Bugs showing up would be a pain, but it was like a forest bath, and the air tasted delicious.

The half-fallen cherry blossoms were romantic and photogenic, too.

Say what you will, a location under a blue sky is the finest spice for making a meal taste good.

The mood I'd been a little down about lately felt soothed.

There were other campers around, but it wasn't overcrowded, so there was a decent amount of space between us.

"I'm glad the cherry blossoms are still blooming."

"There are a lot of different kinds of cherry trees here. Since each one blooms at a different time, you can enjoy the blossoms over a long stretch. It's a pretty popular campsite—up until last week they were running a flower-viewing event, and apparently it was packed."

"Huh," I said, impressed by Miku's explanation.

Miku had looked into all sorts of things for this camping trip.

The location, how to make a reservation, transportation, what we'd need to bring—everything.

She'd said something like, "I've gotten interested in the outdoors lately," but I wondered if something had changed for her.

"Maybe because the blossoms are falling, it's not that crowded, which is nice."

"There's an open feeling to it. And you know the saying, don't you? That cherry blossoms are at their most beautiful the moment they fall."

I caught a small petal carried over on the wind, and a thought came to me.

I wish Fuu-kun could have come too.

I'd contacted him, but our schedules hadn't lined up.

Nothing to be done about it—Fuu-kun had started living alone in Tokyo.

He'd said he'd taken on multiple part-time jobs again, for the money he sent home and his tuition.

But... haah.

It really was lonely, being apart from Fuu-kun.

"Mmm, this rice ball has shiokara¹inside! One of my favorites~"

Wearing her short-haired wig and a colorful knit cap as a disguise, Ichika flashed a smile that could rival the cherry blossoms themselves.

A casual top and sky-blue denim. She wore it effortlessly, but it was high-end brand stuff.

Not caring that it'd pick up the smell of the campfire—that was very Ichika.

"The fried chicken is delicious too! It's gone cold but it's still juicy, and it goes really well with the rice balls."

Itsuki held a fork stabbed through a piece of fried chicken in her right hand, beaming.

A thin spring knit and a knee-length culotte skirt.

It was an outfit picked for ease of movement, but it looked cute too.

Of course it did—they were my hand-me-downs.

"I figured we'd be cooking something at the campsite, but the boxed lunch is the best. It's like a picnic!"

Yotsuba, fooling around with a teriyaki-chicken egg sandwich in one hand.

A loose green hoodie paired with tight black pants—it suited her.

From rough to girly, Yotsuba could pull off pretty much anything, which I envied.

"We'll cook dinner and tomorrow's breakfast here. Look forward to it, okay?"

Miku, enjoying green tea brewed with water she'd boiled over the fire pit.

A bright, very spring-like cardigan over a long-sleeved dress. On her feet, sneakers she'd borrowed from Yotsuba.

Not bad at all, for Miku. Aside from her outfit being basically the same as mine.

"Still, it was nice of them to lend us five whole sleeping bags."

"Yotsuba. They're not 'sleeping bags,' they're 'schlafsacks.'²The agency staffer who lent them to us said so. That person has a family and tons of camping gear. They didn't have five tents, though, naturally."

"Ichika, please pass along our thanks to them, okay?"

"Camping gear's pretty expensive, so this was a real help. We went camping last summer too, but those tents were rentals, weren't they?"

"Well, back in the day we'd have just bought them. One tent each, even."

Thinking about it now, our sense of money a few years ago was completely out of whack...

We'd gone abroad by plane on Christmas just because we felt like it.

Father had given us a life without a single inconvenience.

But after we transferred to Asahi High, a lot of things changed.

Ichika started working as an actress, and the rest of us started part-time jobs.

Thanks to that, we got to learn how hard it is to earn money, and how much it's worth.

We still couldn't cover all our living expenses, but we couldn't keep gnawing on our parent's leg forever either.

This trip's expenses were out of our own pockets too.

It wasn't cheap, but everyone had worked plenty of part-time hours over spring break, so we had a bit of room to spare.

"Eating dinner while looking at the cherry blossoms at night has a real mood to it."

"Hehheh. Getting all the way out here was kind of a hassle, though."

"Ichika, you overslept."

"Sorryyy. I only got eight hours of sleep last night."

"You're a long sleeper as ever... Well, Ichika wasn't the only one who had a hard time, though."

Itsuki—who'd won one of the three folding outdoor chairs in a game of rock-paper-scissors—raised her index finger sharply.

"Nino forgot something and had to go back home once, and when we all ran to catch the train, only Miku missed it, and Yotsuba picked up a dropped phone."

"There's no way I'm doing the outdoors without my milky lotion and toner!"

"You really saved me. Everyone got off one stop ahead and waited for me."

"When I went to the police box, the owner happened to be right there, so it worked out!"

"And after you finished pitching your tent, Itsuki-chan, you said 'I'm going to look around' and wandered off alone and got lost."

"Ngh... Ichika. That's a secret."

Heh, now that she mentions it, Itsuki does have a bit of a no-sense-of-direction thing going on.

She'd gotten lost at the fireworks festival, and during the test of courage at the nature camp, too.

Even as I gave a wry smile, I lightly blew on the black tea I'd brewed with a tea bag and brought it to my lips.

"Not bad."

A flower-viewing camping location made even cheap black tea taste many times better.

Getting to relax with all five sisters for the first time in a while was heartwarming, too.

"By the way, I want to hear how everyone's been doing lately."

Two weeks had passed since each of our new lives had started.

Maybe because we'd all been busy, we hadn't gotten to hear the details.

"Ahh, all sorts of stuff has been going on."

The first to speak up was Ichika.

After finishing off her rice ball, the young actress launched into the story of her new life.

· Ichika's Case

So, actually, I got picked to sing the theme song for a movie coming out this summer.

Nakano Ichika—singer debut, who'd have thought!

Hehheh, I get it, you're surprised, right?

As for how this came to be—our company president happened to watch a video online.

The one of Nino doing her idol thing at the school festival last year.

Hm? "Why is there even a video like that?!" you ask? Someone who filmed it on their phone must have uploaded it. Come on, don't be embarrassed~

It's fine, isn't it—you said before that tattoos look painful so you'd hate them, but a digital tattoo³or two is no big deal. It went pretty viral with people saying "She looks like the actress Nakano Ichika!"

So anyway. The president, all worked up, goes:

"Ichika-chan, the girl singing in this video is your sister, right? You're quintuplets, so are you a good singer too, Ichika-chan?"

"Well, about good enough to enjoy doing it badly."

"In that case—why don't you try singing the theme song for the movie you're starring in this summer?"

"Come ooon, President. If you make jokes like that, I'll take you seriously, you know?"

"Take me seriously! Our agency's put up some of the funding for this movie, so I've got a say in things!"

"Wow, real grown-up industry stuff~"

"I talked it over with the film's producer about promotional strategy, and having you, the lead actress, do the theme song as well will turn into numbers—and considering your future entertainment career, it's a challenge worth taking on!"

"True. It does seem like it'd broaden the range of work I could get."

"We've got singers signed to our agency too, so welcome to the club, Ichika-chan! You're a quick study, and with your current momentum you can definitely pull it off. And the agency will give our flagship actress its full support!"

And so, just like that, my artist debut was decided.

I was honestly surprised, and since I'm an amateur when it comes to singing, I do have my worries.

But everyone started a new life after graduating high school.

So I figured I'd take on a new challenge too!

Hehe, it's too early to celebrate, Miku, Yotsuba, Itsuki-chan.

I've got a recording session around the start of next month, so I've started taking vocal lessons.

These days it seems like even if you're a somewhat bad singer the engineer can fix it up, but I want to improve my singing in case something comes up!

The thing is, one of the agency's new girls goes to the same studio.

She's an actress too, and apparently she's a fan of mine.

"Ichika-san, could you tell me what camera app you use?! The night view you posted on your Instagram was so beautiful! I want to take photos like that too!"

I was about to tell her I just casually shot it with the camera function that came built in, but she'd be disappointed, right?

So I answered, "I'll teach you sometime," but... ahaha, what a mess.

I don't know anything about apps and stuff.

Even the initial setup on my Instagram, I had the agency staff do it for me.

I was sitting in the living room mulling over how I didn't want to look uncool in front of my junior, when—

"You can't even look up a camera app these days? Are you some kind of grandma?"

—Nino taught me a good app.

Thanks for that!

Thanks to Nino, I got to protect my dignity as a senior actress, and I landed the singing job too!

—Once she'd finished her story.

Ichika held out a piece of rolled omelet stabbed on her fork. "Here, as thanks."

"Hmph. Thanks for what—I'm the one who made this."

Even as I said it, I stuffed the omelet into my mouth.

Being thanked didn't feel bad, and though I hadn't said it earlier...

A singer debut—that's amazing, isn't it!!

The fact that the cause was my school-festival stage was something I had feelings about, but... hehe. What do I do. I'm getting excited.

Once it's announced I have to "like" Ichika's Instagram!

Not from my main account, of course, but from the secret account I run under a fake name.

I'd hate for it to get out that I'm secretly monitoring her Instagram.

"Come to think of it, you were always bad with machines, Ichika."

"In the computer class in high school, you typed using only your index fingers, too."

"When you bought your smartphone, we were the ones who taught you how to use it."

"You're naive, Yotsuba. Having a weakness or two makes you more charming as a person."

"It seems like it's more than one or two, though? If that junior of yours saw that filthy room of yours, wouldn't she be disillusioned and block you on Instagram?"

