Chapter 13

Kiyomizu-zaka Street... it was renowned for its vibrant shopping district nestled near the Kiyomizu-dera temple. The charming streets led visitors straight to the temple's grand entrance. Thanks to its close proximity to this famous landmark, the district bustled with tourists, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere. Traditional wooden buildings adorned the streets, transporting visitors back in time, as if they were strolling through old Japan. Lots of shops lined the district, offering an array of delights, from souvenir shops to quaint cafes and traditional merchants selling cultural treasures.

As mid-afternoon approached, dark clouds loomed overhead, casting a shadow over the district and the magnificent Kiyomizu-dera. A cool breeze swept through the area, carrying a sense of anticipation. Despite the imminent threat of heavy rain, the shopping district remained vibrant and full of life. Tourists continued their stroll around the area, while others relaxing in cozy cafes and restaurants, or simply admiring the display windows of the various shops.

However, amidst the flurry of activity and the bustling energy that filled the air, Nino stood apart, her mood a stark contrast to her surroundings.

"Ughh… This really sucks…"

"I can't believe it…!"

Nino grumbled; her irritation evident as she waited for Miku to purchase a drink from a nearby vending machine. After exploring Kiyomizu-dera for several hours, they had decided to spend the rest of their afternoon in Kiyomizu-zaka street. Yet, disappointment evident on Nino's expression, and a sense of annoyance crept into her demeanor. It was because her efforts to have some alone moment with her tutor had been unsuccessful.

Back at Kiyomizu-dera, a few hours ago, Nino had devised a plan to spend time with Fuutaro in this very place as soon as she stepped off the bus. She knew that it would be a fierce competition among her sisters to spend time with their tutor if she did not act quickly. However, before she could put her plan into motion, some of her friends approached her, asking her to explore the temple grounds with them.

As much as Nino wanted to refuse their invitation and focus solely on Fuutaro, she could not afford to ignore her friends. These friends had been with her since her first day at Asahiyama, and she did not want to jeopardize those friendships. Nonetheless, she devised another plan to split up from them. She convinced Miku to accompany her and her friends, and at the right moment, Miku would assume Nino's identity, allowing Nino to slip away unnoticed.

After a series of attempts to find Fuutaro, Nino finally spotted him, but the circumstances were far from ideal. He was strolling alongside Yotsuba, exploring the temple complex together; sharing a laughter and joyful moment together. This sight ignited a pang of jealousy and dissatisfaction within her, realizing that she had arrived too late. Determined to spend time with Fuutaro, Nino discreetly followed the pair for about half an hour, hoping for an opportunity when he would be alone or separated from Yotsuba. Unfortunately, such opportunities never arose, leading Nino to eventually concede and rejoin her friends and Miku, rethinking her next course of action to approach her tutor.

Right now, Nino contemplated how to make use of the remaining time in the afternoon trip to have that alone time with Fuutaro, ensuring he would not be surrounded by her sisters. She even considered the evening free time as an opportunity to satisfy her longing to walk alongside him.

"Let's see..."

"There's still some time left before the afternoon trip ends, and I need to approach him when he's alone..."

"I just hope the others won't be around him when I'm about to make my move..."

"And... perhaps I can convince him to spend the evening free time with me too..."

"Yes... that's a good idea..."

This entire situation left Nino feeling anxious and unsettled, knowing that her sisters had managed to spend time with Fuutaro while she lagged behind. Yesterday, Miku had revealed to her that she had finally confessed her feelings to him at Fushimi Shrine. Itsuki, on the other hand, seemed to have enjoyed some alone moments with him the previous night, disappearing for a few hours before returning to their room with Fuutaro after taking curfew attendance; her face had been filled with joy and excitement. As for Yotsuba, whom Nino least expected, she had shared some quality time with him at the temple, seemingly having a great time together. Only Ichika had not made a move yet, but Nino was certain that it was only a matter of time, as the eldest sister harbored her own feelings for him and always had a scheme up her sleeve to get what she desired.

