Chapter Seventeen: Tacks for Snacks

~Nino~

Nino stepped into the cooking hall to find Miku standing at the head of the room, her hands clasped around a wooden spoon and a white apron draped around her frame. She shouted orders through the steamy air, pointing towards a frantic student she didn't recognize. "Fondant! For the raspberry tarts! Get it prepped quickly!" The student yelped in agreement, scurrying to the walk-in refrigerator while Nino watched in awe. She observed as Miku darted between the stations, expertly preparing each dessert with a speed and precision that left Nino feeling dizzy. She's grown so much. Nino's chest swelled with pride. She noticed the exam proctor at the head of the cooking station carefully observing the way in which Miku administered her baking staff.

Nino was about to turn and leave the cooking hall when Miku caught her eye and beckoned her over. "Nino, come here," she said, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead. "I need your help with the crème brûlée."

Nino glanced between Miku and the proctor. He stood up and pushed his glasses up his sharp nose. "I'm sorry Nakano-san, but Nakano Nino-san is in the culinary program, and is unable to help. You should be able to complete the pastry on your own." Miku frowned, her shoulders slumping slightly. "I know, I just thought maybe she could taste it and give me some feedback."

The proctor shook his head. "That will not be possible. Make do with the team you have. Plating commences in seven minutes."

Miku looked like she was about to curse at the proctor, but continued on, her exchange leaving her flustered and fumbling with the blowtorch, sweat glistening on her forehead. Nino held her breath, hoping that Miku would be able to complete the dish without any mishaps.

Miku composed herself and plated her final pastry with quick, deft hands. Nino watched her work, the soft murmur of admiration from the other students filling the cooking hall. Miku stepped back and surveyed her creations—neat rows of cupcakes, meringues, and cream puffs surrounding a towering raspberry tart, and of course, her crème brûlée. As she presented them to the proctor, her cheeks flushed with excitement.

The proctor tasted the desserts one by one, evaluating each with a discerning eye, and pausing at two that were slightly undercooked. Miku's shoulders tensed in anticipation.

"It's passable," he said, "but you're still struggling with your execution. This barely passes, Nakano Miku-san. Better luck next time. I'll leave my exam notes with your instructor."

He turned to face Nino. "I'm sorry for not letting you help, Nakano Nino-san," he said apologetically, pulling off his glasses to meet her eyes directly. "I have no doubt in my mind that if you two were still in the same program, Nakano Miku-san's result today would have been different."

Nino forced a smile at the compliment before nodding respectfully as the proctor made his way out of the kitchen. The rest of the students exchanged murmured looks but otherwise exited the cooking hall after him. Miku, visibly deflated, slumped down onto one of the stools, burying her head in her hands with a groan of frustration. All of her hard work had gone unnoticed by those who mattered most—the examiners.

"Don't worry about it," Nino murmured soothingly, rubbing circles into Miku's back gently until she looked up again. "I tried so hard, Nino."

"I know you did. Screw him. What does he know?"

Miku laughed, but it sounded strained. "He's a Michelin Star baker from France."

"France sucks, then."

"Nino, you love France," she replied, her laughter more genuine this time. Nino felt her spirits rise a bit.

"You'll have to figure it out, though. We won't always be together," Nino said. "Unless we open a cafe or something."

"Or something…" Miku said absentmindedly. She was already reviewing her notes from the day's test kitchen recipes, flipping through pages as she tried to pinpoint what had gone wrong with her last two recipes.

"Hey! Take it easy." Nino pulled the notepad away from her hands and tucked it under her arm. "Let's just go home for now. You can review the exam notes on Monday."

Miku sighed and nodded, reluctantly getting up from her seat. As they walked out of the school, the cold hit them instantly. The snow had picked up and was now coming down in thick flakes, coating the city in a fresh layer of white. Nino wrapped her arm around Miku to keep her close and warm as they made their way back home.

As they turned the corner, they almost walked straight into Itsuki, who was struggling to carry a large box filled with office supplies. "Hey, Itsuki," Nino said, surprised to see her out in the snow.

Itsuki looked up and gave them a small smile. "Hey, guys. Just bringing some stuff home from work."

"What happened?" Miku asked, her eyes narrowing with concern.

"I quit," Itsuki said simply. "Nothing bad happened, just you know, I had to quit. I'll explain later when I see you both at home."

"It looks really heavy. Want us to help you out?" Miku urged.

Itsuki shook her head and blew a strand of hair away from her face. "No, that's alright," she replied with a dismissive wave of the hand. "I have places to go before I head home."

Miku raised an eyebrow in surprise. "In this snow? Where are you going?"

Nino, who had been listening quietly, cleared her throat. "Miku. It's the fourteenth. She's going to visit Mom's grave," she said softly, looking at Itsuki with understanding.

Itsuki nodded. "Yup," she replied in a quiet voice. "Every fourteenth. I just want to go there and pay my respects." Itsuki seemed to shrink in on herself, her hands playing with the hem of her skirt. Nino hadn't expected Itsuki to be so candid about their mother's memory until it had escaped her mouth. "Well, I should get going," Itsuki said, turning away. Something welled up inside Nino, and without thinking, she reached out and grabbed her sister by the shoulder. "Is it okay if we go with you?" she asked hesitantly, feeling suddenly nervous for no apparent reason. Nino looked at her sister for a moment. Itsuki's expression was unreadable, but she began to nod. "Sure," she said quietly. "If you want to."

The three of them walked in silence through the snow-covered streets—the only thing audible was the crunching of the leaves beneath their footsteps. They were taking the same road they always took, but knowing where they were going made the mood so much heavier than Nino remembered. Perhaps that's why she never went to visit Mom. She disliked feeling sad for a real reason, and not just some movie.

As they approached the graveyard, Nino could see the rows of headstones, snow covering the tops of them. It was a peaceful and somber place. Suddenly being here, Nino didn't feel as uncomfortable as earlier. Their mom had passed away. And that's okay. Itsuki must have noticed Nino slowing down because she passed her box to Miku and took Nino by the hand. "She's this way," Itsuki smiled. Nino followed Itsuki's lead, her grip tightening around her younger sister's hand.

