And so the next day came.

Kiyomaro had again reunited the five sisters in the living room.

"Zzzzz" Ichika was sleepin in Yotsuba legs

"You're persistent" Nino scowled at him, still angry about yesterday most likely.

"You still haven't given up?" Miku had an annoyed expression.

"Haha" Yotusba just let out a laugh

"What it is now, Takamine-kun" Itsuki was just wondering why they haven't started with the study session.

Kiyomaro crossed his arm and looked at the five sisters "because some of you think you don't need me tutoring you, I'll propose this" and he took 5 tests from his backpack "pass this test with 60 points mark. no a 50 points mark and I'll leave you alone"

"Got tired of us already?" said Ichika, rising herself from Yotsuba legs.

"My priority is that none of you repeat a year, if I have to chase some of you to study I prefer to spend my energy of those that need it"

"Woah, really looking down on us are you" Nino, rising from her seat, she took one of the tests "fine I'll do your test then don't want to see you again."

"This a good opportunity" Itsuki was putting her red glasses "I'll accept this test"

"If it is something like this I'll do it" Ichika also went for a test.

"Let's do our best" Yotsuba had high spirits.

"If it is 50 I'll pass it" Miku was motivated

"You'll regret thinking your hot stuff" said Nino with decided eyes "we'll show you what the Nakano are made up"

Kiyomaro graded the test and only showed a surprised face "amazing a 100% if I sum all your scores"

"Lets run" which sister have said that was unknown but they all ran all the same toward the second floor.

Kiyomaro thought of giving chase but he saw no point, even Itsuki and Yotsuba had run off. He just looked at the scores, Ichika 12, Nino 20, Miku 32, Yotsuba 8 and Itsuki 30.

Itsuki's score was a little better here than in the test he saw when he met her, while it was a little step it was a step nonetheless. Yotsuba worried him greatly, he couldn't believe someone could reach a single digit score, then came the sleepy girl and Nino.

and just as Yotsuba said Miku was the smartest but being the smartest here wasn't really an accomplishment.

He stayed 15 minutes more in the department, writing in some blank pages some memo's, Kiyomaro could feel some eyes on his back, probably some of the girls opened their door to see if he was still there.

After finishing that he packed up his things and left.

It was Monday and kiyomaro had arrived at school. He was thinking what to do if he saw the sisters in school, Yotsuba and Itsuki were one thing but the other three he still didn't get how to close the bridge.

At that a fancy car parked near Kiyomaro 'wuah is something that Apollo would ride' but the people that came from the car weren't his magnanimous friend they were just the sisters he was just thinking of.

"Ah. is Takamine-san"

"Uegh" Nino had clear distaste upon seeing him.

"Kiyomaro" Miku just walked right by him.

"Kiyomaro-kun good morning"

"Takamine-kun"

"Hello" kiyomaro gave a light greeting but noted how some of the sisters were distant from him.

"Stay away he might pull a reference book" Nino showed being the most wary.

"Heh? Really?" Yotsuba looked at kiyomaro from head to foot to see from where he'll pull the secret reference book.

"He might try to teach us if we let him get close." Miku was also judging him.

"Anyway did you at least review the memo's I leave you"

"Yes/yes!" Two of the sisters answered and the other 3 just looked away.

"question 1: which general did Mouri Motonari defeat in the battle of Itsukushima."

There was a silent, kiyomaro saw Itsuki pouting as if that question was the worst he could have asked.

During his shock the quints started walking towards their classroom and he followed a little behind. He hoped that there was an easier way to get them on his side.

Then he remembered Miku got the first question right 'why didn't she answer then?'

.

It was break time and kiyomaro was looking for a seat when he happened to see Miku.

He looked at an opportunity "hey, Miku" after giving her the second greeting of the day, he looked at the tray she was carrying a sandwich and can soda "matcha flavor soda?" he was honestly surprised that such flavor existed.

"I'm not giving anything to a bully"

Bully!? Like usual, this girl didn't cut corners when it came to speaking.

"Takamine-san! Let's go eat together!" Yotsuba really surprised him, kiyomaro really had suppressed his instinct to roll to the side and scream ZAKERU as he reached for a book that was no longer here. He wondered if this could count as PTSD or muscle memory.

