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Chapter 18

Why We Must Change

Fuutarou stared at her in silence. His mind was now in complete turmoil.

"I'm becoming... just like my grandfather?" he repeated.

"Your grandfather also treated your grandmother very poorly," Izumi shook her head sadly, "Poor woman. She idolized him, just as Yotsuba idolized you, and she paid a heavy price for it. He saw her as nothing more than a breeding tool just so her create an heir. Is that how you intend to treat Yotsuba too, Fuutarou?"

He blanched, "N-No! I wouldn't treat her that way!"

"Can you say that for certain though?"

This time he hesitated.

"Remember what I said right before? That you want to be in control of everything? It was the same for your grandfather. Everything you've done up to this point is was exactly what he did, only he was much colder and more ruthless. The only difference between you two is that he was rich while you're poor. You prioritized studying above all else. So did he, but it was to increase his wealth and status. What's your goal, Fuutarou? What exactly are you studying for?"

Chihori had asked him the same question. He still didn't know.

The boy started to sweat. It was clear that he was getting nervous.

"I..." he swallowed, "I just want to get a good job so I can help my family pay off the debt."

"Okay, let's say you do that and the debt is completely off. What do you plan to do afterwards?"

When he gave no answer she let out a heavy sigh.

"Fuutarou, this is your life. What do you want to do with it? Are you really content with just getting a good job? Are you willing to just become another cog in the machine? Eat, sleep, work and nothing else? With the knowledge you've gained and the abilities you have, you can be anything you want to be. It's an advantage you have if done for the right reasons. You seem to think that being successful is the only way to obtain happiness. You couldn't be any more wrong, Fuutarou. I know from personal experience. I come from a rich family myself and the early years of my life weren't exactly pleasant. The quints' stepdad also came from a rich family and his childhood wasn't pleasant either."

Hearing this surprised Fuutarou. He had never really wondered about the man's background.

"Then there's also your mother," Izumi went on, "She gave up her privileged life to be with your father because he was capable of giving her the happiness she wanted regardless of his background. Your grandfather never understood that, and it seems you don't either. Or maybe you just don't want to."

He looked at her in confusion, only for her to quickly change the subject.

"I met Yotsuba last night and had a big talk with her. I also had one with the others this morning with the exception of Nino. I learned quite a few things. It seems you got caught up in a family feud that you were completely unaware of."

"Yes, I know," he replied, "Yotsuba sent me a letter explaining the whole thing."

"Oh?" she turned to him with raised eyebrows, "What did she say?"

"That she didn't want me to see how weak and pathetic she had become, that she only wanted me to see her as that special person from my past, and that she wanted to use me as a way to protect herself."

"Did she say anything about how Ichika used to bully her? Or how the others treated her?"

He hesitated, "Only about Ichika. She never said anything about the others."

"Hmm," Izumi seemed to have expected that, "That's because they weren't aware of it themselves."

The water finished boiling and she made a new batch of tea. Then she came back to the table and sat back down.

"Since you now know what Yotsuba is really like, have you wondered how she became that way?"

Fuutarou shook his head.

"Well, then. Allow me to explain."

Chihori met Ichika, Miku, and Itsuki at the entrance of their school, just as promised. The group then went to a park where they could continue their conversation in private. From there Chihori told them about Hatsuka and her ultimate.

"Oh, my God," gasped Ichika.

"That poor girl," cried Miku.

Itsuki, however, had gone pale, heaving now seen the similarities between Hatsuka and Nino.

"Are you implying that... the same thing... could happen to Nino?" she asked Chihori with a shaky voice.

"It might," Chihori simply stated, "If she continues to suffer like this, it could very well happen."

Itsuki vehemently shook her head, "We wouldn't let that happen! We would help in any way we could!"

Chihori raised a brow, "Like you did with Yotsuba?"

The youngest quint choked, face flushing.

Chihori sighed irritably, "I don't think you really understand how you've been doing everything wrong up to this point. This is the whole reason why everything is so screwed up. You're not looking at the deeper issues. You're only looking at the surface and making assumptions. Especially you, Itsuki-san. It's just like Izu-chan said. Yotsuba has had no guidance in her life. Her whole mentality is that of a child because no one has taken the time to discipline her. She's been pampered her whole life. She's been allowed to do whatever she wishes without any restraint and that's why she's completely irresponsible as a person. If the worst should happen and Yotsuba finds herself all alone how is she going to survive?"

