Yotsuba:"Uesugi-san…"

Yotsuba gazed upon Fuutarou's figure, towering over her at the top of the stairs. He began to go down each step slowly.

Fuutarou:"Rough day, huh? You worked really hard again today."

Yotsuba:"That's…"

Fuutarou:"Although I did hear you did more than we promised."

Yotsuba flinches, but before she tries to run away again, Fuutarou stops her.

Fuutarou:"I'm not gonna yell at you, I know old habits die hard. I just want to sit down."

Yotsuba begrudgingly stays in the spot where she was sitting. Fuutarou then makes it to the bottom and sits down next to her.

Fuutarou:"I'm sorry."

Yotsuba:"Huh? What for?"

Fuutarou:"You weren't able to enjoy yourself at all this entire festival. This is your last one and you spent it doing nothing but work. You even collapsed because you were trying to pick up my slack. It was my fault for going without thinking of the consequences."

Yotsuba:"U-Uesugi-san, please don't apologize, this is my-"

Fuutarou:"Your fault? How so? You're the one who suffered from this."

Yotsuba:"Well, that's...I should've listened to you…"

Fuutarou:"But that ended with others being happy, didn't it?"

Yotsuba:"W-Well, that was just the natural thing to do."

Fuutarou:"Really, the rest of the staff should have helped more. The leadership really was all around crappy. We even let outside establishments set up shop, we had a giant monitor, constant musicals and plays, and we used as much of the facility as possible. As if we didn't have enough work as it was, what was Takeda's dad thinking? He wasn't even there when I had a nice long talk with the rest of the council."

Yotsuba:"B-But they all did their best!"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, but you still gave it your all. Despite the massive amount of work, despite the long hours, despite the short staff, you never treated any of the stalls with any less care than usual. You were the fastest of them all, the strongest of them all, you were the reason this festival made it to the third day."

Yotsuba:"I couldn't do that. Because of my uselessness, the takoyaki stall still burned."

Fuutarou:"Accidents happen, you simply can't escape that. You can't be expected to be everywhere at once."

Yotsuba:"That...That just means I'm not fast enough."

Fuutarou:"...It's not like you have to do that. Don't you trust me nor your sisters?"

Yotsuba:"Of course I do."

Fuutarou:"Then ask for their help, lean on them. You're only human, when we're left alone, we make mistakes, we make the wrong choices, we regret our lives. But, when you're with those you love, they'll be the ones that pull you out of the darkness. Are you saying you don't love your sisters?"

Yotsuba:"Of course I love them!"

Yotsuba got up, and almost stepped back at her sudden outburst.

Fuutarou:"You're starting to speak your mind."

Yotsuba:"I-I…"

Fuutarou grabbed her arm.

Fuutarou:"Don't even think about it."

Yotsuba ignored him and continued to move, dragging Fuutarou with her. Clenching his teeth, he grabbed her arm with both hands and he tried his best to drag her back to the stairs. Yotsuba finally stopped pulling and sat back down.

Yotsuba:"..."

Fuutarou:"...You get weaker?"

Yotsuba:"I'm stronger than ever, thank you very much."

Fuutarou:"I don't mean physically."

Yotsuba:"But I've been doing pretty well in grades these days."

Fuutarou grabbed the top of his nose.

Fuutarou:"Honestly...I'm getting a headache now."

Yotsuba:"Ah, I'm sorry that I'm causing that."

Fuutarou:"How are you the cause of this?"

Yotsuba:"Talking with someone like me must be horrible, ahaha."

Fuutarou:"..."

The two sat in some silence. Yotsuba seemed deep in thought.

Fuutarou:[To think that she's gotten like this, all while I was with them. I'm such an idiot, I should have been there to stop that...I should have helped all of them sooner. Maybe then, we could have pretended Ichika was leaving in the first place, Nino would have found peace with her dad and dream faster, Miku could have gotten more confident, Itsuki could have begun to think of herself as her own person...and Yotsuba...]

Fuutarou got up.

Fuutarou:[But I can't change what happened. It's too late to regret my decisions. I hurt them, I stood by and watched many times…]

{"I don't think that at all. It's because of you that we've even gotten this far. Even if we stumbled a few times, it's up to us now to make up for our previous faults."}

Fuutarou:[Really, you give me too much credit...But I refuse to sit aside any longer. I was already acting selfish before, only looking out for my own ass. But now I'll be even more selfish. This time, the six of us can stand side by side, as equals.]

Fuutarou noticed Yotsuba didn't react at all when he stood up.

Fuutarou:[Her state right now...Everything that has happened over the course of these last 3 days...No, over the course of these last few years has taken their toll on her. It'll be hard to help her, but I'm ready to commit.]

Fuutarou began to ponder at his options.

Fuutarou:[The only way to get to her now may not be from trying to attack directly. Think, Fuutarou! What's the best way to get to Yotsuba?]

