They all have hidden attributes!

"A young lady in a certain sense," Takahashi Makoto said, turning to look at Uesugi Maya, who had stopped behind him, with a sigh.

Against the backdrop of a dim sky and a blurry rain curtain, the lone girl holding a black umbrella, seen from a distance that was neither too close nor too far, truly exuded an aura as if she had stepped out of hell.

Makoto Takahashi originally didn't want to get involved with such a troublesome girl. After learning about her background, he simply decided to use Maya Uesugi's assistance card as it came and not force it.

However, instead of learning elegant music like the piano or violin, why does the young lady invite him to form a band?

That's really surprising.

Makoto Takahashi decided to surprise Hina Nekoya as well, using this topic to help her change her mood: "I just ran into her in the classroom, guess what happened?"

"Do you want me to lift up my skirt and show you my safety shorts? Or do you want me to kneel down and lick your feet?" Nekoya Hina asked casually, her words completely unlike those of a girl in her grade.

"She invited me to form a band."

"Pfft—" She immediately spat out the drink in her mouth and coughed violently.

Makoto Takahashi gently patted her back until Hina Nekoya caught her breath, and then the two continued walking towards the gymnasium.

"You've studied a musical instrument? I've never heard you mention it." Her gossipy tone was slightly eager, like a tabloid reporter.

“I’ve never learned it,” Makoto Takahashi said confidently.

"You agreed? Come to think of it, she seems to be, probably, frequently refreshing near you lately?"

Hina Nekoya tried hard to recall the events of the past few days, and suddenly her face lit up with realization: "Does she have a crush on you?"

"This sounds so unrealistic."

Makoto Takahashi paused briefly before admitting his prejudice against rich girls: "And I have no desire to play in a band with a creature like [rich girl], it feels like it would be very bad."

"Why? It would be convenient to be friends with her, right? For example, with guidance on finding a way out."

Hina Nekoya tilted her head in confusion, her brown eyes looking at her suspiciously: "Isn't she in Makoto's strike zone?"

"Although she is my ideal type in terms of appearance, my first impression of her was not good."

"I see~ Generally speaking, when it comes to the strike zone, most guys only care about things like chest or body shape, right?"

"Maybe I'm more traditional. Compared to body shape, purity and loyalty are probably more important."

Makoto Takahashi pondered for a moment, then softened his tone and said with unusual seriousness, "If I were betrayed, I might twist the other person's head off or something."

"Hey, that's terrifying."

Hina Nekoya dramatically moved away, then immediately came back, grinning as she walked alongside him: "Where's your feminine charm? Like, being good at cooking or something?"

"I haven't considered it yet."

"As for personality? I'll keep an eye out for suitable candidates for you."

"It depends on feelings, like a soul connection or something."

During their conversation, the two arrived at the entrance of the badminton club's gymnasium. Makoto Takahashi folded his umbrella and placed it against the wall before pushing the door open and entering.

Inside the spacious and brightly lit gymnasium, girls in sportswear were everywhere, their energetic bodies running and jumping, the sounds of hitting balls and sneakers rubbing against the ground filling the air.

The air seemed to be filled with the scent of passion.

"Compared to the archery club, the badminton club feels more youthful and energetic." As soon as Makoto Takahashi finished speaking, his gaze, which had been scanning the surroundings, suddenly stopped on a girl wearing a white and green tracksuit.

A familiar system panel popped up in front of me.

[Received a new assistance card]

[Perception: Human-Machine NPC - Kashima Reiko]

[Maid: High probability of triggering Friendship Training, Perception increased by 50%]

[Motor Skills: When the rest buff is triggered, there is a small chance to increase Charisma.]

[Hidden Attribute: Not Yet Unlocked]

The distance was too great for Makoto Takahashi to see the girl's face clearly.

The system panel's assistance card features a delicately drawn depiction of an expressionless girl, holding a tennis racket and leaping high into the air with a sharp gaze.

He had short black hair tied in a stylish low ponytail at the back of his head, and his turquoise eyes were quite imposing.

She has a slender figure with a flat chest and long, straight legs, giving her an overall androgynous and aloof style.

If it weren't for the [maid] attribute, Makoto Takahashi would have almost thought he was some handsome guy.

But what's wrong with today's system?

I only got one assistance card in two months, but I got two today. Is it really because I'm too withdrawn?

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Hina Nekoya's curious voice from beside him. She leaned over and looked in the direction Takahashi Makoto was looking: "Makoto, what are you looking at—is your ideal type Kashima-senpai?"

"I was just thinking, it turns out you're not the most pitiful person in the badminton club." Makoto Takahashi cast a pitying glance at Haruna Nekoya.

"It's not my fault. I used to hear that girls mature after going to college, but it turns out that's all a lie."

Hina Nekoya angrily poked Makoto Takahashi in the stomach with her elbow, then leaned in and whispered mysteriously in his ear:

"Listen to me, Cheng. A while ago, Kashima-senpai asked me about you privately. Maybe she has a crush on you."

Why would you think that way?

Makoto Takahashi's first thought was: Kashima Reiko might be a maid in the Uesugi family who was on orders to investigate him at the time.

"Because Kashima-senpai is usually a very quiet person, always expressionless, and looks like she has no interest in anything. So she specifically asked me about you."

