Disclaimer: I own neither the series nor the characters. The original story is 外典 フー君強くてニューゲーム by いぶりーす. Check em out.

This was a first experience for one Nino Nakano.

The throbbing in her chest. The screaming heat that wanted to spill out from within her body. The seizure of happiness that made her mind blank.

It was as if she had been hit by lightning.

This must have been love.

This could only be love.

This will be called love.

The love she had always been looking for was close-by this whole time. She had finally realized that fact.

She felt different just from looking at him. Sure, she had been fascinated by his blonde hair but that wasn't the whole picture.

He was the one who continued to offer his hand even if she refused. He was the one who always did his best for her sisters. he was the one who took her hand on that crowded fireworks festival. Little by little, she had been unknowingly attracted to his actions

"...why are you..."

"You two ran off in the wrong direction. I chased you because you were the one I saw. Here, grab on."

"...ah, okay."

Nino grabbed on to the outstretched hand and tried to stand but she didn't expect the lack of power in her legs. Her body tipped forward, about to fall again, but before she could hit the ground, he grabbed onto the hand and held her close.

"Are you okay?"

"...!"

The momentum had caused her face ot bury into his chest. For the first time, his scent entered Nino's senses. He must have been running when looking for her from the sweaty scent only a man would have. Yet, it was strangely not uncomfortable at all.

Oh, this was his smell. This was his warmth. Such thoughts entered the corner of Nino's head as her body was too stiff to move. This time it wasn't because it was weak but because it fundamentally refused to. It didn't want to move away.

She wanted to stay in close contact with him just a little more.

The tutor was surely suspicious of why she continued to cling to his chest but he said nothing.

"...just grab on until you can calm down."

Was instead what he said, placing a palm on the top of her head as he accepted her hold on him.

Really unfair.

She cursed her heart for beating the blood that dyed her cheeks vermilion. He must have thought she was frightened by the dark forest and stroked her head to reassure her. It was like a father worrying about his daughter or an older brother who looked over his a prince who wanted to treat his princess.

Nino didn't like this. It was just too unfair that he wasn't thinking about how much his actions accelerated her heartbeat or sent lightning through her body.

Should she say that she liked him? if she conveyed such feelings in her chest in the fastest, shortest, straight line then he may panic a little and the mood would be ruined.

Nino's brain, which should have been flustered, stopped her lips from doing such a foolish action.

That's right. If she confessed to him now, he would definitely refuse. She had been the most difficult among the sisters, and even if she had been kind to him in some ways, she'd still be the lowest compared to the rest.

"You...what do you think of me."

...that's why such words naturally spilled from her mouth.

"What do you mean?"

"I thought you hated me. I told you terrible things and didn't participate in study sessions...why are you kind to me? Why haven't you given up on me?"

She remembered that worst first contact with him and the fever in her heart immediately chilled over. It didn't make sense for such things to work one way even if she already realized her feelings on the matter.

When he first arrived, he didn't drink her brewed tea but if he had she would have forcibly removed him. This kindness that he was wrapping around her may have never happened. Just thinking about froze up Nino's spine.

Love is said to be war but it seemed she was about to join an already lost battle.

If she knew that her first love wouldn't have worked out from the start, then Nino didn't want this feeling beating within her.

As she waited for the boy's words, tears felt like they were about to overflow from her eyes. However, he still didn't reply. Anxiously, she looked up at his face.

He was smiling.

"Everyone will graduate with a smile."

"Eh?"

"That's what I told all of you at the beginning. Of course, you're also included there. So, all throughout, all the time, there's no way I could ever hate you."

"...!"

Oh, that's really unfair.

It was as if that tutor had known the exact words that Nino wanted, as if he could read the writings on her heart.

'All the time, he said...'

So that meant, Uesugi Fuutaoru would never hate Nakano Nio.

Whether she was sick, healthy, rich or poor.

They were words that swore everlasting love. His warmth, the heat around Nino, once again ignited the fire within Nino's chest with a passion.

Can such feelings be delivered to him? Can she truly catch up and walk along this trail alongside her sisters?

