Happy 3 Year Anniversary of this story :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Refreshed.

That's how you felt right now.

You woke up from a good night's rest with Nino hugging you, her face buried in your chest as she slept. Her arms wrapped around you, her arm was going to be dead by the time she woke up.

The smell of fresh food hit your nose instantly.

Nino was still sound asleep beside you, so it was a surprise to be smelling something that actually seemed edible from somebody else in this apartment.

Now it was the decision to either wait until Nino woke up and go downstairs to grab food potentially late or to satiate your grumbling stomach and head downstairs straight away.#

"Mmmmm" Nino grumbled, clinging onto you tighter as you attempted to sit up.

You could hear muffled talking between the other girls downstairs, you were almost salivating at the smell.

"Psst Nino. Nino!" you gently shook her.

"mmmm... wha-" Nino slowly opened her eyes.

Nino blinked a few times, the sleepiness still evident in her gaze as she gradually came to. When she finally realized where she was and who she was clinging to, a satisfied grin tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Well, good morning to you too," Nino murmured huskily, her voice still laced with drowsiness. She stretched languidly, arching her back as she yawned. "Did you sleep well?"

You couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, feeling a sense of contentment wash over you. "Like a baby," you replied smiling, running a hand through her tousled hair.

Nino leaned into your touch, closing her eyes briefly before opening them again with a playful glint. "I bet I know why," she teased, waggling her eyebrows suggestively.

Before you could respond, the smell of food wafted up from downstairs once more, making your stomach growl

"What the hell?" Nino perked up.

"What?"

"Someone else is cooking besides me and it smells good... Did we get transported to a different universe after we had our fun?"

"We could just go and see instead of playing guessing games up here you know" you grumbled in unison with your own stomach.

"Alright, alright. I get it" Nino huffed. "You head down first, let me fix myself up a little then I'll join you" She gave you a peck on the cheek.

"Don't pull an Ichika and take forever" you say to her as you slither out of bed.

"Just who do you think I am??"

"Her sister"

"Shut up!" Nino grabbed the nearest thing she could and launched it at you. It hit you square in the face.

"Big cups" you laughed, peeling the freshly tossed bra off of your face. "I can practically fit my head into that"

Nino turned beet red in horror and embarrassment. "A-Ah..."

"Can I keep this?" you twirled the bra around on your finger teasingly. "It can be a keepsake from our first night together"

"You are such a-"

"Great kisser? Thanks, Nino!" you smiled as you tossed the bra onto the bed.

"Next time, I'm going to drain you until you don't have any power in your body" Nino gripped the bedsheets in frustration.

"Dominatrix arc? Cool." you laughed, putting on a shirt and heading for the door.

Nino sighed, realising playing into your teasing was exactly what you wanted. "Just go downstairs Idiot"

"See you soon!" you joyfully waved as you left her bedroom.

As you descended the stairs, the pleasant aroma of breakfast grew stronger, guiding you towards the source. When you reached the kitchen, you found Yotsuba and Miku bustling about, cooking up a storm. Yotsuba was cheerfully flipping pancakes on the stove while Miku chopped up some fresh fruit.

They both turned to greet you as you entered, their faces breaking into smiles. "Good morning!" Yotsuba chirped, her eyes sparkling with energy.

"Morning," Miku added with a nod, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Wow, this looks amazing," you praised, taking in the spread of food laid out on the table. "Thank you both for doing this."

"Good Morning Mister" Ichika pinched your cheek as she brushed past you with a coffee in hand.

"Morning-"

"Have fun last night?" she whispered into your ear and you could almost hear the smug grin she had on.

"Oh, you know it," you replied with a playful wink, causing Ichika to chuckle mischievously before sashaying off to find her own breakfast.

The morning sun streamed through the windows, casting a golden glow over everything and everyone in the room. It also revealed Itsuki who was staring daggers at the breakfast being prepared in front of her.

Ichika had already settled on the sofa, so you joined her and took a seat beside her. You leaned in and asked quietly, "Hey...were Nino and I really that loud last night..?"

She took a long sip of her coffee and giggled to herself. "I stay in the room next door. You tell me, how was the earthquake last night?" she smirked, making you blush.

"My bad..."

Ichika couldn't hold in her laugh. "it's fine, but just a little heads up for next time. Some of us are trying to sleep peacefully." she teased, poking you playfully in the ribs.

You chuckled nervously, feeling grateful for Ichika's light-hearted attitude about the situation. But the thought dawned on you if she had heard it, then Miku most likely did too...

