Harem Stealing System

"Ahhhhhh, I'm cringing so hard right now. Pretty? Won't lose to anyone? What got into me fffkkk that was embarrassing as hell!"

Eiden buried his face in his hands as if that could somehow erase the memory of his own words. His soul felt like it had left his body from sheer second-hand embarrassment only it was firsthand.

"System-chan, show me the progress!" he ordered desperately. Ding! "I swear… if it didn't progress after that crap I just pulled..."

Lyra Progress: 59%

"YES!" he pumped his fist. "It worked! I knew it girls love stuff like this!" Eiden strutted forward with a rare swagger, high on the success, until he spotted Sasha. His steps faltered. With many thoughts swirling in his head, he walked towards her cautiously. "What are you thinking about?" Sasha asked, tilting her head.

Eiden snapped out of his thoughts, looked at her, and with a warm smile said, "Happy Birthday." He turned to walk away when

Squeeze. Her manicured hand gripped his shoulder those beautifully done nails digging into his flesh like claws. Eiden winced, jolting slightly. Turning around with eyes wide, he found Sasha smiling at him. And that smile... was terrifying in how sweet it was.

She then held out her palm wordlessly, indicating something. Eiden blinked, confused. "About that..." he began, but before he could finish, Sasha interrupted.

"Don't tell me you forgot about my birthday, right?" she said with a sweet, unchanging smile. Eiden gulped. Goosebumps rose on his neck. "O-of course not!" he said with forced cheer, his voice trembling. Sasha's expression didn't change.

"You used to come to the party and either throw the gift at me or hand it over like it was no big deal," she said. "Even before the cake."

"Well, it's different this time," Eiden replied with a nervous chuckle. "Ohhh?" she raised a brow, still maintaining her horrifyingly pleasant smile. "Can you release me now?" he whimpered. "It's starting to really hurt."

After a few seconds of tension-filled silence, she released him and turned away, saying, "I'm waiting." She walked back toward her group of friends, leaving Eiden to rub his aching shoulder.

"She got gifts from so many people. Why is she waiting for mine specifically...?" he muttered to himself. The party resumed in full swing lights glowed warmly, music filled the air, and laughter echoed in the hall.

Clink! Clink! Clink!

A glass being tapped gently with a spoon rang out, catching everyone's attention. The room quieted instantly. All eyes turned to the elegant woman standing near the grand table none other than Selena Delores, Sasha's mother and a former actress of high repute. She carried herself with timeless grace.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she began with a graceful nod, "tonight, I am very glad and thankful to all of you for attending my beloved daughter's special night." She paused, her expression warm and motherly.

"As a mother, I express my gratitude. Watching her grow up... from a bundle of joy to the radiant young woman she is today has been my greatest honor." The audience clapped softly.

Selena continued sharing heartfelt memories how Sasha had always been bright, stubborn, and a light in her life. People smiled warmly, some teary-eyed. Finally, the moment everyone anticipated arrived. The cake.

As the towering birthday cake was wheeled in, candles shimmering in the dimmed light, Sasha approached the table with a bashful smile, her cheeks faintly flushed. The room began singing in unison: 🎵 Happy Birthday to you... 🎵

Sasha blew out the candles gently, her eyes briefly scanning the crowd until they met Eiden's. But he wasn't singing. Eiden, instead, was quietly stepping towards Mrs. Delores. He leaned in and whispered something into her ear. Her eyes widened in surprise.

She pulled back slightly and looked at him with a mix of disbelief and delight. Then, she gave a small nod. As the final notes of the birthday song faded into applause, another round of clink clink echoed through the hall.

Mrs. Delores stepped forward again and cleared her throat. "Everyone," she began, "we have a special number prepared tonight by none other than Mr. Eiden, who has been a great support and childhood friend to Sasha. He has especially prepared a song as her birthday present." The crowd murmured in pleasant surprise.

Cheers erupted. But not from everyone.

The people who truly knew Eiden were stunned into silence Deuel, John, Harry, Crysty, Eiden's mother, and of course, Sasha.

They exchanged glances. "...Did she just say Eiden is going to sing?" John whispered.

No one could remember him ever singing. Not once. Mrs. Delores clapped twice, and two well-dressed staff members approached Eiden with a microphone.

He took it with a calm face that belied his pounding heart. He whispered a few instructions to the music operator and then walked up the stairs slightly, turning to face the crowd. "This is your moment, Eiden," he whispered to himself. "Well, technically it's for Sasha. But it's also my moment."

He took a deep breath. The music started a soft, slow piano introduction that everyone instantly recognized. It was a famous ballad known for being soothing, soulful, and extremely hard to sing. A bold choice. Then he opened his mouth.

The first notes spilled out. And instantly the room changed. Eiden had activated his Soothing Voice skill. People didn't just hear him they felt him.

The voice was like velvet, light and powerful, as though the original artist had returned in flesh to perform. The tone, the pitch, the control every note caressed their ears.

Some closed their eyes unconsciously, swaying gently. Musicians in the crowd perked up. Even they were caught off guard.

Phones were lifted. Cameras recorded. No one wanted to miss a second. As the final chorus echoed across the hall, Eiden's voice lingered like a divine whisper. Silence. And then

Applause.Loud. Thunderous. Real.

Everyone clapped. Some even whistled. But in the middle of the ovation were people standing motionless, too shocked to move.

Deuel looked at Harry, who looked at John, and then they all looked at each other speechless.

"...That's our Eiden?" Deuel stuttered.

They nodded slowly. Sasha, meanwhile, stood completely frozen. She tried to recall any memory any single moment from her 19 years of knowing Eiden where he sang like that. Nothing. Zero. It was like this talent had just appeared.

Mrs. Delores, though seasoned in entertainment, was still stunned. She expected something, but not this. This was more than just talent. This was star-level.

But the most shocked of all was Mrs. Dally, Eiden's mother.

That was her son. Her son. And she had never heard him sing like that. Sure, there were those childhood rhymes in elementary school. But this? This was mastery. This was beyond anything she could've imagined.

"How did he hide this…?" she thought.

Sasha, standing quietly beside her friends, was having the exact same thought.

She had known him all her life. She practically grew up with him. They shared snacks, secrets, and skipped classes together.

Yet not once not a single time did she ever hear him sing like this. Was Eiden a mastermind? Was he secretly a genius?

Was he always hiding things behind that sarcastic, easygoing smile? She shook her head. Ridiculous... right?

Even Lyra, who hadn't known him for long, was visibly stunned. She didn't have many expectations but this? She found herself clapping like a devoted fan, her eyes glued to the boy who just bowed on stage. From the crowd, Crysty watched too. She wasn't close to Eiden but she'd known him for a while. Even she felt a chill run through her spine as he finished.

Then she noticed something. Lyra. Her eyes sparkled like a fangirl, lips parted slightly, cheeks flushed. Eiden caught her gaze and winked. Lyra's whole face lit up in a violent blush. She grabbed her hair and tried to hide behind it.

"!!!!" Crysty nearly shouted. She exclaimed, "

"Are you for real!!!!??