Fuutarou, once again, walked heavily through the streets of the city, except that, unlike on previous occasions, this time it was the hour after the sun set over the horizon. He had just left his part-time job at Revival Bakery heading straight for his residence, the place where he planned to study until exhaustion claimed him. However, he needed to figure something out first. Something he had needed almost desperately for some time now, even more so with what happened this afternoon with Miku.
Ah yes, Miku. Fuutarou did his best to try and forget about that issue, being particularly active during work. Of course, that derived in him trying to replicate again one of the cakes sold in the display cases, being brutally criticized by his boss and incidentally by Nino, but that's another story.
So, Ichika was also in love with him? As far as he knew, his students were falling in love with him, at least that was the case with Nino and Ichika. He thought Miku was too, but that no longer seemed to be the case. Well, at least he didn't have to worry about the other two, that's something...
What was he supposed to do, what answer was he supposed to give them? Did he even feel the same way about either of them? These kinds of questions flooded his head for the past few hours.
He vividly recalled the conversation he had with Nino during her first day at the Revival Bakery...
Some days ago.
.
.
Nino quietly entered the break room of the bakery, closing the door behind her before deflating her shoulders.
"What should I do?" She commented with sadness and a downcast countenance. "Everyone's job got messed up because of me..."
Nino felt terrible. Upon receiving the news that the shop would be visited by that culinary critic May, all the staff had gone all out on orders from the boss and Nino had been no exception, in fact, she had probably overexerted herself, causing the mix in the orders she was in charge of to taste unpleasant due to an oversight, causing the whole team to be delayed in order to make it again.
Nino immediately tried to correct her mistake by redoing it, however, the boss had sent her to rest out of consideration as she was the new one and not used to the workload.
"Maybe I should go back. I probably don't use enough peanut butter and maybe-".
"The boss said so, it's not your fault." Fuutarou said sitting at the table in the room. He had requested his break about ten minutes ago. "In fact, it's 100% his fault for trusting a rookie."
"But I've never been wrong like this before, why just today?". Nino asked more to herself than to Fuutarou, who simply gave her a quick disinterested glance before getting up from the table and, without a word, walked to cross a nearby door.
Nino sighed in defeat.
I can't believe I was so pathetic in front of Fuu-kun...
After coming out from where he had entered, Fuutarou carried a heavy-looking cardboard box which he placed on the table in front of him.
"Come take a look at this." Fuutarou said, catching the attention of Nino, who approached that box curiously to see its contents once the black-haired man opened it.
"Are they...Santa Clauses?".
"Yes, they're Christmas decorations. I made the wrong order and accidentally ordered 1000 instead of 100." Sighed Fuutarou, noticing the big gap in his salary that season. "This is enough for the next 10 years."
"Eh?"
"These marks on the table are from when I tripped and fell." He said pointing to a corner of the table.
"Wh-what are you trying to say?". Nino asked increasingly confused by the turn the conversation was taking.
"I've taken customers' orders wrong, I can't even count how many plates I've broken and let alone the amount of ingredients that go to waste every time I try to make some cake." Fuutarou shrugged his shoulders at her. "Compared to that, your mistake is nothing."
"Y-You're...trying to cheer me up?" Nino asked incredulously, to which Fuutarou looked away slightly as he stroked a lock of his black hair.
"Take it any way you want. I'm just trying to tell you how complicated the job can be. After all, I'm technically your Sempai here."
Nino just looked at him silently, surprised.
...Then why are you avoiding me?
"I see, I'm sorry for worrying you." Nino said averting her gaze in an attempt to play it down. "I must be hard to work with, uh?".
"I guess it's not wrong to consider failure as experience. Thanks to that, through the various jobs I've had, I've realized something." Fuutarou moved a little closer to Nino to properly talk to her.
"I'm a man who can't do anything but study. I'm just a bookworm who can tutor five female classmates." Fuutarou sighed. "Until now I thought of nothing but studies and cut off all my personal relationships other than my family...so that was the first time someone proposed to me."
This made Nino gawk.
