Math just happened to be Togawa Sakiko's weakest subject. She'd barely listened for a few minutes before her consciousness faded out.
And so, Asai Yu ended up waking her again and again.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye it was already noon.
Since school let out at two in the afternoon and he hadn't brought any food, Asai Yu declined when Wakaba Mutsumi came over to invite him to lunch together.
To be honest, he did want to get a bit closer to Wakaba, but after weighing various factors—like the possibility that he might one day experience Wakaba's life himself—he deliberately kept a little distance.
The afternoon classes were just as boring. After school, Wakaba excused herself and left for her extracurricular club.
The side quest was already halfway done. It was time to trigger the main quest.
Asai Yu took a couple of laps around the campus, roughly familiarizing himself with the layout. Naturally, he didn't run into Nagasaki Soyo.
In the end, he stopped in front of the music room and pushed the door open.
The go-home club had already gone home; club members were off at their activities. The music room was completely empty. Asai Yu walked up to the piano and sat down calmly.
"Alright, Dai-Sakiko-sensei, let's begin the lesson."
He looked at the keys in front of him, expression serious.
He could've learned on his own, but with a piano master living inside his body, there was no reason not to make use of her.
"Y-you… really can't play the piano at all?" Togawa Sakiko asked, doubtful.
As her second personality, not even knowing how to play the piano?
"Not at all. Completely." Asai Yu replied.
Hearing the certainty in his tone, a surge of pride rose in Sakiko's heart.
"Um… this is actually my first time teaching someone piano. You don't need to call me 'sensei' or anything…"
"In any case, start by memorizing the basic theory…"
And with that, she began explaining.
It really was Togawa Sakiko's first time teaching someone. She rambled on and on, jumping from one point to another.
Asai Yu felt a headache coming on—but with the piano-related buff active, he was still able to rapidly extract the useful parts, memorize them completely, and even build his own understanding on top of them.
The sensation was strangely fascinating.
And this piano buff was only at level 1. If it leveled up a few more times, wouldn't his learning speed just skyrocket?
After a while, Sakiko finished her explanation. "So? Did you understand?"
"Yeah. I get it. Let's do some hands-on practice." Asai Yu nodded.
You understood all of it?
Sakiko frowned.
She could clearly tell Yu had zero familiarity with instruments. Understanding everything after just one listen—wasn't that a bit of a stretch?
Back when she was learning, it had taken her a long time to grasp it all.
Well, fine. Let him hit a wall.
"Then let's start. First, finger habits…"
Sakiko continued her instruction.
A few minutes later, looking at the chaotic mess of fingers in her field of view, Sakiko burst out laughing, her voice rising unconsciously.
"Heh-heh, sure, your math is impressive, but your piano is really nothing special."
At this stage, Asai Yu couldn't really argue back.
But laugh while you can—give it a few days and you won't be laughing anymore.
Soon, an hour of piano practice had passed.
[Piano Buff Lv.1 (20/100)]
The buff's experience jumped straight up by 20 points. Just as the system emphasized—this feature was no joke.
At this moment, the once slightly aloof Togawa Sakiko didn't dare make a sound.
In just one hour, he'd already mastered chords, timing, and rhythm—and could even expand on them freely. That was beyond human, wasn't it?!
At this rate, if he kept practicing, she might actually be surpassed in piano within a month.
No—please don't let that happen!
She knew it now—this had to be because of Togawa Sakiko herself. Because this body was hers, he could learn so fast.
It was all thanks to her overwhelming talent!
Only by telling herself that could Sakiko feel any comfort.
After finishing piano practice, Asai Yu returned to the shabby rental apartment. He threw together something simple to eat, just enough to fill his stomach.
At that moment, the door opened, and a middle-aged man radiating pure desolation walked in.
"Sakiko…"
Togawa Kiyotsugu weakly called out when he saw the blue-haired girl sitting by the table.
"I'm starving…"
His face looked sunken, as if he really hadn't eaten in a long time.
Where did this overgrown man-baby mooch come from?
Asai Yu's gaze instantly turned cold. Ignoring him, he swept all the food off the table, downed a glass of water, and finished with a satisfied burp.
"L-little Saki… I…"
Seeing this, Kiyotsugu started muttering softly again.
At that moment, a beer bottle rolled to a stop by Asai Yu's foot.
Oh no—this thing has chosen its master.
Without hesitation, Asai Yu bent down, picked up the bottle, and raised it high toward the middle-aged man.
Seeing that, Togawa Kiyotsugu instantly caved. He hurried off and hid in his room.
"Even though Dad really is awful… he does seem like he genuinely has no money for food…"
Watching this, Sakiko murmured softly in her mind, unable to help herself.
"No money for food? You're overthinking it. He won't starve."
Asai Yu didn't bother explaining further.
"Oh, and from now on, don't give this guy a single yen of the money I earn. If you do, I'll crack his head open every time I find out."
Hearing that, Sakiko immediately abandoned the idea of secretly buying her father some food.
She felt like her life had been completely thrown into chaos.
But with no ability to act on her own, what could she even do?
Asai Yu stood up and surveyed the surroundings—spiderwebs clinging to the corners, a foul stench wafting from the kitchen, dust coating everything…
"How long has it been since this place was cleaned? Do the math, Dai-Sakiko-sensei."
He sighed.
That comment made Sakiko's face burn red. She couldn't force out a single word.
What did he mean by that—was he mocking her?!
It was just that she'd been too busy with work to clean!
Asai Yu really didn't want to do it, but there was no way anyone could live in an environment like this. Not developing depression already meant having a strong mentality.
"Watch carefully. I'll only show you once."
When it came to housework, Asai Yu was quite skilled.
After nearly an hour, he'd efficiently tidied everything up, finally restoring the apartment to a livable state.
"Did you see clearly? Remember it? Even if you didn't, you did. From now on, you're in charge of cleaning this place."
Asai Yu ordered.
"Me? But the cockroaches… spiders… rats…"
Just imagining it filled Sakiko with a hundred refusals.
"Then how about we bring in a couple of maids from the family to clean for you?"
Asai Yu shot back.
"No!"
Sakiko's attitude suddenly hardened.
"I'll do it. I'll handle it myself."
When Dai-Sakiko-sensei doesn't listen, a little 'discipline' does the trick.