At that moment, Fuutarou had an epiphany. The answer had been right there.

Fuutarou:[The question is if I can do it...Who am I kidding, I learned from the best. I'm sorry for this, but I promise this will be my last lie.]

While Yotsuba was thinking by herself, Fuutarou put his hand on her shoulder.

Fuutarou:"It's good to know you'll be glad to take the fall for anyone."

Yotsuba:"Huh?"

Fuutarou looked around.

Fuutarou:"We're alone, just the two of us. I can finally stop having to babysit those bitches."

Yotsuba couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Fuutarou:"That stupid dumbass Ichika, thinking she can make me run in circles. How important does she think she is, just because she got a little popular from those terrible movies. She should be licking my feet with how useless she is."

Yotsuba:"Ue-"

Fuutarou:"That daddy obsessed dumbass Nino, she acts like a self-centered piece of shit towards me and then suddenly thinks she can just fall in love with me? I haven't forgotten about those times she spiked my damn drinks, I should call the police on that useless broad."

Yotsuba:"Uesugi-sa-"

Fuutarou:"That...pathetic excuse of a dumbass Miku, she thinks that she can overcome that awful excuse for food. She thinks she's mature enough to actually do her own things in another country. A doormat like her can barely live without constant help, that useless cook."

Yotsuba:"F-Fuu-"

Fuutarou:"That gluttonous, idiotic dumbass Itsuki, she truly thinks she can become a teacher. All for what? So she can control some kids like her dead mom? She's nothing more than a delusional useless ball of meat."

Yotsuba:"Fuutarou-W-Why are you saying those things?"

Fuutarou:"Oh, come on. Why would you care? After all, it's not like you'll go off and tell them, are you? Your little sense of selflessness will stop you. You're my little slave."

Yotsuba wanted to cry, she had been reminded of how she was treated back in middle school. She had tried her best to close off her emotions, to not fall under the pressure of hostile behaviors, especially after her outburst back then. But, the one saying these things wasn't a random man, it was Fuutarou. The man who was the catalyst of who she wanted to become. The man that helped her sisters all this time. The man she loved. She couldn't take it anymore.

Yotsuba:"T-That's...That's not true! All of my sisters are trying their hardest! I thought you were compassionate under all of that, but now you're speaking badly about my precious sisters!? You're not the Fuutarou-kun I know!"

Without realizing, Yotsuba had gotten up. She looked around in a panic hoping to see no one there. Before she turned back, she wanted to run again, but a part of her wanted to at least see the face of the man she thought she knew. Upon gazing at him again, he noticed something different. Fuutarou was giving her a gentle smile.

Yotsuba:"What are you-"

Fuutarou:"There's your true feelings again. The real Yotsuba tries her best to come out, but you keep pushing her back down."

Yotsuba:"Y-You mean you didn't mean any of that?"

Fuutarou:"It seems my lying skills have improved..or were you so repressed that you couldn't see past my lies? Weren't you the one that told me about loving someone past a disguise?"

Yotsuba:"That was…"

Fuutarou:"But, man. I feel worse than I was expecting. I still said all those horrible things. I don't know how you girls could just turn into someone else so easily. And that was only a couple of minutes. I can't imagine doing that constantly for years like you, Yotsuba."

Yotsuba's eyes widened.

Yotsuba:"I-I don't know what you...mean...I-I'm sorry I couldn't-"

Fuutarou:"Yotsuba."

The way he said her name caused her to stop talking immediately. In this silence, Fuutarou's expression was firm, but there was a kindness to it all.

Fuutarou:"Aren't you tired of apologizing all the time?"

…

Yotsuba:"...Eh?"

Fuutarou:"You're not any lesser than your sisters. You're not any lesser than me. You're the one that has tried their hardest the most. The one that has kept everything bottled up inside for the sake of others. It hasn't been nearly as long, but I've also held my true feelings back for a while. I wondered how easily you could lie, but that's not it. Lying...is truly easy when you feel backed into a corner. Sometimes, it happens without your consent, and it does nothing but hurt you and everyone around…Yotsuba, you tried to become the backbone of your family to protect them, but...they don't need protecting anymore. You never allowed anyone to protect you, leading you to be disconnected from the rest. But I don't want that, your sisters don't want that, and you know you don't want that."

Fuutarou opened up his arms.

Fuutarou:"I'm here for you, we're here for you. Even if the whole world is against us, we'll be with you! So, let the real Yotsuba out!"

Fuutarou screamed with everything he could. This made Yotsuba feel like she was hit by a truck. She staggered back.

Yotsuba:[Let her out…?]

{Yotsuba:"I don't deserve to live."}

{Yotsuba:"Just what do I want?"}

Yotsuba:[I thought it was something I couldn't wish for. Nobody...No, I was the one who never allowed that.]

