Chapter Fifteen: Winter Break

~Itsuki~

Itsuki shivered and pulled on her red sweater over her nightwear. The frigid winter air had somehow invaded their living room and frosted the large panel windows of the Nakano's apartment. As Itsuki descended the stairs, she noted the brisk morning air feeling that the weather had recently become ideal for making hot chocolate and cookies. Their enormous tree was adorned with sparkling ornaments, twinkling lights, with an angel on top and their stockings hung on the mantel below their tv matched each of their favorite colors with their names stitched in lovely cursive along. Itsuki tugged lamely on the garland that draped the mantel thinking that it was a bit overkill, but since Nino was in charge of the decorations this year, she had to leave it.

I swear that girl just wants to live in Europe or something.

Itsuki took in the sweet aroma of cinnamon and pine coming from the candles still lit from the night before. I suppose the candles were a nice touch. Itsuki admitted to no one in particular. She smiled as she walked settled on the family couch and pulled close a large, decorated wicker basket. Itsuki folded a handkerchief and placed it along with a beautiful set of hello kitty stationary pens next to some Christmas chocolate already in that basket. Next she carefully she placed an individually wrapped electric lint remover in the basket that she had found last minute at a convenience store for half off.

Just a little extra something for Raiha-chan, she thought. She figured that Raiha would certainly be the kind of girl to meticulously take care of her school uniforms once she made it to junior high school.

Itsuki then added a new pencil case featuring some famous K-pop group that Nino insisted Raiha would like.

Nino had also gotten her a cute expensive looking flower encased hair clip.

I'm not sure if Raiha-chan will like garish presents like this, Nino, Itsuki remembered complaining to Nino one day when they were shopping together.

It's fiiiine! Raiha-chan is still our sister, and she deserves cute things. Nino had huffed away without another word before Itsuki or Miku could protest.

Itsuki left for the kitchen and quickly returned with a charming wooden box filled with chocolate chip cookies and small cakes that Miku had made for Raiha. She quickly placed them in the basket before she became too tempted to take one. Unbelievably, her baking had improved so much so that Itsuki was certain Raiha would be thrilled to receive the baked goods. Itsuki inspected the basket feeling somewhat displeased. Overall, the package arrangement resembled more like a gift basket than a Christmas present, but there was no avoiding it when all four girls wanted to gift their "younger sister."

If we can even call her that anymore. Itsuki sulked. She picked up her phone and tapped away.

[Itsuki] (sent at 8:05 a.m.) "I'm just about to take the basket to Raiha-chan. Is there anything else anyone would like to add?"

[Itsuki] (sent at 8:05 a.m.) "*ahem* Ichika?"

[Ichika] (sent at 8:07 a.m.) "relaaaax Itsuki-chan, I'm on my way. I have some tickets I'd like to gift her."

[Miku] (sent at 8:08 a.m.) "Are you seriously going to gift her tickets to your own movie?"

[Ichika] (sent at 8:10 a.m.) "No... It was for the World Arcade Fair in Tokyo. I was hoping she'd go with Futaro-kun..."

[Ichika] (sent at 8:10 a.m.) "but I was also going to add my movie tickets too... tee-hee"

[Miku] (sent at 8:11 a.m.) "You shillllllll... anyway, whatever...Ichika before you get to dad's can you pick up some heavy creamer? I ran out and we need them for dad's dinner tonight. Tonight is the only night Dad's getting off for New Year's and I'd like to make the most of it"

[Itsuki] (sent at 8:12 a.m.) "I'll pick it up. Don't worry. Ichika, just get here."

The door alarm chimes just as the door opens, and Itsuki's eyes widen with surprise. "Ichika? is that you?" she calls out, her voice fading away as a cheery voice fills the apartment.

"Yes ma'am! Your lovely older sister is back. I come bearing gifts!" Ichika strides through the front entrance, wearing a thick yellow coat and sporting a stylish grey scarf. She pauses briefly to untie her snow-dusted shoes.

"Ah, great," Itsuki sighed with relief. "Just put them under the tree, and don't forget to add your presents to Raiha-chan's basket."

Ichika carefully placed the small wrapped boxes under the Christmas tree and turned back to the living room table where she gently inserted two plain white envelopes into the Raiha's gift basket. She stepped back to admire her work.

"You probably should have wrapped them up a bit prettier," Itsuki complained.

"I was worried the wrapping I chose wouldn't match the one you'd use," Ichika shrugged in apology. "Sue me."

"It's fine," Itsuki said, rearranging Ichika's presents so as the plain white envelopes didn't stick out too much.

"Soooo, Yotsuba is coming tonight, right? Should we wait for her in case she brought a present for Raiha-chan? For a while it seemed like she wasn't going to make it," Ichika asked cautiously.

Itsuki nodded, a small frown creasing her forehead. "She's coming, but I'm not sure if she's bringing something. She didn't say anything in the group chat." Though she doesn't say much of anything in the group chat these days. Itsuki thought. "Either way, we have to take what we have over to Raiha-chan today. We already agreed to it and Miku made me swear that the sweets would get to Raiha-chan still fresh."

Ichika nodded in understanding, then hesitated. "So...what about Nino-chan?"

"It seems like things will be okay," Itsuki sighed heavily. "When I told Nino that Yotsuba was coming for New Year's break, she threatened to stay at a hotel all week, but Miku convinced her to stay. It'll be nice to have all of us together again. I think it's important."

Ichika nodded, understanding the underlying tension in Itsuki's words. Yotsuba and Nino hadn't exchanged a single word to each other since September when they were all last together. The tension between the two of them would be palpable and Itsuki worried that they wouldn't be able to keep it together in front of their father.

"You think Nino will be okay?" Ichika asked, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

"I don't know. She's been tense all week and snapping at everyone. But I've talked to her, and she's promised to be civil. I just hope she can keep that promise."

Ichika nodded again, feeling a twinge of worry for her sister.

"Hey, let's focus on the positive," Itsuki said, trying to lighten the mood. "Look at these decorations! Nino did them. Don't they just scream 'festive'?" Itsuki knew that Nino had always been a bit of a wild card, but she was also such a daddy's girl that Itsuki hoped that'd be enough to hold her back from making a scene in front of their dad. For the sake of the family.

Ichika laughed and joined Itsuki in admiring the twinkling lights. "You're doing that 'mom' thing again, Itsuki-chan. It's kind of weird."

Itsuki pouted as she held onto the festive string lights, her hair bobbing with every step. "Thanks," she said before adding, "I guess I'm nervous."

Ichika's eyes widened in exaggerated shock. "No way!" She patted the basket of Christmas presents intended for Raiha. Ichika then leaned in closer and lowered her voice. "Anyway, about this? I've been meaning to ask... Is this even a good idea? Futaro-kun has been ignoring all our calls and texts for nearly three months now, so I think he's made it quite clear where we stand. He probably wouldn't appreciate us just showing up out of nowhere with a large basket of gifts for his baby sister." Her expression turned grim as she spoke. "I guess I just don't want to set you up for disappointment, Itsuki-chan." She gently placed a hand on Itsuki's shoulder.

Itsuki crossed her arms tightly across her chest. Ichika could never know how often she's replayed this day in her mind. It hurt her heart to think that Futaro hates them, but she refused to let go of Uesugi Futaro. Part of her was perfectly aware that she was acting based on her own feelings towards him. But she was reaching a point beyond pride. She wanted to see him. To talk with him—for him to be a part of their lives again. And though she was loath to admit it, part of her still fantasized about what it would be like to kiss him again.

