Harem Stealing System

After receiving the paper bag, Eiden tucked it under his arm along with the chocolate Linda had given him earlier in the day. He didn't bother lingering around school or stopping anywhere else; instead, he left with Harry, chatting idly until they reached home. The moment he stepped through the front door, he felt his energy dip. Whatever plans he might have had for the evening were pushed aside. Without even greeting anyone, he headed straight to his room.

Closing the door behind him, he tossed his bag onto the chair and sat on his bed with the paper bag in his hands. It was well-made, the kind of neat packaging you could tell someone had put thought into. Eiden pulled at the ribbon, careful not to tear it something about the presentation made him feel like rushing would be disrespectful. Inside, there was another packet, this one sleek and faintly glossy, giving off an expensive feel despite being small in size.

When he opened it, his suspicion was confirmed it was chocolate. But not the perfectly uniform type you'd find on store shelves. The slightly uneven coating, the faint aroma of cocoa mixed with something else… it was homemade.

Homemade, huh? Eiden thought, running his thumb gently along the wrapper before tearing it open. Anyone who takes the time to make this themselves would probably want to hear how it tasted. A small smile formed on his face. There was a certain warmth to the gesture something you didn't really get from the glossy, mass-produced boxes with fancy logos.

He took a bite. The texture was… just right. Not too hard to bite into, not so soft that it felt like it would melt instantly in his fingers. The sweetness was balanced, subtle enough that it didn't overwhelm his tongue. In fact, it seemed tailored for someone who didn't like overly sugary treats.

She must've known most guys aren't crazy about sweets, Eiden thought, chewing slowly. She made it with that in mind…

Her thoughtfulness was obvious. He let the chocolate rest on his tongue, savoring the creamy filling that revealed itself as he bit further. There was a light richness inside something smooth, velvety, almost like it had been whipped. Every bite carried just enough flavor to make him want more, without crossing into that cloying territory that left you feeling done after a single piece.

I'm eating a homemade chocolate… given by a girl who has a crush on me.

That thought lingered for a moment. A part of him wanted to keep it as a sort of memento, to preserve the feeling of this small but meaningful gesture. But reality was a bit cruel homemade chocolates didn't last long. Unlike the factory-made ones that could sit in a box for months without changing, this would spoil if left untouched for too long.

So, with a mix of reluctance and quiet enjoyment, he finished it. Each bite was deliberate, each swallow leaving behind a faint trace of sweetness and warmth. When it was gone, he sat for a moment, the empty wrapper resting in his palm.

His attention then shifted to the other chocolate the one Linda had given him earlier.

He picked it up, turning it in his hands. The packaging was elegant, probably something from a high-end confectionery. But unlike the homemade one, he didn't feel the need to open it right away. He'd already had enough for today. Still, curiosity tugged at him not about the taste, but the price.

Eiden flipped the box around, searching for a price tag. Nothing. That only made him more curious. He pulled out his phone, snapped a quick picture, and ran a search.

A second later, his eyes widened. What the hell? This thing costs… two hundred and fifty dollars? "For just this?!" he muttered aloud, holding the box like it might suddenly turn into gold. "Damn…"

A faint laugh escaped him not exactly from amusement, but more from the disbelief of how different his reality was compared to some of the people around him. Man, I really am falling behind in terms of wealth compared to the students at Fors Height.

It wasn't surprising, of course. The school was filled with students from rich families, each carrying themselves like they owned the world. Linda probably didn't even think twice about spending this kind of money on chocolate. Well, expected of it. But then he leaned back slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. Hmm… but I have System-chan. And that's something no amount of wealth can buy.

That thought alone lifted his mood. Money could buy a lot of things, but the advantages his system gave him…? That was a different level entirely. He glanced toward his desk, where his laptop sat with the small pendrive containing his project. The sight made him feel a little more grounded reminders of the other things on his plate.

And then Ding! The familiar system notification sound rang out in his head.

[Congratulations on finishing a hidden event!]

Eiden blinked. "What? An event? What does that mean?" System-chan's voice rang out, casual but slightly amused.

[Today is Valentine's Day. And this was a hidden event. The requirement was for you to receive a chocolate from one of your harem targets and eat it.]

Eiden's eyes lit up. "Ohhh…!" His tone carried genuine delight. "So what's the reward?"

[Your reward is the unlocking of a function called Hint.]

That caught his attention instantly. "Hint? What does it do?"

System-chan explained in that slightly teasing, matter-of-fact tone:

[Hint is a function usable only once per day, unless you choose to spend points to use it more. After activating it, you can ask a question regarding a problem you have, and you'll receive a hint about it.]

Eiden sat up straighter, grin spreading across his face. "Ohhh…" The possibilities began to unfold in his mind. A feature like that could be game-changing not just in romance or harem-building, but for any situation where he didn't know the right move.

Hethen shifted his gaze upon the laptop, the pendrive still plugged in.