Burning The Midnight Oil

by Ni'Rala vas Qwib Qwib

One small case of good intentions can bring forth spectacular change, or unmitigated disaster. Or both, in their case. But if things don't all come crashing down, the night might just belong to them. FutaroXNino. Rated for smut/erotica. (Arc 1: 1-14; Arc 2: 15-31; Arc 3: 32-present)

30. Reflections

Burning The Midnight Oil

Chapter 30

Reflections

~Futaro~

"Hang in there, gotta tighten it up..."

"Hurk!"

"There, you're all set," his father said as he finished straightening Futaro's tie. It wasn't that Futaro couldn't do it himself. He'd read the steps somewhere, though where exactly he couldn't recall. He could tie a tie like an astronomer charting the constellations. But his father did it like a painter capturing them.

"It's a bit tight," Futaro muttered.

"The salaryman's yoke my boy."

"Is this really necessary?"

"Of course!" Raiha cried as she straightened his jacket like an aspiring seamstress. "Did you see the way their dad wore that tie? That man knows his ties. He's the kind of man who won't respect a guy who can't work a tie."

"A well-done tie is the least of my worries. At least, as long as I can still breathe." He ran his fingers inside his collar, but his father slapped them away.

"Easy, you'll mess up the look."

Futaro rolled his eyes and rubbed his hand. He was about to retort how only those with too little to think about worried about their look, hesitating as he realized what he risked implying about his girlfriend, when the doorbell rang.

Raiha, as if her arch of hair was an antenna receiving a signal, instantly knew what that meant and said, "I'll get it!" She threw open the door and threw herself at the girl.

"Yotsuba!"

"Raiha!"

There was so much love at the door Futaro wasn't sure he'd make it out alive.

His father chuckled, "Let's give them a minute, huh?"

"You'd think she didn't come for anything else."

His father waved the thought away and leaned in closer to his son. He asked, "Feeling alright?"

'Fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"It's a big step, is all."

"Not really."

"Oh? You're sure of that?"

"It's hardly my first time meeting him. It can't be any worse than when you met Nino."

"Oh you'd be surprised. I remember the night your mother introduced me to your grandma and grandpa."

"I remember, she told us. Things broke."

"Good time, the lot of 'em."

"Grandpa would've broken your bones if you hadn't run."

"It's all funny in hindsight. The challenge is getting that far ahead of it. So just remember it's okay to be worried."

"Dad, one more time: I'm not worried. It will be fine."

"Huh. Well you're a good kid, and she's a good girl for you. I wouldn't be worried."

Futaro almost smiled, "I know you think-"

"I say I wouldn't, you see," his father began, "Because that guy...well, I love your mom. I really love your mom. But if that was her dad, I think you and Raiha would've needed a few extra miracles to be born."

"Thanks, dad. That makes me feel so much better."

He shrugged, "Hey, a younger me would've fried. But you're not like me, so I think you got what it takes."

Yotsuba screamed, "Futaro! Hurry up, we're gonna be late!"

His father hugged him again and said, "Knock 'em dead!"

Futaro wanted to know where that saying came from, it seemed counterproductive. "Will do."

He slipped into his shoes and greeted Yotsuba outside. She carefully looked him over like a celebrity guest judging a cooking show and said, "Oh, you're ready?"

"Yup, let's go."

"Okay, you sure that's...I mean you..."

Futaro glared, "Something wrong with my outfit?"

"Oh no! It's great! Just, ah..."

He rolled his eyes. Did she think he kept a closet full of tuxedos or something? It was his father's from an old job waiting tables at some fancy hotel before he was fired for talking back to a belligerent suit. They'd done their best to make it fit. It felt like dressing a kitten in a lion's skin. If their father was put off by that, he should've raised his pay long ago.

"Staring won't make it any better, Yotsuba. Let's go."

He hugged Raiha and followed Yotsuba down the stairs to the waiting car. He noted the man waiting by the door. "What's his name again?"

"Mister Ebata."

"And he's here to..."

"He's daddy's chauffeur."

"I appreciate the effort, but this is a bit much."

He must have heard because he said, "Not at all, I'm quite happy to provide my services to Mister Nakano's daughters, and to you on their behalf, sir."

Sir? He'd never been called that before. He didn't know if it was the title or hearing it from a man three times his age, but it fit him as well as his tuxedo. He followed Yotsuba into the familiar rear of the car. He paused and wondered where to sit. The coach was roomier than some bedrooms, the kind where everything was within arm's reach. It was roomier without five girls crowding all that leather. He settled across from Yotsuba.

"I don't think I've ever seen you in a gown." He wouldn't call it a dress. It would be like calling Mount Fuji an anonymous hill.

Yotsuba threw her arms out and beamed, "Thanks! I bought this before we left for the new place and never got a chance to wear it, and I really wanted to. So I was so excited when we were getting ready and I saw it. But then I wondered if it would fit since it's been so long and I thought we must've grown. I thought I missed my chance to show it off. I was so sad. But I tried it on anyways and it fit great! In fact we all fit into our old clothes. Itsuki got kinda sad because that means we haven't grown much and she wants us to get taller. But I'm fine since it means I can wear this tonight."

Futaro nodded along, stopping when Yotsuba got serious. It was like nodding off in a movie and missing a few key frames. "No then, down to business. We made a list of dos and don'ts for the night. I promised Nino we'd run through it. First-"

"Wait, you're serious? You made a list?"

"Yes!" She said as she dropped a stack of papers in his lap. It was so thick that the poor paperclip strained keeping it together.

"That's some list."

"Thanks! Do you have any idea how hard it was making something so compli-oh, you definitely do. Well it took us half the night and I wanna brag about it so I'm gonna do it. We know how important this dinner is, so we want you to have everything you need to succeed. Now daddy has some very strict standards both at and away from the dinner table. We'll start with page four-."

"Pause."

"What?"

Futaro waved her off, "I appreciate the thought. But we don't need a list."

Yotsuba blinked. "We don't need...you don't wanna study this?"

"Why would I?"

"...this is weird..."

"Let me see this."

Futaro casually leafed through the papers. As he suspected it was filled all manners and etiquette. Was this why they were arriving early? To give him a crash course in fine dining? After the section on table courtesies he found a section containing an analytical biography of their father that would impress his psychiatrist. Sun Tzu said know your enemy and fear not a thousand battles. Is that how the five of them were thinking this was going to go?

Still, he smiled, "You five worked hard on this, didn't you?"

"Of course! It's important."

"That's not what I mean. I can tell you put a lot of effort into this. It's like something I'd make for your assignments. You've come a long ways from when we first met."

Yotsuba blushed, then grinned, "Of course! Guess all your tutoring left an impression, huh?"

Futaro re-shuffled the papers and handed them back to a confused Yotsuba. "I got what I needed."

Yotsuba blanked, then blurted out, "Wait, we're not done yet! I brought props to practice!" Futaro watched as she pulled out a folding table from behind her back and presented it like a magician. "And I have salad plates and bread plates and dessert plates along with the regular dinner plates with different cutlery for every one of em', and it is very, very important that you know the difference."

"I've eaten dinner before, you know."

"Not like this you haven't."

"Yes, I have. You took me, remember?"

"When was-oh! That was months ago! You remember everything?"

