Chapter 228: She did it. Ayane did it.

For the next twenty minutes, Ayane showed him several books.

She talked about her favorite authors, the genres she enjoyed, and the differences between the film adaptations and the original novels.

Noah listened with interest, since this was a side of Ayane he barely knew.

Normally he saw her as a very serious student or as the leader of the Queen and Misaki unit, but now he was facing a girl who spoke enthusiastically about her hobbies.

"So you prefer novels over movies?"

Noah asked, and Ayane thought for a few seconds.

"It depends."

"On what?"

"On the adaptation."

She put a book back in its place.

"There are movies that cut out too many important scenes."

Noah nodded.

"That happens a lot."

"And sometimes they completely change the characters’ personalities."

"That’s even worse."

Ayane looked up.

"Does that bother you too?"

"A lot."

She smiled.

"Me too!"

Noah let out a small laugh, and Ayane seemed to be genuinely enjoying the conversation.

’I’m glad to see her more relaxed.’

After browsing several shelves, they both found a small reading area by a window where there was a table and two chairs.

Ayane sat across from Noah, and on the table she had left a novel she planned to check out.

For a few minutes they kept talking until the conversation finally began to slow down.

Ayane slowly lowered her gaze, remembering why she had invited Noah.

It wasn’t simply to show him her favorite books. There was something far more important she needed to tell him.

’Now.’

She took a deep breath.

’This time I have to do it.’

Noah noticed the change in her expression.

"Ayane?"

She looked up.

"Yes?"

"Are you okay?"

Ayane nodded.

"...Yes, I’m fine."

Then she lightly clenched her hands over her legs.

"Noah."

He watched her.

"I’m listening."

Ayane remained silent for several seconds and finally spoke.

"There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time."

Noah nodded slowly.

"Alright."

She lowered her gaze.

"But it’s really hard for me to find the words."

"You don’t have to rush."

Ayane raised her eyes, and Noah smiled.

"We have time."

That answer managed to calm her a little, so Ayane took a deep breath.

"Do you remember when we met?"

Noah nodded.

"In the high school library."

"Exactly."

Ayane smiled slightly.

"I was pretty clumsy that day."

Noah remembered how she had fainted and tried not to laugh.

"You were nervous."

"Very."

She lowered her gaze.

"I’ve always had trouble talking to people I don’t know very well."

Noah stayed attentive.

"Especially with guys."

"I figured."

Ayane blushed slightly.

"But with you it was different."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"Different?"

She nodded.

"When you helped me, you didn’t seem to expect anything in return."

"..."

"You were simply worried."

Noah smiled slightly.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I know."

Ayane slowly raised her gaze.

"And that was exactly what I liked."

Noah remained silent, and she continued.

"After that we started running into each other again."

She remembered some of those moments, the conversations, the times Noah had helped her again, and the way he always treated her kindly.

"At first I thought I was just grateful."

Ayane clasped her hands together.

"But then I started thinking about you even when you weren’t around."

Noah listened carefully.

"I wanted to see you again."

Her voice began to tremble a little.

"I wanted to talk to you."

She took a deep breath.

"And when I finally had a chance, I got so nervous that I ended up doing something stupid."

Noah smiled slightly, and Ayane lowered her gaze.

"You probably think I’m pretty weird."

He shook his head immediately.

"No, not at all."

Ayane raised her eyes.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Noah continued.

"I think you’re a kind, responsible girl..."

Ayane went still.

"...and I’ve also noticed how much you care about your teammates."

She looked away slightly.

"Reina and Misaki can be complicated."

Noah smiled.

"Especially Reina."

Ayane let out a small laugh.

"Yes, especially her."

For a few seconds they both stayed smiling, and then Ayane slowly regained her seriousness.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

"I want you to know that what I’m about to tell you is completely sincere."

He nodded.

"I’m listening."

Ayane took a deep breath. Her cheeks were completely red; she felt enormous embarrassment, but this time she didn’t want to leave without finishing.

"Noah Reed..."

He remained still, and Ayane lifted her head.

"I’m in love with you."

There was silence as Noah watched her, and she continued before she lost her courage.

"I’ve liked you for a long time."

She lightly clenched her fists.

"I like talking to you."

Her voice still trembled.

"I like it when you smile."

She lowered her gaze slightly.

"And I’d like to be able to spend more time by your side."

Finally she raised her eyes again.

"I don’t know if you can return my feelings."

Noah stayed attentive.

"I know you already have girlfriends."

Ayane took a deep breath.

"And I also know our situation is complicated."

For a few seconds she remembered the Great Mother’s organization.

The orders, the missions, and all the responsibilities she still had pending, but she decided to continue.

"Even so, I didn’t want to keep hiding it."

Her hands trembled slightly.

"That’s why..."

She looked directly at Noah.

