WARNING! SPOILERS AHEAD. IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE ENTIRE QUINTESSENTIAL QUINTUPLETS MANGA, TURN BACK NOW.
If you have, then enjoy! This story starts in an alternate Chapter 108.
Fuutarou felt something soft against his lips just now. It was a familiar feeling that he's constantly been experiencing for the past couple days now. He felt a slight taste of orange. Shortly after, the feeling suddenly disappeared. Curious as to what it was, Fuutarou finally opened his eyes.
"Yotsuba? What are you doing?" In front of him was a girl that he was accustomed to seeing for the past year that they've know each other, except this time, she was really close to him. They were only one or two centimeters apart, and he could feel her warm breath against his face. Soon realizing that he's awake, Yotsuba jumped back with a yelp.
"Waaah! Uesugi-san, you're awake?" In just a couple of seconds, her face has become completely red, like a perfectly ripe tomato.
"What happened just now..." Of course, he's not stupid. He knows exactly what happened. She kissed him. But in order to save her even more embarrassment, it's better to pretend like he doesn't know anything.
"N-Nothing! You see, I have to go now! I promised to help someone so—" She tried backing away, but he was having none of that. He reached for her arm and grabbed it, holding it tightly so that she wouldn't run away.
"Well, what you did doesn't really matter. I was going to look for you in order to tell you something, so this is perfect." Yotsuba looked back at him with a puzzled expression, waiting for him to continue.
"As soon as the festival activities are over on the third day, come meet me in the infirmary."
"Why can't you say what you have to say now?" She had a good point, and he probably would have if it was anything else but... not this.
"Remember when I told you all in the classroom that I'll give you an answer at the end of the festival? Well, it's somewhat related to that." Yotsuba's eyes widened. Does that mean that... He would choose her? Why else would he want to talk to her in private, after the festival? But no, there's no way. He'll surely chose someone else. She isn't worthy of him.
"Okay. I'll be there." Despite the thoughts she just had, she agreed to his request. What else could she do? If it turned out to be something else, and she just didn't go because of those thoughts, she wouldn't be able to forgive herself.
"Well, that's all. I'll let you go help out that person you were talking about earlier. See ya." He knew that there was actually no person she was helping, despite her nature. It was just an excuse to run away in embarrassment.
He finally let go of her arm, and began walking away. Yes, Ichika has knocked some sense into him. Originally he wasn't going to choose any of them. But, he realized that it would only complicate things. He wanted all the drama to be over. Of course, exams are coming up right after this festival, so he also didn't want them to be distracted by him. That's why he decided to put it all to rest. However, before making that decision, he has to let Yotsuba in particular know what his feelings towards her are, since they're different from everybody else. Well, all but one other person. His feelings towards that girl are different as well.
It is now the end of the third day of the summer festival. Fuutarou was very nervous the entire time, so he ended up at the infirmary even before the arranged time. In there, he practiced what he would say to her over and over again. He felt that he was ready, however... She still wasn't there.
"Did something happen to her...? Maybe she just decided to not show up." He got all sorts of thoughts like that, before casting them aside, and reassuring himself that she would eventually show up. And sure enough, shortly afterwards, the door slid open.
"Sorry for being late, Uesugi-san. I had a talk with my sisters and—" She wanted to say something more, but he stopped her. After all, if this took any more time, whatever was left of his confidence would disappear and he would become a nervous mess, unable to get his thoughts across.
"That's fine, don't worry about it Yotsuba. Anyways, I called you here to tell you something really important. I've been feeling like this for a long time, but only recently have I been able to fully understand what my feelings are. Yotsuba... I..." Even though he went over this again and again before she showed up, he was having difficulties forming his words.
He never would've thought it would be this difficult. Yotsuba, on the other hand, just sat there patiently in front of the now closed door and waited for him to continue. Her heart was beating faster than ever before. Even back when she helped the track and field club, and the captain would make her go through rigorous training, her heart still wasn't beating as much as it is now. She actually felt that it would burst.
