Hourglass [Quintessential Quintuplets]

| Part 1 Finale | Chapter 38 - For Whom the Bells Toll

Finding the Nakano residence took less time than boredom. Place located near an area where upper-income magnate reside in the city. It aligns perfectly with the information Fuutarou provided. Data aligned; margin of error: near zero.

Tokyo is no longer a city where I could lose my way—if there ever was such a place left for that. If you learn a city well enough, its streets stop being routes and start being sentences. Some end in ellipses. Some end in... warnings. Nevertheless, the city has unveiled its secrets to me many moons ago; I just stopped pretending to be surprised.

Tonight would end in a period, or a knife. I'd let the evening decide.

''Fuutarou-kun, you're late al— Eh?...Ha? AAAAAAAAAAAAH!? W-W-W-W-WHAT?!''

''. . .''

When I saw her at the front hallway, shocked and on her knees, I instinctively understood that this was the correct door. I had never familiarized myself with their house before, but now, it etched itself into me permanently. Tonight would be unlike any other, that much is clear. ''...Ichika.''

''K-Kazuma-kun!?'' Ichika slapped her both cheeks to trying regain composure. She blinked hard, once, twice, trying to wake from a bad dream she wasn't actually having. "W-W-What? H-How..."

Fuutarou had briefed me on their situation, and according to his words: 'Star Girl' and 'Butterfly Girl' shouldn't be here. While Ichika is trying to stand on her own feet, her sisters also come to see what the commotion is about. Curiosity moving faster than dignity. Tch, idiots.

''O-Oya! Kurosawa-san? What are you doing here?'' Another voice cut in—bright, buoyant, and shamelessly nosy. Ribbons bobbed into view as Yotsuba grabbed Ichika's arm and hauled her up. "Hehe, watch your step, Ichika!"

From the corner, drifted a third figure. The headphones over her neck serves no real purpose, yet their presence alone is grating. Miku mutter constantly under breath, a stream of whispers that never quite turn loud. "I see now. So, that was Fuutarou's plan..."

"Kurosawa-san, w-we're glad you came, but o-our tutors could arrive at any moment! You can't—"

''They won't. I've been asked to be your tutor today.''

'' ... / ... / ... ''