Itsuki, Yotsuba, and Mutsumi stood in the living room while exchanging glances between themselves. "What about?" The sixth asked, setting her things aside as she made her way to the couch. The fourth sister joined her sitting by her side while Itsuki made her way into the kitchen.

"So, you're really over Fuutarou-kun?" She asked, turning her head and finding a chuckling redhead.

"Yeah. No lingering feelings here." Mutsumi continued to laugh, only getting Yotsuba to stare at her more intensely. "I'm serious, sis. You can relax."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, absolutely. There's no reason for me to get in between you two." She tried to get her sister's eyes off of her, thinking of another topic to ease the tension as she continued laughing. "Anyway, I heard from Itsuki. Congrats on that university thing. It seems perfect for you." She said, standing up to get some water.

"How are you and Tsubaki-chan?"

Everyone within earshot froze, including Itsuki who was searching the fridge for something to eat. "What's going on between the two of them?" The fifth sister asked, her uptake as slow as it was with Miku's attraction to Fuutarou. "They are just friends, are they not?"

"That's what I've been trying to tell her!" Mutsumi yelled, using Itsuki's statement to further her point. "Anyway, the two of us are getting along, I guess. Why are you asking?"

"I was just curious." The fourth sister walked over to Mutsumi, whispering into her ear. "Good luck. I'm rooting for you."

"Yotsuba!" The sixth sister's face turned red, watching as Yotsuba returned to the sofa and began watching TV. "There's nothing going on! I... argh!" She stormed off, locking herself in her room and burying her face in her pillows. "What's up with me? I wasn't like this while I had feelings for Fuutarou-san... was I?" She asked herself, flailing her legs before she turned and started staring at the ceiling.

"Mutsumi-san? Hello?" Days passed with Mutsumi's mind still mulling over her feelings. "Mutsumi-san, the bell rang. How long are you going to just sit there?" A hand passed her vision, getting her attention as she looked up at its owner.

"Sorry, Yuusuke-san. Did you need anything?" Mutsumi asked, looking around at the nearly empty classroom. "Where is everyone?"

"Going home. What's been going on with you?" Takeda pulled out the seat beside Mutsumi's desk, the feet skidding against the floor as he arranged it to face her. "You've been staring off into space for the past few days, did something happen?"

"It's just, something's on my mind. I can't seem to concentrate." The redhead spoke openly, slowly packing up whatever was on top of her desk.

"I see. Well, I can't have that." He replied, crossing his legs and posing like the thinker statue. "After all, a rival that poses no challenge is useless."

"Hey!"

"Is it something regarding your sisters? Maybe Uesugi-kun?" He leaned forward, smiling as they were finally left to their lonesome. Mutsumi shook her head, looking at her phone as she bit her lip in confusion.

"Hey, Yuusuke-san. Do you have anyone you like?"

"What's this all of a sudden? I thought that you were interested in... no, after all, he's already made his choice." Taken aback, Takeda leaned back. "As for your question, not at the moment. Does this mean that you intend to court m-"

"Don't get your hopes up." Mutsumi shot him down before he could even get off of the ground. "I just don't know what this feeling is. And I was hoping that you'd be able to give me some advice."

"I see. Well, seeing as I don't have much experience, I'd suggest asking Matsui or one of your sisters. Who is it, if you don't mind me asking?" Takeda asked as the door opened up behind him.

"Takeda, the director is calling for you," Maeda said, leaning against the doorway as the two students inside rose to their feet. Takeda nodded, bidding Mutsumi farewell before going to his father's office. "Was I interrupting something?"

"Not really. Hey, Maeda-san, did you confess to Matsui yet?" Mutsumi walked up to him, finding his face perplexed as he looked down on her figure.

"What did you say?! I don't... why you!" He said, his face turning red. "Who told you?"

"It was kind of obvious. I heard that you even wanted to give her some takoyaki during the festival."

"Takeda! You're a dead man!" Maeda clenched his fist, waving it in the air as Mutsumi stood there, waiting.

"So, I take it that you haven't." Mutsumi shifted her weight over to one side, walking with Maeda as the two made their way toward the exit of the school. "You know, she like you. Just take a shot. Want me to set you up with another group date so you won't have as hard of a time." She suggested, pulling out her phone and looking at the app as the two of them made their way to a staircase.

"Nah. There's no way. With how mad she gets when she tutors me, it's impossible for her to like me." Maeda looked down the next hall, taking a few steps back as another student crossed their path. "Matsui-san! Hey! Fancy meeting you here!" He bumbled, turning into a dunce in front of the two girls.

