Plans for the night and the following days.

If Leonardo was thankful for one thing, was that the other people in the house were giving him some space after what happened. He needed time to himself, time to think and get things in order, so he kept himself busy making diner while everyone else was focused on the TV. Or pretended to be, anyway. Everyone was more relaxed than before, hearing that things had calmed down, but it wasn’t like they could just brush everything aside and act like nothing had happened. Lucia and Seina weren’t there, which was probably for the best.

Leonardo peeled and chopped a bunch of carrots in auto-pilot as he thought. He kept talking big, saying he was going to rid them all of the curse, yet what was he doing to accomplish that? Telling Valerie and Kaede they didn’t need to have sex with him, and actively keeping himself away from Lucia and Seina to try to keep their fights at a minimum level. Not very proactive, was it? But at the risk of sounding self-righteous, he didn’t think it was completely the wrong approach. Valerie had explicitly told him she wasn’t here for sex, and though Kaede hadn’t said anything, she didn’t need to. Trying to guilt-trip them into doing it would just be… wrong. So if they weren’t an option right now, Leo would have to rely on those who were willing. Angela was always up for it, but he had to be careful not to play favorites with her, at least until he was sure it wouldn’t make the other react with envy. Lucia and Seina WERE here for sex, and if their little chat had showed any results, then he’d be able to do it with them, which he had to admit excited him. That meant he effectively had 4 partners. It was a real shame Reiko didn’t live here with them. He hoped she wasn’t too put off by what had happened and was okay with coming over as often as she used to.

But would 4 women be enough? The biggest problem with this ritual was that the amount of energy he had to gather was completely unknown. How was it measured? How much was gathered after each time he did it? How many times would he need to do it?

Without realizing it, he put a little too much **** on chopping a carrot, resulting in the loud noise of his knife hitting the wooden chopping board. It was that kind of mechanical thinking that bothered him. He didn’t want to think about how many times and with how many people he should do it per day. It completely took the pleasure out of it, adding pressure instead. But he didn’t have much of a choice, did he?

“Leo?” Reiko asked, approaching him from across the counter. “You okay?”

“Sorry,” he said with a wry smile. “…Knife’s a little dull,” he lied.

“Uh-huh,” Reiko muttered, clearly not believing him. “Hey, I… texted my parents.”

“Oh?”

“I asked them if I could… spend the night here to study with Kaede-san,” she said with a small, shy smile and red cheeks. “They said okay.”

Leo groaned in embarrassment. “They totally know we’re doing it…”

“You know, it stopped bothering me,” she giggled. “They don’t bring it up much, other than telling me to be careful. Compared to what Kaede-san went through, I’m as free as a bird. I can’t complain anymore.”

“I suppose,” Leo chuckled. “So… you’re spending the night here.”

“Yup.”

“There’s no guest room ready, you know?” he said casually.

“Is that so?” Reiko grinned knowingly.

“And I don’t really feel like preparing one. Too much of a hassle, you know?”

“I bet.”

“You’re gonna have to sleep with Mrs. Wisler.”

Reiko gasped in disbelief and pushed him by the shoulder, causing him to laugh. Reiko quickly laughed along with him.

“But in all seriousness… is it okay?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “There’s still some tension between Lucia-san, Miryoku-san and I, so I don’t think anything’s happening tonight.”

“Hey, if you’re not feeling up for it…”

Leo shook his head and smiled at her. “No. I think this might be just what I need. Stay with me tonight?”

The blush on her cheeks deepened, but she nodded. She then spoke in whispers. “Can we… get Angela in there as well?”

Her question got a reaction from inside his chest and inside his pants. He grinned. “Sure, but you’re not escaping me tonight like you did yesterday.”

“I didn’t plan to.” She grinned back.

Reiko went back to her seat with the others, and the looks they were giving them both made him realize they’d been watching them flirting. He pushed away the embarrassment by telling himself it was something they’d have to get used to. Especially because that little interaction actually helped lift his spirits. Reiko liked it, but she wasn’t just after the sex. She wanted to spend time with him, and boy did that mean something right now.

Leo finished making the beef stew he’d been preparing, and right after serving the bowls for everyone at the table, he served two more and carried them on a tray out of the dining room.

He headed to Seina’s room again, knocked on the door and she soon opened.

“Leonardo-kun,” she started. “I figured if I was there it would only make things awkward…”

“Maybe,” he admitted with a wry smile. “Dinner,” he said, offering her a bowl of stew.

She took it from him and took in the fragrant aroma. “Thank you. I’m actually very hungry.”

“There’s more, so don’t be afraid to go get seconds if you want.”

“I might do that,” she giggled.

“Also…” Leo swallowed. “Let’s finish out business tomorrow evening.”

Seina’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Oh. Y-Yes. Please, lets.” She nodded eagerly. “I promise to not be pushy this time.”

Leo shook his head. “No. Do whatever feels natural. I’m sorry for leaving you hanging last time. I did what I did because I thought it would be the best for you, but I didn’t consider your feelings on it. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I was disappointed, sure,” she giggled. “But thinking back on it, I’m glad I didn’t spend nearly two full days ****. So it’s alright. Now go give Lucia-san her share before it gets cold,” she urged with a smile.

He nodded and did as told. He walked to Lucia’s door and knocked. She took a little longer in answering.

“Might not be a top class meal,” he told her when she answered the door as he offered her the bowl. “But anything’s tasty when you’re hungry.”

Lucia groaned as she accepted the food. “Okay, yes, I admit that comment was way out of line.”

“I’m curious, though,” Leo said. “I’d like to know what kinds of meals you’ve had from all over the world. Would you mind sharing some stories with me sometime?”

That earned him a genuine, if somewhat haughty, smile from her. “You really are interested, aren’t you? Very well, I suppose I wouldn’t mind telling you about the places I visited in France.”

“How about this Saturday?”

“Eh?” Lucia blinked.

“This Saturday evening. I told you I’d prove how committed I am to the cause, but I’m also just interested in you, Lucia-san. So long as you apologize you Kaede before then, I promise we can spend all Saturday night together.”

“Oh. Oh.” Somehow, she looked taken aback by his words, but she quickly composed herself. “Very well. We have plans, then.”

“That we do,” he nodded. “And I’m looking forward to it.”

“…As am I, Mr. Leonardo.”

Author's Note: If you enjoy my stories, consider supporting me on Patreon. It helps me keep doing this with a set schedule, by, you know, helping me pay for food and bills. Chapters 96 to 99 available there already.