Chapter 14

"We made it..."

"Yeah... But we got all wet..."

Fuutaro and Nino had managed to reach the souvenir café shop that she had mentioned earlier. The heavy rain had left them completely soaked, drenching them from head to toe. As they looked around the shop, the two noticed that many others had sought refuge here as well, resulting in a bustling crowd near the entrance.

The place was now crowded, especially the café area, which seemed to be the preferred spot for people seeking shelter.

Compared to the other shops on Kiyomizu-zaka street, this one was relatively large and divided into two sections. The first section, right after entering, took up about a quarter of the shop and was dedicated to souvenirs. Display tables and shelves showcased various items such as traditional small statues, clothing, keychains, and other common souvenirs. The remaining space was occupied by the café area.

Feeling uncomfortable in his damp clothes, Fuutaro reached into his backpack and pulled out a handkerchief, using it to wipe his wet face, arms, and shirt. He then noticed Nino standing beside him, using her hand to dry her face. Realizing she did not have anything to dry herself with, Fuutaro took out a small pack of pocket tissues from his backpack and handed it to her.

"Here... Use this."

"Ahh… Thanks." Nino accepted the pack and used a few tissues to dry her face and arms. "*sigh* Who would've thought the rain would come down so heavily and out of nowhere... I'll definitely need a warm shower when we get back to the hotel."

"But you'll have to wait a while before you can do that," Fuutaro replied, putting the wet handkerchief back into his backpack. He then glanced out of the shop's front windows, noting that the rain showed no signs of letting up. "It looks like the rain won't stop anytime soon. So, we're kind of stuck here, and might as well find a table to wait."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's wait in the café." Nino agreed. She then noticed the increase of people entering the café area. "Look at all those people... I hope there's still a table available for us. You coming, Fuu-kun?"

"I'll catch up with you later. I want to look around for a bit, and there's something I want to check out first."

"Got it. What would you like to order?"

"I'll have a hot barley tea for now. I'll check the rest of the menu later."

"Don't take too long, okay?"

Nino made her way to the café area, while Fuutaro explored the souvenir section, examining each shelf and display table. Before his trip to Kyoto, both Raiha and his dad had requested souvenirs if he happened to come across any. Raiha had asked for Yatsuhashi, a traditional sweet made from glutinous rice flour and sugar, with a unique soft and chewy texture. She also asked for Konpeito candy, small and colorful sweet treats with a distinct star-shaped appearance. As for his dad, he wanted Hojicha tea leaves, a type of green tea to enjoy on his days off or after long work shifts.

After some time, Fuutaro found the Yatsuhashi that Raiha wanted, opting for a box with two flavors, cinnamon, and chocolate, knowing his sister's preference for sweet treats. One item off the checklist, and two more to go as he continued his search for the remaining souvenirs. However, despite circling the area again and carefully scanning each shelf and table, the Konpeito and Hojicha tea leaves were nowhere to be found.

Fuutaro then headed to the cashier to ask about the availability of the two missing souvenirs.

"Excuse me, do you sell Konpeito and Hojicha tea leaves?" he asked, placing the box of Yatsuhashi on the counter.

"Yes, we do sell Konpeito, but unfortunately, it has been out of stock for the past few days," the cashier informed him. "As for the Hojicha tea leaves, we no longer sell them since last year."

Fuutaro let out a small sigh, clearly disappointed by the response. "I see... That's unfortunate," he said quietly and reached for his wallet to pay for the Yatsuhashi. "How much is this Yatsuhashi?"

"It's 850 Yen."

Fuutaro handed over a 1000 Yen bill. "Here you go."

The cashier accepted the money and put the confetti in a plastic bag. "Thank you for shopping with us, and here's your change," the cashier said, handing him the change. "We apologize for any inconvenience. We hope you'll consider visiting us again in the future."

With the souvenir in hand, Fuutaro made his way to the bustling café area. Initially, he had hoped to find all the souvenirs in one place, but with the heavy rain showing no signs of letting up, it seemed out of the question to venture to another souvenir shop on Kiyomizu-zaka street. Instead, he decided to postpone his search for the remaining items until the evening trip, when the students would be heading to one of the shopping districts in Kyoto.

