On another side of the festival, the pancake stall was running as planned. The boys were told they could help the girls with their work, however, most of them refused. Takeda and Maeda were the only boys that agreed to help, to which they were immediately sent to do grunt work in getting more materials and advertising the stall to newcomers. At the same time, Nino decided to stick around, bored out of her mind. Her main contribution to the stall was holding the sign for the pancake stall. The amount of customers was higher than the first day, causing Miku and the others to work harder than before.

Nino:"There's too many people. Makes everything feel claustrophobic."

For a second, Nino saw Yotsuba fly by holding bags of ingredients.

Nino:"How much energy can one person have?"

"Miku-chan. Are you okay?"

Nino turned back to see that Miku dropped something.

Miku:"I'm fine, just got caught off guard."

"It's fine if you take a break. You've been giving it your all."

Miku:"I told you, I'm fine."

As Miku went back to continue her work, Nino was there putting on her apron after she had planted the sign firmly into the ground, scaring some customers with how much force she put behind it.

Miku:"what are you doing?"

Nino:"What does it look like? I'm obviously helping you. It's not like I have anything better to do."

Miku:"Thanks. But don't think your pancakes will outshine mine."

Nino:"Huh!? You think you're already better than me? You're a decade too early to challenge me."

Miku:"I've put a decade's worth of work in already!"

Nino:"Then you're a century behind my skills!"

Miku:"Then I'll surpass you by a millenia!"

As the two sisters began to compete, the other girls sat back watching the fireworks on display.

"They sure get along great."

Miku:"...Say, Nino. Are you doing alright? You've looked out of it recently."

Nino:"Not any more than you."

Miku:"So you have been feeling down."

Nino:"Oh, shut up. It's just...I was thinking about papa. I've decided to give up on him coming over."

Miku:"Hmm, but he read the invitation at least, didn't he? Maybe he was planning on coming, but work held him back."

Nino stopped

Nino:"Y-Yeah, work held him back."

Miku:"Oh, are you not sure? We can always call him."

Nino:"N-No, just forget it! He's busy and that's that!"

Miku:"..." [She was acting like this yesterday as well. Maybe Fuutarou has some ideas. I should send him a message…]

Miku looked up to see Nino staring at her, clearly aware of the possibility of Miku calling their dad.

Miku:[...Once Nino drops her guard...]

Miku just ignored Nino and continued to work.

Nino:[I'm so damned selfish! There's no reason for me to hope for anything. I really hate everything! Why am I like this!?]

…

On the northern end of the festival, two figures were seen carrying many goods. One was carrying them with ease, having the muscle to easily do the job. The other was practically on his knees, with his sparkles being the only thing left refined about him. However, those sparkles were slowly dying as they fell to the floor.

Takeda:"Oh. Ooooooh, I don't think I can make it. This might be where I draw my final breath."

Maeda:"Stop being such a drama queen, we've barely started."

Takeda:"How does Uesugi-san do this without passing out? I thought my abilities were higher, but now it feels like I can't even do the simplest of tasks."

Maeda:"Uesugi did say he'd been going to the gym on occasion, so that could be it. Not to mention he's being smart by not carrying a buttload of things at once."

Takeda:"Well, that's wonderful. Maybe I should get a membership one day. Dad wouldn't like that, though. So maybe once I graduate from my higher education."

Maeda:"Have you ever even worked out?"

Takeda:"I have a particularly strong wrist."

Maeda:"Besides writing."

Takeda:"No, I can't say I have. I'm usually so naturally gifted that I need not do such things."

Maeda:"The only natural gift I see is your body on the floor." [Does he usually just get around with pure energy?]

Takeda:"I apologize, I did not register the joke."

Maeda:"On the other hand, that mouth of yours seems to be in great shape."

Takeda:"Communication skills are great for the fut-ureeeee!"

Takeda forced himself up with the supplies.

Takeda:"The girls are treating us like mules! I shouldn't have offered my help."

Maeda:"It's our fault the stall burned down. We shouldn't have let that happen. The least we can do is offer ourselves to the girls."

Takeda:"You make that sound like we're sacrifices."

Maeda:"Are we not?"

Takeda gives a big sigh. With that, the final sparkle crumbled, leaving the broken husk of a man that used to call itself Takeda. With only a smile left, he began to close his eyes.

Maeda:"Snap out of it, you!"

With a smack, Takeda suddenly woke up.

Takeda:"Wh-What happened!?"

Maeda:"Your body was about to more than just reference Ashita no Moe."

Takeda:"Is that a tv show?"

Maeda:"You don't know it!? Just how sheltered are you!?"

Takeda:"Probably more than the average person."

Maeda:"Now I just feel bad. Come on, give me a couple of those bags, I can handle it."

Takeda:"Oh, thank you, Maeda. You're a true friend!"

Maeda:"Yeah, yeah."

They suddenly came across Fuutarou, who was almost exhausted from going around from one place to another.

Maeda:"You look terrible."

Fuutarou:"Gee, thanks."

Maeda:"You're not as bad as-"

Before he could point, Takeda had regained his sparkles.

Takeda:"My, my. Uesugi-san, would you require our assistance."

Maeda:"You're not in the position to ask that!" [So the sparkles really do show his mood...Wait, how can I see them in the first place!? Am I going crazy!?]

Fuutarou:"I can handle it, you two should just keep doing what you're doing." [Maybe I should thank them?]

As Fuutarou walked away, Takeda began to slouch again.

Takeda:"Oh, it sure is awkward."

Maeda:"Why?"

Takeda:"O-Oh, it's nothing." [I'm so ashamed that I can't decide what to do with my father...But I must find a way to save both him and those sisters!]

…

Fuutarou:"A text? From Miku?"

End of Chapter 64