'I can do it.'

She can do it. This first love that she was about to give up on was not in vain.

Things were now different. She could still fight. She was in the same position as her other sisters after all. She wanted to dance from the joy. That's right, there was that dance by the campfire. That legend...what if she invited him? No, she needed to invite him.

But first...his name.

'Uesugi-kun?...Yeah no. I have to call him something closer. Fuutarou-kun, Fuutarou...Fuu...Yeah! Fuu-kun!'

A name suddenly entered her mind. It was a strange sensation, as if she had called someone that before, as if she had used that name for him all the time.

The words left her mouth as naturally as they were nostalgic.

"...to think I'd be called that again."

She must have imagined it. Words that he had whispered only she being so close to him could hear.

No, she heard it.

This was the second time...if so, when was the first?

...Of course. How obvious.

It was that "previous student".

A girl that their tutor occasionally mentioned in front of the sisters. Apparently, she had left him and yet her memory continued to drag along behind him. There was regret. There was regret. There was nostalgia. There was a feeling of longing.

That's why he always faced the sisters seriously.

Oh, that meant...

Maybe, he saw that girl in them?

At that moment, a torrent of emotions boiled back into Nino.

Nakano Nino was a quintuplet. She had been mistaken of her other sisters since she had been born and always felt disappointed when it happened. However, there were no unpleasant feelings or any discomfort in her head when it happened. By calling her similiar to her other sisters, it only made her feel more connected to the family she loved.

This was the first time she had been overlain with a girl that wasn't her sister.

It was an unbearable sort of humiliation.

Those eyes of Fuutarou that were full of kindness and honestly were perfect if it wasn't for the extra impurities within them.

There was no forgiveness. There was no way she'd accept this. What kind of ridiculous existence was this "previous student"? Was she a parasite that latched onto the holder and continued to eat him forever? What a terrible beast.

She didn't know what this girl looked like but she was definitely the worst kind of woman. Perhaps, no one has ever done such a sin in all of humanity. Nino had to erase her, that woman in his memories that she didn't have in her own.

What an awful feeling. Remembering the look on Fuutarou's face when he talked about her made her nauseous.

The red fire of passion in her heart was mixed with a black and muddy emotion that turned into an inky dark flame.

He was the prince who she had longed for all this time. For now, with her generosity, she'd forgive him for superimposing them with some old harpy.

It was time to act.

───Be prepared Fuu-kun.

One day, she'd give him the wonderful present of filling over his memory of that beast. The will be the day when all the memories of her would disappear, every single piece of it.

If one had to do something, one needed to be thorough.

The lit fire in her was a flaming bonfire that wouldn't disappear in a single day..

Heaven, it seemed was on her side.

After reuniting with Fuutarou, Ichika felt that everything was moving in her direction.

She had passed the audition she had gone to back at the fireworks festival and her relationship with Fuutarou had been progressing one step at a time. A bit back, she had even gone shopping with his sister in order to deepen their friendship. The Uesugi family's outer moat was steadily being made. Work and love were going well.

In addition, it was fortunate that she had an advantage over her other sisters.

She was the only one in the same class as Fuutarou's proclaimed best friend which provided her an information advantage. His hobbies, when he got to school, even his underwear number to when he went to the toilet. Invincible. There was no reason for her other sisters to compete.

In the first place, her sisters were too nice. To seriously fall in love was synonymous to kicking a rival when they were down. They just didn't have it in them, not enough of the iron will to get him.

For example, Itsuki, who surely had feelings for him, did not use her the powerful card of being in the same class as him. Recently, both had been late to the study sessions so it may be that she was enjoying their time after school but if her youngest sister was satisfied with just that then she might as well give up.

If it was Ichika, she wouldn't be satisfied with only after school and would secure time with him during break and even lunch to be able to both appeal and check his surroundings. She had heard form his best friend that her tutor was surprisingly popular with the girls behind the scenes. Well, he was smart, cool, tall, and dependable. That was the kind of person the private tutor of the Nakano sisters was so it was no wonder other girls besides her sisters would like him. She didn't think such worms would get him but she needed to be thorough.

