Chapter 04: Running Deep!
"Wow! So this is what your city looks like up close!"
As Rito looked at the jubilant pinkette, he couldn't keep the slight smile off his face. Despite her being in Sainan for the past few days, the alien princess had not really walked through the area.
After all, she'd never felt the need until Mikan had suggested they all go shopping.
Still...
"Man, that girl's so cute."
"Hey, what's with her clothing?"
"Probably for some cosplay event nearby."
"Well, she's certainly rocking it."
Eventually, Rito had had enough, grabbing Lala and discreetly pulling her into an alleyway with Mikan in tow. When the trio were mostly out of sight from bystanders on the street, Rito sighed. "Lala, we've got to do something about your current outfit."
"Huh?" Lala questioned. "Peke's dress form is no good?"
"You stuck out too much back there." Mikan explained. "If you want to sightsee, you'll be needing clothes that fit better with everybody else."
Rito nodded in agreement as he was sporting long brown pants with a black t-shirt and a blue long sleeved shirt over that. Mikan herself was wearing an orange shirt that slightly exposed her midriff with a cream hoodie and rolled up jeans.
Lala stared at the Yuuki siblings for a bit before nodding in agreement. "Ok!"
Taking a walk to the entrance of the alleyway, Lala scanned the people walking past and pointed at one. "Peke, please copy that one."
"As you wish, Lala-sama." Peke replied before scanning the selected outfit and creating a bright flash of light.
When the light faded away, Rito and Mikan deadpanned at the sight of Lala wearing a black suit with a pair of glasses.
"That's a male outfit... Stick to your wearer's gender, Peke." Rito sighed. 'Also, she's too young to pull that off.'
And without any fuss, the alien princess turned around and began looking for a new outfit. Once more, she pointed to her selection before Peke copied and dressed her in it. This time, Lala was sporting the female version of a blue police uniform, with skirt, hat, and even a whistle.
"You'll get in trouble for impersonating a police officer, Lala." Mikan muttered while Rito kept his eyes firmly up from Lala's thighs. 'It also looks like Peke's actually remodeling it to match her body size now.'
For the third time Lala changed outfits, but her choice was a definite no to the group. Replacing the adorable police girl was a purple bunny girl outfit worn by Lala with fishnet stockings and ears to complete the piece.
"Who the hell did you copy this from out there, Peke?!"
"From one of the picture filled books under your bed, Rito." Peke answered, causing Rito to freeze.
"Y-You read m-my magazines?"
"Yup!" Lala replied with a little skip that made her cleavage almost pop out. "I learned lots!"
"Rito..." Mikan hissed in a warning tone.
"None of the serious ones were there!" Rito immediately explained to his glaring sister. "Those ones under my bed are just models, I swear!"
"...regardless of that, you now have Lala-san sharing your bed every night with no clothes on herself, so you don't really need them anymore, right?" Mikan crossed her arms with a knowing smirk replacing her frown as she made a certain motion with her fingers. "Then again, I guess you're so pent up since she's arrived, huh? Probably why you've been so cranky lately if you haven't been able to 'relieve' yourself."
"Watch your words, Mikan!" 'Just because you have a point doesn't mean you're right!' Rito clenched his fist as a single tear of frustration leaked out while his sister got Lala to change outfits again. 'Do you know how hard it is sleeping next to such a beauty night after night?! Kenichi would strangle me with nothing but sheer spite, super toughness aside!'
After changing into a few more clothes, Lala finally settled on a black dress held up by thin straps that went down a little over Lala's knees and was covered by a pink short sleeved coat.
"You look so nice, Lala." Mikan commented with a smile.
"Well, Rito?" Lala twirled around a bit.
"...you look cute, Lala." Rito admitted as he looked away. 'What the hell? Why did my heart thump at the sight? Only Haruna-chan's supposed to evoke such a cutesy feeling!'
Giggling at his answer, Lala ran over to her fiancé and grabbed him suddenly by the arm, shocking him as he was immediately dragged along in her pace. "Well then, let's get going! Let's see everything today!"
"Getting really lovey-dovey there, aren't you Rito?" Mikan whispered conspiratorially as she easily kept pace with Lala. "Should I branch off and leave you two alone?"
"Don't you dare!" Rito hissed. 'If it's only Lala and I, there's no way I can stop this outing from becoming a date!'
The first thing their group did was merely walk around for a while. The siblings wanted to let Lala get familiar with the city in case she wanted or needed to go out and do something by herself. Thankfully, they didn't have to do it for very long since the pink haired girl soaked up information such as store locations and street names like a sponge.
Rito expected as much as she did do the same for school-related matters, hoping that she wouldn't forget like she'd done for that giant mecha octopus...
Anyways, the first stop the trio made was at a costume shop of sorts. The alien pinkette saw some outfits and accessories being displayed in the window and got very curious, so she ended up dragging Rito with Mikan following behind.
