The Quintessential Quintuplets: Marching Forward

by Miimbot

Following the events of the manga, Futaro and the Nakano sisters progress into the next stage of their life: adulthood. Who would have thought college, work, and even relationships could be so confusing, messy, and awkward! Join me in my vision for a long fic that follows Futaro and the Quintuplets over the next five years of their lives immediately after graduation.

14. Chapter 14: Invitationals Part 2

Chapter Fourteen: Invitationals Part. 2

~Ichika~

Ichika was suddenly jolted awake by the clang of metal pots and pans in the kitchen. She peeled her sleep-heavy body off the mattress, careful not to step on Miku, who was snoring softly on the floor, cocooned in a nest of blankets. Ichika threw on her bathrobe, taking care to triple tie the knot around her waist and shuffled sleepily towards the kitchen, where the warmth from the oven and the smell of butter greeted her. It had only been a few months, but Ichika already missed waking up to Nino's breakfasts every weekend, so the few times she'd come over to visit have been quiet pleasures for her. Nino and Itsuki were busy cleaning up a mess of pancake mix and fruit slices that had been sprinkled across the tiled floor.

Ichika rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn before walking over to the kitchen counter. She leaned against it, watching her sisters clean up the mess they had made. Nino caught her staring and glared at her.

"You know, if you actually had some decent cookware and ingredients in here, maybe I wouldn't have to make such a mess every time I try to make breakfast everytime I visit," Nino scolded, tossing a dirty dishrag toward Ichika.

Ichika rolled her eyes and caught the rag and sniffed it. She winced and tossed it aside. "I like to keep things simple," she replied nonchalantly. "besides, it's not like any of us are professional chefs—at least, not yet."

Itsuki snickered as she wiped up some spilled orange juice and returned to her barstool, where a large stack of extra fluffy pancakes topped with cream and strawberries awaited her.

"Speak for yourself, Ichika," Nino rolled her eyes. "I'm pretty sure you're the only one here who's burned water before."

Ichika yawned loudly. "That was one time. Anyway, I usually get home too late to cook, so why bother keeping anything in here?"

Nino shook her head and sighed. "You're hopeless. It's good practice to learn a dish or two. I could teach you, you know."

"Yeah, yeah. Maybe. What kind of big sister would I be if I let you youngsters teach me? It's supposed to be the other way around." She sauntered over to Itsuki, who was too busy stuffing her face with fluffy pancakes to contribute to the conversation. In a single swift motion, she swiped the fork from Itsuki's hand, quickly stabbed a large chunk of pancake, inserted it into her mouth. She savored the sweet flavor. "Mmm, yummy," she mumbled through her full cheeks.

Nino rolled her eyes and huffed away to Ichika's bedroom. "I'm going to get ready. Thank god the track is indoors. I couldn't stand sitting outside in this smog. City pollution is bad for the skin you know," Ichika smirked at her retreating figure. Secretly, she enjoyed getting under Nino's skin. It was a small way to get back at her for always bossing the other girls around.

As Nino disappeared up the stairs, Ichika turned to the rest of Itsuki. "So, you got home later than you said you would."

Itsuki coughed and wheezed, her face turning red. Ichika hurriedly pushed the glass of orange juice closer to her. "Uh, yeah... I was out with Uesugi-kun and Raiha-chan," she stammered.

"Oh? And how was that?"

"Fun. We had a nice lunch/dinner thing at this trendy cafe, and then we went to an arcade—Raiha-chan insisted."

Ichika narrowed her gaze skeptically. "Trendy cafe? You sure we're talking about the same Futaro-kun?" She knew better than anyone just how frugal he was with his money.

"Yes, Ichika. Uesugi-kun can be trendy sometimes. He's not just some penny-pinching miser. He's matured since the last time I saw him." Itsuki crossed her arms. Ichika found it charming how much Itsuki's relationship to Futaro had changed over the years. When they first met Futaro, she never imagined that Itsuki of all people would set up to defend him.

Ichika chuckled, "Well, that's definitely true. He's changed so much since coming out here. I didn't even recognize him at first, and back then, it'd only been about a month. Speaking of," Ichika cleared her throat. "I noticed you didn't really bring any bags. Miku mentioned you're leaving by the end of today. Any particular reason?"

"I... I just have some personal things I need to take care of at home."

"Are you sure that's all there is to it? It's not like you to just up and leave like that."

Itsuki's face fell, "I just... I don't feel like being here when, you know, everything goes down."

The air turned icy, and the siblings' faces took on a hard expression. Ichika was torn. Yotsuba and Nino's reasons seemed to almost make sense—their intentions seemed almost good, but Ichika was certain their plan would backfire terribly. All week she felt like shaking her sisters by their shoulders. She wished that they'd leave well enough alone, but that was never Nino's style, and Yotsuba's insecurities prevented her from just accepting things as they were. Ichika had gotten so much closer to him since moving to Tokyo. She relished the time they spent together, studying, ordering takeout and napping on occasion. His weekly visits were a highlight in Ichika's jam-packed week of auditioning, promotional shots and interviews for her upcoming movie. Becoming an actress seemed so easy compared to the reality of being "famous." Ichika remembered how cold he had become towards her in the months following their Kyoto trip and she was terrified of that happening again. No matter how much she protested, Nino and Yotsuba would not change their minds. The two sisters lapsed into an awkward silence, sipping their drinks.

"Yotsuba is only in two races," Ichika finally said, breaking the silence. "I guess it'll be fine if you leave after today." Itsuki nodded, but not offering anything more to add to the conversation.

"I actually kind of envy you," Ichika continued. "You get to run away from all this. I live here. I see Futaro-kun every week and if I'm being honest, I'm worried what our relationship will look like after this weekend."

Itsuki sighed, feeling the weight of Ichika's words. "Whatever happens, we can't lose him. You have to find a way to make things work with Futaro-kun." She placed a hand on Ichika's shoulder.

"Itsuki-chan..." Ichika, for the first time this morning, got a good look at her sister. Itsuki's face was different. Much like Futaro, her sister's features had become sharper, more determined and mature. She'd lost the youthful baby cheeks that made her look three years younger than the rest. She looked like an adult now. If Ichika was being honest with herself, Itsuki looked just like their mother. However, something else that danced behind her sister's eyes. Her expression seemed to flicker as she looked away, her fingers absentmindedly twirling a lock of hair. She glanced down at her phone, only to look away quickly with a slight flush on her cheeks.

"You're in love with Futaro-kun too, aren't you, Itsuki-chan."

Itsuki shifted her gaze away from Ichika, stabbing her leftover pancake absentmindedly. "Maybe, who knows," she replied quietly before continuing. "My feelings don't matter. I promised to always support Yotsuba and Uesugi-kun in their relationship, and that's what I'm going to do."

"That's awfully altruistic of you. Aren't you going to consider what you want?" Ichika asked.

"I don't know," she breathed, her voice barely audible. "Have you?" She stared at Ichika with piercing eyes, as if challenging her to answer the same question.

Ichika stood slowly and padded silently into the kitchen, a distant look in her eye. She opened a drawer and rummaged through some items until she pulled out an old, wine-stained cork. Itsuki watched from the across the kitchen counter as Ichika held the cork up to the light and placed it gently in front of her sister.

"What's that?" Itsuki asked timidly.

"It's from the first time I drank," Ichika said thoughtfully. "It was with Futaro-kun." Her voice was low but meaningful as she picked up the cork and held it tightly in her fist. "I think, for now, this memory will be enough for me." Itsuki's gaze was stern for a moment before relaxing.

"I can't believe you drank already," Itsuki said quietly. "How was it?"

"As awkward as you can expect if Futaro-kun is involved," Ichika smiled, remembering that humid summer night. "But it was fun in the end. We were close enough to twenty that Futaro-kun didn't seem to mind."

A sly smile tugged at Itsuki's lips. "He's become quite the troublemaker."

Ichika chuckled as she nodded her head in agreement. "Personally, I think he always has been," she added with a smirk. They both burst into giggles.

"You know..." Ichika said, trying to suppress her laugh. "I don't mind so much if I do have feelings for him," she said, glancing back to meet Itsuki's gaze. "It's strange. Even when things get chaotic, I don't hate having Futaro-kun around. Of course," she added with a light laugh, "he still might actually marry Yotsuba one day and then he'll be family. That'll really make it awkward."

"Oh, come on now, don't get ahead of yourself. They're still getting to know each other—anything could happen between now and then."

Ichika nodded and moved over to the kitchen counter, pulling out a mug and grinding beans for her cup of coffee. She glanced over at Itsuki before beginning to prepare it. "You know, you shouldn't judge yourself too harshly for your feelings, either. Nino's searching for answers too. She just hasn't found them yet—but she will. I think eventually you both will figure it out." She could sense almost a hopeful tone in her sister's voice. We all have to come to terms with reality on our own.

Miku marched into the living room with a scowl on her face, her reddish brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail. "Ichika," she said briskly, "mind if I get ready here? Nino's been hogging the bathroom forever!"

Ichika looked up from measuring coffee with a wooden spoon and shrugged, "Sure."

Nino came barreling down the hallway, hands on her hips. "Dammit, Miku!" she screeched. "Did you take my turtleneck sweater?"

"No, it's at home," Miku drawled back casually. Ichika and Itsuki tried to suppress their laughter. It was difficult to take Nino seriously, half her hair pulled up with ties and only half of her full arrangement of makeup on.

Nino's face contorted in frustration, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. "You're not going to the race before us, are you? I thought we were going together. Why do you seem ready to leave?" Nino said, crossing her arms over her chest.

Miku tugged at her plain skirt and legging combo and edged towards the kitchen where she pulled out a pack of cookies from the refrigerator. "I'm visiting Futaro," she said plainly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I promised him he could try my sweets last time I was here, so I made some. It'll be too inconvenient for him to carry my container of cookies all day at the race, so I thought I'd just take them to his apartment."

"By yourself?" Nino crossed her arms skeptically.

Miku threw her hands up. "This weekend is all yours and Yotsuba's—I just want him to taste my food! I'm worried I might not have another chance."

Nino's brow furrowed in confusion, her eyes searching the faces of Itsuki, Miku, and Ichika. "Why would you not have another chance? We're here all weekend. We can meet up with him after the competition."

Ichika, Miku and Itsuki shifted and glanced away from Nino, trying to avoid eye contact with her. Miku broke the silence. "It's just—just in case, Nino." Her gaze dropped to her feet as she spoke, shuffling her shoelaces nervously. "Itsuki, are you doing anything now?" She glanced at her pleadingly. "Can you please go with me? I don't like using the trains by myself."

Itsuki bit her lip, her eyes darting around as she tried to avoid making eye contact with anyone. She gave a small shrug and sighed. "I guess I'm alright. I'll just go get my glasses."

"No, no, wait!" Nino held her hands up. "Let me finish getting ready. I just have to paint my nails. I'll go with you guys."

"But you take forever, Nino!" Miku complained. Ichika took a final sip of her finished coffee and set the cup down on the counter with a clang.

"Actually, if you all want to go see Futaro-kun, why don't we just Uber there together?" Ichika said. Her suggestion was met with some surprise, but immediately Miku's expression softened at the thought of not having to stand around and wait for Nino to finish getting ready."It'll give time for Nino to finish getting ready, and I can wash the dishes and change. You and Nino are the only people who've seen Futaro-kun's place, right? Even I'm a bit curious. Even your cookies will be safer."

Miku seemed to concede as she gave a heavy sigh. "Fine, fine."

"I'll hurry, I promise!" Nino said as she disappeared back into the bathroom. Ichika put her empty cup of coffee in the sink and flipped through her phone. "Do you think Futaro-kun likes girls with glasses?"

