Chapter 6

The sun was casting warm hues of yellow and orange as the first day of the Asahiyama High School field trip drew to a close. The clock was ticking towards 5 PM, and the third-year students were making their way back to the hotel where they would spend the next two days and nights. Despite the prior warnings from their teachers, a few students still arrived late, earning themselves verbal reprimands along with a reminder not to repeat the mistake.

Following this, the students gathered in the meeting hall for a briefing on the schedule of the second day. Tomorrow, they would have the opportunity to visit a pre-determined location of their choice, organized by the teachers within their respective groups. Each group received a form to indicate their desired destination, and to be handed back in during the tomorrow's morning briefing.

After an hour and a half of briefings and some today's sharing of experiences, the students were ushered to the hotel's restaurant for dinner. The establishment had been exclusively reserved for the Asahiyama students and teachers for the evening due to their large number.

"Listen carefully, you all have one hour for dinner. After that, you're free until ten o'clock, but leaving the hotel is off-limits."

The restaurant was abuzz with liveliness and chatter. Most students relished their meals while conversing with friends about the day's adventures. Those not present were either relaxing outside the restaurant, returning to their rooms early, or even sneaking beyond the hotel confines, disregarding the warnings.

"Wow, this restaurant looks amazing! Look at the food, it looks delicious!"

"I'm so tired and hungry after exploring all day. Let's find a nice table to sit at."

"*sigh* I'm exhausted… I might skip dinner and just rest in our room."

Somewhere amidst the lively atmosphere, Fuutaro and his groupmates were engaged in their own dinner. Plates laden with sushi, desserts, and various dishes adorned their table. Fuutaro, particularly, relished this opportunity since such meals were a rarity for him. Meanwhile, Takeda, between mouthfuls, persistently questioned Fuutaro about his time with one of the Nakano quintuplets at Fushimi Shrine earlier in the day.

"Come on, Uesugi-kun, tell me about it. What went down between you and Nakano Miku-san back at the shrine?" Takeda asked in a teasing manner, focusing his gaze on the quiet boy beside him. "Did you two share some special moment together? I mean, you were alone up there with her…"

"Tchh… How many times do I have to say? There was nothing happened between us," Fuutaro replied, his patience waning as he continued eating without even glancing at Takeda. "You've asked this like three times already. Can't we talk about something else?"

"Heh! Like I said, there's no need to be shy. We're friends, right? You can tell me your most embarrassing secret, and I'll take it to the grave," Takeda said, undeterred as he persisted, "Don't tell me you spent an hour in total silence before coming back down?"

"Well, it wasn't exactly like that, but close," Fuutaro replied, taking a sip of water before resuming his meal with a disinterested expression. "We did chat a bit and took a walk around before heading back."

Even though they were already friends and had swapped contact information, Fuutaro remained cautious. His trust in Takeda was limited; they had rarely interacted as friends since the national mock exam. Throughout his recollection, Fuutaro had never truly experienced friendship beyond a few school acquaintances he barely talked to due to his disinterested demeanor and academic focus. He considered keeping personal matters and secrets to himself until Takeda proved himself trustworthy.

"Hmm… If that's how it happened, you're still far and amateur when it comes to girls," Takeda remarked, a hint of disappointment in his tone, yet his characteristic liveliness remained. "Uesugi-kun, you really missed quite an opportunity. I could see Nakano Miku-san's interest in you."

"Is that right?" Fuutaro responded with his usual flat tone, though he was already aware of the fact.

"No doubt about it! Remember what I told you earlier? The Nakano quintuplets have a soft spot for you, and… you share a close interaction with all of them," he said, reminding the circumstances. "As I said before, they're bound to fall for you eventually, and it appears Miku-san already has."

"Really? I haven't paid much attention to it." Fuutaro laid down his chopsticks, reaching for his phone to check something. "For now, my role is to support and tutor them academically, making sure their graduation goes smooth."

