Inside the Nakano apartment, Itsuki was in the midst of a food binge, not even thinking about changing her outfit. The rest of her sisters had already gone to their rooms. Moments later, Miku appeared on the stairs. "Itsuki." Itsuki paused her eating and looked up at Miku. "What do you think about Sasuke? You know, him tutoring us." Itsuki reflected on Miku's question for a second. "I guess I wouldn't mind trying out his study session. I'll see how it goes."
As Itsuki dove back into her food, Nino made her way down the stairs. "I hope Sasuke doesn't show up. He's cute and all, but there's no chance he's tutoring us," she mused. Suddenly, a devious thought struck her. "Wait! I'll just add some sleeping pills to his water," Nino exclaimed, a sly grin forming on her lips.
"You can't be serious! That's a crime Nino!" Itsuki exclaimed in shock. "Oh, I absolutely am! Just wait for him to arrive!" Nino shot back defiantly. "Come on, don't be so harsh. Uchiha-kun is only trying to lend a hand," Yotsuba chimed in. "We don't need his assistance! He can keep it to himself!"
"He did say he didn't care who joined." Miku said.
As Sasuke walked toward the Nakano residence, he was still preoccupied with how to track the sisters. The thought had been nagging at him since he first considered it. Then, an idea struck him. 'What if I get Naruto to help me sense negative emotions? That way, I can tell if the sisters are in danger. I guess I'm recruiting Naruto for team Taka. I'll call him after my session.' With that resolution, Sasuke finally reached the Nakano apartment. He knocked twice on the door, and after a moment, it opened to reveal Yotsuba, who welcomed him with open arms. "Uchiha-kun! Welcome to our home! Please, make yourself at home!" Sasuke stepped inside and replied, "Thank you for your kindness."
"It's Uchiha-kun," Itsuki remarked. Sasuke remained silent as Itsuki returned to her meal. He made his way to the couch, with Yotsuba trailing behind him. Once he reached the couch, he placed his supplies on the table. Yotsuba, ever the gracious host, inquired if Sasuke would like a glass of water. "No thanks," he replied, his eyes wandering around the room. Observing his distracted gaze, Yotsuba approached him. "You must be curious about where everyone has gone," she said. Sasuke nodded in agreement. "I know Itsuki's over there," he said, glancing at Itsuki. "Are you coming over, Itsuki?" Itsuki paused her eating and, with her mouth full, confirmed that she would join them.
With a burst of enthusiasm, Yotsuba suggested, "How about we gather the rest of the sisters now?"
"Hn."
Rising to his feet, Sasuke followed Yotsuba up the staircase. As they made their way, Yotsuba excitedly shared, "The rooms are assigned to Itsuki, me, Miku, Nino, and Ichika. In case you didn't notice, they're in order from—" Sasuke cut her short, replying, "Youngest to oldest, yeah, I know," with a hint of disinterest.
When they finally made it to the top, Sasuke's eyes were immediately drawn to the five doors. Yotsuba walked over to Miku's room and exclaimed, "This is Miku's space! She's the smartest one among us, so I'm sure you two will connect well!" After that, Yotsuba knocked on the door. "Miku?" she called out.
A few moments later, they heard footsteps drawing near from beyond the door. Finally, Miku opened it wide. She shot Yotsuba a look that clearly communicated, "Are you kidding me?" Then she turned her attention to Sasuke, before glancing back at Yotsuba, and finally returning her gaze to Sasuke. "No," she said, her voice steady and resolute.
"Why not come with us?" Yotuba urged. "One reason: age," Miku said without emotion. "There has to be a more suitable candidate for this." Sasuke frowned at her words. "Just because I'm your age doesn't mean I'm unqualified to teach. I'm at the top of the academic leaderboard in this school. You can trust me to do the job well. Age shouldn't be a factor here," Sasuke insisted.
