Firework Festival Arc

The Quintetessential Quintuplets © Negi Haruba

Uesugi Kenichii, Uesugi Haruka© Me

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- TheMist33: Thank you for your review. And thank you for your compliment and your suggestion. I'm very happy that you're looking forward of my story.

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Hello, everyone! I want to say thank you very much for 33 favorites and 41 followers and I hope that you all still enjoy my fanfic…I mean one of my fanfics or both of it. Actually, I want to upload this chapter during the Christmas but I can't because I have to do so many of my assignments. Believe it or not, I still have those assignments, even during Christmas, well, I expect nothing less from a vocational college. Merry (belated) Christmas to all of you who celebrate it. Since this is a new year time and additionally a special occasion, I'll upload the next chapter 1 or 2 days after the new year. Well, without further ado, here we go!

"He is…" = Speaking

[He is….] = Thinking

{He is…} = Flashback

("He is…") = Author's quip

Chapter 7: Our Day Off – Part 2

"…Welcome home, Anata." Haruka said with a bright smile; unlike what she had earlier.

Kenichii only smiled at that. Fuutarou, the Quints and Raiha also smiled though Fuutarou's smile is more subdued. ("Did you guys really think I'd forget about them?")

Fuutarou then sighed before he said "One moment they're crying, next moment they're fighting, and then they're laughing and lastly they smiled at each other. It looks like you two need a doctor's help for your brains."

"Care to say that to my face, Fuutarou/Otouto-kun?" Kenichii and Haruka growled.

"See, now both of you growling at me at the same time." Fuutarou said with sweatdropped. "Besides I also need some payback for all of your teasing once in a while."

Kenichii and Haruka calmed down hearing that as Fuutarou was right. Fuutarou had every right to tease them given how often they teased him so they'd let this slide.

Kenichii then decided to change the subject and he said "By the way, nice yukatas for Haru-chan and Raiha."

"Thank you Ken-onii-chan. Haru-nee chose this for me." Raiha replied.

Kenichii nodded at that before he looked at his wife "As expected of my wife."

"…Thank you…" Haruka said bashfully.

Kenichii smiled seeing Haruka bashful like that. Then he looked at Fuutarou "Alright, its Fuutarou's turn."

"Haah? What're you talking about?"

"What am I talking about? Of course, it's about complimenting the girls' yukatas. Are you an idiot?"

Fuutarou twitched in anger at that before he recomposed and he said "Those yukatas you wore are so beautiful Raiha, Haru-nee."

"Thank you Onii-chan/Otouto-kun." Raiha and Haruka replied.

Kenichii nodded as he said "Good going Fuutarou. What about them?" Kenichii gestured at the Quints who looked expectantly at their tutor after he complimented the yukatas that his sister and sister in-law wore.

Fuutarou currently in dilemma. He wants to compliment the Quints but she doesn't want his brother and his sister in-law tease gim for it. On the other side, he also wants to compliment the Quints as he's afraid that if he refuses to compliment them, he'd hurt their feelings.

['Hurt their feelings'? No way in hell I'd do that. I already made them cry out of sadness few times by now and I don't want to make them cry if I can do anything to prevent it.]

If that's the case, there's only I could do.

"Y…you girls lo…looked v…very g…go…gorg…gorgeous with th...those yukatas." Fuutarou said with blush on his face as he covered his mouth to lessen his embarrassment.

The Quints also blushed brightly hearing that while Haruka and Kenichii surprised at that due to not expecting their brother complimented the girls to this extent. And for better or worse, Haruka covered Raiha's ears because Kenichii doesn't want Raiha to have a weird vocabulary at her age.

And an awkward silence dawned upon them (More so for Fuutarou and the Quints). Kenichii decided to break the silence as he said "Hey, what about if we go to the festival now? We had stayed here too long."

Haruka understood what her husband tried to do then said "Hum, I heard that there are stands that sells cool masks like what Ken-kun and Otouto-kun had, (Miku twitched at that) there are many stands that had games, (Yotsuba twitched at that) and there are many foods stands here (I don't need to mention who's the one that twitched at this.)"

