Ichika guessed what Nino's next move would be so she quickly pinched her side waist.
"Ouch!"
"Bad Nino"
"I didn't do anything" Ichika just gave her sister a judging stare "but c'mon inviting a girl to a museum, how lame is that for a date! at least let me laugh a little."
"Different people different tastes, Nino" Ichika said, entering her big sister mode "Kiyomaro-kun made an effort to invite us, is rude to laugh at his feelings."
Kiyomaro with the face completely red let out a fake cough "is not a date, if anything is more like an excursion, since there is a festival on Sunday I was thinking of doing a quick round on saturday and you girls can have the rest of the weekend free."
Ichika couldn't help it to smile fondly at Kiyomaro's rapid explanation 'so he also can put on a face like that' the oldest sister in the room was looking at Kiyomaro's ashamed expression which led to fighting her inner desire to tease him.
Ichika didn't realize herself but her eyes had a dangerous glint 'you're really making hard on this big sister' she slowly get up from her lay down position to get a better look, she just let out sigh "sorry Kiyomaro-kun but I have a compromise that day, I'll have to pass."
Ichika would be lying if she were to say she didn't feel her heart strings being pulled when she saw the brief disappointment in his eyes when she said she wasn't going.
Ichika clapped her hands in front of her face and closed one eye, giving a really cute look "Really Sorry Kiyomaro-kun, I'll make it up to you, another day we can go out if you want."
"Don't worry this is also something I brought out of nowhere."
'Now I'm really feeling bad about missing this excursion' it wasn't like Ichika was interested in the museum in the slightest 'big sis is way more interested in how Kiyomaro-kun would act in a date' call it curiosity or precaution but Ichika has been watching how her sister's started to grow closer to their tutor.
She didn't think anyone of them was actually in love with him but she guessed there was some interest from some of them 'as a big sister I must reassure my precious sister's are in good hands' or at least that what was telling herself trying not to let the thoughts of how funny it would be to see the usually calm teacher act all shy 'but I wonder how Kiyomaro-kun will act in date'.
In her head Ichika started to imagine some sceneries 'mmm would he act all shy and embarrassed trying not to fumble his words or he the type to act cool to impress the girl' putting a finger on her chin the short haired girl was having fun imaging Kiyomaro acting so out of character.
In the mist of those happy thoughts one dark thought passed through her head 'or maybe he is the type that let his title of genius get over his head and treat the girl bad for not being so smart' Ichika just shaked her head 'that's is certainly not Kiyomaro-kun, he seems too down to earth to act like that, and he is always happy when Yotsuba talk's to him during lunch. There was also that house date he had with Itsuki, the way she talked about that afternoon he acted just like here'.
Ichika and Nino going against Itsuki will keep calling the afternoon she had spent with kiyomaro a house date to which the younger quint kept responding that it was just a house visit between friends.
"I'm not going" Ichika's thoughts were interrupted by Nino's straight and cold response.
"..."
"What" somehow Nino took kiyomaro silence in an offensive way.
"What did you want me to say that I didn't expect that answer?"
"What? you think I'm too dumb for that exhibition."
"No, it is not about being smart or dumb you just never join my classes. So sorry for not expecting you to come to this thing."
"You.."
"I'll go" feeling that Nino and kiyomaro were going to start another quarrel Miku intervened.
Which fairly surprised Ichika, she had rarely seen the quiet and introverted Miku take the initiative in such a firm manner.
The teacher smiled at the quiet girl "that's great, Miku."
"Me too!" The four sisters exclaimed in high spirits.
"Yotsuba" again Ichika saw how kiyomaro's eyes got brighter knowing that his invitation wasn't in vain.
"I'll…" Itsuki also wanted to say something but cut herself mid-word "I'm sorry Takamine-kun but I made a promise to buy this girl clothes on Saturday."
To which Lya puffs her chest. Being happy that her bookkeeper took her as a priority.
"Ah, that's fine."
'is a little sad, I can see that itsuki wanted to go but had promised Lya to train in using the book' before kiyomaro arrived at the department Itsuki had asked them to give her a little more time that she was going to train in using the book to show them the magic.
"Ahem, so Miku and Yotsuba, can we meet at the train station near the museum or we meet here and go together?"
Finding out which sister was going and which one wasn't, Kiyomaro started to organize the trip.