Inside the shop there were all sorts of costumes and such, like a mask that looked like the stereotypical Earth idea of an alien, with a grey face and big black eyes. Instead of being offended though, Lala found it very amusing and even asked Rito to put it on real quick.
While it did look very silly, Rito considered it a necessary loss to hear both girls laughing together, even if he was their target of mock ridicule.
Afterwards, the trio wandered around once more before ending up in a park where a lot of people were relaxing. Then, Lala noticed a strange yet pleasing smell in the air. The cause turned out to be a taiyaki (explained as a Japanese pastry to Lala) stand nearby.
Seeing the alien's interest in what she considered a strange food and feeling a bit peckish himself, Rito walked over and ordered a small bag.
As soon as Lala took a bite of her first ever taiyaki, her face instantly lit up like a Christmas tree. The siblings smiled as they watched the alien's reaction, happy to know that she enjoyed the treat.
Next up, they visited the arcade, being bombarded with the sounds and music coming from the different machines. Being an inventor and scientist herself, Lala practically threw herself at the nearest machine, which happened to be a crane machine.
After spending some moments looking all of it over, Lala finally took a look inside the glass and gasped excitedly while pressing her face against it, her emerald eyes fixed on a bunny plushie that seemed like a parody of Frankenstein's Monster. "It's so cute~!"
"Yeah, but it's pretty big." Mikan stated in a disappointed tone. "So it'll be pretty hard to win."
"What?" Lala asked in an equally disappointed tone.
"What's with those sad tones?" Rito smirked confidently at the machine as he fished out some coins and eased Lala out of the way. "I'm here, after all."
Obviously enough, the crane was no match for Rito and soon enough, he got the prize his princess desired. "Here you go. I hope you like it."
"Thank you, Rito!" Lala flashed him a grateful smile as she cuddled the Frankenstein's bunny. "I'll treasure it forever."
A light blush appeared on the brown haired male's face as he heard this. "Y-You don't have to do that. R-Really-" 'Wait. What the hell was I doing?! I totally did a 'date' move right theeeereeee!'
All the while, Mikan wasn't helping with her knowing smirk. 'Poor Rito. It's been a while since he's had any positive relation with a girl that isn't Sairenji. I feel bad for her, but my brother's falling fast, especially with how Lala's the one conquering his route rather than the other way round.' "Now, for the next bit. Lala, we need to go shopping for you."
"Eh?" Lala and Rito replied simultaneously.
"All Lala has for her clothes is Peke, right? I think you mentioned something about needing to charge up during the night, which is causing my brother sleep problems." Mikan pointed out again, much to Rito's distressed nods. "At the very least, Rito would probably enjoy you wearing something at night."
"Well, now that Mikan mentions it, I am running low on energy." Peke spoke up, surprising them all. "I estimate a maximum of seven minutes before my reserves are depleted."
"What happens if your power gets completely depleted?" Rito asked.
"I shall essentially shut down and leave Lala-sama unclothed."
For a beat, the Yuuki siblings entertained the thought of Lala's clothes suddenly vanishing in public, resulting in a naked alien princess with her nonresponsive robot.
"Mikan, where's the nearest clothing store?" Rito asked as he grabbed Lala's hand.
"Four blocks east, with a turn to the right." Mikan answered as she took Lala's purchases from her.
"Right then." After checking around for whoever was currently looking in their direction, Rito adjusted himself in a way that cradled her body against his side. "Can you keep up?"
Mikan raised an eyebrow. "Who do you think you're talking to?"
"Eh? What's going on-" Feeling Rito place a hand against the back of her head, Lala's senses suddenly registered a strong feeling of inertia that would've probably been a lot more disorienting had she not had Rito's body as support. "-on? Oh. We're here."
Noting Mikan blur to her and Rito's side, albeit looking a bit more tired compared to her brother, Lala looked upon the store showing displays of women clothing.
"Okay, you guys go in there while I wait outside." Rito pushed Lala closer to Mikan. "I'll... Uh..."
"I'll be going to buy Lala-san's clothes." Mikan pushed Lala back to Rito. "You'll be following her in."
"What?!" Rito barely managed to keep himself from yelling as he properly looked at the establishment. "Mikan, this is a lingerie store! You tricked me!"
Mikan ignored Rito to focus on Lala. "Lala-san, did you know that this store specializes in underwear that will make Rito want to grab your breasts more often? You just need him to tell you his preference while I'll go buy your new clothes."
Rito's eyes bulged at the reminder of the sole time he'd ever grabbed a girl's chest. 'Wait! Who told Mikan about that?!'
Mikan smirked at her brother's reaction. 'I should probably thank Saruyama for his jealous ranting later.'
Lala immediately Rito's arm and dragged him in. "Let's go!"
