The day for the festival has come.

Nino didn't want to show it and look childish but she had been waiting for this day the entire week.

"Yukatas check, rented terrace check, the direction of the terrace check, money to buy food check, money to buy trinkets check."

She was right now in her room doing the last preparations for the festival looking at herself in the mirror wanting to see one last time that she put her yukata right and that her hair was perfect.

"Perfect"

She fixed her ribbons for the tenth time today.

"If I say so myself I'm looking pretty darn cute today."

She was really proud of her end results. What had to do now was to wait for her sister to be ready. She didn't want to look like she got super excited and got ready before time, she had to keep her cool appearance.

Not wanting to do another check up, Nino sat on the chair at her desk and started to browse her social app to lose time.

Cat video, an idol dancing, makeup tutorial, food recipe, morning stretches, some product that was only good in the video and a total trash in reality.

That was the content Nino has been seeing for the last 15 minutes, she finally lowered her phone and let out a bored sigh.

Then out of curiosity she started to look at her friends posts, which kept going until she started to wonder if her sisters had posted anything interesting.

Like usual Ichika has some pictures of her posing or doing the current trend, sometimes she will comment about a movie she liked and or comment on how much the actors managed to express themselves so well.

Nino remembered when Ichika had come to her about some boba tea challenge and upon learning what the challenge was about she strongly refused, Nino may like the attention internet bringed after all she knew she was cute and liked reading the comment praising her after posting a picture but she would preferred not to attract the attention of some men that would only look at her like a piece of meat or used for material at night.

Miku is what could be considered as a lurker in social media. She rarely posts anything and when she does it is about a movie or book she liked but barely any more and even her profile picture is the default one.

Yotsuba was very active in her account posting something interesting she found on her way home, some sports teams she supported and cute animal videos. She was very transparent about how she was in her account.

What was a surprise is Itsuki who is treated almost as a professional food critic when she posts about going to a restaurant or trying something from a bakery her post will go crazy about the expectations of her reviews.

What brought Nino's attention was the things Yotsuba posted about yesterday. She first saw some short videos about her trip to the museum with Kiyomaro and Miku but then she saw that there were quite a lot of videos and pictures, sometimes about a piece that brought her attention and sometimes pictures together with all the members of the trip.

"Ugh" even if there wasn't anyone in the room she showed a face of disgust "really!? even today that guy appears, everyday is something with him."

"Hey, did you do Takamine-san questions there were very easy to understand right?"

She started to imitate her sister's to vent her frustration.

"Takamine-kun is really smart in class. The teacher called him to answer a really hard question and he did like nothing."

She arranged her hair to look like Miku and put on a serious expression.

"I'm going to the library. Kiyomaro recommended a book to me."

After that she quickly fixed her hair back to how it was and took a long breath.

"What's with them every day, that guy that. that guy this, he's just a nerd!"

Nino started to release her fury on her pillow giving it soft punches after a while she was breathing heavily.

"No I mustn't let it get to me today, this is day is for us five"

"Hey, I'm ready! anyone need help!?"

Nino finally heard the voice of Ichika calling. Usually when it came to this kind of events it was either Ichika or Nino herself the first ones to be ready then they helped the other's.

"Ichikaaaaa, help!"

"Okay!"

Yotsuba, like usual, had a problem putting on her yukata. Miku on the other hand usually needed help with her make up and Itsuki was the type to do things on her own even if it took her longer.

Nino waited a little more time before going out of her room.

"I finish too, anyone else needs a hand."

"Mm I'm fine. Just going with the base today."

"Really, is a festival!? Don't you want to put more work on yourself today?"

"I'm applying the base you recommended, aren't I."

Nino just let out a sigh, while it is true that the quints were pretty enough to have anyone look their way even without using makeup. It really frustrated Nino that Miku and Yotsuba refused to pretty themselves and just went natural in their daily life.

"At least Yotsuba has an excuse thanks to her daily routine but what with Miku eh~ is a pain."

The sport oriented girl wasn't a fan of makeup because almost everyday of the week she would do exercise or help a club in their practice and the make up would end up ruined due to her sweating or completely gone in the shower after her activity.

Even when Nino recommended some water proof brands to Yotsuba, she found them too costly for something she wasn't sure she could pull off.

Miku on the other hand just finds it tedious.

"We can hear you."

"I know and because you don't polish yourself you're going to end with a guy like him that'll just bring you to boring places."

