The Quintuplets Are My Neighbors

Miku glanced away, her fingers instinctively brushing the earphones resting against her chest. Her voice wavered slightly as she murmured, "You've got the wrong person."

"That can't be right. Are you sure you're not Itsuki?"

Kenji narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. The voice, the face, even her build—it was all identical to Itsuki.

And then there was that strange, heavy presence she carried.

But something didn't sit right.

His gaze shifted downward.

Itsuki was known for her knee-high socks, leaving a teasing strip of bare skin visible between her skirt and stockings. This girl, however, wore sleek black tights, their fabric shimmering faintly as they clung to her slender legs.

Legs don't change overnight. And Itsuki's were... rounder.

Kenji's memory was razor-sharp. There was no mistaking it—this wasn't Itsuki.

"You're not Itsuki," he declared, his tone firm.

The girl froze, her cheeks burning as she quickly tugged at the hem of her skirt. "P-pervert!"

Kenji blinked, jolted back to reality. "Ah, no! I didn't mean it like that!"

Miku turned her head away, her lips pressed into a tight line. After a moment, she sighed. "I told you already—I'm not Itsuki."

The realization hit Kenji like a brick. "Oh, I get it now. You must be one of her sisters." His expression softened, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "What's your name?"

Miku didn't answer. Instead, she quickened her steps, hoping to put distance between them. His reputation preceded him, and she'd rather avoid him altogether.

"Wait, Nakano-san!" Kenji called, jogging to keep up. "Come on, let's walk together! I'm not as bad as people make me out to be!"

Miku's pace quickened, but her stamina betrayed her. She barely made it fifty meters before her breath became labored, and she was forced to slow down.

Kenji caught up effortlessly, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Nakano-san, your stamina is terrible. You couldn't even last three minutes."

Miku shot him a sharp glare, her cheeks puffing slightly in frustration. "I'm trying, okay?"

Kenji chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. I'm just saying, if something dangerous happens, you're going to need to work on that."

She let out an irritated huff but didn't bother responding. After a moment, she adjusted her earphones, muttering under her breath, "Fine. My name is Miku. I'm not Itsuki."

"Miku, huh?" Kenji offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry about the mix-up. I'm Kenji, your neighbor. Nice to meet you."

Miku glanced at him from the corner of her eye, her blush deepening. "Flirt."

Kenji nearly tripped. "Hey! That's not fair! All I did was introduce myself!"

"Invalid protest," she shot back, walking ahead. Her skirt fluttered lightly in the breeze, leaving behind a faint, delicate scent.

As she disappeared into the distance, Kenji stood frozen, watching her go. His heart thudded harder than it should.

"No way... That's just because she's beautiful. That's all." He shook his head firmly, muttering to himself, "Mafuyu-sensei is still the best! Nothing beats a cute, strict teacher!"

With that, Kenji made his way to the cafeteria, ordering an eel bowl, two fried chicken legs, and a cola. Settling in a quiet corner, he began eating in peace.

---

Across the cafeteria, Miku approached a table where four identical faces turned to greet her.

"Miku, over here!"

"Come on, you're the last one!"

Miku sighed, sliding into the empty seat.

"Why are you so late today?" Itsuki asked, her cheeks puffed out as she swallowed another mouthful of food. Her plate was already half-empty compared to the others'.

Miku didn't respond right away, instead sipping her soup in silence. Finally, she glanced at Itsuki and spoke in a calm voice. "Someone mistook me for you."

"What?!" Itsuki's wide eyes filled with shock. Her green ribbon, styled like rabbit ears, swayed slightly as she leaned forward. "Are you serious?"

Yotsuba and Nino perked up at the statement, their curiosity obvious.

Miku's lips twitched in faint amusement as she sipped her soup again. "He realized I wasn't you, though."

Itsuki pouted, her cheeks puffing indignantly. "Tell me everything, Miku!"

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If you like, you can read up to chapter 20 and more of this fanfic on my Patreon.

Patreon.com/TLLina

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