125Chapter 12: The Power of Positivity
Chilly.
That's all Fuutarou felt.
The chilly breeze of the air of the night of the Firework Festival.
He didn't know why it was so chilly. He certainly didn't remember it being this chilly in the original timeline. So much so that he shivered, albeit just a little. Maybe it was because he was feeling nervous. Why was he nervous?
Well it may have something to do with the fact that right now he had five identical quintuplets pining and lusting after him.
You know, the usual.
For those who don't know, Fuutarou has kind of put himself in a figurative corner.
The Warrior of Light decided, to hell with waiting, he was going to make his move to each of the quintiuplet's hearts as soon as he could.
Now this may not be too much of a big deal. He is a Warrior of the Light afterall. His powers were bestowed to him by a being that existed before Creation itself. He can move at a speed in which the human eye can't even track. He has the strength and endurance of an immortal god. And a genius intellect so keen, that he gets perfect marks in his sleep.
It shouldn't be anything he couldn't handle right?
Well… if there's one mistake Fuutarou has made so far ever since accepting the Gardener's power and taking his Fate into his own hands, it's allowing those same powers to make him get too cocky.
Fuutarou thought with the knowledge he had of the future and with the powers that he was gifted from the Gardener, he could easily manipulate the current reality to his liking. He thought it would be simple. Just don't make the same dumb mistakes he made the first time around and return the feelings of the quints.
Easy right?
There was just one minor issue.
Fuutarou Uesugi, for as smart as he is, very foolishly underestimated the power of the Butterfly Effect.
And now it was going to bite him in the ass.
'Crap! I got too cocky! I wasn't thinking about how my actions would affect this timeline. I should've known that every little thing I do can change reality. I was a fool to think that everything would be simple. My future self didn't realize just how complicated of a situation I would put myself in.'
Fuutarou was currently trapped in his thoughts. He has really screwed himself. He should have taken it slower. Maybe not immediately go into courting all five of the Nakano Quintuples at once. He tried to be better than his original self. But it seems as though it put him in a much bigger pickle than he ever was in the original timeline.
'Just how the hell am I going to get myself out of this one?'
"Already having second thoughts?"
Fuutarou's eyebrow rose at the sound of the Gardener's voice.
'Where have you been?'
"I told you once before that me and you have a mental link. I see everything you see. I hear everything you hear. I feel everything you feel. I'm always watching and experiencing the world through you."
'Oh yeah, I guess I forgot that little detail. That's kind of weird. So are you watching me even when I use the bathroom? Do I have no privacy?' Fuutarou was asking the real questions.
The Gardener chuckled, "Yes I in fact do. But I can willingly choose when not to see whatever you're doing if that's what you wish. I am not a helicopter parent that needs to know and see what you're doing 24/7."
'Good to know.'
Fuutarou then addressed the Gardener's initial question, 'What do you mean by second thoughts?'
"You're clearly distraught. You are questioning whether or not you made the right choices since you've become a Warrior of the Light. Why is that? Are things not going how you like?"
Fuutarou sighed, 'Kind of? I don't know, I got ahead of myself a bit. I didn't think things through. I believe I'm rushing my relationships with the girls. Maybe I shouldn't have done any of this to begin with. I'm just making things more complicated than what they originally were.
The Gardener understood his Warrior's doubts and concerns. Who could've guessed that things would've turned out this way. But alas that was the choice that Fuutarou Uesugi made. Now he has to suffer the consequences of changing Destiny.
But the Gardener knew that this wasn't a mistake. He knew he didn't make the mistake in choosing Fuutarou as a Warrior of the Light. And he knew that Fuutarou didn't make a mistake of taking his Life's Fate into his own hands.
But how will he convince Fuutarou of that?
"Son of Isanari, did you already forget what you told me when you accepted my offer?"
Fuutarou frowned as he heard his patron's voice echo throughout his mindscapes. The Primodial God's words caused him to think back to their very first meeting.
'Um, I said a lot of things. You're going to have to be more specific, boss.'
The God of Creation sighed. It was just as he figured.
"Well since I need to remind you. Your exact words were, I've already seen what the future has in store for me. If this is the only way in order to prevent that, then so be it. I'll accept any risk or side effect there is in order to create a better future!"
Fuutarou was slightly creeped out by the Gardener quoting word for word what Fuutarou said to me on that day, with his voice. He didn't know he could mimic other people's voices perfectly.
"I can do many things, Young Fuutarou. And so can you, too. Regardless, that's not the point."
The Gardener switched back to his original voice, "You said it yourself. You knew the future that was coming your way. You saw it with your very own eyes. And you wanted to change that future no matter what. You wanted to make things right, didn't you? And the only way that you could have made it right was taking my offer and changing the Future. You did that knowing the possible risks and side effects. But that doesn't matter. Because you will do anything it takes to create a better Future!"
