The next morning Honoka awoke from her slumber feeling like she had just awoken from a strange dream. The events from yesterday seeming like a crazy dream as she started up her day. She was scheduled to work in the afternoon, a small luxury her boss thought she deserved for yesterday's birthday, so Honoka was in no hurry. She got dressed for the moment, putting on some comfortable sweat pants and loose tank top after finishing her shower. She yawned again as she made her way into her living room with her arms stretching upward. The ginger stood in complete shock as bodies were scattered around her living space. The table was decorated with food and drinks with a blonde, redhead, and bluenette sitting around as they ate and sipped coffee. In the kitchen she spotted purple, black, and silver rummaging through cabinets, washing dishes, and cooking. On her sofa she found orange watch television while light brown was outside in her balcony placing her wet laundry to dry.
The room was filled with life as conversation were being held. To Honoka's surprise and relief no one had noticed her standing by the corner. With slow and quiet steps she eased her way backwards, her plan was to make it back into her room.
"Honoka," the blonde announced her presents and all eyes were now on her, "Come we have much to discuss."
A nervous grin was trying its best to stay up as she shuffled her way to the table.
"Good morning Honoka!" Rin jumped excitedly as the new arrival took a seat next to the blonde, which was the only seat available, "I know how much you love watching Power Powder, so I recorded the new episode nya!"
"T-Thank you," Honoka blushed as one of her dark secrets were exposed to the strangers who weren't as surprised to learn she enjoyed kid shows.
"Honoka!" Kotori brought a plate of pancakes with blueberries and strawberries on top, "Me and Nico made your favorite."
"Don't worry we add cream cheese to the batter," Nico beamed triumphantly from the kitchen opening, "I know how much you love cream cheese."
Honoka looked at the tempting meal in front of her. A fork was picked up and ready to penetrate the fluff but just then Nozomi came over with a jug filled with green liquid, "Hold on! I have your favorite drink, a secret concoction you created during your college years," she winked at the ginger, "Your monster drink."
"A-Ah thank you," Honoka felt uneasy. It was as if she was fully exposed to all the women in the room. Suddenly the feeling of hunger was replaced by a heavy weight in her stomach as eyes watched in wait for the first bite and drink. With much displeasure, Honoka forced a slice into her mouth. Blue eyes shooted up in shock as she engulfed the flavor, a moan of content escaping her throat, "This is so delicious!" she ate more and took a sip of the drink, "How did you get it on your first try?!" Honoka laughed in delight as she chugged the drink and the meal, "This was- This is-," the words were escaping her as she couldn't hide her enjoyment.
"Perfect?" Nozomi grinned as she watched Honoka enthusiastically agree with her word choice.
"I'm glad because now we have to attend to much more serious business," Eli cut into the revelation. With just one sentence she brought the room down a few nudges, "Honoka I am aware you understand some of what's going on right?"
"Well if it wasn't a dream then I know you guys aren't human," Honoka answered and Eli nodded.
"We are-," Nico stopped Eli's explanation.
"God! Honoka already knows this," Nico grumbled as dark sapphire eyes glared at her, "We're an ancient species who decided to reappear yesterday during the rainstorm. Your government knew we were coming. You didn't listen to the warnings and your carelessness caused you to summon eight of us. So now you're stuck with us."
"I-I have to take care of all eight of you?" Honoka scrunched up her brows as she thought over the info.
"Yes it's like Nico says," Eli took back the conversation, "I would have preferred it if everyone had decided to leave but after much talk we have decided to stay but under certain conditions."
"Conditions?" everything was being laid out in front of her way too fast for her to actually ponder each new information, "What conditions?"
"The first and ultimate condition is under no circumstances are you allowed to mate with anyone of us," Honoka's face paused at the words "mate" before exploding in heat.
"HUH?!" Honoka suddenly felt exposed again.
"Our species can produce offsprings with both male and females," Eli placed a hand on her chest, "It's a mechanism that helps us reproduce with endangered species. So if we truly wanted to we could take the shape of a male but it will ultimately depend on you and your preferences."
