Back at the pancake stall, productivity and orders were getting higher thanks to the two sisters going in as much as they could.

"Look at them go."

"Miku-chan's amazing. I was worried because I thought she wasn't a great cook, but it looks like I was wrong."

"She's keeping pace with Nino-chan."

Nino:"You're not half bad. But don't think you'll catch up to me so easily."

Miku:"Keep underestimating me. It will give me a greater chance of catching up to your level."

As they sped up even more, they suddenly came to a stop upon seeing Fuutarou approaching cautiously.

Nino:"Fuu-kun!"

Miku:[So he got my message.]

Fuutarou:"Y-Yo." [I shouldn't stick around for long, so people don't get the wrong idea.]

Nino:"You're here to taste Nino-made pancakes, aren't you?"

Miku/Fuutarou:"Huh?"

Without a second to spare, Nino got a new pancake ready for Fuutarou's consumption.

Miku:"A-Ah!" [I couldn't intercept in time!]

Nino:"This one's on the house!"

Nino left the stall and handed Fuutarou the freshly made one. Fuutarou barely blinked before he noticed the plate was already in his hands. Nino, who was now right next to him, was egging him on to try them.

Fuutarou:"Uh, thanks. Guess I'll give it a try."

Fuutarou grabbed a spoonful and ate it.

Fuutarou:"...Yeah, tastes good."

Just as he swallowed the bit he had chewed on, his body almost instinctively made it go back up once he noticed Miku. She was pouting with everything she had.

Fuutarou:[W-What did I do?]

Fuutarou looks back down at the pancakes.

Fuutarou:[Right, that explains it. She was really adamant on me trying out pancakes she made herself. I admire her willingness, but it's not like they'd taste any different, right?]

He recalled the takoyaki he had eaten the previous day.

Fuutarou:[Those did taste better than usual. Maybe I just ate a bad batch before. Now I'm lost.]

Nino:"I'm happy you liked it. I made sure to put extra love into them!"

Fuutarou:"Is that what love is supposed to taste like?"

As he began poking the pancake, he suddenly remembered what he was here for. He gave Miku a thumbs up, to which she looked away from.

Fuutarou:[Eh? Wasn't this your idea?] "A-Anyway, Nino. I didn't ask this yesterday, but your dad didn't come by, did he?"

Nino:"...No, he didn't. It's not like it matters anyway." [I got too into the job to notice Miku calling him, didn't I?]

Miku:"Nino…"

Fuutarou:"I'll just call him."

Nino:"Don't! It's fine! That's enough. I wasn't expecting anything to begin with."

Fuutarou:"...That's not true, is it?"

Nino:"W-What do you know!?"

Fuutarou:"What my dad said yesterday led me to think...You worked up the courage to send the invitation, didn't you? Whether his reasoning for not coming is valid or not, it's simply not right for him to not show up without saying anything. I'm not okay with this!"

Nino looked down.

{Nino:"Okay. I'll take your word and wait for him."}

Nino:[There's no point...What he's doing is justified! I shouldn't…]

Miku:[How bizarre that Nino is so distraught over this. Did something else happen on dad's side?]

Miku couldn't continue listening in as a new wave of customers surrounded the stall in mass.

Miku:[This place really became popular in just a day…]

This sudden influx of people led to miku not being able to hear what would happen.

…

Nino:"I said...I'm not going!"

Nino began to yell, causing certain people to begin to turn around.

"What's happening?"

"Oh, I heard about these couple fights!"

Fuutarou:"Nino…"

Nino began to shake.

Nino:"E-Even though papa read the invitation, he still didn't come. He couldn't...c-care about us at all!"

Fuutarou:"Y-You…"

Before Fuutarou could try and counter, Nino walked off in a hurry.

"Oh, it is a couple fighting?"

Fuutarou:[Crap, this setting is starting to look familiar.]

Due to him taking his eyes off for a second, once he looked back, Nino was gone. Fuutarou sighed as the crowd slowly began to decrease in numbers. With enough time, Miku would be visible again, as she and the other girls did their best to give out pancakes at record time.

Miku:"Ha...ha...That was rough."

Miku looked to see that Fuutarou was standing alone.

Miku:"Where did Nino go?"

Fuutarou:"...Let's just say the plan to go look for your dad didn't go as planned."

Miku:"Ah, maybe I jumped the gun. Nino seemed out of it."

Fuutarou:"So you noticed it too."

Miku:"Yeah. I thought it had something to do with our dad, but I don't know him as well as Nino...So I thought you would be able to help…Sorry, Fuutarou."

Miku shone a light smile, but it was clear that she felt bad.

Fuutarou:"Maybe I shouldn't do this...But…"

He took his phone out and began to text really quickly.

Miku:"When did you learn how to text so well?"

Fuutarou:"It isn't that hard to learn, you know?"

Miku:"Says the guy who barely knew what the internet was."

Fuutarou:"Leave me alone, will ya?"

Fuutarou looked at his phone upon receiving a text back.

Fuutarou:"Oh, he's already here."

Miku:"Hm?"

Fuutarou:"Our managers. Before I go, is everything here ultra safe!?"

Fuutarou signaled to the other girls in the stand, who began to compile their report to him. Once that was over, he began to go.

Fuutarou:"See you later."

Miku:"What are you planning on doing?"

Fuutarou:"I'm gonna be a little dependable today."

Miku was curious and wanted to go, but she knew she couldn't leave her post.

Miku:"...Very well. Then, good luck, Fuutarou!"

Fuutarou:"...Yeah!"

End of Chapter 65