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Chapter 8

Consequences

Fuutarou felt the blood drain from his face. He had to repeat the words several times in his head before he could believe that Chihori really meant it.

"Dead? What do you mean dead?"

Chihori closed her eyes again, but he could still see the pain in them.

"Two months ago she committed suicide."

Fuutarou stumbled back a step, everything around him growing dark.

"Wait a minute. Are you saying that I-"

"No," she said immediately, "You weren't responsible for her death, at least not directly. Hatsuka never was very bright. She always was a naive person, but... you were the start of what led to her downfall."

She looked into the distance, "After you rejected her she decided to follow your advice. I think she was hoping to try again with you, but after you decided to go another school she abandoned that idea. She tried to change so that boys would notice her more, but things... never went the way she'd hoped. By the end of her first year in high school she'd been rejected, dumped, cheated on, taken advantage of, and manipulated more times that anyone could count. She ended up becoming the common joke around school. Who will her next boyfriend be and how will it go this time? She tried to stay positive through it all but over time she just slowly deteriorated. Then she got involved with the wrong people and... let's just say it cost her what was left of her innocence."

He stood there silently and listened, too stunned to speak. He didn't have to guess what Chihori meant by that.

"That was when she finally snapped," she continued, "She decided that she couldn't be in a relationship and be happy, no one would. For the next two years she went around destroying one relationship after another. She didn't care who it was. She even did it to the adults, be it teachers or even parents of other students. She used every single trick in the book. Lying, cheating, blackmail, seduction, everything you could think of. She became truly capable of anything, and she was very good at it. She covered her tracks well, but eventually it caught up to her. Her irrational behavior caused her parents to kick her out. It didn't stop her from coming to school, but to pay for the bills... well, you can guess what kind of business she went into."

He didn't need to. Never in his life did he imagine that a girl could lower herself to that level. It was like hearing a nightmare.

"You never tried to stop her?" he asked.

"Oh, I did, as did others. Several times we tried, but by that point she was too far gone and beyond all hope," Chihori closed her eyes for the third time and Fuutarou could clearly see the pain she was in, "Then... one night, I found her on the streets. I almost didn't recognize her. She'd been beaten and..." she swallowed, "I wanted to call an ambulance but she wouldn't let me, so I took her to my apartment. At the time I was living by myself because I wanted to gain some experience of living on my own before going off to college. As I was treating her injuries we started talking," she smiled a little, "At first it was just, pointless, girl talk. Then, somehow, we started talking about you."

She looked at him at that last word and Fuutarou blinked in surprise.

"It was really strange. She had never talked about you until that night. It seems that even all that time, after everything she had gone through, she still had feelings for you. Why? She herself wasn't sure. All she said was that maybe she saw something in you that reminded her of herself. She never blamed you for what happened to her life. Perhaps, deep down, she saw a side of you that you yourself no longer see. She had often wondered what you were doing now. She wondered if you had changed, finally found love," Chihori smiled again, "That was actually the biggest reason why I paid you a visit. I wanted to see if you had changed."

Fuutarou couldn't answer and watched as his childhood friend's smile fade and he saw tears form in her eyes.

"I then had to go to the convenience store to buy some ingredients for dinner. As I left, Hatsuka thanked me for being so kind to her," her shoulders slumped and she sobbed, "I shouldn't have left her alone. I was only gone for ten minutes. I shouldn't have left her alone."

She hugged her shoulders and shivered while Fuutarou could only hold his breath.

"When I returned... she was dead. She had hung herself. In my very own apartment. I had to move back to my parents place after that."

Fuutarou felt himself stagger. He felt as though he taken a tremendous blow to the chest.

"Chihori... I... I'm sorry," he struggled to speak, "I'm sorry you had to go through that. I... I never meant for any of that to happen. I never wished Hatsuka any harm. I just... I just wanted her to..."

"I know," Chihori lifted her gaze to him, "You just wanted her to leave you alone. But like I told you before, you didn't have to be so rude about it," she blew out a breath before saying, "What happened to Hatsuka was a real tragedy. She only wanted something so simple, but never got it. She was cursed with bad luck, followed by bad decisions. In the end, she became so miserable she no longer wanted to live," she took a moment to compose herself before looking at Fuutarou, her gaze now sharp, "I told Yotsuba that story in the hopes of preventing another tragedy like that. While my actions were extreme it was the right thing to do, even if it did turn me into a villain. Even so, my efforts might still be in vain thanks to your incompetence."