"Haha You really scared me" kiyomaro calmed himself the best he could "yeah no problem, Miku you coming, right?"

"Kiyomaro-san…" Yotsuba gave him a worried look. She really didn't wanted to scare him that much but noticed how kiyomaro tried to keep the spirits up "ah, right look at my English homework, I got it all wrong Hahahaha."

"Yotsuba you shouldn't interrupt" Ichika came and took Yotsuba away.

"Look Ichika" when she tried to show her sister, the homework Ichika just looked away.

"I'll pass, we're all idiots after all."

"I didn't took you for the negative type." kiyomaro gave his honest opinion.

"But it's true even some of our tutors have said so" that comment made kiyomaro swallow his breath, he wanted to say something positive but I'll come out as empty flattery right now, he wanted to get angry but at whom? an insensible tutor that wasn't around or the girl that gave up?

Yotsuba saw him clench his fist really hard. with a serious expression. She didn't think of kiyomaro hitting anyone but clearly something in Ichika's comment had angered him.

"And plus there is something wrong with spending all your time just studying, we should enjoy our adolescence more, like falling In love for example."

"All work and no play makes a quint a dull girl, kinda?" At Ichika's wishful thinking, Kiyomaro calmed himself.

"You got it, and I thought you were all business."

"But love, huh?" For better or worse he hasn't experienced it, he might have had a crush on megumi-san but they haven't contacted each other in a while. It was hard to confirm feelings for another without interaction.

"You're not mocking me? I was joking, you know?"

"I mean it's fine I'm just your part time tutor, I have no right over your personal life, but studying is also part of adolescence, you know." Kiyomaro couldn't negate love after seeing examples like Wonrei and Li yen.

"So you take even love seriously, mmm~" now Ichika was poking him with her elbow.

"Hahaha even if I want to fall in love I have no one." Yotsuba scratched her head "what about you Miku, you like someone?"

At that the quiet girl let out a funny noise "I-I don't" then she run off"

"As her sister I can tell from her expression, Miku is in love" Yotsuba say's proudly.

"Kyahhhhh" to which Ichika joined the hype and the booth screamed.

Kiyomaro just gives them a tired expression.

.

When kiyomaro finally got to his classroom he had a note sticking out of his table.

-Come to the rooftop at lunch hour, I have something to tell you I can't hold back these feelings any longer.

Miku-

Which surprised him greatly, Itsuki passed by his seat and had a light chat but she noticed how Kiyomaro was kinda not fully there in the chat.

And there he was, Kiyomaro on the rooftop waiting.

He honestly didn't knew what to expect, he remembered Yotsuba words, it could be him being naturally distrusting but they barely know each other. There were also his feelings on the matter but while kiyomaro would not say it out loud, he did find the sisters attractive.

Although they looked similar they all have their distinct appeal but Kiyomaro wanted to be professional in this matter.

Then the nob of the door turned and finally Miku arrived at the terrace.

Miku gave him a decided look "I'm glad you read my letter" kiyomaro was honestly lost in what to say, would this really be it? "I could have said this in the cafeteria but didn't want anyone to hear."

'This was really it!' maybe he had seen too many dramas due to Megumi's insistence since she played a character there but the words Miku said were practically the same that would appear in one.

"Kiyomaro, what I've been wanting to say for a long time…it…it was."

The small break feels like hour to him

"Sue Harukuta!"

"Sue Harukuta….the question of this morning"

"Alright! That's a load off my chest" with that Miku tried to leave the terrace, putting on her headphones and pulling her phone to pick the next song.

"Nonono wait what is this?" he grabbed Miku arm, he had preferred if Miku as bookkeeper and she had a Mamodo hiding to attack him than whatever this was, he had dealt with that kind of situation before.

"Annoying, I was just answering your question…AH!" But Kiyomaro's action confused Miku, who in turn dropped her phone.

"Sorry" he was actually worried about the girl phone, he'll pay any damage but he still hope it didn't broke up, then the wallpaper brought his attention "oh, the takeda crest"

"You saw?..." Miku turned to see him, she had a dark aura around her, kiyomaro felt he had seen this aura but couldn't remember when.

"...yes."

"Don't….dont…tell anyone that I like generals from the sengoku period" Miku had hidden her face with her hands.

