Chapter 23

Ichika's heart raced with anxiety and uncertainty as she considered Fuutaro's proposal to sneak out of the hotel and explore the Gion district together in search of souvenirs for his family. Her head remained lowered, concealing her expression behind a curtain of hair, and her gaze wandered blankly to the ground below. Time seemed to crawl at a sluggish pace, or perhaps even stand still.

Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts, presenting her with two distinct choices. On one side, accepting Fuutaro's offer posed a significant risk, potentially leading to their discovery and subsequent punishment by the school. The severity of the consequences was unknown, but the teachers' stern and repeated warnings suggested they would not be lenient. Moreover, she worried about causing trouble for her sisters, as their shared room and group affiliation might draw unwanted attention if she went missing.

Conversely, the other side held the promise of a golden opportunity—an alone moment with Fuutaro and a chance to walk together during the school trip, fulfilling a desire she harbored from the start. It served as a remedy for the missed opportunities of the past two days.

Caught between conflicting perspectives, Ichika could not decide what was best for her, as if a formidable barrier stood in the way of her decision-making. She closed her eyes, reflecting on both sides and their potential outcomes once again.

"What should I do…?"

"If I go with him, we can finally walk together and spend some alone time…"

"But there's the risk of getting caught, and those four could be dragged into trouble if the teachers find out…"

"But if I refuse... will I regret it someday?"

Ichika could not tell how much time had passed since she began contemplating Fuutaro's proposal. However, one thing became clear—she had reached a decision. Wrestling with the risks, weighing the pros and cons, and envisioning the aftermath, Ichika confronted the tough choice head-on. Now, with her mind made up and determined, there was no room for regret.

Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head and met Fuutaro's gaze with a faint smile. "Count me in, Fuutaro-kun. I'll accompany you to the Gion district to search for those souvenirs," she said warmly, nodding. "I've been wanting to walk with you on this school trip, remember? We haven't had many chances these past two days, so this is perfect."

A surge of joy and satisfaction flowed through Fuutaro, evident in the way his face lit up with a wide grin and his eyes sparkled. It mirrored the moment he secured the third spot in the national standings during the mock exams a few months ago.

"Great!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm.

After a moment, Fuutaro's expression softened into one of contentment as he looked back at Ichika. "I've felt the same way. I tried to ask you to walk with me for the past two days, but something always got in the way. I'm glad I didn't give up, and it finally paid off. Thank you, Ichika."

Ichika found herself captivated by the warmth and appreciation in his gaze. A blush tinted her cheeks. "Hehe, I'm glad you asked me. Thank you, Fuutaro-kun!" she giggled softly, still reveling in the delight of his appreciation.

After a brief pause, Ichika's calm demeanor returned, though a lingering trace of excitement remained. "Now then, shall we get moving..." Her voice trailed off as she glanced towards the hotel's entrance, where two watchful teachers patrolled. "But... how do we slip out without getting caught? If we just walk out, we'll just end up back in our room or on the punishment list." She turned to Fuutaro, seeking a solution from him.

Fuutaro's gaze shifted to the teachers, his brow furrowing in thought. He had anticipated this obstacle and devised a plan to overcome it. "Don't worry, I've got a plan to distract them so we can slip away without being caught." He pulled out his phone and dialed a number, waiting for it to connect. "Ahh, Takeda... Can you and Maeda come down to the lobby for a moment? I'll explain everything when you get here. It's urgent."

Fuutaro ended the call, and Ichika looked puzzled. "Huh? Takeda-kun and Maeda-kun? They're not coming with us, are they?" she asked, a slight frown appearing on her face.

"No, no, not at all," he reassured with a small chuckle. "They're going to help us sneak out. As much as I'd prefer not to involve them, there's no other way. You'll understand once we get going."

Several moments later, the elevator doors slid open, revealing Takeda and Maeda entering the lobby. It took them a moment to spot Fuutaro, but once they did, they hurried over to him. Settling onto a sofa opposite of the two, the presence of one of the Nakano quintuplets piqued their curiosity.

Takeda was the first to speak, "So, what's this important matter you're about to fill us in on, Uesugi-kun?" His gaze flicked momentarily to Ichika before returning to Fuutaro, a teasing smirk playing on his lips. "And Nakano-san is here too. Are you going to tell us that you two are officially dating?"

