The soft clinking of cutlery was the only sound in the otherwise suffocating silence of the Nakano sisters' condo unit. Ren sat comfortably at the dining table, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk playing on his lips as he surveyed the scene. Opposite him, Futaro Uesugi, the Nakano sisters' tutor, sat stiffly, his gaze occasionally flicking between Ren and the sisters, a silent question in his eyes.
Uesugi knew of Ren, of course. The school's most popular guy was always the subject of whispers, even for someone as focused on academics as Uesugi. But he hadn't expected to find him here, in the very heart of the quintuplets' home. Miku's earlier call, a simple invitation to dinner, had given no hint of this unexpected guest. The other sisters, surprisingly, remained quiet, their attention seemingly captivated by the dynamic between Ren and Ichika.
The table was laden with an array of delicious-looking dishes, all ordered online, a testament to the sisters' collective lack of culinary prowess. They ate, but the silence was thick, heavy with unspoken questions. Uesugi didn't mind his presence here, but Ren's presence was a mystery. Why was he here? The thought, however, quickly dissipated from his mind. He didn't care, not really. His thoughts drifted to his own sister; if only she were here. He shook his head, chastising himself for such an improper thought. At least he hadn't forgotten to cook dinner for his own family before Miku's unexpected invitation.
Uesugi, despite his usual denseness, couldn't shake the feeling that Ren was up to no good. He was here as an observer, and that's what he would be. An observer. A thought then entered his mind: if one of the sisters had a boyfriend, how would that affect their status? He was not only their tutor but also received additional payment to act as their guardian and a sort of spy for their father. If their father called later, he would need to report their status. Guilt gnawed at him; the sisters had lied to their father about all of them passing the exams, which was why Uesugi still had his job.
Meanwhile, Ren was thoroughly enjoying himself. He could feel the hostile gazes, though not from all of them. Only Nino's eyes held that particular sharpness. Itsuki, surprisingly, seemed to be keeping their prior acquaintance a secret. Under the table, Ichika's hand found his, a comforting, reassuring squeeze.
Now that dinner was finished, the real drama was about to begin.
"When did you two become a couple?" Nino immediately demanded, her voice cutting through the lingering silence. The sisters had already heard Ichika's side of the story; now they needed Ren's. If their answers were similar, then... they had no idea what they would do after that.
Ren answered honestly, his voice calm and steady.
Yotsuba, ever her lively self, was next. "Are you serious about Ichika-chan?" she asked, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and genuine concern.
"That's not what we need to ask, Yotsuba!" Nino retorted, exasperated.
"But I want to hear his answer!" Yotsuba insisted, her usual carefree demeanor masking an underlying seriousness that few truly saw.
Ren answered her, his gaze unwavering.
Then, Miku spoke, her voice barely a whisper, her face flushing a deep crimson. "Have you two already... done that thing?"
Ichika gasped, her own face turning scarlet. Miku's question, though vague, was clear to everyone present. Had Ren and Ichika already had sex?
"No!" Ichika blurted out, her mind racing. We just met again yesterday, so it's impossible! But then, another thought, a more scandalous one, crept into her mind. However, if I was given more time... Ichika blushed even harder, realizing the direction of her own thoughts.