"No mercy! Honestly, Nino's as harsh as ever~"

"But I was helped by her too, you know."

"? What do you mean?"

To Ichika, who tilted her head with a blank look like a small animal, Itsuki began to speak.

About something that had happened at the university she'd enrolled in.

· Itsuki's Case

As you all know, the school I enrolled in is the Faculty of Education at Chukyo University of Education.

It is located not too far from home by train.

Naturally, campus life was different from high school life in every conceivable way.

What gave me trouble was course registration.

Unlike high school, where the school decides your class timetable, you have to choose your lectures yourself.

The lectures I wanted to take in order to become a good teacher in the future.

And on top of that, the required courses I absolutely had to take.

How was I supposed to put together a timetable that balanced all of those well...

I was registering on a computer in the university's PC room, wearing my glasses, when my hands came to a stop.

I hadn't been able to make any friends to consult yet, you see.

"You—are you a new student?"

In the midst of that, a slender third-year woman spoke to me.

Her name was... let's tentatively call her "Ms. F."

Ms. F said, "If you'd like, shall I give you some advice?"

Ms. F herself had struggled with course registration in her first year, but when she consulted an upperclassman, it had gone well.

"It's evening anyway—why don't we talk over dinner near the station?"

"Is that all right? Thank you very much."

I thought we might be able to become friends.

So thinking, I went to a family restaurant with Ms. F, but... hm?

Ah, it's fine, Ichika!

It wasn't a solicitation for an investment scam or a pyramid scheme.

I learned later that universities apparently have a lot of trouble with that sort of thing.

However, Ms. F's true identity was...

"I'm the president of the Chukyo U Gourmet Research Society. The truth is, I'd been curious about you, Nakano-san. When I saw you in the cafeteria the other day, you ate with such gusto... Please! Won't you join the Gourmet Society?! We've been talking about all entering a big-eating challenge together, and I want immediate firepower!"

E-everyone! Please stop laughing!

I never imagined I'd be scouted for competitive eating the moment I enrolled, either!

Of course, I politely declined.

That research society apparently puts quite a bit of effort into the big-eating side of things, but I simply like eating various delicious foods.

I have no particular interest in big-eating challenges!

However, Ms. F turned out to be surprisingly persistent, and she solicited me several more times on campus.

When I was troubled by that, a few days later, in a university hallway—

"Good morning, Nakano-san! Did you think it over—the research society?"

"Ah, about that."

"Listen! It's far too wasteful to let your talent stay buried! In the future you absolutely should become a professional food fighter! If you'd like, let's head to the club room together right now!"

"You're being persistent."

"Eh...? Nakano-san? What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"

"Ahaha, don't you understand? I said you're being persistent. I've been declining, yet you keep soliciting me again and again."

"I-I meant well...!"

"Using the words 'I meant well' as an indulgence doesn't make it okay to say anything you please. You've surely got plenty of nutrients going to your brain from all that eating, so couldn't you understand at least that much?"

When I'd had that conversation, she said, "I-I'm so sorry!" and gave up.

Yes.

Just as you all guessed, the one who repelled Ms. F was Nino, disguised as me.

When I consulted her about Ms. F, she went out of her way to take a day off school and come to the university... Thank you so much, truly!

—Once she'd finished her story.

Itsuki dutifully bowed her head.

"Nice work, Nino! Yo, big sis!"

"Ichika. Stop calling me weird names. I just got annoyed, that's all."

At first I'd intended to turn the woman down gently, but I changed my mind.

Don't go butting into Itsuki's future, you total stranger.

Itsuki has a dream of becoming a teacher, after all.

"I hear there are a lot of different kinds of people at university... Anything else going on, any trouble?"

To Miku's concern, Itsuki nodded and said, "I'm fine," but—

"I'm having a hard time making friends... The classmates in my seminar are forming groups with people they've been friends with since high school, or getting along with the people who joined the same club."

"I get it. When the groups are already formed, it's hard to break into the circle."

"But making friends is one of my goals, so I'll do my best! In the faculty there are also plenty of people who share the same dream of becoming a teacher. By the way, Yotsuba, did you make any friends at university?"

"I got close with an upperclassman from the track team."

"It's not another weird upperclassman, is it...?"

Maybe because she'd heard about Itsuki's situation, Ichika furrowed her lovely brows with a worried look.

Yotsuba gave a wry smile and said, "Hmm, well, 'weird' isn't quite the word," and then she told her story.

· Yotsuba's Case

"Long time no see, Nakano-san. I wanted to see you. So much."

The person I met at university was the former captain of the track team.

Yeah, the one a year ahead of me at Asahi High—Eba-senpai.

"Wow, it's been a while, Captain!"

"Hehe, I'm not the captain yet here at university, so call me Eba-senpai, okay? Still, I'm surprised. To think you'd chase after me and enroll at Shido U."

"Ah, that's not what happened~"

"That's our Nakano-san! That strong mental fortitude, not flinching in front of an upperclassman—it's perfect for an ekiden runner."

That was the kind of conversation we had when I met up with the senior team members at the track-and-field stadium at Shido University.

To be honest, I was already pretty used to Eba-senpai's energy.

"Whoa. She's friends with Eba-san, who even ran in last year's collegiate women's ekiden."

"Who's that girl?"

"Nakano... no way, Nakano Yotsuba?!"

But then I got surrounded by my track-team classmates in their tracksuits.

I had this image of sports universities having strict senior-junior hierarchies, so I figured I'd get scolded for being so familiar with an upperclassman, but—

"You—I know you! You were so active across so many events that there was even an urban legend going around that 'Nakano Yotsuba isn't actually one person, she's a set of triplet sisters'!"

"Close—we're quintuplets!"

"I thought you'd be a scarier person, Nakano-san. You were called things like 'the Two-Horned Demon of Asahi High,'⁴after all."

"Um, is that because of this ribbon?"

"That's part of it, but—"

"There's a rumor that when a male fan of yours tried to hit on you in town, you looked down on him with a smile and said, 'Ahaha, you're kind of annoying, you know?'"

"I've got a pretty good idea which family member of mine pulls that kind of devil's treatment! And anyway, a fan...?"

"You didn't know? You're a fairly famous runner in track-and-field circles, Nakano-san. Ah, no need to be modest. Your fame is the fruit of your own hard work, after all."

"Eba-senpai..."

"All my effort spreading your nickname and your accomplishments paid off."

"That was information I didn't want to know~"

After that, I properly explained things to the classmates and seniors.

That I'd put up a lot of results in high school, but since I had a gap, I wanted them not to expect too much from me yet.

"A gap?"

"Um, in my third year of high school—"

"Did you get a boyfriend or something?! Kya~, Nakano-san, you go~!"

"No, um, I was busy with studying so I cut back on practice."

"So you don't have a boyfriend?"

"Eh?! Th-that's... um..."

"With that reaction there's absolutely no way you don't! What's he like? Is he hot? What's his hundred-meter time?"

"Um, he's not a track athlete, he goes to a university in Tokyo—"

"A-a boyfriend in Tokyo, you say?"

"No way. Athletic, modest, and an advanced romance player on top of it all."

"And she's cute too! What do you use for skin care?"

"Tell me your toner brand! Running seriously wrecks your skin, especially in winter!"

So that's how I quickly got close with the girls on the track team.

Apparently sports universities have compliance rules these days too, so some places don't have strict hierarchies.

"S-such a thing, Nakano-san with a boyfriend...?"

Eba-senpai seemed kind of down, but someone like her will definitely bounce back fast!

Ekiden runners have strong mental fortitude!

Oh, and practice isn't easy at all—it's incomparably harder than high school—but maybe thanks to my self-training, I'm keeping up, you know?

The thing is, I've been having a really hard time with the classroom lectures...

But when I introduced the cosmetics Nino uses to a third-year senior, I got notes summarizing the parts that'd help on the tests.

Thanks, Nino! With those, I might just be able to get through the lectures!

—Once she'd finished her story.

Yotsuba thanked me with a full-blown smile.

"Being thanked just for telling someone about cosmetics is kind of awkward, you know?"

"As thanks, I'll tell you about a cheap, delicious all-you-can-eat place a third-year recommended."

"That sounds more like a choice Fuu-kun would be happy about than me."

"It's apparently a sports-university classic. Since you get so hungry from exercising every day, you end up knowing all the all-you-can-eat places."

"I see. So your body is your capital, then."

"Speaking of bodies—is living alone going okay? You're not getting run-down?"

To Miku's concern, Yotsuba scratched her head, looking troubled.

"I'm not run-down, but I do make a lot of mistakes~"

"That many?"

"Our apartment's built-in washing machine doesn't have a dryer function, and the one back home did, so I keep forgetting to hang up my clothes after washing them. I've started cooking for myself too, but I'm still a total beginner. Nino's been helping me out."

"It's nothing. I didn't do anything."

"When I went back home, you split some side dishes into a container for me and said, 'There's extra, so why don't you take some?'"

"Ohh? Could it be that Nino has a talent not just for cooking, but for being a mom too~?"

Glaring at Ichika as she teased me with a smirk, I quietly let out a breath of relief inside.

I made simmered dishes and the like so she wouldn't end up malnourished, and it seems like she was happy with them.

There may be troubles, but it seems like living alone isn't lonely for her either.

Honestly.

Meanwhile, with Yotsuba gone, the house has felt awfully quiet to me.

"At any rate, for now my relationships are smooth sailing."

"I'm jealous."

Miku let a breath slip from her small mouth.

