At around the same time when Nino and Fuutarou were coming back from the hospital, the other three quints had just gotten back to their apartment.

Yotsuba:"I wonder if Ichika is still here."

Miku:"...Hey, Itsuki."

Itsuki:"Yeah?"

Miku:"Can you come with me to the kitchen?"

Itsuki:"Oh, sure."

…

"The elections are still underway for the replacement of the politician who suddenly left his position not too long ago. It is believed the cause was his undisclosed sickness which some believe was fatal-"

Miku turned the tv off.

Miku:[I suppose we were all too preoccupied to realize we left this on.]

Once they were at the kitchen, Miku got out everything needed to make some pancakes.

Itsuki:"Shouldn't you be resting right now?"

Miku:"Now, now, you're the last person who should be telling me that after what you tried to pull."

Itsuki:"S-Sorry."

Miku:"In any case, you could say I got a little bit of motivation. I still think mom's and Nino's pancakes are on another level but that doesn't mean I'm gonna back down. Looks like you barely ate anything today, so let me make some for you."

Itsuki:"...Very well."

Miku:"Normally, you'd jump at the chance to taste test. Is that another self-imposed restriction you put on yourself?"

Itsuki:"..."

Miku:"It's fine, just give me a few minutes."

…

Miku:"Here you go."

In front of Itsuki was a fresh batch of pancakes. While salivating, she looked up to Miku who signaled towards the plate, encouraging her to dig in. Itsuki took a bite. In that instance, Itsuki's emotions couldn't be kept inside. Before she knew it, a tear went down her cheek. Miku was a little surprised, but she was glad that Itsuki liked it.

Itsuki:"This really is...just like what she made…"

Miku:"...Itsuki. If you decide to continue to study all day tomorrow, just know I'll be next to you the entire time, making food for you as soon as you're hungry. If you try and finish what you didn't do today during the night, I'll stay up with you until you're done. Don't think you can do everything alone, let me, no, let us help you."

Itsuki:"...Why would you go so far?"

Miku pouted at the question.

Itsuki:"E-Eh?"

Miku:"I'm a little offended at the question, isn't the answer obvious? It's because we love you."

Itsuki:"...Ah."

Miku:"If you're going to sleep, then make sure you get a good rest. I'll turn in for the day once I check up on Ichika."

Itsuki:"...Right."

As Miku was preparing the final batch of the day, they heard the front door opening, it was Nino and Fuutarou.

Itsuki:"Uesugi-kun?"

Miku:"You're back. Is Fuutarou gonna stay the night again?"

Fuutarou:"...That's not it, I just wanted to have a few choice words with Yotsuba! I know you're here, come out, you!"

As if on cue, Yotsuba came out of the corner of the room.

Yotsuba:"Eh? U-Uesugi-san!?"

Miku:"Oh, Yotsuba. You were there?"

Fuutarou then began to go towards her, but Yotsuba panicked and ran, causing Fuutarou to give chase. Meanwhile, in Ichika's room, the bed that had hardly moved all day began to show signs of life.

Ichika:"Fuutarou…-kun?"

Back to where Itsuki and Miku were, Nino put down her own materials next to them.

Nino"You're still cooking?"

Miku:"Don't worry, this is the last one."

Nino:"...Alright, work hard."

Miku:"Are you alright? You seem down."

Nino:"Ah, don't worry about it. I just need to go to my room for a while. I can't keep up this mask for too much longer."

Miku:"...Did something happen with Fuutarou?"

Nino:"Yeah, I'll tell you later, but for now…"

Nino, despite her sad expression, still smiled when she began talking again.

Nino:"Papa said your pancakes taste just like mom's."

With that, Nino hurried to her room, avoiding Fuutarou chasing Yotsuba.

Itsuki:"That was…"

Miku:"...Take all the time you need."

…

Fuutarou:"Why are you running!?"

Yotsuba:"Who wouldn't run from a guy with a face as scary as yours right now!?"

Fuutarou:"I'm not going to hurt you."

Yotsuba:"It doesn't help when that's the first disclaimer you bring up...huh?"

Yotsuba turned to see Fuutarou gone, but then he appeared behind her, having taken advantage of his environment.