"I want to thank you. For supporting me from the very beginning. Without you, I probably wouldn't have stuck with this tutoring job. And without this job, I wouldn't have been able to become the person that I am today. And I also wouldn't have discovered that such stupid people actually exist."
"You didn't have to say that..." She said while scratching the back of her head and slightly chuckling.
"And I also want to thank you for the past Yotsuba... or should I say, the girl I met in Kyoto 5 years ago."
"Y-You knew?!" Yotsuba looked completely stunned, as if Fuutarou just revealed that he actually doesn't actually like girls.
"Well, it was just a suspicion, but your reaction now just sealed the deal." It was a very risky statement. He is really thankful that it actually payed off.
"Uguuuu... Uesugi-san, you're evil..." Yotsuba looked down at the ground dejectedly, with her ribbon dropping like a sad cat's ears.
"Now that you know... You're probably really disappointed with me, aren't you?" She continued while still looking down at the ground.
"What do you mean by that?" He said in a confused tone.
"Remember when I promised you that I would study really hard? Well, as you know, that didn't happen. Not only am I the dumbest one out of all five of us, but I was also the reason that all of us even transferred here. I was the only one who failed the make up exam. Even though I promised that I would study hard... I couldn't do it." She said with an empty tone.
"Is that really a bad thing though?"
"Of course it is! I wasn't able to keep my promise to you." She exclaimed, finally lifting her face and looking at him.
"But it's also because of you that we're here in the first place. If it weren't for you failing that test and being transferred here with the girls, then none of us would be the same. Ichika might not be the actress she is today, Itsuki might not have decided to become a teacher, Miku would still not have learned to love herself, and Nino might still be stuck in the past. Everyone changed because you failed your test that day. Plus, don't blame yourself for bringing them along with you. They came along at their own accord. You didn't force them at all. All that shows is that they really love you, Yotsuba."
"So you're saying that... you forgive me?" She couldn't believe it. Her single biggest worry might finally be solved.
"There is nothing to forgive you for, but if you really wanna hear it, sure. I forgive you. Who cares about a dumb promise like that, when not keeping it caused all these great things to happen that changed all of us for the better? So, I'm really thankful for that." Yotsuba was now on the verge of tears. She felt a wave of relief wash over her. It was finally over.
He then took a step forward, and wrapped his arms around Yotsuba's slim body. He was embracing her, and for the first time in what feels like forever, he actually felt like crying tears of joy. But now wasn't the time. He continued on.
"You also helped me change five years ago, so this hug is a way for me to thank you. Don't misunderstand this." All of a sudden, Yotsuba's heart nearly stopped. She realized that he brought her here for the exact opposite reason that she was expecting before.
"However, as thankful as I am and as much as I appreciate you, I realize that you aren't the one that I should pick. At first, I heavily considered it. But after more thought, I realized that I want to leave the past behind and focus on the present. The past me would most definitely have chosen you, but there's someone that's better suited for the present me. I'm really sorry."
Silence. That's all that filled the infirmary after he finished speaking. She was looking at the ground, dejected, unable to believe what just happened. After a couple of minutes, which felt more like hours, she finally collected her thoughts and began speaking.
"You don't have to apologize Uesugi-san. Remember when I said I'll support you no matter what? Well, I'll still do that. You also changed me just now, so I want to thank you."
"Huh?" He was surprised by her statement just now. That's not what he intended to do at all.
"You and me, we're alike. You also put others first instead of yourself. Just like me. Remember when you hand wrote all those worksheets for us before the final exam? That's when I realized that you're like this. And now, for once, you're actually prioritizing your own desires over someone else's happiness. If you can be a little more selfish, then I can too. So from now on, you don't have to worry about me. I'll put limits on myself so I don't pass out like I did earlier." Their bodies finally parted.
"Took you long enough. I'm happy you finally realized it." He placed his hand on her head, patting her.
"H-Huh? W-What are you doing?" And just like that, Yotsuba's face was once again red like a tomato. The past Fuutarou would have to try really hard to not laugh, considering what a massive change a simple headpat just had on her. But the present Fuutarou, one that is conscious of the feeling of love, understands exactly how she feels.
