{"Where is Uesugi?"}

{"Did he bail!?"}

{"We shouldn't have expected anything from someone like that."}

{"He couldn't even keep a single promise."}

{"I can't help but feel disappointed."}

Fuutarou:[It's nothing more than a game, why should I care?]

…

…

Inside Class 3-1, there was a newfound silence brought from the tension. The teacher was late, and at this moment, the stage was set. On the floor, sitting on his legs, looking down in fear, was Takeda. Behind him were the quints, spectating as a very scary and very angry Fuutarou looked down at the man he had forced to the floor with sheer intimidation. His eyes stared daggers at this man, had Takeda ever looked up out of curiosity, Fuutarou's devilish stare would involuntarily make his head go back to eyeing the floor. In a far too scary, yet almost calm voice, Fuutarou asked the poor man a single question.

Fuutarou:"Takeda-kun, would you mind running that by me one more time?"

Takeda:"Um...Well...You see...I was asked by the committee to substitute for Maeda's partner in the three-legged race. I couldn't say no, you know? They were counting on me. However...that resulted in an empty slot for the actual race...so I took it upon myself...to volunteer your services…"

…

…

Itsuki:"...What's going to happen now?"

Miku:"I think someone's committing seppuku today."

Yotsuba:"Would he go so far?"

Nino:"Those eyes tell me 'yes'."

Ichika:"He's given us a disappointed face before, but he's never been this angry."

Fuutarou didn't respond immediately, leading the tension to begin crushing Takeda under his own pressure. In a panic, he moved into a dogeza position and began to beg in said position.

Takeda:"Please, Uesugi-san. You and Maeda are my only real friends, I'm sorry I put you in without your permission, but I didn't have anyone to turn to."

Nino:"So even a popular guy like him can end up friendless."

Yotsuba:"It's not about your outward appearances, after all."

Itsuki:"Uesugi-kun and him aren't so different, are they?"

Miku:"I can understand the feeling."

Ichika:"Poor guy, at least he's got some fans."

A quick glare from Fuutarou shut them up, before turning back to Takeda, still in begging position. With due time, he finally began to speak.

Fuutarou:"You have no idea how much you owe me."

Takeda, who was surprised at such a response, looked up with a hopeful smile, before crashing back down at the unwavering stare.

Fuutarou:"*Sigh* Why am I letting so many things get in the way of my studying? I need to make sure I'm at the top of the class...There's no point in asking someone else at this point. Just this once, you hear? And you're gonna pay me back in spades."

Takeda:"Thank youuuuu!"

Fuutarou:"Don't start crying like that, it's gross."

In that moment, Maeda comes in with a plank of wood.

Maeda:"I Brought the beating stick!"

Fuutarou:"...Ah...thanks, but we already resolved it."

Maeda:"Oh, well...that's a shame."

Takeda:"Shouldn't you be in class?"

Maeda:"Oh, crap!"

As he ran off, everyone wondered what the point of that was. Soon, Fuutarou went back to his seat.

Fuutarou:"Teacher's more late than usual."

Itsuki:"I hope nothing happened to her."

Fuutarou:"Might as well study in the meantime. Damn, I can't believe I'm a part of this again."

Yotsuba:"What do you mean?"

Fuutarou:[Crap, I let my thoughts slip]"Don't mind me, it's nothing."

Ichika:"It's usually never nothing, is it?"

Nino:"Fuu-kun is the type of person to hide his feelings."

Itsuki:"It's okay, Uesugi-kun. We're your friends, you can tell us."

Fuutarou:"...You're all stubborn in the wrong places. Fine. I was going to be part of a race back in middle school as part of a random pick. I thought it was worthless and ditched to keep studying, end of story."

Fuutarou looks forward to see Miku staring at him.

Miku:"It's alright, Fuutarou. You don't have to tell us the rest."

Fuutarou:"What is that supposed to mean? That's the story!"

Miku:"Sure!"

Fuutarou puts the book over his face as he begins to ignore the girls.

…

…

Meanwhile, in the principal's office.

Principal Takeda:"What the hell is the point of this? Why is someone of my status stuck in this position? Had I been just a little younger, I could be part of that prestigious group...Damn you, why couldn't you see my worth, Mr.-"

"Principal Takeda, he's here."

Principal Takeda:"Ah, yes. Come on in, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"Glad to be here."

Principal Takeda:"Your past aside, it seems your track record is rather clean. You were given many exceptions to get the job, so we expect top of the line service."

"I shall live up to your expectations."

…

…

The door of class 3-1 opened. As the students looked up expecting the teacher, they were instead met with a man they had never seen before. What they saw was a tall, skinny, well-shaved middle-aged man with brown, short unkempt hair wearing square glasses. With a red dress shirt tucked into his pants and a dark blue tie, he seemed like a rather normal man.

"Hello, students. My name is Mr. Irigaku and I'll be your substitute teacher starting today!"

His mouth turns into a wide grin as he finishes his sentence. As the silence looms, the simple goes back into hiding as the man awkwardly coughs into his hands. Itsuki raises her hand.

Irigaku:"Ah yes, you have a ques...uh, my eyes must be tricking me, you have a question, young lady?"

Itsuki:"Did something bad happen to our teacher?"

Irigaku:"She's currently home, she'll have to go to the hospital soon."

"No way! What could have happened?"

Irigaku:"Because she's pregnant!"

"You should have said that sooner!"

Fuutarou:[What a weirdo.]

Irigaku:"All right. Let's go over the students."

…

…

Irigaku:"Ah, so it wasn't my glasses, I see we have some relatives...and quintuplets, no less…hm? This name sounds a little familiar, doesn't it?"

Once roll call was over, class began once again. To the class' surprise, this man was actually really good at teaching. They were concise, yet never felt too long. The class could go on as normal. Out of the corner of his eye, Fuutarou could see the girls giving it their all, Ichika looked like she was sleeping at times, but she tried as well even though she looked like she was having a lot of trouble actually focusing. Yotsuba, while panicking here and there, made sure not one word went unnoticed. Itsuki was as astute as ever, as well as Nino. Miku was really trying, and even though she developed a small blush once she noticed Fuutarou looking at her, she tried to ignore it and continued paying attention. Fuutarou was glad they were giving it their all. A little smile went unnoticed by even him as he went right back to listening to the lesson.

…

…

Irigaku:"Ah, that was a good first day, I'd say."

It was after school now. As he was getting ready to pack up his stuff, he heard a knock. It was Itsuki and Miku.

Irigaku:[Wow, they look even more similar up close]"Are you here for any clarification?"

Itsuki:"Yes, I had some questions about the last part of the lesson."

Miku:"I was wondering about any extra assignments."

Irigaku:"Certainly. I'm glad you girls trust me like this on the first day"

…

…

Once Miku got the clarification and extra assignments she was looking for, she went on ahead, leaving only Itsuki. Once the teacher had helped Itsuki, she thanked him and began to pack up. As she was getting ready to leave, the man stopped her.

Irigaku:"Ah, Nakano-san? If it's alright, I'd like to ask you something."

End of Chapter 9