Is it just me or have I once again failed to realize what I do or do not need to get for 100%?
Apparently the 3 hearts I need to collect are big hearts, and all three are found on the 2nd page of 1-1. the tiny hearts are heart fruits, and they grant invincibility, and since they're not needed to make the melons or hearts appear and I don't need to be invincible, they're not necessary.
and I get one.
So I'm going to have to redo yet again (though not from the beginning), but
here is my progress up until I realized my blunder.
Edit: Here's some uses for the heart fruit:
1. It saves you a ton of eggs. If you pound the ground next to a fruit trapped in a bubble when you are invincible, the fruit will break open!
2. It makes your tongue much longer, helpful for getting enemies from a distance.
3. Lastly, if you pound the ground next to a shyguy while you are invincible, the shyguy will turn into fruit!
Except for maybe #2, useless to my needs.