They all have hidden attributes!

"Aye, it hurts me to hear you say that. You know perfectly well that I like you the most."

Takahashi Makoto turned to her with a deep gaze. Uesugi Maya touched her burning earlobe, and, fearing that he might say something embarrassing in public, she clicked her tongue softly and didn't ask any further questions.

After passing through the elevated corridor on the third floor, they arrived at the special building. The three of them went straight to the light music club on the fifth floor, where the office door was already open.

By the clean and bright window, four desks were pieced together, leaving only Uesugi Maya's special spot.

Shiraishi Junka was sitting next to Uesugi Maya. When Takahashi Makoto entered, she stood up to greet him, a gentle smile naturally appearing on her lips.

"Gui An, Cheng."

"good afternoon."

Makoto Takahashi greeted her, then turned his gaze to the other side of the desk, where Yuki Tachimi had taken his seat, with Reiko Kashima sitting beside him.

The “L”-shaped classroom in the Light Music Club’s office is a bit crowded for six people.

At least for now, Makoto Takahashi and Kaori Hanakawa lack chairs for lunch. There are bar stools and drum stools in the rehearsal room, but moving them over would make the space feel even cramped.

“Let’s go to the rooftop,” he suggested.

"Hmm?" Shiraishi Junko cast a questioning look at her.

Hanakawa Kaori looked confused, and the others also looked puzzled.

"When the Light Music Club was established, I said that the Light Music Club wanted to drink tea, so Aya renovated the rooftop. But because it was too hot in the summer, she just used a glass room to appease me, so I have always ignored it."

Makoto Takahashi still remembers how she took over the corridor space and blocked the safety passage from the 5th floor to the fire escape.

"Ah, I remember now, there is indeed a greenhouse built with glass upstairs, and it doesn't have air conditioning."

Hanakawa Kaori exclaimed in surprise, and only then did everyone remember the forgotten light music club tea room.

"Let's go, we'll talk about the rest of the arrangements over lunch." Takahashi Makoto picked up the lunchbox on the table, turned around and walked out of the club office.

Open the door at the end of the corridor and follow the emergency escape stairs outside the special building to reach the rooftop, where a perfunctory glass-roofed building stands within the railing.

The room was empty except for a long table and a few chairs, so it looked very clean.

The rooftop is cool, but the glass room is warm, even warmer than the courtyard. With a little renovation, it would be a great place for both rehearsals and tea.

“Lengzi, arrange for some more renovations tonight. Lay marble floors, install air conditioning and rehearsal equipment. You should know what I mean.”

Makoto Takahashi pulled out a chair and sat down, opening his bento box. Reiko Kashima nodded silently, indicating that she understood his thoughts.

"We'll rehearse here from now on. We can expand it further and cover the entire rooftop so we can fit a piano and a drum set."

After Makoto Takahashi finished speaking, everyone had found their seats and sat down.

After sitting down next to him, Tachibana Yuki yawned softly, her voice languid as she slept during lunch break: "Mmm~ Makoto-kun, ah~"

"Huh? Ah—"

Makoto Takahashi opened his mouth instinctively, and Yuki Tachimi took out a chocolate from her skirt pocket, unwrapped it, and put it into his mouth: "I don't like this taste."

Delicious, Makoto Takahashi recognized the flavor.

It's Maya Uesugi's handmade chocolate, with lemon and white chocolate flavors.

Uesugi Maya made a blatant expression of disgust, her lips pursed, and gave the two of them an annoyed look before opening her lunchbox.

Today's bento box was prepared by the Tachimi family's kitchen, and it's made with all high-quality ingredients.

There are also two types of drinks: corn chowder and seafood miso soup.

Makoto Takahashi chewed the chocolate in his mouth, stood up guiltily, and said, "I'll go downstairs and get some cola. Do you want some drinks?"

"I want an iced cola too!" Hanakawa Kaori raised her hand and answered loudly.

"..." Shiraishi Junka gently shook her head.

Tachimi Yuki and Kashima Reiko were both very satisfied with the soup at lunch. Takahashi Makoto turned his gaze to Uesugi Maya, who continued eating her lunch as if she hadn't heard him, her face cold and silent.

Makoto Takahashi skillfully dealt with her tantrums.

I went downstairs, took two cans of Coke from the small refrigerator, and brought over Maya Uesugi's Belgian pitcher and all the equipment. Finally, I helped her grind the coffee beans and brew them.

Uesugi Maya continued eating her lunch in silence, but her delicate face showed a hint of smugness.

Makoto Takahashi returned to his seat, and Yuki Tachibana glared at him irritably, but fortunately, Kaori Hanakawa quickly livened up the atmosphere.

She pulled the metal tab on the can of cola and held out her hand: "Cheers, brother."

"It seems there's nothing to celebrate?" Takahashi Makoto simply touched it.

"It doesn't matter, it's good to feel this way."

Hanakawa Kaori spoke in a difficult-to-understand language, took a sip of cola, and said with a bright smile, "If you're not going back to class this afternoon, I'll ask for leave too. What are your plans, Junko-nee?"

"Drawing." Shiraishi Junko held the bowl and chopsticks with both hands and took a small sip of corn chowder.

"The art club has been disbanded. Chun Ke, do you want to play in the badminton club? Your brother will come after school too."

Hanakawa Kaori extended the invitation, and Shiraishi Junko confirmed with Takahashi Makoto's eyes. After receiving an affirmative reply, he nodded in agreement without hesitation.

"it is good."

"Great."

Makoto Takahashi couldn't quite understand what Hanakawa Kaori was so happy about.

After lunch, Makoto Takahashi brought up the band's arrangements.

"NiceFold rehearsals need to be paused for a while. This month, we will first rehearse NoName to prepare for the first live performance."

