The Gotoubun Cast Watch The Show (Season 2, SPOILERS)

by MutsumiNakanoBestGirl

Continuing from where the Season 1 reactions left off, Fuutarou and the quints were about to part ways when a second disc drops out of the case, prompting all six of them to sit back down to finish the marathon of recaps. And this time, everyone is thirsting for their own individual answers, even if it means that their friendships will be shattered along the way.

11. Episode 23: Sister's War Part 1

Ep 23: Sister's War Part 1

A/N: Here it is. The climax of Season 2, where everything starts to fall apart both on TV and in person... Starting with the opening scene. Enjoy.

---

Itsuki: Sigh... Uesugi-kun... *And then Yotsuba enters the room, prompting Itsuki to hide the photo from her* EH?!

Yotsuba: Uh? Hey Itsuki. Just you?

Itsuki: Yep it's just me!

Not even five minutes into the Sister's War Arc and already everyone was met with an extreme amount of silence; Their jaws are still wide open as if nothing can ever lock them back in their places.

Yotsuba: What is it that you're cramming into your bag there?

Itsuki: Oh you know the last few random things for the school trip!

"Oh no..." Ichika, Nino and Miku finally gasp upon realising that Fuutarou is present.

How did I not recognise Itsuki keeping my photo? MY precious photo?! I'm such an idiot... Wait... oh no don't tell me...! Yotsuba trembles as she embraces the eventual downfall of not only her younger sister, but also herself too. She and Nino take a chance to peek at Fuutarou and Itsuki's faces... who had pretty much mimicked everyone's paranoid expression too. Tears are slowly streaking from the fourth's eyes as she begins to recognise the harsh reality awaiting her. It's over... It's over isn't it?! She panics.

Yotsuba: That's right. It's almost time huh? There's been a lot of tension between all of us sisters lately... but this trip will be fun! Maybe it'll help bring us together!

Itsuki. Yeah hopefully. *Shows the photo of all the young Nakano quints together at their elementary Kyoto trip* I'd like to get back to how we were.

---

"Uh... teach? Y-y-you still here?" Ichika courageously asks upon noticing every single nerve in the tutor's face twitch like there's no tomorrow; Someone also paused the TV but it wasn't made clear on who did it this time.

"F-F-F-Fuutarou? H-hello? Fuut-t-tarou?!" Miku stutters as she catches whiff of Nino backing away in panic from his dreaded aura that is currently radiating from his rigid body. There wasn't a response that the tutor could even produce as his face becomes pale in colour.

But then... it was unclear what happened to Fuutarou or what caused it, but all of a sudden, as if he had been struck on the head with another pillow from the girls, the sudden snap back to reality was enough to make his body jerk upright...

"GAH!" Fuutarou screams as he suddenly jumps 2 metres into the air and makes all five quints recoil in terror. "Wait... What's going on?"

"Idiot! Don't scare us like that! What the hell is wrong with you?!" Nino gasps in shock; She's still keeping her distance seeing that his gloomy aura is still here to spook her.

"Teach..." Ichika whispers again in a soft tone. "Please tell us you're still ok. You said this is over right? We don't want you to... uh..."

"What? See Itsuki hold onto... my photo?" Fuutarou anxiously answers. Everyone gasps in response as Fuutarou eyes each and every quint with an exhausted squint, but hovers over Itsuki last as she becomes unnerved the most.

"Uesugi-san... please don't be mad... It's not your fault; It's mine... I was-" Yotsuba shudders.

"Since when do you have the right to blame yourself?!" Nino harshly scolds her sister. It's pretty clear just by glancing at his current, hunched posture that he's already phase out again despite the initial shock, even though this is only the start of the eleventh episode of Season 2. In fact, even as he unnerves the quints, Fuutarou could only stay rigid because of the current sensory overload he is going through. From having to shun his past aside to the and now the recent witness of this episode's opening scene, there was a lot for him to absorb at this point in time as his conflicted memories begin to take ahold of him yet again.

"Fuutarou...?" Miku asks again as she lightly taps on his shoulder.

"Uh...? Miku...? S-sorry... w... where was I...?" Fuutarou replies startled. But then he glances at Itsuki again and unnerves her a second time.

"Um... Uesugi-k-kun..." Itsuki sweats as her ahoge jitters all over the place. "Uh I-I can explain... seriously! There's no need for you to get so worked up over all of this please!"

"No Itsuki! you don't deserve to take the blame!" Yotsuba suddenly defends.

"Yotsuba?! I thought you never wanted to-!" Ichika suddenly interrupts as she cuffs her mouth.

Again nothing but a wave of silence. At least, until Fuutarou holds up his arm with a grimace.

"Sigh... forget it. At least my photo safe and sound with Itsuki, is that right? What the big deal?" Fuutarou responds in an unusually soft tone.

"What?!" The five girls jolt. This wasn't the response they were all expecting from their tutor.

"We haven't even digested half of the episode and we're already worked out about what? I'm ok to keep going, actually." Fuutarou continues as he wipes the bare part of his forehead with the back of his hand. "I was just reminded of you girls telling me not to overreact that's all. If we can't even pull ourselves together then..." He stops upon noticing the wave of paranoid stares homing on his face. "Uh... girls? You all... Anyone here?"

"..."

"Hello? You guys?" Fuutarou as he raises his eyebrows suspiciously.

"That... was uncalled for." Ichika stutters.

"What is?" Fuutarou replies back.

"What you just said... um... You were so calm... so... I mean... that wasn't what we expected um..." Itsuki replies only to back away again just like Nino.

"It's nothing. I'm fine. Don't worry about it. I'm not gonna let something minor like this hold me back am I?" Fuutarou dryly chuckles as he forces a smile. "Uh I-I mean it's a just a small photo you all saw right? Even if I saw it in the hands of Itsuki it ain't nothing special... right girls?"

"Uh..." The other quints didn't know how to appropriately respond to this; Fuutarou clearly isn't fine anymore judging by his obvious pained smile, as are the two youngest girls, who are already feeling his internal pain...

"Look we haven't even gotten past the first ten minutes. Let's just keep going and see what we have to recall." Fuutarou again states as he shuts off his memories and sits upright undeterred. At least, that's what he attempt to do, because it isn't working at all.

"You know... you don't exactly have to force yourself..." Nino tries to address, only to witness Fuutarou press the resume button. "Really, Fuu-kun?!"

"You sure you want to continue?! You clearly don't look fine to us!" Miku protests.

"I said I'm fine! Let's just keep going!" Fuutarou demands in a louder tone than usual as he pushes that thought aside and decides to keep watching... though later he will at some point come back to this for sure; Everyone else just stared at each other in horror, wondering what would actually set him off for real if this isn't it. Seriously, isn't he at his limit? Shouldn't he would have lost his cool by now again, they're thinking.

Yotsuba meanwhile...

Uesugi-san... I know you're not... you're clearly not fine. I can tell you're already struggling to hold it, that burst of anger deep inside... yet you want to keep moving. She trembles midway like a vibrating phone, unable to contemplate her next move for the time being as her memories reel in her once again like a movie. Why... I... I don't know whether I should tell him to stop the TV or not... half of my secret has been spilt... so should I...?

---

*The scene fades to the mall where Fuutarou is shopping with Raiha*

Raiha: Underwear, socks... you have a toothbrush right?

Fuutarou: Come on we don't need to buy everything new!

At this point everyone including Fuutarou breathe sighs of relief, hoping that teeny tiny Raiha can at least distract them from the pile of worries building up in them for now. At least, except for one...

This is only gonna delay things... Yotsuba shudders as her nervous grimace remains the same.

Raiha: You have some money saved up from tutoring. There's nothing wrong in spending some of it on stuff you actually need... huh? Then again you better make sure don't cheap out on the quintuplet's birthday gifts or they'll hate you!

Fuutarou: Huh? Why is that coming up soon?

Raiha: Huh? *Fuutarou turns stone cold at the realisation* It already happened!

If it wasn't for the tense atmosphere, at least four of the five quintuplets would have had a decent laugh over this.

Fuutarou: Eh it doesn't matter. They were late with mine after all. Besides they never (Raiha: Uh? EH?!) told me when it was-

*Raiha pouts*

Raiha: Get gift give one! *She walks off in a huff* Wow even grade-school kids know that!

*Instant shock from Fuutarou as his face turns blue*

Fuutarou: All right if you really think it's important, I will!

*He turns to face...*

Itsuki: EH?!

Yotsuba: Huh? You're here too, Uesugi-san?

Since the three eldest quints weren't present they made sure their bottoms were glued to their seats and their eyes snapped towards the TV to absorb what they apparently missed out on that day. Though even so, they needed to keep their precious lips shut too just so that they don't set off any bombs...

Raiha: Ha. I was texting with Itsuki-san yesterday. And we're going to shop together!

Fuutarou: Kay. Back to the birthday thing though-

*Raiha flails her arms in panic*

Raiha: AAAAAHHHH! Shh! Shh!

Raiha-chan's so cute! The three eldest had to think though as they snicker upon seeing her flail her arms. If Fuutarou's little sister has to be the one person to help ease the tension that's affecting everyone, this is it.

Itsuki: I didn't know you were going to be around too. *She walks off in a huff* I guess we won't be able to have our shopping day after all...

Fuutarou: Maybe if I observe their shopping habits I can figure out what they like.

*Fuutarou attempts to follow Itsuki but...*

Itsuki: What are you still following me for?!

Miku does eye suspiciously at Fuutarou for seemingly getting close to Itsuki's behind, but she doesn't say anything else... just in case.

Fuutarou: Well we're shopping for the same trip. Why not?

Itsuki: AGH! Because there are certain items that we should look at separately ok?!

Fuutarou: Huh?

Itsuki: I'M HERE TO BUY UNDERWEAR!

"Oh my- Pervert!" Ichika and Nino yell in unison as they both break into laughter; Itsuki meanwhile, scowls at Fuutarou again, but to be frank, the latter would rather see what she was up to with Raiha instead of having his photo being in the former girl's possession. It was also at this point the former two realized that no one else was laughing and immediately went silent again after ten seconds.

*Much later with Raiha...*

Itsuki: R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-R-Raiha-chan... what do you think of this?

Raiha: I think that's way too adult I-Itsuki-san!

Itsuki: I'm a h-h-h-h-h-high schooler, after all! This is about right!

"Itsuki-chan!" Ichika gasps as she and Nino cover their mouths in shock. This honestly, whilst trivial, also felt like big news. Why did their youngest sister actually consult Raiha about this they're wondering?

"You actually tried to teach Fuu-kun's sister something naughty?! That's so not like you!" Nino lets out.

"Oh my- really?! And no I wasn't you idiots I wasn't sure... if...!" Itsuki groans as she and Fuutarou facepalm over this scene... before the former jolts suddenly upon noticing the latter's blush and proceeds to whack his face with a pillow. "AGH! DON'T LOOK YOU PERVERT!"

"I wasn't even trying to look, you dimwit! Ow...!" Fuutarou protests as he rubs his nose in pain.

