Chapter 30

The morning sunlight seeped through the curtains of the Uesugi family's bedroom, casting a soft glow over the space. Their house, constrained by tight finances, had only one bedroom, thus forcing the family of three to share the same space. Though the room was of average size, the combined presence of Fuutaro, his dad, and his little sister made it feel oppressively small. Without the luxury of an air conditioner, a solitary pedestal fan whirred quietly in the corner, doing its best to combat the oppressive summer heat.

In the midst of the room, only one figure stirred—a young man nestled on his futon, lost in a deep, untroubled slumber.

Today was Sunday, a mere two days after the Asahiyama High School trip had ended for the third-year students. The break came as a welcome relief from the pace of school life, giving Fuutaro a much-needed opportunity to recover and unwind from the whirlwind four-day, three-night excursion to Kyoto.

He lay motionless, completely entrenched in sleep, with no sign of waking soon. His futon's blanket was twisted and askew, barely covering half of his body, while his right leg sprawled out beyond its edge. Every so often, he would shift slightly, inching further from the tangled blanket until it slipped off entirely, his soft snores filling the room—an unusual sound for him. Perhaps the oppressive summer heat was to blame for this rare display of vulnerability.

Eventually, the combination of relentless heat and intensifying sunlight, which had turned the curtains nearly translucent, finally roused Fuutaro from his sleep.

"*yawn* What time is it…?" he muttered groggily, stretching his arms and legs before sitting up on the futon.

Reaching for his phone beside the pillow, Fuutaro's still sleepy eyes squinted at the screen. The time read just past 9 AM—a surprisingly late hour for his usual wake-up time. "It's already this time, huh…?" he said quietly. Unlike his usual panicked or bewildered reactions to oversleeping, today, his face simply showed a weary resignation.

"*sigh* I'm still so sleepy…"

With sluggish movements, Fuutaro swung his legs over the edge of the futon and stood up, stretching his arms overhead to revive his stiff muscles. He gave his neck a gentle twist, trying to ease the tension that had settled there, before shuffling over to the window. Pulling back the curtains fully, he let the bright sunlight flood the room, illuminating the once dim space.

Finally, with heavy steps, he headed for the door, ready to announce his presence to his dad and younger sister—both of whom were undoubtedly already awake.

Fuutaro closed the bedroom door behind him and stepped into the living room, where Raiha and their dad, Isanari, sat at the main table. Raiha's attention was glued to a TV show, while Isanari leisurely flipped through the morning newspaper. The inviting aroma of freshly brewed tea filled the room, drawing Fuutaro's gaze to the table. There sat an open box of Yatsuhashi he had brought back from the school trip, alongside a steaming glass of Hojicha.

As he joined them at the table, his arrival was immediately noticed.

"Good morning, onii-chan!" Raiha chirped cheerfully, sparing him a quick glance before returning her focus to the TV.

"Yeah… morning," he mumbled, stifling a yawn as he rubbed his eyes and settled down at the table, still shaking off the remnants of sleep.

"Hey, Fuutaro," Isanari chimed in between sips of tea. "This Hojicha you brought back is fantastic! It's miles ahead of the stuff we get around here in Tokai." He took another slow sip, savoring it. "You can really taste that rich, toasted flavor. My colleague wasn't kidding when he said Kyoto's Hojicha was something special."

"I'm glad it's good," Fuutaro replied, a brief smile crossing his face before he turned his attention to the TV. "It was a pain to track it down. I ended up going all over Kyoto just to find those tea leaves."

"These Yatsuhashis are so good too!" Raiha exclaimed, plucking a chocolate-flavored one from the box. The assortment still looked untouched, with most of the cinnamon and chocolate varieties left. She had barely eaten a few. "The cinnamon one's sweet, and they're so soft! I love them!" She savored another bite, her face lighting up with joy. "Do you want some too, onii-chan?"

"Save me some for later, Raiha," Fuutaro replied with a gentle shake of his head, pleased to see his little sister so happy. "I could use some breakfast right now. I'll save the Yatsuhashis as a snack for later."

"Okay!" Raiha nodded. "By the way, onii-chan, your food is on the kitchen counter. Dad and I made omurice and miso soup for breakfast."