Nervously you shifted your eyes over to the kitchen and Miku was staring right back at you, a slight blush plastered on her face. She quickly turned back to what she was doing.

"Next time we're doing it at my place..." you muttered under your own breath.

After what seemed like forever, Nino finally sauntered into the kitchen, her hair still tousled from sleep but a bright smile on her face. "Smells amazing in here," she remarked, giving Yotsuba and Miku a nod of appreciation. She walked over to you and leaned in for a good morning kiss, her lips warm and soft against yours.

Pulling away with a shy grin, she slid onto the chair next to you and turned her attention to the food on the table. "Oh wow," she exclaimed, clearly impressed with what her sisters had cooked up. "This looks even better than it smells."

Yotsuba gave a proud nod while Miku just blushed and smiled down at her chopping board. Ichika smirked, sipping her coffee with a teasing glint in her eye.

Nino looked at Ichika and then back at you, seeing the slightly embarrassed look on your face put 2 and 2 together in her head, Nino's eyes widened as realization dawned on her. She leaned in close to you and whispered, "Ichika heard us last night, didn't she?"

You nodded sheepishly, a blush creeping up your neck. "Apparently we were pretty loud..."

Nino groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe this," she muttered, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. "How am I supposed to look her in the eye now?"

You placed a comforting hand on her knee, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Hey, it's okay. Ichika's cool about it. She was just teasing."

Nino peeked at you through her fingers, her expression a mix of embarrassment and exasperation. "Easy for you to say. You don't have to live with her."

Just then, Itsuki cleared her throat loudly, drawing everyone's attention. "Ahem! If you two are done whispering over there, can we please start eating? The food is getting cold!" She pouted, her eyes fixated on the stack of fluffy pancakes in front of her.

As everyone settled in to eat, the conversation turned to the upcoming Kyoto trip. Yotsuba was practically bouncing in her seat with excitement, her eyes shining as she chattered on about all the things she wanted to see and do.

"I can't wait to visit the temples and shrines!" she exclaimed, waving her fork in the air. "And the bamboo forest, and the geisha district, and..."

"Chew Yotsuba" Ichika gently cupped Yotsuba's face and forced her to chew.

"Wait, I just realized something." You put your fork down and glanced around the table. "Where the hell is Fuutaro?"

"Is he still asleep?" Nino asked Miku.

Ichika and Miku shared a brief look. "Yeah..." Miku met your gaze.

"Oh, come on..." you sighed, getting up from your seat. "I'll go wake him up."

You trudged up the stairs with a lingering guilt accompanying you. "Definitely doing it at my place next time..."

"Fuutaro? Are you awake?" You knocked on the door a few times and waited for a response. After a few seconds, you decided to open the door. "I hope you're not walking around naked," you muttered under your breath as you pushed the door open.

Fuutaro was sitting on the bed, his eyes fixated on a picture in his hands.

"Hey...is everything okay?" You approached him awkwardly, unsure of how to comfort him. The picture he was holding onto was the infamous Kyoto childhood photo of his.

"I think so...it's just..." Fuutaro's grip on the picture tightened.

"It really is one of them, huh?" you said sympathetically.

"Yeah." Fuutaro let out a sigh. "What if it's Nino?"

"Well, then I hate to break it to you, but I don't think you stand a chance," you joked. "You never know though, it realistically could be any of them. Well besides Nino of course considering she has no memories of that" you reassured him as you sat down next to him on the bed.

"Thank you," Fuutaro murmured appreciatively.

"Come have some pancakes with us," Miku and Yotsuba called out, gesturing towards the kitchen.

"Miku and Yotsuba made pancakes?" Fuutaro raised an eyebrow in surprise. "And you're still in one piece?"

"Shocking, right?" You chuckled as you stood up, offering a hand to help Fuutaro up as well.

As the two of you headed towards the door, Fuutaro suddenly turned to you and asked, "By the way...what were you and Nino up to last night?"

"W-What do you mean?" you stammered, trying to play it cool but failing miserably.

Fuutaro gave you a knowing look, his eyebrow arched in amusement. "Don't play dumb. I heard noises coming from Nino's room last night. Noises that definitely didn't sound like studying."

You groaned, burying your face in your hands. "Not you too," you muttered, realizing that Fuutaro had also been privy to your late-night activities with Nino.

Fuutaro chuckled, patting your shoulder sympathetically. "Hey, it's okay. I'm not judging. Just maybe keep it down next time, yeah?"

