Chapter Twelve: Impasse
~Yotsuba~
Yotsuba grit her teeth and clicked on her sister's name, bringing the phone to her ear. Okay, Nino wants to talk. She's the one reaching out this time. Let's not lose our cool! She left the warm comfort of her kotatsu and rubbed her sore. Yotsuba paced around her apartment, growing restless, waiting for Nino to answer.
"Um—hi, Yotsuba," Nino picked up the phone with trepidation. "I wasn't expecting you to call."
"You sound quiet, Nino, are Miku and Itsuki nearby?"
"No, I can talk. I'm not even home, so it's fine— I went to those swings you like; you know, the ones at the top of the hill behind our apartment?"
"Yeah? Those are super nice. You can get a good view of the city if you swing high enough."
"I can't believe you'd trust these rusty old swings."
"Those swings are actually pretty strong. I remember once Futaro tried to—oof, sorry. I didn't mean to—" Yotsuba cleared her throat.
"—It's fine," Nino rushed, clearly not wanting to dwell on that topic for long. "So I went on a date tonight."
"Oh?"
"He was super nice and super cute, and he works with Ichika. But it's not going anywhere with him. At least, not right now anyway."
"Oh…"
"Geez, don't sound too excited," Nino griped. Yotsuba felt surprisingly irritated at Ichika for trying to interfere. This was their issue, and it didn't take much to imagine that Ichika would have wanted to do something to try and mediate the awkwardness between them.
I have to get through to Nino somehow. I must try harder.
Yotsuba stood in front of her corkboard with photos of her favorite memories. She always thought that Nino was a bit scarier than the rest of her sisters. When Nino entered a room, she commanded attention. Often, Yotsuba would be able to disappear from a room whenever Nino was nearby. She was that strong of a presence. Maybe Yotsuba was even envious of now cavalier Nino could be. But they were sisters first and foremost. Itsuki and Nino could be her rivals in love, and that still wouldn't matter to Yotsuba. They were her sisters first. She wanted to be free to love Futaro and her sisters without regrets.
"Anyway," Nino started, pushing past their awkward silence. "I figured out my problem."
"What's on your mind?" Yotsuba asked, bracing herself.
"Look, can we agree that this whole thing is stupid?" Nino sighed. "And you probably think I'm stupid and petty."
"I could never think that, Nino. You're my sister. Even if this situation is stupid."
"And that's exactly why you are so difficult. Seriously, You're just so irritatingly nice that I can't argue with you without feeling like the bad guy. If you were just some random girl, I wouldn't feel guilty about liking Fuu-kun. But no, you're you."
Nino's words stung somewhat, but Yotsuba could tell that Nino wasn't trying to argue. "I can't change the way I am any more than you can change how you are," she said softly. "I wouldn't want to."
"I guess me neither. But that's not the point. Do you remember when we visited grampa back at Toraiwa Onsen? All the way back when?"
Yotsuba furrowed her eyebrow. "I guess?"
"During that entire trip, I was trying to pluck up the courage to get Fuu-kun's attention. In fact, one of those nights I was determined to meet him by the bell to kiss him. I almost did too, but I was caught by dad— anyway, I bring it up because a bit before that trip, I had confessed my feelings to Fuu-kun."
"You… You did? As in, you asked him to date you?"
"Yeah. Twice. It's so embarrassing looking back on it now. I was such an idiot. I always knew that he would say no, but I thought I could convince him to at least give me a try. As silly as it was, I thought that as long as he didn't tell me 'No,' I somehow had a chance to win him over. I was so irritated. I have never had a guy just leave me hanging like that before—not that I was ever interested in any of those boys. The more days passed, the more irritated I got. I saw Miku trying her best with all these ways to impress Fuu-kun, and it made me feel desperate. Before I knew it, I was beginning to doubt my value as a woman. Do you have any idea how many 'how to attract the boy you like' books there are? Honestly, what a waste of time. Like, even when Ichika did that weird thing in Kyoto—"
"I'm not sure what the point of this is," Yotsuba interrupted.
"—Yeah, I'm getting to it," Nino said in a low voice. "It took me a while to realize that the problem was me all along. I was awful to Fuu-kun, so it made sense that he didn't like me. But I wanted to prove that I could change. That I could be kind, hardworking, and affectionate. Which finally brings me to my problem," Nino exhaled slowly. "My problem with this whole thing is you."
Yotsuba gripped her phone tightly. Her hand felt slick with sweat. She had no response to her sisters' words.
"I can't be you," Nino continued. "I can't be kind; I can't be helpful. I'm not admired or respected. When we graduated, I realized my only friend was Miku. Like, I truly had no friends. At first, I thought, 'oh well, it's their loss,'but tonight I got a pretty good look in the mirror, and I had a chance to see just shitty I am."
"Nino," Yotsubas' chest swelled. "That's not true at all. You are always looking after us. We wouldn't have gotten nearly as far without you taking up so many responsibilities at home. I think there are plenty of people that respect you. You're someone worth admiring! Remember at the school festival how everyone loved your performance and thought you were so cool?"
"Yotsuba, you don't get it! I don't want to be like you!" Nino's voice trembled. "Everything about you makes no sense. How can you just act so perfect all the damn time? So kind and sweet and always this 'perfect little helper.' Doesn't it get exhausting? Remember how you used to be when we were younger? Remember how you used to make Miku cry in junior high school? How you always ignored us just so you could be noticed as the best quintuplet? I remember all that. If I'm a shitty person, Yotsuba, then you are too."
"Wait, that's not fair. That was ages ago, and I apologized!" Yotsuba blinked back tears.
"I wonder what Fuu-kun would think if he knew all that about you?"
"Why would any of that matter?"
"You're right!" Nino scoffed. "You're right. It doesn't matter at all! It's just nice to remind you that you're not that great, either. I know you— and your sisters know you. I tried really hard, you know. I tried hard to figure out why I lost to you. I can't get over how you just got Fuu-kun. It makes no sense."
"Nino, Futaro made his choice."
"I know," Nino said. "That's not the point— it shouldn't have come down to a decision like that at all. It was too sudden. And it completely threw away all the work that I did trying to get his attention. Why did we even agree to do the five-room thing? It was so stupid!" Nino whimpered like a wounded animal.
"The five of us agreed to do it that way because we decided to be united as sisters. It could have been any one of us. Futaro confessed that he loved the five of us, and I still believe that's true."
"Please spare me. I was farther ahead than any of you," Nino hiccupped.
"You want closure," Yotsuba finally said. Suddenly it became clear what Nino was after.
"I want him just to come out and tell me why it wasn't me. I want to know why I failed. If I knew that, then I could let it all go."
"Asking him that now would be really unfair to Futaro."
"All he has to do is grow a pair," Nino scoffed.