"Remember when Ichika said that hard workers should be rewarded? It probably took a lot of work to change yourself like this, so here you go." Soon after, she closed her eyes, enjoying the moment, before seemingly remembering something and jumping back.
"Uesugi-san! We don't have time for that! You have to go meet her!" She was almost screaming.
"Meet her? Who exactly do I have to meet?" He was dumbfounded. Was he forgetting something? No. That's not it.
"Well, you see... As I was on my way here, I met up with the other girls. And they all had a plan. They would all be in separate rooms, and I would tell you where they all were. And you had to go and meet the girl that you wanted to be with and only her. So if we take too long, they're all gonna think you chose me and misunderstand everything!" Just when he thought things couldn't get more complicated...
"Where is everyone? I have to hurry!"
"Miku is in the classroom to the right of here, Itsuki is in our classroom, Nino is on the first floor classroom closest to the stairs, I'm supposed to be here, and Ichika is on the roof."
"Got it!" With that, Fuutarou rushed out of the infirmary and hurried to his destination.
After he left, Yotsuba just stood there, not knowing what to think. She wanted to be happy for him, and for the sister he'll end up choosing, but every time she thought about that, her heart felt like it contracted. She knew that she made the right choice, telling him everything and letting him choose whoever he wanted, but that doesn't mean it hurt her any less. But it's fine, she thought. She will just get over him, no big deal. She'd rather see him happy and with the person he wants to be with. As long as that happened, she would overcome any heartbreak, even if it will take a while.
As for the other girls, they were all at their designated locations. Ichika was on the rooftop, looking down over the railing. While doing so, she sees a couple walking hand in hand towards the place where the bonfire is supposed to be. They are holding hands, and the guy seems very embarrassed. After noticing, the girl seems to tease him for a bit, before planting a kiss on his cheek, and they go on their merry way.
"Ah, if only I could have something like that with him..." She said in a barely audible voice. Why was she even here? There was no reason to. She already knew who he was going to pick. After what happened in Kyoto, she realized that she had no chance. She knew after that rainy day that there was no way she would come out on top. Did she deserve the situation she was in? Absolutely. She acted irrationally and ended up severely hurting Miku back then. But that's fine. As long as Fuutarou-kun chooses someone he would be happy with, she could live with it. But... she just wishes that one day he'll know that on that same rainy day, when she disguised herself as Miku... she didn't actually lie to him.
Meanwhile, Nino is in the classroom, propped against the blackboard, waiting for her prince to arrive and make her a princess. But, Nino was actually feeling some doubt for the first time in forever. She had always been confident about herself, and she always convinced herself that she would be the one to win Fuu-kun over, but not this time. She couldn't shake off this feeling that she actually wasn't going to get picked. Was she too aggressive this entire time? Maybe. But all she wanted was for him to realize just how much she really loved him. When he did, there was no way he wouldn't pick her. But that's not how it works in the real world. Even if she succeeded, Fuu-kun probably has his own reasons for picking another girl instead of her, and she couldn't think of anything to do to overturn his choice. Nino remembered what she said back in Kyoto to Ichika, that she was going to congratulate the girl who got chosen, but now that this very real possibility was in front of her, she wasn't sure that she could actually follow through with what she said. After all, this was the real world. Not some romantic fantasy.
Miku was in a different classroom, but her feelings were similar to that of Nino, except she was slightly more positive. She knew that it wasn't a good idea to get her hopes up, because if she's actually wrong, it'll only hurt even more, but she could deal with it. Even if she doesn't get chosen, she will be okay. Fuutarou has completely changed her for the better and taught her to finally love herself. She was eternally grateful to him for that, and as such, she had to accept Fuutarou's decision no matter what. She loved him since the very start though, so she has a shot. Even if it's only a 20% chance, Miku believed that she would be the one that he would choose. If the odds did turn out to be against her, then so be it.
And finally, Itsuki. She is sitting down in a desk and staring forward at the blackboard. Her body was in the classroom, however her mind was off in a completely different place. It was all the way back at her grandfather's inn, right after they all parted ways with Uesugi-kun after their vacation. She was looking at him standing under the bell of vows. And next to her was Yotsuba. Even now, she has no idea what she was thinking at the time. But after a couple more moments of staring at him, she turned to Itsuki and began talking.
