Lunchtime.

"One barbecue set, minus the barbecue."

Fuutaro Uesugi ordered his usual, the cheapest "meal" in the whole cafeteria. It was a barbecue meal without the meat, making for a bargain with the additional sides of miso and pickled vegetables, a perfect reflection of his ingenuity and poverty. After receiving his meal, after stopping for water on the way, he noticed a redhead aiming for his favorite spot.

"Excuse me, I was here first. The table beside is empty, so you can sit over there," said the girl as she set her tray on the table.

"How about no, girlie? I sit here every day, so you move," snapped Fuutarou, setting his tray against hers. The two of them sat down, unwilling to give up the table. Looking at her tray of udon, tempura, yakiniku, karaage, daigakuimo, and pudding, she was certainly loaded, and the food she had was certainly going to load her. And looking at her, she was a beautiful young lady, with features that exude elegance and charm.

[Huh? Wait, it's her!] thought Fuutarou. As he recognized her face as the one he met before on a trip to Kyoto, he also remembered that he looked different from back then. [She doesn't seem to recognize me, so should I tell her?] pondered the boy. [Let's try this.]

"Excuse me, where are your manners?" asked the girl. Fuutarou was indeed being disrespectful, carefully looking at a test paper he had on his person.

"Oh sorry, pardon me. I was just reviewing this test."

The girl, being curious of his grades, asked, "Really? What was your score?". She didn't notice the little smirk the boy had as he gave her his test paper, folding it such that only his name was displayed.

That smirk quickly disappeared when she quickly unfolded the rest of the paper, to be greeted with a perfect score.

[No way, she didn't notice?], thought Fuutarou. Then, something clicked. [Wait a minute, she can afford that meal, so that means…]. Fuutarou was jealous, not because of her meal, but because she can afford it. [She kept her promise. And she's still in school! I was expecting at least a couple months after graduation before either of us got rich! No wonder she doesn't recognize me, compared to her I'm insignificant!]

"You showed me this on purpose!" said the girl, interrupting his thoughts.

"My bad, I didn't really want to show my score."

"Ugh, I hate to admit it, but I'm not that good at studying. Maybe you can help me."

[Oh, maybe she has a job that lets her afford these. Wait, she needs my help to study? This is my chance to repay her!] "Sure, I'd be glad to." Said Fuutarou with a smile that caused the girl's resentment to fade.

"Really? Oh I'm so happy, thank you! I'm Itsuki by the way. Nakano Itsuki," responded the girl with a radiance that made Fuutarou's heart skip a beat.

"Nakano Itsuki, huh? I'll remember that. I'm Uesugi Fuutarou." [So her name was Itsuki. She doesn't seem to recognize me, so that's that. But maybe I can repay her if I help her study] "Sorry about my rudeness, so for now let's eat."

"I've been meaning to ask, but is that all you're eating? Would you like to share some of mine?" Against her better judgement, Itsuki was offering food. Perhaps as a way to celebrate her new study-buddy. Or perhaps to shave off the embarrassment that that meal was just her first helping.

"Really? I don't want to impose." [This goddess. Oh thank the heavens for her!]

"No worries, I accidentally ordered too much."

"I'll help myself then. Thank you very much!" As Fuutarou was savoring one of the tempura, his phone suddenly rang. "Sorry, I have to take this. Talk to me later Itsuki, we can study together. And thanks for the food!" After gulping his rice down in a move that made Itsuki herself impressed, he quickly ran to the bathrooms for a chance to have a talk.

"Onii-chan, dad says he found you a job! He said he's gonna give you the details when you get here, so come home early, okay?"

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After school, while preparing their things.

"Hey Uesugi-kun! The class sure is lively huh?" said Itsuki as she packs her things after her study session. Fuutarou's explanations were really sticking to her brain like fresh mochi.

"Yeah, but that's probably thanks to you Nakano-san."

"Itsuki."

"Huh?"

"You can call me Itsuki," replied the girl while blushing. "Not that I want to be impolite to you, it's just that you may get confused."

"About what?"

"Nevermind. Just call me Itsuki, okay?"

"Ah sure. Then in that case call me Fuutarou" [Maybe if she calls me Fuutarou again she might remember.]