"I remember how complicated ritsy-folk like to make something as simple as dinner."

"But our daddy's one of those ultra fancy-shmansy folk. You gotta know this!"

"And I do. I read a book about fine dining after you took me out."

"Oh. Of course you did. Probably more than one."

"Nah, not this time. Never thought I'd have to practice it before I had gray hair."

"Well fine then. But you still need to know about daddy."

"I do. What's there to worry about?"

"Check page seventeen! There are like, at least twenty things we can think of that need worry!"

"I saw. Look at it this way: your dad wanted me as far out of your lives as he could legally force me. He held his ground on this point for months while you five ran away. But now he's willing to go back on all that and give us a chance. That tells me all I need to know."

"And we gotta make the best of it. If you mess up, we might be right back to where we started. That's why we want you to know as much about him as possible."

Futaro shrugged, "What's left to know? This isn't your standard daughter's-boyfriend-meets-dad kind of meeting. It'd be one thing if we never met, but he was my employer, I spoke with him regularly. I know him and he knows me, there isn't anything important left to learn."

Yotsuba mulled his point like a challenging math problem and said, "That's true, but tonight-"

"Isn't going to change anyone's mind. He's either still set against me or willing to give us a chance. And since he helped me when Nino asked without actually expecting anything in return, I think I know which way he leans."

Yotsuba tilted her head, "And that is..."

Futaro scowled, "Do I look worried to you?"

"Are you absolutely sure you shouldn't be?"

"Yes." And he was. He read every clue like a fire suppression system testing the air and he wasn't catching smoke. All signs unmasked this dinner as a formality. Doors would open once this was over and he'd be back in their father's approval, however conditional it may be.

Yotsuba's lips folded like an unused scrunchie as she thought, "Hmm, I don't see it," she said. Then she shook her head and beamed like a well-oiled torch and said, "But that's why you're the smart one! You probably see something I can't. I'll leave it to you then."

Futaro grinned, knowing he'd make a believer of her in the end. Just like he'd done with the rest of her sisters as their tutor.

Mister Ebata parked the car near a familiar black obelisk of a building. Futaro used to dread walking inside as a tutor. He fueled every step with a reminder of his promised payday. Today wasn't so different; even if he was sure of the outcome he'd be a masochist to look forward to sitting down with that man. The payday was different too, and much more valuable.

"Young man, a word?"

Futaro turned as Yotsuba headed for the door. Mister Ebata stood on the other side of the car. He smiled and said, "I have worked in the young master's employ since before he adopted those five young ladies. I have watched them grow and they are precious to me. So I hope, for their sake perhaps more than yours, if you'll forgive me, that tonight's dinner proceeds in your favor.

"And if I may be so bold as to offer a word of advice. As you have learned about the young master through his employ, I have learned about you through mine. I am somewhat familiar with your behavior. It would be best for everyone if, should the young master make any seemingly unbecoming inference on your character or intentions, that you should think your response through carefully. You do have a habit to, oh how do I put this lightly, shoot from the hip, which I worry may make for uncomfortable dinner conversation. Even a marksman may miss when unprepared."

Unprepared? Mister Ebata didn't know him as well as he thought. He was always prepared with backups to his backups. And if the Doctor decided to address any so-called flaws with his person, well, that was a route he better avoid at risk of kettles calling pots black.

"Thank you, sir. I'll keep that in mind," he said.

Mister Ebata smiled and said, "I hope you do. Now I'll be off. I'll be bringing the young master from the hospital. I wish you well, young man." He bowed and drove away.

Futaro shook his head, wondering why everyone was so obsessed with doom-and-gloom. Was he the only one reading the signs? He wondered if Nino and Itsuki would inspect him as thoroughly as Yotsuba did when he stepped inside.

He walked towards the entrance where Yotsuba was waiting with anything but patience. She hopped for his attention like a ballerina, quite an achievement given the extravagance of her gown, and in high heels no less. No wonder the dance team broke half a dozen school rules trying to recruit her.

"Hurry! Hurry! They gotta get you prepped inside!"

Called it.

They rode the elevator and stepped inside their former home. He expected a wave of nostalgia as he stepped into the place he'd spent many months in the greatest struggle of his young life. What hit him instead was the smell. Not a nasty, pungent smell, no. This was an aroma, and aromas were always pleasant. It was the scent of a dozen hand-crafted dishes perfectly spiced and blending in the air like chemical warfare inducing waves of hunger on the enemy lines.

The sound was new, too. Not just the sound of mixer and spatulas clanging against pots and pans, but the vents on full blast to keep the fumes from leaving the kitchen. It felt more like an industrial smelter than a kitchen.

Yotsuba hollered, "I got him!"

"Get him ready!" Nino shouted from the kitchen.

Futaro slipped off his shoes and stepped inside their home. He first noted the dining table, already covered with colorful dishes. There were plates and cutlery and a carafe next to an unopened bottle of wine. The dining counter by the kitchen was already filled with almost a dozen dishes under heat lamps that could have fed as many people. Was he expected to eat for two? The table looked ready for serving and Futaro wondered why they were so busy in the kitchen.

Nino answered his question when she stormed out of the kitchen with a plate of fried fish. She shoved a plate of mixed vegetables and warm bread aside to make room. She clapped her hands and looked him over.

"That it?"

"What?"

"It'll do, I suppose."

"You're a bit under-dressed yourself," Futaro pointed out, noting her plain black dress under her apron.

"This," she motioned to her outfit, "is temporary. Because this," she pointed at the fish, "is smelly enough. I'll change in a minute. You'd know if you ever set foot in the kitchen."

"I have. Unless I spill something, it never involves a trip to the closet."

"Typical," Nino rolled her eyes.

"Rice is out," came the voice of the devil.

Ichika approached the table with a tray of covered rice bowls. She rounded the table setting one next to each plate. Futaro noted how she wore a similar simple black dress and apron. Nino once told him why she was the main cook in the family and how each of her sisters had a fatal flaw. Ichika wasn't afraid to step foot in the kitchen, the problem was she also couldn't wait to step out of it. Her meals were only given that title by the generous, meaning Yotsuba and no one else. Bowls of rice with an egg were an extravagance in her cooking, and bowls of cereal were more her forte. Anything over three steps were unheard of, and knives were a waste of effort when you could dump the vegetable whole in a pot without the fuss. Futaro had no idea she could prepare anything so complex as this feast even as part of a team. It couldn't have been easy for Nino to coordinate this many meals coming out hot at the right time.

But Futaro wasn't terribly curious about Ichika's sudden investment in the kitchen. He was more interested in discovering where her bravery came from that she dared to stand in the same room as him.

Ichika finally glanced his way, smiling tepidly, saying, "Welcome, Uesugi."

He gave no greeting, only his stare. He had no warmth to give this one. Not anymore.

Nino snapped her fingers in his face. She pointed, "No, none of that here. This is our home, no one tells my sister to leave." Nino was protective over her sisters as ever. Even he in his privileged place in her heart didn't warrant special treatment if he upset her sisters.

How can she forgive so quickly? Would he be so quick to forgive if it were Raiha blubbering regret after ruining his life? Maybe. He hoped he never had to find out. But Nino could, so he couldn't completely cut Ichika out of her life. But he could live with it for a night. Nino was worth any Ichika-related inconvenience. But she was to stay as far away as possible and avoid him unless absolutely necessary. He passed this in a glare and expected her to understand. She bowed her head, hiding sadness in her small smile, and he knew she read him clearly.