"How are you so calm?" Nino asked, genuinely surprised by Itsuki's composure. Itsuki led Nino and Miku to a tall headstone, where the name "Nakano Reina" was etched in stone. Itsuki knelt down, brushing the snow off the headstone with her gloved hand. "Because being here is not supposed to be sad. At least not anymore." Miku and Nino glanced at each other, not really understanding Itsuki's words. They stepped back and watched Itsuki bow her head in prayer.

Itsuki clasped her hands around Miku and Nino's palms, pulling them forward towards the gravestone that marked their mother's resting place. "Mom, I brought Nino and Miku," she said with more cheer than either of the younger girls could muster. "They wanted to come see you. Isn't that great?" For some reason, Nino almost expected a spectral form of their mother to appear to answer her.

"Why don't you share what you've been up to," Itsuki continued. Miku shuffled a step in front of Itsuki and Nino, her hands quivering slightly as she began to speak. "Hi, Mom," she said softly. "I'm sorry for never visiting." A pause hung thick in the air before she mustered the courage to continue. "I've been getting pretty good marks on my baking exams. The lead instructor says I have a talent for leadership...if you can believe that." Miku cleared her throat and looked down, rubbing her thumb against her index finger nervously. "I have a proctor that's a bit of a hard-ass, but I know he sees potential in me though," she muttered almost too quietly for anyone to hear.

Nino hesitated, her throat tight. "A-And I've changed from the baker's program to the culinary one. I–I made a beef wellington that got praised by the head chef. He even said it was one of the best he's ever tasted." Nino felt her face flush with heat and suddenly realized that tears were streaming down her cheeks. She quickly wiped them away, embarrassed.

Itsuki wrapped her arm around Nino's shoulders. "See Mom? Nino and Miku are just as competitive as ever. You know they'll be the best before long. It's not just them. Ichika's been hard at work in her new starring role, and Yotsuba is in Tokyo training for the Olympics." Itsuki paused, her eyes scanning Nino's face for any reaction. When she realized there was none, she continued. "I'm sorry I'm not as successful as them yet, Mom."

Miku turned to face her sister. "Itsuki, did you really quit?"

Itsuki shrugged and looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "My grades aren't good enough to get an internship here. I had no other choice."

Miku's heart sank as she felt the reality of the situation begin to impress upon her. She wanted to ask more questions, but Itsuki just shook her head and sighed heavily. "It's a long story," she said, "but Dad found me a place in Tokyo. He pulled some strings."

Nino frowned. "What about talking to someone here? Surely they could find a way around this..."

Itsuki's face dropped, and her shoulders hunched. She shook her head slowly, unable to look up at Nino. "It's no use," she said softly. "Dad got me contact information for a school in Tokyo and I'll be taking the train up there next week. He's already helping me find an apartment."

Nino felt a chill in the air. "You're going to be in Tokyo, too? It's just going to be Miku and I alone with Dad. We barely even see him now."

Miku sighed and looked away from Itsuki, her gaze drawn back to their mother's grave. Nino adjusted her scarf, awkwardly shifting her weight in the snow.

"It's okay," Itsuki forced a smile onto her face, though it did not reach her eyes. "It'll only be one year, then I'll come back."

Nino cleared her throat. "You're right! And it's not like you'll be alone. You'll be with Ichika and Yotsuba. You'll still have your sisters around you."

"That's right," Miku said. "And we still have our group chat. We always knew that we'd have to go our separate ways. This is just a trial run. Maybe we'll follow you three and open a cafe in Tokyo." She forced a laugh.

Itsuki kneeled in front of the gravestone and laid a bundle of plastic flowers on top. "Well, Mom," she muttered under her breath, "The cat's out of the bag now. I won't be seeing you as often, but I promise to keep thinking of you."

Nino's eyes shifted from Itsuki to her mom's grave. Something sparked within her. "I'll visit her for you, Itsuki." she said.

Itsuki shook her head and gave a quick look at Nino. "You don't have to do that for me," she said softly.

Nino took a deep breath, the cold air biting at her lungs. "No, I want to do it. I have to do it," Nino hesitated for a moment. "I need Mom to know that I'm not a bad person. I...am trying to be better. I'm tired of being the bad guy in everyone's story."

Itsuki's eyes softened as she took in Nino's words. "You're right. You've done your part. You shouldn't have to feel like the bad guy anymore." She picked up her box of office supplies and touched the head of their mom's tombstone. "I'll see you soon, Mom."

~Futaro~

Futaro leaned forward as he slowly guided his motorcycle down the winding decline of the parkway. He glanced at his phone which was mounted to its holder on his handlebars. The phone pinged confirming that he was at the right location. After paying at the gate, the arm of the barrier ascended with a clang, granting him access to the concrete garage below. He pulled in and quickly parked his bike at the side of the lot nearest to the elevator. He glanced around, noting there were no other motorcycles parked near him. "It would've been nice if they offered to pay for my parking for the first day. This place is already too rich for me," he thought as a pang of frustration bubbled up within him. Koda-san's wife had pulled some serious strings to get Futaro an internship at Kaisei High School, but in fact, it was actually his college career counselor who had cornered him outside class one day and told him he'd been chosen as an intern. Apparently, they had wanted someone from Tokyo University, someone who represented the school's traditions and practices. At the time, Futaro couldn't help but think that they must have already hired someone else, but it was clear to him that it would have caused more problems to reject the invitation. How do I always get myself wrapped up with the rich, pushy types? Futaro pondered this thought as he ascended the garage and turned up through the wide double doors which opened up to the high school's main campus quad. The campus was a sprawling maze of uniformed students in a sea of blue and white, with multiple buildings connected by covered walkways that weaved around flower beds and ornate fountains. The entire quad was lined with bald cherry blossom trees—trees that must have looked breathtaking when spring turns and the new school year starts. The architecture was a blend of traditional Japanese elements and modern design, with glass walls reflecting the sunlight, and sleek steel beams supporting the roofs. Futaro tried to wade through the sea of students without drawing too much attention to himself, but his coat, tie, and motorcycle helmet made it practically impossible to blend in. Futaro felt the weight of dozens of eyes on him as he walked down the hallway. He heard some of the younger students whisper to each other, their heads turning as he passed them by—they wondered if Futaro was an instructor. Futaro tried not to mind them, but the voices made him feel especially nervous. What surprised Futaro more was just how young the students seemed compared to the students at his university cohort. There's no way I looked that small when I was in high school. Right? He wondered. He was brought out of his musings by a sudden call of his name.