Clouding her usually inscrutable, mysterious expression with melancholy, she said,

"I'm struggling with relationships, and I'm studying Japanese history."

To the why? looks from Ichika, Yotsuba, and Itsuki, Miku began her story.

· Miku's Case

The school I go to is Chukyo Culinary Vocational School.

Classroom study about cooking, studying to get various certifications, training in customer-service etiquette.

There are all sorts of classes, but of course the main thing is the cooking practicums.

Basically you form a group and cook.

Nino and I ended up in separate groups, and Nino got close with the people in her group right away. But in my group there was a girl I'm not good with.

Her name is Rose.

She's an exchange student from Australia, the same age as us, but she's a brusque girl who doesn't say much.

Hm? She's like the old me?

Maybe.

But she's more on the delinquent side, if anything.

She's blond, and her clothes are punk-style with crosses and such drawn on them. Well, the hair's apparently natural, and since our school bans accessories during practicums, she doesn't wear piercings or rings.

She can speak Japanese fluently, but she's somehow hard to approach.

But one day after school, I happened to see it by chance.

That the lock screen on Rose's phone was the Oda mokkou.

You might've seen it in a Japanese history textbook? It's Oda Nobunaga's family crest.⁵

"Could it be that you like history?"

"Huh?! H-how did you know?"

"Don't panic. I'm the same. Um, I'm interested in history."

See, I showed her my own phone's lock screen.

I'd just... h-happened to have the Takeda family crest on it!

When I heard her out, it turned out Rose had watched a Sengoku-era anime full of warlords turned into hot guys, and gotten into mar—no, into Japanese culture, like me.

She'd wanted to be a pâtissier, but she started thinking she'd like to find work in Japan in the future, so she studied Japanese like crazy.

From there, the two of us hit it off.

"I kept it hidden because coming to Japan because of an anime is too cliché and lame! You know the type that always shows up in Japanese comics, that kind of guy."

"Rose, your way of talking is kind of boyish."

"Ngh... I learned Japanese from anime dudes, so what do you expect? I'll show you sometime too, Miku—the anime where the hot warlords go wild!"

"Sure. It's not really my taste, but I'll watch it."

The warlords being hot guys was something I had reservations about, but I was happy.

Yes—I made a new friend, and a comrade in the same hobby, no less!

But... after that a lot happened, and we got into a bit of a spat.

Hm?

The reason is... a secret.

Anyway. These days, every day is a battle.

It's not that we fight, but before class and after school the two of us have Japanese-history quiz showdowns.

Maybe thanks to all my studying, the day before yesterday I won by a landslide. Well, because of that I almost forgot my food-hygiene-science assignment once, but Nino reminded me so I didn't forget.

—Once she'd finished her story.

"Relationships are tough, huh. Well, the quiz showdowns are pretty fun, and thanks to Rose I might get to take on a new challenge."

Miku sighed, but she was smiling.

Well, isn't it a good thing she made a good friend?

Though I don't know what this new challenge is.

"The fact that your method of fighting is a Japanese-history quiz is very you, Miku."

"Do you do warlord-name word chains⁶or something?"

"No, Yotsuba. That's the one thing I won't do. Ever. Warlord word chains are... special."

Miku gave a shy smile, as if savoring a memory.

Could it be that she's done it with Fuu-kun before?

"I'm curious about the reason you fought, but they say the closer the friends, the fiercer the fights. Looks like even Miku's finally gotten herself a best friend~"

"...Don't tease me. It's not at that point yet."

Her cheeks faintly dyed rose, Miku gave me a light glare, then changed the subject as if to deflect.

"Anyway—I'm surprised. Everyone's been getting helped out by Nino in their new lives."

"Oh? It's your own fault for being such messes, isn't it?"

"And what about you, Nino? Are you handling your new life properly?"

"Ngh... w-well, more or less."

To Ichika's question, I opened my heavy mouth.

"Miku didn't mention it, but culinary school has an outrageous downside. From here on it gets to be a dark story, so let's change locations to talk about it."

Yes—the reason this campsite is popular isn't only that you can view cherry blossoms.

It actually has a natural hot spring.

"Culinary school has insanely strict rules."

Soaking in the open-air bath at the campsite, I began my story.

The hot spring, with a sign reading "100% from the source," seemed like it would be good for the skin.

The scent unique to hot springs, and the steam rising off the water's surface.

Beyond the open-air bath's fence you could even see the cherry blossoms—elegant, but... unfortunately, my tone was heavy.

"Maybe thanks to cooking at home and getting toughened up at my part-time job, the practicums are no problem. If anything, my skills get praised. It's just, I'm still not used to the rules."

"Are they really that strict?"

I answered Itsuki, who soaked in the water with her long hair still tied back.

"The hygiene management especially. At our school, boys are only allowed short hair. And during practicums, girls have to tuck all their hair up into a cook's hat."

"I see. So that's why there have been a lot of days lately when you don't have your nails done?"

"As sharp as ever! Good eye, Ichika."

"What happens if you break the rules?"

"Worst case, you can't attend the lesson. The rule inspections are strict, too—every single day they check things right down to the length of your nails."

Ugh, it makes me so irritated!

On school days I can't even wear perfume, and I can only do pedicures.

"And that's just the beginning. Culinary school has the worst downside of all."

"The worst...?"

Yotsuba gulped, looking tense.

Yes—the worst downside of culinary school.

It was...!

"You gain weight easily."

"Huh?"

A trio of confusion echoed across the open-air bath under the blue sky.

To Ichika, Yotsuba, and Itsuki, who'd opened their mouths blankly, Miku—who understood the situation—added,

"There's individual variation, of course. But at culinary school, every practicum you eat what you made and write reports on it and so on. The course I'm in now is the general one, but we're scheduled to make sweets and such too. And once that happens..."

"It's a double punch of fat and carbs!"

Honestly, it's such a struggle!

The first thing the school's instructor informed us of was the hellish high-calorie days that lay ahead.

Under the water, I touched the waist I'd cinched up tight with my daily yoga.

I'd only just enrolled, so there were still a lot of basic practicums like how to use a knife.

But eventually, it seemed, we'd be cooking and eating something every single day.

The confectionery course I planned to take starting in second year apparently has you making over a hundred kinds of sweets in a single year.

If it comes to that, who knows when this waistline I'm so proud of will give way...!

"When the instructor said 'Brace yourselves, all right? I gained eight kilos during my own culinary-school days,' every girl in the classroom screamed."

"Of course they did—I'd rather die than get remodeled into Meat-Bun Ghost No. 2!"

Oops, I accidentally trash-talked Itsuki.

She'd finally been in a good mood at the hot spring—did I just make her angry?

"Hehehe."

But Itsuki smiled gently, like a saintly mother.

And then, with lips glossy from the hot-spring steam, brimming with composure, she said,

"That sounds rough, Nino. When your dieting period comes, I'll keep you company, okay?"

"...!! Itsuki, you..."

She's a little happy about this, isn't she?!

There's the anticipation of having found a comrade!

And the relief that the balance in my fat reserves might end up beating her own!

"There's a phrase Uesugi-kun taught me. 'When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.'⁷You teased me to no end, Nino, but before you knew it you were being gazed into as well. By the abyss known as high calories."

"Itsukiii!"

"Now, now, cool it, cool it. I wonder if you can take out the food you can't finish during the practicums? If you bring some home, I'll help you eat it."

"Me too! I'm planning to come home about once a week. I'm looking forward to eating delicious food!"

"Ichika, Yotsuba... thanks. Oh, Itsuki, you don't need to help."

"Why only me?"

"Why don't you put a hand on your chest—or rather, your stomach—and think about it?"

"Ninooo!" Itsuki, now angry, splashed water at me, and Ichika and the others, catching the stray fire, fought back.

Laughter rose up as a water-splashing battle broke out in one corner of the open-air bath.

Well, I had my worries about my weight, but for now everyone looked like they were having fun, so it was fine.

This way, surely no one would notice.

"Maintaining your figure's gonna be tough, but I'll do my best in the practicums."

Still soaking in the water, Miku clenched a small fist as if psyching herself up.

"It's a school for making your dream come true, so of course it's hard. Once I'm out in the world as a chef, even tougher things will be waiting, so I can't raise the white flag over something like this."

"Hmph. That's some bold talk, for you, Miku."

Even as I said it, I went ahead and nodded along for now.

After we relaxed for a while after that, everyone decided to head back to the campsite, but...

"I'm gonna soak a bit longer. I want to boost my metabolism for the high-calorie life ahead."

Go on up ahead, I told them, and saw the others off as they headed from the open-air bath to the changing room.

And then, once I was all alone—

"...Is it really okay to keep going like this?"

I found myself gazing up at the sky from inside the open-air bath.

The students at culinary school are all serious.

Some of them were complete amateurs when it came to cooking.

Even so, even under the strict rules, they kept the flame of motivation lit in their eyes, working hard to improve.

In order to make their own dreams come true.

It was the same for the other quintuplets besides me.

Ichika—stepping up as an actress.

Miku—a professional chef.

Yotsuba—putting up results in her club while pursuing a job supporting other people.

Itsuki—a teacher.

Everyone properly had a dream of their own.

But me—right now I don't have a concrete dream like the others.

A long time ago I had a dream of "opening my own shop," but... can I actually do that?

The economy's been bad in all sorts of ways lately, and the future's all the more uncertain, so to think of having a shop...

Still, if I'm going to aim for it, I have to decide.