Itsuki slammed open the bathroom door, her dress falling off her shoulders, and said, "Switch! Someone zip me up!"

Nino swiveled faster than the laws of friction should allow and said, "Fuu's here!"

"Wa!" Itsuki screamed and slammed the door so hard Futaro felt it vibrate through the floor like an earthquake.

Yotsuba said, "Wow, it really does happen a lot around you."

Nino crossed her arms and huffed, "Ichika, go. Zip her up on the way." Ichika nodded and joined Itsuki in the bathroom. Nino returned to the kitchen and tossed the okra salad.

Futaro followed her in, asking, "Isn't this a bit extravagant?"

"It is the definition of extravagant. As it should be. You should be grateful."

"Never said I wasn't. Just worried there won't be enough room."

"That's not for you to worry about," Nino ordered, then raised her head and shouted, "Miku! Last call before dinner!"

Futaro followed her voice curiously. He'd missed the middle sister amid the kitchen in chaos. He heard Miku's door open and footsteps echo from the hallway. He only registered the second set of footsteps when Miku descended the stairs with her tutor.

Takeda waved magnificently, "Uesugi, so good to see you!"

"What is he doing here?" he asked.

Nino kept tossing salad and said mockingly as a rebellious primary student, "She'd rather study."

Miku said, "Pardon the intrusion. We're collecting snacks for our study session."

Futaro asked, "Oh. So, you're not joining us for dinner?"

Miku shook her head, "No, sorry. I, I don't think that would be a good idea. So I asked Takeda for extra tutoring. We won't get in your way."

"I see." Futaro said. He wanted to rely on Miku as much as she relied on him when he was still her tutor. But she wasn't ready for that. It stung worse than he expected, like a child learning the hard way why a wasp was to be feared. A part of him yearned for his time as an emotionless brick.

He said, "Well, I hope your studies are going well."

Takeda flinched, saying, "Oh, it's good. We're going swell! Just-just swell, Uesugi!"

That bad, huh?

Miku took some chips after handing Takeda glasses of juice. Nino forced a bag of her homemade cookies into her hands before leaving, saying, "Text me if you want something but don't want to come down. I'll bring it up when I can."

Miku said, "There's no need. But thanks," and left with Takeda.

Nino scowled as they left, folding her arms over her chest, "I couldn't believe it when she told me she wasn't coming. I all but begged her, then I actually begged her. She won't come."

Futaro said, "It's my fault."

"Yes, it is."

"Ow. No need to be so direct."

She shrugged, "You should've noticed her. She tried her best for so long to get you to notice her and think of her like a girl. Sure, I know now you couldn't, you literally didn't have it in you. But still. I can't blame her for not wanting to be around you."

No, maybe he couldn't either. He spent months reaching through to the five of them. Miku spent even longer tiptoeing around him like a shy house cat wanting attention. If he'd failed after so much effort, maybe he'd do the same.

Nino poked his cheek. "Chin up, we'll deal with her later."

Futaro blinked, nodding, "Guess so."

She grabbed his tie, "Hold still, it's gone crooked."

Futaro gagged as she straightened his tie like a hangman securing a noose. "Watch it, I can barely breathe in this thing as it is."

"Oh boo hoo. This isn't half as bad as what girls put up with."

"You do that to yourselves."

"Don't go there, Fuu. This is one can of worms you wanna kept sealed and forgotten." She grinned, "Besides, you look good with a tie. You should wear one more often."

Really? Well maybe a tie wasn't such a burden after all. He smiled awkwardly, "Really? You think so."

Her smirk deepened like a yawning chasm of mischief. Darn her, she knew she had him. She leered closer and said, "Yup. You make a fine upstanding gentlemen. We're gonna look so good together. Plus," she checked the area. Yotsuba was smelling the banquet at the counter and Itsuki was standing sentry for their father by the door. She nodded when the coast was clear and said, "I get to do this."

She pulled his tie, forcing his head down, and kissed him quickly. She pulled away and said, "I always wanted to try that."

Futaro breathed, smirking, "You can always ask. I won't say no."

"Sometimes I like taking what's mine," Nino winked and did it again.

"Ahem," Ichika cleared her throat, an unwelcome signal for the two to break apart. "I'm all set. Nino, bathroom's all yours."

Nino blushed, brushing Futaro's tie straight on his shirt and leaving for the bathroom.

Ichika watched her go, then told Futaro, "If you like, you can wait until-"

Futaro joined Yotsuba at the counter. She looked like a race horse waiting for the starting gun. "Look at it, Futaro. Just look. Isn't it beautiful?"

"It's food."

"The best food! We haven't eaten like this since December! I used to dream about pork cutlet and now we actually get it! We all need to get boyfriends just so we can introduce them to daddy and have more wonderful feasts!"

"You know your sisters broke their backs to make this, right?"

"It'll be worth every effort. You'll see."

Futaro had another remark about their expensive tastes that never saw the light of day, because Itsuki screamed, "He's coming up!"

Futaro heard a rummaging inside the bathroom. Nino called out, "I need help!" Ichika and Yotsuba ran inside and thirty seconds later they emerged. Nino called, "Places, everyone!"

"We have places?" Futaro asked.

"Yes. You. Here. No, here. To my right. Good. Now wait."

The five stood at the door waiting for it to open. Futaro whispered to Nino, "So you can get ready quickly."

"Zip it, Fuu." She glared at him, her eyes dropping to his neck. "Your tie's gone crooked again."

"Who's fault is that?"

Nino rolled her eyes and fixed it. Futaro gagged, he was sure she worked rougher than she had to.

The door chimed as a key card unlocked it. What happened next Futaro could only call a ceremony. The sisters bowed in unison as the door swung open, Nino slapping Futaro's back so he followed suit in surprise, and said, "Welcome home, father!"

Their father left his umbrella in the stand by the door and removed his sports jacket, which Yotsuba sprang to take. He said, "It's good to see you all home again. Where is Miku?"

Ichika said, "She's upstairs, studying."

"I see. Well you ladies look lovely." He turned to Futaro, saying, "Uesugi."

"Father."

"Don't call me that. I'll wash up and join you at the table."

Nino led Futaro and her sisters to the table where she'd already planned seating arrangements. Futaro sat on the middle on one side with Nino on his left and Yotsuba to his right. Ichika and Itsuki sat around the empty seat on the other, the middle reserved for their father. He emerged from the restroom and took his place.

He observed the spread and said, "You truly went all out. I imagine you must have worked on this meal all day."

"Oh, it was nothing," Nino insisted as she served the salad and soup. Ichika and Itsuki looked at their raw hands and silently asked if that was 'nothing'.

Their father said, "You all must be hungry. Please, eat."

They prayed, "Thank you for this meal," and filled their various plates. Yotsuba didn't wait until the plates finished their circuit around the table before enjoying whatever she'd managed to gather so far. Itsuki followed her example moments later.

Futaro waited until their father finished taking his first course before asking, "So, father, how was your day at work?"