When Fuutarou opened his mouth to protest, she stopped him with a raised hand.

"I know what you're going to say. I'm well aware that you were forced to make a choice, but if you say that it was all their fault I will come over there and punch you myself."

He snapped his mouth shut. He was already going to have to explain to his dad why there was a bruise on his jaw. He didn't want another one to go along with it.

"What they did was selfish, I won't argue with that, but what you did leading all the way up to tonight was inexcusable."

At that he could no longer stay silent, "You don't know what I said or did."

"I don't have to. I can already guess," she stared at him, "You told Yotsuba that you chose her because she was the easy choice and that trying to date her sisters would have been too hard for you," his stunned face was all the confirmation she needed, "I may not have seen you in three years but you haven't changed one bit. You did the exact same thing as before, only this time it involved five girls instead one. This is what I can't stand about you, Fuutarou. You always take the easy way out instead of thinking things through."

"What the hell should I have done?" he shot back.

"Talk to them individually. Tell them how you really felt about each of them and try to be as nice about as you possibly can. Even if it did hurt them at least they would have been grateful for your honesty. That's what you should have done before you made your choice."

"That was not how they had set the rules that night."

"Screw the rules! What right do they have to decide how you should do things when it comes to them? You just did what they wanted without protest. You let yourself get tossed like some rag doll being passed from one girl to another."

He gritted his teeth, "I was trying to avoid trouble."

"This was bound to be trouble from the very start! Five girls in love with the same guy? That never goes well. You can't run away from trouble, Fuutarou! You have to face it head on. That's the other problem with you. You don't see people as people. You just see them as nothing but obstacles. And you're supposed to be the smart guy? Don't make me laugh."

"My studies is what keeps me going, Chihori!"

"To where exactly? On one hand it was great to see that you were taking your grades seriously, but over the years it's become your obsession. It's made you into a mindless, emotionless robot. You've turned yourself into an unfeeling selfish bastard who either thinks too much or doesn't think enough, is obsessed with success, and runs and hides from his family and friends. Do you even have goal? Do you know what you want to do with your life? Do you? Do you? If not then your studies haven't benefited you at all!"

"I was stumbling before I met Yotsuba!"

"You're stumbling even now! You think I'm impressed? All your perfect scores, all your perfect grades, and for what?! What have you actually gained? Just what are you hoping to accomplish?"

"You don't understand, Chihori," his voice was now rough, "Before I met Yotsuba I was a at complete loss. I had no sense direction, no idea where to go. When I met her that day in Kyoto six years ago, something changed. She finally gave me a new reason to keep going. She not only supported me, Chihori, she made me feel needed. I wanted to be necessary to someone!"

He saw her eyes go wide and her mouth gape. For a moment he thought he had finally gotten through to her. Then she started laughing softly, not at him but at herself.

"I am such an idiot," she placed a palm on her head, "Now it all makes sense. I should have realized it a long time ago."

He had no idea what she was talking about or why she was laughing. He forced himself to wait as she shook her head back and forth several more times.

Finally she looked at him and said, "You never got over your mother's death, did you?"

He blinked at her, "What? What does she have to do with this?"

"It has everything to do with it, Fuutarou. Or rather... it has everything to do with you."

"You're not making any sense. What are you talking about?"

"You really don't remember? Think back, Fuutarou. When we were kids you kept telling us about how important your mom was to you. It was obvious that you were very close to her. You would go on and on about how she was always cheerful, made you delicious meals, and how she loved you so much. Does any of that sound familiar?"

He opened his mouth to argue, only to realize...

"You see? It's the exact three answers you gave to Hatsuka when she asked you who your type was. The exact three answers you gave to those quints when they asked you the same question."

His heart began beating rapidly as the truth began to sink in.

"I understand it all now," she said solemnly, "All this time I thought you just wanted someone to cling on to, but it's actually much deeper than that. You did whatever you wanted no matter how foolish it was. You could be bad and get away with it because she would always support you no matter what. That was all you needed. She was your life. But then she died, and suddenly you no longer had that support. You tried to tough out it at first, like that day on that bus trip, but once you realized you were all alone and no one would support you just gave up."

He could only stand there in silence as the memories came back to him. Memories of that bus trip. The day when...

"Then you met Yotsuba, and that's when everything changed. She gave you a new purpose and you made a promise. A promise that sent you both down the wrong path in life."

He shook his head, "No, that's not..."