Our school is a two-year program.

From the second year, you can choose classes that teach not just cooking but the business side of opening a shop and so on.

Maybe I should just go ahead and study that too... or—

"You're overthinking this a little."

But this wavering, half-baked state—it's not like me!

I felt like I was the only one who'd fallen behind.

I'm the only one who's different from everyone. I still have no dream, no hope for the future. I'd acted bright so I wouldn't ruin the camping mood, but my new life wasn't all that fun.

I miss it.

The high-school days I spent with everyone, and with Fuu-kun.

"Aah, jeez."

I want to talk to someone about it. But the other quintuplets are a no-go.

Just as I'd heard earlier, everyone's caught up in the hopes and anxieties of their new lives—they don't have room for this.

And Fuu-kun too, of course.

Then Father? No—the other day, when we ate dinner together at home, he said he had a big academic conference coming up, so he's probably busy preparing for that.

We don't have a mother, and... ah, come to think of it, I still haven't been able to visit Mother's grave to report our graduation. I keep thinking I have to go, but I can't.

Because if I report our graduation to Mother—

Then it'll hit me all over again that we've really and truly graduated...

"Wah, you startled me."

Just as I was feeling a little down—

The one who called out to me was Miku.

"Oh, it's Nino. There was a woman with a dark look on her face, so I thought you were an earthbound spirit haunting the open-air bath."

"What kind of spirit would be in heavenly bliss like this?! What? I thought you went back."

"I did, once. But I thought I'd like to boost my metabolism too. And besides..."

"And besides?"

"You seemed kind of down, Nino."

She'd seen through me?!

But maybe that was only natural. Miku goes to the same school as me.

Still, for Miku to come back out of concern for me...

"Let's get you back on your feet soon, okay? It'd be a problem if our precious flower-viewing camping trip got spoiled."

"Hey."

"Well, seeing you down is a fresh sight, so I'd like to admire it a little."

"You've really got a nasty personality!"

"...Sorry."

"Eh, no, you don't have to apologize that seriously."

"When I think about it carefully, you get down pretty quickly and you mope a lot, Nino. So it wasn't fresh after all. It's not fun to watch... that's right. Try saying something funny, a joke or something?"

"Thanks, Miku."

"Eh."

"For coming back for my sake, whatever you say. I'm really grateful for your kindness."

"Th-that's not it! I wasn't worried about you—"

"Oh, what's thiii-is? Why are you getting all flustered? You told me to say a joke, so I was just kidding, that's all~"

"...Mm."

Soaking in the open-air bath, Miku puffed out her cheeks in displeasure.

"You're the one with a really nasty personality, Nino."

"Hmph. I'm no match for someone as kind as you."

Trading jabs back and forth, I went ahead and felt grateful inside, at least.

She denies it out loud, but Miku's probably worried about me in her own way.

Still, couldn't she manage it a little more casually, a little more smoothly? I thought—but then,

"It's not like I'm being kind. I just came back to repay a debt.—Do you remember?"

It was clumsy, but earnest, and surprisingly direct, this approach of hers.

Somehow it was very Miku.

"Last year on the school trip, when I shut myself up in the hotel room, you called out to me, Nino."

"Hm? Did something like that happen?"

I played dumb out of embarrassment, but the truth is I remember.

A lot had happened, and Miku had withdrawn into herself and lost her confidence.

To Miku, who was insisting things like "I'm not cute like Ichika or Nino...," I'd told her this:

"We're quintuplets. There's no way you aren't cute too!"

"Thank you, Nino."

"Huh?"

Being thanked so strangely directly, I went blank.

You've got to be kidding me. That Miku, thanking me so honestly?!

For a second I wondered if it was payback for the joke earlier, but...

"For supporting our new lives. Everyone's been getting helped out by you, Nino."

"...Hmph. I haven't done anything special."

"You're as un-honest as ever. And since I've started handling the cooking for the Nakano household too, I came to realize something."

After checking that there was no one in the open-air bath besides us, Miku shouted in a slightly hushed voice,

"Making meals for the quintuplets is super hard!"

"Ahh... yeah, that."

"Everyone's tastes are all over the place. And Ichika sometimes doesn't eat breakfast, so that's worrying, and Yotsuba sometimes goes straight off to exercise after eating, which seems bad for digestion, and Itsuki keeps making the rice cooker emptier and emptier."

"Ahaha, I get iii-it. So you've finally learned what I've been dealing with."

"Yeah. Doing it myself, it really hit me. That you've been working hard this whole time, Nino. Without showing us your weak spots."

"That's..."

"But it's actually more of a nuisance when you carry everything alone and get down about it. Wouldn't it be fine to show your weak spots, like I did on the school trip? That'd be more like quintuplets, right?"

"You think so?"

"We're quintuplets, so let's keep it fair. And actually, I've got a weak spot I didn't show everyone too."

"...A weak spot?"

When I asked back, Miku said, "I've been kind of troubled about something," anguish surfacing in her clear, translucent eyes.

"I can tell you because you know I'm not just a history fan but a fan of Sengoku warlords, Nino—but that Sengoku anime Rose recommended as interesting, it doesn't suit me at all..."

"That much?"

"The warlords are all turned way too much into hot guys—it's different from my interpretation. That's what caused the little spat between me and Rose."

"What's wrong with that? Hot guys over old dudes."

"There is something wrong with it!"

Splash—Miku slammed her small fist into the water.

"This is strictly a personal opinion, and I don't mean to badmouth the people who enjoy watching it. It's just, the anime's protagonist is a high-school girl who time-slipped from the present day, and the hot warlords treat her exactly like she's a princess and they're her princes... it's different from the historical record! Sengoku warlords were far more full of ambition than that!"

"You're really going off... But, princes, huh. I like them."

"Wasn't your type wild outlaws, Nino?"

"It is, but I'm a girl, so I admire princes more than Sengoku warlords."

"Huh? What's good about those fantasies floating around with their flimsy little smiles?"

"Hey! Could you not take out your anime-related stress on princes? What? You picking a fight with my taste?!"

"It's not that, but warlords are better."

"Huh? What's good about those hormone-flaunting bearded muscle-heads?"

"—Hey. What did you just say? Say it one more time."

"Hormone-flaunting bearded old men."

"Wrong! You said muscle-heads! There are warlords who aren't muscle-heads!"

"You don't have to get hung up on that part, do you?! Muscle-head or old man, it's the same to me. Compared to a prince they're just stuffy old dudes."

"O-ohh~. In that case, why don't we have a thorough debate? Warlords or princes! That's fairer!"

"You're on! I'll carve the charms of princes deep into that brain of yours!"

After glaring at each other and sending sparks flying between our gazes, Miku gave a light sigh.

"Yeah, my taste really doesn't match yours, Nino. But, well. That conversation just now might've given me some hope for my relationship with Rose."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

"She likes princes too, same as you, Nino—so I just have to deal with her the way I deal with you."

"Won't that just turn into more fights...?"

"Maybe. But I think even a relationship like this is fine."

"...Hmph. It galls me to nod along to your words, but you might have a point."

Thanks to getting to talk with Miku, I'd learned that I wasn't the only one troubled by her new life.

And once I thought about it that way, before I knew it the heavy feeling in my chest felt a little lighter.

Ah, jeez.

Miku probably hadn't calculated that far, but she'd splendidly repaid her debt to me, hadn't she.

Somehow it's frustrating.

It galls me to stay on the receiving end of help, so later I'll pay her back somehow...

That's right, I've thought of something good!

Later I'll tell her about some fantasy movie that gets across the charms of princes.

If she can understand the appeal of princes, she might be able to get closer with Rose too.

Hehe, in that case I'll convert her to the prince faction. I'll get her to say, "Princes are so cool! My heart's racing! Warlords? Those things are just historical relics fit for nothing but appearing in Japanese-history textbooks!"

"I'm getting out soon. We'll do the debate after we're out of the bath."

"O-of course."

"Hey. Aren't you a little wobbly?"

"No need to worry... ah. Come to think of it, there's one thing I forgot to say."

"What is it?"

When I asked back, Miku paused for just a moment, then said,

"It's not like I was worried about you, Nino. But it seems like there was someone who was."

"Huh?"

What are you suddenly going on about? I asked with my eyes.

Miku wore a gentle smile, different from the angry face she'd had until a moment ago.

"Actually, a present's arrived for you, Nino."

Night came. The temperature had dropped a little, so each of us slipped on a jacket.

Enchanted by a starry sky and night cherry blossoms far more beautiful than in the city, we had our camping dinner.

The main dish was a piping-hot seafood paella, generously loaded with ingredients and browned to a crisp in the frying pan!

Using frozen mixed seafood, it came together pretty easily.

There was also charcoal-grilled barbecue, making full use of the fire-pit grill.

The paella pan and the ingredients we'd bought at the supermarket on the way had been a heavy load, but Yotsuba had carried them with ease. The physical conditioning of an active sports-university student is insane.

"Sorry, Nino."

After we'd eaten dinner, Miku looked apologetic.

Dinner was supposed to be made by me and Miku, but maybe from her long soak, Miku had gotten a bit lightheaded.

The prince-vs-warlord battle was on hold too, of course.

"Don't worry about it. Ichika and the others helped out, and thanks to the recipes you prepared, it came out right."

"I'll make tomorrow's breakfast all by myself."

"Oh, will you? I'll go ahead and have high expectations, then. Don't fail and leave us skipping breakfast, okay?"

"I'm different from how I used to be."

