Chapter 6: Chaos Comes Calling

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Happy New Year to all! I am excited to rejoin the story after my temporary Hiatus. However, the move to my new digs isn't quite over yet so Chapter 7 will be arriving around Super Bowl Week. In the Meantime, I am excited to announce that I am hosting a round-table discussion about the creative process for Stories and Artwork in the Nagatoro FanFic Universe. Our Panelists will include:
EmTenDew & Serrulata: Author &Editor of "Cherry Blossom Palette" and "Cherry Blossom Palette: Summer by the Sea"
Shamastus: Artist and Author of "The Song of Sirens," "If We Never," and "Crossing the Line"
Suzukki Kawasaki: Author of "Toying With Nagatoro"
HumanBeanbag: Author of "The Kazehaya Virus" "Don't Mess with Me, Hachiouji-Kun," and "A Whisper Within"
LittleFreddy2021 Artist for the story "The Amazing Mangaka"
SergeantSodabread: Doodletoro Artist
Arbi Draws: Up-and-Coming Nagatoro Artist

We will be asking for questions from our audience, so if there's something you've wanted to ask us, please feel free to drop your questions in the comments. And with that, we rejoin our story already in Progress...

Chapter 6: Chaos Comes Calling

Misaki and Taiga both came out when they heard the shouting, "Oka-san?" Misaki said as they heard the doors to their father's car open and slam. Senpai and Hayase stepped back as a diminutive woman as tall as Senpai walked up, "So, the famous Hachiouji-Senpai, at last we meet."

"Mom! I thought you and Dad were not going to be home before Tomorrow!" Hayase said.

From the other side of the car, a male voice answered, "your grandmother sends her love, Hayase, by the way. She said she had a vision of you and a brown-haired boy together, and told us to go home immediately. A man that looked exactly like Taiga, except six inches taller, and sporting a close-cut head of black hair, walked up to Senpai. "You must be the 'Senpai' My daughter seems to be obsessed with, I am her father, Nagatoro Ukyo." Senpai stiffened up and bowed, "Hachiouji Naoto, Nagatoro-San, it is an honor to meet you, sir."

He looked Senpai up and down, "Funny, you don't strike me as the type to be inappropriate with my daughter, although I'm sure her judo training can protect her from any unwelcome actions on your part." Senpai gulped, recalling the times when she flipped him to hide her enjoyment of something they were doing when her friends popped up.

"I can assure you, Nagatoro-San, I have treated Hayase with the respect she deserves." Hayase was bright red as he heard him stand up for her, "Oto-san, you needn't worry about Senpai here, He's a good boy," Misaki said in his defense, "He was just dropping her off from their date today to the aquarium." Hayase held up her new penguin plush as proof.

Her mother looked at her, "then why do you have your overnight bag? Where were you last night?" Hayase's eyes went wide, she had neglected to drop the bag off when she walked into the house earlier. But before she could respond, Naoto answered for her, "She and Gamo were having the Judo club sleepover after yesterday's workout at her family's gym, right, Hayase?" Hayase was a little taken aback by Senpai's quick thinking. He must have noticed the bag still on her shoulder, but didn't have a chance to tell her since her parents popped up unexpectedly.

She looked at him, "Yes, and we had planned a date to go to the aquarium in Yokohama, but we ended up going to Enoshima instead because of the fire." Her mother looked at her daughter, "Fire? What Fire?"

Naoto sighed, "there was an electrical fire at the aquarium in Yokohama overnight so we went to Enoshima instead; she met me at the station and stored her bag in one of the lockers there while we were out. Your son called as we were heading to dinner asking if we wanted a ride home as well."

She looked at Taiga, but Misaki answered, "He's right, Mother, we were coming home from the concert and figured we could swing by and pick them up, but they were already on the way home and we met them when they got here." Her mother seemed to soften from her eldest daughter's words. "Well, if you had checked up on them, Misaki, I'm okay with it." Both Hayase and Naoto breathed a sigh of relief, but then Hayase saw the wicked grin on her sister's face, and gripped Naoto's hand, bracing for what was about to come, "Oh yeah, that reminds me, We've been invited to dinner by Senpai's Mother next Sunday."

