Fuutarou:"Don't think you're off the hook for what you tried to do!"

Miku:"I loved the performance, but did I have to be the butt of the joke?"

Backstage, as the two embarrassed victims were trying to get their message across, the perpetrator simply smiled as she ignored their voices.

Itsuki:"Ahaha. In any case, you did great, Nino. I didn't know you could sing so well."

Nino:"Eh, I'd rather never do that again. It's not like it's my dream or anything. I simply did it to give Ichika a push."

Miku:"...Yeah, Ichika certainly felt the passion behind it…"

Nino looked at Miku.

Nino:"...Heh."

Miku:"W-What was that!?"

Nino:"Nothing, just thinking about your face while I was going off."

Miku's cheeks reached critical mass.

Miku:"Niiiiiino!"

Itsuki:"Speaking of Ichika, Uesugi-kun."

Fuutarou:"Yeah, I'll be going. I promised to meet Ichika outside."

Miku:"Good luck, Fuutarou."

Nino:"Break a leg."

Itsuki:"Don't actually break a leg."

Fuutarou:"Yeah, yeah."

Itsuki:"...On that note, I have to go as well. I have to see someone that wasn't here to see the concert."

Miku:"..."

Nino:"That idiot keeps overworking herself."

Itsuki:"Yes, and I've had enough."

...

Outside, Fuutarou finally went to where Ichika headed off to. The girl was waiting for him with bated breath. Once she saw him, she blushed a little.

Ichika:"I thought you'd take longer."

Fuutarou:"Miku and Nino helped out with the clean up."

Ichika:"Work for free, huh."

Fuutarou:"That's a pessimistic way to look at it."

Ichika:"Oh? That's unlike Fuutarou-kun."

Fuutarou:"I don't understand why people think I'm pessimistic, I put my faith in five extremely dumb sisters who didn't even want to study to actually pass, that's the greatest optimism one can give."

Ichika:"The five of us passing…"

Fuutarou:"Yeah. Well, I guess you passed in some way...passed on?"

Ichika:"Don't make it sound like I died."

Fuutarou:"Either way, what did you want to talk about?" [Although I have a feeling I know…]

Ichika took a deep breath.

Ichika:"...I left school because of my guilt. I lied when I said it wasn't about Miku, or about anyone else. I couldn't bear to even look at myself, let alone the ones I betrayed…"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, everyone knew that."

Ichika:"E-Eh…"

Fuutarou:"There wouldn't have been such tension if it really was something you truly wanted."

Ichika:"...I guess so. But, I feel terrible for my producer too...I just...feel like I've lost my passion for acting. The work doesn't feel the same...At first, it came from that very guilt, but I now realize that wasn't just it. Looking at my work from a year ago and now, it's clear to see the drop in quality. I...I don't know what to do…"

Fuutarou:"Sure you do. You've already shown your passion is growing somewhere else."

Ichika:"...Even so, don't you think it's a little too late?"

Fuutarou:"Too late? You've got a ton of time left. You just saw Nino state her dream, and I'm pretty sure you're the same age."

Ichika:"No, she's still younger than me."

Fuutarou:"Don't start pulling that now."

Ichika smiled, but she was still hesitant.

Ichika:"And the rest…"

Fuutarou:"You already know about Miku. Itsuki I believe is on the right path, she's finally starting to let go. Yotsuba is another case entirely, but we've made steps to help her. All five of you have incredible potential, and I will see to it that you make it as close as possible!"

Ichika:"You're so weird, haha."

Fuutarou:"Yeah, I'm super weird...Ichika. I'm your tutor, not your parent, so I can't really tell you how to live your life. But I will support your choice, no matter what. But that's only if your choice was made from the heart. I will not accept any half-assed excuses! Trust me, I know one when I see it. After all...I've done nothing but give those out for so long."

Ichika:"...Fuutarou-kun...So even you have surpassed me."

Ichika grabbed her chest. It felt like she was having trouble breathing, but her voice wanted to say something. She had held back for so long, to protect her sisters. But at the same time, her holding back eventually began to hurt those very sisters.

Fuutarou:"...It's okay to be selfish with your wishes, you know."

Ichika:"My selfish wish…"

Ichika was reminded of Nino's words and Miku's confidence. Ichika wanted to crumble, she had done so much wrong, and now Fuutarou wanted her to be selfish. But even so, the smile he gave her made Ichika's confidence shoot up. That face was what Ichika thought she wasn't worthy of, the caring face of the man she loved.

Ichika:"M-My selfish wish...is to be a singer!"

…

Fuutarou:"Haha, that's a good start! There was some real passion in that voice."

Ichika blushed.

Ichika:"When could you start telling our voices apart?"

Fuutarou:"Hm, I wonder. But all that matters is that I'm right." [And that sounded like…]

Ichika:"You tease."

Fuutarou:"Well, I suppose I'll have to tell Miku you're making strides to your decision. We'll try not to bug you too hard about coming back to school."

Ichika:"...About that...C-Considering the amount of work a singer has, it's possible I'll have to go overseas with my work...I'll need to learn a good amount of English. Heck, I'm not even good with Japanese…So I might need a tutor to help me out…"

Fuutarou:"Heh, alright. I think I can think of someone. I hear he's good friends with your sisters."

Ichika giggled.

Ichika:"That's good, but I think it might be tough for him to come all the way to my studio, so I should just go somewhere he goes to all the time, like this school."

