Chapter 197: Noah reveals everything to Stella.

Noah thought for a few seconds, since this time he wasn’t going to complicate it.

"There are magical girls."

Stella didn’t answer and Noah continued.

"Girls who receive special objects and gain powers."

He only received silence in response.

"They fight against monsters and against a pretty dangerous organization led by an entity called the Great Mother."

Stella watched him.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

"Are you serious?"

"Completely."

She studied him.

"I thought you were going to say something related to high school."

"I wish."

"It doesn’t seem like a joke."

"Because it isn’t."

Stella brought a hand to her forehead.

"Then wait."

Noah stayed quiet and she processed the information.

"You’re telling me there are girls with powers?"

"That’s right."

"Magic?"

"Yes."

"Monsters?"

"Those too."

"And a secret organization?"

"Of course."

Stella looked at him.

"And you expect me to believe all that?"

"Not yet."

That surprised her.

Noah slowly took out the brooch and Stella fixed her gaze on the object.

"What is that?"

"The proof that I’m telling the truth."

Noah held it out in front of her.

"This is yours."

"Mine?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you were chosen."

Stella didn’t move and Noah continued.

"If you take it, you should transform."

She looked at him and then at the brooch.

"And if it explodes?"

Noah blinked.

"It’s not going to explode."

"That’s what someone who wants you to take something explosive would say."

"It’s not explosive."

"How do you know?"

"I’ve already done this several times."

Stella looked up.

"That doesn’t reassure me."

Noah sighed.

"I understand."

Stella looked at the brooch again.

"You’re saying I’ll turn into a magical girl?"

"Yes, it’ll be quick."

"Like in a show?"

"Don’t use that comparison with me."

"Why?"

"Long story."

Stella seemed to hesitate, but Noah didn’t pressure her and, finally, she extended a hand.

"Fine."

"You sure?"

"Not entirely."

That made Noah smile.

Stella took the object and for a second nothing happened, at which she raised an eyebrow.

"Noah."

"Wait."

The brooch began to glow and Stella’s eyes widened.

"What...?"

A clear energy surrounded her body while Noah stepped back and the light increased.

Her clothes began to change while the energy ran along her arms and legs.

New details appeared on her outfit, while the brooch became integrated into her new attire and the process barely lasted a few seconds.

When the light disappeared, Stella remained completely still, at which she looked at her hands, then her clothes, then at Noah and said nothing.

Noah smiled.

"Now yes."

Stella looked at her body again.

"This..."

"It’s not a trick."

She touched a part of her suit.

"How...?"

"That’s magic."

Stella looked at him while Noah saw that her expression had completely changed.

The doubt was still there, but now it was mixed with something much more important, which was acceptance.

"So..."

Stella swallowed.

"...everything you said was true."

"That’s right."

"And there are other magical girls?"

"Of course there are."

Stella looked at her hands.

"This is absurd."

"I know."

"No."

She slowly shook her head.

"It really is absurd."

"You’ll get used to it."

Stella looked at him.

"That doesn’t reassure me either."

Noah smiled a little and then recovered his seriousness.

"There’s something else."

Stella noticed the change.

"What?"

Noah stayed silent for a few seconds.

"The reason I asked you those questions before was so I wouldn’t make a mistake."

"You wanted to confirm it was me?"

"Exactly."

Stella frowned.

"Why?"

Noah looked at her directly.

"The main enemy can change shape."

Stella went still.

"Change shape?"

"She can look like other people."

"Anyone?"

"I don’t know what her limit is."

Noah took a deep breath.

"But yesterday she used your appearance."

Stella’s eyes widened.

"My appearance?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

Noah hesitated.

"At my house."

She took a few seconds to react.

"Someone went to your house using my face?"

"Like you heard."

Stella seemed uncomfortable.

"That’s..."

"I know."

"Did your family think it was me?"

"Everyone."

"You too?"

"At first."

Stella stayed silent and Noah continued.

"That’s why you have to be careful, so if someone you know appears acting strange, don’t trust them immediately."

Stella looked at the brooch.

"This got a lot more dangerous very fast."

"Unfortunately, yes."

Noah took out his phone.

"There’s something else."

"What?"

"We have a chat."

Stella raised an eyebrow.

"A chat?"

"Yes."

"Of magical girls?"

"Mostly."

"That sounds less serious."

"We use it to organize."

Noah searched for the group.

"And to give a heads-up if something happens."

Stella took out her phone.

"All right."

They exchanged contacts, so Noah added her and, a few seconds later, the group reacted, with Yume being the first.

[Yume: STELLA?]

[Iris: Fast.]

[Aria: So it worked.]

[Luna: Confirm that you’re safe.]

[Ren: Hi.]

Hikari didn’t write immediately.

Stella read the messages.

"There are a lot of them."

"That’s right."

"Are they all magical girls?"

Noah hesitated.

"Most of them."

Stella looked at him.

"That’s not a very exact answer."

"They’ll explain later."

Finally a message from Hikari appeared.

[Hikari: Hi.]

Stella stayed looking at the screen and Noah noticed that her expression changed slightly.

Stella wrote.

[Stella: Hi.]

Nothing more and Noah decided not to intervene.

’Good.’

That would have to develop with time.

Noah put away his phone.

"If anything weird happens, write."

Stella nodded.

"I will."

"And don’t try to face the Great Mother alone."

"I don’t even know what she can do."

"Better."

Stella looked at him.

"Is that good?"

"It means you won’t try to prove you can beat her."

"Who would do that?"

Noah thought of several people.

"A lot of people."

Stella’s transformation ended shortly after, returning to her normal clothes and looking at the brooch.

"I guess this is part of my life now."

"Yes."

"Do I have a choice?"

Noah stayed quiet.

"I guess you can always not use it."

Stella observed him.

"But the enemies will still exist."

"That’s right."

"And now one of them already knows my face."

Noah didn’t answer and Stella sighed.

"Then I really don’t have much of a choice."

"I’m sorry."

"It’s not your fault, I guess."

Noah felt a small discomfort, since he wasn’t so sure about that, but he decided not to argue.

Stella put away the brooch.

"Thanks for telling me."

"No problem."

"And for explaining everything."

"You’re welcome."

Stella walked toward the door, but before leaving she stopped.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

"Now I understand why you seemed so worried."

Noah smiled.

"It’s been a complicated week."

"Seems like it."

She opened the door.

"See you."

"See you."

Stella left, at which Noah remained alone for a few seconds and then let out the air.

’Good.’

This time it had gone well.

No accidents or poorly prepared conversations.

He had found Stella, explained the situation to her, handed over the object and the transformation had worked.

Besides, now she could talk with the others directly.

Noah smiled.

’Finally I did something right.’

He left the classroom and walked down the hallway with a feeling of satisfaction he hadn’t had in several days.

Even Hikari and Stella were already in the same group.

That could help.

Noah took out his phone and there were new messages where Yume was already asking when they would officially meet Stella.

Luna wanted to organize a training, Aria proposed a meeting and Iris had simply sent a sticker.

Noah smiled.

"This turned out pretty well."

"Really?"

Noah stopped.

The voice came from behind him.

His smile disappeared, since he knew that voice, so he slowly turned around and Nozomi was standing at the end of the hallway smiling.

Noah stayed motionless.

"Nozomi."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Hello, my dear Noah."