Hearing that she could be living in a room filled with guys Honoka exploded into further shades of red, "NO WAY!" She shook her hands and head, "DO NOT CHANGE!"
Hanayo giggled and Nozomi hugged the ginger from behind, "Aw! Honoka your so adorable!" the purple haired coed.
Feeling too weak to defend herself, Honoka looked down as she tried to calm her face, "Anyways we could still make an offspring as females, it only takes a slip of your DNA to form one inside of us," Honoka couldn't understand how Eli could say everything with such a straight face.
"W-What's the other c-c-condition," Honoka mumbled trying to change the conversation. Nozomi just snuggled Honoka, finding that an embarrassed ginger was the best. Plus she was also trying her best to take advantage of the close range.
"The second condition is that you cannot tell anyone who we really are," Eli ignored Nozomi's actions, "No one can know or else," Maki placed her cup of coffee down loud enough for the ginger to take the hint.
Honoka swallowed hard knowing exactly what the silent threat meant.
…
"Please come again," Honoka bowed with her co-workers as the customer left with their bakery delights.
"Great job everyone," her boss said as he took off his apron.
Dismissed they all were for the day but Honoka didn't feel like heading home, "Boss I'll lock up," she volunteered.
No one objected as they unwinded and left one by one. The keys were left on the counter and Honoka took the extra time alone to clean the shop a bit more before departing. It had been weeks now since the new arrivals had taken residency in her apartment. Weeks of being pushed all over the place as some wanted her out of the way while others fought to keep her attention. Just sitting in her living room seemed like a test to see whether she had the luxury to even watch television. As days went by she found that some peace was welcome in her room until another woman appeared and tried something. If it wasn't about her body then it was about her secrets. All eight women had no shame in announcing secrets she thought she would live her whole life keeping. It went from peeing in class to crushes on her teachers to shameful acts like cheating on a fifth grade tests. Honoka was fully exposed and she didn't like it. They knew her answers before she could speak, they knew her actions before she could act, they even knew her thoughts before she even thought them! It scared Honoka, especially because to her they were all still strangers. Strangers who copied her likes and dislikes. In fact if Honoka was allowed to be honest, Eli and Maki gave her the best comfort because they felt like real people who weren't just mindlessly agreeing with her like Kotori, Nozomi, Rin, and Nico or going along with her like Hanayo and Umi.
Her phone went off, halting her thoughts, "H-Hello?" she stuttered.
"Hey sis," Yukiho voice resounded, "Long time no call, how have you been?"
Honoka released a sigh, "Omgod! I'm so glad to hear your voice!" A small laugh escaped her as she collapsed on a chair near by, "I've been good and you?"
"As good as you can get with a baby girl," Yukiho paused before asking, "Whats wrong?"
"Huh?" Honoka looked around unsure how Yukiho could have picked up on her, "What do you mean?"
"Honoka," her sister's voice was commanding an answer, "You always asked about my baby when I was pregnant and now you're not even interested? Something has to be wrong! So talk."
"It's nothing! Don't worry!" Honoka brushed it aside but her little sister knew how to play her.
"Alright then I guess I'll have to visit you tomorrow," Yukiho made to hang up but her sister quickly gave in.
"Ok! Ok! I'll talk just don't visit!" Honoka grasped at the phone as if hurting the device would stop her sister, "Just don't tell mom or dad, ok?"
"Ok," her sister lied as she got comfortable, "Come on woman I don't have all night!"
Honoka sighed as she revealed her secret, "You see I adopted eight kids," she lied but it was kind of the truth.
"You adopted eight kids? How?" Yukiho couldn't believe her ears.
"Its doesn't matter! The problem is I'm worried I can't relate to them," Honoka played with her feet, "They mostly just agree with whatever I say or do. It's like they don't have a preference for anything."
Yukiho thought over the situation before concealing a laugh, "Well couldn't it be that they just want to impress you? Maybe they are afraid you'll abandon them if you don't like the real them."
Honoka's eyes widen, "That makes perfect sense," maybe they were just afraid of being rejected. Plus it didn't help that they were an alien race who had access to her past like a brochure.
"Anyways putting your relationship aside how are you able to afford all the expenses?"
