The Quintessential Quintuplets, Eternal Hearts

Chapter Sixty, A Festival To Remember

-Rokuro, The First Day-

It was the first day of the school festival, and everyone's last event together, Rokuro's morning started with him waking up early in the morning. He had been sleeping in Yotsuba's all this time, but it felt odd that his time in this bed was going to be limited.

"It's the final event..I gotta make this count.." He muttered to himself, he stood up and popped some clothes on before walking downstairs to find Miku in the kitchen.

"Miku-rin..? What are you doing?" He asked.

"I'm trying to get the hang of making these pancakes for my food stall, but I can't get it.." She muttered, he stared at her for a moment before smiling. She looked at him in confusion before he walked over to her and looked over at what she was doing.

"It seems to me that you either take them out too early or too late, as well as you add either too much batter or not enough. You're close to reaching perfect pancakes, but you're just barely missing the mark. Let me help." He said, the two of them went to work on making the pancakes again, the work going by quickly with Rokuro helping, they finished their first batch of pancakes as Itsuki came down the stairs.

"Miku, Rokuro-kun..what are you doing up so early? We don't have to be at the festival for another two hours." Itsuki said as she rubbed her eye.

"I'm helping Miku-rin make pancakes, we're trying to make the perfect ones." Rokuro explained.

"Oh I see, I could be your taste tester if you'd like." Itsuki offered, Miku perked up and nodded quickly.

"I think I've almost got it, there's just something missing." Miku muttered, Rokuro stared at her, making her look up at him.

"What is it Kazuhiro?" She asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Miku, are you making the pancakes because you want people to enjoy them, or because you think Futaro will come to your stand and try some?" He asked suddenly, her eyes widened and she looked down, thinking.

"I guess...it's because of Futaro.." She mumbled, Rokuro sighed and put his hands on his hips.

"Well there's your problem, you're so obsessed with them being perfect that you aren't thinking about making them just for enjoyment. Try making them, but don't think about Futaro at all, make them because you want others to enjoy themselves at the festival." Rokuro said sternly, she nodded slowly and tried making the pancakes again, with Rokuro not helping, but instead supervising. Once they came out, Itsuki tried some and within the first bite, tears formed in her eyes.

"Itsuki-tan? What's wrong?" Rokuro asked.

"They taste just like.." She trailed off, eating more, she didn't say anything else, but she and Miku seemingly had a mutual understanding so Rokuro didn't press it.

"Well, let's get ready, we should be heading to the festival soon, Miku and Nino have things to do." Rokuro said with a smile, he disappeared upstairs to get ready, as he did, he contemplated hiding his scars, but decided not to, he wouldn't worry about it today. As he came outside Yotsuba's room, he saw Nino, Itsuki, and Ichika sitting in the living room waiting.

"Miku-rin and Yotsuba-chii still getting ready?" He asked, to which Ichika nodded.

"It's gonna be quiet and boring without you all here." She said with a hint of sadness in her voice, Rokuro stared at her for a moment.

"You're welcome to come with us, but noooo you wanna stay here." Rokuro mocked, making Ichika's face redden.

"Don't make me feel bad.." She muttered, Rokuro laughed a bit, walking over and ruffling her hair.