Itsuki blushed and mumbled an excuse about needing to change before hastily scurrying back into Ichika's bedroom.

---

~Miku~

As the Uber pulled up to Futaro's apartment complex, Miku stole a quick glance at Ichika, who was sitting next to her; she noticed her sister's gaze fixed on her phone screen. Ichika had texted him that they had arrived, but what really pulled her attention was her sister's relentless flirtatious banter. Miku knew that Ichika was a flirtatious and outgoing person by nature, but it still made her feel a bit jealous. They waited by the entrance until Futaro replied that he was heading downstairs to meet them at the lobby.

Once inside, Ichika raised an eyebrow as she surveyed the worn community lounge sofa and peeling wallpaper in the lobby. She turned to Futaro-kun, who was leaning against the wall, with his hands tucked in the pockets of his hoodie. "Really living the high life, aren't you, Futaro-kun?" she teased. He rolled his eyes.

"Oh, this is just temporary. I'm just waiting for my movie star money to come in."

Nino tightly embraced Futaro. "Fuu-kun! How are you? How did you sleep?" Miku fought the urge to pull her away. Futaro smiled politely. "Yeah, I slept fine. No different than normal."

"Aren't you going to say anything about my outfit?" Nino showed off her sporty tennis uniform looking outfit.

"Oh umm," He gestured towards Nino's feet and added, "I like the way you painted your toenails. Very... autumnal?"

Ichika laughed. "I'm glad some things about Futaro-kun never changed." She pulled Nino away, who pouted in a huff at Futaro's unsatisfactory compliment.

Miku tugged at Futaro's sleeve, an eager glint in her bright cobalt eyes. "Let's go, Futaro. Show us to your place. I forgot how to get there."

He guided them up the creaky wooden stairs, occasionally stopping to say good morning to a neighbor or janitor who was outside in the hallway. It had impressed Miku how much more friendly he seemed towards others. He welcomed them into his apartment which was just as cramped as Miku remembered, but this time, it seemed even smaller, with cleaning supplies sprawled across the floor.

Suddenly there was a loud squeal followed by excited footsteps. "Ooh! Good morning Big Sisters!" Raiha jumped down from her stepstool and flung off her gloves before rushing towards them for a hug. Miku hugged Raiha tightly, feeling a warmth spread through her body. Raiha was the sweetest little girl she had ever met and she felt lucky to have been included in the group of girls that Raiha had dubbed her "big sisters."

"You've gotten so much taller, Raiha-chan!" Miku said in surprise.

Itsuki shot a stern glance at Futaro. "You're not making your sister clean your apartment for you while she's on vacation, are you?"

Futaro quickly raised his hands up in surrender. "Don't look at me! She offered!"

Raiha turned to the others. "Big Sisters, did you bring breakfast? Big Brother said you might bring food!"

Miku chuckled and ruffled Raiha's hair. "I didn't bring food. But I brought cookies. It's late enough, right? I'm sure Futaro has some milk in the fridge?"

Futaro nodded and gestured for the girls to take a seat at the small living room kotatsu, which doubled as a table. He went to the kitchen and pulled out a carton of milk and glasses. Raiha had already scooped out a pile of homemade chocolate chip cookies and was stuffing them into her mouth. Crumbs tumbled down to the table as she murmured, "So good!"

When Futaro returned, Miku held up a cookie towards him and smiled hopefully. "I think I've gotten much better at baking since last time! Try it?"

Futaro inspected the cookies carefully before taking a cautious bite. As he chewed, Miku watched his expression intently, hoping for a positive reaction. Futaro's face lit up with surprise and satisfaction, and he nodded approvingly. "These are really good, Miku. These are, like, professional quality now," he said with a smile.

"Yeah, Big Sister Miku! These are the best cookies I've ever tasted. Can I have another one?" Raiha praised, her eyes shining with excitement.

Miku laughed and handed her another cookie, feeling grateful for the compliments. "I guess when all you do is bake all day, you're bound to get a little better. You should try Nino's cooking one day. She's been experimenting with some more European flavors, and I think they're pretty good."

"Oh, knock it off," Nino cringed. "You're laying it on too thick." She squeezed in next to Futaro on the cushioned seat of the kotatsu, their legs almost touching. "But I have been perfecting my boeuf bourguignon and I want you to try it one day, Fuu-kun"

"Now you've done it, Miku" Ichika teased. "You've inflated Nino-chans ego so much that she's speaking French." Nino turned her nose up and huffed in retaliation.

Itsuki peeked out of the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony which faced the neighboring building."Uesugi-kun, it smells really bad outside," she said, closing the door immediately after the scent of burning ash hit their nostrils.

"Ah yeah, my neighbor smokes a pack a day," Futaro shrugged. "Just keep the balcony closed."

Raiha fiddled with her fingers nervously. "Big brother says this is all he can afford right now, even though he works practically full time in Tokyo. The cost of living here is just too high."

Nino poured some more milk for Futaro, and he took a sip. "Don't worry, guys," he said, patting the top of the kotatsu lovingly. "I'm used to it. It's perfectly fine for one person."

"But what about when we all come to visit? Or when you want to have friends over?" Miku asked.

"Friends," Raiha teased. "Who visits Big Brother besides you guys?"

Futaro sighed and put down his glass of milk. "shut up," he bonked Raiha's head with a pile of brochures on the table. "I know it's not ideal, but I'll make it work."

Nino rolled her eyes. "That's easy for you to say. You're not the one who has to sleep on the floor," she grumbled, causing Raiha to giggle.

"Actually, I got the bed. Big brother slept on the floor."

Miku sighed and looked around the small apartment. Her eyes landed on the stack of brochures and fliers that Futaro had hit Raiha over the head with. She noticed they were glossy fliers of smiling couples in sprawling apartment complexes and expensive cars. Cleverly worded captions promised a life of luxury to anyone willing to pay for it. Miku also noticed that several numbers and names on them had already been scratched out.

"Wait a minute. What's with these scratched-out fliers?" Miku asked, eyeing Futaro suspiciously.

Futaro shifted in his seat, trying to appear nonchalant. "Oh, those were just apartments that were already taken."

"So then you are in the market for a new place, Fuu-kun?" Nino asked, picking up one of the brochures.

"Not exactly. I've come to really enjoy this place," He gestured to his surroundings. "It's cozy. For one person." He emphasized one in a very specific what that cleared everything up for Miku. She felt a flutter in her chest as she watched Futaro, her heart beating just a little bit faster. It wasn't like she was still jealous of Futaro and Yotsuba, but part of her still had the natural impulse to interject. To say it was too soon and to try and convince him it was a bad idea. She made eye contact with Nino, who also seemed to have put the pieces together.

Ichika, on the other hand, seemed to be deep in thought. She had a furrow in her brow as she considered what Futaro had said. "Then if that's the case, why not just ask Yotsuba to move in here?" she asked, her voice soft and thoughtful. "Yotsuba-chan isn't really a high maintenance type."

Futaro shook his head. No. It's too small. And I'd like to be able to offer her more than just... this," he said, gesturing around him at the yellowing walls and threadbare furniture.

"Wait a moment," Itsuki interjected. "Yotsuba goes to school in Osaka. How are you going to manage that?"

"It all depends on how well she does today," Futaro replied confidently, a twinkle in his eye. "If she gets the invitation to the Olympic tryouts and makes the team, she'll be in Tokyo full time. She'll need a place to stay for an entire year of intense training."

Itsuki chewed her lip thoughtfully as she rearranged the brochures into a neat pile. "Does that mean she'd have to take a year off school?" she asked cautiously.

"No doubt," Ichika nodded with a solemn expression on her face.

Nino tugged at Futaro's sleeve with wide eyes. "Isn't this a bit too much, too fast?" Miku anxiously watched as Nino's face lit up with surprise.

"I don't think it's too fast at all," he said. "Yotsuba and I would've been dating for more than a year at that point, right? And I'm pretty serious about her. So I thought that that was the next obvious choice."

Ichika smiled warmly as she cuddled Raiha close to her chest. "Wow, so forward, Futaro-kun," she said affectionately.

"Big Brother, does this mean that I won't be able to visit anymore?" Raiha looked up in surprise, her eyes wide with worry.

"Of course not! Yotsuba loves having you around! Speaking of which… We should get going soon if we want to make it in time for the venue before the trains get packed."

"Don't worry, Futaro, we'll Uber there. It'll be faster." Ichika shook her phone playfully. Suddenly, the shrill ring of the doorbell caused them all of them to jump in surprise.

"Were you expecting someone, Futaro?" Miku asked, eyeing the entrance.

Futaro shook his head. "I'll get it, Big Brother!" Raiha leaped up from Ichika's arms and rushed to the door.

"Hey, wait!" Futaro followed closely behind, but Raiha had already unlocked it and swung it open before he reached the door. Miku caught a glimpse of an elegant woman the same height as Futaro dressed in a sleek suit and dark hair tied in a fashionable, high ponytail. Raiha backed away a bit, surprised at the sudden stranger at the door.

"Oh! Takebayashi!" Futaro said. "I wasn't expecting you today. Raiha, this is my friend and co-worker, Takebayashi. We went to school together."

Takebayashi knelt down to be at eye-level with Raiha."Nice to meet you, Raiha-san. It's true, we went to school together, but that was ages ago; we're closer as co-workers now," Her voice was smooth and breathy, like warm honey dripping off a spoon. "I'm sorry for the sudden visit, Futaro," Takebayashi added apologetically. Miku and the others exchanged glances, each craning their necks so they could get a better look at her. Takebayashi entered his apartment without waiting for Futaro's permission. Miku sensed that she'd been here before. Her presence made all four of the girls stiffen. Ichika's smile faltered, and Nino crossed her arms. Even Itsuki's expression seemed to have turned dark.

"Hello, everyone," Takebayashi said with a small smile. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Nino cleared her throat. "Actually, Fuu-kun, if you remember, we were just about to leave."

Futaro laughed awkwardly. "No, it's fine. I don't mind."

Takebayashi turned to face Futaro, her lips curling into a mischievous grin. "Fuu-kun!? You never told me that was your nickname!"

"It's not really. It's just what Nino calls me." Futaro shifted uncomfortably and ran a hand through his hair.

"Nino? Oh! They're Yotsuba's sisters! The quintuplets!" Takebayashi spun on her heel and gazed at the girls. "Wait! Wait—don't tell me. I want to try and guess." She pointed at Ichika and said, "Miku," then gestured to Miku and said, "Itsuki." She repeated the process with Itsuki and Ichika before turning to face Nino with an inquisitive look. "And obviously, you're Nino, since Futaro just told me."

"Wrong." Miku spoke up, badly wishing she could push this woman out of Futaro's apartment. "I'm Miku," she said with a tight smile. "And, of course, that's Nino you're talking to. Over there, by the desk, is Ichika, and Itsuki is next to me. It's easy to get us confused, I understand." She shot a pointed glance at Takebayashi before turning her attention back to Futaro. "Anyway, Nino's right, we should get going."

Takebayashi raised an eyebrow, clearly amused by Miku's sudden outburst. "Oh really? I'm sorry to intrude then. I just had something to bring to Futaro." She fished into her purse and pulled out a small, wrapped package.

Miku narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Takebayashi. "What is it?" Futaro asked, seemingly not noticing anything strange.

"It's a small thank you from our employer for helping Kotaro-kun and Azuha-chan pass their exams," Takebayashi said, holding out the package to him. "I was having lunch with Koda-san nearby and thought I'd bring you yours," Takebayashi replied, her voice laced with sugary sweetness.

Futaro hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to unwrap the package to reveal a small, intricately carved wooden box. Inside was a silver charm of a pair of sandals and a single ticket to the Kamakura-town Yuigahama beach resort.