"I said that we'd do everything in our power to keep Uesugi-kun in our lives, remember?" A determined look set into Itsuki's face deepened as she spoke. "I need you to support me on this."

"Itsuki-chan, I've tried—but it's no use. He quit being my tutor the week after the race and has refused every single one of my texts or invites. He hates us now."

Itsuki took a deep breath, her eyes flickering over to their Christmas presents carefully wrapped for Raiha. Silence filled the space between them. "No he doesn't," she finally spoke. "He's hurt and confused and I have a feeling that if we can just…keep being there, he'll come around. I know in my gut that he still loves us—that he still loves Yotsuba, and I know that Yotsuba still loves him. We have to just have to be persistent. Stubborn, even."

Ichika chuckled. "You're beginning to sound like Nino-chan."

"We are quintuplets after all," Itsuki threw on her thick winter coat. "Look, go with me to drop off the gifts. Many hands make for light work and all that."

Ichika hesitated for a moment before sighing heavily in resignation. "Okay. Okay, I'll go with you. I don't have anything better to do, anyway. I'm definitely not going to study on my vacation and I'd rather not stick around when miss gloom arrives."

Itsuki frowned slightly. "Do you mean Yotsuba? It's not nice to talk about her like that."

"Aha—sorry, bad joke," Ichika said sheepishly.

Itsuki frowned but didn't say anything. She knew that Ichika was only trying to cover up her true feelings. Itsuki believed that Ichika, in part, blamed Yotsuba for the situation they found themselves in with Futaro. But nothing could be done about that now. She led the way out of the apartment, Raiha's gift in hand.

The morning streets were deserted, and the only sound was the crunching of her boots on the freshly fallen snow. The winter air was cold and crisp against her skin. Itsuki inhaled deeply, relishing the sensation of it filling her lungs. Ichika seemed strangely silent, lost in her own thoughts.

"Umm, you mentioned studying earlier. How's that going?" Itsuki cleared her throat, trying to ignore her chattering teeth as the air turned bitter.

Ichika sighed, her breath turning into a cloud of steam in the freezing air. "Not very well, to be honest. My new tutor is nice enough, but I just can't seem to focus. I guess I was too used to Futaro-kun's style."

It was like a big elephant in the room that was impossible to ignore. It seemed like every conversation they had somehow always ended up returning to Futaro. Even now, they were simply placating their hearts by visiting Raiha-chan as if that was enough to assuage the gaping hole Futaro had left in their lives when he abruptly stopped talking to them all. Not that Itsuki didn't understand why he did it, but it still hurt all the same.

"It's okay that you're not used to a new teaching style yet. It takes time to adjust. I mean, it took me ages," Itsuki offered. She hoped to help Ichika feel more optimistic about her studies. Itsuki felt like she had very little in common with her sisters, so she was quite excited for another one of her sisters to try traditional school. Yotsuba had long since made it clear that her education was secondary to her sport. "Why don't you try a change of scenery? Maybe a different environment will help you focus better."

Ichika's eyebrows furrowed as she crossed her arms. "What do you suggest? That we go somewhere warm and cozy in the city? That's expensive—and I don't really want him in my apartment. I'm one-hundred percent convinced he just took the job to steal my underwear."

Itsuki's eyes widened and her jaw dropped open at her sister's comment. "Ichika!" she gasped, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. "Anyway, I just mean maybe you need to meet him halfway. Can you say you've really given him a chance?"

"Hmm, maybe you're right. Maybe I just need to stick with it… Or maybe I should swallow my pride and call Futaro-kun," Ichika said hesitantly. "At this rate, I've definitely failed my entrance exams…maybe next year I can do better…" Itsuki slowed down, watching her sister walk slightly ahead. It was a strange sensation feeling pity for the eldest sister. Ichika sighed heavily, her breath crystallizing in the winter air.

"I think you should do that," Itsuki said firmly. "Keep badgering Uesugi-kun until he picks up. Visit his place if you have to. He convinced you to go to university, right? Make him take responsibility."

"Itsuki-chan, that's not entirely true," Ichika mumbled weakly.

"He doesn't need to know that," Itsuki waved off the comment. "You promised me you wouldn't give up either, right?"

Ichika took Itsuki's hand. "That's just as well," Ichika said with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Maybe we'll talk about this later, Itsuki-chan." With that, they walked across the neighborhood until they reached Futaro's old apartment building. The familiar entrance seemed unwelcoming and cold this time, and for one moment they both stood there, standing still, lost in their own thoughts. Itsuki pulled up her scarf up to shelter her face from the chill... or to hide her features.

As Itsuki and Ichika stood at the doorstep, they took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. The sound of footsteps echoed through the apartment on the other side, and moments later the door swung open. For a split second, Itsuki thought of sprinting away from the door.

Raiha-chan was the one who opened the door and greeted them, "Oh, Big Sister Ichika! Big Sister Itsuki! Long time no see! Merry Christmas! Please come in."

"Merry Christmas Raiha-chan!" Ichika beamed as they took off their snow covered boots on the entrance. The girls entered the apartment and Raiha led them to the living room where they settled under the kotatsu. Inside was somehow even colder even with a small space heater pointed at their familiar kotatsu which now sported a thick blue blanket which draped across their living room floor.

"Sorry about the cold," I wasn't expecting guests," Raiha said as she flicked on the apartment heater with the remote. "Dad told me to leave it off to save money."

"Don't worry about Raiha-chan," Ichika reassured her.

Itsuki snuggled under the kotatsu, her hands rubbing against each other for warmth. Raiha noticed and quickly jumped up from her seat. "Wait here, I'll get you some hot chocolate," she said, before disappearing into the kitchen.

As Raiha prepared the hot cocoa, Itsuki took the opportunity to look around the living room. Itsuki felt strangely awkward. The apartment was as small and cozy as ever, despite the cold. However, now she almost felt like an intruder in their home. She wondered if her sister felt the same. The pictures of Raiha and her family hanging on the walls were changed to suit a more festive holiday spirit, presumably by Raiha's father, and a small, sparsely decorated Christmas tree now adorned a corner of the room.

Itsuki's eyes landed on an old picture of Raiha and her brother. He was taller and more muscular now than when the picture was taken. She estimated that it must have been around the time they all went to Toraiwa Hot Springs. He had his arm around Raiha's shoulder, and they both wore huge grins on their faces.

As Itsuki was lost in thought, Raiha returned with two steaming mugs of hot cocoa. "Here you go," she said, handing a mug to Itsuki and Ichika.

"Are you wondering where Big Brother is? He's out with dad at the moment," she said seemingly noticing that Itsuki was looking at the photo. "But they'll come back soon."

"We were hoping to catch up with Uesugi-kun later. But first, we have a surprise for you." Itsuki gestured to her sister who held out the large wicker basket busting with colorful ribbon and wrapping paper." Raiha-chan, we all wanted to give you something, but we couldn't find the time until after Christmas," Ichika smiled apologetically.

Raiha took the basket with a twinkle in her eye. "Wow! There's so many presents here! This must have been so expensive!"

"What's with you Uesugi's and valuing presents in terms of money?" Ichika chuckled. "Just enjoy it. You're a cute girl and you deserve cute things."

Raiha carefully drew out a flower-patterned hairclip that Nino had got for her and inspected the intricate lacquered flowers of the clip.