"Yeah, what he said!" Yotsuba exclaimed with one arm pumped up. As if she was in the midst of a riot. "Not happening," Miku said with determination as she shut the door. "She'll join us in time," Sasuke added. Upon reaching Nino's room, Yotsuba flashed a big smile at Sasuke. "This is Nino's place! She's super social!"
With a scoff, Sasuke commented, "It doesn't appear that way at school. And I already know she's not going to join us." Yotsuba knocked again, and they both waited, but the silence stretched on. After a few moments, Yotsuba knocked once more, still met with no answer. "I could have sworn she was just here. It's so strange," Yotsuba said, her head tilting in bewilderment.
"Let's make our way to Ichika's room. She'll be joining us, so we should pick her up," Sasuke proposed after a short silence. When they got to Ichika's door, Yotsuba reached for the knob but paused, turning to Sasuke. "Just so you know, Ichika tends to be quite lazy. Her room could be a total disaster. I'm talking about a real mess." Sasuke's frown deepened at her words. "Oh," he said, sounding unimpressed.
"Having given you the heads-up, let's continue," Yotsuba said, opening the door wide. "Ichika is most likely fast asleep," she remarked as they stepped into the shadowy room. The only light came from the hallway, barely cutting through the darkness. Sasuke felt his stomach turn at the sight before him. The room was revolting. It seemed almost illegal for someone to inhabit such a filthy space. Clothes were everywhere—shirts, socks, and even bras and panties were scattered across the bed, floor, and makeup desk. It was a complete wreck.
With a deep sigh, Yotsuba flicked the light switch, illuminating the room. "Every day she ignores it, it just gets messier..." Yotsuba remarked while making her way to Ichika's bed. A sleepy voice emerged from the covers. "Hey, don't act like my room is some kind of disaster area," Ichika replied, still half-asleep. "But it totally is," Yotsuba retorted. "Careful, you might hurt big sis' feelings," Ichika teased, a playful pout forming as she gradually sat up.
Ichika rubbed her eyes and was surprised to see Sasuke there. "Oh, Uchiha-kun, it's you!" she exclaimed. Sasuke gave a nod. "Yep, it's me. Hi." He waved casually. "Come on, Ichika, time to get up! We're wasting time," Yotsuba said, reaching for the blanket. "Hold on, don't take that off," Sasuke warned, making Yotsuba stop in her tracks. "What's going on?" she asked, confused. "She's not wearing anything," he stated. Ichika chuckled shyly and said, "Well, you caught me! You don't seem fazed at all, Sasuke-kun. Here you are with a cute naked girl. Are you sure you don't want to... have some fun?" she suggested flirtatiously. "Don't push your luck," Sasuke replied with a straight face.
"Yotsuba, can you help Ichika get dressed?" Sasuke asked as he made his way out of the room. Just as he turned the corner, Miku blocked his path, her eyes narrowing in suspicion. "...What's going on?" he questioned. Miku held her silence for a moment, then began to circle him, which only added to Sasuke's confusion. He looked at her, silently asking what she wanted. "Sasuke, have you seen my PE uniform?" she finally inquired. Sasuke hesitated, his face clearly showing his bewilderment. "No," he replied succinctly.
Miku's stare was unwavering as she focused on Sasuke. "It was in my room until you came along." Sasuke's expression darkened at her insinuation. "I've never been in your room. That alone should take me off your suspect list," he stated, his voice lacking emotion as he walked by her. She stood there, stunned. "I guess you're be right," she murmured quietly.
As Sasuke descended the stairs, a lively voice echoed through the air: "I baked cookies!" He turned his gaze toward the kitchen, spotting Nino holding a fresh batch of cookies.
"Miku, Nino's in your uniform," Sasuke announced. Upon hearing this, Miku dashed downstairs, her eyes widening in disbelief as she spotted Nino donning her P.E. uniform. A scowl crept onto Miku's face as she processed the sight of her sister using her uniform for cooking.
