The Quintuplets Are My Neighbors

A gust of wind swept through the schoolyard.

Kenji turned his head just in time to see Miku hastily pinning down the hem of her skirt, her expression flustered. A faint, sweet fragrance carried by the breeze reached him, light and refreshing.

Her black, silky stockings gleamed faintly in the sunlight, accentuating her long, slender legs. Kenji's gaze lingered a moment longer than he intended.

"Pervert!" Miku's shy yet furious voice broke the silence.

"Sorry!" Kenji raised his hands, embarrassed.

"No forgiveness!" she retorted before spinning around and storming off, her face flushed.

Kenji sighed, running a hand through his hair. Why does appreciating beauty always get me into trouble?

---

After saying goodbye to Miku, Kenji left Sobu High School. As he strolled down the street, he unexpectedly encountered Itsuki.

"Good afternoon, Kenji-san," she greeted with a polite nod.

"Good afternoon," Kenji replied casually. "Weren't you heading somewhere earlier?"

Itsuki hesitated, twirling a strand of hair between her fingers. "Oh, I forgot something in the classroom. I'm heading back to get it."

However, just a short distance away, behind a bush, Ichika, Yotsuba, and Nino crouched, whispering amongst themselves.

"I still don't believe he can tell us apart," Nino grumbled, her tone sharp.

"Relax, Nino," Ichika said with her usual calm smile. "Let's see how this plays out."

Kenji, who had noticed their hidden presence, allowed a small smirk to cross his lips.

"I see," Kenji said, feigning ignorance. "Well, don't let me keep you. See you around, Itsuki."

"Wait!" Nino suddenly called out, stepping forward with a sharp glare.

Kenji paused, glancing over his shoulder.

"How about starting tutoring today?" Itsuki—no, Nino—suggested awkwardly, her tone laced with hesitation.

Kenji arched an eyebrow, noticing the nervous energy emanating from her. He glanced behind her and saw a tuft of hair swaying just above the bushes.

"Oops, he saw us!" Yotsuba whispered, covering her mouth in panic.

"Relax," Ichika said, unbothered. "We're wearing makeup. He won't notice anything strange."

Back in the conversation, Kenji turned his attention back to Nino.

"Student Kenji? Are you alright?" Nino asked, her tone irritated at his distracted demeanor.

Kenji shook his head lightly. "I'm fine."

But deep down, he wasn't fine. Something is definitely off.

His gaze darted back to the bush. Just as he suspected, another "Itsuki" peeked out, her expression panicked.

Kenji's mind raced. What's going on here?

The second Itsuki blinked, then offered a dazzling smile that radiated charm and confidence.

Kenji froze, trying to process the situation.

"Kenji-san? Are you really okay?" Nino's voice cut through his thoughts, sharper this time.

He sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I think I finally get it now."

"What do you mean?" Nino asked, tension evident in her voice.

Kenji glanced at her, then toward the bush again. "You're not Itsuki, are you?"

Nino's eyes widened in shock. "What are you talking about? Of course, I'm Itsuki!"

Kenji smirked faintly. "Nice try. You might look identical, but you're not her."

Nino's mouth fell open slightly, disbelief written all over her face.

"How... how could you tell?" she blurted out.

Kenji tilted his head. "Simple. Your legs."

A cold chill swept over him as he felt an ominous presence. Turning his head, he saw Itsuki—or was it another one of them?—staring at him with a murderous smile.

"There are some things you shouldn't say so casually," she said sweetly, though her tone carried an unmistakable threat.

Kenji laughed nervously, backtracking quickly. "What I meant was, as someone who sits next to Itsuki every day, I'd never mistake her for someone else. That would just be rude."

Nino crossed her arms, clearly frustrated, but didn't argue further. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed back to the bushes. Moments later, the five identical sisters stepped out together, perfectly aligned.

"Good afternoon, Kenji-san," they said in unison, their voices melodious and coordinated.

Kenji blinked in disbelief.

"We've got a game for you," Ichika said, her smile mischievous.

"Guess who is who," Yotsuba added, her tone upbeat.

"If you guess right," Nino chimed in, "we'll let you date Itsuki."

"What?! No, we won't!" Itsuki barked, glaring at Nino.

"Relax, it's just a game," Ichika teased.

Kenji stared at them, the sweat on his forehead betraying his nerves. This is... insane.

The five sisters looked at him expectantly, their identical faces unnerving yet captivating.

Kenji took a deep breath, his gaze scanning them carefully.

Alright, let's do this, he thought. Let's play 'find the difference.'

✥✥✥

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