"I told you," Itsuki gritted her teeth, "We would have taken care of her."

"You may not be in a position to help her, and she may not want your help out of fear of becoming a burden to you."

"So it's alright for us to just abandon her?!"

"She has to learn. One way or another she has to learn. You can't keep protecting her forever, and because of the lack of guidance she's not going to survive. Even if she does get a job what kind of job do you think it would be? She's not smart enough to get a good one. You know that. The more likely scenario is that she'll end up getting one of those low paying, less than ideal jobs where she'll be forced to sacrifice her dignity. And if that doesn't work out she'll ultimately end up on the streets. I don't think I need to tell you where that leads. That's the very kind of fate your mother worked so hard to avoid."

"How can you be so certain?" Miku asked before Itsuki could, trying to calm down the situation.

"Well, for one there's Hatsuka. What happened to her could happen to Yotsuba too, all because she gave her heart to the wrong man and it destroyed her life."

Chihori paused for a moment, as though she was remembering something.

"Then there's also my aunt," she then continued, "She was married twice, both of whom were Mama's boys and they both turned into complete disappointments. The first was her childhood friend who she was madly in love with. She follishly believed that they were meant for each other, and sadly so did those around them. They did get married, but then two years later they got divorced after she discovered her was cheating on her. When she asked him why he would do this to her he said right to her face that she was useless, that he had gotten bored with her, and that he was tired of being treated as nothing more than some object for her to cling onto. You know, I can almost imagine the same thing happening between Fuutarou and Yotsuba. I can even see them having the very same conversation."

All three quints opened their mouths to protest, but then shut. Given what they now knew of Fuutarou they could see the same thing happening too.

"Since my aunt had been entirely dependent on him she was left nothing and she had to make it on her own. Thankfully she was able to get a good paying job that allowed her to live a comfortable life, and it seemed well. Then she met her second husband. He turned out to be worse than her first. He was younger than her, and he only used her for money. Why? Because he had a gambling addiction. Despite everyone's warnings my aunt put her complete trust in him and this time it really cost her. She made the mistake of giving him access to her bank accounts. As a result, he stole all her money and ran. And if that wasn't bad enough he told her boss a lie that got her fired. Just like that she was left with nothing."

Silence had embraced the area now as everyone held their breath.

"She had to take whatever job she could find regardless of what it was, regardless of what it required her to do. That included, as you guessed, sacrificing her dignity. One job required her to wear a maid's uniform and she had to entertain the male customers from time to time. It allowed her to survive, but not for long. Eventually those cheap jobs dried up and she became desperate. She ultimately got caught up in a pyramid scheme that landed her in jail for two whole weeks. My family eventually got her out through bail, but in the time spent there she just went completely downhill. She attempted suicide. Twice."

The quints gasped and Chihori bobbed her head.

"She tried it once in prison, then again at her own home. The second time she almost succeeded. She was so miserable she didn't want to live anymore. Her parents were able to get the help she needed, but she's never been the same since then," she shook her sadly, "She's doing alright now. She now lives in a little house with two dogs and she's got a good paying job as a restaurant host. She has dated a couple times, but she never made the commitment. Never again, she said. My Dad says that she's the complete opposite of what she used to be. She was a bright girl with big dreams. She wanted to start a family of her own one day, but it never came to be because reality kept playing cruel tricks on her that eventually she gave them up."

She paused for a long while before she looked up at the quints.

"Now why am I telling you this? Because when I look at Yotsuba I see my aunt. When I think of her and all the hell she went through I can't help but think of the same thing happening to Yotsuba. My aunt spent her youth as a naive sheltered girl who had no sense of just how cruel the world could be and ended up learning the hard way. Her parents deeply regret not preparing her like they should have. With Yotsuba it's the exact same thing. You didn't take care of her and you treated her like she was some imbecile who couldn't do anything by herself."

"We weren't trying to be," said Miku,"We weren't doing it to be mean."

