Chapter 35: One Girl Harem [Illustration]

"Huh?"

With the bomb dropped, Mary's eyes widen and reflects Daniel's firm gaze. She swallows and slowly shakes her head, unable to believe what she's hearing. "L-love, w-what are you saying?! You have Anne! How could I-mmph!"

"No, this is great!" Anne squeals, covering her neighbor's mouth. She nods approvingly while her captive slumps forward with a muffled groan. "Mama is really proud of you, Daniel!"

Daniel can't help but smirk, shaking his head. "Of course you'd be okay with it, but this is Mary's decision, mom."

Anne pouts, then narrows her eyes sneakily at her neighborly head. "Mary, if you don't want to be with us, then I'll just transform into you and be with Daniel in your stead!"

"Mom, seriously."

Although Anne is joking, Mary pupils shrink in horror, sweating at the idea. As soon as the slime releases her mouth, she stares at her ex, breathing in slowly to keep calm.

"Love, why are you doing this? Are you pitying me? Is that-"

"No!" Daniel hurriedly answers, raising his hands. "Mary, I realize how shameless it is of me to ask when I have Anne, plus I can't exactly break up with her either. I just think that if I'd been just more aware, I would've had the courage to ask you before!"

Mary shakes, lowering her gaze. "W-what do you want me to say then? Yes? Suddenly enter into a polyamorous relationship? Daniel, you know how ridiculous this sounds. You don't need to force yourself for my sake either. After all, it's my fault for not confessing to you sooner."

Daniel frowns. He glances at Anne but she remains silent. Her eyes says everything though. It's a gaze that can only belong to his astronomer mother - one who helped to support him.

With those expectations, Daniel recharges with a long breath. "When Marianne kissed me, all I could remember is the time we were together. For my sake, I want to experience your paintings again, but most importantly, I want to experience you. I know this is a selfish offer, but...my life has already become weird enough with Anne. So, knowing how much you like oddities, will you try again with me?"

Mary looks up, her lips quivering. She sways for a bit, struggling with her own feelings, desires, and regrets.

Finally, tears pour from her eyes and she leans forward, bumping her head against his shoulder. "God...damn it! Yes, okay! I want to be with you and Anne! I'm terrified though that...it'll be for nothing. What if it doesn't work out? What if..."

Daniel feels immense relief by her agreement. He wraps his arms around the two while Anne bumps her head against Mary.

"I can't guarantee it will," the artist admits, squeezing them tightly, then smiles. "But I've got a feeling things will be different. I mean, we've got our own clients and separate studios, so that removes most of the conflict we had."

"Secondly, I'll just disown him if he ever hurts you, Mary," Anne adds, her tone light and sweet.

"What?!"

Mary giggles and lifts her head. "There's no need for that, Anne, but I appreciate it. In any case..."

Her eyes focuses warmly towards her fellow artist. With tear-struck cheeks, she leans forward.

"Thank you, love."

She locks her lips against her friend, humming pleasantly into his mouth. She doesn't let go and Daniel reciprocates, filling the kitchen renewed sounds of love.

"Ha...Daniel..."

After taking her fill, Mary lets go and both of them breathe out, staring into each other's eyes. To Daniel, this situation feels like a dream.

"Mama wants a kiss too!"

Turning his head slightly towards his cute slime mother, he chuckles. "Didn't you say you'd disown me?"

"I-it was a joke! Mama would never!"

She fakes a cough.

"Alright, alright."

He does the same for Anne and holds them both tightly. As they have their moment, Mary leans forward and kisses his neck, causing Daniel to jerk away from Anne early and shiver.

The dark artist giggles. "Oh, don't mind me, love. Since we have to share you, I figure it's best to start doing what I can."

Anne gapes at Mary's boldness. "Mama should've thought of that! You know, for someone who was reluctant, you sure seem to be adapting too quickly!"

The artist hums, planting another kiss closer to his cheek. "Well, I've got no reason to hold back. We've lost...so much time."

Daniel exhales shakily and maintains his attention to Anne, not wanting her to feel left out. He holds her to his lips while Mary continue pressing her own against her now-boyfriend's skin.

However, while Anne would normally benefit from such loving affection in her mind, she slowly dulls to her son's kisses until finally, she pulls away with grunt of frustration.

"M-mom?"

"Urgh, it's no good! Mama wants to feel and taste again! I still don't get any of that with our heads separated."

Daniel blinks. "Wait, so you can feel?"

"Only through being attached to me," Mary adds. "But maybe if she experiences enough, she'll be able to develop her own?"

Anne's eyes shine. "Remember Daniel, it's like we've discussed! That means, we have to do all sorts of things as Marianne!"

