Harem Stealing System

Eiden and Sasha reached college together without encountering anyone else on the way. The quiet walk felt nostalgic, reminding them of their middle school days when it was only the two of them going to and from school together. There was a certain comfort in the silence they shared, an old rhythm that didn't require words. After reaching the college gates, they eventually went their separate ways. Eiden opened the map from System-chan to check the location of all the targets. His eyes caught the name he was hoping to see nearby it was Airie.

Knowing her classroom, he waited at a corner that intersected her usual route. Even if she took detours, she would eventually pass by this hallway to reach the classroom. After a few minutes, Airie came into view. Eiden casually walked toward her and greeted her with a simple "Good morning." She greeted him back with the same politeness. He continued walking past her, his heart beating steadily, his expression calm. He wasn't confident enough to strike up a full conversation yet. So, he opted for a slower method regular greetings, building familiarity, slowly becoming someone she recognized, then easing into longer conversations. Eventually, they would become friends, and the quest would be complete. It was a slow strategy, but Eiden had faith in it. Even small progress like this made him feel accomplished.

As he moved away, a sudden movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Arin had just arrived, her sharp presence standing out. She noticed him as well. Without saying a word, she tilted her head subtly toward a quieter corridor. Eiden got the message and followed her.

Before he could even speak, Arin beat him to it. "Don't worry. Ruel hasn't found out about the video yet." Eiden shook his head slightly. "Not that. I mean the thing you mentioned before about keeping an eye on Ruel and that guy who beat him up." Arin grew silent for a moment before answering. "I have some men tracking Ruel's activities from a distance. I know what kind of person he is. He rarely restrains himself." Her voice lowered slightly as she added, "The man who was with me that day is a subordinate of my father's. He's in trouble with him for some past failure. Trying to redeem himself. I told him I'd speak on his behalf if he helped me. He's trustworthy. I've known him since childhood."

Eiden blinked, somewhat taken aback. "I would've been fine with a vague explanation. You didn't have to go into that much detail."

Arin paused. Her expression shifted, and she placed a hand under her chin as if pondering something that had just occurred to her.

"That's... unlike me," she mumbled, almost to herself, before abruptly turning around and walking away without another word.

Eiden stared at her back as she walked off, confused by the unexpected shift in her behavior. He shook his head and continued toward his own classroom.

Once inside, his gaze immediately landed on two familiar figures. Sometimes their routines overlapped, but this time felt different. The first was Petter, who winked at him like always. The second was Lyra. Unlike before, now there was a silent thread of connection between them. Lyra met his gaze and offered a shy smile. Her expression brightened as she waved gently, her slender hand moving slowly in a way that seemed intended only for him.

Eiden smiled back, nodding ever so slightly as if greeting her with his eyes. He then sat down in his usual seat in the second row. Lyra was seated a few rows behind him, fourth from the front. The professor entered not long after and started the lecture immediately.

Eiden listened, albeit half-heartedly. He was alert, just not deeply invested. Behind him, Petter sat with his head down, sketching some anime character with meticulous focus. Meanwhile, Lyra, who was usually attentive, had her focus elsewhere. Her eyes remained fixed on Eiden's back, her hand supporting her cheek, a light blush coloring her face. Her thoughts wandered to the memory of their kiss, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She giggled inwardly but quickly straightened herself, trying to regain focus. It didn't last long. Her eyes returned to Eiden again and again, stealing glances, studying him, caught in her own little loop of distraction.

The class droned on, the professor explaining some theory neither of them were absorbing properly. From time to time, Eiden adjusted his seating, unintentionally offering Lyra a better glimpse of his profile. Each movement of his seemed to draw her attention like a magnet. She caught herself more than once doodling tiny hearts in the margins of her notes. At one point, she covered her face with her hand and let out a soft, embarrassed sigh, wondering if anyone else had noticed her expression.

When the class finally ended, Eiden remained in his seat for a moment. He glanced back and saw that Petter had fallen asleep, drooling over the character he had just drawn. Eiden stared at him for a few seconds, unable to hold back a thought. And you wonder why you don't get girls, bro.

Just then, Lyra walked past his seat. Eiden stood up as their movements aligned naturally, and they left the classroom together, falling into step beside each other.

Their conversation flowed easily. They talked about random things, including how the professor looked especially tired that morning. Lyra even made a small joke about how the weather made her want to skip the rest of the day, and Eiden agreed, saying it felt more like a nap day than a study day. Their laughs were quiet but shared, warm in their simplicity. As they approached the cafeteria, Eiden noticed two more familiar faces walking in the same direction but not together Deuel and Crysty.

Lyra noticed Crysty too. She glanced at Eiden, who smiled subtly and said, "Talk to you later." She got the hint and veered off in another direction, quickening her pace toward Crysty while Eiden slowed down, allowing the two girls to catch up with each other. Lyra reached Crysty, and the two of them walked off together. Eiden, meanwhile, turned and made his way to meet up with Deuel.