Yo, I'm back after having not posted anything for this book for quite a bit. Had run in quite a problem as the first initial scenario I had planned out for this chapter was honestly not cutting for me so I ended up scrapping it and went with something else.

And so here is the finished project and I hope you all enjoy it. Also, I decided to skip the day two sections of the manga because that is mostly building up on Ichika's and Fuutarou's relationship and there really wouldn't have been anything for me to write for that part. So I proceeded to the day three stuff instead, of which I had also omitted certain scenes as I had really of no way to fit it in to my depiction of the story. Anyway, enough of me. I hope you all enjoy.

---

The air around them was cold. Though it shouldn't be a surprise, it was around Winter time. However, she couldn't help but feel a certain warmth flare up in her cheeks, her bright blue eyes staring down at the boy below her.

Her hands were on his chest, their faces so close that their lips were just merely inches apart. Her breath was slow, but heavy, unsure of what to do in current predicament. The boy below her began to slowly groan as he slightly lift his head up as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Owie..." Y/N said, soon feeling the girl's body on him. "Are you okay, Nakano-san..."

His voice trailed off as he opened his eyes, at a loss for words. Yes, he realizes the situation he's in, but that's not the reason why he was at a loss for words. He stared up at her, her pearl pink hair being illuminated in the moonlight that shined down on them, not being obstructed by the trees overhead. Her blue eyes matched well with night sky, a blush soon coming to his face as he could feel her breath on him, unable to let out any words from his mouth.

They were close. So close.

--: Chapter 14| Confused Feelings :--

It had been minutes, hours, they weren't sure how much time had passed it's been since they've been lying on the ground, with Itsuki still on top of the boy. The two struggled for words to be uttered out, keeping up this awkward atmosphere that had occurred.

"Um... I..." Itsuki quietly says.

Y/N looked away, "Um, Nakano-san..."

"Y-Yes...?"

"D-Do you... Do you think you can get off now? You're kinda crushing me," he said. He was losing his breath at this point as Itsuki continued to lay on him.

Now frantically freaking out, Itsuki quickly got off of him and apologized to the L/N teen. However, Y/N just denied it, an awkward silence once again occurs between the two. They seemed to forget that they were both still in the middle of the Test of Courage, briefly forgetting about it due to the uncanny situation they were in.

Y/N then scratched his cheek. "Well... We should probably get out of here, Nakano-san."

"Y-Yeah..." She stuttered.

"F-Follow me! I-I think I know!"

"W-Wait!"

The L/N teen then jumped in surprise, letting out a small shriek at the fact that Itsuki had suddenly grabbed his hand. He turned around, letting out a small gasp as he sees her expression. Tears were at the ends of her beautiful blue eyes, using a finger of hers to wipe some away as she held a scared expression. But looking deep into those eyes of her, he could see that she found relief. Relief that he was there with her.

"D-Don't... Don't leave me by myself... Please," she had asked quietly.

"S-Sure..." Y/N responded, soon growing quiet. He then cleared his throat. "Th-Then... Stick close to me. Okay, Nakano-san?"

Itsuki simply nodded her head. The two then began to walk the way they had come from. Itsuki looked up at the glasses wearing teen, seeing him proceed on into the dark, their path only illuminated by the moonlight that was able to pierce in between the small gaps of the tree leaves, seemingly without a hint of fear. 

A red tint of a blush soon makes it's way across her face, bringing her other hand close to her chest as she formed it into a fist. Though she didn't clench it, simply resting it on where her heart would be. She then noticed that she was still holding onto his hand, the Nakano girl relaxing into it instantly. It was almost like it was a natural feeling to her. Again, those feelings she had been feeling ever since she had begun to spend time with him began to bubble up within her. It was no question that these feelings of hers are what made her happy, but she didn't want to come to that conclusion that it was "that" one.

But at this current moment, Itsuki couldn't help but think. But be in awe of him right now.

'L/N-kun is... Kind of fearless right now... And his hand... It's... Warm... L/N-kun...' She thought, clutching his hand a little bit tighter.

She felt... Safe at the moment. However... Y/N may look like that he's fearless right now. But on the inside...