Ichika upon seeing Kiyomaro's eyes once more just stretched and gave a relaxed smile 'well if he is so happy about them going I don't think he is going to treat them bad' she finally got up from the couch and started to walk toward her room. while going up the stairs she turned to see the living room. She saw Kiyomaro, Miku and Yotsuba chatting and exchanging numbers, probably to find each other easily if one got separated.
"And to think the genius student was someone so expressive" Ichika remembered the first day when they formally met Takamine Kiyomaro "we thought it was just a guy hitting on Itsuki so we gathered information, everyone kept saying how much of a genius he is. the top not only in academics but physical exams too. First I thought it was a smart guy trying his luck on a new girl but now I think I get it he is just a really dependable guy."
The saturday had come way faster than Kiyomaro had expected. The week had gone without any issue, going to school, tutoring the sister's in the afternoon and investigating what he could during the night.
"The most unusual thing is that Ichika seemed to get close to me without any reason."
In the day's after proposing the trip to the museum the oldest quint has been closing the distance with the brown haired tutor constantly, when finding him in school she would hug him from behind, put her hand on his eyes and ask with a sweet voice how's there. Also when finishing the tutoring classes she would grab his arm and accompany him to the elevator.
"There also was this time that we met on the way to the department and she insisted on grabbing my hand and she didn't let go until reaching the door."
He was completely lost on the change the oldest quint suddenly had "is not that I hate it but it is weird" no teenage boy would hate a cute girl clinging on him and Kiyomaro was not the exception.
"I just hope with this change she starts participating in the classes."
That was Kiyomaro's last thought before someone blocked his view of the sky. He had arrived at the subway station earlier than the accorded hour so he just sat in a noticeable enough place for Miku and Yotsuba to see him. with the free time he let his mind wander for a while.
He rubbed his eyes a little and finally saw the people in front of him were Miku and Yotsuba wearing casual clothes.
Kiyomaro wasn't versed in girl fashion by any means but he could describe Miku clothes as cozy looking with a long skirt and brown sweater while Yotsuba was wearing something more sports looking a hoodie and light green pants.
"Oh! Takamine-san!"
"Were you sleeping Kiyomaro?"
"No, I was just a little lost in thought. Hello you two."
He got up from his seat and after the light greetings they started walking towards the museum.
"You girls didn't have any problem arriving here?"
"We used our phones so it was fine" responded Miku showing the route from the apartment to the subway station.
"If Itsuki were with us we may had to call a taxi though!" Yotsuba commented how the presence of Itsuki could have changed their trip.
"Itsuki always had a terrible sense of direction" and thankfully Miku explained the reason why "when we used to go out when we were little mom always had to take her hand or she would get lost."
"That bad?" Kiyomaro was actually concerned.
"Haha she's getting better she can go to school and back on her own" Yotsuba tried to throw Itsuki a bone.
"That's something a kid can also do" is something that Miku quickly took away.
"Haha but at least she has her sister's looking out for her" Kiyomaro also lent some help to the missing sister.
"Of course!" Yotsuba took it as a praise.
While Miku just nodded her head.
In no time they finally were at the doors of the museum. The guard, seeing them, straightened his posture and looked toward the teens.
"The museum is not open for the public, right now."
"We have an invitation" Kiyomaro proceeds to take out his phone and show the QR code his father had sent him.
The guard in silence scanned it, quickly talked with his supervisor and nodded his head "everything seems to be fine, I'll open the door please wait a moment."
The guard opening the door let the trio pass. The museum was almost empty except for the occasional staff member and other people with tickets but it was quiet enough for every step to produce a small echo
"Wuah" Yotsuba was surprised by the mood. She didn't know what to call it serenity or maturity.
"Kiyomaro, how did you get the tickets?" Miku initially thought Kiyomaro got the tickets in an internet quiz or by pure luck in a lottery but seeing how exclusive this seemed to be, those thoughts were clearly wrong "this exhibition appears important."
"I guess I didn't tell you guys" the tutor had a hand on his hip "my dad is an archeology teacher in England. He helped the team that did the discovery a little and as a thank you they gave him some tickets."
"Ohh" Yotsuba had stars in her eyes. Happy to finally knew more about Kiyomaro "so he's smart like you"
"Yeah I guess I did get it from him."
