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.

sure your secret is safe with him?"Esme probed

What

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

he chose to ignore it

he'll spill my secret. Besides, I

do it back then? It would have been the safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving at something, but Rey wasn't in the mood for

ignored the subtexts that existed underneath

on coming clean to

that have to do with this situation,

don't want them—no, her—to

at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated

He appeared tired.

get problematic explaining why Ralyks

"You mean 'your' power."

Rey sighed in exasperation, to which Esme just chuckled

better for everyone if I just told them the truth. I don't want to limit my strength on the

he quickly added something else. "That doesn't mean I'll show you my face,

"C-come on!"

you pout like

say the same about you since I DON'T EVEN

shrugged. "So there's no need to say

She clearly didn't want to push too much, and Rey really

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

didn't know how she was so skilled at conversing,

high into the starless sky. "I didn't think I made such a

"…"

Rey to soak in the quietness around him.

to tell him, you know? I wanted to tell him that I was Rey, his

"So why didn't you?"

ears, Rey parted

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

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

stood there in silence for

But, someone finally spoke.