They all have hidden attributes!

[String Sound: When triggering other assist cards' friendship training, gain the same amount of charm boost]

[M: When playing or resting together, there is a high probability of gaining a physique boost and a small probability of gaining a new Lv.1 skill.]

The assistance card of Tachimi Yuki has a simple and unpretentious numerical beauty.

After unlocking the hidden attributes, Makoto Takahashi finally understood why Yuki Tatsumi was interested in him.

Because she developed PTSD from her archery, when she talked about Uesugi Maya today, her words always revealed a sense of admiration for strength, so it's not surprising that she likes me.

The result is that no matter what Tachimiya-senpai says, it's true that she likes him, and it's also true that Uesugi Maya wants to defeat Tachimiya Yuki by making him like her.

Regarding the entanglement between the two young ladies, Makoto Takahashi is now completely watching with a spectator's mentality.

Arriving at the [Shiraishi] art supply store where he had bought art supplies with Uesugi Maya last time, he explained his purpose to the clerk, who then called over another clerk who brought out four exquisite wooden boxes from the warehouse.

Calling it a wooden box is not quite accurate; it's more like a wooden suitcase, about 50cm long and 30cm wide, and it's double-layered.

Judging from the list shown by the shop assistant, Maya Uesugi treated herself well; these four boxes of paint, along with other tools from the same brand, such as palette knives, brushes, and charcoal sticks, totaled over 50 yen.

This only includes art supplies, not tuition fees for art lessons from a young age.

This shows that studying art is really expensive.

However, with the 50 yen from selling the painting, today's profit is equivalent to a net profit of 100 million yen, Makoto Takahashi thought to himself.

Upon opening and inspection, there were no problems.

He asked the shop assistant for a cardboard box, put the four wooden boxes inside, and, thanks to his good physique, carried it in one arm while holding an umbrella in the other and walked out of the art supply store.

He hadn't walked far in the direction of Tsurumi Sawa when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Acheng?"

Makoto Takahashi looked back and saw Hina Nekoya just turning a corner. Beside her, under colorful umbrellas, was a girl also wearing a tracksuit and carrying a sports bag.

It seems the badminton club had just finished training and arranged to come to the shopping street together.

Seeing that he was alone, Nekoya Hina said a few words to them and ran over quickly, her sneakers splashing up the water on the ground.

"Acheng, do you need any help?"

As she spoke, Hina Nekoya took the umbrella from Makoto Takahashi and held it over his head: "This saves a lot of effort, doesn't it?"

"Are your friends alright?" Makoto Takahashi didn't like to cause trouble for others, and his gaze met the girls on the street corner.

"It's alright, in fact, it's better this way, let's go first."

Hina Nekoya turned around and gave them a bright smile. She walked alongside him toward the train station and said to herself, "Today's training is over. We're planning to go see Makoto's paintings."

Makoto Takahashi obtained many tickets to art exhibitions and gave them all to Haruna Nekoya so she could use them as gifts.

"I just sold that painting; now all that's left is the label."

"Hey?"

Hina Nekoya turned her head and looked over, blinking in surprise: "Could it be that you, Makoto, are really a genius? Are you destined to become an art master in the future?"

"It was bought by senior student Ritsumi," Takahashi Makoto said casually.

His expression remained unchanged, and his eyes were as indifferent as usual. However, upon hearing this, a hint of doubt appeared in Nekoya Hina's eyes.

She sensed that something was wrong.

Thinking about it carefully, ever since Makoto Takahashi joined the Light Music Club, he has occasionally seemed a little absent-minded when he's with me.

No, it's also strange that he suddenly joined the light music club.

Hina Nekoya suddenly realized that a rift had begun to form between her and Makoto Takahashi, and if left unchecked, it would eventually become a pitiful, thick barrier.

"Acheng, are you close with Uesugi and Tachimi?" she asked in a relaxed tone.

"It's alright, if I had to say."

After a moment's hesitation, Takahashi Makoto said with certainty, "They have ulterior motives towards me. They have malicious intentions."

He repeated himself twice with different versions of the story, and Nekoya Hina chose to believe him, a hint of apprehension appearing on her face:

"Would it be better if I joined the light music club to keep you company? As for the badminton club, we can talk about it next year."

“There’s no need. Aren’t you just eager for revenge?” Takahashi Makoto refused.

His attitude was exactly the same as usual, so Nekoya Hina didn't press the matter and could only say, "If you have any worries, remember to tell me."

"I'm a bit worried about what to paint for my next oil painting, although I don't dislike free-form themes."

"Speaking of oil paintings, Acheng, remember to remind me later so I can send you some contact information."

"What contact information?" Takahashi Makoto asked, puzzled.

"Several girls in the badminton club want to get to know you. After learning about A-Cheng's personality, they said that if you are interested, you can add them as Line friends."

Nekoya Hina is now holding an umbrella with both hands, and her body movements are not as expressive as usual, but you can still tell from her expression that she is happy.