"Yeah..."

------

A Few Days later.

"Bullet train huh? Sounds pretty fast..."

You stood at the station platform with the rest of the students, waiting for the train to take you all to Kyoto. The platform was filled with bustling crowds of students, all carrying backpacks and suitcases, eagerly awaiting the arrival of the bullet train.

"No shit" Nino smugly grinned.

"Let me talk to myself in peace" you groaned, taking a glance down at her enormous suitcase. "Hey, babe. How much stuff did you bring? You know we're only here for a couple of nights right?"

Nino rolled her eyes playfully and gave your arm a light smack. "I know that, dummy! But a girl's gotta be prepared for anything, you know?" She flipped her hair over her shoulder with an air of confidence.

You shook your head in amusement letting out a small chuckle. "Alright, alright. Just don't come crying to me when you have to lug that heavy suitcase around Kyoto."

Nino stuck her tongue out at you playfully before turning her attention to her sisters. Ichika was busily checking her phone, while Miku had her nose buried in a guidebook about Kyoto's historical sites. Yotsuba was practically bouncing on her toes with excitement, her eyes shining as she took in the bustling platform.

Itsuki, on the other hand, was eyeing the vending machines longingly.

"Itsuki, you just had a big breakfast before we left," Nino chided, noticing her sister's hungry gaze. "Can't you wait until we get to Kyoto before stuffing your face again?"

Itsuki pouted, tearing her eyes away from the tantalizing snacks. "But the bullet train ride is so long, Nino! What if I get hungry on the way?"

You couldn't help but chuckle at their exchange. "Don't worry, Itsuki. I'm sure they'll have food on the train. And if not, I packed some snacks just in case." You patted your backpack reassuringly.

Itsuki's face lit up with gratitude. "Really? You're the best, Y/N!" She clasped her hands together, her eyes shining with anticipation.

"Yeah yeah..." you gently pat her head. Looking down at your watch, you realized the train would arrive any minute now. You turned back towards Fuutaro, who was quietly observing everyone with a small smile on his face.

"Excited about the trip?" you asked him, nudging his shoulder.

Fuutaro nodded, "Yeah, it'll be good to get away for a bit. Maybe it'll help me clear my head."

"With those two, I'm not so sure" you pointed at Takeda and Maeda who had been roped into your group. The 5th guy who was meant to be here called in sick, sucks for him but that's more space for us!

"Yo you guys" Maeda approached you both.

"Hey, man" You fist-bumped him. "You all set?"

"Of course man!" Maeda shook his suitcase, It wasn't hard to notice his glances towards Ichika who was standing a few metres away

Ichika caught Maeda's gaze and offered him a small smile, her eyes shifted towards you and Fuutaro before she turned back to her sisters. Maeda's cheeks turned a faint shade of pink as he quickly looked away, pretending to be engrossed in checking his phone.

"Smooth move," you teased, nudging Maeda with your elbow.

Maeda stumbled slightly, trying to regain his composure. "Shut up, man. It's not like that," he mumbled, his ears turning even redder.

You chuckled at his embarrassment, shaking your head in amusement. "Just admit it, Man. It's written all over your face."

"Ah-ha-ha!" Takada strolled over as flashy as always.

Maeda whispered in your ear. "What's the deal with this guy?"

"Just try to ignore him. It's hard but just try"

Maeda nodded as Takeda joined the circle.

Fuutaro pinched the bridge of his nose, bracing himself for Takeda's antics. "Let's just focus on enjoying the trip, okay guys?"

Takeda grinned, throwing an arm around Fuutaro's shoulders. "Of course, of course! We're going to have a blast in Kyoto, Uesugi! Just wait and see."

Fuutaro shrugged off Takeda's arm, looking mildly annoyed. "Right. I'm sure it'll be...interesting with you around."

You couldn't help but snicker at Fuutaro's exasperation. Takeda was definitely an acquired taste, but you had to admit, his enthusiasm was kind of infectious but still very annoying.

Just then, a sleek bullet train pulled into the station, its aerodynamic form gleaming in the sunlight. The students around you erupted into excitement, everyone gathered their belongings and lined up at the platform edge. The powerful hum of the approaching bullet train filled the air, a sleek streak of white and blue metal that smoothly came to a halt in front of you.

The doors opened with a soft whoosh, and you all stepped inside one by one. The interior of the train was modern and comfortable, with plush seats and wide windows offering a panoramic view of the landscape that would soon be speeding past.