"As dense and indifferent as always, huh? Well, Uesugi-kun, let me offer some advice to help you connect better with girls." Takeda set down his chopsticks, taking a sip of water. Clearing his throat, he lightly tapped Fuutaro's shoulder before dispensing his counsel. "Ask about their interests or hobbies and listen actively. Also, while you're at it, avoid making offensive comments. Be gentle, but maintain a balanced distance, or else you'll be seen as overly forward."

"Right…"

"Make sure to respect their opinions and don't be overly pushy, or you'll come off as stubborn and irritating," Takeda continued, just as another member of their group returned with more food and dessert. "Don't be like Maeda-kun here, where he got all upset when his suggestion didn't align with today's plans."

"Huh? What are you getting at, Takeda?" Maeda's annoyance flared as he rejoined the conversation, taking his seat opposite Fuutaro and Takeda. "To be honest, Fushimi shrine was pretty boring except for the Senbon Torii and the rest area. This town has plenty of other good spots to explore and I still find it hard to believe you two settled on the shrine…" He began eating without meeting the eyes of his fellow diners.

"Anyway, you need to see the situation and just follow your instincts when it's just you and a girl in the same scenario," Takeda advised, picking up his chopsticks again to resume eating. "I can see that you're not really hopeless with girls, considering how often you're with the Nakano quintuplets for like every day and every time, and they pretty much liked your presence. With all those times together you must have some experience with girls by now, don't you?"

"Yeah, whatever, Takeda…"

On the other side of the restaurant, the quintuplets were immersed in their dinner, except for Miku who was notably absent. The third sister had said her intention to skip dinner, citing exhaustion from today's events. She promptly retreated to their hotel room after the briefing. The current atmosphere among the sisters was considerably calmer than during the train ride and their visit to Fushimi shrine, thanks to Miku's absence and Itsuki's concentrated engagement with her meal.

Empty plates were stacking up one after another on their table, primarily thanks to Itsuki's enormous appetite. She had devoured a large portion of desserts and extra servings due to her being hungry, as always. Nino observed the fifth sister's eating habits with a blend of bewilderment and distaste, even though she had witnessed this phenomenon countless times. While Ichika and Yotsuba reacted similarly, accompanied by soft chuckles. Occasional glances and whispers between other students revealed that their table's unusual scene had not gone unnoticed.

"Uhh… How much dessert can you possibly devour, Itsuki?" Nino asked, regaining her composure to continue her meal. "You've had your third main meal, and this is, what, your fifth dessert? Seriously, how much can you eat, you meat-eating monster?"

"I am really starving, you know?" Itsuki chirped while savoring a pudding, apparently unconcerned by the second sister's evident annoyance. "After such an exhausting day, it is only natural to experience intense hunger and craving for food, right?" She followed her statement with a gulp of cold apple juice.

"Well, that's true for most cases. But for you, it's not normal at all!" Nino retorted in disbelief. "Anyway, there's something important I'd like to discuss with all of you."

"What's wrong, Nino?" Ichika asked, sipping her iced coffee.

"Believe it or not, I think someone's been stalking me," Nino stated with a serious expression, setting her chopsticks aside. Her statement caught the attention of her sisters, who halted their eating to regard her with curiosity. "A creepy photographer, to be exact."

"I've sensed it since we were returning to the hotel. I'm convinced they followed me all the way here," she explained, outlining the situation. "Before you think I'm making this up, there have been reports online about students being stalked during field trips. Some of the source seem believable."

"Hmm… Even if that is the case, why would someone target you, Nino?" Itsuki said in a nonchalant tone, resuming her pudding consumption.

"H-Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Nino replied with a tinge of annoyance at Itsuki's seemingly indifferent reaction.

"If it's true, you should immediately inform a teacher," Yotsuba advised earnestly.

"I agree with Yotsuba. If this continues, it might lead to a dangerous situation," Ichika chimed in, supporting the suggestion. "Do you want us to accompany you when you report it?"