"Oi, now's not the time for jokes!" Fuutaro retorted to his friend's teasing, prompting a giggle from Ichika at his vexed expression. Clearing his throat, he continued, "Okay, here's what you need to know. Ichika and I are going to sneak out to the Gion district after this. There's something I need to take care of, and it's really important—"

"Hold on, sneak out?" Maeda interrupted, his voice laced with confusion and disbelief, one eyebrow raised. "Are you serious? You know there's serious punishment if you get caught, right? We're all in the same group, and you share a room with us. How are we supposed to explain your disappearance to the teachers during the curfew check?"

Ichika turned towards Fuutaro, recognizing the frustration building on his face as his groupmates continued to interrupt. Offering him a subtle nod, she silently reassured him that she could handle this. "There, there... Calm down, Maeda-kun," she said, her tone soothing as she flashed a cheerful smile to Fuutaro's easily agitated friend. "Fuutaro-kun here has a plan to deal with that problem, so could you please give him a chance to explain everything?"

Maeda's face quickly flushed upon seeing the cheerful, pretty face of the girl he once had a crush on. True to form, the charm of the eldest quintuplet had its effect. "Uhh... Yeah. I'll hear you out, Uesugi. So, what's this plan you've got in mind?"

Fuutaro took a breath before outlining his plan. "Here's what we'll do. I'll need you and Takeda's help so Ichika and I can slip out without getting caught." He spoke calmly but seriously, leaning forward with his arms resting on his knees. His gaze shifted to Takeda, seated across from him. "Takeda, I'll need you and Maeda to create a distraction with one of the teachers, preferably Yamada-sensei. You're practically his favorite student, so you'll be perfect for the job. I'll handle the other one." He glanced briefly at the two teachers near the hotel's front door before turning back to Takeda. "Also, can you take my place during the curfew attendance count? Just tell sensei I'm not feeling well and have already gone to sleep."

Takeda crossed his arms, and once again, a smirk played on his lips as he found amusement in Fuutaro's scheme. "Okay, interesting..." He chuckled, seemingly grasping the underlying motive behind Fuutaro's plan. "So, you need us to help you sneak out, all for the sake of a nighttime stroll with Nakano-san in Kyoto? Heh, you're bolder than I thought, Uesugi-kun."

Caught off guard by Takeda's insight, Fuutaro blinked in surprise, a faint blush coloring his cheeks.

Ichika closed her eyes and smiled as she stepped in for her tutor who was at a loss for words "Oh, Takeda-kun, you always jump to the funniest conclusions. The truth is, Fuutaro-kun here is on a mission to find souvenirs for his family. Meanwhile, I'm worried our class rep might get lost in this foreign city at night and not be able to find his way back to the hotel." She glanced at Fuutaro with a playful smile, prompting a slight eye roll from him. "To prevent that, I've decided to tag along to make sure he doesn't accidentally end up at the Imperial Palace!"

Takeda observed the couple with a small smile for a moment before letting out a chuckle. "I see, I see..." Leaning forward, he mirrored Fuutaro's pose. "Alright, Uesugi-kun, you've got your wish. Maeda-kun and I will lend you a hand to help you sneak out. After all, friends help each other in times of need, right, Maeda-kun?"

But Maeda did not immediately respond. He wore a hesitant expression, glancing between his two friends. His eyes eventually settled on Ichika, who sat directly across from him, maintaining her bright and reassuring smile. Feeling the pressure closing in from all directions, he released a defeated and vexed sigh. "Alright, alright, I'll help you, Uesugi... But listen, I won't take responsibility for whatever shit happens when the teachers find out you're missing or catch you sneaking out. I already have a bad reputation among our teachers, and I don't want to add another trouble to my record," he stated with irritation. "If anything goes down, I'm in my bed, peacefully asleep, and I was never here, not part of this conversation or aware of your crazy plan. Got it?"

"Don't worry about it. Whatever happens after Ichika and I sneak out, it's on me. I assure that both of you won't be involved in any way," Fuutaro affirmed with a nod, finding some relief in the fact that his two friends were willing to support him in this plan.

"Thank you both so much!" Ichika said gratefully. "And especially you, Maeda-kun. I was worried you might refuse and leave this conversation. Your help is important for this plan to work, you know?"

Maeda, once again flustered, averted his gaze from Ichika. "Y-Yeah... Don't worry about it, Nakano-san. Like Takeda said, what are friends for in situation like this, right?"

Ichika chuckled, "Hehe... It's good to know that Fuutaro-kun finally has reliable friends to support him, aside from us." She glanced at him with a smile, pleased that her asocial tutor was forming connections.

