(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 162.1: Mistress and Motherhood

Perhaps because it was difficult even for Ayaka to switch gears and talk seriously immediately after confessing, she brewed coffee to reset the mood.

Shortly after the fragrant aroma drifted from the kitchen, Ayaka poured coffee for the two of us and sat in front of me.

“It’s rare for you not to come sit next to me~.”

At my half-teasing words, Ayaka, sitting opposite me, made a slightly sulky face.

It was a pouting expression Ayaka usually wouldn’t show.

“Don’t tease adults so much.”

She expressed clearly that she was angry.

“Sorry, sorry,” I laughed, and Ayaka laughed along with me.

Well, this was nothing more than a playful act.

But even such playfulness is fun.

Around the time the coffee stopped steaming, Ayaka suddenly assumed a serious expression.

It seems she managed to switch her mindset.

I did well too.

“Before we return to the topic… I want you not to misunderstand, so I’ll say this first.”

Not misunderstand?

I wonder what she means.

“Yeah?”

“In my assessment, Kyoya has two problems. One of them… unfortunately, I probably can’t solve it. No, the other fiancées surely can’t either.”

“Is that… because the unsolvable one is about my inner self? Maybe?”

I thought so listening to the earlier conversation.

That the reason I haven’t fully accepted the fiancée system is because of my own feelings.

That’s why I’ve been unknowingly hesitant with everyone else too.

“You realized it, huh? Yes, that’s right. I might be able to help, at least. In fact, I will, but in the end, it depends on whether you can accept it. Well, since you understand it yourself, I feel like you’ll manage somehow eventually, though.”

I couldn’t help but smile wryly at Ayaka’s words.

Perhaps thinking it suspicious, she tilted her head slightly.

“No, it’s not like I understood it myself.”

I wish I could self-analyze like that.

Most people don’t understand themselves, after all.

“That means~ it was Maid-chan~.”

She’s sharp as always.

“I see, Maid-chan was the one who lit a fire under Kyoya regarding this matter, right~?”

“Since Kazari-san thought to do something like this, naturally, right? …I really can’t beat Kazari-san.”

“Does that mean even Maid-chan thought things couldn’t go on as they were…?”

“Probably. She has a poker face, so I don’t have proof, though.”

She never shows it on her face, as always.

Though she’s completely different from when we first met.

She smiles a little now, and while her word count hasn’t decreased, the amount she talks has increased.

“Well, that matter is fine for now. Regarding the second problem, I think I can be of some use.”

“The second problem?”

“Yes. Kyoya is surely thinking this, isn’t he? [Being forced to marry someone with four fiancées, everyone is pitiful.] Something like that.”

My heart skipped a beat.

It wasn’t exactly “pitiful,” but I did feel sorry.

Like I was the only one benefiting.

“That expression looks like I hit the mark.”

“…”

“I think Kyoya might be misunderstanding the thoughts of us fiancées. I’ll say this first. Including me, none of the fiancées are dissatisfied with the fiancée system. Right now, you could even say we are satisfied, thanks to you.”

“Satisfied…?”

I just can’t believe it.

The fiancée system is certainly a dreamlike system for men.

Since you can date various people.

But for women, it’s different.

If it were originally monogamy, the time shared with the husband would be divided by the number of wives added.

Currently speaking, at the very least, the time we can spend together is 1/4 compared to a normal couple.

“You’re making a face that says you can’t believe it, aren’t you?”

“…Being told you’re satisfied, well. I can’t really accept it.”

“Why is that?”

I told her what I thought earlier.

She nodded slowly, and said,

“Yeah, as I thought.”

She seemed convinced of something.

She slowly swirled her coffee cup.

“Kyoya is misunderstanding after all.”

“Misunderstanding…?”

“Yes, misunderstanding.”

Even if she says that, I don’t understand at all.

What am I misunderstanding?

“Well, it’s probably common sense for Kyoya. In the first place, that thought just now—you were talking in comparison to monogamy, right?”

“Yeah.”

“That is the cause of the misunderstanding in the first place. Right now, at least us fiancées aren’t even thinking about comparing it to monogamy, you know?”

Not comparing?

“That might be true for Ayaka, but for the other three, their parents are monogamous, with one wife, right?”

Then isn’t it normal to compare?

“It’s true that the parents’ generation is like that, isn’t it? Even so, even in the parents’ generation, the ratio of women who haven’t been able to marry is considerably higher than in the past, and there is the idea that just being able to marry is lucky itself. For us, that’s even more prominent. That’s why things like Kuzuryu happen where men gain a sense of superiority just based on gender, though?”

Isn’t monogamy the normal way of thinking?

That can’t be…

“The reason the fiancée system isn’t spreading is supposed to be because there’s a rebellious spirit against it. Besides, monogamy was normal back home.”

That’s why I thought it was natural.

Is it different?

“It’s no wonder Kyoya doesn’t realize. Kyoya lived in the mountains. As a demographic with a lot of rebellious spirit, the older the age group, the higher the resistance. Among the working generation, surprisingly few people look at reality and voice opposition. Were there not few young people where Kyoya was?”

Certainly, the young people left, saying they couldn’t stay in the countryside forever.

There were only middle-aged people and older.

“The place where Kyoya grew up is, if I may say so, quite deep in the mountains, right? Even now in this transition period, I don’t think it’s strange for old values to still exist.”

“…Kh.”

“That’s why, for kids nowadays, being able to marry a man is a lucky find. The idea of monopolizing a man in monogamy might be an ideal, but it’s become an unrealistic story, and many people think so. I think that’s close to the thinking of young kids. This is also why I felt your thinking was a little different from the present.”