Touma turned around and saw a girl wrapped up from head to toe in a white baseball cap, black sunglasses, and thick winter clothes.
She was clearly looking at him.
“You are…?” Touma asked, puzzled.
The girl quickly took off her sunglasses, revealing a fair face that was still slightly swollen.
It took Touma a couple of seconds to recognize her.
Wasn’t this Sumita Mana?!
One of the members of the super popular idol duo sumimi, and the five-time consecutive champion of the National Singing Competition, Sumita Mana!
He was pretty sure he’d never had any contact with her before.
Seeing the confusion on his face, Sumita Mana hurriedly pointed at her cheeks, looking a little aggrieved.
“You’ve forgotten already?
Yesterday…
you pulled me out of the river…” Pulled her out of the river?
Touma thought back.
The girl he’d slapped ten times after rescuing her really had been Sumita Mana.
He’d simply been too exhausted afterward to pay any attention to who she’d been.
So…
Did this count as making a friend, or making an enemy?
Touma couldn’t be bothered thinking about it.
He still believed he hadn’t done anything wrong.
“I remember now.” He nodded.
“So, what did you need?” He’s so cold…
Sumita Mana sighed inwardly.
But she’d truly been in the wrong yesterday.
He had saved her life, yet the first thing she’d done after waking up was slap him.
It made sense that he’d hit back.
Although…
Ten slaps, followed by immediately walking away…
He really was quite the unique gentleman!
“Um…
thank you so much for saving me yesterday.” “Here’s my contact information.” “If you’re free sometime, would you like to have a meal together?” She invited him.
Looks like this really was the normal Sumita Mana.
As for slapping him yesterday…
She’d probably just been delirious after swallowing too much river water.
Touma’s impression of her improved.
“Sure.” “I’m free right now.” “Let’s go.” “Huh?” Sumita Mana had expected someone with his personality to refuse.
She hadn’t imagined he’d agree so readily.
He really was unique.
The two soon arrived at a nearby restaurant.
After exchanging contact information, Sumita Mana adjusted her sunglasses.
“By the way, Asai-san…
don’t you think I look a little strange dressed like this?” “Not really.” “Famous idols usually disguise themselves when they go out.” “Especially someone as popular as you.” Touma answered.
“What?” “So Asai-san already knew who I was?!” Sumita Mana exclaimed in surprise, her dark brown hair swaying.
Why did she feel so different from the anime?
She seemed…
kind of airheaded.
“Of course.” “I recognized you as soon as I saw your face in the music store.” “Sumita-san.” Touma nodded.
“I see…” Sumita Mana looked a little disappointed.
But when she noticed that the boy across from her wasn’t acting nervous or awkward in the slightest, her mood quickly brightened again.
“So, are you in Osaka for a tour?” Touma asked.
“Mhm.” “It’s a solo event for me.” Sumita Mana answered with a smile.
In reality, the event had already ended.
Her manager had urged her to return to Tokyo yesterday.
But she’d decided to stay in Osaka for a few more days.
Mostly because she wanted to try her luck and see if she could find the person who had saved her.
It turned out she’d made the right decision.
“Does your face still hurt?” Touma suddenly asked.
Sumita Mana instantly looked awkward.
“I-It’s much better now.” “You don’t have to worry…” Actually…
It wasn’t better at all.
She still couldn’t eat donuts these days.
Much better already?
Band girls really did have amazing constitutions.
Touma clearly remembered that he hadn’t held back at all.
At that moment, Sumita Mana asked, “I saw you playing the piano in the music store just now.” “You looked pretty skilled.” “Have you been playing for a long time?” “No.” “I’m a beginner.” Touma shook his head.
“Really?” “I happen to know several excellent piano teachers.” “If you need one, I can introduce you.” Then she added in a small voice, “They’ll even give you a fifty percent discount!” “Thanks.” “But I won’t need one for now.” Touma declined.
Why would he need a piano teacher?
At this rate, he probably wouldn’t even need Togawa Sakiko’s instruction much longer.
What interested him more was Sumita Mana’s network of connections.
Before long, he planned to look for work related to piano.
She might prove useful.
With the atmosphere as it was, even the energetic Sumita Mana couldn’t think of another topic.
The two quietly finished their meal in silence.
“If you ever need anything in the future…” “Please contact me anytime.” “As long as it’s something I can help with, I’ll do it.” After leaving the restaurant, Sumita Mana removed her sunglasses and spoke with complete sincerity.
After all…
He had genuinely saved her life.
One meal wasn’t nearly enough to repay that debt.
“Mhm.” Touma nodded.
Then he quietly looked at her face.
For a long time.
“Um…” “Is there…
something strange on my face?” Sumita Mana asked uneasily, her cheeks growing slightly warm.
The swelling should have gone down already…
“It’s nothing.” “I’m actually one of your fans.” “Keep doing your best.” Touma encouraged her.
He still wasn’t sure whether she’d accidentally fallen into the river…
Or jumped in herself.
The railing there had been so high that accidentally falling over it seemed almost impossible.
Regardless…
Offering a few words of encouragement could never be a bad thing.
Sumita Mana froze.
Then a bright smile bloomed across her face.
“So Asai-san is one of my fans too?” “I’m so happy!” “Don’t worry.” “I’ll keep working hard!” Seeing that, Touma decided there was nothing more to say.
After saying goodbye, he turned and left.
Sumita Mana remained where she was, quietly watching the boy’s figure disappear into the distance.
Only after a long while did she finally leave as well.
…
The next day arrived quickly.
This time, Touma deliberately avoided entering Sakiko’s body at dawn.
Instead, he began the experience at seven in the morning.
The moment he opened his eyes, he found himself already on the way to Tsukinomori.
“You…
why did you come so late?” Togawa Sakiko asked, sounding a little dissatisfied.
“Oh.” “I just woke up late.” Touma replied.
So…
The time this guy took control of her body wasn’t fixed?
Togawa Sakiko silently noted the information.
But why had he happened to appear only after she’d finished her newspaper delivery job this morning?
He did it on purpose.
He had to have done it on purpose!
Yet she couldn’t even complain.
Otherwise…
Wouldn’t that just make her look lazy and useless?
“Was delivering newspapers tiring?” Touma suddenly asked.
So it really was on purpose!
After all that talk about how he’d take over all her part-time jobs…
Thinking about it made Togawa Sakiko feel just a tiny bit hurt.
Even so, she stubbornly replied, “…Not at all.”