"You still don't get it? Think back again, Fuutarou. When your mom was alive you were the happiest you could be. You were spoiled. You were active. You did whatever you wanted without a care in the world. It was the happiest time of your life. I remember our teacher asking you one time why you were so devoted to your mother and your answer was, 'Because she needs me and she supports me. She makes me feels necessary'. Those were your exact words."

"No," he knees began to feel weak, "That wasn't... it isn't..."

"It was, Fuutarou. When was the last time you spoke about her? When was the last you really thought about her?"

He couldn't answer.

"It's too painful for you, isn't it? I remember how you were after she died. You were like a lost puppy looking for its dead mother. You were the complete opposite of what you were before. Your life ended when she died. Her death affected you so badly that you made yourself want to forget she ever existed, but deep down you wanted her back. You want to go back to the way things were, because for you that's the only way you can be happy. That's why you're so close to Raiha. She's the closest thing you have to your mother, but even she isn't enough."

He was now fighting to remain upright as every word sank in, pulling him further and further down into the abyss.

"It all makes sense. You chose Yotsuba because you saw her as your mother come back to life. You saw her as a way to return to the life you once had. You never cared about her feelings. You just wanted her undying support," she suddenly chuckled, "You want to know the funny thing? Yotsuba didn't care about your feelings either. She only saw you as a way to escape her problems. She wanted your protection so that she would never have to face the consequences of her actions. Actions that would have hurt her sisters."

She started laughing as though it was all a bad joke.

"God. This has got to be the most twisted love story I have ever heard, and it's not even a love story to begin with. It's just a story about two messed people who want to use each other for completely different yet selfish reasons. None of the things you did were based on love. It was all about based on you wanted for yourselves."

Fuutarou's head lowered, his shoulders slumping and his arms dangled without any kind of strength. The melted ice pack slipped from his fingers and splattered onto the sidewalk. There was nothing he could say. Everything that Chihori had said was true. There was no way he could deny it.

"It's really sad," he heard her say, "Had it not been this way the two of you might've made the perfect couple, but the way you two went at this was completely wrong. It wasn't love you were looking for, it was a place to hide from reality. You just wanted to hide from your grief, she just wanted to hide from her guilt."

Tears starting to form in his eyes, but he didn't have the strength to wipe them away.

"You know, I used to think that you had no concept of love, Fuutarou," Chihori said sadly, "but I wrong. You do understand love. You understand it better than anyone else because of the love your mother gave you, and it terrifies you. That's why you couldn't say that you loved Yotsuba, because it would have left you vulnerable. You're scared of getting hurt again like you did when your mother died. When was the last time you visited her grave?"

His silence provided the answer.

"That is really sad. Maybe you should sometime. While you're at it, pay a visit to Hatsuka's as well. I believe she's buried in the very same cemetery."

She started to turn to leave, then paused.

"You know what I also think? I believe you are in love with one of those quints, and it's not Yotsuba. One of them really does love you, for the same reasons Hatsuka did. She saw the deeper side of you, the goodness you've kept hidden for so long. She may have even saw a bit of herself in you as well. She gave you her heart, but not once did you look her way. I think I know why. When she confessed to you, it scared you. It reminded you too much of Hatsuka. You didn't want to make the same mistake before, so you avoided her. I think that deep down you feel the exact same way about her, but you're too scared to face it," Chihori sighed heavily, like she was extremely tired, "How can you be like this, Fuutarou? How can you be so cold?"

"It's..." all he could say was, "It's what's kept me out of trouble. It's what's kept me going."

Because his eyes were low he could see her face, but he knew she was shaking her head.

"No... It's what's kept you alone. You know, I actually liked you better when you were a bad kid. Back then you were alive and easier to get along with, even if you were being an idiot," she paused for a moment, "My only hope for you Fuutarou is that you're able to find yourself again before it's too late. If you manage to do that, then maybe you'll finally realize what it means to love someone. I really hope you realize that, Fuutarou. There's nothing worse than dying alone. Alone and forgotten."

Straightening the strap of her purse she turned and rejoined her boyfriend. Fuutarou stayed where he was, even after she was long gone. Tears streamed down his cheeks as the truth of her words sank in.

"I'm not... It isn't... I'm just..."

Unable to control himself anymore Fuutarou fell to his knees and wept.

Resting her chin on her knees Yotsuba tried to make herself more comfortable on the couch of her stepdad's apartment. A blanket covered her shoulders and she still had the hiccups after having cried so much. Maruo had sent Ebata home and was now the kitchen making something for her. She sat there quietly, trying hard not to think about Fuutarou.

