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 18: Chocolates of Love and Friendship
Asahiyama High, lunch break time…
Just as Fuutarou foresaw it, the incident that put the entire swimming club to shame quickly spread across the entire school. The following morning everyone was talking about it, and Yotsuba was frequently boarded on the hallways to be asked questions about it.
It goes without saying that the teachers weren't happy at all when they learned about it. The swimming club members hurt the school's reputation with that lack of sports ethic, to the point the entire club was shut down and everyone involved were left with a permanent stain in their student records, not to mention now they were social pariah among the rest of the student body.
Although something positive did come out of the whole mess. After Takeda and Maeda saved his neck from Tsuji and his goons, the three crossed paths on the hallways more often, and they often stopped for some friendly chatter. In fact, they'd also begun to share a table during lunch at the cafeteria, something that Fuutarou found good to break the routine. Not that he didn't enjoy eating with Yotsuba, but he learned it wasn't so bad to talk to others, and about other topics (especially "guys' stuff").
"That sounds good, Uesugi-san. It's great you have friends to have lunch with now. That way I can eat with my friends every once in a while too."
Those were her words when he said he wanted to share table with Takeda and Maeda, and from his perspective, it was a win-win. Yotsuba had many friends, but at lunch time she'd always stay with him, and he'd always drive everyone else away with his loner attitude. Or at least, he used to, until then.
Today was one of those days, and once the swimming club scandal died down, the conversation topic became related to a date coming up soon.
"So, have you guys made any plan's for Valentine's Day?" Maeda asked.
February 14th wasn't a day Fuutarou would consider very important. In his whole middle school tenure, he didn't get a single chocolate or even a card, but he never cared much about that, being too immerse in his studies. It wasn't like he was particularly enthusiastic about it now, but since everyone was talking about it, it was hard to ignore.
"I really don't have special plans," confessed Fuutarou. "I still need to help Yotsuba study after all, so I'll be busy that day anyway."
"What about Ichika-san?" Maeda asked. "Aren't you two dating?"
Fuutarou froze for a moment before he could answer. Since that meeting in the school camp, Maeda most likely assumed they were together. Well, they'd only had one official date, two if he counted that time she dragged him to the movies before the camp, but they weren't still quite boyfriend-girlfriend in the strict sense of the words. They were taking it slowly.
"She's… busy with work," he replied to avoid lying. "You know, she's an actress, so she has to film scenes and all. Besides, we can't be spotted together or it could get messy with her movie agency."
"Hah, I don't envy your luck. Ichika-san's really beautiful, but you'd be better off dating someone closer and who doesn't have to work that much."
Fuutarou noticed how Maeda not-so-subtly glanced at Yotsuba's table, where she chatted and laughed with her friends. He granted that point; although of course, Yotsuba was just a friend, and she didn't seem to have intentions to go beyond that with him. So it was pointless to keep discussing that topic.
"I can assume you do have plans?" the blue-haired boy asked. The brunet let out a cocky chuckle.
"Of course, man," he replied as he pulled something out of his pocket. "Yesterday I lucked out in the lottery, and I won these tickets for Saori Hayami's V-Day Live. I plan to surprise Matsui with them."
"Good for you," Takeda asked. "You're lucky to have good company for that day."
"How come you don't have anyone, Takeda?" Maeda inquired. "If memory serves, last year you had your locker stuffed with cards, and you also got plenty of chocolates."
Fuutarou glanced at the pretty boy, who simply shrugged. It was the first time he learned of that, though it didn't surprise him that much. Takeda was the most popular guy in their year, and probably in the entire school, so it made sense for him to get more Valentine's Day presents. But, it was also weird to think he was the only one of the trio who didn't have a girlfriend, or as close as Ichika was for Fuutarou at the time.
"Flattered as I may be, getting all those presents has its downsides," he replied, lowering his voice to a more discreet tone. "I'll have you know, I had to share almost half of the chocolates I received, as I couldn't eat them all alone."
"So what're you gonna do?" Maeda asked.
Takeda simply shrugged again. "Truth be told, I may take the day off when I'm done studying. They've just released the latest expansion for Sengoku Wars Online, and I still haven't had the chance to try it."
"Really?" Fuutarou inquired. "You don't seem the type to play videogames. Then again, I do play it myself sometimes, so I'm not one to talk."
"Well, you guys can have fun with your videogames or studies, or whatever you wanna do," Maeda quipped. "I'm gonna have a fated date at the House of Live."
Maeda sounded a bit smug and cocky, but Fuutarou didn't have the heart to ruin his good mood. Since he started dating Matsui he seemed rather upbeat and he didn't want to spoil it. The truth was, he felt a tad envious for not being able to do something different on Valentine's Day, but at least this year he could look forward to get one chocolate, after years of getting none.
Considering how Ichika was, he doubted she'd pass the chance to give him one. She'd most likely buy it, since doing it by hand seemed more a Nino thing (and he was certain she'd make one for Kintarou), but he couldn't say he disliked the idea. It was the thought that counted, after all.
The three finished their meal and left the table, and almost at the same time, Yotsuba followed suit to intercept him at the cafeteria's exit. They still had a few minutes before the afternoon classes, so he'd kill some time chatting with her in the meantime.
"So, what's the plan for today after class?" she asked.
"The usual," Fuutarou replied. "You're already up to speed in English, so today we'll focus on the Math exercises. If my estimation is correct, that's the last hurdle you need to surpass."
"Wow, I can barely believe we're halfway past the last term," Yotsuba said. "Time surely flies, doesn't it?"
Fuutarou nodded. Time really had gone flying, and it'd been almost half a year since they met. They had less than one month and a half to end the school year, and at that rate it'd feel like a week when the closure ceremony came.
To be honest, he wasn't sure he wanted to see that day come, not so much because his job would end and his pay with it, but because that meant Yotsuba would leave the school. He hadn't said it out loud, but he'd gotten so used to her presence by now, he was fully certain he would miss her after she left. The truth was, having her closer would liven up the day to anyone, even him, a grumpy loner.
His only solace was that he now had a couple friends at school aside from her, so at least he wouldn't feel as lonely when she was gone. Maybe she'd rubbed off on him that sociable facet, for spending so much time around her. That being the case, he needed to thank her somehow.
"Hey, Yotsuba..."
"Yeah, what's up?"
The boy opened his mouth, but the words died down. He knew what he wanted to say, but he wasn't sure how, and a hunch told him it'd sound weird if he said it then and there.
"Nothing. It's not really important," he said as he shrugged.
"Oh, come on. Anything you say must be important. Ah, I got it, you need help with something? Anything, you can tell me, I'll do my best to help you."
"I'll tell you later. We need to attend other things right now."
He said the last words trying to sound as blunt as possible, but he wasn't sure he succeeded, especially when the girl pouted at him trying to insist, but finally left him alone, returning to her usual cheery self as she went ahead to the classroom.
Right in that moment, he felt a slight sting of guilt. Was it so hard to say "Thank you"? It wasn't like he hadn't done that before, and they'd become rather close friends with each other. Why was it so hard to say two simple words now?