Nino's eyes widened. "Wow, that's quite the gift..."

"Expensive, too," Miku added.

Futaro picked up the holographic ticket and inspected both sides. "How expensive is this?" he hesitated. "Are you sure that Koda-san meant to gift me something like this?"

"Of course! I already knew what was inside. I was surprised too! He insisted that we shouldn't mind the price and to simply consider it a summer bonus," Takebayashi squeaked. "It's for this summer! I couldn't wait to see the reaction on your face." her eyes lingered on the Nino and Miku. A thin smile spread across her face. "It ended up being so much better than I thought it would be."

"There's only one, though." Futaro checked the small box again.

"Well, yeah. One for you and one for me. Koda-san thought that it would be fun for us to have a trip out of Tokyo. Professional development is what he called it, I believe." She smiled.

Suddenly the sound of the kotatsu scrapping on the faux wooden floor screeched throughout the living room. "You have some nerve," Nino huffed.

"Nino stop—" Itsuki began.

"No! Who does she think she is, just showing up with a present like that," she stomped over to Takebayashi. "I bet this whole trip was your idea."

Takebayashi blinked; her eyebrows scrunched together in surprise. Her lips then twisted into a thin smile, and she threw her hands up in the air. "I was simply following my employer's orders," she said calmly. "I came here to give Futaro this present." She gestured to the small box in Futaro's hand. "I'm grateful your sister is more diplomatic about this. Maybe she has a bit more experience working professionally, but gifts like this are not out of the ordinary for private contractors. The Koda's are well off, after all. Maybe your dad knows them? All the rich types seem to always be connected in some way or another." She turned to Futaro, changing her tone entirely. "Let's talk more about this at work on Monday," she said softly. "I can see I came at a bad time," she returned to Nino and bowed slightly. "Mi—I mean, sorry, I'm not actually sure… Nakano-san, please accept my apologies for any offense I might have caused," she turned to Futaro once again. "Enjoy your weekend, Fuu-kun," she then politely bowed and turned away. Miku watched as Takebayashi sauntered out of the apartment, the sound of her heels clicking against the hardwood floor.

"She makes me so angry!" Nino stomped, pacing around the small living room. Itsuki stood up to try to console her sister. Nino spun to Futaro and jabbed an accusing finger in his chest. "And you! Why didn't you tell us she was coming?"

"Whoa! I'm just as surprised as you were," Futaro held up his hands.

"Just tell me she doesn't hang out at your apartment often?" Nino crossed her arms and glared at him fiercely.

Futaro shook his head. "No, she doesn't."

"I just don't like how she just comes in here acting like she owns the place!"

"I don't like it either, Futaro," Miku added.

Raiha suddenly took Nino's hand. "It's okay. I know Big Brother thinks about your feelings too, Big Sister Nino. He's always worried about you five, and I don't think he'll go on that trip." She turned to give Futaro a sharp look. "He's a thoughtful big brother."

Futaro chuckled awkwardly. "Well, I mean. Yeah. It's just a fancy resort. Not my kind of thing if it's just me by myself, really."

With the tension in the air now sufficiently released, Ichika yawned loudly. "Well, that was certainly exciting," Ichika stood up and stretched with her phone in hand. "Our Uber is here. Let's forget her and go cheer Yotsuba on."

---

~Yotsuba~

Yotsuba and Yuna stood on the edge of their seats, clapping and shouting as Kiana-san raced alongside her competitors. They were finishing up the 400-meter sprint they watched their her sprint across the straight at a blazing pace. The sound of the starting gun echoed through the stadium, followed by thunderous applause. As the athletes rounded the last corner, a girl named Nanako Miura pulled ahead, leaving a dust cloud in her wake and crossing the finish line. Yuna put an arm around Yotsuba's shoulders as they waited for the final results to be announced. When they were finally revealed, Yotsuba squinted at the list. "She was fourth!" Yuna said, relieved.

"That's not bad at all." Yotsuba cheered next to her.

A faint aroma of sweat and adrenaline lingered in the air as Yotsuba cheered next to her. "Inoue-san! You stink!" Yotsuba groaned, wrinkling her nose as she tried to pull away from Yuna's sweaty embrace.

Yuna stuck out her tongue playfully and laughed. "It's the scent of impending victory!"

Kiana-san emerged from the pack of athletes with a broad smile on her face, dripping with perspiration but radiating happiness. She gave them both a big hug. "I can't believe I did it! I'm so excited!" Kiana-san exhaled loudly, still catching her breath. "That Nanako girl is pretty crazy. Fifty-one seconds flat! Her time is already Olympic caliber! You weren't kidding about those super-elite high school girls. Where's she from, anyway?"

"I saw on the monitor that she's from Sendai International High School; not sure what that means, though," Yotsuba shrugged as she offered some water and a fresh towel to Kiana-san.

"Welp. That means I'm out of the running. I was too slow to qualify," Kiana-san said, while cleaning her face with a towel.

"You don't seem all that cut up about it," Yuna tapped her finger on her chin thoughtfully. "There's only four of those elite students competing this year. If we assume they're basically guaranteed a slot, then that means—"

"It means there are only fourteen slots available for the National team." Yotsuba said, finishing her sentence. The reality of their situation sunk in as they all glanced at each other nervously.

Yotsuba scanned the crowd, her jaw agape. It was more people than she had anticipated for these so-called "friendlies." Even banners from some of the local sponsors and universities decorated the stadium in splashes of color while giving it an atmosphere of grandiosity. A teammate had mentioned something about the competition receiving television coverage, but she couldn't remember what it was she had said. Yotsuba took a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves that had suddenly sprouted in her stomach. She looked around again, but it was still impossible to spot Futaro or any of her sisters in the sea of people. Frowning, she pulled out her phone from her pocket and quickly typed out a message to him.

[Yotsuba] (sent at 11:47 a.m.) "Where are you guys? I can't find you."

As she waited for a response, Yotsuba suddenly realized just how large the itself stadium was. She'd never been in an arena this large. She was too nervous to notice during her practice day, but today the crowd that had gathered to watch them filled out only a small percentage of the total capacity of the venue, and their cheers still carried... She realized that if she made it, there was a chance she could be running in front of thousands of people and to an audience of millions online. She wasn't sure what to make of that idea.

Her phone buzzed in her hand, and she quickly opened the message from Futaro.

[Futaro] (sent at 11:55 a.m.) "We're in section 105, row 15. Look for the green 4-2-8 banner."

Yotsuba grinned in relief, glad that she would have some familiar faces in the crowd. They looked so small from far away. It also didn't escape her that Nino was sitting right next to Futaro. She texted back.

[Yotsuba] (sent at 11:59 a.m.) "Did you really have to print that large banner out?"

[Futaro] (sent at 12:01 p.m.) "It's your lucky number, right?"

[Yotsuba] (sent at 12:02 p.m.) "Well, yeah. But you're embarrassing!"

[Futaro] (sent at 12:02 p.m) "Me?! It was Raiha and Itsuki's idea! Besides, who's going to notice your strange abstract inside joke?"

[Yotsuba] (sent at 12:03 p.m.) "It's not abstract, and it's not weird! But anyway, Aww! Then it's okay then. It's nice that Raiha-chan and Itsuki made it."

[Futaro] (sent at 12:04 p.m) "What is this unequal treatment! Anyway, yeah. Raiha's happy she's here. She said the bathrooms are fancy, but I haven't checked them out myself. Raiha is actually pretty annoyed that Nino took her seat."

[Futaro] (sent at 12:05 p.m) "Look… Just… Good luck, and try your best. I believe in you, and I'm looking waiting for you across the finish line.

"Yotsuba! The 400-meter hurdles are starting! Mei-chan is about to race!" Yuna cried out. Yotsuba tore herself away from her phone and joined Kiana-san and Yuna. Together they watched Hanaura-san take her place at the starting line,

"God, she's so hot!" Kiana-san cooed. "Don't you think so, Inoue-san?"

Yuna rolled her eyes. "Take this seriously!"

In some ways, Yotsuba understood what Kiana-san saw in Hanaura-san. Hanaura-san had this unimpeachable grace and elegance as she got ready for the hurdles. It seemed like she was right at home and that nothing could shake her. It was kind of attractive. As the starting gun went off, and Hanaura-san took off with lightning speed. Hanaura-san leaped over the first few hurdles effortlessly, easily making some distance between her and the next runners. But then, as Hanaura-san approached the fifth hurdle, something seemed to go wrong. Yotsuba could see that Hanaura-san had mistimed her jump, and she was coming down too early. Yotsuba held her breath as Hanaura-san collided with the hurdle, stumbling and nearly falling. But then, as if by sheer force of will, Hanaura-san managed to regain her balance and keep running, though all the distance she'd gained from the first few hurdles had disappeared, and now the other runners were neck and neck with her. Yotsuba latched on to Yuna's hand as Hanaura-san approached the final hurdle. She could tell that Hanaura-san was exhausted, and Yotsuba worried that she might mistime her jump again. But then, with a burst of energy that seemed to come from nowhere, Hanaura-san soared over the last hurdle and crossed the finish line in first place.

Yotsuba let out a whoop of joy, and she could see Kiana-san and Yuna jumping up and down in excitement as well. Hanaura-san had done it!

"Oh my god! What was her time? Did someone catch her time?" Kiana asked excitedly to Yuna and Yotsuba, who shook their heads. They were too focused on the race to even check the time.

"She ran a fifty-six-point ten," Maenaka-senpai's voice boomed behind them.

Yuna turned to their team captain. "Fifty-six... wait—what's the minimum time required for qualifying?"

Maenaka-senpai answered without missing a beat. "Fifty-four-point-eight-five seconds."

The three girls exchanged glances, realization sinking in. Kiana slowly let out a deep breath, shoulders sagging. "She... didn't qualify..."

After a few moments, Hanaura-san joined the three girls after being congratulated by the rest of the team. Like Kiana-san before her, she was sweaty, but she looked glowing.

Hanaura-san threw her hands in the air, a wild grin plastered on her face. "Hey guys! Did you see that? First place!" She spun around, her long ponytail flaring behind her. The three girls standing nearby didn't share the same enthusiasm.

Yuna stepped forward, nervously picking at a loose thread on the hem of her shirt. "Umm, do you know your time?"

Hanaura-san raised an eyebrow. "Of course, coach told me it was fifty-six point ten. What's the problem, Inoue-san?"

"I guess I just thought that you'd be disappointed with your times," Yuna trailed off.

Kiana-san gasped and burst into tears, throwing her arms around Hanaura-san. "I'm so sorry, Mei! I wanted you to make it so badly."

Hanaura-san pushed Kiana-san away gently, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Wait, guys, I told you I didn't care about qualifying," she gestured towards the massive monitor displaying their scores. "I just wanted to win today. And look at that—first place! That's literally all I wanted to accomplish today. As far as I'm concerned, I did my best."

Kiana-san's response was another bout of wailing and tight embrace.

Yotsuba and Yuna were rendered speechless by Hanaura-san's cavalier attitude Hanaura-san was always very clear about her indifference towards competing in the olympics. Yotsuba admired it. It suddenly dawned on her that her sisters had never gone to any of her sports events, and this was essentially her debut for them.

"I won't let myself down," she whispered to herself.

Hanaura-san and Yuna pulled Kiana-san and Yotsuba deeper into the track field to get a better view of the other athletes. After the hurdles were the high jump and the pole vault, so Yotsuba had some time before her sprint. Watching her teammates perform their routs, Yotsuba's mind began to wander.

What if I did manage to sneak into qualifying?

What would that mean for Futaro and I if I managed to make it into the National Team?

