Vehemence + Dependence REVISED - an Original Quintessential Quintuplets Story

20 - Stopping the Festival

(Y/N) and Ally continued to walk through the wide road that would soon be full of festival-goers.

"Hey, Big Bubber."

"Yeah?"

"Why does Nino-san hate you so much?"

"She doesn't hate me. Quite the opposite, actually."

Ally quietly gasped. "She likes you?"

"Yeah, for a year now."

She laughed. "You should say yes to her," she joked.

"Yeah, I'd love to even marry her," (Y/N) followed along with the joke.

"But, wait... Are you actually taking Akasuki to the festival?"

"No, Nino is just theorizing."

"You should! She seems like a nice girl."

"She is, I just don't think I want to invite her."

"If she lives in the area, she'll probably come anyway."

"Exactly."

"I hope Nino-san won't be angry if Akasuki comes."

"Me, too, Ally. I hope so, too..."

~ + ~

Ichika adjusted her yukata. "Ah, the fireworks festival! One of my favourite events of the year." I remember what (Y/N)-kun did last year. Maybe this year he'll outdo himself and do something even nicer.

Nino was pacing the living room. "But be vigilant! That hawk may come at any moment, swoop down, and snatch our dear (L/N) as its prey."

Now, Ichika could see why Nino was so agitated. If (Y/N) did end up ditching them for Akasuki, they would only have any time with him during their tutoring sessions, and at that point he would only be doing it because he's getting paid, meaning if he didn't get paid he wouldn't spend any time with them at all.

It was this long and somewhat convoluted line of logic that Nino was trying to force onto the rest of them, only succeeding with Ichika so far.

Miku pulled her hair out of her face, only for it to fall back. "So what? This is a night for us, a night for the Nakanos."

"Are you saying (L/N) doesn't matter?!"

"I'm not saying that, but–"

Itsuki interrupted the bickering. "Enough! Let's enjoy the night, (L/N)-kun or no (L/N)-kun. Alright?"

Nino rolled her eyes. "Yeah... Yotsuba, what are you gonna do?"

"I wanna see Ally-chan!"

"So, if (L/N) leaves us to go with Akasuki, but Ally-chan is with him, you'll leave us?"

Yotsuba shrugged. "I dunno. Maybe."

"And ditch your sisters??"

Itsuki sighed. "Nino, calm down. Let the boy do what he needs to do— what he wants to do, even. We can spend the festival together without that rooftop anyway."

"...I guess..." Nino felt that she would not be able to enjoy the night with (Y/N) and Akasuki on her mind, but oh well, she thought.

The Quints set off for the festival grounds. This was their second time going since their mother passed away and coincidentally also the second time they were going with (Y/N). Well, this time, they weren't exactly going with (Y/N), but he was going to be there.

They walked in the street that the blue-painted building was situated on. The street was crowded with people, making it hard to get anywhere.

Nino had a pout on her face while she walked. Like she had predicted, she was having trouble enjoying the night with (Y/N) on her mind.