Chapter 226: Noah has a conversation with each girlfriend [3].

"By the way, Ren."

She looked up.

"Yes, Noah?"

"I wanted to tell you something."

Ren smiled.

"What is it?"

Noah took a deep breath.

"I’m going to meet with Ayane."

Ren blinked.

"Ayane?"

"That’s right."

"The one who came to your house?"

"Exactly her."

Ren took a sip of her drink and then nodded.

"Alright."

Noah waited, but Ren continued drinking, so he decided to ask.

"Is that all?"

She looked at him.

"What else do you want me to say?"

Noah smiled slightly.

"I thought you’d have some questions."

Ren remained thoughtful for a few seconds.

"Is it a date?"

"No."

"Then?"

"We’re just going to talk."

Ren nodded.

"I understand."

Then she smiled.

"Well, good luck."

Noah looked at her with a bit of surprise.

"It doesn’t bother you?"

Ren shook her head.

"Of course not."

"You sure?"

"One hundred percent sure."

Noah seemed to relax, so Ren set her drink down on the table.

"Noah, we’ve known each other for a long time."

He nodded.

"I know."

"And I know perfectly well how you are."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

Ren smiled.

"Depends on the day."

"Hey!"

She let out a small laugh and then continued.

"I don’t think you need someone watching over you constantly."

Noah stayed silent, and Ren looked at him calmly.

"If you want to talk with Ayane, do it."

"Thanks, Ren."

"I’m not going to hound you over it."

Noah smiled.

"I appreciate you saying that."

Ren nodded.

"Besides..."

She paused briefly.

"I’m happy with our relationship just the way it is right now."

Noah looked at her, and Ren continued.

"We can spend time together, go out, play, and talk about anything."

"..."

"I don’t need to demand more from you to feel important."

Noah remained quiet for a few seconds and then smiled.

"Ren..."

She raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"That was pretty mature."

Ren looked at him.

"..."

Then she frowned.

"What did you expect me to say?"

"No, nothing."

"Did you think I was going to forbid you from going out?"

"No, of course not!"

"Or that I was going to ask you to choose me?"

"Not that either!"

Ren crossed her arms.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

"You’re underestimating me."

He smiled with a bit of discomfort.

"Sorry."

Ren sighed, and then her expression relaxed again.

"Seriously, you don’t have to worry."

Noah nodded.

"Thanks."

She picked up her drink again.

"Just promise me one thing."

Noah looked up.

"What?"

"If Ayane tries to kidnap you, let us know."

Noah closed his eyes.

"..."

Ren smiled.

"What?"

"Why does everyone think I’m going to end up kidnapped?"

"Because it’s happened before."

"..."

Noah couldn’t find a response, and Ren stood up.

"Let’s go."

He looked at her.

"Where?"

Ren pointed to another area of the establishment.

"I want to try that dance game."

Noah looked at the machine and then at Ren.

"..."

"What’s wrong?"

"I’m not good at dancing."

Ren smiled.

"Then it’ll be fun."

Noah sighed.

’Of course.’

At the end of the day, Noah returned home completely exhausted.

He had managed to talk with all of his girlfriends and, surprisingly, none of them had tried to stop him from meeting with Ayane.

Yume had had some doubts, but in the end she accepted respecting his decision, while Iris had stayed calm, though Noah had noticed the news distracted her for a while.

Aria didn’t seem worried at all, though now Noah had the unsettling feeling that his fiancée was already looking for properties to buy, and Ren had probably been the calmest of them all.

’I’m glad they understood.’

Noah left his backpack by the desk, then picked up his phone and had some pending messages.

Yume had written to ask if he had eaten dinner, Iris wanted to know when they would continue the game, and Aria had sent him a photo of an enormous house.

Noah looked at that last image.

"..."

’She definitely wasn’t joking.’

Ren, for her part, had sent a photo of the results from their games at the arcade and underneath had written:

[Whenever you want a rematch, let me know.]

Noah smiled.

’Next time I’ll win.’

He replied to a few messages and then set the phone on his desk.

It had been a pretty busy day, but he was also satisfied.

For the first time he had managed to inform all of his girlfriends about a personal decision without trying to hide it or waiting for one of them to find out from someone else.

’I should have done this from the beginning.’

He lay back on his bed, closed his eyes, and then his phone vibrated, so Noah lifted his head.

"Now what?"

He picked up the phone and it was a message from Ayane, at which Noah sat up immediately.

’Ah, right.’

He opened the conversation.

[Good night, Noah. Sorry for messaging you so late.]

Noah replied.

[Don’t worry. Is something wrong?]

The reply took a few seconds.

[I wanted to ask if you’d have time tomorrow for us to meet.]

Noah looked at the message.

’Tomorrow...’

He mentally checked his commitments.

He didn’t have any important classes after noon, he hadn’t made plans with any of his girlfriends, and he still had days off at work, so he replied.

[Yes, I’m free tomorrow.]

Ayane started typing immediately.

[Really?]

Noah smiled.

[Yes, that’s right.]

[Perfect!]

A few seconds later another message arrived.

[Sorry. I meant that sounds good.]

Noah let out a small laugh.

’Definitely Ayane.’

He typed again.

[Where do you want us to meet?]

The reply took a little longer.

[Does the plaza near the library work for you?]

Noah thought for a few seconds.

He knew the place; it was relatively quiet and had several benches where they could talk without too many interruptions.

[That works for me.]

[At four in the afternoon?]

[Perfect.]

Ayane replied immediately.

[Then we’ll see each other tomorrow at four.]

Noah smiled.

[See you tomorrow, Ayane.]

For several seconds no reply came, but finally a last message appeared.

[Thank you for agreeing to talk with me, Noah.]

He looked at it and then typed.

[You don’t have to thank me. I’m glad I get to see you.]

He sent the message and, on the other side of the conversation, Ayane stopped typing, so several seconds passed until a rather brief reply appeared.

[Yes.]

Noah blinked.

"..."

Then another message arrived.

[Good night.]

Noah replied.

[Good night, Ayane.]

He set the phone on his desk and then lay down again.

’Well.’

He looked up at the ceiling.

’Everything’s ready now.’

He had talked with Luna, informed Yume, Iris, Aria, Ren, and now finally had a date to meet with Ayane.

Noah closed his eyes.

Although he still didn’t know exactly what that girl wanted to tell him, at least he was willing to listen.

’I hope this time no one shows up to interrupt us.’

With that final thought, he turned off the light.

The next day, at four in the afternoon, he would meet with Ayane Kagetsu again, and this time, at least he hoped, they would be able to finish the conversation that had been left pending.