"The what now?" Honoka took a double take.
"Money! How are you able to offered their studies," Yukiho rolled her eyes. She knew her sister would forget about the actual problem, "Lets not forget buying food, clothes, and all that extra stuff they might ask of you."
Honoka paled. She had total forgotten that she was barely making ends met with her baker checks and now she had to deal with rent and eight other mouths, "what do I do?!" Honoka freaked, "I can't afford feeding eight mouths! Plus rent is already difficult."
"Speaking of rent are you still living in your apartment or did you buy a house to fit all of you guys?" Silence was her answer and Yukiho sat up, "You didn't… Honoka tell me you did not just adopted these eight children in the spur of some moment."
"I wouldn't say in the moment-" but Yukiho's anger voice boomed over hers.
"You return those children right now!" Yukiho couldn't believe how careless her sister could get, "These are living beings Honoka! You can't play with them like that!"
"I'm not!" Honoka tried to defend herself, "I'll figure something out I promise!"
"No way!" Yukiho lowered her voice after getting shhed by her wife, "You return those kids by the end of the week or else," Honoka swallowed the threat, "I'll bring them in myself."
The call ended and Honoka was left speechless.
…
The days passed and Honoka found herself working 24/7. It wasn't too hard to find quick jobs scattered around town to help earn some quick cash. Staring from 5 am to 9 am she would help road workers reconstruct the pavement and roads. From 10 am to 3 pm, she was off and working for a restaurant as a delivery girl. From 4 pm to 12 am she was working as a baker in her original job. Arriving home at 1 am to sleep until 5. From the side, the other occupants started to get worried from her speedy new lifestyle.
"She's over working herself nowadays," Kotori hugged the ginger's pillow.
"I'm worried she isn't eating healthy," Nico was spinning slowly on the wheely chair.
"It's not just eating healthy," Nozomi was seated next to Kotori on the ginger's bed, "I'm afraid she isn't sleeping well either."
The room was gloomy as the situation dawn on them, "It's not because of us is it?" Nico asked unsure.
"You guys are pathetic," Maki appeared leaning on the door frame, "This is obviously your fault. If we had left in peace then the human wouldn't be worried about feeding us. But no you had to persist even though you guys knew she was already having difficulties with money."
Rin hissed at Maki causing all the women to shake in shock from seeing Rin pop out of the ginger's closet, "Honoka can do anything! And if she can't then we'll help her!" a smile spread across her face.
Maki looked at her with disgust as Rin was sporting the ginger's underwear on her head and wearing her bra. These little facts were ignored by the other occupants.
"Rin's right!" Kotori looked at the other woman, "We can find some way to help Honoka!"
"H-Hey!" Maki looked at the four with uncertainty as they pushed her out of the room.
The door was slammed on her face as the women began plotting ways that they could help Honoka. Maki couldn't understand what they saw in the ginger. Honoka, from her perspective, was an moron who didn't understand how the world works. She was an idiot to its very definition and she couldn't bring herself to like her much less fulfill her duties with. Frustrated, Maki marched back into the living room catching the eye of Umi.
"What's wrong?" Umi asked as she watched the news with Eli.
"Nothing!" Maki hissed as she marched into the kitchen.
Eli and Umi looked at one another with curious stares but decided to let the other fume it out alone. Instead their attention was brought back to the news reporter. The two found it amusing to see how human's dealt with their problems. Hanayo was nowhere to be seen but no one really paid it any mind.
…
"Good work everyone!" the manager announced and Honoka collapsed on the table.
"Fiiinnnaaalllyyyy," she rubbed her face on the cold texture. Her back creaking from the long hours of standing and shuffling around.
Noticing this her boss decided this was the best time to comfront her, "You seem tired lately, is everything alright?"
Honoka waved him off, "Everything is fine," her face was too busy enjoying the cold, "I'll lock up so go ahead and leave early."
Knowing she wouldn't talk with him he coughed a bit uncomfortable, "You see Honoka I was there when you were talking with your sister... um I was eavesdropping."
Blue eyes snapped open, her head peering over toward him with fear, "Sir I-."