Miku, all of a sudden, suddenly turns red out of the blue and grimaces. Oh. So that's why I received that underwear from Itsuki...! She cringes after realizing the time after she got drenched in Kyoto...

"Huh? Miku? Is everything ok?" Yotsuba asks her unfazed. No response other than a scowl.

*Outside sitting on the benches...*

Fuutarou: You're not shopping?

Yotsuba: Eheheh... Nah I tend to take good care of my things!

Fuutarou: So you still wear kid's undies?

*Instant panic*

Yotsuba: AH?! H-HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT?!

Yotsuba couldn't help but cringe next after Miku whilst she watches Fuutarou and the rest of her sisters (minus a sour Itsuki) puff their cheeks, now that everyone in the living room knows...

*Raiha had finished her shopping*

Raiha: I'm all done!

Yotsuba: Oh. No Itsuki?

Raiha: She's getting her measurements to try some stuff on.

Fuutarou: So she's a quintuplet so can't they all just buy the same sizes?

*Yotsuba blows on a whistle*

Yotsuba: That's quintuplet harassment, or 'quintassment'! I don't know why she's taking her measurements though... AH! *She clutches her breasts* Oh no don't tell me... she's already outgrowing the rest of us?!

Raiha: Quintuplets sure have a lot of unique problems, don't they?

Now it's Nino's turn to cringe as she clutches her cheeks after again picturing something wrong at what Yotsuba said; Fuutarou just closes his eyes shut as if he never noticed.

"Nino...!" Itsuki sternly warns her, seeing that she too understands. The others are confused, but decided not to pry into this any further, seeing how unstable everyone is feeling.

Yotsuba: You got that right! Especially lately- UH! But... anyway. Our school camping trip turned a little ugly by the time it ended. So this time, let's make sure we all walk away with no regrets, okay?

Somehow, what Yotsuba proclaimed, particularly her final line, it struck a chord in all six watchers as they stare into each other's faces. To them, her words of 'no regrets' whilst they have heard of it a few times even as of now, it probably would have mean something a little... deeper.

Fuutarou: I don't really care... but I guess I'll try not to get sick again.

*Raiha nudges Fuutarou's shoulder*

Raiha: Aw, don't bother pretending that you're not totally excited. *Briefly flashes on Fuutarou reading the guidebook* He's read through the guidebook about a zillion times!

Fuutarou: Raiha?!

Raiha: He-he! Oh hey! What if you run into the girl from that old photograph?

Fuutarou: Yeah that won't happen.

Oh gosh... wait- URP! It's coming! I know this part well! Yotsuba shakes as she pants audibly upon preparing for another case of unwanted Déjà vu. The other quints meanwhile, knew exactly who Raiha was referring to as they grit their teeth and rub their knuckles so hard that they became red hot pokers... because they all saw it too, at the start of this episode- No wait. It was earlier than that; in Episode 22, when Itsuki dropped the photo.

Raiha: Huh? Wasn't that in Kyoto though? At least dad told me that it was.

Fuutarou: She was a tourist passing through.

Yotsuba: Sorry what photo are you talking about?

At this point Yotsuba had to glance at Itsuki, the one responsible for keeping his photo intact, with an unnerving stare; The latter immediately gestures to her, without success, to revert her expression and not remain suspicious in front of the boy she met five years ago. Much to their relief though, their tutor didn't notice. But only because his heart was now thumping wildly from what he's about to relive on TV... and in his flashbacks.

---

'He's innocent. I saw everything!'

---

Something also tells him to take the photo out of his slip again just to be sure. But of course, as his own instincts take charge of his reigns, temptations like this will be easily resisted. So he doesn't.

Raiha: Go ahead let Yotsuba-san look at it!

Fuutarou: I don't even have it now. It's nothing all right?

*Cue Pout-suba*

Pout-suba: Yeah it's obviously not nothing! Otherwise you would let me know more! *She closes the gap on Fuutarou's face* I can only think of one reason you won't talk about it! I bet there's something you regret! Might as well get it of your chest right now!

Again Fuutarou's eyes dilute by a factor of ten as another memory replays against his will... This time it's about Rena, though he knows who she exactly is as of now...

---

Rena: 'I'll give this back, like I promised. But this, is coming with me.'

Fuutarou: 'Huh? But why?!'

Rena: 'Because... I'm not going to see you again.'

---

"Fuutarou-kun..." Ichika shudders upon noticing his chest tensing as it rises up and down more noticeably.

"Ichika! Shush!" Miku hisses, afraid that either one of them will set off the bomb.

Fuutarou: Ugh... Alright fine then I'll tell you about her! Her name is... Rena.

Yotsuba: Huh? Yeah what else?

Fuutarou: ...That's the end.

Yotsuba: Seriously?! Come on, now you've got me all curious! *She clasps her hands* Please you've gotta let me hear the rest of the story!

Alongside Fuutarou, the three eldest quints mimic his current, hunched posture complete with widened eyes and their hands latched near the centre of their powerful, beating hearts. Not to mention that Ichika and Miku are somewhat watering at their mouths too...

Raiha: Basically Rena was my Onii-chan's first love!

Yotsuba: Huh? *Zoom up of her shocked, wide open eyes* HIS-

"-FIRST LOVE?!" The four remaining quintuplets squeal in sync with their sister onscreen as their eyes too, bulge.

Fuutarou: Hey! I never said that!

Raiha: Hee hee hee!

*Yotsuba clutches onto her thumping chest as she attempts to stomach what Raiha told her. Itsuki meanwhile looks on in silence as the scene fades to black...*

Unsurprisingly, the quint being featured herself felt the butterflies in her stomach multiplying tenfold as her eyes immediately swirl and repeats her own actions on TV with her hands on her chest, but not before she notices something, or rather, someone, nerve-wracking on her left peering at her and Itsuki...

"Wait..." Fuutarou lets out, already having something in mind of his own that he cannot process.

Uh oh... The three eldest gasp as they witness the trio's eyes locking onto each other.

He knows doesn't he? Itsuki tremors in silence as she feels his golden eyes staring her down for five seconds before they avert towards Yotsuba.

"Uh... y-y-y-yes... U-U-Uesugi... s-s-s-s-san?" Yotsuba whimpers even more.

"Um... No... sorry." Fuutarou stutters. "I... was wrong about... well..."

"Um.. Come again?!" Yotsuba gawks. Fuutarou thought for sure Yotsuba had something to do with this shopping scene after witnessing her extreme reactions plus Itsuki staring at the back. Also, that second encounter with Rena that wasn't shown, it further fuelled . But as usual, it wasn't made clear to him just yet. Or at least, for now. Plus this still isn't even halfway of the video, it seems, as he sits upright again and crosses his arms.

"Forget it. It seems I was mistaken about you, Yotsuba." Fuutarou replies, leaving her utterly confused. "Let's just keep watching and leave it at that."

"Wha-?! Again?!" The three eldest quints let out. This is the second time that Fuutarou has responded with such a non-menacing voice, even though it's evident that he is definitely not in the brightest mood right now.

"What are you getting on abou- MMF?!" Nino shouts before Yotsuba flexibly cuffs her mouth. "Yhot- shubha?!"

"You heard Uesugi-san, right?! Just follow his words and leave it at that!" Yotsuba instantly shouts with a blush; Her reasons for backing up Fuutarou was becoming evidently clear for everyone else to know as her heart thumps, though she's right now doing her best to shove the subject aside, not just for Fuutarou, but for herself too. Yet another bullet barely dodged as she recalls the many failures she had to absorb under her façade.

Everyone else couldn't do anything but sit back fearfully in their seats with a mixture of grimaces and shudders. Especially Itsuki because...

I'm really thankful though... I'm glad they cut out that specific scene... Itsuki breathes with a heavy sigh. That time where she disguised herself as Rena for a second time only to be dismissed without thought by Fuutarou, she was glad it wasn't even included. Otherwise it would be a major catastrophe for not just her, but for both Fuutarou himself and the sister that asked for the favour.

*The next scene shows the quints playing cards on the bullet train to Kyoto; Miku has dozed off in the midst of it*

Ichika: Ha! Full house!

Itsuki: I lost!

*Itsuki and Yotsuba's signature hair features droop*

Nino: I'll beat you next time I can feel it!

Ichika: Yeah that's what you keep saying!

"Uh... F-F-Fuutarou...!" Miku blushes unnecessarily over her cute sleeping face. Fuutarou just raises an eyebrow, seeing that he's got nothing to say at the moment. Though he's wondering: Why is she so dazed unlike her sisters?

"Seriously...?" Nino grumbles as she forcefully takes Yotsuba's hand off her mouth.

Yotsuba: Uh? Miku? We finished the game!

Miku: Uh? *She wakes up half dazed* Um... two pairs...

Nino: Too little too late!

Yotsuba: You seem sleepy. I noticed you got up early and went somewhere today.

Miku: Yeah. *Shows the bread that she wanted to give Fuutarou packed in a paper bag* I had to beg my boss to let me borrow the kitchen this morning.

Yotsuba: Aw that's great! So you're gonna let him try your baking! *She grasps Miku's hands gently* You've worked really hard to make it this far. I'm rooting for you till the end.

Miku: I hope it'll still be good when it's cold.

At this point, Fuutarou finally has one of his answers. And that about the delicious smelling, tasting bread that he received from Miku. That's why he was able to savour it. And yeah, in a way, he was thankful that he got to taste what Miku baked for him. Just goes to show her massive character development all the same too.

"So that's why you were so obsessed about the bread I ate on the Kyoto trip." Fuutarou ponders.

"All the more reason why I wanted too... um..." Miku says as she nods enthusiastically, but then she stops for five seconds with a lurch, knowing who almost ruined it for her. "...uh yeah. It was a special moment for you. For the two of us!"

What's with that pause? Everyone except Ichika thinks, because the latter knows why. And also, at this hour, Fuutarou's stomach, upon being reminded of the delicious, crusty pastry he ate that day, growls.

"Oh! Uh... Itsuki? Was that you?" Fuutarou says as he deflects it towards... a squealing quint with an ahoge and glasses.

"WHAT THE HECK THAT CLEARLY WASN'T COMING FROM ME, YOU IDIOT! YOU TRYING TO PUSH THIS ONTO ME JUST BECAUSE I EAT A LOT?!" Itsuki screams. The others couldn't help but laugh much to her dismay. "WHA-?! WHY ARE YOU ALL LAUGHING?! SHUT UP!"

Ichika: I know! Whoever wins next time can ask the losers to do anything they want.

*Nino then enveloped by a flaming background; Miku and Itsuki follow suit*

Nino: Anything huh? Sound interesting!

Itsuki: Yeah count me in!

Miku: I'll end you!

*And thus the war wages on through fire and flames. Though…*

Sweating Yotsuba: This is intense! Why are we so into this card game?

Because they didn't know that I would have won in the end anyways. Yotsuba thinks with a smug; This however didn't last long as she suddenly reminds herself that her secret has been half-spilt already.