Their father had the fork halfway to his mouth as Futaro asked. He paused, then set down his salad and said, "You must have mistaken why I invited you. I do not expect pleasantries or idle conversation. You are to convince me why I should allow you to continue dating Nino and why I should let you associate with any of my daughters at all."

Futaro stiffened, "Ah, I see, father-"

"Don't call me that."

Their father closed his eyes for a moment, then said, "Perhaps I should start. If you are to defend yourself and your relationships to me, you deserve to know my conclusions. You recall how I hired you to tutor my children. Do you know why I hired you specifically instead of one of your peers or trained professionals?"

"Ah, of course I do."

"I'll repeat it so that everyone here understands: I hired you not only for your academic performance and potential as a tutor, but because of your character. I expected you to behave with my five daughters professionally. Do you know the meaning of 'professionally'?"

"Following an occupation as a means of livelihood or gain?"

"You speak like you memorized a dictionary. I prefer another meaning, one far more applicable in the real world. Professionalism is whatever behavior your employer demands. I expected you to tutor my children competently, impersonally and without bias. I did not hire you to become their friend and I certainly did not hire you to become their boyfriend. And yet that is exactly what you did."

Itsuki interrupted, "Come on dad, you can't be upset when people become friends. If anything, we learned better when we got closer."

Nino added, "And we didn't start dating until you fired him-"

"I quit."

"-so there's nothing wrong with me dating him now."

Their father nodded, "I could agree with your point, Itsuki, if he performed well as your tutor. He did not. Uesugi, I gave you clear expectations on my daughters' performance. You were to help them achieve passing scores in all subjects in the midterm exams. They did not. They did not even pass all their subjects in the winter exam, when you were let go-"

"Again, I quit."

"Your performance would have you fired regardless. I hired you for results, Uesugi. You failed to provide what you were paid for and instead wasted theirs and my time because of your unnecessary friendships. My daughters did not need more friends and they certainly do not need boyfriends. They needed a tutor."

Nino fidgeted, saying, "To be fair to him, papa, we didn't make it easy for him."

"Let Uesugi defend himself, Nino. But I'm well aware you did not. I'll get to your behavior soon enough." Nino flinched, looking down at her food.

Futaro said, "And in spite of all that, I did the best that I could with them."

"I never said you didn't, only that it wasn't enough."

"Well no one else could've done better, father-"

"That is the last time you call me father. Call me doctor, Doctor Nakano, or sir."

Yotsuba laughed nervously, "He was just trying to be polite, papa."

"He failed. It is inconsiderate considering how many times I've told him."

Futaro swallowed silently and said, "Uh, sure." He flinched when Nino kicked him under the table to remind him, "Doctor. Sir."

Their father glared at Nino, "Behave yourself, Nino. There's no need to attack our guests. Let Uesugi take responsibility for his mistakes." Nino nodded, smiling at Futaro worriedly. She barely touched her food.

Their father swallowed a spoonful of soup before continuing, "I'm also concerned about your influence on my daughters' recent behavior."

Futaro caught all four girls fidgeting nervously.

"I told you that all five of my daughters were to pass their midterms if you were to remain employed. I meant that all five were to pass all subjects individually. Nino, you told me that you five passed all subjects."

Nino said, "Technically we did, just, one each instead."

"Technicalities are not welcome as excuses and you know better. You lied to me. Because of him."

Nino said, "It wasn't all his fault. We weren't cooperative. Itsuki and I barely even attended his lessons back then, he can't be blamed if we didn't pass."

"Indeed. You couldn't even bring all my daughters to the lesson table, Uesugi. It looks like I overpaid you and you never corrected me."

Nino wilted, looking guiltily at Futaro. She didn't try intervening again for some time. Futaro had a dark, dark feeling seeing Nino talked into silence.

"Of course I'm aware of Nino's drug use. I'll accept most responsibility in this regard, clearly I should have supervised my daughter's medication. For this alone, you have my sincere apologies. And Nino, I won't be as laissez-faire with your prescriptions in the future." Nino nodded meekly.

Futaro realized their father must not know about his own instance of weaponizing medication. He'd definitely be in jail if he found out.

"But it isn't only Nino who became ill-behaved under your watch. I understand Itsuki slapped Nino sometime before winter break. And don't think I haven't noticed Ichika's bruise, Yotsuba. I'm aware of what happened yesterday," his eyes shifted towards Ichika, "as well as all events leading up to it. Ichika, I expected better from you." All the sisters were bowed in shame.

"And we won't risk touching on my daughters' romantic lives beyond this: if you met my expectations, I would have tolerated friendships. But I committed my five daughters to you, a boy, trusting you to behave yourself. You did not.

"Under your care my daughters have lied, fought, and run away from home more than once. All this while barely improving their scores to a minimum passing grade. And now I see no reason why someone like you should continue seeing my daughters in any manner whatsoever. I want you gone, Uesugi. I don't want you speaking or associating with my daughters in any fashion. Do you understand? Or do you have something to say?"

All four girls were downcast in defeat. Futaro, he was not. Because as he listened to their father's long-winded summary of why he was unsuitable for his daughters in every way, Futaro bit back bitter laughter. This man could highlight everything going wrong with his family and put all the blame in the wrong place. It was the guilty that spoke longest. Futaro kept it short.

"And where were you, sir?" Futaro asked.

Their father blinked, "Excuse me?"

"Where were you? I asked you this the day I quit."

"You were fired-"

"I quit, I made that clear. Because they didn't need a tutor, at least not only a tutor. They needed their father and you weren't there. If you were so worried about their fighting and their grades, you should've taken the time to help them yourself. Instead I was left to do the best I could. You're upset we bonded more than you would have liked? How could we not?All their problems fell on me because you were too busy avoiding your family at the hospital! You're mad that Nino lied to you? If you'd really cared, you would've been paying attention. How come it took you months to figure out they each failed for subjects each when you could've checked their scores at any time? You don't have a right to criticize that far after the fact. We succeeded without your help. Sir."

Futaro crossed his arms. He felt righteous fury howling in his chest as he finally unleashed all his pent-up frustration against the man. He scanned the table to see the girls, and they looked...oh. They looked at him as if he pointed a gun at his own head.

"Ah. Yes. I suppose I could have been more involved," their father began. "But it was quite difficult for me to check their scores around that time. You see when you called me and, as you say, quit, I had just finished a twelve-hour overnight operation removing a young mother's brain tumor."

Futaro's gut dropped like a skydiver without a parachute.

"And as we were talking I was preparing to oversee a resident's eight-hour surgery thirty minutes later, in fact I missed my chance to visit the cafeteria to take your call. My assistant had to feed me while I decontaminated. So I didn't have an abundance of time to visit the school and confirm. I trusted my daughter. I now know that was a mistake.

"In fact, I was in the middle of important business during most of our calls. When we spoke after your mid-terms, I was preparing notes for a budget meeting in order to keep obstetrics and gynecology accessible to low-income women and families."

Nino mouthed almost too quiet to hear, "Didn't you read the notes!?"

How could he feel so cold and yet sweat so much?

