Seeing Wakaba Mutsumi suddenly stand up beside her, Mortis was startled.
Looking over, she noticed a bright, genuinely happy smile hanging on Mutsumi's face.
What's going on with Mutsumi now?
Wasn't she just feeling down a moment ago?
How did she suddenly get so cheerful?
Strange—could it be that losing control of the main personality had finally pushed Mutsumi into some kind of mental breakdown?!
…That was possible.
Outside, Mori Minami forced a slightly stiff smile, bent forward a little, and asked softly, "Did something happen, Mutsumi?"
"No. I'm just not interested in ballet anymore."
Asai Yu shook his head.
"Eh? But you've always gone consistently before, haven't you? You can't just give up halfway through things. You have to work hard, okay? If there's any difficulty, you can tell me."
Mori Minami was confused, but she kept persuading her. "Mom will absolutely support you unconditionally!"
"Before, I was just humoring you. If you really support me unconditionally, then cancel all my tutoring sessions and all my future variety show appearances."
Asai Yu didn't give her any face at all.
After all, Mori Minami could no longer really be called a biological mother—she was more like a manufactured one.
It was only because of her status as a famous actress that she'd restrained herself this much.
Those endless tutoring sessions were very likely her way of binding Wakaba Mutsumi down.
Hearing this, Mori Minami looked at the girl's expressionless face, a flicker of fear flashing through her eyes.
She unconsciously took two steps back.
This monster… had really changed. Completely different now. Totally out of her control, as if… she no longer had any weaknesses at all?!
No—there was still one weakness: she couldn't be financially independent yet.
But if she pushed that angle and others found out, wouldn't that be career suicide?
She couldn't do it…
Still, she tried one last struggle.
"Do you really want to do this, Mutsumi?"
"Don't blame Mom for being honest. As our only daughter, in this family, at this level of society, if you don't master a few skills, you might end up being laughed at."
Mori Minami leaned her face closer, applying pressure.
Looking at that oversized face right in front of him, Asai Yu felt his gag reflex almost kick in.
"Then let them laugh. What does that have to do with me? And it's not like I don't have any skills. My acting is better than yours, isn't it? You're a famous actress—shouldn't that be enough already?"
He shot back immediately.
Mori Minami could tolerate the first half of that sentence, but the second half tore straight through years of carefully maintained disguise.
She stumbled back several steps, her expression twisting with shock and fury, teeth clenched as she pointed her right index finger at "Wakaba Mutsumi."
"You—!"
Seeing her completely lose composure, Asai Yu found it genuinely amusing.
Looks like he really hit a nerve.
After all, lies don't hurt people—truth is the sharp blade.
Off to the side, Togawa Sakiko watched the scene with confusion… and a strange sense of satisfaction.
She didn't understand all the fine details of their confrontation, but watching Yu shut someone down like this, pushing them until they cracked, was more than enough for her to get fully invested.
Meanwhile, inside the personality space, Mortis clenched her fists and jumped up in excitement.
"She cracked! She totally cracked!"
"Mutsumi, look!"
"Yeah. I'm watching."
Wakaba Mutsumi nodded.
After learning Yu's true identity, her mindset had undergone another massive shift.
At the very least, everything he was doing now was something she could accept.
She even found herself looking forward to what would happen next—because Yu had said exactly what she'd always wanted to say.
Something no one else had ever managed to do, not even herself.
So during all those past conversations… had Yu really kept her situation in mind the whole time?
Thinking of that, Wakaba Mutsumi felt her heart flutter slightly.
Back in the real world, Mori Minami snapped back to her senses, realizing her behavior just now was destroying her public image. She immediately switched to a gentle, pleasant expression.
"You… it seems you've entered your rebellious phase, Mutsumi."
She clasped her hands together and smiled.
"But if that's what you really want, then Minami will support you! I'll help cancel those tutoring sessions and your future variety show activities."
"Is that okay?"
"Yes, it is." Asai Yu nodded.
"That's good then. As long as Mutsumi is happy, that's all that matters."
Mori Minami patted her chest, as if finally letting out a sigh of relief.
Then she turned her gaze toward Togawa Sakiko.
To be honest, Sakiko had originally thought Mrs. Mori seemed fairly normal—but after witnessing that instant face change with zero delay, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine.
She even instinctively avoided Minami's gaze.
"Sorry to let you see that, Saki. Sometimes this is just how Mutsumi and I interact at home. Kind of strange, right?"
Mori Minami covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
"Not at all."
Togawa Sakiko forced an awkward smile in response.
"Then you two keep chatting. I still have some things to take care of, so I'll be leaving first."
With that, Mori Minami quickly left the music room, not wanting to stay a single second longer.
"Yes! Total victory!" Mortis raised her right hand high and shouted excitedly.
Wakaba Mutsumi felt happy as well.
Maybe, just like Minami said, some relatives or acquaintances would look at her strangely in the future.
But being able to cancel all the activities she hated and gain more time for herself felt worth it.
Of course, the most important thing was Yu standing up to Minami.
Even though it wasn't Wakaba Mutsumi herself controlling the body, it still gave her a strange, exhilarating sense of satisfaction.
"Huh? You're happy too, Mutsumi? But earlier, didn't you stop Yu from talking back to Minami?"
Mortis noticed this and asked in confusion.
"That was before. It's different now…"
Wakaba Mutsumi replied.
Back then, she didn't really know what Yu might do.
But after seeing him voice her true feelings—and after learning his real identity—she no longer felt so uneasy.
Hearing this, Mortis sighed inwardly.
Terrifying, this Mutsumi. Compared to before, it's like she's become a completely different person again.
No wonder she's Minami's daughter—cut from the same mold.
Of course, that applies to her too!
After Mutsumi's mom left, only Asai Yu and Togawa Sakiko remained in the music room.
It immediately became much quieter.
Asai Yu ignored her and continued practicing the guitar.
This time, Sakiko didn't accompany him on the piano. Instead, she walked over and quietly observed.
An hour later, Asai Yu successfully maxed out today's guitar experience.
[Guitar Bonus Lv.3 (440/2000)]
On Sakiko's side, she was left astonished.
His talent on the piano was already unmatched—so how was he this good on the guitar too?
There probably wasn't anyone who could compare to Yu anymore.
She let out a silent sigh.
Asai Yu stood up, checked the time, and realized it was already four in the afternoon.
Looks like there wasn't really anything left to do.