{Yotsuba:[The five of us need to stick together.]}

Yotsuba:[But...They were always…]

{Nino:"I refuse to let you suffer alone!"}

{Ichika:"We stick together, no matter where we go!"}

{Itsuki:"That's what mother taught us!"}

{Miku:"Nothing is too tough for us when we're together. We're quintuplets, after all!"}

{Miku:"Believe in Fuutarou."}

Yotsuba:[If I can really...have my wish for once. I...I hate…]

Yotsuba's knees buckled, leading her straight to Fuutarou's arms. As she grabbed on to him, she finally spoke.

Yotsuba:"I...I hate it! I hate working so much! I hate that I couldn't enjoy so many years with my sisters! I hate that we were left alone! I hate that our mom died with so many regrets! I hate having to do everything people ask of me! I hate that people were accusing you of mismanaging the takoyaki stall! I hate that I'm so dumb! I hate that I couldn't stand up for myself! I hate people that talk trash on my sisters! I hate that I can't say no! I hate that my sisters had to bail me out because of my own stupidity! I hate having to do so much work! I hate running! I hate that the track club was the only place that would accept me due to how stupid I am! I hate everything! I...I hate…!"

Fuutarou:"Everything. Come on, I believe in you."

Yotsuba:"...I hate that I got jealous over Ichika just for getting close to you! I hate that I felt happy when Miku couldn't confess to you! I hate how I couldn't stop Itsuki! I hate how I just watched as Ichika left! I hate how I gave up on my dream to become an actor just because I was doubting myself!"

Yotsuba tightened her grip on Fuutarou's shirt.

Yotsuba:"I hate how I couldn't fulfill our promise! I hate that I hid from you, even after you were looking for me! I hate that the girl you made the promise with turned out to be me! I hate that I lied to you for all these years! I hate it! I hate it! I hate it all!"

Fuutarou just smiled through it all. With enough time, she finally let go of Yotsuba, whose face was covered in tears. He gave her a smile.

Fuutarou:"There, doesn't that feel better?"

Yotsuba:"Waaaaaaaaaahhhh!"

Fuutarou:"There, there."

After some more time, Yotsuba calmed down.

Fuutarou:"Are you alright? You think you can face your sisters?"

Yotsuba was silent.

Yotsuba:"There's...one last thing I haven't said yet."

Fuutarou:"What's that?"

Yotsuba blushed.

Yotsuba:"This is embarrassing, but...I really want to say it…"

Fuutarou:"Don't hold anything back. And in turn, neither will I."

Yotsuba nodded. She walked up the stairs, letting the sun shine behind her.

Yotsuba:"I hate that I couldn't be honest about my feelings. I hate...that I couldn't tell you I love you."

…

Fuutarou smiled.

Fuutarou:"You've truly begun to move forward." [Yotsuba. Despite what you say or how disappointed you are in yourself. You are the reason I became so motivated. If I hadn't picked myself up, I wouldn't have become your tutor. I wouldn't have been able to spend so much time together with you girls. Thank you, Yotsuba. For everything you did for me. Because of you, I eventually...]

Fuutarou got up to face Yotsuba at the top of the stairs. With a resolute look, he bowed.

Fuutarou:"I've already fallen for someone."

Yotsuba:"I see..."

Fuutarou looked up to see Yotsuba smiling.

Yotsuba:"Shishishi."

Fuutarou:"What are laughing at?"

Yotsuba:"Well...I guess I'm just happy right now. Of course I'm sad I got rejected, but...I would have been mad if you just accepted my confession after all of this."

Fuutarou:"You say that like you wouldn't be a great person to be with."

Yotsuba:"I have no idea what to do when it comes to love."

Fuutarou:"You and me both...Hey, Yotsuba. You mentioned how you let go of your dream. But, I think you can still do it. No one is immediately great at everything. Your sisters are a great example of that. If they can do it, so can you."

Yotsuba:"...So you think…?"

Fuutarou:"Your sisters and I believe in you."

Yotsuba:"...In any case."

Yotsuba began to run down the stairs at top speed.

Fuutarou:"Ah, be care-"

Looking at Yotsuba's sudden change in expression, Fuutarou then realized what she was about to do. He turned around and tried to run but she tackled him to the ground.

Fuutarou:"Guh!"

Fuutarou began to get up.

Fuutarou:"H-Honestly, you look scary like that-"

Suddenly, he felt a sensation on his left cheek. As he turned, he saw Yotsuba blushing extremely hard.

Yotsuba:"Whoever it is you picked, make sure you make them happy, okay? Or I'll add you to the list of things I really hate."

Fuutarou:"...Of course!"

Yotsuba:"...Say, there's some time left. Can we sit together again? While we do that...I want to tell you about what really happened back at our old school."

Fuutarou:"...You got it."

The two sat together as Yotsuba told him the story.

End of Chapter 91