Can a misanthrope have a harem?

Standing stiff like a statue against the cold brick wall, arms crossed tight in a shield I didn't really believe in, the girl across from me lifted her chin with this weird, almost imperious calm that didn't quite fit the quiet street. Her raven-black hair caught the streetlamp's pale glow, every strand shimmering like it held some kind of silent threat or secret power. And her eyes, those deep, obsidian pits, locked onto me like they could strip away every lie I'd buried and make me raw. The twitch of her cat ears just sent a shiver down my spine, turning a regular night into something unnervingly surreal.

Another demi-human? Great. First Yukinoshita, now this silent enchantress.

"I- I'm Komi Shouko," she whispered, barely louder than a breath, but sharp and clear like she rehearsed it a hundred times. She pulled a pen and notebook from her bag with that fluid, effortless grace. Without a word, she scribbled two lines and lifted the page like it was some sacred text meant only for me:

"I know we haven't spoken much, but I've noticed you. There's something about you that feels familiar, like a memory I can't quite grasp."

Curiosity mixed with disbelief curled inside me. Seriously? Something about me feels familiar? This isn't some cheesy romance shoujo game where everyone's got amnesia or a secret past life.

I gave her a look, half amused, half skeptical. "From a memory?" I repeated, voice dripping with sarcasm. "You mean, like… a past life or some other nonsense?"

If this was me a few months ago, I'd have told her to get lost, maybe even cursed and threatened her to never shadow me again. But after those weird conversations with Alya that white oni of a girl, something about me shifted. Call it growth, call it insanity. I'm just glad those talks left some trace.

She barely speaks, huh? Social anxiety or just naturally mute? How does a girl that pretty not be an extrovert? Part of me wants to ask, but I bite it back. Some secrets are better buried.

Komi's jaw tensed, then she nodded slowly. Another quick scribble: "Yes, like a past life. I've had dreams that replay with perfect clarity. And in those dreams… you were there." Her cheeks flushed faintly, and she lowered the notebook, hiding half her face like it embarrassed her.

Kawaii. Yeah, real cute.

"Dreams can be lies," I muttered, trying to sound as unmoved as possible.

She shot back with quiet determination, "Maybe they're real. Maybe in another time, another world, we were-"

I cut her off with a sharp wave of my hand. "It's late. Let's save the ghost stories for another time. You live close?"

My social interaction meter was already dangerously low. If I kept this conversation up, I'd die from an overdose of extroversion.

Komi met my gaze, eyes reflecting a strange mix of gratitude and something deeper. She nodded, her cat ears twitching ever so slightly, and scribbled once more:

"Thank you, I would like that. I live a few streets over, not too far from here."

I shrugged. "Alright, let's go then." My voice was steadier than I felt. We started walking side by side, the night air cold and crisp. The streets were empty, the noisy chaos of the day fading into a quiet calm that almost felt... peaceful.

Side by side, we walked through the silent lanes. Every time I glanced at her, her eyes locked onto mine and she gave the tiniest, almost trembling smile.

"Thank you for walking me home," Komi wrote, the words silent but sincere.

"No problem," I said, voice rough but genuine. "We can talk more another day, if you want."

Her ears twitched, and she quickly scrawled one last line: "I would like that." Then she whispered, shy and barely audible, "A-and… can I get your Line contact?" Her cheeks burned pink.

I almost refused. That would be way too much for a girl like her. Me from yesterday? I would have flat-out slapped her for that. My body was way more honest than my brain.

"I don't usually share my contact info," I said low, cautious. "But... okay." I handed her my phone. Our fingers brushed briefly, electricity, or maybe just static. Whatever it was, it made me pause.

Komi's eyes lit up with a soft glow. She nodded eagerly, cat ears twitching with excitement, and quickly added me. When she handed back the phone, our hands touched again, that weird sense of connection sparking for a moment.

Mh... Weird.

"Thank you, Aiko," she said softly, voice barely above a whisper but full of real gratitude. "I'll message you later."

I nodded. "Sure. Talk to you later."

I think I'll block her.

As we reached her street, Komi turned back to me, eyes deeper than the night around us. She scribbled in her notebook:

"Goodnight, Aiko. Thank you for today."

"Goodnight, uh... Komi," I replied, voice steady, calm.

And with that, I turned away and headed home. The night closed in around me, quiet and empty, my heart just a little lighter, or maybe just less heavy than before.

...