"Don't be mean," Yotsuba said firmly. "I get why you're feeling this way, but what are we supposed to do? Just ask, 'Futaro, why aren't you attracted to Nino' all of a sudden? How do you think he'll react?"
"Fine, then give me one chance to see if my feelings can get across," Nino cleared her throat. "Let me switch places with you for one evening."
"I... I'm not sure that's a good idea," Yotsuba hesitated.
"What, you don't want to put your money where your mouth is?" Nino pressed, sounding a little smug. "Let me switch places with you. I'll go out on a date with Fuu-kun, and let me have a chance to have him see me in a different light, fair and square. At the end of the night, I'll ask him why he didn't choose me."
Yotsuba couldn't believe her ears. "That's insane! He'd never agree to something like that."
"He doesn't have to," Nino said. Yotsuba was prepared for an angry, petty, and mean freight train barreling down on her at full speed. However, nothing could have prepared her for this.
"You seriously can't be suggesting we trick Futaro," Yotsuba laughed in disbelief.
"That's exactly what I'm suggesting. What's wrong with a simple quintuplet game among sisters? We used to do it all the time."
Yotsuba's lip quivered. "No, Nino," she said with deadly seriousness. "My relationship isn't a game. And I'm not going to go along with this stupid—"
"—tell me with one hundred percent certainty that you've never had doubts about Fuu-kun."
"What?"
"Seriously, tell me. Have you ever had doubts that Fuu-kun made the right choice that night?" Nino urged.
"No… none."
"Are you sure?"
Her heart throbbed in her chest. Yotsuba gripped her phone tightly. "Nino, even if I did, it wouldn't change that I love him, and he loves me."
"If you're so confident in yourself, then give him a chance to reject me openly. Let him prove that he loves you by rejecting me."
Yotsubas' nostrils flared. "He already rejected you the moment he decided to be in my room during the festival."
"Oh," Nino scoffed again. "The room you weren't even in? According to Itsuki, you had given up before the night had even ended."
"No, this conversation is over," Yotsuba's voice trembled. "I can't believe you'd even think about suggesting something like this. Goodnight!" Yotsuba ended the call and tossed her phone haphazardly onto her bed. She wiped her eyes dry with her hand. The nerve of her!
Yotsuba kicked her sports bag sending it across her living room. Ouch! She gripped her toes, wincing in pain. "Dammit," she blinked away tears. She limped to the bathroom to get ready for bed, returning later freshly showered and ready to collapse onto her mattress. She wondered if her neighbors heard her yelling. She fished out her phone from the corner of the bed and tapped its screen. There was only one message.
[Nino] (sent at 11:47 p.m.) "I want answers. You want reassurance. Let's work together as sisters."
Yotsuba slammed her phone on the nightstand and shut off her light.
~Futaro~
"Uesugi-sensei!" Kotaro rushed down the stairs, followed closely by Azuha.
"Kota-chan, Careful!" Azuha scolded, practically bumping into her twin as they rushed down the stairs. Futaro had not even taken off his jacket before they were already in front of his face, waving their tests in his face.
"I got a ninety-one! A ninety-one! Uesugi-sensei! Look!"
"Forget Kota-chan. I got a ninety-five!" Azuha shoved her brother with her shoulder.
"—That's because you got version B of the exam! It was easier!"
"—No! Version B was harder! You got version A because Kobayashi-sensei knows you're stupid!"
"Shut up!"
"No, you shut up!"
Futaro pulled the twins apart, taking their exams from their clutched fists. "Woah! Both of you, settle down. We can look at these once Takebayashi-sensei comes—"
"Did I come at a bad time? Geez, I can hear the screaming from down the hall," Takebayashi peaked inside cautiously.
"Takebayashi-sensei!" Kotaro pushed past her sister. "I did really well on my exam. Do I get a reward?"
"How about you let me get through the door first, Kota-kun," Takebayashi smiled. She shrugged at Futaro. "Good afternoon, Uesugi-sensei. You seem more well-rested today. Something good happen?"
"Of course, the kids got good test scores," Futaro teased.
The Koda kids pushed Futaro and Takebayashi to the living room, handing them cups of water before rushing back upstairs for their backpacks.
"Ooh! The Koda family's interior decorator has outdone himself again!" Takebayashi said, admiring the newly decorated living room. Fresh flowers often adored the kitchen and living room tables during the summer. Now that it was autumn, the flowers were replaced with frankincense and clove-scented candles, which burned calmly, perfuming the room in a pleasant warm wooden scent.
"I don't know much about interior decorating, but it feels nice and comfy here," Futaro sipped from his cup.
"I'm sure you've spent enough time with wealthy people to have picked up a thing or two," Takebayashi teased. "Can I see those exams?"
Futaro handed the twins' tests to Takebayashi as the kids returned. "You have to look at these. They're pretty good. They handled the trick questions pretty well," Futaro smiled at Azuha, who blushed a deep scarlet while taking her seat across from Futaro.
Takebayashi flipped through their papers quietly. She meticulously checked every answer to ensure it was a true positive instead of a teacher error. Futaro admired how thorough she was with her work, often catching mistakes that Futaro missed on his first pass-through. She practically takes their entire exam in minutes."Alright, good job, you two," Takebayashi spoke up. "This is sufficiently adequate," she said 'sufficiently adequate' with the same tone as someone who's been inconvenienced by a train delay. "I respect that this is good for you now, but I'm noticing a few trends here."
"—wha?" Koda kids said in unison.
"Mmhmm. You both are getting the same type of problems wrong here and here," she pointed to a few problems on their exams. "So I think that that's what Uesugi-sensei and I will be working on for the first half of the day. Then we can review the rest of the test with you individually."
Kotaro and Azuha's shoulders sank, and their expression turned dour, giving Futaro the impression of deflated balloons. "You both did good, though," Futaro quickly added, trying to make them feel better. "We checked these tests. And Takebayashi-sensei and I are both proud you achieved all the goals we set for you."
Takebayashi's eyes widened, realizing she had come across harsher than she meant to. "Oh! Of course, we're proud of you! I didn't mean to say you didn't do well. I trust you both to be even more amazing. Kota-kun, Azu-chan, I'm so happy to be your teacher," Takebayashi sounded like a character from an afternoon special. Kotaro sniffled quietly, trying to hide his snotty nose. Futaro glanced at Takebayashi, who seemed genuinely guilty at upsetting Kotaro.
"Thank you, Takebayashi-sensei," Azuha spoke up, taking the lead. "We're happy to be your students too. We won't let you down. I'll make sure Kota-chan doesn't fail," She rubbed Kotaro's back. "Uesugi-sensei, I promise I won't let you down!"
"Hey! What do you mean!" Kotaro said, wiping his tears and scowling at his sister.
"You. Are. Stupid!"
"No, you!"
The sounds of squabbling siblings immediately broke the tense atmosphere. Takebayashi leaned and whispered into Futaros ear, "wasn't the promise supposed to be to me?"
