They all have hidden attributes!

Takahashi Makoto cleared his throat earnestly, offered a completely unconvincing explanation, and then changed the subject:

"They were quite proactive; they took action immediately after you reminded them."

"Heh." Uesugi Maya responded with a cold laugh that was neither clear nor meaningful.

The two walked out of the academy gate and got into the back seat of a white sedan parked by the roadside. After telling the driver the address, Uesugi Maya crossed her arms and looked at the street scene outside the car window.

"What are your thoughts?" she asked softly.

"Since they have their own ideas, let's see how things go first. I'm not in a hurry." Makoto Takahashi casually brought up the system panel.

[Character: Makoto Takahashi]

[Age: 18 years old]

[Physical Fitness: S-Rank]

[Perception: S-level]

[Intelligence: S-rank]

[Persistence: S-rank]

[Charm: SS+ (Maximum)]

[Skill:......]

Once all attributes are rated S, the specific numbers are no longer displayed, but new features are unlocked: after loading an assistance card, you can view the attributes of other people.

For example, the assistance card [NiceFold], whose hidden attributes have not yet been unlocked, will have its leader, Uesugi Maya, on the first page when you open it.

[Character: Maya Uesugi]

[Age: 18 years old]

[Physical Fitness: Grade D. 182]

[Perception: D-level. 168]

[Intelligence: D-level, 282]

[Characteristics: D-rank, 193]

[Charm: C-rank, 388]

[Skills: Writing Lv.4 (Improving), Kendo Lv.3 (Deteriorating)...]

(Lv.Max Restriction Level - In Effect)

Her charm is extremely high because she is often assigned the most charm attribute, but given enough time, everyone can max out their attribute.

Makoto Takahashi felt like he was playing a raising simulation game, but he hadn't figured out how to explain it to them yet. Besides, his attributes weren't maxed out yet, so he kept using skills to keep the actual attributes at their original values.

That's not the point. The point is that he has a lot of skills. After all, there's a chance to get them every time you upgrade your attributes. If you haven't checked them for a long time, you won't even know which skills are useful. So you need to search carefully.

Clicking the ellipsis after the [Skills] text on his own panel brings up a long list, which Takahashi Makoto scrolls through one by one on his way to Chiyoda.

Regarding [giving up], this seems like a good idea.

[Lv.1 Bargain Trade: Give up one Lv.5 or higher skill and randomly gain two new skills.]

There are still plenty of skill points left, why not try upgrading to Max?

Just after I finished adding points, I heard Uesugi Maya's cold yet melodious voice from beside me.

"We've arrived, get off the bus."

"Okay." Takahashi Makoto turned off the system panel, climbed out of the car, and saw a Western-style building made of bricks and tiles.

Ai Fujiwara and Mieko Jingu were waiting on the street side by the gate. The former was wearing a school uniform and had a black bob haircut, while the latter was wearing a plain kimono, carrying a shigen bag, and had long black hair that cascaded down her back, making her look gentle and graceful.

"Nice to meet you, I am Mieko Jingu." Jingu nodded gracefully, her smile bright.

Maya Uesugi remained silent with a cold expression, so Makoto Takahashi could only say, "Makoto Takahashi, nice to meet you."

"Thank you so much for your help." Jingu bowed again.

"No need for formalities, what are your plans?" Takahashi Makoto asked directly.

Fujiwara and Jingu looked at each other and exchanged glances. Then Fujiwara Ai spoke up: "Grandpa is a Go enthusiast. Jingu wants to get to know him through Go before making further plans."

"Although the situation is somewhat difficult, we do not intend to give up." Jingu straightened his chest, displaying an expression of inner strength.

“Can we go together? That way we can get to know each other better,” Makoto Takahashi said.

“Of course, Grandpa is very kind after he retired, and he will let the neighborhood kids come to play at his house.” As Fujiwara Ai spoke, she led the three of them into the mansion and along the red-carpeted corridor.

Is this place really suitable for young children to play?

Makoto Takahashi glanced around at the furnishings in the entryway and hallway, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

"What is that, a rocking horse? Why is the seating area triangular?" Maya Uesugi asked.

"I don't know," Takahashi Makoto asserted with a serious expression.

"Someone actually used a whip as decoration? And what's that banana-shaped thing?"

"..."

"Is that white ball a necklace?" Uesugi Maya frowned in thought.

Fujiwara and Jingu clearly had relevant knowledge; they glanced at Uesugi Maya with subtle expressions, and also remained silent.

Upon entering the innermost Japanese-style room, an old man sat before a prepared chessboard.

Although small in stature, he possesses great integrity.