"In England?" So he's not living with you?" Miku also tried to dig a little more into Kiyomaro life but her shyness practically made step back "ah, sorry if I asked something rude"
"No it's fine don't worry he does live with us mom hasn't divorced him. but due to his job he stays most of the time in England"
"Oh, but isn't that hard?" The quints parent Nakano Mauro could also be considered an absent parent while he does give his daughters everything they could need and more and he did care greatly for his daughters. His presence in their lives wasn't very big in their day to day.
'Mom also used to work a lot everyday, before she fell ill' Miku remembered how sometimes their Mom would come late at night completely spent due to the hard day on the job.
So the sister's knew what it is to have an absent parent not out of negligence but out of love. After all, the mother of the sisters truly wanted the best for her daughters.
"I guess I can't say I don't miss him sometimes but I know he's always looking out for me" even during his dark times in middle school when he was an outcast due to his intelligence. His father was thinking about him after all it was him the one sent Gash.
"Takamine-san" Yotsuba grabbed Kiyomaro arm taking him off balance "let's have fun today!"
"You're surprisingly strong" surprised with how easily Yotsuba had pulled him in. To which Yotsuba made a gesture flexing her arm, his curiosity got the better of him and touched her left arm "how? How can you be so strong and still have an arm so soft."
"hahahah that tickle Takamine-san"
"Muuu are we going to see the museum or you just come here to touch Yotsuba" he turned to see Miku pouting.
Finally realizing what he was doing, stop touching Yotsuba's arm and focused "haha let's go!"
"Ohh!"
To Miku's embarrassment some of the few visitors apart from them were giving them weird looks due to how loud the pair was 'is Kiyomaro the type to get hype in a museum!?'
The hours had pleasantly gone by. Since they didn't have any tour guide, the trio just went in the direction they felt like. They stopped at almost every piece in the museum sometimes because it intrigued them or because they found it funny they even set up a system for reading the plate card's in turns.
While each of them enjoyed the museum, in the end they all had a different favorite section.
Yotsuba had enjoyed the interactive part of the museum, it was a section mainly thought for children so they could have fun and learn at the same time. She particularly liked a piece where you could reorganize some parts of famous figures into making a mesh of all of them. She was particularly proud of her queen Lincoln Nobunaga.
Miku's eyes shined when they went into the Japanese history section. In that particular part she worked as their tour guide explaining everything. She even forgot for a moment that her hobby was supposed to be a secret to her sister's. Something she remembered at the end and tried to play it off that she saw in a short clip about fun history facts.
For Kiyomaro his favorite part was the ancient artifacts, preferably anything that could be older than a thousand years brought his attention. There wasn't anything Mamodo related but that didn't stop him from pulling his notebook and writing the pieces that interest him the most.
Miku and Yotsuba were surprised at how good his drawings were.
Right now kiyomaro was looking at some pieces while waiting for Miku and Yotsuba that went to the bathroom.
"Oh? Is that you Kiyomaro boy?"
Kiyomaro in turn was lost by the new voice calling his name. He wasn't capable of putting a face to the voice until he turned around and saw a small old man in his sixties wearing square glasses.
"Mr. Goldo!"
He was one of the many people Kiyomaro had met during his time in the fight for the crown, was someone with a keen eye to detect thieves so he was usually charged to protect important pieces of art or history.
He was also the bookkeeper of a Mamodo Gash became friends with. Danny who interestingly only had only one spell that was the ability to heal himself.
Sadly Kiyomaro and Gash couldn't spend much time with them. While protecting a piece of art Danny had to sacrifice his chance to become king.
"Ohoho look at you all grown up it hurts my neck just to see your face"
"Haha is also good to see you Mr. Goldo"
"What brought you here, Kiyomaro boy? not to sound rude but the museum is closed to the public right now"
"I got some tickets thanks to my dad. He works as an archaeology teacher."
"Ohh, that's explain a lot" Mr. Goldo showed a calm smile and took off his glasses to look at Kiyomaro in the eyes "sorry for being so late with it but congratulations on winning to you and Gash boy, thanks to Danny's letter I know you guys won, it must have been hard but I'm happy knowing Danny got a good king looking out for him" bowed his head in genuine gratitude.