"You look like you're desperately trying not to stand out. You must be Uesugi Futaro, one of our new interns!" Futaro turned to see a tall, elegant woman with dark hair and sparkling brown eyes, dressed in a crisp suit and heels.

I'm Umeda Emili, I'm a second-year science teacher and student-intern coordinator here," she said with a slight accent. "I'll be your guide during your time at our school."

Futaro nodded, feeling a bit relieved to have someone to show him around. "Nice to meet you, Umeda-san."

"Please, call me Emili. Let's get started, shall we?" She said, leading the way towards the main building. Futaro nodded and followed Umeda through the campus. As they walked, he saw students mingling in groups, some studying while others chatted and laughed. It was a vibrant environment, one that made him feel like he was part of something special. She gestured to one of the larger boxy buildings, its stone façade looking newly renovated compared to the rest of the campus.

"One of the things we're particularly excited for is our newly renovated gym. The municipal government funded our renovations to host some of the nation's runoff Olympic games."

Futaro stiffened at the mention of the Olympics, his confusion evident on his face. Emili scrunched her face slightly and said, "Sorry, I should have mentioned my half-Japanese heritage; I grew up in Houston. I apologize if my accent caused you any trouble."

"No, no!" Futaro waved his hands in front of his face. "You speak perfectly well for a foreigner—I mean, you speak really well! I'm sorry. My mind wandered for a moment. You didn't do anything wrong."

Emili looked a bit apprehensive, but otherwise continued on their tour. She showed him their modern cafeteria and let him peek into some of the first year's classrooms to get a feel for the space.

"When you start in April, these students will be second-years, so you won't likely be working with them," she explained. "Interns mostly teach first-years since second and third-years are already doing college exam prep..."

She caught herself mid-sentence and blushed slightly. "Ah...sorry. I don't know why I'm explaining this to you. You probably already know how it works. You're a legacy student, right?"

Futaro grinned, "No, actually I'm not."

Emili looked confused, "But...I thought—"

"I'm just a regular intern," he interrupted with a smile. "My family has no connection to the school."

"Wow. I guess the rumors weren't true." Emili's face went beet-red. She nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry, Uesugi-san. I shouldn't have assumed." She paused. "Some of the teachers around here can be a bit gossipy. And when I heard that our principal had gotten a request from the Ueda family that we were going to take in a student from Tokyo University, everyone just assumed that you must be the child of some big shot or at least a legacy family—myself included."

Futaro sighed internally. He knew that Ueda-san's wife tossing around her influence so carelessly would result in trouble for him. "That's not the case. I'm just tutoring their kids and they were doing me a favor since I was struggling to get an internship on my own," he cleared his throat. "So, then you know the Uedas?"

Emili chuckled. "Oh, not personally, no. I'm just a teacher. A low ranking teacher at that. But they're one of the school's biggest donors, so they have a lot of influence. But don't worry, I'm in charge of you, and I'll make sure that I'm as strict with you as I'm supposed to be. No easy passes from me! I'll make sure they don't interfere with your internship. It's good that we have more teachers from the working class at our school. Our students should learn from people from all walks of life."

"I—thanks?" Futaro stuttered. "I'm not entirely sure how I'm supposed to respond to that."

Emili looked over her shoulder and raised her hand in a shushing gesture. "American joke." Futaro laughed nervously, not entirely sure if he should be relieved or more confused by her explanation. He decided to let it slide and continue on with the tour.

As they made their way across campus, Emili's phone buzzed with a notification. She glanced at the screen before turning to Futaro.

"Oh, our other new intern just arrived. Let's go greet them together."

Futaro nodded and followed Emili towards the entrance. As they walked past a classroom of first-years, a pair of boys poked their heads out.

"Hey!" One of the boys shouted. "It's Umeda-sensei!"

Emili smiled and waved at them. "Boys, this is Uesugi Futaro-sensei. He's one of our new student-teachers this year."

The boys looked at Futaro with curiosity and some suspicion. One of them spoke up. "So, you're gonna be teaching us, huh?"

Emili frowned. "Hiro-kun, his name is Uesugi-sensei, and he will be working with me. So, if I hear that you're being disrespectful to our student-teachers, I'll personally visit your classroom and drag you by the ears to apologize."

"Ehh?! Sensei, we were just joking!" The boy whined.

"I'll just pretend that I didn't hear that," Emili said with a smug smile. The boys laughed awkwardly and returned to their class as they heard the warning bell ring.

"Now, then," Emili said once the boys were out of sight, "to the front entrance?"

"Y-yes... Um..." Futaro's face went pale white. "Emili-sensei."

"Good decorum in front of the kids. I'm glad you've got experience teaching," she laughed.

As they neared the entrance, Futaro noticed someone with familiar waist-long, wavy hair. Futaro could recognize that hair anywhere. The other student-intern was Itsuki Nakano. She wore her signature red glasses and tacky yellow plastic star-shaped hair clips. A briefcase dangled loosely from one of her hands.

When their eyes met, Futaro let out an inhuman guttural sound that was part shout, part cough. Itsuki jumped in surprise, gasping and dropping her briefcase on the ground. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether to pick it up or bow, before settling on an awkward combination of both. She bent slightly at the waist while keeping her gaze fixed on Futaro. Recovering her composure with an embarrassed cough, Itsuki picked up her briefcase and brushed off the wrinkles on her pencil skirt before introducing herself. "Ah—Hi, nice to meet you. I'm Nakano Itsuki."

Emili cleared her throat, drawing both of their attention towards her. "I'm Umeda Emili-sensei and this is Uesugi Futaro-sensei. I'll be yours and Futaro's supervisor this year."

