(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.

“Why? Why are you smiling?”

“…Umm?”

He widened his eyes, seemingly confused about what he had been asked.

But his response only irritated me further.

I knew it.

I knew this was just me lashing out.

My rationality told me as much, but my emotions simply wouldn’t let it go. And so…

“For a man like you, today’s outing must have been torture. Being dragged around to look at books you don’t care about, admiring paintings and art you’re not interested in. On top of that, I decided on all the destinations without asking for your input. With all these things you’re supposed to hate, why are you smiling so much?”

Even though I asked him directly, all I got was a face that screamed, “Hey, I don’t get what you mean either.”

“—It wasn’t torture at all. In fact, I had an amazing time,” he replied, laughing cheerfully.

I didn’t understand. It made even less sense than before. He wasn’t anything like the men I’d known until now.

“You’re lying. That can’t be true. Most men prefer to take the lead in situations like these. That’s their natural inclination. Yet, this entire date was planned by me. If I had taken you somewhere more aligned with your interests—say, a lively sports match or a stylish apparel store—you’d probably be much happier. ‘That’s how it’s supposed to be’. So why…”

I trailed off, unable to finish.

I thought doing the exact opposite of what a man might enjoy would make him want to break off the engagement…

After being rejected three times, I figured I wouldn’t get matched again. And honestly, I thought that would be fine. I wanted to have a marriage like my parents’—but for me, it didn’t seem possible, not with a man.

I couldn’t even see myself looking at men the way Akizuki-san, or honestly, other people, did.

That’s why—

“…Huh?”

“…Why didn’t this kind of date make you want to break off the engagement?”

I realized I’d accidentally blurted it out loud. I hadn’t meant to say it.

He narrowed his once-surprised eyes slightly before making a quiet sound as if something had clicked for him. “Ahh.”

“I don’t mind not taking the lead. And sure, sports can be fun to watch, but I’m more into combat sports than playing them myself.”

“But you’re a man! You’re supposed to…”

I couldn’t grasp it. I didn’t understand.

Men—despite little variations in their interests—were all essentially the same. They weren’t like my father.

Selfish. Arrogant. Close-minded.

And to some degree, every man held on to the notion of male dominance, believing that being male inherently made them superior to women. Like nobles of old, steeped in antiquated traditions.

“Sure, I’m a man. But… what does that have to do with anything?”

Did it matter?

“Because that’s your foundation, isn’t it? Being a man is your pride, your ultimate identity—your one and only defining trait.”

“No, not really. Being a man doesn’t define or support me at all. I’m just me. Even if I were a woman, it wouldn’t change how I live my life.”

“That’s something only a man would say. You’ve never experienced life as a woman,” she shot back.

Women… who had always been treated unfairly by men.

“You’re right. I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman—to experience how they’re treated or spoken to.”

“Then—”

“But by the same token, you don’t know what it’s like to be a man either, right? Like how uncomfortable it can be as a boy growing up in this world, or what it feels like to be an overwhelming minority.”

“That’s just because men have privileges—”

“It’s less about privilege and more about perspective. Whether you see it as a privilege or as an uphill struggle depends on how you choose to look at it.”

“Perspective, huh? So, are you trying to say that in this world, men and women are the same?”

“Of course not.”

His tone was calm, as if he had lived through decades of experiences before arriving at his answer.

“…”

“It’s because I’m leveraging the privilege of being male to navigate within these systems. But that’s just about the societal framework. Women dominate politics, make the laws, and hold the majority in parliament. They’re the ones in power. In terms of sheer numbers and influence, women are the majority here.”

“That… might be true, but…”

“I’m not saying one is better or worse—I just think we should consider people as individuals.”

“Individuals?”

“Exactly. Not just as their gender, but as unique people. There are so many different personalities among women, right? Some love fashion, some love sports, others enjoy movies, some prefer the sea, and others the mountains. It’s the same with men—there may be fewer of us, but we’re still people, with just as much variety. That doesn’t change.”

He was right, but there were also things that didn’t change.

“…But I think there are certain things that don’t change.”

“What do you mean?”

“Being male.”

“What you’re saying reminds me of how people generalize cats as aloof. But within that generalization, each cat has its own name and personality. Some are aloof, sure, but others are affectionate. Some hate being held, while others love it. What I’m trying to say is, uh…”

He trailed off awkwardly at the end, unable to wrap it up eloquently.

“…Are you telling me to see you as an individual, not just as a man?”

“Y-Yes! That’s exactly it.”

Hastily, he summarized his point. For the first time, though, I felt like I’d truly engaged with someone—without anger, without hostility—just a genuine conversation.

“Takeda-san himself… as a person, huh?”

Maybe, just maybe, I could try looking at it that way.

“Well, I get that it’s hard to break away from values you’ve built up over time. And I’m sure there are men like the ones you described. I might be a bit of an exception, though.”

A bit unusual?

No, honestly, you’re extremely unusual. Actually, more than that…

“…It’s true. You are a strange person,”

“Can you not just agree with that part?”

“…But yes, you’re right. I realize now that I’ve been looking at you with a skewed perspective—or rather, I wasn’t really looking at you at all. I saw you as a man, not as an individual. I wasn’t seeing you for who you really are.”

Not as a man, huh… Just as yourself. Maybe… he really was someone I could talk to, not like the others.

“In business, I know how important it is to base decisions on objective facts and avoid relying solely on personal biases. Otherwise, you’re bound to make serious mistakes. But when it comes to myself, I just can’t seem to judge things rationally.”

“Well, that’s only natural. We’re not machines—we have feelings.”

“That sounds like something straight out of a cheesy movie.”

“…Haha.”

His laugh was obviously polite, easy to read on his face. A person whose emotions showed plainly. Just a little earlier, he had seemed so gallant.

Not quite two-faced, but slightly inconsistent.

“…Well, cheesy lines aside, thank you. This conversation has helped me reflect on myself.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“…Maybe it’s time I started really looking at you—not just as a man, but as yourself,” she said with a small smile.

Feeling embarrassed, I gave a polite smile. I guess I wasn’t one to talk about others’ habits.

“Maybe I’ve been a little too stubborn.”

“Have you? If your past experiences made you that way, then that’s understandable. You don’t need to change who you are. But if you could see me as me, as an individual, I’d really appreciate that.”

An individual, huh.

“…Alright, I’ll try to see you as an individual man.”

“Could you not frame it like that, though?”

“Excuse me for a moment, I need to use the restroom…”

“Of course, go ahead.”

He left with a hint of awkwardness. That was fine—I needed a bit of time to gather myself too.

I replayed our earlier conversation in my mind.

He was unlike anyone I’d ever met. My perspective had shifted, just a bit.

Not about men in general, but about him.

He really was a strange person.

When he came back, maybe we could visit the zoo, have dinner, and then head home.

I found myself already thinking about what lay ahead.