Fuutarou:"Now you have nowhere to go."

Yotsuba:"Eek!"

Fuutarou:"I heard about what happened with you."

Yotsuba:"...I'm sorry. I'll make sure to apologize to everyone."

Fuutarou:"..."

Yotsuba:"...I'm a failure, aren't I? I let down everyone. With how many tasks I took, I caused trouble for a lot of people…It's all my fault...What can I even say to…"

Fuutarou:"...Now, now. You don't think you're that important, are you?"

Yotsuba:"Huh?"

Fuutarou smiles.

Fuutarou:"Let's sit and talk about what happened at the festival while you were out."

…

...

{Fuutarou:"I apologize in her place for leaving you short-handed for the play."}

{"N-No, it's fine...We were the ones being helped."}

{"We are at fault for not noticing the stress she was under."}

{"We'll have to look for a replacement right away…"}

{"But it was because no one had time that we asked Nakano-san…"}

{"The costume was made for her too. We're in quite a bind…"}

…

…

Yotsuba:"I knew it, they had to call off the second performance of the day…"

Fuutarou:"And here's the video from that play…"

Yotsuba:"Huh!? H-How...Just who..."

Yotsuba knew who it was.

"This is as far as you go, heroes!"

Yotsuba:"I know her! She's the former captain of the track team, right?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, even though she barely had time to prep, she played the role pretty well, huh?"

Yotsuba:"Huh-? My head is spinning…"

Fuutarou:"she wanted to see you, you know? Looks like she was watching you on the first day as well. She volunteered to be your stand-in."

Yotsuba:"B-But the costume was fitted for me…"

Fuutarou:"Do you remember these two?"

He showed her a picture of a boy with a headband and a girl with hair buns.

Yotsuba:"They're from the Sewing Club...Did they resize it for her? It's my fault that…"

Fuutarou:"Those two weren't the only ones."

Fuutarou then showed her many pictures of people she knew doing some jobs.

Fuutarou:"Do you see it? All of them are people you helped out. Takeda and Maeda helped as well, they sent their regards for looking over their takoyaki stall plans."

Yotsuba:"But I…"

Fuutarou:"Not only that, Miku took all of your tasks on the south side, although you already knew that part."

Yotsuba:"…? She said she only did a few..."

Fuutarou:"It's wrong to say that it's your fault. They all came together for your sake. There's plenty of work to go around tomorrow. Of course, without you there's a big hole to fill. It's only natural to help each other out, right? It's okay for you to be on the receiving side every once in a while. Depend on us, depend on me. I'm one of the people you've helped too."

…

Yotsuba:"U-Uesugi-san, I'm terribly sorry for troubling you with this, but...on the last day, please help me with my share of work."

Fuutarou smiled.

Fuutarou:"Of course. Leave it to me." [I don't know if this will be enough, but it's a start.]

…

Fuutarou:"Well, I should go."

Miku:"Good night, Fuutarou."

Fuutarou:"Thanks. Oh, and Itsuki."

Itsuki:"Yes?"

Fuutarou:"Don't overwork yourself."

Itsuki:"..."

Fuutarou then walked out the door.

Yotsuba:[Uesugi-san truly can do everything...and what Miku said to Itsuki...Why couldn't I say it…?] "Um, sorry I couldn't get you anything to eat, Itsuki."

Itsuki:"R-Right…"

Miku:[I hope Yotsuba is doing better...I really want to help with her situation she has with Fuutarou…]

Suddenly, someone ran past Yotsuba.

Yotsuba:"Ichika?"

…

Fuutarou had reached the motorcycle.

Ichika:"Fuutarou-kun!"

Fuutarou turned around to see Ichika panting.

Fuutarou:"Hey, I heard you didn't come today. Please come tomorrow."

Ichika:"Fuutarou-kun! I want to apolog-"

Fuutarou:"Ichika."

Ichika:"Huh?"

Fuutarou:"...I found my answer."

With that, Fuutarou drove away. Ichika stood there for a while before Yotsuba went to check on her.

Yotsuba:"What's wrong?"

Ichika:"...It's nothing...I was just wondering about an answer of my own."

End of Chapter 80