A/N:

Hello and welcome to my first Gotoubun fic. I got introduced to this series couple weeks ago and after reading the manga and watched the anime, it quickly become one of my favorites title of all time. From my manga and anime experience, Ichika is my most favorite out of all the quintuplets and I see that her relationship with Fuutaro has a lot of potential but in the end, it ended up tragic. As with many other fans, who are not satisfied with the storyline, I created this fic where Ichika have more opportunity on exploring her relationship with Fuutaro and not becoming "backstabber" and "snake" just like the haters say.

Reviews and feedback are definitely welcomed to make this story better. Since I'm still learning about the character personality, I don't know if Fuutaro and Ichika are acting OOC, so if anyone can point that out, it will be my gratitude.

I dedicated this story to Ichika team, so no more talking, enjoy the story!

It's morning as usual, but for Fuutaro this morning isn't that usual morning like everyday. He's more pumped than ever but there is this nervous feeling in his heart and head. Yesterday, he took a bet with the quintuplet's father that he will finish top 10 in national mock exam in order for him to stay being the quintuplet's tutor and as well competing against Takeda for the tutor job.

It's a heavy and demanding bet because he will compete against all high school students in Japan and he can't afford to lose this tutor job against someone. He already made the promise to himself that he will guide the quintuplets to graduate and there is no other person can do that other than himself.

He read his lesson book intensely while walking to school and he didn't pay attention to anybody or anything around him. Lots of people looked at him weirdly and he almost run into people in front of him and just keep going while reading. The only objective in his mind is just to study, study, study and finish in top 10 nationally for him to be able to maintain his job as tutor.

As he keep on reading his lesson book, there is a familiar voice calling for his name.

"Fuutaro-kun, you should pay attention to your surrounding while walking."

Fuutaro then looked at that person who called him and it was Ichika. But something looks a bit different about her appearance. He looked at her and he quickly realized that Ichika wore a glasses, which is unusual for her since her vision is much better than Nino and Itsuki.

"Morning… Fuutaro-kun." Ichika said cheerfully, leaning against the wall.

"Ichika… huh? Kinda unusual to run into you on the way to school." Fuutaro said.

"Eh-huh…? Well, it's because I wanted to buy a coffee." Ichika said bit panicky. "Running into you is definitely a coincidence." She shows her coffee cup to Fuutaro.

Fuutaro then looked at the coffee cup and then he looked at the building behind Ichika. The building is a coffee shop that Ichika regularly comes here. Fuutaro then looked back at Ichika who still standing with her usual smile and cool face, and still staring at him.

"What is it, Ichika?"

"Oh right, this is for you, Fuutaro-kun." Ichika said, handing the other coffee cup to Fuutaro.

"Well, I don't drink coffee though. It's too bitter for me." Fuutaro said refusing the coffee.

"You should try drinking coffee once in a while, Fuutaro-kun." Ichika said insisting him to take the coffee. "Coffee can makes your mind clearer in the morning and surprisingly it can makes you more energized in the noon." She said with a confidence and hoping for him to take it.

Fuutaro wanted to refuse the coffee because he really didn't like that bitter taste. But hearing what Ichika said about what coffee gonna do and he also know that coffee is a stimulant drink, it can definitely help with his studying. After some quick thought, Fuutaro reluctantly accepts the coffee from Ichika.

"*sigh* Fine, Give me the coffee." Fuutaro sighed.

"Well, you should try some new stuff, Fuutaro-kun." Ichika said giving the coffee cup to him. "While we're studying for new lesson, you should try new stuff in return, right." Ichika said with a smile and grin visible in her face.

"Yeah, yeah… Anyway, let's get going before we're late." Fuutaro said as he starting to walks

"Yes, yes." Ichika responded as she follows him.

"Yosh… my first step is successful in giving him the coffee…" Ichika thoughts as she follows Fuutaro from behind.

"Next is how I'm going to persuade him about it…"

"Well, I hope this works."

"I don't want to let anyone else have this spot."

"Nee… Fuutaro-kun, I hope that dad didn't give you lot of problem yesterday." Ichika said, mentioning the yesterday situation.

"It's not a problem. This can be a good chance to show your dad that I'm capable of tutoring all five of you." Fuutaro responded.

"That Takeda-kun is your opponent right?"

"Hmm… You know about him?"

"Yeah… We're in the same class during second year." Ichika explained. "He's pretty popular student in the class and had that model youth vibe, also he's very smart and always ranked first in the class last year."

Hearing that from Ichika, Fuutaro knows that this situation gonna be tougher than ever, because right now his motive for studying changes into competing and saving his tutor job. He already made up his mind since yesterday, that he won't lose to Takeda and the bet against the quintuplet's father.

