Classic Family

　　"Don't say that~ I was just curious and wanted to ask, I didn't mean to interrogate you."

　　Ichika smiled and tried to lighten things up a bit.

　　After all, no matter what, she didn't want to see the scene where the sisters bickered over an outsider.

　　Like she said, they were only having this family gathering because they were a little curious about what happened during the day, and there was no need to take it too seriously.

　　"Yeah..." Sitting on the sofa holding a cup of green tea, Miku said slowly, "Nino, just tell me what happened, it will be good for everyone."

　　"After all, everyone is worried about you."

　　Itsuki continued and her gaze leveled with Nino's.

　　"Worried..." Nino said indifferently.

　　"Rather than worrying about me, it's better to worry about that man. I just punched that guy in the stomach hard!"

　　Everyone stared wide-eyed, and it was quiet for a while.

　　Scanning the other people's expressions, Nino suddenly smiled slightly evilly.

　　"How? Did that man hold his stomach and say that he had a stomach ache after he came back? I didn't stop the punch. Seeing how weak he is, it might hurt for a while, right?"

　　Miku slowly put down her teacup, her relaxed expression completely gone, looking straight at Nino.

　　"Shinichi... Don't say anything, he's as usual."

　 Nino slightly looked away, "...Hmph, really, that guy is quite patient."

　　Yotsuba raised her hand hesitantly: "No matter how you put it, hitting someone is wrong—"

　　A slender palm suddenly slapped the armrest of the sofa, and Nino's red hair shook.

　　"That's because you don't know what he's saying!"

　　Nino's suddenly amplified voice echoed throughout the house, Yotsuba's expression froze, she lowered her hand.

　　As if her emotions had been instantly ignited, Nino glared angrily and said loudly.

　　"He said something too much! Did he scold me hard? Is he condescending... The most important thing I have?

　　"Then what's wrong with me hitting him? If I don't keep slapping him in the face, it will be considered unrighteous!"

　　"Do you want me to listen to outsiders mocking me there without putting up a fight? Is that what I did?!"

　　"Let me know-"

　　"Nino!"

　　Ichika screamed loudly, and looked at Nino with a serious expression as if she couldn't control herself at all.

"Relax, don't be angry with your family, no one blames you, right?"

　　"...Sorry." Nino plopped down on the couch with a thud, and muttered with her head down.

　　"When I think of that scene back then, I get angry... I didn't mean it, I'm sorry."

　　However, Miku who had closed her eyes from the start and clenched her fists, suddenly opened her eyes, and a layer of coldness filled her expressionless face.

　　There were complicated yet sad emotions hidden in her eyes, she looked at Nino and he spat those words out lightly.

　　"Nino, go and apologize to Shinichi-"

　　Before she finished speaking, Itsuki reached out her hand to interrupt her words.

　　"If you don't tell us the details, how will we know who is right and who is wrong?"

　　Nino looked at her, then silently looked away.

　　"How will we know how to cheer you up if you don't tell us exactly what's making you angry?"

　　Itsuki continued to speak, Nino just hugged her elbows, hid her expression behind her long hair, and remained silent.

　　Itsuki looked at her seriously, her tone softening.

　　"Nino, didn't you say that?

　　"No matter what, if one person is sad, five people will be sad together. If one person is happy, five people will share together. No matter joy, sorrow, anger, or love, everything must be divided into five equal parts."

　　"How do you feel, what do you think, tell us everything."

　　Nino trembled slightly, still unwilling to face Itsuki's sincere expression, curled up in a corner of the couch as if angry, with her head tucked under her knees.

　　If she can't be mad at her sisters, tell them what she thinks.

　　(Did you think I would wake up after being scolded by you for just a few words? I was so naive... Whether it was you or what you said, I will neither forgive nor accept it!)

　　If she confessed to them here, wouldn't that mean she was giving up on the man's assertion?

　　Absolutely not, she did nothing wrong, she was the one who was wronged the most, why should she admit defeat...

　　At this time, Nino suddenly heard footsteps.

　　Itsuki seemed to walk in front of her, and the others seemed to stand up from the couch.

　　There was no sound around, and after a while, Nino raised her eyes quietly, and found four people standing beside her, forming a circle with her.

　　"One."

　　Ichika held out her first hand, and Itsuki linked her pinky finger with her thumb, and they both smiled.

　　"five."