A small sigh escaped Nino's lips as she leaned her right cheek against her right hand, her gaze wandering boredly around the lively and crowded café area. The place was abuzz with loud chatter and activity, a testament to the number of people seeking shelter from the sudden heavy rain. When Nino had first entered the café area, she was taken aback by the large crowd and quickly scanned the section for an available table. It had been quite a challenge to find one amidst the bustling atmosphere. Eventually, she managed to spot a table located at the far-right edge of the café, quite a distance from the entrance and the counter.

"Why did it have to turn out like this?" Nino grumbled under her breath, flipping through the menu book. "I can't believe this…"

While looking at the menu, she occasionally glanced between the book and the café's entrance, eagerly waiting for Fuutaro. Looking back, Nino regretted not joining him earlier, as one of her main objectives was to enjoy some shopping time with him. However, her earlier irritation from getting drenched and the influx of people heading towards the café made her hesitate to linger in the souvenir section.

After a while, she spotted Fuutaro making his way towards her. He took the seat opposite her and placed a plastic bag on the table.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Nino asked, setting the menu book aside to focus on him.

"Not everything. I only managed to get one of the things I wanted," Fuutaro replied, setting his backpack down near his feet. "I'll check for the rest at other souvenir shops during the evening trip."

"So, what did you buy?" Nino took the plastic bag and peeking inside.

"It's Yatsuhashi. Raiha asked me to get one for her," he said. "She also wanted Konpeito candy, but they were sold out here."

"Yatsuhashi, huh? It's been years since I had one of those," Nino murmured, recalling the last time she had enjoyed the sweet treat. "It was definitely a delicious snack. Remind me to get one when we're done here."

"Yeah. So, have you already placed our order?" Fuutaro took the menu book, glancing on the dessert and drink options.

"Like ages ago…" Nino replied, crossing her arms and surveying the bustling café once more. "With this many people, it's probably going to take forever for them to serve us. If you want to order something, do it now, or we'll be stuck here until evening."

"Hmm, let's see…" Fuutaro mumbled, perusing the menu book. As he flipped through the pages, his eyes widened and narrowed in response to the exorbitant prices. Even the barley tea he had ordered was twice as expensive as at his part-time workplace. Having already spent a significant amount on Itsuki's desserts the night before, he knew he could not afford additional orders if he wanted to buy souvenirs for his family. "Nope, everything here is ridiculously overpriced. I'll pass." He closed the menu book and put it away. "Even our workplace is more budget-friendly than this place."

"What did you expect? This place is in a tourist area, so higher prices are the norm."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Barley tea is good enough for me," Fuutaro said, putting the plastic bag into his backpack. "So, what did you order?"

"A black tea. I don't really feel like having dessert after getting soaked in the rain," Nino replied, propping her right elbow on the table and resting her cheek on her hand. "Hey, you always order barley tea whenever we're in a café. Is it really that good?"

"Yeah, I like it. It's my preferred tea among all types."

"Hmm, I've never tried barley tea before," Nino mused. "Tell you what, let's trade drinks. I want to give it a try, and you can have my black tea."

"You sure? I don't know if you'll like it since you usually prefer sweet and sugary things."

"Don't worry, I've tasted worse when I tried green tea, which was the bitterest drink I've ever had, aside from coffee."

"Alright then, works for me."

After waiting for around half an hour, their orders finally arrived, and the waitress placed a cup of black tea and barley tea on their table. Nino had requested some extra sugar for her black tea, and the waitress obligingly added a few sachets beside it. As agreed earlier, Nino took the barley tea, and Fuutaro took the black tea.

She lifted the cup and took a quick whiff of the aroma. "I can tell it's definitely different from the black tea I usually drink... It smells good." Nino slowly blew on the tea and took a tentative sip. "Hmm... It has a nutty and toasty flavor, but it's not as bitter as black tea or the green tea that Miku usually drinks."

As Fuutaro was about to take a sip of his tea, he paused as he noticed Nino adding a significant amount of sugar to her tea. "Do you always add that much sugar to your drinks?" he asked, looking bewildered. "Don't you find it too sweet or get sick from that level of sweetness?"

"Nope. I don't like bitter things, so I always go for sweet tea," she explained, gently stirring her barley tea. "I once tried Ichika's coffee out of curiosity, and... it was the worst drink I've ever had in my life. I still regret trying that stuff."

"Coffee isn't that bad. You can add milk, cream, or sugar to reduce the bitterness," Fuutaro suggested, resuming his interrupted sip of tea. " Thanks to your eldest sister, I'm starting to enjoy coffee and have it once in a while. Although not to the extent she does, where she can drink it every day and consume unsweetened black coffee like it's nothing."

