Chapter 190: A Small Discussion.

After class, Noah left the classroom with only one thing on his mind: finding Hikari.

He hadn’t managed to concentrate much during the last few hours, since the conversation with Stella kept spinning around in his head, but now he had something more important to do.

’I have to talk to Hikari.’

Noah walked through the high school hallways until he finally found her near one of the staircases.

Hikari was checking something on her phone and looked like she was about to leave.

"Don’t leave yet."

Hikari looked up.

"Noah?"

"I need to talk to you."

She put her phone away.

"About what happened with Stella?"

"That’s right."

Hikari sighed.

"Alright."

Noah looked around.

"Let’s go somewhere quieter."

The two of them walked to a less crowded area of the building, a small space next to one of the classrooms that almost no one used after class.

When they arrived, Hikari leaned against the wall.

"What happened?"

Noah crossed his arms.

"I ran into Stella today."

Hikari’s eyes widened.

"You saw her?"

"Just like you heard."

"Where?"

"During break."

"And did you talk?"

"Yeah."

Hikari stayed quiet for a few seconds.

"How did it go?"

"All things considered, fine."

The answer made Hikari frown.

"Fine?"

"Exactly."

"A lot better than with me?"

Noah hesitated.

"Unfortunately, yes."

Hikari lowered her gaze.

"That wasn’t necessary."

"I didn’t say it to bother you."

"But you said it."

"Because it’s the truth."

Hikari raised her head again.

"Then tell me what happened."

Noah took a deep breath.

"Stella was hiding from some fans because she wanted to eat in peace."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, and I found her by chance."

"And what did you do?"

"We just ate together."

Hikari stared at him.

"You ate together?"

"That’s right."

"Just the two of you?"

"There was no one else around."

Hikari fell silent, and Noah decided to continue before she started imagining something weird.

"We talked during the meal."

"About what?"

"A few different things, but mainly about her work."

Hikari seemed interested.

"And?"

"I found out something important."

"What?"

Noah looked at her directly.

"Stella doesn’t have a problem playing male characters."

Hikari frowned slightly.

"We already knew that."

"Not exactly."

Noah shook his head.

"She likes doing it, so she doesn’t regret those roles and understands that they’re part of her career."

"So..."

"The problem is that some people end up treating her like one of those characters even when she’s not in a movie."

Hikari stayed silent, and Noah continued.

"She told me that when she finishes a movie, she’s still herself, and that it feels nice when someone just treats her like a person."

Hikari slowly lowered her gaze.

"So..."

"I think that explains what happened with you."

"Because I talked too much about Haruto?"

"In part."

Noah paused before continuing to explain.

"I think Stella felt like you were talking to Haruto and not to her."

Hikari closed her eyes.

"That makes sense."

"Yeah, it makes more sense."

"And then I called her a guy."

"That didn’t help either."

Hikari brought a hand to her forehead.

"I know."

Noah stayed quiet for a few seconds before speaking.

"But now we know what to do."

Hikari raised her head.

"What?"

"For the new plan I have in mind."

She looked at him with a bit of distrust.

"Another one?"

"This one will be different."

"That’s what you said before."

"This time we have new information."

Hikari sighed.

"Alright, I’m listening."

Noah started walking slowly while organizing his thoughts.

"First, you have to stop thinking of Stella as the famous actress you know."

Hikari nodded.

"Okay, I can do that."

"When you talk to her, don’t mention her male roles."

"Got it."

"Or Haruto."

"Understood."

"Or the way she plays men."

"Alright."

"Or..."

"I already got it."

Noah stopped, understanding that.

"Perfect."

Hikari watched him.

"So what do I do then?"

"Talk to her."

"That seems way too simple."

"Exactly."

Noah pointed at her.

"Your previous problem was that you tried to find the perfect topic to impress her, and you don’t need that."

Hikari thought for a few seconds before saying anything.

"So I just have to get to know her."

"Exactly."

"And how am I supposed to do that?"

"I don’t know yet."

Hikari looked at him in disbelief.

"You don’t know?"

"I’m thinking."

"You just said you had a plan."

"I have the first part."

"That’s not a plan."

"It’s the start of a plan."

Hikari let out a sigh, and Noah continued.

"We could set up another casual meeting."

"How?"

"We could look for an activity both of you can do."

"Like what activities?"

"I don’t know, things like eating, studying, playing some kind of game..."

Hikari stayed quiet, then spoke.

"I don’t think that’s going to work."

Noah stopped at that negative response.

"It’s not going to work?"

Hikari shook her head.

"I think it would be better if you did it."

Noah blinked in confusion.

"Me?"

"That’s right."

"I refuse."

The answer was immediate, and Hikari looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because the goal is for you to become friends with Stella."

"I already know that."

"Then you have to do it."

"But she got along well with you."

Noah frowned.

"That doesn’t matter."

"Yes it does."

"No it doesn’t."

"Yes it does."

"Hikari."

"Stella was comfortable with you."

Noah crossed his arms.

"That was because we had a normal conversation."

"Exactly."

Hikari took a step toward him.

"If she already feels comfortable with you, you can help me."

"I can do that."

"Then become her friend."

"I’m not going to."

"Why?"

"Because I don’t want to."

Hikari looked at him for a few seconds before speaking.

"That’s not a reason."

"Yes it is."

"You know it’s not."

"I say it is a valid reason."

"You’re being childish."

"I’m not being childish."

"Then explain it to me."

Noah pressed his lips together slightly, since he didn’t want to say it, but Hikari was still waiting for his answer.

"Because I don’t want to end up taking your place."

Hikari blinked in confusion.

"What?"

"If Stella starts trusting me, it’s going to be harder for you to get close to her."

"But you could help me."

"That’s exactly what I want to do."

"Then I don’t understand what the problem is."

Noah sighed, knowing he would have to explain without revealing to Hikari that he was a reincarnator.