"Thanks, Raiha," Fuutaro replied, standing up to retrieve his meal. He returned shortly after with the simple yet comforting breakfast and settled in for a much-needed late morning meal.

After finishing his breakfast, Fuutaro lingered in front of the TV for a while, letting the buzz of the morning news to keep him company. Eventually, he decided it was time for a shower. The cold stream of water washed away last remnants of his drowsiness and offered a welcome relief from the growing summer heat. He stood still under the flow, savoring the refreshing coolness as it eased the tension in his tired muscles.

Fifteen minutes later, he emerged from the bathroom, feeling revitalized. He slipped into his usual casual attire—a simple T-shirt and shorts. A quick glance at the clock showed it was just a few minutes before 11 AM, and he decided to settle into his usual routine.

"Raiha, old man, I'm heading back to the bedroom to study," Fuutaro called over his shoulder as he walked toward the bedroom. He paused briefly at the door. "If you need anything, just give me a shout."

Isanari looked up from the TV, his brow creasing slightly. "Fuutaro, instead of locking yourself away with your books all day, why not do something fun for a change?" There was a hint of disapproval in his voice. "The weather's all clear and sunny today. Go out with your friends. Hit up the arcade, the beach, or whatever kids your age do. Or invite the quintuplets—aren't they your only real friends anyway?"

Fuutaro held his dad's gaze for a moment before shaking his head. "Not interested," he replied flatly, his tone matching his indifferent expression. "My body's still sore, and I'm not in the mood to go anywhere. Besides, my mind feels clear right now. So studying makes the most sense."

Isanari smirked knowingly. "Heh, it's because of what happened yesterday, right?" There was an amused glint in his eyes. "Well, you brought that on yourself. It's been a while since I've heard you acted so rebellious and wild. Honestly, I didn't hate seeing that side of you again."

Fuutaro shrugged nonchalantly. "It can't be helped. I had my own reasons to do that and it was necessary," he replied. "I don't regret it a bit."

"Alright, alright, do as you please," Isanari said nonchalantly in playful way, flipping the channel on the remote. "Oh, by the way, Raiha and I are going to the department stores in an hour. If you end up going out for whatever reason, the spare key's in the usual spot. And make sure you lock the door when you leave, okay?"

"Yeah, got it," Fuutaro said as he opened the door and retreated into the bedroom.

Entering the bedroom, Fuutaro wasted no time in tidying up his futon, rolling it neatly and placing it in the corner. He then retrieved a small, low table from beside the wardrobe—the same one he always used for his late-night study sessions. Placing it in the middle of the room, he unpacked his school bag, pulling out his personal workbook, school notebook, and a handful of pens and pencils. Each item was arranged with precision, forming a small, organized workspace.

With his preparations complete, he settled onto the floor, legs crossed in front of the table, ready to delve into his studies.

For today's session, Fuutaro decided to work on his school trip report. Although the deadline for submission was not until the following Friday, he intended to work on it gradually to avoid the stress of a last-minute rush.

Before starting, he gave himself a brief moment of reprieve—stretching his arms overhead, his shoulders loosening as he shook off the lingering fatigue. A few quick claps followed, more out of habit than anything else. "Alright," he muttered to himself, his voice low but firm. "Let's start with the introduction."

With that, he reached for his history textbook, flipping it open to a certain page. His notebook from the school trip followed, its pages filled with hastily scribbled observations. Using these as his reference points, Fuutaro began sketching out the introduction for the report, his pencil hovering just above the page.

"Alright... let's do this," he murmured again, more to solidify his focus than anything else. His eyes shifted between the textbook and notebook, words slowly coming together in his mind as he began to draft the introduction. "Kyoto… Founded in 794 AD, it became Japan's capital and a crucial hub for shaping the nation's history, art, and architecture…"

His pencil moved swiftly as he drafted a concise historical overview, drawing heavily from the text while occasionally pausing to find a way to enrich the narrative. He even flipped through older history textbooks from his first and second years, hoping to unearth additional facts to broaden his perspective. Bit by bit, the introduction took shape—a reflection of both his diligence and his knack for gathering details others might overlook.