Her mother stopped at the doorway, "Oh really? Well, tell your mother we accept and are looking forward to it," she said as they walked into their home. Taiga and Misaki followed suit, with Misaki pausing at the door to smile at the others, "Well, see you next week, Senpai-Kun."

Hayase sighed and buried her head in Senpai's chest, "Well, that went better than I expected." He said, without a hint of irony or sarcasm. She pulled him outside the gate to say their goodnights, out of the eyes of her family.

"I'm sorry you had to meet them this way, Naoto, but Now it's out of the way, right?" she put on a brave smile, which he responded to with a kiss. "Yeah, I'll text you when I get home, my love." She hugged him, "I love you, be safe going home."

He nodded as he let her go, "I promise." She watched him slide into the darkness as he walked the last mile or so home, wishing he could stay with her, but reminding herself they had a lifetime for all that. As he got home, the lights from his parents' car pulled into their own driveway. "Nao-Kun, are you just getting home?" His mother asked. He nodded as he stretched out his arms, the exhaustion from the entire weekend finally catching up to him.

"I just left Hayase's house about 20 minutes ago, we went on a date to the aquarium in Enoshima," he said. "Oh, I met her parents tonight, they've accepted our invitation to dinner next week."

"What's this about dinner next week?" His father said as he locked up the car in the garage and pulled their carry-on bags behind him. "You're going to meet the parents of your son's girlfriend next Sunday, so don't make any plans that day," His mother told him.

"Are you cooking?" His father asked her. "Oh No, Nao-kun and his girlfriend said they would do the cooking for all of us," she said with a smile as they all walked inside the house. "So how many of the Nagatoros can we expect for dinner that night, Nao-kun?"

He held up 5 fingers, "her parents and her older siblings, Misaki and Taiga. Hayase as well, so yeah, dinner for 8 that night."

His mother inhaled, "Oh boy, well, I guess we better come up with a good game plan for dinner. We can work on those plans tomorrow, you have school in the morning. I will take care of your bentos for tomorrow, I hope your girl likes My cooking." she said, shooing Naoto off to his room.

As soon as he got into his room, he texted Hayase.

"What happened with your parents?"

"They grilled me about this weekend, I didn't tell them I spent the night with you, but they are a bit sus about it."

Naoto grimaced. "I'm sorry if I got you in trouble."

"You didn't, if anything, Misaki and Taiga stepped up for you. I really think they're coming around." She added one of her little cat emojis with a big grin, "We should be okay tomorrow, you have the bentos made?"

"Mom's making them, so we're both going to be surprised."

"Ohh… this might be fun. Oh Senpai, don't forget to invite Hosokawa-Senpai to lunch this week."

"Thanks for reminding me, what would I do without you?"

"Be a sheltered introvert, but that's not you anymore, is it, my Beautiful Senpai?"

Naoto blushed. "I really love it when you say stuff like that."

"I better get some sleep, I have a Judo Club meeting in the afternoon, so I might be late."

"Okay, sweet dream, Hayase, I love you."

"I Love you too, Naoto. See you tomorrow."

Naoto plugged his phone in for the night and turned off the bedside lamp, falling asleep really quickly, the day's travels finally catching up with him.

Morning found the two at the bus stop cuddling together as they awaited their friends. Hayase was especially close as she was still embarrassed by her parents' interrogation of her about Naoto, but she wasn't expecting both of her siblings to come to her and his defense, especially Misaki. "I can't believe how she stood up for you to our mother. I didn't think she was that cool with us," she said as she sat on his lap, laying her head on his chest, feeling his arms wrapped around her body, the comforting protection of his embrace making her feel warm inside.

"I like to think she did it because she believes in us," Naoto said. In his head, he prayed she was not setting his beloved Hayase up for the Mother of All teasing sessions.

"Hey Paisen, Hayacchi! We're here!" Gamo yelled as she, Sakura, and Yoshi all waved as they approached. "Been waiting long?" Gamo smiled as she plopped down next to the couple while Yoshi stood behind her. "What did you two end up doing this weekend after the gym?" Sakura asked, her voice borderline flirty with them.

Senpai pressed the bridge of his nose, "We decided to go to the aquarium in Yokohama on Sunday, but there was an electrical fire so we ended up at the one in Enoshima, you know the one Gamo, right?" Gamo's grin melted as she remembered the last time she was there. Hayase patted her hand, "It's all right, we've forgiven you for that, plus, it was nice for us to just be together."