It wasn't like he was trying to deliver a love confession or something like that.
Much later, Uesugi residence…
The school day and the study session at the Nakano apartment went on as they had to, with no mishaps or anything eventful. Fuutarou was pleased with his pupil's progress, and right now he was preparing the material for tomorrow's session. This time he planned on making an extraordinary exam simulation to see how much Yotsuba had improved overall, and to gauge the gap before the end of the year exams.
Also, and while he didn't plan on telling her this, it was so she was ready in the scenario of them failing. While he trusted it wouldn't be necessary, he guessed it wouldn't hurt, if only to give her some additional motivation.
At dinner time, he heard someone ringing at their door, and Raiha's footsteps heading to open. Less than a minute later, he heard Raiha knocking on his room's door.
"Oniichan, you have a visit!"
"I'm coming," he said as he dropped the pencil, leaving the still unfinished exam on his table.
After opening his door's room, he was quite surprised that the visitor was none other than Ichika, who sported a cheery and flirty smile.
"Yahoo, Fuutarou-kun!" she greeted him waving a hand, while holding a small package on the other. Fuutarou caught on it had a huge red bow, tied in a knot made to look like a heart.
"Ichika, what a surprise," he said. He then realized he should be acting nicer and immediately added: "What do I owe the pleasure?"
"What else? I've come to see you, obviously," the girl replied, still smiling.
"You're just in time, Ichika-san; want to have dinner with us?" Raiha offered. "Food's almost ready."
"Oh, don't importune yourselves for me," Ichika said. "To be honest, I just came for a quick stop, to deliver this to your dear Oniichan."
She approached with the package, and seeing it closer, he could notice it was big enough to hold a small cake, and had a card with the following message "To Fuutarou-kun, with love from Ichika. Do not open until the 14th!". And as if to emphasize, the dot on the exclamation had been replaced by a red heart. The boy was a bit surprised, but before he could ask any questions the eldest Nakano went ahead and explained:
"I know it's not Valentine's Day yet to give a chocolate, but we'll have filming on the 14th, so I figured I wouldn't have time. If you don't mind, of course."
"Not at all," he said, accepting the present. "Thanks a lot, really."
"Wow, Oniichan! It's your first Valentine's Day chocolate!" Raiha exclaimed. "Mom, come quickly, Oniichan got a Valentine's Day chocolate!"
Fuutarou saw his little sister running off at the kitchen to deliver the "big news" to their mother, making him shrug and Ichika giggle at the little girl's excitement.
"Always cheerful, isn't she?" the pinkette said. "Anyway, that's all I came here for. I'm sorry we haven't been able to spend time together, or having another date."
"No need to apologize," he replied. "You know we're both busy."
"That's right. We both need to do our best, isn't that right?" Without further words, the girl gave him a smooch on the cheek. "Something so you don't miss me too much. Please tell your parents and Raiha-chan that I'm sorry I can't stay for dinner, 'kay?"
And after saying goodbye, Ichika turned around and left as soon as she came, leaving a motionless Fuutarou in the entrance. He could only blink and touch the cheek where Ichika had kissed him, remaining there until his little sister and mother came over.
"Huh? Where's Ichika-san?" the girl asked.
"Looks like she's already gone," Kazane replied as she looked out the door. "Fuutarou, why didn't you tell her to stay for dinner?"
"Oniichan, are you alright?"
"Huh?" The boy shook his head, trying to stay composed. "Of course I'm fine. Ichika just came to give this, since she needs to work."
"Boo, that's lame," Raiha said, and then she turned to see him, raising her eyebrows. "Oniichan, what's that on your cheek?"
"Isn't that… lipstick?" Kazane asked.
Fuutarou tapped his cheek once more, this time pressing a little harder. Indeed, his fingers had a dark pink stain, and upon glancing at his mother and little sister, both looked at him with a triumphant expression.
"What?" he finally asked after an uncomfortable silence. "Why're you staring me like that?"
"Nothing," Kazane replied with a shrug. "It's just that we were worried, as you didn't seem very happy after you came back from your date."
"But everything seems to go well for you guys, doesn't it?" Raiha asked cheerily. "I'm glad you have a firlfriend."
Fuutarou wanted to reply "She's not my girlfriend yet", but seeing the beaming smile in his little sister's face, he just didn't have the heart to deny it. The little girl adored and was adored by the quintuplets, and she was very excited at the prospect of becoming family for real. To be honest, maybe once upon a time he'd have agreed (even grudgingly) to date any of them just on the off chance to see Raiha happy, and the fact that, regardless of whom he chose it'd earn her five big sister was just another plus for her.
Then again, it wasn't like there was a lack of attraction from his part, so he couldn't complain either.
"Meanwhile, we'll save this for you," Kazane said, grabbing the package out of his hands.
"Hey! That's mine!" he said trying to get it back, but his mother pulled it away and gave him a stern look.
"The card says not to open it until the 14th, so I'll make sure you stick to it," the woman replied, keeping the package out of her son's hands.
Fuutarou tried to take it again, but Kazane pulled it away again. The boy could have taken it by force, but he respected his mother too much to do that, so he looked at his sister looking for backup, but she shook her head at him.
"Mom has spoken, Oniichan, and you have to oblige."
The blue-haired boy snorted in annoyance, but after being outvoted (again), he ended up relenting. Kazane took the package and put it into the fridge, aside from leaving a note for her husband pinned by the magnets. Fuutarou thought that was unnecessary, as Isanari wasn't the type to sneak out and raid the fridge at night, let alone eat a package that clearly was addressed for his son for Valentine's Day.
"Why do I have the feeling you won't let me hear the end of this?"
Oh yes, at the Uesugi home it'd be the talk for a long, long time, about the first Valentine's Day chocolate Fuutarou ever received. And he wasn't sure whether he should call that a good or a bad thing.
February 13rd, Nakano apartment…
Another day, another study session with Yotsuba. After they got out of class, Fuutarou spent the rest of the afternoon evaluating Yotsuba with the mock extraordinary exam, just as he'd planned. For some reason Yotsuba seemed quite motivated that day, to the point she even donned a headband with the words "For Success" like students getting ready for college entry exams used to do sometimes. It was good to see her taking it so seriously.
For over two hours, neither of them said a single word, and the only noises in the living room was Yotsuba's pencil scratching the paper as she answered, and occasionally Nino tinkering with the cooking utensils. Besides them, the only other in the apartment at the time was Miku, who was resting on the couch with her headphones on, apparently disconnected from the rest of the world. In short, everyone was in their own business.
"Hmm… there." Yotsuba marked the last question in the exam. "All done."
She handed the exam sheet to Fuutarou. To save time, the boy had an answer key sheet in the ready, and all he had to do was make a quick side-to-side comparison to verify they were correct. At first glance, there was an improvement after the last term on total average, but… there was also a little problem.
"You went up five points in English, but also dropped four in Math," he pointed.
"Is that a good or a bad thing?" Yotsuba asked.
