I'm sorry, I was sick. My stomach hurt a lot, and I had to go to the toilet many times. It's better now after taking some medicine, but the medicine made me sleep for a long time. Because of that, I doubt I can write six chapters this week, so I've changed my goal to five.
04 / 05
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"Well, that's actually a good idea," Ryouko said, sliding into the driver's seat of her car. "We need to buy some proper clothes for Lala. She can't keep relying on Peke for everything."
With that, she whisked the group off to a large supermarket on the edge of town. Before stepping out with Lala and Yui, Ryouko gave Haruno a knowing smile and gently nudged Haruna toward him. "You two enjoy yourselves. We've got a surprise for later."
And just like that, Haruna found herself alone with Haruno—clearly a setup by the trio.
"So," Haruno began with a smile, "you wanted me to treat you to something sweet, right? How about we check online and see if this place has anything interesting?"
As he pulled out his phone, Haruno couldn't help but reflect on how strange it felt to live in a world before smartphones were everywhere. Having come from a slightly more modern era than this manga's setting, it was kinda weird for him. Still, he'd gotten used to it after a long time living in this world.
It could've been a good opportunity to make money or do something productive, but in his previous life, he had been just a sickly guy who didn't know much beyond trying his best to survive each day. He wasn't some tech genius—just an ordinary person who happened to get lucky and land in a slightly more romantic reality.
"Well… as long as it's sweet, I'm fine with anything," Haruna replied softly. In truth, she had no particular craving—she just wanted to spend time with him. Her heart still fluttered from everything that had happened earlier.
"Oh—this looks good," Haruno said suddenly, turning the screen toward her. "There's a limited-time promo at a nearby café."
Haruna leaned closer to look, and her cheeks instantly turned pink. The advertisement displayed a beautifully crafted parfait meant to be shared by couples. It was an extravagant dessert, adorned with heart-shaped chocolates, whipped cream towers, and sparkling fruit glaze. The caption read: "For Sweethearts Only—A Dessert to Remember."
"W-Wait… isn't this…?" Haruna stammered.
"It does say for couples," Haruno said, grinning. "But hey, I'm not against pretending if it means getting to eat that thing."
Haruna's heart skipped a beat. Pretending, huh? Then why did it already feel so real?
"I'm fine. It looks really good…" Haruna responded cheerfully, her eyes lighting up with a mix of eagerness and nervous excitement. The parfait did look delicious, and the idea of pretending to be a couple with Haruno—it was like something out of a dream.
But as she watched Haruno act so calm and nonchalant, something tugged at her heart. Was he just used to this kind of situation because he had multiple girlfriends already? Was this just another casual outing for him? For a moment, the thought stung. It made him feel... like a bit of a playboy.
Yet strangely, she didn't feel bitter. Instead of disappointment, there was a flutter of hope. Maybe—just maybe—she still had a chance. Somewhere along the way, her feelings for Rito had been quietly replaced. Now, her heart was drawn to Haruno. Even if she hadn't seen all the chaos with her own eyes, hearing how he'd protected Lala, and remembering how he'd bravely helped Yui with the octopus robot, painted him in a new light. He really was like a hero… and she couldn't help but wonder if he'd be her hero too.
Actually, he already saved her from weird aliens too.
Just imagining it made her cheeks flush a deep red.
"Ah, look… we've arrived," Haruno said, snapping her out of her thoughts as they stood before the café. The storefront was adorned with posters and banners, all showcasing the extravagant couple's parfait.
"Y-Yes… This is…" Haruna murmured, blushing even more as she noticed how many couples were inside, laughing and sharing sweets.
"Welcome! Did you two come for our limited parfait special?" a waiter asked brightly, clearly thrilled.
"Ah, yes! Of course. It looks great," Haruno replied with ease.
"Wonderful! But there's a little catch—you'll need to take a photo as a couple for our website."
"Sure. Come here, Haruna." Without hesitation, Haruno gently took her hand and guided her to the decorated photo area. Surrounded by romantic ornaments, Haruna's heart skipped a beat as she tried to prepare herself—not just for the photo, but for everything it meant.