"You should go kiss him, you know?" She said out of nowhere.
"E-Excuse me?" Itsuki couldn't believe what she just heard. Kiss Uesugi-kun? She couldn't think of a reason why she would do something like that.
"You love him, don't you?" Yotsuba replied. This question stumped Itsuki more than she'd like to admit. She had no idea how to answer this extremely simple question. Of course, Itsuki loved him as a friend, but she knew that isn't what Yotsuba was referring to.
"I-I do not know. He is a good friend of mine, but, something more than that?... I just do not know."
"Well, why don't you go kiss him? That's one way to find out." She said with a bittersweet smile on her face. This was the perfect opportunity to do something like this. Uesugi-kun still wasn't skilled enough to tell them apart, so there was no risk of ruining their current relationship by doing this. Plus, she was always curious to see what a kiss feels like. Every time she watched a romantic movie with Nino, a kiss was portrayed as something powerful, something that would bring genuine happiness to both parties. She wanted to see if that really was the case.
"Alright then, I will do it. But don't you dare tell anyone about this." If word of this got out, their sisterly bond could forever be damaged.
"No need to worry about that, I'm on your side. Now go, while he's still there." She turned around, and walked in the opposite direction.
And with that, she ran over to Uesugi-kun and jumped on him, kissing him on the lips. At first, it was a weird sensation, definitely the weirdest one she had ever felt. But by the time their lips parted, it became one of the best things she ever experienced. The movies really weren't lying one bit. This really made her happy. Does that mean she loves him? Maybe. She wasn't quite sure yet. Soon after the kiss ended, Itsuki got up and ran back to catch up with the other girls, not looking back at Uesugi-kun. He was probably so confused. But then again, so was she. And she still is.
Back to Fuutarou, the girl he chose was quite the interesting one. Fuutarou and her had probably the most complex relationship, and they butted heads often. But she's dedicated to her studies, and Fuutarou wanted to help her achieve her dream at all costs. Not long after he left the infirmary he was already in front of the classroom, the one with the sister that he loves above everyone else. He took a deep breath, and slid the door open. And inside he saw a girl sitting down in a desk and staring at the blackboard. It took her a second to notice Fuutarou, but when she did, her eyes widened.
"U-Uesugi-kun? What are you doing here?" She looked at him like an intruder who invaded her personal space.
"I came here to see you, Itsuki." He finally entered the room and closed the door behind him, slowly moving towards Itsuki.
"Are you not playing by the rules?" She said, almost in an angry tone.
"What do you mean? I'm playing by every rule that I know of." Of course, he didn't know too much due to how rushed everything was, but he wasn't breaking any rules that he was aware of.
"So you are not going around to every girl and apologizing for not choosing her?"
"Of course not. You're the first girl that I've come to see, and I don't intend on going to see anyone else." Technically, he was lying, but he wanted to avoid mentioning what happened with Yotsuba just in case she might misunderstand.
"So... that means you really chose me?" She went back to that dumbfounded look she had when he first entered the classroom.
"Yes. You are the one that I truly love from the bottom of my heart."
"But why? I for sure thought you were gonna pick someone that already had obvious feelings for you, like Miku or Nino."
"While I do appreciate their feelings towards me, and I do also love them, just not in a romantic way. That is only reserved for you. You were the one that showed me that I have a purpose." It took Fuutarou a lot of thinking to come to this conclusion. There was a valid reason he had for choosing any of them. This definitely was the most difficult decision that he had to make in his entire life. But he couldn't turn back now, nor did he want to.
"I-I did?" Itsuki looked stunned. It seems she forgot what she did for Fuutarou several times by now.