She was happy to be becoming popular, and Takahashi Makoto, noticing this, asked somewhat irritably, "Am I really just too withdrawn?"

"I don't think that's the reason. It's probably because Acheng showed his talent?"

Hina Nekoya turned to meet his gaze, revealing a bright, sunny smile, and said in a light tone, "I heard that the news of Makoto winning the gold medal during the second year has already spread. I didn't say it myself."

"I see." Takahashi Makoto turned back to look at the road ahead and nodded casually.

Tsurumizawa was formerly a private girls' academy, so it's normal for the upperclassmen to know about the art world.

As Maya Uesugi said, they are not that shallow or love-struck fools, but as long as they have good looks and show their talent, they will still flock to them.

"Won't Hina be in a difficult position between me and them?" he asked considerately.

"I don't see it as a burden at all."

"But if they don't get a response, they will still suspect that you didn't help pass on the message because of your own selfish motives."

This thought is not unfounded. Maya Uesugi once misunderstood Hina Nekoya, believing that Hina was behind his not having any friends.

Makoto Takahashi didn't want his good friend to suffer pressure because of his situation.

"Next time someone asks you for a favor, just tell them to put their contact information in my shoe cabinet."

"Understood." Nekoya Hina agreed without asking any further questions.

It was precisely because of Makoto Takahashi's thoughtfulness and meticulousness that she was willing to abandon her friends.

Arriving at the tram station, the two boarded the streetcar together. After getting off at Kikomojin-mae station, this time Nekoya Hina only held up one umbrella.

She leaned closer, looked around curiously at the unfamiliar street, and said, "Ah Cheng lives around here? This is my first time here."

"It's close to Ikebukuro, so life here is very convenient."

"Why Ikebukuro? There are plenty of residential areas in Shinjuku, and it's closer to the academy."

“It’s convenient for learning Chinese,” Makoto Takahashi said.

Ikebukuro doesn't welcome people who can't speak Chinese, just like the whole world doesn't welcome riddle makers.

"Ah Cheng can speak Chinese? I can't even write the Chinese characters in my Mandarin class," Nekoya Hina exclaimed in surprise.

Makoto Takahashi was unfazed by her overreaction: "I learned it to pass the time when I was bored, just like archery and oil painting."

"When I'm with Acheng, I always feel a sense of novelty, and I always feel like there are things I don't understand."

"I feel the same way. You seem happy every day. Seeing you smile makes me feel good."

"What? Ah Cheng, it's rare to see you so frank."

As she spoke, she pressed herself even closer, wrapping her arm around her back and putting it on her shoulder: "Can I borrow your place to take a shower later? I've worked up a sweat during training, and I want to eat meat clean."

“Walk across the pedestrian overpass.”

Makoto Takahashi raised his chin in acknowledgment, then said, "I'll order takeout. What would you like to eat?"

He just earned 100 million yen today, and he doesn't mind having a big meal with his good buddies to share the joy.

"Acheng has been so generous lately."

As expected, Nekoya Hina gave a thumbs up, her face beaming with a genuine, pure smile. Takahashi Makoto, as usual, suddenly felt a mischievous urge:

"Because I've made a lot of money recently, supporting you is no problem at all."

"how many?"

"The box I'm holding is worth 50 yen."

"Huh?" Nekoya Hina's mouth dropped open, her shocked expression making people feel even better than her sunny smile.

Makoto Takahashi said calmly, "That's art."

"Art is truly terrifying."

"I feel so too."

During their relaxed conversation, the two crossed the pedestrian overpass and entered the apartment building.

Nekoya Hina folded her umbrella and followed Takahashi Makoto into the elevator, arriving at his rented apartment.

"Please come in."

Makoto Takahashi took out his key to open the door and turned on the light. The art supplies in the living room were still untidy and looked a bit messy.

Nekoya Hina didn't mind; with her straightforward personality, she would speak her mind directly.

"Excuse me, would you like to change your shoes?"

"No need, please sit anywhere."

Makoto Takahashi closed the door. It was the first time he had brought a friend home, and he was a little at a loss.

If you think about it carefully, the only things you can offer to guests at home are snacks and even barley tea.

There are many different styles of single men; he is the type who might starve to death if there are no takeout or restaurants.

After thinking for a moment, Makoto Takahashi decided not to pack up his art supplies, as he would need them again in a few days. However, he decided to clean up the restaurant area, which had not been used for a long time.

"I'm going to the convenience store to buy a drink. Is there anything you'd like to drink?" he asked Nekoya Hina, who was curiously examining the art supplies.

"No need, I have electrolyte water and sports drinks."

After saying that, she put her backpack on the sofa, opened it, tossed a new sports drink over, and then took out a badminton racket, grip tape, bath towel, shampoo, and a change of clothes.

"Do you usually carry these with you?" Takahashi asked.