"I can't call it good. We're supposed to shorten the score gap in all subjects. You'll have to work much harder for the finals, if you're expecting to achieve the needed average score."
Even though Yotsuba had been able to increase her score in four out of five subjects, the fact she'd dropped in Math was worrying. After all, she just needed to flunk one subject and they would fail at their goal. That said, it was nothing that a little more effort couldn't fix, especially as it was her academic Achilles' heel.
"Math aside, you've done pretty well on everything else," he quickly added, knowing it was better to encourage rather than lecture her. "Good job for today."
"Hahaha, thanks, Uesugi-san."
"Really, don't you two think of anything other than studies?" Nino intervened, bringing a tray of sandwiches for everyone, and briefly stopping to wake Miku from her little nap and have her join them. "That's all you've done for the last week."
"We have to," Fuutarou said, grabbing a pair to start eating them. "The end-of-year exams are about a month away, and if we're careless we won't succeed in our goal."
"That's good and all, but too much work and no fun will drive you mad," Nino took a seat. "You should take some time to relax and have fun. Take it from me; tomorrow's an important date, after all."
"What's so special about tomorrow?" Miku asked.
The middle sister's dry tone quickly earned her a glare from Nino. Even Fuutarou and Yotsuba were a bit surprised, as they knew perfectly what February 14th meant; any person their age should know.
"How can you ask that, Miku? It's Valentine's Day, the perfect chance to show that special person how much you care! And what better way than a sweet chocolate made with love? Ah, but of course; you'd never understand that."
"That's right," Miku replied, unfazed.
Fuutarou gave Yotsuba an interrogating glance, although he wasn't sure how to formulate the question. He didn't have to; the ribbon girl read his mind and immediately proceeded to explain:
"Miku's never been fond of chocolate."
"Hah, and that's why she would never give one to her special someone," Nino quipped. "But of course, it's not like she has a special someone right now, does she? And if she had, poor boy; he'd probably get intoxicated with it."
It was almost imperceptible, but Fuutarou noticed how Miku's eyes narrowed, her cheeks puffed up and a small vein bulged in her temple. Nino however didn't continue that same line, as she got all cheery as she blushed holding her own cheeks.
"I on the other hand, oh, I'm really hoping Kintarou-kun likes mine! I spend this whole week making them until they were perfect, just for him!"
"I wouldn't be worried about that," Fuutarou said. "Anything you give him, he's gonna love it."
"I know, but I'm still excited, it's the first chocolate I give someone," the second sister continued. "Speaking of, has Ichika given hers to you already?"
"My parents are holding onto it; they won't let me open it until tomorrow." The boy shrugged. He was still a bit annoyed at that, but he wasn't planning on eating it ahead of time.
"Bah, buying it is not the same," Nino replied. "Making it with your own hands means you pour your feelings for that person into it. That makes it all the more special."
"I think it's the thought what counts," Yotsuba intervened. "Besides, she bought hers with money she earned from her job. That should count too, right, Uesugi-san?"
"Yeah, and she even went to my house to personally give it to me."
Nino snorted slightly, but didn't continue the argument. To be frank, Fuutarou couldn't care less whether it was a bought or a homemade present; what mattered was the feelings and the intent to make the other person happy. And he appreciated Ichika had thought about him.
On the other hand, he acknowledged his cousin was luckier to get one directly made by Nino, since he could brag about having a cute girlfriend who was also an excellent cook. And being the kind of guy he was, he'd surely do exactly that after he received it.
Shortly after they finished their sandwiches, the apartment's door opened, and Itsuki's voice announced her:
"I'm home! Hey, you're already eating without me? It's not fair!"
"There's more in the kitchen if you want more," Nino replied. "We always have to make extra with you, so help yourself at your leisure."
Itsuki held back a groan, but limited herself to pout and then headed for the kitchen, coming back with four sandwiches for herself and began eating. As she did, Fuutarou gave her a glance, which she quickly noticed.
"What's wrong, Uesugi-kun?"
"Nothing, just… you seem a bit tired," he said with honesty. "Like you're stressed over something."
The redhead raised an eyebrow and stopped eating before answering. "Did you notice?"
Fuutarou had noticed that the youngest sister spent less time in the apartment lately, and he saw her less frequently. He couldn't help but feel curious about it. The other sisters gave him puzzled looks, as if they hadn't noticed before, but it seemed that the boy's comment caught their interest.
"Well… I hadn't been able to mention it, but last month, I met someone," Itsuki confessed.
Instantly, Nino and Yotsuba almost jumped to her face.
"What?! Don't tell me you got yourself a boyfriend!"
"Tell us, what's he like?! Is he handsome?!"
"It's not that!" Itsuki exclaimed, blushing and trying to push them away to get some breathing room. "No, it's not even a boy. It's a former student of Mom, her name's Shimoda-san and she words as a cram school lecturer for intensive courses."
Nino stepped away, somewhat disappointed at the answer, but Fuutarou paid more attention as the redhead proceeded to explain. He'd been told that the Nakanos' mother had been a teacher, and Itsuki aspired to follow her footsteps and become one too, so it wasn't too hard to put two and two together as to what was going on.
"Let me guess: she's giving advice for your future career?" the boy asked.
"That's right. We've been in contact lately, and she's asked me to be her assistant in a few sessions, to get an idea of what I should expect. But wow, it's even more stressing than I imagined, and I'm just acting as support."
"Not a surprise," Fuutarou said. "Working as a teacher is never easy; you must always deal with problematic students and all that."
"I know. That's why I want to do it. According to what Shimoda-san said, Mom knew how to keep her students in line and set them on the straight and narrow path, and wasn't afraid to punish them when needed. She was strict, but kind, and her students admired her for it. That's the kind of teacher I want to be."
The room was left in silence, as Fuutarou and the other sisters took their time to digest what she just said. The Uesugi boy in particular admired the youngest sister's conviction; she really had her future goal clear, and was working hard to achieve her dream.
Just like Ichika; it seemed determination was a family thing.
"Yeah, yeah, that's cool and all, but we're still in second year of high school," Nino said. "There'll be time to worry about our future careers when we graduate? Why don't you enjoy your youth? You should have fun and, I don't know, find someone to date. God, tomorrow's Valentine's Day after all."
"I'm not in a hurry to get a boyfriend, unlike certain people," Itsuki glared at Nino with narrowed eyes. "And it's never too early to think about the future."
"Hah! You're just jealous that I do have a boy to give a chocolate full of my love. You wouldn't resist the temptation to eat it before you gave it."
"What are you insinuating?" A vein palpitated on Itsuki's temple, and she was starting to raise her voice. "At least I think beyond today, and I have a clear dream for the future!"
Both sisters' tone was rising, and the argument seemed to be escalating more and more with each line. Itsuki accused Nino of being too busy thinking about romance to plan her life, while Nino suggested that Itsuki would probably scare boys away, when they saw their bills after asking her out for a meal.
Fuutarou, Yotsuba and Miku exchanged glances, and the boy didn't even have to say a word to understand they all had the same thought: they'd better clear out the war zone before they got caught in the crossfire.