"You're still young. I'll enlighten you on the way the world works. In our society we exchange our goods and services for those of others who can perform certain things we require better than ourselves. This allows us to specialize and continue acquiring all the things we need. I, as a neurosurgeon, use my skills to perform lifesaving surgeries several times a week. These surgeries and consultations are time-consuming and stack with my administrative and pedagogic duties that help keep the hospital running and the supply of new, certified doctors progressing. This leaves me with little time to tutor my own children directly, so I chose to hire a professional to do the work I could not. The first professional, who I carefully screened, turned out to be woefully unable to meet my expectations, has been a negative influence on my daughters, and has acted inappropriately towards my family. I also believe that many of these incidents he claims to help resolve would not have happened without his involvement in the first place. I no longer wish to employ him and I want him to stay away from my family. This is reasonable, no?"

Futaro stuttered, the ground falling out from under his feet. "Ah, what?"

"Let's change subjects, Uesugi. Let's stop talking about your past substandard performance and discuss your future. I understand you used to be the top-ranked student in your year, but you've been slipping. Tell me, what do you plan to do after you graduate?"

"Ah, go to college-"

"Forgive me, I mean after graduating college. I assume you have a career plan."

"I..."

"You don't? Well I assume you at least have a degree in mind."

"I, I plan to study whatever I can."

"No direction. I see. Here is a harsh lesson for you, Uesugi: no one is going to pay you to study for the rest of your life. You will not support a family with textbooks and perfect test scores. Remember what I said about our society being an exchange of goods and services? You can't exchange grades for your daily bread. If you cannot turn your studies into goods or services others can use, you have no value to anyone. All that knowledge brings nothing without application. You already tried being a tutor and failed, and there are few other fields your skills fit. How are you going to take care of your family without any means? And why would I let my daughter waste her time with such a useless man?"

Their father finished another bite of food and leaned in, "I've made my stance clear. Now is your chance, Uesugi. Convince me."

Futaro said nothing. A quick glance around the table showed no help was coming from anywhere else. Futaro finally understood what the girls must have suspected from the start. Their father had his mind made up, just not the direction he thought. And worse, Futaro wasn't even sure if he was wrong.

~Miku~

She remembered when she enjoyed studying. They all did when their mom was alive to teach them, but she relished it the most. Some of her favorite childhood memories were gathered around their too-tiny table with her sisters and their mother. She remembered how their elbows struggled for space like a game of king-of-the-hill. There were so many papers and books and pencils you couldn't see the chestnut tabletop. Everywhere you looked there was another problem asking for its solution. Their mom hovered above like a hawk searching for easy prey. She circled her sisters searching for mistakes to criticize and correct. But she always noticed when those corrections took hold. Mother's praise was like candy to her girls.

She knelt next to Miku looking over her answers to a problem she'd failed a dozen times. Miku waited eagerly for her mother's critique. Then she'd smile and say, "Looks like you got it."

Things fell apart when her praise was no longer there, like so many other parts of their lives. They lost direction without their mother's clairvoyant gaze resting over their shoulders. Miku tried to keep her spirit alive, and for the first year she succeeded. But as their subjects built on what came before and their coursework became more demanding, she struggled to keep up. She couldn't watch over her sisters and succeed at the same time. Slowly the tabletop cleaned up. Papers and textbooks left their backpacks less and less until they were untouched before the next day. Their grades sank down the rankings until they hit failure. No one wanted to study anymore. It felt pointless without mother, and Miku couldn't give them a reason herself.

Then Futaro said, "Huh. Looks like you got it."

Futaro couldn't know how important those words were to Miku. She needed someone at her side to acknowledge her success. Studying had meaning again. She saw herself climbing to universal passing scores, then excelling. And she hoped, as she tried to grow in new directions, that Futaro would stay to acknowledge her.

Ichika wanted an admiring lover. Nino wanted a gallant prince. Miku just wanted a partner. She wanted someone to fill in the empty space and make her feel whole. So when Futaro said "I'm her partner" she hoped he would be.

And then, well, what's done is done. Futaro chose his partner. He left Miku alone. She didn't begrudge him his choice. It was his to make. She wished both him and her sister well. She just wished there was someone with her now to say, "you did well" because Takeda certainly wasn't.

"Okay, put away the math. Just put it away. We hit the wall early today, but that's alright, we've more to cover elsewhere. We'll come back to it later. How about English? Yeah, we haven't touched that yet. Did you study the vocabulary I gave you yesterday?"

Miku held up his notes, "Yes."

"Give it to me. I'm going to quiz you."

She hadn't lied, she did study it. But when he asked her to translate three long sentences using the words on his list, they wouldn't come. She could be reading French, Italian, even ancient Greek. What was wrong with her?

Takeda stared at her blank translations like a server receiving a ten-yen tip. He looked up, "You can't remember a single one?"

Miku shook her head, "Sorry."

"This is key vocab. Did you even study these?"

"I did. It's just, nothing sticks."

"Nothing at all?"

"I'm trying."

Takeda chuckled like a puttering car skimming its fuel tank. "That's alright, we'll just move on to..." he shuffled his notes across the table. He paused, "Oh. That's everything."

"Is it? It all went so fast. So what's next?"

"I don't have anything else prepped. Maybe we should call it a night."

"No," Miku said quickly. If they were done she lost her excuse to avoid everyone. To avoid him. She didn't have that strength. "Could we do something else?"

"I don't have-"

"I don't need materials. It can be something new, whatever you want to teach?"

"What's the point if it isn't on your exams?"

"Does it need to be?"

Takeda's smile stretched like a fish caught on a hook, "What else is all this for?"

Miku shrugged, "Let's just go over it again, then."

Takeda looked over all their papers. All those wrong answers stared back into a part of him Miku couldn't see. "You're gonna try harder this time?"

"I will."

"Just like all those times before."

"I...yes."

Seconds passed and his smile slipped into something darker like the moon vanishing in mist. He shook his head slowly, saying, "No. Forget it."

Miku asked, "What am I suppose to forget?"

"That's the problem," he chucked again. It was different from before, like wind through broken pipes. "Let's call it a day. This clearly isn't working for anyone." Takeda gathered his books and notes and stuffed everything in his backpack.

"Oh. Okay. So, I'll see you on Monday?"

Takeda reflected on Miku's question as if he forgot what Monday was. Miku thought he hadn't understood her and was about to ask again when he said, "No. Best not."

Miku caught the meaning in his words but didn't want to accept it. She thought she must be mistaken. "If you're busy, we can meet later. What day-"

Takeda said, "You really don't get it, or anything, do you. Fine. I'll make it plain, I can't tutor you or your sister anymore."

But she understood. Hearing it bit worse than leaving it implied. "Oh. You're quitting on us."

"Is it quitting, though? I feel like I'm the only that shows up and I'm talking to the furniture. You don't learn, neither of you. Your sister doesn't care, and you, well you say you do. You say you try. But every day you miss the same questions as before. I don't know why you keep pretending, Nakano."

"I wasn't-"

"Yes you are. Don't, just don't. I don't wanna hear it." Takeda groaned and hefted his bag on his shoulder, "I spent two weeks trying to get through. Two weeks. I won't get a minute of it back."

He didn't press, how could she? He was right, mostly, and she'd known. She gave it her best, she really did. It just never measured up to improvement anymore. She wanted her heart to be in her studies, but it was gone. Just like after mother died. And now Takeda, effortlessly the second smartest in the room, a boy with the poise of a renaissance statue, broke because of her. How could she blame him wanting to leave?