Miku didn't need a name to understand who Nino was talking about, the venom in her voice was enough.

"It wasn't boring."

"Maybe for you but you wouldn't find me dead in a place like that."

Nino just turned to look at the door of Miku's room even if there was a door in the middle one could imagine the two sisters staring daggers at each other.

"Nino help me Lya here."

"Itsuki this clothes are really necessary?"

"...hmp!" Nino turned her head and started to walk to help Itsuki with the little girl.

What Itsuki said to the young tutor wasn't completely a lie while she did spend a lot of the Saturday practicing how to use the book even if Nino still didn't completely believe it. But Itsuki did buy Lya some clothes and daily necessities on the saturday.

A more casual one piece since the one she usually wears looks expensive, a pajama and like luck have it she also found a yukata for the girl.

"I still don't buy this magic stuff but Itsuki certainly was very tired when she arrived yesterday."

The tired state Itsuki arrived last night fit with what she told them about how casting a spell depleted the caster's stamina.

"I don't think she would jog for hours just to make her story more believable but still magic is…" the butterfly girl Shakes her head and knocks on Itsuki door "is me, what the problem?"

When opening the door Nino saw the white haired girl looking pale even more than usual.

"Nino this yukata thing is too tight."

"It's weird I'm certain I buy the right size in the store. when she tried it with the help of the attendance and it was fine."

Itsuki was really confused on how this wasn't working.

"Because the person working in the store is practically a professional, let me do this, Itsuki you still have to fix your hair."

"Ah!" The girl in question was so focused on helping Lya that she forgot she still needed to prepare herself.

Nino started to get worried if they were going to arrive at a good time for the fireworks, she secretly wished for everything to come out alright.

"Everything was supposed to be perfect today but but" her anger just kept on rising just like the fireworks behind her. After leaving the apartment everything was going well. The sisters and Lya had a great time enjoying the stalls the festival had to offer, for Nino she really considered this night one to remember at least until the last five minutes "why did I have to get stuck to this guy!?"

"Aren't you reacting too much?" responded kiyomaro practically tired the girl antics "you were the only one I managed to grab when that wave of people came."

Right they were on the terrace Nino had reserved for the sisters to watch the fireworks but instead of her sisters or Lya being with her. She had the annoying tutor making her company. Just remembering how the tutor joined them was making a vein pop in Nino's forehead.

It was going well for all the sisters and the little girl they all were having fun, Nino completely forgot everything that could make her mad at least that how it was until Yotsuba noticed the brown haired boy amid the crown of people and before Nino could stop her, she already had brought him to them the boy was in equal parts confused as he was bewitched seeing the Nakanos in yukata, after complimenting the girls on their clothes and chatting a little bit he was going to be going his way until a wave of people hit them. The tutor only managed to grab Nino at the last second before losing sight of her.

"And why would you come to the festival alone? don't you know this is a social event?"

"I didn't come alone, I came with some friends from middle school" her companion responded more annoyed than he usually was during the studying sessions "some live kinda far so we decided to end it earlier, I was on my way home."

Nino was just giving him the side eye not believing the fact he actually had friends but any snarky comment died the moment she got a call from Yotsuba "Yotsuba? Where are you? the clock tower? stay put, we'll come to get you."

Kiyomaro, not wanting to stay put, decided to call Miku since they already knew Yotsuba's position and there wasn't any point in for him to call her.

"I'm calling miku but it doesnt connect."

"You're really useless."

"And why can't they arrive on their own here?"

"..."

"Nino."

"I'm the only one who knew this viewing spot location" she turned her head not wanting him to see her ashamed face, this situation has been completely her mistake she knew that.

She heard him let out a heavy sigh.

"Hey, isn't that Ichika?"

That did manage to make nino turn her head "you're right it is her" she tried to call her sister but just like with Kiyomaro before the call did not connect "she's not answering!"

"I'll go look for her" kiyomaro turned to the exit "You stay here and keep trying to contact the others."

"...fine."

"What's with that face? is not like you want me to stay with you?"

"Of course not I'll prefer" part of her wanted to do the usual banter. She also knew he was doing them a favor out of pure goodwill, this wasn't a working day for him and Nino wasn't by any means his friend.

She remembered the words Ichika had told her some days ago when she asked why Ichika was getting so friendly with him 'kiyomaro-kun is a really dependable guy' that's what she said.

