Wakaba Mutsumi sat quietly nearby, watching “Sakiko”.
It had been a long time since she had spent time with Saki like this.
Lately, Saki seemed to have changed quite a bit.
Sometimes it made her feel that something was off, but it wasn’t entirely strange.
Ever since everything had happened, Saki had become rather unpredictable.
Just then, a voice echoed in Wakaba Mutsumi’s mind.
“Little Mutsumi, don’t you think Sakiko has been acting like a completely different person lately?” The speaker was one of Wakaba Mutsumi’s alternate personalities, Mortis.
Mutsumi pursed her lips without responding.
However, a faint trace of unease flashed through her pale golden eyes.
An hour later, Touma had fully experienced the effects of the Lv.2 Piano Bonus.
The feeling was as though both his mind and body had entered a world running at five times normal speed.
Even he was astonished by the rate of improvement.
At this pace, another two days of practice would probably be enough for his piano skills to reach the professional level.
The only disappointing part was that the Piano Bonus experience had still only increased by twenty points instead of being multiplied by five.
[Piano Bonus Lv.2 (20/500)] Touma stood up and checked the time.
It was already noon.
He turned to look at Wakaba Mutsumi, who had quietly sat there for an entire hour without moving much.
“Do you have time for lunch?
If you do, let’s go get something to eat together.” After all, he couldn’t just keep using someone else’s piano for free, even if they were friends.
Wakaba Mutsumi immediately lifted her slightly lowered head.
“…Mm.” Soon, the two arrived at a pedestrian food street lined almost entirely with snack stalls.
It had been a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Someone like Wakaba Mutsumi, whose life mostly revolved between home and school, had probably never tried these kinds of street foods before.
And just as he expected, when Touma handed her a serving of takoyaki, her eyes were filled with curiosity.
“Can…
I eat this?” she asked expectantly.
“You can.” Touma nodded.
After receiving his answer, Wakaba Mutsumi happily began popping the takoyaki into her mouth one by one.
Once they finished that, Touma took her around to try several other snacks.
Only after both of them were completely full did they finally stop eating.
For Wakaba Mutsumi, it had been a completely new experience.
When they reached the area near RiNG, Touma said to the green-haired girl beside him, “I still have something to take care of, so I’ll be heading off.” “Mm.” Wakaba Mutsumi nodded gently.
Touma then headed back toward the apartment.
Wakaba Mutsumi remained where she was, silently watching the blue-haired girl’s departing figure.
The joy in her eyes gradually gave way to worry.
Saki…
She doesn’t seem to be the same Saki anymore…
“Why did you suddenly stop talking?
You there?
Say something.” Touma noticed that ever since he had scolded Sakiko earlier, she really had gone completely silent.
It was honestly a little amusing.
A few seconds later, Sakiko finally spoke.
Her very first sentence was, “Why are you being so nice to her…?” “What?” Touma asked.
“Nothing.” Realizing she had misspoken, Sakiko hurriedly took it back.
Touma sighed.
“Wakaba Mutsumi has been your childhood friend since you were little.
If I’m not nice to her, who am I supposed to be nice to?
If you don’t like it, then tell me what you think I should do.” Maestro Sakiko really had no conscience.
“Of course…” Sakiko started to say something, but stopped herself before continuing, “I was actually worried that Mutsumi might discover your existence.” “If she finds out, then she finds out.
If you’re really worried, then just spend more time with her yourself,” Touma replied.
He genuinely didn’t mind.
After all, he wasn’t going to experience Sakiko’s life forever.
After those words, Sakiko fell silent once again.
Touma didn’t bother arguing about it further.
Back at the apartment, Touma stretched, picked up his phone, and opened the message Matsugi Ririko had sent.
She said that thanks to the recommendation from the previous band, two more bands from Tsukinomori had come looking for “Sakiko”, hoping to commission him to compose songs.
He hadn’t expected that such a small amount of fame would already have this much effect.
Then again, this was also one of the benefits of living in the era of girl bands.
When you’re standing at the center of the times, even a pig can take flight.
Using an alternate account, Touma added the contacts for both band leaders.
After chatting briefly with them, they each sent over the lyrics they had already written.
One band offered 120,000 yen.
The other offered 150,000 yen.
Both commissions were considerably higher than the first one.
As expected of bands from Tsukinomori Academy.
They really had money.
Seeing such generous payments, Sakiko couldn’t help feeling tempted.
“…Actually, continuing like this doesn’t sound bad.” Touma ignored that comment.
“Within two weeks, can you compose songs matching Haruhikage’s level based on these two sets of lyrics?” “Two weeks?!” Sakiko exclaimed in surprise.
“You’re not still thinking about that challenge, are you?” “Stop talking so much.
Just answer the question.” After gritting her teeth, Sakiko took a deep breath.
“If you don’t take over during the daytime, so I don’t have to go to school, and if I stay up late every night…
I should be able to do it…” Then her tone turned doubtful again.
“But even if I manage that, so what?
A third song that’s better than Haruhikage is simply impossible!” “Who said it’s impossible?” Touma replied calmly.
“You’ll handle the first two songs.
For the third one, I’ll take care of the melody, song structure, lyrics, and the piano arrangement.
You’ll handle the rest of the arrangement.” “You…
are going to write the melody and lyrics?” Sakiko’s voice was filled with disbelief.
“Those are the parts that require the most inspiration.
And you’re saying you can really create a melody and lyrics that surpass Haruhikage?” “Of course.” Touma was already silently thanking the music creators from his previous life.
After all, he had every intention of borrowing some of their works.
“Touma…
you’re really not joking?” Sakiko still couldn’t believe it.
He had never shown any talent for composition before.
“Enough.
Stop doubting me.
Just focus on your own part, Maestro Sakiko.
Understood?” Hearing such unwavering confidence, Sakiko sighed inwardly.
In the end, she chose to trust him.
“…Okay.
Good luck.” “Let’s start with your first song.
You tell me what to do, and I’ll follow.” Touma opened his computer, put on his headphones, launched the composition software, and spoke with a serious expression.
Sakiko then began composing.
Although he had no bonus related to composition, Touma still carefully studied her creative process and learned how to use the software.
Time passed quickly.
As the twelve-hour experience period was about to end, Touma stood up and stretched.
“Starting tomorrow, I’ll take control of the body during the evenings.
I’ll leave your daytime hours, when you’re more energetic, for composing.” Sakiko simply replied, “…Mm.” The experience ended.
With one blink of his eyes, Touma returned to his own body.