Shape of the Heart – Four-leaf Clover
By Fox McCloude
Disclaimer: The Quintessential Quintuplets and all related characters belong to Haruba Negi. All rights reserved.
Chapter 12: A Face from the Past
Asahiyama High…
Fuutarou's school day went on normally. Well, as normal as it could be, when you had a cast signed with…
"Who the hell signed that, Uesugi? Confess!"
"It had to be Nakano-san! She's the only one who hangs out with him!
"So it's true they're dating?"
"SHUT IT EVERYONE!" he finally screamed. "YOU'VE GOT IT ALL WRONG!"
The scream was enough to drive the curious people away, though the muttering didn't stop. At the time, he was sitting along with Yotsuba as they had lunch in the cafeteria, and the boy was losing his appetite because of the nosy ones coming over to ask questions or make fun of the signature in his cast.
"I'm really sorry, Uesugi-san," the ribbon girl apologized.
"Why're you apologizing?" he asked. "It's not like it was you who signed this."
One of the worries of letting Ichika stay the night was precisely that she'd sneak into his room while he was asleep. And indeed, she did so, and Raiha happily admitted to letting her borrow her markers so she could sign the cast. That on itself didn't seem a bad thing, if it weren't for the message she wrote.
His cast now had written in kanji the phrase "Get well soon". To him, that would have been enough, so why did she have to add in Western letters the word "LOVER"? Worse still, the letter "V" had been replaced by a huge red heart. The message had been written with permanent markers, so he couldn't erase it nor did he have time to find something to cover it before heading for school. Raiha and his parents found it funny, but to him it was embarrassing, especially now that the entire school could see it.
"You know how Ichika is," Yotsuba continued. "It's clear she likes you and she wants everyone to know that."
"Well, then she could have signed the cast with her name," Fuutarou replied. "That way everyone would know it's her and not you."
"Too bad I didn't bring my own markers to sign it too."
"Forget about it, we need to talk about something else," The boy then became serious. "Today you're not going with the track club, right?"
"Nope, not today, so we can study without problems," the Nakano girl assumed with a big smile. That was a huge relief.
"OK, then we need to work twice as hard to make up for the lost time," Fuutarou said sternly. "And also…"
"Also?"
Fuutarou momentarily stared at the ribbon girl. The identical look in her face to those of her sisters once more made him catch a glimpse of that little girl, just like he did Ichika and Itsuki before, if briefly, but the vision vanished even faster. In the possible, albeit unlikely case that she was one of them, Yotsuba was the only one he had 100% certainty that it couldn't be her.
Now, if it was one of the others…
"Nothing," he said. Better not to think about that right now, there'd be plenty of time after studying.
Though even in that case, Fuutarou wondered if he'd be able to focus. With all those memories coming back to him, and the mystery of whether one of the quintuplets was the girl he met or not, it'd be pretty hard to focus on schoolwork. If it was for him, he didn't care that much whether it was one of them or not, all he wanted was to clear his doubts and relieve himself of that torment of not knowing the truth.
'Why didn't I insist more in asking for her name?' he thought. 'I'd spare myself of this mess if she'd just told me.'
In any case, it'd be faster to do it with all give sisters together, so he could get it over with. With luck, he hoped they'd be in the apartment during the study sessions, as Ichika said she wouldn't be attending class today.
"Hmm?" He suddenly stared at the door, and he thought he'd seen a familiar look, whose owner quickly hid away as soon as he turned. He even stopped momentarily from writing the work for Yotsuba to take another look.
"What's up?"
"Nothing, just thought I saw someone," he said.
It was just a second, but he was sure it was Eba, the track club's captain. She probably was stalking them to check how she could take Yotsuba today with her, but he preemptively told her to turn off the cellphone while they were at the library to prevent interruptions. Even with the cast, she wouldn't approach as long as he was around.
'That's another thing, I need to talk to her seriously,' he thought. 'Maybe we can reach an understanding and make some sort of agreement.'
Negotiation wasn't his forte, unless he had bargaining chips to offer. With Nino it worked since she was the one who approached with something she wanted, and he was still holding her to the debts. But in this case, he had no control over Yotsuba to exert in a legal way.
Had Ichika or any of the others been available, they could have used their big sister leverages to do something about it, but tough luck for him, that wasn't the case.
"Done, Uesugi-san. How did I do?"
The boy grabbed the sheet full of English exercises he'd left for her that morning, and checked it out. Surprisingly, he was finding fewer mistakes than usual; the girl was improving at a good rate.
"Some slipups, but in general it's pretty good," he said approvingly, making her grin in triumph. Right then, the bell for lunch time rang off. "We better hurry and go eat, there's still a lot to do."
"Let me help you." Yotsuba handed him the crutches so he could stand up, and both of them left the library to head for the cafeteria.
After they left the library, the blue-haired took a quick glance over his shoulder, and saw a long ponytail hiding on the other side of the hallway. If it weren't because he was starving he'd probably take the chance to talk to her right then and there, but there'd be plenty of time for that later.
For now, he had too many things in his head, and with his stomach demanding to be fed, he wouldn't be able to sort them out.
Nakano apartment, a little later…
Fortunately, the study session went on without any kind of interruptions. Fuutarou was pleased to see that even in his absence Yotsuba didn't slack off and finished all the work they'd been left in class. However, he knew better than to let his guard down and thus he was twice as stern with her to compensate for the lost time yesterday.
The Uesugi boy was lucky that Miku and Itsuki decided to join the session to give them a hand, helping them finish the History and Biology assignments faster. Nino didn't want to study with them, but she constantly come and went bringing them snacks and drinks to keep the clock marching and so they could recharge energies. No doubt it'd been a fruitful day to make up for yesterday.
"Yotsuba, the dates here are wrong," said Miku, pointing at the answers in the History exam. "The first Battle of Azukizaka was in 1542, and the second in 1564."
"Hmm, how do you learn them by heart?" Yotsuba asked. "They always confuse me."
"And you got the bones wrong here again," Itsuki added, holding up a Biology exam. "The thigh bone is the femur, and the radius and ulna are in the forearm."