"Not just yet. I'm still certain that I'm being stalked," Nino responded, lifting a glass of water to her lips. "But, it's possible I could be mistaken, as it's just a feeling and I haven't actually spotted the stalker."

"Are you sure? It is better to be cautious than regretful," Itsuki advised as she concluded her pudding and moved on to another dessert.

"Don't worry. If I do spot them, I'll confront them and smash their camera to their face." She set the glass down with a somewhat forceful gesture out of frustration. "I'll remain cautious from now on, and I suggest you all do the same. There's a chance the stalker could target any of us."

"Yeah, yeah… By the way, Yotsuba, would you mind joining me after this?" Ichika beckoned to the fourth sister seated across from her.

"Hmm…? Where to, Ichika?"

"There's something that I want to show you at the souvenir shop in the hotel lobby that I think you'd find interesting," she said, finishing the last of her iced coffee. "We can head over once you've finished eating. So, take your time."

"Sure thing, gimme a second." Yotsuba hastened her consumption, devouring her remaining meal with remarkable speed before washing it down with a glass of water. She then placed her glass on the table and responded eagerly, "I'm good to go!"

"Hehe… You don't need to rush your meal like that," Ichika chuckled, rising from her seat. "Alright, let's go."

Ichika and Yotsuba exited the restaurant, leaving Nino and Itsuki alone at the table.

Nino glanced back slightly, watching the first and fourth sisters until they gradually faded from her view. She then resumed her meal with a sigh of exasperation. "*sigh* I can't believe they managed to trick us, twice, within the same hour…" she muttered, her voice carrying both annoyance and dejection as she ate slowly. A minute later, she finished her meal and gripped her glass of water more forcefully than usual, her frustration palpable. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Fuu-kun walking with Miku. Good for her, I guess… But, I still can't accept the fact that everything seemed to be working against us. If only you hadn't suggested that stupid condition, I might have walked with him instead of her. To think I could have enjoyed a precious, private moment with just the two of us…"

Itsuki, seemingly indifferent to her sister's complaints, continued to relish her dessert with an air of contentment. "Well… It cannot be helped," she responded, her tone lacking enthusiasm as she savored each bite. "I did suggest that condition for my own advantage initially, but it seems fate had other plans. That is simply how things are. My suggestion to you is to act swiftly. With just two days left and the third day being a cluster day, you can end up with him… or not at all.

Nino regarded Itsuki, irritation still evident on her face. "Yeah, I'm well aware of all that, so no need to remind me! There's still tomorrow, and I'm going to give it my all to make sure he walks with me," Nino declared, finishing her glass of water in one gulp. She then cast a piercing gaze at Itsuki across the table. "You know, Itsuki, I won't lose to you, Ichika, or even Yotsuba."

"Hmm… What are you talking about, Nino?" Itsuki interrupted her meal briefly, glancing at the second sister with curiosity.

"Don't play stupid with me. I know that you're also aiming for some alone time with him too, right?"

"Is that so?"

"It was really obvious from your behavior!" Nino stated. "Back when we deciding the group with him, I could see you stealing glances at him a few times, like you were trying to say something to him. And you kept saying to follow his group every time he went too far from us… Wasn't that obvious? Not to say how forceful you've been with him the past few days whenever we talked about the school trip."

"Ehh… Was it that obvious?"

"Of course, it was! So, prepare yourself, Itsuki." Nino placed her glass down a bit forcefully. Crossing her arms confidently, she continued, "You know me well, right? If you don't move fast enough, I'll hog him for the entire school trip. Don't be surprised if Ichika and Yotsuba have similar ideas, even if they're not showing it now."

Itsuki gazed at her sister, her eyes narrowing slightly. A hint of annoyance colored her otherwise neutral expression. "I have been well aware of that, Nino. I have got my own plan to spend time with him," she said calmly, finishing her last bite of dessert before reaching for a tissue to dab her lips. "I have researched his interests and preferred places to visit. I am confident Uesugi-kun will be more interested in spending time with me than with you." Her demeanor shifted to a more serious one as she locked eyes with her sister.

