Chapter 211: Ayane has a somewhat unfortunate first introduction.

Reina took a step toward the door of Noah’s house and Ayane grabbed her by the sleeve.

"Don’t you dare ring the doorbell!"

"I just want to say hi!"

"I told you no!"

Misaki tried to separate them.

"Stop making noise."

Ayane immediately turned around.

"You’re the one who started all this by following me!"

"That doesn’t justify shouting."

"I WOULDN’T BE SHOUTING IF YOU HADN’T COME!"

Reina started laughing, at which Ayane looked at her.

"AND YOU, STOP LAUGHING!"

The three of them continued arguing in front of the entrance, but none of them immediately noticed the woman who had just stopped behind them.

Emma Reed was carrying two shopping bags, as she had returned from the supermarket and now found three unknown young women arguing right in front of the entrance to her house.

Emma observed them.

One was holding another by the sleeve, the third was trying to separate them, and none of them seemed to be paying attention to their surroundings.

Emma waited a few seconds, then a few more, and finally spoke.

"Excuse me."

No one responded, and Ayane was still trying to pull Reina away.

"I told you not to ring the doorbell!"

"But I haven’t rung it yet!"

"Because I’m not letting you!"

Misaki intervened.

"You’re both making too much noise."

Emma spoke again.

"Excuse me."

This time Misaki looked up, saw Emma, then the bags, and then the door, so her expression changed slightly.

"..."

Ayane still hadn’t noticed anything.

"Misaki, help me get Reina out of here!"

Misaki remained silent, and Reina frowned.

"What’s wrong with you, Misaki?"

She turned her head, saw Emma, and smiled.

"Ah."

Ayane looked at Reina.

"Ah, what?"

Then she heard the voice behind her.

"Do you need help?"

Ayane froze completely and slowly turned her head, seeing that Emma was in front of them smiling with a certain awkwardness.

Ayane immediately recognized her face, since she was Noah’s mother.

’No.’

She looked at the bags, then the door, and then back at Emma.

’No, no, no.’

Emma spoke.

"Sorry, but I need to get by."

Ayane’s eyes widened.

"Ah!"

She immediately stepped aside.

"I’m sorry!"

Reina also stepped back, and Misaki did the same, so Emma moved forward a bit.

"Thank you."

Then she looked at the three of them.

"Were you waiting for someone?"

Ayane swallowed, since this was the opportunity, the introduction she had imagined all morning.

She had to stay calm, smile, speak politely, and not seem suspicious.

’I can do this.’

Ayane gave a small bow.

"Good afternoon."

Emma smiled.

"Good afternoon."

Ayane continued.

"My name is Ayane Kagetsu."

"Nice to meet you."

"We..."

She stopped, discreetly looked at Reina and then at Misaki.

’Don’t say anything weird.’

Reina smiled and, before Ayane could stop her, said without remorse.

"We’re very good friends of Noah."

Ayane closed her eyes.

’It’s already too late.’

Emma’s eyes widened slightly.

"You’re friends of Noah?"

Misaki nodded.

"That’s right."

Ayane reacted quickly.

"Exactly!"

Emma looked at them, and Ayane continued.

"We go to the same high school."

That was true, at least for Ayane.

Meanwhile, Reina smiled.

"And we wanted to visit him."

Emma seemed to understand.

"I see."

She looked at the bag Ayane was carrying.

"You came because he was in the hospital, right?"

Ayane immediately nodded.

"Yes, exactly because of that."

Her voice softened.

"We got worried when we found out."

Emma smiled gratefully.

"How thoughtful of you."

Ayane felt a small sense of relief.

’Great.’

Everything indicated that the introduction could still work after all.

Emma continued.

"Luckily, Noah is already much better."

Ayane looked up.

"Really?"

"That’s right."

Emma nodded as she continued speaking.

"He’s resting at home."

Ayane smiled upon hearing that news.

"I’m really glad."

For a moment she forgot that Reina and Misaki were next to her, since she truly felt relieved.

Even though she had seen Noah leave the hospital the day before, hearing that he was continuing to recover was reassuring.

Emma observed the three of them and then smiled.

"So, you came to see him?"

Ayane hesitated for a moment.

"If it’s not a bother..."

But Reina raised a hand and said without issue.

"Of course we did!"

Ayane quickly turned as if to make her shut up.

"Reina."

"What?"

"Lower your voice."

"But I just answered."

Misaki intervened.

"We wanted to check on how he’s doing."

Emma seemed satisfied upon hearing that.

"I understand."

Ayane regained her composure.

"But if he’s resting, we can come back another time."

Reina immediately looked at her with noticeable disappointment.

"What?"

Ayane ignored her, but Emma shook her head.

"There’s no need."

Ayane blinked at the surprise in the response.

"Huh?"

Emma smiled at them.

"Noah is awake right now."

She looked toward the door.

"And he’ll surely be happy to receive a visit from his friends."

Ayane fell silent, Reina smiled, Misaki nodded, and Emma adjusted the bags in her hands before inviting them.

"Come on in."

Ayane’s eyes widened slightly, a bit surprised by what she had just heard.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Emma walked toward the entrance.

"Come on, I’ll prepare something for you to drink."

Reina immediately smiled.

"Thank you so much for your kindness, ma’am!"

Misaki gave a small bow.

"We deeply appreciate it, since thanks to you we won’t die of dehydration."

"Were you that thirsty?"

While the girls were talking with Emma, Ayane remained still for a moment and then looked at her two companions.

Reina seemed far too satisfied, while Misaki maintained her usual expression, and she had just managed to get Noah’s mother to invite them inside.

Although definitely not in the way she had imagined.

’This can’t end well, can it?’

Emma opened the door and then looked toward them.

"Aren’t you coming?"

Ayane reacted immediately.

"Yes, of course!"

She started walking toward the door, but then Reina leaned close to her ear.

"How nice your future mother-in-law is."

Ayane turned completely red and scolded her.

"Reina!"

Emma turned her head, confused.

"Is something wrong?"

Ayane straightened up immediately before responding.

"No, nothing!"

Misaki sighed, Reina started laughing discreetly, and so the three members of one of the units of the Great Mother organization ended up entering Noah Reed’s house.

As guests of his mother, without her having the slightest idea of who they really were and without Noah knowing that he was about to receive a completely unexpected visit.