*Over to the front of Kyoto Station*

Head teacher: ...Alright, students. We'll send your bags to the hotel. Just take your valuable with you for now. That's it for instructions. Go have some fun!

*Everyone then stands up including Nino... who hears a camera shot as she whips her head around*

Nino: Uh? Huh?

Itsuki: Everything all right?

Nino: Oh uh... I'm fine. I'm just out of it I guess. *Switches to Fuutarou, Takeda and Maeda for a brief bit* I wonder where Fuu-kun's group is going?

Heh... That shutter sound... must be Maeda for sure. Fuutarou smirks in silence, seeing that he was the one who put him in charge of that, though right now he's receiving unwanted attention from the girls...

"Fuutarou...?" Miku pouts upon noticing his rather creepy smirk at the TV.

"What?" Fuutarou replies nonchalantly as he turns his eyes towards Miku without rotating his head.

"You were making kind of a devious smirk when the camera shutter came in. Do you know who that was?" Ichika asks next as she frowns.

"Not a clue." Fuutarou deadpans with a no-nonsense face as he focuses on the TV again. The quints all find it hard to believe him though.

"I really hope I wasn't out of it this time." Nino grumbles in annoyance.

"You're not. I heard the camera too." Itsuki coldly replies.

Yotsuba: Well what do you guys wanna do?

Nino: For starters, if you're gonna travel, then you have to shop! *Fantasizes herself shopping with a Fuutarou silhouette* That's way more fun than looking at some boring old temples!

"Oh come on! Why did they have to make Fuu-kun blank?!" Nino comically complains with a blush.

"Good. It's better to leave it that way in your rusty, old dreams." Miku passive-aggressively bites.

"EXCUSE ME WHAT- MMF?!" Nino yells back before Ichika forces a pillow into her lips much to the latter's disgust.

Ichika: Nah don't be silly. We're in Kyoto of all places! *Fantasizes herself feeding silhouette Fuutarou a dango* He has to sample some of the local delicacies!

Ichika deliberately kept her mouth shut but does sport a small blush just like Fuutarou upon seeing herself feeding Fuutarou in her dreams. Though someone else did clutch whiff of her own and Fuutarou's states...

"Ichika...!" Miku grumbles. Nino meanwhile forces the pillow off her mouth after a brief struggle with her big sis.

Eatsuki: Obviously I agree the food is important! But first I want to remind him of *Fantasies herself telling Silhouette Fuutarou in Kyoto Station about... wait...* what happened at the station that day... *Realises where she almost done goofed up* AH! I mean... why don't we just walk around and explore the area?!

Yotsuba: Oh my gosh! What heck is wrong with you?!

Itsuki cringes slightly, wishing she could at least rephrase her words a little whilst she catches Fuutarou and her sisters, particularly Yotsuba, turning wide-eyed in horror all of a sudden. The awkward silence radiating in the atmosphere isn't helping their nerves either...

"Yeah what the heck is wrong with you...?" Fuutarou repeats unconsciously out loud, now that he has seen the hidden backstory. For a third time, another memory uncontrollably flashes before his eyes...

---

Rena: 'You've faced your problems head on. Like in adulthood! You're the kind of person people need.'

Young Nakano: 'I'll do it for my mom! And your sister! Let's study like our lives depended on it!'

---

"Um... U-U-Uesugi-k-k-kun... please..." Itsuki quivers.

Itsuki: Well it's just-

Ichika: UH?! Fuutarou-kun's group is leaving now!

*As the quints watch Fuutarou, Maeda and Takeda leave, Nino turns her head slightly*

Nino: The only reason none of us decided to join up with them was because we're all thinking the same thing. *She turns her head back and walks off* We're following them!

*And with that, the quints all slowly walk in the direction where Fuutarou probably went; Cuts to the stairs that are surrounded by massive gate-like structures and greenery*

Yotsuba: AH! It's like they go on forever!

Itsuki: I've seen pictures of these before, but in person it's totally breath-taking!

Nino: Gotta post this! *She turns around and hold her phone for the other four girls* Everybody do a peace sign for the camera!

*She snaps a precious photo of her sisters doing the peace signs*

"So when are you gonna include yourself in your future photos, hm?" Fuutarou teases.

"Oh shut up you jerk. This would have been trivial if one of us had a selfie stick... and obviously I would have forced you in this as well if you hadn't walked off from us!" Nino annoyingly replies with a tsundere blush.

Yotsuba: It's not every day we get a pic with just us.

Nino: Wait really? Do we not have any?

Ichika: Didn't we take one at the fireworks festival?

Itsuki: The last one we got was when we came here on our elementary school trip.

Yotsuba: We need one of all of us then!

And yeah, I'm glad I asked Maeda for the favour. Otherwise they wouldn't have had a picture featuring all five of them as one. Fuutarou thinks as his somewhat creepy smile returns and unintentionally alerts the sisters again.

"Fuu-kun?! What the heck are you giving that creepy smirk for?! Again?!" Nino pouts; No response. "Hello?!"

"What are you girls trying to get at me for?!" Fuutarou finally replies sourly as he reverts.

"Your stupid, creepy smile, duh! Just from looking at your face we already think that you're the supposed stalker even though you never had a camera on you!" Ichika grimaces.

Miku: Is Fuutarou at the top already?

Nino: I haven't even seen him!

Ichika: I bet the guys raced up there.

Yotsuba: Ok! Then we can't let them leave us behind!

"Yeah where were you and your group? Didn't you guys race to the top long before Ichika sabotaged Miku?" Yotsuba asks him. Though Ichika suddenly reverts from a calm demeanour to her rather fearful one again over the former quint's unintentional reminder.

"Why'd you have to bring this up?!" Ichika harshly bites at her sister.

"Oops! Sorry!" Yotsuba squeaks as she backs away from Ichika's sour glare. "Uh I mean... yeah tell me: Where were you three? We never even saw you!"

"Huh? Oh... uh... well, the stairs obviously weren't my thing actually. We were uh, we were having lunch at the midpoint and had to take an extended break..." Fuutarou says before he pauses to clear his throat. "...Um... yeah we had to rest because Maeda ate too much and had a stomach-ache."

"Wait what? You had lunch?" Itsuki replies wide eyed as she clutches her growling stomach. "ULP!"

"Where did you eat? We never even saw you three!" Miku says baffled.

*Halfway at the midpoint...*

Nino: *Pant, pant* There's so *Pant* many stairs...

Itsuki: I know my legs are starting to hurt!

Yotsuba: Come on! Put some pep in your step!

Nino: She doesn't have a care in the world, huh?

Ichika: That's the Yotsuba we know and love!

Nino: Good point. She's not the type to stab her own sisters in the back. (Ichika: Hm?) I bet you're already coming up with another nasty plot, aren't you?

Ichika: Eheheh. I'm not so sure what you're getting at!

"What Nino said aged horribly..." Yotsuba cringes.

"Can't argue with that..." Fuutarou scowls alongside Nino herself. Ichika meanwhile began to tremble softly.

*Much later near a small town...*

Yotsuba: There are two paths to choose from...

Ichika: It looks like they both lead up to the peak.

Nino: I wonder which way Fuu-kun went? I'm gonna fall behind if I don't meet up with them!

Eatsuki: Well it's already noon time. We should all have some lunch at this little restaurant!

"Yeah that one. We all ate there." Fuutarou points, causing the five sisters to give off a massive 'GACK' each.

"WHAT THE-?! YOU WERE INSIDE THERE ALL THIS WHILE?!" Yotsuba shrieks as her green aura spawns.

"YEAH RIGHT! YOU MUST BE LYING! WE DON'T EVEN SEE YOU RIGHT NOW!" Nino fumes as she clenches her fists with a pink aura.

"THE CAMERA ISN'T EVEN SHOWING YOU THREE! ARE YOU SURE THAT'S THE RIGHT ONE?!" Itsuki screams so loudly that she almost deafens everyone else in the room.

"Yeesh! What the hell is wrong with all of you?! You girls could've just walked inside there what the heck!" Fuutarou retorts as he plugs his ears with his fingers and shields his eyes from the two auras with his elbows.

Miku: Uh? Lunchtime? But that means...

Nino: What's wrong? Did you wanna eat someplace else?

Miku: Mm...

"You know, after all of this I'm really starting to question if can really trust you on this matter you know that, teach?!" Ichika scowls as her yellow aura also ignites in conjunction with Yotsuba and Nino's.

"Can you all calm down for crying out loud?!" Fuutarou again yells as he forces Itsuki and Yotsuba's blazing aura to extinguish as he holds out his hands. "I swear you girls are just the single, obnoxious types you've always been! It's just a lunch break! No big deal right?!"

Miku's the only quint who chose not to scream as she grimaces silently; Her blue aura never ignites too as a result. Instead, her internal conflict stirs up inside of her as she weighs in the options. On one hand, she feels disgusted that her own intuition, let alone her sisters ones, weren't sharp enough to deduce that Fuutarou was actually hiding inside that restaurant. So she was right in a way that Fuutarou would have been somewhere; Just not the location she thought he would be in. On the other hand, she's actually glad that Fuutarou was in there. Her actual reason why she didn't want to have lunch at that place yet was because she thought Fuutarou would be having lunch at a different location. So maybe she could have said yes to this lunch thing after all.

But then her stomach then lurches as she realises something else if she did end up meeting Fuutarou inside...

He wouldn't have accepted my bread then... He'd be too full... And my sisters... what if they all...? She thinks as she arches her head down.

"Uh, Miku?" Yotsuba asks her as she shakes her right shoulder whilst her green aura vanishes; Nino and Ichika's auras still remain however as they remain undeterred by Fuutarou's plead.

"Huh? What? Oh..." Miku jolts as she returns to reality for the time being.

Yotsuba: Don't worry... AH! *Flashbacks to the last card game where she won* Full house! Guess I win this time!

The other four losers: Ughhhhh...

"So Yotsuba won the game after huh?" Fuutarou smirks... only to receive another volley of hostile stares from everyone except a conflicted Miku. "Seriously...?"

Yotsuba: We'll make two groups! Miku and I can head right... and you three can take the path on the other side! That way at least one of us will run into Uesugi-san, right?

Nino: Hang on a second!

Ichika: You can't just decide that!

*Cue Yotsuba summoning flames from the nine hells*

Yandere Yotsuba: BUT THE WINNER GETS TO MAKE THE LOSERS DO ANYTHING! So whatever I say goes, peasants!

Ichika and Nino: Ughhhh...

*On the left route...*

Nino: This is all because of your stupid card game idea! I hope you're proud of yourself! We clearly went the wrong way since there's no one else here!

Ichika: Mm...

Itsuki: Um hey... Is there some kind of problem you two? Huh? Oh look a restroom! See, maybe we did end up on the right path. I gotta go!

Nino: I guess I should too, while I can. It's probably the last one.

*Ichika then silently steels herself*

"Uh-oh..." Miku and Yotsuba shiver, seeing that they probably know what might come up next... or maybe it's just because of Ichika's squirms intensifying as she clutches onto a pillow whilst hers plus Nino's auras finally extinguish...