He was also grateful that these two helped him correct the answers, that way he could save some time in having to check them individually himself. The downside was that he still had to deal with the ribbon girl's two greatest Achilles' heels, having to check in full his Math and English works all by himself, but given the circumstances, he appreciated every bit of help.
However, midway through the session Fuutarou couldn't help but check the time every once in a while, wondering when Ichika would come back. He knew filming sometimes could take up to late hours, but he hoped to see all five of them to ask the question that had been hounding him since the other day. He felt he couldn't focus as much as he should if he didn't clear those doubts, and if it got too late, he'd have to go back home and ask them another day.
'The more I delay it, the harder it'd be to ask them. Better take this off of my chest and get it over with.'
"Uesugi-san, you marked this one wrong?" Yotsuba asked, pointing at her English exam.
"Huh?" He grabbed the sheet and checked. "Ah, you're right. Sorry, let me fix that."
"Oh, the brainy perfectionist made a mistake?" Nino commented, half-mockingly.
Fuutarou narrowed his eyes at her, but he didn't dare reply. The girl was right; it was unusual that he made a mistake of that kind, being always so thorough. That doubt made him a mess inside, and he'd better clear it up soon to prevent it from happening again.
On the other hand, the fact that Yotsuba realized he made a mistake was a sign that she was growing more perceptive. She was progressing, and that was good.
"Do you have something on your mind?" asked Itsuki. "You've been a bit absent today. Not to mention you seem to be looking at the clock every half hour or so."
"That obvious?" he asked. "I guess… well yes, there's something that's been bothering me these days. I need to ask you guys something, but I'd rather have the five all together. That'll save me time."
"Why'd you need all of us?" Nino asked. "If you got something to say just spill it, and then we can tell Ichika. Or we could just ask in your stead, if you're in such a hurry."
"No, believe me, this is something I need to ask upfront."
The reason was much more personal. He had the feeling that, should he ask the question face to face, he could tell by their reactions whether they said the truth or not. He wanted to be fully sure to clear the doubt plaguing him.
"I'm home!" Ichika's voice announced, and after entering the apartment, she left her coat on the hanger.
"Welcome, Ichika," Yotsuba greeted her. "Okay, the five of us are here."
"Well, that's great," the Uesugi boy stood up using his crutches. "Now, if you were so kind, I need the five of you to sit on the couch."
"Hold a moment," Nino intervened. "We're having dinner first, Ichika must've had a long day. You too sit with us."
Fuutarou wanted to reply back, but since he wasn't at his own home, he couldn't do much. Besides, even if she said it in a bossy tone, the fact Nino invited him to sit with them for dinner was a huge improvement in treatment, he thought.
After they ate, the five sisters sat on the couch, all of them looking expectantly as the boy contemplated them one by one. Ichika smiled as always, Nino folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently, Miku remained neutral, Yotsuba clenched her fists expectantly, and lastly Itsuki was just confused.
The young man took a deep breath before finally asking the question.
"Did any of you ever meet me before?"
Deadly silence. None of the quintuplets' expressions shifted; they just remained static for a moment. Though maybe it was because they were trying to assimilate his words.
"Excuse me, can you repeat what you just said?" It was Nino who asked.
"I think I better reword my question," Fuutarou said. "Five years ago, did any of you visit Kyoto?"
Now the reaction was more notorious: the sisters began muttering amongst themselves "How does he know?", "Was he there or what?" and similar stuff, until they finally calmed down and Ichika spoke up:
"Er… yeah, we went there for a trip with Mom. But what does that have to do with…?"
"Uesugi-kun," Itsuki interrupted, "does this have something to do with… that thing we talked about the other day?"
"Eh? What, you guys talked about something?" Yotsuba went over her. "Tell me, tell me!"
"Stop it! Get off me, I'm not telling anything!"
"Yotsuba," Fuutarou stopped her. "Don't harass Itsuki, it'd be better if I tell you myself. This has been bugging me for days and I want to clear the doubts."
Thus, the boy began telling his story just as he told Itsuki at the hospital (barring the alien invasion thing, obviously) and adding a few details he'd skipped before. Reactions were varied: ranging from a dull surprise from Miku, to a very interested look from Nino when he got to the part about the promise they made together.
To conclude and emphasize his point, the boy grabbed his notebook and pulled out the photo of his twelve-year-old self, unfolding it so they could see it in full. Now yes, when he put it close enough, the quintuplets' surprise was collective.
"No… it cannot be…"
"That's…"
"… one of us?"
Nino jumped off the couch and took the photo from him to see it closely. She gave him a shocked look, and without missing a beat ran upstairs. Minutes later, she came back with a family photo album, and quickly skimming through it opened it on a page showing a photo of five girls greeting at the camera with a V-sign each. All of them identical to one another.
The hair colors didn't match, but that was partly because Fuutarou's photo looked a lot more discolored due to time passing. But the rest… the resemblance was uncanny.
"As I suspected," Fuutarou said. "Alright, which of you was it? Who was the one who bought those charms for success in studying?"
Neither seemed to dare give him an answer, and they stared amongst each other as if trying to find help. The answer was so close, but at the same time… why did the doubt eat at him? Would he need to ask them one by one?
"Ichika?"
"No way. I don't recall having bought charms anywhere," the eldest sister said.
"Nino?"
"Why would I want one of those charms?" she said, flicking her hair haughtily.
"Miku?"
"No," the middle sister said dryly.
"Yotsuba…? No, no way it could have been you."
"Eh?" The ribbon girl tilted her head, giving him a confused look.
"Forget it, pay no mind to me. Itsuki?"
"Hum… well, I do remember having one of those charms somewhere, but I don't remember if I bought it or I got it as a gift. It was too long ago," the youngest sister replied.
The boy's look went over and over from one sister to the next for a while. The photographic evidence was irrevocable, it had to be one of them. But if that was the case, didn't she actually remember? Or maybe she was trying to hide from him?
"Fuutarou-kun, maybe... the culprit is not among us," Ichika suddenly intervened.
"What do you mean?"
"Not everyone knows about this, but… we're actually sextuplets."
"What?!" the boy exclaimed in shock.
"Yes. We have a sixth sister, and her name is, or rather, was, Mutsumi."
"What did you say?"