"I didn't know what to answer...so let me do it right now. What I'm feel is-"
"Wait!" Nino hurriedly interjected. "I already know you don't feel the same way about me and I understand that. I was always so mean to you, I treated you like crap...this will sound selfish, and indeed it is, but please don't decide yet, not yet. Give me a chance."
Nino clenched her fists at her sides and determinedly began to move towards Fuutarou.
"We barely worked together and I haven't been able to prove anything to you, so I want you to give yourself time so you can get to know me better. I want you to get a good understanding of how much I love you!". Nino shouted planting herself in front of her beloved as her pulse raced as she realized exactly what she was saying.
Several seconds of tense silence reigned throughout the break room until the point where they could hear a small cricket in the corner of the ceiling.
"I see." With a neutral expression, Fuutarou turned to begin walking towards the door, causing Nino to break her limbo state and explode like a pokeball into a crimson tomato that began spewing smoke out of her ears.
With a meek attitude, the latter began to follow Fuutarou out of the break room, immediately running into his boss.
"Just in time you two, May-sama has already arrived!". He said somewhat rushed by the situation. "Come here, we have to hurry!".
"Coming, boss." Fuutarou replied directly.
Nino just ducked her head and followed them silently down the hallway, still quite unsure of what to do.
HOW EMBARRASSING, I WANT TO DIE!
"Hm? Are you alright, Uesugi-kun?" The boss asked once he gave his employee a glance, said pointing caught Nino's attention, who looked up to see his interaction. "You're red up to your ears, do you have a fever?".
"N-No, I-I don't..." Fuutarou answered with difficulty, giving him a closer look, she could see his ears tinged with that color that Nino never thought to see on him.
Nino's previous attitude vanished as if it hadn't been there in the first place, sketching a smile as pure happiness flooded her entire being. She quickened her pace and quickly caught up to Fuutarou from behind.
"Fuu-kun, I'm going to reach for your heart, yes?~." She said cupping her hand close to her lips so that her murmur was easily heard by Fuu, who tensed before watching as Nino simply reached around him to brush past him with a small tender chuckle.
"Come, come!" Called their boss with a wave of his hand once they approached him as he was hiding behind a potted plant. "That person over there is May-sama, at table 5."
Peeking out from the bush, Nino and Fuutarou followed their boss's finger pointing to the said table located at the other end of the bakery.
Both teenagers, somewhat fearful and curious about the appearance of this famous restaurant critic feared by their boss, took a good look at it...
They caught a glimpse of a red-haired ahoge...wearing a trench coat, dark glasses and a face mask. A not at all suspicious or striking disguise, at all.
Both teens looked at each other with a blank expression before sharing a small laugh, something that in their hearts, neither would have expected to happen with the long-haired Nino.
"Don't worry, I'll go take care of her!". She said to both men who watched as the girl ran over to the table with glee.
"Wow, Nakano-san is amazing." Complimented the boss sincerely. "She sure has guts for a rookie."
"You have no idea..." Fuutarou muttered almost out of reflex.
As he watched the butterfly girl walk away, Fuutarou was about to return to his work before he saw her stop to look at him briefly.
Chu~
Blowing him a flirtatiously blown kiss, which made Fuutarou cover the lower part of his face with his hand to prevent the color his face had just taken on from showing. And once again, Fuutarou fixed his gaze on her soft lips before turning to leave. No, he definitely wasn't going to think about that again.
Although going on the offensive is her thing...I don't even know what I'm thinking anymore.
Meanwhile at table five, Nino approached May.
"Hmm, tsk tsk tsk, 3 minutes late." May said looking at her wristwatch before writing something in a small notebook that was on the table. "If someone was having a sugar crash and would need dessert, might as well wait until the Día de Muertos to-".
"What are you supposed to be doing here?". With a sudden movement, Nino slipped a finger into her face mask to pull it down, revealing her not-so-secret identity. "Itsuki."
"H-Huh!? H-How did you know it was me!? N-No! I mean, I'm not Itsuki, it's me, Mutsumi! Nino-san, long time no see!".
"You're such an idiot, I can't insult you...".
.
.