Fuutarou silently listened to the Gardener speak. He didn't know what to say. He was still trying to process just how much his life has changed in the past few weeks. The fact that he went from a loner with no power to help his family to suddenly a man with the powers of a god and now has to figure out how to handle five beautiful quintuplets chasing after him… that's still a lot to process for the young man. Even with his god-given strength and supreme intellect. How could he understand how to handle all of this responsibility?
"B-B-But how? How can I? How do I know I won't screw it up again? How can I know that what I'm doing is the right thing? What am I really good for if I can't guarantee a safe future for everyone I care about?"
There was an awkward moment of silence between the two. This contrasted with the bustling and loud streets of the Fire Works Festival that was ongoing. But Fuutarou couldn't pay any mind to it. He was too lost in his thoughts with the Gardener. The cold feeling was still in the air. Even though it was supposed to be nice weather, Fuutarou couldn't stop feeling cold. He shivered as the cold thoughts of self doubt, anxiety, and depression ran through his consciousness. The random people on the streets enjoying the Festival were none the wiser as their Guardian and Protector was suffering in silence.
After the longest moment of silence, the Gardener finally decided to break it.
"Fuutarou Uesugi… Do you even know what your greatest strength is?"
Fuutarou laughed depressingly at what he perceived to be a ridiculous question. What does that even mean? And what does that even matter? Whatever his greatest strength was, it obviously didn't help stop from making a horrible future.
'No. I don't know what my greatest strength is. I didn't even know I had one.'
"Hmmm… Well that explains it, then. You don't even understand how amazing you truly are. No wonder you have so many doubts about yourself. "
Fuutarou was getting annoyed. Really annoyed.
'What? Just get to the point, already! You're the all-knowing god, right? So tell me, then! What exactly is my greatest strength?'
Fuutarou couldn't see it, but the Gardener was smiling. Happiness and joy was exuding from his face. Courage, excitement, vigor, understanding, gratefulness, and Hope. All of these emotions could not be contained.
"Your greatest strength? You really don't know? How could you not? Isn't it obvious? Fuutarou Uesugi's greatest strength is the Power of Positivity! What else could it be?"
Fuutarou didn't think he actually heard what he heard. He must've been dreaming? What did the god that existed before Creation just say? The Gardener just said the most ridiculous thing that Fuutarou Uesugi has ever heard in his entire life.
Or was it?
'That has to be the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. With all due respect to you, of course.'
The Gardener's smile never came off of his face. One could say that his smile was getting bigger by the second. His unwavering happiness and joy knew no bounds as it kept increasing. So much so that even Fuutarou couldn't ignore it. The cold shivering was replaced by a warm feeling of hot passion and vigor.
"You may not be wrong. It is technically the most ridiculous power in the world! They say that the strongest people are the ones who don't stop smiling. And the one with the Power of Positivity is alway smiling, no matter what! Even through all of the hardships and uncertainties in life, the one with this Power will smile and go through every obstacle while smiling!"
'And I have this so-called power?' Fuutarou asked skeptically. If he was to be honest, what the Gardener was saying to him was corny. Like, really corny. He didn't want to think that he had this "positive power" or whatever it was called. But if he did, it definitely would be a ridiculous power.
"Yes, Fuutarou. Your greatest strength isn't your intellect. It isn't your skill at studying. It isn't even any of the powers I bestowed upon you. This is the power that you have shown to so many people that you haven't even realized that you have it. It's the reason why those girls admire you so much. It's the reason why no matter what, when you put your mind to something… you succeed!"
The Gardener took a second before continuing with his soliloquy, "So whenever you're having self-doubts and depressing thoughts, just remember to smile."
Fuutarou just had one question for the Gardener.
"How am I supposed to use that power to help me make the best future possible?!"
The smile never left the Gardener's face, "That's for you to decide and figure out! Good luck!"
"Uesugi-kun, are you okay?"
Fuutarou blinked to see a red haired beauty. With gorgeous sky blue eyes that always mesmerized him. Those pure blue eyes were the reason why he took upon the responsibility of changing the future.
He was now beginning to understand what the Gardener was trying to teach him. And all of the sudden, the chilly air Fuutarou felt was replaced by an unmatched warmth of love for the young woman standing before him.
"I've never been better, my beautiful Itsuki! By the way, you can call me Fuutarou if you want."
Fuutarou Uesugi decided that there was no time to doubt himself. For there is no time like the present. And the present he had in front of him is something he will protect no matter what. He will create a better future. Even if it kills him.
For that is Fuutarou Uesugi's greatest strength.
A/N: It's time to bring JUSTICE FOR THE QUINTS! I started rereading the Gotobun manga. I will always have love for these characters. So let me give them the story and happy ending they deserve!
Thank you all for the support over the years. Sorry I took so long to update. I'll do better.
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