"Where am I?" Mutsumi thought as she sat up, feeling a wooden floor with her fingers as she set her hands on the floor. It was dark, quiet, and slightly cold to the touch. She tried looking around, her eyes finding nothing beyond the black void that sucked her vision away. "Hello?" She called out for a response, her voice echoing in the emptiness.
"Mutsumi..." Yotsuba's voice replied as the door creaked open, letting light stream through the opening and illuminating Mutsumi's body. The sixth sister trembled, gazing apologetically with her lip quaking uncontrollably.
"Yotsuba...I-I'm sorry..." The youngest of the sextuplets pulled up her sheets, hiding her face from the fourth. Yotsuba's footfalls halted as if she was just standing there. "Please don't hurt me..." Mutsumi muttered, shutting her eyes tightly as she bent forward and hugged her knees. A surge of footsteps broke the silence as Mutsumi felt pressure around her body squeeze inwards. She gasped, losing her breath as she felt her lungs forcefully push out the air inside of them. Struggling and squirming, trying to escape before Yotsuba crushed her; Mutsumi shook wildly, throwing off the sheets that covered her face. Yotsuba buried her head in her shoulder, concealing her face as she tightened her grip. "Can't breathe...it hurts..." Mutsumi stammered out as she felt her elbows dig into her sides.
"I'm sorry..." Yotsuba said, loosening her grip but not letting go. "I'm so sorry." She continued, resting her weight against Mutsumi's body.
"Yotsuba..." Mutsumi turned her head seeing Yotsuba's head jump up and down as the fourth sister sobbed softly. "You were right...I'm sorry..." Mutsumi returned the gesture, embracing her sister as the two rocked back and forth as Yotsuba finally pulled away. Faint trails of water streaked down from her eyes dried slightly by the fabric on her sleeve. Mutsumi looked at her sisters face through her own watery eyes, noticing a red line run down her cheek and wiping it away with her hand. "I...should not have told him...at least not without asking you first."
"...Mutsumi, how are you feeling?" Yotsuba asked, bringing the thought of her health to Mutsumi's mind. Emotions had subsided, or at the very least they had been contained, allowing for Mutsumi to think. Her head bobbed around, wobbling side to side as she felt her skull throb because of her deep thoughts.
"My head hurts..." She placed a hand on the side of her head to steady herself, forcing out a smile. "But I think I'm..." She paused, feeling her hand touch wet cloth. She shifted her attention to the appendage, finding out only at that point, that it was tinted red. "Okay...maybe I'm not in as good a shape as I thought." She ground her teeth together, sucking air through the gaps to make a slightly worried sound.
"I'm sorry...I shou-" Yotsuba felt Mutsumi's finger press against her lips.
"Yotsuba...I forgive you...I never faulted you for that night..." Mutsumi said, looking around the room once more now that it had been lit up. Beside her futon were a few things that explained her situation slightly. A bowl of water, some towels, a roll of gauze, and some medicine. "Do you...forgive me?"
Her sister nodded slowly, then she met Mutsumi's gaze. The two said nothing afterwards, savouring this silence as they worldlessly shared the same sentiment. Following that, though the moment did last long enough for the two to bear smiles even as they sat together in silence, Mutsumi let out a short but pained grunt as she stammered back onto her feet.
"Where are you going?" Her sister asked, following her as she flipped on a lightswitch to finally see everything inside. This was her room, indicated by the mess that was her luggage that was the same as when Yotsuba rifled through it, yet her clothes were different. Gone was the dress and hat that she had borrowed from the Uesugi family, replaced by the inn's robes; her shoes and accessories were placed near her futon, to her relief. "You should rest."
"I'll be fine. Actually, what time is it?" Mutsumi asked as she put on some slippers. She looked out, seeing the moon in all its glory above the roof of the building.
"Almost midnight, which is why..." Yotsuba replied, getting up herself and walking to block the door with her body. "You should sleep. I'm not letting you leave." She extended her arms out, shutting her eyes in defiance to her sister's idea as she widened her stance. Mutsumi stared blankly at her sister, cupping Yotsuba's cheeks with her hands. "Ehh? What are you doing?" The fourth spoke in a shocked tone as the sixth rested her forehead on hers.