Naoto gave Hayase a gentle pat on her back, signaling her that it was time to head to school, "Come on everyone, we've got a long week ahead of us," he said as they headed to school. About five minutes into their walk, Senpai asked, "Gamo, did you still want to do that tutoring session you talked to Hayase and I about?"

It took her a moment to realize what he was referring to, the lunch with Hosokawa, "uhh, sure, if you two don't mind, did you have a specific day to do it?" He looked at Hayase, squeezing her hand, "We can probably do it after Judo practice this week, okay?"

Sakura and Yoshi looked at each other, confused. "What tutoring session are you two talking about?" Naoto gulped for a moment, "She said she was interested in foreign languages other than English and I learned some French because of the Artwork the President assigned me to research when I first joined the Art Club."

Hayase nodded, "plus I learned some because I wanted to read Lupin the Third's French mangas as a challenge from Nekoba, remember?" Gamo nodded, "Yeah, you really made her upset when you spoke French."

Sakura looked at the three, not entirely sure if they were telling the truth or covering up for something else. "Ummm, okay, so I guess you three are going to need the afternoon or something?"

Gamo nodded, "I'll pay for you guys to go enjoy an afternoon together, okay? I really need to get this started because my Dad wants me to consider attending the Olympics in Paris in a few years and be able to speak to the French judo officials."

Sakura's face softened as she heard this, "ohh, why didn't you say so in the first place?" Gamo gave her that sheepish grin of hers as they arrived at school. The Girls headed to their shoe lockers and switched out while Senpai headed to his. He spotted Hosokawa slipping his school shoes on and heading up to the third-year's floor. Nagatoro came over and kissed him quickly, "See you at Lunch time, my love," he smiled as she headed up.

As he reached the Third-Year's floor, he became aware that there were a number of his classmates looking in his direction and murmuring. Whispers and hushed comments followed him as he strode through the corridor.

"Is that the Art Club president?"

"I can't believe he's dating that cute second year Nagatoro."

"I heard he's also involved with that second-year Gyaru Sakura Inori."

"Who hasn't been?"

"Hey, doesn't that scary girl Gamo-chan and her parrot Yoshi hang out in the art club too?'

"How the hell did he do that?"

"What could she see in him? He's so strange, all he ever does is sketch in the Art Club room. He's nobody special."

"I heard he's been secretly getting intimate up there, he probably did the same with the Former Art Club President too."

"Damn, What is his secret? How is he getting with all these girls?"

Senpai ignored the murmuring and stopped at Classroom A, where Hosokawa's homeroom was. He stepped in and everyone looked at him, as he approached the athlete, "Hosokawa-san?"

Hosokawa looked up, "Hachiouji-San, good to see you, what's up?"

"Could I speak to you for a moment, in private?"

"Sure, come on.'' He stood up and walked out with him to the disbelieving stares of the class and the people outside. "How was your workout at the Gym on Saturday?"

Senpai smiled as they walked up the stairs, "It went well, got a great workout, you should come by sometime if you ever wanted to try your hand at another sport, Hayase's older brother is a trainer there, he's an incredible martial artist, it runs in her family, apparently. I heard her sister is as talented, if not more so, in judo as well."

They arrived at the roof and went outside, "So what's up?"

Naoto looked out over the athletic field, "You remember me mentioning Maki Gamo the other day, what would you say to having lunch with her, along with me and Nagatoro?"

Hosokawa was stunned, "you're kidding, right? No way she'd want to have lunch with me, come on, Hachiouji, there's time for jokes but this isn't it."

Senpai turned around, "I'm serious, Kensiki-San, she's open to having lunch, plus we'll be there so you won't have to feel nervous around her."

Kinseki considered it, "Okay, it's just lunch right? Sure, what day were you thinking?"

Senpai beamed, How does Thursday sound? Hayase and I will make bentos for all of us, and you guys can decide what you want to eat."

Hosokawa looked at him, "You Cook, too?" There was no end to the surprises from the seemingly unremarkable Art Club President. Senpai just shrugged, "The consequences of having parents who are always away at work, the Americans had a term for kids like me, they called them 'latch key kids,' it was something of a phenomenon in the 1980's."