*Over on the right route where Miku is noticeably struggling...*

Yotsuba: Come on! Hurry! If you don't catch up their lunch break will be over!

Miku: Just... *Pant* another second!

Yotsuba: You worked really hard for this chance, remember Miku? So don't throw in the towel now!

Miku: Yeah, you're right! Thanks a lot!

"Low and behold that is one massive will that I will for sure commemorate. Good on you, Miku." Fuutarou reassures in hopes he could try and ease the atmosphere a little. It kind of worked, judging by the feint smiles that Miku and Yotsuba were making from their cute mouths. At least, until this plays...

*Cuts back to the left; Nino and Itsuki come of the toilet when they noticed... someone vanished*

Itsuki: It's lunchtime. I'm starting to get super hungry!

Nino: Of course you are... I wonder what Fuu-kun's group had planned for lunch?

Itsuki: That's odd? Where's Ichika?

Nino: That little rat!

Ichika recoils backwards in her seat with a mouthless shriek and her clear blue pupils immediately dilating by a factor of five upon noticing only Itsuki and Nino coming out of the toilet on TV; It's almost time. The moment she never wanted to relive at all... it's coming back to haunt her for real.

"So uh... what exactly... Uh... Ichika?" Fuutarou tries asks Ichika, only to withdraw in an instant as she squirms even more and begins to make unpleasant, puppy-like whimpers. The other sisters, especially Miku, closed their eyelids as they braced for the inevitable.

*Ichika's downfall phase 2 begins with her running up the stairs...*

Ichika: If I read the map right, then this is the shortest path to the peak. If Yotsuba was alone she'd outrun me. But since Miku's so weak, there's no way they'll get up there before I do!*Imagines seeing the trio with Fuutarou's back turned towards her* But what do I do when I see him? Those other guys will be there too.*And then to Miku on the bullet train* Still, she's been acting suspicious... I can tell she's gonna try and make a move during this trip. *Reaching the point of no return, she takes out her Miku disguise again* I have to do it again. If I can't take back that lie I already told, then my only option is to keep the lie going! So I can stop Miku!

"Stop... stop it please... stop the TV... I don't want to...!" Ichika whispers as her heart thumps in a negative way this time, not out of love, but out of fear; Fear that her sisters and Fuutarou will never accept her for what she did back then. That they will never look back on this, let alone on her image as the knowledgeable, easy going big sister they once knew. Unfortunately, no one dared to move a muscle...

"Geez, this wasn't the character development I was hoping to see from her... What on earth did she get herself into...!" Fuutarou whispers as Ichika suddenly slams a pillow into his face out of sheer panic.

"ICHIKA?!" Her sisters yell anxiously at the top of their lungs.

*Ichika reaches the top, only to find no one there... yet*

Ichi-Miku: No one's here... we didn't run into each other along the way, which must mean Fuutarou-kun took the right route. I have to hurry... I ran a lot! Miku and Yotsuba can't be here yet. AH?!

"I actually took the right route too but because of what I said about lunch..." Fuutarou reveals a tad late; No one really bothered to listen to him at this point because of this awful climax...

*Just as Ichika was about to intercept the right route, Yotsuba and a piggy-backing Miku reaches the top and...*

Yotsuba: Uh?!

Miku as a sudden closeup of her dreaded face appears: UH?!

This time as soon as she notices her panic on full display, Miku begins to fidget even faster as she starts to sniffle...

---

'Instead of being equal, we should be fair. So what's the fair thing to do?'

---

Out of context though, Itsuki immediately squeals at the sight of Miku's dreaded closeup as she latches onto Fuutarou's shoulder whilst Nino's face, for the first time ever, turns a dark shade of blue.

"What the heck is this nerve wracking closeup?! Thanks a lot whoever animated Miku like that! I'm gonna be having nightmares tonight!" Nino shudders.

Miku: Uh... Ichika... Why are you dressed up as me? If there's a reason for this...

Yotsuba: Ichika... (Ichi-Miku: Uh?) This isn't what I intended at all! You had a plan the entire time?!

Ichi-Miku: Ugh...

Miku: Yotsuba... What do you mean?

Yotsuba: She's doing her best to get in the way.

Miku: Get in the way of what?

*Behind them, Fuutarou has finally reached his way to the top...*

Ichika's squirms suddenly quicken as she slowly edges closer towards Nino and sheds even more tears; Miku follow suit for the latter action whilst the three quints that remain clutch their aching chests with their bare hands; Fuutarou's own hands are over his mouth.

Yotsuba: In the way of-

Ichi-Miku: Yotsuba wait!

*And just as Yotsuba yells this out, Fuutarou stops as Ichika takes off her costume; Yotsuba suddenly turns back to see him as she and Miku jolt*

Yotsuba: -YOUR CONFESSION TO UESUGI-SAN, MIKU!

Fuutarou: I got here first...

"OH CRAP!" Nino and Itsuki shudder whilst they peek at Fuutarou's face... who is struggling to remove his hands off his mouth as he stares at what he didn't hear properly, let alone didn't figure out until that moment.

Yotsuba: AH?!

Miku: UGH?!

Fuutarou: ...Huh? Wait... what did you just say?!

*Beat as everyone stands there in silence, minus Fuutarou panting*

Yotsuba: Uesugi-san... did you just hear that?!

Shocked Miku: AH!

"No… no no no no no no!" Ichika cowers; At this point, she and Miku forced themselves to look away from this terrible moment in Kyoto. "Miku… *Sniff* I'm sorry… I'm such a terrible Onee-san... I-I'm so sorry... please don't..." And then as Miku runs off on TV, she panics uncontrollably and buries herself on Nino's shoulders. "NO! MAKE IT STOP! PLEASE! STOP THE TV! STOP IT! I'M SORRY!"

"Ichika... What are you-?! Don't just- Please!" Nino cringes as she struggles to release her only big sister's grasp.

"I know Ichika. It's not you this time I know… *Hic* I'm already aware of this... I... *Sniff* I forgive you..." Miku whimpers back as she latches onto Itsuki's shoulder. The two of them immediately plug their ears as hard as they could, though they can still hear everything that the TV was playing. It was also at this point that tears can be seen pouring down their eyes as their endless stream of regrets began flooding their overworked thoughts.

*As the bag containing her bread drops to the floor, Miku bolts off*

Yotsuba: MIKU!

Nino: We're finally at the peak...

Both: Uh?

*Coming from the opposite direction, Nino and Itsuki suddenly witness Miku running away in tears*

Itsuki: Miku! Wait, please! *She bolts off to chase her* Where are you going?!

As the reel goes on, the others couldn't do anything but let out expressions of remorse (Nino), guilt (Yotsuba), horror (Itsuki) and regret (Fuutarou) as they helplessly stomach the tragedy unveiling in their lines of sight.

*Unlike Itsuki, Nino stays as she finally notices her suspicions were proven right and stomps towards her...*

Nino: Ichika! You've crossed the line! I'm getting fed up with you! Are you happy about making her cry?!

Yotsuba: Wait Nino! That was my-

*Ichika holds up her hand*

Ichika: Yotsuba. It's fine. No matter the result, this is more or less what I was trying to do.

"If Mutsumi was real, she would have helped us avoid this whole mess wouldn't she?" Itsuki whispers.

"I don't think she would have made a difference if she existed. At least, that's what I dreamt off..." Fuutarou doubts.

Nino: How low are you going to-?!

Ichika: I don't want to hear that from you.

Nino: Uh?!

Ichika: You said at the hot springs that you would walk over anyone to make it work. How are we any different? Tell me.

"It was my fault in a way too. I didn't think that the words I chose would have an impact on her... a lot... Ugh...!" Nino tries to say, only to feel Ichika's sniffles and grip getting the better of her. "Ichika?! Stop staining my sleeves with your tears, please! I have tissues!"

Fuutarou actually wanted to speak up but was immediately shut down by a triage of 'don't you dare' stares from Nino and the two youngest quints.

Nino: I did say that... I don't intend on giving him up to anyone else. *She clenches her fists as she struggles to hold in her tears* But the bond between the five of us is just as important to me!

Ichika: Huh?

Nino: Even if I were you were the one who was chosen today, I... *She finally breaks down* I would still celebrate... with the five of us!

What Nino said struck everyone else like a massive dump truck as their hearts ached and thumped even harder.

"I... I can't even... find a good enough counter argument for that..." Itsuki had to let out whilst everyone else remains silent, minus Ichika who's weeping still.

*Just then Maeda and Takeda reach the top; The former is being carried by the latter because he ate too much*

Maeda: Ugh... I can't take another step.

Takeda: It's your fault. You ate way too much at that restaurant on the way up here. Hm?

Oh! Was that why Uesugi-san said Takeda is so strong? Yotsuba thinks as she recalls what Fuutarou said about Takeda carrying Maeda just like in this scene.

Maeda: Huh? What's going on, man?

Fuutarou: Beats me. Not what I walked into. *He goes over to the two eldest quints* You might wanna take it down a notch- *But then Nino aggressively shuts him down as she glares at him* UH?!

Nino: Back off! All you're gonna do is make things worse! GO AND CATCH UP WITH MIKU RIGHT NOW!

Fuutarou: What-?!

Nino: HURRY UP! GO!

Fuutarou: All right, all right! Sorry, guys! We'll meet up later!

Maeda: Okay...?

*Fuutarou bolts off to find Miku; Yotsuba follow suit*

Yotsuba: Wait! I'll help you find her!

Nino: We better start heading down there too. *Ichika nods. As Nino prepares to head off though, the camera shutter can be heard again* AH?! *She whips her head back and finds... nothing* Mmm...

---

"Mutsumi... where are you... when we needed you... I'm so sorry..." Ichika sniffles quietly as she rubs her stained eyes with the sleeves of her black T-Shirt and detaches off a squirming Nino. At this point, Nino felt the urge to pause the TV so that both Ichika and Miku can take moment to recuperate whilst the rest gather their thoughts, though she does irritatingly rub her stained sleeves every so often.

"Oh gosh... Why didn't I do something earlier...?" Fuutarou breathes as he stares into blank space, or rather, the last frame of Nino's sullen glance just as the TV finds itself on pause.

"Fuu-kun... it's not your fault either. Don't hurt yourself." Nino reassures with a shoulder pat as she goes back to the fireworks festival where he said the exact thing to her.

"Miku... breathe. It's over. It's not real." Itsuki slowly instructs her as she embraces one of the sobbing sisters back.

"Ichika. It's over. It's not real. Everything has happened. There's nothing we can do anymore." Yotsuba reminds her, though there is a strong sense of guilt that radiates in her own stomach.

"*Hic* It doesn't make this any less terrifying to remember...!" Ichika weeps as she then turns to Miku, who is also weeping whilst she awaits a long overdue embrace from her. Even as she finally receives it, a joint stream of tears could be seen coming from the two that are huddling to vanquish the past. Right now though, the biggest priority for everyone that's still breathing in their seats is to recollect what they saw and try to turn the negative into the positive whilst they work to make a massive mental recovery.

