*Note: altough you think this relationship developed very fast, think that in a few chapters I'll do chapters developing her relationship very deeply so please don't hate me.
And have a good day :)
...
The cool evening air of Sainan offered no comfort to Ren, who remained sprawled on the hard concrete outside the household. He felt a profound sense of confusion and defeat, his mind a whirlwind of fragmented memories and bruised pride. Just a short while ago, he had been part of a single entity, sharing a life and a consciousness with his sister. Now, he was a solitary figure on the ground, feeling the literal and metaphorical weight of the world pressing down on him. He couldn't grasp the speed at which everything had unraveled.
Why had the separation happened so suddenly? The legends of his people spoke of a gradual transition, yet the Omnitrix had rewritten his destiny in a matter of seconds. And then there was the physical humiliation. Why had he been beaten and tossed out like common refuse when he felt he had done nothing to deserve such treatment? The sting of his physical injuries was nothing compared to the blow to his ego.
To make matters worse, Lala's voice echoed in his mind, calling him a pervert with such casual certainty that it made his blood boil. He had been on Earth for barely a single day, and already, he had managed to become a complete loser in the eyes of the very people he sought to impress. The arrogance he had displayed only moments before in Akira's living room had been shattered, replaced by a cold, hollow loneliness.
Should he just give up? Should he crawl back to his home planet and pretend this entire Earth venture never happened?
"Never! A man never gives up at the first setback he receives! I may have started poorly, but in the end, I will be declared the winner!" Ren shouted at the empty street, his voice cracking with a desperate sort of bravado. He pushed himself up, trembling but determined to salvage what remained of his dignity.
However, that defiant cry did not go unnoticed. Just as Ren was attempting to brush the dust off his clothes, Haruka stepped out from a nearby path, heading toward the local shops for some evening errands. She stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Ren making a scene in front of the house where she had spent so much energy trying to infiltrate. She recognized the look of a defeated suitor all too well; it was a mirror of the frustration she had felt after her own failed attempts to sway Lala.
"You don't have any chance, better give up," Haruka said, her voice dripping with a mixture of pity and blunt realism. She adjusted the bag over her shoulder, looking down at Ren as if he were a particularly stubborn insect.
Ren jumped, startled by the sudden presence of another student. He glared at her, his emerald eyes flashing with resentment. "And who are you supposed to be?" he demanded, trying to regain his footing and his composure at the same time.
"Haruka, your classmate and Akira's love rival, a pleasure to meet you… or not," Haruka replied coolly. She stood with a confidence that Ren currently lacked, her posture relaxed despite the sharp words she delivered.
At the mention of the words "love rival" coming from a girl, Ren's heart nearly stopped. His mind raced, trying to process the implications. Was it possible that Lala didn't distinguish between men and women? Or was this planet even more chaotic than he had initially feared? The idea seemed impossible, yet here was this girl claiming a position he desperately wanted for himself.
"You're lying, you're not his love rival at all! Lala is already engaged to that stupid Akira, you're just a bootlicker chasing something you'll never get," Ren snapped, his anger flaring. He needed to strike back, to find a flaw in this girl's confidence to make himself feel less like a failure.
Haruka's brow furrowed, and a cold spark ignited in her eyes. She stepped closer, her shadow falling over him. "Look who's talking—the one who was kicked out of his house all beaten up like a pig. Can you fall any lower? At least I managed to become Lala's friend. Do you even have that option?"
The words hit Ren like a physical strike. Though they were cruel, they carried the weight of an undeniable truth. He looked at the closed door of Akira's house and then back at Haruka. Even this girl, whom he had just met, was miles ahead of him in the social hierarchy of the household.
"I… you…" Ren stammered, his bravado evaporating. He was left speechless, his mouth hanging open as he searched for a retort that simply wasn't there.
"Do you see? You're a fool for trying. I, at least, can be with Lala as a friend, but… what can you do? Akira doesn't tolerate other men getting near his women; you'll receive a beating first. Do you want to try? Go ahead, but you'll just end up beaten again," Haruka continued, her voice merciless. She watched as Ren's shoulders slumped, the last of his fighting spirit seemingly drained by her cold assessment of his situation.
Ren didn't say anything more. He stood there in the growing shadows, his jaw clenched so hard it ached. The reality of his "unknown" status—a stranger to the girl he desired and a nuisance to the man who protected her—was a bitter pill to swallow.
"And you're right, I'm chasing something I can't have, but… at least I'm her friend. Instead, what are you to her? I'll tell you: a stranger. So you'd better get lost," Haruka added, delivering the final blow. She turned away, feeling a strange sense of vindication. At least as a friend, she could share meals with Lala, talk about the mundane things of daily life, and exist within her orbit. But Ren? Ren was an outsider, a dream that needed to end before it caused him more pain.