"Heh, that's Ichika for you. You should've seen how crazy she was when she drank all that coffee before the mock exam," Nino remarked with a smirk, taking another sip of her tea. She then set the cup down and surveyed the café. "Hey, Fuu-kun, what do you think of this café? The design is quite unique. It seems to mix both modern and traditional elements seamlessly."

Fuutaro put down his cup of tea and took a moment to observe the café. His eyes scanned every corner of the area: up, down, left, and right. After a few moments, he seemed to have completed his observation and shared his opinion. "Yeah, I think you're right," Fuutaro said, crossing his arms. "The classic wooden walls and floors make an immediate impact as soon as you enter the café. The traditional paintings add a delightful touch, creating a classic atmosphere while people enjoy their meals or drinks. The bamboo lanterns placed around the café add even more refinement to the overall ambiance. And for me, the most important aspect is the lighting. They've nailed it by opting for warm-toned lighting, imitating the glow of lanterns emitting a soft yellow light." He glanced around the café once more, wrapping up his analysis. "Apart from that, it's your typical café, nothing out of the ordinary. This blend of modern and traditional elements is a perfect fit for a place in Kyoto, which is renowned for its traditional architecture."

Nino was surprised to hear her tutor's analysis of the place, not expecting him to be knowledgeable about café design and layout. She wore an impressed expression and nodded repeatedly as he finished his analysis. "Hehh... I didn't expect you to be so sharp at analyzing a café, especially since you're always a study maniac, focused only on studying and nothing else," Nino remarked, resting her cheek in her hand while gazing directly at Fuutaro's face. "Do you have an interest in interior design or something?"

Fuutaro shook his head. "No, not really. It's just that my parents used to own a café... well, it was unfinished, to be exact," he clarified, taking another small sip of his tea. "I used to overhear them discussing café designs and how to make the place interesting and appealing. So, I guess I picked up a thing or two about café design."

"Hmm... I think I remember Itsuki mentioning that your family used to own a café or bakery or something," Nino recalled. "So, it was true. What kind of café did your family plan to build?"

Fuutaro paused for a moment, his finger on his chin, as if trying to recall something. After about 15 seconds, he finally remembered and shared the details. "I think... it was meant to be something like a family café or a mix of a restaurant and café," he said. "My mom once told me that the place would specialize in pastries and baked goods, with some common foods and drinks as side items. Something similar to our workplace, but with foods."

"I see... Not many cafés settle for that kind of concept, so it's definitely unique and daring," Nino commented. "Can I ask why the café remained unfinished? Did your parents encounter problems while building it?"

"Yeah, you could say that," Fuutaro replied, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms once again. "It was always my mom's dream to build her own café, but she fell ill during the process of building it. Unfortunately, she passed away from the illness before the café could be completed. After her death, my old man couldn't bring himself to continue working on it because of the grief. Additionally, the debt she left behind from all the expenses they had incurred during the building process had a big impact on our financial situation."

Nino was taken aback by Fuutaro's story, her expression turning gloomy. She felt a bit shocked by the personal and sensitive topic that had come up. Nino averted her eyes from him, realizing that she unintentionally touched upon a painful memory. "Umm... Sorry for asking about that. I didn't know it was such a personal matter for you."

"No, it's fine," Fuutaro reassured her with a light shake of his head. "It's actually good for me to talk about it once in a while, as I've kept this buried for a long time."

"Well, there's no need to continue talking about it if it makes you uncomfortable. Let's change the topic, shall we?"

"If you say so," Fuutaro agreed, adjusting his sitting position and sitting up straight. "Speaking of cafés, have you ever considered working in the food and beverage industry in the future, especially since you enjoy cooking and are really good at it?"

"I'm still not sure about it, but if the opportunity arises, I would definitely consider it," Nino replied, taking another sip of her tea. "Did you know that I've always dreamt of owning a café someday?"

"Yeah, if I remember correctly, Yotsuba mentioned it earlier this year."

"It's been a childhood dream of mine," Nino said, placing her tea cup down and sighing softly. She gazed at the cup for a moment before continuing. "I had actually forgotten about it until she brought it up again. Since then, it's been on my mind constantly."

"So, if you're serious about pursuing that dream, would you consider attending a culinary school after graduation?" Fuutaro asked.

