugi Maya closed her eyes and gently patted his side twice as punishment.

Their warmth mingled through their lips, and it felt as if all the strength in their bodies had been drained away.

Although I have experience kissing, I'm not used to this kind of kiss.

Uesugi Maya leaned weakly against Takahashi Makoto, subtly taking the initiative and asking for his response.

Is this cuter?

Not sure.

My head felt light and airy, but my sense of touch was exceptionally sharp. Even the hand supporting my back through my clothes sent strange sensations through my body.

The icy aura that kept people at arm's length melted away in their breaths, and a soft, slightly husky voice escaped from Uesugi Maya's lips.

Makoto Takahashi's hand slipped back under the sweater's hem, stroking along the curve of her waist. Maya Uesugi's back trembled, and she pushed him away with restraint.

"That's it, time to move."

Maya Uesugi exhaled, opened her eyes, and her gaze revealed a calm and clear light: "You're quite capable. Let's continue tonight."

"Next time, definitely next time."

"Oh."

"I'm afraid you'll be bullied by Sachi, not that I'm afraid of her." Takahashi Makoto walked past her and headed straight for the art studio.

He initially thought he only needed to bring his art supplies, but after being reminded by Maya Uesugi, he realized that moving was not a simple matter.

Clothes, light novels, toiletries, a game console gathering dust... there was actually quite a lot of stuff to bring, but luckily Makoto Takahashi was able to move it all at once.

After locking the door, they went downstairs. They put the things that couldn't fit in the trunk into the passenger seat, and then the two of them got into the car together and headed to their new home.

When they arrived at the detached house, Yukimi Tachibana had just arrived by car.

The young lady didn't bring any luggage; she bought all her belongings as new.

While Makoto Takahashi and Maya Uesugi were moving things around, she sat on the brand-new sofa, drinking black tea and cheering them on.

Uesugi Maya, who was in a soft and pliant state from being kissed, had no mood to argue with Tachimi Yuki. She directed Takahashi Makoto to arrange the boxes while she herself unhurriedly tidied up.

Study, art studio, yoga room, bathroom... While moving, Makoto Takahashi familiarized himself with the layout of his new home.

The overall warm color scheme, with its natural wood feel, combined with light-colored decorations and white sheer curtains, creates a cozy atmosphere, as beautiful as a fairy tale.