58 and a Half Hours/August 15, 2016
“And lastly, this over here is our school canteen. Lunch is provided daily by our on-staff chef and dietitian,” Marie Ueda, the secretary giving the tour said, gesturing.
Yuu and Natsu were being shown around the new school that he would be going to this fall. Itou Academy, it was called. Neither had ever toured a private school before, but it seemed nice enough. There was one question nagging them from the back of their minds though. Natsu was the one to articulate it.
“Isn't this school kind of... small?” Natsu asked. “Our maximum intended capacity is fifteen students,” Marie said as she led Yuu and Natsu back towards the building's main entrance. “Our goal is to be able to tailor our curriculum to each individual student; that would be nearly impossible to do with a large student body. We also wish to promote a sense of community in our school – we want every student to know each other, and for every member of the faculty to know each student.”
“And why is it you want me here?” Yuu asked. “Enrollment here is by invite only; we screen each potential student individually to determine if they would be a good fit with us. In your case, you're moderately smart. Your test scores prove it, not to mention it runs in your family. According to the records we obtained, your oldest sister tested out of grade school early, and your grandmother tested out even earlier. Despite this, your grades suggest you are only scraping by. We suspect a more hands on approach than what you have been getting will help your grades to reflect your true intelligence,” Marie said, finally reaching the front door.
“Well, thank you very much for your time. We're looking forward to this,” Natsu said, turning to leave the school with Yuu. “Hang on, there is one more thing,” Marie called out. Natsu and Yuu turned back to look as she continued, “We would like Yuu to begin school a week early, so that his academic teacher can assess and tutor him prior to the school year. You should be receiving all of the necessary information, including start times and uniform requirements, in the mail tomorrow. Thank you, and have a good day.”
After Natsu and Yuu got out to the car, Yuu started. “I still really don't like this. Uniforms? And ending summer vacation a week early?” “I know, but I really think this will be good for you. Give it a try for me, at least?” Natsu asked, smiling. Yuu smiled back. “I guess I can,” he said, before leaning forward and giving Natsu a kiss on the lips. “Be careful! What if someone saw us?” Natsu asked, half teasing and still smiling, before leaning in for another kiss. “Tell you what. How about I call up Aunt Ayaka and we'll all go to lunch together. She'll probably bring Naomi along. How's that sound?” Natsu asked when the kiss was over.
Yuu sat in the booth with the three women; Natsu to his left, with Ayaka and Naomi across from them. “It sounds like a nice enough school,” Ayaka said. “And you say they're letting you attend free of charge?” “Yes, all in all it's a great situation for us,” Natsu said.
“They mentioned grandma when they were making their pitch on what they could do for me. I remember hearing that she'd tested out early too, like Miku; how old was she?” Yuu asked. “She was thirteen when she tested out and got a scholarship,” Ayaka answered. “Back when we were young, she used to brag that she could've done so sooner, she just didn't see any reason to until then.” “Wow; I remember the big deal everyone made when Miku tested out, and she was... fifteen I remember?” Yuu said. An awkward silence fell over the table; the look on her face made it quite clear Natsu didn't want to carry on the conversation.
Ayaka decided to change she subject. She took a long sip from her coffee, and, still holding the mug near her mouth, she looked over at Natsu. “So, tell me. Who're you sleeping with?” Natsu did a spit-take with her soda. “WHAT?!?” she exclaimed. Naomi put her hand on her forehead, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. “Come now,” Ayaka said. “You've never been able to hide anything from me. Remember, I was the one who managed to suss it out the first time you got pregnant. Honestly, you're looking better than you have in a long time.”
Yuu began to sink down in the booth. “What's the matter?” Ayaka asked. “Your mother's human, she has needs, and you're old enough that there's no reason to hide it from you.”
Ayaka stared at Yuu and Natsu for a few seconds as they pointedly refused to look at each other. All of a sudden, it hit her. “It's you, isn't it?” “No, of course not...” Natsu started, before Ayaka continued. “There's no point in lying, I can tell from the look on your face.” Ayaka took another sip of her coffee. “I knew Yuu's been sleeping with Naomi, but I didn't really think anything of it.”
“Hang on, what? How'd you find out?” Naomi exclaimed, alarmed. Ayaka simply continued without acknowledging her outburst. “While most people would disapprove of them, that's more cultural than anything. Historically, it's been the norm rather than the exception. But with you as well?” Ayaka punctuated her sentence with another sip. “That being said, I wasn't lying when I said this is the best you've looked in a long time, Natsu. I'm sure I'd be happy for you regardless of how... unconventional your relationship is, if it's making you happy. My big problem with this is Yuu cheating on my daughter,” Ayaka continued, allowing the faintest hint of anger to enter her voice for the last four words.