Ignoring that last part, the rest of the shift, Nino was quite clingy with Fuutarou, Clinging to him and flirting with him with the goal of blushing him again, something that happened quite a few times, it wasn't too hard for the second sister all things considered. As strange as it sounded, Fuutarou would have given her 6 months salary for Nino and Ichika to switch places, as she had just reconfirmed that unlike her, Nino wasn't just talk. she was serious.
But then again, what the hell was I supposed to do?
"And I don't want an answer. You're so desperate, if you don't look at me with those eyes I'm going to have to encourage you to do it".
Fuutarou was about to reject Nino until she interrupted him...and he agreed with her that he probably needed time to think it over carefully. What did he feel for her? Why did he feel that sense of happiness that afternoon that was frankly unsettling?
But more importantly, what the hell did he feel for the others?
They used to be tutor-students and now they could be defined as friends...was this what friends should feel when they are together? Fuutarou didn't know how to answer that.
The hired tutor took advantage of the empty sidewalk to let out a loud and heavy sigh laden with frustration at not even knowing what to think, in fact, it probably wasn't even time for all this, he had an exam he had to study for.
"Ah, right. The exam..." Fuutarou brought a hand to his face. Once again, his idiocy was coming back to bite him in the ass.
"All in order?"
Snapping him out of his thoughts, an elegant voice called out to him from behind and Fuutarou didn't even have to turn around to see who it was.
"I don't even know what order is anymore." He said without stopping his walk.
"So bad, huh?". Takebayashi said placing herself next to him.
"Remember what I told you about needing an ear? I think it's time." He said wearily.
Without saying anything, Takebayashi frowned and pouted slightly as she averted her gaze slightly.
"I see, so you only call me when you're in trouble, huh? It was already weird to me that after days of us meeting again you barely asked for my number when leaving the library."
"You know I'm not much of a texter."
"That's because you still have that damn toaster for a phone."
Fuutarou sighed and gave her a sidelong glance. "I'm sorry I have to drag you into my problems anyway. It's just that I need to blow off some steam and I can't do that with any of them, you know? At least not about a certain topic in particular."
"Fufu, don't worry, I was joking. Now that I'm by your side again, rest assured that I'll always be there for you, Fuutarou." Said Takebayashi giving him a warm smile, same that was imitated shortly after by Fuutarou. "So, what ails you?".
"In a nutshell, I reached my popularity phase." Said the tutor directly. "The ones interested in me are Nino and Ichika".
"And what about the others?". Takebayashi asked. "Miku, for example? From what I see she's quite close to you."
"No, not her, she just confirmed it to me today. And besides, what's with that naturalness? I thought you'd be more surprised." Fuutarou said arching an eyebrow.
"The only thing that would have you like this would be something unrelated to studying. Romance is the only thing I can think of."
Fuutarou simply remained silent for a few seconds before replying.
"I'm completely at zero. I don't even know where to start."
"How about at the beginning? Maybe that'll help clear your head." She said with a smile.
"Yeah, I guess." Fuutarou nodded and once again, the two fell into a comfortable, comforting silence for a good portion of the walk until the pair began to slowly approach the Uesugi residence.
"Wow, this place sure hasn't changed a bit." Takebayashi said as she scanned the surroundings with a wistful look. "It brings back memories of when we used to come walking together from elementary school."
"You mean I was coming alone and you were just following me to make sure I did my homework." Fuutarou snorted with amusement. "Although well, after that time I was the one dragging you along with me to help me study."
"Needless to say, that day was crazy for both of us. And tell me, how is Raiha? I'm sure she must have grown up a lot by now, right? I'm already excited to see her again!".
"Yeah, sure thing. The last time you saw her she was practically a baby." Fuutarou replied with a smile at the mental image of his adorable little sister. "She's grown up a lot now, I even think she's more mature than me, always watching my back. She even takes care of the housework, though...".
"Yeah, not ideal for a girl her age." Takebayashi commented. "But...I guess maturing earlier isn't entirely a bad thing, no. It can give you the weapons you need to cope with life."
