The car roared off into the distance, carrying Nakano Ichika toward her audition. Once she was gone, Ryuichi quietly returned to the rooftop of the hotel.
There, he explained Ichika's situation to her four sisters.
"This… but she promised we'd all go together," Nakano Nino muttered, disappointment lacing her voice.
"It was Ichika's choice," said Itsuki seriously. "We should respect that."
"I get that," Nino huffed, crossing her arms. "But still… there's only one night like this each year. There'll be other work opportunities, won't there?"
Judging by her tone, Nino clearly valued the annual fireworks festival more than any job. To her, the five sisters being together was priceless.
Ryuichi, however, understood that Ichika's opportunity wasn't something she could easily toss aside. She'd spent half a year working toward this day—it wasn't something replaceable.
He stepped closer to Nino and spoke gently.
"You might not see it the same way," he said, "but opportunities don't come twice. Ichika wants to grab this one while she can.
You could say compromise keeps the peace—but a life that's built entirely on compromise eventually becomes ordinary."
Nino's eyes flashed, her temper flaring.
To her, nothing mattered more than the five of them being together. So Ryuichi's calm reasoning rubbed her the wrong way.
"Like you have any idea what this fireworks festival means to us!" she snapped. "We've never been apart—not once! So don't preach to me, okay?"
Her voice rose just enough to make the others frown.
"Nino, watch your tone," Miku interrupted, her voice firm.
"I didn't say anything wrong!" Nino shot back.
Before the argument could escalate, Ryuichi lifted a hand, stopping Miku. He looked at Nino, his tone level as ever.
"You're right. I shouldn't lecture you."
Without another word, he turned away. As he passed Yotsuba and Itsuki, he spoke in a low voice. "She's upset. Keep an eye on her. I'll step out for a bit."
Ichika had worried something like this might happen—and she'd been right. Her absence was bound to stir tension among the quintuplets. The best thing now was to give them space to cool down.
"Huh? Where are you going?" Itsuki called after him.
"Got something to take care of. I'll meet you later," Ryuichi replied softly as he walked toward the stairs.
The girls watched his figure disappear. Yotsuba bit her lip nervously. "Do you… think he's mad?"
"I—I don't think so?" Itsuki said uncertainly.
But truthfully, she couldn't tell. Ryuichi was impossible to read—his calm rarely cracked, no matter what emotions churned beneath the surface.
Nino's chest tightened with guilt. Maybe she had gone too far.
After all, Ryuichi had always been patient and kind to them. How could she lose her temper like that?
She wanted to apologize—only to realize he was already gone. All she could do was sit there, sulking quietly under the booming fireworks.
Brilliant colors exploded across the night sky, but the four sisters couldn't enjoy them. Ichika's empty spot beside them felt like a hollow echo. Even Ryuichi's departing silhouette lingered in their thoughts.
A shared unease tied their hearts together—what if he really was angry?
Nino especially couldn't stop wondering if she'd disappointed him.
Meanwhile, Ichika's taxi reached the audition venue just in time. She hurried to change out of her yukata, rehearsing her lines as she went.
The audition began. When her turn came, she delivered her lines perfectly—words she'd memorized down to the rhythm of each breath.
But somewhere deep in her mind, Ryuichi's voice echoed again.
"Living freely—saying what's in your heart—that's the easiest way to breathe."
He really was such a carefree guy. It almost made her jealous.
But if she praised him outright… he'd definitely get all smug about it, wouldn't he?
Just picturing that expression made her lips curve unconsciously.
The panel of judges blinked in surprise. Her performance radiated sincerity—it felt alive, genuine, like the emotions of a girl caught in the glow of first love.
"She's good," one whispered. "That looked completely natural."
A few exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. She was a gem.
When the announcement came that she'd passed, Ichika stood frozen for a moment.
"…That's it? I passed?"
It felt almost too easy.
Her tension melted away all at once, replaced by sheer relief and joy. She stepped out of the building and looked up at the night sky.
By now, the fireworks festival must have already ended...
Just then, a glowing magic circle flared open ahead of her. Ryuichi appeared out of thin air.
The bearded man beside her gawked, his jaw practically hitting the pavement. Ryuichi shot him a glance and casually flicked his wrist—casting a quick Perception Alteration spell. The man blinked blankly, as if forgetting everything odd he'd just witnessed.
"The audition's over?"
"Yeah. And I passed."
"Well done. Congratulations," Ryuichi said in his usual calm tone.
Ichika's first thought was for her sisters. "The others… they're not mad, are they?"
"Not really," Ryuichi said. "Come on. Everything's about ready—we should hurry."
Then he looked at her and asked, "We're short on time. Mind if I carry you?"
"O-oh… I-I don't mind…"
Her voice wavered, cheeks reddening.
"Good. I mean, I've done it before," he said, chuckling as he bent and lifted her effortlessly into his arms. "Hold on tight."
Before she could reply, he was already moving.
Ichika cried out, clutching him instinctively as they rocketed forward. In the blink of an eye, the city blurred beneath them, buildings streaking past like waves of light.
"Ahhh—!?"
Her scream echoed through the night, half fear, half disbelief. This wasn't just thrilling—it was outright terrifying. Way worse than any roller coaster.
"T-too fast! Too scary! Waaaah—!"
Ryuichi couldn't help laughing softly. "Relax. You're perfectly safe."
"I know that! But that doesn't make it less scary!" she cried, voice trembling.
He smiled helplessly and murmured reassurances as they raced across the glittering skyline. Still, a thought crossed his mind—maybe it really was time he learned proper flight magic.
After all, girls like Ichika couldn't use teleportation. If he kept traveling like this, human partners might not handle the ride so well…
The night air rushed past them, scattering the last of the fireworks' smoke, as Ryuichi carried Ichika toward the others—back where warmth, laughter, and something like destiny awaited.