An Extra’s POV

"Shouldn't you be in a hurry? You have to pick up some people, right?"

Esme's voice echoed in Rey's ears as they neared their Inn. Despite hearing it, Rey hardly reacted or changed the steady pace at which he walked.

"It's fine." He simply responded. "I sent a Duplicate a while back."

"R-really? I didn't notice!" Esme expressed surprise, to which Rey chuckled and shrugged.

"Yeah. I did it pretty quickly. Hid it well too."

With his wide array of Skills, it wasn't a difficult thing to do. In any case, the only reason he was able to talk to Noah for so long despite his busy schedule was due to that arrangement.

"I wanted to pick them up myself, but I guess plans change." He smiled softly, shrugging again.

Something about the atmosphere felt moody for some reason. Rey didn't even know why, but he suddenly felt a lull within him.

Perhaps a moment of silence was what he needed.

"Friend of yours?" Unfortunately, Esme wouldn't let him have that.

"Yeah. You could say that."

Rey didn't think he treated Noah as well as he should have treated a friend, but he genuinely considered him one.

After all, he was the first and only person who he revealed his secret to.

"Has he seen your face behind the mask?" Esme's question made Rey laugh a little.

He replied still.

"For him, and the people we had in common, the mask was my secret."

It was pretty ironic how the opposite was true for Esme. Regardless, he could say that Noah was the only one who knew both sides pretty well.

'Back then, I didn't think Ralyks would up playing such a big role. If I had known that, would I still have exposed my identity to him?'

Rey wasn't sure. All he knew was that Noah was incredibly useful at the time, and it would have been difficult to achieve the things he was able to without his help.

Difficult, not impossible.

you're sure your secret is safe with him?"Esme probed even

him. What do you

think he talks too much." Her response was blunt, but the smile on her face showed

that, but he chose

he'll spill my secret. Besides, I could

It would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving

subtexts that existed underneath

clean to the rest of my friends

that have to do with this situation,

don't want them—no, her—to think negatively of me." Rey sighed, finally stopping

dim glow did a poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the city were able

He appeared tired.

secrets. It's also going to get problematic explaining why Ralyks won't

"You mean 'your' power."

Rey sighed in exasperation, to which Esme just

them the truth. I don't want to

smiling at him, so he quickly added something else. "That doesn't mean

"C-come on!"

You look cute when you pout

since I

Rey shrugged.

deflated after hearing what Rey said. She clearly didn't

talking about, that was you, right?" As usual, Esme changed the topic

conversing, but he liked that aspect of

really surprised, to be honest." He laughed slightly, staring high into the

"…"

remain silent, allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around him.

know? I wanted to tell

"So why didn't you?"

her soft, barely audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words

happy. He looks like he's growing nicely, and this new life suits him. I think… if I showed up like this—out of the

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

the blank sky while Esme stared at

in silence for an unknown

But, someone finally spoke.