Chapter 185: It was going so well, but this isn’t a yuri.

While Noah was trying not to look too suspicious, Hikari was slowly moving forward with the line.

"Noah."

The voice appeared in the earpiece.

"Yes?"

"There are forty-three people ahead of me."

"Did you count them?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I wanted to calculate how much longer."

"Don’t do that."

"I already did."

Noah sighed.

"Just wait."

"That’s what I’m doing."

Several minutes passed and the line advanced at an acceptable pace, though Hikari seemed increasingly rigid as she got closer.

Noah could hear some heavier breaths through the earpiece.

"Hikari."

"What?"

"Breathe."

"I am breathing."

"But normally."

"I am."

"You look like you’re preparing for an operation."

"Nine people left."

"That’s not an emergency."

"I know."

"Then stay calm."

There was silence.

Noah took out the binoculars again and from his position he could finally see Stella clearly.

She was exactly as he remembered her, with perfectly arranged light-blue hair, elegant yet simple clothes, and a professional smile she maintained with every admirer who approached.

She signed objects, answered a few words, posed for photographs, and said goodbye to each person before receiving the next.

Noah felt a certain emotion.

’I finally get to see Stella Lumina in person.’

Another of the magical girls from the series and another of the protagonists who should have ended up with another girl.

This time, with Hikari.

’This can work.’

Noah looked at Hikari and she took the limited edition out of the bag, then quickly checked her hair using the phone’s front camera.

Noah smiled.

"That was adorable."

Hikari froze.

"Don’t say anything."

"I was just saying."

"Silence."

Only one person left.

The woman in front of Hikari finished her photograph with Stella, received her signed item, and left, after which a staff member made a signal.

"Next."

Hikari took a step while Noah stopped smiling, since it was the moment.

Stella looked up and for an instant simply observed Hikari before smiling.

"Hello."

Hikari answered immediately.

"Hello."

Noah stayed attentive.

’Everything’s going well so far.’

Stella looked at the object Hikari was holding in her hands.

"The Garden After the Rain?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

Stella seemed genuinely surprised.

"That edition sold out pretty quickly."

"I know."

"Did you buy it when it came out?"

"I reserved a copy three weeks in advance."

Stella smiled a little more.

"Then you’re a dedicated fan."

Hikari tensed slightly.

"I really liked the movie."

"I’m glad to hear that."

Stella held out her hand.

"Do you want me to sign it?"

"Yes, please."

Hikari carefully handed over the edition and Noah smiled.

’Perfect.’

Everything was working and Stella opened the box to look for a suitable spot.

"Is here okay?"

"Yes."

"To anyone in particular?"

"Hikari."

Stella began writing.

"So for Hikari..."

She stopped.

"Nice name."

Hikari stayed still.

"Thanks."

Noah smiled again.

’Come on.’

That was exactly what he wanted, a normal, simple, and natural conversation.

Stella finished the signature and handed the object back.

"Done."

Hikari received it with both hands.

"Thank you very much."

"No problem."

One of the event assistants spoke.

"If you want, you can take a photograph."

Hikari completely froze and Noah closed his eyes.

’Come on, Hikari.’

Two seconds passed and Stella looked at her.

"You don’t want to?"

Hikari reacted.

"Yes..."

She answered too quickly.

"Yes, I want to."

Stella let out a small laugh.

"Alright."

Both of them positioned themselves in front of the area prepared for the photographs, but Hikari was so rigid she seemed incapable of moving her arms.

Noah spoke in a low voice.

"Relax."

Hikari made a minimal movement with her head and Stella moved a little closer.

"Is this okay?"

Hikari swallowed.

"Yes."

The photograph was taken, then another, and Hikari looked at the screen.

Noah couldn’t see it from there, but he could imagine her expression.

"Do you like it?"

Stella asked.

"Yes."

"I’m glad."

Everything was still working and then Hikari spoke.

"Actually, I wanted to tell you something about the movie."

Noah blinked.

That wasn’t bad, but there was something he didn’t like.

Stella smiled.

"Sure."

Hikari held the signed edition against her chest.

"Your performance as Haruto was excellent."

Stella’s smile remained.

"Thank you."

"Especially the way you imitated the male gestures."

Noah frowned slightly while Stella continued smiling.

"We worked quite a bit on that."

"It showed."

Hikari seemed to be gaining confidence.

"There were moments when you really seemed like a man."

Stella’s smile changed, very little, and probably no one who wasn’t paying attention would have noticed, but Noah did.

’Huh?’

Stella answered.

"I suppose that means I did my job well."

"That’s right."

Hikari nodded.

"Especially in the café scene."

"The café?"

"When Haruto approaches Renka and corners her against the table."

Stella fell silent.

"Ah."

"It was an excellent scene."

"Thank you."

Hikari continued.

"Your expression was perfect."

Noah frowned again, since something was wrong.

Stella’s voice was a little different.

She was still polite and smiling, but she had lost some of the previous warmth.

Noah raised the binoculars to see better.

Stella was still behaving professionally, though her smile seemed more rigid.

’What happened?’

Hikari still hadn’t noticed.

"Also when you took her by the waist."

"Hikari."

Noah spoke through the earpiece and she stopped for just an instant.

"Yes?"

Stella looked at her.

"Is something wrong?"

Hikari reacted.

"No, nothing."

Noah continued in a low voice.

"I think something made her uncomfortable."

Hikari tensed.

"What?"

"Try to change the subject."

Hikari looked at Stella, who was still waiting.

"You were saying?"

Hikari tried to correct the situation.

"I just wanted to say that you’re very convincing playing a man."

Noah closed his eyes.

’It can’t be.’

Stella kept the smile.

"Thank you."

"Your posture, the voice, the way of walking..."

’Hikari, please.’

"...even some expressions."

’Hikari, stop.’

"It really seemed like..."

Noah spoke.

"Change the subject."

Hikari fell silent and Stella waited, so Hikari tried to think quickly.

"I mean..."

Noah could perfectly imagine what was going on inside her head.

She was analyzing, looking for a logical way to fix the error, which would normally be an advantage, but not at that moment.

"That it was surprising because you’re normally very feminine."

Noah opened his eyes wide.

’What?’

Stella blinked and Hikari realized immediately that that hadn’t worked either.