"The old you was a poison-manufacturing machine, after all~"

"I don't want to hear that from you, Nino, the sharp-tongue-manufacturing machine."

"Hey! You two, no fighting."

"...Ahaha, Nino and Miku are the same as ever. Although I feel like they fight less than they used to."

"Since we've gone to the trouble of coming camping, I'd like to see the two of you getting along better."

"That scene is impossible."

"Hmph. On that point alone I can agree with Miku."

Even as I said it, I felt a little relieved.

Thank goodness. The fact that she could talk this much meant Miku had completely recovered.

And she'd eaten the paella looking like she enjoyed it, too.

"Changing the subject—Miku. What was the thing you wanted to show us?"

Sitting on the leisure sheet, Ichika asked.

In front of the five of us, sitting the same way, was a tablet.

The one Ichika had bought to read scripts she'd received as electronic data.

After Miku set the tablet on a small folding aluminum table, she said,

"A present from a certain someone."

And with that, she started playing a video.

What appeared on the screen was the Asahi High gymnasium, with a crimson carpet laid down.

"Is this... the graduation ceremony?"

"Yeah. Ours."

Miku nodded.

Come to think of it, I'd heard that Fuu-kun's father had set up not just photos but a video camera to record it.

If so, then the "certain someone" might be Fuu-kun's father.

But did Miku know his contact info...?

"The chorus is about to begin."

"I wasn't at school on the thirteenth, so when I heard at home that things had turned out this way, I was surprised."

"Ahaha, same as Ichika for us."

"To think the conductor would change."

That's right.

Matsui-chan was supposed to be the conductor at first, but three days before the graduation ceremony she injured her dominant arm.

We learned about it two days before the ceremony, on the morning of March 13th.

"Everyone, I'm so, so sorry! For this to happen..."

"It's not Matsui's fault! I'm the one who was with her and couldn't protect her! If I'd gripped her hand tighter, I could've supported her!"

Apparently she'd been skating on a date with Maeda-kun, holding hands as they glided along, when she lost her balance and fell.

It seemed she'd sprained her right wrist.

We all encouraged her that what's done is done, but there was one problem.

Who would do the conductor's stand-in role? Even someone with experience—no one wants to be a last-minute stand-in.

As a result, the white-feathered arrow⁸landed on—

"He's coming out!"

At Yotsuba's voice, everyone focused on the tablet.

Standing before the assembled graduates, lined up for the chorus, was a slightly tall, black-haired boy in a school uniform.

Uesugi Fuutarou.

It was Fuu-kun.

"This is way too late to be asking, but why am I the conductor...?"

Rewinding the clock—March 13th. The night two days before the graduation ceremony.

In the living room of our apartment, Fuu-kun, in his school uniform, muttered the words with genuine reluctance.

"There's nothing to be done about it, is there? Takeda-kun, the accompanist, recommended you, right?"

"He said, 'There exists no better stand-in than Uesugi-kun. Let's create the finest graduation performance, you and I!' Uesugi-san, that's amazing!"

"That person seemed to want Fuu-kun as conductor from the start, you know. Because of that, there was apparently a bit of a fuss when the conductor was first being decided. There are two chorus pieces, and he wanted Fuu-kun to handle one of them."

"The other classes were convinced too—'We're uneasy, but if Takeda-kun recommends him...' Good for you, Fuutarou."

"You all are treating this like it's someone else's problem! And anyway, I've got no experience conducting...!"

"You do, though. Fuutarou-kun, you went along with my practice."

That's right—Ichika, on leave from school, couldn't take part in the chorus practice at school.

So Ichika practiced here at home, with its solid soundproofing, keeping her voice down a little, together with us.

And we'd asked Fuu-kun—who came over as a tutor to oversee Ichika's studies—to conduct for us a few times.

Today, too, he'd come all the way to the apartment for chorus practice.

"I'm only doing it because you all told me to."

"Hehe. Having a conductor makes it feel like the real thing and makes it easier to sing, right?"

"Ichika's right."

"And I wanted to see you conduct, Fuutarou."

"You were surprisingly into it. When I said, 'Even Mr. Number One in grades is hopeless when it comes to music?' you went and checked out several conducting books from the library."

"That's so like you, Uesugi-san!"

"Shut up. But, well. At first I figured it wasn't my style, but I'm glad I got to conduct for you all."

"Eh, Fuu-kun...?"

Could it be?

That he was lonely about graduating, and wanted to make even a little more time to spend with us...?

"Because the tutoring pay accrues even while I'm conducting! It's the best! Earning money just by waving my arms around—it's the most efficient part-time job I've ever done! I'm starting to think becoming a conductor in the future might not be a bad idea!"

"Wow, that's our Fuutarou-kun. Dropping a no-delicacy bomb that'd send conductors all over the country into a rage."

"Knowing Fuutarou, he's probably saying it's about the money to cover up the fact that he's lonely."

"That's definitely the right answer! It'd be just like Uesugi-san."

"That's so like you, Uesugi-kun."

"Let me just say this. You all are the ones who are the same as ever, you know?"

Fuu-kun grinned, and then—

—his face became the tutor's face we'd grown so used to.

"Tagging along with your practice, here's what I figured out: your chorus, to put it plainly, is a failing grade! I don't get the fine details of pitch and stuff, but even so, there are things I figured out."

First, Ichika! Fuu-kun turned his gaze toward Ichika, who'd gone to the trouble of changing into her uniform for chorus practice.

"You don't have the lyrics to the school song memorized, so you're covering for it by lip-syncing in places, aren't you?"

"Oh dear, you noticed? And I made sure at least my face looked like it was belting it out."

"Spend that effort on memorizing the lyrics! You can memorize drama scripts, so if you try, you can commit them to memory. You're a quick study, Ichika—you can do it, right?"

"Ehehe, thanks. Well, if Fuutarou-kun's the one telling me, I've got no choice—guess I'll give it my all!"

"Fuu-kun, what about me?"

"Honestly this is just a hunch, but, Nino, doesn't your volume drop when you hit the parts you're not confident about?"

"Ngh... I get nervous when I think about you conducting, Fuu-kun. I mean, how could you tell? Amazing."

"Hahaha, easy! Your eyebrows cloud over ever so slightly when you reach the parts you're not confident about! Have more confidence. If you could sing on the stage at the school festival, Nino, you'll be fine."

"Fuutarou, Fuutarou? What about me? Tell me my bad points too?"

"Why are you asking so happily, Miku... Maybe because you worry too much about pitch, your expression is stiff when you sing. You don't look like you're having fun, so sing with more of a smile. I think that'll bring out your charm, Miku."

"Thank you. I'll try singing while thinking about something fun. Like memories from high school."

"Ahaha, you go stiff when you conduct too, Uesugi-san, you know?"

"Ngh... I'm a total amateur, so cut me some slack! Yotsuba, you sing the mezzo-piano parts energetically too, so you're not putting in the dynamics. Match the people around you more. You've supported all kinds of people up till now, Yotsuba, so you should be able to do it!"

"Yes! Hehe, sorry. Singing with everyone under your conducting was so much fun, Uesugi-san, that I got carried away!"

"Uesugi-kun. Please teach me, as well."

"Itsuki, you're meticulous and clumsy as ever. The moment you go off-pitch, you panic trying to cover for it, and even an amateur like me can tell you start chaining mistakes together. Accept that going off a little is unavoidable. Remember the stubborn rich-girl spirit you had when you and I were butting heads constantly, and steel yourself. That'll let you show your true ability, Itsuki!"

"Ahaha, I have my doubts about how you phrased that, but thank you. That was educational!"

—And so it went.

Maybe thanks to all his cramming, or maybe thanks to his having been our tutor, Fuu-kun did a solid job as conductor.

The practice at home was a lot of fun, but the problem was the next day.

The day before the graduation ceremony.

A joint chorus rehearsal of all the graduating classes, held in the gymnasium at high noon.

"Matsui-san's injury is really bad!"

"No, if it's a stand-in Takeda-kun approved, it might be fine. But..."

"Uesugi, huh. That bookworm loner—no way he can pull it off."

Thanks to his hard work as class leader, Fuu-kun's reputation within Class 1 was high.

But in the other classes there were still students who thought he only studied and had no friends.

Well, Fuu-kun has a brusque side, so he's easy to misunderstand.

For example, back when he'd just become our tutor.

What mattered to Fuu-kun back then was earning money to support the household budget.

And securing study time for himself.

He wasn't the type to think about valuing friendship or enjoying high-school life with everyone.

Fuu-kun must have known his own popularity was low, because he'd said, "Don't worry, I've got a secret plan for the full-group practice!" but...

"I'm Uesugi from Class 1, the one who ended up as the stand-in. Let me say just one thing."

The gymnasium, right before the rehearsal.

He's not about to light a fire under everyone with "Put your backs into it and sing so you escape a failing grade, okay? Hahahaha!" is he? That only works on us, who have a relationship of trust with him! As I was getting anxious—

Fuu-kun spoke to the assembled third-years with a serious face.

"I think there are probably some among you who feel uneasy or dissatisfied about me being the conductor.

I can't say I don't understand that feeling.

Thinking about it now, I was, to put it generously, not a hundred-point student. Even when I took first in the year on tests, my relationships were a failing grade...

I was satisfied eating a grilled-meat set with no grilled meat, alone in the cafeteria, and got hyped up over the free refills of water!"

Maybe because of the gap between the serious face he'd put on at first and the full-throttle everyman thing he then shouted, the mood loosened up and a little laughter broke out.