His hand went up to stop her, "It's ok. I'm guessing there's a big reason why you have to take care of those eight kids huh?" she took herself off the table, "You're my best employee and I hate to see you pushing yourself so hard. I know how hard it is to raise children in the city, I could only imagine how it's like to raise eight of them. So I did a bit of calling and I have this friend who lives off in the countryside. I know it's not much but he's willing to sell a big house at the price of twenty thousand dollars."
Honoka couldn't believe her luck, "Sir you didn't have to."
"I know but as much as I would love to keep you. I thought it would be better to give those kids a proper home," He placed his coat on, "Think about it and call me if your gonna take it."
Honoka took the long way home feeling the fresh air could help her think things over. The deal was perfect! If she could get a loan of twenty thousand, she could moved them into the countryside and into a big home. A smile appeared on her lips as she thought of the comforts they could enjoy in a bigger home. No longer would they fight over the bathroom, over who gets to sleep on her bed next to her, what channel to watch on t.v., or deal with the crowding in one room. But the money was too much. She didn't have the best credit so she was sure the bank would never lend her such a high amount. Plus she couldn't save money with all the expenses she has to pay.
Just then a flyer was extend toward her, "Fifty percent off in any of our giant sells," the young handout worker said.
Looking up both gasped in shock, "Hanayo?!"
"Honoka?!" The two looked at one another before Hanayo covered herself with the papers, "I-I… You never walk this way!" she closed her eyes hiding her embarrassment.
"So it is you!" Honoka gasped as Hanayo sighed while placing the papers down to reveal a male's face, "Wait how did I know it was you?!" Honoka slapped her cheeks in amazement.
"We have a special link," Hanayo explained, "You have it with everyone else too. It's to make sure you never lose track of us," seeing Honoka confused she tried to simplify it, "Mmm it's like a tracking chip you have in your own mind."
Shaking her head, Honoka brought the situation back, "What are you doing out here? You know that one of Eli's condition was that you guys couldn't interfere with human life," she whispered the last part.
Hanayo smiled but before he could say anything about how he defied Eli, the rest of the flyer employees came running to his aid, "Don't bully our Hanayo!" they hissed as they draped over him over-protectively.
"Eh?!" Honoka looked at the female employees protecting Hanayo.
"Y-You guys," Hanayo peeled them off, "This is my g-g-girlfriend."
"Eh?!" They looked at Honoka disappointingly.
It took the duo a while before they were able to spend some alone time at a nearby park. Honoka was grumbling at the fact that those teenage girls were rude to her, "Damn hussies saying I'm too ugly," she grumbled, "I want to see them when they hit 32."
Hanayo laughed, still in her male form due to not having any female clothes on her, she was seated next to Honoka on the park bench "Sorry about that, they seemed to be overprotective over me ever since I started."
"Why are you working?" Honoka asked and Hanayo looked at the pedestrians walking about, "I thought you guys had an agreement."
"Yeah but I don't think it's fair," Hanayo looked at Honoka, "You're such a nice person for having us stay in your home and letting us do whatever we want. I was actually really happy when you accepted us so quickly after all we did," violet orbs stared into aqua blue, "I felt it wasn't fair to leave all the burden on your shoulders so after learning your schedule and memorizing everyone's sleeping patterns I planned around that. I thought it would make you extremely happy if I surprised you with some extra cash, silly idea isn't it?"
Honoka's eyes watered in relief, "You don't understand how much I need to hear that," She leaped on the unsuspecting figure, "Hanayo I really appreciate it!"
Hanayo looked at the ginger before returning the hug. She didn't think Honoka would react this way but she wasn't complaining.
Suddenly the ginger gasped, "Hanayo?! Do you have a bank account?' Honoka's eyes shined with a new determination.
"U-h yeah why?" Hanayo watched as the ginger pulled out a phone.
"Would you say you have good credit?" Honoka enthusiastically bounced in her seat.
"I guess," and Honoka collapsed her hands on the boy's own, causing him to feel unsure whether he should have shared such info.
"I need your help!" Honoka grinned mischief in her eyes.
…
"So you see Sir I have the money to buy the home," Honoka smiled.