On one hand, she felt that she hadn't put in the same level of effort and dedication as the other girls competing today and taking up a spot on the team would be unfair to them. After all, she didn't dedicate her life to sport the way that other girls competing today had. All she ever wanted was something she enjoyed that would make her stand apart from her sisters.

"Maenaka-senpai tried year after year but could never really break through that wall," Yotsuba remembered Hanaura-san's thoughts on their senpai. She had worked on her running to be competitive for nearly a decade and was still unable to earn a spot on the big stage. The thought filled Yotsuba with guilt. Who was she—a first-year runner—to claim a spot that others have worked so much harder for? But then again, is effort alone enough to give someone something they want?

By being on the Olympic team, I would be practicing in Tokyo... and being in Tokyo means I'd be closer to Futaro... and maybe... we could start to take a step forward in our relationship...

Yotsuba's brain was doing more mental gymnastics than the girls who were doing the actual gymnastics out on the field. Yotsuba retreated to the back to stretch and clear her mind. As Yotsuba warmed up, she felt Maenaka-senpai approach. "Don't forget to focus on your breathing, too. Half the battle is breathing." Yotsuba nodded wordlessly. Her nerves choked any attempt at speaking. Manaka-senpai leaned against the bench, her brows furrowed as she watched Yotsuba stretch. After a few moments of silence, she finally spoke up. "So what do you think, Yocchi? Is this everything you imagined?"

"I'm not exactly sure what I imagined," Yotsuba stood upright and pulled on her foot. "The facility sure is nice, though."

"Mm-hmm, ain't that the truth. I don't doubt you'll qualify for the tryouts, so Yocchi... what will you do with your newfound freedom?"

Yotsuba shrugged, her eyes glancing down briefly. "I'm not entirely sure. I can't even see beyond this weekend, if I'm being honest." She met Manaka-senpai's gaze, hesitating for a moment before asking, "And you? You're graduating this year. What's next?"

Manaka-senpai shifted her weight awkwardly. "Not sure, Yocchi,"she murmured after a long pause."My family has a sports gym here in Tokyo. Maybe I'll work with them while I search for another job."

Yotsuba stepped back in surprise. "Maenaka-senpai! You're from Tokyo? But your accent!"

Her team captain waved her hands dismissively. "No, no, they moved out here after I started school," she explained with a sigh. "They like talking to foreigners, so they host English workouts and stuff like that. They're pretty weird, but they seem happy."

Yotsuba tried to suppress a giggle at the thought of Maenaka-senpai trying to lead a workout in English. But then her expression turned serious as her captain's words sank in.

"Let's say I was thinking about taking those tryouts more seriously... If I were to qualify, the National team would be a huge step," Yotsuba said, twisting her fingers nervously. "I don't know if I have what it takes. Or even if I deserve a spot there."

Maenaka-senpai leaned in, her eyes intense. "You do. I've seen your potential since the moment we met. You have a natural talent for track, Yotsuba. And with the right training and mindset, you could go a long way. You belong wherever you want to belong. And you deserve whatever you think you deserve. Nothing else to it. Remember, the track is a selfish sport. There are no real teams here. The only one you get to compete with is yourself—in a way, that's perfect for you!" she cleared her throat. "Only if you want it, though."

"But what about the others on the team? People like Inoue-san are just as good, if not better, than I am. What makes you single me out?" Yotsuba asked, suddenly feeling conflicted.

"Hmm, I think it's because I've always thought of you as much more lost than her. Inoue-san never doubted her goals, but I could never really get that same feeling from you," Maenaka-senpai said with a shrug. "Just chill. It's not like you're abandoning the team. And who knows, maybe you'll inspire them to reach for their own goals too."

The announcer's voice echoed throughout the stadium, calling the runners to their positions. Yotsuba felt her heartbeat quicken. Maenaka-senpai placed a supportive hand on her shoulder and held out her other hand for a shake. "looks like you're up, Yocchi," she said encouragingly. Yotsuba took a deep breath and shook Maenaka-senpai's hand firmly. "No regrets," she declared resolutely before stepping up to the starting line.

Bouncing on the balls of her feet, she wiggled her body restlessly as the announcer named each of the runners. When her name was called, she glanced at Kiana-san, Yuna and Hanaura-san, who yelled louder than the rest of the team combined. Then, Yotsuba's eyes flickered towards the stands where her sisters and Futaro and Raiha-chan sat, and she saw that they were all looking at her expectantly. They waved the large 4-2-8 banner when they noticed she was looking their way. Somehow, that small gesture had broken down some of her nerves. She took a deep breath and cleared her throat. As the final name was announced, Yotsuba positioned herself on the starting line.

Alright, Yotsuba, time to fly. She told herself.

As the starting gun rang out, Yotsuba surged forward with all her might, her legs pumping furiously as she tried to gain an early lead. She felt the wind rushing past her face and the thumping of her heart in her chest as she pushed herself to the limit. She didn't dare glance at the girls to her side. They were practically neck and neck. She gritted her teeth and pushed herself harder, ignoring the burning in her lungs. She glimpsed the finish line looming ahead, getting closer with each second. She felt herself gaining ground, though her body trembled. She and another girl two rows away began to break away from the pack, and now more than ever, any mistake could cost her dearly. Yotsuba's stomach churned, and her eyes watered. She was so close, and yet it felt like an eternity; she glanced at the other runner. Who was ahead? Her? Or the other girl. It was too close to tell. As if on cue, something inside of Yotsuba snapped into place at that moment, and suddenly, it felt like she was running on air rather than on solid ground. Yotsuba closed her eyes, lowered her head, and pushed herself forward, crossing the line.

Panting heavily, she stumbled forward, barely able to keep herself upright. Yuna was the first to reach her, wrapping Yotsuba in a large cool towel around her and helping her to walk. Hanaura-san and Kiana-san followed closely behind, their faces flushed with excitement.

"You did it, Yotsuba-chan!" Kiana-chan exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. "You were amazing!"

Yotsuba smiled weakly. "What was my time?"

Yuna pointed towards the monitor. "Wait, Yotsuba! The official scores will be out in a minute. But you definitely got first place."

The four girls stood side-by-side at the edge of the track, gripping each other's hands tight. The announcer's booming voice cut through the tension as he read out the official times. "In first place, Nakano Yotsuba from Osaka University, first year, Eleven-point-four-two!"

"Eleven-point-what! Holy sh—" Yuna mouthed, her eyes nearly popping out of her head. Her friend's wide grins echoed hers, and they all burst into cheers.

Yuna threw her arms around Yotsuba, shaking her vigorously from side to side. "You qualified! You did it!"

"Inoue-san, ouch! We still have the relay," Yotsuba winced, trying to remind her through her excitement.

"I never doubted you for a second, Yocchi!" Maenaka-senpai marched on over to Yotsuba. "hey, you remember that girl over there," she pointed to the girl on the ground struggling to catch her breath. Yotsuba remembered her as the one who had mocked her during practice the day before. "She seems to have underestimated you. Got anything to say? Her name is Mitsuru Higashi, and she is from Hiroshima Prefectural University... Maybe you've got some choice words for her?" Maenaka-senpai looked at Yotsuba expectantly and gave her a gentle push forward. Yotsuba excused herself from her friends and walked over to Mitsuru. "Hey, great job out there," she said, flashing her a smile.

Mitsuru looked up, surprise written all over her face. "You... You're talking to me?"

Yotsuba nodded. "Of course. You put up a good fight."

Mitsuru's expression softened, and she returned the smile. "Thanks. I didn't think I could do it, to be honest."

Yotsuba chuckled. "I know the feeling. But you proved yourself wrong, didn't you?"

Mitsuru nodded, her breathing finally returning to normal. "Yeah, I guess I did. Hey, so, like... sorry about the other day. You're pretty good. You qualified for the tryouts."

"You did too," Yotsuba nodded up at the monitor, which was still displaying the times. She'd had beaten her by only a tenth of a second. Yotsuba glanced over at her teammates, who were still celebrating her victory. "I guess we'll be competing against each other more often, Hiroshima girl," she said with a sly smile.

"I'm counting on it, Osaka girl," Mitsuru chuckled.

But Yotsuba shook her head, her expression serious now. "Nope. I'm still an Aichi gal at heart." The two grinned in understanding. This wouldn't be the last they'd see each other.

On the other side of the track, the stadium staff finished their preparations for the 4x400-meter race. Maenaka-senpai had decided on the best order of runners; she would lead off and Hanaura-san would follow her. Yotsuba would be in third position so she could recover from her previous race, and Yuna would be anchoring since she'd have more time to rest. The four girls stood together as they mentally prepared themselves and waited for the starter pistol.

"Well, it's time to show off for you youngsters," Maenaka grinned. "Don't worry. I'll build a big enough lead for us right from the start." Maenaka-senpai took her position at the starting line, her muscles tense and ready to launch her forward. Maenaka-senpai exploded off the starting blocks just as the starter pistol went off. She didn't seem to run the track; she seemed to take leaps and bounds with incredible precision. Her long powerful legs and height gave her a slight advantage over the other girls, but it was her impressive pace that made her stand apart from the rest of the girls. She quickly rounded the first turn and was already halfway down the first straight. Yotsuba turned to the monitor. She could see Maenaka-senpai's sweat glistening on her skin already, but she didn't show any signs of slowing down. Before making the second turn, Hanaura-san positioned herself in the pass zone, preparing for the handoff.

Yotsuba glanced at Futaro and her sisters. Even though they were far away, she could still see the way that Nino held onto his arm with both hands as she whispered something in his ear, and Raiha-chan leaned in, too. They seemed so happy just spending time together. A strange feeling stirred deep within her, making her stomach twist into knots.

What if Nino could make him happier?

What if he doesn't want his life to revolve around a pro athlete?

She thought of every single missed call. Every single unanswered text. She had told herself that she was prepared for the distance no matter how it took shape, but the truth was, she hated it. She hated Osaka simply because Futaro wasn't there with her.

Maenaka-senpai passed the baton to Hanaura-san in a perfectly executed handoff, taking off without missing a beat and adding to their lead. Maenaka-senpai panted and smacked her on Yotsuba's back, urging her to get into position. Yotsuba stumbled into the passing zone, watching Hanaura-san round the corner and sprint down the straight. Yotsuba's thoughts continued to spiral. She couldn't concentrate on the race anymore. She shook her head violently, jumping in place as if hoping to shake off the thoughts from her mind. Trust Futaro. Trust Futaro. Nino just wants to know why he doesn't love her. She repeated to herself.

As Hanaura-san approached, she dared take another glance at Futaro."What makes me special?" She whispered to herself. Hanaura-san was now turning the second corner. It was now or never. Yotsuba pinched her harm and forced herself out of her thoughts. She watched Hanaura-san sprint closer, holding out the baton in her hand, and Yotsuba reached out to grab it, feeling the cool metal against her palm. She took off running, her legs still aching from the previous sprint.

Yotsuba pushed herself forward, but the other runners were quickly closing the gap that Maenaka-senpai and Hanaura-san had made. She could hear their footsteps pounding closer against the track, the sound like a drumbeat in her ears. Nothing about her motions felt right, as if she were a car that continued to misfire; she couldn't get into a rhythm. Panic set in. Dammit! Focus!

She craned her head skyward, and her breathing became labored as her legs felt like lead. She gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the nagging pain. As she rounded the last bend, Yotsuba felt her legs give out from under her, and she stumbled forward. Her hands grazed the ground as she tried to catch herself, but it was too late. Sweat dripped down her forehead, and her heart was pounding in her chest. Yotsuba's mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts. Two runners had already passed her.

"Get up, Yotsuba!" she heard Yuna scream. That's right... Inoue-san's the anchor. We might still have a shot at this!

