Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 33 - Operation: True Love

With Madison's arrival, the whole mysterious roommate affair was finally put to rest. Akua's roommate was a friend of hers who graduated from the same university and works in the same profession of being a teacher. The visiting party's (not an official title by any means) primary goal was to lift their teacher's spirits and make sure a day like this never happened again, but the tension between the two women in the room didn't exactly make that an easy task.

Once introductions deepened and everyone got a better sense of one another with Madison also liking them. The four of them gathered around the kotatsu that sat in the middle of the living room. Later, the blonde one resurrected from the kitchen and there was no other wordfor it. As being the last one, he introduced himself as well.

Rather than sliding under the kotatsu with the rest of them, Madison pulled a nearby chair over and sat down after hanging her bag on the corner of it. She glanced first at the students in the room, then back at Akua. ''So, tell me. What's Akua like at school? I'm sure she's not the same person she is at home.''

''H-Hey!'' Akua's face flushed immediately. She set her own cup down little too hard and the liquid inside sloshed against the rim. ''Don't go asking my students about my personal life like that! Mou...'' She grabbed a napkin and dabbed at the table to using the cleanup as an excuse not to make eye contact with anyone.

''Oh, oh! May I answer that?'' Yotsuba raised her hand. ''Shiwa-sensei is amazing! She's absolutely the best teacher at school. She always explains things so clearly and she never gets mad when we ask dumb questions. Like, never! Not even once!''

''Sensei is definitely the most preferred teacher in the school. It is an undeniable fact that she is popular.'' Hanako respectfully wraps up Yotsuba's comment. ''And I say this knowing full well that it's neither an exaggeration nor flattery.''

''Popular, huh?'' Madison leaned back. ''Right, right~ Akua was always popular with the boys, even back in high school. Oh, what wild days those were.'' She tilted her head toward the students with mock sympathy. ''Hope she doesn't treat you the way she treats me at home. Poor me — I can't even manage to do my regular evening workout without getting nagged.''

''You call what you do a workout?'' Akua shot back without missing a beat. ''You stretch twice and then sit on the floor scrolling through your phone for forty minutes.'' She crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks. ''I'm being tough on you so you learn to be responsible, hmpf! You have to learn to be like me.''

''Like you? Mmmmm... I don't think so. Responsibility and you don't exactly go hand in hand.''

"HA?" Akua slammed her palm on the kotatsu and clenched her fists. "You...! I've been doing the housework for weeks while you do god-knows-what and you're calling me irresponsible? Mads... Ugh! Right now, I seriously want to punch you."

Madison let the argument settle for a moment. She clearly savors Akua's frustration the way someone savors the last sip of a good wine. Then her eyes drifted across the table and landed on Asuka. ''You, blondie.'' 

''Me?'' Asuka straightened up. ''Yes, Asena-sensei?''

''Do me a favor and put your hand under kotatsu, onegai.''

Asuka didn't understand but he followed the instruction and slipped his hand under the kotatsu. His fingers brushed against the heated underside and then caught on something soft. ''Huh? There's something here. Hold up, I think I can get it...'' He fumbled with it for a few seconds then pinched the fabric and pulled it free. ''What is this? It feels like... silk?''

Akua's eyes widened instantly. ''ASUKA!''

''Maybe some light would hel—EIYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!''