Hanayo, the male version of herself, stood next to the ginger feeling odd about the whole situation. Hanayo did have a bank account which was set up in her name, but after Honoka's manager had insist the young ginger bring a male companion to check out the home Hanayo had filled that requirement. It was also a secret between the two. They had snuck out early in the morning and killed time by having breakfast in some random cafe at the train station. Honoka was at "work" and Hanayo didn't really need an excuse seeing how everyone didn't really notice her absence.
"Alright well here's the home," the man unlocked the door, showing them inside.
The home looked beautiful both inside and out. They walked around the place finding there was five rooms in total with three baths one in each hall and the other in the master bedroom. The kitchen was decent size but the living room was large. The house had two floors, the main floor harboring the kitchen which linked into the living room easily. A hall way giving access to two bedrooms and a bathroom. While the second floor contained the rest of the bedrooms a bathroom on the beginning of the hall.
"What do you think?" the homeowner asked as he showed them outside, "Enough room for you love birds to have a bundle of kids."
Honoka pushed forward while Hanayo got caught up with the man. Hanayo blushed as he continued the teasing while the ginger looked at the large open space in the yard, "And this is all for twenty thousand?" her eyes went toward the garage and empty pool.
"Yup," the owner said.
"If you don't mind me asking why is it so low?" Hanayo asked, "This house looks like it would cost millions if possible."
The man looked wary at the duo before sighing, "The truth is I'm not the homeowner but her representative and she wants this house out of the market fast."
"But-," Hanayo began to question.
"But nothing! Listen if you don't want this house I have many people who do," and Honoka jumped in.
"We'll take it!" Honoka said and Hanayo shook her head.
"Honoka!" Hanayo looked uncomfortable.
"We won't ever find something as cheap!" Honoka looked at the man, "We'll take it!"
... (Extra content: Scene after Honoka's Birthday Party)
"I won't go!" Nico crossed her arms as she took a firm seat on the couchen, "I don't care what the rest of you want, I want to stay with Honoka."
"Yeah!" Rin took a seat next to Nico, "I have a civic duty to stay too Nya!"
"Me too," Nozomi grinned as she watched the blonde's face grow more and more irritated, "I have a civic duty too!"
Kotori watched as the room began to be divided. Those in favor of leaving were standing up while those wanting to stay sat down. Her eyes darted to both sides before taking a seat next to Nozomi, "I want to stay too," she smiled, "I want to have twelve babies with Honoka!"
"T-twelve?" Umi was taken aback by the high number.
"Why stop at twelve when you can have twenty-four," Nozomi encourage which resulted with a lot of negative feedback by those who stood.
"I can't believe this," Maki rested her head on her hand, "We're getting nowhere."
"I have an idea," Rin pepped in, "Why don't you guys leave? Why do we all have to go or stay nya?"
"Rin," Hanayo looked sternly at her, "She's a human. She'll be fine on her own, there's plenty of mates for her."
"On the contrary," Nozomi intervened popping out the ginger's laptop she stole from her room, "Humans might have large numbers but some never find their partner, said so right here in a study they completed in 2010," she showed the document to the uninterested group.
Eli rolled her eyes, "Numbers aside it's still pretty foolish to even want to stay. We have a greater purpose to-"
"Yeah yeah yeah. We heard you the first hundred times," Nico spatted as she leaned on her hand, her arm resting on the arm holder.
Eli narrowed her eyes as she took a seat on the coffee table, "I don't understand what's so good about this human? If it was anybody else would you four be fighting to stay so badly?"
Kotori's face fell from the determine smile she was sharing with her co-partners, "You know more than anyone that we don't choose."
Sensing the damage she had caused, Eli quickly apologized, "I didn't mean it like that."
"But it was implied!" Nico cut in, "Listen we getcha and all but don't brings us along with your whole "honor" mumbo jumbo."
"Eli we should let them," Umi rested a hand on the blonde's shoulder, "Honoka isn't a bad girl we can trust her with at least four of us, can't we?"
"No!" Eli brushed the touch aside, "We all have to go, this is about order Umi. If they stay who knows how much damage they might have caused!" Her eyes darting to Umi and Hanayo, "Think about what the administration might do!"