He shrugged. "I guess I have a way with girls. But are you okay? You were kind of harsh with the kids just now."
"I'm fine. I got too serious," Takebayashi bumped his shoulder. "Go rally them together, Uesugi-sensei."
After breaking up their argument, they spent the rest of the afternoon reviewing every problem from the exam one by one, paying specific attention to the teens' problem areas, as Takebayashi had defined them. After working together for several months, Futaro and Takebayashi clearly understood each other's strengths. He had discovered that he was pretty good at moderating minor squabbles between the two teens and getting them to cooperate, even if they were upset with each other. He quickly remembered and applied niche concepts so the twins always felt prepared. Takebayashi's strength is her ability to quickly identify weaknesses in their students' learning. She could identify a problem before anyone else realized it was a problem. Any minor grammar mistake, any tiny misapplication of a math theorem— even slight English mispronunciations— she caught it all. Usually, it would frustrate Kotaro and disappoint Azuha when teachers would return their worksheets blotted with red ink, but Takebayashi was different. She did it in a big, sisterly, affectionate way, unlike a typical teacher.
A few hours later, the sun crept behind the Tokyo skyscrapers, and the kids soon lost focus. "Maybe we should stop here," Futaro glanced at his phone. "Three hours is more than enough for you two."
"I can keep going for another hour, Uesugi-sensei," Azuha yawned.
Takebayashi shook her head. "No, Uesugi-sensei has a point. You worked hard enough. Why don't you take the last hour to finish your chores, and you can use all that extra time to watch YouTube or whatever."
"Yay!" Kotaro jumped at Takebayashi's suggestion. He sloppily tossed all his notebooks into his bag and hurried to the kitchen to fix himself a snack.
"Kota-chan! Don't forget to say thank you!" Azuha shouted at his brother. She sighed and began to pack her books away as well.
"You okay?" Futaro asked, noticing she was not nearly as excited at a lesson ending early as her brother.
She shook her head. "No, It's just—ah, it's stupid."
"Why would it be stupid?" He asked, giving Takebayashi a knowing look.
Azuha paused as if she were thinking of her words carefully. "I know you only come because dad pays you, and that's okay. But I guess I was looking forward to the full tutoring time," she murmured in a low voice.
"You wanted to study more?" Futaro asked in disbelief.
"Not exactly. I like it when you both are here," Azuha's gaze sank to the floor as if she were revealing a big shame.
Takebayashi walked over and gently rubbed the young girls back. "Did you know that Uesugi-sensei and I are students too? Technically we also have a lot of homework to do. I'm sure that Uesugi-sensei wouldn't mind staying here a while longer while you finish your chores…or play on your Switch. I'm sure your parents wouldn't notice," she winked at Futaro. "How does that sound to you?"
"Really?" Azuha perked up. "You'll stay!?" She grabbed Futaros hand excitedly.
Takebayashi grinned. "Looks like you can't say no."
"Yay! I'll get my Switch!" Azuha bounced away, forgetting her stuff on the dining room table.
Takebayashi turned to Futaro, "Sorry, you don't mind, do you?"
"It's fine. I just need a place to work," Futaro shrugged. He watched the twins set up their console in the living room and quickly start a race in Mario Kart. "It's a nice thing you did for Kotaro and Azuha."
"I had to do something to make up for earlier. And if Azuha starts to hate me… well, girls' intuition, not important," Takebayashi laughed. "I know you enjoy spending your time here too."
"Too?"
"Shut up."
Futaro chuckled. "I guess we'll be here for a bit longer, so let's get some homework done,"
Takebayashi nodded in agreement. "You want to work on some English together?"
Futaro quickly realized how much work he could get done with someone like Takebayashi. She thought critically and predictably caught nuances that even he missed. Of course, that was to be expected from the second-ranked student at Tokyo University. Futaro was used to pushing when it came to studying. It was a different matter with someone just as capable as him. They'd occasionally look up when the twins were getting too rowdy so they wouldn't feel neglected. Futaro had to admit, it felt nice. It was like he was surrounded by siblings. It was a warm, gentle chaos that blurred the lines of what professional tutoring should be, but with Takebayashi, Kotaro, and Azuha, it felt safe. Despite the cooler weather, Tokyo felt a lot warmer than before.
"Hey, I forgot to mention that I'm not going to be here next weekend," Futaro said as he checked his flash cards.
Takebayashi looked up. "Got a doctor's appointment?"
"Nothing like that. I'm visiting Yotsuba, so I'll be gone next week."
"O—oh!" Takebayashi coughed. "Right. She's going to school in Osaka. I forgot you mentioned it. Didn't you see her last month or so when you visited home?"
"That was an emergency— This time is more just a 'her and I' thing."
"Bullet train tickets are pretty pricy, and didn't you buy yourself a new phone too? Aren't you over-extending yourself a bit too far?" Takebayashi highlighted a passage from their book sharply. "Do you even have enough money to have a proper date when you're in Osaka? You can't just show up empty-handed."
"I know. But I'm pretty okay with money right now. Well, not okay, but generally fine," the truth was that Futaro hadn't considered what kind of date he could even afford once he got to Osaka. "I got some help from Ichika."
"Her sister? The movie star?"
"Yeah, the movie star…"
"It's kind of lame to beg your girlfriend's sister for help, Futaro," Takebayshi grimaced.
"I didn't beg for help. She paid me. I've been tutoring her, too," Futaro said a little defensively. But Takebayashi wasn't paying attention. Instead, she was fiercely tapping into her phone.
"—there! I told Koda-san that you'll be absent from work next week. Thank you for letting me know, Futaro-san."
"Futaro-san—what's that about—hey!" Takebayashi had packed up her things and swung her backpack over her shoulders, and was already halfway out of the apartment before she turned around. "Kota-kun, Azu-chan! I have to go! I'll see you next week!" She told the twins, who were distracted by a heated Mario Kart race. Takebayashi whipped around so quickly that her black hair grazed Futaro's cheek. He followed her to the door.
"Hey, what's the matter!"
"It's fine, really," she spun around suddenly. "I'll take care of next week's lesson. You try and enjoy yourself," She gently placed her hand on his chest. "We're all pretty grown up now, huh?" She left down the hallway, disappearing behind the elevator doors. Unsettled by her sudden departure, Futaro packed his things and quickly excused himself from the Koda residence. Just before he left, he noticed Azuha watching him from the stairs, with one hand clutched over her chest.
