Fuutarou was having a feeling of deja vu. Just two years ago, he had left the quintuplets as he sat on the left seats of the train, looking outside with his head resting on his arm. Now he was doing the same, but he was going to see those same quintuplets. The one difference was that he wasn't going to the same station, rather some very familiar hot springs owned by the Nakanos. As he looked at the island that housed the hot springs, he smiled.

Fuutarou:[It's been a long time…]

He had been invited as well as Isanari and Raiha to come over. Due to heavy workloads, they weren't able to do so last year, but thanks to greater planning and a great will to see each other, their collective schedules opened just enough for them to be able to take the trip. Once he got off, he would take a bus to the designated dock, where they would take a ship to the hot springs. As he waited, he would see another bus in the distance.

Fuutarou:[I should send a message to all five saying I'm at the dock.]

Once he did, it would only take a few minutes before a familiar woman would be nearby. She had long hair, which was combed on both sides almost symmetrically. He could see a shine next to her neck. Fuutarou didn't see her just yet, but he started to walk closer to the dock. Before he knew it, he was tackled. This feeling, this exact thing had happened before. He looked down at the woman and yelled out her name in excitement.

Fuutarou:"Miku!"

Miku:"Fuutarou!"

...

Fuutarou felt his body going back from the tackle, but he was ready this time. All three times she had done this, he had fallen on his back. After two years, there was no way he would let it happen again. He tightened himself and held his ground. He had beaten the tackle.

Miku:"Oh, have you gotten stronger?"

Fuutarou:"More like I have better control of my body. But enough about that…"

Fuutarou grabbed Miku's shoulders.

Fuutarou:"I'm happy to see you again."

Miku wiggled around a little.

Fuutarou:"You're not happy to see me? Or have I really become nothing but a memory?"

Miku closed her eyes and very slightly opened her mouth. Fuutarou realized what she was signaling for. Fuutarou blushed before looking around.

Fuutarou:"S-So soon? Know we haven't done it in two years but...We're in public."

Miku didn't move as she stood there, expecting him to comply.

Fuutarou:"Honestly, you're already making me blush."

Fuutarou took a deep breath and closed his eyes. He approached Miku and gave her a kiss. Despite him going in with the intention of making it quick, he continued of his own will for a while. Once they separated, Miku, whose face was also that of a bed of lava, touched her lips.

Miku:"I wasn't expecting such a passionate one. You've become more romantic."

Fuutarou:"I-It wasn't the intent! It's just...It felt nostalgic."

Miku:"...N-Nostalgic…You're right, doing this in public was embarrassing."

Fuutarou:"We're lucky no one saw us."

Fuutarou darted around to see if any sisters were hiding nearby.

Miku:"Ichika, Nino and Yotsuba should be here soon."

Fuutarou:"I see. What about itsuki?"

Miku:"She actually came here much earlier with dad. They should already be on the island."

Fuutarou:"What for?"

Miku:"She's getting the wigs for us."

Fuutarou:"Wigs…? You're still going to wear them?"

Miku sulked.

Miku:"We stopped wearing each other's fashion long ago, but grandpa is still very frail about seeing us be different from our mom."

Fuutarou:"...I understand what he must have gone through as a parent, but he can't keep you like that forever, especially when you…"

Miku:"I know. That's why I've made it my goal to do just that."

Fuutarou:"Huh?"

Miku:"By the end of this trip, I'll make sure grandpa can see all of us as our own person."

Fuutarou:"By the end of this trip…"

Fuutarou put his hand in his pocket.

Fuutarou:"Back then, he did tell me that he wanted all of you to branch out from just being clones of each other. After such a long time, he might already accept that."

Miku:"Last time we tried, he became bedridden."

Fuutarou:[Ah, I think Yotsuba told me that.]

Miku:"...You're right, he might be willing to accept it. But, if we spring it on him and something happens to him…"

Fuutarou:"...Alright. We'll have to take it slow."

Miku:"Thank you. He's the last member of mom's side of the family...He's getting up there in years, but I want him to live as long as possible."

Fuutarou:"...Yeah."

Miku:"W-Well, we shouldn't get on such a heavy topic. We haven't seen each other in such a long time."

Fuutarou:"Even though we texted just yesterday, there is something different about you being here."

Miku:"You're telling me. Especially since I can finally do this."

Miku leaned on Fuutarou.

Miku:"I miss this feeling."

Fuutarou:"...Me too."

After some time, Fuutarou got a text, this time from his dad and Raiha.

Fuutarou:"Pops and Raiha are almost here."

Miku:"Ah, Raiha-chan. You've been so proud of her as her grades have remained steady in middle school."

Fuutarou:"She's smart beyond her years. She might even surpass me one day."

Miku looked up.

Miku:"I don't think the world could handle that."

Fuutarou:"What's that supposed to mean?"

Miku:"Fufu~ How about your dad? Last time you mentioned him, you said he was scolded by Raiha-chan for following a boy he thought liked her."

Fuutarou:"He's been able to keep his job surprisingly well. The company told him he couldn't work with dyed hair, but he's been wearing a wig to get around it."

Miku:"Really likes that blonde look, huh?"

Fuutarou:"He thinks it looks cool."

Miku:"I know someone who might actually agree with that."

Fuutarou:"I suppose. Speaking of, any updates?"

Miku:"Nope. But, hopefully that can stay for just a little bit longer. I don't want to move right now."

Fuutarou:"Right."

Fuutarou used this opportunity to pet her head.

Miku:"F-Fuutarou?"

Fuutarou:"Payback for the kiss, especially when you could have reached me easily."

Miku:"You noticed?"

Fuutarou:"Of course I did. You've gotten taller."

Miku:"And you've gotten manlier."

Fuutarou:"Manlier...Nah, right now, I'm anything but that."

The two continued to sit together for a while.

End of Chapter 170