"Ah don't worry about me, Uesugi-kun."

"Whatever floats your boat. Oh yeah, since you wanted to study together, you might want to get some reference books."

"Great idea! But I don't know my way around here…"

"Figures. I'll show you my favorite store."

As they made their way around town, and after Fuutarou made Itsuki buy her books for English, Math, History, Japanese, and Science, as well as a few cookbooks, made their way to the station.

"Sorry, I have to make a stop."

"Where to?"

"This is my house, I'll just drop my bag. Don't worry, I'll still help you with these."

Suddenly, a young girl rushed outside and hugged the young man. "Raiha…" Fuutarou's younger sister was as youthful and energetic a girl was allowed to be, with enough maturity to handle all the responsibilities inside the house.

"Welcome back Onii-chan! Oh, and good afternoon miss…"

"Itsuki, Itsuki Nakano. I'm Uesugi-kun's friend."

"Friend?! Onii-chan has a friend."

"Now now Raiha, that's enough…"

"Please come in! My friend gave me some manju, let's eat them!"

[Stop it Raiha, that's yours.] As they made their way inside the house, Fuutarou noticed some boxes of manju spilling out out of a crate. "Wow, that's a lot."

As Itsuki gladly ate some, Fuutarou gave his share to her. "Here, I don't like these things." He was only saying that to satisfy his petty feeling that he owed her lunch.

"Well then thank you. But ah, it's getting late."

"Ah, I'll help you go home after you finish."

"Thanks. Just show me the station, I can take it from there."

"But these are heavy you know. The cookbooks alone are…"

"Don't worry about that, I have help."

"Just till the station then."

After Itsuki finished one last box of manju, they went together to the station.

"You sure you have help?" worried the boy.

"Don't worry. See?" she showed him her phone, the screen filled with replies.

"In that case, I'll be off then." Fuutarou took advantage while there was still some light.

"Okay then, see you tomorrow Uesugi-kun. I look forward to having you teach me!"

And with that, the boy and girl parted.

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After getting home, Fuutarou was greeted by his father, Isanari.

"Son, we need to talk."

"Yeah, tell me about the job."

"It's a tutoring job, so it's gotta be perfect for a bibliophile like you!"

"Dad, I'm not a bibliophile. And that's not what bibliophile means!"

"Ahaha! Whatever! So they say the pay is five times the standard."

"Five times!? Why?"

"Dunno. The guy is super rich, maybe he has no sense of money."

"Guy?"

"Not to worry. The father's the one who's rich. As far as I know there's no boy that you're gonna be tutoring. They're named Nakano."

"Nakano huh? That's the girl who transferred to my class."

"Nakano? That's the girl Onii-chan brought here this afternoon!"

"Really?" said Isanari with a stunned face. "You're already one step ahead! What is this, 4D chess? Anyway, there's the address. Go there tomorrow and introduce yourself."

[Isn't it obvious we already met?] "Okay dad, thanks."

"Are you guys done? Let's eat!" said Raiha as she opens the pot of curry.

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Meanwhile, inside the Nakano Household.

A girl with short hair and piercing declares "Hey, Dad says he's hiring a tutor for us."

"Seriously Ichika? Why? I thought we went to this school so we wouldn't need to study?" snarked a girl with long hair and butterfly ribbons.

"Nino, we would have to study either way… it sucks." says a girl with headphones around her neck.

"Don't be like that, Miku! We'll definitely have fun!" replies a girl with a single green ribbon on her head.

"Yotsuba! Don't shake the table!" cries Itsuki, holding onto her plate, and the serving dish, and the rice.

"My bad. What's his name?"

"Dunno, Dad says his father forgot to give his name."

"He?" remarked Nino as she snapped her tonged.

"Don't worry, it'll be alright. Looks like I'll be able to tease him a lot" replied Ichika with a mischievous look in her eyes.

"Don't expose yourself in front of him, Ichika" said Miku with a concerned look on her face.

"I won't. Anyway, Itsuki's looking hungry, let's eat!" And with that, the five girls started to dig in.

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That night Fuutarou dreamt of his time in Kyoto, of Itsuki, the girl he had met before.

"You've changed, Itsuki."

"You've changed as well, Fuutarou-kun! You're so smart now! But you're still gloomy and friendless, huh?"

