My Eccentric Harem

The days after Albedo caught Aoyama and Aqua kissing were tense, but manageable. Albedo maintained her usual cold demeanor, but Aoyama could feel a shift in the air. She avoided prolonged conversations with him, retreating into her work or her art whenever they were alone. Aqua, as expected, reveled in the tension, her teasing jabs only stoking the fire.

But beneath Albedo's composed exterior, something had changed. She was beginning to question everything she thought she knew—not just about Aoyama, but about herself.

---

One evening, Aoyama returned home late from school, exhausted from a day of tests and club activities. As he opened the door, he was surprised to find the apartment unusually quiet. Aqua was nowhere to be seen, and the lights in the living room were dimmed.

"Albedo?" he called out.

"I'm here," her voice replied, coming from the balcony.

Aoyama stepped outside to find her sitting on the small bench, her wings folded tightly against her back. The city lights twinkled in the distance, casting a faint glow over her somber figure.

"You okay?" he asked, sitting down beside her.

"I should be asking you that," Albedo replied, her tone sharp but lacking its usual bite. "You look dreadful."

"Thanks," Aoyama said with a wry smile. "Rough day."

They sat in silence for a moment, the cool night air brushing against their faces. Finally, Albedo spoke.

"I've been... thinking," she said hesitantly, her golden eyes fixed on the horizon.

"About what?" Aoyama asked, turning to her.

"About you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And about Aqua."

Aoyama's chest tightened. "Look, about what happened—"

"It's not about that," Albedo interrupted, her tone firm. "It's about why it bothers me."

Aoyama blinked, caught off guard. "What do you mean?"

Albedo's hands clenched in her lap, her composure slipping for just a moment. "I shouldn't care about what you do. You're a human. Insignificant, temporary... unworthy of my attention. And yet, I find myself... drawn to you. It's infuriating."

Aoyama's heart pounded in his chest. "Albedo..."

She shook her head, her golden eyes flashing with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "Don't misunderstand. My loyalty is to Nazarick. It will always be to them. But... being here, with you, has made me question things I never thought I'd question. And I hate it."

Aoyama hesitated, then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe it's okay to question things. Maybe it's okay to feel."

Albedo froze at his touch, her wings twitching slightly. For a moment, she looked as though she might push him away. But instead, she sighed, her shoulders relaxing under his hand.

"You're a fool," she said softly.

"Yeah," Aoyama replied with a small smile. "But maybe that's why this works."

---

The next day, Albedo surprised Aoyama by joining him for a walk to the park. It was rare for her to voluntarily spend time outside the apartment unless it was for work, and her presence drew curious glances from passersby.

"This world is... different," Albedo said as they strolled through the park. "Simpler than mine. Less... chaotic."

"That's not necessarily a bad thing," Aoyama said. "Sometimes simple is good."

"Perhaps," Albedo murmured, her gaze distant.

They stopped by a small pond, the water reflecting the afternoon sunlight. Albedo crouched down, her elegant fingers brushing the surface of the water.

"In my world, I was surrounded by strength and power," she said quietly. "But here... I've found something else. Something I don't fully understand."

"What's that?" Aoyama asked, sitting on a nearby bench.

Albedo hesitated, her golden eyes meeting his. "Peace."

Aoyama's breath caught in his throat. "Peace, huh?"

"Yes," Albedo said, her voice soft but resolute. "Even with Aqua's incessant chatter and your... peculiar habits, I've felt a peace here that I never knew existed."

Aoyama smiled. "I'm glad. You deserve that."

Albedo looked at him for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then, almost imperceptibly, she nodded. "Perhaps."

---

That night, the system updated again.

---

Name: Albedo

Affection Level: 85/100

---

"Eighty-five," Aoyama murmured, staring at the number. "We're getting close."

Aqua, who had been peeking over his shoulder, smirked. "Look at you, climbing the ladder."

"It's not like that," Aoyama said quickly, closing the interface.

"Sure, sure," Aqua said, grinning. "But don't forget—she's still figuring things out. Don't get ahead of yourself."

"I won't," Aoyama said, though his chest felt lighter. For the first time, he felt like Albedo was truly opening up—not just to him, but to the idea of a life beyond Ainz.

---

Later that night, as Aoyama lay in bed, he heard a soft knock at his door. He sat up, surprised to find Albedo standing in the doorway.

"Albedo?" he said, blinking. "What's up?"

"I just..." She hesitated, her expression uncharacteristically vulnerable. "I wanted to say... thank you."

"For what?" Aoyama asked, tilting his head.

"For being... patient with me," she said softly. "And for... caring."

Aoyama smiled. "Anytime, Albedo."

She lingered in the doorway for a moment longer, then turned and walked back to her room, her wings trailing behind her. Aoyama watched her go, his chest tightening with a mix of emotions he couldn't quite name.

As he lay back down, one thought echoed in his mind:

Maybe she's starting to see me, too.

To Be Continued...