Hosokawa grinned as he crossed his arms, "I never took you for an American Otaku, Hachiouji-kun," he said, jokingly, returning Naoto's previous Star Wars jape back at him. Senpai laughed, "The consequences of having a teacher who emphasizes American Social issues in economics. So, do we have a deal on lunch?" Senpai asked.

Hosokawa nodded, "Okay, why not? It's just Lunch, right?" he said as he headed to the door. Senpai followed close behind him.

"Awesome, we'll have everything set at lunch time," Senpai said as he closed the door behind him. "See you then and thanks, Hosokawa-San."

Kinseki nodded as they headed back down to their floor and to their respective classrooms. Until the start of class, the rest of the students were now gabbing about some secret conversation between the Art Club President and the School's star male athlete.

At Lunch, Naoto and Hayase sat on the couch, enjoying the Bentos together. "Hosokawa is all set, and agreed to Thursday, will that work for Gamo?" He asked as he fed his girlfriend an octopus weenie.

"Lummu chek muh fone," she said while chewing the morsel, pulling her phone out as she swallowed the food, "Sorry, let me check my phone." She quickly scrolled through her LINE messages and sent Gamo a text. Her phone beeps a couple minutes later, "She says she will be here, Senpai. I can't believe this is happening, can you?"

Naoto was bemused by his girlfriend's enthusiasm for this matchmaking attempt. "You're really happy about this, huh?"

She looked at him, "Of course I am, it's about time Gamo had some fun, she's always overlooked by the guys who would otherwise be perfect for her." The door to the club room opened and in walked Gamo, Sakura, and Yoshi, while outside a crowd of people were staring into the room, wondering what was up, "Hey, don't you people have somewhere else to be?" Gamo said as she chased off the on-lookers. The girls sat down with their lunches, joined by their young Kouhai, another first for her.

"Hey Paisen, have you and Hayacchi heard these rumors all over school? Apparently, this is now some kind of secret harem of yours," she said with a look of bemusement and anger. Sakura, following behind her, had an uncharacteristically sour look on her face as well. "I am really annoyed with hearing that I'm somehow your love slave, no offense Senpai-kun, but I like to think you treat me better than that."

Senpai was at a loss and burning red with embarrassment, "I'm sorry to all of you, I heard those rumors this morning walking to my classroom. You all know the truth about us, you are my friends, and I'm grateful for that, but yeah. They're a mess."

Nagatoro crossed her arms, "Yeah, I really want to have 5 minutes alone with whomever started the rumor that I'm pregnant with Senpai's love child, my fists need a workout," Yoshi spit out her drink and went wide eyed. "They said WHAT?!" It was clear that the rumors were putting everyone in a bad mood, especially that particular rumor. However, Hayase hid her annoyance because she let her focus be on Senpai.

"Maybe we need to knock a few heads together to kill that rumor," Gamo said.

Senpai waved his arms, "Okay, Okay, everyone, we're all in agreement that there is a bad feeling about things right now, part of that is because of Me, and I am sorry that you all have gotten tangled up in our relationship like this. I know none of you started this, but reacting to it in the wrong way is just going to make things worse."

He was interrupted as the door opened and Hana walked in, her eyes looking uncharacteristically red . "oh, Hana-Chan, not you too," Sakura said as she stood up and hugged her. Hana gripped her Senpai and buried her head in her shoulder, "I'm sorry but I am not comfortable with getting questions about My Senpais' relationships," she said as Sakura led her to the couch while Yoshi grabbed the box of tissues sitting by the marble busts.

"Thank you, Yoshi-Senpai," she said as she took the box.

"Hanacchi, tell us what happened," Gamo said, kneeling next to her on the couch by the armrest.

"My classmates started to ask me questions about Hachiouji-Senpai's relationship with Nagatoro-Senpai, asking how long I had known about it. I merely told them that you two had known each other before I started here but that I was acquainted with Hachiouji-Senpai from back in middle school and through Sana Nee-Chan." she had calmed down enough to talk normally, while everyone listened.

"Then during lunch a couple of the girls from Classes A and C started asking me if I was part of Senpai's 'Lewd little harem,' and when I told them that you were an honorable and upstanding Senpai, they laughed and said I was hiding the truth." Hana wiped the tears from her eyes as all four of her seniors hugged her simultaneously.