"Wow, they're so pretty! Are these real flowers?"

"I don't know," Ichika replied. "But knowing Nino-chan, it's likely. She probably hoped you'd like a more girly style."

Itsuki scanned the suspiciously empty living room before turning back to them both. "I'm surprised. I didn't know that Uesugi-kun usually helped your dad with work while he visits," she hummed admiringly. "How nice of him. Is your dad walking better now?"

Raiha sipped her hot chocolate, her eyes flitting from Itsuki to Ichika. "He's walking almost normal now. He's got a strange limp and sometimes he uses a cane still. But dad says he's basically at one hundred percent. Right now, they're not working though," she explained softly. "Dad said he had a surprise for Big Brother and they had to go pick it up. It's his Christmas present."

"Just now?" Ichika casually sipped from her own cup. "But Christmas was a few days ago."

Raiha nodded. "Big Brother couldn't get away from Tokyo until last night—he's been super busy with school and work."

Itsuki and Ichika exchanged a knowing glance. Was Uesugi-kun using his workload as an excuse to avoid Yotsuba?

Itsuki wasn't entirely sure where they stood now since neither of them have been able to contact Uesugi-kun since September. "I'm just glad your dad is feeling better," she added, somewhat lamely.

But Raiha wasn't paying attention as she was too busy admiring the hairclip Nino had gifted her. "I can't wait anymore!" She said suddenly rising to her feet. "I want to try out these new hair clips!"

Itsuki and Ichika exchanged another glance, silently communicating that they should change the subject before either one of them let something slip. "Sure, go put them on and show us!" Itsuki said with a smile.

Raiha ran out of the room and into the bathroom, leaving Itsuki and Ichika alone once again. As soon as Raiha was out of earshot, Itsuki turned to Ichika. "It doesn't seem like she knows about Uesugi-kun and Yotsuba. What do you think that means?"

"I don't know," Ichika said, furrowing her brow in thought. "Maybe Futaro-kun hasn't told her yet. Or maybe he has and she's just choosing to ignore it."

"But why would she do that?"

Ichika shrugged. "She's a kid and she probably doesn't really get how these things work. She still thinks of us as family."

Itsuki nodded, thinking over Ichika's words. "Whatever the reason, it's probably best not to mention it in front of her."

Just then, Raiha poked her head out from the bathroom. Can you guys help me put them in? I'm afraid of breaking them."

"Of course," Ichika said, setting down her cup. Itsuki followed suit and they both stood up to follow Raiha into the bathroom.

As Raiha stood in front of the mirror, Ichika and Itsuki took the hairclips and fiddled with her hair, slotting the hairclip on her left behind a tuft of hair that cascaded down her shoulders. Raiha turned to them with a big smile. "They look great on you, Raiha-chan," she said with a smile. "You're so pretty."

Raiha's eyes glowed with happiness, and she bowed deeply. "Thank you so much, Big Sister Itsuki! And thanks to you too, Big Sister Ichika." She stepped over to the mirror, running her fingers through the polished lacquer of her new hair accessory. "I don't think I ever owned something so beautiful."

"All my baby sisters have hair accessories," Ichika said with a grin. "Nino-chan must have thought it was time you got your own. Accessories are required if you want to be our sister—but you mustn't rub it in Itsuki-chan's face that she's no longer the baby."

"Hey!" Itsuki protested.

Raiha giggled, twirling around. "I'm the baby sister!"

Itsuki watched Raiha's joy with a warmth in her chest. She turned to Ichika, a smile still on her face. "I hope it matches your Junior High School uniform next year. Nino will be crushed it if doesn't."

"Oh! I already have it. Do you want to see it?" Raiha asked. "I don't know if it matches, but you can tell me."

"Your uniform? You have it already?"

"Yeah!" Raiha squealed before dashing out of the bathroom. Itsuki and Ichika followed close behind, curiosity piqued.

A few moments later, Raiha reemerged from the closet standing tall in her new uniform—a navy sailor-style top and skirt with white trim and a pleated skirt that swept the floor. It was a look that instantly made Itsuki feel nostalgic. Raiha's eyes shone with joy as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"Wow, you look so grown-up! Are you sure you're not going to high school?" Ichika exclaimed. Raiha struck a playful pose.

"Big Brother and dad got it for me for Christmas. It was my only present so I have to take care of it until March." Raiha grinned from ear to ear.

"We're glad we got you some extra presents then!" Ichika grinned, twirling Raiha around to get a 360 degree view of her uniform.

"Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll win the internship bid for your junior high school Raiha-chan," Itsuki said. "That way, I'll be able to see you in your cute uniform every day!"

"Wait are you really going to work at my school?" Raiha beamed.

"Maybe. If we're lucky," Itsuki grinned. Ever since Itsuki made the decision to become a teacher, she daydreamed of teaching kids like Raiha: well-behaved and motivated. They were a far cry from the cram school students she currently teaches.

"Hey Raiha-chan, why don't we have the rest of your hot chocolate before it gets cold. Let's have some more girl time before Uesugi-kun comes."


~Futaro~

"Yeah yeah, just follow me son, it's right around back," Futaro's dad trudged ahead of him, his heavy work boots kicking up fresh snow as he led the way. Isanari led them around their old cafe which at the moment was partially covered by tarps on the windows and there was an entire side of the building exposed. A peak inside the dusty blue coverings revealed stacks of broken bricks and tangled wiring. Futaro followed his father, his eyes fixated on the space where the cafe's brick wall once stood. This place had been his mother's dream, and now it was being torn down.

His dad stopped walking and turned to face him. "Come on, Son. Ignore that. We'll talk about this mess in a bit. There's something around back that I really want to show you." Futaro tore his eyes away from the construction and followed his dad. The thought of the cafe being torn down had nearly broken his heart. When they reached the back of the building, his father stopped abruptly, turning to face him with a sly grin.

"You know, dad, I don't get how you can still move so fast with your leg—" Futaro's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Surprise, Son," he said, gesturing towards a gleaming motorcycle parked in the corner.

Futaro stared at the motorcycle, disbelief washing over him. It was a sleek black cafe-racer style bike. The kind he's seen everywhere in Tokyo.

"Is this...for me?" Futaro asked, his voice barely above a whisper. His father nodded, grinning widely. Futaro's eyes widened as he ran his gloved fingers over the motorcycle's sleek gas tank, dusting off a fine layer of fresh snow that had accumulated on the seat. He glanced back at Isanari, who was fidgeting with the straps of his leather bag. "Dad, I... I don't know what to say. How did you even afford this?"

"It only looks new Son. Luckily, it's low on kilometers... it's the best that I could do with what we had. But! That gas tank is new. Also, Raiha-chan and I found some newer pipes from the junkyard."

Isanari raked his hand through his sandy knotted hair. "As for how I afforded it well... I always had a nice nest egg saved up for you even before the accident," he said softly. "Truth is Futaro, you deserve so much better. I wanted to give you so much more. I should have been working this whole time, but well... PT took longer than I anticipated... and I still can't walk for long periods." Isanari's face darkened with frustration. "Otherwise, I would have been back at work ages ago and I could have been able to afford you something newer..."

He patted the seat of the motorcycle confidently. "But I think your baby sister and I did an alright job."

