The second day of the festival had finally started. Normally, the event from last night would be a cause to cease operations. However, thanks to the dutiful work of the safety committee, the remains of the stall were properly cleaned up. Before the proper time, Fuutarou was already outside, working twice as fast. Yotsuba noticed this and followed suit. The ones working at the individual stalls understood the unfair situation he was in and tried to ask for less, but as soon as Fuutarou noticed even a speck of a possible malfunction that could result in anything not working perfectly as planned, he would insist on fixing the problem. He was meticulous in every way.

Fuutarou:[I don't care what people think of me, but I care what they think of them. I'll set a good example as their tutor.]

…

Yotsuba:"Look at Uesugi-san go. He must feel really bad about what happened. I can't fall behind! I have to help him lose some of his work!"

"Hey, Nanako-san! Can you help us with something?"

Yotsuba:"Of course!"

In similar fashion, despite her fatigue from the previous day, it was almost like she was somehow working twice as fast. Not missing a beat, she was showing exactly why she was the most athletic one, not only out of the quints, but among the entire school. As she was making the rounds extremely fast, she was asked to get some extra ingredients. With that, it was time to go to the cafeteria. Once there, she saw Itsuki sitting by herself studying.

Yotsuba:[Wow, she really is there. I wish I had a drive like hers to study so hard.]

As she approached the fifth sister, she began to wave towards her. However, her signals were ignored.

Yotsuba:"Heeeeeey~. Come on, don't go acting like Uesugi-san now."

After a little more jumping around, Itsuki finally noticed, having been completely focused. She proceeds to lift her head.

Itsuki:"Hey, Yotsuba. Did you just get here?"

Yotsuba:"I-I've been here for a while now…"

Itsuki:"Really!? I'm so sorry for not noticing. I've just been hung up with this."

Yotsuba:"Sure looks like it! Hm?"

Yotsuba came to take a closer look. She peeked at the paper at the top of Itsuki's finished pile.

Yotsuba:"Gah! This question is too hard. I was gonna ask Uesugi-san about this very evil one after the festival!"

Itsuki:"If you want, I can help."

Yotsuba:"I should get back. I was asked to bring supplies back."

Itsuki:"Very well, I shall wait here in case you have the time."

Yotsuba:"So, you'll really be here all day, huh? Maybe you should take a break."

Itsuki gave a soft smile before responding.

Itsuki:"I'm doing quite alright, thank you for your concern."

As Itsuki said that, Yotsuba felt a jolt go down her spine. That smile was very familiar, but she couldn't quite place her finger on it. What she did know was that maybe Itsuki wasn't being fully genuine. This caused Yotsuba to also remember Itsuki's escapades as Rena. She felt like she wanted to say something, but she restrained herself. Yotsuba decides that the best course of action would be to continue doing her work.

Yotsuba:"Well, I'll be seeing you later. I can bring some food if you want later."

Itsuki's eyes lit up for a second before she regained her composure.

Itsuki:"T-That might be a good idea."

Yotsuba:[I'll make sure to get her something.] "Gah! I'm taking too long!"

With that, the fourth sister went to gather the supplies quickly. While she was in the middle of that, Itsuki picked up that piece of paper Yotsuba asked about and looked at the question.

Itsuki:[I should keep this one off to the side for when I see her again. It shouldn't take too long to explain...Huh?]

Itsuki rubbed her eyes before taking a closer look.

Itsuki:[That's odd. I just did this question, but I can't seem to remember the process. How could it have slipped my mind so easily?]

She put the paper back in her to-do pile.

Itsuki:[I must redo it. This time, I won't let the solution leave me.]

At the same time, Yotsuba was ready to head for the door before she bumped into someone wearing an all black business suit. She was ready to apologize for not looking to where she was going, but that thought escaped her when she was met with an icy cold stare. Yotsuba stepped back in shock. This lady she had never met before was looking at her as if she had offended three generations of her family all at once.

Shimoda:"You again."

Yotsuba:"Me again?"

Now, Yotsuba was even more confused. She began to count all the people she had met in her life, trying to find out if she had done something bad to one of them. The process would likely take years, but Yotsuba was prepared to take that risk.

Itsuki, this time, was knocked out of her focus due to her noticing a dark aura on the other side of the cafeteria.

Itsuki:"Ah. Hey, Shimoda-san!"

Shimoda:"Itsuki. Making sure no one gets in the way of your work?"

She gave a quick glance at Yotsuba who felt a shiver.

Itsuki:"Of course. Yotsuba, this is my cram school teacher."

Shimoda:"Yotsuba?"

Itsuki:"Yes, she's one of my other sisters, she's the fourth one."

Shimoda:"I see."

Her expression immediately loosened up. Yotsuba felt a big weight suddenly leave her.

Shimoda:"I apologize. I believed you were someone else for a moment."

Yotsuba:"T-That's fine, it happe-"

Yotsuba was interrupted as Shimoda grabbed her face, moving her cheeks downwards, making Yotsuba's smile disappear.

Shimoda:"Yep! That's much better. You look more like Rena now."

Yotsuba:[She's really creeping me out~~]

Shimoda:"Now, if you'll excuse me, I must keep watch over Itsuki."

Yotsuba:"Oh, you're here to help her?"

Shimoda:"I'm merely a spectator. She must figure all of this out by herself eventually if she's to become like her mother."

Yotsuba:"I see…" [Uesugi-san probably wouldn't like that…]

Yotsuba, who once again feels like she needs to get back quickly, leaves Itsuki in the cafeteria.

Yotsuba:"G-Good luck, Itsuki."

Itsuki:"Thank you."

Yotsuba:"I wonder what Uesugi-san is doing."

End of Chapter 63