Letting out a deep sigh of frustration, Nino found herself trapped in an unfavorable situation, desperately needing to act quick before her sisters monopolized Fuutaro for the remainder of the school trip.

"Here, Nino. Just what you asked for—a cold cola," Miku offered, holding out a can towards her.

Nino's narrowed eyes fixated on the can, her mind still swirling with negative thoughts. "Right... Thanks," she responded, accepting the can with an expression void of amusement.

Miku took a sip of her green tea before speaking again. "I can tell you're still bothered by seeing Fuutaro with Yotsuba. What's done is done, but you still have time to make your move before the afternoon trip ends."

"Yeah, I'm aware of that!" Nino retorted irritably, hastily taking a sip of her soda and choking in the process. "*cough* *cough* I'll make sure to act when he's alone, away from his group or those three. I just want some time alone with him, just two of us, without any interruptions!"

"Well, good luck then," Miku responded in a monotone voice, taking another sip of her green tea. "As Tokugawa Ieyasu once said, 'Life is like a long journey with a heavy burden. Take slow and steady steps, so you do not stumble."

Nino glared at Miku, her narrowed eyes reflecting her lack of appreciation for the quoted advice. "Is that another one of your Sengoku era sayings? Great... just what I needed," she muttered, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

Miku met Nino's gaze with a neutral expression, though a hint of irritation lingered. "Always unappreciative, aren't you? We're in Kyoto and it's the perfect opportunity to learn our nation's rich history," she remarked, finishing her green tea and discarding the empty can into a nearby trash bin. "You might find it worthwhile to explore historical knowledge. It can offer unexpected insights when you least expect it."

"Nope... No, thank you," Nino replied dismissively, taking another sip of her cola. "You know that I'm not interested in old stuff, right? Just like this city, it's all temples and shrines everywhere you go... even this shopping district isn't my taste. I wish the school trip had taken us to Okinawa instead—a place I find much more appealing than Kyoto." She nonchalantly tossed her empty cola can into the same trash bin.

"Nino, your taste is not honorable and lacks refinement, you know?"

"Heh! Look who's talking," Nino retorted, crossing her arms and assuming a defiant stance. "I would argue that your taste is too primitive and eccentric. Being fixated on ancient generals from hundreds of years ago? I believe my interests are far more appealing to most people," she declared with a brash tone and a dismissive shrug.

Miku's eyes narrowed, her gaze turning cold and piercing as she locked onto Nino. "Shut up, Nino...! The problem is that you fail to appreciate the fascinating depth of history, finding it too complicated to comprehend," she retorted in a monotone voice, tinged with a menacing edge.

"Yeah, whatever you say..." Nino rolled her eyes indifferently as the conversation turned into a small argument, a familiar pattern they often fell into.

"There you are, you two!"

A familiar voice suddenly broke through the air, catching Nino and Miku's attention. The two turned their heads and saw their other three sisters approaching.

Nino observed them for a moment and noticed that Fuutaro was not with them. A small smile of delight formed on her lips, and a spark of hope ignited within her. She realized that Fuutaro must be with his groupmates, which presented a perfect opportunity for her to persuade him to spend time with her. It would be much easier to persuade him to walk with her without the presence of the other three sisters.

"Took you long enough to finally come down here," Nino said, her voice tinged with a touch of annoyance lingering from her earlier argument with Miku. "I was already bored going around the temple and honestly, this district is the only place that I find interesting, although it's still not quite my taste."

"Well, it's already mid-afternoon, and like you, we've had our fill of exploring the temple," Ichika replied. "We still have some time before we head back to the hotel, so we thought we'd spend it in this district."

"Plus, Itsuki is starting to get hungry. We realized we haven't even had lunch yet," Yotsuba chimed in with a chuckle, glancing at the visibly famished Itsuki. "So, it's time to grab a bite!"