"Then what're you waiting for? Let's go!" Yotsuba and Itsuki exclaimed while Miku just stood beside them; signifying that she really wanted to go just like them.

"I think it'd be best if we just go now. When those two are like this, they'll trample everyone who gets in their way." Nino said after she sighed.

"We aren't like that, Nino!" Yotsuba and Itsuki cried at Nino.

"Can you please keep down your voice? We're in a public place after all." Fuutarou asked the Quints sternly which made the Quints shiver; as always.

The Quints nodded "I hate to admit it but Kenichii's right; we already wasted too much time by now so let's go." Fuutarou said without leaving any room for argument.

The Uesugis and the Quints then finally went to the festival area as Kenichii and Haruka talked about how Fuutarou showed some 'stern husband-quality' for the Quints which made Raiha laughed while Fuutarou and the Quints once again were blushed by that.

Fuutarou asked the Quints whether they had done their homeworks or not and they said that they had done it. Fuutarou believed it considering he didn't sense any lie from them.

Earlier, after Kenichii and Haruka teased Fuutarou and the Quints about 'husband quality', the married couple decided to split up with Fuutarou, Raiha and the Quints so they could enjoy the festival as a couple and thankfully they accepted it, though Fuutarou had some suspicion about what Kenichii and Haruka actually want to do but he shrugged it off as it's none of his concern.

Fuutarou, Raiha and the Quints now in a crowd as they headed for the store's rooftop since Nino booked it so they could enjoy the firework.

"Hey." Nino began "Since we've come here, aren't we going to buy it?"

Nino's sisters easily understood what she meant while Fuutarou and Raiha were still lost.

"Now that you mention it, I still didn't buy it." Miku said.

"You mean that one, right?" Ichika said.

"Haruka-san said there are many food stalls so maybe it's here." Itsuki said.

"I really want to eat it." Yotsuba finished.

"Wait, wait. What did you mean by…that?" Fuutarou inquired.

"You didn't know, Fuutarou?" Miku asked.

"Alright, girls. Let's tell him." Nino said which her sisters nodded.

The Quints chorused "One…two…"

Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba, and Itsuki exclaimed "Shaved ice/Apple candy/Taiyaki/Chocolate banana/Yakisoba." Fuutarou sweatdropped at how different their wanted snacks yet they could say it at the same time perfectly.

The Quints (Yotsuba walking while holding hand with Raiha) then exclaimed "Let's just buy all of them."

Fuutarou could only hang his head in exasperation [I know that you two want some alone time…but why did you have to sacrifice my sanity for that, Kenichii, big sis?]

Itsuki now pouting and fuming with Ichika still tried to cheer up her youngest sister while Fuutarou and Miku could only look in sympathy.

"I can't believe that mister. He had the nerve of giving Ichika some bonus because she's cute while he didn't give me any of that. We look practically the same and it's just like he directly insulted me." Itsuki threw a tantrum.

"The cons of being quintuplets." Miku mused. She also bought a mask covering her left ear.

Speaking about mask, Fuutarou wore his kitsune mask fully. Apparently, after Fuutarou defeated the legendary previously-unbeatable game, Fuutarou has gotten famous and it was proven by right after the Quints went off to buy their wanted snacks, someone passing by recognized Fuutarou and his achievement and it attracted attentions of everyone around him who knew about him too.

Having no other choice, Fuutarou had to greeted them (he did it awkwardly though) and he answered their questions (fortunately all of them were reasonable questions). One of them asked about Fuutarou's relation with five girls and one smaller-girl near him.

Fuutarou replied as honest as he can; the smaller girl is his sister while the five girls were his best friends. Everyone was satisfied by this reply and the Quints felt happy as their tutor actually consider them that dearly.

Everyone then spread out to let Fuutarou and his companies enjoy the festival after Fuutarou asked them to keep quiet about his appearance here, which they thankfully understood.

