Fuutarou was wheezing, he had just carried a large object halfway through the festival.

Fuutarou:"I got you that new gas cylinder...Anything else?"

"We'll be fine, thank you!"

…

Fuutarou:"Is Sho-kun's mother around?"

…

Fuutarou:"Hey, stop fighting! There's a kid here!"

…

"Thank you very much!"

"Thank you, mister!"

…

"Uesugi-kun, we want to set up a rest area here, but how should we proceed?"

Fuutarou:[Why didn't we have one already?...It looks like I won't be able to check out the stalls…]

…

11:30 AM

Fuutarou:[It feels like I'm everyone's dog today...It's only the first day...Even with the practice I've done...I'm at my limit…]

Fuutarou fumbled into the school cafeteria. There, he saw Itsuki studying.

Fuutarou:"What are you doing here?"

Itsuki:"Uesugi-kun…"

…

Fuutarou:"Huh? You're gonna be studying by yourself even during the festival? Are...you really alright with just this? Do you have any friends? You can talk to me if you're that bored."

Itsuki:"I don't want to hear those words from you…"

Fuutarou:"You'd think this atmosphere would get anyone to not study...But still, it's baffling...You're an idiot, but you've been able to produce better results with less time…"

Itsuki:"Hmph! Sorry for being an idiot that can surpass those expectations! Now, If you'll excuse me. I need to complete these worksheets I brought by the end of today!"

Itsuki took out a large set of papers.

Itsuki:"I won't be doing anything else until I'm done!"

Fuutarou:"...Right…"

Now ignoring him, Itsuki walked away to find a spot to work. Fuutarou decided to leave now that he had gotten some energy back.

Fuutarou:[Maybe there was a better way to deal with that…]

At that moment, he was reminded of Ichika's declining grades.

Fuutarou:[Could it be…? Both of them are having more trouble than before...What Miku said about her...could it apply here as well?]

…

12:00 PM

"Yakisoba!"

"Karaage~"

"Hey man, I brought the Takoyaki!"

"This looks pretty authentic."

The boys that were about to enjoy their food were met with Itsuki's death glare. Both of them jumped as the bloodlust in her eyes penetrated their very soul.

"L-Let's eat outside."

"Yeah...The weather's nice and all…"

Shocked, Itsuki covers her mouth.

Itsuki:"I shouldn't be so disgraceful, I need to concentrate…"

She soon smelled yet another piece of food, which caused her to jolt in its direction. Her eyes locked on to the corn dog this person had been holding, but Itsuki soon noticed who was holding it.

Shimoda:"There you are, missy."

Itsuki:"Ah, Shimoda-san! What are you doing here?"

Shimoda:"I'm here to check on your progress. I heard about your score, so it's good that you're foregoing this festival for something more productive."

Itsuki:"That's...the plan, haha. Say, do you think you could help me with some problems?"

Shimoda:"Of course, I am your teacher."

Itsuki:"Sorry to impose on you."

Shimoda:"There's no harm, everything is well until you eventually surpass me."

Itsuki:"..."

…

Fuutarou continued to try his best to meet all the demands of the people who needed help. Before he knew it, any energy he retained had gone away.

12:30 PM

Fuutarou:"Man, this is what I get for slacking off for so long...The stall should be near here...But it's best if I don't go, I don't need more distractions right now...Yeah, it's simply better this way. Hm? Wait, is that…?"

…

"One berry and two maple please!"

"Ease up! It's getting burnt!"

Miku:"So far so good…"

Raiha:"Miku-saaan!"

Miku:"Raiha-chan, and her dad!"

Isanari:"Make mine with chocolate sauce, okay?"

Miku:"Hello, Raiha-chan! Did you come here to see your big brother?"

Raiha:"Yep! We've been looking for him for a bit, but we couldn't find him. So we thought the best place would be in the stall his class had, he said he was gonna give us a little tour."

Miku:"I see...Well, our sales are going well, so after I wrap this batch up, let's go-"

"We brought some extra ingredients!"

A new stack of items was now in front of Miku.

Miku:"A-Ah...I didn't take this into account…"

…

Nino:"Oh, isn't that Fuu-kun's dad and sister next to the stall?"

Nino went over to them and tried to wave, but she noticed Fuutarou also going towards it.

Fuutarou:"You guys came. Oh hey, Nino."

Raiha:"There you are, big bro. We were looking all over for you."

Fuutarou:"Well, I've been busy. Sorry I can't give you a tour."

Isanari:"That's fine, we're managing."

Nino:"Your papa sure looks handsome no matter how many times I see him."

Fuutarou:"You have poor taste."

Miku:"Fuutarou, are you doing fine? You look really tired."

Fuutarou:"Don't worry, this is normal. Hold my order in the meantime."

Miku:"Right."

Isanari:"In any case, it's lucky that we ran into you girls. Not one, but two of the quintuplets...um…"

Raiha:"Nino-san and Miku-san. I even said Miku-san's name before."

Isanari:"Ah! I was just about to say that! Don't steal my thunder! Hmm, say...Have you seen Maruo? Or is he already gone?"

Fuutarou:"Hm?"

Nino:"If you're talking about father, he didn't come."

Isanari:"That's weird...when I went to his office last time, there was a letter from here on his desk."

Nino:[So he read it…?]

Fuutarou:"...Hey, wait a second. Aren't you banned from that place?"

Isanari:"Yeah, but don't sweat the details."

Miku:"You know our dad personally?"

Isanari:"Yep."

Raiha:"Dad's the one who got big bro his home tutor job!"

Isanari:"I've told Fuutarou parts of this, but I've known him since our school days. I was a hot blooded rebel, and he was the top of the grade student who was also the student council president."

Nino:"How dreamy."

Fuutarou:"Again, bad taste."

Isanari:"We butted heads a lot, but we found mutual respect for one another at the end of the day. We have sensei to thank for that."

Nino:"This is the first I've heard of it."

Isanari:"If it is, then it's clear you should hear it from him. I imagine he doesn't like to talk about that part of his life. Shows how desperate he was when he called me up to hire a certain kid."

Nino:"Is the sensei you're talking about...our mom?"

Isanari:"She was a fine lady~"

Raiha:"Eh!?"

Isanari:"Second to my wife, obviously."

Fuutarou:"We can't ask him directly when the person in question isn't here."

Isanari:"Don't worry, we dads are pretty annoying. When you add the fact that he's already annoying, that makes him super annoying. But you girls have opened your hearts, he'll open up his as well."

Miku:"Nino…"

Nino simply looked down as she tried finding the right words.

Fuutarou:"I understand. But if he doesn't show himself, I'm gonna complain right to his face."

Nino:"Fuu-kun…"

Isanari:"That takes me back."

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

…

5:00 PM

"Welcome back. We're sorry you had to come back, but we need your help with this."

Maruo:"It's fine, let us proceed."

Maruo put a bag down.

"Hm? Oh, that smells nice. Are those pancakes?"

Maruo:"Yes, well, it's not important."

Maruo went over to a room at the end of one of the hallways. He looked through the window to see Ebata resting on one of the hospital beds.

Maruo:"...Perhaps I should have..."

End of Chapter 52