They all have hidden attributes!

Chapter 80 A New Beginning of Daily Life

Makoto Takahashi and Maya Uesugi took the Toden Arakawa Line and got off at Waseda Station.

The former was dressed in a white T-shirt and black trousers suitable for summer, carrying a laptop bag and an insulated bag, while the latter was dressed in a black shirt and white skirt, holding only a hardcover book in her arms.

Under the clear sky, the sunlight gradually intensified. The two walked side by side toward the gate of Tsurumizawa Academy, stepping on the sparse shadows cast by the roadside trees.

"Regarding the band, I think the primary goal is to create a bond so that we can resonate with each other and convey the voice of our hearts."

"In the future, when you write original songs, you won't have to worry about not being able to perform them."

Makoto Takahashi explained his band management philosophy, and seeing that Maya Uesugi had no objections, he continued, "First of all, we need to make sure that everyone plays their part and that we are aligned on the same goal."

"For example, with the song I wrote this time, Senior Leng Zi isn't good at creative things, but she's definitely very professional when it comes to copyright procedures. I feel reassured leaving these details to her..."

After patiently listening to him explain his philosophy of teamwork for a while, Maya Uesugi suddenly asked, "What exactly do we need to do?"

“To achieve the goals of the LiveHouse together, there are training camps and performances. It’s all about these things, but you’re no longer doing them alone,” Makoto Takahashi said.

"Should I make the arrangements? A group stay."

"That's right, I trust you completely with choosing locations, hotels, and the specific itinerary arrangements."

These are the kinds of problems that Uesugi Maya excels at solving.

According to Makoto Takahashi, everyone's efforts are indispensable for getting the band on the right track, and getting to know each other during the collaboration process is very important.

"Oh, right."

Makoto Takahashi glanced at Maya Uesugi's profile and, seeing the slight upturn of her lips, which suggested she was in a good mood, decisively spoke up:

"I'd like to trouble you to help me contact someone to order the most expensive chess set. Is 50 yen enough?"

Chess sounds like a perfect birthday gift for Yuki Tachimi.

"Too many." Uesugi Maya showed an expression of annoyance.

"Please keep this extra trouble for me. I might need your help again in the future."

Hearing Takahashi Makoto say this, she frowned unhappily, but thinking that this was also a form of trust, she still agreed.

What gift are you planning to give her?

"Wasabi in the cake."

"what?"

"And wasabi chocolate."

"Okay, that's fine."

Makoto Takahashi decides not to eat any sweets, including chocolate, on Yuki Tachimi's birthday.

As he entered the gates of Tsurumizawa Academy, he saw Shiraishi Junka and Hanakawa Kaori sitting on a bench in front of the fountain in the courtyard.

The former held a paintbrush, painting intently, while the latter held a popsicle and smiled brightly.

A cool breeze blew from behind them through the cedar forest, and the dissipating mist cast a hazy hue in the sunlight.

Upon spotting Makoto Takahashi, Junka Shiraishi immediately dropped her paintbrush, grabbed her soft skirt, and ran over.

"Makoto." Her physical strength was worse than Makoto Takahashi had imagined; after only a few steps, she was already breathing unevenly.

"Senior Chun Ke, are you participating in the art exhibition in August?"

Just as Takahashi Seiji was about to catch her as she lunged at him, Uesugi Maya stepped forward first and reached out to steady Shiraishi Junka: "Be careful not to fall."

"Thank you."

Shiraishi Junko thanked her softly, her beautiful ruby-like eyes turning to Takahashi Makoto: "Makoto, there are a few domestic special awards in August, I'd like to paint with you."

"Well, I usually do it at night—"

Seeing Takahashi Makoto hesitate, she said without hesitation, "I can come to your house."

"It's better to let Kashima handle the special award for you."

Uesugi Maya crossed her arms, her icy gaze shifting between the two of them, and interjected, "We haven't finished discussing the band matter yet, about the training camp..."

A vibrant voice interrupted her.

Hanakawa Kaori tossed the popsicle stick into the trash can, waved, and ran over to greet the two: "Makoto-senpai, Uesugi-senpai, good morning."

"morning."

Uesugi Maya's attitude was indifferent, but she couldn't stop Hanakawa Kaori's enthusiasm: "Uesugi-senpai, can you teach me to play the guitar?"

"A guitar?" Maya Uesugi frowned.

"I also want to learn a musical instrument. After all, it's the light music club. I feel like the bass is too understated, the drums are too tiring, and the keyboard is too troublesome..."

Hanakawa Kaori gave a bunch of reasons, but when it comes to learning a musical instrument, most people would choose the guitar, so there's nothing strange about that.

"Hanaori, how's your singing?" Makoto Takahashi suddenly asked.

"That's amazing! When I went to karaoke or similar places with my classmates, everyone would praise me."

Seeing her smugly standing with her hands on her hips, exuding an air of arrogance, Takahashi Makoto turned to Uesugi Maya and said:

"Since you can't speak anyway, how about you take on lead guitar and let Hanaori take on rhythm guitar and vocals, or just vocals?"

With this band adjustment, even if it can't reach the unattainable goals of the Budokan or Tokyo Dome, it can at least run smoothly and there will be no problem in holding a live performance.