Kiyomaro was feeling proud of himself and Gash their battle wasn't to see who was stronger or ruling over the weak it was so a kind king could rule for Kiyomaro this was an affirmation that they were right "¡Yes!"
"Ah right, maybe destiny had a hand meeting you here" Mr. Goldo put on his glasses and turned around making a sign for Kiyomaro to follow him "is not going to take long and believe me this interests you too."
Something that interested him too? For Kiyomaro it could only mean one thing is related to the Mamodo world.
Kiyomaro sended a text to Miku that he was going to make a quick round alone and he would meet them in the space for resting behind the museum and so he followed Mr. Goldo in silence they reached a metal door where the old man passed a identification card to open it they walked a little until again they reached another big metal just like the last one used his card to open it.
Inside the room there were a lot of metal boxes. Kiyomaro knew that this is where the museum put some of its pieces that were not in exhibition right now or were mainly for study purposes.
Mr. Goldo took a metal briefcase and put it on a table in the center of the room.
"Here it is Kiyomaro boy, you don't know how much surprised I was when I saw this" he opened the briefcase and took two steps to the side so Kiyomaro could get a good look at what's inside.
"What the…" just like Mr. Goldo had said it was surprise what he had in front of him was a spell book, how could he not known what this was, after all he had spent two years protecting and also fighting with a book just like this one everything was the same the mysterious language, the thickness of the cover, the dimensions everything but the color was the same this book wasn't the strong red or gold Gash book had this one was gray almost like if it didn't have any life into it.
Kiyomaro could barely notice his hand moving to open the book in hope of seeing one of the spells he had cast innumerable times.
"Ah" he stopped himself from touching the book, he had remembered just in time that this was a piece of the museum and he could get in trouble for putting his hands on it.
"Don't worry you have my permission" Mr. Goldo took the book from the case and pass it to Kiyomaro "to be honest when I first saw it I had a reaction similar to you and tried to cast Jioruku but nothing happen, you can try too."
Kiyomaro finally took the book in his hands even if the color was wrong. The feeling of familiarity invaded him, he remembered that as long as he holded the book he and Gash could fight. Right any wrong and become stronger after every encounter. Kiyomaro breathed and finally said the words "Zakeru" It has been two years since the last time he had said those words.
Nothing happened, the book continued being dead not responding to his emotions. kiyomaro just put the book back in the briefcase.
"So nothing happened with you too, huh?" Mr. Goldo kind of expected it but he was disappointed non the less.
"How is this book here?" Kiyomaro asked the big question.
"There was this finding of a buried shrine for some reason in the part where you leave gifts for the Gods. There was this book there. Since this is a museum and not a place for theories they hid the information of it and put it here, the director wants people interested in history not crazy conspirationist people talking about a book that doesn't have any reason to exist by the time the shrine was last used."
'The same finding dad helped' Kiyomaro was connecting the dots 'I have to talk with Dr. Riddles about this, those shadows could be looking for this too.'
"Thank you for this Mr. Goldo, to be honest I been investigating some events that could relate to the Mamodo world, you just give me a big piece of the puzzle"
"Well I'm happy to help a youngster but remember to play around more Kiyomaro boy youth can pass so fast you'll barely notice."
Finishing their businesses and kiyomaro leave the restricted section and decided to go back to the Museum. hearing that Kiyomaro was going to the resting space took him through a shortcut in which they arrived at no time.
Miku, who was sitting on a bench, was surprised to see Kiyomaro walking along side with a small old man.
"Kiyomaro, there you are."
"Sorry Miku, did you wait long?"
just saw the two teenagers and made a knowing nod "Oho, well it was good seeing you Kiyomaro boy but I'm not going to interrupt your date anymore" with that the old man just left.
leaving the two teens with their faces completely red.
"Ahaha"
"Kiyomaro that was?"
"He is Mr. goldo, an acquaintance of mine, I knew he worked with a lot of museums but I didn't expect to meet him here."
"Mm. Kiyomaro you're ok? You're looking a little pale."
"Haha maybe Itsuki is right and I've been sitting behind a desk too much" he feel bad for lying to Miku, but he didn't have any way explain what he just saw. Kiyomaro decided to sit on the bench right next to Miku "I should go out more."
"Yotsuba went to buy some drinks so wait a little, some sugar should make you feel better."
