"No! Not happening!" Mutsumi vehemently opposed, screaming while trying to walk around Nino.
"You're overexaggerating." The second sister raised her arms to the side, taking up the space in the doorway. "It's just one day!"
"I know that we don't have anything else planned for today. But I would appreciate it if we would be going soon." Itsuki said, seated with Miku to her back. The third sister currently held Itsuki's stars in her hand, with her hair in the other. "So please stop quarreling. Mutsumi, Nino's right. It's not every day that we get to do this." Her ahoge flowing calmly before Miku grabbed hold of it and tied it up with the rest of her hair.
"Not you too!?" Mutsumi took a few steps away from Nino, placing her feet apart in a wide stance. "I'm not doing it, end of story." She crossed her arms as Nino took a set of clothes that were sitting folded on the kotatsu.
"Mutsumi. Why are you so stubborn!?" Nino exclaimed. "Yotsuba! Hold her down!" Mutsumi's eyes widened, hearing the rapidly approaching footsteps of the fourth sister from behind her. She scrambled for the nearest door, the bathroom, as Yotsuba entered and instantly locked her gaze on Mutsumi.
"No! No! No! I have my rights!" Mutsumi yelled, flailing her arms as she got tackled and pinned by her sister. "Mercy!" She cried, prayed; wishing that this was just a dream.
"Uhhhnnn...Good morning...what's going o-" Ichika opened a door, spotting Yotsuba and Nino hovering over Mutsumi's squirming body. With a slightly confused smile, she put her hand to her cheek. "Am I...still sleeping?" She thought to herself as Mutsumi squealed loud enough to startle Miku while she was putting something into her hair.
A cacophony of footsteps on bricks, that was the sound that reverberated out through the air. The path before them cleared of the snow that glistened with the gentle light of the winter sun. Oddly barren, the shrine they chose for their first visit only had a handful of other visitors. Ichika lead the group, followed by Yotsuba and Miku who were idly chattering about Miku's cooking. Itsuki turned back, looking at Nino and Mutsumi who were trailing behind a few paces away.
"I can't do this..." Mutsumi muttered, her body slouched and redder than her hair. Nino placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, not so gently nudging her forward.
"It's too late to go back now! We're already here!" She yelled, stomping while clutching a small pouch in her hand. Her face, already somewhat frustrated and tired from the earlier escapade, scrunched up even more.
"Yotsuba-san! Everyone!" A familiar child's voice called out to the six of them, all eyes turning to its origin. Raiha Uesugi ran up towards them, jumping into Yotsuba's arms as if she was her mother. The sisters could see that family wasn't too far away; Fuutarou was taking reserved steps in their direction.
"Hey." He said, his eyes shut and his voice irritated. "Is Mutsumi still sick?"
"My my, Fuutarou-kun~ Set your sights on the youngest of us, have you?" Ichika teased, leaning in as they all took steps closer to each other. "Mutsumi-chan~ Fuuta…Mutsumi-chan?!" The eldest faced backwards, seeing only four other redheads across the white backdrop of snow.
"She was right here!" Itsuki exclaimed, strands of her hair escaping and straightening in shock. The girls all began surveying the area, looking for the missing sister. To this, Fuutarou simply sighed, his gaze fixated to the ground as he began walking to the far side of the shrine.
"Next time you run away, try not to leave a trail in the snow." Fuutarou looked down, finding the sixth sister covering her face as she curled up against the wall. Her head was down, her hair tied into a ponytail that reached down to just past her shoulders. "Why are you hiding in the first place? You're making this more of a hassle than it has to be."
"I just...can't do this. I look weird. Just look at me!" She gestured to her clothes, a furisode with a flowers blooming on vines. "I must look strange..." She mumbled before Fuutarou turned to the side and raised his hand to his mouth.
"Found her!" He called out to the others, making Mutsumi hide her face once more with her hands. Sure enough, everyone else gathered around her.
"Mutsumi! So this is where you went!" Yotsuba knelt down, her face just inches away from her sister. "Next time, tell us if you want to play hide and seek." She said jokingly.