~One Week Later~
Futaro readjusted the strap from his duffel bag as it dug into his skin from all the weight of his clothes. He wasn't sure what he'd need, so he packed a little bit of everything. Overhead the train conductor announced that they'd be arriving at Shin-Osaka station within two minutes. Ignoring the rough swaying of the train slowing down, Futaro stood up and positioned himself near the exit along with the salarymen, who seemed to be in a rush. He was one of the first persons out once the bullet train came to a stop. Following the crowd, he looked for signage to orient himself, silently complaining about how similar all train stations looked. He tapped his card at the turnstile and exited the main hall lined with various eateries that would make Itsuki squeal with joy and enough designer shops that would make Nino jump with delight. Near the great window panes across the hall, in bright white bold letters above him read "SHIN-OSAKA STATION."
"We probably should have coordinated bet—"
"Futaaarooooo!" A familiar voice stood out above the general white noise of the crowd. He turned around just in time to receive the full force of a small track star smashing straight into his chest. She toppled him to the floor, accidentally scattering his luggage across the station floor.
"You're here!" She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly.
"Y—People are staring!" Futaro grunted. "I can't breathe!"
"Right!" Yotsuba grabbed Futaro by the arm and lifted him up in one quick motion. He felt blood rush to his face, but he wasn't sure if it was from Yotsuba treating him like a rag doll or from general embarrassment. He bowed awkwardly at the onlookers walking by. Yotsuba dusted him off before sprinting after his duffle bag. "Welcome to Osaka, Futaro!" She grinned, holding out his luggage.
"Did you have to make such a scene?" Futaro rubbed his lower back, feeling about thirty years older.
Yotsuba giggled. "What are you talking about? That's the typical Osakan greeting. You're in my town now, Tokyoite!"
"I doubt that very much… and don't call me that," Futaro groaned, still clutching at his side.
"Then it's because I'm not wearing my ribbons anymore, so I had to figure out how to get your attention somehow. Come, we can talk here," Together, they found a small, relatively quiet corner near the central plaza where Futaro could reorient himself. He inspected his body for any fresh bruises.
After checking that she hadn't broken any of his bones, he reached into his duffle bag and pulled out a small notepad. "So I have a few plans for things I wanted to do today," Futaro started. "I was thinking we could take the rapid train down to go to Universal Studios. I want to avoid eating there— it'd be expensive. But that's okay," The last thing he wanted was for Yotsuba to think he was being cheap during their reunion. "Instead, I wanted us to go to this nice Italian restaurant that Itsuki recommended that's in the area— I was able to get reservations which was lucky for this time of year, but even so, I managed to get us a spot. While we're down in that part of Osaka, there's this beautiful park with a lake that apparently has this nice gazebo where we can enjoy a view of the city—are you listening?" Futaro peaked from his notebook; her expression said it all. After more than two years of being her tutor, he was perfectly aware of when Yotsubas' capacity for information had been exceeded.
"Too much?" Futaro winced.
"Ah, not really. Not at all," Yotsuba chuckled awkwardly. "You put a lot of thought into today, didn't you? It makes me happy that you were excited to come to Osaka. But I'm the one that lives here."
"Oh, sorry. I didn't realize that you might not want to do the tourism thing."
Yotsuba shook her head and took his hands. "It's not that. I'll be honest, all that sounds great," she rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb. "But why don't you let me treat you for a change? I don't get many chances to be the more knowledgeable one of the two of us. Trust me. You don't need to try too hard. I'm not Nino— oops, wait. Forget I said that," She flashed a mischievous grin. "Why don't you let me show you some of my favorite places then," Futaro nodded quietly as she guided him through a long corridor lined with delicious-smelling eateries. She led him downstairs to a local subway line just as the train pulled in. Yotsuba pulled Futaro along as they forced their way onto the train. Soon they were compressed tightly like sardines between a gaggle of students and businessmen. To not lose Yotsuba in the crowd, Futaro instinctively wrapped his arms around the small of her back and pulled her close to him. "Is it too hot? Your face is all red."
"Shut up, Futaro. Let me enjoy this."
"Are you serious—"
"—mmmm, you smell like a library."
"What?" Futaro frowned.
Yotsuba rested her cheek on his chest. "You know how when you open a new manga, and it smells like fresh paper? Like that."
"Ah, well, thanks?" Futaro once again felt the blood rushing to his face. He decided to let her win this one, choosing instead to travel in silence.
"This is our stop," Together, they exited the train and the station, surfacing to the familiar bustle of the city. Futaro let Yotsuba pull him along gently, occasionally pointing out random boutiques by the side of the street. "Look at that beret! I bet Nino would love that! And see that dress? You can't tell me that it doesn't have Itsuki written all over it," Futaro admired how it was rare for Yotsuba to think of herself when she shopped.
Futaro glanced around some of the boutiques nearby. Across the street, he spotted a yellow-bricked store lined with several large pots with plants with huge hanging leaves and a banner above it named Four-Leaf Clover.
"Hey," he tapped her shoulder and pointed towards the store. "That store literally has your name on it."
"Was that a pun? Futaro? The super serious Futaro makes puns now!?" Yotsuba giggled.
"Shut up, I'm just making suggestions," He pushed his bangs out of his face.
Yotsuba punched his arm. "Let's go! We can always eat later."
Together they crossed the street and entered the shop. Inside, they were greeted by the citrus scent of fresh lemon that reminded Futaro of Yotsuba's family apartment in Nagoya. "Welcome to Four-Leaf Clover!" called out the clerk from across the store. "Can I help you with anything today?"
Futaro politely waved no, and the clerk bowed and retreated to the back of the store.
"Oh wow! Do you see all this?!" Yotsuba ran her hands delicately through a few large plants lining the entrance by the window. "These are called rubber plants. They're impossible to kill. It was the first plant I owned." Yotsuba thumbed the leaves affectionately.
"Ooh!" She hopped to inspect the neighboring plant, which had much longer and thinner leaves that drooped below the pot. "This one is a spider plant. Don't let the name scare you. It's mostly because the long leaves give it the impression of a spider. This one with the short leaves is actually a succulent called a paddle plant because— you guessed it—the pedals look like paddles. And here are Lady Palms, and these are Strings of Pearls. They're kind of crazy looking, huh?" Yotsuba waltzed to a nearby pot with a small tree that sprouted about half a meter straight up. "And these babies right here are one of my favorites. It's called a Jade Plant."
Futaro enjoyed watching Yotsuba prance around the shop as if she was a child in a candy store. He always knew she liked plants, but he had underappreciated how much she loved plants.
Yotsuba admired the pedals of a Jade Plant lovingly until she noticed that Futaro was staring at her.
"I'm sorry, this is probably very boring for you."
Futaro shook his head, "No way. It's a totally different side of you. It's beautiful."
Yotsuba turned into a deep shade of red that stood out next to the flora. She lifted the Lady Palms so that the pot covered her face.
