(Chastity Reversed) The Legitimate Wife War: How I, a Harem-Hater, Ended Up Creating an Ultra-Eccentric Harem with a Villainess, a Sadistic Beauty Teacher, a Scheming Classmate... etc. - Chapter 0: Prologue

Harems were trash.

Cheating, being involved with multiple women at the same time—it was wrong.  

That was what I always believed. That was what I told myself…

“…Morning~”  

A drowsy voice came from somewhere near my pillow.  

Normally, I would have woken up at this point, but since it was my day off, there was no rush to face the day. I could sleep in as much as I wanted. And frankly, I needed more sleep. I had been up late last night.  

I felt exhausted—completely, blissfully ready to sink back into unconsciousness.  

I tugged the blanket over my head and tried to drift off again.  

“Oh, ignoring me, are we? Hmm… Well, if that’s how you want to play it, don’t worry—I have my own ways of dealing with this,” the voice said, taking on a mischievous tone.  

I heard it, of course, but my half-asleep brain was far too sluggish to process any potential danger. Maybe it was denial. Maybe I just didn’t want to deal with whatever was coming. Either way, it didn’t seem like a battle worth fighting.  

And so, I stayed motionless. In hindsight, this had been a terrible mistake.  

A soft plop interrupted my stillness as someone sat on the edge of the bed.  

Before I could react, she slipped right under the blanket. Wait—slipped under?!  

A soft, warm sensation pressed against my body, practically melding into me.  

“Mmm, so cozy~”  

Wait…  

Someone had actually crawled into my blanket.  

No, scratch that. That wasn’t the only thing. My left arm—it was wrapped in something warm and soft. And not just lightly—it was being squeezed. Tightly.  

I froze for a moment, my brain catching up far, far too slowly.  

“HEY! What the heck are you doing?!” I yelled as my senses snapped back.  

I threw off the blanket and tried to pry Mizuri’s arms off me. But for someone with such a delicate frame, she clung to me with alarming strength.  

“Relax~ I just want to sleep. It’s a win-win, right? Kyo-kun, you’re lucky enough to nap with your classmate fiancée, and I get a nice warm arm pillow wrapped in your scent. Perfect, right? QED. Now, just go back to sleep!” she said rapidly, punctuating her declaration with a sparkling wink.  (T/N: The term “QED” is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase “quod erat demonstrandum,” which means “which was to be demonstrated.”)

Even in my groggy, half-asleep state, I couldn’t help but notice her beauty.  

Her silky black hair gleamed like polished obsidian, falling gracefully around her shoulders. Her fragrance was subtle but intoxicating—a blend of sweetness and warmth.  

For a fleeting moment, I wondered if there was anything more perfect in the world than this…  

No, no, no! That wasn’t the point!

“Don’t just narrate my thoughts like that!” I protested, snapping myself out of the haze.  

“Tehehe~ Sorry!” she giggled, playfully sticking her tongue out.  

Her smile wasn’t the stiff, guarded one from when we first met. It was warm now—genuine.  

“What’s with the serious face all of a sudden, Kyo-kun? Hmm? Oh, wait, don’t tell me… You fell for me, didn’t you? Ahhh, I guess I can’t blame you. In that case, how about we seal the deal right here with a kiss?”

Mizuri’s teasing tone was as lighthearted as ever, and I could only let out a dry laugh.  

“No, it’s just… I was thinking how much you’ve changed since we first met,” I said honestly.  

Her playful smile faltered for a moment. Her gaze shifted, turning distant.  

“Yeah… That’s probably true,” she admitted quietly. “But that’s not something you’re supposed to say out loud, you know. Back then, I’d basically given up on life. Compared to how I was then, I can’t believe how happy I am now.” 

“…Yeah, me neither. I mean, I wouldn’t have guessed you’d one day stroll into my room in lingerie,” I muttered, half-joking.  

“See? That’s called growth! Good change, right?” she shot back, beaming.  

Before I could respond, the bedroom door creaked open once again.  

The person who showed up had long golden hair tied back into an elegant braided ponytail. Her sharp, almond-shaped eyes gave her an imposing look—one that often intimidated people who didn’t know her better.  

Her outfit was immaculate as always. She wore a clean white blouse paired with a long, lacy skirt, and a pink apron gave her a surprisingly domestic air.  

With a sharp tone that somehow still carried a hint of kindness, she said, “Good morning, Kyoya-kun. It’s time to wake up. …And Mizuri, sneaking into his bed again? Really? Kyoya-san, the same goes for you—get up! Breakfast is ready, and it’s going to get cold!”  

Mizuri groaned dramatically as she rolled out from under the blanket. 

“Fiiine, Mom~ I’m coming,” she replied with exaggerated defeat.  