Mikan chuckled at the sight and left them.
'Damn you, Mikan. How could you leave me like this?' Rito fretted as he stood before Lala's changing booth with his back to it, trying not to let his awkwardness show to the few women that whispered as they passed him by.
"Y-Yuuki-kun?"
Rito froze at the sound of a familiar voice calling out his name before stilling further at the sight that greeted him. The sight in question was Haruna Sairenji sporting a navy blue neckholder underneath a blue shirt and a white skirt that went to her knees. She didn't seem to have on any makeup just like Lala usually didn't, something Rito felt was amazing as neither girl ever needed them.
Wait, he was supposed to be quickly explaining himself so that he didn't lose brownie points.
Knock, knock, said the Universe with a smile on it's incorporeal face.
"Rito! Does this one look good on me?" Lala suddenly opened her changing booth, revealing her well proportioned body being clad in a set of black underwear with pink detailing. "Oh, it's you, Haruna."
'Worst case scenario?!' Rito screamed mentally.
"So that's how it is."
Thankfully, Mikan had arrived just in time to explain everything for Haruna to understand while all of them gathered beneath a tree outside the store. "Yeah, my brother and I were showing Lala-san around the city since she just came to Japan."
"I see, I was certain..." Haruna trailed off as her gaze moved from Lala to Rito. "Nevermind."
"Hey, what's that?" Lala, now dressed in a wine red top with blue jeans, pointed eagerly at a building in the distance.
"That's an aquarium." Mikan explained. "It's a place where there's lots of aquatic creatures shown."
"Sounds like fun! I want to go there!" Lala eagerly turned to Rito. "Hey, let's go, Rito!"
"Well... I don't mind." Rito's reply was practically melancholic as Lala immediately pulled him along.
"Will you be joining us, Haruna-san?" Mikan asked.
"Eh?" Haruna blinked in surprise. "But, I..."
"It's fine!" Lala suddenly returned to grab at Haruna's arm with her other arm, dragging both her and Rito along.
'Huh...' Mikan noted as she followed after them while carrying the recharging Peke. 'You know, while others would probably mistake Rito for starting a harem with these girls, I'm pretty sure it'd be Lala who'd be the harem owner.'
"Wow! There are so many Earth fishes!" Lala exclaimed in an excited manner as she watched all kinds of different fish swim by.
"Well yeah." Rito replied as he stayed at her side. "It's an aquarium, after all. There are all sorts of fish you can see here."
"Oh, what's that?!" Lala ran off upon seeing a stingray in the distance, leaving the others behind.
"She's gonna get lost pretty quickly." Mikan muttered before walking ahead to follow her.
"It's strange how someone as smart as Lala-san is often like a little child." Haruna commented with an amused smile.
"...Sairenji, sorry about Lala." At Haruna's confused look, Rito clarified. "For dragging you along with us. You probably had things to do, didn't you?"
"Ah, it's okay." Haruna assured him. "I don't really mind, especially as I like this place, too."
"I-Is that so? That's good. Good." Rito stammered as he nodded in relief. "I was worried that we'd actually been bothering you."
"...I'm the one worried about that." Haruna silently replied. "I... Did I interrupt you and her, Yuuki-kun?"
"What? No, you didn't!" Rito hastily explained. "Mikan and I were just taking Lala sightseeing and she needed new clothes, which was why we met back at the store! Plus, sightseeing's always fun with more people, so really, your company's very welcome!"
"...really?"
"Y-Yes."
Haruna smiled, a surprising look of relief on her face. "That's good to hear."
Combined with the rarity of seeing his crush in attractive casual clothing, Rito stumbled from the small smile she'd sported.
"Hmm..." Mikan hummed as she stared at Haruna and Rito. 'Wait a minute... Does she really...?'
"Rito, there's a serious problem!" Lala gasped as she returned, causing Rito to stiffen up and sharply look around.
"What is it?" Rito's fists clenched as his adrenaline began to spike. "Is it another of them like Ghi Bree?"
"What? No, there're no corbiculae here!" Lala revealed, causing Rito to face fault.
'What... the... hell...?' Rito recovered quickly with a growl. "There's no way you'd find those clams in an aquarium!"
"Really?" Lala blinked in confusion. "How about mackerel and saury?"
"...don't go searching for seafood here of all places." Rito sighed. "You must be hungry now. Let's-"
"Oh, well. I'll go get a bite with Lala-san." Mikan slipped an arm around Lala's, leading her away. "Rito, just take your time to catch up with your classmate. Okay?"
"Eh? EEEEEH?!" Rito gawked at Mikan and Lala's disappearing forms. 'She just left us?! Alone?! Even taking Lala away with her... thank you so much, Mikan!'
"S-Sairenji!" Rito turned about to face her, surprising the girl a bit with his sudden call of her name. "D-D-Do you..." 'Don't wuss out!' "...wanna go see the dolphins with me?"