"Dad got a few of these plants for us randomly one day after we moved into the big apartment. He told us we couldn't have a dog, so the plants were something for us to take care of. Back then, dad didn't know how to interact with us. And I don't blame him. We were all grieving because of mom—and he was a stranger," Yotsuba smiled wistfully. "Of course, Ichika would always forget to water them. And Nino didn't want to get her hands' dirty pruning and cleaning them. Miku didn't care, and we didn't get along as well back then. I don't think Itsuki minded watering them, but I still felt bad putting that responsibility on her." She ran her hands delicately through a spider plants thin leaves. "I felt bad for dad. He was trying his best. So I felt compelled to keep them alive. It was probably the least I could do. I took them all to my room, and that's been their home ever since." Yotsuba reached out and grabbed Futaro's hand. He held it gently, trying to comfort her with his touch. "Sometimes I worry that Nino, Miku, and Itsuki aren't taking care of them, but I trust my sisters."
Futaro pursed his lips, "Why didn't you take them with you to Osaka?"
"No space, plus technically I'm not allowed to have plants in my apartment," She shrugged. "Osaka is just a temporary home. I don't want to plant roots here."
He cocked his eyebrows. "Was that a pun, Yotsuba?"
Futaro and Yotsuba giggled quietly, enjoying the peace of being surrounded by greenery.
"Yeah, you wouldn't want to get too many things while you're studying here. It might make it inconvenient for us in the future," Futaro squeezed her hand.
"Ooh! Is that you asking me what I think you're asking me?" Yotsuba smirked. "You're going to have to be a whole lot more straightforward than that if you want an idiot like me to understand you."
Futaro rolled his eyes. "Maybe I'll ask when my apartment isn't the size of a shoebox."
"Fair. In the meantime, you should at least make your place more inviting. I know!" She picked up a small potted cactus. "Want me to choose one for you?" She asked. "You can take it home and take care of it."
Futaro shook his head. "I'd kill it."
"Nonsense," Yotsuba said, tugging him towards a long table lined with small bulbous succulents and cacti. "These are perfect for beginners! Come on! Let me teach you something for a change. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be a cactus pro!"
Futaro flashed a crooked grin, amused by how unexpectedly pushy Yotsuba could be when she wanted to. Futaro picked up a thick pinwheel rosette plant with a vibrant pink hue from among the cacti. "Maybe this one?" He asked.
"Ah, that's a Brock, I think," Yotsuba frowned and inspected the tag. "Yeah! It's a Sempervivum Brock. It's good for winter."
Futaro shook his head, "wait, I have a better idea," he walked back to the back of the store and returned with a small rubber plant. "I want this one."
Yotsuba chuckled, "because it's easy to take care of?"
"No. Because this is the same one as the one your dad got you and your sisters, right? This is the one I want."
Yotsuba pecked Futaro in the cheek. "Let me get it for you," She took the plant from Futaro and called over the boutique clerk. Soon, she returned with the plant paid for and a small booklet. "Here, these are some basic care instructions for you to study," she gently bumped him with her shoulder. "But be careful. Plants have personalities of their own, and if this one ends up being temperamental, let me know so I can help."
Futaro nodded, somewhat nervous about the new life he was suddenly responsible for. Together, they exited the boutique.
"Yay! That was a nice distraction! So, Food? You must be hungry by now," Futaro's stomach growled loudly at the mention of food. Yotsuba patted his stomach playfully. "I have just the person I want you to meet," She guided him down the road, away from the busy the high class and designer brands stores, and down smaller avenues lined with red paper lanterns advertising izakaya barsand yakitori restaurants, which are as ubiquitous to the soul of Osaka almost as much as the Gilico Man was.
"Come, we're nearly there," Yotsuba led the way, pulling Futaro along, eventually entering a small eatery that resembled a broom closet and a kitchen smashed together and a long wooden counter that reached end to end of the small restaurant.
"Yo-cchi!" A thundering voice boomed from behind the kitchen drapes. A large muscular man stepped through to the front. He was so tall and wide that he had to lower his head so he wouldn't hit it against the threshold.
"Hi, Nori-san," Yotsuba grinned. "I hope we're not too early."
"Yo-cchi, if you come in here wantin' food. You gonna get it," he paused, suddenly realizing Futaro was in the room. " an' who's this young man?"
Yotsuba threw her arm around Futaro. "This is Uesugi Futaro, my boyfriend."
"Ya boyfriend," Nori-san said, his voice shook the building. "Ah Yo-cchi! Don't you let some boy distract you from your runnin'. Been skippin' practice today to hang out with Uesugi-kun?"
"Nope, It's a rest day. He came to visit me," Yotsuba explained.
"Aww, well damn, if that ain't cute," Nori-san smiled. Though he seemed large and intimidating, it was clear to Futaro that he had a lot of care for Yotsuba. She even laughed openly around him. This place was a place of comfort for her.
Futaro bowed deeply. "Nice to meet you, Nori-san."
"Bah, boy! Don't be so stiff!" Nori-san laughed. "You may look like a twig, but that don't mean you gotta be so stiff. Yo-cchi, you gotta feed the boy! I'll get you two bowls. Ma-cchi style."
Yotsuba giggled. "Thank you so much, Nori-san! Can we get those bowls to go? Sorry for not coming by sooner. It's just that since we are so close to the races, coach asked us to watch our intake and eat a bit cleaner."
"Pfft, think nothin' of it. I know that it's tournament season for yous all. Even Ma-cchi ain't coming around as much either. Speaking of, lemme pack those bowls up for you real quick," Nori-san quickly packed their meals and handed them in a large Daiso bag. "Now anything you don't eat, make sure to give it to ya boyfriend, Yo-cchi. It just ain't right for a boy to be that thin," he said as he handed the food to Yotsuba. She smiled and handed money to Nori-san, but he held his hand out and pushed the money back to Yotsuba.
"Nah, It's okay, it's on the house."
"Wait, are you sure? These bowls are expensive," Yotsuba said, sounding a little worried.
"Don't worry 'bout it! Consider it a good luck gesture. And the other bowl is a 'welcome to Osaka' for your boyfriend. Just make sure to kick ass in Tokyo, you know? Represent us well," Nori-san belly laughed.
"I'll do my best!" Yotsuba bowed deeply, thanking the restaurant owner profusely as they exited the store.
"Why did we leave so soon? He seemed to be enjoying himself. We could have stayed and talked longer," Futaro asked, taking their food and securing his plant in one hand.
"I just thought all that smoke might not be good for the plant. Also, it's not good to move it around so much. So I was hoping we'd go to my apartment," Yotsuba grinned.
Futaro blushed, realizing the implication of what she was asking. This would be the first time they'd be alone in her home. "I— of course. Why wouldn't I?"
Yotsuba hailed a taxi, quickly ushering Futaro in while warning him to be careful about the plant. After telling the driver her address, they drove in absolute silence. Futaro's mind raced. She was uncharacteristically quiet. Then, like a flash of lightning, it hit him. Surely, she isn't expecting… I didn't buy any protection. I'll have to go to a nearby convenience store—What if she already bought them! Futaro couldn't imagine a scenario where Yotsuba would prepare for something like that. He clutched the plant in his hands tightly. He wondered if he should ask for a shower when they got to her place.
