Some important stuff at the end of this Chapter about its schedule and stuff like that, feel free to ask any questions you may have. As of the point of starting to write this, which is the 20th of august, the story is slowly picking up traction, so that's cool. Big Thanks to everyone reading. Anyway, it's Nino Time

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You sprinted downstairs from the rooftop, you had no clue how long the fireworks would last so you moved as fast as your body possibly could. You exit the building and almost immediately run into Fuutaro.

"Holy shit man, I'm glad you're here"

"What's going on? Is Raiha with you?" he looked worried

"No, but she's with Yotsuba, she made sure to grab Raiha before everyone got separated"

"That's a relief, so why are you in such a rush?"

"Long story short, Nino wanted to surprise the sisters by renting out a rooftop for them all to watch the fireworks on, of course that means she didn't tell anyone where the building was and now everyone's separated and the fireworks have started, I told her I would go and find the others for her before the fireworks ended, and that's what I Intend to do"

"So you do like Nino" He says with a smile

"Who said I didn't, I'm just keeping a promise" You smirked "Now are you gonna help me or not"

"Okay, I see how important it is for them, and for you."

"Good, you head west and I'll go east, good luck Fuutaro" You shout as you run off towards the east side of the festival. It was a little less crowded now compared to when everyone got split up, but the path was still pretty densely compact with people.

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After running around for a few minutes, you spot a certain girl in a red yukata, looking like a child who just walked into a toy store, as she stands in front of a bunch of food stalls.

"Itsuki"

"Kya- Y/N" she pouts "Don't sneak up on me like that"

"Yeah, yeah look, I'm taking you to meet your sisters, there's a rendezvous point, lets start walking, we don't have all night" you said that a bit more rude than you intended but Itsuki didn't look fazed by it at all.

"Wait, where are we going?"

"Some buildings rooftop, Nino is already waiting there for everybody, me and Fuutaro went out to go and find you lot" Itsuki seems shocked at your generosity, then puts on a serious face.

"Take me there" she commands

"Atta girl" you respond.

As you walk with her next to you for a few minutes you decide to continue an earlier conversation

"Hey, remember when I said you could make it as a teacher?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"The other night, when the whole Nino situation happened, you really projected your voice back there it sent chills down my spine for real"

"I don't see how that helps with being a teacher, makes me sound more like a monster"

You laugh at her response, "I meant it as, you can project your voice and you have an air of authority and confidence already"

"Well that might be just because I'm your employer"

You hesitate, getting into money would be a bad topic, but you feel Itsuki could keep a tight word on something if asked.

"I mean, not technically, because I don't get paid for coming"

"You don't?, does Uesugi not split it with you?" she asked, you could sense her disgust for Fuutaro start to rise.

"No, he doesn't but I told him from before I even came for the first time not to give me any, that guy would end up splitting it 50/50 with me, when to be honest, he needs the money way more than I do" Itsuki's silence spoke volumes, she knew it was true too. She must have seen his living conditions when she dropped him home after the drug incident.

"Oh, we're here" you tell Itsuki standing at the bottom of the building.

"Just follow the stairs to the top, simple as that, I'm going back out there to look for the others"

You wave goodbye to Itsuki and sprint back into the crowd, that whole Itsuki ordeal took about 10 minutes, and she mentioned the fireworks were supposed to go on for 30, which meant you had to be quick but still had a decent chunk of time to work with.

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After running around the festival for 10 whole minutes you finally spot a girl in a green yukata and matching green bunny shaped ribbons, Jackpot. You ran up to Yotsuba and a sleepy looking Raiha.

"Here you guys are"

"Y/N!" Yotsuba exclaims, you notice she's rubbing her ankle.

"Yots... everything good, did you get hurt"

"W-Well I may or may not have hurt my ankle slightly while trying to keep close to Raiha"

"Shit, any luck with walking?" you say doubtful

"Doesn't look like it, sorry Y/N, you were looking for me to join back with the others right? Sorry that I'm such an airhead to have hurt myself." She says that unfazed and with a broken smile. Seeing her like this was hard, but just because she can't walk, doesn't mean all hope is lost yet. You turn to the sleepy looking Raiha.

"ah, Y/N Onii-chan" she mutters, half dozing off

"Hey Sport, listen I need you to do me a big favour, I'm gonna need to carry you in my arms, we have to go somewhere." She hesitates for a moment, but she knows that she can trust you and nods in agreement. "Thanks sport, but before that. You crouch on the floor, facing away from Yotsuba.