Sasuke was perched on the couch, taking in the scene of the five sisters as they laughed and munched on cookies. He reflected, 'I could begin the lesson right now, but I doubt Nino or Miku would pay any attention. The girls are too wrapped up in their treats. I suppose I'll let them enjoy themselves for a bit longer.' He sighed in resignation.
He turned his attention to Miku and Nino, who were arguing like a couple that had been together for years. "Give it back," Miku urged. "I just borrowed it," Nino said with a shrug. "I didn't want to get my outfit dirty." Miku's expression darkened. "So, you thought it was okay to dirty mine?" Nino just nodded in agreement.
Nino waved her hand dismissively. "It's merely a P.E. uniform." Miku shot back, irritation creeping into her voice. "Maybe you should have worn yours instead. Ever considered that?" As their argument escalated, Sasuke shifted his gaze to Ichika, who was peacefully dozing off. "Of course, she's asleep," he muttered to himself. His eyes then landed on Itsuki, who was eagerly shoveling more food into her mouth. 'Does she ever stop eating?' Sasuke wondered.
Yotsuba, catching sight of Sasuke's wandering gaze, exclaimed, "Uchiha-kun, I'm really putting in the effort here!" Sasuke shot her an unimpressed look. His eyes then drifted to her notebook, where he found a blank page, save for a cheerful sunflower sketched in the corner. "Right." Sasuke said unamused.
Not long after, Miku decided to stop the endless squabbling with Nino and let it go. Still, irritation simmered beneath the surface. Nino then chimed in, "So, what do you all think of the cookies?" Itsuki, momentarily halting her cookie feast, burst out, "They're amazing!"
A light chuckle escaped Nino's lips as a brilliant idea struck her. It was the ideal moment to execute her carefully crafted plan. With her heart racing in anticipation, she headed toward the kitchen, adrenaline coursing through her veins. What lay ahead was known only to her, at least for now. A few minutes later, Nino approached Sasuke, her smile dazzling and enchanting, capable of melting the hearts of most. However, her charm seemed to bounce off Sasuke like water off a duck's back.
"Here, Sasuke, take some." Sasuke eyed the cookies warily, pausing to consider. 'This isn't like her; she's definitely plotting something. She's never this generous with anyone except her sisters. Could she have spiked the cookies? No, that can't be right. The other sisters are eating them too. Maybe she targeted just one and ensured the others were safe. But does it really matter? I can probably manage it. Most likely just laced with sedatives,' Sasuke pondered.
Nino urged, "Please, it would make me so happy if you gave them a shot! I'll even be there for the study session. Or is it that you're not a fan of sweets?"
'Sweets have never been my thing, but if she actually decides to join—though I seriously doubt it—I might give them a shot.' With a firm resolve, Sasuke declared, "Alright, I'll have a few." He reached for a handful of cookies and began to chew. To his surprise, they were quite delightful. The sweetness was just right for him, striking a perfect balance. Not overly sugary, yet far from bland. Sasuke found himself genuinely impressed, convinced that Nino had the potential to become a remarkable chef someday. That is, if she manages to finish high school first, he mused, rolling his eyes.
"They're simply amazing," Sasuke stated, his eyes widening in admiration. "I'm not particularly fond of sweets, but I must confess, you've struck the perfect chord between sugary and tasteless. Kudos to you." Nino grinned, her heart swelling with pride. "Thanks a lot! I owe it all to the love I channeled from my sisters," she said, a bit boastfully.
"Sasuke, are you in need of a drink? I have a glass of water right here for you," Nino offered softly. Sasuke regarded her with suspicion. 'I don't trust this girl one bit. There's definitely something off about that water. Perhaps she's hidden the sedatives in the drink instead of the cookies. If that's true, she's completely lost her mind. Still, I'm parched, and it won't harm me, so I might as well go for it.' He casually accepted the glass and took a long swig, not just a few sips, but nearly draining three-quarters of it. As he set the glass down, Nino's charming smile twisted into a wicked grin. "Nighty night Sasu-kun..." she whispered ominously in his ear.