"Sengoku Wars Online?" Miku asked, pointing at the upper floor.
"Sounds good, we're done here," Fuutarou replied. "Yotsuba?"
"No objections."
As the three agreed, they took advantage of the distraction while Itsuki and Nino kept arguing, and headed for the stairs. From above Fuutarou couldn't help but wonder what his cousin would think of seeing how his "Princess Nino" was now yelling like a spoiled brat. The last thing he heard before they locked up in Miku's room to drown the noise were the following lines:
"You make us spend more in food than Ichika, Miku and Yotsuba combined!"
"Oh yeah?! Well, then one day I'm going to marry a professional chef, so you don't have to worry about feeding me again!"
Great timing for the eldest sister not being there to put some order.
February 14th, filming set…
"I can give you anything! Money, cars, a yacht! How can you refuse all that?!"
"I've told you, that's all worthless for me. I'm in love with someone else. Get away from my life, and never come back…"
"Aaaand… cut! Excellent everyone! That scene was just perfect! Ichika, you were brilliant in that delivery, what a feeling!"
At the director's line, Ichika could finally relax, once her co-star stopped squeezing her. It'd been a really hard to film scene, partly due to representing a rather uncomfortable situation.
Basically, she was portraying a schoolgirl with economical struggles who was in love with a young artist, but was being courted by a very rich man and pressured by her family to accept it. This was the climactic scene where she'd made her final choice, picking love over money. After getting the director's congrats, Oda came with a coat to cover her, as the set was starting to get cold and she needed it.
"That was divine, Ichika-chan," the manager said. "Where did you get that inspiration? It seemed from another world, truly!"
"Haha, I really don't know," Ichika replied. "From the bottom of my soul, I guess?"
"Well, well, for now, go get into the trailer and take a break," Oda continued. "After we took so long, it's the least you deserve."
Grateful, Ichika went to the trailer to take her rest, as well as a cup of coffee to stay awake. Filming had begun rather early, and it was hard not to fall asleep halfway through work, but she had to try. After all, her career was barely taking off.
Sitting on an armchair, and with a smoking cup in her hand, Ichika decided to use the break to think for a bit. She wouldn't say out loud, but during that scene she actually tried to imagine she was rejecting the rich man for Fuutarou. She knew very well what meant to live through a difficult economic situation, but her mother did say to her to be careful when she chose a man.
"Choose someone who's really worthy of your love, someone you can entrust your life."
Even if she weren't economically well-off now, Ichika always thought of herself a good judge of character for people. Either to pick friendships, or who to hang out with, she rarely was wrong. Add to that that she'd gotten to meet Fuutarou even before he visited their apartment to begin the tutoring on Yotsuba.
"He really has changed a lot over the years," she told herself. "But deep down, it's still him. Years weren't unkind to him one bit."
Some would call Fuutarou a dull-looking boy, and most girls would never take interest in a study-obsessed nerd. But Ichika knew deep down he was also a nice and kindhearted person, and he also had a fun side. She could see it firsthand that day, when she switched places with Yotsuba to play cards with him.
Looking back now, recalling that moment brought her mixed feeling. On the one hand, she was happy to meet such a nice boy, and she was happy to meet him again years later all grown up. On the other, without meaning to, she'd hurt her sister's feelings, for making her think she wanted to steal her new friend from her.
'To steal him… I really didn't mean to do that, but…'
In reality, Ichika was just toying a bit, so she made that silly bet with Yotsuba, telling her he wouldn't be able to tell them apart because they were quintuplets. Yotsuba said that he would, and wasn't happy when she found out he couldn't tell the difference.
It'd been almost half a year, and even though the two were interested in him, Yotsuba still refused to make any moves. Ichika tried to convince her that it was okay to go beyond that, but Yotsuba insisted that she was fine just being friends with him, and if Ichika wanted to court him as a boyfriend, she should.
The question was, did he feel the same about her? Since they'd gone out on that date, they'd been able to talk more and get closer, but he couldn't really be called her boyfriend or something. She liked him romantically and made no effort to hide it, but he… well, he clearly made an effort to be nice and clearly liked her as a friend. That didn't stop her from wanting something more, though.
"No, I shouldn't push him. He's still a rookie at this, I must give her time."
She knew he'd feel uncomfortable if she got pushy, so she tried to take things slow. The fact he asked her out on her own volition filled her with joy, and it was a shame their date was marred at the end by that mess with the swimming club and Yotsuba. But that wasn't his fault, and they both made the right call. Outside of that, they had a nice time together, and he seemed to enjoy himself. That was all that mattered.
The girl grabbed her phone and stared at Fuutarou's contact info. Even though it was still early and it was the weekend, she knew Fuutarou would take the day to continue studying with Yotsuba. He probably was awake already, so maybe he wouldn't mind if she called, just to talk for a bit with him.
With that in mind, she pressed the call button. The phone rang four times before being answered.
"Hello?" he greeted from the other side, his voice sounding still somnolent.
"Happy Valentine's Day, Fuutarou-kun. Is it a bad timing?"
"Not really, I've just woken up," Ichika heard a couple yawns before he continued talking. "Weren't you filming or something?"
"I'm on a break now, so I wondered if you wanted to talk for a bit with me," she said with sincerity, her finger twirling around her bang. "By the way, have you eaten my chocolate yet?"
"My parents locked it up in the fridge," he replied dryly. "They wanted to make sure I wouldn't eat it until today."
Ichika couldn't help but giggle. The "Do not open until the 14th" thing was just a joke; she didn't expect them to take it that seriously. It was fine, though; it tasted even better cold anyway, so if they kept it in the fridge, all the better for him.
"Well, I hope you like it, I spend quite a bit of money on it, after all. Though I don't know if you preferred a homemade one, like Nino does."
"Don't worry, it's the thought that counts. And I know I said this before, but… thanks again for the chocolate. It means a lot that you think about me, really."
Ichika felt a blush, while her heart skipped a beat. Those words of gratitude, simple as they were, brought a huge warmth in her chest. That meant that, at least, he could perceive her feelings, and understood them.
Maybe, there was a possibility he would return them.
"You don't have to thank me. I'd love to talk more, but… you know, I have work to do."
"I won't distract you, we both have it. Thanks for calling, it's… nice talking to you."
"Hahaha, if that's the case, you should call me more often too. Don't be shy about it."
She felt happy when he called to ask her out on a date, was it wrong that she wanted him to do it more often? Well, obviously he didn't want to interrupt her when she was at work. Maybe she should give him her schedules, so he'd know when he could call them.
"Well, bye. Take care," she finally said before hanging up.
Afterwards, Ichika's smile dimmed down slightly. Part of her still felt a little guilty. After all, Yotsuba had been the first one to meet him, and the first to fall in love with him. But she did say that "Being the first doesn't give you the right to claim him, like he was some kind of trophy". Up to that point, Yotsuba had plenty of chances to get close to him, and Ichika voluntarily stood aside so she could do so.