Itsuki's eyes widened in surprise as she took in both of their appearances. She seemed to be at a loss for words, so Emili continued. "I know it's a bit overwhelming, but don't worry. We'll show you around and help you get settled in."

Itsuki nodded, her gaze still locked onto Futaro.

Futaro tried to avoid Itsuki's gaze without making it look too obvious. He couldn't believe that she was the other intern. Out of all the people in the world!

I swear they must have some kind of tracker on me!

Emili eyed the two of them, sensing the uncomfortable energy between them. "Do you two know each other?"

Futaro stared at his shoes, avoiding her gaze as he muttered, "Uh, yeah. We went to the same high school."

Itsuki shifted awkwardly, eyes darting away from Futaro. "Yeah, we were actually in the same class during our third year in Nagoya."

Emili gave a wide grin. "Wow, what a small world! You two knowing each other makes my job a whole lot easier." She lightly tapped her chin with her pointer finger in thought. "I probably should have known that you two would know each other. It's not often that we get two requests from prestigious families for student-interns—Ah, anyway! There's no time for another tour, so let's head over to the staffroom. I'll introduce you."

The staffroom was buzzing with activity when they arrived. A group of teachers were huddled together, discussing lesson plans, while others were grading papers or chatting in small groups.

Emili cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "Everyone, I'd like to introduce our two student-interns this year, Itsuki Nakano and Futaro Uesugi."

There was a murmur of welcome greetings from the teachers and Futaro felt a little overwhelmed by all the attention.

Emili gestured towards the group of teachers who had been huddled together. "These are our English teachers, Takashi-sensei, Suzuki-sensei, and Smith-sensei."

Futaro nodded politely at each of them, but he quickly found himself forgetting their names just as quickly Emili mentioned them.

Itsuki nudged him with her elbow, sensing his unease. "Uesugi-kun." She gestured to her purse, which had her phone peaking just over the top. She was recording their meeting!

"We can study the names later."

Futaro was unsure of what to make of her gesture, but now wasn't the time to discuss it. He continued forward following Emili, with Itsuki closely behind.

Emili led them down the staff room, pointing out where the different teachers had their desks. Itsuki and Futaro were assigned at the edge of the far row. "Right," Emili said, glancing around the room. "And this row is for science teachers," said Emili. "They're all teaching classes right now, so you'll meet them later." She stepped over to her desk, which was already pristinely organized with textbooks neatly lined up, and grabbed a clipboard with some sheets of paper. "Here's some paperwork you need to sign," she said, handing the clipboard to Futaro and then to Itsuki. You don't have to start your lesson planning now, but I want you to be aware that you'll both be co-teaching first-year science classes, 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3. That's about three classes a day and about fifteen in a week. Plus, you'll both have to choose a club or sport to volunteer at. So, make sure you think about which teacher you'd like to support," Emil glanced at her watch. "I'll be two seats over if either of you have any questions. Don't hesitate to ask me or the vice principal or even the principal for help. When you've finished reading, turn in that paperwork and you'll be free to leave. Nakano-san, please come back tomorrow and I'll give you a tour of the school just like I did for Uesugi-san today. In the meantime, if there is anything that you feel you will need for your desk, make a list and leave it on your desk so we can get it before you officially start in a month." She smiled warmly as she said this. "Welcome to Kaisei High School, future science teachers!"

Futaro and Itsuki sat down at their assigned desks with the paperwork in hand. The room was quiet, save for the faint sound of students' voices drifting in from the hallway. Emili had already begun a conversation with another teacher who'd come to visit her desk. Futaro saw the teachers glancing back at them, likely already sizing them up. He tried to concentrate on filling out the forms, but his mind kept wandering. He glanced over at Itsuki, who was already scribbling away, filling out the forms with ease. She looked up and caught him staring, smirking as she noticed him struggling.

"Don't worry," she said, pushing aside some of her hair. "I filled out this paperwork before when I was working with Shimoda-sensei back home, so I'm familiar with them." In a single fluid motion, she slid the bundle of documents from his desk and began flipping through them. She read over each sheet carefully, ticking off boxes and scribbling notes where necessary.

"Ah, here we go," she said, pushing the form towards him with a pen. "Just sign on the dotted lines and you're all set." Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at Futaro. "Funny how things turn out sometimes, huh? Last time around you were the one teaching me, but now, I'm helping you!"

Suddenly, another voice cut into their conversation. Emili had come back from conversation with the other teacher, clipboard in hand. After quickly skimming over the forms, she nodded in approval. "Everything looks good! You two are all set for teaching your first day. I'll introduce you to the principal and the VP then. They'll want you to give a short speech in front of the school so make sure to think of something nice to say," she winked at them before leading them outside. "See you then!"

They bowed their heads to their new supervisor as they exited the staff room. Futaro quickly headed for the elevator, eager to return to the garage, but Itsuki followed beside him. "Hey, Uesugi-kun," she said quietly as they walked. "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

"What is it, Itsuki?" His question hung in the air. She flinched slightly from the sharpness of his tone.

"I just wanted to ask how you've been," she forced a nervous laugh. "You know. It's been a few months and we didn't have much of a chance to catch up over winter break. How's Tokyo?"

Futaro raised an eyebrow. "Itsuki, what are you really doing here?"

Itsuki's smile faltered and Futaro could see disappointment in her eyes."I just wanted to say sorry." She let out a long sigh and dug the toe of her shoe into the pavement. "About everything. We—I—We messed up."

Futaro shook his head and stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest. "No, I'm not talking about that. I don't want to talk about that right now. I mean, what are you doing here? At Kaisei? You go to school in Nagoya Shouldn't you be interning there?."

"Oh, that. I—."

"Let me guess, you're struggling with your teaching program and no school would take you in as an intern..." Itsuki blinked blankly, surprise and indignation etched into her features; it was clear that he had hit the nail right on the head.

"I guess you pretty much got it," Itsuki pouted.

"What about—whats-her-name—Shimoda-sensei? I thought you were working with her. Couldn't her cram school offer you an internship?"

Itsuki shook her head. "No, the school policy is that a teacher's internship has to be a 'traditional school.' So Shimoda-sensei couldn't help me. I asked Dad and he asked around for some favors."