Despite everything that had happened today, despite all the things he said, she did not believe that he was a bad person. He was just... an idiot.

Sniffing, she tried to force her mind away from him again. At that moment Maruo came out of the kitchen. He stern expression had not returned since he'd found her and he gave a warm smile before handing her a steaming hot mug.

"Here. This will warm you up."

Yotsuba took it into her hands, relishing its warmth.

"Sorry for ruining your shirt and tie," she gestured to his clothes.

"Don't worry about it. I got plenty more."

She looked at the cup's contents and was surprised when she saw what it was.

"Milk?"

"Warm milk. Your mother once told me she used to make that for you girls whenever you felt sad."

She smiled, touched that he had remembered something from their childhood. Lifting the cup to her lips she took a few slow sips.

It was then that Maruo noticed her hands and reached over and examined them, "Your knuckles are skinned. Did you hit someone?" his gaze hardened, "Uesugi?"

Swallowing she bobbed her head. She still wasn't ready. Maruo seemed to understand and stood.

"Let's put some disinfect on that," he went back into the kitchen and a moment later he returned with a First Aid kit.

Yotsuba continued sipping her drink as he dabbed a swab over her skinned knuckles, hissing softly as the disinfect settled in.

"Papa... can I ask you something?" she waited until he lifted his eyes to hers, "When you found out that I was failing at our previous school, and that I had to transfer, how did you feel?"

He looked at her for a moment, then put the swab down on the glass coffee table and slowly straightened.

"Is that what's been bothering you this whole time?" he asked, "Is that why you went to such great lengths to avoid me? Did you think I was mad at you?"

She looked away, unable to answer.

"Why didn't you just talk to me, Yotsuba?"

"I..." she sniffed, "I was too afraid. When you looked at me that day in the principal's office, I was sure you hated me. I was convinced that I embarrassed you."

He sat there quietly for a moment, then he blew his breath and let out what sounded like a laugh.

"Yotsuba..." he pulled his chair closer and looked directly at her, "Before your mother died I promised her that I would look after all five of you. That I would keep you together just as you girls promised her. Your transfer almost made me to break that promise. I'll admit that I was both upset and disappointed with you, but I never hated you. I never hated any of you. To be perfectly honest, on that day I was extremely worried."

"Worried?" Yotsuba couldn't have been more surprised.

"I honestly didn't know what I was going to do. It looked like I was going to have to break that promise. Then your sisters stepped in and solved the problem for me."

She thought back to that day, "You know that they cheated?"

"I knew they were lying about it."

Her eyes widened, "Then how come you never said anything? Why did you treat us like you didn't care?"

Maruo released and leaned back on his chair, looking very tired.

"Well, for one my work kept me busy. The other was that I just wasn't ready to be a father. Trying to raise all five of you by myself is no easy task."

"Mama did it," she pointed out.

"And I greatly admired her for it. She lived a far greater life than mine."

Yotsuba frowned, "How? We were poor, living in a one room apartment. You came from a rich family and lived in a mansion. You had all the money in the world! You could have anything you wanted."

"Money doesn't bring happiness, Yotsuba," there was a flash of pain in his eyes, "Your mother's simple way of life was paradise compared to mine, but that's another story for another time."

She could see that there was some kind of story of her stepdad and she realized, just like with Fuutarou, she and her sisters knew very little of him.

"I've never been good at expressing my emotions," he sighed, almost painfully, "The way I was raised... wasn't exactly pleasant. Besides, you girls were already looking out for each other, so I felt it was best not to interfere. However, that doesn't change the fact that I spoiled you all to the point that you became lazy and irresponsible," he sighed again and looked at her apologetically, "I haven't been an ideal father, I know."

Yotsuba's heart suddenly went out to him, "Papa-"

He raised a hand, "I'm not trying to make excuses, I'm simply telling the truth."

"We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you. You helped us whenever we really needed it. It's just that now..."

"You girls wanted to be able to stand on your own without having to depend on me so much," he smiled proudly, "I truly respected that, but the way you girls did it was not wise. You don't know how terrified I was when you were living in that rundown apartment."

"You were?" Yotsuba's eyes widened as she realized, "So you never were trying to control us. You were looking out for us because that's what you promised."

"Like I said, I promised your mother I would keep you together until you finished high school, and I've done that to the best of my ability."

She observed him closely and found that he really was telling the truth.

"I'm sorry," she sighed, suddenly feeling ashamed of herself, "All this time we believed you didn't really care. Now that I know that I wasn't the only reason why we transferred I've completely made a mess of things."