Fuutarou:"Ichika…"

Ichika:"Oh, my producer is going to kill me...But, this is just a part of how selfish I am…Although, I'll have a lot of catching up to do."

Fuutarou:"Hell yeah, you missed a ton of lessons! But, I'll be there to help every step of the way. Me and your sisters."

Ichika:"Haha, I'm not looking forward to boot camp."

Fuutarou:"Too bad, we're doing this the hard way!"

Ichika:"...Thank you, Fuutarou. For always looking out for my little sisters, for always looking out for me...I'm really glad I fell in love with you!"

Fuutarou:"Ichika…"

Ichika:"Oh, I confessed…"

Fuutarou:"Looks like you're letting a lot out now."

Ichika:"I'm more shocked you didn't respond to that in a funny way."

Fuutarou:"W-Well, I kinda thought that was what you called me out for."

Ichika:"Oh, so you were looking forward to it."

Fuutarou:"D-Don't put words in my mouth."

Ichika:"So, how about it? Will you reciprocate my feelings? My selfish wish?"

Fuutarou:"..."

Fuutarou straightened his back and looked at her right in the eyes. The first sister, Ichika, had been a case that he could never quite figure out. She did a lot of things, both good and bad, but at the core of it all, was a big sister trying to look out for her younger ones. A person who believed she had lost what made her into a leader for the others and wanted them to take a different path than hers. Fuutarou could do nothing but respect the tenacity of this person, being an older sibling himself. Fuutarou took a deep breath. The school trip, the final exams and the trip to Kyoto all showed her feelings. Now, the man she loved was ready to answer them.

…

Fuutarou bowed.

Fuutarou:"I'm sorry, I already have feelings for someone else."

As the wind flew past the two, Ichika let out a tiny laugh.

Ichika:"Now you're being the really selfish one!"

Fuutarou:"Isn't that more in line with me?"

Ichika:"...Yeah...You're such a selfish prick!"

Fuutarou:"H-Hey, now you're sounding like Nino...huh?"

Fuutarou noticed Ichika beginning to cry.

Ichika:"What's this? It's not like...It's not like I…"

Ichika couldn't finish as she began to weep. She then went into Fuutarou's chest, hugging him.

Fuutarou:"...It's gonna be alright…"

Ichika:"..."

Ichika looked up to meet Fuutarou's eyes. She began to go closer.

Fuutarou:"H-Hey, wait. That's not what you should-"

Fuutarou then felt a kiss on his chin.

Fuutarou:"Huh?"

Ichika:"Think of it as the last hurrah of my love."

Fuutarou:"You damn sisters…"

Ichika then let go of Fuutarou.

Ichika:"First kisses are very important, and it'd be wrong to give mine to someone who didn't like me back."

Fuutarou:"I guess that's the right way to look at...wait, you've never kissed? What about your work?"

Ichika:"Oh, those were on the cheek. My manager always demanded we do that. Always told me to cherish my first time and not give it away easily."

Fuutarou:[Cherish your first…]

He touched his lips without realizing it, leading Ichika to develop a devilish grin.

Ichika:"What? Did you imagine me doing something else?"

Fuutarou:"N-No! And besides, you need to be more clear about those things!"

Ichika:"...Well, there was that time Nino tried, but uh…"

Fuutarou:"You can stop there, I'd rather not hear the details."

Ichika:"Haha! You seem really cool at times, but you're just as lame as me."

Fuutarou:"Wha-How so?"

Ichika:"Peeking in when you see a luxury car, getting psyched because you haven't been on a trip in a while, yelling from the top of a mountain, borrowing money from a girl…"

Fuutarou:"You sure have good memory…"

Ichika:"Only for you, Fuutarou-kun."

Fuutarou blushes as he tries to look somewhere else. Ichika smiles as she was able to tease him again.

Ichika:"...Fuutarou-kun…Please do take care of my younger sister, alright? I'll get very mad if you break her heart."

Fuutarou:"Right…From an older brother to an older sister, I give you my word!"

Ichika:"...Thank you, Fuutarou-kun!"

Fuutarou:"Heh. Go on and enjoy the rest of the festival. You earned it."

Ichika nodded. With that, Fuutarou turned away, but Ichika's thoughts continued.

Ichika:[Look at him go. But.. that's not enough. I can't let this end without...]

Ichika then ran towards Fuutarou, stopping right behind him.

Ichika:"F-Fuutarou-kun!"

Fuutarou:"Yeah?"

Ichika:"I know you didn't believe me, but back then, I really did tell the truth about meeting you. It wasn't for long, but on that day, I met and fell for the Fuutarou-kun of my dreams!"

Fuutarou:"Ichika."

Ichika:"I just wanted to come clean. Sorry if that was awkward."

Fuutarou:"Hm, well, I had a hunch!"

Ichika:"You what!?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, thinking back on it now, the girl I met then had different vibes to her. I may have been oblivious to it as far as a couple months ago, but now, it's certainly clear. All five of you couldn't be more different if you tried!"

With that final statement, Fuutarou turned once again and left Ichika. This time, Ichika was content. She had finally said her secret with confidence. But, she also felt a little frustrated.

Ichika:"Y-You idiot, you're not supposed to make me blush after you've rejected me."

The first sister stood there as she contemplated her thoughts.

Ichika:[I'll have to make sure I start singing as soon as I get my recorder back!]

On one of the windows, looking over the scene, was Itsuki.

Itsuki:[Good for you, Ichika. You're beginning to move on as well.]

End of Chapter 87