So… he got kicked out?
A rare opportunity wasted. What a shame the second beer bottle never came down.
Asai Yu felt a stab of regret—and, at the same time, a kind of frustrated disappointment toward Togawa Sakiko's weakness.
That sort of weakness that made you want to shout "get it together already."
Couldn't the soft-hearted Togawa Sakiko at least try acting tougher for once?
Still… he really had transmigrated into the BanG Dream! world, hadn't he? At least, that's how it looked so far.
That said, with a world this big and so many lives available to experience, why on earth had the system singled out Togawa Sakiko?
Asai Yu had every reason to suspect he'd been set up by capital.
Coming back to himself, he realized he was sitting at his computer, typing away.
…Huh?
[During the life experience, the host's body will be managed by the system]
[The host may also review events via visual playback]
So that's how it worked. He'd almost skipped his own life entirely.
Asai Yu checked the playback. Aside from a faintly NPC-like stiffness, everything looked the same—no real difference from his usual self.
That's a great feature.
Ideas immediately flashed through Asai Yu's mind about all the ways this could be used.
But soon enough, his thoughts returned to Togawa Sakiko.
Now that the experience target was clearly Sakiko, he needed to prepare—at the very least, avoid making her hate him too much.
Of course, if he wanted to level up his own experience, he had to change Togawa Sakiko's life trajectory.
After thinking it over for a long while, Asai Yu lay down and went to sleep early.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was the next day.
At just six in the morning, he was jolted awake by his alarm.
Technically, a new experience could start after midnight—but what was he supposed to do then?
Experience sleep?
So he picked six a.m., a time when the sun hadn't fully risen yet.
If he jumped in during this window, at least yesterday's kind of disaster probably wouldn't repeat itself.
[Select Life Experience Target:]
[1. Togawa Sakiko]
[2. Pending]
There wasn't really a choice. Asai Yu tapped the first option.
Not long after, he once again found himself inside Togawa Sakiko's body.
He'd probably adapted quite a bit—this time, the experience wasn't nearly as disorienting as the first.
That said… the situation still looked pretty bad.
Overcast skies. Howling wind. A torrential downpour.
An electric bike lying on its side nearby.
And himself sprawled on the ground.
This was… not what he'd imagined.
Why was every single experience this miserable?
"It's you again? Who are you, exactly? Someone who can control my body?"
Togawa Sakiko's voice echoed in his mind. Compared to yesterday's sheer terror, there was now a sharp edge of hostility.
Asai Yu stood up, opened the umbrella, and replied with words he'd already prepared:
"Actually, I'm your second personality."
His voice echoed in her mind as well—but it wasn't his voice.
It sounded exactly like Togawa Sakiko's.
As for why he said that—Asai Yu was certain that telling her the truth would only provoke fierce resistance. Anyone would lose it if their body suddenly got hijacked by a complete stranger.
This explanation, at least, would stabilize things for now.
…Second personality?
Doubt surged through Togawa Sakiko's mind. But as things stood, unless she believed in gods or body-snatching yokai, there really was no better explanation.
Still, she stubbornly shot back,
"You think I'd believe that? Do you even remember what you did yesterday?"
"Of course I remember."
Asai Yu rubbed his forehead and felt a sizable bump there.
"I just smashed a middle-aged bastard on the head. Relax. He won't die."
"You—!"
Togawa Sakiko faltered, about to retort, but he cut her off.
"Interrogating me? If I hadn't fought back yesterday, there's a good chance we would've been beaten to death."
"Getting hit in the head with a beer bottle isn't a joke. Worst case? Brain hemorrhage, concussion—whether it's even treatable is another story. And treatment alone would cost tens of millions of yen."
Tens of millions…?
Togawa Sakiko's heart skipped. She swallowed hard.
"But—"
He didn't let her finish.
"With your current financial situation, there's no way you could afford treatment. You'd probably end up with teenage-onset dementia. Drooling for the rest of your life."
Dementia…?
Drooling for life…?
The image flashed through Togawa Sakiko's mind, and a chill ran down her spine.
…That actually did sound possible.
To be honest, she'd been terrified yesterday too. She didn't know what came over her—her bastard of a father suddenly smashed a beer bottle at her. Even now, she barely dared to go back to that apartment.
After a few seconds of silence, she changed the subject, her tone firm and non-negotiable.
"Anyway—give my body back. Now."
"Sorry. Can't do that."
Asai Yu's voice carried a calm finality.
"I have control over this body too. For now, it's mine."
Togawa Sakiko froze.
"But… this is obviously my body…"
Her voice was full of panic. Yet at this point, she had no way to reclaim it.
After dozens of seconds, she gave in helplessly.
"Then… when will you give it back?"
"I'll control this body for twelve hours every day. The rest of the time, it's yours," Asai Yu replied.
"Twelve hours?!"
Her voice shot up in alarm.
"Then my studies… my part-time job—"
Before she could finish, Asai Yu cut in,
"You don't need to worry about any of that. While I'm in control, I'll handle everything."
As he spoke, he propped the fallen bike back up.
"Think about it. You just stay inside, rest, watch me get through school and work for the day—no need to exhaust yourself. Isn't that kind of… amazing?"
Since he was occupying Togawa Sakiko's body, he figured it was only right to at least take care of the basics.
…That actually made some sense?
Togawa Sakiko imagined it—waking up every morning, watching this so-called second personality handle the entire day while she just lay flat and rested.
That… didn't sound half bad.
Maybe this arrangement wasn't completely unacceptable.
But could her life really be carried by someone else halfway?
No—if something like this happened, shouldn't she be seeing a psychiatrist?
But the consultation fees…
At that moment, Asai Yu interrupted her spiraling thoughts.
"There is one condition. Every day, I need one hour to practice piano—and you'll guide me."
"Piano?"
Togawa Sakiko frowned inwardly.
"Aren't you my second personality? You don't even know how to play?"
"Just tell me yes or no."
Asai Yu had no interest in arguing details. He needed that ability, first and foremost.
"No problem."
She agreed without hesitation.
"Good. Then it's settled," Asai Yu said, satisfied.
"By the way—you're pretty short on money right now, aren't you?"
"…Mm."
Togawa Sakiko answered softly, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.
Then, as if she suddenly realized something, her tone sharpened with panic.
"You're not planning to—! No, you can't! That kind of thing—!"