"Is that true?!" Yotsuba exclaimed. "Then where's Mutsumi?!"
"This is top secret," the eldest sister said with a mysterious voice. "Truth be told, she vanished in a traffic accident when we were little. We all thought her dead, but we never found her corpse. So it's possible that…"
"Ah! Then the girl in Uesugi-san's photo could be Mutsumi!" the ribbon girl screamed. "She wasn't dead after all!"
"That's right," Ichika said. "It's possible that she might have…"
While Ichika began telling a bunch of stuff that seemed out of a soap opera full of clichés, Fuutarou facepalmed. While the sixth sister story sounded convincing enough, to him it was more likely that he just met a girl who happened to look like them. Maybe just a faraway relative they didn't even know, or perhaps not even that. It wasn't like in real life there weren't lookalikes who weren't actually related to each other by blood.
'That's right, I don't know what I was thinking,' he thought to himself. 'How it could even occur to me she could become one of these messy idiots?'
He momentarily imagined her wearing a lab coat, squared glasses with a thin frame and with an intellectual appeal as she held a writing tablet. She might have become a student in medicine, or a librarian. Something that required the use of her brains, just like they promised. Nothing like these five, no way.
"Well, well, that's enough," he finally stopped Ichika's crazy tales. "I think I already have my answer. The girl I met definitely isn't inside this living room. That way I can at least feel at ease now. Besides, there are other more pressing things at the moment."
He walked on his crutches towards Yotsuba, who stared at him with a puzzled look.
"Yotsuba, tomorrow you're going to meet the track club again, right?" he asked, and the fourth sister replied with a nod. "Is there any chance for me to accompany you? I think I need to have a few words with the captain."
Next day in the afternoon, Asahiyama training grounds…
It wasn't easy to convince the ribbon girl to let him tag along, but she finally agreed. Fuutarou knew he had urgently to talk to the track club's captain. Maybe they could make a deal that would benefit both of them, without interfering on either's plans.
While Yotsuba and the other members of the club were running laps around the field, Fuutarou was talking to Eba.
"So, let me get this straight," the long-haired girl said, with a voice so sweet it gave Fuutarou diabetes. It perfectly complemented that creepy look of hers. "You refuse to let Nakano-san join us full time."
"You need to understand she can't do it," said Fuutarou. "She's already in hot water for being suspended from her previous school, and she needs to raise her grades to go back."
"You seem quite interested in sending her back to her former school," Eba said, as if trying to be nonchalant about it.
"That's what I'm being paid for, I'm her tutor," he pointed out. "Look, I'm not asking to remove her from your club altogether. I'd just like to us to reach an agreement. To establish a schedule so it doesn't interfere with your practices, or our classes."
"Hmm, but tell me, do you really think that'd be the best for her?" Eba asked her, folding her arms and staring at Fuutarou. The boy had to repress the urge to step back; he didn't want to let her intimidate him.
"Explain yourself," he curtly demanded.
"Look, I get you're just trying to do your job as Nakano-san's tutor," Eba said. "But as the track club's captain, I too have my own responsibilities, you know? I have to do what's best for my team, and right now we need her."
"Is that really so?" Fuutarou tried to keep his cool. "You sure you aren't thinking about letting her do the job and carry you all the way to victory?"
"You really think me that selfish?" the captain said, placing her arms on her hips. "Our victories are always team efforts; we never depend on only one to do the heavy lifting. But Nakano-san, she has an amazing talent, a real diamond in the rough, and she needs to be polished to properly shine.
"That's why she needs to train with us. She wasn't born to be a boorish, grumpy brainiac. She was born to run like a real athlete. With effort, she could even make it to the Olympics. If you force her to focus on her studies, you'll just become a load to her."
"A… a load?" That word triggered something within Fuutarou. He felt a vein bulging in his temple after that remark.
"Think about it, are you really doing good for Nakano-san forcing her to study? Why don't you try and support her at something she could be good at?"
"Listen, it's true I'm his tutor, but… I'm also his friend and I care about her," he said after finding the proper words. "And I know she's going to get in trouble if she doesn't pass her subjects."
That part was true; Yotsuba would have troubles with her father if she did poorly in her studies. Also, Fuutarou himself would get into trouble if he didn't fulfill that promise of helping her reunite with her sisters, though he wasn't doing that for himself, but because he knew how important it was for all of them. To be together as a family.
"But she doesn't have to worry. Even if she doesn't do well in her studies, she can still push through on her talent alone. She's got great potential, and you don't want her to use it? Even if you call yourself her friend?"
Fuutarou was about to reply, but he stopped abruptly, his words getting lost in his mouth. Something in that last statement struck a rather sensitive nerve in him, though it didn't make him angry; rather, it made him reflect on what she just said.
For a moment, the Uesugi boy visualized in his head the image of Yotsuba running across a track and through the finish line band as she raised her arms in triumph. Not counting the fact that her athletic clothes left little to the imagination, he could also picture her radiating happiness and jumping in victory, holding a shiny gold medal between her hands.
An image that, if he was honest, wasn't unpleasant at all.
Yotsuba was a great athlete, and Fuutarou knew it. Come to think of it, Eba did have a point in saying that, should she catch the scouts' attention, she wouldn't have to worry about studying. She could easily push through with her talent for sports, and she'd open wide a great future that way. Becoming a pro and even making it to the Olympics… didn't sound so farfetched.
Was she right about what she said? Was he limiting Yotsuba and stopping her from realizing her own potential?
"Oof, ¡Eba-san!" Yotsuba exclaimed, running at them suddenly. "Fifty laps, all done as promised."
"Oh, really? Wow, that was faster than I thought," the captain said.
"Can I leave for today?" Yotsuba asked, her hands in a begging position. "I really need to go back home; I have to study with Uesugi-san."
Eba seemed to want to groan something, but somehow she managed to keep calm and composed. Fuutarou for his part had a brief impulse to smile in triumph, but with the words he'd been told a minute ago, it quickly drowned out.
"Well, if you're done with today's training, I have no choice but to let you go," she said.
The Uesugi boy barely had a couple seconds to feel relief and savor his triumph, until the long-haired girl approached Yotsuba, and talked to him again with that voice that was a strange mixture of sweetness and a tone coming from the netherworld that chilled his blood.