"Heh! Quite the bold statement coming from you. It reminds me of last year when you slapped me and tried to made me apologize to him," Nino retorted, a confident smirk playing on her lips as she seemed entertained by her sister's rare show of confidence. "I guess it's on then. Let's see who will come out on top!"

"Yeah, I will not lose to you, Nino."

An hour later, the dinner time came to an end, marking the start of the free period. Some students chose to visit each other's rooms, engaging in playful activities and enjoying each other's company. Meanwhile, others gathered in the hotel lobby or explored different parts of the building, enjoying the ambiance either alone or with friends. A portion of the students remained in their rooms, either relaxing or succumbing to exhaustion and drifting into sleep, while a daring few snuck out of the hotel.

Among the quintuplets, except for Ichika, the trio made their way back to their room. They had decided to unwind after a tiring day of visiting Fushimi Shrine and to prepare themselves for the upcoming trip on the following day. Ichika, on the other hand, was beckoned by her friends to their room during their return, telling the trio to go ahead without her, assuring she would rejoin them shortly.

Upon reaching their room's doorstep, the three halted briefly to check the whereabouts of the room key card, only to realize that none of them possessed it.

"I don't have the key card. Do any of you have it?" Nino asked, casting a questioning glance at her sisters.

"Umm... If I remember correctly, both you and Ichika were the one that held the key cards," Itsuki said, looking towards Yotsuba after patting her pockets. "Two key cards were given to each group when we checked in, right?"

"That's true. But I gave my card to Miku about an hour ago just before she returned to the room. It was just a precaution in case of emergencies or if she needed to step out while we were having dinner," Yotsuba explained.

"*sigh* What a pain... Ichika won't be back anytime soon, knowing that her friends are going to swarm her and talking her recent appearance on that popular TV show. Let me ring the doorbell and who knows Miku might open the door," Nino grumbled, then proceeded to press the doorbell. The faint chime could be heard from beyond the door. A minute elapsed, yet there was no response from inside, leading them to deduce that Miku was still in slumber. "Looks like we'll have to wait for Ichika. Miku probably won't hear her phone, where she always sets it to silent mode when she's asleep."

Itsuki yawned and stretched her arms. "Wahh... I am really exhausted right now." Her voice took on a soft, dreamy tone as she spoke, "After a full day of climbing those steps and finally tucking into that delicious dinner, I cannot wait to enjoy a relaxing, warm shower and then collapse onto the soft hotel bed…"

"You know, I've always wondering how you manage not to gain weight after all that eating, and then followed by promptly hitting the hay without even a moment's pause," Nino remarked, her gaze fixed on Itsuki's midsection as she playfully poked it several times. She gently pinched and grasped a bit of Itsuki's belly, evoking a soft squeak from the fifth sister. "Honestly, I'm very sure that you weigh more than the rest of us, even if it isn't obvious at first glance..."

"Ughh... Nino, please, stop it!" Itsuki blurted out in embarrassment, quickly withdrawing from Nino's touch. "I have not put on any weight recently... Also, if we recall the school medical checkup from last year, our combined weight was 250 kg, right? So, let's just split that evenly among us, making our weights the same, right?" She concluded in a somewhat nervous, stammering tone before ending with a faint chuckle.

"Yeah... I'm not entirely convinced of that," Nino retorted, her attention once more fixed on Itsuki's figure, a faint grin tugging at the corners of her mouth as she pondered her hypothesis. "Besides, that was one year ago re—"

A faint clicking sound echoed. Nino immediately turned around the moment the sound reached her ears, as it had become familiar to her since their return from the Fushimi Shrine. She focused her attention on the hallway, searching for the source of the sound.

"Hmm…? What's wrong, Nino?" Yotsuba asked, observing Nino's tense demeanor as she continued to gaze down the hallway.