"I'm not sure," Nino replied, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. "You know how strict my dad is about education, right? He even went as far as hiring you to become our tutor. I don't know how to bring up the topic with him, especially since he tends to be indifferent when things don't go his way."

Fuutaro weakly smirked, recalling his encounter with Maruo after taking Nino away from him following the final exam last year. The cold, blank expression and icy stare from her father still sent shivers down his spine even in recollection. "Yeah, I can imagine how that might go," he said, sipping his tea to shake off the memory of the terrifying man. "But here's the thing: if you're really serious about your dream, and you show your dad just how committed you are, he might be more willing to listen and consider it."

"As I said, I'm not entirely sure," she continued. "Even if he does give me the green light, I still wonder if a career in the food and beverage industry is the right fit for me."

Fuutaro listened intently as Nino shared her thoughts.

"Right now, the reason I cook is mainly to feed myself and them," Nino explained with another sigh, leaning back in her chair. "I used to love cooking as a kid, but as time went by, that dream faded away from my mind. Now that it's resurfaced, I'm not entirely sure if I want to pursue it again," she admitted with a faint smile. "Remember when our boss kept complaining about the new bakery that Miku worked at, which opened right in front of our place? Nowadays, the food and beverage industry are highly competitive, and running a café on my own wouldn't be an easy task. Plus, all the operational work we've done so far has been quite a hassle, and even though most of it was trivial, I still made some mistakes."

It was very rare for her to share such personal dreams with him, making this conversation an unusual occasion. Normally, she would talk to him about whatever topic was currently trending, but those discussions were often missed due to his obliviousness to such matters. These thoughts always brought a sense of unease to her heart, which was evident from the expression she wore.

"I see... It's up to you to pursue that dream," Fuutaro said, crossing his arms thoughtfully. "But let me tell you, if you're truly serious about achieving your dream, you'll have to work very hard, especially considering your dad could possibly become an obstacle for you. With enough determination, however, anything is possible."

"Such big words coming from you, huh?" Nino weakly smirked, but her unease quickly returned. "Even if I work hard enough, there may be other external factors that could affect my efforts. So it won't be as simple as just working hard to succeed."

"Yes, that's true. But if those factors arise, will you give up or continue to pursue your dream?" Fuutaro asked, his tone serious but supportive. "Look at my mom as an example. Despite her illness, she worked tirelessly to build her dream café, and even in the time of hardness, she didn't give up. My old man was there to support her, and I believe if that unfortunate situation hadn't happened, she would have realized her dream, no matter the challenges she faced. Remember, there are positive factors that can also help you reach your goals, not just negative ones that might discourage you."

Nino remained silent, attentively listening to him.

"Moreover, you have your sisters who always support each other, including you. Don't hesitate to seek their advice and help from time to time—perhaps share your dream with them to hear their opinions," Fuutaro said, maintaining a serious expression as he looked directly at Nino. Although serious, his expression was not intimidating; it emanated support and care. "You're not alone in this, and you have siblings you can rely on. So be open to accepting their help and consider lowering your high and mighty ego when discussing your aspirations with them."

Nino was taken aback by Fuutaro's words. She did not expect him to be so wise, considering she mostly saw him as rigid and serious at school, during their tutoring sessions, and at their part-time job. However, she did know that he was not always that way. He had a softer, cooler, and braver side: like when he saved her from falling off a cliff during last year's school trip, or when he shared his own past with her when she ran away from home, or even when he picked her up on a motorcycle to help her escape from her father—these actions both surprised and captivated her. It was these sides of him that made her fall in love with him, and now this unexpected display of wisdom added another positive point to her affection for him.

"I didn't know you could be this wise..."

"Though I always hate being lectured by someone..."

"I don't feel annoyed when it's coming from you…"

"I guess what you said makes sense…"

"Maybe I should seriously consider it further..."

"And also, the part about your dad, I can give you a suggestion to confront him... but you might call me crazy."

"Okay… Let's hear it."

"If he doesn't approve of your dream… You can just rebel and not listen to what he says," Fuutaro offered his suggestion.

As he mentioned Maruo, his expression started to show hesitation, and his voice became nervous. "I mean… you five already defied him by running away from home just to keep me as your tutor. You did it again by going with me instead of him when I picked you up on a motorcycle." Fuutaro cleared his throat and let out a long exhale. "So I guess another rebellious moment wouldn't hurt?"