"Dad, you idiot. We could have used that money to get Raiha a second uniform and still have left over for supplies... Maybe then we could've kept the café," Futaro frowned. Unbidden, memories began flooding in—his mother's cafe... Their belongings... Their memories... they had been sold off to sustain their home. Sure, they were just collecting dust up until the sale, but there was comfort in knowing that it was there. He cursed silently under his breath, feeling guilty for enjoying such an extravagant gift.

Isanari jerked his chin at the red brick building. "No, this place was always going to be sold off. We'd already gotten summons from the city ages ago to open up and there was no way that was going to happen with our funds. We're fortunate it's at least going to someone we know. Son, look, you're missing the point here," he motioned Futaro to follow him through the missing wall the cafe to the bar where he produced a brand new glossy red motorcycle helmet from behind the counter. "I always wanted to gift you something like this for graduation. I wanted to gift you something when you got into Tokyo University too. Then I wanted to give you something when you got your new job—you get the point. There's so much I wanted to give you, Son. But this is all I can manage right now. So, just... don't fight me too much on this." His face was filled with a mixture of guilt and shame as he passed the helmet to Futaro. "I'm just trying my best, Son."

"I know, dad. Thank you." He knew that pressing the subject further would likely make his dad upset. There was no way to reject the present without seeming ungrateful. Futaro made a mental note to leave more money for Raiha before leaving for Tokyo. He looked around the tarp-covered interior of the cafe. Stacks of broken furniture and peeled off wallpaper littered the space, and scattered tools were visible in every corner. He could still make out a few Japanese characters that hung on one wall.

"So, umm, what's Yotsuba's dad thinking of doing with the cafe? Is he going to transform it into some outpatient or whatever?"

Isanari chuckled, shaking his head. "You mean Marou? No, that ol' stick-in-the-mud is actually going to remodel it and open it as a cafe. Shocking, huh?"

"Wow," Futaro said lamely, unsure of how to feel. A gust of winter wind blew through the tarp, causing it to flutter and flap. Futaro pulled his coat tighter around him, his fingers numbed from the cold. He wondered how long it would take to get the cafe up and running. "Owning a cafe is pretty hard work. Is Marou-sensei planning on quitting the hospital?" Futaro mocked spitefully.

"Nope," Isanari coughed. "That's the other reason why I brought you here. Marou hired me to be the store manager."

"What?" Futaro's eyes widened. "Dad, wait, I'm confused."

"Futaro, that accident was a bit of a wake up call for me. I can't keep taking freelance jobs if I want Raiha-chan to have a good education. I need something consistent and something that lets me be present. Something steady. And It just so happens that Marou has offered me a pretty nice opportunity." His father leaned forward across the bar and stared at Futaro with a heavy expression. "I could have done better by you, Son. But I didn't. I don't want to make that mistake twice."

Still locking eyes, it all suddenly became very clear to Futaro. He thought of all the sacrifices his dad made in raising both him and Raiha. Futaro remembered the days when his dad would come home late at night, exhausted and covered in dirt, sweat, and grime. Those day labor jobs were his only income for years. His dad was always deign to show how tired he seemed, but one look at his father's leathery skin was enough to know his job wasn't easy, and his vitality was waning. Raiha and Futaro weren't overly demanding kids, but their father still worked tirelessly to provide for them. All for the sake of the two of them to have all the necessities to make school tolerable.

Futaro adjusted the straps on his new helmet as he asked, "So Marou-sensei is going to be your boss?"

Isanari nodded in response. "In a way, yeah. He's giving me free rein to design the restaurant however I want. I get to handle all the day-to-day operations—hiring staff, managing supplies, outsourcing ingredients, financing things... All of that. He's really just the owner in name only."

"Why is he doing so much for us? He even gave me that tutoring job back in the day" Futaro wondered aloud, thinking back to how he met Yotsuba and the others in the first place.

Isanari smiled knowingly. "Maruo-sensei might never admit it, but he has a real soft spot for those close to him—friends and family especially. He's always been really considerate of us." He paused for a moment before adding, "He just has trouble finding the words to express himself sometimes."

"Well, I guess that having a stable job means you might have more time for some photography." Futaro fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. He thought it was odd that his dad was being so cavalier about mom's cafe. There were many things about dad that he took casually, but the cafe? Now that was a new one.

Isanari chuckled, his eyes glinting with mischief. "I'll likely be too busy building your mom's dream," He gestured around the cafe. "I have a bum leg anyway, so I'll likely be retiring my portfolio. I can't go traipsing around Tokyo like when I was young—hey, I have an idea. You do it."

Futaro's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "What?"

"Seriously. Take my camera and build on my portfolio for me—kidding. Go make your own."

"You're giving me your camera?"

Isanari nodded, a wistful smile on his lips. "I remember how much you loved taking pictures as a kid. Maybe it's time for you to pick up that hobby again. Ain't it about time you developed a personality aside from just studying? Go, Son. See interesting places and take interesting photos. Do that whole find yourself thing you're supposed to do in college." Isanari slid the motorcycle keys across the counter where they stopped against Futaro's helmet. "But maybe try out your new ride first. You'll want to get comfortable with it before you ride back to Tokyo."

Futaro took the keys with a grateful nod and started for the door.

"Ah, before you go, one more question Son," Isanari said. "You've been here a whole week already. How come you haven't been to see the Nakanos?"

"Oh, umm," Futaro's blood froze.

"Come to think of it, I haven't seen Itsuki-chan in a while either. Did something happen?"

Futaro could feel his palms start to sweat. "It's a bit complicated dad," he started, struggling to find the right words.

"Complicated? How so? Come 'on, try me." Isanari asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Futaro shuffled his feet, staring down at the ground. "Yotsuba and I... We've been having some problems."

His father said nothing. He simply smiled gently urging Futaro to continue talking.

Futaro took a deep breath before answering. "We've been going through a rough patch for about three months now and we haven't been on speaking terms for a while."

Isanari let out a low whistle. "Three months? That's quite a while. I'm sorry to hear that, son. What did you do?"

"Actually, Dad, I'm the one not talking to her." Futaro said in a tight voice. He didn't appreciate that his dad automatically assumed he was the one doing the wrong thing. "—and I'm not talking to her sisters either. Yotsuba... and her sisters sort of… I don't even know how to explain it."

Isanari regarded his son with a furrowed brow. "I'm gonna share something with you. I remember when I first met your mom. We must have argued almost every day." Futaro watched in silence as his dad seemed to drift away in thought for a moment. "She kept telling me to take things more seriously and I couldn't be bothered I enjoyed my life too much and I wanted to make the most of it before you were born, I was too busy going on adventures, taking pictures at the top of mountains and generally being a dumbass. I guess I saw it as my last chance or whatever. Anyway, eventually we had this big fight about it. I must have pissed her off something fierce back then, son. But your mom persisted. I made your mother so upset so many times. And yet, she loved me so unabatedly and unapologetically. Despite who I was—and that love somehow got to me. Through my immaturity, my ego, and my insecurities of being a dad... her love got to me. It was the first time in my life I truly listened to a person and understood their needs."

"Dad, what does that have to do with anything?"

"Nothing, really. Your mom and I are different people from you and Yotsuba. But what I'm trying to say is that I put my ego aside, and I listened. Often during an argument, what's being said... isn't always what's being said."

Futaro looked at his dad with a raised eyebrow, not quite sure what he meant by that. Isanari chuckled, as if he knew exactly what was going through his son's mind.