"Maya will be the lead vocalist and guitarist, Sachi will be on bass, Reiko will still be on drums, and I will be the leader and pianist."

As he spoke, he looked at Kashima Reiko with trusting eyes and handed her the notebook.

"These are the pieces we'll practice. Print out the sheet music and lyrics, one for each person, and we'll take them directly to the rehearsal room later."

"I'll go to the student council president's office to print it out; it'll take some time to output the electronic version." Kashima Reiko accepted the task and turned to leave.

"Sister Chunke, let me take you to the badminton club to get acquainted with it."

Hanakawa Kaori jumped off the chair and tactfully led Shiraishi Junka away: "The view from the second floor of the gymnasium is amazing. My brother's debut work was drawn near there."

"Yes, I know, just a moment."

Shiraishi Junka stood up and straightened her white dress slightly. She looked at Takahashi Makoto with a soft and gentle gaze: "Aunt Maki is taking a day off tomorrow and has invited us to dinner tonight. If Makoto goes too, Reiko will be very happy."

Makoto Takahashi would make a point of going to Roppongi, but otherwise, Reiko Kashima would almost never talk about herself unless absolutely necessary.

Shiraishi Junka, however, didn't care about any of that. She just wanted to occupy as much of Takahashi Makoto's time as possible, and going to the Kashima family was an excellent excuse.

After a moment's thought, Makoto Takahashi nodded in agreement: "I haven't seen Aunt Maki in a long time either, let's go together tonight."

“Eh? I want to go too,” said Hanakawa Kaori.

“It’s too pitiful for Hina to be left alone at home. I’ll talk to Aunt Maki next time, and if she has no objection, I’ll take you guys with me,” Makoto Takahashi reassured her.

"Fine." Hanakawa Kaori pouted, looking sullen.

After she and Shiraishi Junka left, only Uesugi Maya and Tachimi Yuki remained in the simple tea room on the rooftop.

After a brief silence of a few seconds, Makoto Takahashi downed his can of cola in one gulp, cleared his throat, and began to talk about the band.

"Let's start practicing this afternoon. There's not much time. I'll borrow Chunke's electric piano and start with 'Lady,' which I gave to Xing."

"No problem."

Yuki Tachibana rested her cheek on one hand, looking languid: "However, I'm a little sleepy. I'll go back and have a cup of black tea first, and then take a nap."

The young lady has a habit of taking a nap, so Makoto Takahashi naturally wouldn't stop her.

Maya Uesugi brought the coffee cup to her lips, took a sip, and said in a neutral tone, "I have class this afternoon, so I'll practice during club activities. You can stay and practice a little longer tonight."

The atmosphere gradually became tense, but Makoto Takahashi nonchalantly tidied up the lunchbox and the table: "Sure, I'll go to the student council this afternoon and take care of some work. The band rehearsal can be scheduled according to your schedule."

Anyway, he won't make any mistakes even if he doesn't practice, as long as Tachimi Yuki and Uesugi Maya have time to practice together.

After tidying up the rooftop, Maya Uesugi stayed in the clubroom to read, while Makoto Takahashi and Yuki Tatsumi went to the student council. Everything proceeded smoothly according to Makoto Takahashi's plan.

Beneath the surface of their peaceful daily lives, neither Maya Uesugi nor Yuki Tatsumi realized that the crisis had been planted by Makoto Takahashi himself, waiting for them to ignite the fuse.

Before going to the student council, Makoto Takahashi went to the office of Supervisor Chihaya and asked for leave for all afternoons this semester, saying that he wanted to focus on his artistic creation.

After calling Tachikami Kotoyo, the approval process went very smoothly.

While the young lady was taking a nap, Makoto Takahashi finished his student council duties and some of the Tachimi family's work. When the bell rang, he went to wake up Sachimi Tachimi, spent a few moments of intimacy, and then went straight to the Light Music Club.

When I entered the rehearsal room, Kashima Reiko was sitting on the drum stool behind the drum set, memorizing a new score.

Maya Uesugi sat on a high stool, drinking coffee and reading a book called "De Profundis" in her hands, with a guitar leaning against her feet.

"Sorry I'm late."

Makoto Takahashi opened the case, took out the electric bass that he had never used, was well-maintained, and that Tachimi Yuki had given him, and asked in a relaxed tone, "Can we start rehearsing now?"

“Anytime.” Uesugi Maya closed the book in her hand, picked up the guitar, and turned her gaze to the sheet music on the stand.

Makoto Takahashi handed the bass to Yuki Tachimi, then walked to the electric piano in the corner. After familiarizing himself with it for a bit, he nodded to Reiko Kashima.

"Lengzi, I'm begging you, start with 'Lady'."

Kashima Reiko returned a reassuring look, put on her headset, and tapped out rhythms with drumsticks.

......

Just as Makoto Takahashi had predicted, the rehearsals were not ideal from the very beginning.

It's only natural that not every bassist is as talented as him.

As a crucial element in buffering the drumbeats and guitar, Tachimi Yuki's bass, Uesugi Maya's guitar, and Kashima Reiko's drumbeats are completely out of sync, with no room for the piano to be inserted.

After the disastrous performance, Makoto Takahashi raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and said to them:

"Let's practice guitar and bass together first. I'm going to the badminton club now. I'm worried about leaving Hanaori alone. I'll be back later."

He didn't blame anyone; it's common sense that the band doesn't need everyone to gather to practice, and it's perfectly reasonable for him to help out in the badminton club.

"Remember to come back early," Tachikami Yuki casually reminded him.

Uesugi Maya watched Takahashi Makoto leave, took a deep breath, and, remembering it was for his birthday, patiently began practicing her teamwork with Tachimi Yuki.

Chapter 225 However, the atmosphere in the badminton club was bright and cheerful.