To get to your assigned seats you had to squeeze past the girls' you took the opportunity to brush against Nino. "Can't park dump trucks in the train babe"

Nino shot you a playful glare before pushing you away with a laugh, pretending to be offended as she settled into her seat. "Watch it there, Romeo. We're on a train, not in the bedroom." She joked, earning a chuckle from the rest of the group.

"Gross..." Miku cringed at the display of your affection.

"Let it go, Miku," Nino chimed in, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Love is in the air, right?"

Miku just rolled her eyes and buried them back into her guidebook, choosing to ignore the banter. Meanwhile, Itsuki was busy rifling through your backpack for the promised snacks. "Is it okay if I have some now?" she asked, holding up a packet of rice crackers to you as a child would.

"Go ahead," you said with a grin. "But save some for the rest of you guys, okay?"

Itsuki nodded enthusiastically before happily munching away on the snacks. The train began to move, the smooth acceleration pressing everyone slightly into their seats.

You found your seat next to Fuutaro, who had already settled in with his head resting against the window. As the bullet train began to move, gradually picking up speed, the group settled into a comfortable chatter.

Outside, the scenery started to blur as the train picked up speed, sweeping past cities and countryside alike.

Fuutaro had taken out a notebook and seemed to be jotting down some notes about something, normally you would pry and get all in his business but this trip held special value for him, so you decided to just keep quiet.

-----

Kyoto

"We will ensure your larger luggage makes it to the hotel safely but please keep hold of your personal belongings!" The teacher yelled out at us all as we'd arrived at Kyoto and everyone was anxiously awaiting to be dismissed to run wild but for now, everyone was waiting at the exit of the station

"That's it for the instructions, you are all hereby dismissed!" The teacher shouted and everyone began to break away into their own groups.

You looked behind you and saw the sisters, judging from how they are they'd want to be with you and Fuutaro. Maeda and Takeda being here was just a side effect.

A longing gaze from Ichika caught your eye briefly, she was staring directly at Fuutaro. Another thing that caught your eye was Miku, she seemed to be clutching some type of bag tightly and judging by how she was also looking over, it was some sort of gift for Fuutaro. Yotsuba clung tight to Miku, you'd noticed it earlier too but she was pretty much glued exclusively to Miku's side. Nino and Itsuki however seemed to be operating pretty regularly.

"The Shrine where the god of scholars resides?" you overheard Fuutaro say. "Okay, let's go there first!"

Takeda, Maeda and Fuutaro all began walking ahead of you. You quickly turned back to try and catch Nino's eye but she was looking at something with her sisters, not wanting to get left behind you left without saying anything to Nino and followed the others out of the station.

As you caught up with Fuutaro, Takeda, and Maeda, the cool breeze of early spring brushed against your face, carrying with it the faint scent of cherry blossoms. Kyoto was alive with its blend of the modern and the historical, a perfect backdrop for what promised to be an unforgettable school trip.

"Hey guys, wait up!" you called out, jogging the last few steps to close the gap between you and your friends.

Fuutaro turned around and smiled, a rare occurrence that you noted immediately. "Took you long enough," he teased lightly.

"Had to make sure everyone was accounted for," you replied, catching your breath.

"What about your girlfriend?" Maeda nudged you.

"She's a big girl, heh, she can handle herself and her sisters for a little while"

"Why'd you go heh?" Fuutaro mocked you.

"Never mind..."

The group continued walking towards the bus stop where students were piling into buses that would take them to various historic sites around Kyoto. Your group, however, decided on a more scenic route on foot to the shrine that Fuutaro had mentioned.

It took a little walking but you'd finally made it to the shrine. "It's a field trip and the first place we came to was about studying" Maeda sighed.

"I feel you man" You folded your arms and watched as Takeda and Fuutaro offered a prayer.

"Maeda." Takeda opened one of his eyes and called out. "You're grades are a sight for sore eyes so you should really pray"

"HUH? What did you say!?" Maeda had an outburst as he stormed over to him

"Oi shut up you guys" Fuutaro scolded them.

You watched with amusement as this dysfunctional trio stood beside each other. At this moment, you would rather be exploring Kyoto with Nino, all while holding hands and being romantic... What the hell was happening to me? you thought to yourself. I'm turning into the sappy type...

"Come on, let's move to the next place" Takeda clapped his hands and began to walk away.