"Please let me be the lead vocalist and guitarist." Hanakawa Kaori's eyes lit up.

"Midnight?" Takahashi Makoto pressed.

"Okay." Uesugi Maya waved her hand impatiently.

"Uesugi-senpai, please introduce me to the guitar immediately."

Hanakawa Kaori seized the opportunity, clasped her hands together with a "slap," and pleaded, "Uesugi-senpai is the senior I admire most. I also want to become as excellent as Uesugi-senpai. Please guide me."

She seemed to have forgotten about being scolded and made to cry, and this straightforward way of speaking also avoided Uesugi Maya's minefield.

"It sounds like Hanaori wants you to be her life mentor," Makoto Takahashi joked.

"Is that so?" Uesugi Maya rested her chin on her hand, looking Hanakawa Kaori up and down as if assessing how much time and effort the other person was worth.

Hanakawa Kaori didn't mean that, but she did want people she considered excellent to become better, including Uesugi Maya.

After glancing at Shiraishi Junka, she decided to go along with what Takahashi Makoto had said.

"That's right, I hope to become as excellent as Uesugi-senpai."

Hanakawa Kaori's subtle movements did not escape Uesugi Maya's eyes, which caused the latter to curl a disdainful sneer at the corner of her mouth.

"Oh."

"Give her a chance, at least let's see if she's qualified as the lead singer."

Makoto Takahashi glanced at Junka Shiraishi, who was clinging to his arm, and then looked at the drawing board in the distance: "You guys go back to the club office first, I'll help Junka move the drawing board back to the art club."

Maya Uesugi sighed, looking exasperated. "You know what you're saying, right?"

"of course."

Seeing Takahashi Makoto's calm expression, she instantly changed her gaze to one of looking at trash, muttered a curse under her breath, and strode towards the special building: "Scum, pest."

"Uesugi-senpai, wait for me." Hanakawa Kaori gave Shiraishi Junka a look that said, "[This is all I can do for you]," and ran after Uesugi Maya.

Shiraishi Junka was completely oblivious to Hanakawa Kaori's help; her gaze remained fixed on Takahashi Makoto, making one feel as if they were melting into her gentle eyes.

Chapter 81: More Than Just Ambiguity

The cicadas were chirping loudly, and a cool breeze blew from the cedar forest in the courtyard. The intense sunlight and the summer heat were meaningless to Shiraishi Junka.

A drop of sweat slid down her delicate jawline, across her slender, fair neck, and into the neckline of her white dress.

She pulled Makoto Takahashi to sit down on a bench in front of the fountain, opened her art supply box, and took out a box of sliced ​​fruit.

Watermelon, oranges, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers... You can see the vibrant colors through the lid of the food container. It's cool to the touch, perfect for cooling off in the summer.

“I put in a lot of ice packs.” Shiraishi Junko then opened the box, picked up a slice of watermelon with her slender fingers, and offered it to Takahashi Makoto’s lips.

A sexy, curvaceous, and alluring senior student poses as if feeding someone, casting expectant glances that are impossible to refuse.

Makoto Takahashi swallowed hard, opened his mouth slightly, and immediately dropped in small pieces of watermelon, making Junko Shiraishi's delicate fingertips wet as well.

Amidst the chirping of cicadas, she met Makoto Takahashi's gaze, parted her pink lips slightly, and stuck out her small, red tongue to lick the watermelon juice remaining on her fingertips.

"I didn't see Cheng yesterday, and I felt very lonely."

Shiraishi Junko lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly: "I spent the whole day at home looking at corn to kill time, but I couldn't console myself."

Her beautiful burgundy eyes revealed a suffocating sense of despair, making one not want to think about how she endured the long summer days until evening.

The alluring scent of citrus shampoo wafted from his long, black hair, and Makoto Takahashi looked away, unable to bear the sight, only to find the canvas completely blank.

It's really frustrating.

He picked up a piece of orange and held it in front of Shiraishi Junko: "Junko, ah—"

Any man would feel guilty seeing that lonely, tearful expression.

Since Shiraishi Junka enjoys being fed, being fed should at least improve her mood.

Shiraishi Junka looked at the orange in front of her, timidly opened her mouth, the loneliness in her eyes faded, and her cheeks gradually turned a watermelon pink.

She grabbed Takahashi Makoto's wrists with both hands, slowly moved closer, and even after eating the orange, she didn't let go.

The smooth, wet sensation between his index finger and thumb, coupled with Shiraishi Junka's watery gaze, brought Takahashi Makoto back to his senses from his [alluring] state, realizing that things had gotten a little too intimate.

He immediately withdrew his hand, coughing lightly to cover his embarrassment: "Senior Chun Ke, let's eat later..."

Shiraishi Junka grabbed his hand with one hand and pulled down the neckline of her white dress with the other. Below her clearly defined collarbone, a patch of snow-white and black underwear rose and fell slowly with her breath, making it impossible to look away.

What's going on? Takahashi Makoto swallowed hard.

The sweltering heat of summer made it hard for him to breathe, and his heart pounded with each of Shiraishi Junka's increasingly rapid breaths.

Wait a minute, even if the senior student wants to give out perks, she should at least change the time and place.

This is the academy's central courtyard. Even though it's summer vacation, female students preparing for the competition still come to the academy.