Since it was already late, Hoshino Miru had Toyokawa Sakiko take a bath first while he began checking this round's rewards.
[Toyokawa Sakiko's intimacy toward you has increased. You may choose one from the following options.]
[One: Charm +1] [Two: Intelligence +1] [Three: Tsuki no Mori school uniform worn by Toyokawa Sakiko]
It seemed no skills were obtained this time - Hoshino Miru was a bit disappointed.
However, he was surprised. So Toyokawa Sakiko used to be a student at Tsuki no Mori Girls' Academy?
Hoshino Miru had heard of this school. Students who could attend Tsuki no Mori were basically from prestigious families - a so-called noble school.
As a diplomat's daughter, Eriri could have gone to this school too, but she stubbornly insisted on following Hoshino Miru, claiming Tsuki no Mori was too far from home, so she reluctantly went to Toyogasaki instead.
Having heard about this before, Hoshino Miru was quite curious about Tsuki no Mori's school uniform.
After considering for a long time, he ultimately chose [Intelligence +1].
[Charm], [Intelligence], and [Stamina] were all Hoshino Miru's basic stats.
Although he didn't know what normal people's stats were, he knew his were definitely higher than average.
When [Charm] broke through 20 points, Hoshino Miru had gained talent scouts' appreciation. As the value increased, he found he could easily approach strangers.
Toyokawa Sakiko accepting him as a stranger might also have been due to [Charm]'s effect.
Moreover, [Intelligence] could actually better demonstrate Hoshino Miru's difference from others.
Long ago, Hoshino Miru had noticed [Intelligence]'s effects.
It wouldn't make him unprecedentedly smart, but it greatly improved his learning ability, calculation ability, memory ability, and other aspects.
The reason he chose [Intelligence] over [Charm] now was because he felt he needed [Intelligence] more going forward.
As a subtle refreshing sensation flowed into his brain, Hoshino Miru took a long breath, then looked at Toyokawa Sakiko's personal panel from earlier.
[Target: Toyokawa Sakiko] [Intimacy: 21] [Status: Considers herself a good friend, currently in good spirits...]
The corners of Hoshino Miru's mouth lifted slightly. He felt this girl was actually a bit naive.
...
When Toyokawa Sakiko emerged from the bathroom, Hoshino Miru had already laid out bedding for her in the study.
Well, tatami mats.
Hoshino Miru didn't keep much in the study, so clearing space was easy. Besides, Toyokawa Sakiko wasn't very tall, so there was just enough room for her to sleep alone.
Hearing movement at the door, Hoshino Miru turned around to see a freshly bathed girl standing behind him.
She was now wearing Hoshino Miru's clothes - a clean white shirt with her chest slightly raised, vaguely outlining the girl's youthfully vibrant body curves. Below was light blue pants that were somewhat loose on her, making the girl appear even more petite and cute.
Having just bathed, Toyokawa Sakiko's hair wasn't completely dry. With her hair tie removed, her smooth long hair draped over her shoulders with a somewhat alluring fragrance. He could even see a few crystal water droplets wetting strands of hair by her temples - quite appetizing.
Under the room's lighting, the girl's skin showed not a single flaw, white and tender like mutton-fat jade, emanating the kind of moist luster that could only be described as a water lotus. Just standing there was enough to make one unable to look away.
"Thank you for tonight." Toyokawa Sakiko walked to Hoshino Miru's side, helping him tidy things up.
Hoshino Miru looked away, though she was quite close and he could smell the girl's fragrance.
It was clearly his family's body wash - why did it seem so alluring when used on her?
"I should be asking if you mind having to wear my clothes."
Although Toyokawa Sakiko wearing his clothes wasn't appropriate, he wouldn't give her Kasugano Sora's or Eriri's clothes, or both girls would get angry.
"I don't mind." Toyokawa Sakiko said. "Apart from the size not fitting, I actually think it's quite nice."
This wasn't a lie. Though it was her first time wearing a boy's clothes, Toyokawa Sakiko found it refreshing - she didn't dislike Hoshino Miru's scent.