All they can hear right now are the pained sniffles that come from Ichika and Miku. Other than that there was nothing but uncomfotable silence. And that's when Fuutarou attempts to mediate...

"Um... girls..." Fuutarou stutters with a subtle crack in his voice.

"What is it? Make it quick." Itsuki grimaces back.

"Look if you're gonna scold us again for everything we've seen we're not gonna listen to you ok?! Don't beat about the bush!" Nino snaps furiously.

"I'm not even intending on doing that, Nino." Fuutarou grimaces. "I mean... after seeing what you girls have been up to behind my backs I uh... I mean... I should also uh... I'm kinda at fault too, seeing that-"

"Are you an idiot?! Didn't I tell you that you're not the one at fault a few seconds ago?!" Nino exclaims with an angry mark on her forehead, until Ichika holds her hand up again.

"Nino! Enough!" Ichika screams louder despite suffering from two separate voice breaks at once. "Don't go scolding Fuutarou-kun for everything... I... the five of us... we all had our parts too... especially me... I... *Sniff* I... deserve most of it...!"

"Ichika, you've got no right to direct it to yourself. I also hold accountable for this build-up of actions ok? I can't just sit there and let you all take it, even though I know that's what you girls believe as five fifths!" Fuutarou sternly counters.

"U... Uesugi-san!... no... you didn't...!" Yotsuba interrupts.

"Look... I have all of my reasons to criticize myself alongside too girl ok. And..." Fuutarou adds, only to pause after losing his words for a moment.

"And...?" Itsuki shudders after previously remaining silent amongst the commotion.

"And I'm sorry. I... now that I've seen everything, I don't see why I want to add fuel to the fire, especially when all five of you girls have um... fallen in love with me. Trivial I know but, even then, remember what I said, that the bond with the five of you is as important as anything else besides passing your exams? I'm asking you to take this in mind too, as I am doing so myself, because... uh..." Fuutarou then stops in shock upon realising that he's making no sense. Then there was nothing but silence.

Why is everyone feeling so awkward...? Fuutarou realises as the quints eye him with varied expressions, mostly about confusion and sorrow. This wasn't really what Fuutarou wanted to relay to the girls, let alone express. He knows he's horrible at trying to make someone feel better; This isn't related to studying. Helping to solve someone's emotional problems isn't the same as helping someone solve a simple exam question. And he knows it better than himself.

At least though, Miku and Ichika finally pry their hug away from each other and stare at Fuutarou with stained, weary expressions of their own.

"Um... well... thanks... for understanding... at least." Miku softly says, hoping to steer Fuutarou back into the right direction after all this confusing talk.

"Thank you... Fuutarou. I could hear your anxiety when you tried to attune to our current states. That's so not like you in the past." Ichika commends as she wipes the last of her tears with Nino's tissue. "It shows how much you have learnt a lot too, despite the fact that... that you're so stubborn, so straight forward and... so boring-looking, for someone being at the top of our class."

"Used to be, Ichika." Itsuki reminds her.

"Even then he's still technically at the top..." Nino huffs.

"I mean thanks, but... Uh... The point is... I know you girls aren't going to let this... video... overcome you, right? The same way I'm not letting... Rena..." Fuutarou attempts to remind them, only to break away when the girl of his dreams comes up. All he can do right now is just stare back.

"I mean... we could say the same for you..." Itsuki again pipes up, seeing that he too is trying to blot it out. Unsure of what to say next, the five girls just nod at what Fuutarou say next before Ichika and Nino rise to take a breather. Fuutarou sits to hold a nerve-wracked Miku in his arms with Yotsuba and Itsuki pouring glasses of water for them just in case.

After a while though, the two that previously rose to stretch and maintain some space came back to the couch and flop down backs first.

"Are we, uh..." Yotsuba shudders as she grips onto the remote. "So... are we-"

"Just go." Nino flatly orders as she flickers her hair. In doing so, Yotsuba reflexively presses the play button on cue with Nino's command. (New seating order: Itsuki, Yotsuba, Ichika, Miku, Fuutarou, Nino)

---

*The next scene displays Fuutarou running out of breath as he fails to find Miku; Yotsuba catches up to him easily*

Fuutarou: Damn! I don't see Miku!

Yotsuba: Good news, I just heard from Itsuki! She says she's on the bus with Miku.

Fuutarou: I see. To the bus stop then.

Fuutarou suddenly squints his eyes just as the scene switches from the shrine view to Yotsuba running after him on TV. That shrine... it looks so familiar, yet he isn't sure if it really is the same one as he's imagining. Isn't that where he last met his dream friend... the young girl six years ago? No... it can't be. That shrine isn't where he tossed to coin over to the other side, right?

But again, like the previous three reminders, another memory of his past Kyoto trip replays. This time, it was set at night when... even though it was stupid to him indeed...

---

Young Nakano: 'Oops... I might have used all the money I had buying those charms this afternoon...'

Young Fuutarou: 'ARE YOU AN IDIOT?!'

---

"Um... Something the matter?" Miku asks as her eyes widen slightly.

"Uh?!" Fuutarou suddenly jolts as he turns to the former. "No- uh, um... it's nothing. Sorry. I thought um..." He takes a moment to scratch his head. "I just thought of something else. Never mind me."

"Doesn't sound like it to me..." Miku mutters.

Yotsuba meanwhile, held her clenched hands to her chin as she slowly tilts her head towards Fuutarou. This was in fact the shrine the two of them had met under before their father came to pick up both of them. It wasn't clear during the night, but Yotsuba could remember the structure's outlines well enough; Proof of her excellent memory. He knows doesn't he? She thinks. It's that shrine. I know it. I remember too... that night, where we both got lost... he scolded me for spending my money... and then... we made that vow ourselves... we did it together...before dad came to pick us up. I know Uesugi-san... I remember that shrine like broad daylight too! And this time, she's the one receiving the flashbacks as she recoils... over her failure to live up to her vows she made...

---

Young Nakano: 'Being poor doesn't hurt me. But it hurts seeing my mom push herself like that.'

Young Fuutarou: 'My family's about the same... It'd be nice if my family were rich, but it's not like I can do anything about it.'

Young Nakano: 'That's why, from now on, I'm going to study lots, get way smarter... and make my mother's life easier! That way, I'm sure I'll have to find meaning to having being born!'

Young Fuutarou: 'If I study like crazy too, get crazy smart... Then I might be able to let my little sister live without any hardship. I could become someone necessary!'

Young Nakano: 'Then let's work hard together! I'll do it for my mom! And for your little sister! Let's study like our lives depended on it!'

---

*Over on the bus alone as a duo...*

Yotsuba: So Uesugi-san... you heard what I said when you got to the peak, right? Please be honest with me.

Fuutarou: I... didn't hear a thing.

Yotsuba: *Instant shock* GAH?! I can't tell if you're being sarcastic!

Fuutarou: I said I didn't hear you. Just leave it at that.

"Well at least you didn't. Sort of..." Itsuki mutters.

"This music choice though. Why do I feel like..." Miku randomly says as she trails off with her mouth half-open.

"Sobbing? Yeah. Me too, ironically." Nino sarcastically scoffs as she and her sister pays attention to what they all missed out.

Yotsuba: Either way, I was being super reckless, so regardless I know I hurt Miku's feelings. *Flashbacks to the bread at the bakery after all of those failed attempts* I mean, she's been working so hard for this day! *And then over to her conversation with Ichika on the roof* And Ichika wouldn't have done what she did if I hadn't put the idea in her head...

Yotsuba meanwhile, felt another weight sinking in her stomach as she arches her head down whilst her ribbons droop in sorrow. Despite her strong willpower, her mental threshold seems to be at her limit, especially now that she can truly see that, despite her selflessness and her efforts at trying to maintain happiness within the six of them, she's been disregarded her own wellbeing up until this time.

"You didn't do anything wrong, Yotsuba..." Miku whispers.

"Yotsuba, we get it was your fault in a way. But we're all in this together too, no matter what happens. Don't weigh yourself down any more in the future ok? You did what you can." Itsuki reminds her as she gently rubs her shoulder whilst the former positions herself in between her only younger sister and Fuutarou.

"Itsuki's right. The least you could do is to take this as a learning experience and move on a stronger sister. Also, have some tact, as I will say on TV." Fuutarou agrees as he too rubs Yotsuba gently on the head to soothe her.

Fuutarou: Yeah you're right. This is all your fault. Have some tact. You can't blurt out stuff like that.

Yotsuba: Aha so you did hear me, then.

Fuutarou: I guess I kind of knew...

Yotsuba: Huh? I'm sorry. What did you know?

Fuutarou: I mean, I... I knew that... *He holds his hand up to his mouth and blushes* Well... that Miku, you know, that she had feelings for me.

Miku gasps lightly. So he knows after all. Her efforts to make him understand her affection weren't in vain.

Does he even recognise mine and Nino's feelings though? If he still doesn't then... our last few meetings... all gone down the drain... Ichika thinks as she cries small tears.

*Yotsuba gasps*

Yotsuba: I feel like I'm hearing things! Repeat that please!

Fuutarou: Don't do that! You heard me!

Yotsuba: I didn't think you'd ever notice it! I mean you're so dense!

Fuutarou: Well, a lot of things happened. *Flashbacks to Ichika's false confession as she maintains a yandere stare* When she of all people said she was rooting for me and Ichika, that threw me off. *Back to the present* I wasn't talking to the real Miku. I figured that part out at least.

Yotsuba: Uh?

"Ichika. Enough. We're not enemies. We get why you did so already... please...!" Miku firmly states as she latches onto her big sis again alongside Yotsuba after seeing her panic with larger tears trickling down her regretful expression.

Fuutarou: Anyway it's fine. You worry about people way too much, and then you end up overdoing it.

Yotsuba: Uh- Eheheh... That's not a bad thing. Remember how I told you that when I failed, my sisters transferred to our new school with me? I made everyone pay for my mistakes. That's not something you can make up for overnight. The way I look at it, it makes sense if they end up happier than me.

As Fuutarou and Yotsuba converse on TV whilst the heartfelt music increased in volume in the background, the quintuplets couldn't help but feel their tears trickle down their faces over this meaningful conversation that's being spoken on TV, including Yotsuba herself.

"No... It never make sense... if... if you are the only one unhappy, Yotsuba..." Itsuki sniffles.

Fuutarou: So that's that then?

Yotsuba: I really wanted the whole group to enjoy this trip. Hey Uesugi-san. Do you think there's anyway that everybody can be happy in the end?

Fuutarou: Of course.

Yotsuba: Uh? *She looks over to him* Huh?

Fuutarou: If people could be content without comparing themselves to anyone else, I think it would take nothing less than that to create the kind of world that you're talking about.

Yotsuba: You think so-?

Fuutarou: But then, reality is a lot more complicated than that. One person's happiness often means unhappiness for someone else. *Shows an eagle's eye view of their classroom* Certain kinds of happiness can only be gained by competing with or taking from others.