"I know it sounds like a riddle. But hear me out." Isanari leaned in closer to Futaro, his voice low. When I argued with your mom, I told her that she was nagging me to be something I'm not—a suit-and-tie nine-to-five family man. But the truth was that I scared shitless of being a dad. I didn't see it at the time, but I was disappointed that the "summer of my life" was ending." He looked at his Futaro straight in the eye. "Can you guess what your mother wanted?"

"No clue," he answered, throwing his hands out to his sides in frustration. "Mom wanted you to grow up?"

Isanari shook his head slowly. "She wanted to be told that that she wouldn't be left alone."

A part of Futaro always wondered if his parents ever got into arguments when they were younger. As Futaro was growing up, dad spent too much time nursing his mom for them to argue. Imagining his mother with enough energy to argue seemed alien to him.

"So what happened? Err aside from you being a shitty dad," Futaro asked.

Isanari leaned back, a nostalgic smile on his face. "We talked it out. We realized that we both had fears and insecurities that we needed to address. And that we needed to support each other if we wanted to make our marriage work. Your mom was a smart woman," Isanari continued. "She understood me better than I understood myself. She taught me how to see beyond the words and understand the emotions."

"Anyway," Isanari said, clapping his hands together as if to shake off the heavy mood. "Yotsuba-chan is a smart woman—probably not in the same way you are—but, you know, in the way your mom was."

"Dad—"

"Okay, okay, sorry. Anyway, I don't know what she did to make you so angry, but I'm willing to bet you don't have the whole story yet. Three months is too long, and I'm sure she's hurting as much as you are. Trust that whatever ideas you've already formed in your head aren't the full picture. Now, get on that bike and spend some time with yourself. You might learn a thing or two." Isanari picked up a white tile from a pile nearby and spun it on its edge on the bar. "I'll stay here a bit longer to sketch out some remodeling ideas I want to pitch to Marou-sensei, so I'll see you at home. Ride safe."

Futaro nodded, feeling a familiar pang of guilt thinking about all the feelings he's bottled since September. Every time he ignored a call or text from her—or any of her sisters—he'd feel the pull to pick up the phone or return their texts. But he wasn't sure how he'd even begin trusting Yotsuba again.

Futaro exited the cafe and mounted his new motorcycle, taking a moment to familiarize himself with all the toggles. He threw on his helmet and turned the key. The engine roared to life instantly. Futaro felt a little scared of the bike. It was nothing like the scooter his old manager lent him for deliveries, which felt like a children's toy by comparison. He revved the engine and felt its power. A slight smirk formed on his face as he gently pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road. Forgetting to pull down the visor, the chilly winter air stung his cheek as he rolled the throttle gaining confidence and speed. Futaro shifted gears and cranked the throttle, the engine roaring wildly. His heart pounded in his chest and adrenaline pumped through his veins as he leaned into the curves of the nearly empty streets. At that moment Futaro had discovered a new sensation that he hadn't felt in a while. The feeling of not thinking and simply enjoying the moment. When the stoplight ahead turned red, Futaro found himself almost disappointed to have to slow down. Any reservations he had about the motorcycle melted away. The bike was his and he should enjoy it unapologetically. As the light turned green, Futaro silently thanked his dad and rushed down the street. He glanced around at his surroundings, suddenly realizing how close he was to the Nakanos.

Maybe I'll stop by and wish them... As if… They'd probably wouldn't even let me through the front door. Regardless of his feelings, Futaro took a deep breath and made a sharp turn onto the street where towards the Nakano's apartment.

Just a quick pass-by

He could feel his heart racing again, but this time it was for an entirely different reason. What would he even to say to her? He hadn't seen her in months and just showing up unannounced seemed like a terrible idea... but he missed her. He missed all of them... Perhaps it was his dad's words moved him, but whatever it was he felt the pull of his love guide him towards them.

As he approached the apartment building, he slowed down his bike to a stop near their entrance just across the street. He spotted their driver's familiar black town car pulling up to the curb. The familiar faces of Yotsuba and Miku emerged from the backseat, chatting. He was close enough that he could hear them thank Ebata-san as he helped Yotsuba pull out her luggage from the trunk. It was a lot more luggage that she'd need for a holiday trip back home.

Is she moving back? He wondered. Futaro felt an uncontrollable urge to call out to them—and he almost did. He glanced over and saw Yotsuba standing in the doorway, waiting for Miku. Her hair had grown out beyond her shoulders—far longer than Futaro had ever seen her hair before. She looked more solid too, maybe due to her daily practice steadily transforming her into her most peak physical condition. Futaro felt an intense wave of guilt wash over him. The thought of facing Yotsuba alone wasn't altogether something he was unprepared to do—but having to do that with her sisters as well felt nearly impossible.

Nino would absolutely have none of it. Futaro tensed up and revved his engine before speeding away in defeat. He had made a promise to someone else, and he needed to keep it...

Futaro rode through the winding roads, ascending towards the outskirts of town. He leaned into the curves as the mountain inclined, feeling the cold air rattle his nerves. Every once in a while he peaked over the side of the road, to glimpse at his snow dusted city below. He needed a second opinion, and there was only one person he felt he could turn to now.


He finally came to a stop at a cozy looking traditional Japanese home that hugged the side of the mountain. He pulled into Takebayashi's house driveway and dismounted his motorcycle. The air was a little crisper here and the driveway glistened wet from barely melted snow.

He removed his helmet and ran a hand through his dampened hair before ringing the doorbell. After a few moments, the door opened and Takebayashi appeared. "Oh! Hi Futaro! I wasn't expecting you today," she fussed with her pajamas and her hair. "Ugh, your timing couldn't have been worse. I've been lounging around all morning." Her pajamas were a simple Just Do It Nike t-shirt and white pajama pants dotted with small baby ducks all over. The pajamas hugged Takebayashi's form well. Futaro swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sudden heat pooling in his stomach. "Sorry for dropping by unannounced," he said, offering her a small smile.

Takebayashi raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical. "Is everything okay?" she asked as she stepped aside to let him in.

Futaro nodded, following her lead. "Yeah, everything's fine. I just needed to talk to someone. I... thought about visiting Yotsuba today."

Takebayashi rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Of course you did," she muttered under her breath. "Well, make yourself at home. Gran Gran went to the store to catch the noon specials with my neighbor. They won't be back for a bit. Maybe we can do lunch when she gets back...It'd be better than wasting your time trying to talk to Yotsuba-san. Or her sisters."
Futaro winced at the bitterness in her tone. He knew she was likely sick of hearing about Yotsuba from him. Every time he brought her up, Takebayashi would grow more and more upset. "I just wanted to apologize for almost breaking our promise," he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

Takebayashi's eyes softened slightly, but she still looked annoyed. "Well, I appreciate the apology," she said, "as long as you didn't talk to her, you didn't really do anything." They sat down on the couch, facing each other. Takebayashi fidgeted with her makeup while Futaro twiddled his thumbs. He watched her apply simple mascara and some lipstick. She noticed Futaro looking at her and said, "we're going to pretend like you didn't catch me completely nude face, got it?" Takebayashi shifted her gaze back to her small pocket mirror where she carefully inspected her handiwork. There was an awkward silence between them until Takebayashi spoke up again. "Look, I know you miss her, but you can't just give in. Not after what she did. You have to move on."