"I want to ask you if you would accept going out with me."

Ayane had finally done it, so she remained completely still.

’I said it.’

She had spoken every word she had been trying to say for so long, and now only one thing remained: Noah’s answer.

Noah watched Ayane for several seconds.

He had suspected from the beginning what she wanted to tell him, but hearing the confession directly was different.

Ayane had been completely sincere. She hadn’t tried to pressure him, nor had she demanded an immediate answer. She had simply told him how she felt.

’So she really was in love with me.’

Noah lowered his gaze slightly and thought about his girlfriends.

About the conversations he had had with each of them, and about the fact that Ayane still belonged to the Great Mother’s organization.

That last part still worried him, but he also knew he couldn’t ignore what Ayane had just told him, so he finally raised his gaze.

"Ayane."

She straightened immediately.

"Y-Yes!"

Noah smiled slightly.

"First I want to thank you for trusting me."

Ayane nodded.

"You’re welcome."

"And I also want to tell you that..."

Then a noise was heard, so both of them raised their heads, and Noah frowned.

"What was that?"

Ayane looked toward the shelves.

"I don’t know."

For a few seconds they remained still, and then a whisper was heard.

"I told you not to move!"

Noah opened his eyes slightly.

’Wait a second.’

Another voice answered.

"It wasn’t me!"

"Of course it was you!"

"Keep your voices down!"

Noah stayed still. He knew those voices all too well, so he slowly stood up from the chair while Ayane watched him in confusion.

"Noah?"

He raised a hand.

"One moment."

Then he walked toward the shelves, and the whispers continued.

"He’s coming!"

"Hide!"

"There’s no space!"

"Stop pushing me!"

Noah closed his eyes.

’It can’t be.’

He turned down one of the aisles and then found them.

Yume was crouched behind a bookshelf, Luna stayed at her side, Iris held an open book in front of her face, Aria tried to fix her hair while pretending to examine the titles, and Ren stood behind all of them with an expression of absolute resignation.

"..."

Noah looked at them, and the five of them looked back at him, so there was an awkward silence until Noah finally spoke.

"What are you doing?"

Yume immediately raised her hands.

"It’s not what it looks like!"

Noah closed his eyes.

’Of course.’

Luna remained completely calm.

"Good afternoon, Noah."

He looked at her.

"Luna."

"Yes?"

"What are you doing here?"

She thought for a few seconds.

"Visiting the library."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"With everyone?"

"Yes."

"..."

Iris slightly raised the book she was holding.

"We’re reading."

Noah looked at her.

"Iris."

"Yes?"

"The book is upside down."

Iris slowly lowered her gaze.

"..."

Then she turned the book around.

"Not anymore."

Noah brought a hand to his face, and Aria decided to intervene.

"Dear, I think we should clarify something."

Noah looked at her.

"I’m listening."

"This was a coincidence."

"..."

"A rather unfortunate coincidence."

Ren let out a sigh.

"Aria."

"What?"

"I don’t think he believes us."

Noah crossed his arms.

"Because I don’t believe you."

Yume started getting nervous.

"Noah, we can explain!"

"I hope so."

She looked at her companions and then back at him.

"Well..."

She paused.

"We wanted to make sure you were okay."

Noah slightly raised his eyebrows.

"And that’s why you followed me?"

Yume lowered her gaze.

"...Yes."

Luna intervened.

"I didn’t want to intervene."

Noah looked at her.

"Luna."

"Yes?"

"Didn’t we talk about this exactly?"

She nodded.

"Yes."

"Then..."

"I didn’t use my invisibility."

"..."

Noah remained silent, and Luna continued with absolute seriousness.

"I kept my promise."

Ren brought a hand to her forehead.

"That doesn’t help."

Iris slowly closed her book.

"In Luna’s defense, it’s technically true."

Noah looked at Iris.

"Don’t help her."

"Understood."

Aria raised a hand.

"Anyway, we have to admit that none of us planned to interrupt the conversation."

Noah looked at the book Iris was holding, then at Yume, who was still crouched, and finally at a small pile of books that had fallen to the floor.

"So how do you explain this?"

Ren sighed.

"Yume moved when she heard the confession."

"REN!"

"Then Luna tried to hold her."

"You didn’t need to tell that!"

"Iris tried to move away and bumped into me."

Iris nodded.

"Correct."

"Aria tried to keep us from falling."

Aria smiled with some discomfort.

"It was a reasonable attempt."

Ren pointed at the books.

"And that ended up happening."

Noah remained silent and for several seconds simply observed his girlfriends until he finally sighed.

"Did you hear the confession?"

The five of them stayed quiet, and Noah slowly raised his eyebrows.

"..."

Yume looked away, Luna stared at a shelf, Iris opened her book again, Aria adjusted her clothes, and Ren closed her eyes.