Years flew past in the slowest way for Rena. She would always try to smile for her daughters, with the excuse that she simply went to the hospital due to stress. She would try her best to not pass out in front of them, despite how terrible she would feel. Rena simply didn't want to worry them, but the five sisters would see through her eventually. After a certain trip to Kyoto, the fourth sister seemed to be more motivated, leading Rena to continue fighting for their happiness. But, she would continue her streak of stubbornness, this would cause her to go for multiple days without eating. Despite her constant attempts at part time jobs, her complications with her disease would cause her to be laid off more often than not. Eventually, she started to run out of locations to even apply to. Eventually, even her teaching job was in danger from her constant trips to the hospital. In just one semester, she would be gone for a third of it. With time, Rena became more and more impatient. Due to her initial shelteredness and riches, she was never truly ready for the coldness of the world. This was something she would never truly recover from.
…
"I'm sorry, Nakano-san. We'll have to let you go next week. Business hasn't been great, so we have no choice but to reduce some staff."
Rena:"I see...Of course, understand…"
…
Rena:"I have to find another job...That one barely lasted a month and a half."
Rena, once she came back home, saw that the five sisters were sleeping on the table. As she went to carry them off to bed, she saw something on the table. Many different pictures and letters for a task they had in school. The subject was what their top wishes were. The wishes were mostly about doing well in school, but he noticed that all five had another thing in common. They all wished for their mother to be happy.
Rena:[Happy...Maybe I haven't been smiling as much...I have to smile more!]
…
*knock knock*
Rena:"What is it?"
"It's time to pay rent."
Rena:"Right…"
Rena went to grab an envelope with Maruo's money. Once she paid for it and closed the door, Rena began to tear up.
Rena:[I'm sorry, Maruo-kun…]
…
The quintuplets were getting ready for a trip to Kyoto. Rena was seeing them off as they boarded the train, but Itsuki was reluctant to part with her.
Ichika:"Itsuki! How long are you going to cling to her?"
Nino:"If we don't leave soon, we'll be late for the school trip and be left behind!"
Ichika detached Itsuki from their mom.
Itsuki:"Uu~~Don't you feel lonely, Ichika?"
Ichika:"We're all in the same boat. None of us want to part with mom."
Miku:"Ah. He's here again."
Nino:"Ooh, the doctor…"
Itsuki:"Mom, is he…"
Rena:"I...was going to formally introduce him one day, but...In a sense...He's like a fan of mine."
…
Kyoto.
Yotsuba:"That's the first time I've seen mom with a look like that on her face."
Miku:"Maybe he's her boyfriend?"
Nino:"Dad, huh? I wonder what kind of person he is."
Yotsuba:"Aren't you skipping ahead a bit?"
Without looking, Yotsuba would eventually run into a certain black haired girl…
...
Maruo:"Say, Rena...You haven't visited your parents in a long time, have you?"
Rena:"..."
Maruo:"How about I book you a trip there? You need your rest."
Rena:"I…"
Maruo:"It's for your daughters."
Rena:"...Yes, for my daughters."
Once the quintuplets came back from that trip, they immediately went to another, this time to visit their grandfather for the first time, but their grandmother was long gone. There, they would meet Ren and come to like him. But, Rena never went with them, she simply stayed at the town beside it. When he asked where she was, the quintuplets didn't know, they were never given a reason.
Ren:"I see...Rena, when will I see you again?"
That's when Ren began to see the quintuplets as mini-Renas. Through their three day trip there, he would grow extremely attached to them with how much they looked like his daughter. When they began talking about individuality, his heart would break. This led to the quintuplets promising to act the same when around their grandfather, as they took pity on him. Even with all of that, a part of him knew they couldn't stay the same forever and thus took the time to tell all of them apart.
Ichika:"I wonder if there was trouble between them."
Miku:"Probably, she didn't want to come with us for a reason."
Itsuki:"Then we have to set an example!"
Below, Rena was alone.
Rena:"I'm sorry, dad. But...I can't let you see how worthless I've become…"
...
Before anyone knew it, it was the middle of August, right in the midst of summer. Rena was sitting alone in her room with a candle lighting it, in hopes to not use electricity. She was looking at job applications.
Rena:[More...I have to find more jobs…]
As she prayed for herself and her daughters, she didn't notice as one of the five sisters came up to her. The sister grabbed her mother's hand and hugged her arm as tightly as possible.
Rena:"What's wrong, Itsuki? You hungry?"
Itsuki:"..."
Rena:"Haha, I'll make something. Ichika! Nino! Miku! Yotsuba! Come over, we're going to have dinner!"