Nino was surprised by his suggestion and then burst into laughter. It was not a mocking laugh; rather, it was a relieving laugh because what he proposed made a lot of sense. She had always followed her heart, so why should she hesitate when telling him about her dream? Maybe it was because sometimes her decisions did not turn out as she expected, and that made her afraid?

There were times when her decisions did not turn out well, like when she ran away from home after a fight with Itsuki. That single decision set a chain of motion that caused a rift in relationship between the five of them. But there were also times when her decisions turned out well, like when she decided to cut her hair and let Miku do it after a calming talk with her. She did not regret that decision and was fine with it. And the most recent example was when she confessed her feelings to him on the motorcycle. It was embarrassing at first, but she eventually embraced that feeling.

Just as he said, it was up to her, and she needed to follow her heart and choose what was best for her. She also realized she should seek her sisters' opinions and advice to consider whether the path she desired was right for her.

"Ahahaha… How stupid of me not to think of that," Nino said, laughing. Her gloomy expression had now returned to her usual confident and self-assured self. "I never thought you could give such daring advice. Well, maybe I shouldn't be surprised since you once gave us a cheat sheet to use in the final exam, which turned out to be a dud. And how you picked me up on a motorcycle and took me away from dad," she remarked playfully. "I always forget that you can be bold and rebellious despite your appearance. I guess those are the sides of you that made me fall for you, Fuu-kun."

Fuutaro let out a small chuckle, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment due to her teasing words. "Heh… Don't underestimate me. You might know me as a study maniac and an anti-social person, but you never knew what I was like before all of this."

"Ohh… So what kind of person were you before? Or was your manly and cool façade just a one-time thing that came out of nowhere?"

"Well… You're better off not knowing about my past, or you might faint out of admiration and shock," he replied with a cheeky smirk.

"Hah! Don't get cocky, Fuu-kun," Nino retorted, mirroring his smirk. "You might have captured my heart, but I've always had a soft spot for wild and cool guys. Let me give you a suggestion—just dye your hair blonde and maybe start acting more like a delinquent so I can truly fall for you."

"Yeah… I'm going to pass on that," Fuutaro replied with a chuckle.

A ringing sensation emanated from Fuutaro's pocket. He reached for his phone and checked the incoming message. It was from Yotsuba.

Where are you, Uesugi-san? The leading teacher just announced that the afternoon trip has been canceled due to heavy rain, and we'll be heading back to the hotel. Everyone else is already on the bus, except for you and Nino.

Ichika said that you were with her earlier. Can you tell me your current location? I'll tell the teacher so he won't worry, and he might come to get you and Nino with an umbrella.

Please reply as soon as you read this!

Meanwhile, Nino's phone also rang, and she saw a personal chat from Itsuki.

Where are you, Nino? The afternoon trip has been canceled, and we're heading back to the hotel immediately. Everyone else, except for you and Uesugi-kun, is already on the bus. Wherever you two are, please come back to the bus quickly. The leading teacher is currently busy counting the attendance and contacting the other teacher, so he couldn't get you or Uesugi-kun.

Since it's raining, maybe you could buy an umbrella or a raincoat from one of the stores?

After reading the messages, Fuutaro returned his phone to his pocket and quickly finished his now-cold black tea. "Hey, Nino, Yotsuba just texted me. The afternoon trip has been canceled, and everyone else is already on the bus, preparing to go back to the hotel," he said, placing the empty cup down.

"Yeah, Itsuki told me the same thing," Nino replied, finishing her tea in a few quick gulps. She glanced at the window, where the rain still poured heavily, just as it did when they arrived. "The rain doesn't seem to be letting up, huh? Since we're still here, would you mind accompanying me to look around the souvenir area? I didn't get a chance to browse earlier, and there might be something I want to buy apart from the Yatsuhashi. Are you okay with that, Fuu-kun?"

"Hmm… Yeah, alright," Fuutaro replied. "But don't take too long, okay? Sensei and the others are waiting for us… But I wonder how we'll get back in this kind of rain."

"Don't worry about that. Earlier, I noticed they have umbrellas and raincoats for sale on one of the display tables. We can pick up one while exploring," Nino informed him. "Shall we?"

"Okay, then," Fuutaro said, getting up from his seat. "Come on, let's go."

