Time continued to pass, with Fuutarou coaching Ichika, Nino, Yotsuba and Itsuki hard to get them ready for finals. Miku helped as well, being a teacher from time to time with Itsuki. Despite Fuutarou telling Miku she wouldn't need to study, she did it anyway. This continued until a certain date finally came, the departure of their substitute teacher.

Irigaku:"As such, I will no longer be your teacher starting tomorrow. Your previous instructor will come back good as new."

Irigaku was given a proper farewell and headed out. Before he could leave, however, the five sisters and Fuutarou were at the front gate.

Irigaku:"Oh my. Want me to give you a status update on the case before I go?"

Fuutarou:"Not really."

Nino:"What happens to him doesn't really concern us."

Itsuki:"It'd be better if we never mention him again."

Irigaku:"Eh."

Miku:"But we are here to thank you."

Ichika:"You really did a lot for us."

Fuutarou:"Not sure how it will affect us long term, though. We still don't have a replacement for the principal."

Irigaku:"Oh, your father will figure it out."

Nino:"Having two dick principals right under his nose made papa really paranoid. No doubt he'll be keeping a close eye on that now."

Miku:"I just hope he doesn't start hiring bodyguards."

Yotsuba:"I don't think he'd do that...probably."

Irigaku:"Yes, well, I'm glad you girls were here to see me off-"

Nino:"You're still here?"

Ichika:"Sorry, we forgot."

Irigaku:"How mean!"

Irigaku gave a pout and began to leave while looking away from the group.

Miku:"Surprisingly short temper."

Yotsuba:"Weird since he likes to tease others."

Itsuki:"..."

The fifth sister hurried ahead and bowed.

Itsuki:"Thank you for your service!"

Following suit, the others bowed as well. Irigaku simply waved back, making sure they didn't see his grin.

Irigaku:"I'll make sure to drop by when you graduate! So don't fail or you'll make your teacher sad!"

As they watched their former teacher leave, Itsuki pondered.

Itsuki:[From day one, he knew who we were. But, even though he had more than enough reason to hate us, he thought about our safety first and foremost. And he did everything to bring justice for our mom. Thank you.]

Miku:"Something on your mind?"

Itsuki:"Just thinking about how cool adults are."

Fuutarou:"You say that like you're not already an adult."

Itsuki:"I find it hard to consider myself one."

Yotsuba:"I wish I could stay a kid forever!"

Ichika:"Me too...but that time is already behind us."

Nino:"We just make sure our adulthoods are so great, they feel like another childhood."

Miku:"Come on, let's go back. We have finals to ace."

Fuutarou:"But you don't need to."

Miku:"We'll see."

Fuutarou:"Hm?"

With that, the five sisters and Fuutarou walked back.

Nino:"You know, I keep forgetting that guy's technically our uncle."

Ichika:"Right?"

Itsuki:"It's not like we knew him too well anyway."

…

…

Yotsuba came out of her class. As she yawned, she noticed a familiar group of people walking past

Takeda:"Come now! It is time for us to study again!"

Tsubaki:"That's great, Takeda-san! But...did you really need to tie us up like slaves?"

Takeda walked in a line with Tsubaki, Maeda and Mutsui, having tied their hands together.

Takeda:"Tsubaki-chan. If I didn't do this, you'd run away again."

Tsubaki:"I only ran twice."

Takeda:"Funny way of saying...why is there no word past thrice? Perhaps quarce could work. Fource? I could revolutionize our language if I patent these ideas!"

Tsubaki:"There he goes again, haha."

Maeda:"Takeda, you bastard! I'll break your damn spine if you don't let me go!"

Matsui:"Aren't you stronger than him? And why am I being dragged along?"

Yotsuba:"Looks like they're having a hard time too.."

Yotsuba then saw Miku, who was questioned by student council members, clearly unable to tell the difference between sisters. Upon seeing this, Yotsuba stepped in and took over for Miku.

…

Miku:"Thanks for that."

Yotsuba:"No problem. They usually get to us through Fuutarou-kun."

Yotsuba then looked at Miku's hair, which had been headphoneless for the past couple of weeks.

Yotsuba:"You new pair of headphones have been taking a while, huh? I thought we had prime shipping."

Miku:"We do, I already have them. But, they're not headphones."

Miku then took out some earbuds.

Yotsuba:"You won't wear headphones anymore?"

Miku:"Nope. I like listening to music, but the headphones were also used to hide myself. I don't need them anymore."

Yotsuba:"Huh."

Miku:"I say that, but sticking these things in my ears can feel weird at points. Not to mention how they get tangled so easily. I was thinking of getting the wireless ones but they're smaller than a finger. Too easy to lose!"

Yotsuba:"Eh…"

Miku:"But…"

Miku grabbed her hair and put it over her mouth.

Miku:"It's worth it for the moments I listen to music with Fuutarou."

Yotsuba blushed.

Yotsuba:"How romantic! I didn't know Fuutarou-kun listened to music!"

Miku:"He doesn't. Every song is foreign to him, but he listens to whatever I put on."

Yotsuba saw Miku's face boil and smiled.

Yotsuba:"Hey, wanna go to karaoke?"

Miku:"Don't you have homework?"

Yotsuba:"It'll just be for an hour!"

Miku:"...Alright."

…

The two sisters signed up and went into the room together.

Yotsuba:"Let's sing our hearts out!"

Miku scrolled through the song list.

Miku:"I'm not a great singer, so don't expect too much."

Yotsuba:"But I thought you liked listening to music?"

Miku:"That's not how that works."

Once she picked her song, Miku gave it her all and ended with 85 points.

Yotsuba:"You liar! That was incredible!"

Miku:"That was from a game I own, and I...sing it from time to time."

Yotsuba:"Then I won't lose!"

The fourth sister struck back and gained 86 points.

Yotsuba:"Woo! Did you see that, Miku!?"

All Yotsuba would see upon turning around was Miku's pout.

Miku:"My turn!"

Yotsuba:"Getting competitive now, are we!?"

…

Miku:"My throat hurts."

Yotsuba:"Really? Mine seems fine."

Miku:"You have way more stamina."

Yotsuba laughed as Miku chugged as much tea as she could.

Miku:"It's been an hour, we should go."

Yotsuba:"...I've noticed you've been studying in the middle of the night. Why is that?"

Miku:"...Well, I was planning on telling everyone anyway."

The long haired girl went inside her backpack and pulled out a big syllabus.

Miku:"I'm taking the finals as well."

Yotsuba:"Really?"

Miku:"Yeah. I know I don't have to, but…"

{"I'll make sure you all pass with perfect scores!"}

Miku:"I have a promise to keep."

Yotsuba:"...Does Fuutarou-kun know?"

Miku:"No, it was going to be a surprise."

Yotsuba:"You dummy!"

Yotsuba then chopped Miku's head.

Yotsuba:"You'll be missing out on some lessons if you do it in secret! Just tell him and join us!"

Miku:"You don't think it's dumb?"

Yotsuba:"Well, duh. Who would willingly want to take a test!? But...you have my full support."

Miku:"...Of course. I was the one being dumb."

Yotsuba:"Yep! I'm sick of people keeping secrets! Trust me, I was that idiot for the longest time!"

Miku:"Yotsuba…"

Yotsuba:"So make sure to tell him tomorrow!"

Miku:"Right."

Yotsuba:"...Let's make Fuutarou-kun proud!"

Miku:"We'll pass with flying colors!"

The two sisters spend some more time together singing karaoke and studying together.

End of Chapter 128