Chapter 210: Ayane’s distraction mission failed.

"I’m going to visit Noah!"

After that declaration, Reina blinked, Misaki raised an eyebrow, and Ayane continued.

"He was hospitalized, so I want to check that he’s doing okay and that’s all."

Reina smiled.

"Perfect."

Ayane looked at her.

"What?"

"I’m going with you."

"Of course not."

The answer was immediate, which made Reina blink.

"Why?"

"Because no."

"What a weak explanation."

"I’m not taking you."

Reina crossed her arms.

"I know Noah too."

"I know."

"Then I have the right to visit him."

"It’s not a matter of rights."

"Are you afraid he’ll prefer me?"

Ayane’s eyes widened.

"Of course not!"

Reina smiled.

"Then there’s no problem."

"Yes there is!"

Misaki stepped in.

"Ayane is right."

Ayane went still, since for the first time all day she felt someone was on her side.

"Thanks, Misaki."

Misaki nodded.

"Reina shouldn’t visit Noah unsupervised."

Reina looked at her.

"What does that mean?"

"That you’d probably try to pull some stunt."

"Hey!"

Ayane smiled slightly.

"Exactly."

Misaki continued.

"That’s why I’ll go too."

Ayane stopped smiling.

"...What?"

Misaki answered with complete calm.

"I’m going with you two."

"Wait a second."

"That way I can keep Reina from causing problems."

Ayane raised both hands.

"No!"

Misaki frowned.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to go alone!"

Reina smiled.

"Ah."

Ayane froze.

’I shouldn’t have said that.’

Reina stepped a little closer.

"What do you mean alone?"

Ayane looked away.

"I mean..."

Reina continued.

"A private visit?"

"That’s not what I mean..."

"With Noah?"

"It’s his house!"

"And you want to be alone with him?"

"I didn’t say that!"

Misaki thought for a few seconds.

"Anyway, someone has to keep an eye on Reina."

Reina raised a hand.

"I don’t need a babysitter."

Misaki looked at her.

"Yes you do."

"No I don’t."

"Yes you do."

Ayane watched her teammates, who both looked completely decided.

Reina wanted to go because she thought it would be fun to mess with her, but Misaki wanted to go because she didn’t trust Reina, and Ayane just wanted to visit Noah quietly.

Without arguments, without interruptions, and without either of them.

’They’re not going to drop it.’

Reina smiled.

"So, what time are we going?"

Ayane breathed slowly.

"First I need to check something."

Misaki raised an eyebrow.

"Check what?"

"A document."

Reina looked at her.

"Now?"

"That’s right."

Ayane pointed toward the building.

"I left it in one of the rooms."

Misaki nodded.

"We can wait."

"No need."

Ayane started walking.

"See you later."

Reina raised a hand.

"Don’t take too long!"

Ayane didn’t answer. She rounded the corner, walked a few meters, looked behind her, and no one was following.

’Sorry.’

She pulled out her phone, checked the address she’d written down, and then started walking quickly toward another station entrance.

’This time I’m going alone.’

Almost an hour later, Ayane arrived at the neighborhood where Noah lived.

She had bought a small bag of fruit and a few simple things that could be useful during his recovery.

Nothing exaggerated or too expensive, though she had spent quite a while choosing each item.

Ayane stopped in front of the house and looked at it for several seconds, since it was the first time she was going there to visit Noah directly.

Even though she had known the address before, for reasons related to the organization, of course.

’I shouldn’t be this nervous.’

She fixed her hair, then checked her clothes, and everything was fine.

She was wearing a simple blouse with a modest skirt, nothing flashy and exactly what she had chosen to make a good impression.

Ayane looked at the bag.

’Maybe I should have bought flowers.’

She quickly shook her head.

’No.’

She had already decided against it, so she took a deep breath and then stepped toward the entrance.

’Okay.’

All she had to do was ring the doorbell, introduce herself, ask for Noah, and hand over the gift.

All of that was simple, so Ayane raised a hand and was about to press the doorbell when she heard a voice behind her.

"Nice house."

Ayane went completely still and slowly turned her head, seeing that Reina was standing by the entrance smiling, while Misaki was right beside her.

Ayane stayed silent for three full seconds and then spoke.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?"

Reina raised a hand.

"Hi."

"I DIDN’T ASK HOW YOU ARE!"

Misaki looked at her.

"We followed you."

Ayane’s eyes widened.

"HOW?!"

Reina smiled.

"It was pretty easy."

Ayane pointed toward the street.

"I left you at the station!"

"We know."

"I told you I had to get a document!"

"That’s what you told us."

Ayane clenched her fists.

"Then why are you here!"

Misaki answered.

"Because it was obvious you wanted to escape."

Ayane opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

"That doesn’t answer how you found me!"

Misaki looked at her calmly.

"I used my tracking ability."

Ayane went still.

"..."

Misaki continued.

"It was simple to locate you."

Ayane looked at Reina, and Reina smiled.

"It’s pretty useful."

Ayane looked back at Misaki.

"You used your ability to follow me?"

"Affirmative."

"Your own leader?"

"That’s right."

"To come to Noah’s house?"

"Exactly as you’re thinking."

Ayane covered her face with both hands.

’This can’t be.’

They had used abilities that normally served for surveillance and combat operations to follow her on a personal visit.

Ayane lowered her hands.

"Leave."

Reina raised an eyebrow.

"But we just got here."

"Then go back."

"But I want to say hi to Noah."

"I said no."

"Why?"

"Because I’m your superior and I say no."

Misaki looked at the door.

"We’re already here."

Ayane looked at her.

"You shouldn’t be here either!"

Misaki crossed her arms.

"I’m not leaving Reina alone with you."

Reina turned toward her.

"What does that mean?"

"That you’re irresponsible."

"Hey!"

Ayane pointed at both of them.

"You’re both irresponsible!"

Reina smiled.

"What a low opinion you have of us."

"You’re earning it!"

Ayane tried to discreetly push them toward the exit, but Reina resisted.

"Wait, Ayane!"

"Leave now!"

"Don’t push me!"

"Then walk already!"

Misaki took Reina by the arm.

"Stop resisting."

Reina looked at her.

"You have to leave too!"

Misaki answered.

"I don’t want to."

Ayane tried to get between them.

"You’re both leaving!"

That fight didn’t look like it would end anytime soon.