He dared to turn to Yotsuba to gauge her expression. If something that intimate was on her mind, there's no way she'd be able to hide it. Unfortunately, she was looking out the window. The rest of the taxi ride was an agonizing silence.
~Yotsuba~
"We're here!" Yotsuba said. She'd been quietly panicking their entire taxi ride home. Futaro had become so quiet and pensive that she was beginning to worry that he'd received some bad news when she wasn't looking. He quickly paid the taxi driver and stepped out of the car before Yotsuba could even pull out her wallet.
"Hey! I was going to pay," Yotsuba said, trying to exaggerate her enthusiasm. "Anyway, tada! what do you think?" She gestured towards a very average-looking apartment building.
"I was expecting something like Ichika's apartment for some reason. But just a regular apartment complex," he said, sounding genuinely surprised.
"That's the best part," she winked. Yotsuba pulled Futaro towards the complex and up her narrow, creaky, rusty stairs. They stopped at the door at the far end of the second floor, where she fumbled with the key for a moment. Yotsuba's embarrassment radiated from her body. She could have melted snow.
Futaro cleared his throat. "Umm, do you need some help?"
"No, no, I've got it," she panicked, not turning to look at him. Holy crap! Can this piece of junk work!?
Finally managing to unlock her key, she shoved the door open with her shoulder. "Welcome home. It's not much, but it's mine."
Futaro took a few cautious steps into her place. "Sorry for the intrusion."
Yotsuba immediately began critiquing the condition of her home. Maybe her place was too small after all. It only has a kitchen and a split living room and bedroom.
On the floor were several sets of gym shorts, shoes, and running jerseys embroidered with her universities logo, all bunched up and scattered across her living room. She quickly pushed past Futaro picking up the clothes and shoving them all into her sports bag by the entrance.
"Sorry— I can't tell if the place smells bad— I invited you suddenly without considering if my place was alright or not. And also sorry, my place isn't that big. It's the best I can afford without relying and dad's help too much." Yotsuba sighed.
"It doesn't smell bad at all. It just smells like you," he smiled. "And if you think this place is small? It's the same size as the family apartment. My apartment in Tokyo is small."
"Ah, well, I'll just have to come over one day to compare," Yotsuba smiled coyly.
He glanced at the potted plant near her coffee table. "Hey, I know that one. It's that Hosta you stole from your university, right? I thought you weren't allowed to have plants in this place."
"Geez, don't say things like that out loud. You'll give my neighbors a bad impression of me. But you're right," Yotsuba grinned, standing side by side to admire her plant. "It's the same plant. I'm just bad at following directions— oh here, I'll take that," she said offering to take Futaro's plant. He handed it carefully to her. She took it to the kitchen table, mixing some plant supplements with water to coat the supple soil. "There, Futaro. I added some plant nutrients to the water, and it'll help for a few days to help it survive the trip to Tokyo," she turned around and was surprised to see Futaro standing so close.
She inhaled sharply. "Futaro?"
He put his hands on her waist and pressed his lips against hers. Yotsuba could feel the soft tickle of his breath against her cheek. She sensed his hands comb through her hair. He backed away, leaving Yotsuba wanting more. She embraced him tightly and buried her head just beneath his chin. "Hi," Yotsuba whispered breathlessly.
He rested his chin on her head. "One big improvement is that without your ribbon, I can finally hug you like this without having my eye poked out by your ribbons."
"That was one time!" She said, pushing him away. She touched the top of her head as if she were expecting the ribbons to be there, "Do you like me better without them? I look like Nino, you know."
Futaro rolled his eyes. "You look like all your sisters. But there's only one Yotsuba," he pushed her bangs up with his hand and playfully bumped his forehead against hers.
"Futaro, you dog," she smiled. "But you'll have to excuse me. I need the little girl's room. Please wait in the living room," she pushed away, retreating to the bathroom. Closing the door behind her, she exhaled loudly and splashed cold water on her face. Come on, Yotsuba! Keep it together! He's a man, after all— of course, he's going to want to do it! I'm not opposed to it… I'm just not sure if it's supposed to be this sudden. Ahhh! I knew it! I'm not ready! She slapped her cheeks and pulled on the skin below her eyes. No wonder Futaro was acting weird in the taxi. He must have been daydreaming about what he thinks they'll be doing now that they're in her apartment.
Futaro-kun is the kind of boy that would study everything about a woman's body. He's just studious by nature— he's likely even seen some videos…
Ichika, stop it! That's indecent! Yotsuba remembered Itsuki scolded Ichika once when the topic of "how much experience Futaro probably had" came up once during their many living room conversations last year.
The bathroom felt so inexplicably warm.
After splashing some water on her face a few more times, she returned to find Futaro in the living room, where he looked over her study notes.
"These notes aren't half bad, you know. Who's teaching you?" He nodded, in approval, admiring the penmanship.
"My friend Yuna. Remember Inoue-san. I've told you about her before."
"Oh yeah! The sprinter on your team!"
"Yeah, that one. She's been coming over to do our homework together. She's crazy smart and has already saved my butt in class a handful of times," Yotsuba added the last part as if that'd make her sound more favorable under Futaro's scrutiny.
"Yeah, I can tell that she's teaching you pretty well," he said. " You're not just copying her work, are you?"
"Hey!"
"—kidding, just kidding," Futaro grinned. "But I also checked your English."
Yotsuba sighed. "Yeah, it's not the best. But maybe you can help me?"
"For free?" He raised his eyebrow.
"You're going to charge me!?"
"No, idiot! Go get a chair so we can work on this together!" He bonked her head with her notebook.
Together they spread all of Yotsubas' required readings and printed materials across her tatami mat and worked on them. He would instruct her to read paragraph by paragraph, making her stop periodically to check her understanding. They lost track of time as Futaro tested her on definitions and grammar structure and checked her understanding of the reading assignments one by one. Not satisfied with helping her with her weekly readings, he pulled out her syllabus and instructed her on the contents of her lectures for the next two weeks of classes. Yotsuba's eyes were spinning, and the pile of flashcards and notes became taller. Her heart felt comforted by the familiarity of their evening. She was happy to hear that Futaro had spent so much time curating the perfect afternoon for them, but Yotsuba enjoyed her quality time with him much more than any specific outing. It's not about what we're doing; it's that we're doing it together. Her mother's words warmed her heart. She never imagined how right her mother would have been. The sun slowly crept across the glass balcony door as the sky turned from a bright blue to a burning orange.
Yotsuba stretched across her tatami floor, sighing with relief. "Woo! I'm finished! I'm sorry that you came all the way from Tokyo to help me study. I promise that wasn't my plan. But I think I get it now. Not so bad for one afternoon, I must say."