"Yeah, yeah... Whatever you say, Ichika," Fuutaro replied blandly, holding the back of his neck and cracking it. "Now then, first things first, we need to..."


Fuutaro stood at the edge of a short corridor leading to the hotel's restroom, peering cautiously around the corner. Ahead, he saw the two teachers still patrolling near the front door, showing no signs of moving.

Turning his attention to the end of the corridor, Ichika, Takeda, and Maeda awaited, positioned exactly where Fuutaro had instructed them to be earlier. His guidance ensured their strategic placement for the plan, minimizing the risk of detection and maximizing its chances of success.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Fuutaro closed his eyes briefly and exhaled softly. "Alright…" Then, he whispered to Ichika and his companions, giving them a thumbs-up in silent encouragement, "Okay, wish me luck," and they nodded in response.

Stepping out from the corridor, the operation to sneak out of the hotel officially began.

As Fuutaro approached his teachers, he put on his usual deadpan expression. "Kitamori-sensei," he began in his usual monotone, "the coordinator teacher needs to see you at the hotel's café immediately." He paused, where his nerves threatened to betray him at any moment, but he pressed through, "He mentioned something about tomorrow's meal distribution at the station and who will be responsible."

"Again?" The teacher grumbled, shooting a frustrated look at her colleague. "I've already told him that Asahara-sensei and I would take care of it..." She sighed, then turned her attention back to Fuutaro. "Thanks for letting me know, Uesugi-kun. You should head back to your room before curfew starts." With that, she headed for the elevator, unaware of the non-existent meeting awaiting her on the upper floor.

"Please excuse me, Yamada-sensei," Fuutaro said, bowing slightly to the other teacher before walking away. A small smirk of satisfaction tugged at his lips, pleased that the first phase of their plan had gone off without a hitch.

Entering the corridor, Fuutaro nodded, signaling the success of his part and the beginning of the next phase of their plan—his friends' turn. "Alright, now it's your turn."

"I just saw Kitamori-sensei pass by and head to the elevator, so I assume that went well, huh?" Takeda said, grabbing Maeda by the shoulder and pulling him out from the corridor. "Now then, it's our turn! Be sure to act convincing, okay?"

"Remember, you owe us big time for this, Uesugi!" Maeda declared with a brash tone, shooting him a sharp glare. "You're going to help me write my trip report in return for this. No complaints, no excuses, and no bullshits, okay? My reputation's on the line with this charade of yours."

"Okay, okay, I get it... Keep your voice down," Fuutaro responded, letting out a small sigh as his two friends moved out into position.

As Takeda and Maeda set off for their tasks, Ichika joined Fuutaro behind the wall, discreetly observing their friends. "Fuutaro-kun, I'm really impressed that you managed to create this entire plan and think through every detail on your own," she complimented, praising his cleverness with an approving smirk. "I couldn't have come up with such a complex plan in just one day. It would've taken me much longer, maybe a few days, to make sure it was at least doable and didn't have too many flaws."

"Heh, it's easy to come up with something like this when there's a sense of urgency," Fuutaro replied, still smirking, his pride evident at being recognized for his intelligence. "But that's just for the planning itself. The execution is a different story and not guaranteed 100%, even if you've already considered possible scenarios and outcomes."

"You're really selling yourself short, you know?" Ichika said. "Remember last year when we were late for the midterm exam? You came up with that plan on the spot in just a minute, and it was a big success! Well, except for you, of course, because you didn't have the same face as us." She chuckled, recalling the incident when Fuutaro's poor disguise attempt got him caught by their teacher.

"Yeah, thanks. But that plan was all about you five, and I wasn't a significant part of it," Fuutaro said, still glancing at the teacher. "This time, we're all important to the plan, and one slip-up could ruin everything."

"Yeah, I understand. I really hope Takeda-kun and Maeda-kun can pull it off."

Takeda and Maeda came into view as they approached the teacher, with the latter appearing unsteady and weak, supported by the former who had his arm around him. Takeda, feigning concern, urgently sought assistance from the teacher for the fabricated emergency.

"Yamada-sensei, Maeda-kun suddenly collapsed after we left the souvenir shop," Takeda exclaimed in a panic tone. "He started feeling unwell after the afternoon trip. I told him to rest, but he didn't listen, and insisted on coming to the shop because there was something he wanted to see."

The teacher, evidently trusting Takeda's explanation, quickly took Maeda's other arm to support him. "Goodness... How did this happen? Let's get him back to his room. Takeda-kun, are you two sharing a room?"

"Yes, sensei. Our room is on the fifth floor."