"But don't forget, starting on the weekend we're going on a training camp, and we're expecting you to come with us, remember?"
"Er… yes, I do remember," Yotsuba said. "I'll be here, I promise."
"Okay, you and your friend are free to go. We'll continue our training."
Before leaving with the others, the captain gave Fuutarou a glare that clearly said "You're not taking her away", and he could only bare a few teeth in response.
"Oof, I went as fast as I could to finish earlier," Yotsuba stretched her arms and legs. "I'm beat, but we still have time to study today, right?"
Fuutarou stared at his cellphone's timer. It was impressive how fast the girl could run when she had to. Calculating how long they'd take to get to her home, they'd have enough for a three-hour session. Not as much as he'd like, but it was something.
However, the track captain's words still spun around in his head. Was he doing the right thing in wanting to force Yotsuba to study? Wouldn't it be better to stay in that club, where she could really become a true track and field?
"Come to think about it… maybe we can skip it today," he said. "You don't need to push yourself too hard, and maybe you should finish along with the others."
"Eh? You sure?" Yotsuba asked. For some reason, she seemed disappointed.
"Don't worry, we can resume it tomorrow. I'll use my time today to prepare your Math exercises."
"If you say so." Yotsuba shrugged and went back with the rest of the club. "Hey, Eba-san, girls! I think I don't have to go yet; I can stay a little longer!"
As he watched Yotsuba go back to training, Fuutarou walked away slowly, thinking deeply about what he'd just seen. Was he imagining things when he saw Yotsuba disappointed? It wasn't like she hated studying, even if she wasn't good at it, but… for an athletic girl like her it had to be quite boring compared with doing exercise outdoors.
Was he being selfish for thinking about his tutor job, and not about what was best for his student?
'Maybe… she'd be better off staying here full time. A sports' scholarship is another way to secure a future.'
A little later…
Despite what he said, Fuutarou didn't head straight home to start preparing the Math exercises. Instead, he took a bus to his mother's bakery. Maybe eating a snack over there would help him think clearly and order his ideas.
He had no clue of what to do. Sincerely, he hadn't the foggiest idea of what he was supposed to do right now.
Since he decided to become a model student, Fuutarou always thought of himself a smart person, someone who could find she solution to any problem through logic alone. But what happened right now didn't have a solution that could be considered 'logical'. No, the problem inside him was more of the 'emotional' kind, something that, as much as he hated to admit it, he had little-to-no experience whatsoever.
"My God… what am I supposed to do? Just give it up and let her go with the track club?" he asked himself.
Using logic, the solution was simple enough: Yotsuba shouldn't leave without them, but stay with him studying for the exams. That way he could dedicate full time to teach her, and get his payment for it. Once upon a time, they could have called him selfish and he'd accept it shamelessly without trying to refute it, even taking pride on it. It was in his nature.
Thing was, spending time with Yotsuba had made him, almost without realizing, grow fond of her. She was no longer his student; she was practically the only friend he had at school, someone he could hang out with and, while she could be an unbearable idiot at times, was good company. Besides, he hadn't forgotten how much he helped her for the courage test, or her visits while he was at the hospital (while it was mostly to avoid falling behind in class, he appreciated that she came to see him just to cheer up his day).
"Welcome! Ah, Fuutarou!" his mother greeted him as soon as he entered, making the bell ring.
"With your permission," the boy said as he entered the place, though he was a little surprised to see a couple of familiar faces.
Concretely, it was Ichika and Itsuki, each of whom held a large bag full of bread, and both were quite surprised to see him there, as they knew how of his plans for that day.
"What's wrong, Fuutarou-kun, why the long face?" the eldest Nakano asked. "Things didn't go well with the track club?"
"Something like that. I could talk to the captain and… she told me a few things that left me thinking."
"What things?" asked Itsuki.
"Nothing you should worry about, I'll manage myself," he then approached the register. "I'll take the usual, Mom."
He was about to get the cash out of his wallet to pay, but Ichika went ahead of him, sliding her card. He gave her an odd look, and the eldest sister simply smiled at him like she always did. She then shoved him aside before he could even say a thing.
"Charge Fuutarou-kun's stuff to my bill, ma'am. Itsuki-chan, you don't mind going home alone, do you?"
"Not at all, but why?" the youngest sister asked, puzzled.
Fuutarou was about to protest, until the pinkette, giving him a sly smile, showed her phone sliding into a photo of him sleeping that she clearly took when she stayed the night at his home (he made a mental note that he'd save part of his next payments for a lock or something else to limit the access to his room), and she looked him in a way that clearly said "Don't say a word or else…"
"I have the feeling Fuutarou-kun urgently needs someone to talk to right now," the big sister continued. "Ms. Uesugi, you don't mind if I borrow him for a bit, do you?"
"Hey!"
"Of course not. I'll leave him in your hands, be nice to him," the woman replied playing along, and clearly amused at his embarrassment.
While his mom packed his usual and got the payment from Ichika, Fuutarou resisted the urge to roll his eyes, as those seconds of silence gave him time to think. Maybe he did need to talk to someone, and if Ichika was offering herself voluntarily, why refuse?
…
The eldest of the quintuplets accompanied him to a small plaza, where the two sat on a bench to quietly eat their bread. Strangely enough, even his mom's freshly baked bread wasn't enough to lift Fuutarou's spirits back up, and evidently Ichika noticed, as once she finished hers, began to speak.
"So, I assume you couldn't get Yotsuba to quit the club?"
"I thought I could reach an agreement with the captain if we talked things out," the boy said. "But it's clear she won't let Yotsuba go the easy way. She's planning on taking them to a training camp."
"Those are bad news for you, obviously," Ichika said.
"For me, of course they are," Fuutarou nodded, "but I'm not sure they're bad for Yotsuba."
The pinkette gave him a confused look. Fuutarou wasn't surprised, as he doubted she or any of the others would be fully aware of what was going on. However, the eldest sister's demeanor suddenly turned sharper.
"Something tells me it has to do with whatever they told you," she commented. "Tell me, exactly what was it?"