'I'm really sorry, Yotsuba. You had your chance, it's only fair that I take mine.'
Fuutarou was still a free agent, and if he hadn't given any hints of being in love with Yotsuba, then there was nothing wrong with pursuing him. That was the reason she decided to give him a Valentine's Day chocolate, and the fact it was the first he ever got was a lucky plus for her. It'd surely be special for him.
That said, it still hurt her that her younger sister would still punish herself that way, thinking that she didn't deserve a shot with the boy she liked. Ichika didn't think so, but the time for concessions was long over. Yotsuba had a months-long head start to get close to Fuutarou and ultimately chose not to do so. It was her choice, and now made hers.
She couldn't spend much time with her right now, but during the holidays after the school year's end, she'd have the chance to do it. In the end, it'd all come down to whether he fell in love with her, and that was something she had to work very hard for.
Meanwhile, with Fuutarou…
Breakfast in the Uesugi house went normally, and after he was done, Fuutarou took the box with Ichika's chocolate, Fortunately, even though they didn't let him eat it ahead of time, his family respected it and when the day came, they allowed him to take it to eat it alone on his way to the Nakano apartment.
When he opened the box, he found a chocolate cake shaped like a heart, coated with white glaze framing a curious image: the upper part had a couple of faces drawn to represent him and Ichika (judging by the hairdos), the former with a grumpy expression, and the latter with a flirty wink. He had to admit it was funny, as it captured them both perfectly.
"Hmm, this is good," he said while eating it. It was a nice dessert after a family breakfast.
It was a Saturday morning, and Fuutarou had already planned the schedule for today. It wouldn't be too long, as he'd give Yotsuba a mock Math exam to determine where she had the most trouble. This seemed like the final obstacle they had to overcome to reach their goal.
When he was reaching the Pentagon building's block, suddenly he spotted someone coming out in a hurry, running in his direction. He took no more than a few seconds to realize it was…
"Nino? What are…?"
"Out of my way, I'm in a hurry!"
The boy had to step aside brusquely so she wouldn't crash into him, as he still had half the cake in his hand. The second Nakano passed by him like a bat out of hell, and Fuutarou had the strange feeling she could have given Yotsuba a run for her money in a race. That thought gave him the chills, although for now decided to ignore her and headed for the entrance.
It was a rather rehearsed routine: approach the intercom, say hello and ask to be opened the door, then go up in the elevator to the top floor, and head for the end of the hallway. Once he rang the bell, he was welcomed by Miku.
"Good morning, with your permission," Fuutarou greeted. The middle sister replied with a curt nod and let him in.
"Yotsuba's taking a shower right now."
"Okay, I'll wait for her," Fuutarou replied as he went towards the couch and pulled out books and notebooks to get everything ready. "By the way, do you know why Nino seemed to be in such a hurry?"
"Not really," Miku replied as she headed for the stairs. "I'll be in my room, so I won't disturb you guys."
"Thank you."
Miku left for her room, and Fuutarou continued to prepare everything. Once he was done, he intentionally sat with his back faced at where he knew the bathroom was. If Yotsuba was in the shower she'd come out any second, and he'd rather avoid any compromising situation involving a nude, wet girl, tempting and funny as that sounded for some.
And sure enough, a few minutes later he heard the bathroom door open, and Yotsuba coming out.
"Ah, that was refreshing! Ah, Uesugi-san, you're here already!"
"Don't mind me," he replied dryly without turning around. "Hurry up and get dressed, so we can get started."
"Right away!"
He heard some rushed steps going upstairs. With luck, Yotsuba must have been smart enough to try her feet before walking up, and a few minutes later he heard her walking back down. Wearing her sweatshirt, sports pants and ever present ribbon, she looked as perky as usual.
"I'm ready. What are we gonna do today, Brain?"
"The same thing we do every day, Pinky," he replied playing along. "Try and ensure you pass your exams."
"Then we'll take over the world, shishishi!"
Despite trying to keep a serious demeanor, spending so much time with Yotsuba clearly had rubbed off on him, so he would allow himself one or two jokes to alleviate the tension. That also helped motivate her and improved her results. Also, and while he wouldn't say it out loud, it definitely made studying with her a lot more fun.
"By the way," he said as recalling something else, "I ran into Nino down at the entrance. She seemed in a hurry, did something happen?"
"Ah, that. Yesterday when she argued with Itsuki, Nino was so mad she forgot to pack and send the chocolates for Kintarou-san, and well…"
"I get it," Fuutarou replied.
Today was Saturday and the post office would open much later, so she'd be lucky if she managed so send it via express service and Kintarou received them by nighttime. For some reason, the thought of knowing he'd gotten his own Valentine's Day chocolate first gave him a strange triumph sensation, and he felt like rubbing it in his face the next time they met.
"Alright, we'll focus on Math today," the boy said, leaving those frivolous thoughts aside and taking the strict-professor-mode. "This set of problems pretty much covers the course's whole content, so we'll see exactly where you're failing."
"Got it, let's get to work!"
And thus, the study session was underway. Fuutarou didn't have much work today, so he'd just watch silently as Yotsuba solved the problems, never losing the smile in her face. It seemed like every day she was more and more motivated, and despite having the occasional stumbles, she'd never stay down for them.
As she was doing her stuff, the Uesugi boy glanced around the apartment. It looked almost the same way as the day he came for the first time, and he'd spent quite an amount of time there. In fact, discounting the sleep hours, he lately spent more time between the school and the Nakano apartment than at his own home. While it was a job business, lately his stay didn't feel like an obligation.
'It'll be a little sad not to come here anymore,' he thought.
Well, it wasn't like he couldn't come anymore, but rather that he wouldn't have a reason to be there. His contract as a private tutor for Yotsuba would expire by the end of that school year, and that was less than eight weeks away. That, adding up that once they succeeded in their goal and Yotsuba returned to her old school with her sisters, that meant he wouldn't see her every day anymore.
Who was he kidding? That was what had him worried, that he wouldn't see her as often. And by not being her tutor anymore, he wouldn't have a reason to come to her apartment. After all, she wouldn't need his help anymore.
"I'm home!" Nino's angry voice sounded after the door opened brusquely, interrupting Fuutarou's train of thought.
"Welcome back, Nino!" Yotsuba replied. "Hey, is everything alright?"
Fuutarou saw Nino gave of a deathly glare, clearly saying "Do I look alright to you?", and Yotsuba wisely chose to go back to her stuff, leaving the second sister to head for the kitchen and pour herself a glass of iced tea.
"Ugh, what a marathon; I'm sweating bullets after that run," Nino said. "When Itsuki comes back she'll have a piece of my mind: this was all her fault! I hope Kintarou-kun can forgive me if my chocolates arrive late."
With that said, she stomped upstairs furiously. Fuutarou didn't think his cousin would be mad at getting his chocolates a little later, but blaming Itsuki for her own slipup, that was going a bit too far.