"Hmm...yes, I think you're right." Fuutarou confirmed raising his gaze to the stars visible in the sky. "I'm sure mom would be proud of her and what she will become in the future."
"Of both of us." Corrected the girl with a bright expression on her face. "Aunt Yuri would be very proud of both of you, Fuutarou."
After that, they both remained silent again for a few more minutes until they finally reached their destination.
"Wow, once again, this sure hasn't changed a bit." Takebayashi said placing her hands on her hips as she took a look at Fuutarou's abode. A two story residence, on the lowest floor was a faded and neglected facade of what appeared to be an old storefront that fell into bankruptcy. From it protruded a sign rusted from poor maintenance.
Uesugi Bakery.
Fuutarou and Takebayashi had always had mixed feelings when they looked at such a sign, both as children and now.
"Let's go." Fuutarou said simply, starting to walk towards the entrance that led to the top via a flight of stairs, being followed by Takebayashi.
"I'm back!" Fuutarou shouted once they both entered the foyer of the apartment so they could take off their shoes.
"Onii-chan, welcom-". Running at full speed upon hearing the announcement of her brother's arrival, Raiha rushed to greet him, being stunned when she saw a never-before-seen black-haired girl standing next to him. "Take-san!".
If Takebayashi hadn't strengthened her stance she would have fallen backwards to the ground as soon as the little girl pounced on her.
"I can't believe it's you! I missed you so much!" The girl said cheerfully as she affectionately rubbed her cheek against her lap, causing the redhead to reciprocate the hug she was giving her.
"Raiha, what a treat!". She said warmly as she stroked her head. "I was dying to see you again too.".
"What are you doing here, Take-san? Hadn't you just moved to Tokyo?" The girl asked before briefly breaking away from her to give her a glance at the uniform she was wearing. A green skirt, a white shirt with a dark gray sweater and a black blazer.
"Wait...isn't that Onii-chan's high school uniform?".
"That's right, I came back to town a couple of months ago and as a result, I transferred to her high school."
"And in the same classroom as me and those goofballs." Fuutarou said dryly.
"If so, why hadn't you told me that Take-san was back!?". Said the little girl placing her hands on her hips in an authoritative manner while pouting prettily.
"I forgot."
"Onii-chan!".
"What does it matter? She's visiting now, isn't she?". Fuutarou said calming the little girl by gently combing her choke, which did wonders to improve Raiha's mood.
"Hehe. Yeah, I guess. Take-san. That means you're staying for dinner...right?". Raiha turned to the black-haired girl, throwing her deadly weapon.
The puppy dog eyes!
"Depends, what's for dinner?". But to the girl's astonishment, Takebayashi didn't even flinch.
"Uhm...C-Curry..." The little girl, stunned that anyone could resist her trump card, could simply start sweating nervously.
"Hmm..." Takebayashi put a hand to her chin thoughtfully before giving Raiha a teasing look. "What should I do...~"
"Mooo, Take-san! Onii-chan say something to her!".
"Just kidding, Raiha. Of course I'll stay for dinner." She said with a warm smile as she crouched down to be at her height.
Raiha brightened her expression upon hearing that.
"You're serious?".
"Sure, Fuutarou says your cooking is very delicious and I'd like to check it out for myself."
"Take-san!". After that the little girl couldn't resist the urge to rush over to wrap her big sister in another giant hug, filled with happiness at being able to be reunited with her again.
After that, the group of 3 finally entered the living room, where a figure emanating a sinister aura was waiting for them sitting at the dining table with his hands clasped in front of his face.
"So you're back, huh?" He asked somberly, causing Fuutarou to put on an irritated expression on his face at whatever his father, Isanari, was doing and Raiha to feel a bit fearful at the strange atmosphere that had suddenly arisen.
"So it seems, Isanari-san." Takebayashi replied with a smile.
Without another word, Isanari stood up and walked heavily until she planted herself in front of the black-haired girl, towering with her nearly 2 meters tall over the petite 1.60 female silhouette.
"I see you're already quite the lady."
"I see you're older."
"Tsk. Little..."