Futaro scanned her work. "The student part of 'student-athlete' is important, no? I can't have you failing. I have a reputation to keep."
"I'm not even your student anymore!" Yotsuba yawned. "It kind of reminds you of the early days, doesn't it? I should have cherished those days some more," Yotsuba pouted. "I lost a lot of valuable time watching you chase my sisters around."
"Please don't put it that way. You make me sound like a creep," Futaro tugged his hair.
"Aha! You don't want to be known as an enemy of womankind?" She poked at Futaro's side.
"Where have I heard that before," Futaro sneered at Yotsuba.
"So, is this a good enough place to stop?"
Futaro stood up and stretched. "Well, you're no Nino, but your English is alright. This is a good place to stop."
Yotsuba felt her body tense at the mention of Nino. Their conversation from a week ago had been such a catastrophic failure that she still didn't know how to respond to her. It made her uncomfortable leaving her sister hanging that way, but what was she supposed to do? Nino thinks that Futaro feels he made a mistake. Yotsuba was scared that she might be right. There was one thing Nino would be more than prepared to give Futaro if she were his girlfriend. She would have already done it with him by now…Yotsuba's heart quickened.
I can do much better than Nino. It's time for me to take a page out of Nino's book.
Without warning, she shot up from her chair, pulled Futaro by the front of his dress shirt, and pushed him onto the bed. She pinned his arms above him in one fluid motion and pressed her full body weight on top of him.
Right now, I want Futaro to only be thinking of me.
"Nino can keep English," she lowered her head and kissed him; effectively silencing his protests. "I want the teacher," Yotsuba reached behind her, flicking off the clip of her bra and sliding it out of her shirt to the floor beside the bed. She placed Futaro's hands on her hips beneath her shirt. They felt hot against her skin as she guided them higher. Despite not being muscular, Futaro's hands still felt strong and distinctly masculine. His hand grazed her breast when she leaned in to kiss him again.
"Yotsuba, wait, I don't think I'm ready for this—"
"Ready for what," she cooed. "Did you have something in mind?"
"No, I just mean—can we just talk for a bit—"
"—Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Yotsuba threw herself off Futaro and rolled onto the bed, grabbing her calf. The pain was so sharp and intense that she saw stars.
"what's wrong!"
"Cramp," she said through gritted teeth.
"You got a leg cramp?" Futaro stifled a laugh. "Are you serious?"
"It's not Funny, Futaro!" Yotsuba struggled to hold back tears. How utterly embarrassing. She gripped her calf with both hands begging the spazzing contractions on her leg to stop, but nothing she did could ease her knotted muscles.
"Here," Futaro said, shifting his body and gently pulling her legs straight. "Flex your feet as much as you can," He gently pressed his thumbs to her calf in small rhythmic circles. "Wait here," he said, exiting the room and returning with ice wrapped in a clean hand towel and some lotion. He pressed the towel to her calf with one hand, gently massaging her leg. Slowly her leg relaxed, though she could still sense her muscle twitch.
"Thanks," Yotsuba uttered lamely. "I've never had my legs cease up like that before."
Futaro nodded. "It happens."
He sounds really upset. Geez, I totally ruined it, didn't I?
"How did you know to do that?" She asked, trying to fill the silence.
He cleared his throat. "Well, Dad used to always do this for me when I was younger, then I would do it for Raiha when she started going through her first growth spurt. Hold this," he gave her the makeshift ice pack. "Keep it steady here. I'm going to rub your thighs," he pivoted his body between her legs, rubbed some lotion, and honed in on the tenderest part of her thigh.
Yotsuba's leg jerked. "Sorry, lotion is kind of cold."
Futaro's face reddened. "Just relax. This is supposed to help," he gently applied pressure to the outside of her thigh. "You're overdoing it, you know. That's why your legs are cramping."
"Futaro, please, not you too," Yotsuba sighed.
"How many practice sprints do you do?"
Yotsuba frowned. She was reluctant to answer as she knew what his reaction would be.
"Yotsuba," he pressed.
"Not enough," she snapped, perhaps a little meaner than she meant to. So many parts of this evening had not gone the way she wanted.
"I have to do better," she winced.
"Doing your best doesn't mean going nonstop until you burn out," Futaro said sadly. "You don't have to do the whole, carry-the-weight-of-the-world-on-my-shoulders? You do this all the time."
"Are you disappointed in me?"
"No. But I'm kind of angry. You practice so much that you've been neglecting Nori-san, you've been too tired from practice to clean your apartment, and it's starting to affect your body. I know how much this means to you; I've been there too. But you don't have to overdo it. You have nothing to prove to anyone. If you get sick, Raiha will never forgive you."
Yotsuba laughed despite feeling quite sorry for herself. All she wanted to do at this point was to go to sleep and sulk. "Hey, listen, sorry I ruined the moment—I don't know if you were expecting anything, but I'm sorry that I ruined it," Yotsuba said, barely louder than a whisper.
Futaro applied more lotion to her other thigh and used more pressure on the other leg. "I wasn't expecting anything," he said after a brief pause. "Whatever you thought should happen. Or whatever you were told needed to happen today, I didn't have any expectations. But I could be convinced, you know. If you're ready, I'd do that for you."
Yotsuba felt her body grow warm. "I assumed you were thinking about that stuff—wait, we are talking about sex, right?"
Futaro groaned. "Yes, Yotsuba!"
She laughed, surprised by Futaro's reaction. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"
"Of course not! Don't be ridiculous!" he said hurriedly, keeping his eyes and hands on her thighs.
"Just checking," Despite laughing, Yotsuba felt guilty. She would never admit that Nino had anything to do with how she was acting.
"I was trying to ready myself for what I thought you were expecting. I thought you wanted to have s-sex, and you were being so pushy," Futaro hung his head. " I just kept thinking why you invited me to your apartment, and I just began assuming what you were thinking."
"I was hoping we'd fool around! Maybe take a shower together? I don't know how it works!" Yotsuba laughed. "This is so awkward! I don't think this would have happened to any other couple." Every inch of Yotsuba's body was on fire. She wanted to disappear in a puff of smoke. Ichika always said that she and Futaro were a perfect match. "Can I ask a serious question?"
"Yes," Futaro hesitated.
"How come you don't want to yet?" she asked, fearing that it was a problem with her.
Futaro's expression turned dark. "It's got nothing to do with you. I just," Futaro exhaled loudly "Okay, here's the thing. I can't do anything with you until you know the full truth. I kissed Itsuki."
"Huh?" Yotsuba's jaw practically dropped to the floor.
