Even You is Split in Fifths (A quintessential quintuplets fanfic)

Chapter 42

It was an oddly chilly evening. Something out of the ordinary for this time of year. Fuutarou waited on a bench in the only park within walking distance. 

He had received a text from Itsuki asking her to meet him there. Would he finally be able to learn the truth as to why Itsuki said those things?

No matter what happened, he knew that tonight was the night he would get his answer to everything. 

The only question was, would he and Itsuki ever be the same?

A few minutes went by until finally a figure appeared under the lamplight. Fuutarou Uesugi looked up and saw the youngest quintuplet standing there.

For a moment he didn't know what to say, luckily she answered for him. 

"You actually came, thank goodness." she breathed a sigh of relief. 

"I got your little text." he motioned toward his phone. "It's a good thing that you wanted to talk, because I needed to ask you some things as well."

"Well we could've  talked earlier if you hadn't been ignoring me the whole time at school today." she pointed out, taking a seat next to him. "But, now that you're here I'll be nice for once and let you ask your question first."

Unfortunately for her, this would be a question she didn't think he would ask.

"Why did you lie to me?"

"Eh....?" 

"Itsuki, I know that I never visited anyone the night of the festival in high school. I talked to the others already."

Silence fell upon them. The only audible sound in the air was the few breaths that were taken in the middle of the quietness.

"It was... for a good cause." Itsuki finally answered. "And I know it may not seem right to you-"

"Itsuki." he cut her off. "I know how much you care about your sisters. Way too much. I also know you're the type of person to not hurt other people for no reason. So I'll ask again. Why did you tell me that you're the one that I went to go see during the festival?"

She sucked in her breath for a moment. It was no use. She couldn't go on lying to Fuutarou forever.

"You know I've always wanted to be like my mom right?" The red-haired Nakano started. "She was the only one that was able to solve everything that went wrong between me and my siblings."

Ever since she could remember, the five of them had always been together. This wasn't always for the best. There were plenty of disagreements, arguments, and a few brawls as well. 

Yet only one person could stop it...

Their mother.

She had such a sweet and calming voice, her words were both stern yet soft. She was the type of person that nobody would ever want to upset. 

That was the case with the quintuplets as well. Anytime their mother saw them fighting with each other they would realize she was beginning to feel upset. 

That was the last thing any of them ever wanted to do. She was able to calm down any situation before anything too serious occurred. 

"Uesugi-kun... no Fuutarou-kun. When you came into our lives that second year in high school our world was turned upside down. You changed our lives. You showed us that students that previously didn't have a future could find their own path.

"While we were holed up in our own little worlds feeling like we could just get by with anything you showed us that there was a way to find things we enjoyed doing. And even though it was hard at first you showed us all that we could accomplish our dreams.

"And during this period, my sisters had... fallen in love with you."

"Eh?!?!" Fuutarou's face turned a slight tint of pink. While it may have been obvious to others, the dense Fuutarou had no clue what feelings were.

He tried every trick in the book to deduce these feelings, hell he even bought a book to figure it out.

"But some things that you didn't see started to happen." Itsuki continued. "My sister's, Ichika, Nino, Miku, Yotsuba. They've all started to do whatever it takes to win in the end. And while you may not be aware of it, they've started to grow further away from each other.

"Which is why I resorted to the only trick I seemed to have left. If I could convince you that you were in love with me... then you wouldn't ever look their way again."

She sat there quietly, not knowing what his response will be.

A hand was placed on the top of her head. It felt comforting.

The other hand began to wipe tears that she didn't realize were hers. She was confused. Fuutarou didn't yell at her, he didn't blame her for anything.

His deep voice cut through the silence of night. "I'm not the best at understanding other people's emotions. And I'm not the best at being able to convey my feelings in the right way as well.

"But I know this... your love for your sisters is something that can't ever be replaced."

Tears continued to flow down her face as Fuutarou pulled out a handkerchief. 

"You did well Itsuki..." He patted her head continuously.

And it was at this moment that Itsuki Nakano realized something...

She was in love with Fuutarou Uesugi.

"kAzUyA iT's LiTeRaLlY mOnDaY... i tHoUgHt yOu sAiD wEeKlY uPdAtEs wErE oN sUnDaY..."

Shut up. I had things to do. 

I read manga... I watched hibike euphonium... I played the act of valorant... I was busy...

See you next week.

-Kazuya