And by the way, speaking of Itsuki, he hadn't seen her since he arrived. Nino's words implied she'd gone out too, and he couldn't help but wonder what she could be doing. Unless it was…
"Speaking of, where's Itsuki?" he asked to break the uncomfortable silence. "Don't tell me she does have a Valentine's Day date too?"
"Haha, not really," Yotsuba proceeded to explain. "It's the monthly anniversary of Mom's death."
"Monthly anniversary?"
"Mom died on October 14 six years ago, and we all visit her grave that day. But Itsuki does it on the 14th of every month, without fail."
"I see." Fuutarou nodded. A bit unusual, but everyone had their way to pay respect to the deceased. Besides, he also knew Itsuki was the closest of the five to their mother, so it kinda made sense.
As time went by, Fuutarou took the chance to eat the other half of his chocolate cake, which he'd left aside when he ran into Nino down below. Yotsuba gave him a curious look for a moment, but quickly went back to her work without distractions. Maybe if she was Itsuki she'd ask for a bite, but he wanted to enjoy that one by himself. Valentine's Day chocolates were for that, after all.
…
After the problem set was finished and checked, Fuutarou was pleased with the results. It was the first time Yotsuba managed to solve over half the exercises correctly, which was a huge leap compared to yesterday's mock exam. Besides, now he had a clearer view of what she was struggling with, and where he should focus on the remaining time before the finals.
"You've outdone yourself," he said. "If you keep this level on the rest of subjects, you can raise your average grades enough."
"Haha, great!" the ribbon girl celebrated. "I finally did it!"
"Whoa, do not celebrate yet," Fuutarou said. "Remember it's just a problem set. You need to do equal, of better if possible, when you get the real deal."
"Aw, don't be so mean." Yotsuba puffed her cheeks. "It's the first time I do so well, shouldn't you congratulate me?"
"I agree." Nino suddenly appeared from the kitchen. "Yotsuba hasn't stopped working hard for you. Give her some more credit for her efforts, will ya?"
"Okay, okay, I get it," he replied. "Great work today, Yotsuba."
The ribbon girl quickly regained her good mood at the boy's praise. Nino for her part smiled approvingly, before saying some words that, after how long the session had been, were quite welcome.
"Okay, anybody's hungry?"
After she'd been locked up in her room the rest of the morning, she just came back down to prepare the food, and she'd finished just in time for lunch time. Miku came back down as well, and now the four of them had sat by the table to eat.
"Oi, aren't we gonna wait for Itsuki?" Fuutarou asked.
"If she's late, it's her fault," Nino quipped. "She should have returned already, but knowing her she probably stopped by a random restaurant out there. I wouldn't worry about her."
"If you say so. Well, let's dig in!" said Yotsuba.
"Let's enjoy our meal!" everyone else chorused.
That day's meal consisted of gyudon, and like everything else Nino prepared, it was exquisite. A shame Itsuki was missing it out, as she loved eating meat more than anything. She'd probably be mad when she arrived and found out they'd eaten without inviting her.
Or so Fuutarou thought, until a few minutes after they started eating the door opened, and the youngest sister made her entrance.
"I'm home!"
"Welcome back," Nino said dryly. "Your bowl's in the kitchen; you were running late so we started without you."
"No thanks," Itsuki replied, heading for the stairs and completely ignoring the table.
This seemed to set everyone's alarms. Itsuki wasn't the type who'd reject a meal, let alone one as good as Nino's cooking. And indeed, the latter was the most weirded out and offended by the remark, as she glared with squinted eyes at her youngest sister.
"Alright, who are you and what did you do with Itsuki?"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't play dumb," Nino folded her arms. "The Itsuki I know would never reject food, let alone my cooking."
"Well, I ate outside and I'm not hungry anymore," the redhead explained, frowning.
"And what did you eat that filled you up so much?" Nino inquired. "With that bottomless stomach you have, I find it hard to believe."
This time, Itsuki puffed her cheeks before answering. "Well, if you really need to know, a new Italian restaurant opened in town. Maybe you should go sometime; I bet they could show you one or two things about being a true chef."
"What, are you implying that place makes better food than mine?" Nino asked, apparently feeling like she was being challenged.
"Possibly," Itsuki replied, in a slightly condescending tone.
With that said, she made her way back to her room, locking herself up in there. Nino went back to her seat and continued to eat, although she was now chewing her food angrily. It seemed her pride had been hurt.
As for Fuutarou, he thought the second sister was a good cook, but he would hardly consider her the best in the world. To him, that honor belonged to his mother, and he'd made that point clear many times.
"Thanks for the meal!" Yotsuba said, finishing her bowl. "Hey, Uesugi-san, since we're done with studying today, do you want to do some workout?"
"Actually, I was about to ask you the same," he replied. "This whole week I haven't been able to hit the gym, or even do some jogging."
"Oi, is it okay for you two to go out like that?" Nino asked. "Won't Ichika get mad?"
"Why would she be?" Fuutarou said. "We've been doing this for months."
"Yeah, but… doing workout, on Valentine's Day?"
Fuutarou and Yotsuba stared at the second sister for a moment, and took a few seconds to let the implications sink in. They then stared at each other, and although the Uesugi spotted a faint blush on the ribbon girl's cheeks, she quickly burst into laughter.
"Hahahahaha! What are you saying, Nino? Uesugi-san and I are just friends."
"Of course, just friends," he confirmed.
"Fine, I'll take your word for it," Nino replied, before approaching the boy and placing a finger on his chest. "Because, listen well, if there's something I can't stand is a guy who plays with our feelings, are we clear?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Okay, I'll go get my running shoes! Healthy mind, healthy body!"
And without further words, Yotsuba ran upstairs. Fortunately, he was already dressed in his own tracksuit and running shoes, so he didn't have to ask Yotsuba for borrowed clothes. He'd already felt uncomfortable at wearing clothes belonging to a girl, even if it was a unisex piece like a sweatshirt.
On the other hand, there was another thought eating away in his head, and it was Nino's words. She certainly had a valid point about spending Valentine's Day working out, but if Ichika was busy at work, was it wrong to spend some time with Yotsuba? After all, they were friends who spent time together doing other stuff aside from studying, right?
That said, something in Fuutarou prompted him to grab his phone. Specifically, one of the minor tips his dad left him for dating, as it said: "If you're going to hang out with someone, even if it's just as friends, make sure your girl knows where you'll be and what you'll do". Well, Ichika wasn't his girl to say that, but he guessed it was close enough, and maybe she saw their relationship that way.
So, he opened the instant messages and wrote the following: "I'll go do some workout with Yotsuba. You don't mind, do you?"
Less than a minute later, the answer came: "Of course not. Just don't try anything funny, or I'll get jealous ;)"
He rolled his eyes and texted back. "Who do you think I am?"
And again, Ichika's answer: "Just kidding. I know you won't do anything bad. I trust you."
Fuutarou smiled and texted one last response just to say thanks, before sitting back on the couch to wait for Yotsuba. That way he could feel more at ease; at school word had already spread that he was dating one of Yotsuba's sisters, and in the event someone they knew saw them (which, considering what happened on his date with Ichika, it was highly probable) and misinterpreted the situation, he'd have ammo to defend himself from the rumors.