"Get on"

"Wah- Y/N I can't do that, I'm too heavy"

"Yots, trust me it's fine, I promised Nino that I would bring you guys together again, she was devastated to be separated from you all".

Yotsuba looks solemnly at the ground. "It's because it's been tradition ever since we were kids, we used to watch them with our Mother, but" she hesitates, "She's gone now, and we haven't been apart for a single fireworks display since"

It was sad to hear about there mother, you felt like you were overstepping your boundaries. "I'm sorry to hear that Yots"

"It's fine," she says with a smile, climbing on top of your back. You then picked up Raiha and held her in your arms. You walked with Raiha in your arms, asleep and Yotsuba on your back who was eerily quiet for a few minutes of the journey back.

"Yotsuba, I know how you feel"

"Y/N? You mean..."

"Yeah, It's exactly what your thinking"

"I'm so sorry to bring up those memories Y/N"

"It's fine, it's just the way things turned out is all" The silence was cruel, the person that you had the most energetic conversations with was completely closed off. Just then you felt your phone vibrate in your pocket.

"Hey Yots, can you grab my phone, it's in my right pocket" Yotsuba pressed herself against you even more than she already was. Booba. She eventually grabbed your phone.

"It's a message from Uesugi, he says he found Miku and Ichika and everyone besides me, you and Raiha are on the roof"

"Shit, alright, don't bother texting him back, I'll just start running, wrap your legs around my waist and hold on tight, I'll show you how fast I can go!"

"Aye Aye Captain!" Yotsuba cheered, it was nice to see her mood brighten back up. Bear in mind you couldn't break into a full sprint but you started jogging back to the building which cut the time off of the journey significantly.

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Third Person Perspective

Everyone besides Y/N, Yotsuba and Raiha were gathered on the roof, the sisters were anxious as to where Yotsuba was. Fuutaro on the other hand was worried, as his message had not been answered, so he was growing anxious of Raiha and Y/N's whereabouts. The rooftop had a cold silence cast over it, contrasting with the boom of the fireworks taking place just above their heads.

"W-What if, they don't come on time." Nino muttered to herself.

"He'll come" Itsuki reassured her confidently. "Y/N will definitely come, and he'll bring Yotsuba and Raiha with him"

Another few minutes of silence passed, only a couple minutes were left for the fireworks display until it ended. Nino just about ready to give up hope.

SLAM!!

Everyone on the roof turned around to the noise that had just been created, there stood Y/N, out of breath and exhausted, with Yotsuba on his back and Raiha asleep in his arms.

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Y/N POV

You finally arrived, the look of relief on the girls and Fuutaro's faces were worth it all. You were panting and out of breath, but approached Fuutaro and gave Raiha to him, whist letting Yotsuba off of your back and hobble over towards her sisters. They all hugged in a big group, it was a sight to behold. They all turned towards the fireworks and watched them in awe, holding hands, happy to be reunited. You smiled to yourself, it was a job well done.

You turn to Fuutaro, "Alright man, I'm getting out of here" You say which surprises him.

"Huh, why, the fireworks are nearly over"

"I know, but I need to go and fulfil my own tradition" you say, holding out the Hanabi you won earlier as well as a picture from your wallet. Fuutaro immediately understood without saying anything in response

"I'll be in the nearby park, if you wanna see me before you head home, take care"

"Okay Y/N, I'll meet you there afterwards".

You smile at him, and get one last look at the girls, especially at Nino and her smile, you felt a warmth in your chest knowing that all was well now. You silently made your way back downstairs and out of the building towards the park.

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Third Person Perspective.

The Final Firework shot into the air unlike any other that came before it and exploded in a monumental boom, that shone in lots of different colours and patterns. The sky was truly a spectacle to behold. The Festival speakers announced that the fireworks had ended, and people began to leave the festival and pack up the stalls.

The Quints were all still holding hands, looking at the starry sky where the lightshow had just finished. Nino stood in the middle of them all, the smile on her face completely erased the negative feelings she had half an hour prior. The feeling of happiness and warmth was indescribable and incomparable to anything she had felt in her life, and it was all thanks to Y/N.

The sisters all smiled at each other, satisfied with the night and prepared to leave, they turn around to only see Fuutaro, sitting down on one of the rooftop benches, with Raiha laying next to him, Y/N was nowhere to be seen. The girls faces were all confused and shocked.

"Oi, Uesugi, where the hell is Y/N?" Nino commanded an answer from him. Clearly angered and disappointed by his sudden disappearance.