*Back to the present as Yotsuba clenches her fists*

Yotsuba: If that's how it is, then what am I supposed to do?

Fuutarou: Not a thing. Not much you can do. Don't you think it's a little presumptuous? Trying to have all you want? When you choose to have something you give up something else. Someday, you're going to have to make a choice. Trust me.

---

What Fuutarou said on TV, it only seemed to make everyone cry even harder as a conflicted Yotsuba ends up pausing the TV before she even knows it herself. This really feels like a serious, life-changing lesson that everyone needs to absorb. Fuutarou, whilst he is dense and too straight forward, does display a high value of reasoning. And that's just as important as treasuring other people's feelings and values so it seems.

"This... *Sniff* t-this hit me harder than Fuutarou-kun calling Itsuki-chan fat in second year, *Hic* now that you all saw... *Sniff* I agree with you... F-Fuutarou-k-kun..." Ichika chokes as Nino shoves a tissue into her hands.

"Oh zip it! You've got no right to bring that up, Ichika!" Itsuki harshly snaps as she then breaks down too with her face stained by her own tears. Miku follows suit too as she hugs Ichika, followed by Nino with her eyes covered and lastly, after contemplating her past actions whilst she leans over Fuutarou's shoulder, Yotsuba.

"So much for that break...!" Miku also cries with a tissue in her nose.

"R-R-R-Raiha-chan... I need you too... don't go..." Yotsuba whimpers unconsciously as she imagines herself hugging Raiha for support, even though she's clearly latched onto Fuutarou's own shoulder.

Fuutarou meanwhile felt his own tears about to escape his eyes too, but he narrowly holds them in as he wipes his right eye with his hand. It seems that everyone have now come to rely on each other for comfort and reassurance as they plough through the sorrow and regrets that the video itself is showing. But for now, he glances over to the grief stricken quints comforting each other as they slowly rebuild their emotional support, plus the fact that he's noticing Yotsuba gently tugging on his arm too as she weeps. He's slowly beginning to understand their hardships, their pain, all the sacrifices each of them made to get this far.

"Don't... come any closer... y-you jerk...!" Nino speaks with numerous voice cracks, though she doesn't do anything to stop Fuutarou from tightly embracing her and Yotsuba... and Ichika too... no... everyone, actually. Even as he feels like he's suffocating under their weight, it doesn't matter to him as much as helping the girls recuperate from this painful lesson.

"Just so you know..." Fuutarou softly whispers softly for everyone to hear. "You five girls are the biggest blessing your mother would have. I am, like, almost certain she'd be delighted to hear how far you have come up to this point in Third Year. Ichika, Nino, Yotsuba, Itsuki, and especially, Miku... all of you actually. Just tell yourself this: You've studied your butts off and now you have found meaning in your lives. You've dominated the exams minus this coming one. Sure, you guys are still five dummies I can tell you that but... Don't you realise how much you have grown since the very beginning? Think of what everyone would feel upon seeing you girls grow. Not just your mother. But me as well. And if she was here... Raiha too. You've all passed with flying colours... and..." He rubs his eyes. "...you are all stars in your own way. The five of you... with your strong bond... you girls are incredible."

Only Yotsuba looks up in response as her eyes water. Except that she was also in shock. Wait... studied her butt off... find meaning about her life... Wasn't that also what she said six years ago...?!

---

'I'm going to study lots, get way smarter... and make my mother's life easier! That way, I'm sure I'll have to find meaning to having being born!

---

"U-U-Uesu...!" She stutters. But she then curls back into the arms of her sisters. As for the others, the reactions were indeed mixed, but deep inside, to hear their tutor warmly complimenting them felt like their mother has come to bless them all. It felt like a miracle; A tone of warmth and peace unravelled within his voice. This is a massive contrast to the typical, straightforward boy they had known since the start of second year.

"T... thank you... Uesugi-k-k-k..." Itsuki chokes as she still weeps on the shoulders of her sisters.

"You... *Sniff* I... your mother too... she... *Hic*" Yotsuba attempts to reply, if it wasn't for her tears and severe voice cracks overwhelming her.

"Stop it... *Hic* stop flattering us... I don't wanna... *Sniff*!" Ichika again sniffles.

Nino and Miku didn't say anything unlike the other three. But as compensation, they break away from the huddle and end up embracing Fuutarou back as hard as they could, never mind that they were still touching each other's arms. Fuutarou embraces back in response as he also strokes both of their heads.

After taking another silent five minutes to recompose themselves in the meanwhile, the quints and Fuutarou reposition themselves back as the TV resumes; Ichika was holding onto the remote as she presses the play button.

---

*Cuts to the night during dinner where a disgusted Nino, plus Yotsuba and Eatsuki are eating*

Nino: Listen up, guys. A photographer's been tailing us.

Yotsuba and Eatsuki: Huh?

Nino: I first noticed it back at Kyoto station. It hasn't stopped. *Shows the article that Nino read: 'Molesters targeting students on school trips, Kyoto City on high alert* I read an article that they target high school students during their school trips.

Eatsuki: But Nino, why would someone target you?

Nino: What does that mean?! *And the camera clicks again, prompting Nino to look back...* There they are!

*Over to Tsubaki and her friend, Aoi, snapping pics of their food*

Aoi: Looks so good!

Tsubaki: I gotta post it!

How did Maeda manage to evade that? He said he goofed up at some point but when...? Fuutarou thinks as he almost devolves into a snicker if it wasn't for himself pinching his upper thighs with his own force.

Again though, the quints, especially Nino, caught whiff of his suspicious expression...

"FUU-KUN?! AGAIN?!" Nino fumes even more.

"What?" Fuutarou replies without even making eye contact with the second quint, causing her to clench her fists.

*Nino squints*

Yotsuba: By the way, Miku and Ichika headed back to the hotel a little while ago, right?

Eatsuki: Uh-huh. Apparently they were pretty worn out after all that walking. So they both wanted to get some R-And-R.

Nino: They're probably not together though.

Eatsuki: I can't believe Miku took off all by herself.

"I can't believe Ichika was responsible for-" Nino wanted to snarl as she holds her arm up... but she is then suddenly caught by the boy on her left.

"Enough, don't rub salt onto the wound any longer, please." Fuutarou pleads as he holds her arm still.

*Yotsuba stands up*

Yotsuba: I should go and make sure they're okay-

Nino: Wait, Yotsuba. (Yotsuba: Huh?) I'm almost finished eating. We should go together.

Yotsuba: Really?

*Itsuki popup: I'm already finished!*

"Aww! Such a cute Itsuki popup, there!" Yotsuba snickers. Itsuki had to let herself smile at that alongside her giggling sisters; Better than having to cry over something emotional again for sure.

*Fuutarou meanwhile, spots the trio leaving...*

Fuutarou: Hmm...

Takeda: Oh dear. (Fuutarou: Hm?) Uesugi? Is there something wrong?

Fuutarou: I'm fine. But where'd Maeda go?

Takeda: Long bathroom visit.

*Fuutarou suddenly stands up and leaves*

Fuutarou: Yep. Same here.

Takeda: Then obviously I'll follow too.

Fuutarou: Don't follow me.

"Hmm?" The quints that Fuutarou 'stalked' raises their eyebrows. Why was he trying to follow them, they wonder? He cannot be the stalker can he?

"Fuu-kun? Explain." Nino demands. No response even as she elbows him. "Fuu-kun?! Hey!"

"Just leave him alone, Nino." Miku hushes.

*Inside the dorm, Miku is seen hiding in the dark*

Nino: Hey. I know you two are in there. Open the door!

"Huh? Ichika? Were you not inside?" Itsuki asks confused whilst the former shudders.

So I was right. They really weren't together. Nino ponders with a hand on her chin. But where was Ichika then?

Itsuki: Why aren't they answering us?

Nino: Not texting back either...

Yotsuba: It's my fault! Please forgive me! Come on we still have two more days of our school trip! Just give me a chance to set everything right, okay?

Miku: She didn't do anything wrong...

"Wait..." Nino gasps as her eyes widen suddenly in panic.

"What is it?" Miku asks her, only to notice Itsuki and Yotsuba widening their eyes too. "Huh? Itsuki?"

"This is where the stalker comes in to haunt us ain't it?!" Itsuki pants as her ahoge jitters like wildfire.

"Stalker? Oh that one..." Fuutarou asks with a squint, only to notice...

Nino: Yotsuba...

*Click*

All three: Uh?

Itsuki: Ahaha... Wow, Nino you got me so worried about that photographer I almost thought I heard a click just now!

Nino: Yeah, isn't that funny? I heard it too... But there's no way he would follow us into the hotel, right?

*Dramatically switching from one scene to another, the trio looks back, finds a camera peeking from the corner... and begin to panic on screen*

No one notices it, but now even Miku was imitating the trio's panicked faces both in real life (for some reason) and on TV; Ichika somehow doesn't follow suit as she remains neutral but sour. Fuutarou meanwhile has again his mouth covered for no other reason.

*And then the camera flashes, spooking the three of them; Yotsuba's funny tongue appears one last time*

The three of them: EYAAAAHHHH!

For absolutely no reason whatsoever, the trio that got stalked ended up imitating themselves on TV, including Miku this time as she latches onto the huddled quints and screams for her life as well.

No wonder why I heard the screaming outside...! Miku thinks as she vibrates like her headphones when they're blasting music at max volume.

"Really, you guys?!" Ichika pouts after seeing the ridiculous states of her four younger sisters. Seriously why are they even screaming for their life over something that has already happened, let alone one I couldn't see because of Fuutarou-kun?!

I see! So that's why Maeda said he'd done goofed up! Fuutarou thinks as he closes his eyes and lets out a silent, stifled laugh under his mouth. Unfortunately for him, that only seemed to trigger a wave of anger every single quint including Ichika, who had suddenly reverted to yet another furious glare as she elbows him in the stomach hard and makes him lurch forward in pain; A great contrast to her previous, neutral mood. "What the hell was that for?! Urgh!" Fuutarou recoils.

"You clearly know who the stalker is don't you?! Quit hiding your stifles and spill it!" Miku pouts as she becomes the first to break out of the huddle.

*Fuutarou and Ichika are suddenly alerted*

Fuutarou: Are they okay?!

Ichika: Oh no!

*And then they bump into each other*

Both of them as they meet: Uh?!

"Wait Ichika, where were you?!" Yotsuba exclaims in confusion as she was the next to break away.

"Just so you know I just got out of the lift when I heard you three scream, ok? Neither me nor Fuutarou-kun saw anything else after that!" Ichika defends with her hands held in front of her body, though at this point no one really seemed to believe her.

*Meanwhile the trio just barely escape whilst Nino attempts to call Miku one last time...*

Miku: Nino, what was that scream?

Nino: You finally answered.

*Over to Ichika and Fuutarou*

Fuutarou: Ichika. What's up?

Ichika: Hey Fuutarou-kun. I'm glad I found you. You have some time tomorrow?

*Back to the spooked trio*

Nino: Miku, do you already have plans for tomorrow?

Together with Ichika: We need to talk about something.

