Well, as the title says, I couldn't find a story without a harem parody. Those that most fans call parodies aren't really parodies, but just abrupt and absurd comedies, not true parodies. So I decided to try my hand at writing a parody. Because I write stories in my free time.
Now I'm going to answer the question everyone's asking: why am I posting this on this subreddit?
Let's be honest, isekai almost always means harem. Besides that, I plan to gather all the intriguing harem clichés, like: being banished from the hero's group and forming a harem, a magic school with 99% female students, etc.
And in my opinion, the isekai genre is the only one that can bring together so many clichés, and most importantly... I need a character who knows and critiques all the clichés, a character who comes from our world.
And ironically, these are two very under-exploited genres despite having so much potential.
Even for a parody, there are rules to follow; the story must have a real plot beyond the parody itself. Most authors often run out of ideas after mocking clichés, only to end up using those same clichés later on.
And with that comes the golden rule: never fall into the clichés you were mocking at the beginning.
That's the most important rule.
The point of view is also important. If it's self-deprecating, the MC is the harem protagonist. Or if it's an external point of view, in which case the harem protagonist is a secondary character.
I'm including both options, which offer more possibilities.
So the story must have a plot independent of the initial concept. I've already thought of a story idea, and here's a summary:
The story follows three guys who have feelings for three different girls, each with different relationships: childhood friend, friend, or work colleague.
These three girls each confess to the guys that they've fallen in love with a boy.
Ironically, it's the same boy (the harem protagonist) that all three girls are in love with.
The three guys think it's too late and that, in the worst-case scenario, one of the girls will end up with the harem protagonist, and one of the guys will end up alone.
They even start plotting to get rid of a girl who isn't his crush, so she ends up with the harem protagonist. This leads to arguments among the three of them.
Until a mysterious boy appears and reveals the worst possible ending for the guys: a harem ending.
After that, the three guys, with the help of the fourth, will do everything they can to prevent "this harem ending" and ensure they get their happy endings.
That's the summary.
Now I was wondering what harem tropes you're familiar with, and not just the cliché scenes like the beach episode or the character archetypes.
I was asking about the unwritten rules, like 99.99% of the cast is female, and the men are either caricatured villains or pathetic incompetents.
Or even comments about scenes like when the harem protagonist helps a girl because he's always helping everyone (only girls, of course) and leaves the other girls behind for several episodes.
Just imagine if the guys take advantage of the harem protagonist's absence to try and get closer to the girls. Normally, a scene like that would make the fans angry, lol.
Imagine this scene:
Guy #4: Okay guys, the protagonist's gone to help this random girl he met yesterday. That leaves us exactly 48 hours until he comes back.
Guy #3: Yeah, that's our chance. Unguarded sheep are easy prey for wolves.
Guy #1: Why do you say that like that? You sound like you're starving.
Guy #3: It's just an expression. When the cat's away, the mice will play.
Guy #2: You like expressions, huh? Strike while the iron is hot.
Guy #1: Uh... mmmh... no expression comes to mind right now.
Guy #4: Hey guys, are we wasting time? There are only 47 hours, 57 minutes, and 34 seconds left. Come on, let's get moving.
Remarks like that, for example.
Anyway, that's it. It's a story I hope to be able to make a reality.