With Takeda and the teacher assisting him, Maeda was escorted towards the elevator. As they passed by the corridor, Takeda discreetly glanced at Fuutaro and Ichika, offering a wink and a subtle smile, as if silently wishing them good luck for the next phase of their plan.

Fuutaro could not help but smile at the gesture. He felt a surge of gratitude towards these two friends for their willingness to aid him in this daring and risky endeavor, one that could potentially get them all into trouble. Despite Takeda's incessant teasing and Maeda's hot-headed nature in almost every situation, they still regarded him as a friend. Their insistence that friends should help each other in times of need struck deeply with him.

"Those two are willing to help me, even though I didn't really consider them my friends at first…"

"I guess they are truly what is called true friends…"

"I'm glad to have found real friends…"

With no one in sight near the hotel's front door, he scanned the lobby for any signs of movement. Inside and outside, there was not a soul to be seen—no fellow schoolmates who had occupied the space earlier, nor any receptionist staff. The coast was clear, signaling it was time to execute the final phase of their plan—to sneak out of the hotel.

Turning to Ichika, Fuutaro softly nodded. "Now then, it's our turn to finish the plan." He then gently took her wrist, ready to embark on their little journey. "Let's go, Ichika."

Ichika beamed a big smile and nodded eagerly. "Okay, let's go, Fuutaro-kun!"

The two swiftly emerged from the corridor, making a dash towards the hotel's front door and exiting without hesitation.

They sprinted onward, refraining from looking back, avoiding any thought of their teachers catching sight and pursuing them. Adrenaline surged through their body, unaware of how far they had gone or how much time had elapsed, until they felt safe from the threat of pursuit. The only thing they had in mind right now was putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the hotel.

After what felt like countless steps, they finally came to a halt as fatigue began to set in. Fuutaro doubled over, catching his breath while clutching his knees, while Ichika wiped away some sweats streaming down her face, also trying to recover her breath. Out of nowhere, Fuutaro burst into loud laughter, and Ichika followed suit with similar intensity.

"Ahahaha!"

"Ahahaha!"

"I think we're safe now, Ichika!" Fuutaro exclaimed with a mix of relief and exhilaration, looking at her with broad yet tired grin.

"Yeah! There's no way they can catch us this far!" Ichika said cheerfully, exchanging a similar grin with Fuutaro. "I don't know why, but this is really fun and thrilling, Fuutaro-kun!"

"Yeah, I feel the same way too," he nodded in agreement. "Now then, Gion district awaits us! Can you still keep going?"

Ichika responded with an eager nod; her energy undiminished. "Lead the way! I'm right beside you!"

This time, Fuutaro took Ichika's hand in his own, showing no inclination to let go. A contented smile spread across his face as the long-awaited moment he had imagined since the start of the school trip finally unfolded before his eyes. However, before they could fully revel in the moment, Fuutaro needed to find souvenirs for his family. Once that task was accomplished, they could finally savor some quality time together – just the two of them.

"Finally…"

"I get the chance to walk with you…"

Excitement surged through him, his smile growing unrestrained to mirror the joy welling up inside.

"Seeing you happy and smiling like this..."

"I can already tell it's going to be amazing…"

"Now, let us spend the rest of the night exploring Kyoto together…"

"Ichika…"

Ichika, she was aware that Fuutaro's hand holding hers, and her cheeks flushing crimson at the contact. His touch was comforting, like the embrace of a kotatsu in winter. She closed her eyes, a soft smile forming on her lips as the warmth from their connection enveloped her. Being held by him filled her with bliss as she looked forward to the enjoyable moments awaiting them.

"This warmth in my hand…"

"I want you to keep holding onto me…"

This was the moment she had eagerly awaited since the school trip was announced—walking through the streets of Kyoto, just the two of them, and enjoying each other's company. And now, it was finally becoming a reality.

"I'm really looking forward to the moments that await us…"

"It's definitely going to be wonderful…"

"Just the two of us…"

"Fuutaro-kun…"


A/N:

Chapter 23 is finally finished, here it is!

Alright, this is the moment you've all been waiting for—the continuation from the last chapter and the real start of their time together! From this point on, it's going to be full of their moments together, and I hope you enjoy the upcoming chapters.

As for the next chapter, it will be released in the third week of July (15th – 21st). Keep an eye out during that week.

For the guest review response:

-iMonika: I'm glad to hear that you're enjoying the story and that it's keeping you entertained. Thank you for the compliment, and I hope you'll continue following this story because more interesting things are coming!


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