"Yotsuba, please? It's just a short walk." Mutsumi pleaded, but Yotsuba was vehemently denying it. The youngest sister sighed, taking a step back and sitting down on her futon. "Fine, you win, you win." She raised her arms in surrender, patting the floor beside her and gesturing for Yotsuba to join her. "I know it makes me sound like a jerk, but I'm going to stop saying sorry, at least for tonight."
"What? Why?" Yotsuba asked, pouting slightly. "Does that mean you're not sorry?"
"No. It's because we both keep apologizing and not getting anywhere." Mutsumi said matter of factly. "What...what happened that night...what did you do after that?"
"Well...once I calmed down I went back, but you weren't there anymore..." They conversed as time flew by. The silence of the room just minutes prior seemed like a distant memory now that it was replaced with the jovial banter post reconciliation. Yotsuba, after thoroughly enjoying her younger sister's company yet again, left the room to allow Mutsumi to sleep in silence; Mutsumi didn't sleep.
Once her sister had vacated the room, Mutsumi dressed her feet yet again and silently snuck around the building's hallways. From her floor's elevated perspective, peering into the courtyard, she saw her grandfather conversing with the doctor that she called her father. Choosing to not get stopped by a medical professional and a caring old man, she decided to remain out of their sight as she exited the premises of the inn.
The night air was cold, the wind blowing against her skin and sending chills all over her body. Shivering, Mutsumi pushed forward, walking out until she saw the tides below. The mountain was silent, save for the chirping of a handful of insect species and the calls of a few nocturnal birds. Absentmindedly, she went for a short journey down the path that leads back to the base of the mountain. She had some time to enjoy the scenery earlier with Raiha, but this is the first time that she had a serene moment with herself and nature. The clouds above framed the moon, the stars twinkling as she felt the breeze blow her hair to the side, the town below illuminating the bottom of her vision as the reflections of all three were displayed on the water that surrounded the island.
"Why did you want to meet with me here Nino?" Fuutarou's voice cut through the ambience, getting Mutsumi's full attention as she slowed her gate. Mutsumi paused, wondering if eavesdropping is a good idea.
"It's about what I said at the cake shop. You see, I..." Nino was...contemplative? She spoke slowly, carefully, and emotionally; the silence of night giving more weight to her words.
"So, Nino's making another move. Good for her." Mutsumi thought to herself, turning away and starting to walk back to the inn. "It's none of my business. Good luck sis." She said to herself before she shot one final gaze out to sea.
"Oh, hi guys." Mutsumi smiled, waving her hand weakly at Nino and Fuutarou, who were standing in front of the bell of vows. Her lips trembled as her other hand moved to her chest. "What are you two doing out here?"
"M-Mutsumi? You're awake!" Nino turned with genuine shock on her face, hiding the slight bit of irritation and disappointment that showed in the way her eyes moved. "How are you feeling?"
"A bit better." Mutsumi smiled, tilting her head as she lied through her teeth. "Was I interrupting something?" Feigning curiosity, the youngest sister glanced back and forth between the two of them. "Why am I doing this? I should be walking back and snoozing!" She thought to herself, hiding her internal struggle with a smile.
"No. N-Nothing at all." Nino was flustered, clear to tell by the tone of her voice and the hue of her cheeks. "Fuu-kun, let's talk another time." She said, turning to him with the most alluring eyes she could make. She stomped away, wanting to glare at Mutsumi but holding herself back due to Mutsumi's condition. After all, it was an accident that her sister saw them, or so she thought.
"What are you doing out here?" Fuutarou asked the moment the two were alone together. "Shouldn't you be sleeping?"
"You're no fun, you know." Mutsumi pouted, crossing her arms and huffing as she walked to his side.
"As chaotic as ever, I see." The two looked at the horizon, seeing boats and the faint lights of the city skyline back home.
"Care to chat, Fuutarou-san?" She turned to him with a cheerful smile. "After all, my problem is over so we can breathe easy."