"Did you hear that sound? I swear I heard a clicking sound just now," Nino observed the hallway with narrowed eyes, carefully scanning each corner. After a few seconds of fruitless searching, she shifted her focus back to her sisters. "It was like the sound a camera makes when taking a picture."

"Are you sure you are not just being paranoid? You need to calm down," Itsuki suggested with a mocking smile, giving Nino a reassuring tap on the back. "A clicking sound? Maybe you just imagin—" She was cut off as the clicking sound resurfaced, this time reaching her ears as well.

Nino, along with Itsuki, looked back at the hallway once more, but found nothing. A sense of restlessness and unease settled over them, their expressions growing tense and anxious as they exchanged uncertain glances. The fifth sister was now as cautious as Nino, though she displayed more fear compared to the second sister.

"N-Nino, did you hear that?"

"Y-Yeah… I heard it too. The same clicking sound…" Nino's voice trembled slightly. She turned her gaze to the fourth sister, hoping she had also noticed. "Yotsuba, did you hear it too?"

"Umm… I'm not really sure. I was checking my phone," Yotsuba responded, tucking her phone back into her pocket. The sudden shift in atmosphere between her sisters made her increasingly nervous. "Even if it's true, could the stalker you mentioned have followed us all the way here?"

"No, that can't be." Nino shook her head vigorously, contemplating the worst-case scenario of their current stalking situation. "It'd be really creepy if they followed me all the way from the shrine to here. And I doubt they'd risk it in the hotel, considering—" Her sentence was cut short as she turned around once again, and her worst fears manifested before her.

Not far behind them, a digital camera emerged from the hallway intersection, its lens directed at them. The three sisters spotted the camera and stood frozen in place, horror etched across their faces. They were too stunned to move or speak, not expecting to encounter a true stalker, validating Nino's earlier claims. Without warning, the camera emitted a blinding flash, followed in quick succession by an ear-piercing shriek that could awaken the dead.

Having endured a barrage of teasing and advice from Takeda, Fuutaro found himself mentally drained. He walked back to his room alone, leaving Takeda and Maeda at the hotel lobby, immersed in the company of their fellow schoolmates. Socializing was the last thing on his mind; fatigue weighed on him, both mentally and physically. All he wanted for was the comfort of his room, a warm shower, and some rest. Yet, he could not afford complete relaxation or sleep just yet, for the clock was ticking towards 10 PM, the time when Fuutaro and the other class representatives were summoned to meet with their teachers. Their duty? To tally the student attendance during curfew.

Cracking his tired neck, Fuutaro released a heavy sigh. The role of a class representative seemed nothing short of a hassle. Even to this day, Yotsuba's decision to appoint him as the male class representative still irked him. He was well aware that his indifferent and unfriendly demeanor, coupled with his tendency to avoid the limelight, had not endeared him to most of his classmates.

Upon his appointment, he had pictured a burdensome and bothersome responsibility, one where he would struggle to earn the respect of his peers. He had imagined himself tangled in trivial and pointless tasks that would only waste his time. Yet, reality had unfolded differently over time. His third-place rank in the national mock exams had turned heads, securing him the highest position among all third-year students at Asahiyama. With Takeda starting to hang out with him, he had garnered newfound respect and even approached by peers in a friendlier manner.

As for the class representative responsibilities, Yotsuba took them with seriousness, often even assuming some of Fuutaro's duties. She had stood in for him during past class representative meetings on school trips and annual class-rep gatherings with the student council, especially when they clashed with his after-school part-time job. He was grateful for her help and often felt guilty for the times he had left her to handle things on her own. In an attempt to repay her efforts, he had recently did some of the tasks himself. But, he acknowledged that his efforts fell short in comparison to the extent of Yotsuba's contributions.

Fuutaro had settled into his role as a class representative, gradually growing more at ease with it. Yet, he still cherished moments of solitude where he could concentrate on his primary interest—studying.

"KYAAAA!"

A sudden scream pierced through his thoughts, jolting him from his thoughts. Reacting to the loud sound, he quickly made his way towards its source.