"Ughh… My stomach is growling like crazy after being dragged around the forest by Ichika and back to the main temple non-stop…" Itsuki weakly said, clutching her hungry belly. "If we are done here, let us head to that restaurant I saw earlier. They have big portions based on the menu and food display… I cannot wait to eat their curry!"

"Itsuki, hold up!" Yotsuba called out, realizing the fifth sister had already taken off without waiting for the rest of them. "Come on, everyone! Let's catch up before she starts devouring all the food."

"What a good timing. I'm starting to feel hungry too," Miku calmly said, smiling, before turning her gaze to Nino. "Come on, Nino. Let's eat first and cool down that hot head of yours before you carry out your plans."

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry yet," Nino responded, defiantly crossing her arms. "You two go ahead. There's something I need to talk with Ichika." She turned to Ichika, who wore a curious expression upon hearing Nino's words.

"Got it. The restaurant we're going to has a prominent sign of a grilled meat outside, near the ice cream shop we saw earlier," Yotsuba described the place. "Just give us a call if you can't find it."

"Yeah, we'll catch up with you later," Nino replied, nonchalantly waving her hand.

Miku and Yotsuba made their way toward the restaurant, catching up with Itsuki and leaving Nino and Ichika alone

Nino kept a close watch on Miku and Yotsuba, making sure they were far enough before talking to Ichika. Letting out a quick exhale, she stepped closer to her eldest sister. "Ichika, there's something I want to talk with you."

"What is it, Nino? Is something wrong?" Ichika asked with a curious expression.

"Not really," Nino replied, attempting to maintain a neutral expression, although a sense of unease filled her heart. She hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Do you know where he was before you left the temple area?"

At first, Ichika struggled to grasp the person Nino was referring to, causing a brief pause. Eventually, she realized who Nino meant, and a small smile crept onto her lips as she responded, "You mean Fuutaro-kun? Yes, I saw him walking with his groupmates before we descended to this place."

"I see... In that case, I should go back to the temple," Nino stated, starting to make her way back.

"Wait a minute, Nino!" Ichika called out, raising her voice to halt her. "If I were you, I would wait for him to come down here instead of wandering around the temple to find him."

Nino paused, glancing back at Ichika. "Huh? What do you mean?"

"Well, before we left, we invited him to join us. But he wanted to explore the temple a little more with his groupmates," Ichika explained. "He said that he would catch up with us later, so I expect Fuutaro-kun and his groupmates to come down soon."

"Is that so?" Nino mumbled, falling into a momentary silence. She then returned to Ichika's side and decided to wait at Kiyomizu-zaka, as suggested. "I'll wait for him here. You go ahead and don't worry about me. Let the others know that I'm taking a stroll around the area to get some fresh air and explore the souvenir shop."

Observing Nino's determination, Ichika could tell that she was finally making her move to spend some alone time with Fuutaro. The serious expression on Nino's face and the intensity in her narrowed eyes showed her burning determination. It was clear that Nino was fully committed to making this happen.

This sight amused Ichika, causing a small chuckle to escape her lips. It seemed that Nino might not need her "little help" after all.

"Whoa... Nino is definitely serious about this…"

"This reminds me of when she asked him to form a group and practically forced him to join…"

"I guess she doesn't need my help at all…"

"But..."

Ichika gazed at the darkening sky above, noticing the thickening clouds that blocked out any trace of sunlight. Surveying the district, she observed the Kiyomizu-zaka street now immersed in darkness, resembling an evening setting. Lights emanated from the shops, buildings, and lampposts, illuminating the area. The forceful wind intensified, indicating an imminent heavy downpour.

Her attention was drawn to a souvenir café shop located nearby, approximately 10 meters away from their position. Curiosity piqued, she decided to take a quick look. The shop appeared cozy and inviting, offering a pleasant atmosphere for people to hang out. In that moment, ideas began to form in her mind, contributing to her "little plan" to assist Nino. Despite Nino seemingly not needing her help, Ichika's intuition suggested that she should still lend a hand, given the potentially unfavorable weather and circumstances.