"Ahaha. Come on, just eat some of mine and cheer up." Ichika offered.

"Hmph." Itsuki still pouted.

"Onii-chan." Raiha called his brother "I want to play some games over there with Yotsuba-san. Can I?"

Fuutarou then looked at Yotsuba and they nodded at each other "Okay, but don't stray away from each other, you hear me?"

"Haaaai!" Yotsuba and Raiha then scrambled.

"Hey! You guys are too slow. Hurry up!" Nino said as she was far ahead than her sisters, Fuutarou and Raiha.

"Is it just me or did Nino look more excited today. Did you three know why?" Fuutarou asked curiously "All of you are excited too. Not that it's a bad thing or what but the festival happens every year."

Ichika, Miku, and Itsuki kept silent for a moment before Itsuki said "That's because this is the memory that connects us with our late mother."

[Late? That means…] Fuutarou thought with slightly wide eyes.

Ichika continued "Mother really liked firework so she always took us to this every year."

"Even after mother has passed, we still come here and watch it. That's what firework festival means to us." Miku finished with smile which Ichika and Itsuki also smiled.

[I see. No wonder these girls are so excited today.] Fuutarou thought with a smile.

Nino then looked back but much of her surprise; she couldn't find Yotsuba and Raiha as they already scrambled to find some games.

The announcer said through some megaphones "Sorry for making you wait so long. We'll start the firework in a few minutes."

Everyone started walking at a faster pace as they unknowingly separated Nino from her sisters (sans Yotsuba) and Fuutarou. Though Nino surprised as she saw Fuutarou suddenly in front of her and he held her wrist from the front.

"…U…Uesugi." Nino said weakly.

"Just standing here is a foolish move. I don't know if you want me in the store that you booked but show me that store." Fuutarou said.

[What're you talking about? You're very welcome there, you know.] Nino thought with a light blush.

"…Alright." Nino said as she gripped Fuutarou's sleeve. "But how are we gonna pass this crowd?"

Fuutarou sighed at this "No other choice then."

Nino puzzled at that before Fuutarou opened his kitsune mask and slide it to his right ear as he exclaimed "Excuse me, can you let us through?"

"Haaah? Just who the hell do-" A guy in front of Fuutarou said before he stopped as he looked at Fuutarou's face.

"I…it's you. Someone who has defeated the unbeatable challenge." This caught everyone's attention.

"Hey it's true. It's him."

"He is that Uesugi Fuutarou, right?"

"Yeah, the first person who could make the robot gunman gunslinger bows in front of him."

Fuutarou twitched at that as the robot never actually bows in front of him though he chose to ignore it. Fuutarou then repeated what he said.

"Can you please let us get through?"

"Oh of course."

"Please come this way."

"Be careful on your way, Uesugi Fuutarou-san."

"…Let's go Nino." Fuutarou said.

"Y...yeah." Nino replied.

After a few minutes, Fuutarou and Nino arrived at the booked store.

"Thanks for your help, Uesugi." Nino thanked the tutor.

"Don't mention it. Besides, rather than thanking me what about if you just go up there. Who knows maybe your sister's already there?" Fuutarou said.

Nino nodded at that and she proceeded to go up there, but she saw Fuutarou still there.

"What're you doing, Uesugi? Come here." Nino asked.

Fuutarou blinked at that before he said "Is that okay with you?"

"Of course, I'm okay with it. Just hurry up here." Nino retorted.

Fuutarou sighed at that and he proceeded to go up there along with Nino. As they almost reached the rooftop, they were surprised as they saw that the fireworks have begun. Nino then turned to her tutor as she remembered some things.

"Oh yeah, I just remembered." Nino called her tutor which her tutor now looked at her "…I forgot that I'm the only who know about this place."

Fuutarou twitched in annoyance as he said "So you mean…you told them that you have booked this place yet you didn't tell them where this place is?"

"I forgot, okay?" Nino retorted before she called her tutor again which Fuutarou hummed in response.