Looking around, Toyokawa Sakiko found many novels on the bookshelf that she didn't recognize, with particularly strange covers. She could vaguely see one depicting a white-haired, red-eyed little girl.
Then she noticed some very familiar books on the desk.
Toyokawa Sakiko curiously approached and was somewhat surprised, because these were all music theory books, along with some sheet music.
"I've been very interested in music theory recently and bought a few books to read the day before yesterday." Hoshino Miru watched her movements while explaining.
Toyokawa Sakiko glanced at him without asking why, then picked up one of the books, which contained many notes.
After a moment, the girl looked up in surprise.
"You've learned quite well. Your content summaries are very thorough. Is this your first time learning?"
"Just fumbling around at home by myself."
Indeed fumbling around. Though Hoshino Miru had [Music Theory LV1], that didn't mean he had completely mastered music theory knowledge.
Being able to get full marks in high school math didn't mean one could also get full marks in advanced mathematics.
Hoshino Miru only had basic knowledge - equivalent to just starting out, not yet having learned advanced concepts.
"You wouldn't have approached me because of this, would you?" Toyokawa Sakiko put down the book and looked at Hoshino Miru suspiciously. Could this be what he meant by ulterior motives?
She had just quit her band while Hoshino Miru was studying music theory - could there really be such a coincidence?
If Toyokawa Sakiko didn't have absolutely no impression of Hoshino Miru, she would suspect he had planned this all along.
"No, meeting you was an accident." Hoshino Miru smiled. "But I am indeed somewhat covetous of your talent."
"Do you want to learn these things?" Toyokawa Sakiko thought about it, somewhat reserved.
"Yes, it would help me." Hoshino Miru nodded.
Toyokawa Sakiko remembered he had a little idol friend - he indeed had legitimate reasons.
"Want me to teach you?" Toyokawa Sakiko smiled sweetly. She didn't know if it was coincidence, but she felt she had a chance to repay the favor.
"I was planning to, but I don't plan to learn piano." Hoshino Miru blinked.
Piano was too big and not very convenient for him.
"Not learning piano is fine too. I can teach you music theory knowledge." Toyokawa Sakiko pondered. "But you must learn an instrument, or you won't be able to truly understand."
"Would guitar work?" Hoshino Miru asked.
Toyokawa Sakiko wasn't surprised. Guitar was already a popular instrument - it wasn't strange for Hoshino Miru to want to learn it.
However, she was a bit troubled.
She understood guitar a little, but not very well.
After thinking for a while, since Hoshino Miru had helped her considerably, she couldn't ignore it.
"I don't know guitar, but little Mutsuki can play guitar." Toyokawa Sakiko was somewhat embarrassed. "I can ask her for you. Of course, whether she'll teach you or not, I'll still teach you everything I know."
What she referred to was naturally music theory - that was all she could teach Hoshino Miru for now.
For guitar, she could ask Wakaba Mutsuki for help.
This would also be a good opportunity for Toyokawa Sakiko to introduce Hoshino Miru.
"Won't this trouble you two?" Hoshino Miru was a bit shy, though he was also going along with the flow.
"It's fine." Toyokawa Sakiko cheered him on. "As long as you want to learn, I'll definitely help you."
The girl's mood was even more relaxed now. She wasn't afraid of whether Hoshino Miru had planned this all along - she just minded having accepted his kindness.
Not repaying it immediately made Toyokawa Sakiko feel uncomfortable.
...
Late at night, Kasugano Sora looked at the room where the lights had long been turned off and slowly pushed the door open.
By the moonlight from outside, Kasugano Sora saw Hoshino Miru lying alone on the bed and felt secretly relieved.
It seemed that bad woman hadn't done anything to him.
Kasugano Sora carefully climbed onto Hoshino Miru's bed and closely observed his sleeping face. She did this every night.
Soon, the entire room began filling with a strange smell, the air seeming to carry a subtle moisture, sticky and humid.
---
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