Maeda, still fuming, released Takeda's jacket and muttered something under his breath as he walked past you. You followed the group, your mind drifting back to Nino and the others. You couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret for not staying behind with them, wondering what they were up to now. You hoped they were enjoying their time in Kyoto as much as you were supposed to be enjoying yours. The thought of Nino wandering through the historic streets, perhaps feeling a bit lost without you, added an unexpected weight to your heart.

As you walked through the bustling streets of Kyoto, lined with its traditional houses and modern cafes, the contrast between the old and new was striking. The aroma of matcha and fresh mochi from nearby shops filled the air, tempting your senses.

"Fushimi Inari-taisha Shrine..." Fuutaro mumbled, looking at his guidebook.

You looked over his shoulder at the map. "Wanna head there next?" you asked him.

Fuutaro nodded, tucking away his guidebook. "Let's do it. I heard the torii gates there are a pretty cool sight"

"Lead the way" you stretched out and yawned. "There's a ton of stairs though. You sure you're gonna be alright?"

"I'll be fine"

"Man... I kinda wish I could race Yotsuba up these stairs" You threw your hands behind your head as your group walked to the base of the hill. "I know she'd be up for running up the whole thing"

"Speaking of, where are the girls?" Fuutaro looked around. "I haven't seen them since the train at all"

"Probably off shopping or something." You shrugged, your gaze shifting to the crowd as if searching for a familiar face among the sea of tourists. "You know how they are" A twinge of disappointment washed over you that you couldn't see them.

Fuutaro nodded, pulling his jacket tighter around him as a gust of cold wind blew past. "I guess."

The 4 of you arrived at the base of the hill.

You looked up at the iconic red torii gates stretching as far as the eye could see, a vivid contrast against the lush green of the mountainside. The Fushimi Inari Shrine was one of Kyoto's most recognizable landmarks, and you couldn't help but feel a sense of awe as you stood at the entrance.

"Wow, this place is incredible," Maeda breathed, his earlier frustration with Takeda seemingly forgotten as he took in the breathtaking sight before him.

Takeda grinned, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "I've always wanted to come here, They say if you make a wish at the shrine, it's sure to come true." His attention turned to Maeda. "Maybe wishing for better grades would be beneficial"

Maeda purposefully kept his lips sealed seemingly taking in your earlier advice to ignore him

Fuutaro raised an eyebrow sceptically. "I don't know about that, but it's definitely a must-see spot in Kyoto."

As the group started the ascent through the torii gates, you kept glancing back, hoping to spot Nino and her sisters somewhere among the flurry of people. The shrine was packed with tourists; families with small children, groups of teenagers like yourselves, and couples walking hand in hand.

Though you tried to focus on the sight before you - the bright orange torii gates creating an almost ethereal pathway up Mount Inari - your mind kept drifting back to Nino. You could imagine her strolling along these paths, her eyes widening in amazement at each new sight, her laughter echoing through the mountain while walking hand-in-hand with you all the while"

"Your girl's really got you whipped, huh?" Maeda broke the thought clouds in your head as you whipped around at his comment.

"Do you ever shut up man?" You sighed slightly embarrassed, that light burning in your cheeks told Maeda that he hit the nail on the head. "Besides, haven't you been crushing on Ichika since she joined? How's that working out?" you smugly responded.

Maeda's face reddened, a defensive scowl crossing his features as he sputtered a denial. "That's—that's different!" he stammered.

Fuutaro chuckled under his breath, shaking his head at the two of you. "Are you two idiots done yet? Putting you two together in a group was a terrible idea" he said, facepalming.

You and Maeda both frowned.

"Hey, who are you calling an idiot?" you retorted, giving Fuutaro a playful shove. "I'll have you know I'm a genius...at certain things." You wagged your eyebrows suggestively.

Fuutaro rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress a small grin. "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Romeo. Let's keep moving before the crowds get even worse."

As your group continued the trek up the mountain path lined with vermilion torii gates, Takeda enthusiastically pointed out various shrines and stone foxes along the way, rattling off historical facts. The ascent through the gates was both mesmerizing and exhausting. The steps seemed to go on forever, snaking up the mountain through endless vermilion tunnels.

Though you tried to pay attention and appreciate the cultural significance surrounding you, your thoughts kept circling back to a certain feisty quintuplet. What was Nino up to right now? Was she thinking about you too and wishing you were by her side exploring Kyoto together?

"If you're so concerned over Nino. Why not just text her?" Fuutaro sighed, noticing your constant spacing out.

