I Won't Be a Loser

"Ichika, you've been getting awfully close to that Miyamizu guy lately, haven't you? There are some weird rumors going around in class, saying that you like him. But from what I hear, it doesn't seem like he's interested in you."

As they walked to school, Nino casually brought up the gossip she had overheard in class, her gaze settling on the eldest of the five sisters, Ichika Nakano. She glanced forward nonchalantly as if the topic wasn't of much concern.

Ichika, who had been looking at her phone, lifted her head at Nino's words. Instead of being annoyed, she simply smiled back at her sister.

"Oh~? So that's the kind of rumor going around? Do people really think Haruto and I are such a mismatched pair?"

"What?! So you actually like Miyamizu?!"

Yotsuba, always the excitable one, gasped dramatically as she squeezed between Ichika and Nino. Her eyes widened as if she had just heard the juiciest news of the year.

Her outburst was loud enough that it caught the attention of Miku, who turned to glance at them curiously. As for Itsuki, she merely gave them a brief look before returning to her thoughts. She didn't believe Ichika could seriously like a guy she had only known for less than a week.

It was far too early for that—school had just started, and they had barely even memorized their classmates' names. Liking someone already? That seemed a bit ridiculous.

"Hmm… do I like him?" Ichika tapped her cheek with a finger, pretending to ponder. Under the expectant gazes of her sisters, she finally smiled. "I'd love to say I don't, but I have to admit… he's a little different from other guys. At the very least, he's more composed, and the way he talks… kinda reminds me of an old man."

Her words left her sisters momentarily speechless.

"If he doesn't mind, I wouldn't be opposed to dating him just to see how it goes. But that depends on his feelings too, doesn't it?"

"Are you serious?"

Nino blinked in shock. She hadn't expected Ichika to say something like that.

"Nino, don't you like handsome guys? You're not interested in Miyamizu? Or do you think he's not good-looking enough?"

Ichika teased, flashing a mischievous grin as she playfully poked Nino's waist. Nino immediately stepped away, frowning in irritation.

"I mean, yeah, I like handsome guys, but come on! We barely know him. He's just a classmate—we don't know anything about him yet. Rushing into a confession like that? That's not my style."

"Oh~? So you're already thinking about confessing?"

Ichika covered her mouth, chuckling, while Nino shot her an unimpressed glare.

"That's not what I meant! I'm just saying it's way too early to be talking about this. Besides, what about that blonde girl, Sawamura? I saw her watching you when you were chatting with Miyamizu the other day. Her expression was kinda scary."

"Sawamura?"

Ichika tilted her head slightly, recalling the moment Nino was referring to—the time Sawamura had suddenly collapsed, and Miyamizu had immediately rushed to carry her to the infirmary.

"Come to think of it, Miyamizu was the first to react back then, wasn't he? He just picked her up like a prince and ran straight out of the classroom. He really seemed to care about her… Could it be that he actually likes Sawamura?"

Yotsuba suddenly voiced her theory, and Nino turned to look at her, considering the possibility. It actually made a lot of sense.

"I don't know if Miyamizu likes Sawamura, but I'm sure of one thing—Sawamura definitely has feelings for him."

Nino crossed her arms and glanced at Ichika. She had no interest in competing for a guy, especially not one she didn't even like that much.

"Sawamura likes Haruto? Huh, now that's an interesting piece of information."

Ichika's eyes gleamed with curiosity, but Nino found her reaction a bit odd. She instinctively took another step away from her sister.

Unlike Nino, Yotsuba was brimming with excitement as she clung to Ichika's side, bombarding her with questions about Haruto and what she thought of him.

After leaving the Kiyoura residence, Haruto returned to his room for a quick change before heading to school. He was running slightly later than usual but still had plenty of time.

What he hadn't expected was to run into the Nakano quintuplets on the way.

He had been about to greet Ichika when he overheard Nino bringing up his name.

Curious, he hesitated for a moment.

But then, the conversation took a… rather unexpected turn.

Quietly, he slowed his pace and trailed behind them, listening in as the sisters discussed him all the way to school.

"Hey, Ichika?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you feel like… people are looking at us weirdly today?"

As soon as they stepped onto campus, Nino noticed that the gazes directed at them felt different than usual. It wasn't just that they were five identical sisters—this was something else.

It almost felt like people were staring at them… or maybe at something behind them? Especially the girls.

A strange feeling creeping up her spine, Nino turned around—

And froze.

Haruto was smiling politely as he walked right behind them.

Her expression stiffened. Without a word, she quickly turned back and picked up her pace.

Ichika, noticing her reaction, turned around as well.

And there he was.

"...Haruto?"

Her cheeks flushed slightly, but unlike Nino, she didn't feel particularly embarrassed. With her easygoing personality, the brief surprise faded quickly. Instead, she slowed her steps and walked beside him, swinging her bag behind her back.

"So, you were following us the whole time? Eavesdropping, perhaps?"

"I just happened to run into you. You all seemed to be having a good time, so I didn't want to interrupt."

"From where did you start listening?"

"From the part where you said you like me, but I have no interest in you."

"And? What's the truth?"

Ichika leaned in closer, her shoulder brushing against his. Haruto could feel the warmth of her body and the softness pressing against his back as she playfully nudged him. His gaze flickered away for a brief second before he slowly answered—