"Oh" that was the only thing it could come out of his mouth "I see, so you're into that stuff."

To think she was a history buff, makes sense. She got that question right after all "it all started when I borrowed a game from Yotsuba. I was so drawn to all the ambitious generals that I started reading tons of books too."

Miku took a break to breathe and she started playing with her hair to calm herself "but everyone in my class liked handsome actors, beautiful models and such. On the other hand, my preference are all old men with a mustache. I must be weird."

"Oh" he was sounding like a broken record, for Miku to info dump him all that, left him speechless, he closed his eyes for a moment he thought on using Answer-talker to get the best result but quickly pushed the idea away.

She had been honest with him and he must respond in kind "you're not weird Miku" he looked at her fiercely in her eyes, 'so what if she likes history and middle age mustache men, I've seen weirder people.'

"Eh?" She was drawn back at kiyomaro sudden approach.

Realizing how close he got, Kiyomaro took a step back. "ahem, we'll to be honest I also quite versed in history if you want we can talk about it." He wasn't exaggerating due to his father's work. Kiyomaro house was full of history book's and Kiyomaro himself has been diving into ancient civilization books lately "if you want we can talk about history."

"Eh? Really?" Miku's eyes were shining, "or you're tricking me into studying?" And then she went back to giving him a cold stare.

"If you answered that question on your own that mean you're already studying"

"..." That was one way to look at it.

"And to be honest" kiyomaro scratched his cheek trying to hide his embarrassment "I don't have anyone to talk about history" his dad was working on England, professor D'artagnan was God knows where and is too busy for such leeway chat "is fun you know, it doesn't matter how much think you know about an specific time someone will always bring an anecdote you don't know."

"You know that oda nobunaga referring to toyotomi hideyoshi was 'monkey' is a miss conception the actual name oda used was-" Miku stopped herself midway she had gotten hyped over the fact of getting and history buddy.

"bald rat, right" kiyomaro knew this type of person. She closed herself to others in fear of being rejected and when they opened they did it like a dam, he had been like that too after all.

"Yes!, that's right." She went back to being happy "thinking about it, is a harsh name."

"Haha, Oda really had a sense of humor."

"Did you know there's a rumor of uesugi kenshin being actually a woman."

"That's because he or she? used to recluse themselves at certain times of the month right?"

"And the one where Ishida mitsunari refused to eat the persimmon before his execution, was so touching."

"Stubborn to the end"

"And the one we're Oda drank alcohol from a skull."

"Sometimes it is important for a ruler to give an image, is not Japanese history but black beard was also a fan of such theatrics."

Then the bell ringed, marking the end of their chat.

They started to walk towards the stairs.

"Woah, it was getting good." Kiyomaro was a little sad the chat was over. He honestly was having a good time. "we'll we can always talk after the tutoring session."

"... you're truly not trying to force me?"

'Context Miku' kiyomaro thought that this girl maybe was an airhead "you can always join when you want" he shrugged his shoulders "nothing good comes with forcing someone."

"I know I'm not one to say this, but you're taking this seriously?" Miku watched him in disbelief "our other tutors would pester us with no end."

Kiyomaro finally got more information about the past tutors maybe with a little more he could understand why the sisters in particular Nino didn't liked to study

"I suppose that I get what's is like being forced to do something you don't want."

"...Really? you?" Miku was in disbelief from the information that they gathered, kiyomaro was almost perfect. top grade in academics, he was also the top in physical exams. Miku didn't want to think that she was as superficial as Nino but kiyomaro was indeed handsome, so someone like him being put in an unfavorable position was hard to imagine.

"Is dark history now but I used to hate school when I was younger."

A feeling Miku could understand we'll "...but you're smart" the information also said kiyomaro was the top student in middle school too, she didn't understand why would he hate school then.

"Yes a little too much it seems" Miku opened her eyes, like she just realized that could also be a problem "my classmates and teachers would get angry at me for breezing the questions."

They arrived at the door that connected to the building kiyomaro opened and let Miku pass first.

"Teachers too? Wouldn't they like a smart student"

"Maybe they wanted an obedient student and not one that would look at them from over the shoulder, you know there was this one time a math teacher called me upfront to answer a problem on the board and it was a university level problem."