Nino nodded and stood up as well, following Fuutaro to the cashier to settle the bill for their drinks.

Finally, one of her main objectives for this school trip had come true—spending some shopping time with Fuutaro. Nino strolled through the souvenir area, her face beaming with joy as she examined every shelf and display table filled with various souvenirs. Her hope was to find a special gift that would catch his interest and buy it for him. Since Fuutaro became her tutor, she had not had much opportunity for one-on-one leisure time with him, except for last year when she and her sisters shopped together with him to prepare for the school trip.

However, back then, things were different. They had only just met, and she harbored suspicions and dislike towards him. Right now, her feelings for him had grown, and she wanted to savor this time together, just the two of them, doing what she had longed to do since the trip began.

While browsing a shelf, something caught her eye. "Hmm… This one, huh?" Nino murmured as she picked up the item. It was a purple waist bag, and upon closer inspection, she found it to be both fashionable and practical. Nino thought it could be a perfect gift for Fuutaro, as he might need one while traveling. During their previous trips together, the spring vacation, he always carried his backpack wherever they went. She believed this waist bag would be more convenient and easier for him to carry wherever he went.

"Hey, Fuu-kun, come over here," Nino called out to him.

Fuutaro, who had been looking at another display table, turned to her. "What's up?"

"What do you think of this?" she asked, showing him the waist bag.

"A waist bag, huh?" Fuutaro inspected it. "It does look good, and it's practical to have around. Do you want to buy it?"

"Yeah, I'm going to buy it… For you, of course," Nino replied with a smile, surprising Fuutaro. "Since you said it yourself, I assume you like it, right?"

"O-Oi! there's no need to buy it for me," Fuutaro protested, a hint of panic in his voice. "And what's the price...?" He checked the price tag, and his expression turned shocked. "4500 Yen?! No, I can't let you buy such an expensive thing for me."

Unfazed by his complaint, Nino took the waist bag from him and placed it into the shopping bag, which already held five boxes of Yatsuhashi and a keychain. "Money isn't a problem for me, Fuu-kun. Since you liked this one, I'll buy it for you." She then playfully smirked and placed her index finger on his chest. "I won't take no for an answer. It's my final decision."

Fuutaro sighed, realizing there was little use arguing with the determined second quintuplet, knowing her hot-headed nature. "Alright…" He managed a faint smile and thanked her. "Thank you, Nino. I'll make sure to repay you in the future."

"I'll be looking forward to that day and be sure to surprise me, okay?" Nino's cheeks flushed as she spoke. "Come on, Fuu-kun, let's find an umbrella or a raincoat and get out of here."

The two continued to search the shop for an umbrella or a raincoat. Despite looking at most of the display tables and shelves, they could not find either. Feeling like they could not waste any more time, Fuutaro and Nino approached the cashier to ask about their availability and as well for Nino to pay for her items and Fuutaro's waist bag.

However, it seemed that bad luck was still following them, as the cashier staff informed them that all the umbrellas and raincoats had been sold out due to the sudden rain.

"*sigh* What a luck… I should've bought one when I saw them earlier," Nino complained, shaking her head in frustration. "And why didn't you get one while you were looking for your souvenirs? It would have saved us from this trouble, you know?"

"Oi, don't blame me. I didn't think of buying one since I assumed we could just wait until the rain stopped," Fuutaro responded, his voice lacking energy. This situation felt like déjà vu, as he had just encountered a similar problem not long ago. "How could I have known that the afternoon trip would get canceled so suddenly, and now we have to hurry back to the bus?"

"You really are hopeless, Fuu-kun. Now we have to wait for the leading teacher to come get us," Nino sighed as she paid for her souvenirs and Fuutaro's waist bag. She then accepted the plastic bag containing her items and the waist bag. "God, I really hate him. I can already imagine him getting all angry at us, even though it's not our fault."

Fuutaro looked once more at the front window. The rain was still coming down heavily, just like when they entered the shop. However, now the wind had picked up, causing the raindrops to fall sideways. Even if they had an umbrella, in this situation, they would undoubtedly end up getting drenched from top to bottom without any exceptions.

He knew that their leading teacher was one of the least likable teachers in the school, and they had even clashed a few times in the past over his grades. Dealing with this particular teacher would undoubtedly be a pain, and Fuutaro did not want to add another bad record with him.