Miku watched him make for the door and said quietly, "Sorry. I know I'm not good enough. I didn't mean to waste your time."

Takeda didn't lose his energy, just his momentum as his hand reached the doorknob. Miku wondered what he was waiting for. Then he muttered so low, as quiet as a prisoner's prayer, "Damn you, Maeda." Suddenly he pushed himself off in a huff and dropped his backpack on the floor.

"You know what I don't get?" He asked as he took his seat.

"Um, aren't you leaving?"

"I don't get what Uesugi saw in you."

Miku blinked, "Futaro, talked to you about me?"

"He did."

"But doesn't that mean you met with him? About us?"

"Yeah, and we...oh crap." Takeda's eyes widened as he realized what he said. Takeda looked away for a minute as if hoping she wouldn't follow up, but she had to. She had to know what he said.

"He did talk with you, then, didn't he? Futaro talked to you about the five of us?"

Takeda sighed, admitting, "Something like that."

"Like what?"

"Like, not all five of you. Just you and Ichika."

Miku's heart quickened as she understood, "Was it after?"

"After what?"

"After...you started tutoring us?"

Takeda chuckled in his frustration and said, "How come you're suddenly so good at putting the pieces together? Aw, what does it matter. I really slipped up, didn't mean for you to know that. I wasn't thinking right."

"Please tell me?"

He ran his hand through his hair and said, "Why's this so important to you? Oh never mind, it doesn't matter. You know what? Fine. I got nothing to lose, I guess. It was after our first session, you remember that?"

"I do. It didn't go well, did it?"

"Didn't go well? It was a disaster." His face looked crooked with his sardonic smile.

"Oh."

"I knew I was screwed, I had no idea how to teach either of you. But by luck I ran into Uesugi. He came by your place to talk, I guess."

"He did? I didn't know." Her heart, she felt it skip like a flickering wisp in the wind. She only remembered the time he approached her by the vending machine and all those calls the day they were found out. Had she missed more?

She blushed under Takeda's strange glare. He couldn't know what she was thinking. Did he even care?

"Yeah, and after our first session I knew I needed help, so I asked him for advice. You know what he told me?" Miku shook her head. "He told me I had the smartest of you five. He went a step further and called you his best student. Why would he say that about you, Miku? This best student of his, where is she? I feel like she never showed up."

Miku let herself imagine Futaro and Takeda saying this. Did Futaro really believe that? She wanted to think he did, but it felt like too much to hope for. But if he did, then Futaro believed in her and she let him down. She let Takeda down, too. That must be why he was behaving so strangely. She couldn't satisfy anyone.

Miku said, "You worked so hard for us. You and Futaro both. It couldn't have been easy. I think Ichika would surprise you if she were in a better mood, but she's got so much going on. But I, well, I'm glad he thinks that way about me, but I don't deserve it. I wish you hadn't wasted your time on me. I know I'm not worth the effort."

Miku waited for him to assent and pick up his bag. He didn't. Takeda changed for the second time that night. He looked introspective, like he woke up finding himself stranded on a deserted island far out at sea. He sighed and sank into his hands as if they held rescue.

Suddenly he said, "Look, Nakano, everything I just said, forget it. It wasn't a waste."

Miku shook her head, "No, I get it-"

"No, just stop. Don't say you're not good enough."

Miku paused, then said, "I'm confused."

Takeda drywashed his hands and watched the floor, saying, "I hate people talking like that. It irks me. And I don't think it's true. For you, I mean, what you say about yourself. I said a lot of mean things just now and if that made you feel like, well, like you said, then I take it back."

Miku watched Takeda. He didn't seem magnificent like in class. Nor was he flustered like a tornado ready to blow through the door and escape. He looked calm now, vulnerable in a way she never considered possible. He was untouchable in class like a demigod shining with inborn grace.

"It's not your fault. I'm just not cut out for tutoring. Never thought I'd end up working as one. Never even wanted to, honestly. And since I'm being honest, most of this wasn't even my material. It was Uesugi's."

Was that why his style was so familiar to Futaro's, and what made it so hard to focus on studying and not think about him? "He helped you?"

"He practically tutored me on tutoring. We'd meet most nights and study, then go over my material for you. He re-wrote over half of it. The guy's a machine. He never stops."

Miku's heart skipped. Futaro was still working on material this entire time? For them?

"He's amazing," she muttered without thinking.

Takeda frowned, "You think so?"

"I do," she said confidently.

She looked up at Takeda. He looked beaten down like a boxer taken one too many blows to the jaw. She saw a brief glimpse of who this boy really was. He wasn't an idol on a pedestal. He was human and he pushed himself to his limits for them. But all he heard was praise for the one he'd turned to for help. Seeing this side of him made her like him more. It was a feeling she knew too well.

But this wasn't where she had to be. She should be with the person who needed her most. This night would decide his place in her family and she was still hiding in her room using Takeda as a shield. She still didn't understand what made her body move when he fell in the hallway, or when Yotsuba ran away. She didn't know where this strength came from and she didn't know how to bring it out. But if he could keep trying, if he kept supporting her this far after she abandoned him, wasn't that love? Maybe not the kind she hoped for, but love all the same? He still saw her as his partner, one he was proud of. She still wanted to be his partner too. Even if their partnership was different from what she wanted most, she realized she did not want to lose it.

She'd make that strength. If he could do it, couldn't she do it too? She chose to believe she could. And if he needed her tonight, that's where she would go.

She stood up. "Takeda, I want to go down for a while. I need to put something right."

He blinked. "Huh. Alright, I'll see myself-"

"Could you wait?" she said suddenly, "please."

Takeda smiled awkwardly, "It'd be weird if I stayed."

"I want you to know, I think you're a good tutor. I should've given you my best effort. I didn't, though. Please don't blame yourself. And, if you don't mind, please don't quit yet."

"I don't think it matters. If tonight goes well, I'm sure Uesugi can be your tutor again. I'm sure it'd be better that way."

She didn't think he meant to show her this side of himself. No one who worked so hard on being perfect wanted to be unmasked. But he didn't have the strength to cover up, and so Miku saw something familiar in him: someone used to stumbling into second place.

"Maybe. But, I don't want you to have wasted your time. Let me show you why he called me his best student. I'll prove it to you, too."

Takeda nodded, his head sinking, "Guess we'll see, then, won't we. Go, then. I'll just wait...here, I guess."

"Thank you."

~Futaro~

Everyone at the table was too busy considering all the ways he was screwed to notice the door. Futaro's capable mind was working on full alert to find the right string of sounds to dig him out of this skyscraper-size hole he'd dug himself. He realized that perhaps there was no way he was going to save himself when their father glanced over his shoulder and said, "Ah, Miku. You're decided to join us."

All heads turned as Miku stepped off the stairs. She clasped her hands before her and said, "I'm sorry I'm late."

Nino seized the chance to change the subject and said, "I'll set you a place. Let me-"

"I can get it." Miku said. She grabbed her plate and utensils and set them at the end of the table by Nino and Ichika. She left to get another chair.

Itsuki took the break as an opportunity, saying, "Dad, don't you think you're being a little unfair? I mean sure, Futaro's made mistakes and he isn't perfect, and maybe he doesn't have his life totally planned, but he has good points too. You just haven't seen them."