Miku felt their shoulder touch and the red on her face that was begging to face came back even stronger.
'I wonder if we look like a couple, right now?' The place where they were was empty. The only people were the two teenagers sitting in a bench close enough for their shoulders to touch, the only thing doing them company was a gentle breeze and warm sunlight.
"Hey, Miku, can I ask you something?" Kiyomaro was the first one to break the silence on the hand Miku who had managed to find peace was completely distraught once again.
For being a resting place Miku was feeling way more tired than before coming here.
'is he going to confess!?' Those were the kind of thoughts that were going through Miku's head 'there is no way right? After all he is all calm and cool while I'm weird and lame' and soon after her thoughts started to get depressing when confronted with her own self image.
"Yes" Miku just closed her eyes and hoped for the best.
"Why do you want to hide that you like history that much?"
"Eh?" That question threw Miku off the loop while it wasn't what she was expecting, this also was a heavy question that was hard for her to answer.
"I just thought about it while we were in the history section."
"I already told you I'm weird. every other girl likes actors and models while I like old people" she started to feel her eyes get teary. Wondering why Kiyomaro was asking that now. Why was he making her go through this again?
"Yes I remember and I kept what I said that day you're not weird Miku is good to have something you like and feel passion about. Is just that you were so happy talking about history earlier."
"I was happy?"
"You were shining. That's why I'm asking. why is it so bad for you to be honest about your love for history?"
The girl folded her legs and hid her face between her arms.
"because out of the five of us I'm the most likely to be left behind."
"Miku."
"Whatever I can achieve, the other four can too, for sure" She finally raised her head and gave a weak smile to Kiyomaro "We are quintuplets, after all."
For Kiyomaro this was like a cold shower, his mind had been running at full speed after seeing the gray book. the mystery with the giant. teaching the sisters. He wanted anything that could pull him out of that loop. anything that he could solve so Kiyomaro asked Miku.
Since he also had a secret that he couldn't tell just to anyone, after all Nino would just laugh if he were to tell her about magic books and Mamodo children. He was hoping that her point of view could help him somehow. that maybe he could also close the question why she didn't want to share her love for history.
Something he regretted instantly when he saw how sad his question made her.
'She doesn't have any faith in herself' Kiyomaro felt like trash for using such a kind girl. Just because he was stuck in a problem. He stretched his hand and gently patted Miku's head.
"Eh?" The girl in question was very confused.
"Everything I can do the others can too, huh? But Miku. that also goes the other way, anything that the others can do, so can you" kiyomaro was looking directly into Miku eyes trying to show how his sincerity "in the test I gave you on the second day, you girls got a 100 in total but no correct answer overlapped each other."
"That means?"
"That between all of you five you got a 100 points and that means all of you can get a 100 points. you five have the potential."
Miku was shocked about the realization, Kiyomaro finally took his hand out of Miku's head and she turned not wanting to show her face.
"You really have faith in quintuplets. for us to reach 100 points."
Kiyomaro just shaked his head "forget the 100 points, that's just a stepping stone, I know each one of you has the potential to become great adults, someone who can held their head high." He remembered the letter Gash sent him. the promise to become someone better but he can't only look out for himself is there someone waiting for a hand to help them out. kiyomaro was going to stretch his hand after all Gash had done the same for him.
He also wanted the same for the sisters. school was only medium to advance into the next step. Getting a good score means little without the motivation to be better to move forward.
"Eh? I have the potential? to held my head high?"
"Of course you have, as your tutor, I can assure you Miku."
From the eyes of the girl small tears started to form. It wasn't out of sadness and self deprecation this time it was out of happiness that someone looked at her for more than just the quiet sister, the weird one.
Someone actually believed in her, someone that has seen her ugliness but still believes in her. That realization made Miku feel incredibly happy while at the same time the tears just started to run wild.
The girl grabbed Kiyomaro while burying her head on his chest. The boy in question just patted her back while she let everything out.
They spend a little time and Miku straightens her posture. She tried to play it off but the mark of tears and snot were present.
"Kiyomaro that was sniff." Miku finally coming back to a more calm state realized that she cried her heart out. she was feeling really ashamed about that display of emotions.
"Haha, I didn't see anything, unless you want to talk about it" he said while handing her a hand tissue 'woah mom was right, about always carrying one of these'.