After confirming that, Fuu-kun spun his words again with a serious face.

"But even so—after I moved up to second year, a lot happened. I started a new part-time job too.

Thanks to that, even I made precious friends.

After I moved up to third year, I served as class leader, and learned the joy of doing something together with the whole class. Just like everyone here...

I learned not just studying, but the fun of high-school life!

It's just, when it comes to conducting, I still have a long way to go... I'm practically an amateur. Inexperience itself. But in my own way, I'll do everything I can so that everyone here can earn a hundred points at the graduation ceremony."

And then.

Fuu-kun made a brief show of thinking, and then—

"Let's make this a chorus with no regrets! So, please. Everyone, lend me your strength too!"

After declaring it in a powerful voice, he bowed his head toward everyone.

"No way, that Uesugi-kun..."

"He's surprisingly a good guy."

"That speech just now—it might've been kind of cool!"

"Damn it, I can't let Uesugi be the only one looking good! Let's give it our all too, yeah?!"

"We'll surprise everyone with a hundred-point chorus!"

Maybe moved by the fact that that Fuu-kun had bowed his head, the graduates banded together.

Thanks to that the full-group practice went well, but maybe because the speech was too good, Takeda-kun started saying, "The one fit to give the graduates' farewell address is Uesugi-kun!" and it was a real chore for everyone to calm him down.

And so, after all that, the graduation ceremony itself.

Maybe because Father raised the bar in his ceremony speech with something like "I have very high expectations," Fuu-kun went completely stiff and messed up at the start of the piece.

Even so, maybe thanks to all the practice we'd piled up at the Nakano house, partway through he started smiling and carried out the conductor's role splendidly.

Just like he'd guided us five quintuplets as our tutor.

In the end, the graduation-ceremony chorus was a huge success!

The warm applause of the underclassmen and guardians rang out through the whole gymnasium.

After the ceremony, Maeda-kun, Matsui-chan, and many other graduates thanked Fuu-kun.

Takeda-kun was overjoyed too: "I knew it, Uesugi-kun—you were the right man for the role! Even after graduation, our rivalry story continues!"

And then—

"That chorus just now—you all helped me out."

The schoolyard after the graduation ceremony had ended.

Amid the slightly early cherry-blossom petals dancing through the air.

As we waited for our fathers to come so we could take a commemorative photo, Fuu-kun said that to us.

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden? Could it be you're hung up on your conducting mistake?"

As if to cheer Fuu-kun up, Ichika told him with a smile.

"A mistake on that level is no problem at all! You conducted splendidly, Fuutarou-kun!"

"Hearing you say that is a relief. But, since I can say it now... honestly, when I ended up having to pull everyone together as the conductor, I really did panic."

To Fuu-kun, giving a wry smile, I answered.

"No wonder. It's fine! Your conducting was the best, Fuu-kun! Singing was so much fun!"

"Haha. I messed up at first too, but in the end I had fun, whatever you want to call it. Because I got to see your faces while I conducted."

"Eh, r-really?"

"Yeah. I realized I wasn't the only one who was nervous. Maybe because one of you fled the gymnasium once, you all looked embarrassed."

"That was all Ichika's fault, you know?! By partway through I'm sure I was smiling properly!"

"I'll vouch for that as the conductor. But that I could see the conducting through to the end is thanks to you all, too. Being the graduation-ceremony conductor isn't my style, and I was nervous enough to throw up, but... when you think about it calmly, it's no big deal, right?"

Maybe released from the pressure of conducting—

Fuu-kun, with a clear, bright expression, said,

"Not compared to being the quintuplets' tutor. When you put it that way, I was able to get through the rehearsal and the real thing."

"Fuutarou..."

After saying his name, Miku smiled too.

"Let me thank you as well, okay? Honestly, I wasn't keen on singing in front of a crowd. But thanks to you, Fuutarou, I got to sing while properly enjoying it, you know? You taught me all sorts of things in practice, too—thank you!"

"Hehheh, I figure I did the work my pay was worth! But, like I said earlier, you really did help me out. I'd gone stiff thinking I absolutely didn't want to ruin your graduation, that I'd do whatever I could."

"Uesugi-san..."

After clenching her skirt tight, Yotsuba shouted. With the most dazzling smile.

"I was helped out too! I cried partway through the ceremony, but when I remembered you, Uesugi-san, and everyone, I was able to smile again!"

"Yotsuba, you..."

"That's right! I remembered the day I ran away from you when you were furious at us for getting failing grades, Uesugi-san!"

"I can't laugh about that, you know?! Let me teach you right here and now the sense of despair I felt when I learned every single one of my students was a candidate for a failing grade!"

After shouting, Fuu-kun muttered, "But, well," then took a deep breath.

"Being the quintuplets' tutor was the absolute worst best job, but I'm glad I did it.—Thanks."

"Hehheh. Could it be you're embarrassed, Uesugi-kun?"

As if teasing him, Itsuki smiled.

"The tips of your ears are red. Well... we're embarrassed too, though."

"Huh? What are you suddenly going on about?"

"Hehheh. Fuutarou-kun is Fuutarou-kun, as always."

"...Idiot. It's because you said something so strangely honest, Fuu-kun."

"Hehe. It's all Fuutarou's fault."

"That's right~. We were problem children, but right up to the very end, you were a problem teacher too, Uesugi-san!"

"Indeed. But, Uesugi-kun. Let me say it again. For this past year and a half that you served as our tutor—thank you for your hard work. And, truly—"

Thank you!

When all five of us thanked him with smiles, Fuu-kun got even more embarrassed.

As if to cover for his colored cheeks, he shouted, "It's not over yet! Ichika has her graduation exam. Until then I'm your tutor!"

After that we met up with our fathers and everyone took graduation photos.

This was the last time of high-school life, with the boy who became the tutor for us five Nakano-household quintuplets.

The most fun, the most blissfully happy memory of graduation day!

"Fuu-kun was so cool when he was conducting."

After my awareness returned from memory to reality—

Watching Fuu-kun conduct on the tablet screen, the admiration just spilled out of me.

The other quintuplets besides me nodded with smiles too.

"Not just the conducting—his speech at the full-group practice was wonderful too. Maybe he got used to pulling a group together over the course of tutoring."

"Fuutarou's changed, hasn't he. More than when we first met him."

"For him to say something so leader-like and then bow his head to everyone—the old Fuu-kun absolutely couldn't have done that."

"After the rehearsal, when I spoke to him, Uesugi-san said, 'You fell for it, huh?! That was a front to pull everyone together—I didn't mean it!' though."

"Probably some percentage of it was his true feelings. Really, that's so like Fuutarou-kun."

It was just as everyone said.

Fuu-kun had changed.

Over the course of tutoring, he'd come to value not just money and studying, but friendship too.

He'd grown enough to serve splendidly as the graduation-ceremony conductor.

He'd become a person needed not just by us, but by lots of other people.

"I wonder if I..."

Could become like Fuu-kun too? Just as I was thinking that—

The recording of the graduation ceremony ended.

"Eh?"

But the footage didn't stop.

What appeared on the tablet was the blackboard of an unfamiliar classroom.

It probably wasn't Asahi High.

The footage was grainy—maybe it was filmed quite a while ago?

But where on earth was this? It was the moment I was wondering that.

"Just to confirm—you understand, don't you, Maruo?"

"Yeah. It's against the school rules, but as a former student council president, I'll overlook it just this once. You're the one who needs to do this right, Uesugi. If you fail, I'll never forgive you."

"Gahaha, leave it to me!"

The audio that came from the speakers shocked me to my core.

That young voice just now... no way—Father?

And there was also a voice that sounded like Fuu-kun's father...

"Good morning. Now then, let's begin the last morning assembly."

A further surprise struck us as we sat there confused.

What appeared on screen was a female teacher in a suit who opened the door and entered the classroom.

Eyes as crystal-clear as the finest jewel.

Eight-head-tall, perfect proportions that put even runway fashion models to shame.

Her refined features shone plenty bright even in the slightly grainy footage.

Overwhelming beauty—the kind where, if she walked down the street, anyone would be so captivated they'd forget not just words but even how to breathe.

Letting her beautiful, wavy hair flow, the one who opened her mouth at the lectern was—

"Mother?!"

Nakano Rena.

The mother of us five quintuplets.

"Miku! What's going on here?!"

Come to think of it, Fuu-kun's father had said something at the school festival.

That he and our father had been bound by an unbreakable, troublesome bond since their school days.

And that the one who'd brought our fathers together was Mother, who'd been a high-school teacher, but...

"Is this video from back when Mother was a teacher?!"

"Why is there something like this?! And that was Father's voice just now..."

"Calm down, Yotsuba, Ichika! Shimoda-san from my part-time job told me—our fathers were apparently Mother's students. Though Shimoda-san also mentioned that she was only taught by Mother in her second year of high school..."

"They probably ended up in separate classes in their third year. Our fathers, I mean."

Maybe because she was the only one who understood the situation—

Miku said, "Let's watch the video for now," and fixed her gaze on the tablet.

"To all of you graduating today, I have a few words from me."

Mother's tone as she spoke at the lectern was as composed as ever.

No warmth toward the students, no fawning, no smile.

"On this fine day, when the cherry blossoms have begun to bud and you can feel the breath of spring. As your homeroom teacher, I am glad to be able to send you all off."

Ahaha, even the content of her speech is rock-solid stiff!

She's an outrageous beauty, but that face is expressionless—truly an iron mask.