"I know you weren't, but you did and much of it was because you got distracted with Fuutarou. What Izu-chan said earlier was correct. Yotsuba needs guidance, not protection. She needs to find her place in the world and she needs to learn how to take care of herself and to be responsible, and she can't do that as long as she's around you. You won't always be around to protect her, and neither will Fuutarou. In fact, he could abandon her anytime he wished."

Itsuki's face turned dark, "We wouldn't let that happen."

Chihori glared at her, "And how do you intend to do that? By forcing them to be together for the sake of Yotsuba's happiness? Don't you realize how messed up that is?"

"We would've found a way to make it work!"

She groaned in frustration, "Itsuki-san, when are you going to get it through your thick skull that there's no chemistry, no romance, between them? Yotsuba's entire happiness would depend on him. Not just financially but emotionally as well. The only way she can be happy in that situation is that she has to keep Fuutarou with her. No matter what. That can lead to some very bad things. I don't understand how you can still be so persistent after everything that's been said and done. And what are you going to do anyway? Groom them to be the perfect couple? Follow them whenever they go on their dates just to make sure everything goes well? Are you planning on joining them on their honeymoon too? Just to make sure they get the deed done?"

All three quints blushed when they realized what she was implying.

"Or would you have just used the whole thing as an excuse to have 'One last special moment with Fuutarou!' before finally moving on with your lives? I only ask because at this point I'm willing to believe anything, and judging by those looks on your faces I could see you doing exactly that."

She then started laughing hysterically.

"You know what? I take it back. Yotsuba's not the one who's messed up. All of you are. Seriously, what is with you guys? I just don't get it. You just do whatever you wish, stick your nose in each other's business, and never think of the consequences. I know you're sisters and want to share and do everything together but come on! Show some restraint! Where is your pride? Do you not have any shame? Or do you just not care? It's bad enough that you didn't respect Fuutarou's own feelings, but you don't even respect each other! And you sit there wondering how everything got so screwed up. It's because you're only thinking about yourselves and not about each other. Oh, sure, you kept your mother's promise but that's all you did. Once Fuutarou became involved it was every quint for herself."

She sighed and shook her head.

"Izu-chan didn't say this but I think it needs to be said. You girls have dishonored your mother's memory in every way possible. And to think, she nearly got an abortion."

The instant she said that all three stared at her in shock.

"Yeah," Chihori nodded, "Izu-chan didn't mention this either, probably because you felt bad enough already, but it's true. I overheard her talking about it to my Mom the other day. The only reason you five exist is because she and your grandpa talked her out of it. Of course, they didn't know back then that she was having more than one child. I wonder how she would've felt if she were alive today. I wonder if she would've thought she would have been better off if she went through with it so she wouldn't have to see that all her efforts were wasted because her daughters tore each other apart over a boy."

All three lowered their heads in shame.

Then Ichika looked back at Chihori and said, "You're right in everything you say, Chihori-san. We didn't mean to treat Yotsuba this way, but we do want her to be happy. Doesn't she deserve to be happy?"

"Of course she does, no one is saying otherwise. The problem is that you're prioritizing her happiness over her well-being. You can't do that. Happiness cannot exist without a person's well being. When you prioritize one over the other you're only setting yourself or that person up for misery and failure. In Yotsuba's case she was stuck in her own fantasy, and fantasies don't last forever. Eventually reality is going to come into play. It was better that this happened and not years from now, otherwise it would've been a whole lot worse."

She rubbed her head as though she was tired.

"Look, I can see from your eyes that you really do love Yotsuba and you only want what's best for her, but simply handing her over to Fuutarou for him to take care of isn't the solution. Because of the life she's lived she's never had to grow up and with Fuutarou she'll never have to. Yotsuba needs to learn how to be responsible first before she can be happy. Let me ask you something. If Fuutarou and Yotsuba were to get married, how do you see their marriage working out?"

The question made the three quints pause for a long while.