After a while, a smile adorned Ichika's face as she successfully consolidated her ideas into a cohesive plan.

"Hey, Nino."

"Hmm? Why are you still here? Didn't I ask you to leave me alone?"

"I just wanted to mention that Fuutaro-kun seemed utterly bored when we spoke to him earlier," Ichika shared, maintaining her smile. "His expression clearly showed disinterest in walking with his groupmates. It appeared as though he was forced into joining them..."

"So? What's your point?" Nino asked, raising an eyebrow and wondering what Ichika was driving at.

"You understand what I'm getting at, right? He once said to me that he wasn't keen on forming a group with them, but Takeda-kun insisted," Ichika said. "You already know that Fuutaro-kun is more interested in being with us than his groupmates, don't you? So..."

Nino displayed a hint of surprise at Ichika's statement. Two possibilities crossed her mind: either Ichika was scheming something or she was merely boasting before making her own move on him. "Heh, I think I understand what you're getting at," Nino smirked, briefly closing her eyes as she deduced Ichika's motive. "You're trying to get Fuu-kun to walk with you, right? It's a competition between us, then." Her eyes opened again, narrowing her gaze at Ichika.

"No, no... That's not what I meant," Ichika replied, chuckling weakly. "What I'm trying to say is... I'm certain you can alleviate his boredom if you walk with him instead of his groupmates."

"Huh?" Nino, still wearing her narrowed gaze, was taken aback by Ichika's unexpected statement. She suspected it might be a ploy to lower her guard. "What is this, Ichika? Are you trying to play a trick on me? Explain!"

Ichika shook her head. "No, it's not a trick. Just hear me out first, and I'm certain you'll be intrigued." She gestured towards the souvenir café shop she had observed earlier. "See that shop over there?"

Nino followed Ichika's pointing finger and nodded. "Yeah, I see it. What about it?"

"Well, I took a quick peek inside earlier, and it's a charming little souvenir café shop, perfect for spending time with friends," she explained. "Moreover, considering the strong wind blowing recently and the darkening sky..."

Nino glanced at the darkening sky, noticing the clouds becoming even darker than before. As Ichika had mentioned, the wind grew stronger, and the combination of these factors indicated that a heavy rain was bound to happen.

Understanding Ichika's suggestion about the shop, Nino quickly grasped its implication. However, she felt a sense of unease regarding Ichika's intentions. "I think I understand what you're suggesting," Nino nodded, crossing her arms as she continued the conversation. "But are you sure about this? Considering that you also have feelings for him, you could use this opportunity to your advantage and have him all to yourself."

"Don't worry about it. I'm completely fine with it," Ichika said, assuring Nino of her genuine intention. "Consider it a way for me to repay the favor from our previous conversation, where you helped me knock some sense to my thinking." Her expression remained calm, accompanied by a faint smile.

Nino's eyes widened as she recalled their conversation from the previous month.

"I know that you have feelings for him too. Remember, we're siblings, and I know almost everything about you," Nino explained, locking eyes with Ichika. "I won't resort to dirty tactics just because one of my sisters has become a rival for his affection. It's because the bond between the five of us is truly important..." She emphasized; her gaze unwavering. "If someday Fuu-kun were to develop feelings for you, I wouldn't be mad about it. I would give my approval to both of you. And I have no intention of sabotaging your relationship with him."

"Remember, Ichika, family is important. I would rather let go of my own feelings for him than hurt my sisters in a competition for his heart."

So, this was what Ichika meant by returning the favor. Nino did not give much thought to it, as her previous actions had simply been to scold Ichika for her impulsive behavior and to assess whether Ichika truly had feelings for their tutor.

"So it was about that time, huh...?"

"If she brings that up, I doubt she would play any tricks on me..."

"But still, is it really true…?"

