The following week was, surprisingly, less chaotic than Aoyama expected. Aqua had settled into the school routine—or at least, as much as someone like Aqua could. She still acted like the center of the universe, but she had toned down her theatrics in class. Well, mostly.
One particular morning, as they walked to school, Aqua was unusually quiet. Aoyama glanced at her. She had a pensive look on her face, her brows slightly furrowed.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"Hmm?" Aqua blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Oh, it's nothing."
"You've been quiet since we left," Aoyama pressed. "What's up?"
Aqua hesitated for a moment before sighing. "It's just… everyone at school keeps talking about clubs and activities. Apparently, it's a big deal. Should I… join something?"
Aoyama raised an eyebrow. "You? In a club? That sounds like a disaster waiting to happen."
"Hey!" Aqua glared at him. "I can be responsible, you know!"
"Sure," Aoyama said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "What kind of club are you even thinking about?"
"I don't know," Aqua admitted, her tone softer. "I just… don't want to be left out."
Aoyama paused, surprised by her vulnerability. "Well," he said after a moment, "if you really want to join a club, maybe I can help you find one that suits you."
"Really?" Aqua's eyes lit up.
"Yeah, but only if you promise not to cause too much trouble."
Aqua smirked. "No promises."
---
After school, Aoyama led Aqua to the club recruitment area, where various groups had set up booths to attract new members. It was lively and loud, with students calling out to passersby and handing out flyers.
"So, what catches your eye?" Aoyama asked.
Aqua scanned the booths, her eyes darting between the colorful displays. Suddenly, she stopped in front of the art club's table. A student was demonstrating watercolor painting, and Aqua seemed transfixed by the way the colors blended together on the canvas.
"Art, huh?" Aoyama said, noticing her interest. "Didn't peg you for the creative type."
"I'm a goddess," Aqua said haughtily. "Of course I have an eye for beauty."
"Right," Aoyama muttered, rolling his eyes. "Do you want to join?"
Aqua hesitated, biting her lip. "I don't know… What if I'm not good at it?"
Aoyama stared at her, surprised. This was the first time he'd seen Aqua doubt herself. "Hey," he said softly, "it's not about being good. It's about trying something new. And if you hate it, you can always quit."
Aqua glanced at him, her expression unreadable. Then she nodded. "Okay. Let's do it."
---
The art club welcomed Aqua with open arms, thrilled to have someone so enthusiastic. They handed her a paintbrush and a blank canvas, encouraging her to experiment. Aqua dove in with gusto, mixing vibrant colors and layering them onto the canvas.
Aoyama watched from the sidelines, amused. Despite her earlier hesitation, Aqua seemed completely absorbed in her work. Her tongue poked out slightly as she focused, and her expression was unusually calm.
"Done!" she announced proudly, holding up her painting.
Aoyama leaned in to get a closer look. It was… abstract, to say the least. A chaotic swirl of blues, whites, and greens, vaguely resembling a turbulent ocean.
"What do you think?" Aqua asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
"It's… unique," Aoyama said diplomatically.
Aqua beamed. "I know, right? It's a masterpiece!"
The club members clapped politely, and Aqua basked in their praise. Aoyama couldn't help but smile. Despite her overconfidence, there was something endearing about how proud she was of her work.
---
As they walked home that evening, Aqua carried her painting like it was a priceless treasure. She hummed softly, clearly in a good mood.
"You really enjoyed that, huh?" Aoyama said.
"Of course!" Aqua said, spinning around to face him. "Didn't I tell you I'd be amazing?"
"You did okay," Aoyama teased.
"Okay?!" Aqua pouted. "Admit it, you were impressed."
Aoyama chuckled. "Fine, you did better than I expected."
Aqua grinned, but her smile softened as she looked at him. "Thanks, Aoyama."
"For what?"
"For… helping me," she said, her voice quieter than usual. "I know I'm not easy to deal with, but… it's nice to have someone who cares."
Aoyama felt his cheeks heat up. He looked away, scratching the back of his neck. "Yeah, well… don't get used to it."
Aqua laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Too late."
---
That night, Aoyama checked the system interface again.
---
Name: Aqua
Harem Affection Level: 15/100
---
"Fifteen, huh?" he murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I guess we're making progress."
He closed the interface and lay back on his futon, Aqua's laughter still echoing in his mind. For the first time, he realized he didn't mind her presence as much as he thought. Maybe, just maybe, this harem system wasn't the worst thing to happen to him.
---
To Be Continued..