"...actually, I want to talk to you about something." Haruna nervously twiddled her fingers. "Something I don't think I'm brave enough to say with others listening in. About.. the other day."
"Other day?" Rito asked.
"Lala-san told me that after I had collapsed due to anemia. You were the one who'd found and carried me to the infirmary, right, Yuuki-kun?" Haruna revealed, surprising Rito of the excuse Lala had used. Of course, it was probably better than the truth. "I've been meaning to thank you, but I never got the chance to even do so until now... So..."
Haruna beamed, a truly grateful smile upon her beautiful visage. "Thank you for saving me, Yuuki-kun."
Rito's entire face reddened, his heart pounding loudly. 'This is it... Now or never...' "S-Sairenji, what... do you think of Lala and I?"
"...I think you two fit each other surprisingly well." Haruna replied, unaware of the emotional damage she'd just inflicted. "On top of being very beautiful, she's also a person who strongly cares for you. It's really not surprising that you'd confess your love to her."
'Ah...' Rito wilted. 'Is this... heartbreak?'
"After all, she's the only girl other than your sister I've seen to make you become so... outgoing." Haruna's gaze dropped while she clenched her hands, causing Rito to snap to attention. "After the incident back in junior high, you became so withdrawn and violent. Even if you're calmer nowadays, you never quite returned to how sociable you'd been before your maltreatment."
"Sairenji..." Rito spoke up, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I've never blamed you for any of that."
"That doesn't change the fact that we'd irrevocably ruined our friendships with you." Haruna shook her head. "At the end of it all, only Saruyama-san proved himself worthy of being your friend while we all just pretended that you hadn't suffered at our-"
"Listen to me, Haruna-chan!" Rito insisted, shaking Haruna so that her stunned amethyst eyes were locked on to his burning amber gaze. "You never attacked me on the streets. You never damaged my school material. You never left threatening messages in my locker. You never scribbled on my desk. You didn't do anything."
Haruna wilted. "And that is my problem. That I couldn't do anything. Not for you."
"You weren't obligated to." Rito replied. "We weren't even in the same class." 'Not like that order loving bitch.' "No matter what you believe, I've always been glad to have you on my side during those times."
"...come here for a sec." Haruna grabbed his hand and pulled Rito along, the two weaving through the crowd until she found a narrow enclosure that hid them away.
"What's wrong- EEEE?!" Rito froze when Haruna suddenly wrapped her arms tight around his waist, holding him close.
"I'm sorry, but could you please let me be selfish for a bit?" Haruna's voice was muffled, her red face pressed into his shoulder.
"Um, okay?" Rito gently hugged her back, hoping that his heartbeat wasn't as loud as he believed. 'So close she smells nice she's so warm and soft so close she smells nice she's so warm and soft so close she smells nice she's so warm and soft so close she smells nice she's so warm and soft so close she smells nice she's so warm and soft so close she smells nice she's so warm and soft so clos-'
'Was... Yuuki-kun's body... always this broad... and so warm...?' Haruna's thoughts were significantly more coherent, but just as hazy as her hands surreptiously pressed down on the clothes separating her palms from rigid muscles. 'I knew he was strong, but... He's a bit taller than me, too- Oh... Something's... poking me...?'
"Did something happen between you guys?" Mikan raised an eyebrow at the couple she'd left behind. As they had all left the aquarium to head to their homes, she wanted to know much Rito had either progressed or backslid. "Was it something fun?"
"...in a manner of speaking." Despite her red cheeks, Haruna's gaze barely strayed from Rito. "Yuuki-kun was great company."
"I'm glad you think so." Rito cheerily replied, a bright red slap mark on his cheek. "Your slap was even as strong as it was before."
Mikan stared in disbelief. 'Just what did I miss?! Also, how did Sairenji-san hurt somebody as durable as you, Rito?!'
Meanwhile, Lala cheerfully led the way with her new bunny, being pleased that Rito and Haruna seemed to be liking each other a bit more clearly now. 'What's that phrase I saw in that book? Ah, yes... "God's in His Heaven, and all's right with the world." Seems fitting here! Although I wonder who exactly is this 'God' that was mentioned.'
It honestly wasn't fitting. Not in this context, at least.
KingVessel: *Takes one look at Rito's past as a bully victim that was never brought up outside Haruna's flashback and future chapters of their painfully slow progress with their mutual crushes and reaches for the bazooka*
Canon: "The buttmonkey harem protagonist casually shakes off years of bullying with nobody noticing his extraordinary abilities."
Fanon: "The buttmonkey harem protagonist snapped from the years of bullying and did something in the past that has his former schoolmates (the ones not wracked with guilt) very wary of pissing off the guy everybody sees regularly walking off things that should've killed him."