"What did you?"

"I answered it perfectly and shut his mouth" he said as if stating the obvious.

"And your classmates? How did they react?"

"Sometimes I'll come back home with some scratches" he didn't go into details that was enough.

"..." Miku opened her mouth but nothing came.

She stopped walking and supported herself with a vending machine. The theme was really getting heavy for her.

"At some point I stopped caring about going to school after all. What was the point? I knew more than the teacher's, everything they could teach me I could learn on my own."

He was different from her and her sisters. He didn't give up on studying, after he could do it on his own, he gave up on the school.

"But then before I realized I was lonely" until now he had been telling his history like an funny anecdote but now his voice had a sadness in it "I pushed everyone away, I tried so hard to think I was better than them for being smarter, only for me to act the same I pushed away everyone that tried to get close to me."

"It was natural, they treated you that way. why would they deserve something more." Miku was clearly frustrated over the tale, he was just smarter, why did he have to be treated that way.

"Yes but relationship's goes both ways" kiyomaro looked at the girl, clenching her first with all her strength. 'These sisters are really good people' he thought. "If you meet hate with hate there is just no end. But don't worry it has a happy ending."

Miku looked at him surprised that his tone of voice was happy again.

"I meet a friend he helped me connect with the rest of my classmates and in no time I was playing with them and studying together"

"You forgave them? Why?"

"Like I said there's no end in meeting hate with hate. With the help of that friend we managed to bury the hatchet. By the end of middle school we were all great friends. Even the teachers while they keep giving me stupid high-level questions. It became more of a game later on."

"And your friend?"

"He went back to his country, I haven't seen him in two years now and you wouldn't believe this but they don't have cellphones there but sometimes I get a letter from him." Of course he couldn't tell her that Gash went back to his world.

Kiyomaro saw Miku lost in deep thought like she couldn't understand him for forgiving the people that did him wrong.

"The topic got heavy, why don't we buy something to drink." kiyomaro got close to the vending machine and pulled out his wallet. "What flavor do you want?"

Miku hand stopped him from pulling the money "I'll pay" kiyomaro just looked at her confused "as commemoration of us becoming friends"

"Oh!"

She inserted the coins and pulled soda "Here you seemed interested in the flavor earlier." kiyomaro took the can "but don't worry there is only a little bit of snot in here, just kidding."

Kiyomaro looked at the can then at Miku, he really didn't get the reference.

"Fufu" Miku let out a small laugh "so there is something even you don't know" her face was full with pride, she did beat kiyomaro after all.

Kiyomaro facial expression softened "didn't I tell no matter how much you think you know there's always someone that knows an anecdote you don't know." he opened the can and took sip "also I'm relieved" the taste was peculiar to say something,

"Relieved?"

"I mean if I'm lost in something related to Japanese history I can just rely on you" kiyomaro just smiled at Miku.

That made her stop on her tracks, that tutor who everyone praised as perfect, said that he'll rely on her and just say it with such honesty.

"..."

"Miku, why did you stop, we're going to be late" When he tried to look at her face which was hidden behind her hair, she started to walk again. Her pace was getting more and more faster.

"Kiyomaro you're a bully after all" then Miku started to run towards her classroom, she did not look back after all Miku didn't want kiyomaro to see how red her face was.

"I'm a bully again?" Kiyomaro could have catched up to Miku. Her running pace was awfully slow but he was stunned by her words.

.

Kiyomaro was in the school library with Yotsuba and Itsuki. They managed to get their little corner where hopefully one day all the sisters can study here.

"Anyway we're going to check the test we did last time since clearly some of you didn't read the memo's I leave."

"Question 1: Sue Harukata, right?" Miku's voice came from behind Kiyomaro.

"Eh?"

"Miku!" Yotsuba was happy to see her sister.

"Miku, you knew that question, let's compare tests!" And so was Itsuki.

"Miku, you came to study?"

"You said you'll rely on me on Japanese history so it is only fair if I also rely on you on the other subjects" with that she gave him a smile "right?"

At that Yotsuba ribbon acted as if she catched a signal.

"Miku, the person you like is Kiyomaro-san?" she opened her eyes at the sudden question.

"No way" she said with a warm smile.