Other than Itsuki, Miku may also like him but she felt a bit creepy somehow on how she always hung back. However, as long as she didn't move, then Ichika's dominance would remain for now.

Nino had yet to join in but it was only a matter of time. She complained all the time but her heart was surely opening up. Her explosive power may be a threat but she was still a runaway train. Even without breaks, she could only run along the tracks that have been made. Thus, it's easy enough to derail her to lead to a self-destruction. No problem.

That left only her. The most troublesome, the most ridiculous, the most powerful, that ribbon head

───How terrible, Yotsuba. You're trying to steal my Fuutarou-kun!

She had met Fuutarou through Yotsuba's guidance. Ichika was truly grateful. She couldn't thank the fourth sister enough. However, her role was only that of a cupid of love. Her turn was over and so she needed to leave the stage gracefully. The true love of man and woman began here.

There was no point for the cupid to go out with the hero after all. Did she really think Ichika wouldn't notice how she monopolized Fuutarou during lunch?

When she witnessed her sister speaking to him in a different tone after removing her ribbon on the roof, Ichaka's fingers clasped down and dug into her palm. It would have been nice to disturb them but she didn't want to make an argument in front of him.

That wouldn't be good. She didn't want to expose such a scene in front of the person she loved.

So she dared to acquiesce and leave them be however her patience had a limit. Even Buddha looked away three times. The eldest daughter would only do it once.

A little before heading to school, Ichika called Yotsuba to talk to her. That girl would surely do something in the field trip so she had to act before anything any attempts.

If possible, Ichika would like to end things peacefully. If it was another woman, she would have kicked her down with full power. However, since she was an important sister, Ichika held back.

With a tone as gentle as possible and a thornless expression, Ichika walked over to Yotsuba, her hands clasped together in a prayer.

"Yotsuba, it's not nice to be a steal things, you know?"

At first, Yotsuba only tilted her head at Ichika's words but this was contrasted with how her grip dented the steel can of chocolate in her hand. However, Ichika misunderstood and believed the lack of response was due to not getting her meaning across. She tried again, this time choosing words that were easy to understand.

If she did it like this, even the stupid Yotsuba would get it.

"Recently, you've been strangely close with Fuutarou-kun. Won't you give up on Fuutarou-kun? For Onee-san?"

The next moment, Yotsuba smashed the can in her hands and poured the contents over Ichika's head.

There was no need to talk after that. They just had a "common sister fight".

They had done it many times when they were young. It wasn't so rare these days. Although they were quintuplets, their personalities were different. Disagreements would be common place.

They were all just good friends. The they fought, the closer theyd' get.

After that, Yotsuba couldn't be solved by "Discussion". There was no use. Beyond this was only reality. The relentless truth that Fuutarou would choose her.

If she heard such a thing directly from Fuutarou's mouth, Yotsuba would definitely be saddened. It'd be hard to recover.

This was why being the eldest sister was hard.

She just couldn't understand her sister. That girl only believed she was in the right and would run away from things she didn't understand. At the end of the day, it may tear a a chasm in their sisterly relationship that couldn't be repaired.

So, before that happened, it was Ichika's duty as the eldest sister to save her sister from a love that wouldn't come true.

She'll definitely be with the one with him.

The friendship between Fuutarou and her younger sisters wasn't bad but, if she didn't clarify the boundaries, other sisters would start to misunderstand like Yotsuba. If that happens, an ugly struggle between them was inevitable. Ichika understood all of this. The weight of it was all on her.

She'd finish it before that came to pass, settle everything before it became irreversible.

That's why Fuutarou was tied with her.

On the last day of the field trip. Ichika, who wanted to settle everything, had eyes lit with fires of determination.

The third day of the field trip was a free time where the student can choose to participate in skiing, mountain climbing, or river fishing. It was all thanks to Fuutarou's best friend and Ichika's classmate, one Takeda-kun. Today, she was going to be with him the whole time and invite him to the night bonfire dance.

But life didn't go as expected.

"...how strange. Everyone chose skiing."