Yotsuba cursed and frantically stumbled upright and sprinted towards Yuna, who held out her hand for the baton. "Inoue-san!" She panted. Yuna snatched the baton from Yotsuba's hand and bolted forward with lightning speed. Yotsuba exited the track to join her teammate. His head hung low. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Maenaka-senpai looking at her with a smile.

"It's not over Yocchi, not by a long shot. Look," she turned Yotsuba towards the monitor. It was Yuna, whose legs appeared to be a blur. Within seconds, she was biting at the heels of the other school's anchor.

"Inoue-san is something else," Yotsuba said, still watching her teammate. "I can't believe she's only a first-year."

Maenaka-senpai chuckled. "Believe it, Yocchi. She's going to be a star. You two outclassed me from the start."

Yuna and the other runner were now neck and neck. It was anyones race. In the last few meters, the other runner dug out an extra burst of speed, barely edging out Yuna. But both their times were good enough to qualify. Yuna had won second place in the relay.

"We seem to have two girls from Osaka to meet the criteria for the qualifiers. Coach is going to be really happy about this," Maenaka-senpai grinned. "I hope you're gonna be ready to compete against Inoue-san next year." Yuna quickly rejoined Yotsuba and the others.

"Guys! I did it! Did you see it? I made it!" She threw her arms around Yotsuba and bounced up and down. "We did it!"

A wave of guilt washed over Yotsuba. "You could have won easily if it wasn't for me," she murmured, hanging her head in shame. "I'm sorry, Inoue-san."

Yuna made a noise that sounded like a scoff. "Don't apologize! I don't care about any of that. I'm just happy we got to run together!" She grabbed Yotsuba by the shoulders and pressed her sweaty cheek against Yotsuba's own cheek.

"Eww! What are you doing?!"

"Stop being such a wet blanket and enjoy our victories! The scores today don't matter." She gestured widely between herself and Kiana. "You and me—we qualified!"

A few hours later, the competitions began to die out as all the events concluded. Yotsuba watched as the final event concluded to a round of applause, and she could feel her body starting to slow down. She felt drained, exhausted from expending all the physical and emotional energy she had. She managed to sneak away from the team to meet Futaro, Raiha-chan, and her sisters by the vomitorium entrance at the far side of the stadium. Yotsuba hugged Futaro, Raiha-chan, and her family. "I'm so glad you all made it!" Yotsuba exclaimed.

"It's a good thing we did," Raiha-chan said. "We almost missed your race! Big Sister Nino almost got into a fight with one of Big Brother's friends."

"Raiha-chan now is not the time," Nino cupped Raiha's mouth to stop her from talking.

Yotsuba laughed nervously, seemingly not understanding what she meant. "Thank you for coming anyway," she cast a grateful smile toward her sisters before reaching out and intertwining her fingers with Futaro's. His cheeks turned a deep shade of red. "And especially thank you to you for cheering me on every single second I was on the track." Yotsuba smiled weakly, still feeling the exhaustion in her bones. "Seriously, Futaro. I couldn't have done it without you."

Futaro rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, unable to meet her gaze. "Ah well, you know," he murmured.

"Ahem," Ichika cleared her throat loudly, "should we... you know?" she gestured towards the stadium's double doors.

"Ichika," Futaro scolded.

Yuna came running past with Maenaka-senpai in tow, still beaming from the results of the race earlier. She waved enthusiastically at the group and exclaimed, "Hey everyone! Did you see us? We totally kicked ass out there!"

Yotsuba's sisters were taken aback by Yuna's outgoing nature, but they smiled at her warmly anyway.

"Your boyfriend is hot, by the way!" Yuna shouted just as she was out of reach.

Yotsuba quickly swiveled around to find Ichika, Itsuki, and Raiha-chan in fits of laughter. Her eyes widened in surprise, and her face turned bright red. "Inoue-san!" she shouted in vain.

Futaro chuckled at the scene playing out in front of him. Yotsuba's embarrassment now palpable, she muttered. "Don't worry about her. It's just Inoue-san being herself."

"I think it's cute," Futaro smiled, causing Yotsuba to blush even more.

"Hey, speaking of boyfriends," Yotsuba began. "I was wondering if you could help me out with something."

Ichika clapped her hands and shooed Nino and Miku away, leaving Futaro and Yotsuba a few moments of privacy. "Ahhh! I think we'll go over there anyways after all," she said, motioning to the stairs. "Itsuki-chan, can you show us that stall where you found the rice crispies? I think I want one now. I'll treat you all." They all quickly shuffled away, leaving Futaro and Yotsuba alone.

Yotsuba silently thanked Ichika and turned back to Futaro. "Can I see you tonight?"

"Will it be okay with the team?"

"I don't see why not. We're not going to celebrate until tomorrow evening, since we still have one more day of events to do."

Futaro nodded slowly. "Then, sure," he said, his voice low and measured. "What time?"

"How about eight?" she suggested, hoping it wasn't too late. "You can meet me at Ichika's if that makes it a bit easier for you."

"That works." He wrapped his arms around the small of her back. She threw her arms around him. Yotsuba melted into the embrace and pulled away just enough to plant a soft kiss on his lips.

Okay, Nino. I guess you're up.

---

~Nino~

The four girls were gathered in Ichika's living room, but the air was thick with tension. Miku sat on the edge of the couch, glancing around nervously. Yotsuba stood by the window, her gaze fixed on the carpeting while nursing her ankle which she'd bandaged with thick athletics tape.

"What time is Futaro coming for you, Nino?" Ichika shouted down the hallway from the kitchen.

Nino emerged from the bathroom, having put on a dress that Yotsuba had lent her. "He should be here any minute," she replied, slipping on Ichika's flats.

Miku's eyes widened as she took in Nino's appearance, surprised at how beautiful her sister looked. She had never seen Nino so dressed up before, and it was hard not to feel jealous. Ichika, on the other hand, couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy as she watched Nino prepare for her date with Futaro, her face marked with disapproval. "Maybe it's a good thing that Itsuki already went home," she murmured under her breath.

Yotsuba, sensing the tension in the room, decided to take charge. "Nino, you look absolutely stunning," she said, giving her sister a warm smile. "I'm sure Futaro will be blown away when he sees you—err. Me..."

Ichika got up from the kitchen bar stool and walked over to Nino, her expression softening. "You look beautiful, Nino," she said, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder. "I hope you get the answers you're looking for. Whatever happens, we're still sisters." She looked between Yotsuba and Nino.

Nino smiled back at her sisters and nodded. "Thanks, Ichika." She glanced at Miku, who was looking out into the night sky in an attempt to give them some privacy.

Suddenly Yotsuba's phone rang; it was Futaro. She gestured to Nino and Miku to stay quiet as she answered.

"Hi, Futaro! Are you here already?"

"Yeah, I caught an earlier train. I wanted to get you a small thing as a congratulations for today."

"Yay! I'll be there in about fifteen. Please wait in the lobby." Yotsuba cheered.

Nino sighed as she gathered up her belongings and went into Ichika's bedroom. Yotsuba, followed closely behind and began to rummage through Ichika's dresser for something to wear. "Ooh, what about this?" she said, holding up a skimpy black dress with a very generous plunging neckline. "It'll look so good on you! It's not too late to change."

Nino recognized it instantly from the time that Ichika tried to match her up with Dominick. She cringed at how star-struck she had been just being surrounded by other actors. "No way," Nino shook her head, scrunching up her nose. "Besides, is it even something you'd wear?"

"Probably not. At least not out out," Yotsuba flushed.

Nino stood motionless, her hands fidgeting with the hem of Yotsuba's dress. She turned to Yotsuba. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing?" Nino whispered.

"Nope, but I trust my relationship with Futaro. I can explain things later. Right now, I'm thinking of what my sister needs." Yotsuba smiled and placed a hand on Nino's shoulder. "You look amazing," she said reassuringly, leading her to the full-length mirror propped in the corner. Nino gasped at her reflection.

"I look like you!"

"Well, duh. Ichika always said that you and I had the same body type."

It was true. The dress fit her perfectly, and Ichika's flats made her legs look longer than usual, giving her a playful sporty look. Yotsuba's dress itself was a slightly thick light blue material that reached her mid-thigh, which layered out to a playful ruffle and cinched at the waist, accentuating Nino's natural curves. Even the glossy waves of hair swept down to her shoulders matched Yotsuba's own. She couldn't deny it-if anyone saw them side by side, they would think she was Yotsuba.

The corners of Nino's mouth lifted slightly as she inspected herself. "We might pull this off."

Yotsuba frowned slightly, her eyes sad and distant. "Have you given any thought to what you'll say to him?"

"Are you kidding," Nino smirked. "That's all I could think about I am going to be honest with him and tell him that It's me. I'm going to tell him that it's okay that he chose you. Then I'm going to remind him that I'll always love him and he'll always have a place in my heart and then I'm going to just ask him to just spend time with me... I want him to give me a fair chance. Maybe he'll feel a spark and he'll see things differently… would you be okay with whatever answer he says?"

Yotsuba fiddled with her fingernails nervously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. She glanced at the clock on her phone and exhaled heavily. " If this is what it takes for us to be sisters again, I'm going to have to be…Come on, Futaro won't like it if we keep him waiting too long."

Together they stepped out of Ichika's bedroom. The rich material of Yotsuba's dress felt perfectly tailored to Nino's slim figure, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that it still didn't fit her as well as it would Yotsuba. As they entered the living room, they expected to find Ichika and Miku. But it was empty. From the corner of her eye, Nino spotted Ichika on the balcony with a red-tinted drink in hand. Deciding that it was better to let her be, Together they stepped out of the apartment and rode the elevator down to the lobby. Yotsuba hugged her tightly. "You got this, Nino. Like Ichika said, no matter what happens, we're sisters," she whispered into her ear before she pulled away and gave her a gentle push out of the elevator. "Oh, and please try not to kiss him."

Nino let out a long breath and walked on shaky legs towards Futaro, who was sitting in a chair at the far side of the lobby. Her heart raced as she approached him. When he looked up at her, his face softened, and the corners of his mouth tugged upward into a warm smile. "Yotsuba, you look amazing," he embraced her, pulling away for just a moment to admire her dress. "I was thinking we could go up to the Tocho building. The view is really pretty from up there."

Nino felt her heart flutter as Futaro's eyes met hers. She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Is this how he looks at Yotsuba? she thought. His eyes were still sharp and intense, but his gaze was softer and more hesitation, she took her hands in his. Her cheeks reddened. He smiled. "I'm not used to you being so quiet. You okay?"

"I—I'm fine," she stuttered, looking away. "I'm just a little nervous."

"You, nervous? Or did you somehow leave all your courage on the track?" he laughed. Futaro shifted closer to her and leaned in, his lips almost touching hers. Nino's eyes widened. She jerked away, turning her cheek with an embarrassed flush staining her face. He stepped back and arched his eyebrow in confusion.

"Oh, um... I just don't want to ruin my lipstick," she said, her voice shaking slightly as she lied.

"Lipstick? Since when do you wear lipstick?" Futaro asked.

"I... started wearing it recently," she said, trying to sound confident. "Ichika suggested it for tonight. She said that it would give me a more refined and grown-up look. What do you think?"

"Well, it's nice," Futaro said, seemingly unsure if that was the right thing to say. "I suppose I'm not used to it." Futaro locked his gaze with Nino's and leaned in closer. His face was so close that she could see the tiny flecks of gold in his eyes, almost like tiny sparks in a dark night sky. He frowned slightly and said, "Something looks different about your eyes..." She felt her cheeks flush as she realized what had happened—she'd forgotten to take her contacts out!

"Oh shoot," she muttered. Her mind raced as she came up with an excuse. "They're, it's nothing special. Just contacts to keep any dirt out while I run. I guess I must have forgotten to take them out," She laughed nervously, hoping that Futaro would believe her.

