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.

your secret is safe with him?"Esme probed even

him. What

the smile on her face showed

but he chose to ignore it

secret. Besides, I could always

why didn't you just do it back then? It would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like

he ignored the subtexts

to go that far. I plan on coming clean to the rest of my friends

that have to do

reason I care about my identity being exposed is because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively

poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that

He appeared tired.

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

"You mean 'your' power."

know what I mean…" Rey sighed in

I just told them the truth. I don't want to limit my

could see Esme nodding and smiling at him, so he quickly added something

"C-come on!"

cute when you pout like that."

can't say the same about you since I DON'T EVEN KNOW what

I won't be cute." Rey shrugged. "So there's no need to say

Rey said. She clearly didn't want to push too

that was you, right?" As usual,

how she was so skilled at conversing, but he

into the starless sky. "I didn't

"…"

allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around him. It allowed him to think

you know? I wanted to tell

"So why didn't you?"

danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words

new life suits him. I think… if I showed

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

them remained still, Rey looking at the blank sky while Esme stared at him with

there in silence for an

But, someone finally spoke.