But it's so like Mother, we thought, and as all five of us were laughing—

"Everyone. Congratulations, truly, on your graduation."

Mother—only ever so faintly, with lips colored by pale-pink lipstick—smiled.

...You've got to be kidding me.

That Mother, who almost never smiles, smiled?!

"No waaay?!"

The astonishment of a female student rang out from the speakers. We were left speechless from the sheer shock, but it seemed Mother's students were just as startled.

The classroom shown on the tablet was buzzing as much as it possibly could.

"R-Rena-sensei smiled...?"

"The iron mask has collapsed!"

"Calm down! This Rena-sensei is probably a fake! She actually has a twin sister and they've swapped as a surprise!"

"I'm an only child. Isn't it a touch rude to be that surprised just because I smiled?"

Mother, having returned to her usual expressionless face, spoke quietly.

"That just now was simply me smiling out of excessive anger. After all, I'm being filmed without permission, on the sly. Isn't that right, Uesugi-kun?"

"Gah?!"

After a badly panicked groan rang out, the tone of Mother's voice took on anger.

"A question. What exactly is that video camera you're holding in secret?"

"Crap, she noticed?! I-it's not my fault. Maruo's the one who said, 'I absolutely want to keep a record of Rena-sensei's last greeting'..."

"Uesugi?! You agreed too, didn't you? Don't try to dodge responsibility!"

"Honestly. To think my students would commit a school-rule violation on the day of the graduation ceremony. Do the two of you want a knuckle-sandwich each?"

After letting out a sigh, Mother gave a small shrug.

"I've gone past anger—I'm starting to lose my confidence as a teacher."

"Huh?! What are you saying?! Rena-sensei, you're the best teacher there is! Right, Maruo?!"

"Yeah! Rena-sensei, you guided us splendidly. Please, have confidence!"

"The main cause of my loss of confidence is the two of you, though?"

At Mother's words, big laughter broke out in the classroom.

That alone made it clear to me.

Just how beloved Mother had been.

"But the fact that the distance between you two, who were like cats and dogs, has shrunk... in other words, that you two have grown—as a teacher, no. As one human being, it makes me happy."

"Huh?"

"Rena-sensei?"

After our fathers' surprise rang out, Mother declared,

"It's not only Nakano-kun and Uesugi-kun who have grown. All of you have learned many things at this high school, changed, and drawn nearer to adulthood. That experience and effort will become a foundation that supports you even after graduation. And the days of learning never end, your whole life through."

I realized it right away.

These words are a little like Father's speech at our graduation.

"At times it's fine to be half-finished. Acknowledging your own weakness, you learn, day by day, and you go on living. That very attempt is the first step toward independence. It will become the force that pushes you forward."

And, she added.

Mother made a pause, then spun her words.

"If you can, once you become adults, please pass on your own experiences. To the generation that comes after you. Personally, I believe that, too, is one of the duties of an adult."

Ah, I see.

So that's why Father wove Mother's words into his speech.

It was the moment I—no.

The moment we thought that.

"Once more—congratulations on your graduation. You truly worked hard at your high-school life. It was a short time, but I was happy to be able to stay by your side, and to see your growth through to the end."

Mother smiled once again.

This time not in anger, but with a smile of blessing.

"I-it's a miracle! A miracle happened on the last day of high-school life!"

"To get to see Rena-sensei's smile twice in one day...!"

"Hey, hey, Uesugi-kun, did you get that just now?"

"I'm going to show everyone in the fan club, so give me a copy!"

"Leave it to me! This footage is the first step of the future genius cameraman, Uesugi Isanari!"

"Wait, Uesugi. The first one to watch the footage is me. I'm the one who came up with the plan, so I have the right!"

"Honestly, you two really are... I'll only overlook a school-rule violation inside my classroom. Don't cause any trouble at the graduation ceremony, all right?"

"Okaaay!"—the bright voices of the students rang out through the whole classroom.

And there the footage ended, but—

"Ahahaha!"

Ichika cracked up, clutching her stomach.

"Th-this video's amazing! It's the first time I've seen Mother as a teacher, but it's so incredibly Mother-like! I mean, since it's the old days the compliance awareness is wild—she just casually tried to dish out a fist of justice!"

"Honestly, Ichika. You're laughing too much. Well, I never imagined it'd be a double feature with our own graduation, though."

"Hehe. I'm sure it's the first time we've ever seen Father as a high schooler."

"Right?! It's amazing! Even that Father had a time like that!"

"Mother's address was wonderful! As someone aiming to be a teacher, it was educational!"

All five of us smiled together.

And then, I murmured in a small voice, like a whisper.

"Thank you, Mother."

Thanks to getting to hear her voice, it felt like the worry that hadn't melted inside my heart came gently undone.

That's right. It's fine if I'm the only one without a dream or hope for the future like everyone else.

Just as Mother said, at times it's fine to stay half-finished.

While attending culinary school, while learning, while agonizing with all my might, I'll decide my future.

Someday I'll show everyone a dream that's mine alone.

Of course, it's not an easy thing, but... it's fine!

I'm sure I can do it too.

Just like Fuu-kun, who was able to change himself.

Yes—Fuu-kun was the best teacher, after all!

If a teacher could pull it off, there's no way his student, me, can't!

"Um... Miku. That, you really helped me out. Thanks to you I got to sort a lot of things out."

Covering for my embarrassment, I thanked Miku, who was beside me.

I'm sure she prepared this footage for my sake.

Sensing that I was lost about my future... huh?

But the "certain someone" Miku mentioned was...

"If you want to thank someone, thank Father, okay? This video, I got it from Father."

To us, surprised, Miku continued.

"When we ate dinner together the other day, he saw how you were doing and sensed you were troubled, Nino. And by the way, the one who made the video was Fuutarou's father."

"Whaaat?! Is that for real?!"

"Come to think of it, I believe Uesugi-kun's father's occupation was cameraman."

"Is that why he had a video camera back in high school?"

"I think it's just as you guessed, Ichika. Father apparently commissioned him to create this video, combining it with the footage shot at the recent graduation ceremony. Though he reportedly charged a fee without missing a beat."

"Ahaha. That's Fuu-kun's father for you. He's got it together."

And our father has it together too.

Even without my saying anything, he properly sensed his daughter's low spirits.

Still, it's like he reads his daughter's thoughts too well—there's something a little unsettling about how perfectly he pinpointed my worry, but...

"That's Father for you. Being the director of a major hospital, he gave me a magic remedy that works on worries."

"Oh, Nino. Nicely put."

"Say it one more time?! I'll record it and send it to Father!"

"Father would probably be confused if it got sent to him out of the blue."

"Knowing you, Nino, the smugness of trying to nail it even cooler the second time shows right through."

"Hey, Miku! What's showing right through is your ill will toward me, you know?!"

Trading the kind of jabs that come from being so close—

At the campsite with its view of the starry sky and night cherry blossoms, the five of us made our smiles bloom.

Come to think of it, Mother said it too.

What matters isn't where you are, but being together as five.

And once I thought about that—

"Hehe."

Hey, Mother.

We graduated high school all five together, with smiles, you know?! Because we sisters supported each other, and because Fuu-kun and our fathers supported us!

I fell a little behind everyone, but I'll find a dream that's mine alone too, okay?

Just as you taught me, Mother, going forward I'll keep dividing all sorts of things into five with everyone!

That's what I murmured in my heart.

About a month after the graduation ceremony.

At last, I—no, we.

It felt like we'd graduated from the loneliness of having ended our high-school life.

"Oh, Nino, you're up?"

The next day. 6:45 a.m.

The campsite in the woods, lit by the morning sun.

Miku, sitting in a folding outdoor chair in front of the khaki-colored tent, called out to me.

"Did I wake you?"

"No. I just got up on my own. Your sleeping habits are still the more bearable ones, after all."

The tent assignments, decided by rock-paper-scissors, were me and Miku, then Ichika, Yotsuba, and Itsuki.

The inside of the three-person tent was probably a mess by now, like a botched jigsaw puzzle.

Yotsuba's a terrible sleeper.

"How's breakfast coming?"

"Hwaah... I made the batter earlier, and I figured I'd start cooking after I rest a little."

"You look sleepy."

"I'm not used to sleeping in a schlafsack, so I couldn't drift off well."

Miku was rubbing her bleary eyes with her fingertips.

I brought over another folding outdoor chair right next to Miku and sat down.

"It'd be a problem if you messed up while still half-asleep, so I'll help you cook."

"Is that okay? You made dinner for us yesterday."

"I woke up early, so I'm bored."

That's what I said out loud, but my real feelings were different.

I'd set a quiet alarm and gotten up at a time before everyone else would be awake.

Because I wanted to be alone with Miku, who'd get up early to make breakfast.

"...Hey, Miku?"

After we'd sat in silence for a while in the chilly early-morning air—

Without looking at Miku's face, sitting beside me, I spoke.

"I realized it after I got into the tent last night... it really is strange that Father saw through my feelings perfectly and sent that video."

He was too perceptive, surely.

Could it be that all Father noticed was the fact that "I was troubled"?

He couldn't have deduced the specific worry.

Which is exactly why—

"Father consulted you, didn't he, Miku? You go to the same school as me. So he thought you might know the cause of my worry."

"..."

"And then you, Miku, deduced my worry and told Father. As a result, it turned into him commissioning Fuu-kun's father to make that footage, right?"

I thought about it for quite a long time last night, but this guess fits together the best.

It also solves the question of "why was Miku the one Father sent the footage to?"

