"So, you want to ask about Sakiko-sensei's current situation…"
Under normal circumstances, Kamijou Mutsuki wouldn't have any intention of revealing information about Sakiko-sensei, just in case she suddenly took off.
But since Uika had already guessed most of it, there wasn't much point in continuing to hide it.
Besides, Uika's personality was trustworthy. She wouldn't recklessly step on a landmine like a certain Miss Soyo.
"This was Togawa Sakiko before."
Kamijou Mutsuki explained to the girl the changes in Sakiko-sensei.
"This is Sakiko-sensei now."
"Do you understand?"
"No, I don't."
Uika tugged at the corner of her mouth slightly. Kamijou Mutsuki's explanation had been far too abstract.
"You really have no insight."
No, this has nothing to do with insight at all, does it?
"Fine, I'll explain it again."
And so, Kamijou Mutsuki fully recounted to the girl before him the story of how Sakiko-sensei fell from a Roman noble to a "mule-and-horse kneeling clan."
"Sakiko… actually went through something like that?"
After listening to Kamijou Mutsuki's explanation, a complicated expression appeared on Uika's face.
She had guessed that something had happened to Sakiko-sensei's family, but she hadn't expected it to be this severe.
She had been directly cut off from the Togawa family. Her biological father had become an alcoholic.
At an age when she was still in high school, she had to support the entire household. Most importantly, before being cut off, that scumbag father had left behind debts that an ordinary person couldn't repay even after ten lifetimes of going without food or drink.
Uika could hardly imagine how much that girl had suffered during this period of time.
"Alright, now you know Sakiko-sensei's situation. So what are you going to do?"
Kamijou Mutsuki sized up the girl in front of him and asked with interest.
"I'll bear it together with Saki-chan!"
Uika answered almost without hesitation.
If she didn't know, that would be one thing. But now that she knew what Sakiko was going through, how could she bear to let her endure it alone?
"Bear it together? Sakiko might not appreciate that."
"Saki-chan really is the type who likes to shoulder everything alone. She has very strong pride."
Hearing Kamijou Mutsuki's words, Uika nodded in agreement.
After all, she wasn't Soyo. Even if she wanted to help, she wouldn't directly give money—that would completely destroy the relationship between them.
"I'll stay behind her and support Saki-chan the whole time!"
Perhaps because she was emotionally stirred, Uika blurted out:
"For Saki-chan, I'm willing to do anything!"
"Anything?"
"Th-that kind of thing is not okay."
As if misunderstanding something, Uika blushed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"No, what I mean is—for your beloved Saki-chan, would you be willing to wear lace over your head?"
Kamijou Mutsuki directly threw this future question at the present-day girl.
"L-lace over my head?"
The girl widened her enchanting purple eyes, unable to follow Kamijou Mutsuki's rather jumpy train of thought.
No matter how you looked at it, that was far too embarrassing—borderline perverted, even.
Most importantly, Uika couldn't understand what that had to do with helping Sakiko.
Could it be that in order to help Sakiko, she had to wear lace over her head?
How could something like that possibly exist?!
"Isn't that a bit…"
The current Uika didn't seem to possess the resolve of her future self. Or perhaps she simply thought this was just one of Kamijou Mutsuki's strange hypotheticals and wouldn't actually become a real choice—so she didn't think about it too seriously.
"So,"
Seeing Uika's hesitation, Kamijou Mutsuki let out a soft sigh.
"With how much resolve did you say those words?"
"You're just an ordinary singer. Can you really shoulder someone else's entire life?"
'Willing to do anything'—those words carry that kind of weight."
"If you can't do it, don't say it so casually."
In the end, Kamijou Mutsuki concluded: "You really are someone whose head is completely filled with thoughts of Sakiko."
"I…"
Uika was left somewhat dazed by that string of remarks.
Wait, are those really your lines to say?
"Sorry,"
However, not long after, it was as if Uika had figured something out. A faintly embarrassed blush appeared on her face.
"I was too frivolous. I said something so grand without the corresponding resolve."
"But…"
As she spoke, the hesitation in her eyes gradually gave way to firmness.
"Your words made me understand that if I want to help Saki-chan, I can't do it without sufficient determination."
"So…"
A shy flush once again spread across her face, yet her steady gaze did not waver in the slightest.
"If it can help Saki-chan, then even wearing lace over my head—I'm willing!"
Perhaps because it was too embarrassing, the latter half of her sentence was practically shouted out loud.
However, the moment she finished shouting, she began to regret it.
Even if she wanted to show her determination, there was no need for it to be in that way!
She could only say that she had gotten a little carried away just now.
Fortunately, only Kamijou Mutsuki had heard it.
Blushing in embarrassment, Uika glanced at him and thought that—
"Uika, don't do it!"
The door outside was suddenly flung open rather violently. Then, under Uika's somewhat stunned gaze, a certain donut lady rushed straight in front of her and shielded her behind her back.
"Kamijou Demon King, let Uika go! If you want something, come at me instead!"
-----------------------------------
In the living room, the donut lady watched as her good partner rather impatiently pulled Kamijou Mutsuki into the little dark room…
Ahem, into the small room—and her whole mind went blank.
No, Uika, everyone just left. Are you really that impatient?
Although the donut lady knew that her good friend had already been molded into Kamijou Mutsuki's shape, she hadn't expected things to have reached this extent.
What exactly had Kamijou Mutsuki done over these past two days to turn that once-pure Uika into this?
Thinking that, the donut lady couldn't help but imagine certain restricted scenes.
Somewhere in Tokyo, inside a little dark room that no detector could ever find—that was where Misumi Uika was…
Wait, what on earth was she thinking?!
Mana flushed red and hurriedly shook her head, barely managing to clear her thoughts. What's past is past—the important thing is now!
Just imagining her good friend being at someone else's mercy on the other side of that door while she could do nothing made the donut lady feel heartbroken and indignant.
Demon King, be gentler with Uika—I'll feel bad, you know?!
With that thought, she walked to the door, wanting to eavesdrop on what was happening inside.
However, the soundproofing of the room was indeed quite good. The donut lady naturally heard nothing at all.
Seeing that, the girl felt even more miserable.
She couldn't even hear any sounds? Not even this little bit of participation?
But just then, because a certain girl suddenly raised her voice, the donut lady finally caught a bit of movement from inside.
..........................