Disclaimer: I don't own the Quintessential Quintuplets.

The moon in the starlit sky lit up my way home as I trudged wearily towards my house. My shoulders sagged heavily as I dragged my feet along the sidewalk. All I wanted to do that very moment was crash on my bed and drift of to a peaceful sleep. It was the only way to escape my troubles going on while I was awake.

I had spent an exhausting afternoon with the Nakano Quintuplets, carrying out my duty of tutoring them.

Or rather, more specifically, trying to tutor them - and failing miserably.

I had gone to that fancy house of theirs with the full intent of educating them on the subjects they were struggling in. I had hoped by this time that I had managed to fill their empty heads with a fraction of my high knowledge.

Unfortunately, I had not succeeded to teach a single one of them.

Ichika has slept through my visit like the lazybones she is. It makes me wonder what she gets up to at night to be napping during the day. How one girl can spend so many hours lounging about is beyond me.

Miku had unfortunately found a new recipe that she was eager to master. Her hours spent on trying to cook it to perfection went as well as you'd expect from her abysmal culinary skills.

Needless to say, it was not at all appreciated by Itsuki. Knowing good food whenever she fills up on it, that hot-headed redhead didn't hold back on how she felt about Miku's meal. Grossed out after one bite, she threw the rest of it in the trash before stuffing herself with mountains of unhealthy snacks.

Nino had nothing to distract her from attending the study sessions. She just spent my entire visit how much she despised me and how she would refuse to let me tutor her. I've heard it all before. That obnoxious young lady had said it all to me countless times. It was like listening to a parrot on repeat, except far more grating.

Only Yotsuba was willing to sit with me and allow me to try to teach her. I've got to hand it to her, she's not like her sisters at all. She is perfectly prepared to rely on me to help her better her grades. It's just too bad all the knowledge I was sharing with her today went in one ear and out the other.

Those five girls give me such grief and frustration.

"Why do I bother?" I asked myself aloud, unlocking the front door and stepping into the light that filled my house.

That was when I stopped - and stared.

Right before me was the answer of why I bothered trying to tutor the Quintuplets.

Raiha was laying down on the couch, fast asleep. She must have dropped off while trying to stay up, waiting for me to get home. Her soft, contented breathing filled the room. She looked so sweet and peaceful in her slumber.

Closing the door behind me, I walked over to the couch. I gently lifted my little sister up from where she was laying, being very gentle with her so as not to wake her. As I cradled her in my arms, I noticed a small smile on her sleeping face. She must have been having a very nice dream. Perhaps she was with our beloved, much-missed mother.

With warmth filling my heart over how adorable Raiha looked, I carried her carefully to her bedroom. I left the door open so the light from the hallway could illuminate my way. It fell onto her bed, which I lay her down onto. I spread the duvet over her body before kneeling down by her side, running my fingers lovingly through her blue hair.

"I won't let you down, Raiha," I promised quietly. "Tutoring is proving to be a tough job for me - but I'm not gonna quit it. Not as long as I have you to take care of and make happy. As soon as we clear out our debts, I'm gonna use all the money I earn to make your dreams come true.

Raiha mumbled and slept soundly on. I brushed my fingers tenderly across her forehead, where I planted a gentle kiss with my smiling lips.

"G'night, imôto," I whispered. "Love you."

Rising to my feet, I tiptoed silently out of the bedroom. I pulled the door shut behind me, leaving Raiha fast asleep in the darkness.

Now I knew the good reason why I was doing such a difficult tutoring job with five even more difficult students.

I was doing it for my precious little sister.

The end.