"Knowing that you have feelings for him..."

Nino had always seen her sisters as rivals in the race for Fuutaro's affection. It was every person for themselves in this competition, and she did not need their help to win his love. However, if a situation arose where one of her sisters unintentionally or intentionally aided her in achieving her goal, she would not hesitate to seize the opportunity. Ultimately, she just wanted to be with the boy who had captured her heart.

"Okay, fine," Nino responded with a quick nod, accepting Ichika's offer. "But don't blame me if he ends up falling for me instead after the school trip, okay?"

Ichika wore a confident smirk, feeling energized by Nino's statement. "Don't worry about that. I will ensure that Fuutaro-kun pays more attention to me after the school trip," she declared. "Remember what I said before? I won't lose to you, and I'll work even harder than you to grab his attention."

Nino returned the smirk, mirroring Ichika's confidence but with a sharper edge. "Heh! That's big talk from someone who might dig her own grave," she remarked. "Do what you want, Ichika, but don't get in my way once we set this plan in motion. You brought this upon yourself," she warned, pointing a finger at Ichika.
"The winner will be the one who puts in the most effort, and I won't let my guard down just because you suddenly decided to help me."

"Yeah, I understand, and I'll make sure to keep that in mind," Ichika replied, her smirk still in place. She exhaled, her expression returning to its usual cool demeanor. "So here's what I have in mind: Fuutaro-kun will be with his groupmates, right? Leave them to me. I'll divert their attention away from you and him, so you can have your alone time with him without any interference."

"I don't need your help, Ichika. I can handle them just fine."

"Are you sure about that? We're talking about Takeda-kun and Maeda-kun here."

"And? They're not a big problem for me to deal with."

"You know how much you hate Takeda-kun, right? Every time you two interact, even in the slightest way, it always ends up in an argument. I'm certain he'll be your biggest obstacle. Can you imagine how much he'll annoy you if you try to take Fuutaro-kun away from them?"

Nino remained silent, listening to Ichika's words.

"As for Maeda-kun, I'm sure you've heard the rumors about him at school. He's known to be rude, intimidating, and short-tempered, right?" Ichika continued to explain eagerly. "Dealing with him can be quite a hassle, especially if you confront him with your usual attitude. It could even create a scene where everyone would be looking at both of you. You wouldn't want to appear bad in front of Fuutaro-kun, would you?"

Nino closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and pursed her lips, pondering Ichika's words regarding Fuutaro's groupmates. What Ichika said made sense. Whenever she interacted with Takeda, even the slightest, it always ended up in irritation as he always teased her and countered every of her remarks. As for Maeda, she had heard negative rumors about him since her first day at Asahiyama. Her friends warned her to stay away from him, claiming he was a scary guy and had a reputation of being a delinquent. Although Nino had a soft spot for wild and rebellious types, she had no interest in Maeda and disliked his presence whenever they were near each other.

After careful consideration, Nino realized that dealing with those two would indeed be a hassle, and it would be wise to accept Ichika's help. She was so close to seizing the opportunity she had been hoping for since the beginning of the school trip. She could not afford to let her plans be derailed by his annoying groupmates. Moreover, Ichika should not have any trouble luring them away, given her smooth-talking skills and popularity with boys at school.

"*sigh* Fine... Do as you like," Nino sighed, feeling like she had little choice. "Considering what you've said, it would be truly bothersome to handle them on my own, and it could tarnish my image in front of him."

"Hehe... I'm glad you're being reasonable," Ichika chuckled, satisfied that Nino had accepted her suggestion. "Just let me handle those two, and don't let whatever they say provoke you, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah... Whatever you say."

While they waited for him, Ichika provided Nino with a few more details about their plan, to which the second sister mostly nodded in agreement. After approximately ten minutes, the sight Nino had been eagerly anticipating finally appeared—Fuutaro and, of course, his groupmates were within sight. Before they enacted their plan, Nino once again reminded Ichika of her reason for helping her.