He didn't want anybody to think he was doing double-time dating, let alone with girls who were sisters.
Later…
That day's workout was a bit more unusual. After a two-kilometer walk, the girl led them to a place away from the gym, wanting to try something different.
"A batting center?" Fuutarou asked.
"Cool, isn't it?" Yotsuba said as they entered. "I haven't swung a bat in quite a while."
Fuutarou had never been in one of these, which considering his lack of interest in sports was no surprise. They were generally full of baseball and softball players who sought to do additional batting practice for their matches.
That day it was quite empty, though. Yotsuba used a membership card to pay for twenty coins each, advising him to do some stretching first to avoid back pain problems. The boy complied; he'd gotten a few minor cricks at the gym for not properly stretching a couple times.
"You were in a softball team before, weren't you?" Fuutarou commented as he recalled it in passing.
"Haha, yeah. I was the designed hitter," the girl replied, grabbing a batter helmet and giving him another. "I was never that good at fielding, to be honest."
"Really?" He was surprised to hear that; Yotsuba was generally pretty good at sports as far as he knew. "And why was that?"
"Hehe, well… nobody could catch my pitches," the girl replied, tapping herself in the head. "They said I threw the ball so hard, I could have been a practice pitcher for a male baseball team."
Somehow, Fuutarou didn't find that so farfetched. Yotsuba could probably compete with boys on high school level, if it wasn't for the lack of mixed baseball teams. A real pity; they were missing out a lot of talent.
Yotsuba entered a cage that threw balls at 140 km/h. Fuutarou wasn't so confident, so he picked one at 110 for testing, and then he'd go up a bit if it turned out to be too easy. To make it more realistic, the place had a screen in front of him showing the image of a pitcher at the moment of throwing the ball.
He stepped into the batter box and waited for the first ball, but he swung too fast and it was a strike. He waited for the next, and this time he made contact, but it was deflected in an angle that Fuutarou was certain would have been a foul in a real match. The third came, and it was a foul again.
"You need to get the right timing, Uesugi-san," Yotsuba said.
The boy took a glance at her; she planted her feet firmly and swiveled her hips like a real pro. He also realized that, unlike him, she was batting on lefty stance, even though she was naturally right-handed. He knew that gave the batters a slight advantage, by placing them closer to first base when they made contact and had to run.
He let the next ball pass by to time more or less how much the ball took to get to him, and then used the bat on bunt stance to gauge the height. He did it three more times to catch the rhythm, and then by the eighth ball, he got ready again.
"Okay, here goes…"
The ball came at him, and this time he could get a good hit. Satisfied, he did the same with the next, and then the tenth, completing the ten-ball per coin set.
"I think I got it," he said inserting another coin to start another ten-ball round. This time he held the bat firmly, to hit the ball much further.
He had to admit that, simple as this seemed, it had its perks. It was a great way to relieve stress by hitting the ball. Though after a while it seemed a bit slow, so he decided to enter the 120 km/h cage to increase the challenge.
Once again, the speed increase in the balls made it a bit hard at first, but once he picked it up (albeit taking much longer) it turned out relatively easy. He'd never been a fan of baseball (or any other sport in general), but for some reason he could picture himself at the Koshien stadium, about to hit a decisive homerun.
'Hah, yeah; as if a nerd like me could do something like that.'
It was fun to dream anyway. Meanwhile, he'd occasionally turn to see Yotsuba, who seemed to be enjoying herself even more than him. Unlike Fuutarou, the girl managed to make contact on practically every ball, only missing on the brief occasions she was distracted or failed to get back in position after a full swing. It was quite impressive.
The culminant point came when, after about an hour in the batting cage, the girl hit the ball so hard, it went up towards a target near the ceiling, which upon being hit played up a fanfare music and the screen showing the virtual pitcher showed a fireworks image with the English words "HOME RUN!" blinking every two seconds.
"Yay! I got a homerun! You saw that, Uesugi-san?"
"Good for you. Now I can't fall behind," he said as he got in position for the next ball coming at him.
He started swinging much harder, but he couldn't send the ball much further than before. Even so, it was fun just to hit them, and by having a goal to chase it gave additional motivation.
Just like during the study sessions with Yotsuba.
…
"Ah, that was really fun!" Yotsuba finally said after they exited the place.
"You're incredible. You got five homeruns in all, and you barely missed a few balls."
"Hehe, guess I still have it," the replied modestly. "You didn't do so bad, for the first time."
"If you say so."
Admittedly, while he did have fun, by the time they exited the batting center his arms were a bit numb after swinging so much. He made a note to train more the upper body at the gym, if he planned to come back here.
"I'm mean it," Yotsuba insisted. "You could be a great batter if you practice more."
He snorted, although he did feel flattered at her words. Truth was, the batting center wasn't such a bad place, and he'd like to come back one day. Hitting balls was better therapy to unleash anger or frustration than weightlifting in a gym, that was for sure.
"So, what do we do now?" he said.
"Same as always, running laps at our usual spot. So you can rest your arms."
Fuutarou stared at his arms; was it really that evident? The ribbon girl seemed not to miss any detail when it came to him. He still nodded and both started jogging to head to the aforementioned spot.
However, they'd barely gone two blocks when Yotsuba abruptly stopped, and when he was about to ask why she did, he saw ahead and realized a couple of familiar faces came walking in the opposite direction.
Also, they were holding onto each other arm's in a very clingy manner.
"Uesugi-kun? Yotsuba?"
"Matsui and Maeda-kun?" the ribbon girl replied. "Well, isn't this a surprise, what're you guys doing here?"
"That should be our line," Maeda said, addressing Fuutarou. "Weren't you guys supposed to study today? That's what you told me at the cafeteria, didn't you?"
"Before you get any wrong ideas, we've just come out of the batting center," Fuutarou pointed at the place. "Yotsuba and I regularly go out for jogging or do some workout together after studying, everyone knows that. Besides, I told Ichika exactly what we'd be doing and she was fine with it."
"Ichika knows we're just friends, really," Yotsuba added to back up his defense. "This isn't a date or anything like that, honest."
Maeda gave Matsui a look, who just stared at him for a moment before just shrugging. However, that seemed to convince him as he relaxed. Just like Fuutarou expected, they ended up running into people who knew them and could have started a misunderstanding. Fortunately, he was ready to nip it in the bud if that was the case.
"Okay, I'm gonna hold you to that," Maeda said. "After all, Ichika-san rejected me for you. I'd hate to know she's dating a-ouch!"
"Maeda-kun, that was uncalled for," Matsui told him with a smile that clearly said "Finish that sentence and you're a dead man". Jugding by Maeda's initial reaction, she was probably pinching him behind.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it, I get it! Hey, there was no need to grip so hard."
"Sorry," Matsui apologized. "We'd love to stay and chat, but Maeda-kun promised to take me to Saori Hayami's live tonight. You have no idea how excited I am."