'...Holy crap, this place is so scary! Uesugi-san, why did you have to make so scary! Aahh! Now Nakano-san and I are lost! What are we going to do!? What are we going to do!?!?'

Yeah... They were lost.

---

Nino Nakano had found herself on her back, breathing heavily as her chest heaved, rising up and down, slowly. A blush had found it's way to her face as she stared up at the person in front of her, or rather, on top of her.

It was a blonde teen, about the same age as her. He had introduced himself as Kintarou to her. But in actuality, it was Fuutarou Uesugi in disguise.

Although, how they ended up in this situation was due to Fuutarou, or in this case, Kintarou nearly fell off a cliff. If it weren't for Nino, he would've. And now, the black-haired teen, who was wearing a blonde wig at the current moment, is on top of the girl with butterfly ribbons. "Kintarou" was sweating slightly, as he was also panting heavily.

"You saved me," 'Kintarou' stated, saying with a bit of gratefulness.

Nino looked away. "No, I was the one who was... Thank you..."

The boy then stood up. "Still, I don't see them anywhere. Maybe they've gone back?"

He expected an answer from Nino, as he heard her shuffle slightly, the grass rustling below them as she had stood up as well. Turning to her, he sees that she was extending a hand out to him, her other hand using it to cover her face as she sported a huge blush.

The boy looked at her weirdly, "What's wrong?"

"Sorry," Nino started off, "I think I'm having trouble moving... I'm scared, so... Hold my hand..."

"...Huh?" He stared at her dumbfounded.

"S-Something scary might happen again in a place like this, so...!"

"...I see."

"Just what am I saying to a guy I just met! Forget I said anything!" She instantly retorted.

Staring at her hand for a while, "Kintarou" sighed. He then walked up to her, Nino continuing to shyly and meekly look away. Something was then placed in her hand.

"I got it."

Nino stared at the item. It was a simple piece of string that was wrapped to be a bracelet. "...Eh?"

"It's a charm loaded with benefits," 'Kintarou' explained, "Just having it with you guarantees safe travels, good health, evil-warding, better luck, and easy childbirth! The charm is renowned to even grant wishes. It's extra special, you know! "

The girl with butterfly pins stared at it for a good amount before she shook her head with a smile and gratefully accepted it. Tucking it away in her skirt pocket, she looked at him, although he was still facing away.

She then asked him a peculiar question, "Kintarou-kun, will you still be around tomorrow?"

"Huh? Sure..." He responded a bit skeptically.

"My school is doing a bonfire tomorrow. And there's a legend associated with the folk dance that takes place during it. It's said that you will be bound to the person you hold hands with at the finale."

"R-Really? First I've heard of it..."

"It's quite a vague legend so people even say that simply holding someone's hands would grant your wish. So it seems that students who are conscious of being seen plan to hold hands off to the side."

"That's good enough...?"

Nino laughed slightly. "It's really childish and blown out of proportion. ...Kintarou-kun, will you dance with me?" She had bowed in front of him. But "Kintarou" just stared at her. "I'll be waiting," she finally said.

"U-Um... Um..." 'Kintarou' stuttered out.

They were soon interrupted as they heard wailing nearby. Nino had turned her head toward it.

"Waaah...~ Nino... Where did you go?~" Itsuki's voice cried out.

"D-Don't worry, Nakano-san!" Y/N's voice soon pipes in, reassuring her. "We'll find her! I-I promise...!"

"Itsuki! L/N-kun!"

"Fuee...?"

"Eh?"

The two had looked over to see Nino running toward them. Instantly, Itsuki runs toward her older sister, crying her eyes out.

"Ah! Finally!" Y/N was relieved.

"You were too misleading!" Nino scolds her sister.

Itsuki only rambled on. "I'm so glad!~ I felt so distressed!~"

"Geez, let's head back," Nino says with a sigh.

"I'm impressed you were okay by yourself..."

"Eh!? Nino-san was by herself!? And she wasn't scared!? Amazing!"

The girl blushed in embarrassment. "It's not that impressive..." She then cleared her throat and smiled, "Besides, I wasn't--"

Nino had turned around to introduce the two to "Kintarou." However, upon turning around, no one was there. It was as if "Kintarou" had suddenly vanished into thin air, never to be seen again.

The two look at her confused, Itsuki speaking up, "What's the matter?"