"O-Onii-chan?" Raiha asked holding his hand, unsure and fearful about what she should do in front of the tense scene in front of her, but before she could think about it any further...
"Arg, come here!".
With a swift movement, Isanari slipped her arm around Takebayashi's shoulders, holding her in a key with a gentle grip while using her other hand to carve her head playfully.
"I see you're still a petulant brat, I'm going to teach you to respect your elders!".
"Haha, whatever you say grandpa." Takebayashi said laughing at the man's endearments.
"Grandpa!? I'm barely in my 25th year!".
"Of having expired."
"Daughter of-".
"Will you two stop that already?!". Fuutarou grumbled. "What example are you setting for Raiha, old man...though even without that it's not like you're a role model..."
At that, Isanari simply clicked his tongue before releasing Takebayashi and pretending to shake the dust off his clothes.
"Disrespect abounds around here. Raiha, don't be like them."
"Okay, Dad! But all this aside, it's time for dinner!". Said the girl cheerfully once she saw that it was all just a game.
After that, they all proceeded to settle down at the tatami table in order to enjoy a delicious dinner prepared by Raiha, which was complimented almost all the time by Takebayashi, who couldn't believe that a girl of her age had such culinary talent. Raiha for her part was happy that Takebayashi enjoyed her food and reiterated that she would always be happy to cook for her.
Otherwise, the talk was quite pleasant, chatting about trivial things like how Takebayashi liked school, her stay in Tokyo or some anecdotes in the childhood of the two young people present, which was of utmost interest to Raiha.
"And that's how we almost ended up in another city just because Takebayashi wanted to see what was at the end of the rainbow." Fuutarou said sipping the last of his plate of curry.
"Th-That story is obviously dramatized, Raiha. You shouldn't believe them...". Takebayashi replied with a blush on her cheeks as she averted her gaze slightly.
"Hahahahaha! You should have seen it Raiha! I still remember how Yuri scolded those two for hours after they returned home well into the night." Isanari laughed loudly smacking the table from laughing before taking a sip of his carton of milk.
"Hehe, yeah, Aunt Yuri was really furious, but after that she hugged us until we ran out of air. She was really worried about us." Takebayashi said with a nostalgic smile.
"Besides don't act like you don't know anything, that day mom also scolded you for not stopping us." Fuutarou said.
"Oh come on, I still don't know why! Children need to explore and develop their ideas even if those ideas are destined to fail. That gives them experience which translates into learning." Explained Isanari in a rather atypically professional and calm tone, causing everyone at the table, including Raiha, to look at him quizzically. "Your mother worried too much."
"I don't know whether to be surprised at your alarmingly logical reasoning or that you've been able to raise Raiha alone to date." Fuutarou said looking at him with a blank expression.
"I have my moments too, you know.".
"Onii-chan, Take-san, keep telling me more stories about Okaa-san!". Raiha exclaimed with excitement and enthusiasm.
"Hold it right there young lady. It's getting late and we need to take a bath." Intervened her father standing up.
"But dad! I want to keep talking!". Raiha kicked with a pout.
"Pops is right, Raiha. It's getting late and he'll be going to work soon and you should sleep early to go to school tomorrow." Fuutarou said starting to pick up the dishes from the table so he could carry them to the sink. "Not to say that Takebayashi must go home soon as well."
Unable to refute such arguments, Raiha simply lowered her head before giving Takebayashi a glance.
"Nee, Take-san?" The little girl called shyly. "You'll come visit some other time, won't you? I want to play with you like we used to in the past and have you keep telling me more stories about Okaa-san and my Onii-chan..."
"Of course, Raiha. Don't worry, you won't be able to get rid of me so easily now that I'm back in town." She said with a bright smile that was soon mimicked by the little girl.
"Umu!".
After that, Raiha and Isanari went to take a bath together while Fuutarou and Takebayashi had stayed behind so they could wash the dishes together, and since there weren't too many of them, they were both able to finish the task quickly by adding their efforts together.
"Now that was something, eh?". Takebayashi said as she dried her hands with a nearby towel. "I know I've said it many times already today, but Raiha sure has talent, where did she learn to cook so well?".