"Okay… ready for the photo?" the waiter asked cheerfully, gesturing for them to move closer. He guided Haruno and Haruna into a cozy pose, their shoulders nearly touching. Without hesitation, Haruno followed the instructions, gently reaching for Haruna's hand. She gasped softly as he lifted their hands together to form a heart shape.
Click. The camera captured the moment—a picture-perfect scene of a couple basking in young, sweet love.
"Wow! That's a great shot. You two make an adorable couple," the waiter beamed as he led them to a table near the window.
"Well, it's only natural when my girlfriend is such a cute girl," Haruno said casually, flashing a grin in Haruna's direction.
"E-Eh… Hau… Th-That's embarrassing…" Haruna stammered, her cheeks turning bright red. She fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, then mumbled in a tiny voice, "I think… you're cool too…"
The waiter chuckled warmly, clearly enjoying the scene. "Alright! Your limited-edition parfait will be here shortly. Just one last thing—you'll need to take a photo together with it."
"No problem," Haruno replied smoothly. Haruna simply nodded again, her heart pounding as she sat across from him.
Moments later, the parfait arrived—a towering, beautifully arranged dessert sparkling with fruit, cream, and chocolate decorations. Haruno snapped a few photos before picking up a spoonful and offering it to Haruna.
"Here. Say 'ahh.'"
Haruna's eyes widened at his boldness, but her lips parted almost instinctively. She accepted the sweet bite, her face burning. Gathering her courage, she returned the favor, scooping up a bit of parfait and shyly feeding it to Haruno.
Their final photo captured the moment perfectly: two blushing teens, smiling as they fed each other, caught in a memory sweeter than the parfait itself.
After completing all the requirements for the couple's parfait promo, Haruno and Haruna finally got to enjoy their treat without any distractions. True to its eye-catching appearance, the parfait was absolutely delicious. The sweetness of the fruit, the softness of the cream, and the subtle richness of the chocolate created a harmony of flavors that made the experience feel almost magical. Especially for Haruna—now that her initial embarrassment had passed—she could finally savor every bite properly.
With the promotional photos out of the way, the atmosphere around them felt more relaxed, more genuine. For Haruna, this moment—sharing sweets, laughing, sitting side by side—truly felt like a date.
"How is it? Satisfied?" Haruno asked casually, sipping from his latte.
"Un. It's really good," Haruna replied with a soft smile, her expression light and content.
"I still owe you one more favor, right? You can ask for anything."
"Hm… I think I'll save that for another time," she said playfully, her smile lingering.
With no messages yet from the other three, they decided to wander through the supermarket. The two strolled leisurely through the aisles, eventually drifting toward a small section near the café that displayed accessories. Haruno, stealing glances at Haruna's face, noticed her eyes linger on a display of cute hair clips. She admired them, but didn't pick any up—perhaps out of habit, or practicality.
'She's always worn that simple red clip… probably because it's easy to draw in manga,' Haruno thought with a small grin. 'But I think she'd look even cuter with something like this.'
He plucked a delicate clip from the display—a soft pastel design with a tiny flower charm—and held it out to her. "Hey, do you want this?"
"Eh? Y-You don't have to…" Haruna blushed, but her eyes sparkled.
"It's fine. Our promise might've been just to buy you something sweet, but honestly… this feels more like a date, doesn't it?" Haruno said, his voice gentle. "I think this would be the perfect way to end it. So… don't reject it, okay? Just let me indulge in this a little—for my own selfish ego."
Haruna's heart thudded at his sincerity. She bit her lip, then accepted the clip with both hands.
"Thank you… I'll cherish it," she whispered, her cheeks a deep red. Though her expression was shy, her heart soared. This was the first time a boy had ever given her a gift—something chosen just for her.
And with that simple gesture, their quiet, heartfelt time together came to a close.
Author Note :
100 Heroines: 6 chapters per week, with each chapter ranging from 1,200 to 1,800 words. I may drop to 5 chapters if I'm busy.
You can read 10 chapter at patr*on.com/Iam_HaremLover123