Nino grabbed the railing with all the strength she could muster, she really didn't want to leave her sister's to a stranger but this was her mistake leaving her pride aside was a small price for the sake of the memory they shared with their mom.

Finally letting go of the baranda Nino turned to see Kiyomaro had grabbed his backpack and was waiting a little while looking at Nino expecting her next words.

"I'll leave Ichika to you."

While on his way down, Kiyomaro started to think about how he arrived at this situation. He was going back home after spending time with some friends and now he was doing a goose chase with the Nakanos.

Part of him felt a little remorseful for not using that chance alone with Nino to try to understand her more but he did hear from Miku that watching the fireworks was an important event for them, it was a memory they had with their mom.

So Kiyomaro moved.

Kiyomaro was now on the ground following Ichika's trail. Before going down he had seen the girl walking in a straight line so he had to follow that path until he found the girl, thankfully the sisters had a distinct hair color even in this mass of people they were noticeable enough from afar.

"There she is!" happy that finally luck was smiling at him, kiyomaro stretched his hand to grab the girl's shoulder "Ichika."

But before he could touch her shoulder a middle aged man grabbed his wrist "and you are?" the man was giving him the look like if Kiyomaro was a stalker "what sort of relationship do you have with Ichika-chan?"

'Ichika-chan?' The sudden introduction of the old man leaving kiyomaro confused in his head started to run numerous scenarios and he didn't know which liked less.

"We're friends" that was his honest answer. Today wasn't a working day, he wasn't teaching them, so apart from Nino, Kiyomaro was pretty confident in calling himself friends with the Nakanos.

But by the time he answered, the middle aged man and Ichika were gone.

"Eh?"

"Kiyomaro"

He turned to find Miku who was having a difficult expression.

"Oh Miku, it's good to see you, did you see Ichika where Ichika went."

The third sister shook her head and for some reason her posture was inclined to the side "no, I didn't see her."

"We have to follow her c'mon" first he turned to go after the older quint then he noticed that he may end up separated from Miku again. Going after one of the girls only to lose another was a waste of effort so he chose the simplest solution. He grabbed Miku's hand.

"Eh?" she was clearly confused at first then she noticed the problem at hand "wait."

"Sorry but bear with it at least until we get out of this crowd"

"Ow!"

The expression of pain coming from the girl made him stop and turn to see the girl.

"My foot got steep on…." Kiyomaro found it was hard to read her face, maybe because she was trying to hide the pain or that she wasn't comfortable being surrounded by so many people "just go on ahead."

Again going after one of the nakanos only to leave one behind was a way to lose anyway and Miku was his friend he couldn't just leave her when she was hurt. So kiyomaro turned his back and kneeled.

"Hop on"

"Eh?"

Caring little about miku confusion the crowd kept moving and pushing anyone that was standing still or went in the opposite direction not wanting to be steep again she steeled herself and climbed on kiyomaro back.

"Ok hold on" he raised himself with the girl on his back and started to walk "since you are higher now tell if you see Ichika."

"Mn."

He had to put his backpack in front so Miku could hop on and now with the girl on his back Kiyomaro found the weight distribution all over the place and a little annoying but not something impossible to manage after all the backpack had only a few things a notebook, a pencil case and little more and while the girl on his back didn't weighted much Kiyomaro main problem was whenever something soft would squish against his back, throwing his concentration off.

"Oh right! my backpack" then he changed course to leave the crowd.

Kiyomaro's sudden high voice and the change of direction left Miku confused but she kept on looking for Ichika trusting Kiyomaro's judgment.

Soon after they arrived at a more quiet place the festivity decorations were still present but it didn't have any of the attractions so the overwhelming mass of people wasn't here.

"I remembered I have some bandage on the backpack, Miku I'll get you down."

After letting Miku down she went up some of the stairs steps so Kiyomaro could work better.

The tutor gave the hurt foot a quick look "is not bleeding and is light pink now. if it turns into a darker color later Miku just apply some ice for now a bandage should be fine."

"You seem to be way to used to this" she impressed on the way he treated her wound, she expected a bandage not a precise description "and why do you have a bandage in your bag?"

"Ahaha is that some of the friends I meet today are prone to falling and getting injured so I got this habit of carrying bandage or band aids" while it's true that Suzune was prone to falling off and getting into weird situations, Kiyomaro mainly got this habit during his day's in the Mamodo battle were out of nowhere a Mamodo would appear and a fight would ensue. Rarely kiyomaro or Gash would come out unscathed from a fight so having bandages or band aids become the norm for him.