Fuutarou raised an eyebrow. Was he that obvious to give away exactly what was afflicting him? How could this girl, who was such a messy and lazy slob, was able to read him so well, even before he said a word?
"I've been thinking… wouldn't it be better for Yotsuba to stay in that club?" she finally said. "I mean, with her talent she could be a great runner. It might be the best for her, and I'd be a bad friend for not supporting her in something she could have a future with."
"You sure about that?" Ichika inquired.
"She's not only doing well, but it seems the others like her too. She'd fit rather well there, and she seems to be pleased there."
"Tell me something, did you ask her if she wants to be there?" the eldest sister insisted.
"Of course I…" Fuutarou was left with his mouth wide open, realizing he was about to say "yes" by inertia. Actually, he hadn't asked her. He just assumed by default Yotsuba wanted to be there because she seemed to like it there.
Ichika noticed this, and exhaled a sigh in resignation before shaking her head. Next, she looked at him again and talked once more, this time in her 'serious-big-sister' voice.
"Fuutarou-kun, I thought you were smarter than that. True, Yotsuba is in her element when she does sports, but she also likes to study with you. I've noticed, even when you're not around she always does her best in the work you give her."
"She always does her best on everything," the boy pointed out.
"True, but that's not what I mean. Do you think Yotsuba studies only to raise her grades?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
Ichika facepalmed, leaving the boy puzzled. That was an expression that clearly said there was something he hadn't noticed and, in Ichika's opinion, should be in plain sight. But the more she tried to shoot him indirects, the more confused he was.
"Fuutarou-kun, Yotsuba studies with you because she wants to. She doesn't do it because she's obligated, nor because she cares about her grades. She does it for you, because she likes you and enjoys your company, haven't you noticed?"
"She constantly reminds me," he replied. At first it was annoying, he didn't deny it, but as time went on, he came to appreciate her company. "But what does that have to do with anything?"
"Look, you already know Yotsuba never denies help to anybody when they ask, right?" Ichika said. "The track club is something she feels obligated to because they asked her. But if memory serves, you never asked her for help with the courage test during the school camp, did you?"
Fuutarou was left in silence. Once more he had no reply, as Ichika was completely right. Yotsuba offered herself voluntarily to help him, and while he accepted because he really needed that help, he never gave it any thought.
Before, he thought Yotsuba was nice to everyone equally, and thus didn't give any special treatment. How come he hadn't noticed that?
"So, what you're telling me is that Yotsuba is not with the track club because she wants to?" he said, once he finally caught the message.
"Ping-pong, we have a winner!" the oldest sister exclaimed with a giggle. "I thought you'd noticed before."
Looking back now, he hadn't caught the signs that should have been obvious now. He recalled that the first time Eba came looking for Yotsuba's help for the relay runs, the ribbon girl gave him a look that almost seemed to be begging to be saved, like she didn't want to go. And today, when she finished running laps and said she wanted to study even just for a while, was that why she was disappointed that he refused?
"Fuutarou-kun, tell me the truth: what really has you so worried?" asked Ichika, giving him a compassionate look.
Fuutarou lowered his head, meditating on the answer. In the past few months, even though he wouldn't admit it out loud, he'd grown very fond of Yotsuba as a friend and classmate, and he was motivated to help her more for the sake of doing something good for her by reuniting her with her sisters, rather than just for the money he was being paid.
"I guess… I was worried she wouldn't need me anymore. Or worse, that I was becoming a burden to her."
The latter in particular. His goal was to become someone others could rely on, so as to never be a burden. Not only for his parents, but for everyone in general.
"You'll never be a burden for Yotsuba," Ichika assured. "And I think you'll agree that right now it's best for her to get out of that club, and he needs you for that."
"Yeah, you're right," he said. "I need to convince her to not to go to that camp. We need the entire week to study."
"That's the spirit!"
Fuutarou was ready to stand up brusquely, forgetting for a moment about his leg until the pain reminded him. Fortunately, Ichika reacted in time and caught him before he fell, and kindly handed him the crutches so he could support himself.
"Whoa, easy there, you still haven't fully recovered."
"Thank you," he said, relieved. "And hey, thanks for the chat too. I really needed it."
"Oh, you don't have to thank me. I'd do anything for you, L-O-V-E-R…"
She said the last part giving a glance at the signature on the cast, causing the boy to blush. He couldn't wait to remove it so he didn't have to carry that embarrassing mark everywhere.
That said, he really appreciated Ichika's support, and now he was more confident in himself. He knew how he was going to confront the track club to help Yotsuba get out of that trouble. She needed his help to leave them, and he wouldn't deny it.
The next day, Asahiyama High …
Fuutarou's plan was simple; talk to Yotsuba again and convince her to quit the track club so she didn't have to go to that camp. That way, they could spend the remaining weeks studying for the final exams.
Problem was, the ribbon girl didn't attend class that day, and when he tried to contact her, she didn't answer his calls or text messages. That was pretty weird.
He went to the school's training grounds, but nobody had seen Yotsuba nor the rest of the track club. Without any more options, he headed for the annexed building with the club rooms (which was no easy feat with those crutches).
And when he finally found the track club's room, he was in for a nasty surprise.
"What the hell?!"
Taped to the door there was a notice with the message "We've left on a practice, and we'll be out the whole day". And on a corner, too small to be noticed at first glance, was a little face with a tongue sticking out and pulling an eye that Fuutarou had the strange feeling was meant for him.
"Not possible. This has to be the work of that Eba girl. She took Yotsuba on purpose!" he exclaimed. Argh!
He wanted to scream, rant, but he couldn't afford it in that state. All he could do was punch the door in anger a few times.
"You're… Uesugi-kun?" a female voice called him out.
Fuutarou turned around to see it was that brunet girl with whom Yotsuba often hanged out when not in class. He took a while to recall her name, until it came to his head how Yotsuba asked him for help to hook her up with Maeda during the school camp.
"You're Yotsuba's friend… Matsui, right?" he asked dryly. "You came looking for her too?"
"Yeah, I knew these days she's been with the track club," the brunette answered. "I came because I wanted to warn her about something related to Eba, but she's not answering my calls."