"What was that scream?" He arrived at the hallway intersection near his room, the epicenter of the shriek.

"What just happened here?"

At the intersection, Fuutaro found Ichika, the eldest sister of the quintuplets, emerging from the other side.

"Ichika, huh?"

"Ahh… Isn't it, Fuutaro-kun?"

"Did you hear that scream? Did you see who might have screamed?"

Ichika shook her head. "I heard the scream, but I didn't see anyone," she explained. "By the time I got here, no one was around except you and the others exiting their rooms." She glanced at those who had emerged, pondering the source of the scream.

"I see… It's probably just a prank or something."

"Ahaha… You might be right," Ichika chuckled at his deduction. Then, her expression shifted as if she had just remembered something. "Oh, I'm glad I ran into you! Fuutaro-kun, there's something I need to tell you."

"Hmm… What's it about?"

"Itsuki-chan asked me to pass this on. She wants to meet you in the hotel's café on the upper floor in about an hour," she conveyed with her usual cheerfulness.

Fuutaro arched an eyebrow, surprised by the message. "Huh, Itsuki? Why does she want to meet at the hotel's café?" Still curious and puzzled, he asked further, "Do you know anything about it, Ichika?"

"Not really. She just told me this quickly before going off with Nino and Yotsuba."

"*sigh* What a pain… I'm exhausted and I just want to relax after a long day of climbing," Fuutaro grumbled while massaging his fatigued neck. "Can't she just meet me in front of my room and talk whatever it is?"

"Absolutely not, Fuutaro-kun!" Ichika retorted; her irritation palpable. True to form, she scolded him for his nonchalant attitude. "Remember onee-san's lessons on manners? Be considerate when dealing with a girl, and show some courtesy when communicating. Your suggestion of meeting outside your room and dismissing her invitation lacks tact and comes across as rude. It's a major red-light to reject a girl's invitation, you know?"

"This again, huh?" Fuutaro sighed, slightly irritated. Right now, he was so worn out, he was not in mood to meet with anyone, especially outside his room. After a quick thought, he decided to accept Itsuki's invitation—after all, it was not a big deal and he did not want to contend with Ichika's persistence. "Alright, fine. Let Itsuki know I'll meet her at the hotel's café in an hour. But first, I need to take a shower and rest for a bit. I'm really tired right now."

Ichika's annoyance transformed into a wide grin, punctuated by a wink from her left eye. "Got it! Just make sure to not keep her waiting, okay? Girls don't like being left hanging."

"Yeah, yeah… Later, Ichika." Fuutaro turned to head back to his room. After a few steps, he recalled that he also needed to discuss something with her. "I almost forgot… Hey Ichika, there's something I wanted to talk to you about—" He turned around, only to find that she was no longer there.

Fuutaro let out another sigh, realizing that his attempt to talk to Ichika had slipped away once again. Since their visit to the Fushimi Shrine, he had wanted to spend time with her during this school trip, but she seemed to vanish every time he wanted to approach her, just as she had now. Though they had walked back to the hotel together, it was in the company of their groupmates and the other quintuplets. What he truly desired was a chance to walk alone with her, like their previous adventure of skipping school a few months back.

After what felt like an endless sprint, the three sisters finally came to a halt. They had encountered an apparent stalker who had taken their picture while they stood in front of their room. Now, they found themselves three floors below their initial location, having fled to another floor of the hotel using the emergency exit stairs. Fear and shock still gripped them as they replayed the image of the stalker's camera in their minds. Their escape had been instinctual, leading them to this unfamiliar place.

Panting heavily, breaths escaped their lips in ragged bursts. Exhaustion had taken over after their sprint and the rapid descent down the stairs. Nino bent over, hands on her knees, struggling to regain her breath. Yotsuba leaned against the wall, using it as support for her weary body. Itsuki, too tired to remain standing, sank to the floor. Several minutes passed as they all struggled to regain their composure, finally gathering enough energy to address the unnerving encounter they had just experienced.