"At first dad taught her what little he knew how to prepare, but when he ran out of things to teach her, he gave her mom's recipe books." Fuutarou said with a smile as she finished arranging the clean dishes in their proper place.
"No way, the ones Aunt Yuri wrote herself?". Takebayashi asked visibly surprised. "You're not serious."
"I am. Raiha read them and after practice and error, she got to where she is now. In a way, it's like Mom taught her."
"Aunt Yuri always loved to cook, though she specialized more in baking and pastry making, didn't she?"
"Yes. I guess she inherited that talent from Raiha." Fuutarou said with a sigh.
Takebayashi said nothing and simply walked until he stood in front of Fuutarou and raised her hand to stroke his hair gently.
"And you inherited her intelligence, Fuutarou." She said warmly with a smile. "Not just anyone is capable of running a business, you know? But even she couldn't do everything. There were things she couldn't handle on her own and she had to ask Isanari for help."
"Well, you're right. Mom was never good at things like advertising the bakery or naming her original breads." Fuutarou said as Takebayashi withdrew her hand. "If Baget Tiramisaurus could be considered a good name..."
"Fufufu, I really liked it. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is don't feel like you have to do it all alone. Now that I'm with you I won't let that happen, so why don't you tell me what's on your mind, mhm?" Takebayashi said interlocking her hands behind her back as she gently leaned forward." "Let's go to the rooftop so we can chat, come!".
Before Fuutarou could protest, the black-haired girl had already exited through a door leading to the rooftop of the building and without much to do about it, Fuutarou followed her.
Once outside, the teenage couple was hit by the balmy post-spring air. Being bundled up in their trademark gray sweater and school blazer, the youngsters could feel confident to ignore the temperature with no trouble. They both sat on two plastic chairs on the roof overlooking the suburbs of the neighborhood where Fuutarou lived and which, interestingly enough, also overlooked the park where he and Itsuki had gone for a walk quite some time ago.
The teens remained in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, contemplating the, albeit humble, beautiful view until Fuutarou decided to speak once and for all.
"Well...it all started when I met her in my second year of high school." Fuutarou said, causing Takebayashi to turn her head to look at him. "That's when my dreamy nightmare began..."
The next few minutes consisted of Fuutarou relating absolutely his entire story with the quintuplets, leaving out no detail. From the moment he found out he had to be their tutor, the camp, the exams, the hot springs, everything up to the present day where he found out they would be in the same class as them. He also told her about his encounter with Rena and his suspicions about her true identity.
"Uuuh! So you saved Ichika from being crushed by a log, huh? How romantic, Fuutarou."
"I got wet and sick because of you."
"No wonder about today, then."
"Tsk, shut up..."
"So that's why Nino's acting like that, huh?".
"Well, I was able to understand her a bit when Itsuki stayed at my place for a while. She's not a bad person."
"Still a fastball like that is something I have to respect."
"I see, what with it being Miku the fake Itsuki all along, huh? Why did she do it?".
"Honestly, I have no idea. I just know that recognizing her made her very happy for some reason."
"Like scrambled eggs...".
"So Yotsuba is the kind of kind person who can't say no. Well, actually I already knew that."
"She's probably the most problematic of the 5. I'm working on it, though."
"I'm starting to think Itsuki is the female version of Fuutarou. They're both just as hard headed."
"Don't compare me to that currydemon I just can't get along with her."
"Yeah, they're both just as hard headed".
"Let me get this straight. They jumped into the freezing water of the river with you and in the middle of winter?".
"To this day I don't know if I'd call them crazy or mad."
"And they didn't get hypothermia or something?".
"Hmmm...I think Nino was red in the face for a few hours. But nothing more."
"How resilient quintuplets are."
"Hmm, so that girl from Kyoto goes by the name Rena? the same name as the Nakano's mother, isn't it?".
"Yes, as I said, I think it was a bit obvious that she was one of the quintuplets, but I guess the mental ideal I had of her, coupled with the impression I got from our reunion at the lake, made me not see any relation to them."