"Thank you" she wiped her tears first and when the girl turned to the other side to she could blow her nose but suddenly came to a stop "I. I. I'm going to the bathroom"
Miku runs off while tightly holding onto the hand tissue.
"Ah! Miku." The boy in question didn't know if following her was the best action, but before he could make a decision he heard some steps behind him getting close.
"Ahh you made Miku cry." from behind him he heard the voice of the missing sister. Honestly he had expected her to arrive while Miku was letting out all her feelings.
"Yotsuba! that was" he wanted to explain the situation.
"I know you were just lending her a shoulder, Miku had been having trouble expressing herself, I'm actually happy that you let her cry her emotions out" then she gave the young tutor a honest smile "so thank you Takamine-san."
"Yotsuba" for a moment Kiyomaro thought he was seeing an angel. Not only did she believed in him but she also thanked him "can I hug you?"
"Haha you have Miku snot on you so another time"
"Agh!" He finally looked to the place Miku had been crying and she was right there was this stain of tears and snot on his sweater.
"When I saw Miku crying on you I went to buy some tissues, here" she handed him the tissue she originally bought for her sister.
"Thank you" he grabbed a handful and started to clean the wet area giving his back to the kid girl.
"So regardless you made Miku cry, should flick you like Ichika does?" While Kiyomaro was turned he felt that Yotsuba was making an unusual smug smile.
That did take Kiyomaro out of sync for a moment.
"Please don't. I feel your flick would actually hurt."
"That's rude! Takamine-san! I'm a lady too, you know."
Yotsuba from behind grabbed his shoulders and started to shake him for a while. faking being hurt by his comment. Suddenly the shaking stopped for kiyomaro and it was changed for a soft sensation on his back.
"Yotsuba?"
"..."
There was only silence from the girl that suddenly hugged him. she just crossed her arms around him making their distance even shorter.
"..."
"Really, thank you Takamine-san" those words came as a whisper if it wasn't for their proximity Kiyomaro would have not heard them.
but even if she was expressing gratitude for some reason Kiyomaro felt some sadness in Yotsuba's voice, when he tried to touch one of her arms she suddenly let go.
"What" when Kiyomaro turned to see the ribbon wearing girl he didn't see the sad expression he was expecting, he only saw a joking smile.
"Shishishi, what with that face Takamine-san didnt you say you wanted a hug?"
'Really these sisters, sometimes I feel that fighting Mamodos was easier than trying to understand them.' those the thoughts of the young genius before looking at the sky.
"[Faruzu]"
from outside of an abandoned three floor parking lot some traces of a strong light could be seen.
"Amazing Itsuki!" said a hyped little girl with white hair "now 1 out of 5 times the spell do comes out, in no time you'll be able to use the book at will"
Contrary to the energetic girl, Itsuki was breathing was hard she feel very tired, part of her just wanted to lie on the ground and close her eyes for an hour.
But Itsuki shakes her head, wanting to push those weak thoughts away.
'Those monster can appear again to defend my sister's. I need to use the book when I want to' She knew that if there was a certain tutor here he would have reprimanded her for over-exhausting herself.
when thinking about the young tutor she couldn't help but to wonder how did the trip to the museum has gone for him and her sisters 'I really wanted to go the museum' when thinking about how educational and fun the trip must have been she couldn't help but to pout a little over losing that experience.
"Maybe we can go again when the museum open for the public" she imagined that it would be hard to convince Nino but she really wanted to go with all her sisters "and it could be nice if Takamine-kun wants to go again with us."
Hello I hope you're having a good day
in this chapter I tried to give an Ichika POV since she's an aspiring actress and the big sister, she needs to understand emotions better than most people so I have her in this and the previous chapter more centered on reading the room than interacting. To be honest Ichika was my favorite quint, until she went snake then I reverted back to Miku but regardless I still like her a lot so if you find some bias sorry not sorry.
And we Mr. Goldo have back! doing a small cameo. in chapter 8 I mention that I needed two things to happen before the firework arc one was Itsuki becoming a bookkeeper and the other was Kiyomaro finding the blank book.
I postponed the firework arc because for me that is the arc were the sisters finally accept Fuutarou even if some still don't like him (nino and itsuki) and accept that their relationship is something that can't be just cut off, so I needed this things done to finally round everything.