Harem Stealing System

Eiden sat slouched in his chair for a long while, the buzz of the classroom fading into a faint, meaningless hum in the back of his mind. His gaze wandered toward the blackboard, but his focus was elsewhere, locked on a single pressing question: What should I do next? The ticking of the clock seemed unusually loud, as if measuring his indecision.

After several minutes of quiet consideration, he finally reached a conclusion. I should focus on Airie instead.

It wasn't that he had forgotten about Ruel far from it. In fact, his instincts screamed that whatever Ruel was planning wasn't going to be good for anyone involved, least of all himself. But after their last encounter and considering the current situation, Eiden figured Ruel wouldn't make a move anytime soon. Not while the principal's eyes were firmly fixed on him.

He'll probably lay low for a while, Eiden reasoned. So I should take this chance to complete Airie's quest quickly, maybe even clear a few others before Ruel does something again.

The logic felt sound enough, and once the thought settled, Eiden reached for the system interface, tapping the glowing "Hint" function hovering faintly in his peripheral vision. "Alright, System-chan," he muttered under his breath, his voice low enough not to draw attention, "I want hints on how to befriend Airie."

The request flashed across the screen, and for a moment nothing happened. Then, in crisp white letters, the answer appeared short and cryptic, like something plucked from a fortune cookie:

Hint: Afternoon. Salvan Street. Under the vending machine. Eiden's eyebrows shot up. "…The hell?" he murmured.

It was the kind of answer that somehow gave information and raised even more questions at the same time. Afternoon sure, that was straightforward. Salvan Street also fine; he knew the place. It was roughly five to six kilometers away, not far by car or public transport. But under the vending machine?

He tilted his head slightly, frowning. What does that even mean? Was it a clue about an item, a hidden object, or some sort of bizarre event trigger? The mental image of himself trying to crawl under a vending machine in the middle of the street was already absurd enough to make him sigh.

Still, it was better than nothing. He pieced together what little made sense Salvan Street in the afternoon and decided to figure out the rest when the time came.

When the bell rang, Eiden gathered his things and stepped into the corridor. The usual post-class chatter filled the hallway, and the faint scent of cafeteria food drifted from somewhere ahead. On the way toward the cafeteria, he bumped into John, exchanging a few casual words as they walked side by side. Despite his easy expression, Eiden's eyes remained sharp and scanning, his senses on alert for any unexpected encounters particularly with a certain someone.

And then, as if the universe decided to humor his paranoia, there he was. Ruel.

Their paths converged without warning. Ruel strolled casually with his friends, his posture loose but his presence sharp, exuding that same air of smug self-assurance he always seemed to carry. Laughter and low conversation surrounded him, his group moving like they owned the hallway.

As they drew closer, Eiden instinctively braced himself. His mind replayed their last encounter the sudden punch, the brief moment of hostility, the weight of that presence. But when they actually passed each other, something unexpected happened: nothing.

Ruel didn't so much as glance at him. Not a flicker of recognition, no lingering look, no hidden hostility. He kept walking, chatting with his friends as though Eiden were an extra in the background of his day.

Eiden frowned slightly. He doesn't recognize me… or maybe he just doesn't care. It made sense, in a way. Their interaction had been a single, fleeting moment. Sure, it left an impression on Eiden, but for Ruel? Maybe throwing a punch was just another Tuesday. If it was the sort of thing he did often, Eiden would barely register as a blip on his radar.

The realization was oddly relieving, and he let out a quiet breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Still, his thoughts didn't get far before his attention snapped ahead. Wait… isn't that the way to the cafeteria?

Sure enough, Ruel's stride was carrying him straight toward the same destination. And in the cafeteria… was Lyra.

"Oh, shit," Eiden muttered under his breath, quickening his pace.

The cafeteria's glass doors slid open to reveal the bustling interior. His eyes immediately darted to the far side of the room, where Lyra sat. Relief washed over him when he saw not only her but also Linda, Crysty, Sasha, and three other girls he didn't recognize.

More importantly, Linda, Sasha, and Crysty were positioned almost deliberately around Lyra. Their body language was protective, their gazes sharp and watchful. The tension in their posture made it clear they were expecting trouble.

And trouble was only a few steps away.

Ruel entered the cafeteria, his presence pulling attention like gravity itself. Conversations dipped briefly as his figure cut through the crowd. His gaze swept lazily across the room until it inevitably landed on Lyra's table.

Their eyes met.

Ruel's lips curved into a small, knowing smirk the kind that didn't need words to say I see you. The smirk lingered for only a heartbeat before he broke eye contact and kept walking, heading in another direction entirely.

Eiden's gaze flicked back to Lyra. Her shoulders loosened almost immediately, a long breath escaping as though she'd been holding it the entire time. The rest of the group seemed to share her relief, though their wariness didn't fade entirely.

Ruel didn't linger. He moved to another part of the cafeteria, giving no sign that he planned to interfere. It was almost as if their presence was just an idle background note in his day.

Still, Eiden watched him go, unsure whether this was genuine disinterest or the calm before some calculated move.

By the time he reached the table where his own friends were gathered, he caught Lyra's gaze. They didn't exchange words just a subtle look that silently asked, You good? Her faint nod was all the confirmation he needed.

They both turned back to their respective groups, the moment passing like a shadow that still lingered faintly even after it was gone.