"That would be smart wouldn't it..." you admitted, swiftly sending Nino a text asking her whereabouts.

We walked a little further until we came to a fork in the road.

"Looks like we have two options for reaching the summit," Fuutaro remarked, studying the map with furrowed brows. His sharp eyes darted between the two paths before him. The left path seemed to have fewer Torii gates whereas the right path was littered with them but both met at the summit.

"The right path looks more flourished" Takeda pulled up beside Fuutaro, hogging his personal space a bit too much. "I suggest we go that way"

Hmm, I don't know," you mused aloud, "You saying that kind of makes me want to go left instead"

Takeda flicked his hair dismissively. "Do you have to be so difficult Y/N?" he groaned. "You're like a reckless child"

You stone-faced him. "Yep, going left so I don't have to spend another extended period of time in your presence. You turned on your heels and marched towards the left path.

But before you could get too far, Fuutaro's voice called out after you. "Wait, Y/N!" he exclaimed.

"How about we race to the top?"

Stunned, but intrigued, you couldn't help but stare back at him in disbelief that he just challenged you to a race. "Fuutaro... are you high on some kind of tourist adrenaline?"

"Maybe a little" he grinned. "I'll go on the right path and race you up."

"Fine. You seem so persistent for whatever reason so I guess I'll play along."

Takeda and Maeda both looked equally confused, but the two of them walked towards the right path with Fuutaro.

You felt the wind blow in your hair as you eagerly waited at the bottom of the left path. "Maeda! Count us down!"

"Why not me Y/N?" Takeda frowned.

"The less you open your mouth the better my day is..." you grumbled under your breath.

"Alright!" Maeda called out, raising an arm in the air,

"READY???"

Your legs tense up, ready to burst up the stairs, you were faster than Fuutaro no doubt but that was in the context of a straight line and flat ground. The stairs, steepness and potential amount of other people on the path were the biggest factors to this.

For whatever reason, as time seemed to slow you couldn't help but remember the anxious faces of Ichika and Miku earlier at the station

"GO!" Maeda shouted. You decided to give Fuutaro an extra second head start as you saw her dart up the stairs and out of sight.

"I'll see you guys at the summit!" you shouted as you too began running up your own set of stairs.

Your feet pounded against the ancient stone steps as you raced up the left path, the cool mountain air filling your lungs with each breathless gasp. The various trees lining the path whipped past you in a blur of green, occasionally broken by the vivid red of a torii gate.

Despite the burn in your legs and the sweat beading on your forehead, a grin stretched across your face. There was something exhilarating about this impromptu race with Fuutaro, a childlike joy in the simple act of running for the sake of running.

As you climbed higher, the crowds began to thin out, allowing you to pick up your pace. You wondered how Fuutaro was faring on the other path if he too was pushing himself to his limits, spurred on by the thrill of competition.

"With this flow of people, the other route must be the main route. Lucky me" you thought to yourself.

As you continued to run, a small building came into view on your right. A sign above the door read "Restrooms" in faded letters. However, it wasn't the building itself that caught your attention, but the two figures standing outside of it. They were both staring at you as you approached, you recognized one of them as Nino, her hand covering her mouth in shock.

"Y/N!?" Nino gasped disbelief evident in her voice. Surprised to see you breathless and sweaty. You stopped in front of her and caught your breath, leaning forward and resting your palms on your knees.

"Nino... and Itsuki..." you panted. "All empty?" you teased about them just coming out of the bathroom.

"Y/N, what are you doing?" Itsuki looked down at you ignoring your banter. "Are you alright?"

Nino walked up to you swiftly and began to wipe your forehead with a cloth she had in her pocket. "Idiot. I leave you alone for half a day and look at you" She sounded annoyed but that subtle hint of happiness in her voice warmed your heart.

"I'm... fine" you responded between breaths. "I'm racing Fuutaro to the summit.

"Racing...?" Nino pondered. It was as if she had just realised something. "We lost Ichika"

"What do you mean you lost her?" you said, standing back up straight.

Itsuki nervously chuckled. "Let's walk and We'll explain" she offered. The race was pretty much over from your point of view. You re-embarked up the stairs with the two sisters in tow.

"We came to the path split a bit further down. Yotsuba decided she and Miku were to go right and Itsuki, me and Ichika were to go left"

"Why'd you let Yotsuba decide like that?"

"She... won the card game on the train ride here" Itsuki shamefully admitted. You couldn't help but frown in response.