He was wearing a kimono, smiling broadly. When he saw Fujiwara Ai, his eyes involuntarily softened: "Ai, are these all your friends?"

"Yes, Grandpa." Fujiwara Ai conscientiously went to make tea and politely introduced the three of them.

"Let's all sit down and talk."

Takahashi Makoto noticed that Fujiwara Nobuo's gaze lingered on him for a long time. He must be well-informed; the Fujiwara family had an unpleasant New Year's celebration, so he couldn't possibly be unaware of it.

However, his eyes were like those of an old man about to give out pocket money, so it wasn't appropriate to ask him directly.

Jingu sat upright on the cushion opposite Fujiwara Nobuo, across the chessboard. He then took a folding fan from Shingen's pouch, placed it in front of his knees, and bowed, saying, "Nice to meet you."

"Please guide me." Fujiwara Nobuo bowed in return.

Makoto Takahashi and Maya Uesugi sat on cushions beside the chessboard, watching the two play. After a while, Ai Fujiwara brought over some snacks and tea.

The aroma of steaming tea and the pleasant sound of chess pieces falling create a harmonious atmosphere.

But harmony is useless. The key is to test Fujiwara Nobuo's attitude. Ideally, he should make the decision immediately and allow Fujiwara and Jingu to interact freely.

"Are you aware that I left the Uesugi family?" Uesugi Maya asked directly.

“You can’t just chat idly by the board during a game,” Fujiwara Nobuo said, exuding a sharp aura.

"Since you know, please state your opinion directly."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, and Fujiwara Ai looked at Uesugi Maya with an incredulous expression.

As expected of you, Hagiwara.

Makoto Takahashi gave Maya Uesugi a thumbs up, deliberately acting more impolite than her: "I'm a very easy-going person. If we can't talk things out openly, we can talk about it privately. It's not difficult."

Seeing his arrogance, Fujiwara Nobuo's hand holding the Go stone froze in mid-air, speechless for a moment. After a while, he composed himself and continued to place his stone.

"Parents who value their children all hope to guide them onto the smooth road they have paved and to drive away any dangerous things from their lives. All of this comes from the love of parents."

Uesugi Maya couldn't understand what he was saying at all, and turned to Takahashi Makoto with a confused look.

Makoto Takahashi shrugged, indicating that he was also an orphan and could not help.

"Simply put, nobody believes you can really bring happiness to Xiao Ai."

Fujiwara Nobuo moved the pieces slowly and continued the topic, saying, "The status of female Go players is very unstable. Compared with male professional Go players, they have lower game fees, are in financial straits, and are more likely to retire early."

He had clearly done the relevant research, and even female Go players who held titles were not well-off financially.

Although Makoto Takahashi found it a bit strange that Miss Jingu was solely responsible for the finances, he didn't bother to ask since Ai Fujiwara didn't object.

"You mean you'll agree as long as Miss Jingu proves she has sufficient ability?" Uesugi Maya said after thinking for a moment.

"Grandpa?" Fujiwara Ai's eyes lit up as if she saw a glimmer of hope.

“If you can become a professional Go player, I won’t object,” Fujiwara Nobuo said slowly.

The attitude of "not opposing" far exceeded expectations.

"Thank you very much, I will train hard."

Miss Jingu bowed respectfully, but Makoto Takahashi saw no joy in her expression; instead, a shadow fell over it.

Turning to look at Fujiwara Ai, her expression was also rather unpleasant.

Seeing that Takahashi Makoto looked completely confused, Uesugi Maya patiently explained:

"In the 1,400-year history of Shogi, no woman has ever become a professional Shogi player."

After saying that, she stood up and adopted a barbed tone: "We should go home."

"Wait a moment, there's one more thing."

Makoto Takahashi looked up at Nobuo Fujiwara and adopted a serious attitude: "Please give me a signed copy of your book. I want to study it."

Upon hearing this, Uesugi Maya's eyes widened, and she raised her small, black-stockinged foot to step on Takahashi Makoto's cheek.

"Go to hell, scumbag."

After the first game, Makoto Takahashi successfully obtained a signed copy of "Rope and Flesh" by the author.

Fujiwara Ai and Miss Jingu forced a smile as they saw him and Uesugi Maya off.

Chapter 202 An Unresolved Feud

The afterglow of the setting sun disappeared at the edge of the horizon, and the quiet upscale residential area was free from the noise of neon lights, with the entire block bathed in a bluish-green hue.

"Thank you again. I will definitely visit you another day to present a thank-you gift."

Jingu Mieko bowed politely to express her gratitude, while Fujiwara Ai, standing beside her, patted her chest in relief: "It's amazing that you dared to speak to my grandfather like that."

"Just Fujiwara, nothing more."