Set between Chapters 83 and 84 of the manga (or during episode 12 of series 2 for those who are just watching the anime) this Quintessential Quintuplets story is focused on Ichika - after being rumbled for posing as Miku and trying to foil her sister's intention to confess her feelings to Futaro. That's all you need to know before you start reading.

Here we go!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Quintessential Quintuplets.

"What have I done? What was I thinking?"

Ichika was all alone in the public restroom of the hotel in Kyoto her class was staying in. She stood before the sinks, glad no one else was around to see her. The eldest of the Nakano quintuplet gazed at her reflection in the mirror before her. Her eyes were filled with tears - as well as shame and regret.

"I shouldn't have done it," she told herself. "I shouldn't have posed at Miku to sabotage her chance of winning Futaro over me."

A tear escaped Ichika's eye to run down her face. She remained where she was as her shoulders sagged in dismay. However awful she was feeling, she was certain it was nothing compared to how her quietest sister felt.

"I'm sorry, Miku... I really am..."

Over two hours had past since the rest of the quintuplets had spotted their eldest sister masquerading as Miku. It had not been the first time Ichika had put on a reddish brown wig and headphones to pretend to be her; she had done it before back at school - to confess the feelings she felt for Futaro while going undercover as her own sibling.

Now her game had been rumbled here in Kyoto. Ichika would never forget the way Miku had reacted upon discovering her oldest sister dressing up as her while trying to beat her to meet Futaro. Never had she sounded so heartbroken as she had run off crying. How her selfless act had badly hurt her sister would haunt Ichika forever.

Now twenty minutes had gone by since she'd discarded the wig - after it had been pulled off her head by Futaro. The furious way he had looked at her was deeply ingrained into her memory. Never before had she seen her tutor so angry. Even whenever she and her sisters annoyed him by wriggling their way out of studying, Ichika had never seen their teacher so bitter.

"I'm sorry to you too, Futaro," Ichika murmured. "I should never have deceived you. I was not brave enough to face up to you and tell you about my feelings like Nino did. I thought it would be easier if Miku did it for me - but I didn't stop to consider how Miku loves you too."

More tears fell down Ichika's cheeks to land on the sink before her. She lifted her sudden gaze to look in the mirror again - before gasping upon seeing that Miku standing behind her, looking towards her with an intense expression of hatred.

With wide eyes, Ichika swung around - but there was no sign of Miku. The eldest quintuplet was still all alone in the restroom. Realising what she had thought she'd seen was her own imagination, she turned back towards the mirror, lowering her head in all her remorse.

"I'm sorry, Miku..." she said again. "I will never forgive myself for what I did to you... You are extremely precious to me - and so are Yotsuba, Itsuki and Nino. I took it upon myself when Mom died to take care of you all. I was determined to be your big sister and put your needs before my own - but I've been too wrapped up in my own feelings lately to consider any of you..."

The pink-haired girl placed a hand on her heart, which was beating loudly in spite of all the pain it was in. Her mind had been focused on nothing but how she felt for Futaro over the past week. How she had felt for him had gotten out of control to the extent that she had seen her own siblings as competition. How could she view her own sisters in such a way? Her mothers dying wishes had been for the five of them to stay together - and now she was creating a wedge that was driving them apart from one another.

"You're the one who should be with Futaro, Miku, not me..." she whispered in a broken yet sincere tone. You deserve him far more than I ever will... You're selfless, kind and thoughtful - nothing at all like me. I don't deserve to have the happiness I tried to take away from you..."

Ichika sniffled softly. The image of Miku running away in tears continued to endlessly reply inside her head. Were Futaro to order her to write down how awful she felt for scheming against her own sister, it would be an assignment she would fail, as words couldn't describe how awful she was feeling.

"I wish I could turn back the clock... If I could go back in time, I would stop myself from disguising myself as you and trying to steal Futaro from you... You may not believe me, the others may not believe me either - but I really am sorry, Miku. I truly regret what I did..."

Ichika closed her eyes as the agony inside her chest increased.

"I truly mean every word of that with all my heart... I will never forgive myself for hurting you, my precious little sister..."

The door suddenly opened, causing Ichika's gaze to perk up with shock. She saw in the mirror that one of her classmates was entering the restroom. The other girl took a few steps forward - before coming to a stop upon seeing the crying quintuplet.

"Nakano?" The other girl exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

"I'm okay!" Ichika quickly rubbed her eyes, drying away the tears. She quickly put her acting skills into action as she forced a smile onto her face. "I'm fine, really!"

"Are you sure?" The other girl gazed at her with concern. "You look like something's bothering you. Is anything wrong?"

"Everything's cool!" Ichika lied. "Don't worry about me, please! I've gotta go rejoin my sisters. I guess I'll see you around!"

Still wearing the fake smile, Ichika strode quickly past the confused other girl. She made her way out of the restroom and into the hotel lounge, preparing to rejoin her siblings at the room they were staying in.

"I've gotta do something," she whispered determinedly to herself. "I've gotta show Miku how sorry I am and make things right between her and Futaro - but how do I do that?!"

Hope you enjoyed this. My main motivation for writing this story is upon discovering Ichika is getting a lot of hatred for her actions of dressing up as Miku and trying to take Futaro for herself. Even after she apologised for doing so and attempted to redeem her wrongdoing, people are not forgiving her and continue to give her backlash. While I certainly don't condone her selfish act, I decided to write this to emphasis how remorseful she became, hoping to show that like everyone else, Ichika is human and thus made what every human makes - a mistake. One that she feels extremely sorry for. :)

Thanks for reading!