That's funny of her to abuse that. Way to go Yotsuba" you cheered.

"Anyway." Nino continued, also ignoring your banter. "We stopped at the restrooms but Ichika didn't come in with us and when we came out she was gone." Nino's expression darkened and she shuffled beside you, whispering in your ear. "I feel like she's up to something. She's probably run ahead to the summit already to try and be the first to see Fuutaro"

Itsuki's expression was filled with concern. "I'll run ahead and try to catch up with her," you assured them both.

"Are you sure?" Nino looked up at you, worried. "You've already run all the way up here."

You chuckled at her adorable concern. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. I'll meet you guys at the top. It's not too far of a climb, and I'll probably only arrive a little before you do."

"Okay. We'll be right behind you"

"Not right behind, I doubt you could keep up with me" you boasted.

Nino raised an eyebrow insinuating a challenge.

"Not now ribbons" You squeezed her hand slightly before jogging up a couple steps. "I'll see you guys in a minute!" you took off up the stairs once again.

Judging by how long you were walking with them and the distance from here to the top, it was likely that right now Ichika was close or already at the summit.

As you raced up the final stretch of stairs towards the summit, your mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. What was Ichika planning? Why had she run ahead? And most importantly, would you make it in time to find out?

Your lungs burned and your legs ached, but you pushed yourself forward, driven by a sense of urgency and curiosity. The torii gates seemed to blur together as you sprinted past them, their vibrant red colour reduced to a crimson streak in your peripheral vision.

Finally, the last few steps came into view, and with a final burst of energy, you crested the top of the mountain. The summit was a small clearing surrounded by towering trees, their leaves rustling gently in the breeze.

And there, standing at the far end of the clearing, was Ichika...

"She plans to get in the way of your confession to Fuutaro!"

But she wasn't alone.

Ichika stood with a pair of headphones and a wig by her side. Yotsuba and Miku stood opposite her, pure terror coated Miku's face.

Fuutaro was hunched over catching his breath, seemingly having just made it up to the summit at the same time.

Yotsuba spilled it.

"Huh..? What did you just say?" Fuutaro breathed heavily. Miku tensed up at his words, tears welling up in her eyes.

Ichika trembled slightly, while Yotsuba wore an expression of horror and regret. Fuutaro was utterly confused.

"Fuutaro... did you just hear that..?" Yotsuba turned to say to him.

Miku's grip on her bag tightened and her lips trembled. Everything seemed to freeze for a moment, and then the only sound was her erratic breathing on the summit.

Miku ran.

She dropped the bag and burst into a sprint in your direction.

"Hey! Miku!" you shouted, attempting to stop her with outstretched arms, but she ran right through them, pushing you aside. In that split second, you caught a glimpse of tears streaming down her face, unmistakably visible.

Ichika fucked this up for her.

You were still trying to process what had just happened when Miku raced past you. She leapt down the steps that led to the summit, and you could hear Itsuki calling after her.

"Miku, please wait! Where are you going?"

Itsuki chased her.

Standing next to where Itsuki just was, was Nino. She looked worried about Miku before turning to face the rest of us. Her sharp eyes took in the scene and she quickly assessed the situation.

"Ichika, you've crossed the line!"

Nino stormed over.

She moved swiftly to confront Ichika. "What were you thinking?!" Nino grabbed Ichika's shirt collar in anger. "Does it make you happy to see her cry?"

Yotsuba attempted to interject "Wait, Nino, that was my..."

"Yotsuba, it's okay," Ichika said as she turned to face her. "No matter the outcome...this is basically what I was aiming for." You felt a sudden rush of anger and also stepped closer to Ichika.

Nino began "How low are you going to..."

"Don't act like you understand the feeling" Ichika finally broke free of her grasp and looked Nino in the eyes "You got the easy route to love. You didn't have to fight or compete, he fell into your lap!"

"Ichika..." you let out a heavy sigh.

"You and I both pursued who we wanted. If you had one of us clawing for Y/N, would you really be any different?" Ichika now looked towards you.

"Ichika, lay off." you interrupted. "Do you not realise what you've just done?"

Ichika looked away, dismissive tone in her voice "What else could I do? You always said you'd help me time and time again but what did you really do? I needed to take action"

"Was the desperation eating at you that bad you had to resort to something like this?" you stepped forward, you voice becoming more angry with every passing word. "Your sister ran off in tears and you're standing her flinging blame at others!"

Ichika looked dejected, she looked over at Nino who had been quiet for a moment.

