In the quiet cafeteria, where the only other noises would be that of the occasional staff member coming in to get materials, there stood two of the sisters. In this cafeteria, four of the five sisters had come and gone. But, there was one universal similarity between those four...they all noticed something was going on with Itsuki. Itsuki had been staying there all day. She was there, almost unflinching, under the premise that she was simply studying. During this final festival, Itsuki was the only one that did everything she could to not go outside of this zone she had made for herself. Ichika noticed something odd, but said nothing due to her believing she had no place to talk about another sister's choices. Nino had noticed this, especially with the conversation she had with Shimoda. Yotsuba had noticed as well but, not only was she in a hurry, but she was scared of approaching Itsuki in any hostile way, considering what Itsuki had been doing behind the scenes. But now, during this time, Miku, who had already seen something like this, from Ichika, to how Itsuki acted when they were visiting their mother, to Yotsuba passing out, to Nino storming off, she had enough. Once she let her voice out, Itsuki simply stared at her.

Itsuki:"W-What do you mean?"

Miku:"You know exactly what I mean! You've been staying here the entire time!?"

Itsuki:"Of course. I have to study. I haven't told you, but I received a D on my university exam!"

Miku:"What's wrong with that?"

Itsuki:"I can't deal with that grade! What would mother think!?"

Miku:"We've already gotten bad grades before."

Itsuki:"That was back then! We're different now!"

Miku:"Exactly. I know that we're different. It's because we have matured during this time. Before, we would simply accept it without trying to improve on them. But, constantly torturing yourself isn't going to make it better!"

Itsuki:"You just don't have to worry about that! You got an A, right? You're doing far better than me!"

Miku:"Because I applied what Fuutarou taught us!"

Itsuki:"And you want to throw it away by going overseas!"

…

Itsuki:"I-I apologize, I-"

Miku:"I'm glad."

Itsuki:"Huh?"

Miku:"You went and told me how you really feel. You've been holding back a lot."

Itsuki:"..."

Miku:"I've noticed those things to some extent with everyone else as well. The reason I want to bring back Ichika is because of that. Nino is going through something similar right now. I don't quite know why Yotsuba is also acting like that, but it's my job as her sister to help her."

Itsuki:"That's...Are you saying you don't have that?"

Miku:"Of course not. I held so much back...I believe I'm holding back right now as well. I held back my feelings for Fuutarou. I held back whenever there was an opportunity to be with him...Even now, I held back those same feelings for him when I decided to pursue my career choice."

Itsuki:"Miku…"

Miku:"I also held back myself on other occasions. I held back "Miku". I had her imitate her sisters, out of a fear of feeling inferior when she would walk alongside them. I didn't want people to think less of you due to me being there...But over the course of our time at this school, all of us have changed. But, I understand that change is scary. Right before I accepted my love for Fuutarou, I tried my hardest to ignore that, trying to find an excuse as to why I was feeling what I was feeling in my heart. It's because I have all of that experience...I know that you're also feeling like that. It's because I love them that I know when something is wrong. It's because I love you, Itsuki."

Itsuki:"...I just…"

Miku:"No matter what, I'll keep doing my best for my sisters. I know we won't be together forever, but I want to be the best person I can be while I'm still here."

Itsuki:"...You're more of our mother than I am, huh?"

Miku:"Huh?"

Itsuki:"You've been keeping track of all of us. All of us have certainly changed. But, you were the one that gave us a path. Nino, Ichika, Yotsuba...all of them began to become different. Even me…I was...jealous...when I saw you got an A on your test...I thought that made me look pathetic, that I was a failure as what someone like mom needed to be. But, I need to keep trying, I can't stop until I become more like-"

Before Itsuki could finish,

Miku:"Like the rest of us, I looked up to our mom. She was the prettiest, most thoughtful person in our lives. Even when we lost everything, she still tried her best to give us a normal life. When she passed, I truly felt like there was a hole in my heart. I couldn't stop crying."

Itsuki:"Yeah...I remember that…"

Miku:"But, I don't want to become our mother. I want to make her proud by growing as Miku, her third daughter. The daughter that she gave her life to protect, to nurse and to raise. You truly loved mom as well. You would cling to her whenever possible and you'd wait by the door, hoping for it to finally open, showing her on the other side. I think I understand why you want to become our mother. But, right now, I don't want our mother, I want Itsuki."

...

Itsuki:"I...But I…"

Miku:"...I understand. I guess it's pretty hard to change your mind on something you've held on to for so long."

Miku turned her back and began to walk away.

Miku:"But know this, I'm not giving up!"

Itsuki:[...How? How can she act like that…? She's gone through the same hardships we have, we've experienced many of the same things together...How can she look forward with such determination…? I think...I get what Yotsuba meant when she said she looked up to her. Miku has said that she looks up to all of us, and that's what keeps her going...While I…]

Miku was almost out of the door before she heard a table slam. She looked back to see Itsuki standing up.

Itsuki:"Please let me-"

Itsuki almost fell down as she gained her bearings. Due to barely moving all day, suddenly standing up was a tough endeavor for her body. Itsuki blushed as she lost her composure. She looked up to see Miku smiling.

Itsuki:"...P-Please let me see Yotsuba."

Miku:"Of course."

End of Chapter 72