Fuutarou felt a little relieved to know he wasn't the only one whose calls weren't being answered, but it was briefm as there was another thing to take into account.
"What do you mean by 'warning' her?"
"Don't you know. A friend of mine in the same class as Eba told me she's at risk of being suspended from her activities, if she doesn't do well in the final exams," Matsui explained. "She's organizing that training camp in order to dodge her schoolwork."
"Why am I not surprised?" Fuutarou said with resignation. "You don't happen to know where they might have gone, do you?"
"I think they're doing a full tour around the city, to get familiar with the route for the marathon," the girl said.
Fuutarou grabbed his forehead. He should have guessed, Eba was probably trying to keep them away so as to stop him from pulling Yotsuba out of the club. If they were having a marathon across the city, that meant they could be anywhere, and they probably told her to turn off her cellphone so as to avoid interruptions and distractions (or in technical terms, preventing him from contacting her).
"Guess I have no choice. I suppose I'll have to go to her house and wait for her there. With luck, maybe she'll be back by nightfall."
"Hey!" Matsui called him before he left. Fuutarou turned around over his shoulder. "I… I wanted to say thanks."
"Thanks?" he asked confused. "Why?"
"Yotsuba told me it was you. You sorted me and Maeda-kun together for the courage test," the brunet said in a low voice slightly nervous, before bowing. "So… thank you very much for that."
"You don't have to thank me, I did it because she asked me," he replied with a shrug.
"Hey, I don't mean to meddle or something, but… I think she likes you, you know?"
Fuutarou raised an eyebrow. What was this girl talking about? Did she mean him and…?
"Didn't you know? Yotsuba's always talking good things about you, about how smart you are and how much you support her. I found it hard to believe, but I guess you're not as bad as I thought."
"Many tell me that," he shrugged again. "But come on, Yotsuba and I… we're just friends, that's all."
"If you say so."
Fuutarou said nothing more, and holding onto his crutches he got ready to leave. For some reason, that brief chat with Matsui served to tone down the irritation after not finding Yotsuba, but also caused something else to start spinning in his head.
Specifically, what Matsui said about Yotsuba liking him. Was it really true?
A few hours later…
Due to his injured leg, Fuutarou was able to skip the P.E. class that day, leaving him the last hour free. Given that he had nothing left to do at school, he figured he should just leave earlier and maybe wait at the Nakano's apartment for Yotsuba's arrival.
However, without realizing he'd taken the scenic route, having too many things in his head. Although his irritation at not finding Yotsuba had mellowed down, he couldn't stop thinking about her. Or more specifically, about Matsui's words about her.
What he didn't get was, why were they suddenly resounding more than normal? He didn't care about them that much before.
This was far from the first time, of course; many at school were convinced there was something else between them, and he'd just dismiss the rumors, because he knew they were getting wrong ideas. Typical of students who loved to nose and gossip around.
But the fact was, in the past few months, the relationship between them had long gone past being that of a teacher and student. He had no interest in being her friend, but partly due to Ichika's insistence on 'getting along' made him accept, perhaps without realizing, that he indeed considered her as a friend. Annoying as she could be at times, that girl as a bright sun of cheeriness that he simply couldn't hate.
And that worried him. He preferred to keep their relationship strictly platonic. He was repeated the possibility of them dating so many times, sometimes he'd almost believe it.
'What's this? Am I feeling attracted to her? No, that would never… it cannot be.'
After walking a long stretch with his crutches, he stopped nearby a huge lake, under the shadow of some trees.
It wasn't easy. Objectively, Yotsuba was a girl with many qualities that'd make her attractive, both physically and personality-wise: she was athletic and with a nice body, cheerful and enthusiastic, and dumb as she was, her smile was definitely charming. In fact, if she ever approached him with that intention, he doubted he could refuse.
And despite what everybody said, Ichika, his cousin Kintarou, his parents, and more recently Matsui, he didn't perceive Yotsuba showed that kind of interest in him. She treated him as a friend, maybe a best friend, and she legitimately acted as a study buddy more than his student, but beyond that… she didn't have that intention.
Whether the feeling was romantic or platooned, the fact was that he really cared for the ribbon girl, and maybe because of that he'd been questioning himself over the fact of interfering or not between her and the track club, and whether she really wanted to leave it.
Or rather, maybe he was worried about her not needing him anymore.
'Needing me… she won't need me once her grades go back up and she's able to return to her old school.'
Once again, that thought was coming back to him. That was what they hired him for, to teach Yotsuba and raise her grades in order to return to Kurobara with her sisters. And he'd promised to do exactly that. But as soon as he'd fulfilled it… would she be able to manage by herself, without him?
Or rather, he was wondering… would he miss her once she was gone?
"Depressed again?"
A female voice he didn't quite recognize spoke to him. He was so buried in his own thoughts he didn't even notice someone approached. Upon turning around at the source, the first thing he saw was a pair of white boots, followed by a feminine long coat of the same color. Behind the latter, a long, dark pink flowing hair fell down, and he found it familiar. And then, under a white hat with a ribbon…
"You…"
The young woman in front of him immediately brought his memories to life. It was unmistakable: that hair was of the same color and proportional length as the girl he met five years ago back in Kyoto. She now wore square, thin-framed glasses, and they definitely gave her an intellectual look, just like he imagined her, and she seemed to have grown in height and shoulders as much as him. Again, he rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things, and when that didn't convince him, he grabbed his notebook to check the photo.
"It's been a long time, Fuutarou Uesugi-kun," she said with a beautiful and radiant smile.
There was no mistaking, it had to be her. He was so shocked he didn't know what to do. In fact, if it weren't for his leg, maybe his first reaction would be to turn around and try and run away, as he felt unworthy to see her yet.
"That's… that's right." He scratched the back of his head and tried to smile. "I'm glad to see you're looking well."
She smiled, before looking at the cast on his leg. "I see you're looking well too, at least for the most part. What happened?"
"This? Nothing, just… a ski accident. I'll recover in a few weeks."
"Good to know, although… from that signature, I'd say you have someone watching over you. Perhaps you found someone special?"
"What? No, this… it's not what you're thinking!" he began to say frantically, unsure as to why.