Futaro's sad eyes focused on the extra fuzzy burgundy carpet. "I know I should. It's just hard. I do miss Yotsuba. I miss her sisters, too. Part of me just wants to pretend like the whole thing didn't happen and just—"

"No, Futaro." Takebayashi's firm voice was enough to force him to look up. He instantly shrunk at her fiery stare. "She lied and her sisters are complicit. Simple as that. How could you ever trust a family like that? You have to focus on the now. School is only getting harder, and I need you to keep your head on straight if we're going to continue to tutor the Koda's. They're starting their high school exams this year and we need to guarantee their acceptance into whichever fancy rich people school their dad wants to send them to. I need you,Futaro..." Takebayashi snapped shut her handheld mirror and inched closer to Futaro, her hand gently making contact with his own, sending warmth through his entire body as if in response to her touch. Futaro felt like his cheeks glowing. From this distance, he could make out the golden specks in her dark brown eyes. "She's probably not even thinking about you anyway," Takebayashi added, as if driving the point home. "She's all got those Olympic goals or whatever."

Futaro nodded slowly, his eyes still fixed on Takebayashi. He resisted the urge to wrap his hands around hers. He'd been feeling a strange vulnerability around her for a while now. Yet another wave of guilt crashed against his chest, making it somehow more difficult to breathe for a moment. He placed his hands on her shoulder and gently pushed her away. You're right," he said softly. "I'm with you."

Takebayashi bit her lip and exhaled loudly. Her eyes darted around the room as she stood and smoothed out the wrinkles in her pajamas. "So," she cleared her throat, "is that a new helmet?" gesturing lamely towards it.

Futaro turned to look at the helmet and gave a small nod. "Yeah, dad got it for me. He gifted me a motorcycle for Christmas."

"Wow!" She hesitated for a moment before continuing. "You're not a little kid anymore… I never expected you to be the type to learn to ride a bike!"

"Yeah," Futaro chuckled softly, his gaze drifting away from her. "I learned how to ages ago for work..." As he trailed off, a faint blush crept up his cheeks and he glanced back at Takebayashi curiously. "Wait—what does that mean?"

"Oh, nothing," she said quickly. "It's just a different side of you. Maybe you should take me out for a ride sometime?"

"Well, how about now? Are you doing anything today?"

Just then, the front door creaked open as a raspy voice called out from the other side. "Sweetheart, are you home? I could use a hand with the groceries!" Futaro watched as Takebayashi's expression shifted, almost like she was disappointed to hear her grandmother's voice. "Yes, Gran Gran! Coming!" Takebayashi replied before leading Futaro to the entrance of the house.

Takebayashi's grandmother stood at the doorway, her arms wrapped around three paper bags that strained against their weight.
"Oh Dear," she puffed. "Do we have guests? She asked Takebayashi, seemingly not noticing Futaro. "Some hooligan has parked their ugly monster out on our driveway." The old woman made it past the threshold and into the kitchen before finally turning to acknowledge Futaro, a wry smile tugging at her lips.

Futaro looked around, momentarily confused, until he realized that the Grandmother was referring to his motorcycle. He took a step forward, his hand outstretched. "I apologize, ma'am. That 'hooligan' would be me," he said, grinning sheepishly.

Takebayashi's grandmother chuckled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, Sanada-kun. It's so nice to see you. You seem healthy. Taller too!"

"Oh, umm, Gran Gran, that's not Sanada-kun. We broke up remember? This is Uesugi Futaro. We work together in Tokyo."

"Oh," Takebayashi's grandmother frowned, as if confused or frustrated at her forgetfulness.

Futaro bowed politely, his eyes meeting Takebayashi's briefly before glancing back at the older woman. "It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am."

"Oh none of that," she smiled kindly. "A handsome man like you can just call me Grandma Rin."

Futaro glanced up quickly at Takebayashi, who gave him a small nod of encouragement. He finally straightened himself up and replied respectfully, "Yes ma'am...I mean Grandma Rin."

Grandma Rin chuckled warmly. "That's more like it. Now, why don't we go inside and enjoy some cake and tea?"

Futaro followed Takebayashi and her grandmother to the kitchen. "Please, have a seat," Grandma Rin gestured towards the chair. "I'll start the tea."

As Grandma Rin busied herself with the teapot, Takebayashi sat across from Futaro, her gaze lingering on him. It was a stare that he didn't quite understand. Maybe Takebayashi didn't want to cause confusion in her family. I should probably excuse myself. He thought.

But before he could say anything, Grandma Rin returned with a platter of cake slices and teacups. "Now, let's dig in," she said with a smile.

"Thank you for the meal," Futaro bowed before taking a bite of the freshly made cake. It was sweet and rich, but not too sweet, and the texture was fluffy and delicate. It reminded him a little Nino's cakes. "This is amazing!"

Takebayashi's grandmother beamed at him. "I'm glad you like it, dear. So Tokyo, huh? You're a long way from home for a weekend trip." She said, patting his hand affectionately.

"I'm actually from here, Grandma Rin," Futaro said. "I'm visiting my dad and sister for the holidays."

"Ah, I see," Grandma Rin said with a glazed look in her eye. "You know, my granddaughter is a terrible cook? She never learned anything from me."

Takebayashi rolled her eyes but didn't protest. Futaro chuckled uncomfortably unsure of what to say to that comment, he chose to take another bite of cake instead. "That's okay. I've... known some pretty bad cooks in my time. Anyone can improve with the right motivation."

"Ah, yes. Motivation. Well, in my time, I learned that few things are as motivating as love. It's rare and it's something worth fighting for."

Takebayashi sighed. "Ignore her. She's always saying things like that," she said, biting into a piece of cake. "Honestly, sometimes I think she's more interested in my love life than I am."

Grandma Rin waved a hand dismissively. "Well, that's a shame. You shouldn't waste your time dear. Your biological clock ticks ever forward," Grandma Rin said coyly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "Perhaps something will happen in the future?"

Takebayashi let out a groan, burying her face in her hands. "Gran Gran, please stop," she said, shaking her head in embarrassment.

"I'm sorry. It's just that I have a soft spot for that boy that used to come. He was so good to you, Granddaughter. I was hoping he would come back someday. As a matter of fact, your friend looks a lot like him..." Grandma Rin's voice trailed off as if she forgot what she was about to say. "Ah well, anyway. You seem like the studious type. Are you in school too?"
"Yes, I go to Todai along with Takebayashi-san," Futaro replied politely.

"Oh good," the elderly lady smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "I like meeting my granddaughter's friends. Especially the smart ones. Make sure to be patient with her. My daughter and I always thought she was such a precocious child in junior high school and we worried my granddaughter would never make friends."

"Gran Gran," Takebayashi interjected sheepishly, blushing. "You're over sharing... again..."

"Oh, sorry…" She sipped her tea, not really seeming apologetic. Grandma Rin turned back to Futaro. "Are you going down the educators' track as well?" Takebayashi shifted to face Futaro as if she was particularly invested in what he'd answer.

Futaro shifted in his seat uncomfortably. He ran his fingers through his hair before answering. "I think so," he said meekly. "There's nothing else that really interests me..."

"Ah, he's actually selling himself short, Gran Gran," Takebayashi jumped in, shooting Futaro an encouraging glance. "He's quite the esteemed teacher. He's got a one-hundred percent pass rate for all his students." Futaro made eye contact with Takebayashi and flushed slightly as she smiled at him. "I think he'd make a great teacher," she concluded.

"That's wonderful news, Sanada-kun! Give it your all," Grandma Rin said with a twinkle in her eye.