"Watch what you're saying. Anyway, you're still as cheerful from before huh? You still don't respect my personal space."

"Come on, that was just this once. Anyway, aren't you glad that I wanted to sit on that table? We wouldn't have met otherwise."

"We'd still be classmates though."

"Yeah, and you'd probably still remember me. But I wouldn't have interacted with you if we never met in the cafeteria."

"Yeah, you'd be too cool for me to approach you."

"Don't worry, at least you managed to let me study with you. Maybe prove how cool you are then."

"Yeah Itsuki. I also hope you'll remember me."

"No worries. Even if I don't I'll still get to see you."

"Yeah. See you later Itsuki."

"Fuutarou-kun, Uesugi, Fuutarou, Uesuugii-san!, Uesugi-kun, okite" Fuutarou hears Itsuki's voice as he wakes up.

"Okay Itsuki I'm awake!" shouts Fuutarou as he rises from the futon.

"Sorry Onii-chan, but I'm not Itsuki-san" replies Raiha in a teasing voice.

"Boy, you really like that girl huh?" says Isanari as he gets ready to leave the house.

"It's not like that. I just dreamed about her, is all."

"Wow, you never dream about anything else apart from that girl you met in Kyoto!" an excited Raiha shouts.

"Let's stop" Fuutarou begs.

"Just make sure you get your head out of the clouds. Don't want you making a wrong first impression," and with that, Isanari is the first one to leave.

"Let's just get ready for school. How about you, Raiha?"

"Yep, after we eat we can go."

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It was lunchtime when Fuutarou and Itsuki got to talk to each other again.

"Hey, Uesugi-kun, are you okay? You look like you're going to pass out."

[A job huh? I won't be able to spend as much time with her as I thought.] Fuutarou had been spacing out, and Itsuki's return to his life didn't help his poor brain to process all the current events. "Hm? Ah yeah, sorry about that."

"You're going to bump into something if you keep that up." She says as she puts couple karaage on his bowl. "Here, from me." She made sure to order extra, so she can give him some.

"Again? I'm getting the feeling our relationship is dictated by food."

Itsuki's mind buzzed when she thought of a relationship with food. "Don't worry. I just wanted to give this to you, as a friend."

"Thank you then," as he took his first bite, Itsuki looked at her phone.

"Crap! I forgot I was eating with them today! Sorry to bother you but I have to go!" Itsuki stood up.

"Oh, ah, be careful. And let's study after school, okay?"

"Sure, let's do that!" Itsuki took her tray of food and left. Fuutarou checked his phone, suddenly feeling lonely.

{Dad says they asked to meet at 5}

[Five, huh? That means I can still stay here till 4:30. I'll tell Itsuki later.]

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Itsuki finally arrived at the table with her sisters.

"Dad says to go home by 4:30" expains Ichika while drinking her coffee.

"Why?" retorts Nino, angry at the sudden curfew. She almost choked on her pearls while saying this.

"So that we can prepare for the tutor I guess." Miku says with a face blank with emotion, sipping a matcha soda.

"Hey, I wonder what he's like?" Yotsuba excitedly claims while drinking her orange juice.

"Really? I was planning to stay here a bit later." Itsuki replies.

"Ara ara, you have some business?"

"Not really. I found someone to help me study. He's really thoughtful too. He seems to have good grades, and he's very helpful. I'd prefer him over some tutor. I'm sure he'd relate to us better than some paid worker."

"Is someone in love?"

"No, it's not like that. I just thought that he has helped me quite a lot, and all I did was give him some food."

"You gave him food? Someone's definitely in love."

"It's not like that!"

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At the start of their study session, Itsuki declares to Fuutarou. "Listen, I have to go a bit earlier today. I can only stay until 4:30."

[Really? I don't have to make an excuse anymore?] "Oh, that's alright. I also have part-time work in that time." [Crap, I still said it.]

"Oh really? Guess we can only study together until 4:30 huh?" Itsuki started feeling dejected.

[Man, even when she's looking down she's cute.] "Don't worry about it. I'll still make sure you learn the lessons!"

"Really? Thank you. By the way, what's your job?"

