The Affection Multiplier - Chapter 180: Catching up, gifts and harem matters. (Patreon)

“Did it feel good for you, too?” Sophia asks you.

“Yeah.” You nod, catching your breath. “It’s strange, but in a good way. I don’t think it beats vaginal, though.”

“Agreed.” Emma says, still laying on her stomach. “I loved it, but if I had to choose, I’d still pick vaginal. I’m glad I don’t have to choose and we can do both!” She giggles.

“Pretty much.” You agree.

“Well, aren’t you two in the same wavelength?” Mia chuckles.

“You should try it.” Emma tells her.

“I’ll… think about it.”

“Just to be clear,” You start. “It’s not like I’ll expect you all to be up for it from now on. If you want to, we can try, but don’t feel obligated to.”

“Oh thank god.” Megan sighs in relief, holding a hand to her chest. “Sorry. I just… don’t know if that’s for me.”

“I’m… on the fence.” Emily says. “I’ll also think about it.”

“Okay, this may be really inappropriate to say after seeing that, but… Is anyone else hungry?” Sophia asks sheepishly.

“It’s almost 2:00 pm. Yes, I think we should eat something.” Mia agrees. “Do you want to help me this time?”

“Sure!”

“Alright then. Break time.” You sigh contently.

“You did it with all of us already. How are you doing?” Megan asks.

“I’m doing well. I’ll be even better after we eat something. Which reminds me… Emma, can I borrow the keys to your car? I want to get my things.”

“I’ll help you.” Emily volunteers.

Sluggishly sitting up, Emma turns to Megan with an annoyed look. “I guess that leaves us on cleaning duty.”

“At least we didn’t leave that big of a mess.” The younger brunette giggles.

You and Emily get fully dressed since you’ll be going outside, but the others settle for T-shirts, blouses and panties, which make for an incredible sight. Seeing Sophia and Mia wearing aprons while half-naked is nothing short of a dream.

Emily pinches your cheek, as if reading your thoughts. “You’re not dreaming, tiger. But stop staring and lets get your stuff. The sooner we do that and eat, the sooner we can get back to business.” She says with a lustful grin.

Each pair gets started on their tasks, and Emma, Emily and Megan even help you get your stuff back in your drawers. However, you ask them to stay away from one particular suitcase. They aren’t stupid, and they know exactly why you’re asking that and steal excited glances towards it.

You eat on the bed, simply because everyone felt too lazy to set up the tables and chairs, considering it would also mean having to move the bed. Mia seems a little annoyed by it, but gives in. She says food should be eaten at a table and that she hopes you don’t make a habit out of this, but Emma retorts.

“I think you’re forgetting that college life was just like this for you too.” She says with a chuckle.

“Not like THIS, but… okay, fine.” Mia concedes. You want to ask her how that was some other time.

After the meal, you gather the dishes and finally get the suitcase the girls have had their eyes on.

“It’s my turn to give you your Christmas gifts.” You tell them. They’re not much of a surprise, since they’re just what they asked for, but you still had them wrapped as gifts.

Many traditional Japanese sweets for Megan; different types of magazines for Sophia, as well as a couple of notebooks and a set of pens; two bottles of sake for Mia, mostly because you’ll probably be drinking them with Emma as well; and speaking of Emma, your sister suggested a bottle of hand cream for her, which she approves of. Emily was the hardest one because she didn't ask for anything specific. You ended up getting her an elaborate coin purse and a sky-blue ribbon for her ponytail, and she seems to enjoy the latter a lot more than the former.

You sigh in relief when you see they like them. They each thanks you with a deep kiss.

“It’s not over yet, though.” You reveal, piquing their interest again. “I, uh… had a talk with my mother. She doesn’t know the details and agreed not to ask on the promise that I tell her eventually, but… she sent you all a gift of her own.”

How would anyone describe their reaction? They all kind of… froze at the same time, as if their hearts had collectively skipped a beat. Kind of surreal.