"Yes. Remember when I was in the hospital after the school field trip? You told me that you girls need me. You were the first one to outright tell me that I am wanted by someone. And not just that time. Just yesterday, while at your house, you told me that I'm your ideal teacher, which made me so happy that I can't even put it into words. Throughout this year that we've known each other, you constantly have reminded me that I'm wanted. I wanted to feel this way ever since I was little. At first, I filled that void by studying. But ever since last year, you gave me something more fulfilling than that. I can't stress enough how much this means to me." He was on the verge of tears. These were his true feelings, and finally telling someone about them felt so liberating.
At the end of his little monologue, she was silent. She didn't know what to say. How to properly reply to someone who's just poured his heart out in front of her. In the end, she just ended up looking down at the ground while blushing and said something in a rather quiet tone.
"I-I am glad that I have done this for you." This was all she managed to say. And so, about a minute passed without either of them doing anything. Not wanting his confession to end like this, Fuutarou finally decided to step forward, walking towards Itsuki. She got startled by the sudden movement and her face turned an even darker shade of red than before. Eventually, Fuutarou finally reached her, and pulled her in his arms, holding her tight. At first, Itsuki trembled, not used to this sensation, but after a couple seconds, she relaxed and also wrapped her hands around him. She felt a type of comforting feeling that was hard to describe, it was the first time she ever felt something like this. Was this... love? She suddenly got an idea, and decided to put it into action. Itsuki pulled back and looked at Fuutarou's face.
"Uesugi-kun... You kissed the other girls, right?" He took quite a while to process what she just said to him. How did she know?
"Well... Yeah. But it's more accurate to say that they were the ones that kissed me." He admitted.
"I also kissed you. But I do not think you realized until now that it was actually me."
"Wait... do you mean... back at the Bell of Vows?" That's right. Someone did kiss him back then. Back when they were all disguised as Itsuki.
"Yes. Since you could not tell that it was me, I did not have to feel afraid of our relationship being ruined by it. It felt... so refreshing." She briefly glanced over at his lips, before looking down at the ground, too embarrassed to even look at him.
He couldn't just let this opportunity slide. He read in his book about love that the mood had to be just right before attempting anything like this. It also said that there's no way to really know if the mood is right or not, you just have to feel it. And he was sure that what he was feeling now was it. He briefly braced himself, then slowly advanced towards Itsuki's lips. They looked so soft, and to tell the truth, he always wanted to feel those lips once again. His heart was almost bursting with excitement that he was just about to kiss the woman of his dreams.
"F-Fuutarou?" Itsuki now looked up and read the situation, but she didn't try to step away or anything like that. She just closed her eyes and stood there, pursing her lips.
And just a few moments later, they connected. It truly was a magical feeling, unable to be described by words. This was exactly what he was longing for ever since that day, even though it took him a while to realize. He now feels like he's the happiest man in the world. She was also feeling something similar. Even after she had kissed him, she wasn't sure if she really did love him or not. But after she found out that all the other girls loved him, she stopped thinking about it. After all, she did not want to hurt her sisters by standing in the way of their love. But now that he had chosen her, she could go back and evaluate what she felt that day and what she was feeling now. It was without a doubt love.
But all good things eventually come to an end, so after a couple more moments, their lips finally separate. Fuutarou felt somewhat unsatisfied, as he wanted more, but he realized that now was not the time to feel greedy.
"I now finally understand why my sisters were all acting so weird these past two days. This must've been what they were feeling." Itsuki collected her thoughts for a couple seconds before continuing.
"I love you, Fuutarou... I can finally say it now." She said, tears of happiness beginning to form in her eyes.
Like many of you, I was unsatisfied with the ending of the manga. I don't necessarily think it was bad, but after finishing it I just felt... empty. In order to fill that emptiness, I began writing alternative endings to the manga. This is just one of them, and the only one that I am satisfied enough with in order to publish. Originally I wanted Fuutarou to end up choosing Nino (since she's my favorite), but there's already plenty of Nino fanfictions out there, plus the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it would make way more sense for him to end up choosing Itsuki. At first, I wanted to continue developing this fanfiction, but I eventually started writing another fanfic and didn't really do anything else with this one. So rather than have it sit on my hard drive, I decided to publish it. I hope you enjoyed it! If you did, then stay tuned for more fanfics in the future!