After what felt like a considerable stretch of time, he finally penned the concluding line of his introduction.

"Therefore, the purpose of this school trip is to examine and highlight the importance of Kyoto as a historical city in Japan, with a focus on its well-preserved cultural and architectural heritage," he murmured aloud, almost as if affirming his own words. With a small exhale, he sat back and reread the entire introduction from the top, scanning for any mistakes or awkward phrasing. "Alright... This should be good enough for now," he nodded to himself, though he knew he might have to revisit it later to make further adjustments.

Next up, it was the time to write the experience from the first day of the trip, which had begun at Fushimi Inari Shrine.

"The Fushimi Shrine is one of the most famous shrines in Kyoto and renowned for its Senbon Torii, which..."

This time, his pencil moved with steady ease as he began writing about the landmark, combining his detailed notes with snippets from memory. Every now and then, he paused to erase a misspelling or rework a clumsy sentence, but otherwise, the words flowed effortlessly. He poured his knowledge of the shrine's significance, history, and cultural relevance onto the paper, ensuring the important details were captured. Each point felt critical to his report, yet he still sought ways to enrich them further with fresh insights that popped into his mind during the process.

"And so, at the summit of Mount Inari, visitors will encounter the final shrine, Ichi-no-mine," he murmured softly, jotting down the details. "Located at 233 meters high..."

As Fuutaro reached this particular section of his report, a vivid memory surfaced, causing his hand to halt.

It was the moment when he and Miku sat together near that shrine, alone, with no one else around.

"Yeah... Miku confessed to me at that spot..."

"Just remembering it still surprises me..."

The encounter had started as normal as it could get. They were talking about the historical background of the Fushimi shrine and then suddenly, Miku handed him a small paper bag—a piece of bread, and a thermos of hot chocolate that she had made herself before their trip. To his surprise, both tasted good, far better than anything she had ever made for him before. When he praised her cooking, the happiness on her face had been unmistakable, even shedding tears.

And then, out of nowhere, Miku had confessed her feelings to him—catching him off guard, but not entirely. He had suspected her feelings for some time, though hearing her say it out loud had still left him momentarily speechless.

Recalling this moment brought a faint smile to Fuutaro's lips as he closed his eyes.

"Still, it's good to know about it..."

"That she's had feelings for me all this time..."

After lingering a moment longer in the memory, Fuutaro shook his head, snapping himself back to the present. There was still work to be done, and he could not afford to lose focus. He lowered his gaze back to the report, continuing to write about Ichi-no-mine Shrine as the memory of that day faded to the background. He was nearing the completion of his first day's report for the school trip at Fushimi Shrine.

After roughly fifteen minutes, Fuutaro finally finished drafting the conclusion to his experience at Fushimi Shrine. The rough draft of the first day's trip report was now complete.

"Hmm... this looks alright," he muttered, tapping his chin with the end of his pencil. "But I'll need to revise it later, especially the section on its cultural significance."

With a deep exhale, he let the pencil fall onto the table, leaning back on his hands to stretch out and relax for a brief moment. Just then, the faint sound of the front door closing reached his ears—his dad and Raiha had likely left for their trip to the department store.

Curious, Fuutaro rose to his feet and walked over to the window. Sure enough, he spotted his family members walking down the street, chatting casually as they made their way toward the department store. Watching them disappear from view, he felt a sudden craving for snacks—perhaps the mental strain of writing the report had finally caught up to him?

With that in mind, he exited his bedroom and headed toward the main table in the living room, where his gaze landed on the box of Yatsuhashi. Grabbing the box, he made his way back to his room. As he passed by the wall clock, he noticed it was already past noon—over an hour had passed since he had started working on the report.

Once back in his room, Fuutaro stretched out comfortably on the floor, setting the box of Yatsuhashi within reach. Opening it, he indulged in a few of the treats, savoring the flavors of cinnamon and chocolate. The sweet, delicate taste of the cinnamon treat melted in his mouth, followed by the richer, decadent flavor of the chocolate one. Raiha had certainly been right—both were as delicious as she had said.

As he continued munching on the snacks, memories of the events that followed their visit to Fushimi Shrine began to resurface. One particular moment came to the forefront—the night he had spent with Itsuki at the hotel café.

