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 with him?"Esme probed even

What

much." Her response was blunt, but the smile on her face showed fondness

that, but he chose to ignore it

think he'll spill my secret. Besides, I could always

safest bet, right?" It felt like Esme was driving

the subtexts

clean to the rest of my friends

What does that have to do with this

because I don't want them—no, her—to think negatively of

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 light

He appeared tired.

secrets. It's also going to get problematic explaining why Ralyks

"You mean 'your' power."

know what I mean…" Rey sighed in exasperation, to which Esme just chuckled

if I just told them the truth. I don't want to limit my strength on the front lines where actual

at him, so he quickly added something else. "That doesn't mean I'll show you

"C-come on!"

when you pout

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

shrugged. "So there's no

sighed, obviously very deflated after hearing what Rey said. She clearly

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

conversing, but he liked that aspect of

high into the starless

"…"

soak in the quietness

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

"So why didn't you?"

soft, barely audible answer danced in his ears, Rey parted his lips and let words accompany the cool mist that proceeded

new life suits him. I think… if I showed

"I see…"

"Yeah…"

at the blank sky while

in silence for an unknown period

But, someone finally spoke.