"Remember, Ichika, I don't owe you anything for this, okay?" Nino stated without looking at her. "You mentioned it was a favor from before."

"Yeah, I understand," Ichika nodded, closing her eyes. "I won't bring this up in the future, and you can trust my word on that."

"You really missed out on that amazing view from the main temple, Maeda-kun," Takeda remarked playfully, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "One of the main attractions at Kiyomizu-dera is the breathtaking view of the surrounding hills and the city. It's such a shame that you only took a quick look and then left."

"I can't help it! I have a fear of heights, you know?" Maeda replied, his face turning red with embarrassment as Takeda had been teasing him about it for the past half an hour. "I didn't expect the main temple to be so high. When I saw the height of the temple from the main stage, I could feel my stomach drop, and all the hair on my body stood up."

"But why didn't you feel the same way when we visited Fushimi Shrine? When we climbed to the top of the mountain, you didn't show any fear and just kept climbing without complaining," Takeda asked curiously.

"That's a different story. That place didn't have steep hills or edges, so it wasn't a big problem for me," Maeda explained in a brash tone. "But this place... Do I have to say it again?"

"Ahaha...! I never expected a tough guy like you to be afraid of heights," Takeda burst into laughter upon discovering his tough friend's phobia. "I can't even imagine your face if you were to climb Mount Fuji... You might faint not even a quarter of the way up."

"Shut up, Takeda!" Maeda shouted at him, still wearing an embarrassed expression. "If only I had known, I would've preferred to go to Kinkaku-ji instead. Tomorrow, let me choose the next destination! I'm tired of going to places I don't like."

Meanwhile, in front of them, Fuutaro silently sighed and shook his head, overhearing his groupmates bickering once again. Like yesterday, a sense of regret welled up within him for forming a group with these two. He longed for some peace and quiet to fully enjoy walking around the places they visited. However, he found some amusement in their interactions and could not help but chuckle, which slightly lessened his regret.

Nevertheless, he would much prefer to walk alone for the sake of tranquility, where he could fully immerse himself in the experience. Alternatively, he preferred walking with the quintuplets, particularly Ichika. He truly enjoyed her company, whether it was at school, during tutoring sessions at her penthouse, or during their free time…

Still lost in his thoughts, Fuutaro's gaze fell upon a person he had just been thinking about. He saw Ichika, and Nino, standing in the middle of the road, not far from where he was. No longer in the mood to listen to his bickering groupmates, Fuutaro picked up his pace, leaving them behind and quickly approaching the two girls.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Ahh... There you are, Fuu-kun!" Nino greeted him with an uncommon smile and cheerfulness. "Where have you been all day? I couldn't find you at the temple."

"How strange… I've been exploring the temple area with Yotsuba for a couple of hours," Fuutaro said, rubbing his chin. "Are you sure about that? We went to every part of the temple, so we should have run into each other if you were really there."

"Yeah... I'm certain. I didn't spot you at all, so I thought maybe you had gone somewhere outside the complex," Nino replied, briefly glancing at Ichika, who winked at her. "Anyway, where are you heading now?"

"I'm not sure... I'll probably spend the rest of the afternoon around this area with them," Fuutaro replied, casting a unenthusiastic glance over his shoulder at his approaching groupmates. "We're looking for a place to hang out… or maybe grab lunch since we haven't eaten yet."

Before long, Fuutaro's groupmates caught up to him, with Takeda casually resting his arm on Fuutaro's shoulder. "Yeah, that's right, Your Highness," he addressed Nino with a playful and teasing tone, flashing his usual charming expression. "We're starving right now, so would you care to join us for lunch?"

"Heh! No, thank you," Nino replied dismissively, rolling her eyes and displaying a frown upon seeing her most despised person standing before her. "I'd rather go hungry all day than eat with you."