"Do you really think it will be a long and happy one with the way they are now?" Chihori slowly shook her head, "I honestly don't. Fuutarou has shown no affection towards anyone while Yotsuba is irresponsible as a person. I don't see anything good coming out of their marriage. Sooner or later one of them is going to wise up and realize the other isn't who they thought they were. I think it'll most likely be Yotsuba. She may not be smart but she's not totally stupid. I could see Fuutarou becoming one of those self absorbed workaholics devoted to his job instead of spending time with his wife, leaving Yotsuba all alone. He wouldn't even be interested in having sex with her, even if she tried to seduce him. I wouldn't be surprised if Yotsuba ended up having an affair with another guy and then decides to leave Fuutarou simply because he won't give her what she wants."

Reluctantly they all nodded. They could see that happening.

"At the same time I could see Yotsuba becoming the laziest of housewives. Fuutarou goes out and does all the work while she sits at home and does nothing but cook, clean, and wash while getting to fool around as much as she wants. That would be the perfect life for her. She gets to continue living like a little kid. And children?" she scoffed, "Forget it. That would mean taking responsibility, something Yotsuba is incapable of. Even if they did have kids I imagine she would just spoil them and never discipline them whenever they get in trouble. That's how she was raised. It worked for her. Why should she do anything different? That might be what wakes Fuutarou up. He may come to realize that Yotsuba really is completely irresponsible as a mother and ultimately decides to divorce her because he doesn't want his kids to be raised by someone who's going to be nothing but a bad influence on them."

Yes... they could see that happening too.

"But let's say it goes the other way around. Let's say Yotsuba is the one who becomes the cold, selfish individual," she glanced at Itsuki, "You seem to think that as long as they're together everything will work out in the end. Okay, let's say that happens. Imagine if she and Fuutarou started some kind of business together that in ten to fifteen years becomes one of the most successful companies in Japan, maybe even worldwide. Yotsuba handles all the marketing and becomes the face of the company, but as the years go on she and Fuutarou become distant. He then starts to notice that Yotsuba is spending more time with other men and less time with him. When he finally confronts her about it she tells him off by saying that he's no good and that there's nothing between them anymore. She then files for divorce and removes him from the company."

All of them felt their hearts stop. The very thought that Yotsuba could do something like that was unthinkable. However...

"I know what you're thinking," Chihori said, "but this was exactly how she was like in your old school, remember? Arrogant, egotistical, selfish, and greedy. Ever heard of the old saying, 'Old habits die hard'? If she became the head of a successful company I can see her reverting back to her old ways, and she wouldn't give a damn about how the rest of you felt. Why should she? She's rich, she's famous, and you're not. She's on top of the world, where she's always wanted to be. Why should she care about four sisters who, in her mind, are below her?"

"Yeah," Ichika reluctantly agreed, "I can definitely see her doing that. With her it was never enough. She always wanted everything we had, especially when it came to me."

"Ever wondered why? Because you're everything she wants to be, but never can be. You're practically a better version of her. You're the leader of your sisters, the most mature of the group, are popular with all the boys, have sex appeal in spades, and you have a natural gift for acting. Yotsuba has none of that. That's why she resented you the most. Fuutarou was what pushed her over the edge. I agree with what you said earlier. If Fuutarou hadn't come back into her life she would've taken a turn for the better."

A long moment of silence passed.

"The point I'm trying to get at is this. If you allow this to continue you're going to end up making a mistake you're not going to be able to take back, and it will haunt you for the rest of your lives. Especially you, Itsuki. If the worst should happen, if any of those scenarios come true, neither of them will be at fault. It'll be yours, because you were the one who sent them down that path, and you'll forever carry the guilt of knowing that you ruined their lives because you thought it was the best thing for them."

Itsuki tried to speak, then sighed heavily before he face fell into her hand.

After a while Miku asked, "Is there any hope for them?"

"For them individually? Or their relationship?" asked Chihori in return.

Miku paused for an instant, "Both."

Chihori took a moment to gather her thoughts.

"Individually there is hope for them, but a great deal depends on them. Right now they're at a loss at what to do. Now that they've been exposed they're going to have to think about their lives and what their futures will be. They can't run and hide anymore. It's make or break now. For Yotsuba... the only thing she's good at is sports. Izu-chan tells me that it's her special talent and that it shouldn't go to waste. In fact, has Yotsuba ever mentioned to you that she recently received an athletic scholarship?"

All three blinked in surprise.

"No, she never mentioned anything like that," said Itsuki.