"*pant* *pant* I can't believe it... That stalker followed me from the shrine to the hotel," Nino stammered, still gasping for air. "This is more serious than I thought. I think we need to inform the teachers about this."

"Yeah... I *pant* agree..." Itsuki echoed, her voice sharing the same weariness as she pushed herself up from the ground. "This affects all of us. Not just you. Who knows, the stalker might target other students too," she added, her words earning nods from both Nino and Yotsuba.

A familiar ringtone sounded, and both Yotsuba and Itsuki turned to Nino, recognizing it as her phone's notification. Retrieving her phone from her pocket, Nino glanced at the screen. "Finally…" She then answered the call. "Hello? Miku? A scream? Well... that was us... Can you hear me?" She repeated the question, her brow furrowing as she received no response from the other end. "Ughh... This floor has terrible reception. Miku, can you hear me?" Nino walked around the area in search of a better signal, leaving Yotsuba and Itsuki behind.

Yotsuba also retrieved her phone, recalling the vibrations she felt earlier when they arrived on this floor after fleeing from the stalker. "Hmm... a message?"

Sure enough, there was a new message waiting. Opening the chat, Yotsuba quickly read through its contents. A few seconds passed, and a bright, energetic smile broke across her face as she absorbed the message's meaning. She slipped her phone back into her pocket and turned to Itsuki, saying, "Hey Itsuki, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it, Yotsuba?"

"Ichika just messaged me. She said that Uesugi-san wanted to meet with you at the hotel's café in an hour or so," Yotsuba shared with her usual cheerful expression.

"Ehh… Uesugi-kun?" Itsuki gasped, her surprise evident in her expression. This sudden news caught her off guard. "Why does he want to meet with me? Did Ichika provide any details?"

Yotsuba shook her head. "No… Ichika just asked me to pass on the message. She didn't include any details," Yotsuba replied with a weak chuckle. "I guess you'll find out when you meet him."

"Well… I suppose so…" Itsuki nodded slightly, still mulling over the unexpected invitation from her tutor.

Soon after, Nino rejoined them. "Miku is awake now, thanks to our scream… So let's head back to our room." Nino led the way to the nearby elevator, rubbing the back of her neck as she stepped in. "Both my mind and body are exhausted from today's trip and dealing with that stalker… I can't wait to crawl into bed."

Yotsuba and Itsuki followed Nino into the elevator.

Itsuki, she found herself perplexed by Fuutaro's invitation to the hotel's café. What could he possibly want from her? Inviting her to the café seemed oddly intimate, reminiscent of a date. Knowing Fuutaro's straightforward nature, if he had something to say to her or her sisters, he would have approached them directly. So, this approach was unusual for him.

Her heart quickened, and she felt a flutter of nerves. Itsuki shook her head slightly and let out a quiet breath to steady herself. Yes, it was sudden and unexpected, but she could also view this as an opportunity. It aligned with one of her goals for the school trip – spending time alone with him – and this golden chance was too good to pass up.

"Ughh… This is quite surprising…"

"It is really out of character for Uesugi-kun to invite me to a café…"

"What could he want to talk about…?"

"Regardless… This is perfect…"

"I finally have the chance to spend some one-on-one time with him…"

"I need to make the most of this…"

"To get to know him better…"

A/N:

So here's chapter 6 and the next quintuplet who will get to spend her time with Fuutaro will be Itsuki.

I've always wanted to write a story about Itsuki and Fuutaro since she is my second favorite quintuplet after Ichika, but I can't seem to think of the right scenario or moment to do so. Luckily, when I wrote the concept of this fic, I had ideas pouring into my head and thought of an ideal scenario between Itsuki and Fuutaro, which you will find out in the next chapter.

So the schedule for the next chapter will be on the last week of March or very early day on April (27th March - 2nd April).

As always, thank you for reading this story and I will see you in the next chapter.

If you enjoy the story, feel free to review, follow, and favorite it!