Chapter 168: Noah Discovers Hikari’s Peculiar Taste.

Hikari’s face remained serious, but her ears were completely red while Noah pointed at the pile of BL manga.

"They all have your name."

Hikari answered at once.

"There are a lot of Hikari Amatsukis."

Noah looked at her.

"That’s not a good lie."

"It’s possible."

"I don’t think so."

"Star City has a considerable population."

"I don’t think there are that many girls with the same first and last name in one city."

"That doesn’t eliminate the possibility."

Noah took a breath.

"Hikari."

"Yes?"

"The clerk is handing them to you."

Hikari looked at the clerk and the woman smiled.

"She comes every month."

Hikari closed her eyes and Noah’s eyes went wide.

"Every month?!"

The clerk nodded.

"Yes."

Hikari spoke quickly.

"Thank you, you can go back to your work."

"Of course."

The woman walked away while Hikari watched her leave, then looked at Noah.

There was silence.

Noah didn’t know what to say, so Hikari spoke first.

"You didn’t see anything."

Noah blinked.

"I saw plenty."

"That’s not true."

"There are like thirty manga."

"Twenty-six."

After that answer, Hikari opened her eyes slightly and Noah smiled.

"You counted them."

"That doesn’t prove anything!"

"You just corrected me."

Hikari grabbed one of the manga, quickly stuffed it into a bag, then another and another.

Noah watched.

"Hikari."

"What?"

"Do you like BL?"

She stopped.

"No."

Noah looked at the pile.

"Then it’s a really big coincidence."

"They’re gifts."

"Twenty-six?"

"I know a lot of people."

"They all have your reservation."

Hikari pressed her lips together and Noah felt he was about to provoke something dangerous, so he decided to be careful.

"I’m not going to tell anyone."

Hikari looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because I don’t care."

She frowned slightly and Noah clarified.

"I mean, you can read whatever you want."

Hikari didn’t answer and Noah continued.

"I was just surprised."

"Why?"

"Because..."

Noah pointed at her.

"Because it’s you."

Hikari narrowed her eyes.

"That’s not an explanation."

"No, I know."

Noah tried to order his words.

"It’s just that you’re always studying."

"Yes."

"You have good grades."

"Exactly."

"You’re responsible."

"That’s right."

"Serious."

"You know me well."

"Disciplined."

Hikari crossed her arms.

"And?"

Noah looked at the mountain of manga.

"I didn’t expect this."

Hikari stayed quiet and Noah saw her expression change a little, since she seemed embarrassed.

"It’s a hobby."

"That’s fine."

"I read when I finish studying."

"That’s perfect."

"It doesn’t affect my grades."

"I didn’t say that."

"I don’t neglect my responsibilities either."

"Good."

Hikari took another manga.

"And I don’t spend more than I can afford."

Noah looked at the amount.

"That last part..."

Hikari looked at him and Noah raised both hands.

"I didn’t say anything."

She kept putting the manga away and Noah helped her pick up one that was near the edge.

He looked at the cover and it was two boys in uniform, one with his hand on the other’s waist.

Noah read the title, but Hikari took it from him immediately.

"Don’t read it."

"I only saw the cover."

"Don’t look at it."

"It’s in my face."

Hikari put it away and Noah started laughing.

"It’s not funny."

"A little bit."

"Of course not."

Hikari looked at him with an expression Noah had never seen before.

It was a girl embarrassed because someone had discovered her secret hobby and that felt much more normal.

Noah tried to stop laughing.

"Sorry."

"You don’t mean it."

"A little."

"Noah."

"It’s fine."

Hikari finished putting the manga away, so she had several bags, and Noah looked at all of it.

"Can you carry that?"

"Yes."

She tried to lift the bags and the first one was pretty heavy, but Hikari kept a serious face.

"Yes."

Noah took two.

"I’ll help you."

"I don’t need help."

"You’re going to end up injuring yourself over BL manga."

Hikari turned red.

"Keep your voice down."

Noah looked around.

"There’s no one here."

"Talk quieter."

"All right."

They walked toward a side area.

Hikari was still clearly uncomfortable and Noah then thought about the magic object, since he had it in his pocket.

That had been the original reason he had wanted to find her, but handing it over there didn’t seem like a good idea.

Noah looked at Hikari.

Besides, he had just discovered new information that could be useful.

Hikari noticed his gaze.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re thinking something."

"No."

"Yes."

Noah smiled.

"I’m just discovering that you’re not exactly like I thought."

Hikari frowned.

"I don’t hide my personality."

Noah looked at the bags.

"Sure."

"This is private."

"That counts as hiding it."

"No."

"A little."

Hikari stayed quiet and Noah smiled again.

"Relax, I won’t tell anyone."

Hikari watched him carefully.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Not even your friends?"

Noah thought about his lovers and if any of them found out...

Noah imagined the disaster.

"No, trust me I won’t."

Hikari breathed a little more calmly.

"Thank you."

Noah raised an eyebrow, since it was the first time he had seen her admit that something worried her.

Hikari continued walking and Noah followed her carrying the bags.

’Interesting.’

He had found a side of Hikari that no one seemed to know and, even though he still didn’t know how, he had the feeling that this secret was going to be important for convincing her.

Noah discreetly touched the pocket where he kept the magic brooch.

First he had to prove to her that everything was real and then he would have to get her to accept, but now he knew something new.

Hikari Amatsuki was a BL fanatic and a pretty serious one.

Noah looked at the bags.

’Twenty-six.’

Hikari spoke without looking at him.

"Don’t count them again."

Noah opened his eyes.

"How did you know?"

"You won’t stop staring at them."

Noah smiled.

"Don’t mention this at school."

"All right."

"Or in messages."

"No problem."

"Or as a joke."

"Yes, I already got it."

Hikari looked at him.

"I’m serious."

Noah nodded.

"Me too."

She started walking again and Noah followed her.

For a few seconds there was silence and then Noah asked.

"What’s your favorite?"

Hikari stopped, looked at him and Noah smiled.

"I’m just curious."

Hikari took several seconds and then answered in a very low voice.

"I have several."

Noah raised his eyebrows and Hikari continued walking.

"That means we are going to talk about this."

"No."

"You just answered."

"Noah."

"All right."

Noah started laughing again and Hikari quickened her pace, but this time she didn’t deny anything.