"You know Nanami, right? Did Ichika tell you how they met?"
"No."
Rin nodded. "During the summer, Ichika was scouted by a talent agency. She enrolled in acting classes, and Nanami was in voice acting classes on the same floor."
Maruo was genuinely shocked. Ichika hadn't breathed a word of this to him.
The Yamadas looked on curiously, so Rin explained Nanami's background. Hearing that Nanami worked part-time to pay for her own classes while maintaining top grades, the parents all sighed. Why can't our daughters be like that?
To them, Nanami was the "perfect child"—pursuing a passion her parents didn't support while still excelling in her responsibilities.
Meanwhile, Ryo... Ugh! Not only were her grades trash, she was a walking debt machine!
(In another part of the city, at Nijika's house, Ryo—currently being forced to study—let out a sneeze.)
"I've heard from Ichika and Nanami about why the girls hate studying. Their grades are bad because they are 'slacking off' on purpose. Their mother told them to always stay together, and they subconsciously fear that if one of them becomes too different, they'll be pulled apart."
Maruo nodded slowly. Even though Rin was nearly his age, the "rebellious" kids found it easier to talk to him than to a father figure.
"Ichika wants to change this, as the eldest sister. So..." Rin explained the plan he and Kaede had concocted. "My girlfriend 'lent' me to her to pretend to be her boyfriend. She wants to show them she's studying hard for 'her man'—creating a sense of crisis. If they don't study, they'll be left behind by the sister they love."
The Yamadas were a bit disappointed. He already has a girlfriend? What a waste.
"If this were a normal family, I'd tell her to focus on school. But you have more money than God, and let's be honest, they aren't academic types. You can provide a safety net, so why not let them chase their dreams like Ryo does?"
"But I'm not saying you should just let them rot. Some kids claim they want to be pro gamers just to avoid school. You need to make sure it's a real dream, not an escape."
"As an outsider, that's all the advice I can give. The rest is up to you."
Maruo lowered his head in thought. If a stranger had said this, he would have ignored them. But Rin was vetted by his friends, and clearly, Ichika trusted him.
The premise was solid. The method—creating a sense of crisis—was Ichika's choice.
In that case, let's play along. I can give the other four a crisis and test Ichika's resolve at the same time.
"Rin... would you mind playing one more role for me?"
The next afternoon.
Ichika didn't "date" Rin after school as planned. Her father had called and said they were having a family dinner tonight because he was finally free.
Maruo didn't live with them, and as a stepfather, there was a natural distance. Their interactions were rare and usually limited to these occasional meals.
The driver, Ebata, dropped the five of them off at the restaurant and drove away. They went to the private room to find Maruo sitting expressionlessly at the table.
They chatted normally while waiting for the food. A waiter arrived with five plates of milk-scented steaks.
However...
"Eight servings?" Nino looked at Maruo. "Is Mr. Ebata joining us?"
Ebata was just the driver, but he was like family to them.
"Eight..." Itsuki swallowed. Five sisters plus Mr. Ebata was seven... Is the extra one for me!? But she knew her father wouldn't be that generous without a reason.
The four sisters, still reeling from yesterday's boyfriend revelation, exchanged a look. Is Dad bringing a girlfriend to meet us?
Their mother was his true love. He had married her just before she died to ensure he got legal custody of the girls so they wouldn't be separated. It had been years since she passed; it was only natural for him to move on. Maruo didn't confirm or deny anything; he just told them to wait.
Soon, the door opened.
But instead of a beautiful woman, Rin walked in.
"!!!!" Ichika froze. Nino and the others held their breath, terrified to speak.
"Sit down, Rin. The food is still warm. Eat."
Rin winked at them, but they were too scared to acknowledge it. The dinner was unnervingly quiet, filled only with the sound of silver on porcelain.
Once everyone was finished, Maruo wiped his mouth and looked at Rin with an icy stare.
"Rin, I want you to break up with Ichika." He then shifted his gaze to his daughter. "Ichika, I want you to give up on this ridiculous dream of being a star and leave that talent agency."
Wait, what?
Nino and the others were bewildered. Talent agency? Star? What is going on?
"N-no!" Ichika stood up instinctively, her eyes pleading with Rin. She couldn't admit he was a fake boyfriend now, or the whole plan would crumble.
Then she realized... if her father was playing along, she should double down. Just like Nanami leaving home for her dream. This would create the ultimate "crisis."
"I won't break up with him! I won't leave him!" Ichika cried, clutching her chest. Maruo's internal critique of her performance was: A bit melodramatic and exaggerated.
But if he hadn't known the truth, he might have been fooled.
Maruo gave Rin a signal. Rin stood up and took Ichika's hand. "No matter what, I won't leave her."
"Even if you marry her, I will not leave you a single yen of my estate," Maruo said coldly. "Ten million yen. Leave her now, and I'll give you ten million yen."
"I'm not with her for the money."
"Is that so?" Maruo looked at Ichika. "Break up with him and leave the agency, or get out of the house. I will stop paying your living expenses."
"Dad... I love him, and I truly want to be an actress!" Ichika declared like a soap opera heroine. Rin struggled not to laugh at her acting, and even Ebata, who was watching from the door, felt his composure slipping.
Only Maruo's naturally robotic face kept the ruse alive. The other sisters were too stunned to notice anything was off.
"If I have to leave this home, then so be it... I'm staying with him."
The sisters panicked. If Ichika left, the quintuplets would be broken!
Nino tried to catch Ichika's eye, begging her not to be stubborn. When Ichika didn't budge, Nino spoke up to de-escalate. "Uh... Dad, she's just upset right now. Let her go home and calm down, then we can talk?"
"Yeah, yeah," Itsuki added frantically.
Maruo stood up and looked at Ichika one last time. "You have one day. If you don't agree to break up and leave the agency, move out of the apartment. I will no longer support you."