“Y-Your mother sent us a gift?” Mia asks, her voice stuttering for a moment.

“Yeah.” You nod. “She says it’s a thank you for… taking care of me.” You sigh. It’s kind of embarrassing to say.

They’re all… eerily silent. They share nervous smiles and some lick their dry lips. It’s kind of worrying, really.

“What’s wrong?” You ask.

“Nothing!” Emma says quickly. “Nothing, really! It’s just, well… your mother is... will be… may be our… mother-in-law?”

…

Oh.

“Well… yeah?” Is all you can think of saying.

Somehow, the admission is enough to let them relax. You get where they’re coming from. They haven’t even met your mother and she’s sending them a gift. That has to feel really weird, but looking at their smiles, they seem happy about it.

“Out of curiosity, how old is your mother?” Mia asks.

“She’s nearing her 60s. Why?”

“I don’t know. I guess I wanted to know if we were close in age.” She sighs, but Megan gets behind her and starts rubbing her shoulders, to which Mia smiles appreciatively.

“Anyway, this is what she sent you.” You get the gifts out of the bottom of the bag. They’re in slim boxes, which made the bag even heavier, much to your annoyance.

They look nervous but, slowly, each of them starts to unwrap their present.

“Holy shit. Are these… kimonos?” Emily asks, her eyes wide as plates.

“Yukatas, actually.” You tell her. “Much less expensive and easier to wear, I’m told.”

“Oh my God.” Emma mutters, holding her present and looking it over. “I can’t believe your mother gave us this.”

“So THIS is why you asked our measurements!” Sophia realizes.

“Yeah. She was only going to send one to Emily, Megan and you, so I had to admit there were five of you, not three. She doesn’t know you’re my teachers, though.” As expected, Emma and Mia look like they’re about to protest, so you cut them off. “I know what you’re about to say, and no, I disagree. I knew money wasn’t an issue to my mother, so I had to tell her. There’s no way I could let her leave you two out.”

The two of them share a look and sigh, defeated.

“Fine. It’s already done, anyway.” Emma says and looks over her new Yukata. It’s white, but covered in a pattern of yellow flowers that trick you into thinking the yukata itself is actually yellow. “Besides, this is beautiful!”

“Yes.” Mia agrees, tracing her thumb over the fabric of hers. It’s red with patterns of white, pink and purple flower bouquets.

Actually, all five yukatas have flower patterns. Is that because that’s common for yukatas or is that your mother’s taste showing?

“Send her a message right now!” Megan says with a big smile on her face. “Tell her thank you for us!”

“Oh, but don’t you dare send a picture!” Emily adds.

Yeah. Considering their state of dress, that would be a terrible idea. But still, as they look them over and compare them, you send a text to your mother, telling her the girls loved her gift.

“Did you pick them?” Emily asks.

“Kind of? My mom asked me to pick the fabric and colors from what she considered ‘the prettiest ones’ and had them custom made. I… picked what I thought would look good on you.”

Emily’s is a sky-blue yukata with a patter on light green leaves and pink flower stamps. Megan’s is a little odd. It’s like big flowers of different tones of pink on a black background, making it give the illusion that it’s fully pink. Finally, Sophia’s is purple with white flowers bundled together around the waist, sleeves and left shoulder.

“Did I hit the mark?”

“Dead on.” Sophia nods. “How did you know purple is my favorite color? I don’t remember telling you.”

“…You were wearing a purple camisole as pajama the last time you stayed the night.”

“Just on that? Jesus.” She shakes her head.

It seems you picked correctly for everyone. That’s a relief.

“Did Anzu get one, too?” Mia asks.

“Yeah. I have it here, too. They weren’t ready when we were there.”

“That’s good.” She smiles, relieved.

“…” Sophia stares at her new yukata, but her eyes seem lost. She’s thinking of something else.

“Hey. What’s wrong?” Emily asks her.

“David… did you bring Katherine a gift?”

