The aroma of breakfast filled the air as the sun climbed higher. While the food was sizzling on the stove, we spent the time getting to know each other better. I decided to break the ice by asking for everyone's birthdays.
Some of the girls shared their D.O.B. without a second thought, but a few others were surprisingly guarded. When I turned to Rin, she crossed her arms and gave me a sharp look.
"I'm not just going to give you my personal info like that!" she huffed.
I turned my gaze to Yuzuki and the chemists, hoping for a better lead, but they just nodded in agreement with Rin. "We're with Rin-san on this one," they said in unison.
I couldn't help but feel a bit slighted. Meh, I thought to myself, they've already revealed their most personal parts to me, yet they're hesitating over a simple birthdate?
The tension was broken by Tsukiko, Yuzuki's mother. Unlike the younger girls, she was perfectly happy to share. "Mine is April 4th, 1992," she said with a smile, "and my daughter's is June 9th, 2011."
"Oh, Mom!" Yuzuki groaned, blushing at the sudden reveal.
By the time we finished eating, it was 9:54 AM. Miss Yurin stood up and addressed the group. "Yesterday was exhausting for everyone. I think it's time we all had a soak."
We all agreed. The castle's bath was gigantic—more like a small lake than a tub. Since the royal family had taken a liking to me, and the thirty maids were equally insistent, I soon found myself in the water with forty-six girls. It was an incredibly invigorating experience, though a bit chaotic.
At one point, I tried to make a quiet exit, thinking I had seen enough for one day. Now's my chance to slip away safely, I thought. But as soon as I reached for the edge, the girls burst out of the water, laughing and splashing, completely unbothered by their lack of clothing.
"AHIROOO!!" they screamed playfully, ignoring my attempts to leave.
Only Tsukiko stood apart, watching the chaos with a mischievous glint in her eye. "I think I want to dive into this pervert's swarm too," she joked.
Before she could, Yuzuki pulled her away toward the dressing area. After the long, rowdy session, we eventually gathered in the main hall. Some lounged on sofas, while others sat on the floor, the mood turning serious as Miss Yurin stood before us.
"We have a problem," Miss Yurin said. "People are being erased. Our shelters are disappearing. If we stay in one place too long, we might be next. Does anyone have an idea?"
The room fell silent until Xinoni stepped forward.
"I have an idea," she said confidently. "I have mastered a magical power called 'Packoturn.' With this magic, I can shrink the size of this castle and the mansion until they are no bigger than a toy. We can carry our homes in our backpacks and never be tied to one spot."
Miss Yurin's eyes lit up. "We're lucky to have you, Xinoni!"
We all clapped as we prepared for the move. The next day, the 12th, we stood outside. Xinoni closed her eyes and pointed her palms toward the buildings. A brilliant blue-green light erupted from her hands.
"Packoturn!" she chanted.
In an instant, the massive stone structures groaned and began to shrink, folding in on themselves until they were the size of dollhouses. Ai tucked the mansion into her backpack, and Asuna took the castle.
"So... where to now?" Nami asked.
Tsukiko pointed toward the horizon. "Let's go to the East!"
"Why the East?" Natsumi questioned.
"We haven't been there yet," Miss Yurin replied. "We have no knowledge of that place. It's a fresh start."
"Oooooh! Let's go!" Ame and I shouted together.
We began our trek toward the 'East Saga.' It was a long journey; we walked for three hours through beautiful fields of white lilies until our legs grew heavy. We found a high hump of land and decided to set up camp.
"Xinoni, make the mansion normal again," I requested.
With another chant of "Packoturn!" a grey light enveloped the miniature house, and it grew back to its full size in seconds. However, we soon realized there was no running water this far out. Without a river nearby, a bath was out of the question.
Instead, we decided to have a massive BBQ under the stars. It was the happiest I had felt in my past life or this one. I didn't care if this was fiction or reality; I just wanted to be the best Harem MC I could be.
Ame sat beside me, holding my hand and resting her head on my shoulder. "How romantic it is..." she whispered.
Suddenly, a piercing scream shattered the silence. Miss Yurin, Yuzuki, and the cosplayer girl were all pointing toward the shadows. Standing there, bathed in the moonlight, was a girl wearing a sharp black tuxedo.
The Royal Family didn't look surprised, but the rest of us were frozen.
"What is it?" Natsumi whispered.
Ame stood up, her voice trembling. "That girl... she's the daughter of our country's President... Harumi!"
"The President?" I asked, confused.
"Like a King," Ame clarified.
The tuxedo-clad girl stepped forward, looking at us with a bored expression. "Huh? Don't you know? I came here the same way everyone else did. I've been in this place for twenty days already."
"TWENTY DAYS?!" we all screamed in shock.
TO BE CONTINUED...