'but it's a little sad that Suzune didn't get to meet the girls I feel they would have gotten along great' on the other hand he was glad that Kaneyama, Yamanaka and Iwashima didn't get to meet the girls they would either tease Kiyomaro over which one was his girlfriend or in the worst case they would try their luck with them.

"Hey Miku, when I saw Ichika she was with an old guy with a mustache. Do you know him?"

"No. But I think I have seen her get out of the car of someone like that."

"I'm liking this less and less" Kiyomaro knew he was just beginning to know the quints but if one of them was getting into trouble he would like to help them "anyway we better keep going, can you walk a little?"

Kiyomaro offered her a hand to help her stand, Miku appreciating the gesture she took with a small smile on her lips "Yes."

Some people doing a survey tried to question them but Kiyomaro quickly shot them down since they were in a hurry looking for the other sisters.

"Look kiyomaro it's Itsuki" Miku pointed with her finger in the distance and just like she said there was a girl wearing star hair pins and noticeable hair color.

"Oh! Awesome Miku" he wanted to go quickly for her but with Miku injured food it was hard to make quick pace "can you stay around here I'll go grab her and come back."

"Mn."

After seeing the girl nod kiyomaro made haste toward Itsuki, he really hoped she wasn't injured or had an old man following her around.

"Itsuki"

"Oh Takamine-kun" turning around to see who was calling her, Itsuki found it was their private tutor.

"Good now I only have to find Ichika again and Yotsuba"

"You've been looking for us?"

"Yes since Nino didn't tell anyone where the viewing point was, somehow I ended up with the job of gathering you guys."

"Oh sorry for the problems" she made a small bow "even in your free day you're going along with us."

"Well is important for you guys so it's not really a problem."

"Takamine-kun" felt touched over the willingness to help them the tutor have for the five but she still hoped that this won't happen much or he might grow tired of them.

"And where is the little girl?"

"Lya? she went with Yotsuba to see the stalls with games."

For kiyomaro that were great news at least he already had a starting point on where to look the next sister, Kiyomaro thought of leaving Itsuki right now and just give her the direction where miku is right now and go look for Yotsuba but he remembered that booth of her sister talked about itsuki bad sense of direction, he hasn't seen it himself so he didn't knew if they exaggerating or simple stating facts.

"Miku is on a street close to here. Let's meet up with her first."

"You already met Miku, that's great!"

They started walking where miku should be, Kiyomaro wanted to bring the matter with Ichika but he didn't had any idea on how to bring it with Itsuki for the time he had known her she was the most responsible of the sisters he didn't knew how she would react at the chance of one of her sisters doing something wrong.

"Oh good you already meet up with Itsuki-chan"

Almost like fate the girl he was just thinking about appeared before him "Ichi-" but before he could say a word the girl dragged him to a back alley and in quick succession she pinned him to the wall, their distance now minimal.

"I need you to kept a secret what happen earlier from the other's" Ichika distance herself from kiyomaro but just enough to him see her face "I cannot watch the firework with them"

"Eh?"

"I got a sudden request for a job so I can't go see the fireworks."

"But your sister's."

Ichika distanced herself a little "I mean we all have the same face so is not like anyone will notice if I'm missing."

"You know that's not true."

"Sorry, someone is waiting for me"

Ichika started to leave kiyomaro still didn't know if it was safe the job Ichika was doing and his answer-talker didn't want or maybe it wasn't working because he was afraid of the answer he might get.

"Hey stop" this time he managed to grab her arm "at least explain to me what is this about"

"Why?"

"..."

"Why are you curious about my personal life? is because you're my tutor?"

Ichika was looking at kiyomaro with piercing eyes. The tutor decided to close his eyes and take a deep breath "I came to the festival with my friends and when I was leaving I met you guys."

"And what does that have to do with this"

He did not pay attention to Ichika's complaint and continued with his story.

"I heard from Miku that this was important to you guys and by luck I managed to grab Nino and learn about the situation she was facing" this night has been one frustrating situation after the other "then I decided to go look for the rest of you. I had to carry Miku and bandage her injured foot then I have to leave her behind so I could catch Itsuki"

"..."