"It's the first I've heard of it," said Ichika.

"Hmm," Chihori nodded, "I'm not surprised."

"What school did it come from?" asked Miku.

"America."

Three jaws went slack, "America?!"

"Apparently someone over there also noticed her athletic abilities and decided to offer her a scholarship. If she accepts not only will she go to college but she might also be able to find something she could do. If she works hard enough she can get a degree, or she can pursue a sports career if she wishes. There's just one catch. She'll have to go to America to study and play whatever sport she chooses, which is why she wasn't going to accept it."

"Why?" Itsuki automatically asked.

"Because she'll be away from Fuutarou," answered Ichika.

"Exactly," Chihori agreed, "In her mind she believes that if she's away from him one of you will try to take him for yourselves again. And why should she go to college when she could stay by Fuutarou's side forever?"

"He could go with her," suggested Itsuki.

"What for?" Ichika stated, "He's got no reason to go to America."

"He doesn't even know what he wants to do with his life," added Chihori, "He'd be totally out of place over there."

"He did say that he wants to get a good job so he could help his family pay off their debt," Miku pointed out.

"Especially for Raiha," put in Itsuki, "He wanted to make sure she was happy."

"And what will he do after that? Has he kept that promise?" Chihori then asked, "Now that I think about it, what has he done for you aside from being your tutor?"

They all thought long and hard.

"Nothing," Ichika finally admitted, "Nothing really. Even though... he once told Papa he was going to help us accomplish our dreams."

"But he never did," said Miku, "He never even asked what I, Yotsuba's, or even Nino's wanted to do with our lives. The only one he helped was you."

"And me," put in Itsuki.

"That's because you and I already knew what we wanted to do before we met him," said Ichika.

Miku sighed, "Now that I think about he never really did anything beyond making sure we were keeping up with our studies."

"Still..." Itsuki cleared her throat, "I think he would've most likely insisted that Yotsuba go to college. He might even go with her."

"True, he could do that," Ichika grimaced, "but would she actually learn anything? Or would she just use him as a way to get by? I mean, that's what she and the rest of us did this entire time."

"And for Yotsuba, that scholarship may be her last chance in finding a life of her own," Chihori declared, "Izu-chan is going to see her again today and talk to her about it. From there she has to make a decision on what she wants to do with her life. As for Fuutarou, the way I would describe him is this. He's a very intelligent person. He can be whatever he wants to be and he could become a very successful person. The problem is that he's still stuck in the past and is consumed with fear."

"Because of the death of his mother," said Ichika, "He's afraid of losing someone important to him again."

"Exactly. To be very frank, when it comes to Fuutarou and Yotsuba I just don't think they make a good couple. Their relationship, to be blunt, is shallow at best. A relationship only works when trust and understanding are established, and that's what they severely lack. Yotsuba didn't trust him enough to share her secrets and they have very little understanding about each other. They're basically nothing more than good friends. That's what Fuutarou wanted, but it's not what he needs. What he really needs is someone who loves him and can take good care of him, not just support him in everything he does without protest."

The three quints nodded, having understood the situation with Fuutarou.

"More importantly, Fuutarou has remained in a dark prison of his own creation. He needs someone who can take him by the hand and bring him back into the light. He needs someone who understands him, can see the deeper part of him, can accept him, and can accept him for who he is. Someone who can make him feel alive again and give him purpose in life. I just don't think Yotsuba is capable of doing that. The two of them have changed too much. They're not the people they once were. Had certain things hadn't happened it could've worked out between them, but I just don't think it's possible anymore. There is one, however, who can help Fuutarou. You know who it is."

"Nino," Ichika bobbed her head, "That right. She did see the deeper side in him because they're so much alike. She understood him better than we did. I agree with you. She can help Fuutarou. She can give him the love and support he needs."

"And Fuutarou knows it too," Chihori stated.

Ichika nodded, "Yes, he does. That's why he's gone so out of his way to avoid her."

"You really think she can help Fuutarou?" asked Itsuki.

"I do," Ichika replied, "Nino was able to change thanks to him. She can do the same for Fuutarou, if he lets her."

