Nino Wants Her Father to See Her Performance

Shinichi initially thought that Nino had something important to discuss, like their father inviting them to move to another city for work or some other significant event.

However...

"Look! Pay attention! What does 'if there's time' mean?!"

"Although it's a bit better than a downright unpleasant response like 'no time,' this is a rare sports meeting for all five of us! He knows that his daughter has been preparing for this for months!"

"No matter how I send a message, Dad can't bother to read it again. Isn't this terrible? I did my duty as a daughter and invited my dad to visit the sports festival. But what happened? Dad is working, so he should accept his duty as a father! Let's name him Rikka, and let's get along with this new sister!"

With that, she showed a recording on her phone, gritting her teeth, stomping her foot, and angrily scolding an absent father. Nino ranted endlessly for almost ten minutes before she stopped and took a coffee from Shinichi.

"Ugh, it hurts so much!"

She stuck out her tongue and returned the much lighter coffee can to Shinichi.

According to research, drinking a cup of coffee before exercising can improve sports performance.

Shinichi looked at the coffee she had just sipped, now only a few drops remaining, then glanced at Nino, who seemed indifferent.

In the sport of "raising eyebrows," Shinichi truly felt that he had developed.

"Are you done complaining?"

Shinichi set aside his coffee can and asked Nino.

The two of them were sitting on a bench at the edge of the field, the noise from the field faintly audible but overall still quiet.

But he had to return at the right time; there was an upcoming match, so he couldn't chat with Nino continuously.

It wasn't entirely quiet here. Moreover, most of the time during the sports festival was leisure time for activities, and many students took advantage of the opportunity to invite their parents to visit the school's attractions.

For example, they attracted attention.

"Refreshing! The student council president and the student council public relations are secretly dating to avoid publicity, but they disagree and argue in the middle of the field. The public relations officer looks enthusiastic and seems to accuse the president of being a scoundrel and wanting to break up."

He had already thought about it for the media club and would prepare it for publication in the newspaper tomorrow.

Shinichi had long been accustomed to it. This was what caused his mixed reputation. There were always those who wanted to spread rumors about him.

"...Enough complaining."

After calming down from her excitement, Nino pressed the power button; her phone screen brightened.

"I know you blame me now. You must be thinking that it has nothing to do with you to tell you these things... But I'm really unhappy! It's hard to tell everyone. If they raise their expectations and then get disappointed, it's my fault..."

As she murmured, she looked towards a three-member family not far away. A mocking smile appeared on her face.

"Even though I knew he wouldn't come, I still... Hmph, forget it, so foolish."

The words spoken were sharp, but they slowly faded into helplessness.

She lowered her gaze, hiding vulnerability and her expression in the shadows among her hair.

Among the quintuplets, Nino prioritized family the most, or maybe she was just afraid of loneliness.

She was afraid she would be lonely, and her family would be lonely, so she used to be very close to her family. Now she was also upset because her father couldn't come, and her family couldn't reunite.

Shinichi could analyze Nino's mood, but he had no way to understand it. So, he just sat quietly beside her, thinking and listening to what she said before speaking.

"Are you also participating in today's competition?"

"Yeah, there's a class relay competition in the afternoon," Nino looked at him strangely. "Isn't everyone supposed to sign up for one event? I'm just participating in this competition today; what's up?"

Although it was a question, Shinichi said it in agreement.

"You want your father to see your performance, right?"

"Huh?" Nino was confused at first, then stood up with a red face and raised her voice simultaneously.

"Hmph! What nonsense are you talking about! Do you think I'm a little girl who wants attention?!"

"Also, why are you calling me dad so naturally?"

"Don't worry about trivial things like that!" Shinichi waved his hand and said seriously.

"Whether he sees you or sees how Yotsuba and the others are, it's the same. When attending important events, it's better for the family to stay together."

"Right, that's what you say..."

Nino agreed with the second part of what Shinichi said, but she didn't want to admit the first part due to her pride. She blushed and stared at him for two or three seconds with clenched fists, then flicked her long hair and turned to leave.

"That's enough; that's all I wanted to say! Thanks for listening to me!"

"Is that so?" Shinichi didn't chase after her.

"Then your tone is better."

"Stop being verbose; it's not your fault!"

With her face as red as her long hair exposed to the sunlight, Nino quickly left the reserve bench.

Just when Shinichi thought she would return to the resting place, he saw Nino walking straight towards the vending machine, looking like a girl looking for trouble. After inserting some change and pressing the button, she returned with a cup of coffee, forcefully shoved into her embrace.

"Return it! Don't think I don't know what you're thinking when you stare at my forehead, you stingy person!"

Shinichi stared at the hot coffee can in her embrace.

"No, I didn't do it; don't talk nonsense."

"Still making excuses!"

Nino flashed her teeth with a fierce expression, glaring sharply at his face, but a smile appeared from the depths of her heart.

Feeling Shinichi's slightly surprised gaze, she quickly withdrew her smile and turned around.

"Let's go, you can wait for your match."

"Yes, thank you, I have to run back now."

"Isn't this a good warm-up? It really bothers narrow-minded guys like you."

"Is that so? I quite like it..."

"Hm?"

"It's mine."

"Go to hell!"

Avoiding Nino's kick, Shinichi laughed and shouted.

"Nino!"

"What's up!"

Nino blushed a little, but couldn't suppress a sweet smile, and her eyes were filled with anticipation.

Next moment, that hope was immediately extinguished.

"You bought the wrong coffee!"

"..."

The smile froze on her face, and her blood vessels pulsed slowly.

"I just drank black coffee, and what you bought is super sweet MAX coffee mixed with milk. Only kids drink this...

"You really make me angry!"

Nino clenched her fists and rushed forward.

"Give it to me, die now!"

"This is someone to protect you! The public relations officer is guilty of beating the student council president in public, hahaha—"

"Still laughing! Stop!"

They ran towards each other like this, but they were forced to stop after encountering Mafuyu, who blocked their path with a gloomy expression on her face.

"Neglecting duties! As members of the student council, you instead let yourselves be unruly at such an important festival, causing a commotion, running wild, and behaving childishly and foolishly like elementary school students. It's truly unacceptable!"

"The student council represents Shuchi'in Academy. Especially you, Asada-kun, how can you be so miserable in such a short time, especially with the opposite sex..."

"..."

If it weren't for the broadcast encouraging participants to get ready, Shinichi truly felt that Mafuyu would continue talking until the end of the sports festival.

Mafuyu wasn't the type of person to be verbose and fond of scolding in the past, was she? Which scoundrel changed her...

In the midst of the sermon, Shinichi sighed helplessly.

Regardless of that, their sports festival continued.