“I’m not your mom!” Sayaka-san retorted, though her tone softened just a little.  

“Kyoya-kun, that includes you. Get moving!”  

I sighed. By now, I’d learned to recognize the subtle shifts in the way Sayaka-san addressed me. Around others, it was always “Kyoya-san”—formal and polite. But the moment we were alone, it became “Kyoya-kun”. I wasn’t sure why, exactly, but it had just naturally ended up that way.  

Still half-asleep, I mumbled, “Alright, alright, Mom~”  

Sayaka-san glared at me, flustered, but then muttered under her breath, “I am not your mom…W-Well, if it’s Kyoya-kun, I guess I don’t mind sometimes.”  

From the hallway, Mizuri grumbled audibly, “Ugh, there goes Saya getting all soft on Kyo-kun. Favoritism, much?”  

Sayaka-san turned back toward her instantly, smiling sweetly—the kind of smile that could freeze lava.  

“Mizuri, maybe I should only serve you salad for breakfast?”  

Mizuri froze at the suggestion, and I almost laughed. Even now, She could still pull off that cold, intimidating aura she’d had when we first met.  

“…Is there something with Kyoya-san too?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“I see. Well then, please get up quickly, okay? Everyone’s waiting.”

…Guess I should get up too.

I couldn’t possibly make Mom angry.

I left the room and headed to the living room where everyone was.

The smell of freshly cooked food wafted through the air, and I took a seat.  

“Good morning, Kyo-kun!” Mizuri chirped.  

“Good morning, Kyoya-san,” Sayaka-san added.  

Both of them turned toward me with smiles on their faces.  

And then, there was one more.  

“Good morning, Master.”  

A slightly older woman with short, light brown hair knelt on the floor, addressing me with a deferential bow.  

“For the last time, Sensei, I’m not your Master. Come on, sit at the table like everyone else and eat breakfast,” I protested.  

“But I’m not Sensei at home, am I? I’m just your loyal pet,” she replied with a mischievous smile. “So, Master… maybe just a little mercy tonight?”  

“Sensei? It’s time for breakfast. Should we skip yours today?”  

Sayaka-san stood nearby, her smile cold enough to freeze the air.  

“Ahaha, sorry, my bad. But, Saya-chan, if you frown like that, you’ll get wrinkles, you know?” Rio fired back with a casual laugh.  

“Unlike certain people, I haven’t aged enough to worry about that yet. Maybe you should be the one concerned, Sensei? I mean, those fine lines are getting pretty obvious.”  

There was a faint crack in the air.  

Was that my imagination? God, I hoped so.  

“Hah, you don’t get it, do you? I’m still only 22. Compared to some awkward twenty-year-old, I’m practically overflowing with charm right now.”  

Crack.

Another ominous sound came, this time from Sayaka-san.  

“What did you just say? Old lady?”  

“Excuse me? Brat?”  

The tension between them sparked like electricity as they glared at each other.  

Oh man, I could practically feel the awkwardness in the room.  

“Alright, let’s just forget about these aunties and enjoy our breakfast, shall we? Kyo-san, say ‘ahhh’,” Mizuri purred as she sidled over and wrapped herself around my arm.  

The moment she leaned on me, two sharp gazes turned in my direction like lasers.  

“My Master’s hand should obviously be buried between my chest, shouldn’t it?”  

No, it shouldn’t. Absolutely not.  

“Actually, I made this meal for the sole purpose of feeding him myself, so I should be the one saying ‘ahhh’, don’t you think?” Sayaka-san chimed in, her tone both sweet and threatening.  

Wait… wasn’t breakfast supposed to be for everyone?  

“And for the record, we are NOT aunties!” the two of them snapped in unison.  

It was moments like these when they were oddly in sync.  

“Sayaka-san, Mizuri-san, Rio-san… You’re all beautiful, elegant, and radiant. Truly,” I said with a forced smile, trying to diffuse the situation.  

What the hell was I even saying?

“So, let’s stop fighting and just enjoy this lovely breakfast, okay?” I added with a slightly strained grin.  

“Alright, then make sure to give us each our proper share of attention later, alright?”  

All three of them turned to me with pleading eyes.  

I already knew exactly what they meant by that.  

“…Ugh. Yeah, okay,” I muttered in defeat.  

“Thank you for the meal!”

Breakfast tasted amazing.  

But as I sat there, I couldn’t help but question why I—someone who could have been considered a traitor to all men by old-world standards—was now sitting in the middle of this situation.  

Sigh.

How on earth did things end up like this?  

Everyone here used to despise me, completely and utterly.  

But somehow, somewhere along the way…  

Let me say it again:  

Harems were trash.

And most of all, I hated myself for being part of one.