That sounds reasonable, but Makoto Takahashi isn't so narcissistic as to think that a "human-machine NPC" would like him.

"If Acheng is interested in Kashima-senpai, I can be your wingman and help you exchange contact information, or ask her to hang out with you on the weekend."

Hina Nekoya raised her hand and placed it on his shoulder, her confident gaze seeming to say, "[We're best buddies]."

At that moment, Kashima Reiko noticed two people standing in front of the gate, arms around each other, holding tennis rackets and walking over expressionlessly.

A slightly chilly breeze seemed to brush against his cheek. As she approached, Makoto Takahashi finally saw the girl's extraordinary appearance.

Her face and features looked very well-behaved, and her beautiful eyes were like jade, calm and serene, yet filled with a coldness that made her unapproachable to ordinary people.

Her delicate face was framed by soft, neat short black hair, with the hair at the back of her head deliberately left long and tied into a low ponytail. Her neck and shoulders were slightly thin, as if they would break at any moment, and her hands holding the racket had distinct knuckles.

"Acheng, I won't bother you anymore. I'll go change my clothes first and help me leave the club."

"Wait, you're just too afraid to speak up yourself, aren't you?"

Makoto Takahashi turned to look at his side. Hina Nekoya ran quickly towards the changing room. No wonder he wanted to come with her; it turned out he couldn't bring himself to say it.

"The badminton club is all girls, and it is not open to boys for visits at the moment."

A voice, devoid of any reproach, came from in front of him. Takahashi Makoto turned around and met Kashima Reiko's gaze, offering a polite smile: "I'm not here for a visit. Is the minister here?"

"No, I'll take charge."

Kashima Reiko spoke briefly but was easy to communicate with, so he pointed towards the locker room: "Hina wants to quit the club, so I'm here to accompany her."

“Okay.” Kashima Reiko nodded calmly, her eyes remaining serene, like an NPC handing over a quest in a game.

"Then I'll go out and wait for her."

As Takahashi Seigo turned around, Kashima Reiko caught a glimpse of Uesugi Maya's figure outside the gymnasium. Her eyes turned slightly cold as she called out to him, "Wait, registration for the visit."

"Isn't it supposed to be closed to male visitors?"

"You're already in."

After saying that, she walked to the corner, picked up a registration form and a pen, and waited for Takahashi Makoto to fill in the time, name and class before Kashima Reiko took the registration book and headed to the changing room.

She's probably going to find Hina Nekoya.

Without giving it much thought, Makoto Takahashi turned and walked out of the stadium, picked up the umbrella that was placed on the left side of the door, and enjoyed the rain with Maya Uesugi, who was standing on the right.

Neither of them paid any attention to the other. Only Kashima Reiko took Uesugi Maya and Takahashi Makoto's appearance together as a dangerous sign. Using the signature on the visitor's form as evidence, she promptly ran to the changing room, found her phone, and reported the incident.

Chapter 3 This guy is sick

The transparent umbrellas overhead created a pattering sound as Makoto Takahashi stood by the entrance to the gymnasium, gazing at the road ahead, thick with the scent of rain, trying his best not to look in the direction of Hell Girl.

It can be very awkward if she's observing you, and you make eye contact but have nothing to say.

It wasn't just wishful thinking on my part, but Uesugi Maya's undisguised stalking made one want to call the police.

But according to Hina Nekoya, it wouldn't work on her at all, right?

"She's clearly a young lady, yet she acts like a lovesick woman," Takahashi Makoto thought to himself.

Not long after, hurried footsteps came from behind. Nekoya Hina, carrying a sports backpack, pushed open the gym door and walked out.

She changed into the white shirt and black pleated skirt of her college uniform, and tied the sleeves of her red suit jacket around her waist to cover her pert buttocks. She also wore a black wristband for playing badminton on her left wrist.

"Sorry, Acheng, I'll treat you to lunch tomorrow."

Seeing Nekoya Hina clasp her hands together and give an apologetic smile, Takahashi Makoto shook his head to indicate that it was nothing to worry about.

"It's nothing, just a little unexpected that you also have things you can't say."

"Actually, I'm a little afraid of Kashima-senpai. After all, she's the captain of the badminton team."

Nekoya Hina awkwardly scratched the back of her head, took the transparent umbrella he offered, opened it, and stepped into the rain.

“During regular training, Kashima-senpai is much scarier than the captain. Although she is taciturn, what if she suddenly scolds me for running away from setbacks and giving up when faced with difficulties?”

"You know that yourself," Takahashi Makoto said with a helpless expression, and walked with her toward the school gate.

Having self-awareness is a good thing, I suppose.

"To be honest, I'm a little unwilling, but there really is no reason for me to continue playing badminton."

After saying that, as if to change the subject, Hina Nekoya took a deep breath and raised her clenched fist in front of her:

"Alright! Now that I've successfully left the department, let's find something interesting to do!"

The dejected mood seemed to dissolve in the rain and disappear.

"For example?"

"I'm going to eat six meat buns tonight, plus a serving of oden. I'll think about other things after I'm full."

Seeing that her appetite was as good as usual, Takahashi Makoto breathed a slight sigh of relief and casually replied:

"Will this help me forget the taste of failure?"