“Uh? Oh, yeah. Finding a jump magazine was easy, and my sister showed me to a place that sells second-hand figurines in excellent condition.”

“…” Sophia bites her lip and scowls, which is very odd.

“Okay. Get it out. What’s wrong, dear?” Mia encourages.

“…I know very well this isn’t the time to bring this up, but… I think that, if you have any feelings towards Katherine, you should ask her out as soon as you can.”

“Oh.” Both Emily and Megan exclaim in unison.

“What? Why?”

“She’s been feeling… a little depressed lately.” Sophia grimaces.

“Why? What’s wrong?” Emma asks, concerned.

“That… might have been our fault.” Megan says, wincing as Emily pinches the bridge of her own nose.

“When we talk to her, we kind of just assume you’ll be getting together with her soon.” Emily says. “…We kind of got her hopes up. And since that hasn’t happened yet…”

“The poor girl is thinking we’re just playing with her.” Mia completes for them, sighing heavily. “Is that right?”

“…Yeah.” Sophia nods.

You wince, and your chest tightens. Is that what she’s feeling right now?

“I’m sorry.” Megan says with a downturned mouth. “We shouldn’t have told her you liked her. We screwed up.”

“Not to mention you got together with Anzu out of nowhere.” Emma sighs. “Oh boy.”

“…” You bite your lip. There’s not only that, but there’s also the fact that you want to get together with Julia, as well.

…

Mia said this about you before. Because you want so many things at the same time, you’re unfocused. You said you’d wait until you got used to your life with five girlfriends before asking Katherine out, but now you get together with another woman out of nowhere?

And even more. What’s to say that any of them won’t just say ‘No, thank you. You have too many girlfriends already’? They might not get jealous, but the AMA might have created other factors that might make them reject you.

“Alright, sweetie. Chin up.” Mia says, getting off the bed and walking up to you. She holds your chin with her fingers and lifts your gaze from the ground. “Enough pondering on your own. Share some of those thoughts with the group.”

You can’t help but smile at her teacher-like tone.

You tell them of the talk you had with your brother about Julia. As expected, Emily has an opinion on the matter.

“Your brother? With my sister? Does your brother want to get married or something?”

“What?” Emma asks. Apparently, you’re not the only one who feels like they’re missing something. “What do you mean?”

“Julia said that the next relationship she has should be a serious one. She feels like settling down.”

“Seriously? I’ve always had this image of Julia as this go-with-the-flow kind of woman.” Megan comments.

“Well, you’re not wrong. But suddenly she’s been saying that it’s time for her to settle down, have her own family.”

“It’s not like I don’t understand her, but she’s still young.” Mia says.

“And while I haven’t know him for long, I don’t think Jonathan is looking for that kind of relationship.” Emma adds.

“Definitely not.” You agree.

“…” Emily bites her lip, but her expression becomes resolute. “I’m sorry, but I’m against David’s brother getting together with my sister. He’s just going to hurt her by dumping her in a few weeks.”

“But Julia’s not stupid. She’ll be able to see through him.” Emma tells her.

“My brother can be a smooth talker.” You sigh.

There’s a quiet moment as everyone ponders on what’s happening. After a while, Mia speaks.

“Look, I knew I wasn’t going to be the last woman you wanted,” She says. “But I still wanted us to take some time to grow used to things before you got together with someone else. I understood that the whole deal with Anzu was mostly out of your control, so I didn’t mind.”

“Mia-”

“I know.” She sighs, stopping Emma. “Things are moving way too fast again, and maybe we could blame the multiplier for it, but that fixes nothing.” She smiles kindly. “Sorry. That was too much just to say that if you want to get together with two new girls, I’m with you.”

“As am I.” Emma grins. “Besides, it’s not like these are women we don’t know.”

“You know we’ve been in agreement with this for a while.” Sophia nods, speaking for herself and the two athletes. “We’ll help however we can.”

You give them a sheepish smile.

“Thanks, girls.”

So it’s Katherine and Julia now. Man, you’re getting excited.