Chapter 3
Late From Work
Honoka sighs in exhaustion after entering the kitchen to hand out another order from a customer. "Working as a waitress is a killer!" she says.
Her co-worker, Anju Yuuki, just gives a sad smile. "We're pretty busy today, aren't we? So, let's do what we can."
"Ugh…easy for you to say. Not only do we have to wear these maid outfits, but we also have to serve customers non-stop! Boy, this business is really popular, isn't it?"
"It really is," another co-worker, Erena Toudo, says. "But we are all working as hard as we can. And that's a good thing."
"That's right~!" the last co-worker, Tsubasa Kira, says, giving a thumbs up. "Let's continue to make the manager proud!"
"O-okay…"
Honoka loves her job as a waitress in a maid outfit, but sometimes, when there are like millions of people crowding the restaurant and there are 4 of them serving, it's exhausting. This restaurant is owned by a man who's face is never seen or voice is never heard. He is rich and decided to own a maid business. Many were satisfied with this idea and began working like crazy. Usually, there are more than 4, mostly about 9 maids in total. Today, most of them were unable to show up due to some issues or something. Whatever it was, Honoka wishes she just had a day off and help Nozomi with her 7 children. However, fortunately, they have kindergarden today, so that makes things a lot easier for Nozomi to relax.
Erena is done serving the customer's meal and turns to Honoka. "So….how is your big family?"
"Same as usual," Honoka replies as she wipes her forehead with a hankerchief. "It's a lot of work though, especially when you're by yourself. Fortunately, the kids have kindergarden and won't be back until this afternoon. Though…I can hardly imagine Umi-chan handling anything without me."
"What does she do when you're gone?" Anju asks.
"The teacher told me Umi usually plays by herself, or just sits there until school's over," Honoka explains. "She usually doesn't talk to other kids."
"That's not good," Tsubasa says. "Umi-san must learn to step it up and be brave."
Honoka gives her co-worker a sad smile. "Well, I'm working on that, but she is still the same shy Umi-chan."
Anju giggles. "Umi-san sounds like an adorable child, though. I'm sure you and Nozomi-san will figure something out."
"Thanks, Anju-chan." Honoka is happy that her 3 co-workers are nice people. She looks over at the entrance and more customers start coming in. She lets out a sigh and walks toward them, bowing.
Looks like it's back to work, she thinks.
"Welcome back, Master!" Honoka greets.
**Back at Home**
"Rin-chan, no running around in the house!" Nozomi shouts. "How many times have I told you that!?"
"Sorry, Mama Zomi!" Rin calls as she runs with a set of crayons to give to Hanayo and Maki since they needed more colors for their coloring books.
Nozomi just picked them up from kindergarden and first grade later on this afternoon. Rin is just has hyper as ever since she ate too many cookies. Even worse, Umi is desperate for Honoka to come back and Eli is trying her best to pull her away from the front entrance because she's been doing nothing but sit there, waiting for Honoka. Nico and Kotori joined Maki, Hanayo and Rin to do their coloring books and activities. Despite Nozomi being happy keeping them busy until Honoka comes back, she is most worried about Umi. Since she is super shy, she hardly interacts with others, let alone her own family sometimes. She is only attached to Honoka, mostly because the ginger is so nice to her.
She looks from the kitchen to the front entrance and Eli is still trying to tug Umi out of there.
"Come…on, Umi!" the little blonde shouts. "You can't stay here forever!"
"Mama Honokaaaaaa!" Umi whines. "Where is Mama Honokaaaaa!" She is at the point of crying her heart out now.
"She'll be….here…soon!" Eli says as she uses all of her strength once again to pull the bluenette a few inches back.
"Noooooo! I want Mama Honokaaaaaa!"
"She'll be back soon!"
Nozomi shakes her head in dismay, feeling bad for the poor blonde. She walks over and helps her daughter by picking the bluenette up, but it only makes Umi cry even louder and harder. She waves her arms and legs around, trying to get free, but she is being held by the waist, which makes it impossible.
"Sorry, Umi-chan," Nozomi says. "Time out for you."
