Chapter 171: Covert operation that will bring Noah a lot of trouble.

Noah had been looking for a place to sit and eat for almost ten minutes.

The cafeteria was full, the courtyard tables too, and even the benches near the library were occupied.

’Where are all these students coming from?’

Noah was carrying a tray of food in one hand and his phone in the other while walking through one of the outdoor hallways.

"I just want to eat."

He had spent the morning thinking about Hikari, not in a romantic sense, he needed to clarify that even inside his own head.

He was thinking about her because he still had to get her to agree to become a magical girl.

The conversation the day before had progressed quite a bit, maybe too much, and Hikari now seemed willing to accept his proposal.

He had also discovered that Noah was an extremely valuable source for answering questions about men.

That last part still worried him, since Noah still remembered the notebook, the questions, the crossed-out mangas, and the 37 pending questions.

’I hope she doesn’t show up with another list today.’

"Noah."

He stopped and closed his eyes.

’I summoned her.’

He turned and Hikari was behind him with a perfectly arranged uniform, bag over her shoulder, and a serious expression.

Nothing about her suggested that the day before she had spent several minutes discussing whether two men would share a bed by accident.

"Hi, what’s up, Hikari?"

"I need to talk to you."

Noah looked at his food.

"Can it be while I eat?"

"No."

"Is it urgent?"

"Yes, very urgent."

That got his attention, so Noah frowned.

"Did something happen?"

"I need you to come with me after classes."

Noah took a second.

"Where to?"

Hikari looked around and there were several students nearby, so she stepped a little closer.

"Not here."

Noah took a small step back.

"That sounded suspicious."

"It has to be discreet."

"Now it sounds worse."

Hikari ignored the comment.

"I’ll wait for you at the exit at four."

Noah looked at her.

"What if I have other plans?"

"You have training with your magical girls at six."

Noah went still.

"How do you know that?"

"You told me yesterday, did you forget?"

"Ah, right."

Hikari continued.

"We have time."

"We do?"

"That’s right."

"I don’t remember agreeing."

Hikari kept looking at him and Noah held her gaze for a few seconds, but then he sighed in defeat.

"Alright."

"Perfect."

Hikari started to leave, but Noah raised a hand.

"Wait."

She stopped.

"What?"

"What’s this about?"

Hikari looked at him and then looked around again.

"Research material."

Noah went silent, at which Hikari kept walking and Noah watched her walk away.

’Is she going to make me look at BL?’

Noah had no doubt about that question.

"No, it’s definitely going to have to do with BL."

A girl who was passing by looked at him weirdly and Noah lowered his voice.

"Great."

He finally found a place to eat and, during the rest of the classes, Hikari didn’t approach him again.

Noah tried to concentrate, but it didn’t work very well, since the curiosity was stronger.

’What kind of place needs so much discretion? Another bookstore? A convention? Or some secret club?’

Noah rejected the last possibility.

’With Hikari I don’t even know anymore.’

When classes ended, he left the building and Hikari was already waiting, so Noah checked the time, seeing that it was two minutes to four.

"How long have you been here?"

"Four minutes."

"Of course."

Hikari started walking and Noah followed her.

"Can you tell me where we’re going now?"

"Yes, of course."

He waited, but Hikari said nothing, so Noah raised an eyebrow and said.

"Then tell me."

"We’re going to a store."

"That narrows down the options a lot."

"It’s specialized."

"In what?"

Hikari looked at him and Noah smiled, since he understood right away.

"It’s BL, how did I not see that coming?"

She looked away.

"Speak more quietly, someone might hear you."

Noah started laughing.

"Alright, it’s just that I was surprised."

"It’s not funny."

"Come on, a little bit it is."

"Of course not."

They walked through several streets and Hikari kept a fast pace, while Noah started noticing that she was continuously looking to the sides.

"Hikari."

"What?"

"Are you looking for someone?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"You just looked back three times."

"I’m checking the surroundings."

Noah smiled.

"Why?"

Hikari lowered her voice slightly.

"The store is specialized."

"You already said that."

"I could run into someone from high school."

Noah looked at her.

"And?"

"I don’t want to."

"And why’s that?"

Hikari stopped and looked at him with absolute seriousness.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

"My academic reputation is important."

Noah tried not to laugh.

"I don’t think buying manga will destroy your reputation, you know?"

"Depends on the manga."

"So you admit that you’re embarrassed by what you read."

"I’m not embarrassed."

"You don’t want to be seen."

"Those are different things."

Noah let out a laugh, at which Hikari kept walking.

"That’s why you’re here."

Noah stopped laughing.

"What?"

"I need a justification."

"For what?"

"If someone recognizes me."

Noah narrowed his eyes, so Hikari explained her idea.

"I’ll say that I’m helping you look for a gift."

Noah went still with those words while Hikari kept walking two steps and then turned.

"Are you coming?"

"Wait a moment."

Noah pointed at her.

"You brought me as an alibi?"

"Exactly, is something wrong?"

"I thought you wanted my opinion!"

"Yes, that too."

"You just added that now."

"You can’t prove it."

Noah opened his mouth to say something about it, but then closed it, since technically what Hikari was saying was true.

’She’s learning bad things very quickly.’

He started walking again.

"So then this could be said to be a covert operation."

Hikari looked at him with an expression of utmost seriousness.

"Exactly."

Noah was joking, but she wasn’t, at which Noah said to her in surprise.

"Wait, are you serious?"

"Yes, very serious."

"You’re just going to buy manga."

"Specialized material."

"BL material."

"I told you to speak more quietly."

Noah laughed again.

’At least I can get a few laughs out of this... right?’