My Eccentric Harem

Thanks to Albedo's steady income from her job at the supermarket and Aoyama's part-time salary, the three of them had managed to upgrade from their cramped one-room apartment. The new place was a noticeable improvement—spacious, modern, and, most importantly, it had separate bedrooms for everyone.

As they unpacked their belongings, Aqua couldn't resist teasing Aoyama.

"Three extra rooms?" she said, flopping onto the couch in the living room. "Let me guess—they're for your future harem members."

Aoyama groaned as he carried another box into his room. "They're for storage, Aqua. Don't make it weird."

"Oh, come on," Aqua said, grinning mischievously. "You've already got me and Albedo. It's only a matter of time before you spin the system again and end up with someone else."

Albedo, who was meticulously arranging her books on a shelf, glared at Aqua. "As if I would tolerate more distractions."

"It's not like you have a choice, Albedo," Aqua said with a smirk. "Remember, the system decides."

Albedo huffed, clearly irritated. "The system is insufferable."

"Join the club," Aoyama muttered, collapsing onto a chair. "But hey, at least we have space now. No more fighting over who gets to use the futon first."

"True," Aqua said, stretching lazily. "And the blanket. Sharing that was a nightmare."

---

The new apartment felt like a fresh start for all of them. Albedo, who had gradually softened since her arrival, seemed more at ease in the larger space. She even took it upon herself to decorate the shared areas, much to Aqua's amusement.

"I didn't know you had an eye for interior design," Aqua teased as Albedo carefully placed a vase of flowers on the dining table.

"A proper living space reflects the dignity of its inhabitants," Albedo replied primly.

"Sure," Aqua said, smirking. "Or you're just trying to impress Aoyama."

Albedo stiffened, her cheeks faintly coloring. "Don't be ridiculous."

Aoyama sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can we not do this today?"

---

One evening, after they had settled in, Aoyama decided to address the elephant in the room: the three extra bedrooms.

"Okay, so," he said, gathering Aqua and Albedo in the living room. "What are we actually doing with those empty rooms?"

"Future harem members," Aqua said immediately, grinning.

"Not happening," Aoyama said flatly. "I was thinking we could use one as a study, maybe turn another into a guest room."

Albedo nodded thoughtfully. "A study would be practical."

"And the last room?" Aqua asked, tilting her head.

"Storage, probably," Aoyama said. "Unless either of you has a better idea."

Aqua and Albedo exchanged glances, then shrugged. "Works for me," Aqua said. "But don't be surprised when the system fills them up."

Albedo crossed her arms, her expression stern. "If that happens, they had better be useful."

"Noted," Aoyama said, chuckling despite himself.

---

The new apartment brought subtle changes to their dynamic. With more space, they found themselves spending more time together in the shared areas. Aqua and Albedo even started bickering less, though they still found plenty of reasons to tease each other.

One evening, as they sat around the dining table playing cards, Aqua leaned back and smiled. "You know, this isn't so bad. I mean, I never thought I'd be living with you two, but... it's kind of nice."

Albedo glanced at her, then nodded reluctantly. "It is... tolerable."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Aoyama said, grinning.

As they laughed and played, Aoyama couldn't help but feel grateful for how far they had come. The system might have thrown them together under strange circumstances, but they were making it work—one step at a time.

To Be Continued...