5:00 AM
Itsuki woke up. She wasn't too excited today. Despite today being the first day of the Sunrise Festival, a time where Itsuki could try all sorts of foods, she had told herself she needed to hold back. She got a 'D' on her university test so now she felt she needed to study now more than ever. She was also thinking about the talk with Yotsuba the day prior. There was a lot on her mind at this moment. Now, with all this stress, she was even more hungry than usual, but she steeled herself to use that time to study. This was an idea Shimoda had told her would be the best course of action...It's what mom would want...Once she got dressed, she came out the door to see Miku and Nino come out of their rooms at the same time. Ichika's room had gone unused for a while, but it was going to be occupied again very soon. The now cleaned room would be messy again for a short while. Itsuki looked down the balcony to see Yotsuba already up and ready. She gave a quick wave and ran off to school. Itsuki tried to reach out but she couldn't say anything.
Miku:"Are you alright? You seem out of it."
Itsuki:"Oh, I'm fine, thank you. I was just feeling tired."
Miku:"Hm…"
Itsuki thought back to the previous day.
…
…
{Yotsuba:"If you do that, I'll hate you!"}
Itsuki had gone after Yotsuba after she ran out of the room. After a while, Yotsuba stopped to see a tired Itsuki still trying to catch up.
{Yotsuba:[...I have to go back eventually, Miku still needs to give me her plans…I'll just go to them myself.]}
{Itsuki:"Yotsuba..."}
{Yotsuba:"Itsuki...Stop trying to get us together. That happened a long time ago...he forgot about me...I couldn't keep my promise...That's all there is! Itsuki, if you try dressing up like that again...I'll never forgive you!"}
{Itsuki:"I just...want to help."}
{Yotsuba:"Are those really the feelings that 'Itsuki' has?"}
Itsuki couldn't do anything as Yotsuba left.
…
…
Nino didn't say anything as she got ready.
Miku:[Nino seems weird today too...Maybe Ichika and Fuutarou can bring up the mood when they come...Fuutarou, even if my love can't bear fruit, I want to make you proud of all of us.]
Miku began to get ready as well. Usually the house would be filled with the voices of the five as they would talk and joke together, but now it was completely quiet.
…
5:03 AM
Ichika:"I'm sorry to put you in this situation! I guess I should have thought it through."
Oda:"No problem. It's my job as your manager to ensure your happiness."
Ichika:"I'll get something for Kiku-chan, I swear."
Oda:"Thank you, Ichika-chan...Say…"
Ichika:"What is it?"
Oda:"Have fun."
Ichika:"Haha, what's that about?"
Oda:[Ever since she came back from that trip to Kyoto, she hasn't been quite the same...Hopefully she finds an answer during these next three days.]
…
5:15 AM
Shimoda:"I should go to make sure everyone is going well. I'll make sure you're legacy remains alive, no matter what."
...
5:25 AM
Tsubaki:"I've decided!"
Matsui:"What's that?"
Tsubaki:"I'm gonna ask Takeda out during this festival!"
Matsui:"Finally going for it, heh? Just let us know if you need help with that."
Tsubaki:"You got it! Not only that, but we'll prove our club's merits!"
…
5:30 AM
Maeda:"What are you doing outside my house?"
Takeda:"Just thought we could walk together. Uesugi-kun's gonna be plenty busy, so we shouldn't make it harder for him."
Maeda:"Is that so…? Wait, how long did you wait for?"
Takeda:"45 minutes."
Maeda:"Are you stupid!?"
Takeda:"Haha…"
Maeda's parent's came out to give him something he forgot. Takeda saw them having a normal chat.
Takeda:[That must be nice…]
…
5:40 AM
Principal Takeda:"This festival should raise our reputation. Those council kids mustn't mess anything up. Especially those quintuplets and that boy who took first place from my son. But, if they happen to screw up, it will simply give me a reason to put them in their place, won't it? Don't worry, Takeda, I'll make you into the perfect man, even if I have to cheat a little."
…
5:43 AM
Irigaku:"Time to enjoy the festival! This will be my last festival as well...I wonder how that guy is doing right now…I know he enjoyed these types of things too."
…
5:45 AM
Yae:"Don't take off my headphones like that! You know I can't sleep without those."
Sandy:"Rito-kun already left~We have to get our honorary stall ready."
Yae:"Why do we even have a stall at another high school?"
Sandy:"That principal and him know each other. We're getting a chance to give some extra awareness to our business."
Yae:"...Don't you think we've been...No, never mind, I'm sure it's nothing."
Sandy:"Come on, let's get up!"
Yae:"Is she coming too?"
Sandy:"Later, she said. She has to attend to her own responsibilities."
Yae:"Being part of the student council must really suck."
…
5:50 AM
Maruo looked at the envelope he had gotten. Next to him was Ebata, who was resting on a bed.
Maruo:"I'm sure they'd much rather have you be there...I wonder if I should go…"
…
5:55 AM
Fuutarou:...Huh? Oh, I'm up...My alarm didn't go off? Wait, what time is it!?"
Isanari:"Almost 6."
Fuutarou:"Why didn't you wake me up?"
Raiha:"Dad said you were really tired yesterday, so he wanted to let you sleep a little more."
Fuutarou:"Pops."
Isanari:"Hey, now. You could do with more breaks. We don't want you passing out again."
Fuutarou:"...Right."
Isanari:"Breakfast is ready for you. We'll be going to the festival once it's properly open, so go on ahead, yeah?"
Fuutarou:"Yeah. I'll try to give you a tour if I can."
Raiha:"I hope I can hang out with the girls again."
Fuutarou:"...If they're not too busy."
Isanari:"...Hey, Fuutarou. Be careful, alright?"
Fuutarou:"Of course."
Fuutarou got ready and was standing in front of the door.
Fuutarou:[...I don't know if I really want to go to school today...Those five, too much is going on, damn it...But I don't really have a choice...I don't have a choice...I don't ha-]
…
6:59 AM
Nino, Miku and Itsuki got to the front gate. Normally before a big event or during a stressful time, the five sisters would lock pinky fingers to motivate themselves, to have each other's back. But this thought only passed their minds for a second. Ichika wasn't here yet, Yotsuba had run ahead, Nino simply walked inside, Itsuki hurried to her class and Miku thought only 3 people doing it wouldn't be right. Their time here would not start with a bang, but a whimper.
…
8:30 AM
"Everyone, please assemble in the gymnasium. The 29th annual Asahi High 'Sunrise Festival' will now hold it's opening ceremony."
End of Chapter 50