"From today on I have a new enemy! You'll pay for this, Haruka!" Ren suddenly bellowed, his voice filled with a fresh, albeit childish, rage. Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted down the street, disappearing into the twilight as he ran away from his humiliation.
Haruka watched him go, a long sigh escaping her lips. "Just a pathetic loser," she muttered to herself, though the victory felt hollow. "Although… am I any better? I've managed to be her friend, but I haven't managed to get out of there. It seems to me that I'm totally in the friendzone… anyway, at least now I'm her friend and even some girls talk to me. I guess it's not bad either."
Ever since that pivotal conversation she'd had with Lala in Akira's presence, Haruka had consciously shifted her approach. She had stopped the constant, aggressive flirting, choosing instead to behave like a normal friend for the first time in her life. It was a strange, new sensation, but it had yielded results; the other girls in the group were starting to include her, even if their guard remained understandably high.
"Maybe I should even reconsider going home. Here I'm playing the fool, and at least at home I'm the center of attention, but… I like being here. It's quiet and I have a good time with everyone, even with Akira…" Haruka whispered to the evening air. As soon as the words left her mouth, a wave of confusion washed over her. Her heart fluttered in a way that terrified her.
"No, I can't like a boy!" she denied vehemently, her face heating up. She gripped the handles of her shopping bags and hurried away, trying to outrun the complicated feelings that were beginning to take root in the corners of her heart.
Meanwhile, inside Akira's house, the atmosphere had undergone a radical and positive shift. With Ren's disruptive energy removed and Run finally established in her own body, a sense of domestic peace had returned to the living room.
The change was most evident in how the others treated Run. Nana and Yami, who had been wary of the twin-entity before, were now engaging Run in conversation. The room felt lighter, the previous tension replaced by the soft clinking of teacups and the low hum of friendly chatter. Run herself seemed transformed; she was no longer the stiff, overly formal guest she had been upon arrival. She laughed at Momo's jokes and smiled warmly, her posture relaxed as she began to feel like she truly belonged.
However, the peace was momentarily interrupted when Momo, leaning back against the sofa cushions with a mischievous glint in her eyes, brought up the one topic that had been left hanging.
"So… what about Akira's reward? We've talked so much that we had completely forgotten about it," Momo said, her voice cutting through the casual conversation.
Nana and Yami immediately shot Momo a look of pure exasperation, their eyes shouting: You just had to bring that cursed subject up! They knew all too well where Momo's "suggestions" usually led, and they weren't eager to see the harem grow any larger than it already was.
"Ahem, as I already said, if Akira doesn't want money… the only thing I can offer is my body, I don't think I have anything else that could interest him," Run said, her voice dropping to a shy, soft tone. She looked down at her hands, her mint-green hair veiling her blushing face.
"Um… it's not necessary, I didn't do this to have a reward, but to help," I said quickly, trying to diffuse the situation. I could feel the collective gaze of every girl in the room fixed on me, and the pressure was mounting.
Run's expression shifted instantly, a mask of deep disappointment falling over her features. "I see… I guess it's normal. Who would want someone with these huge breasts? Who would want someone with a figure like mine…?" she said, her voice dripping with a calculated sort of sadness as she gestured vaguely to her own curves.
I felt a bead of sweat roll down my neck. She was laying it on thick, and my instincts as a man were making it impossible to stay silent. "It's… it's not like that. I think you're very attractive and your breasts… I guess I like them, but…" I stammered, trying to find a middle ground that didn't involve an immediate commitment.
"Does that mean you find me attractive?" Run asked, her eyes snapping up to meet mine, her disappointment vanishing in an instant. She looked hopeful, her burgundy eyes sparkling with a victory she had clearly anticipated.
I blinked, taken aback by her sudden recovery. Was she faking that sadness? The speed of her emotional shift was dizzying. "Obviously," I replied, nodding my head before I could overthink the consequences.
"Then it's decided!" Lala exclaimed, clapping her hands together with pure, unadulterated joy. She loved the idea of another sister joining their ranks, her heart always open to expanding their family.
"Yes!" Momo agreed, her smirk widening. Everything was proceeding exactly according to her internal script.
"Wait a moment, nothing was decided! Akira didn't accept!" Nana interjected, her voice sharp with protest. She crossed her arms over her chest, looking between Lala and me with an expression of disbelief.
"Nana is right; besides, it seems like you want to add her to his harem at all costs," Yami added, her golden eyes narrowing. She glanced over at Dita, who was sitting quietly, her expression a battleground of conflicting loyalties.
"Um… yes, I agree with Yami… I guess," Dita whispered. Her idolatry for the royal family of Deviluke and the legendary Run was clashing violently with her personal feelings for me. She wanted to be supportive, but the thought of more competition made her heart ache.
"Um… do you guys dislike me?" Run asked, her voice tinged with a genuine worry. She looked at Nana and Yami, wondering if there was some hidden reason they were so adamant about keeping her out.
