Without trying, Ichika had already run into Fuutarou.

Ichika:"Oh, it's just you."

Fuutarou:"Nice to see you too."

Ichika:"Ah, right. Looks like I ended up coming after all. I got really lost, but I did see a bashful Miku on the big screen."

Fuutarou:"...I did hear that, I think, but Nino never got around to calling you, I suppose."

Fuutarou took a closer look.

Fuutarou:"What's wrong? You look awful."

Ichika:"What a rude thing to say! But yes, I haven't gotten much sleep."

Fuutarou looked up. As Ichika was going to ask him something, she had to duck as a large group of people passed by. Fuutarou, noticing this, took a jacket and put it over Ichika's head.

Ichika:"T-Thanks...Is this yours?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, but there's no smell."

Ichika:"I wasn't gonna smell it."

Fuutarou:"Good, don't need another case."

Ichika:"Ho~ Someone else sniff your clothes?"

Fuutarou:"Anyway, thanks for coming."

Ichika:"I was hoping to see everyone nice and happy, but I see you half dead from what I assume is working a bunch."

Fuutarou:"It's not that bad."

Fuutarou then struggles to carry a box.

Fuutarou:"I just need to get these supplies to the stalls."

Ichika:"...Haha, I'll help you."

Fuutarou:"Hm, sorry about that."

Fuutarou and Ichika worked together to get the box where it needed to be.

Ichika:"Is this what you've been doing all day?"

Fuutarou:"I hear it builds muscle."

Ichika:"..."

Fuutarou:"I'll need to find someone to give you a map-"

Ichika:"You still haven't come to a decision, have you?"

Fuutarou:"What, with a career? I suppose I haven-"

Ichika:"You know what I'm referring to."

Fuutarou simply stands there.

Ichika:"Regardless of your response, the longer you wait, the harder it will be on them."

Fuutarou:"...Is that so…"

Fuutarou decided to get Ichika to the other sisters as he was checking for safety at the same time.

…

As the two were going around, they noticed Yotsuba.

Fuutarou:"Where has she been all this time?"

Ichika:"Hey, Yotsuba!"

Yotsuba:"Oh, Uesugi-san! Ichika! You made it."

Ichika:"You're still working hard, huh?"

Yotsuba:"Just trying my best!"

Fuutarou:"Have you been doing nothing but helping all day? Even I took some breaks."

Yotsuba:"You can take more, I got this."

Fuutarou:"That's not what I-"

Suddenly, Fuutarou was called over to help. He gave Ichika and Yotsuba to stay there while he fixed the situation.

Yotsuba:"Oh, I can-"

Fuutarou:"He called me, you stay here."

Yotsuba:"R-Right…"

…

Ichika:"Look at him go."

Yotsuba:"Hopefully he can enjoy the festival."

Ichika:"Yeah, not even we were able to thanks to our last minute transfer. Do you remember, Yotsuba?"

Yotsuba:"About what?"

Ichika:"About Fuutarou-kun."

Yotsuba just stares at Ichika before looking away.

Ichika:"I knew it. So you do remember him."

Yotsuba:"Ahaha...It took me a while to fully remember him since he looked so different."

Ichika:"In that case, maybe I should apologize. Sorry, I didn't realize it when you were cheering me up. I'm a failure of a big sister."

Yotsuba:"...Is that so…"

Ichika:"I can at least say this. Try to find out what you really want to do...Don't become like me."

Yotsuba:"What are you-"

Ichika:"Oh, hey, Fuutarou-kun's coming back."

Yotsuba:"Epp! I should go!"

Fuutarou:"Huh? What's up with her? Were you teasing her?"

Ichika:"We were just talking about secrets." [You're running away again, huh?]

Fuutarou:"Secrets?"

Fuutarou remembered what happened the day before.

Fuutarou:[I wonder if she knows...If so, then does everyone? Who I think Yotsuba and Itsuki are? Does Nino know?...Does Miku know?]

Ichika:"Fuutarou-kun, you have a really scary face right now."

Fuutarou:"Oh, sorry. Come on, we should move."

Ichika:"...Right."

As they walked away, Yotsuba was peeking at them.

Yotsuba:[He doesn't need to know...He doesn't need to know…]

Fuutarou:[I know she has problems, but is it really okay to force her to tell me…? Actually, if my hypothesis is true, why was Itsuki so hellbent on me knowing…?]

…

Before long, they made it to the pancake stand.

Miku:"Ichika!"

Ichika:"Hey! Look at you, leading the group with something relating to food, I'm so proud of you. No one has died yet, have they?"

Miku:"We're doing fine. Although it doesn't seem that way."

