"I'm not going."
Asai Yu genuinely couldn't accept this kind of thing.
At that moment, Wakaba Mutsumi suddenly snapped back to her senses and spoke in a firm tone:
"We have to go."
"Not going," Asai Yu rejected her mercilessly.
"We have to go, we absolutely have to. If we don't, I'll become a disobedient child, everyone will definitely find it strange, and Minami will be unhappy..."
Wakaba Mutsumi explained.
Asai Yu had long known that Wakaba Mutsumi's time was almost completely consumed by after-school tutoring and various variety-show-related activities.
"I'm the core personality now. Everything listens to me. I have my own things to do, and I have no intention of going to these useless cram lessons. Do you understand?"
Before Wakaba Mutsumi could respond, Mortis jumped in first, wholeheartedly agreeing:
"That's absolutely right! I support you, Yu!"
"Mutsumi only ever listens to what those adults arrange for her every day. They're all things she's clearly not interested in, yet she never refuses. I've been fed up with it for a long time—I just never had the chance to say it."
Wakaba Mutsumi immediately turned her head and looked at Mortis when she heard that.
Sensing the gaze beside her, Mortis turned her head away, crossed her arms, and let out a soft "hmph".
She's changed. Mortis has completely changed—she's fully standing on Yu's side now.
Asai Yu, meanwhile, was at a loss for words.
No chance to say it? More like you didn't dare to say it, right?
Still, he was perfectly willing to take Big Mortis as a subordinate. At the very least, her personality suited his tastes quite well.
"Yeah, that lines up with what I was thinking," Asai Yu said.
"I see..."
There was unmistakable joy in Mortis's voice.
At this moment, Wakaba Mutsumi felt as if her future life was about to turn completely gray.
Just then, Asai Yu suddenly felt a chill down his back, as if someone were staring at him.
Nagasaki Soyo?
No—wait.
He turned his head and found that it was actually Togawa Sakiko!
She was following not too far behind him, staring straight at him with her pale-golden eyes, not averting her gaze even when their eyes met.
Huh? What is this girl trying to do?
Asai Yu ignored her for the time being, turned back around, and kept walking forward.
Even after crossing four intersections, the girl was still glued right behind him. Asai Yu finally couldn't take it anymore.
"Why are you following me?"
He turned around and walked straight up to Togawa Sakiko, asking her directly.
Togawa Sakiko immediately crossed her arms, her expression serious.
"Who's following you? We're just going the same way."
Since when did Dai-Saki-sensei's skin get this thick?
Asai Yu felt a bit helpless.
He didn't plan to deal with her anymore—after all, no matter what, she couldn't possibly follow him all the way home.
However, when he reached the front gate of the small villa, he realized that Togawa Sakiko was still right behind him.
Has she started malfunctioning or something?
Asai Yu opened the gate and walked into the courtyard.
Seeing this, Togawa Sakiko followed closely behind, not giving him any chance to shut her out.
Like a stubborn sticky plaster stuck to his skin!
Mortis was utterly shocked by this scene.
Is this really the cold and heartless Sakiko she knew?
Why is she clinging to Yu so persistently?
Wakaba Mutsumi, on the other hand, felt a little envious. If only Saki would cling to her like this...
But then that question started circling in her mind again: just who exactly is Yu?
She felt like she was about to grasp the answer—but it kept slipping through her fingers...
Asai Yu opened the front door, changed his shoes, passed through the entryway, and entered the living room.
"Sorry for intruding," Togawa Sakiko said as she followed him inside.
She actually followed him into the house?!
Asai Yu couldn't quite understand why Black Saki at this stage would dare to come to Wakaba Mutsumi's home.
Who gave her that kind of courage?
At that moment, Mori Minami was sitting in the living room watching a drama she herself had acted in.
When she saw someone come in, she immediately stood up and greeted them with a bright smile.
"Mutsumi, you're back?"
"Oh? And you brought little Saki with you? Long time no see—welcome, welcome."
"Sorry for the disturbance, Ms. Mori," Togawa Sakiko said politely, bowing.
"No need to be so formal. There's freshly brewed coffee on the table—go ahead and sit. I'll bring some desserts and fruit."
With that, Mori Minami headed toward the kitchen.
"You said it was 'on the way'—you meant on the way into my house?" Asai Yu questioned her.
And what about your pianist job?
Not composing music anymore either?
"Not exactly. I just suddenly remembered that I haven't seen Ms. Mori in a long time, so I stopped by to pay a visit and say hello," Togawa Sakiko replied, lifting her coffee cup and taking an elegant sip.
Asai Yu frowned slightly as he looked at the completely out-of-character girl.
No version of Togawa Sakiko should be able to come up with such a thick-skinned excuse.
What on earth happened during the week or so when he wasn't around?
Even if she had already discovered his identity, she shouldn't be acting like this—she should've rushed up and interrogated him directly.
Asai Yu couldn't make sense of it, so he decided not to think about it anymore.
He was experiencing Wakaba Mutsumi's life right now. Togawa Sakiko wasn't really his concern.
Leaving the living room, Asai Yu went to the music room, found Wakaba Mutsumi's guitar, and started practicing.
Togawa Sakiko also didn't stay in the living room. She followed him into the music room.
When she saw him pick up the guitar, she thought for a moment, then sat down at the piano and began playing a simple accompaniment along with him.
This is actually insane.
Asai Yu suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
Meanwhile, Mori Minami returned to the living room. When she realized everyone was gone, she vaguely heard the sound of instruments coming from the music room and grew thoughtful.
Then she suddenly remembered something.
Wasn't Mutsumi supposed to have ballet class this afternoon?
Why was she at home playing the guitar instead?
Mori Minami checked the time—it should still be possible to make it if they left now.
She walked to the music room, approached "Wakaba Mutsumi," and smiled as she called out:
"Mutsumi, Mutsumi."
Asai Yu put down the guitar, and the piano accompaniment stopped as well.
"What is it?"
"Mutsumi, did you forget? You have ballet class this afternoon. If you leave now, you won't be late."
Asai Yu shook his head.
"No interest. I'm not going anymore—from now on."
"Then hurry up—"
Mori Minami didn't react immediately, but the next second, she froze.
A flicker of shock and suspicion flashed through her eyes.
Beside them, Togawa Sakiko was visibly excited.
This—this is exactly Yu's style!
If it's a cram lesson I'm not interested in, I just don't go.
"Um… could you maybe not talk back to Minami like that?"
Wakaba Mutsumi said weakly.
"How is that talking back? I'm just telling the truth. That's called being genuine,"
Asai Yu shot back.
Hearing this, Wakaba Mutsumi obediently closed her mouth.
Mortis, on the contrary, watched the scene with a delighted expression and sighed:
"Yu is so cool."
Wakaba Mutsumi glanced sideways at Mortis, then shifted her gaze away.
Through the shared vision, she saw the reflection of her own body in a mirror not far away.
At that very moment, like clouds parting to reveal the sun, she suddenly remembered where that familiar feeling had come from!
It was the other Sakiko!
Yu… is the other Sakiko!