"Maeda-kun. You're still here?" Matsui stopped for a few seconds, looking up at his face before she turned on her heel and started to quickly walk away.

"What happened to the two of you? Where did all of that confidence go?" Before she could get out of earshot, Mutsumi raised her voice in order to keep here there. "I mean, you both like each other, why don't you two just start going out?"

"Eh!? That's impossible, there's no way..." Both of them turned their attention toward the redhead. "Come with me!" But Matsui had something else in mind, grabbing Mutsumi by the arm and pulling her away.

"What were you thinking?" She asked, dragging the redhead clear across the school. "Why would you tell him that?"

"Why haven't you?" Mutsumi fired back. "Let me ask you something. What do you feel when you talk to Maeda-san?"

"What I feel? Well, my face gets hot and my heart feels like it's about to explode." Matsui answered, slightly confused by the question. "I love him."

"Then why would you wait any longer? If you love him, then tell him! Do you know how many times I told Fuutarou-san that I loved him?" Mutsumi grabbed her friend's shoulders, gripping them tightly as she tried to get her point across.

"Didn't he pick Yotsuba-san though?"

"... Ignore that." Mutsumi powered through, unfazed. "What matters is that I got my feelings across, right!? Right!"

"But what if he doesn't like me..."

"He does, trust me! Now come on and tell him!" The redhead took hold of Mutsumi's wrists, stomping back to where they left Maeda. "Now, say it. I have to go."

"So pushy..." Matsui mumbled, watching Mutsumi walk off toward the exit of the school. "Anyway, Maeda-kun..."

The sixth sister started walking home, not having anything to do until someone called out to her as she reached an intersection by a mall. "Mutsumi-chan! Hey!" Tsubaki yelled, waving her arm over her head to get the redhead's attention. For a moment, Mutsumi was stunned; why now? She reluctantly walked over, looking at her friend curiously.

"Yo."

"So, I was looking for a new camera... and I found this!" Tsubaki reached out for something inside a shopping bag. It was a DSLR camera like the one that Isanari owned. "So, I was thinking of taking some pictures to practice. Are you free this weekend?" She asked, gesturing with the camera as if she was taking a photo of Mutsumi.

"I guess I have nothing else planned, why not." Mutsumi agreed, fiddling with her fingers behind her back as her face slowly started to heat up. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because you're really good at it!" Tsubaki returned the camera to its container, grabbing Mutsumi's hands in her own. "Hex-san is like, my idol!"

"R-Really... you're making me blush." She said, awkwardly laughing as she looked into Tsubaki's eyes. "A-Anyway, I have to go! I'm very busy today. I'll see you in class tomorrow." The sixth sister ran off in the direction of the apartment building, leaving Tsubaki stumped.

"So this is what Takebayashi-chan said when she talked about the old Mutsumi..."

She arrived home, falling onto the couch while placing her hand on her chest to check her pulse. "Argh! What's going on?" She sighed, hearing the clack of heels from the door to the room.

"I'm home." Nino's voice came from the entrance of the apartment. Mutsumi popped her head over the back of the couch, greeting her sister as if she was a gofer popping out of the dirt. "Hey, Mutsumi."

"Nino, don't have work today?" Mutsumi asked as Nino set her things down. The second sister shook her head as she walked to the sofa and reached out for the remote of their TV. "Hey, want to watch something together while we wait for the others?"

"What do you have in mind?" Nino asked, handing the sixth sister the remote and watching as she flipped over to one of the ongoing romance dramas airing. "Oh, this one? You watch this too?"

"No. But I heard it was good." The two of them leaned back, watching as the characters on screen walked toward a fireworks festival.

"Oh, come on!" Nino yelled out, gesturing with her hands at the screen as the episode played out. "Why is it always drowned out by the fireworks!?" Groaning as the end of episode credits started scrolling across the screen, Nino huffed and crossed her arms.

"What would you do if that happened?" Mutsumi asked, pulling one of the couch's pillows up and hugging it between her arms and legs. "Hypothetically speaking, of course."

"I'd just say it again," Nino said bluntly, walking over to the kitchen to make some popcorn. "If I feel something, I'm going to make it known."

"Why am I not surprised?" Mutsumi joked, putting her hand to her face as she started to think. "Thanks, Nino. I have to go somewhere. See you later." She said, going to her room to get changed for a small stroll. She left the apartment shortly after their conversation, walking to a familiar place. "Uesugi-senpai!"