Vehemence + Dependence REVISED - an Original Quintessential Quintuplets Story

10 - Midterms

"Itsuki...," (Y/N) looked at her. "I'm sure you'll be perfectly fine. As long as you studied, which I know you did."

"Yeah, I'm just a little... nervous, I guess."

"Don't be. Just don't, there's no reason to. It's not like you'll die if you fail, or we get fired if you fail, or—" Oh. Crap, I let that slip.

"...fired? My father is firing you if we fail?"

"...kinda." (Y/N) squinted as he looked at Itsuki but could practically see her determination levels rising.

They entered the classroom to see everyone in their seats, and Fuutarou studying.

(Y/N) sat down. "Bro, considering how much you study, I'm surprised that you still have to cram stuff right before the exam."

Fuutarou looked up. "I don't have to, I'm just reviewing the things that I wasn't perfectly comfortable with."

(Y/N) looked at his stack of only a few cue cards. "That's not a lot of things you aren't perfectly comfortable with."

"I know. It's good to review them anyway, though."

"Have fun."

"Thank you."

(Y/N) turned to the front of the class in time to see the teacher enter.

"Clear your desks, everyone."

A great noise was heard as everyone shuffled to clear their desks.

And thus, the first midterm exam started. Midterms had begun.

~ + ~

The midterm routine was about the same for all exams.

The Quints and (Y/N) would meet each other at the girls' lockers. (Y/N) would encourage them to make sure they were all confident enough.

(Y/N) and Itsuki would make their way to the classroom. They would find Fuutarou studying.

The exam started. They wrote the exam.

When the exam day was over, they would all leave together. They discussed the exam, what sucked about it and whatnot. Fuutarou would leave early because his home was in the opposite direction.

(Y/N) would get a little overexcited and would treat the girls to some coffee. They would sit down at the nearby park to have their drinks.

(Y/N) would bid farewell and wish the girls a good day. It was the same for all the days.

Well... almost all the days.

The day before the last exam, Fuutarou wanted to have a last-minute study session. This is how that went down:

"Why is Uesugi following us?" Nino subtly looked behind her as they started their walk home.

"Girls!" he shouted from behind them. "Wait up!"

"Ugh, here he comes, asking us to study."

He caught up to them. "Would you all be interested in studying today?"

Nino crossed her arms as she continued to face away from Fuutarou. The rest of the girls, however, did turn to talk to him.

"Oh, Fuutarou-kun! Um... I don't know, I'm pretty tired today...," Ichika scratched the back of her head.

"You girls need this, trust me."

Itsuki stepped forward. "Are you sure? (L/N)-kun has been testing us, and we've been doing well."

"Take a look at (Y/N)'s marks and then tell me you're good."

"Hey! Don't disrespect (L/N)-kun like that."

"I'm not disrespecting him, I'm just saying that an actual top student should be the one verifying your readiness."

"He's top enough. You don't need to be taught by the best to be good."

"If he comes to teach, will you agree to it?"

"Maybe. We'll have to ask him."

(Y/N) cleared his throat. "Guys, I'm right here."

Fuutarou looked at (Y/N) with his best attempt at pleading eyes. "(Y/N), please!"

"Why are you so insistent about them studying?"

"Because I want them to succeed!"

"Fine. For your sake, I will join you and teach today."

"Thank you, (Y/N)!"

"Don't mention it."

The session was pretty uninteresting. They actually did study, though, which was surprising. Even Nino joined them and listened.

It was all going well until there was a knock at the door.

(Y/N) pushed himself up from the table. "I'll get it."

Nino pulled him back down and got up instead. "No, I'll get it. It's my house, doof."

She ran to the door and opened it. She called out to the rest of them, "There's a little foreign girl here."

(Y/N)'s ears perked up. "Is her name Ally?"

"Yep."

"Let her in, she's my sister."

"Oh... Now, I recognize her, my bad."

Ally ran into the room and immediately hugged (Y/N).

Itsuki widened her eyes at the sight of Ally. "Ally-chan! Welcome!"

Nino walked back to the table. "Itsuki, you know this girl?"

(Y/N) turned to Nino. "Yeah, the two of us met Itsuki at Tempura when we first moved to Japan."

Itsuki finished, "And we saw her when (Y/N) took us there a few weeks ago—though I guess you wouldn't have been acquainted from that meeting."

Ally excitedly jumped up and down. "Can I study with you guys?"

(Y/N) looked at Fuutarou to gauge his reaction. "I'd prefer we focus," he decided.

Ichika reached out and scratched the top of Ally's head. "Come on, Fuutarou-kun, let the girl stay."

(Y/N) whispered to him, "Dude, she's wanted to come here for a while. Don't make her sad."

Fuutarou sighed. "She can stay, but she can't be distracting."

Ally saluted in a soldier-like pose. "Yes, sir!"

Nino and Ally both sat down.

Fuutarou cleared his throat and continued reviewing the information. Ally sat and listened to him, with eyes full of awe. She was paying more attention than the Quints were.

That was the most eventful day of the midterms. It was pretty mellow otherwise.

But the important thing was—with (Y/N)'s (and Fuutarou's, but mostly (Y/N)'s) encouragement, the Quints had done their best.