The four other sisters came down and sat with Itsuki as Rena made something with the food she bought with Maruo's money.
Rena:[My daughters...You are my ray of hope. I don't care what happens to me...I just want you girls to be happy.]
…
The first four sisters were eating as their mother watched.
Ichika:"I really like this!"
Nino:"I want to learn this recipe!"
Miku:"This is really sweet, but this bitter part helps my tongue even it out."
Yotsuba:"Can I have more of this?"
All were eating, except for Itsuki. The fifth sister was simply staring at her plate without saying anything.
Rena:"What's wrong, Itsuki? You're not eating."
Itsuki:"..."
Rena:"Come on, don't be picky. I know my cooking isn't the best, but it's bad to waste food. They taught you about that at school, right? Be a good girl and eat your food."
Itsuki shakes her head.
Rena:"Please, Itsuki…"
Itsuki shakes her head again.
Rena:"Itsuki…!"
Itsuki pushes away her plate.
Rena:"STOP BEING SELFISH AND EAT THE DAMN FOOD!"
Rena slammed her hands on the table as she shot up. Everyone on the table was shocked, with Itsuki starting to tear up. Rena noticed what she did and backed away a bit.
Rena:"Ah...I, it's just…"
Itsuki:"I...I never...see you...eat anything, mom…"
Itsuki's tears began to flow out without stopping.
Itsuki:"I just...wanted you to eat...I-I'll be good, mom. I'll...I'll eat anything…"
The fifth sister then grabbed her plate and started eating while the other sisters were silent.
Itsuki:"P-Please don't hate me…"
Rena was staring at her daughter eating with tears in her eyes.
Rena:[What...I just wanted them to be happy…]
She couldn't take it and ran out of the house, leaving her daughters alone.
Rena:[I'm...such an idiot! I don't deserve to be your mother. It's all my fault your lives are like this. If only...I was gone...]
…
Rena stopped running, having run out of stamina. As she was catching her breath, she looked up to see a bakery.
Rena:[I should get them something as an apology...I'm sure they would like a cake.]
Rena took out an envelope with Maruo's money.
Rena:"Maybe...I'm sorry, Maruo-kun. I'll be relying on your help."
…
Rena was walking back with a big cake.
Rena:[I can't give up yet. I must hold on for them. I'll need to apologize to Itsuki. She probably hates me now, but that won't matter. As long as she's happy at the end of the day. Now that I think about it, I haven't told them how much I love them recently. I should do that once I get hom-]
Suddenly, Rena's vision went white for a second. The back of her head felt a surge of pain. She fell to the ground, but her cake didn't follow. Upon looking up in her pain, she saw someone's legs.
"This is a pretty fancy cake! You must be one rich bitch!"
Rena reached in vain as the man left with the cake. But, then her illness flared up, causing Rena to cough up blood and pass out in the middle of the street. It wasn't until someone passed by her, seeing her drenched in blood that she was sent to the hospital.
Rena:[The world truly made an effort...to steal everything from me.]
…
Rena woke up filled with pain as nurses scattered around her, preparing for a surgery. As she looked to the left, she saw Maruo trying to get everything ready as quickly as possible. Upon seeing that Rena was awake, she quickly went to her.
Maruo:"Nakano-sensei!
Rena:"Maruo-kun...I'm so pathetic...I've gone and wasted your help. I really...don't deserve to live."
Maruo, upon seeing the sadness on her face, suddenly had something break inside him.
Maruo:"Are you…"
Rena:"Huh?"
Maruo:"Are you an idiot!?"
Rena:"..."
Maruo:"What kind of idiot wants to die!? What kind of mother wants to leave her daughters behind!? Do you honestly believe, that even for a second, that any of them will be happy with that!? Is that how delusional you are!? Is this what the woman I love has turned into!? You can wake the hell up or you can die dreaming!"
The nurses stopped for a bit, having been surprised at Maruo's anger. Rena's eyes widened.
Rena:"I…"
Maruo stood up.
Maruo:"I apologize for that. But, whatever it takes, I will save you."
With that, he left the room to finish his preparations. Rena, having been left there, looked to the roof.
Rena:"Maruo-kun...liked me?"
The white roof became a canvas for Rena's memories as she remembered everything that had happened. It was only then when she realized something. Something she was completely blind on.
Rena:"He...was always there for me…"
…
Once Maruo came in, Rena said his name.
Maruo:"I'll be putting you to sleep now."
Rena:"Maruo-kun...Please, save me. I...I want to live…"
Maruo stood there for a bit before he cleaned the tears off of her eyes.
Maruo:"I promise."
Rena smiled as she was put to sleep.
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The next day, Rena passed away.
End of Chapter 109