Harem Stealing System

Upstairs, Sasha was busy flipping through hangers and neatly folded stacks, searching for clothes that might suit Crysty. The closet wasn't particularly large, but Sasha moved through it with practiced familiarity, shifting garments aside with a quiet swish. The air in the room smelled faintly of fresh laundry and her soft floral perfume that gentle, lingering fragrance that seemed to follow her wherever she went.

The faint rustle of fabric and the occasional metallic click of hangers filled the otherwise quiet space. Sasha would pause now and then, holding up a skirt or blouse against the light seeping through the small window, only to shake her head and return it to its place. She wanted something that would fit Crysty well but also match her style and in Sasha's mind, that meant it had to be just right.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom down the hall, Crysty had just stepped into the bath.

The space wasn't as grand as the marble-tiled luxury of her own home's bathroom, but it had its own charm. The muted cream tiles reflected the warm light overhead, and the faint wear around the mirror's edges told a story of regular, everyday use. The air was slightly humid even before the water started running, carrying a subtle scent of soap and shampoo. It felt lived-in, personal almost welcoming.

As she let the warm water run, Crysty's gaze wandered over the neatly arranged bottles lined up along the shelf. Shampoos, conditioners, lotions, all in perfect order as if curated for display. The brands made her pause a few of them were clearly expensive, even imported. She reached for one of the shampoo bottles, flipped the cap, and the scent drifted out: unmistakably Sasha's. Sweet, crisp, and lingering without being overpowering. A faint smile tugged at her lips. So, half of these are hers. Figures.

Setting it back in place, she turned her attention to washing. Lowering herself into the tub, she felt the warm water lap against her skin, melting away the faint tension in her muscles. She let out a quiet sigh, closing her eyes for a moment as steam began to rise, softening the edges of the small bathroom.

She lathered the sponge with body wash, the foam blooming in her hands before she spread it across her arms and shoulders. The bubbles slid smoothly along her skin, gathering and breaking in tiny rivulets that traced over her collarbones and down to her wrists before slipping into the water. She moved methodically, scrubbing away the day's stickiness, the scent of the soap blending with the humid air until it seemed to wrap around her entirely.

Tilting her head back, she rinsed her hair under the shower head, the weight of it increasing as each strand absorbed the water. The damp locks clung against her back in darker, heavier strands, while stray drops rolled down her cheeks and neck. By the time she was done, the mirror was a blurred sheet of fog, and her skin glistened faintly under the warm light.

She reached for a towel, wrapping it snugly around herself. It was thick, soft, and smelled faintly of the same floral note she had picked up in the bedroom earlier Sasha's doing, no doubt. Patting down her arms and brushing a droplet from her chin, she stepped toward the door and pulled it open .Only to freeze. Eiden was standing right there.

Their eyes locked instantly, both caught in the unexpected moment. Crysty's lips parted slightly in surprise, her brows lifting just a fraction, while Eiden's eyes went wide. The towel covered her adequately, but the sight of her fresh from the bath skin still dewy from the steam, hair damp and framing her face carried a quiet impact that neither of them seemed prepared for.

For a few seconds, neither moved. Then, from upstairs, came the rapid pounding of footsteps. Thud, thud, thud.Sasha appeared in a blur, moving with an urgency Eiden had rarely seen from her. She carried an armful of clothes and closed the distance to Crysty in two swift strides, wrapping an arm protectively around her and positioning herself between them.

"How long are you going to stand there looking?" she shot at Eiden, her voice sharp enough to slice the tension.

The words jolted him out of his trance. "Ah !" Without another glance, he spun on his heel and rushed toward the front door, not stopping until he was outside the gate. Inside, Sasha turned back to Crysty and handed over the clothes. "Here, change quickly," she said in a tone that was brisk but not unkind.

Crysty nodded without question and headed toward the changing room, her wet feet leaving faint, oval-shaped prints on the floorboards. She shut the door behind her, and a soft rustle of fabric followed as she began to dress.

Outside, Eiden leaned against the gatepost, dragging a hand down his face. "What the hell… Crysty?! Why was she just wearing a towel? Bathing… here? She's never even been in my house before and now she's taking a bath?" He exhaled in disbelief. "And why am I standing outside my own house right now?"

He took a step toward the door, then stopped mid-stride. "No… I think I'll wait for a bit."

Still, the earlier scene replayed in his mind whether he wanted it to or not the cloud of steam, the damp hair clinging against her, the startled way she'd frozen when their eyes met. He shook his head violently. Stop. That's disrespectful. He gave himself a light slap on the cheek to push the thought away.

Several minutes later, the door creaked open, and Sasha stepped out. She looked composed, her tone even as she said, "Come inside." Eiden straightened and followed her in. Crysty was seated on the couch now, the change in her appearance immediate. She wore the navy-blue skirt and white blouse Sasha had chosen, the fabric soft and light, moving easily with each subtle shift of her posture. The frills at the blouse's collar and cuffs framed her features with a quiet elegance.

Her hair was still damp, clinging in loose arcs around her cheeks and neck. That clean, floral freshness from her bath lingered faintly in the air between them. She looked entirely at ease, as though the awkward moment at the bathroom door hadn't left a dent in her composure. Eiden glanced at her once, then quickly looked away. "…Sorry," he muttered, his voice holding a stiffness he couldn't quite mask.

"It's not your fault," Crysty replied without hesitation. Her tone was level, almost casual, as if she had decided it wasn't worth making a scene over. Turning to Sasha, she added, "Let's go." Sasha nodded. "Right." She turned briefly to Eiden. "I spilled some juice earlier, so I took a quick bath."

"Oh. Right," he replied, the words coming out more as a reflex than anything else.

She gave him one last glance, then reached for the door. "We'll be going shopping for some things." He simply nodded, watching as the two of them stepped outside together. The door closed behind them with a quiet click.

The silence that followed was heavier than the situation probably warranted. Eiden stood there for a moment, rubbing the back of his neck, before trudging toward the stairs.

"…What a day," he muttered under his breath, the memory of the earlier scene still lurking somewhere at the back of his mind despite his best efforts to shove it away.