“He's not cheating on me, mom! Actually... I was in on the planning and kind of encouraged him,” Naomi said. Ayaka was once again quickly able to master her surprise. “Maybe you should explain what's going on, then?” Ayaka said, clearly curious. The three of them went through the story of how Yuu had gotten a girlfriend, Faye and Minako had begged to share, how they drew in Naomi when they found out Yuu had feelings for her, and how Natsu had found herself a part of all of this. As she listened, it was clear that Ayaka was hanging on every word.
“So... the five of you... and everybody's okay with this arrangement?” Ayaka asked. “We're actually all pretty happy about it, Mom,” Naomi said. “Valen's loved him for a long time, Faye and Minako are head over heels, I've finally got a boyfriend you haven't managed to scare away, and you yourself noticed that this is the best you've seen Natsu doing in ages.” Ayaka put down her coffee and thought for a minute.
“I need to find out what I'm missing,” Ayaka said. “Wait, what?” Natsu asked. “There has to be a reason you're all fine being a harem for him. I intend to pay our tab, take him home with me, and ride the answer out of him.” “Just like that,” Natsu said flatly. “You know I've always been the more adventurous one,” Ayaka responded. “You've slept with, what, two people in your life? Counting Yuu here? I won't let it stand that you've still somehow done something kinkier than I have.” “And what about us?” Naomi demanded. “What do you mean?” Ayaka asked. “Neither of you are doing anything else this afternoon, and according to your story this won't be his first foursome.”
Ayaka took a deep breath as she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. “Okay. That... was easily the kinkiest thing I've ever done.” Yuu lay in the bed completely drained as the three women around him started to stir. Ayaka pulled herself up to a half-sitting position at the head of her bed and crossed her legs as she reclined. “You know, I've always kind of thought it would be hot to do a guy together with Natsu. Once I even suggested that she and I could have a threesome with your father, but she shot that one down. And I'm sure that Naomi's told you that my flirting with her boyfriends has scared them all off so far. So there's two experiments I've wanted to try for a long time that I've finally marked off. But this is an itch I didn't know I had,” Ayaka said, putting her arms behind her head for support. “Probably because, besides you, I don't actually know any of my male blood relatives...” Natsu and Naomi had started to come down from their afterglow, and Yuu was trying to pull himself up gingerly.
“I can't really guess why Valen is okay with this situation, but I can tell why everyone else is into it. I think I want to join this little harem. I want to keep getting that itch scratched.”
Natsu looked a little hurt. “That's unfair, I think. True, it is pretty kinky. But even if that feeling wore off, I don't think I would stop. I'm sure it's the same for Faye and Minako, too. I don't know how to describe it. But it's way more than just sex to us. I never could possibly have imagined being in this situation, but now that I'm in it, even after such a short time, I can't imagine ever wanting things to be different.”
Naomi took a turn to speak up. “Even if I can't say I was in love with Yuu a few months ago, this was still never just about sex to me. Yeah, sure, I was looking forward to finally trying it. And I already liked Yuu enough that, when I found out how he felt about me, I was eager enough to reciprocate that I was fine skipping dating and going straight for a relationship. And I've been getting happier and happier as I've fallen for him.”
Ayaka looked over both her sister and daughter before speaking up. “Well, I can't say I feel the same way. I still care about you as family, Yuu. But I certainly can't say I'm 'in love' with you. I'm not the jealous type though, and if everyone who does have an emotional attachment to you is okay with it, I'd love to have you as a sex friend.”
“Could I get back to you on that?” Yuu asked. “I really do care about everyone enough that I want to know they're okay with it. And I'm not completely sure about how I feel about being 'just sex friends'.” “Go ahead and work it out. I'm not in a hurry,” Ayaka said, before smiling. “Yet.”
Later that evening, Yuu called Valen over, and told her, Minako, and Faye what had happened. “We probably should've seen this coming,” Faye said. “I guess it explains why she's been bringing Naomi over so much, if she knew you two were secretly going out.”
“Still, what should we do about this? I don't want to make any of you upset if I can help it,” Yuu said. “It's a little late for that,” Valen said, clearly peeved. She exhaled hard to calm herself down. “Look, at this point, I'm not even going to insist that you ask me. It's up to you what you want to do about your aunt. But could you at least give me a heads up when you're going to be sleeping with someone new?”
“Personally, I'm totally fine with it. And you don't have to ask me if it's alright to add someone to the harem; really, if you want them in, then I want them in,” Minako said. “What about you, Faye?” Yuu asked.
“Truthfully, I don't think she'll take no as an answer,” Faye said, continuing. “But if you're fine with it, I'm fine with it.”
With that settled, the four of them continued talking for a few minutes. Once they were done, Yuu wandered into another room, pulled out his phone, and dialed Ayaka.
“Yeah, I've come to a decision,” he said into the receiver. “I really don't like the idea of just being a fuck buddy to you. I want to have a real relationship with you. And so, I do want you in my harem. I know you're not interested, and I can live with that for the moment. But this is the best way I can think of to convince you.”