Chapter 10?

After Ebata had left Futaro and the other quints, Futaro was slightly shocked that Itsuki had requested private tutoring as a way to get away from him, but then realized that it isn't that far fetched for her to do so as if she was willing to skip their classes, there's no reason she'd continue tutoring under him, so he brushed off the initial shock he felt and decided that he'd have to meet up with Itsuki some other way.

Yet, another way didn't present itself.

For weeks, Futaro gained no chance to see Itsuki. She was never seen attending class, never in the lunchroom where she'd normally be stuffing her face, and even at her own household, Futaro never so much as caught a glimpse of the redhead with star-shaped pins on her hair.

He had tried asking some of the quintuplets who still wished to receive tutoring from him if he could see Itsuki at some point, but he was always met with a roadblock there.

"Sorry Uesugi-san, I learned the hard way that we aren't allowed to interrupt Itsuki's private tutoring time with Ebata-san…" said Yotsuba, her ribbon drooping down to signify her defeat in the matter.

"Well, is there any way that we can meet outside of her tutoring hours then, where she's free?" asked Futaro, who was met only with an unenthusiastic Yotsuba.

"We could try, but I don't know how well that would work…"

And it never did work. Every time Futaro had attempted to meet up with Itsuki with the help of her sisters in an effort to apologize and reconcile, it had always ended in failure.

"God, why do you even want to speak with her so badly anyway? Just so you know, if you have a thing for her, you're never entering our apartment again, got it?"

"Yes yes Nino, I understand. I just need to speak with her for a moment." responded an annoyed Futaro, slightly irritated that he got the most combative quintuplet to help him attempt to meet with Itsuki today.

"Why didn't you bring her with you to meet up with me anyway? Wouldn't that have been easier?" asked Futaro, wondering why Only Nino had arrived early, and why she hadn't brought Itsuki, making things even more troublesome.

"I was going to, genius. I'm not stupid," Nino quickly retorted, "But she wasn't in her room when I woke up today, so she must've already been out. But don't worry, she said she'd meet up with us at 12, so there's no issue."

The two had planned to meet with Itsuki in front of a store where she and Nino frequent, yet she never appeared, even after the two had waited up towards an hour after the scheduled meeting time, but Itsuki had still failed to appear.

"Guess she didn't show up today either…" sighed a tired-looking Futaro.

"What's the deal between you two? She won't say a word about it to any of us if we ask, which is rare as she's always out somewhere."

"That's… private right now."

"Whatever, just hurry up and fix whatever you two have going on because honestly, she's been different ever since the fireworks... I'm worried about her," said Nino sporting a saddened look on her face as she walked back towards her home, leaving Futaro to ponder by himself.

Going back to what Nino had said, yes, Itsuki has been acting differently from normal from how she usually would. Yes, she was always skittish and extremely self-conscious and always looked like she was walking on some glass when talking to people, but Nino and her sisters had just chalked that up to simple shyness, something Itsuki would eventually have to outgrow.

However, recently she's been either in her room studying with a tutor, or out of the house, something that had concerned all her sisters. Yet when they had asked if something was a matter with her, she would always flash them a smile, saying that she had things she needed to set out and get done. What those things were, the other 4 didn't know and didn't have the investigative skills to figure out.

At least, until Ichika happened to run across Itsuki sitting in a cafe after walking home from one of her shoots. As she went to greet Itsuki preparing to ask what has been going on with her for these past few weeks, she then noticed their father walking up to the table Itsuki was sitting at and decided to listen to the conversation the two were having before interrupting.

To be semi-blunt, Itsuki had been spending a majority of her time at a cram school her father had recommended, and whenever she was not there, she was helping him with any work he had at the hospital, although much of it was simple busywork. Ichika continued to listen to their conversation quietly.

"Itsuki-kun, are you feeling alright?" asked Maruo out of the blue, showing no form of emotion in his voice although he clearly does care for her.

"Y-yes! I'm alright, why?" quickly answered Itsuki, not expecting such a blunt question from her father, as they had only just talked about his work whenever they got a chance to eat together.

"I'm simply worried that one of my five daughters went through something involving a certain tutor I hired. To be clear, if your behavior is due to Uesugi Futaro and any action he has committed, I have no qualms about firing him. You just have to let me know."

Ichika's eyes widened at this.

'Fire Futaro-kun? It's that serious?'

Itsuki stayed silent for a moment, staring at the ample amount of food sitting on her plate, before thinking of an answer to give her father.

"Well, we did have a little fight on the night of the festival-"

'What sort of fight?' Ichika thought.

"Alright, I'll contact him now and we'll have this matter sorted out," responded Maruo, cutting off Itsuki.

"W-w-wait!" Itsuki sputtered out, stopping her father from reaching for his cellphone, to which he raised an eyebrow at her."

"W-we did have a fight, but it's my fault that I'm acting like this… He hasn't done any wrong…" Itsuki said, her ahoge looking more deflated than ever, her eyes facing the table unable to meet the gaze of another human being.

"I see. It's my responsibility as your parent to allow you to take any action you feel best for yourself, but it is also my responsibility to stop you from taking any action that isn't healthy for you and your future."

"..."

"Itsuki-kun, I believe you should attempt to make up with Uesugi Futaro rather quickly. I don't have all the details on what has gone on between you two, and I am respectful enough not to pry into matters you do not feel comfortable speaking on, but If things continue, I will see it within you and your sister's best interest to fire him and hire a new tutor.

"B-but why?" asked Itsuki, not understanding why her father was still considering that as an option.

"If he is the problem that affects you, I will remove that problem. It's my duty as your parent to make sure you have the best environment possible for your growth, and I would want nothing in the way of it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to be going. It was nice talking with you Itsuki-kun. Tell your sisters I expect great things on their next exams."

And with that, Maruo left the startled Itsuki, conflicted on what she should do, trembling at the thought of confronting Itsuki, but also scared for him, as if he were to be fired, his source of income would be eliminated, and Nino has told them of Futaro's living situation.

Itsuki sat at the table for a while longer, conflicted on what course of action she should take.

Meanwhile, Ichika has begun hurrying to an address Nino had sent her, the address being Futaro's.

'I need to tell Futaro-kun or else he'll be fired and Itsuki will stay the way she is!'

Author's note: Hey! Sorry for a huge break in between chapters, I've been extremely busy with college and trying to do some other things I enjoy doing, but I finally got around to continuing this fanfic! Yes, Itsuki and Futaro haven't made up just yet! For the small-time skip that takes place in this chapter, I'm sort of setting it right before the quintuplet's first midterm exams, or around chapter 14ish in the manga. Man, I'm only at chapter 14? Anyway, sorry for not too many jokes or cute moments in this chapter, but I am trying to sort of set things up like the moment Itsuki and Futaro share in Chapter 18 of the manga, just slightly different. And lastly, I am sorry that this chapter is a bit short, but I felt like ending it where I did was the best place to do so. I'll try to have longer chapters as time goes on! But anyway, I hope you found it to your liking! I don't know how often I'll be able to update this fic, but I'll try my best! And with all that being said, reviews are dope, and peace!