"What a shame... We were hoping you would join us. It would be more fun to have Uesugi-kun's friend with us," Takeda responded with a playful-disappointed tone. He then turned to Fuutaro and Maeda, seeking their opinion. "So, where should we eat? The restaurant we saw earlier with the grilled meat sign outside?"

Maeda's enthusiasm was visible as he chimed in, his hunger driving his eagerness. "Yeah, I want to eat there! I'm really famished, and their big portions are perfect for my appetite!"

Upon hearing that the boys had planned to go to the same restaurant as her sisters, Ichika's face lit up with realization that this could be a significant help in executing her plan. "What a coincidence! We were actually heading there too, and our sisters have already gone ahead," she said enthusiastically to the boys. "Shall we go there together? Are you okay with that, Nino?"

Nino shook her head, declining the invitation. "No, thank you. I'm not hungry yet," she replied, her tone firm. "Besides, I want to explore this place a bit more before the afternoon trip ends. How about you accompany me, Fuu-kun?" She turned her gaze towards Fuutaro.

Fuutaro crossed his arms, taking a moment to ponder before responding, "Hmm... Well, I don't mind." His face maintained its usual monotone expression. "You two can go ahead to the restaurant; I'll catch up later—"

"Hey, hold on!" Maeda brashly interrupted; his voice filled with irritation. "Uesugi has been going off on his own for the past few hours, and we were supposed to stick together as a group. We even got scolded by the leading teacher because he wasn't with us, so there's no way he's going with you!"

Maeda's words immediately caught Nino's attention, and her annoyance was evident as she faced him. "Huh? Who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" she retorted, placing her hands on her hips, a challenge in her voice. "Mind your own business and get lost, you thug!"

"Huh, what did you say to me?!" Maeda's voice rose in provocation.

"Oi...! Just stop it, both of you," Fuutaro interjected, panic creeping into his tone as he observed the potential conflict. "We're in a public place right now. People will be staring if you keep this up."

"You stay out of this, Fuu-kun!" Nino sternly directed her words at him, refocusing her attention on Maeda. "Let me handle this obstacle so we can get away from your boring groupmates."

"This girl...! It's just as they said, that you're an annoying and arrogant brat!"

"Say that again! I dare you!"

As tension filled the air and the situation escalated, Ichika felt a sense of panic as her carefully crafted plan risked falling apart. She had warned Nino not to be provoked by anything Fuutaro's groupmates said, but given Nino's short temper and tendency to be easily irritated, a confrontation seemed inevitable. Uneasiness etched across her face as she desperately searched for a solution to diffuse the tension and salvage her plan.

"Oh no... This is bad. If this continues, my plan will be ruined..."

A simple solution popped into her mind. She then quickly approached Takeda, hoping that this particular member of Fuutaro's group could help de-escalate the heated atmosphere, as he had been cooperative the previous day and had gone along with her plan to assist Miku at Fushimi Shrine. "Hey, Takeda-kun."

"Hmm... What's wrong, Nakano-san?"

"Hey, could you..." Ichika whispered to him, providing a condensed version of her plan involving Nino and Fuutaro.

Takeda mostly nodded as he absorbed the brief explanation, a smile forming on his face by the time Ichika finished explaining most of it. "So, that's what's going on... You truly are a supportive sister, huh?"

"We can discuss it later. Just get Maeda-kun away from Nino before this escalates into a full-blown war."

"Yeah, got it," Takeda replied. "Besides, Uesugi-kun always enjoys the company of you five more than us. Don't worry, we can have our time together during dinner and in our hotel room."

"I'm glad you understand," Ichika nodded, her expression semi-serious, tinged with a hint of gratitude.

Without further delay, Takeda swiftly approached Maeda, gripping his shoulder and pulling him away from the heated confrontation with Nino. "There, there, Maeda-kun. Don't let your anger control you. You're not yourself when you're hungry, right?" he said, maintaining a relaxed yet firm expression. "Just let Uesugi-kun go with her and let them do their own thing. Like you, I'm hungry too, so let's just go have lunch."