[3ND POV]

As Komi and Aiko parted ways, Komi's heart felt unexpectedly lighter. The encounter had stirred something inside her, warmth, connection, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She glanced back once, watching Aiko vanish around the corner, before turning toward home.

Unseen by either, a shadow detached itself from a nearby alley. Komi Shuuko - Komi Shouko's mother, had been out running errands when she spotted her daughter walking alongside a tall boy. She paused, eyes narrowing, a flicker of surprise and curiosity flickering across her face.

Protective as ever, especially given her daughter's quiet nature, she watched as Komi occasionally wrote in her notebook and handed it to Aiko, who read and responded with a nod or a few words.

Then, at the end of the street, she saw something that made her catch her breath, her daughter speaking aloud.

"She's speaking?" Komi Shuuko murmured, a lump forming in her throat, pride and concern twisting together.

She'd always hoped Shouko would find someone who could see past her silence, someone who could understand the depths of her soul.

A gentle smile softened her face. Stepping out of the shadows, she approached her daughter, heart swelling with hope.

"Mother," Komi greeted softly, voice barely above a whisper.

Komi Shuuko nodded, eyes warm. "Who was that, Shouko?" she asked, voice tinged with gentle concern, and silent warning for anyone who might hurt her daughter.

Komi smiled faintly, writing in her notebook:

"A friend, Mother. A real friend."

Komi Shuuko's hand rested lightly on her daughter's shoulder, a silent promise of love and protection.

"I'm glad, Shouko. I'm glad you found a friend."

Together, they walked home, Komi Shuuko filling the night air with stories and questions, her heart lighter than it had been in a long time.

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MC POV

"Ah, finally home," I muttered to the empty apartment, my voice echoing off the bare walls. The freedom of solitude was a balm, no small talk, no forced smiles, no pretenses. I stepped into the kitchen, thoughts already drifting to something easy to cook.

Dinner simmered quietly on the stove while I sank into the living room chair and powered up my gaming console. The familiar startup screen blinked to life, and for a moment, I felt like I could escape, vanish into pixels and stories where nothing expected anything from me.

The social battery was recharging slowly.

Just as I was about to dig into dinner, a sharp knock interrupted the silence. Fork frozen mid-air, I sighed and rose reluctantly.

Opening the door revealed a girl who looked like she'd stepped straight out of a dream, long golden hair shimmering under the porch light, clear blue eyes like summer skies, features soft and delicate like a painting. Her simple, elegant outfit matched her gentle aura.

"Hello," she said softly, voice like a melody. "I'm Shiina Mahiru, your new neighbor. I just moved in next door and wanted to introduce myself."

"Uh, hello," I managed, voice tight but polite. "I'm Aizawa Aiko. You need something?"

Say no. Say no, please.

Mahiru smiled gently. "No, I didn't want to interrupt your dinner, just thought saying hello would be nice."

Relieved, I nodded. "Well, thanks. Nice to meet you."

A beat of awkward silence passed.

"I'll be studying at Sobu High," she added.

My eyes widened. "Sobu? Me too."

Her smile lit up the night. "Really? Maybe we could walk to school together sometime."

I hesitated, not used to this fast connection. After today… maybe it wasn't the worst idea. "Yeah, maybe," I said, trying to sound casual.

Great. A walking buddy. The only time I'm alone now is in my apartment. What a pain.

Mahiru suggested exchanging Line contacts, the modern handshake.

I paused, weighing the pros and cons. "Sure, why not."

Phones out, she sent a request, and my device buzzed. I accepted.

"There, now we can message," Mahiru said, her warmth somehow making the room feel less cold.

"Yeah," I said, pocketing my phone. "It was nice meeting you… uh…"

"Mahiru," she smiled softly.

"Nice meeting you, Mahiru."

"Likewise, Aiko. See you around."

She waved and disappeared back inside her apartment, leaving me alone with the sudden weight of new connections.

Glancing at my phone, I saw the names: Alya. Yukinoshita Yukino. Komi Shouko. Shiina Mahiru.

Four new threads pulling at the fabric of my solitude.

Wait... Yukinoshita? Haruno's sister?

I'm really not going to die tomorrow, am I?

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Thanks for reading. Uptaded version. Only the MC will have a his own POV, for the rest, i'll just do a 3ND POV. Easier to lay out the feelings of the characters that way. For me atleast. You can also give me ideas for the future or pinpoint plot holes that I may have forgotten, if you want.