.....
But nothing happened.
With a swift turn of his head, Sasuke directed his attention toward her, his expression betraying no hint of surprise at her antics. Nino, suddenly aware of their closeness, took a step back, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. Sasuke's serious gaze held her for a moment, and then, to everyone's astonishment, he let out a chuckle. The sisters were taken aback; it was the first time he had shown any emotion other than indifference since their introduction earlier that day. His chuckle quickly escalated into a boisterous laugh, and he pointed at Nino, who stood there, flustered and blushing under his playful scrutiny.
Sasuke was laughing so hard that he nearly fell off the couch, completely lost in the moment. He then decided to poke fun at Nino, teasingly copying her words. "Nighty night, Sasu-kun!" he chimed, before dissolving into another wave of laughter. "Do you think you're some sort of supervillain?" he asked, his eyes glistening with tears of joy. Wiping his cheeks, he added, "Oh no. No, no, no, no, no!" his voice bubbling with amusement.
"It appears Sasuke has a few more emotions up his sleeve than just being the sad boy," Ichika teased, a mischievous glint in her eye. "He's practically a Yotsuba!" Itsuki chimed in, laughter dancing in her voice. Miku couldn't stifle her giggles at the playful exchange. "Absolutely..." Yotsuba agreed, her enthusiasm infectious. But Nino's face fell as she watched Sasuke, who was not succumbing to sleep but instead laughing uproariously. Her frustration mounted. 'What's going on? This was supposed to make him sleep! Did I not use enough? No, I definitely added more than I usually take before bed!' Nino thought, exasperated.
"W-why didn't the sedatives take effect?" Nino stammered, her eyes wide with confusion. "Oh, that's easy. I do a lot of drugs." Sasuke replied with a nonchalant grin. The sisters exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern at what he was insinuating. "Are we really trusting a drug addict to tutor us?" Itsuki questioned, her voice laced with skepticism. Sasuke burst into laughter at the remark. The truth was, he had indeed experimented with a variety of substances. However, Orochimaru had trained him to withstand any poison or drug, rendering him virtually immune. Even if he wanted to, getting drunk was a challenge for him. Well, he could still get tipsy; it just took a lot longer.
"I'm just goofing off!" Sasuke took a second to regain his composure before looking at his phone for the time. It was 5:30 in the evening, and they had done absolutely nothing. He still needed to fill Naruto in on the mission details, so he decided to voice his thoughts again. "Today turned out to be a failure. I'll be back tomorrow. If you had actually worked with me, you would have earned a day off." Sasuke stated, slipping back into his trademark aloof, indifferent attitude.
The girls gazed at him in disbelief. "Whoa, Sasu-kun, you really flip your emotions in a heartbeat," Ichika remarked with a cheeky smile. Sasuke chose to ignore her, swiftly packed up his stuff, and declared it was time to go. Just as he was about to step out after thanking Nino for the delicious cookies, Yotsuba unexpectedly stopped him in his tracks.
"Umm, Uchiha-kun? How early do you get up for school?" Yotsuba asked.
"6, why?"
"I have to be up early tomorrow. A teacher needs help. Can you walk with me to school?" Yotsuba asked, embarrassed, her face flushed.
"Sure." Sasuke said with a casual smile. 'I'm going to have to protect her.' The sisters, seeing this had different reactions.
"Wow, Sasuke is such a flirt," Ichika teased, her voice dripping with allure. "You bet I am." Sasuke said sarcastically as he turned back to look at Yotsuba. "Yotsuba, I'll pick you up at 7. Night," Sasuke said, making his exit and softly closing the door.
On his walk back to the apartment, Sasuke couldn't help but reminisce about the silly shenanigans he and the sisters had engaged in earlier. With a smirk, he thought to himself, 'I definitely deserve a better paycheck for all this craziness.'