"I have no intention of losing to anyone, that's including Takeda and your dad." Fuutaro stated with a serious tone than usual. "I'm gonna study all time until the mock exam arrives at the end of the month. So, I want all of you to get ready for it too." Fuutaro said as he turned around to Ichika.

Ichika seeing Fuutaro serious face, blushed a little bit and it makes her heart thumping bit faster. She rarely saw him this serious and usually she only saw his usual boring and blank expression. Ichika then thinking about how she going to persuade Fuutaro to follow her plan after hearing that he's dead serious about studying and the bet against her father.

"Oh no… How am I going to ask him about "that" after hearing him being serious about the mock exam."

"But still, I'm going to try anyway. Don't know the answer, unless I try right?"

"I need to lighten the situation and hope that he can become calmer so I can persuade him about "that"."

"Nee… Fuutaro-kun, what do you think about my new glasses? Do I look more intelligent with it?" Ichika said with a smile while adjusting her glasses.

"Ahh… It looks fitting on you." Fuutaro said unenthusiastically.

"Just so you know, this glasses is just for a temporary disguise."

"Hmm… disguise?"

"Well, the preview showing of the movie that I'm starting was on TV yesterday and I was shown on the camera for some time." Ichika said her reasoning for wearing glasses.

"Oh… about that movie huh?" Fuutaro nodded.

"You did remember about that movie right?"

"Yeah, I remember, but…*fufufu." Fuutaro answered with a chuckle.

"Ehh…? What is it, Fuutaro-kun?" Ichika wondered about him laughing.

"Fufufu… So, you're disguising yourself to avoid being pestered and known." Fuutaro continued laughing. "What a big star you are… Tamako-chan."

"Geez…! It's embarrassing so don't say that." Ichika slapped Fuutaro shoulder. "Especially about that name… Hmphh." She said with a pout from embarrassment.

"Yeah, yeah…"

Both of them keep walking to school in silent after that last talk. Ichika is still nervous about how she can persuade Fuutaro for her plan. After that last talk, she's bit sure that the tense is reducing and she can see that Fuutaro face are returning to his normal, usual expression. She then braced herself to talk to Fuutaro about "that" but before she can, Fuutaro talked first.

"Fuu-"

"I'm actually proud of you, Ichika."

"Ehh…?"

"Unlike your sisters, you've been studying and working at the same time since before the final exam." Fuutaro said with a little smile. "So, I don't have to worry anything about you getting fail score."

"Fuutaro-kun…"

"We're practically in the same situation, we're both working and studying, so I can feel what you're going through and in the last exam you scored the highest out of your other sisters." Fuutaro said. "All of that while you're still financing and fulfilling the needs of the other four, that's not an easy task to do."

"…"

Ichika become more embarrassed and flustered by Fuutaro compliment. Her face become redder than ever but at the same time, she's very happy to be complimented by Fuutaro. Ichika then thinks this is the best time to execute her plan since the situation isn't tense anymore. But as they walked, they saw the other four sisters from far.

"Hey aren't those your sisters?" Fuutaro wondered and as he looks more closely to them. "Yeah, it's definitely them. We finally caught up to them."

"Ehh…?" Ichika surprised.

"Hmm… looks like Itsuki is eating again huh? She's truly a food monster." Fuutaro said as he laughs about it. "Yotsuba voice is getting more annoying than ever as I heard her calling my name over and over."

"Stop it…"

"Also did you hear that Nino is working at my place? I'm very surprised about it. But what surprised me even more is I found out that Miku is working at the bakery across the street."

"Stop it already…"

"Knowing Miku cooking skills, it looks like the bakery across the store has lose their customers and my boss is happy about it."

"Please stop talking about the other girls…"

"Anyway, let's catch up to th-"

"Wait…" Ichika said as she grabs Fuutaro hand.

"Please look at me… I want you to look only at me…"

Fuutaro stopped and he looked at Ichika. His eyes widened seeing Ichika face is red and from her face she looked like very nervous. Fuutaro didn't know about it because few minutes ago when he saw her, she's still laughing and smiling as usual but then right now she's completely changed. He thought that Ichika might be sick or something so he puts his other hand to her forehead.

"Ichika, are you not feeling well?" Fuutaro said as his hand is still on Ichika forehead.

"Uhh… No… I…" Ichika mumbled, feeling nervous and flustered because of Fuutaro's hand in her forehead.

"Then, what is it?" Fuutaro asked as he took his hand off her forehead.

Gathering as much courage as she can and took a deep breath, Ichika finally able to said what's in her heart for so long.