Futaro's mind connected the dots. No wonder Emili-sensei was so curious about us. We're both essentially requests from the school's donors. But perhaps there was more to it than that?

"Fun fact, Uesugi-kun," Itsuki began as she gestured vaguely between them. "This is likely where Dad would've sent us had you not tutored us and saved us from flunking out of Asahi High Sch—"

"Itsuki," Futaro interrupted, his voice low and demanding. He paused, allowing his words to linger in the air before starting again. "I'm only going to ask this once: is this part of some trick? Or plan? or scheme?"

Itsuki waved her hands in front of her face. "What?! No way! It was entirely by coincidence! I had no idea that I'd even have a co-intern until I got here."

Futaro watched her face carefully for any sign that would indicate that her story was a lie. But Futaro couldn't detect anything aside from her frustration at being accused.

"I'm not lying, Uesugi-kun," she said, a hint of indignation in her voice. "I had no idea I'd be working with you until I got here."

"That is very rich coming from you," Futaro replied evenly.

"Me!? But I had nothing to do with what happened last October! So what are you talking about?" Itsuki's eyes flashed with frustration.

"Hawaii, Itsuki. I know about what happened last October. I wasn't going to bring it up but since we're here… A lump swelled in Futaro's throat as he continued, his tone firm but courteous. "I just think it would be best if we kept professional boundaries between us from now on."

Itsuki's face fell, her eyes wide with hurt. She blinked back tears, her voice barely audible as she responded. "Oh...okay. I understand." She looked down and fiddled with the hem of her shirt before looking up at Futaro with a determined expression. "Can I at least walk you to your bike? I didn't get a good look at it during break."

Futaro hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Umm, I guess. If you want." They started walking in silence, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a knife. Part of him already regretted being so harsh to her, but his emotions were too complex to untangle. All her planning and scheming made him feel betrayed and even worse, it made his anger feel childish. Once they descended down the elevator, he turned the corner to where his bike was parked. He gestured non-committedly to it and mumbled, "Well, this is it. It's nothing much." Futaro threw on his helmet. Just when he thought they were going to part ways, she spoke up again. "Uesugi-kun, can I ask you one more thing?"

He stared at her before nodding for her to continue.

Itsuki took a deep breath. "Do you still love us?"

Futaro sighed as he tightened the straps on his motorcycle helmet, barely noting Itsuki's pouting figure in the garage.

How can she possibly be asking something like that now? He wondered. He quickly sped out of the garage and turned the corner. Futaro was on autopilot, so lost in thought that he didn't realize he had missed his turn until he saw the entrance ramp for the highway looming ahead.

Normally, he would have turned around and found his way back, but not today. Today, Futaro needed to burn off steam. He paid the toll and gunned the throttle. The wind roared in his ears as he picked up speed, the bike vibrating beneath him like an extension of his own body.

Do you still love us? Futaro scoffed. It didn't seem like a fair question given their current circumstances, but part of him wanted to answer it honestly. He thought about all the adventures that they had shared together over the years—from camping trips and late night study sessions to silly conversations and arguments—and realized that despite everything, he did still love them deeply. He knew in his heart of hearts that the way Itsuki looked at him when it was just the two of them felt comforting. He opened the throttle a little more as if he was trying to outrun his wandering thoughts. He's a one-woman man and that was never going to change. "I really need to get my act together."

Twenty minutes later, Futaro returned home. As he pulled up to his apartment complex, he checked his balance on his phone, wincing at how expensive his little joyride had become. Promising to never again take the toll highway again, he trudged through the lobby and said hello to his landlord with a yawn.

"Hey there, Uesugi Kid," the landlord said from behind his desk, where he was reading a gravure magazine. "You've got visitors. I recognized your sister and I let her into your place."

"My sister, what are—nevermind. Thank you," Futaro bowed politely. Generally, the less he interacted with the landlord, the better. Besides, he had a more pressing mystery to solve. Raiha hadn't said anything about visiting him this week, and there's no way their dad would have just let her go on her own spontaneously again. He tugged the key from his pocket and slid it into the lock. Careful not to make any noise, he inched open the heavy wooden door. "Raiha, are you here? You better not be entering your delinquent phase!" He called out mockingly, though there was an edge of nervousness in his voice.

Futaro pushed aside the door, revealing a girl sitting cross-legged on the floor. It wasn't Raiha who greeted him, but Itsuki.

"You took a lot longer than I expected, Uesugi-san. I brought snacks."

Futaro stared at Itsuki, dumbfounded. This was the second time today that Itsuki's presence had surprised him. Maybe she does have a tracking device on him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice laced with trepidation.

"I wanted to share these little cakes with you," Itsuki replied, her voice soft.

"No, I mean how did you figure out where I live?"

"Miku told me," Itsuki said simply. Futaro was at a loss for words. Something about Itsuki being in his apartment made him feel especially exposed. Itsuki stood up gracefully, dusting off her skirt. "I came to share these snacks with you," she replied, holding out a bag of chips. "These are spicy and pair well with the sweetness of the cake." Futaro took the bag hesitantly, still unsure of what to make of the situation. He had expected Itsuki to be angry with him, or at least avoid him for a while. He stepped into his room, motioning for Itsuki to do the same. Futaro noticed his portfolio opened on the low kotatsu table, along with his laptop and the camera his dad had gifted him. Earlier in the week he had taken some practice pictures around campus and uploaded them digitally before printing out a selection of them. He wasn't sure if what he had shot was good enough for a portfolio but his dad had been right; he had enjoyed taking photos again.

Itsuki must have noticed him looking at his work and, clearing her throat, she began. "I didn't look too closely, but the ones I saw were pretty nice. Didn't know you were back into photography."

Futaro nodded nervously, feeling strangely vulnerable. He had been so focused on university and studying that he hadn't even considered revisiting photography until his father suggested it to him. Itsuki smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with understanding, as if she knew what he was thinking. Futaro felt his cheeks flush even more and quickly looked away, not wanting her to see it. She didn't say anything more though; instead she grabbed the bag of snacks and opened them onto two plates before seating herself in front of the table. They ate quietly for a few moments before Itsuki broke the silence again.

