Reiko, Valerie and Kaede.

Reiko was in the zone. The talks with Valerie and Leo had lit the flames of inspiration in her and she had woken up that morning with the urge to draw for hours upon hours. After breakfast, she sat at her desk with earphones on, calm music and pencil in hand.

She was only able to draw for about an hour before the buzzing of her phone made her heart jump to her throat. With a grunt, she looked at it to see it was a message from Valerie.

‘Things went surprisingly well, but I’d rather talk in person. Can I go to your place later?’

Okay, she could definitely make time for that. She quickly replied, telling her to come whenever she wanted that wasn’t between one and three in the afternoon since she’d be having lunch then. Valerie said she’d be over around four, which was good because it meant Reiko would be able to draw all morning. Though she did have to call Kaede and have a talk with her, too. Should that be before or after talking to Valerie?

But as she was thinking of her friend, her phone buzzed again, now with a call from the girl herself.

“Look at me, all popular. This never happened before this year…” she mused to herself before she answered. “Hello?”

“Hey, Reiko. Something happened yesterday, something important. Can we talk? Oh! I… should’ve asked Valerie if it’s okay for me to tell you before I called…”

Wait a minute. “Valerie? Something happened yesterday with Valerie? And Leo?”

“Um… And me, yeah. I’ll ask her if she doesn’t mind me telling you.”

“Actually, why don’t you come by my house at four? Valerie’s coming at that time. My spider senses are telling me you both want to tell me similar things, and I have something to ask you both, too.”

“Oh. Well, okay. I’ll be there at four. Oh, and before I forget since I already called. I saw the character design you sent me. It’s amazing! I have nothing to add, but only remind you just in case for when you color it that she’s blonde with blue eyes.”

“Yep, I remember! Honey blonde, right? Good to know you liked it, but don’t be afraid to tell me if there’s some part that doesn’t match your vision.”

“No, no, it’s even better than what I pictured in my head.”

“I’ll probably have the third design ready by tomorrow. Today if it goes well.”

“Can’t wait to see it. We’ll talk later, then.”

“Yeah. And… Kaede? How are you feeling?”

“Strange, but well enough. I’ll tell you more later.”

“Okay.”

After that, Reiko returned to her work. She’d talk to the girls in the afternoon. Now she just wanted to draw.

Reiko welcomed her two friends into her room, having recently finished tidying up. She even got a couple of chairs ready, but Valerie still opted for dropping face first on her bed, bouncing once and letting out a muffled groan. Kaede chuckled and took a seat on one of the chairs, leaving Reiko her own desk chair available.

“What’s with that groan?” Reiko asked.

“I don’t know. Getting it out of the way, I guess.”

“We already talked a bit,” Kaede said. “But I still think Valerie hasn’t told me everything.”

“I was just waiting until we came here so I wouldn’t repeat myself.” Valerie sat up, cross legged and looking at the two other girls. Then, with an oddly solemn expression and a rosy tint in her cheeks, she spoke. “I asked Leo to be his girlfriend, and he said yes.”

Reiko’s heart skipped a beat, and she had to resist the urge to throw her hands in the air and yell ‘huzzah!’ Though It was a little unexpected, admittedly. Valerie had said things had gone well, but she didn’t expect them to go THIS well.

Kaede swallowed, her body stiffening on her seat as her hands held onto the hem of her skirt. She was looking down at the floor, silent. She was either deep in thought or too shocked for words.

“And just to make it clear,” Valerie continued. “I told him I’d be okay with him having other girlfriends. It’s not like I made him choose me over you, Reiko.” She grinned. “I get the feeling I’d lose that contest.” Reiko could only laugh awkwardly. She decided to keep her previous conversation with Leo to herself. “So, Kaede, when are you making things formal with him?”

“Eh?” Kaede quickly lifted her head, wide eyes blinking in surprise.

“Don’t ‘eh’ me. After what I saw, I would’ve bet that you two were already in a formal relationship but apparently you aren’t. You said you weren’t against sharing him, though. Does making things formal make it more complicated? If so, I can understand…”

“It’s not that…” Kaede said.

“Here’s the issue,” Reiko interjected with a mix of a sigh and a groan. “She’s annoyingly similar to Leo in that aspect. They’re both too scared to admit what they want.”

“R-Reiko!”

“It’s true! I know you want to be Leo’s girlfriend, but you’re scared of getting between him and me, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Look, I’m going to be honest with you two. Not only am I okay with you being Leo’s girlfriends, but I need you to be.”

“Excuse me?” Valerie asked, raising an eyebrow. Kaede was similarly stunned.

“Leo likes us all and we all like him. The simplest way to put this is that he doesn’t want things to end when the curse is lifted. Lucia-san, Seina-san and Angela want him to pick someone by the end, but in this room we have three people willing to share, do we not?”

The gears were already turning in Kaede’s bright head. “Oh. And you think the others will take it well?”

“I don’t know, but it would turn the tables on them. At the very least it would take some pressure off Leo. It’s not like I don’t understand them or think they’re wrong to ask him to decide on one, but… I love him, okay? I want him to be happy. And… this is something I haven’t told him, but…” Reiko but her lip in a grimace that worried the other two girls. This would be the first time Reiko would give voice to a concern that she tried not to think about. “I worry that any monogamous relationship with him will end in failure.”