She simply giggled in amusement, with that same laugh she had five years ago. It was unmistakable.
"How about we catch up?" she asked, before looking around and spotting a nearby dock full of rowboats. "Ah, I got it, how about we take one of those?"
…
Fuutarou had only seen this romantic rowboat date thing in movies. He'd never imagined he'd be doing one himself, as he rowed towards the center of the of the lake. All the while he stared at the girl, whose eyes simply were content with staring at her surroundings silently.
It was an image he wanted to carve in his memory. That sweet young girl had grown to become quite the beauty, and seeing her made the boy's heart throb.
Upon reaching the center and stopping, he figured he should open up the conversation. Starting on the question that had been tormenting him the most.
"I think… you never told me your name."
"Rena. My name's Rena. It's been five years now, hasn't it?"
"More or less."
"So tell me, what have you done all this time? Have you studied a lot?" she asked with interest.
Fuutarou didn't know how to start. It was easy to say "Yes, in fact I'm the first in my class", but for some reason, he didn't feel like showing off or sounding arrogant in front of her. He struggled for a bit trying to find the right words, and he finally pronounced them:
"I… I've done my best. Enough to be hired as a private tutor."
"Hmm, that's interesting." She placed a hand under her chin. "Do you have many students?"
"Not many, actually. It's just one classmate, though she's from a rich family, so I get well-paid."
"I see. What's she like?"
Fuutarou again remained silent, wondering where he should begin. There was a lot he could say about Yotsuba, though he finally decided to go from the start.
"She's the fourth of five sisters, quintuplets, actually. Hard to believe as it sounds."
The last part made Rena arch an eyebrow, as If surprised about it. However, her silence and expression made it clear she expected him to continue talking, and this seemed like a mere, not so important detail. Admittedly, he was hoping for a bigger reaction than that.
"Anyway, if I had to describe her in a single word… I'd say she's an idiot," he said bluntly.
"Oh? Isn't that a bit cruel?"
"If telling the truth is cruel," he replied. "She was expelled from her former school for flunking her classes, and she was transferred to mine. She has a talent for sports, and apparently focused so much on this that she neglected her studies. That makes her an idiot in my book, and you have no idea the headaches she causes me during our sessions.
"I can only imagine," Rena said.
"But even if she's an idiot, I admire her dedication. She puts everything she has in whatever she does, even if she doesn't always do well. She's always willing to help whomever asks, though she has trouble deciding her priorities. She's an idiot with a good heart, so despite those headaches she gives me… I can't hate her. It's like my day livens up just by being around her."
"Sounds like she's someone very special to you." The girl smiled, causing Fuutarou to blush slightly.
"I wouldn't call her 'special'. I mean, she's a good friend and I like her, and I admit my days have gotten less boring since I met her. But we're not that close to each other." He shrugged.
"Really? Not close enough for her to write "Lover" with a heart on that cast?" she teasingly asked.
Fuutarou rolled his eyes, and was about to reply that the signature was from one of Yotsuba's sisters. However, for some reason he had the feeling Rena wouldn't believe it, so he kept it to himself.
As he didn't answer, Rena decided to continue: "Anyhow, I'm impressed; if you were hired as a private tutor. That means you've become an excellent student. Just as you promised you would."
"It's not enough. I'm hoping my grades are good to secure me a good university. That way, my parents won't have to spend a yen on me, and they can focus on paying their debts."
"Hmm, still having economical struggles?"
"Well, not as much as five years ago. Mom was able to put forward her business, the bakery she always dreamed of opening. But it was only thanks to getting help, and we're still paying debts for the starting loan. That's why I accepted this job. If I can earn my own money, my parents can take care of Raiha, and I can focus on going to a good university."
Rena smiled. "Admirable. It seems like you have your future on the short term very clear, huh?"
"I guess so," he said modestly. "And what about you? Have you done something of your life?"
"Hmm, well, I guess I have. I attend a private school, though I'm trying to balance it out with my job, to become independent."
"Where do you work?" he asked with interest. If she attended a private school, maybe she'd managed to improve her situation as well. Perhaps she got a good scholarship?
She smiled again. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you. But from what you've told me, you've been doing pretty well, yet you still seem a little downhearted. Is there something troubling you?"
Fuutarou looked into her eyes. Her look reflected a genuine worry for him. Despite not having seen her for over five years, it was almost like that fateful encounter in Kyoto that changed his life had only happened yesterday.
Maybe he could use an external opinion to know what to do.
"I told you my student is good at sports, right? Turns out my school's track club took advantage of me being at the hospital to scout her. She has this… complex of being unable to say no when she's asked for help and well, you can imagine the kind of troubles that causes."
"No doubt." Rena nodded. "You're worried this will eat off her time to study with you."
Fuutarou smiled as he nodded. Rena was still a sharp girl; he was pleased to see he didn't have to explain it for her. Nevertheless, there was still something else.
"Partly, yes. But aside from that… there's another thing that's been bothering me these days."
"What is it?"
"I've been wondering… what's our relationship? Are we just study buddies, teacher and student, friends or something else? Many people tell me she likes me, but frankly… I can't see how someone like her would like a guy like me."
"Explain yourself."
"I've told you before, she doesn't seem to be academically inclined, but she's got a natural talent for sports. She could be a great athlete if she dedicated to it full time. Me on the other hand? I'm just a nerd good for academics, yet I've never been good for physical activities. Even if she tried to drag me into doing exercise, but… well, that's beside the point.
"The point is, I was teaching her before just to be paid for it, and I wanted to keep our relationship that way. But now, I'm doing it because I really want to help her. For all her clumsiness, she's a good girl, and I know how important it is for her and her sisters to be together. I have this… strange desire to do that for them, and I'm not sure why."
"Maybe it's because she's become someone very important to you," Rena said. "Perhaps… even more than me."
"Qué? No, don't get me wrong! She's a good friend, but she'd never…"
"Fuutarou-kun, tell me something," she interrupted. "That promise we made, are you still clinging to it? Do you feel you've kept it?"
Fuutarou was about to say "Of course", until the first part of the question sank in. What did she mean by "clinging" to the promise?
"Why're you asking me that question?"
