They all have hidden attributes!

Hanakawa Kaori gripped the door frame at the entrance of the indoor pool with both hands and poked her head out: "This relaxed atmosphere is completely free of any cloying sweetness. It's our turn to make a move."

Nearly an hour had passed since she called for help, and Kashima Reiko and Shiraishi Junka, dressed in swimsuits, followed Takahashi Makoto's movements with their eyes.

"That's true."

Kashima Reiko nodded and said calmly, "I can help as you say, but I won't be responsible for the outcome."

"No problem. I'll take responsibility if the operation fails. All you have to do is give Haruna a push."

Hanakawa Kaori untied her twin tails, revealing striking purple highlights, and turned to look at Shiraishi Junka: "Junka-nee, what do you think?"

"Hmm... I don't think it's a good idea. Makoto might get angry." Shiraishi Junka hesitated, biting her lower lip, her eyes filled with envy.

"Chunko-nee, look at how messy Haruna-nee is. If we don't push her into the water, brother won't have time to spend with you tomorrow, okay?"

Hanakawa Kaori accurately grasped the pain point, and Shiraishi Junko immediately took off her sun protection clothing and walked towards Takahashi Makoto's back.

At this moment, Nekoya Hina was completely unaware of the final battle that had been forced into her life.

"Acheng, let's go soak in the jacuzzi together next."

She pointed to the facility not far away; this mixed-gender bathing with swimsuits was already the limit for Nekoya Hina.

"Although I had heard about it a long time ago, this is the first time I have seen the real thing."

"I want to be with you too."

The voice from behind interrupted Nekoya Hina's thoughts. She and Takahashi Makoto looked back and saw Shiraishi Junka, who exuded an aura of love, walking over and taking Takahashi Makoto's arm.

She wore a black swimsuit, her long black princess-cut hair cascading down her back, her fair skin and sexy figure exuding a captivating and alluring charm.

To avoid overshadowing the main character, Hanakawa Kaori chose a very simple swimsuit; however, Shiraishi Junka's appearance still made the atmosphere lively.

"Junko? What's she doing here?" Takahashi Makoto asked.

“We arranged to go swimming together. When we contacted the hotel manager to make the reservation, he didn’t mention that you were there too. He probably assumed we were together.”

Kashima Reiko, who was a few steps behind, nodded to Nekoya Hina, and then calmly stated the excuse that Hanakawa Kaori had made up.

She was wearing a simple and pure white competitive swimsuit, looking exactly like someone who came to swim.

The three of them stood still. Nekoya Hina, who was still in the waterway, drifted away with the swimming ring and was pushed away from him by the current.

Watching Takahashi Makoto chatting with them, Nekoya Hina suddenly felt a strong sense of loneliness.

Feelings of affection welled up in my chest, gushing from my heart like blood, accompanied by sharp pains. The unspoken words made me anxious and restless.

Wait!

I haven't confessed my feelings yet!

The anxious cry from the depths of my heart cannot be uttered, and when I reach out, I can grasp nothing.

A soreness welled up deep in my nose, my throat felt congested by the burning breath, my chest felt heavy, and tears slowly seeped out.

"Sister Yangcai!"

Just then, the swimming ring suddenly stopped, and the sudden sound brought Nekoya Hina back to her senses. She turned around and saw Hanakawa Kaori standing in the waist-deep waterway.

"Hanaori, I think I messed up."

Seeing Nekoya Hina's regretful expression, Hanakawa Kaori seriously lectured her: "I told you long ago, opportunities are fleeting."

"The date can't continue." Nekoya Hina sighed deeply.

"I do have a way, but I only have one chance."

"what?"

"Watch me." Hanakawa Kaori flipped over her swim ring, grabbed Nekoya Hina's hand, and swam upstream along the waterway.

Upon seeing Hanakawa Kaori, Takahashi Makoto roughly guessed what had happened, but still feigned surprise and asked, "What are you doing here, Kaori?"

Why can't I?

Hanakawa Kaori pouted and angrily launched a water-splashing attack: "Take this! Take this! My brother came to the pool without inviting me!"

Water splashed everywhere, most of it landing on the chests of Kashima Reiko and Shiraishi Junka, as if venting their dissatisfaction with the world.

The icy water stung her skin, and Shiraishi Junka raised her hand to defend herself, while Kashima Reiko launched a counterattack, gradually heating up the air in the pool.

Hina Nekoya seized the opportunity to get ashore, her eyes brimming with determination: "Sei, let's go get some beer."

"Okay." Makoto Takahashi dodged the splashing water and walked towards the entrance.

The administration corridor was downstairs. Since it wasn't open yet, the whole floor was quiet, and the smooth mirrored walls reflected the two people standing one in front of the other.

I can no longer hide my feelings for him.

As Hina Nekoya watched Makoto Takahashi's retreating figure, she suddenly thought to herself, "If I can't express my feelings today, I'll never be able to say them again."