Daniel leans back, sweating. "That can't be a guarantee, right? We just were speculating!"

Anne frowns. "Why do you have to be a damper! Anyways..."

She slowly lifts her hands, placing them on her and Mary's head. In turn, the female artist widens her eyes as she feels her side starting to sink into the slime. "W-wait, we're going back already?"

Anne giggles. "Of course! After all, I can't miss out feeling Daniel and eating my cooking."

In one push, Anne's head mass becomes less firm and spreads back onto Mary, overlaying around her head and gripping to her face. They both groan together as Anne ripples, turning to the same tone before as Mary's nerves connect with Anne's cells.

Daniel watches, wide-eyed and slightly terrified by the transformation. Luckily, it's quick as Anne has already registered their newfound fusion form, thus she can mold herself precisely where she needs to be over her host.

With new eyes forming, Marianne breathes in and immediately focuses, staring at her slightly disturbed son and boyfriend. Then, water forms underneath her eyes and she shakes.

"Oh, love!" the fusion calls out warmly, her voice back to a lighter tone of Mary. She hugs the artist tightly, burying her face into his shoulder.

Daniel gulps and smiles uneasily, wrapping his arms around them. At least he no longer finds her existence concerning with the underlying feelings that Mary and Anne have for him.

The hug goes on for quite a bit as Marianne keeps a hold of him in silence, prompting the artist to clear his throat."Sh-shouldn't we eat first?"

Marianne lifts her head up and gasps, nearly forgetting again. With tears still left on her cheeks, she turns her head slightly back at her pot and hums.  "Taste the stew first or taste my love? What a difficult choice."

Daniel blushes before swallowing and glancing away. "W-well, I'm actually getting hungry, so how about we eat first before...um, doing anything else."

The fusion smirks. "You're so cute~ Fine, a real quick one then. Call it an appetizer!"

She leans forward and kisses the artist before he can prepare. It's hardly speedy though as he feels her moving her lips around. Once more, his cock, which had time to cool, hardens as if it were raring to go.

Before he can really get into it, Marianne breaks away and winks knowingly. "Since you made the decision, we'll have to deal with that later."

Daniel opens his mouth in disbelief, then frowns. "I see you've retained Mary's cheekiness."

"Hehe, mama will make it all worth it, I promise~"

"So good! It's perfect and I can feel how the vegetables melt in my mouth!"

Daniel can't stop his lips from turning up, watching Marianne eat her stew for the first time. He takes some sour cream that meshes well with the thickened brown sauce. "Is really is! I've got to ask, how did you make this? I don't recall Amy making stew, so this can't be from Anne and Mary...well..."

Marianne huffs, offended on behalf of Mary. "What? You don't think I can make something new?"

"N-no, I didn't say that! I guess I'm just curious how you think since you're combined."

The fusion hums a few times, taking another spoon into her mouth. "It's hard to explain. This recipe actually came from Mary's mother and she hasn't really had luck making it taste the same; however, I have a good understanding of ingredients and measurements based on what I remember it tasting like. With Anne's experience, I think I'm able to replicate it well!"

"So, how do you sort yourself? Do you hear two difference voices?"

The fusion shakes her head. "Nope. I only hear my voice and my thoughts feel natural, although it's not immediately clear whether it leans towards Amy, Anne, or Mary."

Daniel blinks, surprised by the addition of his astronomer mother, though it makes sense considering Anne. "Speaking of, should I call you mom or Marianne?"

"Whatever makes you comfortable, love."

"That's totally a Mary response."

"I do feel comfortable calling myself mama though, so I hope you don't mind if that continues."

Daniel shrugs. He figures that would be the case, knowing Anne's influence. That being said...

"Is that because you really see me as your son?"

Marianne holds her hands together. "Well, yes...but there's a bit more reason to it."

Daniel cocks his head. "Yeah?"

The fusion hesitates then smiles meekly. "To be honest, I find it kinda hot."

The artist raises an eyebrow and thins his lips. "Er..."

Marianne blushes, now looking down. "Th-that's um...maybe I shouldn't have said that!"

"N-no, I...appreciate the honesty, I guess."

"It's weird, isn't it? Being your mother and girlfriend at the same time."

Daniel stares blankly at her increasingly crooked smile. "Marianne, there really isn't much of a difference when compared to Anne."

The fusion looks up and gasps. "Wh-what?! D-don't you feel the least shame? E-even if Anne isn't Amy, she's still a form of your mother! I too am your mother...and yet, here I am being your girlfriend as well. It's so delight-I mean, wrong...right?"

"Your expression doesn't match your concern at all."

Daniel doesn't want to believe it, but somehow this newer version of his mother is more corrupt than before.