Their father's head never moved but his eyes swam to look at Itsuki, "Whatever good points you think of cannot make up for all the harm he's done and his unsuitability as an educator and a partner. He will-"

Nail on a chalkboard, what was that!? Their father's condemnation died as all heads turned to Miku dragging a chair across the kitchen. She set it at the end of the table and took her seat. "Sorry for the disturbance," she said.

Yotsuba cheered, "No problem! It's good to have you."

Miku nodded and loaded her plate. She looked out of place in her everyday attire. Even Futaro was better dressed than her. He envied Miku her comfort in more ways than one.

Their father continued, "As I was saying, he will continue making trouble for our family and I see no reason why I should allow him to continue being involved in your lives."

Futaro heard a sigh. He turned and watched Miku put down her bite of cutlet. "Seriously, dad? This is what you've been talking about?"

Their father turned, "Miku, you missed much. If you were here before you would understand."

Miku shook her head, "No, I get the picture."

"Then I won't repeat myself."

Futaro did not have a knack for reading rooms. If they had four walls and a roof that was all he needed, although a desk and a lamp were always welcome for a good study nook. But the people making up the mood of it? He let them be. Theirs was none of his concern and he expected the same in return. And although he was beginning to change his mind since meeting these girls, and especially since growing closer to Nino, reading the mood was as foreign as reading anything Arabic that wasn't a number.

But even he noticed the shift. Something changed the moment Miku sat down. He just couldn't figure out what.

Their father continued, "Well, Uesugi? I'm waiting for you to convince me."

Right, he was still in the hot seat. He could feel it burning his behind. He was just short of fully cooked, soon they can put him on a serving platter for their father to carve up properly. He should probably do something to avoid that.

"Sir, it's true that I don't have the best plan for after finishing university-"

"You have none, to be specific."

"Ah, perhaps not. But I still-"

"You still want me to trust you around my children without any good reason why."

Miku said, "If you want him to convince you, you need to let him actually finish speaking."

Their father glared, "He is perfectly capable of speaking without your help, Miku."

"Apparently not," she said and took another bite. She never looked up from her meal.

Futaro continued shakily, "Whatever you say, I'm still going to give this my all. Even if there's nothing I can say to convince you, I won't stop trying."

"Your determination is part of the problem. I have told you repeatedly to keep away from my family. You have resisted. You've passed your insubordination onto my children. I don't want to hear about your persistence, it bothers me. What I need from you is proof that if I allow you to remain in my childrens' lives, you will behave yourself appropriately, and that if I accept your relationship with Nino, you must prove to me that I'm not abandoning my child to a man with no realistic goals, no prospects and no future."

Oh, was that all? Was it possible to change an immovable object? Would he like him to convince him water was dry as well? Perhaps he should ask for the Three Sacred Treasures as a bonus since he had the same chance of giving him those as a satisfying answer.

Miku said, "I don't know what I want to do either, dad. I don't even have learning as a skill like Futaro does. Are you going to kick me out too?"

Their father closed his eyes and took a long breath. He looked at Miku and said, "This is about Uesugi, not you."

"Then be fair. You can ask me to leave if not knowing what I want to do after school is so important. And I'll go, dad."

"I'm not asking that."

Miku shrugged, "Okay. But if you reject Futaro, I'll leave on my own."

"That's what we're discussing tonight."

"No we're not. You made up your mind long ago, we all know it. But so did I. And I'll leave again if you reject him and I will stay gone until you give up."

Their father's glare would silence a wailing infant. Each of his children had been chilled into silence tonight. But not Miku. Each of the Nakano sisters had a special relationship with their father, but Miku's was unique. His cold calm couldn't chill her because she was already cool as winter snow. It was like trying to intimidate your own reflection into backing down. Miku took his silencing gaze as a girl with nothing to lose.

Miku said, "Face it dad. No one is changing their mind tonight. Not you, not me, not anyone. You won't get what you want, not without losing us again."

Ichika breathed and said, "I'll go too." She risked a glance his direction, a guilty smile, "I made good money from the movie. Not enough to live like this, but enough for us to stay in that house without being one missed paycheck away from eviction. I want Uesugi in our lives. However that may be."

Yotsuba went giddy as a child in a candy cocoon, "Wow, you both mean it? We can finally be all together again!" She paused in her excitement, then said sheepishly, "I mean I'd prefer us being together here, but that's all on you, daddy."

Itsuki said, "We're about to turn eighteen, dad. There won't be much you can do to bring us back after that. So please consider our wishes. We want to be together. All of us, including both you and Futaro."

Nino watched each of her sisters speak one after another. Their unbridled support felt like a return for all the long nights cooking and cleaning and making a house a home. Her eyes welled with grateful tears and said much of what her words could not, for they caught in her throat in their rush to escape. And when their father looked at her expecting a final word and she still had none she could give, she grabbed Futaro's hand and laid theirs together on the table defiantly and even with tears in her eyes she looked mighty.

Futaro tried to do the same. He also felt something hot in his chest like a geyser bursting against rock to break free. He might have, if it were just him and the sisters. He would show them this newfound wellspring of feeling. But not him.

Their father scanned his rebellious daughters and contemplated their meaning. Finally he said, "So this is how the five of you truly feel." The quintuplets remained seated with bated breath.

"Very well. It seems I cannot simply remove you, Uesugi. You are quite the parasite."

Yotsuba gasped, "So he can stay?"

Their father closed his eyes, sighed, and said, "I will not demand you end your relationship with my daughters. But," he began, cutting off all cheers, "I am still not ready to accept your relationship with Nino. First there is something you must tell me. What are your intentions towards my daughter?"

Futaro asked, "Isn't it obvious? She's important to me, and-"

"Not good enough. I'll explain. My daughters do not need to waste their time on anyone who is not serious about building a meaningful relationship. Women in our society are judged much more harshly than men for their choice in partner, and past partners. If what you have is casual or you do not intend to pursue a serious relationship, I will not allow you to date my child no matter how rebellious she becomes."

Itsuki laughed, "Dad, cut it out. You sound like you're asking him if he's planning to marry her someday."

"In a sense I am. Answer carefully, Uesugi."

Futaro definitely felt the room now. It was shocked, flabbergasted, and not the least bit expectant. He felt their collective eyes on him like high-intensity lasers drilling into his brain. And Nino's was the strongest. She nearly crushed his hand like a hydraulic press crushing cans.

Were they still looking at him? Could they at least give him a moment to think? Oh, but what good had thinking done him today? Not a bit. But they wanted an answer and no one looked patient to wait. But he felt an answer forming when he looked at Yotsuba, then Itsuki, then Miku, and finally her. He felt that geyser in his chest breaking through. He let it carry his answer.

"We've been dating for three weeks. It isn't right to ask something this serious so early."

"Regardless, you'll answer or you two are finished."

Futaro smirked, "Well we're not, so here it is: maybe I haven't thought enough about my future. It used too be that all I cared about was the next test. It was easy going from one to another. But because of these five, I started considering it in my own way. They changed me. And Nino changed me the most. I don't know what our future will be, I don't know if we'll last. But I hope we will. And whatever it is, I want to find out." She lifted her hand and held it in for him to see, "I'm as serious as I can be, sir."