"No, it's not that, it's just that Akira's harem is already very extensive and if we add more… how much time will be left for us?" Nana explained, her voice softening slightly but her point remaining firm. It was a practical concern—one born out of a desire for more of my attention.
"That's right," Yami nodded in agreement. She looked at Dita again, prompting her to speak her mind.
"Yes, what Yami said," Dita repeated, though she felt a pang of guilt for not being able to express her own complicated opinion. She was crying on the inside, torn between her devotion and her desire.
"I see… but I won't steal much time from you, just a little is enough for me," Run replied, her voice earnest. She wasn't looking to take over; she just wanted a place at the table, a chance to be close to the person who had given her back her life.
"Are you really going to reject this good girl?" Lala asked, looking at Nana and Yami with a pout. She couldn't understand why they would want to deny Run the happiness they all shared.
"Yes, look at her, she clearly likes Akira. Why reject her like that? Besides, has Akira neglected any of you? His harem keeps expanding, but I haven't noticed that his affection and attention toward me have decreased in the slightest," Momo added, her tone becoming unusually serious.
It was a point I had made a priority ever since I realized the direction my life was taking. I had vowed to myself that no matter how many women were in my life, I would never let any of them feel ignored or unloved. It was a daunting task, and I had even considered using my alien powers—specifically Ditto—to clone myself if the demand for my time became too great. However, I had quickly discarded the idea of using clones for anything intimate. Even if they were me, the thought of them being with my girls felt wrong. Intimacy was something only I could provide.
Yami and Nana looked at Momo with resentful eyes. They realized that if they continued to object, they would be cast as the villains of the story. If they accepted, they would simply have to compete with one more person for my time. It wasn't a bitter competition; their bond was healthy and they all got along, but the desire for individual attention was a natural, persistent force.
"F.I.N.E. I guess I can't reject her," Nana said, her teeth grinding slightly as she conceded.
Yami didn't even use words; she simply directed a look of deep resentment toward me, as if this whole situation were entirely my doing. I wanted to cry. What did I have to do with this? It was Lala and Momo who seemed obsessed with recruiting new members for the harem. Yet, deep down, a part of me was incredibly grateful to them. They made the process of building a life with these incredible women so much easier. I still couldn't quite fathom how Run had been convinced so quickly. Was this her intention from the start? Was it a calculated move to get into the house?
I shook the thought away. Nobody could be that calculating... right?
"Decided! But to make it official, you have to have a date first. That way you can get to know each other better and all that," Momo announced, her tone triumphant.
"Um… this weekend is impossible for me, I already have a date with Haruna on Saturday and another with Mikado on Sunday," I said, checking my mental calendar. The schedule was getting packed, but I figured if I accepted the situation now, it would save me effort and conflict in the long run. I was willing to cultivate our relationship step by step, just as I was doing with Dita.
"I don't care, I can wait until next weekend. How about Saturday morning?" Run asked, her excitement palpable.
"It's fine… I guess," I replied. I couldn't help but notice how specific she was with that date, as if she had already mentally circled it on her own calendar long ago.
"Perfect!" Run cheered, her eyes lighting up with genuine happiness.
"Another sister, today I am happy! Let's celebrate!" Lala shouted, her enthusiasm infectious.
Hours later, the impromptu celebration had finally wound down. Run prepared to take her leave; tomorrow was a school day, and she knew that staying up too late was not an option if she wanted to be at her best. She wanted to look beautiful for her boyfriend and future husband, and that meant avoiding the dark circles under her eyes that a lack of sleep would surely bring.
As she walked toward her new home, Run felt a sense of overwhelming triumph. She had accomplished her primary goal in a single day. The rumors she had heard—that Akira had a weakness for beautiful girls—had proven to be entirely accurate, and she had used that to her advantage with surgical precision.
What surprised her most was the attitude of the Devilukean princesses. Lala and Momo were unusually cheerful about her joining, which was the opposite of what she had expected from a typical harem dynamic.
"In any case, their reasons don't matter. What matters is that I got what I wanted and it couldn't have been easier!" Run said to herself, her heart swelling with pride. She knew her beauty was a major factor; while Akira was a connoisseur of beauty, if she hadn't been a "10" on his scale, he might have hesitated. But standing as a beauty not far below Lala herself, her success had been all but guaranteed.
She thought about the Devilukean lineage—descendants of the Charm race. They attracted men like bees to honey, and Lala had inherited that trait more than anyone, drawing people to her as if it were a natural law of physics.
"Too bad their ancestry works in their favor. But I'm not far behind!" Run whispered, a competitive spark in her eyes.
She eventually arrived at the house she had recently purchased. It was a cozy place, now fully furnished with pieces brought from her home planet, blending alien aesthetics with terrestrial technology like a large television.
"I'm home!" Run called out as she stepped inside, kicking off her shoes and sliding into her slippers. She smiled, looking around at her new sanctuary, ready to begin her new life in the world of Akira.