"Yeah, you passed with flying colors..." Zastin said as he stood up, brushing off dust while inspecting the dented plate of his armor—particularly the one on his skull armor in his chest, a perfect imprint of Haruno's final blow. "You're not spineless after all. Though, you still have much to learn." His voice held a strange mix of pride and lingering surprise as he looked down at Haruno, who lay sprawled on the ground, his body screaming in pain after doing such a powerful attack.
"Oh, that's… good to hear," Haruno managed through ragged breaths. His whole body ached, but the ache of pain was soothed by the warmth of victory.
Without warning, Lala pounced on him with joy. Her cheerful laugh rang out as she hugged him tightly, uncaring that they were both lying in the dirt. "You did it, Haruno! Hehehe, you were amazing! How did you move so fast? I couldn't even see you at all!" she said with stars in her eyes.
Zastin, still stunned, crossed his arms and tilted his head. "Truly incredible… I've never heard of an Earthling displaying such raw power. How could someone from your planet do something like that?"
Haruno gave a tired but proud smile. Then, with a sudden shift to a more serious tone, he declared, eyes sparkling with sincerity, "It's the power of love."
Zastin froze for a moment—then, strangely moved, tears welled in his eyes. "I never realized you were this devoted… Not only did you pass, you defeated me. I will report to King Deviluke that Lala-sama can be entrusted to your care."
"I'll do my best… though, a little help would be nice," Haruno chuckled weakly.
The moment Haruno uttered those words—"It's the power of love"—Lala felt her heart skip a beat. It wasn't just admiration anymore; it was as if a glowing arrow pierced straight through her chest, embedding itself deep in her soul. Her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkled, and for a split second, the world faded around her. All she could see was Haruno—battered, smiling, and radiant in her eyes. "He said love… and meant me… didn't he?" Her heart thumped wildly, overflowing with warmth she could barely contain.
Even Lala's emerald-green eyes shimmered with heart-shaped pupils glowing a brilliant pink, her emotions so intense they couldn't be contained. As if swept up by an irresistible tide, she didn't hesitate. Without a word, Lala leaned down and seized Haruno's lips in a bold, fiery kiss.
Haruno froze in surprise, his breath stolen by the heat of her sudden affection. Her kiss was soft yet burning, full of unspoken gratitude, affection, and something deeper—something real. She moved with unexpected grace, mimicking the kind of kisses she had seen Ryouko give, pouring every ounce of emotion into it. Their lips moved in perfect rhythm, and for a brief, breathless moment, the world fell away. There was only Lala and Haruno, heartbeats thrumming together as time seemed to stop just for them.
Ryouko chuckled softly, her smile tender as she watched the two. Zastin, still wiping tears from earlier, looked on with warmth and pride, as if seeing a story come full circle. But beside them, Yui stood frozen. Her emotions were tangled—joy for Lala, relief that she no longer had to marry against her will… and a sharp, unfamiliar pang of envy.
She couldn't bring herself to shout her usual "Shameless!" Not this time. Because deep down, she wanted to be in Lala's place. She had promised Haruno a kiss too… and now, watching them, a flush crept to her cheeks as she imagined herself doing the same.
'What am I even thinking…?' she scolded herself, flustered. 'This time, I'm the shameless one…'
And yet, she didn't look away.
"Well, you can enjoy your time," Ryouko said with a teasing smile, "but maybe save the more passionate moments for somewhere more private."
Her words cut through the atmosphere like a gentle breeze, snapping both Haruno and Lala out of their heated embrace. They pulled away, cheeks flushed with embarrassment—especially Lala, who giggled sheepishly while hiding her face behind Haruno's shoulder.
"Y-Yeah, you're right," Haruno muttered, trying to sit up. "We should probably head back to the apartment—whoa…"
His body, however, had other plans. His muscles screamed in protest, his strength drained completely after the earlier burst of power. He nearly collapsed, but Lala caught him before he fell.
"Are you okay?" she asked, concern filling her voice.
"Yeah… just a bit too tired, I guess," Haruno admitted with a strained chuckle.
"Then don't worry, leave it to me!" Lala smiled brightly. "Peke!"
With a quick call, Peke transformed into flying gear, and Lala easily carried Haruno in her arms as they soared off toward the apartment.
By the time they arrived, Haruno was already half-asleep. The aftereffects of pushing his body beyond its limits had kicked in hard—his muscles throbbed, heavy and sore from the overload.
Fortunately, help came quickly. Soon after, Ryouko and Yui arrived. Haruno now found himself seated comfortably on the sofa, his eyes closed as Ryouko expertly massaged his shoulders and back. Her touch was firm but soothing, revealing her experience not just as a doctor, but someone who understood the body well.
"Just relax," she said softly. "This will help."
Meanwhile, Yui sat nearby, stealing occasional glances, her expression unreadable. Zastin and his men had already departed, leaving the apartment in quiet peace—for now.
In the end, the apartment had become a cozy sanctuary where Haruno was being doted on by the two women around him—Lala, and Ryouko. He lay comfortably on the sofa, sore from his earlier battle but clearly enjoying the aftermath. Ryouko was focused on massaging his legs and shoulders with firm, practiced hands, her experience as a doctor evident in every precise motion. Beside him, Lala sat close, eyes sparkling with concern and affection. While Yui just stood around there stared at the two of them.
"Do you want something to drink?" she asked sweetly.
"Yeah, I'd love one," Haruno replied.
"Okay, here." Lala brought the drink to his lips, letting him sip through the straw while holding it for him like a devoted caretaker.
"Ah... this is the life," Haruno muttered with a satisfied smile.
Yui, who had been silently observing, finally commented, "Don't you two think you're spoiling him a bit too much?"
Ryouko looked up with a teasing smirk. "Well, he did just pass a pretty intense test. I was even thinking of giving him a massage in the bath next."
Yui's face turned red. "T-That's incredibly shameless, Sensei!"
Lala giggled. "He earned this. He really fought hard, didn't he?"
"That's true, but still… Sensei, you're his teacher. And he's engaged to Lala… isn't this all a bit much?" Yui questioned, her sense of morality clearly conflicted.
The three exchanged glances, as if silently agreeing not to answer.
Haruno then shifted the conversation. "Hey Yui… after everything you saw, do you believe now that Lala's an alien?"
Yui hesitated, her gaze drifting to the high-tech suit and the absurd power Haruno had shown earlier. "…Yeah. I believe it now."
"Well…" Yui's eyes shifted, recalling the moment the laser sword sliced through a massive tree like it was nothing more than a vegetable being prepped for soup. Then there was Haruno's augmented clothing—granting him speed and power that no normal human could possess. It was impossible to deny anymore. Aliens existed.
"Yeah… I think I believe it now," Yui admitted quietly. "But this is still a lot to take in. You're saying… you want me to get along with Lala?"
She glanced at the pink-haired alien princess, who smiled brightly back at her.
"Why not…" Yui sighed.
Haruno gave a small nod, then suddenly turned serious. "That's good to hear. But before we go any further… there's something else I need to tell you."
Yui blinked. "Something else?"
"It's about our relationship—mine, Lala's… and Ryouko's."
His tone was sincere, and for a moment, Yui felt a strange tension. Then came the bombshell.
"I'm not just engaged to Lala. I'm also in a serious relationship with Ryouko-sensei… with marriage in mind."
"…Huh?" was all Yui could manage as her brain nearly short-circuited.
Author Note :
You can read 10 chapter at patr*on.com/Iam_HaremLover123