"...I'll be waiting," Nino muttered with a smile.

---

The Third Day...

It was now the last day of their field trip. A lot had happened last night as Fuutarou was locked in a shed with Ichika and Itsuki and Miku ended up finding them.

While Itsuki didn't really care in particular, but she was quite suspicious as to what Fuutarou and her older sister were doing in the shed. So that whole remaining night, the two were left to explain everything that happened to not only Itsuki and Miku, but as well as to the teachers. However, there was one thing that Fuutarou had learned from this interaction with Ichika. She was planning to take a small break, or quite possibly, drop out from school due to her work, as she had been getting more offers now that her name was getting a bit more well known.

Aside from that of Fuutarou's dilemma, Y/N sort of had his own problem. In fact, like before on the bus, Itsuki had mostly refused to make eye contact or talk to him. At all.

It seemed that the night they did the Test of Courage was really the only time they spoke to each other or made eye contact with each other. Yesterday, sure, they did do that, but it was mostly occasionally when either Itsuki or Y/N had made a small gesture of hello of sorts. In any case, today was the third and last day of their field trip.

Fuutarou Uesugi had woken up in the cabin room that the boys of his class was assigned to. He groggily rubbed his eyes as he looked to the window, yawning as the shining sun poured through the window. However, it was considerably cold.

"Oh, it's the last day..." He quietly says to himself. The boy yawned again and was about to bring the covers over himself again. "I'm just gonna sleep, this is too troublesome--"

"Uesugi-san!" Both Y/N and Yotsuba yell, the door being busted open.

The sudden and abrupt sound of the door being slammed open caused him to jerk out of his bed, falling face first onto the wooden floorboards. Dressed in winter suits, Y/N and Yotsuba grab the black-haired teen by his arms and begin to drag him along with them.

"Whoa, Yotsuba!? Y/N!?" Fuutarou asks, bewildered.

Yotsuba flashes him her usual grin, "Just because the participation is voluntary, it doesn't mean I'll let you go that easily!"

"Yeah! If you sleep in, then it'll be a waste!"

"Let's go skiing! Come on!" The two of them yell. Fuutarou simply sighed in exhaustion.

After dragging the poor boy out of his bed, and having him dressed in his winter clothes, Yotsuba, Y/N, and Fuutarou gathered out in front of the ski lodge with skis in hand. Yotsuba then beamed her usual smile.

"Now! Let's slide all the way!"

"Yeah!" Y/N cheered, pumping his fist up with Yotsuba.

Fuutarou grimaced and shivered, "Just let me sleep, it's too cold out here... And in the first place, I don't know how... Y/N doesn't either."

Y/N was about to retort before he paused with his mouth agape. Thinking on Fuutarou's words, yes, he's correct. Y/N does not know how to ski at all.

However, Yotsuba turned to look at them, smiling as she rested her hands on her hips. With a small, but cheery laugh, she grabs Fuutarou's hands and Y/N's hands to show them.

"It's too wasteful to sleep on a day like this! If you really think you can't do it, then I'll hold your hands as you slide! Alright, let's practice!"

Y/N nodded. "Hai!~"

"Wait, where are the other four idiots?" Fuutarou quickly asks, looking around.

"Ichika feels under the weather today and Itsuki is taking care of her," Yotsuba says.

"Yeah. Considering what happened with her and you, Uesugi-san."

"I guess..." Fuutarou says with a slight nod, "I guess it's inevitable. Next time, confirm the surroundings before looking, okay?"

This only made Yotsuba look at him confused.

Shaking her head, she continued on. "What are you talking about? Well, leaving that aside, Nino is already able to ski, so the one I'll teach today is... Ah, here she comes."

The sound of rustled and crunched snow could be heard behind them. Turning around, it was one of the other quintuplet sisters, more specifically, Miku. She had a winter beanie on, a protective visor, her winter jacket, pants and boots with her skis.

"Hi," she said in her usual monotone voice.

"Who are you!?"

Y/N sweat drops at his friend. "It's Miku-san, Uesugi-san."

"O-Oh... Miku, huh..." He soon gets closer to her, his face closer to her own. "It's really hard to tell if I only look at your face..."

