They all have hidden attributes!

"Oh, I still don't quite understand."

Haruna Nekoya felt that she and she were not on the same wavelength, so she decisively changed the subject and turned her gaze to the mountain of gift boxes on the coffee table: "It's so nice to receive so many gifts. I didn't even know Makoto when I was 18."

"You'll have it this year too."

"Don't pity me. My birthday falls during Golden Week. Since it's a holiday, it's actually quite lively."

Honestly, I'd like to travel with everyone during this year's Golden Week holiday.

"Sounds good, where are we going?"

Nekoya Hina's eyes lit up, and she looked very interested: "There are quite a few places I want to go, like Kyushu and Shikoku."

"It seems like we're going abroad." Shiraishi Junko shook her head, indicating that she wasn't quite sure either.

As the two were chatting, the door clicked open again.

Shiraishi Junka immediately stood up from the sofa and hurriedly walked towards the entrance.

Nekoya Hina blinked blankly. When Kashima Reiko came back just now, Shiraishi Junko didn't have this attitude at all; she didn't even say "welcome home."

"I am back."

Completely soaked, Makoto Takahashi stepped into the entrance hall, his short black hair swept upwards, water dripping down.

Hanakawa Kaori followed behind him, carrying a bucket of water, her eyes fixed on the muscle outline outlined by Takahashi Makoto's soaked white shirt, her face full of admiration.

He was completely and utterly obsessed.

Welcome home.

Seeing Takahashi Makoto's appearance, Shiraishi Jun hurried towards the bathroom, saying, "There's hot cocoa on the coffee table. I'll go prepare hot water and a change of clothes."

"Thank you for your trouble." Makoto Takahashi nodded, then, thinking that there would be no outsiders in the apartment, immediately took off the clothes that were sticking to his body.

Being soaked in sweat is always a bit uncomfortable.

"Cheng, didn't you go fishing?" Nekoya Hina asked in astonishment, looking at his miserable state.

Makoto Takahashi knew he looked like he'd been hooked, so he pulled down his pants and explained, "It's a bit complicated. It all started when we went out for fish at lunch. Get me a towel first."

"Oh, okay, where's the towel?" Haruna Nekoya asked.

"I'll get it from the cabinet in the bathroom."

Seeing Hanakawa Kaori jog over, Nekoya Hina paused for a moment, picked up her hot cocoa, and brought it to the entrance: "The fish dish we ate last time was pretty decent, wasn't it? Could it be that the pipes are leaking?"

Makoto Takahashi downed his hot cocoa in one gulp and was about to explain when Hanakawa Kaori ran back with a towel, followed by slightly hurried footsteps.

He returned the mug to Nekoya Hina, and then looked up to see Uesugi Maya, wearing an apron, following behind Hanakawa Kaori, her disposable gloves still on.

Seeing Takahashi Makoto's disheveled appearance, Uesugi Maya frowned, her eyes sharpening: "What happened?"

"I had fish dishes for lunch. If you eat fish that you caught yourself, you get a discount, but the fish you caught cannot be returned."

Makoto Takahashi took the towel from Hanakawa Kaori and, while drying his hair, explained, "Kaori caught several fish, but didn't finish them."

"Yes, so this afternoon we took buckets and used small fish as bait to go fishing in Tokyo Bay."

Hanakawa Kaori nodded in confirmation, holding another towel in her hand, and helped him wipe the moisture off his body: "As a result, my fishing rod was stolen."

"Do thieves still steal fishing rods these days?" Nekoya Hina's thoughts jumped to a strange place.

“It wasn’t a thief. My brother and I went to Tokyo Bay on a yacht. A big fish ate my small fish and pulled the fishing rod into the sea.”

Hanakawa Kaori exaggeratedly gestured with her arms, trying to illustrate how big the fish was.

Hina Nekoya was completely baffled, not understanding at all.

Uesugi Maya was also completely bewildered, and asked in a cold voice, "Just how big is it that the splashed water could get someone this wet? Don't they have showers on the yacht? What are the crew doing?"

Uesugi Maya was quite angry, and her cold aura frightened Hanakawa Kaori so much that she hid behind Takahashi Makoto.

"It's my fault, don't scare Hanaori."

Makoto Takahashi gave Maya Uesugi an apologetic smile, took off his shoes and socks, and put on slippers: "I didn't catch any fish all afternoon, which was a bit embarrassing, so I jumped into the sea to try to get my fishing rod back and also caught some fish."

"Yes, it's a shark, and it's this big!" Hanakawa Kaori was still trying to gesture how big the fish was.

"What kind of fish?" Uesugi Maya asked.

"I think it's called a tiger shark? At least I caught a fish, but it's a pity I can't eat it."

Makoto Takahashi tossed the used towel to Hanakawa Kaori and headed straight for the bathroom: "My mother likes it quite a bit. She said she wants to keep it at the company. I'll take you to see it next time. I'm going to take a shower first."

Upon hearing "tiger shark," Maya Uesugi couldn't immediately recall what kind of fish it was.

After thinking for a couple of seconds, she came to her senses and followed Takahashi Makoto's retreating figure with a helpless look, her expression showing a bit of a headache.

He was getting impatient because he hadn't caught any fish all afternoon, and maybe he also wanted to show off in front of Hanakawa Hanaori. In any case, his god seemed to be acting a little too childish today.

Maya Uesugi sighed softly, about to return to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner, when Hanakawa Kaori took out her phone from her pocket, took a picture, and showed it to Hina Nekoya:

"Look, Haruna-nee, this is it, it's huge!"