Takebayashi's expression shifted and her shoulders sank. "Gran Gran," Takebayashi paused. "Sanada-kun and I aren't together anymore. We broke up a year ago."

"Wow, a whole year? Has it really been that long?" The corners of Grandma Rin's eyes crinkled in confusion like before. "That is a shame."

Futaro frowned. Was her grandmother's memory that bad? He studied Grandma Rin's confused expression closely, as if he were missing something. Takebayashi's gaze was fixed on her grandmother with a sadness that seemed to permeate the air around them. He felt a chill travel up his spine as he slowly put the pieces together.

Takebayashi cleared her throat and knelt beside her. "Gran Gran… Are you tired?" Takebayashi asked softly, reaching out to take her grandmother's hand. "Would you like to lie down?"

She nodded slowly, glancing at her surroundings as if they weren't familiar to her. "Yes, I'd like that very much."

"Okay, Gran Gran. Say goodbye to Futaro."

The elderly woman wished Futaro a merry Christmas and Futaro thanked her for the cake before slowly disappearing out of the kitchen with Takebayashi supporting her by her arm. A few moments later, Takebayashi returned. "Sorry about Gran Gran," she said with a heavy tone.

"It's fine. She seems sweet. Sorry if this is impolite, but does she have—" Futaro asked.

"She does. Middle-stage, according to the doctors, but she was actually pretty lucid today. I think she might have enjoyed having you over."

"I didn't mean to intrude." Futaro shifted awkwardly on his feet. "She mentioned your mom?"

"Oh that? Yeah, she passed away my first year of high school. Sometimes she still think's mom's alive."

"That sounds... hard," Futaro said trying to be sensitive.

"It is," she said letting out a long sigh. She looked out the kitchen to the hallway, towards her grandma's room. "But she's got all our neighbors looking after her… Not to mention my dad's family also checks on her—making sure she takes her medication, eating right... And the money we make from the Koda's keeps her pretty comfortable too." She forced a smile. "Oh! I almost forgot!"

Futaro raised an eyebrow, watching as Takebayashi fumbled around in the kitchen. After a few moments, she pulled out a medium-sized, intricately wrapped package from one of the drawers. "It's a belated Christmas present. I was going to wait until we were both back in Tokyo to give it to you, but I guess now is as good a time as any. I hope you like it!" she said, handing it to him with a smile.

Futaro's fingers deftly unwrapped the package, revealing a sleek, black laptop satchel. It was made of high-quality leather.

"Wow!" He exclaimed. "This looks—"

"Pretty professional, right?" Takebayashi interrupted with a satisfied smirk, pushing a strand of her hair behind one ear. "I was just tired of you cramming my old computer into your bag without any regard for its well-being."

"It's great," Futaro said with a smile. "I feel bad now because I didn't get you anything."

"Eh," she shrugged, waving away his apology. "Just treat me to ramen one day when we're back at work. Come on, let me get you back on that ugly monster you have on our driveway."

Futaro chuckled as he made his way towards his motorcycle. As he got ready to leave, Takebayashi helped him put on his helmet.

"Thanks."

"Hmm, I guess you pull it off," she teased, throwing his new leather satchel around his shoulders and tightening it so it wouldn't flail in the wind. When she seemed satisfied, she stepped in close, rising onto her toes as she pulled him into an embrace. She buried her head into the nape of his neck for a little longer than he expected her to.

"Umm," he prodded her back gently.

She pulled away blushing slightly with embarrassment. "Oops," she said meekly. "Sorry about that."

"It's fine," Futaro replied. "See you back at work then?"

"Don't be late, Uesugi-sensei," Takebayashi grinned. "And have a happy new year."

Futaro nodded and began to pull out of her driveway. As he rode down the mountain, he reflected on what she had said:

"I think you would make a great teacher"

Futaro's mind raced as he gunned his engine and sped down the road. He felt a sudden rush of confidence and hope fill him at the thought. Maybe this was something he could do. Up until now he only ever thought of teaching as something to bring in money, but making a career out of doing something he already was good at didn't seem like a bad idea.

And Uesugi-sensei does have a pretty nice ring to it. Maybe I should ask Itsuki about what it's like? He scoffed. "How would that conversation even go 'oh yeah, I know I've been ignoring you for months, but can you please tell me what it's like studying to be a teacher'?" Futaro rolled the throttle of his bike and sped his way home.


~Ichika~

Just as quick as Ichika drank her hot chocolate, Raiha stood up ready to fetch her a refill. "Oh no you don't have to, Raiha-chan," Ichika said, tapping the side of her mug with a bright grin on her face. "I've already had three. Your chocolate is addicting! But an actress must show restraint."

"Oh whatever! I'll take another please, Raiha-chan!" Itsuki shot up and joined Raiha in the kitchen.

"I'll have another too. Itsuki-chan would you be a dear?" Isanari flashed a flirtatious smile.

"Sure thing, Uesugi-san." Itsuki blushed and nodded, taking his mug back to the kitchen.

Ichika grinned, admiring his ability to turn it on and off on command. Futaro-kun wishes he had his dad's charms.

As Raiha and Itsuki went about making their drinks, Isanari turned to Ichika with a warm smile. "Ah, so Ichika-chan, you were talking about the movie coming out next month. Do you have your next project lined up?"

"Well, I was thinking of auditioning for the lead role in a new drama called Shibuya Socialite, but," she hesitated, "I'm a bit nervous, you know. Dramas are more intense than movie scripts."

Isanari leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Shibuya Socialite, huh? I recognize that title! It's from one of those light novels that Raiha-chan reads!"

"Yeah dad! It's really good!" Raiha interjected from the kitchen.

Isanari nodded. "I can certainly see a beautiful girl like you playing that lead. You've already got that larger-than-life air about you."

Ichika bowed politely, not sure if she should speak more on the matter. "Thank you, Uesugi-san. Your faith in me means a lot."

"Maybe invite my son out to see you during a filming day. It'd be good for him to be around some more creative types. That boy could use some more coaching on how to act like a human being, if you know that I mean." He winked just as Itsuki returned with his chocolate. At that moment, the doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation. Isanari turned to Itsuki and gestured towards the door. "Itsuki-chan, could you please get that for me?"

Itsuki nodded and made his way to the front door, opening it to reveal Yotsuba standing on the other side. Her eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Itsuki, but she quickly composed herself and smiled. "Hey, Itsuki... I wasn't expecting you to be here..."

Itsuki stepped aside to reveal Ichika sitting in the living room. Even from the living room, Ichika could tell that she wasn't expecting either of her sisters to be at Futaro's family apartment.

"Yotsuba-chan!" Isanari pushed himself up from his seat in the kotatsu with a grunt, gripping the side of the table tightly as he stood to his full height. "Please come in! You're letting the warm out. Raiha-chan say hello and fix Yotsuba-chan a hot cocoa, please."

Yotsuba stepped into the tiny apartment giving Itsuki a tight-lipped smile and then turned her focus towards Raiha. The little girl was beaming up at her, holding out a steaming cup of hot chocolate. "Thank you, Raiha-chan," Yotsuba said, taking the cup from the girl's hands. "Here, I have something for you too." Yotsuba hands Raiha a square package of sweet butter pastries. "It's just a small thing, but Merry Christmas."

Raiha took the present in her hand and embraced Yotsuba. "Yeah, I just got to Nagoya and I missed my chance to put in my present in our basket," Yotsuba explained. "I hope that's okay."