Miku had lifted the goggles over her eyes and rested it on her head so she could show Fuutarou her face and confirm what Y/N had said. However, she was quite surprised and wasn't expecting for him to draw closer to her like that.

So in out of pure surprise and in a slight flustered nature, she tried backing up. But due to the skis that were attached to her boots, she slid, causing her to squeal a bit as she began to lean back before falling onto her rear, the soft snow under her cushioning her fall. A blush of embarrassment, the color red coats her cheeks as she awkwardly looked away.

"You fell really hard there!" Yotsuba exclaims with a laugh.

"Y-Yotsuba-san! I-It's rude to laugh like that when someone's hurt!"

"It's fine, L/N-san," she assured. 

"Are you ok?"

The yellow-eyed teen had extended his hand down to the Nakano girl. Gulping down some spit, Miku hoists herself up, ignoring Fuutarou's hand and dusting some snow off her rear.

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"Oh, thank goodness," Y/N smiled.

"Alright...!" Yotsuba gained her mischievous grin. "Normally, I am the one that's being taught all the time, but this time, I will be the one that teaches all of you!"

And so, they began to practice with their skis with Yotsuba as their instructor. However, being the kind of dumb person he was, it took a bit for Y/N to get down Yotsuba's instructions. But soon after, he began to comprehend it a little and was slowly improving, to which Yotsuba would nod her head with a smile. But much to her displeasure, Miku and Fuutarou were still struggling quite a bit, her sister falling constantly and Fuutarou nearly tumbling over due to him being imbalanced sometimes. 

Nearly stumbling over on a slight slope with Y/N following behind him, he soon hears a voice. Well, the both of them. Looking over, they see another one of the quints. Like Miku, she wore a snow jacket and pants with the skis attached to her boots. Although, she was missing the beanie and had her hoodie over her head, a mask covering her mouth.

"It's really cold, isn't it?" She had asked.

"Now who is it this time!?"

"Um..." Y/N wasn't sure, but he detected a slight bit of familiarity from the voice.

The girl pulled down her mask and removed the goggles and smiled, "It's Ichika."

Y/N grew confused, gaining a slight frown. "Eh? But, Ichika-san... They said you weren't feeling well..."

She then coughed. "I'm not perfectly healthy yet, but don't worry. And it's really awkward with Itsuki, so I was skiing by myself."

"I see..."

Y/N could only stare at the oldest quint. For some reason, with the way she spoke, to him it didn't feel like Ichika at all. He figured that she would have snuck in a little bit of a teasing sentence and directed it toward himself and Fuutarou. And strangely enough, Ichika had not done such a thing.

So this only raised a bit of suspicion for him. Like the quints, he had a bit of his own to distinguish the quints, calling all of them by their name except Itsuki's. But, for some odd reason, Y/N was able to quickly determine the girls, especially the girl with star pins, despite all of them having the same colored eyes and hair. And when looking at Ichika, he couldn't help but think that she was instead a certain other quintuplet sister, just disguised. Even still, Y/N had found it a bit odd that he was able to pick Itsuki out whenever she was with her siblings. Why was it?

Was it because he had spent his time with her the most? Was it because he knew her better? That one is probably a lie, but over the course of them spending a bit of time together, he knew a bit of her. But if anything, either of them didn't know much about each other... They felt like there were a lot more that they could still learn about each other.

He was about to speak up, only for Yotsuba to interrupt him. She seemed to be complaining about something.

"Ichika! These two just won't understand what I taught them at all! Heck, even L/N-san understood!" Yotsuba complained.

Miku and Fuutarou deadpanned. 'That's because you're both idiots.'

"That's because we understand each other completely, Yotsuba-san!"

"Yeah!"

The two high-fived with bright smiles on their faces. Fuutarou's and Miku's deadpan expressions only increased even further.

'Idiots,' the two thought again.

Fuutarou then sighed and yelled back, "Now you understand how I normally feel, don't you?"

"Then let's make it more fun so they will understand easier," 'Ichika' says, putting on her goggles again. She then began to ski off in the opposite direction. "Let's play tag! And the skillful Yotsuba is going to be 'it,' okay!"

"Ah, hey!"

"Okaaay!~" Yotsuba waved.