"Yeah, that night in the café..."

"When that curry-eating monster asked me to accompany her, even though the whole thing was Ichika's doing..."

The situation had been odd from the start. Initially, Fuutaro had claimed that Itsuki had invited him to meet her at the café, while she stubbornly insisted it had been the other way around. Their conflicting statements had only added to the confusion. It was not until much later that he realized it had all been part of Ichika's elaborate prank.

Still, when he tried to make his exit, Itsuki had forcefully requested him to stay, even offering to treat him to desserts if he did. It had been an unexpected gesture, and against his better judgment, he had agreed. What followed was a surprisingly personal conversation—one that lingered with him even now.

"If I remember it right, we talked about my photography hobby and her dream of becoming a teacher…"

"It was kind of shocking, honestly. She can't even score a perfect mark on a single subject, and yet she's aiming to teach..."

A small laugh escaped him, accompanied by a smirk. The contrast between her aspirations and her current struggles had struck him as ironic at the time, but there had been something intriguing about her sincerity.

Despite his mental and physical exhaustion that night, Fuutaro could not deny he had enjoyed the time spent with Itsuki. The conversation had flowed naturally, without the tension or awkwardness that usually came with such personal topics. Perhaps it was the mutual understanding they had reached, sharing stories and dreams with an ease that had caught him off guard.

Feeling more refreshed now, both from the Yatsuhashi and the pleasant memories, Fuutaro sat up straight, shaking off the lingering lethargy. It was time to return to his report-writing, his focus now sharpened after the brief break.

As he flipped through the pages of his notebook, his eyes landed on the section outlining the key points for the second day of the trip.

"Alright, time to move on to day two—Kiyomizu-dera."

He decided to maintain the same structural approach he had used for the first day's report. It had proven effective in capturing all the essential details, and sticking with it throughout the report would give his work consistency—a trait he valued highly.

Kiyomizu-dera, with its unique attractions and the bustling shops along Kiyomizu-zaka, felt like a less daunting task to write about. In fact, this part of the report carried a personal significance for him, as the temple stirred up a sense of nostalgic affection. That connection made the writing process feel more enjoyable, as though he were reliving the experience rather than merely documenting it.

A fresh surge of motivation sparked within him. The earlier physical fatigue had faded, replaced by a sharp focus and the determination to make this report the best in the entire school.

"Kiyomizu-dera, located in the eastern part of Kyoto, was built on the grounds of the Otowa Waterfall," he murmured, his pencil gliding effortlessly across the page. His gaze darted between his notebook and workbook, his writing smooth and steady as he captured the essence of the temple's defining features. "The main temple is known for its large wooden stage, supported by tall pillars, that extends out over the hillside, offering breathtaking views..."

Having completed the general description of Kiyomizu-dera and its iconic main hall, Fuutaro shifted to outlining the various attractions scattered throughout the temple complex.

"The complex offers much more than the main temple alone. Among its most famous features are the Otowa Waterfall, Jishu Shrine, the Love Stones, and the Koyasu Pagoda..."

As Fuutaro jotted down notes about Kiyomizu-dera's various attractions, a flood of memories from his visit to the temple complex washed over him, causing him to pause.

Several moments from that day stood out vividly, particularly those he shared with Yotsuba.

"Come to think of it… I visited Otowa Waterfall and Love Stones with Yotsuba…"

"Heh, that was... quite an enjoyable and thrilling experience."

At the Otowa Waterfall, they had each chosen a stream to drink from, each associated with different wishes. He had gone for the stream linked to love and romance, while Yotsuba had picked the one for academic success. Afterwards, they had ventured to the Love Stones—two rocks with the legend that those who could walk between them with their eyes closed would find true love.

"At that time, Yotsuba failed the challenge miserably… because she walked in the opposite direction and almost tumbled down the stairs..."

"Good thing I was quick enough to hold her back from falling…"

"And somehow, when it was my turn, I completed it without much trouble…

"Even now, I still can't believe I pulled it off..."