"It's perfect Big Sister Yots! I'm just happy everyone is over."

"As a matter of fact, that's what we were here to drop off," Itsuki chimed in hastily. "The basket, I mean—We weren't sure if you were going to make it today," Itsuki explained.

Yotsuba's gaze flickered towards Itsuki, a hint of jealousy in her eyes. "Well, I hope I didn't miss out on too much."

Itsuki stayed silent as Raiha-chan pulled Yotsuba in to show her the presents she got. She made eye contact with Ichika who shrugged.

Ichika knew that Yotsuba hadn't spoken with Futaro yet, so this must have been a desperate leap of faith for Yotsuba to attempt to fix her relationship with Futaro. Ichika could sense how upset Yotsuba was at seeing both her and Itsuki here. There was no way for Ichika and Itsuki to excuse themselves from the Uesugi's apartment without it rising suspicion from Raiha.

Yotsuba-chan needs to speak to Futaro-kun alone, and she can't do that with us here. Ichika worried.

Ichika asked Itsuki for a sip of her chocolate trying to hide her discomfort and awkwardness.

"Hey! I thought you didn't want another!" complained Itsuki.

Ichika shot her a stern stare causing Itsuki to surrender her cup. She wondered if Yotsuba felt like an outsider in this home. Perhaps she felt like she had even less right to be here than either she or Itsuki did.

"So Yotsuba-chan," Isanari cleared his throat. "Congratulations on making the Olympic team. Raiha-chan told me that you'll be taking a year off school formally to train with the pros right. You must feel so proud."

"Yes! Big Sister Itsuki told me," Raiha grinned, seemingly proud to have played her part.

Yotsuba shifted her gaze between Itsuki and Isanari, forcing a faint smile to her lips. "Actually, Uesugi-san," Yotsuba stammered, her eyes suddenly avoiding both of their gazes, "I haven't made the team yet. I've earned the chance to try out for a spot on the team. But I'll be in Tokyo training until the date of the tryouts."

"That sounds incredible! I bet my son is really excited about that!"

Ichika blurted out an undignified cough—pretending as if she were choking on Itsuki's hot chocolate and making everyone around the table stop and look at her.

"Are you okay, Big sister Ichika!" Raiha worriedly asked with wide eyes.

Ichika attempted a dramatic recovery, gripping her chest and sticking her thumbs up. However, it seemed like the damage had been done; Yotsuba's expression had turned even darker and Isanari appeared to regret ever asking anything.

So Futaro's dad knows what's going on, Ichika mused.

"Did Futaro come home for the holidays?" Yotsuba spat out the words quickly as if they couldn't escape quick enough.

"I—yes. he did," Isanari seemed content to breeze by that entire exchange. "Is that who you ladies are waiting for? And here I thought I had recovered my mojo," he laughed himself into a wheezy cough. But it was quickly drowned out by a roar of a motorcycle drew everyone's attention to the window, and Raiha's face lit up. "Dad, did you give Big Brother his present?" she asked excitedly. Isanari nodded with a small, knowing smile in reply. Squealing excitedly, Raiha waited eagerly until a few moments later when Futaro walked in through the door, kicking off his boots as he entered.

"Big Brother! Merry Christmas!" Raiha instantly crowded Futaro. "Do you like the bike! Dad and I worked so hard!"
"I—Raiha I love it! Thank you! Now can you please let in?!" He took a few steps forward inside when he suddenly froze in place. His eyes darted between Yotsuba and the rest.

Ichika felt sorry for Futaro. She worried that the three of them being in his home would be too much for him. Futaro seemed tense. He hadn't bothered removing his helmet yet. Itsuki hovered by the kitchen, hesitant to come closer, while Ichika silently pleaded with her eyes for her to join them. But it was Yotsuba who drew Futaro's gaze and held it there, her expression open and vulnerable, as if she was finally letting out all the hurt and sadness that had been building up inside her for months.

Ichika saw Yotsuba's lip quiver, her body tensing as she made a move to approach him. But something stopped her. "It's okay," Ichika said, stepping forward to stand next to Yotsuba. "We just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, that's all."

Futaro's eyes flicked to her for a moment. "I'm sorry, but I have to go," Futaro said, his voice low and calm. He turned around, making an excuse that he forgot something and headed towards the door.

Ichika whispered, putting a hand on Yotsuba's arm. "Let me talk to him." Yotsuba nodded as she stepped back. Ichika followed Futaro outside. She took a deep breath and gathered her courage. She stepped in front of him, blocking his way and begged him to talk to Yotsuba. But he shook his head. "I can't, Ichika. I'm sorry," he said.

Ichika clasped her hands together, her eyes pleading. "Please, just hear her out. Yotsuba-chan needs you, and so do I." Ichika took a step closer to him, noticing how his muscles tensed in response. Ichika's eyes immediately caught sight of a lipstick stain on his collar, and she felt a twinge of jealousy. Had he been with someone else? She chose to ignore it for now as whatever his reaction would be would likely distract from the goal she was trying to achieve. "I want to go to school Futaro-kun. And I can't do this without you. You convinced me that I have more to offer than just being a pretty face on screen, so take some responsibility. I know we've hurt you a lot, and we're sorry. We realize we made a lot of mistakes, but we want to fix them. And we know we can't do it all at once, but if you can't forgive all of us at the same time, then please, try forgiving us one by one. And I'll go first." Ichika stepped closer to Futaro and took his hand gently in hers. "Please, be my tutor again. You're the only one who I trust in Tokyo. Help me catch up on my studies, and I promise I'll make it up to you."

Futaro gazed at Ichika, his hand still in hers. She could feel the warmth of his touch, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. "I'll think about it," he finally said, his voice stern.

Ichika sighed in relief. It was a small victory, but it was a start. She knew it would take time for Futaro to trust them again.

"I have some conditions though," he said, his voice rumbling with displeasure. "First, I want all of you to swear never to meddle in Yotsuba and I's relationship. We'll sort it out between us. Second, no more quintuplet games. Ever." He paused, scanning Ichika's face. "If you can promise that, then you've got yourself a deal."

Ichika glanced at the lipstick stain on his collar again. Futaro was demanding total transparency, yet it seemed like he was hiding a few skeletons too. It was her responsibility as the big sister to take care of her little sisters, but that was a battle for another day. She exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the winter air. "Deal."


A/N: Thank you so much for your patience! After the end of the last arc, I took an unexpected—albeit quite necessary break to enjoy some summer activities. A lot of things in my life are quite fluid at the moment as I begin a new life stage & unfortunately, that's meant that writing at my consistent pace has been a bit more difficult to do in recent months. But I'm still keeping on with my story. A large part of me was clearly missing autumn and winter since all I've been thinking about was escape from these humid summer days.

I'm already scene planning my next chapter and I hope to start writing the rough draft for it beginning next week. in the meantime, please look forward to my next chapter and I hope this one set some exciting things for you to read in the near future.

I'd like to extend a special thank you to everyone on reddit who commented and reviewed my last chapter. It has singlehandedly the most reviewed chapter I've ever had and that's honestly very exciting and validating for me. I couldn't possibly name everyone who commented between FFN, AO3, Wattpad, Reddit and the TQQ public server because this A/N list would be enormous but I promise I read each and every single one of your comments. I've been pretty bad about directly replying to everyone, but know that I take all your wonderful commentary—and criticism—warmly. Thank you once again—Miimbot