Ichika:"How so?"

Miku:"This is Fuutarou's third time here. Is our stand really so unsafe?"

Fuutarou:"It isn't on purpose…"

Miku:[...He still looks really tired…] "Say, Fuutarou, will you have time later?"

Fuutarou:"Is something the matter?"

Miku:"Not really...I just wanted to go look around the festival with you."

Fuutarou:"...To make memories, right?"

Miku:"Am I being selfish?"

Fuutarou:"...I'm not saying that..."

Ichika:"Hmm...Sorry, Miku. He's taking the time to show me around too."

Miku:"Eh?"

Fuutarou:"Our trip is on the way to where I was planning to go, so it's not too much trouble."

Ichika:"Oh, that breaks my heart."

Miku:"..."

Ichika:"Sorry, sorry. Can I have a pancake?"

Miku:"Oh, of course."

Ichika:"What about you, Fuutarou-kun?"

Fuutarou:"Maybe later, I have my hands full."

Ichika got her pancakes before leaving for the Takoyaki stand. She ate them on their way there.

...

Ichika:"Hey, Nino."

Nino:"Ah, so you did come! I completely forgot about calling you…"

Fuutarou:"Did you find Itsuki?"

Nino:"Huh? Oh yeah, she was in the cafeteria."

Fuutarou:"So she's done studying."

Nino:"No, she's hard at work, I guess."

Ichika:"Itsuki's studying in the cafeteria?"

Fuutarou:"Well, that will be our next stop."

Nino:"Say, Fuu-kun…"

Fuutarou:"What is it?"

Nino:"...Forget it, it's nothing."

Fuutarou was a little confused, but he left anyway. Ichika saw something was wrong and walked towards her.

Ichika:"Is everything alright?"

Nino:"Yeah, it's nothing you should be concerned with."

Ichika:"...I see."

Nino:"Say, did you happen to see papa?"

Ichika:"I didn't, sorry."

Nino:"That's okay. You want some takoyaki?"

Ichika:"Don't mind if I do."

…

Ichika:"Oh, it's the principal. Hide me."

Fuutarou:"What's wrong?"

Ichika:"Well, he was certainly not happy with me dropping out…"

Fuutarou:"Out of fear of ruining the school's image?"

Ichika:"Yeah…"

Fuutarou:"What a pain..."

Ichika:"..." [I'm surprised he didn't ask me about coming back.]

Fuutarou:[Looks like he's going over to the takoyaki stand. I guess he's checking on Takeda.]

…

The two then saw a happy middle-aged man with many snacks and prizes.

Ichika:"Oh, Irigaku-sensei."

Irigaku:"Huh? You're…"

Ichika:"I'm the first sister, Nakano Ichika."

Irigaku:"Oh, of course! Nice to see you, Ichika-chan! I hope you're enjoying your time here!"

Ichika:"I'm trying my best, thank you."

Fuutarou:"Say, you got an extra map Ichika can have? I won't be able to be with her the whole time, and I'd like her to enjoy the fest as much as she can."

Ichika:"Oh, how smooth."

Irigaku:"As a matter of fact, I do."

Irigaku put down his mountain of things and handed Ichika a map.

Irigaku:"I won't be needing it anymore soon. I'll be leaving for good."

Fuutarou:"For good?"

Irigaku:"Yeha, for the day! Haha!"

Fuutarou:"Why you…!"

Ichika:"I-In any case, thank you."

Ichika took out her recorder out of her bag to make space for the map.

Irigaku:"Well, I said that, but I still need to stick a little bit longer. With that in mind, I'll be seeing you!"

Fuutarou:"See ya."

Ichika:"Thanks for the map."

...

Throughout the remainder of the tour, Fuutarou still took many detours to help others, this led to the tour taking a surprisingly long time. But they eventually made it to the cafeteria.

Ichika:"There's Itsuki."

Fuutarou:"Has she really been doing nothing but study this whole time?"

Ichika:"She seems to be pushing herself."

Fuutarou:"But how much of that will actually help her?"

Ichika:"What do you mean?"

Fuutarou:"She might understand the homework better eventually, but what I've learned as a tutor is that it's best to have an incentive to study, to do something to make that process not only easier, but more efficient. Not everything needs to be perfect. She has to find what she wants to do."

Ichika:"Wow."

Fuutarou:"Don't look at me like that. I should go talk to her."

Ichika:"What she wants to do, huh? Say, Fuutarou-kun…"

Fuutarou:"What is it?"

Ichika:"Is delaying your answer to our feelings...what you really want to do?"

Fuutarou:"..."

End of Chapter 56