The thought of that day made him laugh softly to himself. The attractions had been a mixture of lighthearted fun and moments of excitement, particularly the Love Stones, which held their own sense of tension and amusement. The legend promised the discovery of true love, but only if one could make it between the stones without assistance—a feat he had somehow achieved.

Yet the day was not without its share of troubles. He and Yotsuba had had to help a fellow schoolmate who fainted during their visit. The task had been both exhausting and somewhat difficult, but Fuutaro had been grateful for Yotsuba's unwavering optimism. Her enthusiasm during the walk had been infectious, turning what could have been an ordinary day into something far more enjoyable. Had she not been there with him, he doubted he would have participated in the attractions at all, let alone enjoyed them as much as he had.

After a few moments, Fuutaro finished writing about Kiyomizu-dera, but a lingering thought nagged at him—he had forgotten to include one more significant location.

"Kiyomizu-zaka," he muttered, quickly picking up his pencil again. "I almost missed it. If I don't mention the shopping district, I'll lose points for sure."

He began writing once more, ensuring that he included every important detail. "Kiyomizu-zaka is a historic street in the Higashiyama Ward of Kyoto. It serves as a gateway to Kiyomizu-dera and is well-known for its bustling shopping district, home to souvenir shops, teahouses, restaurants, and a variety of other establishments."

As he described the lively street, the mention of the "shopping district" stirred a memory within him, one that made him pause and exhale softly. It reminded him of the unexpected challenge he faced while hunting for souvenirs for his family. Despite visiting numerous shops, he struggled to find the Konpeito candy and Hojicha tea leaves that Raiha and his dad wanted. However, he eventually stumbled upon Yatsuhashi at a café-souvenir shop along Kiyomizu-zaka, where he had taken shelter from a sudden downpour.

And Nino had been with him at the time.

"That's right… I was with Nino…"

"We were just talking, and then suddenly, a heavy rain came out of nowhere…"

"We had to find a place to take cover from the rain…"

He remembered how they, along with many others, crowded into the shop to escape the rain. Instead of waiting idly, they had decided to sit down in the café area and pass the time with a conversation. As they talked, Fuutaro found himself drawn into an unexpected and memorable topic.

Nino had opened up about her dream of one day owning a café.

It was not just the content of her dream that struck Fuutaro, but the way she spoke about it. She had seemed almost timid, hesitant even—completely unlike her usual fiery and direct demeanor. It was rare for Nino to share something so personal, especially with such vulnerability. Normally, she guarded her inner thoughts with the same intensity she wielded in her arguments. But during that moment in the café, there was a hesitation in her, a side of her that he rarely saw.

After their long conversation, a text message from the other quintuplets interrupted them, informing them that the day's trip had been canceled by the teachers due to the rain. Just as they prepared to leave, Nino surprised him by purchasing a waist bag for him from the souvenir section—an unexpected gesture that left him momentarily speechless. Despite the relentless downpour outside and no sign of the rain easing up, the two of them braved the storm and made their way back to the bus.

"Now that I think of it, it was such an outrageous thing to do… walking through that rain like that…"

"But I'm glad that neither Nino nor I caught a cold afterward…"

"Though I do feel a bit guilty for dragging her through the storm…"

"Especially after we had such a nice conversation and her thoughtful action of buying me the bag…"

Nonetheless, Fuutaro felt fortunate to have had Nino by his side. Her unexpected openness about her dream of owning a café had revealed a side of her he rarely saw. And then, there was her thoughtful gesture—the waist bag, which had caught him completely off guard. It was a practical gift, something he knew he had find useful on trips or outings. Reflecting on the experience brought a smile to his lips, and he made a mental note to find a way to repay her kindness in the future.

Like the first two reports, completing the second-day trip draft took a little over an hour.

Fuutaro leaned back slightly, flipping through the pages to quickly review his work. "Alright, this looks pretty solid," he muttered to himself, satisfied with the progress. "Now, onto the third day—Toei Studio Park."

With a more relaxed expression and a renewed sense of energy, Fuutaro began structuring the report for the third day, following the same organized approach as before. This time, his pencil seemed to glide across the paper effortlessly, sentences forming with ease.

