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.

secret is safe

him. What

blunt, but the smile on her

that, but he chose to ignore

my secret. Besides, I

been the safest bet, right?" It felt like

subtexts that existed

to the rest of my friends once this

that have to do

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

moon's dim glow did a poor job at capturing his face, but thankfully the nearby lights that decorated the city were able to shine their

He appeared tired.

It's also going to get problematic explaining why Ralyks won't participate in the

"You mean 'your' power."

sighed in exasperation, to which

if I just told them the truth. I don't want

smiling at him, so he quickly added something else.

"C-come on!"

look cute when you pout like

about you since I DON'T EVEN

know I won't be cute." Rey shrugged.

after hearing what Rey said. She clearly didn't want to

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

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

He laughed slightly, staring high into the starless sky. "I didn't

"…"

allowing Rey to soak in the quietness around

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

"So why didn't you?"

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

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

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

both of them remained still, Rey looking at the

silence for

But, someone finally spoke.