She turned to look at herself in the mirror on the wall. Her eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips, hairstyle, the size of her breasts... everything was fine, as long as there was something he would like.

Would you like a beer?

Makoto Takahashi stopped in front of the liquor cabinet and looked back. Haruna Nekoya's heart was pounding wildly, as if she had been caught doing something wrong.

"Mmm," she replied, and began to take deep breaths.

"Give."

Makoto Takahashi pulled the metal tab on the can of beer and handed it to Hina Nekoya. Hina Nekoya took the beer and couldn't help but stare intently at his face.

"Acheng."

"Go on," Takahashi Makoto said, looking at her with a calm gaze.

Her voice was as calm and gentle as ever. Nekoya Hina swallowed a mouthful of beer, and at that moment, she finally realized that she was an idiot.

There was no need to say anything; his eyes said it all.

Although she lacks her own opinions, is so foolish as to not even consider why Hanakawa Kaori suddenly appeared, and is easily emotional, but—

He would always be there for me whenever I asked for help, and he was always the first to notice my feelings. He never showed me a cold expression.

What on earth is bothering you?!

"Don't you think I'm a failure, that I have no ambition at all?"

Hina Nekoya tried her best to put on a sunny and energetic smile, as if to say that she had become stronger.

"It's fine no matter what," Takahashi Makoto's nonchalant voice was the most emotionally charged sentence she had heard since coming to Tokyo.

As her spirits rose, Nekoya Hina believed that he was irreplaceable to her.

"I've decided to tell my parents honestly about our relationship. It's okay if they object; they'll accept it eventually."

Makoto Takahashi was not surprised at all when he heard her make this decision.

He grabbed a can of beer and strode toward the elevator: "Sure, I'll go back with you and get yelled at."

As we passed by Nekoya Hina, she turned around and walked alongside her: "Makoto, I didn't say anything like 'I like you,' did I?"

“I knew about it in early summer,” Makoto Takahashi confessed.

"what?"

"On the day you left for the national competition, in the elevated corridor of the academy."

"Huh?!!!!" Nekoya Hina's memories of that day were only of a bright blue sky and the cicadas chirping among the trees.

Stepping into the elevator, Makoto Takahashi pressed the floor button, while Hina Nekoya asked, bewildered, "Is it that obvious?"

"If you make it clear when you say you want to go on a date, that's practically the same as confessing your feelings."

"Then why don't you—"

"I may be a jerk, but I'll take full responsibility for you, don't worry." Takahashi Makoto patted her shoulder.

Hearing his candid remarks, Nekoya Hina felt embarrassed.

The agonizing thoughts that started last night have all become evidence of my stupidity. I clearly said "a date like the one with Ritsu-senpai," and I even realized it when I agreed, but I completely forgot about it in the blink of an eye.

It must be because of the immense pressure I've been under these past two weeks; it's all the badminton tournament's fault!

Ding--

With a crisp announcement, the elevator doors slowly opened to both sides.

This wasn't the floor with the indoor pool, and Nekoya Hina was completely unaware of it. When she came to her senses, she was already sitting on a bar chair in the luxury room.

The room was so quiet you could hear the bubbles of beer. Takahashi, sitting next to him, was drinking his beer absentmindedly.

Sensing the ambiguous atmosphere, her pounding heart calmed down.

Hina Nekoya subtly leaned her weight toward him, clearly aware that her face was getting hotter and hotter.

A hand reached out and enveloped hers, its fingers slipping between her fingers, grasping her as if yearning, conveying the message: "I won't let you go."

Hina Nekoya suddenly felt smarter and responded by squeezing Makoto Takahashi's hand tightly.

"Senior Li Jian—"

I will tell her.

Hearing his gentle voice fall smoothly, Nekoya Hina took a sip of beer and, on her own initiative, walked hand in hand with Takahashi Makoto into the bedroom.

There was no urging or guidance.

She glanced around the clean and tidy hotel room and let herself be arranged without any resistance.

Makoto Takahashi pulled Haruna Nekoya into his arms, looked down at her, and was almost drawn into her captivating eyes, which held a warmth far stronger than his own.

To help Nekoya Hina, who wasn't used to kissing, ease her tension, he gently kissed her pink lips, supporting her smooth back with his hands, and gradually deepening the kiss.

As Makoto Takahashi's kisses grew more intense, Haruna Nekoya's body trembled slightly, and she silently allowed his actions to continue in a voice that was somewhere between breathing and speaking.

The almost melting softness of the body contradicted the clear mind.

Hina Nekoya felt a surge of happiness welling up inside her, and closed her eyes peacefully, immersing herself in an indescribable feeling.

......

On a spring evening, as she passed by the archery club, Nekoya Hina heard a "snap" sound for the first time in her life.

That's the sound of an arrow leaving the bowstring, the sound of the bowstring.

Makoto Takahashi would practice archery alone every day after school, and the way he focused intently on drawing the bow and shooting the arrow touched her heartstrings.