With the girl starting her count down, Y/N immediately chased after "Ichika," having the sneaky suspicion that it was actually Itsuki. He wasn't sure why, but something felt off as "Ichika's" aura didn't feel like hers at all. He wasn't sure how to explain it, but he just felt that something was a bit off about her. While Y/N was off chasing her, Fuutarou was deep in thought. He then looked to where Miku was to talk to her, but was already seeing her heading off in another direction. Panicking, he looked to where Y/N was, only to see he had disappeared as well.

With no other options, he began heading in a different direction.

---

Earlier...

"Ahaha, sorry..." Ichika had sheepishly stated. Itsuki only shook her head, listening to her sister ramble on. "To think I would get sick on this occasion..."

"Even though it's an accident, it happened because of your carelessness," Itsuki retorted. "So just lay here and reflect on your miss for the rest of the day."

"Eeeehhh...?" Ichika let out a hot breath due to her fever, "You don't have to stay here and keep me company, Itsuki-chan. Go and enjoy skiing, okay?"

Itsuki was unsure. "But..."

"It's ok, I'll meet up with you when I get better. Or what? You feeling awkward when seeing Y/N-kun? I mean, you have been very cautious with him since we have left the inn."

"...So it was really you that time, huh, Ichika?" Itsuki lets out an exasperated sigh. She then stayed quiet for a moment. "...It's been three months since we've first met, and yet... I don't know. Everything's a mess and... Who would have thought it would turn out like this?"

Ichika snickered. "Fufufu.~ Do you really think that Y/N-kun is really that bad now? Especially after everything you two have been through?"

"I-It's not like! B-But..." Itsuki calmed down from her temporary panic. "It's a different story when we talk about a man and woman relationship... And I feel like I still don't know everything about him..."

The eldest sister of the Nakano siblings only stared at her younger sister. She furrowed her brow, noticing that Itsuki's eyes began to prickle with tears, some of them falling down her face as it fell onto her attire, the cloth darkening as it grew slightly damp in where the tears had fallen.

"I-I just don't know what to do... Everything... My feelings... It's all just confusing. For some reason, my heart just accelerates every time I'm around him... What does it mean, Ichika?" Itsuki looks at her sister with a pleading look.

Ichika only smiled and put a hand on her sister's. "That's something for you to figure out, Itsuki-chan."

"How!? How do you know that I'll be able to figure out myself? How am I supposed to know I'm really sure it's those kinds of feelings..."

"I know you will. After all, out of all of us, you're the one that works the hardest. And..." Ichika offers her younger sister one last smile. "I can see the way you're around him. I can tell that you're a lot happier... Just like when mom was around."

Itsuki looks at her older sister with slight wide eyes. "...Eh...?"

"Just trust in yourself, Itsuki-chan. You'll figure things out. I know you will."

"But... We have to... We have to be more cautious when judging and choosing a guy..." It seemed that she was still afraid. Of something.

Again, Ichika smiled, shaking her head in the process. "It's okay. Y/N-kun... Y/N-kun is different from our father."

---

Present Day...

After a few hours had gone by, Fuutarou, Y/N, and four of the quints had met back up at the ski lodge. You see, Yotsuba had went around the designated areas they were allowed to ski in, searching and chasing down Fuutarou and the others. It wouldn't be until they'd all gathered at the ski lodge, figuring out that Itsuki was someone who hadn't been found.

In fact, she had not been seen at all today, aside from only Ichika.

Ironically, they had first went to the ski lodge's cafeteria to check for her there, considering she was the only quintuplet sister with a big appetite. But much to their surprise, she wasn't even there as well. Currently, the six of them were behind the lodge, Fuutarou having pulled out a map of the entire area.

"Yeah, even if this place is spacious, it's weird for the six of us who are moving all over the place to not have seen her."

Miku looks to her eldest sister. "Itsuki said that she's going to go ski, right?"

The question caught 'Ichika' off guard. "Eh? Yeah... But isn't it also possible if she's in the advanced course?"

"I went there too, but I didn't see her," Nino sighed.

They were all silent for a moment, Fuutarou making a side glance at Y/N as he had been silent the entire time. If anything, he thought he'd have an idea where Itsuki would be.

"Maybe we just missed each other," 'Ichika' had said, "I'll go search for her once more."