"EEEEEHHHH!?" Umi cries.
"You can come out when Mama Honoka gets home. You've been whining WAAAAY too much."
She takes her to Umi and Kotori's room, sets her down and shuts the door before the bluenette can reach it. There is a few bangs on the door with Umi crying, but Nozomi tells her to be quiet in a harsh tone, shutting her up. The little bluenette leans against the door and sits down, hugging her knees, regretting what she's done.
Nozomi comes back down stairs toward the kitchen, glancing at the clock. It says 5:30 pm. Honoka usually gets off work around 6, meaning she'll be back in time for dinner. Nozomi makes preparations for their meal, which is hamburger steak, their daughters' favorites. She cooks them up within a half-hour and then heats up some fries in the oven, which took about 45 minutes. Once it's done, she serves them up on plates and puts them on the table. She calls her children to get ready to start eating and save the food for when Honoka gets home. However, when Nozomi looks up at the clock, it already says 6:30.
"That's funny," the purple haired woman says as she rubs her chin. "She should be home by now. I wonder why…" She then feels a tug on her shirt and looks down to see Umi having a desperate look on her face while close to tears. "What's the matter, Umi-chan?"
"Is Mama Honoka home yet?" she asks.
Nozomi pets her like a puppy. "Not yet, sweetie. She'll be home soon, don't worry."
Umi nods as she looks down at the floor. Eli comes over and gently takes her little sister's hand to lead her into the other room to play with her toys. However, the bluenette doesn't feel like playing at the moment and rather wait for her mother Honoka to come home. Umi just rolls the ball back and forth while wearing a bored expression. Eli sighs as she knows that there is nothing else she can do to entertain the shy little sister.
Nozomi, on the other hand, is sitting in the living room, glancing at the clock every 5 minutes and lets out a soft sigh. Honoka has never been THIS late from work before. Well, maybe a couple times, but that's 15 minutes or so. It's been an hour now and the gentle wife is getting worried. She decides to call her beloved to check if everything's okay. She dials her number and waits for her wife to answer.
She gasps happily when she hears a click. "Honoka-chan! Is everything okay? I'm worried about you!"
"Yeah, sorry, Nozomi-chan," Honoka says. "Things got, um…hectic around here. We were working extra hard cause there was a large family that wanted to celebrate someone's birthday. And it was close to closing time as well, so, um…we had no other choice but to stay open for a bit longer. But don't worry, Nozomi-chan! I'll be home in about 20 minutes or so."
"Okay. I'm so glad you're okay. See you soon."
"I'll see you when I get home. I love you."
"Love you, too. Bye."
She hangs up and sighs in relief and slumps on the couch. At least Honoka wasn't in some sort of accident or something. Now she can just relax and wait for her wife to return home. And just like that, 20 minutes go by quickly, mostly because Nozomi is keeping watch of the children and playing with them a little, Honoka arrives home, exhausted, but still smiling.
"I'm home!" she calls.
Umi is the first to run up to her mother and hugs her. "Mama!" she cries.
"Hey, Umi-chan!" the ginger returns the tight embrace and huggles her. "Did you miss me?"
Umi just nods while burying her face in her chest, crying. Honoka strokes her hair to calm her down and looks up to see her wife smiling.
"Welcome home, Honoka-chan," she says softly.
"Hey, Nozomi-chan," the ginger says as she stands up, holding her little blunette. "I'm surprised the kids hasn't gone to bed yet."
"They were eager for you to come home. So, I let them stay up a little while."
"Hehe! That's very kind of you! Now then, why don't we put them to bed now that I'm here. I'm beat."
However, Umi hangs onto Honoka as she is about to put her down. She looks at her little toddler, who is close to tears again.
"I think Umi-chan wants to stay with you a bit longer," Nozomi says.
Honoka smiles. "I guess it wouldn't hurt for her to be with me. Alright. Get the children to bed while I have Umi-chan here. Okay?"
"Sure thing."