Somehow, this section felt less taxing and more enjoyable. Perhaps because Toei Studio Park, as a theme park, with its fun attractions and vibrant Edo period setting, made for a lighter, more enjoyable topic compared to the historical depth of Fushimi Shrine and Kiyomizu-dera.

He could not deny it—Toei Studio Park was his favorite stop on the trip compared to the other two. The lively atmosphere, coupled with the park's unique attractions, had left a lasting impression on him. And not to forget, it was during the visit to the park that he finally recognized Takeda and Maeda as genuine friends.

"Even though Takeda might be a bit cheeky and annoying at times, he's actually a nice and considerate person…"

"And Maeda... despite his tough look, he's surprisingly fun to be around—although he does have a bit of a temper.…"

"I'm not sure why it took me so long to consider them as friends... They've always treated me like one…"

"But in the end, I'm glad to finally count them as my friends…"

As he neared the section of the report about the live filming event towards the end of their park visit, Fuutaro's thoughts wandered to Ichika.

It was during that moment when he finally had the chance to spend time with her after two days of missed chance. Watching the live filming had been a fascinating experience on its own, but having her by his side made it infinitely better.

"Even though it was just a short time…"

"I'm really glad we got to share that moment in the park…"

"Especially afterward, seeing you in kimono…"

"You looked so beautiful…"

"But nothing compares to what we did that night…"

Just recalling those moments with Ichika brought a genuine smile to his face. He closed his eyes briefly, savoring the memories, before turning his attention back to the report.

It took Fuutaro about an hour and a half to finish the report for the third day of the trip. The longer time was not due to difficulty, but rather to how much he enjoyed the process. He found himself adding numerous additional points and details, perhaps more than necessary. However, he did not mind; the excitement of the third day's trip had fueled his enthusiasm for documenting every aspect. He recognized that some of these details would need refining and trimming later to prevent the report from becoming overwhelming.

"This should be good for now," he murmured, brushing his cheek with a sense of pride in his work. "Next up is the overall trip conclusion, which shouldn't take too long since—"

His muttering was abruptly interrupted by the ringtone notification on his phone, causing him to startle slightly after the long period of silence in the bedroom since he began working. From the sound of the tone, it was the one for an incoming call. Reaching for his phone, which lay on the floor beside him, he glanced at the caller ID.

It was Itsuki.

Curious as to why the fifth quintuplet had called him out of the blue, Fuutaro promptly answered the call. "What's wrong, Itsuki? Do you need something from me?"

"Yeah... There is something I need to talk to you about," Itsuki responded, her voice carrying an unusual tone. Fuutaro immediately picked up on the hesitancy, a slight nervous edge that was not typical of her. "But before that... how are you doing, Uesugi-kun?"

"I'm alright, though a bit tired from yesterday."

"I see... I hope you do not end up getting ill because of it," she continued, her nervousness becoming more apparent. "Because I... no, we need your help..."

Fuutaro's brow furrowed even deeper. There was definitely something off about her tone. "Oi, what's going on, Itsuki? I don't know if it's you or the reception, your voice is somehow weird."

Before he could receive a direct response, he heard muffled shouting in the background. "I get it, Nino! Just let me handle this!" Itsuki snapped, though her frustration was more directed elsewhere. When she returned to the call, her voice was steadier, though a sigh of exasperation slipped through. "*sigh* Anyway, Uesugi-kun, we need you to come over to our place now... We need help with writing our school trip reports. Would you be willing to assist us?"

"Huh?" Fuutaro's surprise was evident, his eyebrows shooting up as he processed her request. He had been so engrossed in his own report, energized by his progress, that this request felt like a sudden interruption. Just as quickly as the enthusiasm had carried him through his writing, the exhaustion he had been ignoring returned back. He could feel the weight of it pulling at him, dampening his mood.

"No... No, I can't, Itsuki," he finally responded, shaking his head as he tried to gather his thoughts. "I'm in the middle of working on my own report. Plus, I told you earlier—I'm still worn out from yesterday, so I'm really not in the mood to help right now. Let's start tomorrow during our tutoring session, okay?"

However, instead of Itsuki responding, Nino's voice burst through the phone with her characteristic sharpness. "Hey, Fuu-kun, stop slacking off!" Her tone was so piercing it made him wince, abruptly shattering the silence of his room. "Just come over and help us, okay? We're not asking for a tutoring session. We just need you here while we work."