Their father nodded and closed his eyes to think. Futaro lingered on him a moment longer, but he lost interest. He didn't care anymore what this man thought. Whether he accepted them or not, it didn't matter because that wouldn't stop them. So he looked at the person who's opinion mattered the most.

He didn't have to wonder if she felt the same. Her face was colored like her homework after a flurry of corrections, yet she was as excited as that night she confessed in the kitchen. Her look told him everything she wanted to say back.

Suddenly their father stood, saying, "Miku, is Mister Takeda still in your room?"

Miku nodded, "Yes, I asked him to wait."

"Good. I need a word. Excuse me a moment."

Their father barely reached the stairs before Yotsuba elbowed his side. She was redder than Nino. It was like she reflected all her sisters' embarrassment in one. "Look at you being mister romantic."

Futaro rolled his eyes and was about to reply when he heard Miku grunt, "Oof!"

Nino had launched from her chair and nearly tackled Miku out of hers. She hugged her so tightly there must be a vacuum in between.

"Thank you for coming." Nino said.

Miku patted her back, "I shouldn't have hidden. I'm sorry."

"Don't be."

Ichika took Miku's hand and said, "You came right on time, that's all that matters."

Yotsuba actually hopped out of her chair like a bunny making a daring leap, "Yeah, it was awesome! Daddy didn't know what hit him."

Itsuki joined them at the end of the table, "Things weren't going well before you arrived. It looked like disaster."

Futaro stood back. He understood this wasn't his moment, it was theirs. Yes, Miku took the headwind out of their father's accusation and he wouldn't diminish her achievement, but it was the five of them together that convinced their father that their resolve would not fade. He thought about how as much as he wanted Ichika gone, as much as he could never forgive what she did, the others would be less without her. Together these five were invincible.

Itsuki looked his way. She giggled, "Futaro, you're crying?"

Was he really? He hadn't noticed. He wiped his face and said, "I guess I couldn't help it." It was okay. These five could see him like this, even Ichika just this once. It was because of them, after all.

He waited for his moment to thank Miku. But she took the moment first as she looked past her family and said, "I know you never gave up on us."

Futaro grinned, "After all I invested in you? You can't get rid of me so easily."

Miku nodded and risked her smallest smile, "Same to you."

The sound of footsteps descending the stairs made the girls rush to their seats. Their father returned with Takeda. He said, "Itsuki, Yotsuba, please prepare a place for our guest."

Once all settled in their places and second helpings gathered, their father said, "Takeda has informed me that you helped him prepare study materials for Ichika and Miku these past two weeks."

"You did?" Ichika asked.

"He did," the other girls answered. Ichika looked hurt being left out on the secret. Miku patted her hand and assured her she just found out, too.

"I did my part," Futaro said.

"Takeda shared some of his difficulty instructing my children. I admit, I may have underestimated the challenge of tutoring my children to meet my expectations. It seems neither of you are capable of doing this alone. But as I cannot get rid of you, Uesugi, and as it seems you are not capable of completing this task alone, here is my proposal: I will retain both of you, Takeda and Uesugi, as tutors. You seem capable of working together, perhaps your performances won't slip if you rely on each other."

Futaro and Takeda looked at each other. They worked passably enough when they were just prepping. How would they work together actually providing those lessons? Futaro had no idea, and by his look neither did Takeda. They sized each other up like boxers at the weigh-in.

"Furthermore," their father continued, "If you accept, I won't have any excuses for failure. I expect my daughters to graduate with prospects to pursue their goals. I am not unfair, I do not expect you to work a miracle and have them on honor roll. But if they wish to enter university, see that they achieve the required scores. If you fail again, I will fire you both without notice."

The girls were as uncertain as the boys. None of them knew quite what to make of their father's decision. Nino was the exception. Her glare towards Takeda echoed her early feelings towards him. Poor Takeda, he had no clue what was coming his way. Futaro actually pitied the unsuspecting man. He would do what he could to buffer his over-loving girlfriend. If Takeda actually could make his job easier he'd suffer his partnership. Especially if it came with the same generous pay.

"And as you will split the work, I'll reduce your daily rates from twenty-five thousand yen to twenty thousand. I think this is more than fair."

Damn.

Nino said, "Hold on papa, we don't need-" she gasped when Futaro covered her mouth. She glared at his betrayal.

Takeda smiled in his usual flamboyant manner. He better cut that off if they were gonna work together. "You're very generous sir, but I'm not so sure that's a good idea."

Miku said quietly, "I like it. If, you don't mind, that is."

Takeda blinked, then said, "Well, I suppose...alright, I'll give it a try at least."

Nino looked around the table and saw her sisters siding with Miku, at least somewhat. She huffed and said, "Fine, if that's what you want."

Futaro nodded, "We'll need to work out a plan."

Takeda waved, "We'll figure it out."

Their father said, "I'm glad you agree. I look forward to seeing your results." Of course he did, Futaro thought. Whether they succeeded or not he got something he wanted.

"And now to the last." He said, his voice like a declaration of doom.

"Uesugi, I do not approve of you dating Nino. Not at all. Never forget that." Nino flinched, but he continued, "I only accept that my daughter is stubborn and will ignore any demand I make to break up with you." Nino nodded proudly.

"However, I will give you an opportunity to prove your worth. You claim you are serious about my daughter. I take that to mean you see your relationship leading to marriage. To recognize this, I will give you a chance to act as my potential son-in-law."

Nino said, "Eh?"

"In exchange for allowing you to continue your relationship, I will expect you to assist me with whatever matters I have at hand as they occur. I expect your cooperation whenever I should need you."

Futaro said, "Eh?"

"I can't say I'm looking forward to working with you, but it will be...enlightening."

All together, "Eh!?"

~A/N~

This chapter comes over 18 months after the last. I don't have an excuse, just a reason. I started it right after posting the 29th and got as far as Yotsuba's arrival. Later I got as far as Futaro and Yotsuba in the car, and then I hit a wall. I tried coming back and couldn't think of how to write what I wanted. So I stepped away. I got involved with different hobbies and left fanfiction for a while. Coming back feels like a relief and an accomplishment because I always remember this story. I want to finish it. But my writing time is based on my feelings, and that isn't fair to readers. So I want to outline my plan moving forward:

This chapter is the climax of the second arc, the first having concluded in chapters 13 and 14. The next chapter, 31, will be similar to chapter 14 acting as an epilogue to this arc. It can also act as an ending, if anyone wishes to see it that way. I still plan for two more major arcs and a multi-chapter epilogue, but that will take time and I cannot promise I will update consistently. I plan to publish 31 on May 5th (for symbolic reasons) and afterwards will need another hiatus while I focus on work and family. If things go as planned, the third arc will begin posting in September to October. If that is too much and you prefer to view 31 as the end, it's a good place to stop, even if you wish to return after more is published to see more development.

I did see posts on the subreddit and in reviews about this story, and those in part reminded me to open up my unfinished chapter and power through it. Because of that I'm happy with what's done. More will come, over time. I am going to finish this one. Feel free to ride along as long as you wish. I feel guilty for the silence. I've never been good with engaging readers and other fans. I just post the story I want to tell as I can. I hope it is enough.

Chapter published: April 15th, 2022.