"…I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For what, Nino?"

"…For slapping you…and for making you uncomfortable around me."

Fuutarou widen his eyes as he thought [She still thought about that? But why did she…]

As if Nino could read Fuutarou's thought, she then said "I just know that you're uncomfortable around me." Fuutarou could only continue listening. "Well, it's no wonder you feel that way. After I slapped and snapped at you, you'd-"

Nino stopped as she felt Fuutarou patted her head "U…Uesugi?"

"Don't blame yourself like that, Nino. In fact, if I didn't ask that ridiculous question, I wouldn't know that you girls were actually happy with me as your tutor." Fuutarou said as Nino blushed lightly.

"And regarding about you thought I was uncomfortable around you, you're wrong. I didn't feel like that. Not at all." Fuutarou continued

Nino wanted to retort but Fuutarou made a gesture 'let me finish my talk first' which she nodded before the tutor said "I heard from your sisters about the meaning of this festival to you girls and yeah…I just felt unsure whether I should watch the fireworks with you girls or not."

Nino wanted to retort again but she knew Fuutarou still not finish so she let him talk again. Fuutarou then said "But now I no longer feel unsure about it so you can relax…And I'm sorry if I make you think that I'm uncomfortable around you."

Nino nodded as she received an apology from the tutor. A moment later, Fuutarou and Nino remembered about the more pressing matter.

"Wait. We still need to locate where everyone is." Nino cried.

"You're right. Have you contact your sisters? And if you're asking me to do the same, then forget it because I didn't have their numbers." Fuutarou responded.

"Hmph just when I thought you're so great for making those crowds opened their ways for you. And now you're practically useless." Nino teased with fake cold tone.

"Excuse me?"

"It's nothing." Nino said before she heard her phone started buzzing and she saw that Yotsuba called her.

"Yotsuba, where're you now? And what happened to Raiha-chan?" Nino asked.

After receiving some answers from Yotsuba, Nino said "Near the clock's base right? And Raiha-chan's with you? Wait there and don't go anywhere. I'll be there."

"Hey." Fuutarou called Nino which she looked at him "Is that Ichika?"

"What? Where?" Nino frantically searched at where Fuutarou looked and true enough, they saw Ichika there "I'll call her."

Unfortunately, Nino couldn't call Ichika, either due to lack of signal or because Ichika didn't bother to respond it.

Seeing Nino tried so desperately to call her sisters, Fuutarou remembered what Ichika, Miku, and Itsuki said about the fireworks. Fuutarou then walked away from Nino which Nino noticed it.

"Uesugi?'

"Just sit tight, Nino. Your sisters…I'll try my best to bring them here." Fuutarou declared while he kept walking away. [Besides…somehow, I got the feeling that something troublesome gonna happen…and it involves Ichika.]

"Uesugi." Nino said before she laughed.

"W…why are you laughing?" Fuutarou asked as he stopped walking, though he kinda knew why Nino laughed.

"No…i…it's just…that…it…remind me-" Nino said.

But Fuutarou interrupted her as he muttered "Not you too, Nino!"

After Nino ceased her laughter she then said "Sorry, sorry. That being said, I leave my sisters in your hand…Fuutarou."

"…What?" Fuutarou asked in surprise as Nino called him with his given name. For better or worse, Fuutarou didn't feel any kind of Déjà vu about this.

"…You don't mind if…I call you that right?" Nino mumbled but loud enough so Fuutarou could hear it.

Fuutarou recomposed himself before he replied "Yeah, if that's what you want. Now I must get going"

Fuutarou then walked away as he put his hannya mask again before Nino looked at the crowd again [I'm counting on you…Fuutarou.]

To Be Continued

I don't know if all of you know just what did Kenichii and Haruka want to do by going off on their own.

Next: Our Day Off – Part 3

Thanks for Reading This. And sorry for the cliffhanger

Review Onegai shimasu (Please)

Till' We Meet Again, Guys.