Despite the final stretch of available time before the finals slowly dwindling away, today was a day for everyone to sit back and relax. As November's remaining days were now in the single digits, Labor Thanksgiving Day was once again upon Fuutarou. With it being a Sunday, one would expect for him to actually take the day off, but there he was on the family table, finalizing the homework he would give to the quintuplets.

Raiha:"Big brother! What did I tell you!?"

Raiha sprung up behind him and grabbed his shoulders. She then proceeded to pull him towards his bed. Fuutarou didn't fight back but he had no intention of just staying still.

Fuutarou:"Raiha, I can't just lie around when finals are in a week."

Raiha:"Didn't you tell me that rest is an important part to training your mind?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, well, I'm stubborn."

Raiha put down Fuutarou's arms.

Raiha:"What about Itsuki-chan and the others? Are they also studying?"

Fuutarou:"No, they're resting."

With that, a swift chop to the head came for Fuutarou.

Raiha:"Then what's your excuse!?"

Fuutarou:"As their tutor-"

Raiha:"Don't you 'As their tutor' me. How's this? Go and hang out with them."

Fuutarou:"Hang out?"

Fuutarou looked at his phone. He remembered that a year before, Miku and Ichika sent him invitations to hang out, but he couldn't due to taking Yotsuba out.

Fuutarou:[Now that I think about it, Miku's was totally asking me on a date. Ah, I'm embarrassed by my past self.] "I don't know what I'd do with them, though. Last year, Yotsuba paid for everything and I sure don't have the money for anything worthwhile."

Raiha:"The best gift you could give them is your company!"

Fuutarou:"Eh? Why don't you come with? I'm sure they'd be all over you."

Raiha:"I have to take care of dad. He's finally going to work for once, I want him to stay comfortable over the weekend so he doesn't quit and go to pachinko again."

Fuutarou looks over to their room, inhabited by a dead Isanari in a starfish position.

Fuutarou:"I guess that makes sense. Fine, I'll go."

Raiha:"Great!"

Fuutarou:"I'll try to get you a gift."

Raiha:"Ok! But make sure you ask for their opinion before getting it, your sense of gifts are bad!"

Fuutarou:"But-"

Raiha:"Understand?"

Raiha's aura overtook the room.

Fuutarou:"Y-Yes, ma'am." [Raiha's gonna be a force of nature when she grows up.]

…

Fuutarou opened the door to the quint's apartment, expecting more noise, but it seemed rather quiet. With only some rustling sounds, he went closer and saw the five sisters sitting down studying.

Fuutarou:"The hell are you doing?"

With that, all five of them jumped in surprise, with Yotsuba practically throwing her notebook in self defense.

Miku:"F-Fuutarou!"

Nino:"What are you doing here!?"

Fuutarou:"Yotsuba gave me an extra card so you wouldn't have to go downstairs every time."

Yotsuba:"R-Right, that did happen."

Ichika:"In any case, I guess we've been busted."

The girls were about to get up, but Fuutarou instructed them not to.

Itsuki:"Why not?"

Fuutarou:"Trust me."

As fast as he could, Fuutarou cliched both his fists and gave everyone a noogie.

Futuarou:"That's for studying on your free day. And on a holiday no less."

Miku:"Ow...So you were actually taking the day off?"

Fuutarou:"W-Well…"

Miku got closer.

Miku:"Fuu-ta-rou-"

Fuutarou:"Do as I say, not as I do."

Nino:"Anyway, why are you here?"

Fuutarou:"Right, I came to see if you girls wanted to do anything for today."

Yotsuba:"Ah, like last year."

Ichika:"Last year? Fuutarou turned down my offer."

Fuutarou:"...Uh, that's because I went with Yotsuba. Raiha's order."

Miku:"Can't help that."

Fuutarou:"...Sorry i turned down your offer."

Miku:"Hm? Ah, that was a long time ago."

Fuutarou:[Ah, but then there was-]

Yotsuba:"Haha! Remember when we were hiding from Ichika and Miku in the changing room?"

Fuutarou threw the notebook Yotsuba had chucked right back at her.

Fuutarou:"You damn tattletale!"

Fuutarou then looked to Miku.

Miku:"Well, I suppose you didn't want us to think you purely turned us down out of spite...But what did you see?"

Fuutarou:"I promise nothing happened…"

…

Fuutarou:"In any case, I came here with no plans."

Ichika:"Then I got one. It's still morning, so why don't we each spend 2 hours with Fuutarou-kun?"

Ichika took out some cards.

Ichika:"Winner goes first. Ultimate loser goes last. And we promise not to intervene in any way."

"Deal!"

Yotsuba:"I got first place last time, time to go down again! Hahaha!"

Nino:"Fine."

Miku:"You fools, I've trained my skills."

Fuutarou looked at them as they played. He smiled before taking out his phone.

Fuutarou:"Say cheese."

He then took a picture of all the girls in serious card playing mode.

Fuutarou:"Another memory to look back on."

…

Itsuki's turn. Fuutarou and Itsuki went to Rena's grave for a quick visit.