"If it came to that..." Nino, obviously hurt by Ichika's remarks, screwed up her fists and looked to the ground. "...I'd fight for him..."

Nino trembled as she spoke. "But no matter what, the bond between us is just as important to me as the bond between me and Y/N"

Ichika looked on at Nino in surprise.

"Even if he ended up falling for you... or Itsuki or one of the others..." Nino began to cry. "I would have supported you..."

At that moment, Takeda and Maeda also made their way to the summit, confused by the sight they saw before them.

You joined Nino's side and took her hand, offering a silent reminder of your support for her.

"What the hell's going on?" Maeda said

"I have no idea..." Fuutaro was as oblivious as ever. "Hey, you guys, calm it down for a sec-"

Nino wiped her eyes on your sleeve. "Shut up! All you're doing right now is making things more complicated!" she shouted. Nino pointed down to the left path, "Go and catch up with Miku, right now!" she demanded.

How she took control of the situation really made you fall in love with her even more.

"What are you-"

"Just shut up and go! Hurry up!"

Fuutaro seemed to have gotten the message and began running off.

"Wait, I'll help you find her!" Yotsuba called out and chased after him.

Now at the summit, it was you, Nino, Ichika, Maeda and Takeda. Along with a bunch of other tourists.

Nino's grip tightened on your hand. "We'd better start going back down too"

Ichika simply nodded in response and began to walk ahead of you both.

"Sorry guys. We'll meet up later I promise" You waved back at Maeda and Takeda who were so out of the loop it was comical.

Nino gripped your arm tightly, her body trembling slightly.

"You did well. I'm proud of you for standing up for Miku." You wrapped her in a hug, holding her close.

Nino melted into your embrace, burying her face in your chest as she fought back tears. "I can't believe Ichika would do something like that," she whispered, her voice muffled by your shirt. "Poor Miku...she must be so hurt and confused right now."

You gently stroked Nino's hair, trying to soothe her. "I know, it's a mess. But Fuutaro and Yotsuba are going after her. Hopefully, they can talk to her and help her through this."

Nino sniffled and pulled back slightly to look up at you. "I just don't understand why Ichika would sabotage Miku like that. I know she has feelings for Fuutaro too, but to go this far..." She shook her head in disbelief.

You sighed heavily. "We can go speak to Miku later if you want, It doesn't sit right with me if I don't try and help in some way"

Nino nodded, wiping her eyes. "Yeah, let's give her some space for now. But I definitely want to check on her later."

She took a deep breath, composing herself. "Anyway, we should start heading down. I don't want this to ruin the whole trip."

You and Nino walked hand in hand, taking in the serene mountain scenery. It helped calm the emotions swirling inside.

After some time, Nino spoke up softly. "I meant what I said back there. My relationship with my sisters is so important to me. We've always been together, and I can't imagine us becoming divided over something like this."

She paused, glancing over at you. "But that doesn't mean I love you any less. Nino continued, her voice steady and sincere. "You're the one I want to be with. I was kind of just making a point..." she smiled cutely.

"I know. I love you too. Let's just hope the rest of the trip smoothens out from here"

"Yeah... let's hope" Nino gripped your hand a little tighter.

You and Nino slowly made your way back down the mountain path, the tension from the confrontation at the summit still hanging heavy in the air. Ichika walked a few paces ahead, her head bowed and shoulders slumped. The usual confident swagger in her step was noticeably absent.

The three of you continued the walk down in silence.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 whole years of writing Nino fanfiction.

I did say in the chapter released at the 2nd anniversary that I'd probably only be at Kyoto by this time and I hit the nail on the head. Yeah work took more out of me than I initially thought, but it's all good. I'm trying to at least keep it a chapter every month or 2 now.

I surprisingly don't have much to say to be honest. I think this is either the longest or 2nd longest chapter of the series so far. So sorry for the wait.

To think 3 years ago I sat in my room watching Nino edits, and reading Butterflies (I pray for his return one day) and decided to write my own and it actually popped off, we're close to 200k reads which is actually insane.

Also I want to ask, are there any other QQ stories that are ongoing and regularly getting updated? I want to read more but most Nino stories have fallen off of the face of the earth. If you know any, let me know.

Your support means a lot to me, I've seen a lot of new faces in the past year. I love seeing people read from chapter one and then comment their thoughts as they go along with the story and catch up it's kinda stupid but it makes me feel happy.

Regardless, as always I will eventually see you guys in the next chapter! Take care of yourselves!