"You should show your work to someone," she said thoughtfully as she nibbled on a chip, "maybe submit it to an online magazine or blog."

Futaro shook his head. "No way. These are just for me."

"That's okay. I think I can tell you're still getting acquainted with this side of yourself. Still, I hope to see more in the future." Itsuki stood up and wandered back to the kitchen where she pulled out a pair of tall cans from a convenience store bag. "So, Ichika told me you drink now?"

Futaro frowned. "Only on special occasions," he said defensively. "You drink now?"

Itsuki snapped open both of their cans in one fluid motion and handed one to Futaro. "Only on special occasions," Itsuki replied with a sly smile, taking a sip of her can. "We should make a toast. Beer always tastes better when you toast."

"To what?"

"Oh, I don't know," Itsuki shrugged while eating a chip. "There's tons to celebrate. We could toast to being accepted at our new internship at one of the best schools in the nation...to our supportive supervisor...to co-teaching together..." Itsuki continued, her voice laced with excitement. "...To Ichika's dream role, to Yotsuba and I moving to Tokyo..."

Futaro groaned dramatically. "Okay, okay, I get it!" He exclaimed, cutting her off. "All of that. At once."

"Alright then," she said. "Deal."

They tapped their cans together. "Kampai!" They declared before taking long swigs from their cans. Itsuki let out an audible sigh of contentment afterwards. "See? This just tastes so much better when you make a toast!"

Futaro dropped his backpack and helmet on the floor with a thud, then eased himself down onto the worn tatami mats beside the kotatsu. He peered underneath to find the table already heated from an electric fan heater. His stomach growled quietly as he settled in with his can of beer.

"It didn't take long for you to make yourself at home," Futaro joked.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Itsuki replied, sitting across from him. "Your apartment has a bit of a draft and I was getting cold."

"I know, it's awful. I'm hoping to move soon," Futaro shrugged with another sip of his beer. He watched as Itsuki grabbed a handful of chips from the two plates at the center before pushing them closer to Futaro's side. Futaro accepted the token offering gratefully and popped a few chips into his mouth, suddenly realizing how hungry he was.

"I see," she continued. "You know what's a good idea? Moving in with Yotsuba. Why don't you and her start talking again and arrange some new living arrangements. Living in Tokyo is much better when you have someone to split rent with." Itsuki offered the suggestion with a smug smirk, and Futaro's brow furrowed in annoyance.

"How about you stop beating around the bush and just tell me why you're here, Itsuki."

Itsuki chuckled softly. "I thought not. It's never that simple," Itsuki rested her chin against the edge of the warm kotatsu. She looked at him, eyebrows raised as if waiting for an answer. Her expression was gentle but expectant. "Let me approach this in a different way. I was about to leave when it dawned on me that you hadn't answered my question. So, I thought I'd give you an out—a way to save face without having to admit you were scared or embarrassed by my question. You could say something like, 'I was in a rush to get somewhere and didn't hear your question,' or 'I was worried about what you'd think of me if I told you the truth.' Or even, 'I didn't know how to face you.' So what do you say? I'm all ears."

Futaro's eyes narrowed as he studied Itsuki's mischievous expression. He knew that she was trying to bait him into something and he wasn't in the mood for games. He put down his beer and leaned back resting his palms on the floor. "I don't need an out. I do."

Itsuki's smile faded a bit as she realized that Futaro was being serious. Perhaps she didn't think he'd answer her so straightforwardly. "You do? You still love us?"

"Itsuki, I never stopped."

"T-That's good," Itsuki nodded rapidly. As if again, she didn't expect him to be so straightforward. "Then you probably know why I'm here."

"Itsuki, I have no clue what you're trying to do."

In response, Itsuki let out an exasperated groan as she chugged the rest of her beer. As if instinctive, another can of beer quickly found its way into her hands and she popped it open with a satisfying hiss.

"I need some reassurance, Uesugi-kun! Tell me that you won't disappear again! Just make up with Yotsuba already, so when we start working together, everything will be back to normal!" Itsuki's cheeks were turning bright red. Futaro was unsure if it was from embarrassment or the alcohol.

"Look, Itsuki, I appreciate your concern, but we're better off living apart."

Itsuki's expression grew more intense and she leaned in closer towards Futaro. "Is it really because of me?" She asked, her voice low and urgent. "You can't forgive me?" She took another swig of her beer.

"No, I can't," Futaro blurted out. He wasn't sure that he entirely meant to say that, but the words slipped out before he could process them. "When you kissed me in Hawaii, it ruined all the confidence I had in my relationship with Yotsuba."

Itsuki's eyes widened in surprise, but then narrowed in suspicion. "Is that really all? You lost your nerve over one little kiss?" She asked, her tone slightly accusatory.

"It's not just the kiss, Itsuki," Futaro drank the rest of his beer mostly just to give his hands something to do. Itsuki angrily slid another can across the table to him. "You made your move knowing damn well I was dating Yotsuba! You came dressed up like some girl from my past, asked me questions that made me doubt my love for Yotsuba...and then you let me go on believing I had cheated for almost half a year! At least the others had enough courage to face me as themselves instead of hiding behind a ghost from my past."

Itsuki's face turned red, the alcohol giving her the courage to speak her mind. "It's about the fact that I was sneaky about it. Is that it?" Her voice dripped with sarcasm. "Well, maybe if you weren't so dense, you would have realized that I've had feelings for you for a long time now!" She exclaimed, slamming her can on the table.

Futaro's jaw clenched and he leaned closer to Itsuki. " You want to know what I think? I think you made Yotsuba lie to me about the identity of who kissed me in Hawaii. You asked Miku to come visit me earlier this month. You have Ichika asking me to come with her to her photoshoots every other week. You had all your sisters make Christmas presents to take to my sister after Christmas when you assumed I'd be home. All so that, what? I don't get you. Do you really think that if you manipulate me enough, I'll forgive everything?" He shook his head. "I need you to be straight with me, or I swear on my sister I'll drop out from my internship. I have no intention of working with someone like that. Come clean. What else are you hiding? What else are you scheming?"