"Wow, that's so great! Hope you guys have fun!" Yotsuba replied.
Matsui and Maeda quickly left as soon as they appeared, and continued on their own way. Before walking away, Fuutarou and Yotsuba stared at them, noticing how Matsui never let go of Maeda's arm and while they did some bantering over what just happened, a couple seconds later they were both laughing heartily.
"They make a cute couple, don't you think so?" Yotsuba asked.
"I guess they do," Fuutarou replied. "I didn't really expect they'd get together, when you asked me to hook them up at the camp."
"Haha, didn't I tell you? Well, shall we continue?"
They continued their jog towards their usual spot, although Fuutarou took one last glance at Maeda and Matsui before they vanished around the corner. He wasn't sure why he felt good to see them together. Maybe he was simply happy for a friend.
'Have a good time, Maeda; don't go messing up your Valentine's Day.'
At the day's end…
Some would say that spending Valentine's Day and working out was for loner. And maybe, once upon a time, it would have been true for Fuutarou (the former part at least), but at this point, it wasn't so bothersome.
Today they were doing an endurance run; specifically, to check how many laps Fuutarou could run around the place. Surprisingly, the boy could complete thirty-five at jogging pace, although he was left exhausted in the process, while Yotsuba did her usual fifty with barely signs of fatigue. This time at least he didn't have to lean on her to reach the resting spot, and now they were relaxing on the swings as they contemplated the sunset.
"Hmm, this never stops being fun!" the girl exclaimed. "You're progressing a lot, Uesugi-san. You almost made twice as when we started."
"Yeah? Well, I guess that the fact I can feel my legs means I'm on the right track," Fuutarou said.
Truth be told, when he hit the gym without Yotsuba he frequently used the treadmill, so his increase in endurance wasn't that surprising. Now he was able to walk longer distances and a bit faster than before, although he was still leagues below the ribbon girl. As for his arm strength, he could now raise the bar with ten additional kilos, and maybe it was time to increase them to twenty, especially if he wanted to have a stronger swing to hit the balls in the batting center.
He felt good to know he was in better condition than when he started. Progress was slow, but at least it was notable, just like with Yotsuba when it came to studying. It was weird, but when she started to work as her tutor, he didn't imagine he'd be doing physical exercise with his pupil. He was learning from her almost as much as she did from him.
"Oh, by the way, I have something for you here." Yotsuba searched into her bag and pulled something out.
Fuutarou saw it was a chocolate bar. A brand he didn't know of, probably an expensive one. The boy was surprised at the gesture, and even more when the girl continued to show her toothy grin.
"It's a friendly chocolate, obviously," Yotsuba said. "To thank you for everything you've done for me in these months."
"Oh, yeah of course," the boy replied. For some reason he felt a little disappointed. But then again, he'd gotten one from Ichika, was he greedy for another one? "Thanks, I really appreciate it."
He unwrapped a little to take a bite, but before he sank his teeth into it, he briefly glanced at the girl. Something in him stopped him, and then moved him to shred the wrapping plastic completely, and break the bar in two, giving half of it to Yotsuba.
"Here."
"Huh? But I bought it for you, it's yours."
"You said it was a friendly chocolate. And friends share with each other, don't they?"
Yotsuba's eyes briefly widened at the comment, but then she smiled and accepted the piece. Both ate it slowly, taking their sweet time to taste it.
"Hmm, this is good," Fuutarou said, noticing it was filled with nuts and almonds. "Where did you get it?"
"At a chocolate shop Nino loves," Yotsuba explained. "She says they make the best chocolate in the world."
"Well, they could be a good contender," Fuutarou replied. "Not that I eat chocolates often, though. This is the second one I get for Valentine's Day in my life."
"Hehe, I bet it's not as good as Ichika's, is it?"
Fuutarou turned to see her. It wasn't like Ichika's was better, or worse, it just felt… different. He obviously appreciated the gesture, not to mention it was wonderful after the morning breakfast. It was delicious and, while it'd been bought, he could feel Ichika's affection just for giving it to him, that was undeniable.
On the other hand, there was something different about being there, sitting on the swings while sharing the chocolate bar with Yotsuba. Even if it was just as friends, it gave him a warm sense of peace and tranquility. There were few people he would share stuff with outside his family, and that was a testimony of how important the sisters had become to him.
Maybe, it would have been nice to eat Ichika's chocolate with her, and spend the day together like he did now with Yotsuba.
"Can I ask you something?" Fuutarou said, breaking the silence. "Had you… given Valentine's Day chocolates before, for someone else?"
"Haha, not really," the girl admitted. "I mean, I studied in an all-female school until last year, it wasn't like there were boys I could give them to, right?"
"True."
Fuutarou wasn't sure why, but he felt some satisfaction to know he was the first person Yotsuba gave a Valentine's chocolate. Twice if that was the case with Ichika. Even if only one of the two was romantic and the other was just friendly.
'It must be because… because it's them, right?'
Yeah, probably that was the case. Maybe not the dream Valentine's Day for many, but to him, it was overall a good one. He'd definitely take note to give both a return gift when the White Day came.
To be continued…
Author's notes:
What's up, people? Well, I guess two weeks for an update doesn't seem like that long of a wait, is it? As promised, here's the Valentine's Day chapter, but I went for something atypical this time around. I know many jokes have been done about this, and most people put more emphasis on the "love" part than the "friendship" one, so that's why Yotsuba has more presence than Ichika during this chapter. Both are making advances in their relationship, and while Fuutarou has yet to fully clear his feelings about them, I think it's obvious Yotsuba has a clear advantage despite not being as "proactive" as Ichika, and that'll have its repercussions. However, the true catalyst for him to realize will come during the next arc (the equivalent to the Scrambled Eggs in canon), before the third high school year begins.
A few things I feel I should clear up: first, according to the wiki, the date of Rena Nakano's death in canon was August 14th, but to the effect of this story, we can assume she fought her illness a couple months more (this is so the visit won't interfere with one of the future arcs I have planned during that timeframe). Second, in case it wasn't clear enough with previous chapters, the trip to Kyoto as children was apparently a single day, and the meeting between Ichika and Fuutarou when they played cards happened during the evening/nighttime, but here, the trip lasted a few more days to give them more interactions, and Ichika switched places with Yotsuba during one specific day (I'll expand it more when we get to the reveal). And third, what Itsuki says about going to an Italian restaurant is a small nod to my crossover oneshot with Food Wars!, titled Visitare un Ristorante, without them necessarily sharing continuity. By the way, if you haven't read it, I'd recommend that you do, just so you have an idea of what happened there.
I guess that's all. The next chapter will be a short extra from Itsuki's perspective, a little breather before this arc's finale. I must say, I had it really difficult to decide how the next arc would transpire, since in canon that's a very important point in the story, so I'll try and take it through a similar yet different path for obvious reasons. Thanks for the reviews to The Exiled Darkness, Random Reader Guy, Honored Oak, SolarHistorian, TheMist33, Guest and abcdefghijklmnop. The next chapter will be posted by the month's end, so until then, sayonara!