Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

Chapter 35 - Dandelions

Fuutarou's POV:

''W-W-What are you doing here?!''

''Fuutarou informed me of what happened and requested my assistance. Everything he said rings true to me now I see, butterfly.''

I had to play dirty. Nino had made it clear that she would never listen to me, Asuka, or her sisters. Therefore, I brought the only person whom she was compelled to listen to. Madoka is someone who knows what to do in such situations, after all, she's the one with 16 sibling.

Hope this helps, Nino. For your own good.

Nino stared at me with the angriest face I've ever seen. ''Uesugi... When I see you again, I swear...

''I'm sorry, but you left me no choice. You couldn't see how worried your sisters and others were for you. Including me.'' 

''But I—'' Nino raised her face and looked at Madoka, and her cheeks flushed slightly. ''Shouldn't you be busy?''

Madoka leaned against the door, arms crossed. ''I should've been. But Fuutarou called me yesterday, so I've already taken care of all the tasks I need to do today and tomorrow.''

''H-huh?! D-Did you just said you fit 48-hour job into...less then 12 hours?'' Nino stammered in disbelief.

And Madoka remain silent. ''...'' 

"Well, it seems like I'm expected to give you ladies some privacy."

''Uesugi—! Wait...''

''I'm counting on you both.''

Nino's POV:

All I had left was to stare at Madoka on my knees after he left. My eyes focused on that beautiful face with embarrassment. Maybe I'm blushing, maybe it was just something I felt. With Uesugi gone, my mixed feelings for Madoka grew stronger, as did the bitterness that had built up inside me. Why did I always have to be the one who had to make those difficult decisions in life? Why was my heart doomed to such a stupid storm? Ah, how I want to sink into back of my eyelids to find the answers to these questions...

"H-Huh..." I snapped back a little when something moved in front of me. While I was busy drowning in my own head and a hand reached out—steady, gentle, but with that quiet strength. Her fingers brushed mine as she wrapped her hand around my own and pulled. "Madoka..."

She helped me to my feet without saying a word at first, like she understood my legs weren't fully cooperating yet. My knees wobbled and I thought I might topple right back down. Once I was standing, she still didn't let go. It irritates me how much I need that right now. Could my heart stop clinging to every scrap of contact she gave me? ''Are you going to tell me what happened?''

''I won't.'' I frown. ''I feel just fine without them! If you came here to tell me to go back, you're wasting your time completely.''

''So be it.'' 

''You can't force me to te—What?''

''If you don't want to say it, don't. It'll be counterproductive for me to put pressure on you to tell me.'' 

"...Then why did Uesugi call you?" I finally snapped and hold onto the one thing I could bite into. My brows knitted together as I glared up at her. "Wait, more importantly, how the heck did he manage to reach you? It should be impossible for a loser like him to reach you!"