The group was handed their bowls. As everyone began to eat, Ren came up behind Fuutarou.

Ren:"Do enjoy your meal. But I do wonder where I left that poison I just happened to have with me."

He then left, leaving Fuutarou perplexed.

…

The Uesugi family looked at the scenery at the top of the mountain.

Raiha:"Look at that flat Earth. Totally not round."

Isanari:"Y-You've been studying about some more mature things, huh?"

Raiha:"Hm, maybe."

Fuutarou:"..."

Fuutarou looked back to see Ren standing not too far away.

Ren:"Do be careful. We wouldn't want anyone to be accidentally pushed off and have their body never be found."

Fuutarou:"W-Will do."

…

Fuutarou was walking to his room. On his way there, he noticed the floor was far shinier than before. The moment he stepped on it, he slipped and was carried by the floor until he hit the door of his room. Fuutarou opened his eyes to see Ren there with a mop.

Ren:"What nicely cleaned floors."

Fuutarou:"Y-Yeah, practically a skating rink."

…

Fuutarou was fiddling with something.

Fuutarou:"If I put this here...Wait for me, I'm almost done…"

Ren:"Yes, you are…"

Fuutarou:"Whoa! Don't sneak up on me!"

Ren:"You were so focused on what you're doing that you didn't notice me. I simply came to inform you the hot springs are ready. Hopefully you don't trip like before into a set of rocks face first, fufufu~"

Ren then disappeared into the shadows.

Fuutarou:"..."

…

After sending a text, Fuutarou found himself sitting in the water of the mixed bath. After some waiting, the door in the girls' side opened. The multiple set of footsteps stopped right behind where Fuutarou was sitting.

Itsuki:"W-We're here."

Miku:"Why did you text us?"

Fuutarou:"I don't know if you're going to be able to convince your grandpa."

Nino:"Tell us about it."

Fuutarou:"You noticed too?"

Yotsuba:"Well, it's more like we've already tried."

Fuutarou:"Really?"

Ichika:"We figured we should start in any way we could, but grandpa can be pretty stubborn."

…

Over the course of the day, the girls tried to approach their grandpa. But it would seem the stars were not in their favor today.

Ichika:"Say, grandpa. Would you like one of my albums? I'm sure you'll like how my voice has matured as I've grown by my-"

Ren:"Oh, Ichika. I'd love to. However, my very old sensitive ears might explode and I'll die. Have I mentioned they're sensitive?"

Ichika:"Oh...I…"

Ren:"I must go and tend to my sensitive ears from exploding."

Ichika:"Uh…"

The next to try was Itsuki.

Itsuki:"I've taken up teaching classes. I promise to make everyone proud, including mom, as a great teacher!"

Ren looked at Itsuki straight in the eyes. His cheeks cracked as he made a smile.

Ren:"...Good."

He then walked away.

Itsuki:"...Ah, right, that's what mom was...I didn't help at all, did I?"

At the same time Fuutarou was being toyed with, the remaining three quintuplets would be pushed away by their grandfather.

Ren:"Ah! My heart!"

Miku:"W-What's wrong?"

Ren:"I'll go to my room now. Sorry to cut your conversation short!"

Miku:"But I…"

…

Ren:"Is that the Uesugi boy's father shirtless?"

Nino:"W-Where!? Ah, I got a bloody nose! Wait, I don't see him, what are you talking about?...And he's gone."

…

Ren:"Yotsuba, how would you like a nice massage?"

Yotsuba:"S-Sure, but I was talking about how I'm close to my first movie appearaaaaaa, my shoulders are in heaven!"

Ren:"That's where I'll be if this conversation keeps up."

Yotsuba:"E-Eh!?"

…

Fuutarou:"..."

Ichika:"..."

Nino:"..."

Miku:"..."

Yotsuba:"..."

Itsuki:"..."

Fuutarou stopped the deep silence as he slammed his fist on a nearby rock.

Fuutarou:"What the hell, old man!? I take it back, you're not fine, you're senile as hell! You think you can just run away like that and bully me until I leave!? Don't underestimate me, you bastard! Old man! Go to an asylum already!"

Isanari, on the men's side, was hearing his rant.

Isanari:"He's losing it over there."

Fuutarou:"Clean the floor!? I'll clean that cold, black heart of yours! I will throw you over my shoulder until you land in some goddamn common sense!"

As Fuutarou caught his breath, the five were silent.

Miku:"Did you get it all out?"

Fuutarou:"Y-Yeah, I think I did. I needed that."

Miku:"Fufu~ It's so rare to see you like this."

Yotsuba:"Been a while since I've heard him so mad."

Nino:"Some pretty nonsensical threats in there, though."

Ichika:"Fuutarou-kun has an interesting way of expressing himself."

Itsuki:"Ahh, how vexing."

Fuutarou slid into the water, letting the stress wash away.

Fuutarou:[...The only way to make him see is…]

He then stood up and began to walk away.

Miku:"Leaving already?"

Fuutarou:"Yeah, I have to work on something."

Miku:[Work on something…]

Ichika:"Are you sure you don't want Miku to join you in the mixed bath?"

Fuutarou:"We can do that later."

Miku:"Be careful." [L-Later?]

Fuutarou then found himself in his room once again. After some time, he decided to take a break.

Fuutarou:"I need some fresh air."

In the middle of the night, he opened the window and looked up at the stars.

Fuutarou:"This view, it's similar to when…"

He then looked towards the peak, where a very certain landmark stood. This was the Bell of Vows. Fuutarou tightened his grip on the railing.

Fuutarou:"I can't move forward if we don't take care of that. I understand where you're coming from, old man, but I promise, I won't let you or her down."

Fuutarou took a deep breath and went back to working on the desk. Before he knew it, he would spend multiple hours finishing it up.

Fuutarou:"I will finish this today. I'm not like before, I won't run away."

End of Chapter 173