Maki sighed, her fingers twirling away on the side of her face, "Why don't we just kill the girl?"
The room went silent fast. All eyes were on the redhead who seemed unfazed by her comment. Eventually Hanayo commented, "K-Killing?"
"Yeah it worked with the last animal I was with," Maki began to educate the much younger generation. Though it seemed like her lecture was only affecting Kotori and Nico, "When the main animal dies everyone gets released. So we literally don't have to waste our time with all that labor work."
"No way!" Nico shook her head, her whole being was denying the possibility, "Why do I have to suffer because a couple of old farts who can't take a hint?"
"Lets not roll out this possibility," Eli defended but shouts of outcry were her answer from both sides.
"Eli we shouldn't ruin her like that!" Umi looked in disbelief as the blonde gave her no answer, "Honoka doesn't deserve to pay with her life."
"There's no way we'll let you!" Rin barked.
Eli began to rub the side of her temples as Nozomi, Hanayo, and Nico argued back. All five members were belittling her for simply allowing such an option. While they argued further about the new plan, with Maki insisting to get rid of the ginger the natural way, the night went on. Through these heated debates Kotori found herself unattached to the conversation. Her eyes would linger toward the hallway leading to the ginger's bedroom. Suddenly a need to see Honoka's face was compelling her to leave the older organisms and watch the ginger sleep. It was like a reassurance that everything would be fine if she could only manage to see her face.
Nozomi noticed the girl's distant look and gave a small giggle, "Want to see Honoka?"
Kotori blushed at having been caught. She pulled her arms into her lap, suddenly the whole room's attention was on her, "What can I say? You caught me."
Rin swoon as she recalled her first time, "Aww Kotori you're so cute! I remember when I was like that but can't say the same for the other cat."
Nico rolled her eyes in disgust from watching Kotori giggling with embarrassment, "Geez keep it in your pants."
Nozomi placed her hands on Kotori's shoulders as her eyes gazed toward the four standing women, "How can you force Kotori to give up her first time like that? Surely no one ever told you to leave your first mate!"
Eli looked toward Kotori who now had her puppy eyes on her. Nozomi joined in and the two girls plead to be left alone, "Ok I understand Kotori is new to all this but we can't… i'm sorry Kotori but there will be others."
Hanayo gasped, "The first one is always special!" suddenly the brunette stood alongside Kotori, "You only get born once and to deny her the possibility to live it out is a crime!"
Eli's mouth gaped open to reply but everyone began to drown her out, "You guys!" she tried to speak up but they were all arguing about Eli's murals, "Guys-" they continued but now they were calling her an insensitive brute, "SHUT UP!" and the room went silence once more, "Ok I get it fine! Kotori can stay."
Nozomi high fived Kotori who was excited to return the small celebrational gesture, "Team stay 1, Team go 0," Nozomi smugly said.
"I don't know why you're celebrating," Eli glared at Nozomi, "The rest of you have to go."
"What?!" the purple haired woman snapped her head back to the blonde.
"Oh my god just let us do whatever we want!" Nico groaned as she laid her head back in frustration.
Kotori was too giggly to care at this point. She stood up and excuse herself, "Seeing as I got everyone's approval I'll take my leave here," Her eyes looked toward the hallway, "I have business to attend to," she rubbed her hands together and began her march toward conquest.
Nozomi pulled her back, "I don't think so," Kotori was pulled onto her lap, "What happen to teamwork?" she smiled menacingly.
"This is going to take all night isn't it?" Umi sighed as Hanayo sadly shook her head.
A/N:
Hello everyone! Thank you for following, favoring, and reviewing my story (Though I might lose some of you guys due to my artistic choice hahaha talking about the male scenes ... you know who you are) I would like to tell you guys that the girls will be switching into their male forms for comical affect ever once and awhile so watch out for that.
This chapter was used to set up the preparations that were need (mostly for my own sanity) so look forward to the next chapters. I hope to be able to bring more of fun and goofy humor but I've been told i'm not funny? (Pft) So looked forward to my sense of humor!
Please Review, Follow, or Favorite! Thank you very much!