It was currently January, the third semester of middle school.
Sakiko only had about two months left at this school before moving on to high school in April.
At this point in time, CRYCHIC was already long dead.
What a shame.
If he had the chance, Asai Touma would have liked to try saving it.
He had always been rather fond of that legendary band.
As he walked through the school gate, a figure with light green hair entered his field of vision.
Medium-length jade-green hair.
Pale golden eyes.
Half-lidded gaze.
And an air of quiet melancholy that seemed to cling to her.
It was none other than Sakiko’s closest friend, Wakaba Mutsumi.
Mutsumi noticed him as well.
The dimness in her eyes instantly brightened.
Her eyes widened as she froze in place, staring blankly.
Sakiko…
She came to school?
After standing there in a daze for several moments, Wakaba Mutsumi hurried over.
“Sakiko…” “You know her, don’t you?” Sakiko suddenly asked.
By now, she had more or less accepted the existence of this second personality.
“Yeah.
Wakaba Mutsumi.
Childhood friend.” Asai Touma answered in his mind.
“Sakiko, you…” Mutsumi wanted to ask something, but stopped herself.
She was afraid.
Sakiko was emotionally unstable now.
If she accidentally upset her, that would only make things worse.
“It’s nothing.
I’ve figured things out.
Let’s go.” Asai Touma tried his best to imitate Sakiko’s usual cool demeanor.
However, seeing the melancholy expression on the green-haired girl’s face, he unconsciously softened his tone a little.
“I see…
Mm.” Wakaba Mutsumi nodded immediately.
Her mood visibly improved.
Had Sakiko finally worked things out?!
She quietly followed behind “Sakiko” toward the classroom.
Somehow…
Today’s Sakiko felt a little different.
Looking at the blue-haired girl’s back, Mutsumi thought to herself.
After arriving in the classroom, Asai Touma found his seat and sat down.
There weren’t many students there yet, but every student who entered looked at him in surprise before greeting him.
Asai Touma returned every greeting.
He even chatted with several of them, and almost every sentence ended with “desu wa.” “Stop adding ‘desu wa’ to everything!” Sakiko finally couldn’t take it anymore.
“Why not?
We’re refined young ladies.
Desu wa.” Asai Touma shot back.
Hearing “desu wa” every other sentence made Sakiko blush with embarrassment.
Yet she couldn’t find any way to refute him.
Even as nothing more than a consciousness, she felt as though her blood pressure was about to explode.
What an infuriating guy!
Meanwhile, watching the blue-haired girl chatting happily with the other young ladies, Wakaba Mutsumi felt restless.
The old Sakiko really had come back!
After hesitating for a while, she finally gathered her courage and walked over to stand beside Sakiko.
Seeing a little cucumber suddenly appear next to him, Asai Touma thought that famous scene was about to happen.
Apparently, he had overthought it.
“Sakiko…
are you still going to Haneoka?” Wakaba Mutsumi asked timidly.
Asai Touma shook his head.
“No.
I’ll stay here after advancing.” The moment she heard that, Wakaba Mutsumi finally let out the breath she’d been holding.
She knew about Sakiko’s circumstances.
It seemed things had gotten better on her end.
Thank goodness.
Sakiko, on the other hand, immediately panicked.
“No!
I have to go to Haneoka!
Tsukinomori’s tuition is too expensive!
Besides, Haneoka has scholarships!” “Tsukinomori offers a better education.
Staying here is the better choice.
Tsukinomori it is.” Asai Touma spoke in a tone that allowed no objections.
Haneoka raises Black Sakiko.
Tsukinomori raises White Sakiko.
The choice was obvious.
“No!
I’m going to Haneoka!” “Tsukinomori.” …
The two argued back and forth.
In the end, Sakiko lost.
Her voice trembled as she said, “But…
we really can’t afford the tuition anymore.
Or are you saying you want to go back to the family?” Although Sakiko could be rather absurd at times, she was undeniably proud.
She could also endure hardship remarkably well.
Asai Touma understood that better than anyone after experiencing her life firsthand.
Breaking her pride would be like breaking her spine.
A Sakiko without that pride would lose her very soul.
Even the original story made that much clear.
“We’ll definitely go back.” “But we won’t crawl back in disgrace.” “We’ll return with our heads held high.” “As for how we do that, I’ll leave it up to you.
I won’t interfere too much.” Sakiko froze.
He…
Wasn’t arguing with her?
Still, returning to the family with her head held high…
Even becoming the leader of a top-tier band probably wouldn’t make that possible.
“That’s getting off topic.
For now, let’s focus on saving enough money for tuition over these next two months.” Asai Touma steered the conversation back.
“You make it sound easy, but we really don’t have any money…” Sakiko sighed softly.
Then she began muttering under her breath, calculating every expense, pinching every penny, and complaining nonstop.
The aura of an ordinary, penny-pinching commoner practically overflowed from her.
Listening to it made Asai Touma’s ears hurt.
He quickly interrupted her.
“Enough already, Maestro Sakiko.
I’ll figure out the money somehow.
I guarantee it’ll work out.” After all, earning money for Sakiko meant earning money for himself as well.
It would also improve the quality of his experience.
There was no downside.
Maestro Sakiko?
What an embarrassing nickname…
“Alright, then it’s settled!
You said you’d handle it!
We’re basically the same person anyway, so we’re both working for ourselves!” The moment she heard someone else would solve her financial problems, Sakiko immediately became energized.
Where did this freeloader come from?
Asai Touma felt he’d already seen through her true nature.
Still…
If she thought he was going to do absolutely everything himself…
She was dreaming.
Seeing the blue-haired girl standing there in a daze, Wakaba Mutsumi quietly returned to her own seat.
Soon, the morning classes began.
The mathematics teacher entered the classroom.
Noticing Sakiko sitting in her seat, he glanced at her twice before beginning the lesson.
Halfway through class, Asai Touma was already bored out of his mind.
Japanese middle school mathematics really was ridiculously easy.
He had learned everything being taught today back in elementary school.
And this was supposed to be an elite academy.
If this was Tsukinomori, what were ordinary schools like?
“Maestro Sakiko, are you paying attention?” Asai Touma asked in their shared mind.
Receiving no response, he raised his voice and asked again.
“Mm…
Mm…?
What is it?!” Sakiko suddenly jolted awake.
So she really wasn’t listening.
Come to think of it…
Could a consciousness actually fall asleep?
Asai Touma said, “Pay attention in class.
At this rate, how are you planning to win a scholarship at Haneoka?” Sakiko was overwhelmed with embarrassment.
Maybe she hadn’t slept well the previous night.
As she’d been listening to the lecture, her consciousness had gradually drifted away.
“I’ll pay attention!” “Good.
I’ll be supervising you.” The moment she heard that, any remaining drowsiness instantly vanished.
Sakiko felt miserable, yet had no way to complain.
All she could do was continue watching the mathematical formulas on the blackboard through the body’s eyes.