"Let's hurry up. I want to get back so we can watch the show." Nino grumbled, walking away from the group.
"Fuutarou, would you like to come over? It's been a while." Miku said, her face turned away from the tutor; everyone else could see that it was red. Fuutarou was about to reject, however his sister accepted with such enthusiasm that he had no choice but to go along.
"Ugh...finally free!" Mutsumi stretched before laying down near the kotatsu. Out of the kimono and into an oversized shirt and a pair of shorts, Mutsumi's mood instantly brightened, yet her face was still slightly red. Her sisters followed shortly after, Yotsuba going over to the TV to fiddle with it a bit. "How've you been, Fuutarou-san? Raiha-chan?" She tilted her head back, looking up at their guests as the others were glued to the program they recorded.
"We've been well. Look what I got." Raiha displayed an envelope, an otoshidama, and looked at it proudly before looking around the room. "Uhm...is this really where you guys live?" She asked as the program was coming to an end on the TV. Mutsumi placed her feet inside the kotatsu, reaching over to set her phone on it.
"Yeah, why ask?"
"Well, I guess I got the wrong idea..." Raiha turned away, an embarrassed flushness in her cheeks. "I thought your family was wealthy."
"Well, a lot of things happened." Ichika said as Miku entered the room, holding her attempt at a bento; at least that's what everyone thought it was, in truth it was hard to tell.
"Fuutarou, happy new year. I made some new years snacks, want some?" Miku set them down. It looked like what someone would expect from a rotten dragon egg, yet its smelled...decent. Complimentary seasonings carried the dish's presentation as the aroma alone was nearly enough to entice consumption.
"Uhh…" The boy replied, his face uncomfortable and carrying a small look of emotion as he looked around. "Maybe later. I'm not really..." He was speaking, yet the growling of his and his sister's stomachs contrasted his words. "Anyway, are you still sick Mutsumi?"
"Me? Well, I have a stuffy nose but that's nothing compared to before." The girl sat herself up, her hand going over to the box of food. She bravely put a shrimp (?) in her mouth. Charred beyond belief, overcooked; once past that, the flavors of the spices Miku put melded together in a palatable way. "Wow! You're getting better at this Miku!" She looked up at her sister, her eyes shining.
"Mutsumi-chan, do you mind returning the furisode?" Ichika asked, pulling her sister away from the others for a moment. The two of them a few steps away, Ichika began to whisper. "Uhm...how do I say this?" The eldest sister mumbled.
"What's the problem?" Mutsumi leaned in, seeing that Ichika wasn't looking at her at all; she was staring at Fuutarou.
"Thank you..." The elder of the two pulled the other into a hug. "It's nice to be like this again."
"It was your idea..." Mutsumi said meekly, returning the gesture before bringing a hand up to her face to stifle a sneeze. "Actually, what do you think Fuutarou-san is thinking right now?"
"Maybe he's feeling a bit guilty..." Ichika let go, her hands now to her sides as the two of them both looked to the boys face. He was glancing around the room, he had been glancing around the room the moment he stepped foot inside. His head just tilted down enough to cast shadows on his eyes, his body leaning forward slightly. "It's probably nothing. Maybe he's just tired?"
"That last time I thought that, he was planning his resignation." Mutsumi whispered, sneaking her own glance to her sisters. Nino lifted up a portion of the kotatsu, inviting Fuutarou to sit with them. "Well, I guess we can just sit back and watch, for now."
"It's cold right? Come sit in the kotatsu." Nino offered, her tone less harsh than it was before.
"Ok. Go ahead Raiha." Fuutarou put his hands on his sister's back, gently coaxing her towards the kotatsu. Ichika let out a quiet chuckle as she walked up to behind the boy.
"Come on, don't hold back. I know, I'll give you a massage. You're tired right?" Ichika's statement widened everyone's eyes, their attention drawn to the statement. Fuutarou tried objecting, but the sisters' voices were louder.
"Ichika, that's cheap!" Miku huffed, walking over and helping Ichika get Fuutarou flat on his ass.
"First come, first served~" Ichika teased her sister, all the while gingerly placing her hands around Fuutarou's head. The others scrambled to his side at the sight of this, all except Mutsumi and Raiha.