"Wow~ It's huge! It'll last us for days!" Nekoya Hina exclaimed in surprise, not recognizing a tiger shark.

Maya Uesugi reached out and snatched Hanakawa Kaori's phone. Upon closer inspection, she saw a 6-meter-long guillotine shark lying on the concrete ground of the harbor. The most dangerous creature in Tokyo Bay actually looked rather pitiful.

"Sister Maya, isn't it super big? I caught it!" Hanakawa Kaori was still excited.

"Hemingway should see this."

Uesugi Maya returned the phone to her, turned around and went back to the kitchen to continue preparing dinner, her footsteps as calm as ever: "Dinner will be served in 30 minutes."

"Good~"

Hanakawa Kaori agreed and turned to continue discussing with Nekoya Hina the question of "why sharks can't be eaten".

After taking a bath with Shiraishi Junko, Takahashi Makoto changed into clean clothes and came out of the bathroom. Hanakawa Kaori was explaining [toxin risks] and [heavy metals] to Nekoya Hina.

"Can excessive vitamin A intake lead to poisoning?"

Nekoya Hina stared wide-eyed in disbelief, "I take vitamins every day, could I have already been poisoned?"

"Completely different."

Hanakawa Kaori adjusted her non-existent glasses and patiently explained, "The liver of this large creature has a very high concentration of vitamins, which is not at the same level as your supplement. The difference is as big as that between ice cream and popsicle."

"According to you, this fish has absolutely nothing edible?"

"I guess pork tenderloin is okay to eat? But it might be a bit of a hassle."

"They're nowhere near as good as cattle or sheep; sharks are utterly weak."

"That's right, by the way, Sister Xing said the main course tonight is red wine braised beef steak."

“It sounds so wonderful—” Nekoya Hina lay down on the sofa.

Makoto Takahashi interrupted their conversation, asking Hanakawa Kaori, "Dinner is ready. Would you like to eat first, or open your presents first?"

"Let's open the gifts first."

Yuki's voice came from the kitchen. She came out with a smile and said softly, "Doesn't she like guessing the recipient of the gift? I want to know as soon as possible which gift Hanori likes the most."

"Um... that..."

Hanakawa Kaori sensed danger and looked to Takahashi Makoto for help.

Makoto Takahashi spread his hands and shrugged, indicating that he had no choice: "Then let's open the presents first."

"I'll go help serve the dishes." Nekoya Hina sensed the faint smell of gunpowder in the air and immediately retreated.

The relationship between Uesugi Maya and Tachimi Yuki is rather delicate. Although the two are like sisters, unexpected conflicts always arise.

The complexities of interpersonal relationships fell on Hanakawa Kaori's shoulders. She glanced at herself, got up from the sofa, and ran into the kitchen: "Mayo-nee, on my way back, I passed by the bookstore and saw that your books were piled up super high."

Makoto Takahashi and Yuki Tachimi walked into the living room together and sat down side by side on the sofa. Takahashi asked her, "Haori has offended you again recently?"

"No, but I've been waiting for this day for a long time." Tachimi Yuki's smile became even sweeter.

"You're not planning to bully her again tonight, are you?"

"How can you call it bullying? As her older sister, of course I have to care about her."

Seeing that she wouldn't budge no matter what he said, Makoto Takahashi was at a loss.

After all, Hanakawa Kaori was quite rebellious last year. Even after confirming their feelings for each other, she repeatedly disrespected Tachimi Yuki and remained a fence-sitter ever since.

Those who waver in the face of adversity never end well.

A short while later, Hanakawa Kaori pulled Uesugi Maya into the living room to officially begin the gift-unwrapping session.

The first item was a pair of elegant high heels, the purple genuine leather with a glossy sheen that flowed under the lights.

"So beautiful! This must have been a gift from Sister Xing. Although I've never worn them before, every girl should have a pair of high heels."

Hanakawa Kaori chose to say the nicest things.

However, she was wrong.

"It was a gift from me." Uesugi Maya's voice betrayed no change in emotion.

Hanakawa Kaori gave an awkward laugh, somewhat embarrassed, and opened the second gift. Inside the huge box was a bouquet of flowers.

"Is this Chun Ke? I want to take a picture of this! Take it now, brother, help me."

"You guessed wrong." Tachimi Yuki narrowed his eyes, revealing a smug expression.

Hanakawa Kaori's expression instantly turned grim, and most of the excitement from her coming-of-age ceremony dissipated.

Sending flowers is not at all like Sister Xing's style.

As she argued, she took the flowers out of the gift box, beneath which was a lovely crown, its magnificent gems sparkling brilliantly under the lights.

Hanakawa Kaori was stunned. Just as she was about to use the crown to curry favor with Tachimi Yuki, the latter immediately brought out another gift box, not giving her the chance.

Come on, guess!

In the end, Hanakawa Kaori guessed none of them correctly and only confirmed Kashima Reiko's gift by process of elimination.

"Alright, let's end the gift-opening session here. Tonight is a once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age ceremony."

Tachikami Yuki clapped her hands lightly and smiled at Hanakawa Kaori, whose expression was not quite right, saying, "It's time for dinner. I heard from Reiko that Kaori has prepared a very beautiful dress."

Hanakawa Kaori was destined to suffer tonight no matter what, so she simply decided not to perform.

"I definitely like Maya-nee's gift the most."