Itsuki locked eyes with Futaro. As angry as she looked, Futaro could still tell she was fighting back the urge to cry. It was enough to make Futaro regret raising his voice. Itsuki rested her head on the kotatsu again. She turned her can of beer around and around absentmindedly. "You know what always made me so angry about watching you two be a couple during our third year?"

Futaro studied Itsuki, confused. He could almost feel the intensity of her thoughts as they raced through her mind.

She sighed heavily. "Uesugi-kun, I hated that for the first time in my life I felt like I missed out on something. I spent so much time thinking of my grades, and trying to be like Mom, that by the time I realized what it was that I wanted, the opportunity to seize it had already passed." She grabbed the can and chugged the rest of its contents. "I made a mistake, Uesugi-kun. I should have realized my feelings for you ages ago. That's why I was always on your case making sure you weren't being too affectionate with Yotsuba around Nino—because deep down, I wanted it to be me you were paying attention to." Her hands shook as she opened a plastic container and hastily swallowed down cake with a gulp from another can of beer. She perched on her heels and scooted around the leg of the kotatsu until she was closer to Futaro all while searching his face for a reaction as she spoke. "Truth is, I'm lonely. Yotsuba has you. Ichika has her career. Miku and Nino have each other. As far as I'm concerned, they'll be attached at the hip for the rest of our lives. And that just leaves me," she said, swallowing hard as a hollow feeling settled in her chest. "Uesugi-kun, quintuplets can't split happiness five ways." Futaro watched as Itsuki downed the rest of her beer, her voice heavy with emotion.

They sat in silence for a moment as Futaro tried to think of something to say. Part of him wanted to console her and bridge the gap. But every time he tried to open his mouth, the words would not come to him.

"But you're right," Itsuki cleared her throat, breaking the silence, "No more schemes, Uesugi-kun." She paused, tugging at the hem of her shirt nervously. "I guess what I'm asking is...do you still consider yourself to be in a relationship with Yotsuba? What I mean is, have you decided to break up with her or not?"

Futaro frowned, nervously wringing his hands together as he struggled to form an answer. "I...well, I don't think so. I mean, I don't think I want to. But I don't know how she feels about us at the moment though."

Itsuki nodded slowly. "Okay. I was hoping It wouldn't come to this. But it does make things much easier," she muttered under her breath. Itsuki leaned in close to him, and he could smell the sweet perfume she was wearing. Futaro felt his heart rate increase as he realized where this conversation was headed. He tried to back away, but Itsuki grabbed his arm and tugged him towards her. "What are you doing—

"I think you know," Itsuki purred, her lips curling into a mischievous smile. Before Futaro could protest again, she leaned in and kissed him. Her kiss was forceful and tasted bitter. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Futaro tried to push away, but somehow Itsuki had gotten leverage over him. He could feel her tongue probing his mouth, in a way that he wasn't used to. He felt her body press up against him, and the heat from her breath as she pulled away. He gasped for breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

"You're going to have to talk to Yotsuba sooner or later," she said breathlessly. "You have one week. One week–or I tell Yotsuba you invited me into your apartment to drink and celebrate our internship and that you made a move on me."

"Have you lost your damn mind!?" Futaro said. But before he could continue, she had already fallen backwards onto the tatami mat, her eyes glazing over as she let out a long yawn and her body sank into the floor. Her breathing deepened to a soft snore within moments.

You've got to be kidding me! Futaro groaned.

"Come on, Itsuki! You need to go. You can't stay here. Let me help you get an Uber to your sister's place." He shook her gently but she didn't stir. He didn't want her in his place after she forced herself on him. But he quickly realized he couldn't simply call Ichika and ask for help without implicating himself. He imagined her stern and doubtful stare. Futaro pressed his lips together in a tight line and resigned himself to failure. He cursed and backed away from Itsuki. Carefully, he picked up the discarded cake container, beer cans, and other rubbish and placed them on a nearby table.

What a mess, he thought to himself. Futaro stood up, stretching his arms above his head, and took a deep breath. His gaze drifted away from Itsuki as he picked up a discarded can off the floor and read the label absentmindedly. Then something about it caught his eye—instead of beer, the can read Highball Whiskey. Itsuki had been drinking from a can of highball instead of beer—the cans looked so similar that he hadn't noticed, and likely she hadn't either. He groaned in frustration and shook his head slowly. He rushed over to her and brought over a thick blanket that he draped around her body, putting a pillow under her head for comfort. Before turning away, a cruel idea floated into Futaro's head. You know, two can play at this game.

He grabbed his camera and lined up the cans of alcohol in frame, making sure that the labels were facing up next to the sleeping Itsuki, and snapped a few quick photos. He chose the clearest one to upload to his computer and drafted a quick email.

Dear Nakano-sensei,

I hope and trust that your week went well. Please review the attachment below and email me back your thoughts on school faculty decorum compliance. Are student-teachers who are still technically underaged supposed to be drinking? I'm not entirely sure. I look forward to working with you, and I trust that our co-teaching will be collaborative, effective and transformative for both our academic careers.

Warm Regards,

Uesugi Futaro

Futaro triple checked that he was sending the image to her phone instead of elsewhere before hitting send. He noticed Itsuki's phone ping notifying that she got the image. He glared at his sloppy guest and ignored the guilty feeling bubbling in his stomach before flopping onto his own bed.

"And I'm supposed to teach with you for a whole year?" Futaro sighed. He wondered about what she had told him. Despite feeling irritated, he couldn't help but feel a wave of sympathy washing over him when he thought about how lonely Itsuki must have felt during those tough times. She had kissed him—twice. His body tensed up just thinking about what Yotsuba might do if she found out about this second kiss that happened tonight in his apartment. She may have forgiven the time Itsuki and he kissed in Hawaii due to the circumstances, but he doubted she'd be too happy to hear it had happened again. She had forced his hand. "I have to get ahead of this," Futaro muttered, curling up into a ball under the blankets and dropping off into an uneasy sleep.