*The scene fades to black*

Everyone just sat there speechless with raised eyebrows. Well sure, quintuplets do think alike but, for some reason, they're wondering if this simultaneous line was a sheer coincidence or the two eldest are actually thinking of the same thing.

"Uh-?! First the stalker, then Fuu-kun laughing about it, and now this?! I don't even know what's going on now!" Nino exasperatedly complains as she and Itsuki finally break up too whilst she throws her arms in mid-air and back down in disgust.

"Trust me, Nino. I'd rather you not pry into it any more." Itsuki deadpans.

*The next day, Yotsuba and an acrophobic Itsuki are shown overlooking Kyoto from a platform*

Yotsuba: OH! Hey look! Kyoto Station!

Itsuki: Guess I forgot how high this place was...

"First you're scared of the dark, now you're scared of heights too?!" Nino squints in disgust. "Seriously what else are you going to cry over next, huh?" She turns to Miku, waiting for her predicted answer.

"She's scared of Fuutarou calling her fat, isn't she?" Miku sarcastically jokes as she braces for... nothing? That's odd. She was expecting her sister to toss a pillow into a face for this insult. Instead, as she and Nino suddenly glance to her face, they were met with blank silence from not just her, but Yotsuba too. "Uh... Itsuki? You ok?" She gasps.

Yotsuba suddenly gulps whilst her only younger sister widen their eyes; Their upright statures remain straight in paranoia as both of their hearts began pounding too in the process. Coincidentally, Fuutarou did the same as the former before he stares into her sweating face. Weren't they the exact words at the start of... the very first episode of this season...? And wasn't this the same location too...?

---

Young Nakano: 'Wow look! Kyoto station's right there!'

Young Fuutarou: 'Woah! For real?!'

---

Did this scene remind them of someone or something? Is it reminding them of Fuu-kun perhaps? Nino gasps as the duo's faces slowly become pale.

*Fuutarou then appears*

Fuutarou: Woah! (Yotsuba: Huh?) Guess I forgot how high up this place was...

Itsuki: Hey where did you come from?

Yotsuba: Yeah I thought you were hanging out with your own group.

Fuutarou: I was, but I need to talk to Miku.

Both: Huh?

"Yotsuba? Itsuki-chan? Hello?!" Ichika gasps as she and Nino sweat bullets. She lightly elbows the two of them, hoping it would do something. "Hey! You two ok?! Wake up!"

"Huh? What happened- Oh." Itsuki murmurs as she returns.

"You looked half-dazed so Ichika had to elbow you." Miku tells her.

Yotsuba doesn't respond though even as Nino shakes her forcefully; Everyone else could clearly see this.

It clearly shows you're not fine though... Miku pessimistically thinks as she maintains a safe distance.

Fuutarou: I figured she'd be wherever you guys were.

Itsuki: Nope we had to leave her behind. She's still not feeling too hot, so she's resting at the hotel right now.

Yotsuba: And Ichika and Nino met up with a few of their friends from second year, so they're walking around together for a little while. Honestly I'm worried about Miku, but we decided to give her some space and go do our own thing.

Fuutarou: Kinda sad to see you all split up.

*Itsuki suddenly breaks character as her eyes form dizzy spiral and she raises her fist*

Itsuki: Oh no I think it's a nice change of pace! I mean we get to see Kiyomizu Temple, right?!

Yotsuba: Itsuki?

Itsuki: Why don't we *Suddenly drags Fuutarou to the edge of the lookout by his arm* enjoy the beautiful scenery, Uesugi-kun? It takes my breath away!

"Eh?!" Ichika, Nino and Miku especially are confused by their little sister's sudden change in her demeanour. Wasn't she already spooked out by the whole height dilemma a few minutes ago?

Itsuki meanwhile, knows exactly why she's behaving as so, and, before Fuutarou can even notice, her face is already turning red as she makes stifled squeals of her own...

Yotsuba is still in her half-dead, unresponsive expression. Now that she's relived the secrets that have built up to these chain of events, this is already turning out to be her nightmare fuel.

Fuutarou: Don't pull on me! It's not safe!

*Itsuki smirks*

Itsuki: Really, you're not afraid of falling? Wow, some man you are!

*Fuutarou's equally nervous as her though*

Fuutarou: UGH?! In your dreams! I'm not the least bit afraid! You look like you're pretty nervous about it, though!

Itsuki: Ooh! Hey, I know! We should pose together for a picture! Right here!

Fuutarou: Picture? That's stupid!

Itsuki: Yotsuba! Can you take it for us?

Yotsuba: Uh ok?

*Itsuki entwines her left hand with Fuutarou's right arm*

Suddenly, Nino and Miku felt the urge to drop their jaws and glare at the squealing quint like there's no tomorrow for either of them. Just over this.

"Uh... please don't..." Fuutarou weakly speaks, fearing that another quintuplet fight might break out, though he is indeed blushing too...

Fuutarou: Hurry and it get it over with, would ya?

*Itsuki sweats*

Itsuki: We'll make it quick thanks for taking the time, Uesugi-kun. *She slightly holds Fuutarou's arm towards her left breast* Why am I being so bold...?! Anyway hopefully this'll be enough to make him remember what happened six years ago.

"I... swear to... Itsuki...! You had... one... freaking... job!" Nino grits as Itsuki's face alongside Fuutarou's reddens even more in the process. Either she's hell-bent on accusing her for having her own moment with Fuutarou and disregarding Yotsuba in the process, or scold her yet again... for not making a move on him at all. She's conflicted. Either way, the former had to keep pinching herself in the bottom so that she doesn't pounce on her younger sister for this.

"Uh... what's with her...?" Yotsuba meekly asks as she finally snaps back to reality.

"Trust me, I don't have the foggiest idea." Fuutarou deadpans. Ichika just shrugs whilst Miku and Itsuki shudder. They all wanted to ask Yotsuba what is wrong with her too, but, judging by her half-dead look even as she returns back to normal, they decided not to call the shots.

*Back at the hotel where... Wait... that's not Miku...*

Miku (?): I'm sorry for the trouble, ma'am.

Teacher: I just hate it when you're sick, dear. And on today of all days.

"Wait... Miku? Weren't you-?" Fuutarou asks her.

"Bzzt." Miku smirks as she crosses her arms into an 'X'.

"What?! Who is that then?" Fuutarou yells out.

"Take another guess and look at her coloured hair, you spineless dummy." Nino smiles deviously as she makes the same hand seals that Miku did a few episodes back.

Miku (?): I think I'm just gonna lie down for a little bit longer...

Teacher: That's wise. Oh, and they spotted a sneak photographer around here, so be careful.

*'Miku' bows before she steps inside...*

Miku (?) Thank you, I will.

"No surprise who saw it..." Itsuki grumbles as her ahoge wilts... but then it perks up as she realises... "Wait... Weren't you with Ichika?"

"She was. And she left me and our friends stumped when she suddenly snuck off from us and never came back..." Ichika grumbles.

"What? It was Nino?! How did she not get caught?" Fuutarou grimaces as Nino grins even more.

"You remember about our 'Quintuplet genius', dummy?" Nino again teases.

*And then... unveils her disguise in front of the real Miku*

Miku: Mm?

*Nino undoes her disguise in front of Miku*

Nino: "I move in the dark like a shadow." Was that it?

Miku: What are you doing? And why?

Nino: I'm imitating you, in more ways than one. They'd be suspicious if I had tried to act like I was sick, too. When's the next head count anyway? Oh, good. Plenty of time.

Miku: Forget that. I'm asking why you came to see me.

Nino: I told you there's something I wanna talk about.

Miku: Don't try to cheer me up.

Seeing Miku revert back to her pessimistic, second year self was of massive concern to everyone, especially Fuutarou, the one who helped flip her mindset to this day.

"Miku... please... remember why you have changed. That day... when I said you can do what the other four can..." Fuutarou attempts to assure her.

"I'm trying not to, Fuutarou, I know. I'm trying not to. You're the number one reason why. I still remember." Miku responds as she sniffles.

Nino: Huh?

*Nino climbs on both Miku's bed and pushes down the latter into a rather suspicious position...*

Miku: AH?!

Nino: Why would I do something stupid like that?

Miku: Uh?

Nino: I mean, my competition backed down without a fight. It's kind of anticlimactic but it's a lucky break. Now only Ichika's left standing. She's a sneaky little weasel but I'll defeat her. Anyway, I'm gonna take Fuu-kun for myself! Are you okay with that?

"Uhhhhhh..." Fuutarou, Ichika, Yotsuba and Itsuki felt their jaws lowering slowly over Nino and Miku's current position on TV as they squint in disgust...

"What? Is something wrong?" Nino nonchalantly asks the rest.

"Yeah uh... we're not okay with that, um..." Yotsuba notes as she points at the TV. "That position you're in right now...? It's like you're trying to make Miku kiss you there..." And then the quint she mentions notices it herself and turns beet red in just three seconds.

"WHAT THE-?! WHY ME?!" Miku shrieks as the fourth finally receives a pillow to her face after not having one hurled at her previously.

"Ow! What the heck, Miku!" Yotsuba cries in pain as she clutches her nose. Nino meanwhile blushes too, but other than that her expression remains indifferent.

"So? At least it's between me and Miku. What's the deal with that? It's not like I can even date my own sister in the first place can I?" She then points a finger towards Fuutarou with a smirk and almost pokes his eye again. "Besides, if I see you like this too Fuu-kun, you're next!"

"I don't understand how you of all people manage to keep a straight poker face at something you did yourself..." Fuutarou complains as a sweat mark appears on not just his head but on Ichika and Itsuki's too out of nowhere.

Miku: When did you start calling him Fuu-kun?

Nino: Who cares? Are you going to refuse to give up on him just because you liked him first?

Miku: I don't mean that.

Nino: You've had feelings for him longer than I have, I'll give you that much. *Flashbacks to her confession after the exams* And I don't have enough experience with love to tell you whether or not that makes a difference. *And then to the hot springs where she got rejected* This is my first time. I haven't figured out the rules of love yet. *And then to her first job where she gave him that air kiss* So I'm totally clueless. *Back to the present* What I do know is that I love him more than anyone else could!

Miku: I'm not giving up yet. Just watch me!

"I'm not giving up either, Fuutarou-kun. Even though I still regret what I did you Miku. I'm sorry for that. I hope you can still count me, but also Yotsuba and Itsuki-chan in the race too." Ichika smiles; Itsuki pouts silently but just lets it go, seeing that her complaint have gotten her nowhere in the past. Yotsuba meanwhile, felt her heart racing again as her pupils dilate upon staring at her crush.

"Uh..." Fuutarou just lets out a single squint over this as he blushes some more and makes Miku and Nino giggle.

Nino: Really? Because it sure looks like you've given up from where I'm standing. This trip is the perfect chance to get closer to him and (Miku: Uh?) you're holed up in here. You had your turn and you wasted it. Thanks for playing-

Miku: But I don't wanna quit!

Nino: Uh?!

