The clock continued to tick, and Fuutarou and Miku found themselves waiting for far longer than expected. As the calming sound of the water passed by, the strain that the trip had taken on their eyelids began to show. Unmoving from their position, the two of them would fall asleep.

…

"You're already relaxing?"

Fuutarou heard someone's voice. As he opened his eyes, he saw the figure in front of him. Having both her arms on her hips, she had a dress with a blue flower pattern on it and had a small yellow jacket. As he looked up, he noticed her twintails drooping over her shoulders.

Fuutarou:"Ah, you're-"

Miku:"Nino!"

Nino:"Now you wake up."

Miku got up and gave her a hug, to which she returned.

Miku:"I'm glad you made it, especially with how busy you were."

Nino:"Oh, don't remind me. As the days go on, I can relate with papa more and more."

Nino put her hands on her knees.

Nino:"And that's just not something I want to become."

Miku:"Dad's a special case."

Nino looked up at Miku's body as she regained her posture.

Nino:"Has your cooking worsened your sense of fashion even more?"

Miku:"Huh!?"

Nino:"I get you're a baker, but does your dress need to look like an apron?"

Miku poked Nino's dress.

Miku:"Do you need to wear this undersized jacket? Trying to make yourself look bigger than you really are?"

Nino:"They're bigger than yours, at least."

Miku:"We're the same size."

Fuutarou:[Yeah, I think I'm gonna stay out of that one.]

"You just met and you're already fighting?"

Nino and Miku turned to see a mature looking woman with blue jeans and a black shirt.

Nino/Miku:"Ichika!"

Ichika:"How are my cute sisters holding up?"

After a quick hug, she turned to Fuutarou.

Ichika:"Good to see you too, Fuutarou-kun."

Fuutarou:"Yo. Although I saw you just yesterday. You've been on every piece of advertising for miles."

Ichika:"Ah, I guess that's true. What can I say? Beauty like mine is one in a million."

Miku:"You've got way more than just that."

Ichika:"Hm? You've grown up well, Miku!"

Ichika grabbed Miku as Nino approached Fuutarou.

Nino:"Just realized I haven't said hi."

Fuutarou:"It's fine. I just hope you're not pulling any more all-nighters."

Nino:"Look who's talking. But I've been able to sleep a lot more."

Fuutarou:"That's good."

As they continued to talk, Ichika stopped grabbing Miku.

Miku:"I'm so glad I'm not ticklish."

Ichika:"Haha. Say, Miku…"

Ichika came closer and whispered something into her ear. Suddenly, Miku jumped back with a blush.

Miku:"W-What kind of question is that!?"

Nino and Fuutarou turned to the sudden noise.

Fuutarou:"What's wrong?"

Miku:"N-None of your business!"

Ichika:"On the contrary, it's all of his business."

Nino:"What are you girls going on about now?"

Ichika:"I just asked if you and Miku-"

Nino:"Wait, what's that?"

As everyone turned to look towards what Nino was pointing at, they all noticed a figure coming down the mountain at extreme speeds. On a bicycle, a woman wearing black pants and a white shirt continued to speed up, her white ribbon flapping in the air.

Ichika:"Yotsuba?"

Miku:"Isn't she going a little too fast?"

Yotsuba had every amount of wind going against her face, but she was still able to make out everyone there, especially as she got closer.

Yotsuba:"You guys! I'm so happy to see you! As you can see, the brakes broke and now I can't sto-"

The girls and Fuutarou couldn't hear the rest as Yotsuba flew past their position at incredible speeds.

Nino:"Are we sure she'll be okay?"

Fuutarou:"Uh…"

Everyone there then heard a loud crash. But before long, the quick steps from her were also heard. As Miku and Nino approached the other side of the stop to get a better look at Yotsuba's whereabouts, a hand showed up and grabbed onto the edge.

Miku:"Ah, there she is!"

Miku and Nino ran to the hand, as Yotsuba fully revealed herself.

Yotsuba:"So happy I can see you again!"

She raised her head to show an overly bloody face with a wide smile. This caused Nino and Miku to stop on their tracks and hold each other in fear.

Yotsuba:"Huh? What's up?"

Yotsuba felt the liquid dripping from her face.

Yotsuba:"Oh, I ran into a shop's tomatoes. There's nothing to worry about-"

A fresh amount of blood sprung up from Yotsuba's hair, deconfirming her previous statement.

Yotsuba:"...Ah."

Nino:"Come here, Yotsuba. I need to close up your injuries before your head has even less blood than before."

Yotsuba:"I wish I could say something on the contrary…"

Miku:"What about the shop?"

Yotsuba:"Don't worry, I already paid for the damages."

Fuutarou:"Honestly, what a reunion."

Yotsuba:"Fuutarou-kun! You look well!"

Fuutarou:"Thanks, can't say the same about you."

Ichika:"Yotsuba! You can't do things like that, your face is too important to mess up."

Ichika continued to lecture her as she wiped off the blood with a handkerchief.

Yotsuba:"Sorry, Ichika-sama."

Fuutarou:"Still so strict despite not teaching her anymore."

Ichika:"Just taking after our former tutor."

Fuutarou:"Oh, come on, I wasn't that bad."

Nino/Miku:"Yes, you were."

Fuutarou:"Hey, this is the part where you agree with me! Right, Miku!?"

Fuutarou made eye contact with Miku and she turned away.

Fuutarou:"Ehh?" [Just what did Ichika tell her?]

Yotsuba:"Anyway, Itsuki's already up there, right? So all that's left is Raiha-chan and her dad."

Nino:"Where are they?"

Fuutarou:"Looks like they texted me a few minutes ago that they're already on the next bus here."

Miku:"I'll go let the crew know to get the boat ready."

As Miku left, Ichika put her arm around Fuutarou.

Ichika:"So how have you been handling your relationship?"

Nino:"Pretty good, apparently. I found them sleeping together."

Yotsuba:"How cute. I kinda wish I had that."

Ichika:"My little sister has already forgotten all the times I've lent my shoulder to her."

Yotsuba:"A-Ah, that's not what I meant!"

Fuutarou:"Hm? Oh, they're here."

Fuutarou pointed to the approaching sister and father. Quickly, Yotsuba went running to Raiha.

Yotsuba:"Raiha-chan!"

Raiha saw Yotsuba and dodged her hug.

Raiha:"Oh, it's you."

Raiha's cold stare shot through Yotsuba as she fell.

Yotsuba:"A-Ah...No, Raiha-chan became jaded like her brother!"

Fuutarou:"Oi."

Raiha:"Pft, hahaha! I'm just messing with you. I'm happy to see you again, Yotsuba-chan!"

Isanari:"That was stressful, even if it was an act. I can only hope she never gets like him."

Fuutarou:"Oi!"

With the last two people making it, it was only a matter of time before they'd make it to the hot springs.

End of Chapter 171