"No, it's not as obvious as you say. Although it was a bit suspicious that this Rena would appear in front of you shortly after telling Itsuki in the hospital about her existence, it could also be considered an incredible coincidence. Without that last bit of information even I wouldn't have considered it to be either of them. Do you think she's...Itsuki?" Takebayashi asked.
"She could literally be any of them. If I can't tell them apart when they disguise themselves as each other, there's no way I will when they disguise themselves as Rena." Fuutarou sighed leaning back in his seat. "This is absurd...why would they do such a thing?"
Takebayashi crossed her legs elegantly. "Maybe as a way for you to forget her, probably?".
"I mean, yeah, she practically said goodbye to me. But I still don't understand why she would want that, she...she's important to me." Fuutarou said solemnly looking at the scenery in front of them.
"I know. After that school trip you made it very clear to me by talking about that girl for weeks." Takebayashi said with a lopsided smile and a mocking look.
"Sorry about that..."
"I'm not complaining. It was cute seeing you like that, so in love." Laughed the black-haired girl.
"I-I already told you that I'm not in love with her! I just admire her because thanks to her I was able to change for the better, as a friend, that's all." Fuutarou said with a frown and slightly flushed cheeks.
"Suppose I believe you. But leaving that aside, isn't that the answer to the question from a moment ago?".
"What are you talking about?"
Takebayashi simply stood up and took a couple of steps forward, raising her gaze to the earth satellite.
"I understand you both made a promise, right?". Takebayashi asked in a voice as smooth as silk in the wind. "From my point of view, you managed to become a student with excellent grades...and if you ended up becoming the Nakano's tutor..."
"...It means she didn't do her part..." Fuutarou said softly and in a sad tone, something that alarmed Takebayashi terribly, who turned dizzily to look at her friend.
Fuutarou was sitting there, wearing a thoughtful expression as he gazed at some stray light in the landscape.
"Fuutarou..." Takebayashi murmured with concern. "What do you think?"
The black-haired man didn't answer immediately, instead pondering the question for a moment before speaking.
"I already told you." He muttered. "I don't know what to think."
"In that case, what do you feel?". Pressed Takebayashi carefully, trying to get her friend to express whatever was in his heart.
"Disappointment." He said crisply, surprising Takebayashi. "I hadn't thought about it until now, but if one of them is that girl from Kyoto and that she didn't keep her promise then...it makes me feel a little disappointed..."
Takebayashi continued to stare at him in silence, patient as a mountain for her friend to develop her monologue.
"For the past few years, I was really hoping that we would see each other again since that school trip." He said raising his gaze to the night sky. "I was really looking forward to reuniting with her and for both of us to see what we became thanks to the crystallization of that promise. Seeing that she didn't keep it is a little painful. I was hoping that she would show herself to be someone completely different. Not someone like...well, them." Fuutarou said, recalling with grace and some bitterness his first weeks as a tutor and how difficult it was to deal with those troublesome quintuplets.
"You say that, but you ran when Rena appeared in front of you at the lake." Takebayashi pointed out deftly. "You felt that you had no right to see her again, right?".
"Yeah...at that time I didn't want her to be disappointed in me either." Fuutarou said sighing. A small silence formed from both teens before Fuutarou continued. "But anyway, I guess it's also my fault for expecting too much. Besides, I can't condemn her. I don't know what she's been living for these past 6 years. If that Rena is one of them, then it's safe to say that studies weren't her thing to begin with, so in that light it's not like I can really hold anything against her. The good news is that we're changing that, little by little I guess."
"Good point, it's good to see that you see it that way, but still...". Takebayashi said before approaching Fuutarou, and unexpectedly, this one gave him a small karate chop to the head, causing Fuutarou to groan.
"Ouch! And what was that for?".
"What do you mean why? You should learn to value yourself a little more, don't you think?"
"First Rena and now you? Seriously, give me a break." Fuutarou growled in annoyance as he rubbed his head.
Takebayashi simply sighed before looking Fuutarou in the eyes.