~Yotsuba~

Yotsuba heaved her body across the finish line with one final burst of energy. She craned her head up to the sky to prevent beads of sweat from further clouding her vision and steam puffed out from her lips like a dragon's breath. Her hair hung in damp clumps around her face. No sooner had she crossed the line than had a sea of hands surrounded her, wrapping a thin aluminum blanket around her small frame and pushing an oxygen mask to her face. She could feel their hands on her back and arms, guiding her off the track and onto the benches at the side.

"What's my time?! What's my time?!" Yotsuba grunted in between draws of oxygen.

"Nakano-san, you must stay still!" One of the managers shouted. They replaced the oxygen mask with a water bottle, wiping the sweat from her forehead while another massaged her tight calves. Yotsuba's heart was pounding in her chest as she tried to catch her breath. She glanced around at the people who were fussing over her and felt a sense of gratitude for their care and concern.

"What's my time?" She asked again, her voice slightly muffled by the water bottle.

The manager checked his stopwatch and then looked up at her with a smile. "11.50. New PB for practice, Nakano-san. Good work. You just might end up being the fastest in the hundred-meter by this summer." It was as if she couldn't truly register the words at the moment. They washed over her as if he was speaking a foreign language. "The fastest?" She turned her head to glance at the times from the rest of the team.

Inoue, Yuna...11.59(s)

Higashi Mitsuru…11.55(s)

Lisa Lewis…12.00(s)

Rachel Chu…12.01(s)

Their times were close. Too close. It made Yotsuba especially uneasy how close Mitsuru was to taking over her time. One single misstep is all it would take for Yotsuba to lose her top spot and she didn't want to lose to a girl like her. She was bossy and rude during practice, and she was inconsiderate and noisy when they were at the dorms. Yotsuba wondered if she was being so unpleasant intentionally just for the sake of psyching the other girls out. Mitsuru's time was impressive. But there's no way Coach Ueda would want someone that disagreeable on the Olympic team, would he?

Yotsuba wasn't entirely sure. Track is a selfish sport, she remembered Maenaka-senpai telling her. She missed her old senpai's kind guidance. Perhaps she wasn't cut out for the cut-throat world of high level competitions. Everywhere she looked, she didn't see colleagues working together—she saw girls competing against one another. Maybe I have enough in the tank for one more run, she wondered.

She glanced around at the managers who had already moved onto assisting other girls. She attempted to raise her body off the bench, but before she could stand, she felt a heavy hand press down on her shoulder as if it were an anchor keeping her in place.

"Don't even think about it, Nakano-san. You're spent," Coach Ueda towered over her. "If you really want to feel like you're doing something, go pick up the cones from the relays." Yotsuba frowned, disappointed that she couldn't do another run, but nodded obediently. She knew when Coach Ueda spoke in that tone that there was no point in arguing. As Yotsuba made her way around the track she walked past Mitsuru. "Nice run, Nakano-san," she said, clapping Yotsuba on the back. "But don't get too comfortable in that top spot. I'll be coming for you." She smirked and walked away, leaving Yotsuba feeling both irritated and tired. She could hear the girls whispering about her. She ignored them and started walking to pick up the cones.

As she reached the first cone, she looked up to the stands and saw someone taking pictures. That wasn't too strange—she had long since gotten used to random students and reporters visiting practice to take photos of the practice team. But something about this photographer felt off. She walked closer to the stands to try and get a better look at the photographer, but his dark sunglasses and hood made it difficult to get a good look at his face. He seemed to be deliberately trying to avoid her as he'd angle his body perfectly so that he was always facing away from her. A cold stone settled in the pit of her stomach. Coach Ueda had warned them about sports-paparazzi photographers that would sneak into practice sessions looking for gossip or a peek at the uniform malfunctions that could be sold off to two-bit drama blogs. Suddenly, he turned and started to exit the stadium. Yotsuba knew she had to act fast. Who knows what kind of photos he had taken. She leapt up to the stands to chase the guy down, her legs pounding as she raced after him.

"Hey! You there!" Yotsuba shouted, but the photographer didn't slow down. Instead, he quickened his pace, trying to escape by the stairs. Yotsuba managed to catch up, and before he reached the bottom step, she tackled him with all her might. They both tumbled down the stairs, and Yotsuba felt a sharp pain in her side as they hit the ground. Yotsuba held on tight, her fingers digging into his shirt. "I'm not going to hurt you, just let me see what you took," she shouted.

"I know you're not! But get off of me, idiot!" His voice was gruff and pained.

The photographer climbed to his feet and pulled Yotsuba up with him. He slowly turned to her, and she suddenly realized why he was wearing dark sunglasses.

"Wha..." She opened and closed her mouth, suddenly speechless. She finally managed to find her voice.

"F-Futaro?"

Author's note: Hi everyone! Thank you once again for reading another chapter of Marching Forward!

I was quite looking forward to getting to this point in the arc because I was waiting to throw the curveball of Futaro and Yotsuba being forced to talk to each other by Itsuki for a while. She's been trying to play moderator for so long, that it was about time it blew up in her face. But it seems like she was already prepared to sacrifice her connection to her sister, and her friendship with Futaro to set things right.

Things are continuing to heat up while the weather around me continues to cool down! The Spider lilies have come and gone, I've celebrated another birthday (yay happy birthday to me) and the leaves have all changed color. Yay to the best time of the year! Autumn!

ANNOUNCEMENT: I will be participating in NaNoWriMo this year, and I'll be making a separate story centering around Futaro and Itsuki. That means that the next chapter of MF will likely be delayed as I navigate the schedule of trying to write a complete novel in a month. As an apology, I'll be uploading some unconnected (rough draft) scenes from MF are technically canon, but have no place organic place for them to fit in the fic.

If all goes well, you might start seeing uploads of the new story titled Lesson Five as early as late December and that will likely have a speedier upload time than MF as it wont be a long fic. Please look forward to both my projects!

Thank you so much for your constant support and readership. I have grown so much as a reader and writer, and I couldn't have done it without each and every single person who's stopped by and read a chapter of my fic or took time out of their day to leave a review. Your encouragement has gotten me nearly two years into my project and I couldn't be happier.