Yotsuba then points to a spot on the map. "We haven't gone to this place, right?"

However, Nino got in front of "Ichika's" face, the girl taken aback by Nino's angered expression. "Itsuki's life is on stake right now! Don't give me your calm down crap!"

"...Sorry," 'Ichika' says, looking down.

"Where are you, Itsuki," Fuutarou mumbles. "Damn, I can't think straight."

Miku looks at him concerned, having noticed his behavior being strange since this morning. "Fuutarou, you really need to rest for now."

As they all began to bicker, Nino's voice more prevalent as she had suggested to call the teachers for help, Y/N began to open his mouth to speak.

"Um..."

They all stopped and looked at him.

"I think... I may have an idea as to where Nakano-san could be."

Nino narrows her eyes whilst raising an eyebrow. "Do you really now?"

"Yeah... I can find her." He looks to 'Ichika,' "Ichika-san, can you help me?"

"H-Huh, e-eh? S-Sure..." 

And so, Y/N leads "Ichika" away. The girl was confused, however. Confused as to why her help was specifically needed.

They soon found themselves on the lift that would take them up the mountain so they could ski back down to the ground. "Ichika" sat in her seat nervously, awkwardly shuffling as she made awkward side glances at the boy next to her.

She then cleared her throat. "Wait, did you mean with you know... Is searching for her from here...?"

"Yeah... Though I didn't expect it to be this high," Y/N laughed nervously.

"Well, we definitely can see far away from here, but... Do we really have to ride this?" She asked, pulling down her mask.

"Oh! Isn't that Nakano-san?"

"Eh? Where?"

"Over there. That person down there," he gestures with his finger.

She squinted. "I don't get it if you say just that."

"There. That girl who had just went down near the sled below."

"Ah, that person?"

"Yeah! I think it's definitely Nakano-san."

"Really?"

"Eh? You mean, you don't see the similarities, 'Ichika'-san?" He tilted his head.

She simply laughed it off. "Mmm, but I don't think that's Itsuki."

"Obviously," Y/N said, shifting to a more serious tone. "How can it be Nakano-san when that person down there is a guy?"

She instantly shut up, her face turning to a red hue. "Ichika" then removed her hat and mask completely, the familiar ahoge standing up as her pink hair began to flow out. Y/N was right. "Ichika" was actually Itsuki herself.

The girl with star pins laughed wryly. "How did you know... L/N-kun..."

He scratched his cheek as he looked away. "Honestly... I don't know. I remember when you said that you didn't want anyone else to see that side of me. And I guess it's because... I had noticed that a side of you when you were acting like Ichika-san."

She stared at him, wide-eyed.

"When you get loud when you're trying to teach me and help me, when you're angry with me for something I was doing wrong on something so small, and with the way you are at your home... A-And also, I'm kind of into that whole brawn thing you had on about you."

If you recall, Itsuki would throw, hit, punch, anything physical if she had found Y/N saying something that would be embarrassing or something really stupid toward her.

"E-Eh!?" She blushed. "Wh-What are you talking about!?"

"I-It's just...! It's just... I feel like I wouldn't want you to share that with anyone else aside from your sisters and Uesugi-san."

'That makes two of us,' she deadpanned.

"You know, it's like... 'This is just meant for me.' That's the feeling I get. I guess you could say... That's how I figured it out it was you. Because of that side of yours," he said, smiling warmly at her.

Her mouth was agape, wide eyed as she stared at him. The blush that was previously on her face only increased even more as she then began to repeatedly bonk and punch his chest and shoulder. Y/N began to scream in pain as he tries to shield himself from Itsuki's assaults and punches.

"Th-That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!"

"O-Ow, ow, ow! Nakano-san! That hurts! Ow!"

'How can he say seriously embarrassing things like that with a straight face!? Is it an unconscioustic!? Is he totally clueless!?' "You're so dumb! Really dumb! So, very, very dumb! You're duummb! Dummy, dummy! L/N-kun, you dummy!"

"Ow! Stop it! Nakano-san...!"

Her blush only reddened even more, her heart beating faster. 'Dang it... Why do you make me feel this way, L/N-kun? ...My feelings are such a mess... It's all so confusing...'