But... ahh, jeez! It's so irritating!

To think I'd built up an extra-large debt to Miku without even realizing it.

I mean, don't do things that aren't like you.

This earnest side of hers is very Miku, but to think she'd go this far for my sake.

"...Thank you."

Even as I felt my face flush with embarrassment, I said it.

"Your getting interested in the outdoors was probably just a pretext too, right? To cheer me up and take my mind off things even a little, you looked into camping for me."

There was no reply from Miku.

I was too embarrassed to look at her face so I couldn't tell, but maybe she was getting bashful too.

While thinking that—

In order to repay my debt, I worked up my courage and said it.

"H-hey. I don't know if 'repaying you' is the right way to put it, but... want to go to a movie together sometime, just the two of us? You know, that Sengoku anime you mentioned yesterday! I watched the promo video on my phone during some free time last night, and what's with that? It's all hot guys, and it actually looks kind of interesting?"

"..."

"I looked it up, and apparently a theatrical version is starting soon, so I'll go watch it with you! I'm not interested in warlords by even a millimeter, but I am interested in prince-type guys. Take this chance to study up too!"

"..."

"I'll treat you to the ticket so we're square on the lending and borrowing! And, isn't it a little fresh? Going to a movie just the two of us, Miku... it's probably the first time."

Yes—the repayment I'd thought of was teaching her about the charms of princes.

Not by debating, but by watching a movie together.

That way Miku might be able to get even closer with Rose.

But... what is this?

It's practically like asking her on a date!

Maybe because I thought that, it was awfully embarrassing, but Miku's reply was silence.

Is she going to turn me down? I got anxious for a second, but—

"Zzz~"

At the sound of sleeping breaths coming from my neighbor, I turned my gaze with an involuntary "Huh?"

There was Miku, still sitting in the outdoor chair, nodding off, head bobbing.

"I-I can't believe this..."

I thought maybe she was pretending to sleep out of embarrassment, but there was a little drool trailing from the corner of her mouth—far too defenseless. She's definitely fast asleep!

Sure, she'd looked sleepy this whole time, but!

She falls asleep while I'm talking to her?!

I endured the embarrassment and worked up the courage to invite her, and... I won't forgive this!

Just as I thought that and went to shake her awake—

"Ehehe, Nino..."

My heart skipped.

Miku said my name with a happy look on her face, and then—

"You see now, don't you... the one who wins is me..."

"What kind of dream are you having?"

No, it's obvious.

She's debating which is more charming, warlords or princes.

Honestly. Well, nothing to be done.

Just for now, I'll let her have a good dream.

Partly because she looked into all kinds of things about camping, maybe her fatigue had piled up.

"Don't catch a cold, all right?"

I draped over Miku's body a blanket I'd brought from the tent.

Doing something like this for Miku doesn't feel like me, but every once in a while it's fine, I suppose?

It's not for me to say, but this action of mine right now is a little prince-like. And Miku's sleeping so soundly you'd think she was Snow White after biting the poison apple.

This is part of teaching Miku the charms of a prince, too.

Demonstrating it and giving her a hands-on lecture isn't bad, right?

"A certain tutor lectured me thoroughly about the charms of a prince, after all."

If a teacher could do it, then his student, me, should be able to do it too!

Besides, after she wakes up, I want to admire the face Miku makes when she learns I helped her out and goes "Grrgh."

While thinking that, I sat back down in the outdoor chair.

What echoed right beside me were the most comfortable-sounding sleeping breaths.

"She probably wouldn't even wake up if I scribbled on her face."

Maybe because her sleeping face was so carefree, a smile just slipped out of me.

I'll invite her to the movie again later.

For the sake of repaying my debt too, I'll let her sleep just a little longer, until we start cooking.

"Hey, hey, let's take a picture?"

"Hehheh. Be quiet so we don't wake them."

"To think we'd get to see a scene like this."

I felt like I heard those whispering voices and the sound of a phone camera, and woke up.

Crap, did I carelessly fall asleep sitting up?

Come to think of it, I'd stayed up late last night too... and as I rubbed my eyes, the ones in front of me were Ichika, Yotsuba, and Itsuki.

For some reason, all three of them were gazing at me with smirks.

"Mornin', Nino."

"Sorry, did we wake you?"

"My apologies. You two looked like you were getting along so nicely."

"...Getting along nicely?"

When I checked with my still-bleary eyes, I immediately understood what Itsuki meant.

Me and Miku, sitting in folding outdoor chairs lined up side by side.

Miku was still fast asleep in the land of dreams.

But for some reason, the two of us were sharing a single blanket, using it together—

"That's not it!"

Feeling my face go hot, I jumped to my feet without thinking.

At that, the sleeping Miku woke up with a "Hwah?" too, but ignoring her for the moment, I shouted,

"It's not like we got close!"

"Eh~, you don't have to cover it up~, you two were sleeping all snuggled up together~"

"Ichika's right. You did something similar at Itsuki's pass-the-exam party too, but Itsuki was there with you that time."

"Isn't it the first time just the two of you? Let's send this photo to Father too. You can't often see Nino and Miku looking this close—coming camping was worth it!"

"I'm telling you that's not it, okay?! I draped a blanket over Miku! And then I accidentally fell asleep too..."

Maybe I'd gotten chilled in my sleep, and pulled Miku's blanket toward myself while half-asleep?

But because of that, everyone saw a scene like this... it's too much of a blunder.

I was supposed to make Miku go "Grrgh"!

At this rate I'm the embarrassed one!

"Huh? Everyone, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing! More importantly, Miku! We're making breakfast."

"Nino? Why are you in such a rush—"

"Just hurry up!"

As if to cover for the fact that not just my face but my whole body was hot, I focused on cooking!

Warming the black skillet on the portable gas burner, I picked up the batter Miku had made.

Today's breakfast was fluffy, fluffy soufflé pancakes.

The signature menu item of Class 3-1's school-festival stall, and Mother's specialty dish.

A taste of memories for us five quintuplets.

"It's only 7:23. Ichika, you're up early for a day off."

"Ahaha... Yotsuba's knee got me in the gut and woke me up."

"I woke up with Yotsuba putting me in a headlock, as well. We were sleeping inside our schlafsacks—however did you escape?"

"Sorry, you two! I'll do some pain-relieving stretches for you and stuff~!"

While listening to my sisters' conversation like that—

As I cooked the pancakes, I started up some small talk to blow away my embarrassment.

"What do we want to do with today's plans?"

"How about sightseeing nearby? Without deciding where, just wandering around. I'd like to buy some nice souvenirs too~"

Ichika, putting forward a thoroughly half-baked idea with a smile.

"Since we went to the trouble of coming to a campsite, I want to enjoy it more! Let's go around to the places we couldn't explore yesterday, yeah?!"

Yotsuba, making her case innocently and with carefree cheer.

"I looked it up, and it seems there's an arcade a little ways away by train where you can play retro games. Shall we all play together?"

Itsuki, making a surprising proposal—maybe she figured all-gourmet-stuff was a bit much.

"I looked it up too. There's a castle near here that's become a tourist spot. I'm not especially knowledgeable about it, but apparently a certain warlord built it."

Miku, making a claim that made me want to say, Yeah right, you're definitely knowledgeable about it.

Hmm, our tastes and ideas really are all over the place.

Even though we're quintuplets.

But it's precisely because of that—

"It seems like it'll make a good memory."

Even if alone you can only score twenty points, when five of you gather, it's a gold-star hundred points.

It's embarrassing just to remember, but just like the way Miku and I shared that blanket, all of us can share our memories together.

We've graduated high school, so from now on the times we can't be together are bound to increase.

But as long as we have "Quintuplets' Day," we can keep making lots of fun memories.

And besides, we always—

"Oh, that's right! Before we decide the plans, let's take a picture? I have to send it to Fuu-kun."

Yes—being together even when apart goes for Fuu-kun too.

Maybe right about now he's feeling lonely in the unfamiliar life of living alone.

I can't deliver pancakes to him, but along with a photo, I should be able to share a portion of this fun.

"Nice idea! Let's send it to Raiha-chan too, yeah?!"

"Wait. I just woke up, so can I do a little makeup? If we're sending it to Raiha-chan too, I want to show her the most beautiful onee-san."

"Shouldn't you be more concerned about Uesugi-kun... no. You've already had him see you fresh out of bed plenty of times, haven't you."

"I don't want my bare face shown either! We're sending it to Fuu-kun!"

"There's no point in just the two of you doing makeup. We have the same face."

In the woods where the morning sun shone, I snapped a photo with the phone camera.

When I sent the quintuplets selfie to Fuu-kun, he seemed to be awake too, and a reply came right away.

[Thanks for the photo.

Sorry I couldn't go with you.

With all of you together, it does look like fun, huh.]

"Thank you, Fuu-kun."

Just as Fuu-kun said, we looked like we were having fun in the photo.

The same face, but every one of us a different smile.

A smile divided into five, as if the five of us had shared the fun of the flower-viewing camping trip.

Like this smile, I hope that from now on, through "Quintuplets' Day," we can divide all sorts of fun into five.

What should we do today?

What kind of thing should we do to have fun next month?

"Nino, you seem kind of happy."

"Well, yeah. I was thinking a little about what's to come."

After answering Miku's voice—

In the crystal-clear morning air, while serving up freshly made pancakes to my sisters, I felt my heart race for the first time in a while.

My new life, and the future I had yet to see.

Letting my dreams drift toward those two things.