Go-Toubun no Hanayome √AE

Chapter 22:Summer's Memory ④

After leaving the shop, everyone was exploring the small island, trying to make the most out of their day there. They went through the small museum on the Aqua-Line and Umihotaru on the third floor of the facility. They looked inside the Bay FM radio station. They took some pictures of the Tower of Wind, the tower that supplied the power to the artificial island. They also looked at the horizon, to the furthest that their eyes could see, where they marveled at the great view as they took more pictures. Once they were mostly done, they decided to eat. After their meal, they noticed the owners were having trouble with something. Annoyed at the noise, Nino went to check.

Nino:"Why are you all acting so weird?"

"Oh, we're sorry if we disturbed you, it's just that most of our chefs couldn't make it today. We only have one today."

Nino:"What's the big problem? It's not like there's any people here today anyway."

"Well, yes. However, this building is home to many stores with tons of faculty, all of which periodically come to eat here, guests or not. We can't bear watching the people we work with eat junk food all day. It's a long drive to outside civilization, so we're the only real restaurant here right now."

Nino stood there, her blank stare betraying her thoughts.

Nino:[Ugh, why do I have to feel so bad?]

Miku:"Why don't we just help them?"

Nino:"Ack!"

Nino, startled by the sudden appearance of Miku, jumped back. Miku was a little surprised too, but she realized it was because Nino was very attentive to the owner's problems.

"No, we couldn't ask that of you."

Miku:"What's the harm? It's not like we planned this trip anyway, we might as well do something interesting. We still have time after lunch to go into the beach anyway. Besides, working under pressure will be a good lesson for me."

Nino:"Yeah, no. You may have gotten better, but that's because you've been given more than enough time at work. If you, of all people, have to work fast, someone's getting raw food. Not to mention, you're mainly a baker."

Miku:"I'm thinking of branching out to more food. Besides, that's why you'll help me."

Nino:"Don't drag me into your things!"

Miku:"I know you feel bad, I'm just giving you a push."

Nino:"Geh!"

Miku:"Fuutarou, do you want to help?"

Fuutarou:"...Sure, if it will get it done faster. At the end of the day, my family is the reason this is happening, so I'd feel pretty bad."

Raiha:"I can at least help with the chores!"

Nino:"You keep dragging Fuutarou into things too! Are you trying to hog him?"

Miku:"Would you be surprised if I said I was?"

Nino:"Huh!?"

Miku:"Haha, I guess you would. I'm not that selfish...yet."

Nino:"..."

Yotsuba:"We can help too."

Itsuki:"I concur."

Ichika:"We can make it go faster if we work together."

Miku:"You don't have to if you don't want to."

Nino:"Hey! How come they get a choice!?"

Miku:"Haha, you know why."

Nino:"This girl..."

"Thank you! Thank you so much, we can't hope to ever repay you."

Fuutarou:"Let's just get this done."

...

As Nino, Fuutarou and Miku were getting the kitchen ready, Yotsuba, Itsuki and Ichika went to get the food from the warehouse on the backside of the building. As they were carrying the boxes back, Yotsuba stopped to look at the beach.

Itsuki:"What's up, Yotsuba?"

Yotsuba:"I was just thinking about our trip here with our mom."

Itsuki:"Hm...it was a truly fun time for us, huh? Even if it's clear looking back mom was barely hanging on."

Yotsuba:"Yeah...it was the first time we went somewhere that wasn't a school trip since mom lost everything. We wanted her to be happy."

...

...

Six years ago, on the same artificial island, during their first trip there.

Yotsuba was running from the main building with something she had never worn before, a green ribbon.

{Yotsuba:"Mom! Look! Doesn't this ribbon suit me?"}

{Rena:"Yes, you look very pretty in that."}

{Yotsuba:"Thanks, now I won't be mistaken for everyone else."}

{Rena:"I wonder about that..."}

{Yotsuba:"?"}

{Rena:"Putting something on doesn't really make that much of a difference."}

{Yotsuba:"Maybe so, but...I'm studying really hard too! I got first place on the last test. We're all quintuplets...but I think it's good if we start to differentiate ourselves. I don't want to share everything anymore."}

{Rena:"Yotsuba...Did something happen during your trip? You love talking about how equal you are."}

{Yotsuba:"It's just...I want to be different. We have to grow up, right? There's no point in being the same."}

{Itsuki:"Moooom~ Look, look~"}

Itsuki had shown up with star shaped pins on her hair.

{Rena:"My, how cute."}

{Itsuki:"I'm copying Yotsuba and put something in my hair too~"}

{Rena:"Yotsuba, your efforts certainly are splendid, and you're not wrong at all. However, even if you aren't number one, each and every one of you is special. As a parent, I wish for you to all stay together...No matter what happens...What's important isn't where you are, but that the five of you are together."}

...

...

Yotsuba:"She left us not too long after that...But I want us to make her proud..."

Itsuki:"Me too...I really miss her...I miss her so much..."

Ichika:"It's fun to reminisce, but let's go, the rest are waiting for us."

Yotsuba:"You got it!"

Yotsuba ran ahead, leaving Itsuki and Ichika behind. Still nervous about Ichika's situation, Itsuki didn't know what to say. Ichika, wearing a solemn smile, stopped walking and took a deep breath.

Ichika:"Itsuki."

Itsuki:"Y-Yeah?"

Ichika:"...You overheard my call, didn't you?"

End of Chapter 22