Wakaba Mutsumi sat off to the side, watching quietly.
It had been a long time since she'd spent time with Saki like this.
Lately, Saki seemed to have changed quite a bit. Sometimes it felt… off, but it wasn't that strange either. Ever since those things happened, Saki had become more volatile—her moods swinging without warning.
Just then, a voice suddenly echoed inside Wakaba Mutsumi's mind.
"Little Mutsumi… don't you think Saki's been acting like a completely different person lately?"
The speaker was Mortis, one of Wakaba Mutsumi's alternate personalities.
Mutsumi pressed her lips together and didn't answer. Still, a faint trace of unease flickered in her pale golden eyes.
An hour later, Asai Yu had fully experienced the effects of Piano Buff lv2.
The sensation was as if his brain and body had been thrown into a world running at five times speed.
Even he was shocked by how fast he was improving.
At this rate, two more days of practice and his piano skills would likely reach the professional tier.
The only pity was that the EXP gain hadn't multiplied by five—he'd still only gained twenty points.
[Piano Buff lv2 (20/500)]
Asai Yu stood up and checked the time. It was already noon.
He glanced at Wakaba Mutsumi again. She'd been sitting there for a full hour, barely moving.
"Are you free for lunch?" he suggested. "If you are, let's go eat something together."
After all, borrowing someone's piano for free—even a friend's—felt wrong.
Mutsumi's slightly lowered head lifted at once.
"…Mm," she answered softly.
Soon, the two of them arrived at a pedestrian food street, lined on both sides with snack stalls.
It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision. Someone with Mutsumi's straight-line, home-to-school lifestyle probably hadn't eaten much street food before.
And sure enough—when Asai Yu handed her a box of takoyaki, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"This… can I eat it?" Mutsumi asked expectantly.
"You can," Asai Yu nodded.
With that reassurance, Mutsumi began popping the takoyaki into her mouth one by one.
After that, Asai Yu brought her to try a few other kinds of snacks as well. They didn't stop until both of them were completely stuffed.
For Wakaba Mutsumi, it was a genuinely novel experience.
When they reached the area near RiNG, Asai Yu spoke up.
"I still have some things to take care of, so I'll head off here."
"…Mm." Mutsumi nodded lightly.
Asai Yu turned and headed back toward the apartment.
Mutsumi remained where she was, quietly watching the blue-haired girl's figure recede into the distance.
The joy in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by worry.
Saki… doesn't feel like the Saki she used to be anymore…
"Why did you suddenly go silent? You there? At least make a sound."
Asai Yu found it oddly amusing. Ever since he'd scolded Sakiko earlier, she really hadn't said a word.
A few seconds later, Togawa Sakiko finally spoke.
"…Why are you so nice to her…"
"What?" Asai Yu asked.
"Nothing!" Sakiko immediately realized she'd let something slip and hurriedly retracted it.
Asai Yu was speechless for a moment.
"Wakaba Mutsumi is your childhood friend. If I'm not nice to her, who should I be nice to? If you're unhappy about it, then make a suggestion."
Honestly, this 'Sakiko-sensei' really has no conscience.
"Of course it should be—" Sakiko started, then stopped herself. After a pause, she continued,
"I was just worried that Mutsumi might notice your existence."
"If she notices, she notices," Asai Yu replied casually.
"If you're that worried, just spend more time with her yourself."
He truly didn't care. It wasn't like he'd be experiencing Togawa Sakiko's life forever.
After that, Sakiko went quiet again.
Asai Yu didn't bother arguing further.
Back at the apartment, he stretched, unlocked his phone, and opened a message from Matsugi Ririko.
Thanks to the recommendation from the previous band, two more small bands from Tsukinomori had reached out, hoping to commission him for composition.
So this was what even a little bit of fame could do.
Though honestly, it wasn't that surprising—this was the dividend of the Great Girls' Band Era.
Stand at the right point in history and even a pig can fly.
Using an alternate account, Asai Yu added the contacts for the two bands' leaders. After some brief chatting, both of them sent over their completed lyrics.
One band offered 120,000 yen per song.
The other offered 150,000 yen.
Both were significantly higher than the first commission.
As expected of Tsukinomori bands—money was not an issue.
Seeing those numbers, Togawa Sakiko couldn't help but feel tempted.
"…Honestly, just continuing like this wouldn't be so bad."
Asai Yu ignored that comment.
"Within two weeks, using these two sets of lyrics, can you compose songs on par with Haruhikage?"
"Two weeks?!" Sakiko exclaimed.
"You're still thinking about that challenge?!"
"Cut the chatter. Just answer me," Asai Yu said flatly.
Sakiko clenched her teeth, took a deep breath, and replied,
"If you don't come during the day, don't go to school, and I stay up late… then maybe I can manage."
Then her tone turned doubtful again.
"But even if I do that, so what? That third song—the one that has to surpass Haruhikage—that's impossible!"
"Who said it's impossible?" Asai Yu replied.
"You handle the first two songs. For the third one, I'll take care of the melody, structure, lyrics, and piano arrangement. You handle the rest of the arrangement."
"You're… doing the composition and the lyrics?" Sakiko's voice was filled with disbelief.
"Those parts need the most inspiration. And something that surpasses Haruhikage—can you really do that?"
"Of course."
In his heart, Asai Yu was already thanking the music creators from his previous life. After all, he was planning to borrow a little from their work.
"Yu… you're really not joking?" Sakiko still couldn't quite believe it. He'd never shown any creative talent before.
"That's enough. Stop doubting me," Asai Yu said.
"Just handle your part properly, Sakiko-sensei. Understood?"
Hearing that confidence, Sakiko sighed inwardly—but in the end, she chose to trust him.
"…Mm. You… do your best."
"Start with your first song. You talk, I'll execute," Asai Yu said, opening his laptop, putting on his headphones, and launching the composition software with a serious expression.
Sakiko began composing.
Even without any composition buffs, Asai Yu carefully studied her thought process and how she used the software.
Time flew by. As the twelve-hour limit approached, Asai Yu stood up and stretched.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll take control at night," he said.
"I'll leave the daytime—when you're more energetic—to you, so you can focus on composing."
"…Mm," Sakiko replied.
The experience ended.
Eyes closed, eyes open—
Asai Yu returned to his own body.