At the same time that others were getting up to begin their second day, it was time for Fuutarou to go. This time he was trying to go earlier than usual. Despite his best efforts to not make any noise, he was stopped by Raiha who had just gotten up.

Raiha:"Hey, big bro. Why are you going out so early? Don't you have to go later?"

Fuutarou:"Well...You see, I was asked to go early. You know, with what happened yesterday, we can't just stop the festival in its tracks, so we need to be extra careful!"

Raiha:"That makes sense. But don't make yourself too tired, okay? How's your injury?"

Fuutarou:"It's just fine, it was nothing too serious."

Raiha:"Okay…"

With that, Fuutarou began to head out.

Fuutarou:[It's true that it's far too early. But, what happened yesterday, whether intentional or not, was my own fault as well. I don't care what others think of me, but I need to try and make things right...with all of them no matter what.]

…

{"You hypocritical…!"}

{"Miku almost fainted last night."}

…

Fuutarou:[For these second and third days...Even if I have to do it alone...It should be fine now...All of them have become dependable and independent...They can figure out their own path…]

…

Meanwhile, on another side of the city, it was time for the quintuplets to get up as well.

Itsuki:"Morning...Yotsuba left early again? She sure is quick…" [I'm so tired, my hands hurt from all the writing...But, my work isn't finished. Shimoda is coming over again for a while to make sure I'm at the top of my studies...I can't falter…]

Nino:"Hey, Ichika. Are you still sleeping?"

On the other side of the first sister's door, Nino heard a faint voice.

Ichika:"I'm up. Sorry, you know how messy I can be, I'll catch up with you girls later."

Nino:"How messy could you have gotten the room in one day!?"

Ichika:"Never underestimate me!"

Nino:"I don't know if that's something you should be proud of!"

While Itsuki laughed it off, she also noticed that Miku hadn't gotten out of her room either. She went to check it out while Nino was getting ready. She opened the door to see Miku sitting on her bed, thinking.

Itsuki:"What's wrong, Miku? Decided to take a break after all?"

Miku:"No, that's not it...I'm planning to go. But...I'm a little scared to go."

Itsuki:"That's expected. You seemed fine yesterday though."

Miku glanced outside to make sure Nino wasn't there.

Miku:"I didn't want Nino and Yotsuba to worry too much."

As she got up, Miku pumped herself up.

Miku:"I'm scared...But I have to continue moving forward."

Itsuki:"That's so mature."

Miku:"Nah...I'm still running away and I don't have the guts to make those things right…"

Itsuki:"...Is that about your dreams...or about Uesugi-kun?"

Miku:"...You know me too well. Kinda creepy actually."

Itsuki:"Eh!?"

Miku:"Just kidding!"

…

{"I'll be rooting for you."}

Itsuki:[I said that, but I was trying to dress myself to have Uesugi-san figure out who Yotsuba is...Is that me trying to get them together…? Is that me trying to follow in mom's footsteps…? Or…?]

Miku:"Now it's my turn. What's wrong, Itsuki?"

Itsuki:"Huh!? Oh, nothing. I was thinking about yesterday. Alright, let's go! It's like I can already smell pancakes!"

Miku:[It feels as if Yotsuba has been avoiding her recently...That has to be connected…]

Miku began to get ready as well.

Miku:"...Huh, I'm smelling pancakes too. Did the smell get stuck on me yesterday? That's gross, I need to bathe."

She picked up her backpack to leave downstairs and headed for a quick bath.

…

Nino was almost done getting ready.

Nino:[It was my fault, wasn't it? I didn't like it, but I was still put in charge of that takoyaki stand...It was because I was so focused on him coming…Gah! I'm so damn stupid! I shouldn't expect him to come over, especially with what's happening with him. How selfish can I be!? Just let him do his work, Nino. You have to worry about your sisters, especially now…]

…

Inside of ichika's room, the oldest quint was still on her bed, having barely slept all night.

Ichika:[Should I really go? I said some really harsh words...I meant all of them too. What he's doing is wrong, but...I still feel bad about it...What a mess. I wonder if it would have been better for me to not know in the first place...What Yae-san said...Me sitting here wallowing by myself would make her angry even more, huh? Singing usually calms me down, but...I don't even want to hear my own voice right now…Honestly, what have I been doing all this time…?]

…

During the rest of the morning, others were getting close to the school. Substitute teacher Irigaku. Fuutarou's former classmate Takebayashi. Half of the part time duo, Yae. The far more vocal half of the part time duo, Sandy. Rena's previous student and cram school teacher, Shimoda. Prodigy of the track team, Rito. Leader of the Broadcasting Club, Tsubaki. Previous worker of the takoyaki stand, Maeda. Son of the principal, Takeda. All of this was happening while other important matters regarding the adoptive father of the five quintuplets, Maruo, were taking his attention. Uncertainty, fear, sadness, loneliness, guilt, embarrassment, all of these emotions were coming together in this final festival once again. It was now time for the second day to begin.

End of Chapter 62