“Wait, what? What do you mean?” Valerie asked, frowning.

“Ah. I see…” Kaede nodded and mirrored Reiko’s grimace. “Leo’s libido is near insatiable. He’s had sex virtually every day for the last, what, four months? And yet he’s still always up for it. Not only that, but he’s never fully satisfied, even if he says he is. It might be a combination of the powers of the Book of Eros and his own Gift, which by the way I’ve noticed is only growing stronger. With his libido and endless stamina, a single partner wouldn’t be able to keep up.”

“Oh. Ooooooh…” Valerie swallowed. “And here I am coming from a single kiss. Damn…”

Reiko’s ears perked up at that. She’d press for details later. Very explicit details.

“I feel he wouldn’t go insane if he didn’t have sex for, say, a week or even a month, but over a long time...” As much as Reiko loved him and loved having sex with him, she knew she wouldn’t be able to keep up with him alone. She’d probably be exhausted and sore after two or three days, and that if he held back on her. She felt that would eventually lead to frustration on both sides over the years.

“The need to fill the Book of Eros with sexual energy has probably conditioned his body,” Kaede said. “Constant sex along with his training at the gym have made his Gift stronger, too. He’s the perfect candidate to lift the curse, but… What will happen after that?”

Valerie bit her lip. “So you’re saying he won’t be able to live a normal life after this?”

“It’s what worries me,” Reiko nodded. “He’s just as strong mentally as he is physically, but I don’t want him to shoulder yet another burden. That’s why I’ll support his wish. How about you?”

Valerie clicked her tongue. “When you put it like that, it’s even easier to agree. Hell, now it really does sound like there’s no other choice but to share him.”

“The idea of having to satisfy that monster alone is actually kind of scary,” Kaede giggled. “I think I’ll start seeing my off days in another light.”

“Right?” Reiko grinned. “Like, I WISH I had the stamina to keep up, but that’s just not gonna happen. He says even Victoria-san gives in after three hours.”

“So? Are you in, Kaede?” Valerie asked.

Kaede took a deep breath, and with a shy smile, she answered. “I’ll ask him tonight.”

“It’s Seina-san’s turn tonight, right?” Reiko asked.

“Yes, but he’ll have to rearrange the schedule now that Valerie will be taking turns, too.”

“God, I don’t know if I’m ready…” Valerie sighed. “I want to jump him every time I see him, but I’ve never felt so… weak and lacking control over myself. It’s scary as hell.”

That reminded Reiko. “By the way, you still haven’t told me what happened yesterday. Something big, apparently.”

Valerie and Kaede shared shy smiles before they took turns telling her the whole story, at the end of which Reiko stood up outraged. “W-What!? B-B-But I’ve been asking you to let me watch for two months now! I thought we were friends!”

“W-Well, it seemed very important to her!” Kaede answered back. “And I’ve sent you videos!”

“They don’t compare to the real thing, as Valerie will no doubt testify.” Reiko pouted with puffed cheeks and crossed arms. The redhead had **** but to nod sheepishly. “I can’t believe this. I do my best for all of you and get no respect at all. You suck.”

Reiko was mostly joking. Mostly. She understood that Kaede was still getting used to her new lifestyle and desires. She also understood that it was a very meaningful experience for Valerie. Those two probably wouldn’t be able to talk as freely as they did now if that hadn’t happened. Nevertheless, Reiko still was a little hurt that Kaede let Valerie watch before her.

Her two guests shared a worried look. “Well… Would a foursome make it up to you? That is, if Valerie’s okay with it.”

“If we’re all going to be Leo’s girlfriends, I suppose we should get used to it,” Valerie shrugged, trying to seem aloof about it. But under Reiko’s and Kaede’s stares, she cracked. “Alright, alright! I’m also curious to see you two naked! Happy?”

“And flattered,” Reiko laughed.

Oh man! A foursome! With how much Leo loved group sex, he was abound to be jumping with joy at the surprise. Well, not literally. She didn’t see him actually jumping with joy, but he’d make the cutest surprised face!

“Actually… want to do it tonight?” Valerie offered.

“Eh? Tonight?”

“I haven’t had a turn with him all, so if I push for it the others won’t be able to argue me taking tonight’s spot.”

“I’ll tell my parents I’ll spend the night at your place!” Reiko immediately answered.

“W-Won’t they get suspicious?” Kaede asked.

“Bah, they haven’t said anything but I’m sure they know I have sex with him every chance I get. In fact, I bet they’re hoping he’ll get me pregnant so I’ll have a child from the Tensai Clan. There’s no higher status in the island than being from the founding clan. You guys just don’t take advantage of it.”

“…Should we?” Valerie asked.

Reiko blinked. “…Maybe?”

The Tensai Clan were founders of the town, but there was more to it. Stories told this island wouldn’t have flourished as it did if it hadn’t been for them. With what Reiko now knew, it was more than likely due to their Gifts. The point was that people in the island grew up hearing stories of the clan’s greatness, and having Mrs. Wisler around kept those stories relevant. There was probably no family in the island that didn’t owe her less than a handful of favors.

Leo wouldn’t take advantage of the status, she knew. However… could they use it to make people turn a blind eye to his polyamorous relationships? Something to think about.

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