They all have hidden attributes!

As she spoke, Tachimi Yuki stood up and took away the pumpkin soup: "It will taste better if you heat it up. Let's have sandwiches first. There's also sous-vide beef in the kitchen."

The young lady rarely cooks, but she makes delicious and beautiful Western dishes.

Makoto Takahashi picked up the European-style bread from his plate, which contained ham, fried egg, and lettuce. He took a bite and found it refreshing and delicious.

Uesugi Maya brought over coffee, and taking advantage of Tachimi Yuki's absence, she grabbed her chair and sat down next to Takahashi Makoto.

"Do you have any suggestions regarding gifts? Also, I have absolutely no ideas for a congratulatory gift for Haruna joining the national team."

Makoto Takahashi turned his gaze to her, finished eating, and suggested, "How about a signed copy?"

"That's too perfunctory."

“You clearly intended to give me an autographed copy before, and I had to buy the book myself.”

In response to his protest, Uesugi Maya clicked her tongue in exasperation and took a sip of her coffee.

"Ah Ye, we've only been dating for less than a week, and you're already treating me like this?"

Makoto Takahashi feigned injury, and Maya Uesugi sighed with a headache, frowning as she said, "Don't be unreasonable. I used to treat you the same way."

That makes so much sense that it's impossible to refute.

Makoto Takahashi put away his acting skills, ate his European-style bread while thinking, and waited for Yuki Tachimi to bring back the soup and beef before recommending, "If you're giving it to Haruna, a signed copy would be fine. Uncle Nekoya teaches modern literature in junior high school, so he'd probably really want to collect one."

Despite her father being a modern literature teacher, he was not good at writing modern literature, a fact that Nekoya Hina had no idea about.

"What Hanaori cares about most is that we can all be together forever. You can discuss it with the others and have them give her a gift. She might like it even more."

As soon as Makoto Takahashi finished speaking, Yuki Tachimi, who was trying to grab her seat back, picked up the conversation with a sweet smile: "Sister has a good idea, but Saya is so tactless."

After a moment's consideration, Uesugi Maya stood up and offered her chair.

Tachibana Yuki smoothed her skirt with both hands, sat down, and beckoned to her with her finger. Uesugi Maya leaned down to listen to their whisper.

Makoto Takahashi picked up the bowl of soup, swallowed a mouthful, and pricked up his ears to eavesdrop.

No, thank goodness.

If I say it directly like that, Aya will never agree.

As expected, after hearing what Tachibana Yuki had to say, Uesugi Maya touched her increasingly warm ear and firmly refused:

"No way, I'll prepare the gift myself."

"Just send a more formal gift," Tachimi Yuki said casually.

"Don't even think about it! I will absolutely not accept such an absurd thing!"

Uesugi Maya's attitude was firm. Tachibana Yuki turned to look at Takahashi Makoto, and after a moment of silence, the two of them laughed at the same time.

After breakfast, the three of them went out together.

The first stop was the publishing house. According to Ms. Sakai, Maya Uesugi's new book was selling extremely well, and the bookstore had been urging them to supply more copies. With recommendations from literature lecturers and professors at various universities, they decided to urgently print an additional 10 copies.

After leaving the publishing house, the three went to a department store in Ginza to pick out a birthday present for Hanakawa Kaori.

Makoto Takahashi and Yuki Tachibana walked side by side, while Maya Uesugi lagged behind by half a step for some reason. Makoto Takahashi glanced back at her and naturally took her hand.

"Are you not used to the shoes?"

To match her outfit, Maya Uesugi wore Mary Jane shoes today, which are less convenient for movement compared to her usual shoes.

Faced with Takahashi Makoto's skillful technique, Uesugi Maya nodded slightly, giving him a disdainful look: "You're really skilled."

There was a hint of jealousy in her words, and realizing that it wasn't quite right, she quickly added, "I didn't mean to be sarcastic."

"I'm already injured." Makoto Takahashi jokingly covered his chest with his other hand.

"Tch." Uesugi Maya pretended to look at the shop window on the side.

Tachibana Yuki glanced at the two holding hands, then at Uesugi Maya's feigned indifference, and couldn't help but find it amusing.

After a while, she grabbed Takahashi Makoto's other arm and pulled him toward a jewelry store whose target market was young people:

"Chengjun, have you decided what gift to buy?"

"Buying a watch would be better. Huazhi once gave me a jacket, which was a matching set for siblings. She seems to really like couple outfits."

Makoto Takahashi had no choice but to lead Maya Uesugi into the store with Yuki Tachimi.

"The first gift I gave you was a watch."

"To be honest, I've never worn most of them. If it weren't for the cold weather, I wouldn't bother changing them at all."

During their casual conversation, Maya Uesugi wasn't listening at all; her attention was completely focused on the feeling of holding hands with Makoto Takahashi.

In the past, there was always a noticeable distance between us, and holding hands was a rare occurrence.

Now, the two have experienced a deep connection that cannot be reached by hand, and when they hold hands, they feel him more truly by their side.

You can tell from just a few steps that the walking speed matches your pace, and the hands clasped together are larger than you imagined, with distinct knuckles and skin so smooth it seems like they'd stick to your fingers.

My heart races when I realize we're in a relationship.

This is what dating feels like.

As a result, it wasn't until Tachibana Yuki and Takahashi Makoto had each bought birthday gifts for Hanakawa Kaori that Uesugi Maya came to her senses.

"Aya, are there any shops you'd like to visit?"

Meeting Takahashi Makoto's gentle gaze, Uesugi Maya looked around. This area was filled with all sorts of shops and had a fashionable atmosphere.

The so-called fashion atmosphere is [the feeling of being out of sync with the season]. Even though it is April, most of the clothes on display are summer clothes.