"But what if sensei scolds us again? I don't want any more trouble with the teachers since my reputation is already bad at school."

"Don't worry about it. I can easily come up with an excuse and smooth-talk our way out of it," Takeda reassured, patting his back to further calm him down. "Let's just go, okay? Nakano-san, please lead the way to the restaurant."

"Okay! This way, gentlemen," Ichika responded with a broad grin, taking the lead and guiding them towards the desired restaurant.

Ichika and the two boys departed, leaving Nino and Fuutaro alone.

Before leaving, Ichika quickly winked at Nino and gave her a thumbs up, silently wishing her good luck for her alone time with Fuutaro. Nino noticed the gesture but did not display any reaction as she was still frustrated from her argument with Maeda. Nino had not expected Ichika to go to such lengths to help her, given her scheming and secretive nature, and they were each other's main competitors for Fuutaro's affection.

Perhaps, as Ichika had mentioned earlier, their previous conversation had left an impact on her way of thinking, causing the eldest sister to reevaluate her approach.

"Maybe I misjudged you..."

"The Ichika I knew would have surely taken advantage of this opportunity for herself..."

"Well, I'm glad you've somehow changed..."

With the obstacles removed, Nino let out a deep exhale, releasing the lingering frustration from her heart. "Finally... I swear, that guy is really annoying as hell." She then turned to Fuutaro, her irritation still evident. "I don't really get it. Why did you even join their group? You would've been better off joining me instead."

Fuutaro shook his head, feeling relieved that the situation had not escalated further. "*sigh* There was no need to get all worked up, you know? You could've just let me handle it," he said. "You really need to control your temper, you know that?"

Nino nonchalantly raised her hand, making a dismissive gesture, a flicker of defiance visible in her eyes. "Well, it can't be helped. He was the one who started it, and his attitude really pissed me off, so I did what I had to do."

"Heh, I guess it wouldn't be Nino if she didn't solve a problem without an argument," Fuutaro said, offering a playful insult with an impressed smirk.

Nino responded with a satisfied smirk of her own. "Yeah, you know me, right?"

"Anyway, I'm glad you're here. I was getting bored walking with them," Fuutaro said with a smile. "So, where do you want to go? Do you have any place in mind?"

Excitement surged through Nino as she finally succeeded getting the opportunity to spend the rest of the afternoon with the boy she loved. Her smile widened, and she felt a wave of joy wash over her. "Of course! There's a souvenir-café shop that I want to check out," she said, turning to her left to gaze at the shop Ichika had mentioned earlier. "It's just right th—"

Without warning, a sudden downpour cascaded upon the shopping district. The torrential rain caught them off guard, leaving them with no time to seek shelter. People around them started running or seeking shelter in nearby shops and any available places to escape the rain.

Nino's eyes widened, her hands instinctively moving to shield her head from the pouring rain. "Whoa! It's really pouring," she exclaimed, her voice laced with surprise.

"Come on, let's just go to the shop you mentioned," Fuutaro hastily said, surprised by the sudden downpour. "It's not far from here, right?"

"Yeah, it's just right there," Nino replied, her drenched hair clinging to her face as she pointed in the direction of the shop. "Let's go, Fuu-kun."

"Yeah."

A/N:

So here it is, the start of Nino and Fuutaro's time together.

I don't have much to say about this chapter, but there's going to be an important announcement that I'm going to make in the next chapter A/N regarding the future chapters and the state of the story. So stay tuned if you want to hear about it.

As usual, here's the list of fixed/updated chapters that have been completed:

-Our Promise and Bet:

Chapter 8 (Done)

-That Special Someone:

Chapter 5 (Done)

As for the next chapter, it will be released in the third week of August (August 14th - August 20th). But if the chapter is completed faster, it will be released a week earlier. So keep an eye on those weeks.

As always, thank you for reading this story, and I'll see you in the next chapter!

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