He noticed the girl's eyes were starting to tear up, and her voice had suddenly turned melancholic. She still smiled at him, but now, it was a clearly sad smile.
"I'm glad you've become an excellent student, and to see you've kept the promise we made. It's more than what I've been able to do."
"I don't get it; you've just said…"
"I said I attend a private school. But I'm nowhere near the top of my class. If anything, I'm barely above the average. I'd never be on the same league as you, I failed miserably."
Rena lowered her gaze. The tears in her eyes were starting to become more evident, to the point that they'd roll down at any second. He couldn't stand that, and involuntarily reached out with his hand to try and wipe them, but she stopped him.
"No, that's fine. You don't have to worry about me," she said. "You've fulfilled your promise, and that's all that matters. I can feel at ease now."
"You're confusing me. Listen, if you're having difficulties I can gladly help you, together we could…"
"No," she said with finality. "That won't be necessary. After all, this'll be the last time we'll meet."
"What are you saying?" he asked, shockingly.
"I've found a new dream, and I've decided to pursue it. I came to see you because I don't want to shackle you to the past. Especially when it's very much clear you don't need me anymore."
She gazed at the cast's signature. Again, she was misinterpreting everything; first, it wasn't even from Yotsuba, and second, Ichika wasn't his girlfriend or anything. The latter did admit openly to be attracted to him, but it wasn't like he returned it. So if that was the problem…
But how could he say it? He knew what he wanted to say, but he couldn't find the right words. They became lost upon reaching his mouth, and it was like his voice disconnected in a heartbeat. They just didn't come out, no matter how much he tried to force them.
"I think we should row," she said. "May I? I'd like to row on the way back."
He was unable to refuse. Rena grabbed the oars and led the small boat back to shore. Neither uttered a single word; the only sound was the oars splashing over the water's surface.
Once they reached the dock, Rena kindly helped him get out of the boat so he wouldn't fall into the water, and then helped him support back on his crutches. Next, she reached into her coat and handed him something, holding his hand between both of hers.
"The memories we shared will always be precious to me. Both today's, and from five years ago. But it's time for us to part ways."
"I still don't understand," Fuutarou said. "We haven't seen each other all this time, and you show up back in my life just to say goodbye? Why?"
"I already told you," Rena replied. "You've fulfilled your promise, and I'm happy for that. But you obviously have no need of me, when you have someone special in your life."
"You're talking about this?" Fuutarou moved his leg to emphasize his point. "This means nothing, I assure you…"
Rena silenced him with a finger and whispered a "shhhhh", still with that melancholic smile. It was so beautiful and painful at the same time. He couldn't bear to see it, and at the same time, he couldn't stop staring at her. His brain screamed at him to erase that image for the pain it caused him, while his heart demanded him to carve it deeply, for it'd be the last time he'd see her.
"Don't cling to the past anymore. You have a bright future ahead, I know," Rena said. "And I'll give you one last piece of advice. If that girl really loves you, don't let her go."
Before he could say anything else, Rena gave him a light kiss on the cheek. That was enough for him to freeze up, as he looked at her slowly walking away. She stopped one last time to look above her shoulder, and the image of that sad smile would be forever carved, along with the last words that escaped her lips, in the depths of his heart.
"Goodbye, Fuutarou-kun…"
And with that, the girl ran off, getting lost among the trees surrounding the lake. By the time his body reacted, she was long gone; he'd been left so catatonic that, even if his leg was healthy, he wouldn't be able to chase her.
After that, he opened his palm, looking at the object she'd left him before leaving. It was that little charm she'd bought five years ago, to succeed in her studies.
The boy felt something rolling down his cheeks, and upon touching it, his fingers were wet. He didn't remember the last time he shed tears for emotional reasons, even though he wasn't one of those who followed that old-fashioned belief of "real men don't cry".
Clutching the charm inside his fist, he allowed himself to shed a few more. He was alone, but if someone saw him, he didn't care.
All the work he did to keep that promise, to see her again, had it all been for naught? Was it really worth it, everything he'd done during the past five years, to become the student he was now?
To be continued…
Author's notes:
*Phew*, God, that was tight. This was perhaps the hardest to write chapter so far. The divergence here is quite notable because most of the Seven Goodbyes events aren't going to happen as in canon, with the only ones that still remained being Yotsuba's entanglement with the track club, and Fuutarou and Rena's meeting. As for the latter, I had the same challenge of rewriting it without it being a complete trace from canon, which wasn't easy given that this one is an important plot point and establishes bases for future developments. As for the former one, though, I'll develop a bit more on the next chapter, again taking the chance to show Yotsuba's perspective on those events.
The sad part is that due to this I end up leaving the"secondary" sisters without much development here, since as they're not as involved with Fuutarou as in canon due to not being his students, they obviously won't get that close. Even so, I'll try and give them some for the next chapter to make up for it, and after this arc is over, I'll go for something original where the five sisters can take part along with some of the side characters too. And I know it's not Christmas time, but at this point the story is reaching December, so the next arc will focus on the characters celebrating the holidays. Let's see how things turn out without the quintuplets having to move out of their luxurious apartment.
In other news, now that the anime's second season is over, and we've got sequel confirmed, many rumors have broken lose. Some say the anime will end with a movie, which could probably last two or two and a half hours, enough to adapt the remaining manga chapters (though probably cutting things off, like they did in the second season). If it depended on me, I'd rather have a full season, since even with just twelve episodes they'd have enough to adapt the remaining arcs and throw some original content in, maybe to correct the faults in the manga's ending and give it a more satisfying conclusion (assuming they keep the endgame couple). Also, I've been watching some YouTube videos about the videogame/visual novel, released a couple weeks ago (man, were they fast to translate) and the truth is, it's a gold mine of ideas and fanfic fuel. And I have yet to see all routes, I'd love to play it.
Anyway, I guess that's all I had to say. Thanks for the reviews to TheMist33 and Ayayacchi, and special credits to Shadechu Nightray for her betareading work (especially on Ichika's scene for suggesting it). I might take a little bit for the next chapter, since at the current time I'm writing an original arc for this story, plus doing some multitasking with others, so I'll have less time to spare. Still, I appreciate the support, so thanks and sayonara!