Gon's Harem System
Chapter 144: Lira is outspoken

Chapter 144: Lira is outspoken

The courtyard was bathed in the soft glow of late afternoon, the sun dipping low enough to cast long shadows across the cobblestones

Gon stood there, hands shoved casually into his pockets, his dark hair ruffling slightly in the breeze

Beside him was Lira, her arms crossed, her posture relaxed yet somehow deliberate

She was shorter than him, her sharp eyes glinting with something unreadable as she tilted her head to meet his gaze

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the distant hum of the town beyond the courtyard walls filling the silence

Gon blinked, his brow furrowing as he processed what she’d just said

"I wasn’t expecting you to be so... outspoken," he said finally, his tone laced with surprise

He shifted his weight, studying her as if seeing her for the first time

Lira shrugged, the motion so nonchalant it almost seemed rehearsed

"The timid girl thing?" she said, her voice low and dry. "That’s just an act. Something I pull out for my mother, or around people who’d rather see me as weak. Makes them think I need protecting."

She smirked faintly, kicking at a loose pebble with the toe of her boot

It skittered across the stones and disappeared into a patch of grass

Gon’s eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity sparking behind them

"Why, though?" he asked, tilting his head. "Why let people underestimate you? What’s the point?"

Lira’s smirk faded, and she glanced away, her expression clouding over

She muttered something under her breath, too quiet for Gon to catch, though he leaned in slightly, straining to hear

When he didn’t press her, she shrugged again, this time with less conviction

"Dunno. Keeps things easier, I guess," she said, though the words felt like a half-truth

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, a small tell that Gon didn’t miss

He straightened up, letting the unanswered question hang between them for a beat

The courtyard felt quieter now, the air thick with something unspoken

"Well," he said at last, scratching the back of his neck, "you still want me to show you around? I mean, if you’re not too busy plotting how to throw everyone else off your trail."

Lira turned her head slowly, her eyes locking onto his

For a moment, she didn’t say anything, just stared at him with that deadpan look she seemed to wield like a weapon

Gon held her gaze, though he couldn’t quite tell if she was sizing him up or just messing with him

Then, out of nowhere, she spoke

"You’re kinda cute, you know that?"

Gon froze

His mouth opened, then closed, and he blinked rapidly as if he’d misheard her

"Uh, what?" he managed, his voice cracking slightly on the word

He cast a quick glance over her body, still processing the sudden compliment and her shifting demeanor

She was a puzzle, this girl, layers of pretense peeling back to reveal something sharper, something real

The cobblestones of the courtyard gave way to a winding path as Gon led Lira onward, his footsteps steady but quiet

Neither of them spoke, the silence stretching comfortably between them as he pointed out landmarks, a crumbling stone arch, a weathered fountain, a cluster of wildflowers spilling over a low wall

Lira followed, her sharp eyes taking it all in, though she offered no commentary

The sun sank lower, its light softening to a warm amber, and Gon found himself stealing glances at her, still turning over her earlier words in his mind

She was a mystery, this girl, and he wasn’t sure if he was annoyed or intrigued by it

They walked on, the path curving gently through the outskirts of the town, until a lone tree came into view on the horizon

Its broad branches spread out like a canopy, casting a deep pool of shade over the grass beneath

Lira slowed, her gaze settling on it, and she broke the silence first

"Aren’t you tired of playing tour guide yet?" she asked, her voice carrying that dry edge he was starting to recognize

Gon felt the question hit home, truthfully, he was tired, his legs aching faintly from the day’s wandering

But something about her tone, that faint challenge in it, sparked a stubborn streak in him

He decided to play her game, to match her deflection with his own

"Depends," he said, keeping his voice casual as he glanced at her. "Are you tired of being a tourist?"

Lira rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward, betraying her amusement

She didn’t bother hiding it, and Gon caught the glint of a smile before she turned her head away

"You’re impossible," she muttered, though there was no bite in it

She nodded toward the tree, her tone shifting to something more practical

"I need to sit. That shade looks good."

Gon didn’t argue

"Fair enough," he said, and they veered off the path, their steps crunching softly over the grass as they headed toward the tree

The air grew cooler as they approached, the shadow enveloping them like a quiet reprieve

The tree’s shade enveloped them as they settled onto the grass, the air cool and quiet beneath its sprawling branches

Gon sat with his legs stretched out, his hands braced behind him, while Lira leaned against the rough trunk, her knees drawn up slightly

The breeze stirred the leaves above, sending flecks of sunlight dancing across their faces

For a moment, neither spoke, the stillness wrapping around them like a shared secret

Gon’s eyes flicked toward her, catching the way she tilted her head, her sharp gaze softened by the shadow

Lira shifted, brushing a strand of hair from her face, and then her voice broke the quiet

"I’ve changed my mind," she said, her tone low but deliberate

She met his eyes, a small, almost hesitant smile tugging at her lips

"I think you’re very cute."

Gon felt a smirk tug at the corners of his mind, though he kept his face steady, letting her words hang in the air

He raised an eyebrow, leaning forward just a fraction

"Oh yeah?" he said, his voice smooth with a hint of challenge. "So what are you gonna do about it?"