"Moutain climbing and river fishing are so plain."

"Fuutarou also felt like skiing."

"Aha, it's really strange."

"I can't see Uesugi-kun."

Ichika turned to her four younger sisters. Even with the same dace and body, each had a different personality and preference in something but sometimes they all would have that one thing in common. Sure it may have been inevitable they'd pick this, but all at the same place and time?

She had expected Itsuki, the one in the same class as him, to choose skiing but the other three were unexpected. Especially, Yotsuba. Even though Ichika had given her false information in advance that Fuutarou had chosen to mountain climb, that girl was somehow here.

"Aren't you a bit sweaty, Yotsuba?"

"Actually, I first chose climbing then came running back when I suddenly realized I wanted to go skiing."

"You're still pretty strong, aren't you?"

"Maybe, you're just too weak."

"..."

Ichika had forgotten that extraordinary physical ability of Yotsuba. It was such potential that made her wonder if they really had the same body. She probably did run all the wya back here. She never thought her tactics could be defeated with such pure force.

She'd definitely try to get in the way of her Fuutarou-kun.

Ichika needed to act soon. Besides Itsuki, she couldn't move while Yotsuba was here. Ichika's brain, which did not work at all for studying, was in full operation in thinking how to deal with her sisters.

"...what..."

The trembling voice of Miku reached her ears but Ichika ignored it for now as she revised her plan.

"What is this..."

"Why..."

This time it seemed now Itsuki and Nino saw something that they couldn't believe.

"...that has to be a lie, Fuutarou-kun."

It was only on Yotsuba's words that Ichika's train of thoughts were interrupted as she turned to the direction her sisters were staring at.

"..."

Words failed.

She couldn't think.

It was because of the sight in front of her.

Their tutor, Uesugi Fuutaoru, was skiing with an unknown girl student.

Ichika knew he was popular with girls so she expected some horny female cats to invite themselves over...but was that really the face of someone being forced?

Why did he look like he was having so much fun?

Why was he so happy?

Why did he turn such eyes of affection to a woman she didn't know?

Has he ever looked at her with those eyes?

Has he ever faced her with such a face? Why? Why? Why?

"Fufu. It seems Uesugi-kun is enjoying himself."

It wasn't just the empty eyes of the quintuplets that were watching those two. A handsome man was smiling as if he had just finished some good work.

"Takeda-kun..."

"Yo, Nakano-san."

"What is this..."

"What...oh you mean her?"

While pointing at that awful sight, Ichika demanded an answer.

The best friend revealed everything. He had been watching Fuutarou since they were in their first year of school. In a sense, Uesugi Fuutaoru was a man who treated everyone equally, both his friends and all other students. It was because of this equality that Takeda was able to notice the oddity that was a single girl student who his friend would look at differently. Only because Takeda was closest to him, that he was able to notice such an unconscious action.

Besides Takeda and Maeda who were his friends, she was the only girl he treated differently. For anyone else, such things were pure imagination that didn't make sense. Even Fuutarou may not have realized it. Uesugi Fuutarou was his friend. It was because of a man's friendship that Takeda kept it all quiet and didn't comment on it until the day Fuutarou would bring it up with him.

However, things couldn't stay this way. His friend, who had taken a part-time job as a tutor, looked to be recently enjoying his school life more. There was more life...yet there was also less time.

Takeda knew it was time to act.

He was aware it wasn't his place but he couldn't overlook such things with silence any longer. So, on the third day of the field trip, he was able to execute his plan to being the two together.

Thanks to his actions, he was now able to see his friend smile.

"I know this was sneaky of me but this was also for my friend. Don't you all dare disturb him."

Leaving, he disappeared from the quintuplets presence, not that any of them besides Ichika noticed.

The rest of them were still too busy staring at Fuutarou, their tutor, while the light died in their eyes.

───On that day, five monsters were born.

TN: Takeda, please.

This is Nadir, the lowest point, that could be the beginning of the climb or the end of the descent.

Also, if you think this all means the sisters will just team up like Zenith...the Zenith is the absolute top for a reason.

We're still at the very bottom.