Futaro raised an eyebrow but didn't push the issue any further. Instead, he gestured towards the entrance of the building. "Shall we go then?"

Nino nodded, relief flooding through her. She followed him outside to the brisk autumn air.

He gestured to a taxi lining up by the corner; its engine was rumbling intermittently. "Want to taxi over to the Tocho building? Your feet must be hurting." he offered.

"No, don't worry about that! I'm fine!" Nino said, trying to sound cheerful.

"But I thought your ankle was pretty hurt from the sprint.

"Nah, it wasn't as bad as it looked. Coach and everyone else kind of just freaked out."

Futaro didn't look too convinced but nodded along. "If you insist. The building isn't all that far anyway."

As they walked toward the metropolitan building, Nino couldn't help but feel guilty about the charade she was playing. She hated deceiving Futaro, especially when he was being so kind to her. She wished she could tell him the truth, but there was no way to explain why pretending to be Yotsuba was the only way to confirm her feelings. The timing was all wrong, and now that she was in front of him each attempt at telling him the truth she imagined led to the same dead end.

Nino's thoughts were interrupted by Futaro's voice. "You know, Yotsuba, I'm so proud of you! You were amazing today, and now I can see how much you held back against me when we raced home. Even if you didn't win the relay, you still qualified for the national tryouts with your 100-meter dash speed; there's no reason for you not to try out for the national team!"

Nino laughed nervously and looked away. "Thanks, Fuu—Futaro, that means a lot. I appreciate it."

"Seriously though," he continued, "I really do think you can make it on the national team if you really want it, go for it! Who knows! You might even stumble onto your calling—I know how hard college's been and… well maybe being a pro athlete wouldn't be so bad."

"Yeah, maybe," Nino offered weakly. "I think that'd be nice." The conversation quickly died. Again, she felt like an imposter. She didn't have anything to add and she couldn't pretend to be excited about an idea that was utterly alien to her. What did she know about being a pro athlete?

After a few moments, Futaro stopped and pointed up ahead. "Look! There's the building!" The view of the dull government building was anything but inviting. Its windows were illuminated with warm yellow light, framing the silhouettes of people walking past them. Tourists and couples lingered around it, though something about Futaro's enthusiasm was infectious. He grabbed her hand and said, "Come, you'll love the view." She raised an eyebrow skeptically. "I thought you've never been here either."

Futaro just shrugged with a smile and said, "It's just a hunch. I can sense it." They entered the building and were greeted by a security guard who directed them to the elevator. As they rode up, Futaro grasped her hand and held it tight, his eyes twinkling in anticipation. When the elevator doors opened, they were met with a stunning view of the city. The skybox was enormous, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered an unobstructed view of the Tokyo skyline. The room was dimly lit, with soft music playing in the background.

Nino couldn't help but gasp in amazement. "This is incredible," she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder.

Futaro smiled at her, his eyes shining. "It's a bit of a tourist trap, but I'm glad you like it," he said. "I thought you would."

At the center of the skybox, there was a large pop-up stand featuring the Olympics mascot— a friendly blue robot wearing what looked like a flannel button-up and waving his hand in a thumbs-up gesture. The table was illuminated by neon strips that cast a soft white light over the merchandise—everything from towels to phone cases, all featuring the Olympic logo and the adorable mascot.

"Why are they advertising here, of all places," Nino asked, a bit stunned by the clashing aesthetic.

Futaro chuckled and said, "Well, it is a government building, after all. I guess it seems appropriate. Honestly, I just wanted to show you my support."

"What do you mean?" Nino looked at him in confusion.

Futaro took her hands in his and smiled softly. "Watching you run today. Seeing how fiercely you competed. It inspired something in me. It reminded me that you have your dreams too. Maybe I feel like I haven't been as supportive of your dreams as I could be. Yotsuba, I truly believe you have what it takes to be elite. And if you want it—then I want it too. I took you here so I could show you that I'm right beside you. Every step of the way."

Nino smiled sadly as the cruelty of Futaro's romantic gesture sunk in; there was no other way around it. Tonight wasn't meant for her. She had stolen a beautiful moment from Yotsuba. She felt sick to her stomach, and even so...

Nino's cheeks flushed as she glanced up at Futaro. "I never took you for such a romantic," she said softly, allowing herself to be carried away by her feelings and wishes.

"You haven't even seen the best part," Futaro replied, a knowing glint in his eyes. He pulled Nino along to the window and pointed out onto the cityscape below. The buildings lit brightly against the night sky, and lights of all colors blazed from every corner. The train tracks appeared like golden veins winding through a velvety blanket of darkness. "If you make it pro, then somewhere out there is our new home—a home we'll share together." His gaze focused intently on her, and he smiled warmly. "Last time we were together you told me I would have to do something a bit more romantic when I asked you to move in with me. How'd I do?" He waited patiently, motionless. Nino felt something inside her shift as she stepped closer and leaned in. His lips were surprisingly soft, and before she could overthink it, the kiss was already happening. Time stood still, and she knew it had to be now or never. Her lips met his softly at first, then with more force as he ran his fingers through her hair. She slipped her tongue between his lips, and he responded eagerly. The kiss deepened, and Nino felt a rush of heat course through her as their bodies pressed together. Somehow, as if realizing they were in a public place, Futaro pulled away, then the reality of what she'd done washed over her. The way he looked at her, the way he touched her hand, it was all so different from how he actually was with her. It was like she had never really known him at all. She was torn between wanting to fight for him and accepting that he would never be hers. He would never kiss her the way he had just kissed her again. She had broken all barriers of friendship and sisterhood. A bitter feeling welled up inside her as she realized that this was a side of Futaro that only Yotsuba should get to see. She had known the answer all along: The man she loved would never feel the same way about her. There was no other answer she needed.

"This was a mistake," She whispered.

Nino backed away from the window. The room itself suddenly felt claustrophobic and small despite how wide the skybox was. Nino walked back towards the center of the skybox when suddenly, the ground seemed to give out from beneath her. Her foot caught on the thick plastic housing that encased the cables and wires running to the stand at the center, and she tumbled forward, feeling a disconcerting pop in her ankle as she hit the floor.

"Shit," she grimaced as she tried to stand. Futaro hovered beside her. She could see the worry in his eyes, and she hated it.

Futaro's fingers brushed against the skin above her ankle, and she flinched away. "Sorry," he murmured. "Does it hurt?"

Nino could feel the heat radiating off of his palm, and she wondered if it was her own feverish imagination. "I'm fine," she bit out, trying to keep her voice steady. "You don't have to worry about me." she forced herself upright; she gingerly tested her ankle before sitting at one of the long benches that curved around the building.

"Please let me check if your ankle is okay," Futaro's voice was firm but gentle as he asked Nino to let him check her ankle. He then knelt in front of her and eased off her flats. His gaze traveled down to her delicate pale toes that were decorated with carefully manicured and painted toenails.

"Is something wrong?" Nino urged.

"No, nothing... Just, nothing I guess. Does it hurt?" he asked, trying to focus on the task at hand. He gently probed her ankle, checking for any signs of a sprain or fracture.

"It's fine," she muttered, avoiding his gaze.

"Okay, I'm going to help you up," he said, standing up and offering her a hand. Nino took it, but as soon as she was on her feet, he pulled away. He handed the flats back to Nino. "Let's leave. There's a really nice park nearby that Ichika showed me."

Nino nodded and followed along, briskly exiting the Tocho building. Nino glanced up at Futaro, who walked slightly ahead. His face was set in concentration, and she couldn't tell if he was angry or just deep in thought. Her stomach began to knot as they rounded a corner, and the questions swirled in her head faster than ever before. She bit her lip, unable to make sense of his mood. The park they had arrived at was small but cozy, unassuming in its charm. There were a few benches scattered around and a small pond filled with ducks quacking away at one another. Futaro led them to the pier at the edge of the pond, where they sat down next to each other. The atmosphere would have been downright romantic if it weren't for Futaro's piercing silence.

"Futaro, what's going on?" Nino finally spoke up after a few minutes of silence.

"Why are you here, Nino? Where's Yotsuba?"

In the tranquil stillness of the autumn night, Nino felt as if time had stopped. Her heart seemed to freeze in her chest. She absently rubbed her leg, feeling the dull ache in her ankle.

"Did you hear me?" He asked again.

Nino didn't want to answer him. She didn't even want to look at him. Maybe there was still a way out of this. With a smile, she said, "Did you hit your head or something? I'm Yotsuba."

"No," he said coldly. "You're Nino."

"Really?" She got up and brushed off her dress. "You couldn't tell any of us apart if your life depended on it."

"Your toenails."

"My what?"

Futaro gestured at her feet. "I can tell because of your feet. Yotsuba wouldn't get a pedicure the weekend of a big race."

Nino scrambled to come up with an explanation.

"That's where you're wrong," she said defensively, standing with arms crossed and one hip cocked. "Can't a girl want to look nice for a date?"

Futaro's shoulders sagged in disappointment, which made Nino's heart sink. "How stupid do you think I am, Nino? Yotsuba doesn't wear contacts either."

"Fuu-kun, I—"

"No, let me finish," Futaro barked. "I also know that those flats belong to Ichika. I've seen them in her apartment. Also, Yotsuba's hands are rough and calloused because of all her hours in the weight room."

Nino felt the sting of tears behind her eyes. Her heart was beating so fast that she thought it might burst out of her chest.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about," Nino stammered, hoping that she could somehow bluff her way out of this mess. She felt a tear roll down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. She didn't want to cry in front of him. She didn't want to show him any weakness.

Futaro hesitated before picking up his phone, hesitantly pressing a few keys. The familiar sound of Nino's ringtone echoed in the empty park. She quickly grabbed her purse off the ground. "Why would Yotsuba have your phone, Nino?" His expression changed from confusion to hurt as he asked the question.

"No, please don't say anything else!" Nino shouted, her voice panicked and desperate. She paused, her shoulders slumped as if all the energy had been sucked from her body. "Because she knows," Nino said in a defeated whisper, her fingers wringing together. "Tonight was our idea, Fuu-kun."

Futaro stepped back, "What are you talking about, Nino?"

"I...I wanted to know why you didn't choose me. And Yotsuba wanted to know why you did pick her," she said, trying for a flimsy explanation. "I tried so hard to win you. I just wanted to know why." Nino took a deep breath, steeling herself for what she had to say. She gathered the courage to meet Futaro's gaze. "What makes Yotsuba so special? What did she do that I couldn't? I was the one trying to get your attention every day. I bought you gifts, made treats, I would have given you anything! Anything at all to show you how much I loved you. So why wasn't it good enough?"

Futaro stared at her silently, his expression unreadable. Nino dropped her gaze and waited for him to say something, but he didn't speak. He simply continued to stare at her in silence until finally he said softly. "Nino, I love Yotsuba."

Nino was taken aback by his words and looked up into his eyes. "That's not fair," she said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I love you, Fuu-kun. My feelings would never change and I meant it."

"Nino, please," he said, his voice low and gravelly. He took another step forward taking Nino by the wrist.

"Stop, Fuu-kun," she said, her voice laced with desperation. "I can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending! I can't keep pretending that I'm happy for you and Yotsuba. I hate it! I can't! It hurts too much!"

"Nino, this—"

"No! You're going to leave and go tell her all about tonight, and laugh at my expense? No!" she said through her tears. "She was in on this. Deep down you must know she was. We decided to switch places together. She doesn't trust you, Fuu-kun! How can she possibly love you?" Nino wiped away the tears that were flowing freely down her cheeks. "Yotsuba only thinks about herself, so then what kind of relationship could you two possibly have!?"

Futaro let go of Ninos wrist. Pain painted all over his face. "How long have you two been planning this?"

