Outside of the festival, Fuutarou had finally made it to the main hospital where the father of the five quintuplets worked.

Fuutarou:"I'm here...Now how am I supposed to get an audience with him? I really didn't think this through, did I?"

Fuutarou went to the receptionist inside. Once he asked about coming face to face with Doctor Nakano, he was turned away once he was told that he wasn't accepting any visitors and that his schedule was already filled for the day. He was given the option to create a new special appointment for later in the week. Fuutarou decided to bail and left the hospital.

Fuutarou:"Do I need to break my leg for a fast pass?"

Fuutarou looked at the outside of the hospital, looking at the windows, trying to determine where Maruo's office could be. Some were obstructed by a large tree, so he looked behind them.

Fuutarou:"Hm? There are some marks on this tree. Has someone climbed this before?"

"Hello, how may I help you?"

Fuutarou looked back in shock, to see a woman in a suit.

"Oh my, are you a trespasser?"

Fuutarou:"Huh!? No, I'm just looking for Dr. Nakano."

"...So you are a trespasser."

Fuutarou:"That's not it! I tutor his daughters at Asahi High School!"

The woman was still suspicious, but she decided to let it go once Fuutarou showed his ID.

"I apologize, it's simply that Dr. Nakano has been having troubles with what we believe to be stalkers. Alongside multiple other problems."

Fuutarou:"Uh huh."

"I am his secretary. I must assume you were turned away at the receptionist, then?"

Fuutarou:"Is he always this busy?"

"Yes. But even if he had the time, he's trying to stay as isolated as possible."

Fuutarou:"I see. Well, I'm here to give him a piece of my mind."

"You'll have to save that for later, I'm afraid. I've been talking too long, I'll at least let him know you were here in hopes to give you some of his time."

Fuutarou:"Right, thanks."

With that, the secretary gave Fuutarou a business card and walked into the hospital. Not wanting to seem even more suspicious, he walked back to the motorcycle.

Fuutarou:"Multiple other problems, huh?"

He recalled the store in Umihotaru that seemed to at least belong to the family name of Nakano. Out of curiosity, he searched it up after fumbling a bit.

Fuutarou:"It really did close recently. Could that be purely the only reason he's been staying distant? Just from sections of his business closing down? How odd, I would think that man could take a little more."

Fuutarou looked back at the building.

Fuutarou:"That really was an idiotic move, I should have at least brought Nino after all, she could force them to make an audience...Why did I come here alone? Was it just me subconsciously wanting to get a break? That wouldn't be fair to the rest. But the other reason would be…"

Fuutarou looked toward the building once again.

Fuutarou:"That's it, I'll just break in like pops did!"

Before he could attempt anything, he received a call. As he picked it up, it was one of the other class representatives.

Fuutarou:"What now? I knew I should have denied giving my phone number to them."

He answered.

"Uesugi-san? We were told to call you. It seems the other representative of class 3-1 has passed out."

Fuutarou:"She what?"

"Yeah, according to her ID, it was Nakano Yotsuba?"

Fuutarou:"T-That idiot…I'll be there as quickly as I can."

Fuutarou shook his head and decided to ride back to the festival at high speed.

Fuutarou:"I have to go back."

…

In a timely manner, Fuutarou makes it back to the festival and gets to the nurse's office as quickly as possible, where he sees Yotsuba lying down. Upon seeing that she was fine, he left without making too much noise.

Fuutarou:"Damn. She must have heard I was gone and decided to do everything herself. Ugh, now I feel really bad about leaving alone. What was I thinking?"

Fuutarou got his phone out.

Fuutarou:"It might not be a great idea to let all of them know. Itsuki is probably still studying by herself. Ichika I haven't seen all day. Nino is probably still angry at me. Miku, I'd rather not worry her. Maybe Itsuki would be best. I'll probably be interrupting her, though...Speaking of, I should talk to her as well about how much she's been studying alone. I'll need to make up with Ichika, I need to apologize. I also need to do the same with Nino and try to get her to come with me again. I'll probably need to help Yotsuba once she gets up...and Miku is trying her hardest, it wouldn't be right to tell her that Yotsuba passed out because of my incompetence."

Fuutarou puts his phone back in his backpack. He begins to walk towards his classroom.

Fuutarou:"Why can't I bring myself to tell them? Am I really so scared now? Is that how...the girl I met felt when she didn't tell me about herself?"

Fuutarou gives Yotsuba a glance.

Fuutarou:"Along with the girl I met 6 years ago, I've done nothing but hurt them lately...even when I said I wouldn't anymore...I'm such a failure."

Fuutarou went upstairs and put his backpack inside of a locker in his classroom.

Fuutarou:"I've gotten too soft...My heart can't take being around them, being around her...I can't be like this anymore. I've been feeling lost this whole time, but I haven't done anything. Waiting to be found, not taking into account their feelings...For the remainder of this festival...I will simply do my job. Now it's my turn to do everything alone."

End of Chapter 67