"Exactly," Chihori paused before saying, "I think it's time that you, Fuutarou, and Yotsuba got together and had serious talk. Say whatever you need to say, make whatever apologies you need, get it all out. Then put everything else aside and figure out a way to bring Nino out of her depression, because right now she is the one who's suffering the most. She needs you now more than ever. If you can help her, she can help Fuutarou. Yotsuba will also have a chance to redeem herself. If all goes well, then maybe a happy ending can come out of this after all."

Back at Fuutarou's place Izumi just finished having the very same conversation with the young man seated across from her.

For a long time he sat there in absolute silence, obviously going through everything Izumi had told him. From Yotsuba's personal resentment of her sisters to Nino's love for him.

"I..." she saw him swallow, "I know what you're trying to say and... deep down... I don't want anything bad to happen to Nino. But..." he shook his head rapidly, "I can't do it."

Izumi simply raised a brow, "Why can't you?"

"Because I can't deal with personal matters."

"You mean you don't want to deal with personal matters. You would rather have everything done your way or not deal with it at all. If you had your way you and Yotsuba would get married right after you got out of college."

He opened his mouth to protest but no words came out, confirming her suspicion.

"I don't know what's more ridiculous, proposing after just one date or thinking that Yotsuba would instantly accept it. Why all the hurry anyway? The whole reason people go on dates is to get to know the person better, to see if they can form a real relationship between them. Yet you decided to skip all that and go straight to a marriage proposal. That's not how it works, Fuutarou."

He still didn't answer, probably because even he knew that it was ridiculous.

"You can't stand problems. You hate dealing with them. Just like your grandfather," Izumi sighed, "Fuutarou, you can't spend the rest of your life hiding from the world. That's what Yotsuba was doing and look where got her. What's it going to take for you to realize that you're wasting your entire life away? When you become a hikikomori?"

"A what?"

"A hikikomori. A recluse who's completely cut himself off from society and prefers to be alone in the most extreme manner. Doesn't work, doesn't go to school, stays at home most of the time, and avoids associating with others like the plague. Some even develop schizophrenia, disabilities, or even disorders. Is that the kind of person you wish to be?"

"No!" he automatically replied, "I wouldn't go that far."

"If you keep this up you will. Even if you and Yotsuba did get married, how do you see your marriage going? You go out and do all the work while Yotsuba stays at home and does nothing but be the housewife?"

He shrugged, "What's wrong with that? It's simple and nonproblematic."

He flinched when Izumi's eyes flared at him as he realized he had spoken carelessly.

"She'll basically be nothing more than your personal servant, Fuutarou, and for Yotsuba that's a waste. She deserves better than that."

Fuutarou frowned, "But she's not very smart-"

He stopped she raised a finger and gave him a heated glare.

"I don't want to hear that crap from you," she warned, "Yotsuba is a bright young girl who's capable of great things. The real problem with her is that she has no confidence with herself, and neither you or her sisters have tried her help overcome it. How is it that you never noticed? It should've been pretty obvious. Could it be that you just didn't care about things like that? Or did you really think she was that dumb?"

The way she snapped the last word made him flinch again.

"No! I..." he blew a breath, "I honestly didn't think that there was anything wrong with her. I mean... she was so nice to everyone and was always helpful."

"Yes, going around and helping every single person she came across to the point of exhaustion," Izumi snorted, "Anyone can to that, but Yotsuba took it to the extreme. And you really didn't think it was odd that she was acting that way?"

There was a long pause before Fuutarou said, "No."

She laughed again, "So you honestly believed that there was nothing wrong with Yotsuba because she was always nice and helpful. It never occurred to you, even once, that she might've been hiding something?"

He couldn't answer.

"Fuurarou..." she softened her voice a little, "there are some who would say that Yotsuba is too nice for her own good, and in my experience it's the overly nice ones you should be wary of because they could be hiding a secret, a dark side, or a weakness. For Yotsuba, it's all three. She was so scared of being seen as a fraud and had to keep up an act in order to prove that she wasn't. You're frankly no better than her, Fuutarou."

He still couldn't answer.

"Why can't you show just a little bit of affection?" she asked as gently as she could, "Why do you keep shoving away everyone who tries to get close to you? You do it to your own family. I know how close you were to your mother, but I can see in your eyes that there's something else that you're still bitter about."

