Harem Stealing System
Chapter 61 : Look over there

Chapter 61: Chapter 61 : Look over there

Eiden stood motionless, the air still as the toy rifle rested in his grip. His expression remained unreadable stoic and composed while beside him, Lyra blinked in confusion, glancing between Eiden and the stall owner.

She tilted her head slightly. "What just happened?" she asked softly, unsure if she had missed something important. Before Eiden could answer, the stall owner suddenly clapped his hands together and boomed with excitement, "Congratulations! You’ve hit the hardest target and won the unknown reward! You’re only the third person to ever strike the smallest target among the seven!"

Lyra’s eyes widened. Smallest target? She turned quickly toward the shooting range. Her gaze scanned the targets, but she could barely make out anything particularly tiny. Then she squinted and squinted again, leaning forward slightly. Hidden deep in the corner, behind a fake tree branch, was a nearly invisible dot barely the size of a pea.

"That... was the target?" she whispered in disbelief.

The thing was so minuscule, she wouldn’t have been surprised if the bullet itself was bigger. Even spotting it now felt like finding a speck of dust on a cloudy window. Then, turning to Eiden, her confusion turned into open admiration. She smiled brightly, eyes twinkling, and clapped her hands lightly. "Wow, Eiden! You’re amazing!"

He maintained his poker face, expression firm as he turned to the owner. "What’s the reward?" he asked, tone calm and casual, like this outcome had been entirely expected. But inside, Eiden was on the verge of a mental breakdown. What just happened? Did I seriously hit something? I thought since Lyra was barely missing the large ones, I could at least hit one of those. But to think I actually missed it by a whole arm’s length... and then somehow hit the smallest one instead? What kind of luck is that? Thank god I didn’t offer to teach her how to shoot... that would’ve been insanely embarrassing.

RNG God had blessed me . The stall owner disappeared into the back and soon returned, hugging a large object in his arms. It was massive, almost as tall as a person. At first glance, Eiden’s eyes widened with surprise.

"Wait what the hell did he just bring a real panda!?" he almost exclaimed, but stopped himself when he realized it wasn’t moving.

Upon closer inspection, it was a life-sized panda doll. And not the cartoony kind either. This thing looked real. The fur pattern, the texture, the solemn eyes it was so lifelike that it could easily fool someone if placed inside a zoo cage.

Eiden and Lyra both sized it up in awe. It was unlike anything he’d ever seen at a carnival booth. This isn’t your average plushie, Eiden thought. It’s too realistic. Girls probably wouldn’t like it since it’s not the cute, chibi type. But

He turned slightly to look at Lyra. Her eyes were shimmering. She stared at the doll, lips slightly parted, fascinated. Oh right... she loves animals. She’s read more bestiaries than I can pronounce. Of course she’d love this kind of thing, Eiden mused. He took the panda from the stall owner and nodded in appreciation. "Oh... it’s lighter than I thought," he muttered, surprised by the weight.

The fur was soft and the material didn’t feel cheap at all. The quality felt premium, like a handcrafted custom item you’d win in an expensive auction for art . "Lyra," he said, holding the doll out to her. "Since I’m a guy and dolls don’t really interest me... you can have it. Think of it as a gift."

Her eyes widened as she turned to him. "Are you sure?" she asked. Eiden nodded once.

She carefully reached out and took it, bracing for its weight but it was unexpectedly light. She hugged it tightly, immediately sinking into the soft material. Her cheeks lifted with joy, and a grin pure and childlike spread across her face. She looked genuinely happy, the kind of happiness that doesn’t need words.

Eiden saw it and couldn’t help but smile too. The moment she noticed him smiling, however, her expression shifted. Her cheeks flushed ever so slightly, and she cleared her throat, quickly composing herself.

Eiden, still smiling faintly, glanced toward the rest of the fair. "Let’s go to the ferry ride," he said. "We’ll be able to see the fireworks better from up there." Lyra nodded without hesitation. As they made their way to the ferry platform, the large panda plush caught the attention of many fairgoers. Some people did a double take, eyes widening in disbelief at how realistic the doll looked. "Is that... real?"

"No way..." A few girls even tugged on their boyfriends’ sleeves. "I want one like that too!"

Lyra walked proudly, arms wrapped tightly around the panda, like a prize she’d dreamed of winning all her life. Eiden walked beside her, hands in his pockets. He didn’t hold her hand this time she had both arms occupied, after all but they still walked close, side by side.

Eventually, they reached the ferry and boarded. The ride gently lifted them up, slowly ascending to the top of the wheel. As the cabin rose, the wind caressed their faces and the town below grew smaller and smaller.

And then the countdown began. "Ten..."

"Nine..." Voices from below echoed up, a chorus of excitement gathering in waves.

"Seven... six..." People everywhere joined in.

"Three... two... one !!" Pew! Pew! BOOM!

The sky exploded with light. Colorful fireworks streaked across the sky in waves, painting it with spirals of gold, shimmering blues, radiant purples, and brilliant reds. Each explosion came with a thunderous boom, reverberating through the air and inside their chests.

Eiden leaned slightly forward, resting his arms on the rail of the cabin. His eyes reflected the bursts of light above them. Lyra sat beside him, the panda resting on her lap. Her gaze was fixed upward, the glow of fireworks mirrored in her silver eyes. The awe on her face was unmistakable, her lips slightly parted in wonder.

Then, as if a thought struck her, she glanced sideways at Eiden. Her hands tightened around the panda, her grip unconsciously firming. The plush was squeezed a bit tighter, as though she were gathering courage from it.

Eiden turned toward her at that exact moment, a gentle smile on his face. She looked at him for a second longer... then pointed to the side suddenly. "Look there!" she said, eyes wide. Eiden’s head snapped in the direction she pointed. "Huh? Where?" But there was nothing. As he turned back to ask her what she meant

Her face was close. Too close. Then !! Her soft, cherry-red lips pressed against his.

Eiden’s eyes widened in shock, lips slightly trembling from the sudden contact. He didn’t move. Her eyes were gently shut, and her face flushed ever so slightly as her lips stayed on his for a second more.

His heart skipped a beat. Everything else the lights, the crowd, the noise vanished. All that remained was the soft warmth of her lips... and the taste of the kiss.