"You didn't know?" Maruo frowned, "They never told you?"

"Not until the other night. They said that Nino didn't want me worrying about her," her face fell into her hands, "I don't know how I can face them, especially with Nino. When she learns that Uesugi isn't who we thought he was, I fear she's going to take it very badly."

"Yes, about Uesugi," Maruo shifted closer, "Can you tell me what happened between you and him?"

She lowered her hands but hesitated again.

"Yotsuba," he said more gently, "I promise I won't get mad. At you or him. Just tell me what happened."

"You know," she chuckled a little, "You kept telling us that if we kept him as our tutor we would be making a big mistake in the end. Turns out you were right after all."

"What happened?" he asked again.

Heaving a sigh, Yotsuba told him the events of the entire date, not leaving out a single detail. Maruo listened to every word without interruption. When she finished she expected him to be very angry. Instead there was a look of a severe disappointment and frustration, as if it wasn't the first time Fuutarou had behaved like this.

"This has gone far enough," slapping his hands on his knees he stood from his chair.

"Wait, Papa!" she grabbed his sleeve, "Please, don't do anything to him. What he did tonight was bad, but I know he's not a bad person. It's just that..."

"He doesn't know any better, I know that," he finished and pulled out his phone, "But this time he's gone too far. He needs to learn that he can't say things like that and expect to get away with it. Tomorrow we are going to settle things."

Back at the penthouse everyone was still wide awake. Ichika was nervously pacing around, Miku was still lying on the couch trying to read, and Itsuki was at the table pretending to study but her eyes remained locked her cell phone. Even Nino was growing increasingly concerned.

Yotsuba was supposed to be home at eight, but it had been two hours now and there was still no word despite them trying to get a hold of her numerous times. They were growing increasingly anxious when Itsuki's phone went off. Everyone held their breath as she picked it up and blinked in surprise when she saw who was calling.

"It's Papa," she announced before answering, "Hey, Papa! Have you seen... Oh, she's there? Oh, okay... What? Is she alright?... I see. Okay... You want us to... okay... We'll... We'll be here then. Okay, tell Yotsuba we love her. Right, good night."

She ended the call and sat there in silence, looking bewildered.

"What is it?" asked Miku.

"What happened?" Ichika came over.

"Is Yotsuba okay?" Nino was right behind her.

Itsuki finally came out of her daze, "Yotsuba's fine... mostly. She's at Papa's place right now, he found her wondering by herself right after he left to go look for her. He's going to have her spend the night there. He said that she was very upset. Apparently she and Uesugi-kun got into an argument... and she hit him."

"Hit him?" Ichika jaw dropped.

"Yotsuba?" Miku was shocked.

"Yeah," Itsuki nodded, looking thoroughly stunned herself, "Papa said her knuckles were skinned too."

It was a moment before anyone said anything again.

"Whoa," Ichika leaned on the table.

"Yeah," Itsuki agreed.

"I didn't think she was capable of that," said Miku.

"I don't understand," Nino was confused, "Why would Yotsuba hit Fuu-kun?"

"That's not all," Itsuki's voice turned serious, "Papa say that we are not to go anymore tomorrow. He was very adamant about it. He's going to bring Yotsuba over, along with Uesugi-kun and his dad. He wants to have a talk with all of us."

Everyone froze.

"Uh-oh," said Ichika, "That can't be good."

"He must be in real big trouble for Papa to get involved," Miku shivered, "I'm very much afraid to hear what Yotsuba has to say."

"Guys?" Nino sounded scared as everyone turned to her, "What's going on? What are you not telling me?"

Her sisters looked at each for a moment before all of them sighed.

"Nino, come sit for a moment," Miku waited until Nino sat down on the other couch, "Do you remember that girl who came to see Fuutarou during the festival?"

Nino thought back, "The one with the hair clip? Yeah, I remember."

"Yotsuba ran into her the other day and they had a long talk about him."

She told Nino the same story Yotsuba had told them. When she was finished Nino had turned white, looking as though her worst nightmare had come true.

"No," she shook her head denial, "That can't be Fuu-kun. That isn't like him! She has to be lying!"

"I'm afraid it might be, Nino," Ichika sighed heavily, "Tomorrow we'll know for sure."

Fuutarou wished it was a school day. It would give him something to do and not think about the events of last night.

Except Saturdays were usually for clubs, and he wasn't part of any of them. Then again he probably should be grateful that it wasn't a school day, for everyone would see the bruise on his jaw including Takeda. He remembered what the blonde boy had said to him and he could just see him shaking his head and saying "I told you so."