Fuutarou sighed, his attention being grabbed by Mutsumi's bloody bandages frequently. "Again, why are you here?"
"Just out for a nightly stroll, it's comforting tonight, isn't it?" Mutsumi said softly, smiling as her eyes gazed towards the tutor. His face accentuated by the stars in the sky behind him, his hair blowing gently with the weak breeze blowing through. Fuutarou turned back to gaze down at the cliff, smiling as he takes in the beauty of the lit-up town below. His smile, his caring nature, they made Mutsumi's face burn up as she felt her pulse speed up. "Am I..." She wondered to herself, enjoying the moment of calm between the two of them, perhaps enjoying it a bit too much.
"It is, I'll enjoy it while I can. The fake Itsuki is still at large, though; I have to find out tomorrow." He said, seriousness returning to his tone. For a moment Mutsumi thought of revealing the identity of that sister to him, but he's made it this far.
"I'm sure you can do it." She said, prying her eyes away from him and resting her upper body against the railing of the cliff face. "After all, gramps taught us the secret, right?"
"Yeah. I already have a hunch." He said as a small smirk formed. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
"No problem..." She said, the wind brushing past both of them. "By the way, I'm sorry about the perfume. It was your mom's..."
"Right..." Fuutarou's tone implied that he'd forgotten about it until the girl he was with reminded him of it. He then paused, contemplating his next choice of words. "Don't mind it..." He said, but his face showed his pained heart as he forced the words out of his mouth. Mutsumi's heart sank, taking a few steps closer to him.
"Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" She turned to him. Her hand instinctively grabbed his wrist as the other pressed itself against his chest. She advanced on him further, backing him up against the side pillar of the bell. "Perhaps...this legend...being with you for the rest of our lives...would be enough to make up for those priceless memories."
"Mutsumi...what are you doing?" Fuutarou looked shocked, panicking as if he was staring down the barrel of a gun. Mutsumi moved her hands to hold his head, cupping him as if she was holding a heavy bowl. "Stop thi-mmpphh" He shut his eyes as he felt something press up against his lips. It was soft to the touch, pressing against his with gentle pressure as he was pushed against the structure. He forced himself to open his eyes, meeting with Mutsumi's smirking face as the blonde removed her fingers from his lips.
"You're blushing!" She teased as Fuutarou pushed himself upright. "The look on your face was priceless! Man, I wish I had my phone on me!" She laughed. She laughed so loud that she sent a few birds flying from the woods nearby.
"You're evil." He groaned, furrowing his brow while smiling jokingly.
"In all seriousness, I have to thank you. You've done so much for us, for me. So..." Mutsumi turned, bowing down in a display of thanks. "Thank you for everything." She said as she took a few steps towards him and wrapped her arms around his waist, burying her face in his chest. He squirmed due to his discomfort, not knowing what to do in this situation.
"A-Alright...you can let go now." He muttered, looking away as his face turned a pale shade of pink. "This is so unlike you." He commented, which Mutsumi took as the sign to release him.
"That's mean, you know. I'm more than just teasing and playful punches." She groaned, wrapping her elbows around the railing as she leaned with her back against it. "I'll wash everything and give it back to you as soon as I can." She said, staring up at the sky. Silence followed her words, giving her time to think things over. She loved these moments of respite, the feeling of calm playfulness around him, and how she feels her chest flutter in his presence. "By the way..."
"What is it?"
"I love you, Fuutarou-san." She said, kicking off from the railings and walking back to the inn slowly. "I know with all my heart that this feeling is love." She said, stopping and giving him a smile as she turned her body to face him. His expression was that of surprise, yet it felt as if the meaning of her words had flown over his head. "That's so like him..." She thought before she continued back up the path. She was surrounded by silence for the rest of the night, feeling slumber approach her as the night's cold air fought the warmth of her chest and cheeks. Thus, the second day concluded. Mutsumi awoke on the third with a smile on her face and a fresh set of bandages wrapped around her head; she had an inkling of who changed them while she slept.