By the time Nozomi gathers up her 6 children, puts them to bed and tucks them in, she turns off the light in the hallway and comes downstairs to find Honoka on the couch. Umi is sleeping soundly on her lap already while the ginger is gently stroking her hair to soothe her. Nozomi smiles a gentle smile and slowly walks toward the couch to sit next to her, careful not to wake the little bluenette.
"Oh, my," she says. "Umi-chan's out like a light. She must be pretty exhausted herself."
"Did she play all day?"
"No, she was whining because you were gone," Nozomi replies. "You have no idea how long it took for me to calm her down and then I had no other choice but put her in a time out to think about what she did."
"I see," Honoka sweat drops. "That Umi-chan. She really needs me, doesn't she?"
"You were the one who talks to her all the time," Nozomi points out. "Remember earlier, you just adored Umi-chan so much that you keep hogging her that pay attention to the rest of the children. It was then that Umi-chan took a liking of you and never stopped following you around."
"Ahahaha…yeah. I remember…" Honoka says, sweat dropping once more.
Nozomi scoots closer, raises her hand to caress her take her cheek and kiss it, making the ginger blush a little. "Despite all this, I think you're a great mother to all of our children. And that makes me happy."
"O-oh, Nozomi-chan. YOU'RE a great mother. I mean, you're more fitting to be one of the greatest mothers of 7 children, to be honest."
Nozomi stifles a giggle. "You flatter me, Honoka-chan~! Hehe!"
They hear Umi moan softly as she shuffles a little to make herself more comfortable and then go back to sleep. Honoka gently strokes her hair once more with a soft smile.
"Umi-chan is so cute!" she says, trying to resist the urge to squeal.
"There you go again~" Nozomi teases. "Being attached to Umi-chan."
"I can't help it, Nozomi-chan~! Umi-chan is just so adorable! How can ANYONE resist a cute face such as hers!?"
"I can't blame you on that one. She is one of our cutest daughters, next to Kotori-chan."
The two wives watch their sleeping daughter for about a minute before they decide to take her to bed since it's getting a bit late. Slowly and cautiously, they lift Umi up and take her to her room to tuck her in and hand her her bunny stuffed animal to cuddle with. Once that's done, Honoka goes into the kitchen to eat what's left of dinner, praising Nozomi with her cooking and then helps wash teh dishes. Once that's done, they head over toward their own bedroom to get changed into their night clothing. They climb into bed and get under the covers. Honoka immediately moves closer to her beloved wife to bury her face against the busty woman's chest. Nozomi chuckles as she looks down at the ginger.
"Acting like Umi-chan, hm~?" she teases.
"Come on, Nozomi-chan! Your chest is like a pillow to me~!"
"Hehe! You're so cute, Honoka-chan~!" The violet haired woman gives her a kiss on the forehead.
There is silence for a moment before Honoka speaks up. "Hey, Nozomi-chan?"
"Hm?"
The ginger presses her head towards her wife's chest while hugging her tightly. "I love you."
"I love you, too, my dear Honoka-chan. I'm glad you're safe."
"Why wouldn't I be~? Your love will always keep me alive!"
"Oh, my~! That's very bold of you to say that. Hehe!"
Honoka blushes and slightly looks away. "Oh, stop teasing me, Nozomi-chan."
The violet haired woman gently takes her cheek, making her face her wife and kisses her on the lips. Honoka immediately returns it and both pull away after a few seconds to stare into each other's eyes. Nozomi raises her hand to caress her lover's cheek and kiss her once more, this time deeper and more passionate. Honoka returns it, with their tongues caressing each other and soft moans are heard from both of them. They then pull away due to lack of oxygen and gaze into each other's eyes lovingly.
"Honoka-chan…" Nozomi whispers.
"Oh, Nozomi-chan…" the ginger whispers back.
They lean in to kiss again and pull away. After a few more minutes of silence, Honoka buries her head into Nozomi's chest again and falls asleep shortly after. Nozomi giggles softly and strokes her lover's hair before falling asleep as well. Tonight might have been a little crazy, but everything is okay now that Honoka came home. Everyone is happy now.
