(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.

Confident and familiar, Hosho-san headed inside.

“Do you come here often?”

“From time to time.”

It must be a spot she’d visited multiple times before.

She bypassed the second-floor reception desk effortlessly, pulling up her smartphone to display the electronic tickets she’d prepared.

“Oh, I bought tickets for two in advance, so you can come in with me without any issues.”

“Oh, thank you very much.”

Gesturing for me to follow her, she beckoned me impatiently.

Her level of preparation was flawless, wasn’t it?

This was the kind of person you’d describe as ‘capable’.

If she were a guy, she’d fit the textbook definition of a perfect boyfriend—someone reliable, someone who got things done.

Then again, she was a woman and also a CEO. It wouldn’t make sense for someone this competent not to be in charge of something significant.

When you think about it, she really was pretty incredible.

“Oh, I see. This place has timed entry?”

“Yes, it’s quite a popular spot. They’ve implemented timed admissions to manage the flow of visitors efficiently.”

“That’s amazing—it must draw quite a crowd.”

And honestly, just the architecture alone made it stand out so much.

“Recently, they even used it as a set for a televised year-end concert. Someone performed live here.”

“Wow, no wonder it’s so popular!”

It was impressive—really, it was. But…

“So, um… what exactly is this place?”

“Oh? Didn’t I mention it?”

“Nope, not at all.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, I guess I didn’t. My apologies. This is a place that houses over 25,000 rare and out-of-print books, as well as other valuable items. They also host themed art exhibitions and subcultural events. You could call it a hybrid cultural center, I suppose.”

That was an impressive collection. With such a vast array of items, it made sense they’d need such an extraordinary building to house it.

The moment I stepped inside, I was blown away.

The towering bookshelves, each around 8 meters tall, were packed with books.

Projection mapping lit up the space with fiery visuals and water droplets cascading downward.

Even though I knew it was all artificially generated, the grandeur of it left me in awe.

“Wow, this is incredible.”

“…It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

Even Hosho-san, who usually kept her expressions reserved, softened her features as she gazed at the scene.

She looked completely entranced.

The beauty of the display was almost ineffable.

Spanning about three minutes, the sequence wasn’t just a collection of technical prowess—it felt like an entire work of art in itself.

I lacked the expertise to critique it properly, but it was undeniably impressive.

I found myself staring, utterly captivated.

As we moved forward, the walls along the staircase were also lined with books.

Each floor seemed to have its own unique theme and concept embedded in its design.

It was fascinating—this was the kind of place you could spend hours in.

I could see why Hosho-san would want to visit this place repeatedly.

Every so often, she’d stop to offer commentary:

“This one is by a 19th-century author famous for—”

“The remarkable thing about this particular book is—”

Her explanations were clear, insightful, and incredibly educational.

Honestly, I forgot we were on a date. I was just thoroughly enjoying myself.

There was even a section dedicated to light novels, showcasing a collection of older works. As we passed through, she remarked:

“The selection here is unparalleled…”

Wait… did this mean Hosho-san was well-versed in subcultures too?

Time flew by, and before I knew it, we’d seen everything.

“Would you like to grab some coffee?”

“Sure.”

After being so absorbed in everything, I realized how thirsty I was.

“Oh wow, we’ve been here for nearly three hours.”

We headed to a nearby café and found a seat.

“Would coffee be alright for you?”

“No, no—since you already handled the tickets, let me handle this. Would you prefer coffee or tea?”

“…Oh, um, coffee, please.”

For some reason, she looked surprised that I offered to buy the drinks.

But let me do this, seriously. She’d planned the date, prepared everything, and made sure it went smoothly. I’d felt uneasy having her handle everything.

Also, wasn’t tea more of a rich person’s drink? I’d expected her to choose that.

“Hot or iced?”

“…Hot, please.”

That tracked.

Nodding to myself, I got up and went to order.

“Here you go, Hosho-san.”

I carefully placed her hot coffee in front of her.

“Oh, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it—it’s the least I can do.”

This iced coffee was pretty good.

“Why did you go and buy it?”

“Why? What do you mean?”

“I mean, isn’t this usually something men don’t do?”

…Was it?

I honestly had no idea.

Why wouldn’t they?

“I can’t speak for general societal expectations, but I personally don’t mind doing it. Besides, you’ve already made today so enjoyable for me. I just wanted to repay you in some small way.”

“…”

“Oh, of course, I know this doesn’t come close to making it even. Next time, I’d really like to be the one to take care of everything and escort you.”

“…”

Still, she stayed silent.

…Why?

“…Did you not enjoy today?”

“No, I did. Very much so.”

That went without saying.

I got to experience a whole new world through her.

“I… I see. That’s good to hear…”

For some reason, her expression looked… conflicted.

We finished our coffee, had lunch at the café, and headed back to her car.

Our next stop was the famous art museum in Ueno.

It was amazing how easy it was to get around with a car.