But there was one option left… He had been contemplating this particular plan for a while, but it was the last resort if there were no other choice. Given the current unfavorable situation, Fuutaro had no option but to go with this plan. He cracked his neck and stretched his legs before telling Nino about his idea. "Nino, I have an idea. But I'm not sure you're going to like it."

"What is it? Don't tell me you want us to walk all the way back to the bus in this heavy rain,"

Fuutaro gave a weak smirk and nodded slightly, confirming her suspicion. "Well, looks like I don't even have to say it."

Nino was shocked by his answer, finding it outrageous to even consider walking back to the bus in such harsh weather. "Huh?! Are you out of your mind, Fuu-kun? It's pouring out there, and the wind is getting even stronger!"

"Yeah, I'm aware of that. But I don't want to deal with our leading teacher, especially since we've had some feuds in the past," Fuutaro explained. "I'd rather get blazed by this rain and wind than have my grades manipulated by him."

"You can't be serious! The bus is like five hundred meters, or maybe even a kilometer away from here," Nino complained, unable to fathom his willingness to face the elements. "I get it if it's just a regular rain, but this... You must be crazy to consider walking through it. And all this for the sake of your grades? I can't even understand you."

"It's just rain. I've been through rain like this before, so it's not a big problem for me," Fuutaro stated to her as he glanced at the window once again. He then turned to her; his expression playfully mischievous. "Don't tell me the little princess is afraid of a few drops of water?"

Nino immediately reacted to his teasing and shot him an annoyed look. "Huh? What did you just say to me?!" She pointed her finger at him. "I'm not afraid of the rain. I just don't like being soaking wet without a towel afterward." Her voice softened as she continued, "Besides… It's been a while since I played in the rain. It was a long time ago..."

"So you do have some experience with this kind of situation, huh?" Fuutaro said with a smirk. He knew that he had to be bold and firm to grab Nino's attention, taking a cue from Ichika's past advice. "I'm going, with or without you. I'll tell our leading teacher to pick you up once I'm back on the bus."

"Hey, wait a minute, Fuu-kun!" Nino raised her voice slightly, grabbing the back of his shirt suddenly. "I never said I won't do it… So… count me in..."

"Alright then. Get ready; it's going to be tough running in this rain," Fuutaro exclaimed. "And make sure to put that plastic bag inside your backpack so it doesn't get ruined by the rain, okay?"

"Yeah…" Nino weakly replied, bracing herself for the challenge ahead.

Fuutaro faced the front door, took a deep breath, and prepared himself for the heavy raindrops that would soon drench him. Just as Nino had mentioned earlier, he could not wait for a warm shower after enduring this wet ordeal, to avoid catching a cold from his reckless action. As he reached for the door handle, he noticed Nino hesitating, her face displaying a mix of nervousness and reluctance. Though she had agreed to join him, her expression revealed her true feelings, making Fuutaro feel a little guilty for forcing her into this crazy venture.

He then to take off his gray cardigan sweater and handed it to her. "Here... Use this."

Nino looked at the sweater, wondering what it was for. "Hmm? What's this for?"

"You said you really hate getting wet, right?" Fuutaro explained, his attention returning to the door. "Use this as a cover. You can also use your blazer for extra protection."

Nino blushed slightly, touched by his act of kindness. While it would not provide complete protection from the rain, she appreciated his thoughtfulness. A smile formed on her lips as she accepted the sweater. "Thank you... I guess you're not as boring and bland as I thought. You can be manly too, huh?" She removed her blazer and placed it on top of Fuutaro's sweater, using them to cover her head.

"Yeah, whatever you say," Fuutaro replied. "Anyway, are you ready?"

"Yeah, right next to you."

With that, Fuutaro pulled the door handle and they both rushed outside, greeted by the relentless downpour.

The heavy raindrops instantly soaked their entire bodies within seconds. The noise of the rain was deafening, filling their ears and drowning out all other sounds. The visibility was limited to a haze, where the surrounding buildings and road in front of them were barely visible amidst the constant downpour. The strong wind further obstructed their vision and hindered their movement, forcing them to jog at maximum instead of running, to avoid slipping.

Fuutaro shouted to Nino, raising his voice to be heard over the rain and wind. "You okay, Nino?"

"Yeah, I'm okay!" Nino yelled back, still holding the stack of clothing over her head. "But it's hard to see with this rain. Don't walk too far ahead, Fuu-kun!"

"Okay! Stay close to me!"