"About a month. Since you visited Osaka," Nino said, feeling like she was finally getting somewhere with him.

Futaro was silent for a few moments, his eyes searching Nino's face as if he were looking for the truth. He dug his shoe in the sand as if he were trying to somehow bury himself in it.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down. "Nino, I don't know what to believe anymore," he said, his voice low and controlled. "But I can't just take your word for it. I need to talk to Yotsuba and hear her side of the story."

Nino's face hardened. "And what? Just so you can forgive her just like that? There is no other side," She pulled out her phone and showed Futaro their conversation. There was no way Futaro could mistake Yotsuba's own words in their messages.

Futaro's face fell as he read the messages. He looked as if his world had just come crashing down. Nino knew she was signing her death warrant. After this, there would be no more Fuu-kun. He'll probably hate her after this.

"Does this mean that all five of you knew about this?" Futaro said quietly, still gazing at the phone in Nino's hand.

Nino nodded silently. There was no point in trying to lie now. She felt her eyes beginning to water again and hurriedly wiped away her tears before they could escape from her eyes. "I'm going now," she said coldly, turning away from him and slowly walking away. Futaro called out to stop her, but she kept going, not wanting to hear whatever he had to say. She couldn't bear listening to hearing Yotsuba's name coming out of his mouth one more time. Whatever the fallout, it was Yotsuba's problem now. She ran blindly, tears streaming down her face and forgetting entirely that she was barefoot. Nino drifted through the winding alleys of the city, eventually finding herself in the neon-lit chaos of Kabukicho. She pushed passed tourists, locals and touts, trying to get herself lost in the crowd. Everywhere around her, there were bright neon lights; bars, clubs and pachinko parlors lit up against the night sky. People walked around talking loudly, laughing hysterically or singing to loud music. The air was soiled with the scent of stale alcohol and tobacco smoke. Everyone seemed happy in their own little bubble, and here was Nino, aimlessly wandering around with a broken heart, looking for solace amongst all of this chaos.

All Nino wanted to do was to return home. This place felt so different from their quiet suburb in Nagoya.

What could Fuu-kun possibly see in this place? Nino wondered.

Eventually, her bloodied feet forced her to stop at a nearby bench near one of the side streets and sits down for a while, letting every sensation wash over her.

"Are you okay?" A man's voice interrupted her thoughts. He looked tall and young, probably a recent graduate like her, handsome and all smiles. His face seemed kind and etched with worry.

"I'm fine. I just...I had a fight with my boyfriend," Nino lied.

The man sat next to her, "Do you want to talk about it? You look like you've been through a lot," His breath tinged with alcohol.

Nino bit her lip, trying to stop herself from crying again.

"I get it. Love can be a bitch sometimes," he chuckled. Nino tensed as he scooted closer to her. There was something about the way his eyes crinkled at the corners when he smiled that she didn't like. "I just broke up with my girlfriend a few days ago," he continued, seemingly not noticing Nino's discomfort. "She cheated on me with my best friend."

"That's terrible," Nino hiccuped. She could feel his gaze on her, and it made her feel uncomfortable. She forced a small smile and tried to get up, limping upright, "I should get going."

"Hey, wait," the man said, standing up and putting his arm around her back. "Let me help you. You're hurt."

"No, really, I'm fine," Nino insisted, trying to slip out from under the man's hold on her.

"What's the matter? Are you worried about that ex-boyfriend of yours. Screw him. Let me take care of you— "

"Oi, there you ran off to," the random voice startled the man, giving Nino a chance to break free of his grip.

The stranger whipped around to face a pair of men who seemed to know the man. "I didn't realize you had caught yourself such a cutie," one of them grinned crudely in Nino's direction. "Should we give you two some privacy?"

Nino could smell the stench of cigarettes as the two stepped closer.

"Your girlfriend—or whatever she is—is still inside," one began, "are we ditching her and her friends or what?"

Nino balked at the question. "Girlfriend? But you said—"

The man snapped his head toward his friend before shifting back to a sickly smile. "Ignore him. He doesn't know shit. There's a club nearby, and I'm tight with the owner—I can get you the VIP treatment," he glanced down at her feet. "maybe I can carry you?"

"I'm not interested," Nino said, trying to keep her voice steady. She glanced around, hoping to spot someone out in the street who could help her.

"Come on, just one drink," the man insisted, grabbing her wrist. "It'll be fun, I promise."

She struggled to break free from the man's grasp. But he was too strong. "Let go of me," she hissed through gritted teeth. "I said I'm not interested."

"Hey, what the hell do you think you're doing?" A familiar voice echoed from the end of the alley behind the three men. She saw Futaro standing there panting and sweaty but, his eyes blazing with anger. He was holding his phone in one hand and Ichika's flats in the other. "Let her go."

The stranger sneered at Futaro, his eyes flickering with malice. "Who are you supposed to be?" he spat. "Her dirtbag ex-boyfriend?"

Futaro didn't flinch. "Let her go," he repeated, his voice low and harsh. "I've already called the cops," he waved his phone.

The stranger's friends exchanged uncomfortable looks. "Hey, I don't think he's bluffin', man; maybe we should get dip. We can't get caught drinking again."

The man reluctantly released his grip on her. He stared her down, his eyes downright lecherous and angry. All trace of his faux goodwill long gone. He sucked his teeth.

"Whatever, you ain't worth it," he turned back and walked passed his friends, who followed closely behind.

With one more cruel glance over his shoulder, he curled up his fist. "One more thing," he said and punched Futaro, connecting with Futaro's cheekbone. The force of the blow split open Futaro's skin and knocked him to the ground spilling his phone and Ichika's flats across the alleyway. As if on cue, a sharp whistle from a police officer rang from the other end of the alley. The three men bolted in the other direction, with two officers following in pursuit. Ignoring the pain from her battered feet, Nino willed her legs to move, gathering Futaro's phone, she rushed to Futaro, kneeling by his side. Her hands shook as she reached out to touch his face. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with concern.

Futaro winced in pain as he tried to sit up. Blood dripped down from his split cheek, and his left eye was already starting to swell shut.

"I'm fine," he grunted, pushing himself up to a sitting position. "I just need some ice."

Nino shook her head in disbelief. "What were you thinking?"

Futaro shrugged and reached out for Ichika's flats. "I was thinking you're an idiot for running off barefoot," he said, his voice low and hoarse.

"Hey kids, are you alright?" Nino and Futaro stared wide-eyed as the young-looking police officer—one of the two officers that went chasing after the stranger and his friends—rushed over to them. He adjusted his hat and took a deep breath.

"Did you catch them?" Nino seethed quietly.

"Ya can relax; my senpai is on it like white on rice. He sent me back to check up on you two, which," he glanced at the two cautiously, "... well, you two not lookin' so hot there. You gonna need some first-aid."

The young officer helped Futaro to his feet and offered him a handkerchief so that he could cover the cut on his cheek. Nino glanced between them before leaning into the young officer's shoulder for support, and the three limped their way down the street toward the police car waiting at the end of the street. Another rookie-looking police officer opened the back door and ushered them in. The muffled sound of sirens filled the night sky as they sped away toward a nearby police box.

Futaro and Nino stepped out of the car and into a world that was like the inverse of Kabukicho. The neon signs were replaced with stark office buildings, and the sounds of people bustling about had been replaced with silence. Two officers welcomed them to the police box, which was smaller than Nino expected. Inside, the officers gestured for them to sit at desks and started asking questions as they rummaged through cabinets for medical supplies.

As the officers tended to their injuries, Nino's mind wandered to what had just happened. She had been attacked, and she couldn't shake the feeling of vulnerability that came with it. She had never felt so helpless before, and the thought it made her stomach turn.

"So, can you tell us what happened tonight?" one of the officers asked.

Nino and Futaro glanced at each other, unsure of how to respond.

Futaro cleared his throat. "I moved here semi-recently, and I was trying to show her around. Somehow separated, and then those guys kind of just showed up."

" So let me get this straight. You two were on a date and somehow got separated?" asked the officer as he patched up Futaro's cheek with gauze; his expression was doubtful.

"Miss, is this man telling the truth?" The officer who was patching up her feet looked up at her, his expression serious.

"Of course he is!" Nino said forcefully. "Fuu-kun was trying to help. I swear, officer, we had nothing to do with those guys," The officer who was patching up her feet looked up at her, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Is that true? If you feel like you're in danger miss, you can tell us," he asked, his tone accusatory.

"Yes!" Nino replied, her voice filled with irritation. "I've known him for years!"

The officers exchanged a glance before nodding in unison.

"Very well," they said grimly.

Nino noticed Futaro's unease and reached for his hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. She looked up at him, trying to find comfort in his eyes, but the look he gave her was cold and like a stone.

He's probably so angry right now. Nino's mind raced.

The officers finished treating their injuries and handed them a stack of forms to fill out. Nino's hands shook as she signed her name, her mind still reeling from her attack and the following interview.

"I'm sorry for wasting your time," Futaro said as they stepped out onto the sidewalk. The police officers had been kind enough to call a cab for them, which was waiting outside by the curb. As they settled into the backseat of the cab, Nino could feel the tension between them. "Yoyogi, please. West of the New National Theater, but go forward about a block to the apartment on the left," Futaro said to the taxi driver.

"Hey, isn't that Ichika's address?" Nino asked.

"I want to make sure you get home," Futaro folded his arms across his chest, fixating his gaze on the passing scenery outside the window.

"Fuu-kun," she said softly, reaching out to touch his arm. "It looks like your swellings gone down a bit- your eye, I mean. Are you okay?"

He didn't respond for a few moments, and Nino could feel her anxiety building. There was no way he didn't blame her for what happened. She steeled herself to shoulder the blame.

Finally, he turned to her, his eyes bitter and intense. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you better. I should have been stronger."

Nino shook her head. "It wasn't your fault," she said firmly. "But, thank you for being there. And Thank you for finding me. How did you do it?"

But Futaro wasn't paying attention anymore; his attention once again returned to the window. A fresh wave of sadness washed over Nino as she watched Futaro stare out the window. Nino imagined tonight going about a dozen different ways, but nothing in the world could have prepared her for how things actually went.

Eventually the taxi pulled up to Ichika's apartment building, Nino's throat tightened, and her heart raced. She could already hear her sisters' questions and worries.

Futaro paid the driver, and they exited the taxi. Nino felt her stomach drop when she saw Yotsuba standing in the apartment lobby - she stood out like a sore thumb thanks to her team's distinctive tracksuits. She must have been waiting for Nino to come home, even though she should have been resting in her hotel room with her teammates. Her expression quickly changed to surprise and confusion when she saw Nino and Futaro limping closer, both looking disheveled and beaten. Futaro looked especially bad. His eye had nearly entirely swollen shut.

"What happened to you two?" Yotsuba asked hesitantly, fear slowly creeping into her voice.

Nino held up a hand in warning, "Wait, Yotsuba, please relax." She winced in pain as the bottom of her foot felt like she was walking on needles.

Yotsuba's mouth twitched as she replied, "Yotsuba? D—did you hit your head? You're Yotsuba. I'm Nino. How could you confuse your own sister with yourself? You must be a real idiot."

"Yotsuba, stop. He already knows," There was no point in beating around the bush; all she could do now was tell it like it was. Yotsuba froze, mouth agape. She looked shocked and was struggling to find which question to ask first. Nino could practically see her try and process everything in real-time.

"Futaro?" she asked. "What happened?" She tried touching his cheek, but he pulled away.

"I'll explain it to you once we're inside," his voice was curt, "I need to check something," He walked passed Yotsuba and briskly entered the lobby.