　　Yotsuba also reached out her hand, hooking Itsuki's thumb with her pinky finger, with dimples appearing on either side of her cheek, she smiled brightly.

　　"Four!"

　　Miku glared at Nino, then held out her hand, her pinky finger hooking Yotsuba's thumb, and her own thumb pointing towards her, making a slight hook.

　　"Three..."

　　The four of them stared at Nino together, as if waiting for something.

　　Nino stared blankly at the four connected hands.

　　Four similar faces faced her without hesitation, and the circle formed by the fingers was only one person away from perfection.

　　The mood that had been as unstable as a powder keg since noon suddenly fell heavily onto the ground, and her mind became extremely calm and clear.

　　A peaceful warmth slowly spread in her heart, it was a feeling of peace that she had felt for a long time, but at this moment it was very clear.

　　——What is family?

　　This was a safe place waiting for her return as she dashed off into the distance unseen.

　　——What is quintuplet sister?

　　Just when Nino thought they had gone far, they held hands, waited for her to hold them, and then moved forward together.

　　Nobody left anyone, no changes were ever made.

　　The house is still the same house, but she left without permission.

　　The family is still the same family, but she misunderstood without permission.

　　Immutable things exist and will never change.

　　Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, but Nino suddenly wanted to laugh.

　　(Haha... In the end, I'm the most useless person.)

　　Because she who is alone, can't see the figure of a sister who hasn't joined hands... Actually more vulnerable than anything.

　　No matter how unwilling she was, she could only admit it.

　　——She really is a good-for-nothing!

　　Hence, they were their most important treasure.

　　Because of them, she gave herself strong courage.

　　Courage overcomes all odds.

　　Nino couldn't hold back the grievances in her heart.

　　(How annoying... The feelings that guy said are really annoying...)

　　Nino suddenly stood up.

　　She responded to their gazes brightly, and chin lifted slightly, confident and strong as ever.

　　Her spread her hands and said.

　　"This kind of embarrassing and provocative family cliché... In this world, only quintuplets can do it?"

　　The four couldn't help but chuckle a few times, Nino let out a long sigh as if defeated.

　　"Forget it, who made me one of the quintuplets? Sooner or later, I will have to get used to this development."

　　"Nino, so many complaints."

　　"You don't care, I'm in a complicated mood right now, so it's fine if I talk more."

　　She stretched out her hand, linking Ichika's pinky finger and Miku's thumb casually.

　　"Two!"

　　The five hands finally formed a circle, and they looked at each other with smiles that were brighter and more relaxed than before.

　　Stop laughing, Nino spoke earnestly.

　　"Can I trust you?"

　　"Eh~ so Nino suspects us? Onee-san is so sad~" Ichika pretended to cry several times.

　　"Although I don't know what I want you to believe, but if it is Nino's request, I will reluctantly agree." Miku shook her head helplessly.

　　"Just use me! If it doesn't work, you can overcome the difficulty by transforming, but you have to put on the belt first!" Yotsuba giggled happily.

　　"If you can't even trust your family, is there anyone in this world you can trust?"

　　Itsuki blinked at Nino and smiled slightly.

　　Nino couldn't help laughing: "Is this what mother said?"

　　"Eh? Should..."

　　"Pfft ha ha ha ha ha—"

　　"Wait, why are you laughing! This isn't funny, Nino!"

　　Nino wiped the corners of her eyes with her arm, and said with a relaxed expression.

　　"Then let me tell you what happened, and talk about some messy stuff."

　　"A hand..."

　　She glanced at Itsuki, then looked at Miku, and muttered a few words reluctantly.

　　"...Remind me tomorrow and remember to apologize to that guy."

　　(I have to apologize, that's really annoying...)

　　Miku froze for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and smiled, nodding heavily: "En!"

　　(Obviously the guy was wrong too, so it's fine to drop out...)

　　Itsuki breathed a sigh of relief, then sighed slightly: "Nino has grown up too…"

　　(Just an outsider, why meddle in other people's business...)

　　Yotsuba shook the headband on her head, her smile never fading: "It's good to settle without fighting~"

　　(But he was right, I was wrong.)

　　Ichika yawned, with a slightly sleepy expression: "But hurry up, I'm sleepy..."

　　(But even if I apologize, I will not forgive you, and I will never forgive you until forest school is successful.)

　　Nino snorted softly, the corners of her mouth curving slightly.

　　(Who told you to be such an arrogant and prejudiced man?)