Yikes. The noticeable voice crack when Miku yelled out loud penetrated the hearts of all six people in the living room as they clutch their chests. Minus Nino of course as she scoffs. Hearing her confidence mixed with absolute uncertainty when she spoke her mind without hesitation is... well... it was enough to split everyone's hearts as their faces paled in colour. Minus Nino of course who isn't the slightest bit fazed.

"I swear I thought I just felt my heart splitting into two there..." Ichika murmurs.

"Guess I'm not the only one who felt this, huh?" Fuutarou also says.

*Miku breaks down as she cries a massive waterfall*

Miku: I'm just scared. I knew things would turn out like this. Now that Fuutarou knows that I have feelings for him, I'm worried I might not be good enough. There's no way he could fall for somebody like me. I figured loved would be scary, but I never realized a fair fight could be so terrifying!

"Oh...!" Ichika, Yotsuba and Itsuki gasp in unison. How did those people capture her tears so well, yet so sorrowful? That felt like another stone in their stomach alongside the previous scene. In fact, Miku grimaces heavily after seeing herself cry and revert back to her Season 1 self on TV however, prompting Ichika and Yotsuba to immediately cuddle her in response.

"That's so sad... Miku...!" Yotsuba comments, seeing that she too wants to cry with Miku when she notices her breaking down again.

"Miku. Fuutarou-kun would never say you're not good enough for him, right teach?" Ichika reassures with confidence... only to noticing him squirming in pain. "Huh? Teach?"

"Miku. Breathe. Again." Itsuki instructs as she hands her a tissue whilst the former cries waterfalls again.

"It's ok, Miku. Everything's gonna be ok. It's not over." Yotsuba reassures as her sister embraces back. Right on point though, Fuutarou suddenly rises up with a distressed face and makes Ichika and Miku recoil a little.

"Huh? Um... Where are you going, teach?" Ichika asks as she stops embracing Miku to pause the video.

"Bathroom." Fuutarou says as he immediately scampers to the toilet and closes the door shut without warning. The others didn't know whether to press the play button or not...

"Should we wait for him or...?" Miku asks her sisters as she barely hold in her tears; Itsuki and Nino just shrug.

"There's only about 1-2 minutes left. Maybe we should end this rather than let this burden strain us even more." Yotsuba suggests as she breaks away, breathes a sigh of relief for enduring this entire reel and resumes before anyone else could object. And yet... there is is this bright feeling radiating in her for the first time in this episode.

Drama aside... I... I made it... I can't believe I actually made it through! She thinks optimistically as she makes the effort to crack a wide smile on her face. I guess I'll take a partial reveal of my special past over a full reveal to Uesugi-san. I want this bond to last for as long as it can! That's right! We he said... What I said too... I'll continue to hold this... with no regrets... as I had said! I'll support him with everything I've got!

At least, until the last scene plays...

*Cuts over to Yotsuba and Itsuki where the pair are buying some charms*

Yotsuba: Hey! These are good luck charms for love! We should buy one for Miku!

*Itsuki looks back*

Itsuki: Yotsuba? Where did Uesugi-kun go?

Itsuki suddenly yelps in horror like a frightened pup and causes her sisters to jolt.

"Huh?! Itsuki?!" Miku exclaims.

"Itsuki-chan?!" Ichika shouts as Itsuki's screech alerts her last.

Yotsuba: I don't know he probably went back to hang with the boys.

Itsuki: This should have been my chance...

"ITSUKI-CHAN?! WHAT'S WRONG?!" Ichika screams again as she, Nino and Miku become increasingly horrified by their sister's sudden panic reaction.

"Oh my- No! Is Uesugi-kun still in the toilet?!" Itsuki exclaims out of the blue as she remembers exactly what she told Yotsuba that day. As she whips her head at the toilet door though, it appears to be wide open. "NGH! WHERE IS HE?!" She again yells as she then whips her head in all directions... except for her behind.

Yotsuba though, felt her smile vanishing in the blink of an eye as she realises why her only younger sister is so terrified...

Yotsuba: Itsuki, (Itsuki: Uh?) are you hiding something from me?

Itsuki: Hiding? *She turns to face her* I think it's just time you tell him the truth…

"Wait... UWAH! WHERE DID HE GO?!" Yotsuba exclaims with an equally horrified voice as she finally realises what Itsuki told her that day. "I REMEMBER THE TRUTH YOU TOLD ME THAT DAY TOO! PASS ME THE REMOTE!"

"WHAT TRUTH?! I WASN'T HERE!" Nino exclaims with confusion.

"ME NEITHER! CAN YOU EXPLAIN?!" Miku shouts too as she flails her arms.

"Huh? What's wrong all of you? What else did you tell Yotsuba?" Fuutarou asks as he suddenly stands behind Yotsuba and Itsuki, causing the two of them to shriek.

"AAAAAAH! STOP THE VIDEO! WHERE'S THE REMOTE?!" Yotsuba screams. And that was enough to make the two youngest quints lunge for the remote in union.

"YOTSUBA HURRY!" Itsuki shouts. "PRESS THE PAUSE-"

*Episode ends with the sacred photo again. But not before Itsuki tells Yotsuba this...*

Itsuki: …that the girl he met in Kyoto all those years ago… was you.

---

Almost immediately, as the TV hangs on Fuutarou's photo whilst pause button was pressed five seconds too late, the atmosphere became absolutely silent, if not, ever unstable. And all because, as the tutor himself stands behind the sisters and gasps…

"Uesu…g-g-i…s-s-s-s-s-san… h-h-h-hi t-t-t-there…" Yotsuba stammers as she and her sisters suddenly turn behind to see her crush standing behind her in shock.

"OH GOD!" Ichika and Miku gasp as they both turn wide-eyed in horror in unison upon realising that Fuutarou himself had heard everything. The silence that followed for nearly thirty seconds felt deafening. It was enough to drown everything in this timeframe including the natural atmospheric noises coming from the outside. Until...

"Wait… so… that time… five years ago, during the elementary school trip… Yotsuba…" Fuutarou exclaims in a surprised, but gentle tone.

---

'He's innocent! I saw everything!'

'Because they probably will make me try five times as hard!'

'I'll do it for my mom. And your little sister. Let's study like our lives depended on it!'

'Because… I really need you, okay!'

---

"That means… back then when I met the girl save me… and… spent time with me when we were alone... she was the only person that made found faith in myself. She was my reason for studying and become someone that is needed... that girl... her identity...!" He gasps as he reaches out a hand to thank and comfort her whilst he forms a rare smile.

Yotsuba meanwhile couldn't hold back her tears as her ocean blue eyes cry waterfalls...

---

'I'm different from you! So don't lump me in with you guys!'

'You failed your makeup exams. You are hereby expelled.'

'Why is the five of us being together so important? I don't get it!'

---

"It was her... The girl supporting me with everything she's got... who changed me five years ago... to become the person people needs, as I said..." Fuutarou continues as Yotsuba constantly snaps in and out of reality. "Yotsuba… it was you?" Until…

---

Nino: 'I would absolutely hate it if you were gone!'

Ichika: 'No matter where you go, we'll go with you.'

Itsuki: 'Because that's what mom always tells us.'

Miku: 'Together, the five of us, can accomplish anything.'

'I get it. It's no good for me to be special.'

'Uesugi-san? UESUGI-SAN!'

'No matter what happens... I'll support you with everything I've got!'

'Uesugi-san… Fuutarou-kun… I love you… I've always had…'

---

"I-I-I… um-uh… U-U-Uesu..." Yotsuba meanwhile couldn't even finish what she wanted to say before she suddenly stands up, slaps away Fuutarou's hand and makes a daring escape upstairs, though her flashbacks still continue to replay over and over again within her collapsing brain. "AGH! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

"YOTSUBA!" The other four quints scream in horror.

"YOTSUBA WAIT-!" Fuutarou yells as well as she bolts past him and her sisters into her own room like the flash and slams the door shut, leaving the other five in silence. There was no sound made for the next 2 minutes or so... aside from the occasional outdoor noises now that the rain has ceased plus the heavy breaths created by the five that remained. The joy and hopes everyone had built up have suddenly been replaced with anxiety and fear. Again.

"Uesugi-kun…" Itsuki finally speaks up to try and break up the ever-expanding silence. "…I'm sorry… I didn't know… that would be shown…"

"Forget it. I lived to be spoilt a third time nonetheless." Fuutarou deadpans gravely.

"Wait... Third time? Isn't this the second? Since when..." Miku asks as she, Ichika and Nino rise from their seats, only to feel her stomach sinking at what Fuutarou meant as he turns to face the three eldest quints; already feeling a huge weight dropping down on him after witnessing the last of his evidence flare to life, his infuriated stare pretty much unnerved everyone that dared to lock eyes on him.

"And you three." Fuutarou resumes. "I need you ask you something serious. I had this gut feeling after noticing her tiny visual cues that something was wrong with her. I noticed her shudders increasing with intensity with every episode we've watched together up until this one. So tell me, you all..."

"F-F-F-F-Fuu-kun…" Nino stammers as her butterfly ribbons shiver in accordance with her fright; She's afraid that he would actually destroy someone or something in the house for real after recalling what happened eight episodes back. I just find it hard to believe that we've all gone through these tragic turn of events at least once... She flashbacks to the major events that gave everyone the most dreadful feelings in this session, one memory at a time. First me and Itsuki with that fallout, then Fuu-kun with Rena, Ichika with 'Operation: Sabotage Miku', and now Yotsuba with... well... Those were not the reactions I was expecting from the latter three when this season began…

"...Was that why she was so hesitant about watching the show up until now? Just like me?" Fuutarou begins as he tries not to blow up a second time. "You girls… Did you all know… That the girl that I met in Kyoto five, no, six years ago as of now… was her?"

---

A/N: And with that, this episode has earned my 'single, hardest episode to write reactions for' award, surpassing Episodes 8 and 9 from Season 1 and Episodes 19-22 in this one. Like seriously, this took forever to come up with even a decent reaction for EVERY, SINGLE PART of it; from that unexpected opening to Yotsuba asking about her first love at the mall, followed by Ichika's calamitous downfall unfolding before her eyes and then finally the ultimate revelation that the former never even wanted to spill to Fuutarou until now… this felt like a living nightmare to complete. Once again I really hope the long wait was worth because my braincells have been utterly destroyed as of completing this episode. And if there's something I have missed, please point it out so I can edit it in sometime in the future.

But that aside, would Fuutarou be able to find the willpower to help redeem the quint that saved him twice (in his past and as a tutor) and convince her that everything is still A-okay in the end? Or will this special friendship between the pair and her sisters be permanently ruined before the events of the Gotoubun story's finale? That will all depend on what happens when this fanfic finally ends in Season Two's final episode.

Also, unimportant note, but I can't believe I've gone one full circle as of completing this; I started writing this for fun on the 8th March in 2023, and, now that I've realised it, I've uploaded this chapter on the same day I started on this. Man time really flies doesn't it? I didn't think this and Season 1 would be more popular than I thought it would be. Seriously, thank you guys for your support again. I really appreciate it.