Yotsuba nodded and seemed to be in a daze, she offered Nino a hand, and together, they quickly hobbled inside Ichika's apartment lobby, bee-lining to the elevator.

As fast as the elevator claimed to be, the wait was still excruciatingly long. Yotsuba and Nino exchanged glances. Yotsuba's eyes betrayed her worry. When they finally arrived at their stop, Futaro rushed them toward Ichika's apartment. Inside, Nino looked over Yotsuba's shoulder and saw Ichika standing in the doorway leading to the kitchen. She was holding a pot of water, looking as though she had been about to make herself a cup of coffee, but froze when she saw Futaro rush in followed by her other two sisters.

"Futaro-kun, what are you doing here-" Ichika said in surprise, struggling to assess the situation. Ichika set down the pot of water and turned to face her sisters. Her gaze lingered on Nino for a moment, and Nino felt a shiver run down her spine. There was something in Ichika's eyes that made her feel exposed, and vulnerable.

After a tense and awkward silence, Yotsuba said, "So... what happened tonight?"

Futaro cleared his throat. "Nino was attacked. By some guys."

Yotsuba let out a short gasp, and her hands flew to her mouth.

"They grabbed her by the arm, and attacked her." Futaro's voice was tense. Nino could feel his anger radiating off of him as if he was a coiled spring about to snap.

"Futaro-kun, did you try to fight them?"

"No, I called the police."

Yotsuba touched his face with a tenderness that made Nino feel jealous, despite the severity of the situation. "They hurt you," she whimpered. "Ichika, they hurt Futaro!"

"I know I can see. It looks like the police patched him up okay. Maybe get him some ice to help with the swelling?" Ichika's forehead furrowed with concern. "Nino, are you okay?"

Nino winced in pain as she hobbled over to the couch. "I'm fine, just a little shaken up."

"She cut up her feet running barefoot," Futaro said. He held up Ichika's flats that Nino had been wearing. Ichika recognized them immediately, and almost as quickly, the color drained from her face.

Just then, Miku entered the living room from the hallway. Her eyes darted around in confusion. She stopped abruptly when she saw Futaro's bruised and swollen face, her mouth agape. "Futaro," she whispered faintly, her voice trembling. "What happened? Where is Nino?" Rushing to her once she spotted Nino on the couch. She checked her carefully for injuries.

"Stop! Stop!" Nino pushed. "I'm fine! It's just my feet!"

"Ichika," Futaro said in a cold, steely voice. "These are yours. I know they are. Did you know that Nino and Yotsuba were going to switch places tonight?"

Nino watched as Ichika's face twisted into confusion, struggling to come up with a lie on the spot. As she opened her mouth to speak, Nino intervened.

"It was my idea," she said, trying to stand. "I convinced Yotsuba to switch places with me. I wanted to spend more time with you."

"No, no, that's not true," Yotsuba interrupted, trying to put herself between Nino and Futaro. "Yeah, it was all me. Whatever Nino said, she lied. I wanted to know if so I asked her to trick you," she hesitated, the words not fully coming out.

Nino watched him process their words. A mixture of pain and hurt painted on his face. "So you both lied to me," he said finally, his voice cold. "Ichika, did you know?" He said, turning to their eldest sister.

"Well, I..." Ichika stammered.

Futaro's eyes narrowed as he turned to Miku. "And you knew too?" he asked, his voice growing louder. "Why didn't you say anything?

Miku shifted uneasily, looking down at her feet. "I didn't want to cause any more problems," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Nino finally managed to push herself upright. Ignoring the fresh pain radiating from her feet, she faced Futaro. "It wasn't any of their fault," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I was the one who lied to you."

"Why," he asked. His voice pleaded for a reason.

Nino took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Because I love you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I can't believe this," he muttered, shaking his head. " Love? I trusted you all... Does this look like love to you?"

He finally faced Yotsuba. His face contorted to a pained grimace. "You promised me. You promised we'd communicate clearly the next time we have problems or doubts. You promised that we'd fix our problems together." His voice cracked as he spoke. "If you wanted me to prove that I love you, I would have done anything to do it. You didn't have to do all this!"

Nino watched as Futaro's words finally sunk in. There was a profound irony that everyone could see—everyone but Nino and Yotsuba. Their plan was doomed from the start.

Futaro, I'm sorry," Yotsuba pleaded. "I know I messed up, and I should have talked to you. I should have told you I wanted to drop out of college. I should have talked to you that I didn't want to be in Osaka. I should have told you that I love you so much that I'd drop everything just to move to Tokyo with you, but I was scared. Scared that you didn't love me as much as I loved you."

Nino felt a large lump form in her throat. She had messed up everything for everyone. Her own selfishness had caused everything that happened tonight. She wanted Futaro to yell at her, not Yotsuba. She would gladly take her place if she thought it would make things better for her sister. Nino marched over to Yotsuba and clenched her shoulder with a tight grip. "Fuu-kun, back off. She didn't mean to hurt you. She feels like she can't be sure if you love her or not..." Pausing to put her arms around her sister for balance. "I've lost count of how many times you've prioritized your other commitments—school, work, city life—over her. I know it must be tough for you, but it hurts her too."

Futaro shook his head, a look of disbelief and hurt etched onto his features. "What do you know, Nino," he said, his voice laced with anger. "You and Yotsuba can't just lie to me and expect me to be okay with it. That's not how relationships work."

Nino's lips trembled. "Then just admit that I never had a chance!"

"A chance? Nino, I am dating Yotsuba. I knew you still felt hurt from last year, and I've given you your space, but it should have been pretty obvious that I don't love you the same way you love me—I'm sorry, Nino. How much more clear of an answer do you need?"

The words felt like a thousand stabs through Nino's heart.

Ichika stepped into the middle between Nino Yotsuba and Futaro, her hands outstretched in a gesture of peace. "Please, let's all just try and take a few deep breaths. Futaro-kun, I'm sorry I didn't tell you anything. I wasn't sure what was the best thing to do."

"It's not just about that, Ichika. It's about everything. The lies, the secrets, the games. I can't take it anymore."

"I know, and I'm sorry," Ichika replied, her voice soft and apologetic.

Nino scoffed. "As if you're the only one who's been hurt here. If you weren't so lousy at being a boyfriend, then maybe Yotsuba wouldn't feel the way she does."

Yotsuba looked down at her feet, tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Futaro. I know I messed up. Let's just go somewhere and talk," Yotsuba reached out and took Futaro's hand, squeezing it gently. "Please, just talk to me. I promise to listen."

Futaro inhaled deeply, as if gathering courage. " Please clear something up for me. Why did you pretend to be Rena back in Hawaii?" He pressed. "For months, I believed it was Itsuki. For months I thought I had kissed some other girl, and instead of telling me the truth, you let me believe that. Why Yotsuba? Were you insecure about us this entire time?"

"Yes!" Yotsuba shouted. "Of course, I needed to pretend to be the girl you always imagined. That perfect girl from your memories that Itsuki insisted you couldn't let go. So yes. I kissed you, pretending to be someone else. I needed to see how you'd react. I had to know if you loved me or some girl that you couldn't let go. So I went into your bedroom and kissed you."

"Wait," Futaro froze. "bedroom? It happened on the balcony."

Nino's eyes widened. She silently glanced at each of her sisters, but none seemed to have an answer. "hold on, did you say 'Hawaii'? What do you mean, Yotsuba? Didn't you go out searching for Itsuki when Fuu-kun got trapped outside on the balcony?" Yotsuba nervously shifted her gaze from one person to another before finally settling it on Futaro with a pleading expression.

Futaro gulped, realization painted clearly on his face. "Yotsuba, you covered for Itsuki, didn't you? It wasn't you who kissed me on the balcony; it was her." Yotsuba nodded silently.

Nino's eyes narrowed in anger. "I knew it! I knew something was off about that whole night! Itsuki, that sneaky little—" she was cut off by a hand over her mouth, courtesy of Miku.

Futaro took a deep breath before speaking. "How many more lies are there? How many more times have you and your sisters tricked me?" Futaro said with a whimper. "You don't trust me, and you certainly don't respect me."

Yotsuba's skin paled as she opened her mouth to speak, only for no words to come out. A deep sadness filled Nino's chest. There was no coming back from this.

Ichika decided to intervene and offered a suggestion. "Listen, why don't we all go out for dinner? That way, we can talk without any distractions."

"No," Futaro said flatly. "I need some time to think. Some time away from all of this," he gestured around the apartment. "Please respect that."

"Some time away?" Yotsuba repeated as if the words were incomprehensible. "Futaro, are you breaking up with me?" Yotsuba asked, her tears now flowing freely.

Futaro's lip quivered. "I don't know. But right now, I need to be away from all of you."

Miku and Ichika gasped, and the air had turned frigid. Nino couldn't stand the awkward silence. Nino stepped forward, her eyes fixed on Futaro. Her fingertips trembled as she raised her hand and slapped him hard on the cheek. "How dare you make my little sister cry?" Nino's hand lingered in the air after the slap, her eyes widening in surprise as Futaro's reaction sunk in. She had expected him to be angry, to fight back, but instead, he looked defeated. He looked like a man who had already made up his mind. She opened her mouth to speak—to apologize—but no words came out. Instead, she watched as he turned and exited their apartment, his shoulders hunched in resignation. For a moment, Nino stood frozen, the heat of her anger replaced by a cold emptiness. She acted on impulse. Nino slowly twisted around, her eyes resting upon her two sisters. Ichika stood with one arm wrapped protectively around Yotsuba, who had slumped down to the ground, her shoulders shuddering with uncontrollable sobs.

"Yotsuba I—" Nino tried to say, but once again, the words wouldn't come.

Miku, who had been quiet up until this point, finally spoke up. "He's not... He's not gone, is he?"

Ichika choked back tears. "I think so, Miku."

Nino began for the door. "He's not gone," she growled, her voice low and menacing. "I'm going to find him," Nino said firmly. "And when I do, I'm going to drag him back here!"

"Leave it, Nino," Yotsuba faced Nino and said in an icy tone, "There's nothing you can do." Her eyes were puffy and raw, and her sobs had become quiet hiccups that shook her entire frame. "He's not coming back."

The room fell into silence as the weight of their loss settled on their shoulders.

---

Authors Note: Hi everyone! Thank you once again for your constant readership. If you made it this far, I want to say congratulations for making it to the other side of the biggest chapter I've ever written! (and hopefully the longest chapter I will ever write for this fic) I originally wrote this as two chapters, and each of them was nearly 10k words a piece. After sending the two chapters back and forth several times with my editor we were able to get both of them down to under 10k words, and from there I had to make the tough decision to have Nino's date be a chapter all of its own or have it be part of the everyone's chapter. I decided to have it be together since in my opinion, there's something symbolic of all the girls getting a chapter or two during this arc (funny how Futaro was the only one who's voice didn't get heard.)
this concludes the end of the first arc of my fic and I cannot express my gratitude to everyone who's stuck through it so far.

Please look forward to the beginning of my next chapter near the end of next month or the first two weeks of July. There are many things I'd like to share with you all through this fic and I hope you all continue to join me in my journey.

As always, I am grateful for the people who have left reviews and commentary on my fic. You are a constant source of inspiration and drive and each I feel like I have been writing my fic for you. Thank you Bazzo, Chloetuco, The Mist33, jcsshauni, Blathers, TJ, MTW King, Static_Grey, XRomanG, Dreamchaser, Garaza12, Oberun, Inaho1906, Makoot, and SuperKamehameha.

On Reddit I want to thank JOA20, thejman6, Ubberr, CaptainBalster, and JGrimshaw 123,

As well as all the lovely readers on the public quintuplet discord.

Some of the music that's been on my mind through writing. This chapter was Out of Kindness from Persona 5 Royal. Give it a listen when you can.