Fuutaro was hesitant to answer, but gave in "He's in a nearby park"

"Why did he go there? Is he okay?" Yotsuba questioned, a clear concern coming from her voice.

Fuutaro again fell silent, simply standing up and picking up Raiha in his arms in the process. "I'll take you all to him, follow me"

The girls start to hesitantly follow Fuutaro downstairs.

"Uesugi, thank you for today"

"N-Nino, it's whatever" Fuutaro shakes off the compliment. "The one you should really be thanking is Y/N, that idiot wasn't gonna let anything stop him from finding the others"

"It's true" Yotsuba exclaimed, holding onto Ichika to walk. "Y/N offered to carry me all the way back instead of it being me separated from you guys".

"I will" Nino replied gazing in the direction of the park as they continued to walk. Her heart was beating furiously, she didn't know why she was so nervous to see Y/N, she had seen him most days since they had met but this time felt different to her. Maybe it was the curiosity that lingered inside of her regarding his sudden disappearance or why he was willing to go so far to help them all get together but she just couldn't get Y/N out of her head.

After walking for a short while, everyone arrives in a small park that was near the festival, it was a quiet park and it was only lit by a couple of streetlights that had admittedly seen better days. There was another light source however, a flickering and sparkling light source emanating from a bench that sat at the side of the park. Fuutaro smiled and gestured the girls to follow him over to the bench.

"Yo" Fuutaro calmly said

"Oh, hey" It was Y/N, holding the hanabi sparkler in his left hand that he had won earlier at that stall game, along with a picture in the other hand. His wallet was laying next to him on the bench too. His smile towards Fuutaro wasn't as genuine as they usually were.

"You okay man?"

"I'm all good, no worries about me" he said as he leaned back on the bench, he looked towards the girls. "So, you all got to see the fireworks right?"

"Yeah, they were beautiful, thanks so much for carrying me all the way there Y/N" Yotsuba bowed.

"No worries"

"But why did you go through all of that trouble in the first place"

"After you told me what you did, it solidified my determination is all, nothing more too it"

"By the way Y/N, what's with the picture, and the hanabi, and coming all the way over here?" Itsuki pondered

"You guys sure do ask a lot of fuckin' questions, don't you" he chuckled. Y/N hesitated before speaking, instead opting to raise the picture up in front of the girls. They all looked at a photo of a woman and a young boy who looked oddly familiar.

"I briefly mentioned it to Yotsuba earlier, but that's my late Mother"

The girls all looked at Y/N as he said that so nonchalantly, it was kind of scary in all honesty.

"Y-Y/N I'm so sorry" Itsuki bowed

"No apology needed stars, it's just the way the cards were dealt, nothing I can do about it now anyway" seeing Y/N like this was a shock to all of the girls, especially Nino. The way he was acting was so different to how he usually was, like it was so natural.

"But yeah, seeing all of you guys do some family tradition kind of made me want to do one too so this is what I came up with, simple but it does the job". Y/N grabs the picture back and stands up, putting the picture back into his wallet and the wallet into his jacket.

"Well that's enough for me tonight, I'll see you guys in school most likely, today was pretty fun though, I have to admit, thanks for inviting me along.

"I-It's our pleasure" Yotsuba responded, shakiness in her voice. The girls all sounded in agreement as Y/N turned away after saying his goodbyes, except for one girl.

Nino was watching Y/N walk away, she didn't say anything to him this entire time they had been in the park, it looked like she wanted to, but just couldn't let the words escape her mouth, she started to tense up, not realising the night had been a real toll on her mentally.

A hand landed on Nino's shoulder. "Go after him" It was Ichika.

"W-Why would I do that?" Nino scoffed and looked away, but not with the same air of confidence as usual and that was obvious to her sister.

"You never got to thank him right?, you can run and still catch him you know."

Nino looked back at Ichika and donned a stone cold facial expression. "I'll be back"

With that, Nino ran off towards the direction Y/N had left in, her sisters and Fuutaro all watching her do so.

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Y/N POV

You had walked away from the group, intent on going home, your earbuds were in and on almost max volume. It was a peaceful night and probably going to be an enjoyable walk home. The warm feeling in your chest from seeing Nino's happy face earlier hadn't left your body and it provided a satisfying conclusion to the night for you. You couldn't hear anything else besides your music, and it was a nice clear night sky, so a perfect end to the day, or so you thought.

You hear a distance muffled voice, that gets closer and closer each time it speaks, there's also the click-clack sound that similarly approached you and getting louder by the second.

"Y/N!" You turn to face the voice as you see Nino walking rapidly towards you, a look of concern on her face.