I was originally going to buy summer clothes, but after thinking about it carefully, I realized it was too much trouble, so I decided against it.

“I need more time to think. We’ll proceed according to your plan,” Maya Uesugi said coldly.

Seeing that she seemed distracted, Makoto Takahashi suggested, "Let's go shopping for party supplies. I'll bring some with me to Roppongi tonight."

“There’s a really famous shop nearby, Makoto, I guarantee you’ll like it,” Tachimi Yuki said with a mischievous smile.

While Uesugi Maya was still analyzing her feelings about holding hands, she was completely unaware and readily agreed, "Okay."

Upon arriving at the shop that Tachimi Yuki had mentioned and seeing the party supplies section, Takahashi Makoto had to admit that the young lady knew his preferences all too well.

Sailor uniforms, nurse uniforms, cheerleader outfits... not only classic styles, but also cosplay costumes of anime and game characters are all available, displayed in a dazzling array that is truly breathtaking.

"How about this? Xiaoye is tall and slender, don't you think it suits you well, Cheng-kun?"

Yuki Tachimi picked up a Spider-Man cosplay outfit and recommended it to Maya Uesugi with a wicked grin. The latter gave a look of deep disgust and frowned.

"This one's not bad either, um, it even has cat ears." Tachimi Yuki picked up a colorful outfit, which was an idol performance costume from some anime.

"Although it's a bit flashy, I have to say it's pretty good," Takahashi Makoto praised.

Uesugi Maya turned her head and saw his eyes filled with excitement, and he looked thoughtful. After a while, he asked with some distress:

"Do you want to see me wear this?"

“The Japanese maid outfit is also very nice.” Takahashi Makoto put his hands together in a sincere gesture towards her.

"You're hopeless."

Uesugi Maya rubbed her temples, looking on with a headache. She turned to see Tachibana Yuki with a gloating expression and said coldly, "You can only choose one thing. Consider it compensation for how hurt you were this morning."

"Please be sure to wear a bunny girl outfit and stomp on me hard."

As if afraid she might change her mind, Takahashi Makoto made a decision in a second, and Tachibana Yuki immediately picked up the bunny girl ears she was trying on and put them on Uesugi Maya's head: "Then I'll wear a bunny girl outfit today too~"

Looking at the bunny girl outfit with its low neckline that accentuated her breasts, Uesugi Maya remembered that a long time ago, Takahashi Makoto had jokingly said he wanted special services, and immediately adopted a look of disdain for the outfit.

After buying the bunny girl and party supplies, the three got back to business and went to the floor where the clothing stores were located.

After wandering around for a while, around noon, we had lunch at Tachimi's ryotei (traditional Japanese restaurant) and decided to go see a movie next.

The hotel is also near Ginza, about a 10-minute walk away.

Because Tatsumi Yuki and Takahashi Makoto always sat side by side, as soon as they stepped out of the restaurant, Uesugi Maya grabbed Takahashi Makoto's hand and intertwined their fingers, using this lover's way of holding hands to counter Tatsumi Yuki.

Hagiwara has always been very combative. Makoto Takahashi smiled but didn't say anything.

Yuki Tachibana found Maya Uesugi's behavior amusing and was already planning how to tease her when they got to the hotel.

"Would you like to buy some snacks and drinks? Like popcorn?" Makoto Takahashi asked the two.

“No need.” Uesugi Maya’s reaction was indifferent.

"Just have the hotel prepare whatever you want, okay, okay, Makoto, hurry up." Tachimi Yuki looked impatient.

After a few minutes' walk along the warm, breezy streets, I arrived at the hotel, took the elevator up to my pre-booked room, and everything was ready.

The curtains fell, the blinds were drawn, and there was a mysterious-looking cardboard box on the bedside table.

"I'm going to take a shower first, does Saya want to come with me?" Tachimi Yuki untied her braids, picked up the paper bag containing the bunny girl costume, and asked Uesugi Maya.

Uesugi Maya agreed to Takahashi Makoto's request, but was also a little afraid of being ambushed by Tachimi Yuki, so she simply separated from her: "I'll change later."

Yuki Tatsumi went into the bathroom, while Makoto Takahashi leaned against the bed, picked up the remote control, and looked for a movie he wanted to watch.

After the music started playing, the room lights began to dim.

He raised his arm, and as Maya Uesugi leaned closer, he casually put his arm around her slender waist: "Maya, you don't seem like yourself today."

Clothes, shoes, and demeanor—perhaps due to the changes, Uesugi Maya seemed a little uneasy today.

"Tsk, troublesome." Uesugi Maya did not deny it.

She stared intently at the screen, her illuminated profile revealing no change in emotion; she was simply watching the movie with rapt attention.

“You never considered other people’s feelings before. Of course I know we’re dating. What I mean is there’s no need to change anything.”

Makoto Takahashi gazed at her with utmost seriousness and slowly said, "Fine, whatever you say. It doesn't affect my feelings for you. Do it the way you like."

Uesugi Maya suddenly felt a bit annoyed, her heart churning with chaotic emotions, but after letting out a long breath, she felt a surge of excitement and happiness enveloping her.

From the first time I helped clean his apartment until now, the feeling of being on the same wavelength with him remains irreplaceable.

Maya Uesugi knew that her behavior today was unusual, and she was also aware of what might happen when it came to [revenge], so she tried to force herself to go along with his preferences.

Now that I've been told that I'll be accepted no matter what, and that it's okay to leave now, I feel completely at ease.

The fact that she had been completely accepted stirred an unbearable longing within Maya Uesugi.

She gazed at Makoto Takahashi, pure emotion involuntarily leaking from the corner of her mouth.

"like."