When he returned home he was relieved to see that Dad hadn't returned yet. Raiha, however, had stayed up for him and had seen the bruise on his cheek. He simply told her that he had an accident on the way home and went to his room before she could say anything. To his surprise he went right to sleep, apparently exhausted. The next morning he woke up much later than usual and learned from Raiha that Dad had left early. Thankfully she didn't ask about the bruise again. After eating a hearty breakfast he went back to his room to study.

Or at least he tried to, but soon the events of last night consumed his mind and eventually he found himself lying on his back staring blankly at the ceiling. What was he going to do now? The Quints were not going to be happy with him. He honestly had no idea what he was going to say when he saw them again. He was surprised that none of them had shown up at his door yet since Itsuki knew where he lived.

That was exactly what he thought when he heard the front door slam open.

"Hey, Dad," he heard a startled Raiha say, "How come you're back early?"

"Where's your brother?"

Fuutarou froze. He knew. His dad's angry voice gave little doubt.

"In his room, studying-" Raiha started to say, but his dad was already heading for Fuutarou's door.

He quickly sat up. The sound of his dad's footsteps were like the sounds of approaching doom. When his door was yanked opened and he saw his father standing there any doubt that might have remained was completely eradicated.

Isanari stood there with a furious look on his face and steam was coming out of his ears. Fuutarou heard himself gulp. The last time he had seen him this angry was when he was nine and had just stolen a fancy bicycle. If he knew then so did the Quints' stepdad.

"H-Hey, Dad," he said nervously, "W-What's up?"

"Get dressed and follow me. Now."

The last word was a bark and it made him jump. It wasn't a request. It was an order. And Isanari made it very clear that he was not to be argued with.

"Dad?" a wide eyed Raiha fidgeted, "Is something wrong?"

"Your big idiot of a brother is in deep trouble. That's what's wrong. Get dressed, Fuutarou. I'm already losing my patience."

"Yes, sir," Fuutarou quickly complied.

He was fully dressed in thirty seconds, a record time on his part.

"Guard the fort, Raiha. We won't be gone for long," he took Fuutarou's arm in a vice grip, "Come on!"

Fuutarou stumbled as he tried to keep pace. In seconds they were out the door and he was dragged down the stairs to where an expensive car was parked. The driver opened the door as they approached and he recognized him as the driver of the Quints' stepdad. Isanari all but threw him inside before climbing in himself. By the time he gathered himself the vehicle was already moving.

"Where are we going?" he asked automatically, even though he already knew.

"You know where," Isanari pointed a stiff finger at him and glared, "I warned you long ago that studying over everything else was going to get you into trouble one day if you didn't prioritize it properly. Now you're going to face the consequences."

Fuutarou paled but said nothing. He felt like a prisoner being taken to trial. In a few minutes the car came to a stop and the driver opened the door again.

"Come on," Isanari gestured impatiently.

He followed him out and saw that they had indeed arrived at the quints apartment complex. Isanari grabbed his arm again and dragged him along while the driver went over to the intercom and pushed the call button.

"Is that you, Ebata?"

It was Maruo who was speaking.

"Yes, sir. I have them with me."

"Good. Send them up and remain outside."

Fuutarou started to feel sick as they went up the elevator. Soon they reached the penthouse. The door was already open and they went inside.

Maruo stood by the dinner table, hands together and looking stern as always. The quints all sat in chairs around him. Itsuki was in the center at one end of the table with Ichika and Yotsuba to her left and Miku and Nino on her right. All of them looked nervous, their eyes widening when they saw the bruise on his jaw. All, that is, except Yotsuba.

She had glanced over her shoulder when Fuutarou was pulled into their home before quickly turning away.

Fuutarou was stunned at the difference in her behavior, and for a moment he was convinced that it was actually Nino in disguise. The seriousness of the situation, however, immediately pushed that thought away. The person who sat there was indeed Yotsuba. The cheerfulness she always had was, without a doubt, gone for good. She was now dead serious.

Isanari shoved his son roughly into the center chair at the other end of the table, making him face the quints.

"Stay there and keep quiet," he warned, "You will not speak unless spoken to. Understand?"

Fuutarou gulped again, "Yes, sir."

Still glaring at him, Isanari stepped away and leaned against the back of the nearby couch and tightly crossed his arms.

A long moment of uneasy silence passed before Maruo finally spoke.

"So... now we are all here, and we are going to settle things right here and now whether you want to or not."