"Then I'll do his arm!" Yotsuba grabbed his arm with such force that it almost made him call for help.
"Guess I don't have a choice." Nino reluctantly grabbed the other arm.
"I shall rub his leg." Itsuki said, flustered before Miku took the leg opposite her.
"Dear mom, spring has come early for big bro." Raiha joked, turning away from the group.
"You have no idea." Mutsumi sighed. "Move over Ichika, I'll get his shoulders I guess." The final redhead laughed, shaking her head before kneeling behind Fuutarou and rubbing his shoulders.
That ordeal behind them, the eight of them sat around and ate some food. The atmosphere was odd, uncomfortable for everyone involved. For one, Nino thanked him without any ulterior intent. Itsuki offered her share of food to him. Mutsumi dreaded how it'd feel once they began playing fukuwarai, slightly because she was horrible at it in their trial runs. The pressure of it all clearly showing on Fuutarou's face
"Fuutarou-san, what's on your mind?" Mutsumi asked, placing her hand near her mouth before drinking from her glass. "You've been making that face ever since you got here. Are you stressed?" She snuck in a glance towards Miku, along with a small twitch of her brow.
"There's something we'd like to give you..." Miku said, getting looks from her other sisters.
"Isn't it a bit early for that?" Nino asked. To that, Mutsumi signaled to her with her fingers.
"Everyone, let's go to the other room. Mutsumi-chan, keep him company will you." Ichika winked, walking away and shutting the door behind them.
"Raiha-chan, can we have some privacy for a bit. Five minutes." Mutsumi asked nicely, tilting her head to the child who looked to back and forth between her and Fuutarou's faces before smiling slightly and heading to the quintuplets' bathroom.
"Alright, spill. You haven't been yourself. You've been looking around the place all this time, all with that look plastered on your face." Mutsumi slammed her hand on the kotatsu, looking directly at the tutor. With her other hand, she grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer to her face. "...you're a nice guy, Fuutarou-san, but you're easy to read." She loosened her grip, now grasping his shirt with both hands. "You don't have to feel guilty...we'll be fine. This isn't your...well it kinda is your fault but..." Mutsumi finally let go. "It's not...entirely your fault."
"It's not just that." Fuutarou twirled his hair with his fingers. "Sorry for getting you sick." He looked away, looking at the door with the other sisters just as they screamed.
"How obscene!"
"You were thinking the same thing too!"
"I told you. I'm feeling better. Fit as a fiddle." Mutsumi stood up, cracking her knuckles as Raiha came back over to the kotatsu. "I'll go check on them."
"W-We can't, Fuutarou..." Miku was curled in the corner as Mutsumi walked into the room. "Stop...actually, don't stop. No, you should stop." She muttered as Mutsumi leaned down and parked her face a few inches away from hers.
"Kinky~" Mutsumi teased, suddenly grabbing her sister's shoulders and snapping her out of her daydream. "Miku, I've been waiting all this time, come with me. Let's run away~" She lowered her voice, trying to copy the tutor's; Miku turned crimson.
"How about we make him dessert or something?" Ichika suggested, her voice coming from the huddle of red in the room. "Nino could probably do something quickly, right?"
"Desserts..." Nino's head lowered. "No...I had finally forgotten about it..." She muttered, but her intention of not making dessert still came across.
"Do you have any suggestions, Mutsumi?" Itsuki turned to her as she sat with the others.
"Why not ask him yourself. I'm not really close to him, so I probably won't be any help." Mutsumi sighed, leaning against the wall before standing up. "Or maybe give him the thing we planned before, he's pretty bummed so anything'll cheer 'im up." She joked, getting up and opening the door as a set of footsteps rushed towards her.
"Don't move." Fuutarou rushed up to her as the door swung open, his body blocking her path. The tables have turned, Fuutarou's face now inches away from Mutsumi's. Mutsumi's eyes widened, her face became flushed as the shock sent her stumbling backwards. "No. It's not Mutsumi's!" Fuutarou yelled as the poor girl's legs gave out from under her.