"Nee… Fuutaro-kun… Let's skip school just for today… Just the two of us…"

"Ehh…?"

Fuutaro stopped thinking for a moment after hearing what Ichika said. He then continued to process about what she said. Ichika wants him to skip school? That's really outrageous especially national mock exam is nearing and that betting makes the pressure heavier than ever. But Fuutaro wondered what makes Ichika wanted to skip school with him since he knew that Ichika doesn't want him to lose in the bet. So, he asked her what's the reason behind it.

"Ichika, what is in your mind that makes you want us to skip school?"

"Uhh… It's just…"

"Then spit it out, this is just not like you." Fuutaro wondered. "You don't want me losing in your dad's bet, right?"

"I just want to… Have fun time with just us two alone…"

"You know that mock exam is coming and we need to be serious about it." Fuutaro said seriously. "I refuse."

"…"

"So I failed huh…"

"Anyway, let's get moving before we are late for sch—" Fuutaaro said as he starts to run, but he feels something isn't right…

Fuutaro then turns around and saw Ichika is still not moving. He came back to her, looked closely and he saw Ichika crying… and sobbing. Fuutaro eyes widened and shocked at this sight, he doesn't know what to do and this is the second time he saw her cries since the last year school trip. But this time is different since he can see such sadness and disappointment in her eyes and face.

"Ichika…" Fuutaro mumbled seeing the crying girl.

"Nee… *sob* Please… Fuutaro-kun… Just this once… *sob*" Ichika said with a trembling voice.

"But Ichika, you know that I can't lose this bet against your dad." Fuutaro said to her, reminding the bet. "I need to show him how much I took this seriously, I can't afford seeing you all failing the test too."

"*sob* Please…"

"But Ichika…"

Ichika then took her glasses off and wipes some of her tears. She then took another deep breath and without thinking anymore, she said unexpected things to Fuutaro.

"Then… I'm gonna make a bet with you too, Fuutaro-kun." Ichika said as she continues to wipes her flowing tears. "I promise that I'm gonna score at least 150 out of 200 points in each subject on the mock exam."

"If I failed at scoring 150 points even at one subject, I'm gonna quit on my dream on becoming actress and focus on studying." Ichika said with serious face as she stares directly into Fuutaro with still teary eyes.

"Ehh? Ichika… But isn't that truly your dream?" Fuutaro surprised with Ichika statement.

"I know that it is my dream, but I just wanted us to spend some time together other than studying, you know?" Ichika said. "So far, it's been only studying and working for me and I don't have time to relax and have fun."

"That's why, please… Fuutaro-kun." Ichika begged one more time to Fuutaro as she puts both of her arms in his chest. "Let's skip school just for today and let's have fun together."

Fuutaro then took some moment to think. Seeing Ichika willing to sacrifice her own dream just because she wanted to have fun with him… Is there something hidden within her? Also, that betting condition she made scoring 150 points on mock exam are near impossible for her since she doesn't have time to study that much because of her work and knowing that she has laziness attitude. Fuutaro then see her again and this time he saw seriousness in her face and determination in her teary eyes.

Without another thinking after seeing that determination, Fuutaro finally accepts her offer to skip school.

"*sigh* It can't be helped… Fine, let's skip school just for today."

Ichika hearing this starts to smile and quickly wiped off her tears. Happiness and relief filled her head and heart. It was one of the happy moments she felt in a long time, that she will have some alone and fun time with Fuutaro.

"Thank you… Fuutaro-kun."

"But, I will hold on to your promise that you will get 150 points on each subject." Fuutaro seriously reminding her promise again. "So don't disappoint me because I'm counting on you. Also to get that 150 points is not that easy, so I will also help you on getting that promise."

"Yes, yes... I'm counting on you, Fuutaro-sensei." Ichika happily said with a wide grin and smile.

Fuutaro seeing her grin and smile and also hearing that, suddenly blushed and has this uneasy feeling in his chest. He's not sure about this feeling but he's going to ignore this feeling for now. Seeing Ichika smiling face, brought some relief and bit of happiness to him because he didn't want to see that sad look in her face.

"Then, Fuutaro-kun… Shall we go?" Ichika said with a smile as she extending her hand to Fuutaro.

"Yeah… Let's go!" Fuutaro said confidently.

Fuutaro then took Ichika hand as they headed opposite direction of school and the other four sisters. Laugh is visible in Ichika face and Fuutaro just smile silently as they walk away. Meanwhile, Ichika in her mind hopes that this can be a way to get closer to Fuutaro.

"Fuutaro-kun… I hope today can be a fun time with just us together."

"Let's make today one of the most memorable moment of us being together."

"I'm definitely looking forward to it… Fuutaro-kun."

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