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.

is safe with him?"Esme

him. What

the smile on her face showed fondness

noticed that, but he chose to ignore it

my secret. Besides,

Then why didn't you just do it back then? It would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving at something,

so, he ignored the subtexts that existed underneath her

to the

What does that have to do with this situation,

my identity being exposed is because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively of me." Rey

at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that

He appeared tired.

think I've had enough of the secrets. It's also going to get problematic explaining why Ralyks

"You mean 'your' power."

mean…" Rey sighed in exasperation, to

the truth. I don't want to limit

Esme nodding and smiling at him, so he quickly

"C-come on!"

You look cute when you pout like

you since I DON'T EVEN KNOW what you

cute." Rey shrugged. "So there's no need to

obviously very deflated after hearing what Rey said. She clearly didn't want to push too much,

friend he was talking about, that was you, right?" As usual, Esme changed the topic to something more comfortable

how she was so skilled at conversing, but he liked that aspect of her

was really surprised, to be honest." He laughed slightly, staring high into the starless sky. "I didn't think I

"…"

remain silent, allowing Rey to soak in the

wanted to tell

"So why didn't you?"

audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his

growing nicely, and this new life suits him. I think… if I showed up like

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

Rey looking at the blank sky

for

But, someone finally spoke.