Who should I follow?

Ichika is probably at her part-time job.

It would be rude to go there.

Yotsuba is at club activities.

Saying anything now wouldn’t mean much.

That leaves Itsuki by process of elimination.

She said she was going to the library.

If it’s a library nearby, it’s probably that one.

I jog lightly toward the library to meet her.

I arrive, but where is she sitting—

I found her quickly.

Good thing her hairstyle is easy to spot.

Kiyotaka: "Hey. Long time no see."

Itsuki: "What is it? Aren’t you supposed to be tutoring?"

Kiyotaka: "Everyone left because of Nino. I came to self-study."

Itsuki: "I’m leaving."

Kiyotaka: "Wait. Futaro is still at your house. And I don’t plan to disturb you."

Itsuki: "I see. Then please don’t talk to me much."

Kiyotaka: "Alright. I’ll do that."

She doesn’t seem to think well of me.

That’s fine.

For now, I’ll just observe how she studies.

* * *

—Two hours later—

I can’t call it an efficient method.

Itsuki focuses too much on input.

But in studying, output is what truly matters.

Just changing her method would likely raise her grades.

Still, if I say too much about study techniques, she might distance herself again.

I have an idea.

Kiyotaka: "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Itsuki: "What is it? I’m self-studying."

Kiyotaka: "I thought I’d tell you during a break. This material was really helpful and easy to understand."

Itsuki: "What is this all of a sudden? I don’t need your teaching."

Kiyotaka: "I’m not teaching. I’m recommending it as a fellow self-studier. The book itself isn’t guilty of anything. Why not try it?"

Itsuki: "If you insist that much, I’ll use it."

* * *

Another hour passes.

The problem set I gave her is one Futaro and I found earlier.

Good thing the library had it.

I’ll read for a bit.

After a while, Itsuki speaks to me.

Itsuki: "That book earlier was easy to use. I’m heading home now."

Kiyotaka: "I’ll head back too... I left something at your house. Sorry, let me in."

Itsuki: "Fine. But please leave quickly."

Kiyotaka: "Understood."

If Uesugi is there, that would be ideal.

Though at this hour, he might’ve left.

If so, I’ll just tell him about the results tomorrow.

We enter silently together.

Futaro is on top of one of the quintuplets.

Judging by the hair accessory, it’s Nino.

This is—

Itsuki: "Disgusting."

That’s the natural reaction.

The others gather one after another.

* * *

—Quintuplet Trial—

Itsuki: "Your Honor, please look."

She shows the photo she took to Ichika.

Itsuki: "Unable to contain his desires in front of a fresh high school girl... The defendant is Uesugi, correct?"

Futaro: "I-It’s a false accusation."

It probably is.

The upper shelf had collapsed, but below shoulder height it remained intact.

Which means they didn’t struggle into that position.

He likely protected Nino from falling books.

Even if I say that, it won’t matter.

Testimony from one of the quintuplets would be better.

But the only witnesses are Nino and Itsuki.

I have no choice.

Nino: "Your Honor."

Ichika: "Yes, plaintiff Nino."

Nino: "This man pretended to leave, then waited for me after my bath."

Futaro: "That’s going too far."

Ichika: "How outrageous~"

Futaro: "Ichika, I just forgot my wallet—"

Ichika: "..."

Futaro: "Your Honor."

Ichika: 'Smile.'

Maybe it’s his wording.

I thought she was serious, but she can joke too.

Miku: "Objection. I have the intercom recording of letting him in. It was an unfortunate accident."

Futaro: "Miku—"

Nino: "You’re still siding with him? He said he came to take pictures. That’s voyeurism."

Miku: "He said he came for something he forgot."

Nino: "Your Honor, Miku is defending him due to personal feelings."

Miku: "T-That’s not—"

Futaro: "I knew you’d believe me, Miku."

Miku: "Don’t come any closer."

Miku definitely has special feelings for Futaro.

While I’m thinking that, the argument between Nino and Miku escalates.

Itsuki: "N-Now isn’t the time for us to fight—"

Miku: "Itsuki, stay out of it."

Nino: "And delete that photo."

Itsuki: "Your Honor—"

Ichika: "There, there. Good effort. But even if what Miku says is true, would they really end up in that position?"

She noticed.

Nino: "Ichika, you get it. He suddenly jumped on me."

Miku: "Is that true?"

Futaro: "Y-Yes, but—"

Miku: "Then guilty. Seppuku."

Isn’t that excessive?

There’s no choice.

I’ll speak.

Itsuki: "He protected Nino from books falling off the shelf? If you look closely, that interpretation is possible. Isn’t it?"

Futaro: "Y-Yeah. Thank you, Itsuki."

Itsuki: "I’m not accepting thanks. I’m merely presenting one possibility."

That statement shifts things toward acquittal.

She dislikes him, but perhaps not entirely.

Nino: "Why are we acting like it’s resolved? Don’t say random things."

Miku: "Nino, you’re being persistent."

Ichika: "Now, now. Don’t get so heated. We used to be close, remember?"

Nino: "Used to..."

Nino leaves.

So they’re not perfectly united either.

It’s more complicated than it looks.

I’ll follow Nino.

I find her sitting in a squat near the automatic door.

Nino: "Ah."

She runs toward the door, but it closes before she can get through.

Nino: "Useless thing."

That’s unreasonable.

Did she forget her key card?

Nino: "I don’t want to see your face. Just go home."

Kiyotaka: "I know you dislike us. So just act like you always do."

Nino: "Huh? I hate all of you too. All of you..."

Kiyotaka: "That’s a lie."

Nino: "What?"

Kiyotaka: "Your actions show it. You care about them. That’s why you couldn’t stand outsiders like us."

Nino: "Got a problem with that?"

Kiyotaka: "Not really. I understand it. That’s why I said, just act like yourself. I’ll listen to your complaints."

Nino: "You’re an idiot. But fine. I’m not wrong. I’ve decided. Even if they hate me, I’ll drive you two out."

So that’s how it is.

Not a bad irregularity.

Things aren’t interesting if they go exactly as planned.

Nothing stays the same forever.

That applies to relationships too.

Will she be able to stay true to herself as everything changes?