"So don't come to me with our relationship being only tutor and student because I wouldn't have come this for a stranger" this has been a problem after the other and somehow these sisters made him feel more tired than when dealing with the idiot trio "I. I. Think of you as important friends."

That were his honest feelings Kiyomaro might help a stranger but to him being so invested emotionally was another point but he was 100% on board to help the Nakano the reason was simple he considered them his friends they already were important to him.

In Ashiyama high school he felt alone without realizing it this wall between the other students and him was form but that didn't happen with the Nakanos those girl would talk to him like normal, they would talk about their hobbies, about what food they ate, about how was their afternoon and even get into flights with him.

Before realizing it he came to appreciate every interaction with the quintuplets.

Her cold look has gone away now she returned to the usual self proclaimed elder sister "Mmm~ so I'm important to you Kiyomaro-kun" she had seen Kiyomaro's embarrassed face when he asked them about going to the museum and also on the first day when he entered her room and that little accident happened.

those two events had Ichika thinking that their tutor was the type to turn their face the other way to hide his embarrassment and she was right after asking that question as she guessed he moved his head finally breaking the eye contact, so she slowly got closer again and with her right hand she gently turned Kiyomaro head finally getting a full view of his red face.

"..." He knew that trying to play it as a simple friendly worry would only give more fire to Ichika so he decided to be straight with it "yes."

"...Ahaha if you're so honest about it, big sis is going to feel embarrassed too" Ichika took some steps back and put her hands on her face whether it was to hide her embarrassment or to feel if her face was as hot as she felt it was she herself didn't knew.

"If it is something important there is nothing we can do but at least tell me it is nothing dangerous."

"Big sis cannot tease you if worry so much for me" Ichika took a deep breath and with serious expression she choose to continue talking "don't worry is nothing bad I wanted to keep it a secret a little more but I-"

"There you are Ichika-chan!" Whatever word was going to come out of Ichika's mouth was cut short over the yell of the middle aged man that was Ichika's companion.

There Ichika and Kiyomaro saw the old guy drag by the arm a girl really similar to Ichika but it wasn't her going by the color and pattern of the yukata it was Miku the one the middle aged guy was dragging.

That piss off Kiyomaro. He made pace to reach them quickly. Thanks to Miku's resistance he quickly arrived "Hey stop, her feet are hurt and she isn't even Ichika."

"You. what are you doing" Kiyomaro had pulled Miku away from the old guy and right now was holding her by the shoulders very close to him even if Ichika had said her job wasn't anything dangerous, the old man for him was a stranger "what's your connection with her!?"

'again with that question why is he so interested in my relationships?' Right now he wasn't thinking straight, the confusion and bizarreness over this whole situation getting to him "she's someone important to me so give her back" . Remnants of the chat he had with Ichika earlier did not allow him to answer in any other way.

Miku and Ichika, who had to follow kiyomaro at a slower pace due to her sandals, both of them had a stunned expression on their faces over the answer the brown haired had given.

"Are you high? what kind of nonsense youre talking about"

"You're the one not making sense, she's not even Ichika!"

"How could I mistake that face" Ichika tried to mediate the conversation but Kiyomaro and the old man were screaming to loud for her to intervene "hurry up and give me my model back"

Those words made Kiyomaro freeze and turned to look at Ichika "model?"

Miku was as confused as Kiyomaro was "Ichika is an actress?"

"Hey."

"Look i'm sorry for getting the wrong person but right-Eek" Miku saw the middle aged man freeze mid speech and not only that she also found it weird how the color of his face went practically pale then she turned to see Ichika who also had a similar reaction. She followed their line of sight to see what they were looking at. When she turned she saw that Kiyomaro's face had been replaced for one of a demon.

Kiyomaro had found this situation completely stupid from Nino not telling her sisters where to meet up was to Ichika being too secretive of her job for not concrete reason and this old man also acting so deceptive, what it so hard to say to she's the actress I'm managing, what do you need from her? so he could not give the impression of being Ichika sugar daddy.

"Eek!"

Even Miku who had done nothing wrong got a scare from Kiyomaro demon and by being so close to kiyomaro she is the one that got it the worst

"Explain now. Like normal people."

Hello I hope your having a good day

Man I wanted to kept a weekly schedule but I had to take care of some IRL things.

This chapter was kind of hard to write due to the amount of quick turn they're in the firework festival, there some were indecisions on what to adapt and what to skip.