Outside the door to the Club Room, a commotion began as students were jostling with each other to peek inside, hoping to catch the Lothario Art Club President in the act.

"HEY! GET OUT OF HERE!" Naoto and Gamo shouted, as both made a beeline for the door. The crowd of lookie-loos quickly scattered, not wanting to face the wrath of Gamo. A teacher, the advisor to the Shogi Club, was rounding the corner when the students scattering ran into her, nearly knocking her down.

"What's going on up here? Why are you running in the halls?" She started to scold the students as Gamo came up. "Sensei Tanaka, these kids were disrupting the Art Club," she said as Naoto reached her.

"Hachiouji, is this true? Are these students disrupting your club time?"

Naoto looked her in the eye, "yes, Sensei, and I suspect that they are responsible for some ugly rumors being spread about me and my friends. My Kouhai, Sunomiya, is in tears over these hateful rumors, and Gamo-Chan and her friends, who have my permission to be in the room, were helping to comfort her when these interlopers crowded the door trying to prove the rumors true."

There was a burning fire in Senpai's eyes, he was righteously angry. Hana had been hurt by the rumors and he would be damned if nobody paid for that crime.

"You all, come with me, Gamo-Chan, please inform my club that I will be delayed briefly and to begin their practice matches," Sensei Tanaka said. From down the hall a second-year girl came out of that club room, "Sensei, we heard you, we will begin," she said before re-entering the room and closing the door.

Sensei nodded and motioned the troublemakers to head down the stairs to the guidance office, "Hachiouji, someone from the discipline committee may wish to speak to your Kouhai about this incident, see that she is available," she said.

"Yes, Sensei Tanaka," he said as she disappeared down the stairs to the protests of the caught students.

Gamo playfully patted his shoulder, "Damn, Paisen, I'm beginning to like this 'Take No Crap' version of you," she said before heading back to check on Hana. Hayase came up and put her arms around him, "My Brave Senpai, gonna need some time to get used to that," she said, giggling.

He exhaled and nearly lost his footing as the adrenaline dissipated from his body, "Did I really do that?" He said as he leaned on his girlfriend. She kissed him on the cheek, "Yes, you did, and I couldn't be prouder." She led him back to the Art Club Room and sat him down on the couch.

"Well, we DID expect a wild day today," Sakura said, nonchalantly. "Just… not like THIS," she rolled her eyes at her statement, but then Hana did something unexpected. She started to laugh. This was not a quiet chuckle at a mildly amusing thought, this was a full out, gut-busting cathartic belly laugh that soon started to infect the other girls.

Yoshi began to giggle, then Sakura. Gamo needed a minute before the absurdity of the day finally hit her, and she joined in. Hayase and Naoto looked at each other, then they started. Soon the hallway was filled with their laughter, prompting the same girl from the Shogi Club to knock on their door.

"Excuse me, Hachiouji-San, but could you and your comrades keep the laughter down, we're in the middle of a practice tournament," she said, almost apologetically.

Naoto came down from the laughing fit and caught his breath, "Our apologies, Sasaki-san, we'll keep it down."

She nodded and closed the door quietly. He motioned Hayase to him, putting his arm around her. "I don't know about all of you, but I'm ready to go home, who's hungry? I'm buying," he said.

"Wait," Hana stood up and walked over to the couple. "Before we go, thank you Hachiouji-Senpai, for defending us like that, but could I ask for something from all of My Senpais here?" Hayase touched her shoulder, "Sure, Hana-chan, what is it?"

She looked down, "can I have a hug from you all together? Today has been stressful and Sana Nee-chan always said that comfort comes best from the people you care about." The five of them looked at each other and like they did Friday night after the pizza party, they linked arms and collectively hugged Hana, reminding her that she had people who cared about her and would look after her. As they broke up the mutual love fest, Gamo grabbed her bag. "Let's go to that family restaurant, I want to sit and relax after the day we've had."

They all nodded and headed out, with Sakura and Yoshi's arms around Hana, letting her truly feel like part of their family. Naoto and Hayase led the group out, with Sakura and Hana in the middle, followed by Yoshi and Gamo, guarding the rear. Very few students wanted to approach the six of them, as word of a teacher's involvement in the whole thing put a damper on the gossip mongering.