Right away he looked uncomfortable and she knew she was getting close.

"Talk to me, Fuutarou," she gave him one last push, "Why is it that made you so bitter that you turned your back on everything and everyone?"

He let out a large, trembling breath and his face turned angry. Tears formed in his eyes and he fought to keep them back.

"Have you ever made a promise... that you weren't able to keep?"

Ah, so that's what it is.

"Yes, I have," she answered, "I myself made a promise that I wasn't able to keep. In your case...let me guess. Your mother promised that she would never leave you."

"And yet she did," Fuutarou said bitterly through his clenched teeth, "After she died, I sat by her bed all night. I wanted to jump on the bed and shake her. I wanted to know why she left me when she promised she never would. I even thought about doing CPR, thinking that she would just come back to life if I did right. Instead I just sat there in anger."

"You think she broke her promise on purpose?"

"No, I know she didn't, but for her to die of cancer, at her age... it was just so unfair."

"On that I can agree. She left the world far too soon."

"On that night I made a promise that I would never get close to anyone again."

"You think that's what she would've wanted?"

"She's dead!" he finally yelled, "Nothing will ever change that! She's gone forever!"

"You're wrong, Fuutarou. She still lives," she tapped his chest, right where his heart was, "In here."

He moved away and refused to look at her. It seemed the very thought only angered even more. He wanted his mother to be alive and at his side again, not just be a painful memory of the life he once had.

"Fuutarou, most people end up breaking promises because of things beyond their control. Few of them actually do it on purpose. Your mother didn't want to die, and neither did anyone else, but it happened. Yotsuba didn't mean to break her promise to you either, but you were able to forgive her. Are you telling me you can't forgive your mother simply because she left you behind? Is that why you refuse to visit her grave? Because of the anger you feel? Do you blame her for the situation your family is in?"

The boy wouldn't answer, but it was clear in his eyes.

"Fuutarou, you can't keep living like this. It's destroying you and everything around you. Don't you understand how much your behavior is affecting Raiha?"

He gritted his teeth, "I know she's worried about me-"

"I think scared would be a better word for it."

He finally looked back at her.

"She really is afraid that you're going to end up alone simply because you can't let the past go. She loves you so much and yet it hurts her to see you like this. It's the same with the quints. All of them love you in their own ways, but you won't give them any affection. How many more people do you have to hurt, Fuutarou? How many hearts do you have to break before you realize just how cruel and unfair you are to everyone? Do you really want to end alone and forgotten?"

His lips moved but he said nothing, yet she could tell he was remembering Chihori saying the same thing to him. He looked like he wanted to protest. Instead he sighed heavily and his shoulders lowered like a defeated man.

"I don't know if I can ever get past it," he sobbed.

"You don't have to get past it. You just need to accept it and move on, but if you do feel the need to get past it then there is one who can help you. Nino."

He blinked, "Nino?"

"It was because of you that she was able to move from the horrible experience she had at her previous school. She had all turned her back on love forever but you were why she gave it another chance. There is a connection between you two and you know it. Stop trying to fight it. Let her help you as you helped her. I know you're afraid, it's only natural, but you have to live each day as though it is your last. When the Quints' mother grew ill and realized that she was going to die she had so many regrets. There were so many things she wanted but she never got to. She always assumed that one day she would have the time, only to run out of time. Which would you regret more? Having never gotten to spend time with Nino? Or never knowing what she could have given you?"

He sat there in silence, yet she could sense a change in him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"We are only on this Earth for a certain amount of time. Don't waste your life, Fuutarou. This may be the last chance you have in finding peace and happiness. It's what your mother wanted the most for you. Stop letting your fears rob you of the happiness that is standing there before your eyes. You'll only live to regret it in the end."

Maruo received a call from Izumi while he was in his office. He knew that she had gone to see Fuutarou and his family and was genuinely curious about what they discussed. However, the voice that answered him was filled with such anger he actually felt like a child getting scolded again.

"Maruo, I am going to ask this one question and I want you to be perfectly honest with me, because right now I am on the verge of marching right over to your hospital and turning you into a patient."

He felt himself gulp, "Go on."