She fell, her hands going up to her lips before she checked her temperature. The sisters peered at the Uesugi, currently engrossed in fukuwarai. Yotsuba excitedly ran over to see how they were doing while Nino and Miku helped Mutsumi back onto her feet. She steadied herself just as Yotsuba sat beside Fuutarou.
"Ah, Uesugi-san, there's cream on your face." The bunny leaned over, planting her lips on his cheek. Space time seemed to freeze, the whole world became turned upside down. "That kiss on the cheek right now was thanks for being our tutor..." Mutsumi felt a chill on her right as the third sister seemed to exude a sinister air.
"Scary..." Mutsumi thought, shuffling slightly away.
"Regarding that... with our current circumstances, we are unable to compensate you so..." Itsuki stepped forward, trying to change the subject.
"Come on now, you should've told me sooner. You have more important things to worry about. I'm doing this because I want to. Don't worry about the money..." He said, nearly bringing a smile to the sisters' faces. "...you can pay me after you've made it big." Nearly... "IN EXCHANGE, MAKE SURE YOU KEEP A PROPER TALLY OF EVERYTHING! 5000 YEN PER PERSON PER DAY! NOT A SINGLE YEN LESS!"
"Why you.." Mutsumi clenched her fist, stomping past him and grabbing the back of his collar. "Learn to read the mood!" She dragged him outside, locking the door after throwing him out. She began laughing as Raiha looked out the window, chuckling at everything.
After cooling off, one of them eventually let him back in. They spent a few more hours together, eating and celebrating. Mutsumi pulled out her robotic snake from a bag and set it on the table. She pulled out her phone, attempting to boot up her program. "Damn, I forgot to put the program into this one." She grit her teeth, walking over to her things to get a laptop out before plugging her phone into it. Raiha curiously walked over, getting view of the screen in time for Mutsumi to pull up the code for the serpent. She pressed a button, sending the machine slithering up Fuutarou's leg.
"Hey it's getting late, we should probably head home soon." Fuutarou said, slowly inching away from the toy as Raiha began to direct it after him.
"Let's take a photo at least!" Yotsuba exclaimed. "Mutsumi you take it." Her eyes sparkled, leaving no room for argument. Mutsumi sighed, setting the laptop aside and getting up onto a chair and raising her phone up. She pulled out the camera app, eyes quickly darting to the small square that showed what would be her gallery; it was blank. She stared at it for a while. "Mutsumi?"
"Oh yeah! Smile!" Mutsumi scrambled, getting everyone into frame before winking at the camera. She hopped down, showing everyone who then asked for the photo. "Take care!" Mutsumi waved as the sun began setting, bathing the black haired siblings in an orange light as they walked home. She put her hand down, pulling out her phone.
"Mutsumi, got a moment?"
"Yotsuba? That was pretty bold of you earlier, huh?" Mutsumi turned, seeing Yotsuba shut the door behind her as she joined Mutsumi on the stairs. She touched her fingers to her lips.
"Hehehe...you think?" The fourth sister chuckled, scratching the back of her neck. "I just couldn't help it."
"Well, you have known him for so long..." Mutsumi glanced back at the phone in her hand. "...I'm kinda jealous."
"Jealous? Don't tell me you like him too."
"No. I'm jealous that you remembered him all this time...people I've met oversees seemed to...forget about me quickly."
"Mutsumi. Uhm...I don't really know what to say." She said, giving out a forced laugh. "But even while you were gone, we kept thinking of you." She said, looking up at the sky. Wordlessly, Mutsumi's arms reached around and pulled her sister into an embrace, resting her head on Yotsuba's shoulder.
"Thank you..." Mutsumi said, letting go and entering the apartment. She looked to her side, finding a familiar bottle along with a glass of water on the kotatsu. She shook the bottle, the final pill rolling around before she opened it and downed it along with the water. She stared at the bottle for a moment, all those hours of testing finally over...
Tossing it into the garbage, she joined Miku and Ichika, setting her futon down and sleeping beside them.
A/N: Apologies if the latter part was kinda thrown together haphazardly. Things've been tough in recent days. Hopefully I'll get out of the rut soon