Itsuki:"Thank you for coming."

Fuutarou:"No problem, this was your monthly visit, huh?"

Itsuki:"Yeah."

Fuutarou then heard a growl coming from Itsuki's stomach.

Itsuki:"Wah~~"

Fuutarou:"What? Haven't eaten in an hour?"

Itsuki:"I'll have you know I haven't eaten all day!"

Fuutarou:"...In that case, want to eat something? Preferably a buffet where I can sneak out for Raiha."

Itsuki:"Fine, I can take a hint."

Fuutarou:"It wasn't a hint, more like a walkthrough."

Itsuki and Fuutarou then went to an all you can eat buffet where Itsuki was known by name. Fuutarou would remember the look of fear on the cashier's face when Itsuki asked for 'the usual'. They ate for a while before Fuutarou couldn't take it anymore.

Itsuki:"Yeah, I think I'm full as well."

Fuutarou looked at the stack of plates next to her.

Fuutarou:"Uh huh."

Itsuki:"Hey, this used to be much larger."

Fuutarou:"I dread at the thought...wait, it was?"

Itsuki:"Yeah...Obviously, I still love food but I'm not as...desperate as before. I feel like I don't need to compensate for something, almost as if a hole inside me was finally plugged."

Once again, Fuutarou looked at the war sight Itsuki had left behind, but he smiled.

Fuutarou:"Everyone has to start somewhere."

Itsuki:"Yeah…"

Fuutarou looked back at the staff praying, he could hear "May-san" being used as a forbidden term.

Fuutarou:[What has she done that I haven't been told about?]

…

Miku's turn.

Miku:"Do you want me to make you something?"

Fuutarou looked at Miku with a pained look.

Miku:"Ah, right, Itsuki was first. You'll probably pass out at the sight of any more right now...What about some for Raiha-chan and your dad?"

Fuutarou:"Now you're talking!"

Miku quickly made dinner and gave it to Fuutarou in a bag to give to his family later.

Fuutarou:"Good thing I brought my backpack. Looks delicious."

Miku:"Thank you. Just heat it up and you'll be able to have it for dinner."

Fuutarou:"...If I wasn't so full, I'd love to have this."

Miku:"You can always come tomorrow, I'll be more than happy to give you a plate filled with love."

Fuutarou looked at Miku intently.

Fuutarou:"You're really amazing, huh?"

Miku:"N-No, haha."

Fuutarou:"I never did give you anything in return for what you gave me for Valentine's. I'm so selfish."

Miku:"Don't beat yourself over that. I'm just happy you enjoyed my chocolate."

Fuutarou put his hand over his mouth.

Fuutarou:"Will you...make me more next time?"

Miku blushed, she was trying her hardest not to grin.

Miku:"No doubt about it."

Fuutarou:"Then I promise I will get you something for White Day."

Miku:"Already thinking far ahead, huh?"

Futuarou:"Is that too weird?"

Miku:"Probably, but I don't care. I'm beyond happy right now."

Fuutarou looked away from Miku.

Fuutarou:"You say such embarrassing things so freely."

Miku:"I'm just saying what's been on my mind for a long time."

Fuutarou:"Heh, well, I can't deny I'm really happy right now. My face is probably making a gross expression."

Miku:"I doubt it."

Miku grabbed Fuutarou's face and moved it to look at her.

Miku:"All I see is the man I love."

Fuutarou couldn't stop the blush from invading every corner of his face. Miku was beyond red as well, but this was something she didn't want to stop feeling. The room was quiet for a few minutes after that little exchange.

…

Fuutarou:"Ah, this is awkward."

Miku:"How so?"

Fuutarou:"A part of me doesn't want us to do anything big. I mean, I still haven't asked you out properly, and us having a date now in a day when I'll go see your sisters right after would be...you know?"

Miku:"...I see, then there is one thing we could do."

Miku touched her lips, to which Fuutarou blushed. He looked around to make sure no one was there.

Miku:"We don't usually get to be alone, so…"

Fuutarou:"Alright, but just one."

Miku:"Hm."

As they got closer, Miku's phone rang. With a pout, she answered, it was the manager, who had called for them to come by.

Miku:"I see, alright. We'll be right there."

Fuutarou:"W-What was it?"

Miku:"They have gifts for us. You, Nino and I. I said we'd pick up Nino's for her."

Fuutarou:"I see. Then let's go."

Fuutarou was about to leave when Miku grabbed his shoulder.

Miku:"We still have some unfinished business."

Fuutarou:"You don't let the target go."

Miku:"Not when it's something I really want."

Fuutarou:"...Let's do it."

Miku smiled and got closer and leaned forward. Once they finally went to the bakery, their faces, which could only be described as big cherries, sold them out, leading to some teasing from the managers.

Miku:"Maybe we should have done that after."

Fuutarou:"I'm not the one who went for seconds."

Miku:"I'm not the one that went for thirds."

Fuutarou/Miku:"..."

Hibari:"Look, dear! They're even redder now!"

Kari:"Any more and they'll burn the place down."

Miku:"P-Please no more."

End of Chapter 131