Step after step had passed, yet they still had not reached their destination. Both of them were growing tired from the continuous jog and had to slow down to a quick but sluggish walk.

For Nino, she was starting to regret following Fuutaro's decision. At this moment, she would much rather endure a long lecture from their leading teacher than continue running in these extreme conditions. Lost in her thoughts, she suddenly tripped on an uneven patch of ground, losing her balance.

"W-Whoa...!"

"Oi, look out!"

Two hands were suddenly supporting her shoulder and her lower stomach, preventing her from falling the ground. It was his hands… holding her whole body so she would not meet face-to-face with the wet concrete ground. As their gazes met, his worried face and the raindrops on his cheeks made her blush return.

"You okay?"

"Y-Yeah... I'm alright." Nino stood straight again as Fuutaro released his hands. "Thank you, Fuu-kun."

"Good. Can you still continue? We shouldn't be far from the bus." Fuutaro said, glancing at her. "Stay close to me so you can keep up."

"Unn... Let's go."

They resumed jogging, pushing forward on their difficult path back to the bus.

As she kept jogging, Nino could not help but feel that today had not gone as she had hoped, especially when it came to spending time with Fuutaro. She had wanted an exciting time with him, exploring Kiyomizu-dera and Kiyomizu-zaka street together, visiting every available shop, and indulging in extended shopping with him. But instead, they did not get to walk together at Kiyomizu-dera, got stuck in a souvenir-café shop because of this heavy rain, and only had a limited period of shopping time. And now, they were walking through this rain due to the sudden cancellation of the afternoon trip.

Despite not going as planned, Nino was content and grateful for everything that had happened, including the current situation. It was all thanks to him—how he encouraged her about her dream, revealed his wise side, and just now, saved her from falling. His current wild and reckless behavior, so different from his usual avoidance of unfavorable situations, had impressed her. He did not complain and kept going, even stopping to rescue her from falling.

Looking at Fuutaro, who was walking in front of her, Nino's heart warmed with a smile as she reflected on his kindness. It was this side of him that had captured her heart—the brave, wild, and gentle aspects of his personality. Despite not matching her initial ideal of appearance, his personality alone was enough to win her over.

"Even though it didn't go the way I imagined..."

"I'm glad I got to spend some alone time with you..."

"Even with your seemingly bland appearance and sometimes boring attitude..."

"You truly are a cool and kind guy, you know that…?"

"Really... You never cease to surprise me..."

"Fuu-kun..."

A/N:

Finally, Nino's story is complete, and I hope you've enjoyed it. Originally, this chapter was meant to be split into two chapters, making a total of three. However, similar to the reasoning behind Miku's story, this chapter should be read seamlessly in one sitting, without any interruptions. With the release of this chapter, it marks the conclusion of the four quintuplets' story with Fuutaro, and we will be moving to the next theme.

Now, for the important announcement that I mentioned in the last chapter: I'll be putting this story on hold, or you could say it's going on a break. Over the past few months, I've been experiencing burnout from writing and constantly losing my drive to keep on going. To make matters worse, I recently fractured my foot in an accident a few days ago, which adding another reason to pause this story as the pain is no joke and it's still stinging even as I write this A/N. The break period could range from a month to a couple of months, or maybe even longer. However, my plan is to continue before the end of this year, and December seems like a reasonable or safe timeframe for me to pick up again.

As always, here are the updated/fixed chapters:

-Our Promise and Bet:

Chapter 9 (Completed)

-That Special Someone:

Chapter 6 (Completed)

Also, upon rereading this story, I've noticed some tense and grammar mistakes in Chapter 7 (The Invitation). I intend to fix these issues, and you can expect the corrected version to be finished in about two weeks from now. While on break, I'll continue working on fixing the remaining chapters of "Our Promise and Bet." This will ensure that I stay sharp and ready to continue once I pick up again. If you're interested, I've already posted a small announcement note on the first chapter, which will help you keep track of the updated chapters.

Before concluding this A/N, I want to say my gratitude to all the readers, especially those who have favorited, followed, and/or left reviews for this story thus far. Your support is really appreciated and serves as a driving force to continue writing, knowing that there are people interested in and hooked in this story encourages me to keep on going. So, I guess I will see you all again once the break is over and I hope you will still stick around to accompany me as this story keeps continuing!

If you like the story feel free to review, follow, and favorite it.