"Something the matter?"

"W-Where are you going?"

"Home, not gonna go deep sea diving now am I?" sarcastically spoken by yourself.

"Don't be an idiot" Nino looked away, her face dropped from the usual confident look to something more timid. You fully turned to face her, realising she was probably going to say something important.

"I-I never got to thank you earlier, you got all of my sisters back and saved the entire night Y/N" Now she was looking back at you, with the most beautiful sparkle of admiration in her eyes, it was lucky it was dark out as it was hiding the blush appearing on your cheeks.

"Y-Yeah it's no big deal"

There was an awkward pause, uncommon for the both of you as usually there's always some type of conversation going on between you. It still looked like she wanted to stay with you and talk more by the look in her eyes.

"Hey"

"What is it?"

"Want me to walk you home?, just me and you?"

"W-Why?"

You interlock your fingers behind your head "Dumbass, it looks like you still wanna talk right?"

"S-So what if I do" that tried to sound like good old strong spoken Nino but came out like something Itsuki would say.

"Well then, I guess there's no problem, let me call one of the others" You pause you music and scroll through the contacts, Ichika is probably the best to call she would understand the situation. You start to dial her number.

"Hello? Y/N, is something wrong?"

"I'm taking your sister home, she's begging me to spend more time with her"

"H-HEY! I never said that" Nino shouted with a pout. Cute

Ichika laughed, "That's fine Y/N just make sure she gets home safe, and don't do anything too naughty with my sister"

"Yes Ma'am" proceeding to say goodbye and hang up the phone. "Alright Ribbons, looks like we're walking"

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You both left the area and started to make way back to the Pentagon, it was about a 15 minute walk and it was on the way home for you so it all worked out. You turned to Nino who was silently walking beside you, she still looked like she had something to ask but couldn't bring herself to ask it.

"Nino, what's on your mind"

She flinched hearing the question.

"You didn't answer my question on the roof"

Obviously you weren't about to say you did it because you liked her and wanted to get closer to her, you just had to avoid it as best as you could. You let out a sigh and look forward

"I did it because I hated seeing you sad, that's all" that sounded a bit more harsh than probably intended. Nino was beaming however, her mood suddenly improved upon hearing that which was nice.

"I guess you must really like me then" the smug aura was practically oozing from her

"Maybe in your fantasy world princess" A blush appears on her face followed by a somewhat awkward silence.

Suddenly, she leans closer to you and instinctively you wrap your arm around her shoulders. To your surprise Nino doesn't shout or move away, instead getting closer to you. Just like it did on that one night, it felt like time had slowed down as your chest grew warm and fuzzy. You enjoy the cool night-time breeze blow against your face as you walk through the streets with a beautiful girl, yeah life was going pretty good.

You engage in more conversations about various things before finally arriving at the Pentagon, little did you both know there was a certain group of sisters on a certain balcony on the 30th floor, watching you both arrive.

"Alright, well you're home safe so Ichika won't chew me out for once"

"Y-Yeah, again, thank you Y/N, But don't get used to me saying that or anything. Only for Tonight"

"Yeah Yeah Tsun, whatever you say, I'll catch you in class okay?"

"Okay.., bye bye"

With that you watch her walk away briskly back into the pentagon, you would take her up to the room but that's too much hassle, you were already burnt out from today and just wanted to hit the hay. Putting your earbuds on maximum volume, you turned away from the Pentagon and began the regular route back home.



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For once I actually have some important stuff to say here lmao.

Okay, so as you could probably see, in the latter half of this Chapter the quality went downhill somewhat, at least that's what I've felt re-reading it.

I put too much pressure on myself to try and have a chapter out every day so I've hit the point where I caught up with my buffer and now instead of daily like the first 7 chapter releases it'll be in a period of a very maximum of 10 days. I don't think I'll ever take that long to release another chapter but its just there as a heads up, also I didn't know how to really end this arc that well so yeah. Apologies for that

But thankfully I've been planning and brainstorming story elements so it should be a bit easier from here on for a while, next is the sleepover stuff anyway, and I have some ideas as to what I could do for it.

TLDR: Chapter releases are slowing down for better quality stuff, I'm not ditching the story, no more than a maximum of 10 days between chapters, most likely to be 3-8 days I'd imagine per chapter.

Thanks as always for reading, seeing all the notifications of people Voting and adding it to their reading lists makes me want to keep going even if my motivation is low, so thanks guys. Anyway, I'll see you in a few days for Chapter 9. Take Care of Yourselves