"You know..." Takebayashi said, changing her tone to a slightly more serious one. "If I were Rena, I wouldn't be disappointed in you at all, Fuutarou. You've worked hard all this time to get to where you are and I'm sure neither Rena, nor any of them are disappointed in you."
"They will be if I don't make them raise their grades and kept their father from kicking my ass." Fuutarou replied before standing up heavily. "Whoever Rena is, it can wait for later, there are more important things to attend to right now thanks to my big mouth."
"Ah right. They'll definitely be disappointed if that happens." Takebayashi replied sketching a lopsided smile as she saw that Fuutarou had recovered a bit.
Before Fuutarou could respond, a thick voice shouted at the two of them from inside the residence.
"Hey you fools! I don't mean to interrupt but it's already late and Takebayashi already has to go home. Unless she wants to stay, which isn't a problem as long as you guys use protection!".
"Old man! Don't say stuff like that or the neighbors will start looking at me funny!" Fuutarou grumbled.
"Well walk on then, I can give Takebayashi a ride on the motorcycle before I go to work!".
Both youngsters looked at each other and understanding each other perfectly without articulating a word, nodded.
"Well, I guess it's a lot for today and you need to rest." Fuutarou said putting one hand in his pocket while using the other to scratch the back of his head. "Thanks for listening to me."
"Anytime, even though we haven't even addressed the issue you called me about you know?". Takebayashi said in a teasing tone, causing Fuutarou to suddenly look more tired.
"Aagh... That." He grunted heavily dropping his head. They had been so busy talking about Rena that he had forgotten the whole issue of the growing feelings some of his female students had developed.
Takebayashi sighed, placed her hands on her hips and shook her head softly. "Geez Fuutarou, even now you keep going on and on about your crush. You haven't changed at all."
"Tsk." Fuutarou clicked his tongue, turning around sharply so the redhead wouldn't see the small blush on his cheeks. "Whatever, I'll figure it out on my own. We'd better go back inside, it's starting to get cold."
Takebayashi smiled a little for successfully getting under his skin, watching as the tutor walked through the same door they had entered through to re-enter his residence. Once the danger was out of sight, Takebayashi turned around and pulled out her cell phone, proceeding to open the gallery app and pressing her finger on the most recent video in order to play it.
"I'll let you know something, Fuutarou." Said a female voice through the device's speaker. "Ichika has a crush on you."
"...W-What?".
"I think you two would make a really cute couple and you have my full support.".
"Wow, that was really juicy." Takebayashi smiled as she locked her phone and put it in the pocket of her school blazer. "I have no idea how to use this, though. Are you friend or enemy? How I use it will depend on the answer. Although well, I guess all's fair in war and love...
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Right, Ichika?"
The first chapter of the year!
I have to admit that this and the previous one were ready as drafts for quite some time, but I wanted to give myself some time to properly cement the first half of the story, which led me to have it in draft up to chapter 10 and counting.
I've had my doubts about how I should take this story, the ending and how far it should go until I was finally able to come up with the answer (though I doubt it will be to some people's liking) and I'm really excited to see it through.
By the way, I've kept quiet about it but, my 5 Rising Stars fic...yeah, there it is...
I honestly think I lost all the hype I had for it when I started writing it and as one of the reviews pointed out to me, maybe it's too much like your Five Equal Angels inspiration and I have to say you're probably right. I screwed up on that one. In no way is it my goal to plagiarize such a wonderful fanfic or anything like that and I apologize if it was seen that way, so I'll probably end up deleting it at some point and maybe I'll end up rewriting it. I don't know. After some brainstorming I came up with a much more interesting plot than the one I originally had planned as well as more fun to write. So basically it would be a reboot (as long as I don't end up going off on a tangent and end up writing any of the various plots I have for quintuplets fanfics). Nothing is assured yet though and I really doubt it'll be coming out anytime soon, so don't worry, working on this story will still be my priority!
Back to the provincial topic assuming you haven't already left XD, how are you guys liking the story so far? is the length of the chapters enjoyable? what about the writing style? or what about the good Take-san finally having what it takes to get her fangs out? It will be fun to read you!
Thanks and bye! :)