Back to the future with five Nakano kids!

Chapter 7: Master plan!

"All right, girls! To the board! You heard Papa, we have thirty minutes!" Aiko declared with a dramatic flourish.

"Yes!" Haru and Rina chorused, their enthusiasm palpable.

Out of nowhere, Aiko, Haru, and Rina stood around a whiteboard, each donning a pair of sunglasses, looking like mini strategists in a secret mission.

Aiko turned to Ichika. "Mama!"

"Yes, Aiko?" Ichika replied, curious about her daughter's next move.

"Tomorrow is the last day of the trip, right?" Aiko confirmed.

"Yes, it is," Ichika nodded.

"So, it's our last chance for you to each spend alone time with Papa!" Rina added, her eyes serious behind the shades.

"On this trip, anyway," Haru noted, her voice thoughtful.

"So, what's the program for tomorrow?" Aiko asked.

Ichika opened their class trip's program booklet. "We have elective field trips on our last day," she explained, showing the booklet to the planners.

Aiko, Haru, and Rina nodded seriously, like seasoned generals planning a battle.

"I see..." Aiko mused, tapping her chin thoughtfully.

"There are five courses, each going to different places with different durations," Haru noted, scanning the booklet.

"The longest would be Course E. It goes from 8:20 to 9:30," Rina stated, pointing at the schedule.

"70 minutes," Aiko clarified. "That would make 14 minutes for each of our moms if we divide the time equally."

"But we don't even know if Papa is choosing Course E!" Rina stressed, her worry evident.

"Hah! That's easy! Ren, go ask Dad which course he'll choose!" Aiko ordered him with a confident grin.

Ren saluted. "Yes, ma'am!" and dashed off like a soldier on a mission.

Futaro was walking down the hallway, informing other students about the assembly, when he suddenly heard hurried footsteps thundering towards him.

"Rooaaaaahh!!!"

"Huh?" Futaro turned, bewildered.

"PAPA!" Ren shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Ren?" Futaro replied, confused.

"PAPA!"

"Ren!"

"Papa?"

"REN!"

Ren watched in terror as his father sprinted toward him with a look of murderous intent. Futaro tackled him to the ground.

"I told you not to call me that in public!" Futaro hissed, his face bright red.

"Waahh! I'm sorry!" Ren yelped, flailing dramatically.

"Boys!" a teacher yelled, "Quiet down!"

"Sorry, Sensei!" they both responded in unison.

Futaro sighed as he helped Ren back up. "What is it you need?"

"Which course are you choosing tomorrow?" Ren asked, still catching his breath.

"Why do you want to know?" Futaro asked, narrowing his eyes.

"I can't say. Aiko, Haru, and Rina would kill me! Just tell me!" Ren pleaded.

"Okay, okay, calm down. I'm choosing Course E," Futaro answered.