"H-Huh?"

Before he could respond, another quintuplet's voice joined in—this time, Yotsuba's. "Please, Uesugi-san. We're really motivated to work on the trip report right now, but... we don't know where to start," she said, her tone filled with urgency and innocence. "We really need your guidance."

"Oi, Oi, time out! Didn't I say—"

But he was cut off again, this time by Miku's calm and steady voice. "We could really use your help, Fuutaro. Since the school trip focused on history, I'm eager to get started, especially with your insight. It would mean a lot to us if you could join us."

"Oi, listen to me! Let's—"

Nino's voice returned, now even more insistent. "Just think about it, will you? We want the best score for this report. If you're really tired, we'll provide necessary relaxation and treats to make sure you're comfortable. Just say yes, got it?"

By this point, Fuutaro was completely overwhelmed. His left eye twitched as his brain tried to catch up with the barrage of requests. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.

Before he could even attempt to form a coherent reply, Itsuki's voice returned, softer this time. "I am really sorry, Uesugi-kun," she said, her tone laden with guilt. "They pressured me into calling you since I lost the draw. But... we would really appreciate it if you could help us. It would mean a lot to all of us. See you soon, Uesugi-kun." And with that, the call ended.

Fuutaro stared blankly at his bedroom wall, dumbstruck, before letting it slip from his hand. It landed on the floor with a dull thud as he collapsed backward, his arm draping over his eyes in disbelief. His mouth remained open as he let out a heavy, exhausted sigh. The relentless onslaught of the quintuplets' requests had finally hit him full force.

"Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath, still lying there, too stunned to move.

The sun beat down relentlessly, its searing rays penetrating through Fuutaro's skin as he stood before the towering high-end condominium where the quintuplets lived in their luxurious penthouse. Squinting against the harsh light, he raised a hand to shield his eyes, feeling the stifling heat press against him. The walk to their place had been unbearable, forcing him to stop at a vending machine just to buy a cold cola, desperately seeking relief from the sweltering day.

Fuutaro let out a long, resigned sigh. "What a pain…" he muttered under his breath.

Taking a step forward, he braced himself mentally for what was ahead. "Today was supposed to be my day off… guess that's out the window now."

After much deliberation, he had finally relented to the quintuplets' pleading request for help with their school trip report. He reasoned it would not be the worst thing—maybe it would even spark a few ideas and inspirations to improve his own report. Besides, his dad's words echoed in his mind. He should be doing more with his free time than just studying or working on assignments, especially when it came to these five girls.

Entering the cool, air-conditioned lobby of the condominium, Fuutaro lingered around for a while to cool off his body before heading straight for the elevator. As he pressed the button for the penthouse floor, the elevator began its ascent, and he could not help but reflect on the events of yesterday that had left him exhausted, even until now.

A school detention.

A/N:

Chapter 30 is finished, and here it is!

This chapter was one of the most tedious and difficult ones for me to write, mostly because of the trip report creation. As someone who's been a student, and with many of you readers, especially the one currently in school or university, you know how tiring and hard it is to create a decent report. In this chapter, I had to blend that process with Fuutaro reflecting on his moments with each of the quintuplets, as well as his newfound friendship with Takeda and Maeda. Since this is a story and not an actual school report, I didn't want to dedicate an entire chapter just to Fuutaro working on his report from start to finish.

Seeing that we never really see Fuutaro's study methods in the main series beyond being described as a study maniac, I hope I've portrayed him well here. Fun fact: this chapter was one of the last ideas I added to the overall story concept!

I also hope you enjoy this chapter, which serves as a more laid-back and normal moment after the intensity of the previous one. The next chapter will be unique: a flashback, focusing on Fuutaro attending the school detention, and the explanation on how he ended up in it in the first place.

Good news for you readers: Starting with this chapter, updates will come even faster, with a new chapter release every week. The next chapter will be out next week (October 14th – 20th). I've been grinding very hard this year, especially during the pauses between releases, and most of the upcoming chapters are around 90% ready, only needing some checks or minor revisions.

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

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