"Why the hell are Fuutarou and his family still stuck with that debt?! It should've been paid off a long time ago!"

"Isanari wanted to-"

"Yes, he told me all that, but it's not an excuse. Paying it off yourself was the least you could have done."

He was silent, unable to say anything.

"Is this your way of getting revenge, Maruo? Are you trying to punish Fuutarou just because he happens to-"

"Izumi, please!" he started breathing heavily and whispered, "You don't need to remind me."

"Do I? I think I do."

There was a long pause.

"This isn't fair, Maruo! Do you have any idea how much Raiha is suffering because of this? He father's never home, her brother is virtually nonexistent, and she can't even go out and enjoy her own life. She was so happy whenever she was with the quints, and now she's all alone. Again."

Another pause.

"You know what, Maruo? I take it back. You are ultimately responsible for this whole mess because you allowed it to happen. You virtually set it up to happen. You're just as bad as Fuutarou and Yotsuba, unable to let the past go. Your father can't hurt you anymore, Maruo. When are you finally going to realize that? If you had taken responsibility like you were supposed to none of this would've happened! If you had done your job and kept your promises the quints wouldn't have had their fallout and Fuutarou wouldn't be the screwed up person that he is. God, if Rena or Tomoko were here right now both of them would be so ashamed of you."

He froze as the words of the past came back to him.

I'm disappointed with you, Maruo. I thought you were much stronger than that.

He suddenly felt tears prick his eyes and he fought to keep them back. Everything Izumi had said was the truth.

"You're right, Izumi. I'm sorry. I am responsible. I promise, I'll do everything I can to make up for it," he paused for a long while before saying, "Izumi... there's something I need to tell you."

Unaware to Maruo three of the quints were currently at his hospital while he was talking with Izumi.

After their conversation with Chihori Ichika, Miku, and Itsuki decided to visit their mother's grave, telling her how sorry they were for not keeping their promise and for not taking care of each other like they should have. Itsuki seemed the most devastated by this while Ichika still felt ultimately responsible.

They then decided to pay their grandfather a visit and see how he was doing. His condition, sadly, hadn't changed. He was still in coma, but the nurses will optimistic, telling them not to give up hope.

At some Itsuki went to the bathroom. She felt exhausted with everything she had been through over the past several days. She felt like she was in the same position as Yotsuba, having betrayed her sisters worse than she by taking matters into her own instead of doing the right thing. What Chihori said had been correct. It was time for them to have a talk with Fuutarou and Yotsuba. Things couldn't remain like this. They needed to figure out a way to bring Nino out of her depression.

She left the bathroom and turned to return to her grandfather's room-

Suddenly she froze.

Slowly walking towards her from the other direction... was her father.

Their father. Their real father. Their biological father. The man who impregnated their mother and ruined her life.

Itsuki wanted to turn and run but her legs wouldn't move. She was convinced she was having a nightmare.

She recalled their last meeting with him. It was during the last festival. He had suddenly appeared out of nowhere after not being part of their lives since even before they were born. He behavior had been erratic and he had only been interested in Itsuki. Why? She didn't know, but she didn't care. She had bluntly told him off and made it clear that she and their sisters wanted nothing to do with him. He disappeared after that and they hadn't given a second thought, mainly because they'd been occupied with Fuutarou.

Now he was here, approaching her, and she couldn't understand.

What was he doing here? Why was he here? What was he going to say to her this time? What excuses was he going to give.

She stood there with eyes wide with shock, heart pounding, mouth dry, and trembling legs. She held her breath as he finally reached her...

And walked right past her.

Itsuki blinked. Then again. And again. And then several times before she finally got a hold of herself and whirled around. Her initial shock and anger was immediately replaced with confusion. At first she thought she had imagined it, but the man was slowly walking away from her.

He hadn't recognized her.

He hadn't even looked at her.

He just continued on as though she wasn't there.

She almost called out to him. It was only then that she noticed that he was wearing a hospital gown and was pulling an IV along with him. This left her even more confused.

That was him, wasn't it? Or was someone who just happened to look a lot like him?

Then a more disturbing thought entered her mind.

If that was him, and he was patient, why was he here in Papa's hospital?