"Six months ago— in Hawaii— remember how I was locked outside the hotel room? Well, the reason is that I ran into Itsuki; she was dressed up as Rena. A girl I met a long time ago in Kyoto. It was a weird situation, but I guess the important thing was she kissed me. And I kissed her back. I was so scared to tell you because I had no way of knowing who it was, and I didn't want to be the man that caused a rift between your family. But I guess now. I have enough of a hunch to guess it was Itsuki, and I can't keep this to myself anymore. I didn't want to have this conversation with you over the phone. You deserve better," Futaro hung his head low. She couldn't see his face well, but she could still sense his pained expression.
Yotsuba's lips tightened. She wondered how long Futaro had been agonizing over this. He was right. Itsuki had kissed Futaro. But how was he able to figure it out? A wave of guilt washed over Yotsuba. She had to say something. She didn't want Futaro to feel guilty but couldn't allow her sister to take the blame either. She had to confront them directly to keep the peace. I'm sorry, Itsuki, and I'm sorry, Futaro. I have to fix this.
"I guess you must be pretty upset with me."
Yotsuba braced herself for yet another lie. She shook her head. "Wrong. You didn't kiss Itsuki; you kissed me. I'm Rena."
"What?" Futaro blinked.
"Yup, it was me."
Futaro's expression twisted into disbelief. "But that doesn't make any sense. Itsuki is the only one who knew about Rena."
Yotsuba stood up and pulled out a small, folded photo from the back of her memories corkboard. She unfolded it, revealing the warn-out photo of a younger them posing in front of Kyomizu Temple. "Think about it, Futaro. Miku, Nino, and Ichika were all having dinner that night. You and Itsuki were awkwardly fighting for most of that trip. There's no way she would have kissed you. Face it. The only one interested in kissing you that day was me."
Futaro took the photo in his hands. "How did you get this?"
"I just found it back when my sisters and I were moving back into dads place," Yotsuba shrugged. The longer she talked, the quicker the lies piled up. "Itsuki isn't entirely innocent. She told me about Rena back when she first found out."
"I don't know what to say— this whole time she was in on it? For almost three years? For what reason?" Futaro folded the photograph.
"Yeah, surprise! I'm kinda shitty," Yotsuba grimaced. "I'm not sure why anymore; I guess I was insecure. I was scared of facing you. Maybe part of me wanted to be that image of that perfect girl you had in your mind. But I don't want you to be mad at Itsuki. She didn't do anything wrong beyond what I asked her to."
"All this time, I thought I had cheated," His face was red and puffy.
Yotsuba cradled her boyfriend's head. "You didn't cheat. I love you— my sisters love you, and that's all there is to it. I wish I had told you sooner. I didn't realize that this was causing you so much pain."
Futaro lifted his head. "I seriously can't believe you. You are so stupid! Were you testing me or something? If you had your ribbon, I'd yank it right now!" He pulled an imaginary ribbon on the top of her head.
"I should be furious with you, you know? But this whole trick was so incredibly stupid that only you and Itsuki could have schemed it together. You and your sisters are such a pain in my ass!" He sounded exasperated. But Yotsuba would rather have Futaro vent to her than to hold a grudge against Itsuki. "Please listen to me very carefully. I do not care about Rena. I do not care about who this girl was or what image I had of her. She's gone. An ideal image of a childish boy," He handed the photo back to her. "I don't even care which of the five of you she was. You know what I care about? You. You and your astronomically dumb sisters. No more lies, Yotsuba. You have got to be my partner in this. You have to promise we'll communicate clearly the next time we have problems or doubts. No more trying to fix our problems on our own."
"Okay, yeah. I promise," she hung her head. Yotsuba felt like a child being scolded. She realized how close she and Itsuki had been to harming Futaro's relationship with Itsuki. They all need to put away their silly disagreements. She wanted all her sisters to be free to love Futaro, and she wanted to love Futaro as selfishly as she wished to. Nino might call her shitty, but she's always been selfish. And Yotsuba was not willing to change her nature. At that moment, Yotsuba's stomach suddenly growled loudly.
"Maybe we should have those bowls Nori-san made for us?" Futaro sighed. "I don't want to spend the rest of tonight arguing."
"Oh! I had forgotten all about those! Sure! I'm starving. I'll go warm them up. You put on something good on TV," Yotsuba stopped just before leaving the living room. "Are we okay?"
"Yeah, we're okay." Futaro smiled.
Later that night, Yotsuba woke up in a daze. It was the middle of the night, and she and Futaro had fallen asleep in each other's arms while watching a lame variety show. She sat up turn off the tv, slightly marveled by the fact that Nori-san's food was so filling that they fell asleep on the bed, soothing their full stomachs and hearts. She made a mental note to take him a 'thank you' gift for the free food.
Yotsuba felt strangely lighter and more clearheaded now than at any other point during Futaro's visit. She reached for her phone on her nightstand, flicking it open to reread Nino's messages. There was no doubt that Nino's idea was ridiculous. She knew it. But it scared her to think that Nino was right. She is insecure. She does have doubts. Would Futaro even notice if they switched spaces? Yotsuba was not the same hopeless romantic that Nino was. Yotsuba was a realist, and she knew people make mistakes. It bit at her chest to think that after all these years that there was a possibility that he could not tell her apart. She realized that it was unfair to expect that from him. He came to know her as a quintuplet, but she wanted so badly to be seen as herself more than anything.
Is this really the best way to clear things up with her? She clenched her jaw. Yotsuba wanted nothing more than to be okay with her sister. "I wonder if mom would be disappointed in us," she sighed. There was a small part of her that wanted it all to simply go away. Nino was in Nagoya, Yotsuba was here, and Futaro was in Tokyo. It could be so easy to ignore her sister. But she could never do that to her. She flicked on her phone and tapped out a quick message.
[Yotsuba] (sent at 3:47 a.m.) "Fine. You win. I'll hear you out… but you have to promise me Futaro won't get hurt."
Yotsuba turned back around and pressed her body up against Futaro's back. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling his warm body rise and fall gently. "I'm sorry, Futaro, but I have to do this alone. I will fix this, I promise."
Authors Note: Hi everyone! Miimbot here—Ahhhhh! This chapter was so difficult to write! But probably one of my more enjoyable ones. I'll admit I rewrote this chapter a few times over and over again. I'm pretty excited to announce that this chapter marks the beginning of the end of the first arc of my story. Coincidently, it aligns with my first milestone of publishing Marching Forward for One year. Technically it was January when I celebrated my fics anniversary, but I consider it the 12th upload so, yay me! You can expect maybe three chapters left of this arc (four if I plan change my mind). I'm really excited to share with you the conclusion of the first part of Marching Forward, and I hope you enjoy the rest!
Thank you for all your support and readership. I'd like to thank Bazzo, MTWKing, Chloetuco, Segft, The Mist33, Bobalon, SuperKamehameha and so many others who left guest reviews and comments on Reddit. I appreciate all your support and will continue to strive to become a better writer in the future. Thank you for one year, and I hope you look forward to the next.