"Lala-sama, you can't just pick some random Earthling to be your husband!" the blonde subordinate protested, clearly at the edge of his patience. Before he could say more, Lala had already wrapped her arms around Haruno from behind, pressing her cheek to his back with a happy little hum.
"He's not some random guy. We've already bathed together and seen each other's naked bodies," Lala said with a perfectly innocent smile—completely unaware of the chaos her words would cause.
"WHAT!?" Both men practically exploded at the statement, snapping their eyes toward Haruno with scandalized disbelief. Haruno, meanwhile, let out a weak chuckle, his face twitching as if trying to process whether he should be proud or arrested.
"Even so—!" the black-haired one began again, trying to regain control of the situation.
"Nope. That's it. I've made my choice. I've chosen my husband." Lala folded her arms, nose pointed upward in defiance.
As the standoff continued, Haruno sighed and stepped in once more as the reluctant voice of reason. "Look, I know this is a shock for you guys, but I think you heard what Lala said loud and clear. I get that you've got a job to do, but wouldn't it be better to report this to her father, keep tabs on her here, instead of playing galactic tag every week?"
He gestured calmly, trying to project the calm mediator vibe despite the sweat trickling down his neck. "At least here, she's not running. You know where she is. No more spaceship chases, no more constant fighting. She's safe here. So just talk to your boss about this for now, alright?"
"Yes, exactly! Tell Zastin everything!" Lala nodded emphatically.
"Hmph… that's reasonable," the blonde muttered. "But we can't just leave Lala-sama in the hands of a suspicious Earthling."
"That's fair," Haruno said with a shrug. "Even if I swear I'm not doing anything sketchy with Lala… I get your concern. Besides, we've got an adult here too." He gestured to Ryouko, who had been silently observing with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes—an aura of calm danger.
"This apartment isn't that big, but if one of you wants to stay and keep an eye on things, I'm okay with that."
"Hmph… acceptable. Lala-sama?"
"I wanted alone time with Haruno," she pouted, "but… fine. For now."
"Okay then, I'll report this to Zastin-sama. You're staying here," the blonde subordinate said, nodding once before turning and walking out the door, leaving the silent one behind to keep watch.
Haruno let out a sigh and slumped slightly. "Huh… well, at least that's over. You okay with all this, Lala?"
"Fufufu~ I'm more than okay. I'm thrilled!" Lala giggled, placing a hand on her flushed cheek. "You agreed to marry me, after all."
"Well…" Haruno hesitated, his gaze drifting to the remaining guard, unsure how to explain things with someone still watching. His discomfort was obvious.
Lala caught on immediately. With an elegant flick of her hair and a commanding tone that didn't quite match her usual ditzy demeanor, she turned to the silent bodyguard. "Could you give us a moment? You can wait outside the door, please."
To Haruno's surprise, the guard complied without a word, quietly stepping out and closing the door behind him.
As soon as he left, Lala leaned in with a sparkle in her eyes. "Okay! He's gone!"
Haruno scratched the back of his head, a guilty expression crossing his face. "Alright, I'll be honest. I said that because I promised I'd help you. It just kinda happened all of a sudden…"
"Eh? So you don't actually want to be my husband…?" Lala's expression crumbled. Her blush faded, replaced by a pale, heartbroken look.
"W-Wait! That's not what I meant!" Haruno panicked. "I mean, this is all so fast, but… there's no way any guy could turn down a girl as beautiful and amazing as you!"
Watching her face slowly brighten again, Haruno realized just how powerful one honest compliment could be.
"I mean, it's just… way too sudden," Haruno finally said, glancing toward Ryouko out of the corner of his eye. She still wore a gentle smile, but something about her eyes—calm, unreadable, yet sharp as a blade—made him instinctively straighten up. Even her presence seemed heavier than usual.
'Ugh… as someone aiming for the ultimate harem ending, this is one hell of a trial. Aijou Rentarou, lend me your strength!' Haruno mentally cried out, not to any deity, but to a fictional character whose struggles he suddenly felt all too close to.
"To be honest, of course I'd be happy to marry you, Lala." He turned back to her with sincere eyes. "I mean, my heart flutters when I see you—because of how beautiful and cute you are. My face burns every time you hug me. Just hearing your voice makes me feel strangely… happy. Warm, even."
As he spoke, Lala's eyes sparkled with joy, her cheeks blooming red. With each heartfelt line, she responded with a simple yet affirming, "Un, I feel like that too," as if echoing his emotions directly.
"But…" Haruno hesitated, lowering his gaze briefly. "We only just met. It still feels kind of premature, don't you think? I want us to really get to know each other first."
Then, with a deep breath, he gestured toward Ryouko. "And… the thing is, I'm confused. Because I feel those same things when I'm with Ryouko-sensei too."
Lala blinked, following his hand to Ryouko, while Haruno continued with a dry laugh.
"My heart skips a beat when she looks at me. And when she teases me or gets close, it's like my face sets on fire. I feel happy hearing her voice too… it's not just you, Lala. I feel the same way toward her."
A pause hung in the air as both girls looked at him. Haruno stood there, helplessly sandwiched between two soulmates, aware that he had just taken the first dangerous step… into the real battlefield of love.
Haruno could feel the pressure of their eyes drilling into him—Lala's bright and sparkling, full of naïve hope, and Ryouko's calm yet sharp, as if she could read his every thought like an open book. Their combined stares felt heavier than a mountain, but he had already opened the floodgates. He couldn't stop now, not when he had come this far.
"That's why… I feel like it wouldn't be fair to just say yes to becoming your husband, Lala, while I still have these overwhelming feelings for someone else," Haruno said, his voice tight, both from nerves and honesty. "I know how selfish that sounds. I know it's probably the worst thing I could say right now. But even knowing that, I can't help it… I still want to be your husband."
"Oh, Haruno…" Lala placed both hands on her cheeks, blushing bright pink like a cartoon tomato. Despite the awkwardness of the moment, her eyes were filled with happiness and something dangerously close to love.
"But the truth is…" Haruno glanced toward Ryouko, who stood silently watching. "I feel the same way about Ryouko-sensei too. I mean, I don't even know what reward she promised me, but every time she teases me, smiles at me, even just talks to me… it's like my heart skips a beat. And when I imagine her with someone else, I feel like I'd rather vomit blood and die under a collapsing desk."
"Ara~ That's quite the poetic way to confess, Haruno-kun," Ryouko said, chuckling softly. Her usual cold intensity eased into something warmer, even if it was still cloaked in mischief.
Haruno took a deep breath and bowed deeply—exactly ninety degrees, a perfect anime-protagonist apology slash confession form. "That's why… I know this is probably the worst, most indecisive thing a guy could ever say—but I want to go out with both of you. With marriage in mind. I know I don't deserve it, but please… please let me be with both of you."
There was a long silence. He stayed bowed, his face redder than a fire hydrant, his heart pounding like he was at the final boss of a dating sim.
Then, two soft voices responded.
"Hm, I'm fine with it."
"I don't see any problem with that."
Haruno's eyes widened. He slowly looked up in disbelief. Lala was grinning ear-to-ear, while Ryouko gave a small shrug and a knowing smile.
Was it really… this easy?
And just like that, Haruno had taken his first real step into a true multiverse harem. Two down… ninety-eight to go.
Author Note :
You can read 10 chapter at patr*on.com/Iam_HaremLover123