6:30 PM

Raiha:"Woah, that's a big mark! Can I touch it?"

Fuutarou:"I would rather you didn't."

Raiha:"I heard there was a fire after we headed home. Is that why you're like that?"

Fuutarou:"No, it wasn't the fire that caused it."

Isanari:"Say, most of the missies were involved in those stands, right? You should call them up and ask if they're okay."

Raiha:"Dad's right! I'm sure you could brighten up their day if they heard your voice!"

Fuutarou quickly glanced at his bag.

Fuutarou:"...No, I think it's best if I didn't."

Raiha:"You paused for a second! You were thinking about it for a second! Dad! Hugs and kisses if you get brother's phone!"

Isanari:"You got it!"

Fuutarou:"Don't you dare!"

Isanari:"Ho? You think you can overtake a retired delinquent?"

Fuutarou:"I was one too, you know!"

Isanari:"Dying your hair blonde and moping a lot isn't being a delinquent!"

Fuutarou:"J-Just don't call them. Of course I'm worried, but it wouldn't be right for me to."

Raiha:"...Is brother becoming lame?"

Fuutarou:"Huh!?"

Isanari:"He sure is lame."

Fuutarou:"Raiha thinks I'm lame?"

Isanari:"Oh, just going to ignor-"

Raiha:"Wouldn't real men take responsibility?"

Fuutarou and Raiha briefly heard the sound of a heart breaking, but both decided to ignore it.

Fuutarou:"...They would, wouldn't they?"

Raiha:"Then you have to!"

Fuutarou:"I think I can handle being lame today."

Raiha pouts.

Raiha:"Big brother!"

Isanari:"...Is that really alright?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah. I was at fault for not noticing it...I was too caught up in something else. It would just seem patronizing if I was the one that tried to cheer them up."

Isanari:"Hm."

Fuutarou glanced at his bag again.

Fuutarou:[I want to call them...But I don't know how to handle them now...Right now, I have to put my feelings aside. So I can do a good job, so I can pay back my gratitude, so I can help them in the future…]

Isanari:"By the way, Fuutarou. There wasn't anything weird besides the fire today?"

Fuutarou:"Huh?"

Isanari:"Was there?"

Fuutarou:"Not really. Most of the day was..pretty normal. Just some obstacles here and there."

Isanari:"I see. Sorry for asking. Just thought there might be some trouble coming."

Fuutarou:"...?"

…

Irigaku:"To think the day ended like that. What a tragedy. However, thanks to that, I have more evidence to back up our hypothesis. I've had some eye witness accounts say they saw the suspect walking towards the scene. The thing is, we need to find a way to catch him red handed or for him to confess in some way."

"What's that you have with you?"

Irigaku:"Oh, this is from a stall in the festival. It's a little magic trick with dice. Yeah, the young man and woman helped me set it up. I quite like magic, my brother used to be obsessed with those. This is a way I can remember my childhood with. "

"..."

"Oh, don't stare at me like that. Say, once this is all over, you want to go on a date with me? it's been a while...Ah, rejected again..."

…

Takabayashi:"So what was up with that smoke?"

Sandy:"Rito says that a fire burned down one of the class stalls."

Yae:"I heard it was the stall from the class those quints were at too."

Takebayashi:"Woah, hope no one got hurt. Say, Yae-chan, where were you? You were gone for a little while."

Yae:"Oh, I just did something that would probably make someone a little mad."

Takebayashi:"Oh no, was it really bad?"

Yae:"Probably not, but he does hate them, doesn't he? So let's keep quiet about that."

...

Tsubaki:"Takeda-kun!"

Takeda:"Oh, Tsubaki-chan. What brings you here?"

Tsubaki:"You're not hurt, are you? I didn't see you at the stall when our club got there."

Takeda:"Oh, that's no problem. I'm quite healthy! On another matter, I'm shocked the broadcasting club didn't come earlier in the day.

Tsubaki:"Oh, well, that's…"

Takeda:"Shame, I could have posed for the camera, but alas, maybe it wasn't meant to be."

Tsubaki:"Sorry, I'm a failure of a reporter…"

Takeda:"Now, now. No need to beat yourself up over that, no one is perfect."

Tsubaki:"Thanks, I'll give it my best tomorrow too."

Takeda:"Oh, my ride's here. Would you like us to take you home?"

Tsubaki:"I'm fine. My mom's picking me up. Besides, your dad kinda scares me."

Takeda:"Understandable. Well, I'll see you tomorrow."

Tsubaki:"Right, good night!"

…

Takeda went into the car to see a furious principal.

Principal Takeda:"Damn them, this could be horrible for our reputation. What were they thinking!?"

Takeda:"It's not fair to blame them now."

Principal Takeda:"It's those girls. That man's responsibility! This isn't the first time they've done something like this either."

Takeda:"Huh?"

Principal Takeda:[It was also your fault, wasn't it? So much for the highest scoring man in the school, Uesugi. Your efforts to turn those girls into competent members of our society in school has clearly not turned out well. Both you and those girls are on the chopping block. Yuusuke, my boy, you will be the school's pride and joy whether you like it or not.]

"We're here, sir."

Principal Takeda:"Well, we should rest for now. Come."

Takeda:"Of course."

Takeda's father went to his room. Curious, Takeda decided to check out his dad's office.

Takeda:"Last time my father had that face was during nationals. If he's planning something again, it would be best to stop him…I can't have him threaten Uesugi-kun or the Nakanos."

Takeda then stumbled on to a paper that was held to be top secret. Something that was originally said to be an act of vandalism on a certain school. The official news report was that it was done by a gang looking to defame the principal, but this version had a little more. The perpetrators were sisters that had just entered High School.

Takeda:"This is…!"

…

Maruo:"A fire?...Could it have been that man…? No, he wouldn't risk something like that during this case...No use thinking about it now, it could have really just been an accident...But if they had gotten hurt...Maybe I should have stayed after all."

…

Raiha:"Good night, big brother."

Fuutarou:"Night…" [I know what I'm doing will only hurt them...will only hurt her, but...I can't get in the way of their dreams...I can't be selfish right now. I know that but...Why do I feel so lost?]

…

Raiha:"Dad, do you think big brother will be fine?"

Isanari:"Looks like he's just going through some rough patches. But come on, he didn't become your cool older brother just sitting around. His mind is probably lost on what to do...But I believe in him. After all, a man's greatest desire is to be found."

Raiha:"...Are you okay, dad? You usually don't say cool things."

Isanari's heart broke again.

Isanari:"Why must I suffer…?"

...

Ichika:[I should apologize...But…]

…

Nino:[Is it actually a good thing for us to drift apart…? Papa...Fuu-kun...]

…

Miku:[I just need to continue moving forward...That's the right thing to do…Even if I'm scared...]

…

Yotsuba:[I'll keep trying, no matter what. Even if my body can't take it…Oh? I almost fell, haha. I should train my knees more.]

…

Itsuki:[I have to be...like my mom…I don't need to have fun at the festival!]

End of the first day

End of Chapter 60