[Crap, I can't tell her I'm tutoring. She's good practice as a tutee, so she might feel sad if she finds out.] "I don't know yet!" he lies, "but the pay's good, five times the standard." Fuutarou rejoices with a bright smile.

"You don't know what job you're going to do? That's kind of irresponsible isn't it? What if you have to take care of five dogs all at once? Or you have to cook five meals in five minutes? Or you have to pick from five boxes your prize and the rest cause you to lose everything?"

"That's a lot of fives..." [What's this girl's idea of a job?]

"My point is, what if you get sent to hell with your job?"

"Don't worry. I wouldn't have taken the opportunity if I didn't know I could handle it."

"That must be quite the job then. I hope it'll turn out alright." Itsuki breathes a sigh of relief, being reassured by Fuutarou's happiness.

Time passed in the blink of an eye, and the boy and girl parted ways again. Itsuki walked along with her sisters, and Fuutarou also walked... in the wrong direction. He had forgotten about his prior appointment, being lost in Itsuki's smiling face when she was learning, only remembering when it was a quarter to five.

[Crap, fifteen minutes, I hope I can make it.] He started running, pushing himself so that he will not lose his job on the first day.

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At the Nakano household.

"I'm going in my room."

"Me as well."

"I'll play my games."

"Aren't we meeting the tutor?" Yotsuba complains.

"I honestly wouldn't want to meet him. He's five minutes late. Let's just calmly reject his tutoring. They don't seem interested either, and I have my own study buddy." Itsuki comforts her sister.

"Study buddy?"

"Yeah. He treats me as an equal, better than any tutor ever could with their authority" Itsuki says while doing air quotes.

*ding dong

"That must be him!" Yotsuba races to the door. Itsuki calmly goes to her room.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. Is this the house of Nakano?" Fuutarou, tired from running, held his head down.

"Yeah, that's us. Come on in!" Yotsuba replies.

"Thank you very much." AS he looks up, he saw Itsuki's face.

"Itsuki? I'm tutoring you?"

"Itsuki? I'm Yotsuba, nice to meet you Fuu- for this day!" She recognizes that face, the face she had consolidated with before.

[I must be having delusions from all that running.] "Ah, nice to meet you."

"Itsuki's my sister though."

"Ah, sorry, my bad. That explains the likeness."

"Anyway, please come in. I can see you're tired."

"Sorry for the intrusion. Oh, my name is Fuutarou Uesugi. I'm supposed to tutor this family. I assume that would be Itsuki and you, Yotsuba-san?"

"So you're the tutor? Nice to meet you! Sit down while I call them."

"Itsuki, the tutor is here!"

"I'll go outside later."

"Ehhh, but wouldn't that be rude? He knows your name and all."

"What is he, some kind of stalker?"

"Maybe, I don't think so. He's sitting on the couch."

Itsuki comes out of the room, looking at Fuutarou. "Uesugi-kun?"

"So you do know his name!"

"He's our tutor?"

"Seems like it." With those words,Itsuki's passion was relit. She knew that her sisters receiving the same treatment as her would only be beneficial for the two of them. And so she helped Yotsuba gather her sisters. Normally if it was just Yotsuba the sisters would ignore her energetic cries, but seeing as Itsuki was also adamantly suggesting they meet the tutor they couldn't help but comply.

"Didn't you say you didn't want the tutor?"

"And that you're in love to take anyone else?"

"It's him! And it's not like that?"

"Sounds like the words of someone in love."

All five Nakano sisters assembled in front of Fuutarou.

Yotsuba happily declares "It's not just me and Itsuki, it looks like you're tutoring the five of us!"

[You gotta be kidding me. Am I dreaming? Did I collapse on the road or something?] In front of him was a smirking Itsuki with short hair, a mad Itsuki with butterfly ribbons, a sulking Itsuki with headphones, an energetic Itsuki with a rabbit ear ribbon and a big smile on her face, and a happy Itsuki with her usual star clips. "Five Itsuki's?!"

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A/N.

That's the first chapter, what do you guys think? If you're wondering, juct check the username to find out where my alignment is. I just wanted to give out a story if Fuutarou managed to not call Itsuki fat on the first day. As you can see, their relationship definitely improved. Feedback is appreciated, let me know what do you guys want, and what you think is going to happen next. Till next time.