Unfortunately, mathematics was Sakiko’s weakest subject.
She only managed to listen for a short while before dozing off.
As a result, Touma had to wake her up over and over again.
Time passed quickly, and before long it was noon.
Since classes ended at two in the afternoon and he hadn’t brought any lunch, Touma declined when Wakaba Mutsumi came over to invite him to eat together.
To be honest, he did want to get closer to Mutsumi.
But considering various factors, such as the possibility that he might one day experience Mutsumi’s life as well, he decided it was better to keep a little distance for now.
The afternoon classes were just as dull.
After school, Mutsumi headed off to her extracurricular club after saying goodbye.
The side quest was halfway done.
Time to start the main quest.
Touma wandered around the school for a while, familiarizing himself with the campus layout.
Of course, he never ran into Nagasaki Soyo.
Eventually, he arrived outside the music room and pushed open the door.
The students in the Going Home Club had already gone home, while everyone else was busy with their club activities.
The music room was completely empty.
Touma walked over to the piano and sat down calmly.
“Alright, Maestro Sakiko, class is in session.” He looked at the piano keys with a serious expression.
He could have taught himself.
But with a piano master living inside his body, there was no reason not to make use of her.
“You…
really don’t know how to play the piano?” Sakiko asked doubtfully.
As her second personality…
How could he not know how to play?
“Not at all.” Touma answered honestly.
Hearing his certainty, a sense of pride immediately welled up inside Sakiko.
“Um…
this is actually my first time teaching someone.
You don’t have to call me ‘Maestro’…” “Anyway, let’s start by memorizing some music theory…” She then began her explanation.
It really was Sakiko’s first time teaching piano.
Her explanation rambled all over the place, jumping from one topic to another without much structure.
Listening to it gave Touma a headache.
Yet under the effects of the Piano Enhancement buff, he was still able to rapidly extract the useful information, memorize it perfectly, and even form his own understanding of it.
The feeling was rather fascinating.
And this was only Piano Enhancement Lv.1.
If he raised it another few levels…
Wouldn’t his learning speed become absurd?
After some time, Sakiko finally finished explaining.
“So?
Did you understand it?” “Yeah.” “I understand it all.” “Let’s try actually playing.” Touma nodded.
You understood all of it?
Sakiko frowned.
She could clearly tell that Touma knew absolutely nothing about musical instruments.
Could someone really understand everything after hearing it just once?
Wasn’t he just bluffing?
Back when she started, it had taken her a long time to grasp these concepts.
Oh well.
Letting him run into a wall wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“Then let’s begin.
First, your finger positioning…” Sakiko continued instructing him.
A few minutes later, looking at the awkward, completely uncoordinated fingers in her field of vision, she couldn’t help laughing.
“Hehe.
Your math may be impressive, but your piano playing is really awful.” At this stage, Touma really couldn’t argue with that.
Still…
Go ahead and laugh.
Give it a few days, and you won’t be laughing anymore.
Soon, the hour of piano practice came to an end.
[Piano Enhancement Lv.1 (20/100)] The enhancement gained twenty experience points in one session.
Just as the system had emphasized, this function was incredibly effective.
Meanwhile, Sakiko, who had been feeling rather superior only moments ago, had completely fallen silent.
In just one hour…
He had already mastered chord progressions, rhythm, and tempo.
He was even beginning to build upon them naturally.
This had already gone beyond what any normal human should be capable of.
If he kept improving at this pace…
In less than a month, he might actually surpass her at the piano.
No…
That absolutely couldn’t happen!
She figured it out.
It had to be because this was HER body.
That’s why he was learning so quickly.
It was all because her own talent was simply too extraordinary!
Sakiko could only comfort herself with that explanation.
After finishing piano practice, Touma returned to the shabby apartment.
He threw together something simple to eat and filled his stomach.
Just then, the apartment door opened.
A middle-aged man radiating utter dejection walked inside.
“…Sakiko.” Seeing the blue-haired girl sitting at the table, Togawa Kiyotsugu called out weakly.
“I’m so hungry…” His cheeks had noticeably sunken, making it obvious he hadn’t eaten for quite some time.
Where did this oversized man-child come from?
Touma’s gaze instantly turned cold.
Ignoring him completely, he swiftly finished everything on the table, drank a glass of water, and let out a satisfied belch.
“Saki…
I…” Togawa Kiyotsugu muttered weakly again.
Just then, a beer bottle rolled over and stopped beside Touma’s foot.
Crap.
This thing really does have an owner.
Without hesitation, he bent down, picked up the bottle, and raised it high toward the old man.
The moment Togawa Kiyotsugu saw that, he immediately lost his nerve.
He hurried back into his room as fast as he could.
“My dad really is awful…
but I don’t think he actually has any money left to buy food…” Seeing that, Sakiko murmured softly, unable to harden her heart.
“No money for food?
You’re overthinking it.” Touma didn’t bother explaining further.
“Oh, and from now on, don’t spend a single yen of the money I earn on that old man.
If I ever find out you did, I’ll crack his head open every single time.” Hearing that, Sakiko immediately abandoned her plan of secretly buying her father something to eat.
She felt as though her entire life had been turned upside down.
But what could she possibly do?
She couldn’t even move.
Touma stood up and looked around the apartment.
Spider webs covered the corners.
A foul smell drifted out of the kitchen.
Dust lay everywhere.
“How long has it been since this place was cleaned?
Do the math, Maestro Sakiko.” His remark made Sakiko blush furiously.
She couldn’t think of a single word to say.
What was that supposed to mean?
Was he making fun of her?
But she had simply been too busy working!
Touma genuinely didn’t want to clean.
But no one could possibly live comfortably in an environment like this.
The fact that she hadn’t fallen into depression already was proof that her mentality was remarkably strong.
“Watch carefully.” “I’m only demonstrating this once.” Housework happened to be one of Touma’s strengths.
After nearly an hour of efficient cleaning, the apartment was finally spotless.
“Did you understand?
Remember it?” “And even if you didn’t, you did.” “From now on, you’re responsible for keeping this place clean.” “I am?” “But…
the cockroaches…
the spiders…
the mice…” Just imagining them filled Sakiko with reluctance.
“Then should we ask your family to send over a couple of maids to clean for you?” Touma asked.
“No!” Sakiko’s attitude instantly became resolute.
“I’ll do it.
I’ll clean it myself.” Maestro Sakiko wasn’t listening.
Sometimes, all she needed was a little discipline.