Chapter 220: A Serious Conversation [1].

Noah stared at his phone screen for a few seconds, having just replied to Ayane’s message.

[Hi, Ayane. Sure, we can talk. Let me know when you’re free.]

After sending it, he placed his phone on his desk and sighed.

’I hope I haven’t made a mistake.’

Ever since Ayane, Reina, and Misaki’s visit, he had been thinking about what had happened, especially the conversation Luna had interrupted.

Noah wasn’t completely clueless, so he could imagine what Ayane had been trying to tell him before Luna appeared.

The problem was that he hadn’t gotten the chance to hear her out, and he didn’t know how to react if his suspicions turned out to be correct.

’Was she really going to confess?’

He remembered Ayane’s flushed cheeks, the way she spoke, and how nervous she had been.

’Probably.’

He brought a hand to his face.

’When did she start having feelings for me?’

Although, now that he thought about it, he had a pretty good idea.

Ever since he had helped her in the library, Ayane had started acting strangely whenever they were together.

Now that he knew her personality better, he was beginning to understand that she had very little experience with men.

’Well, that explains a few things.’

However, there was something far more important than Ayane’s possible confession, and that was Luna.

Noah closed his eyes.

He remembered how she had suddenly appeared, kissed him in front of Ayane, and then announced that there were no more openings for new girlfriends.

All without consulting him.

’We need to talk.’

Just then, his phone vibrated, so Noah looked up and saw a message from Luna.

[Good morning. How are you?]

Noah blinked.

’What a coincidence.’

He picked up his phone and replied.

[I’m fine. How about you?]

The reply came almost immediately.

[Good. Did you get enough sleep?]

[Yes.]

[Did you have breakfast?]

[That too.]

Noah stared at the conversation.

Luna was still texting him as naturally as ever, as though what had happened with Ayane hadn’t been important.

For a few seconds, he considered asking her about it directly through text, but decided it would be better to talk face-to-face.

[Luna, there’s something I need to talk to you about.]

Her reply took a little longer than usual.

[What is it?]

[It’s about what happened with Ayane.]

The typing indicator appeared, then disappeared, only to reappear before a reply finally arrived.

[I understand.]

Noah waited, and another message appeared.

[Are you upset with me?]

He stared at those words.

’A little, yeah.’

But he knew that answering that way over the phone could cause another misunderstanding.

[I’d rather talk about it in person.]

[Okay.]

[Can we meet this afternoon?]

[Yes. Where?]

Noah thought for a few seconds and remembered a quiet café near a station they both knew, so he sent her the address.

[At four?]

[I’ll be there.]

After a few seconds, Luna texted again.

[Noah.]

[Yes?]

[Are we still okay?]

Noah felt a little uncomfortable, as that question made him realize Luna already suspected their conversation would be serious.

[Yes, Luna. Don’t worry. I just want to talk to you.]

Her reply came shortly afterward.

[Okay. I love you.]

Noah smiled faintly.

[I love you too.]

He placed his phone on his desk and leaned back in his chair.

’I hope she understands.’

He didn’t want to argue with Luna, much less make her feel as though her feelings were a problem.

But he couldn’t allow her to keep using her abilities to interfere whenever something made her jealous.

Especially since this wasn’t the first time.

’I should’ve talked to her sooner.’

Noah sighed.

This time, he had no intention of avoiding the conversation, so at four in the afternoon, Noah arrived at the café.

It was a small establishment, with several tables by the windows and a more secluded area in the back.

Luna was already waiting, dressed in casual clothes, with a cup of tea in front of her, and when she saw him enter, she raised a hand slightly.

"Noah."

"Hi."

He approached and took a seat across from her.

"Have you been waiting long?"

"No."

"How long?"

"Eleven minutes."

Noah smiled.

"Then you got here way too early."

"I prefer that to being late."

"That doesn’t surprise me."

Luna watched him, and for a few seconds, neither of them spoke until she finally moved her cup aside slightly.

"Would you like to order something?"

"A coffee would be fine."

Luna called over an employee, and after Noah placed his order, the two were alone again, at which point Luna looked at him attentively.

"So..."

Noah looked up.

"Yes?"

"You wanted to talk about Ayane, right?"

"That’s right."

Luna nodded slowly.

"I’m listening."

Noah rested his hands on the table.

He had been thinking about this conversation all morning, but now that he was sitting across from Luna, he couldn’t find an easy way to begin, so he finally decided to be direct.

"Luna, I want you to understand something before we continue."

She looked at him.

"I love you, and I trust you."

Luna’s expression softened slightly.

"I know."

"And I also know you care about me."

"Of course."

Noah nodded.

"But what you did yesterday was wrong."

Luna remained motionless, so for a few seconds, she didn’t respond before lowering her gaze slightly.

"I understand, but..."

Noah waited, and Luna raised her eyes again.

"Was it because I kissed my boyfriend?"

"No."

She blinked.

"Then why?"

"Because you interrupted a private conversation without asking me."

Luna fell silent, and Noah continued.

"Ayane wanted to talk to me about something important, and I don’t know exactly what she was going to say because she couldn’t finish."

Luna looked away.

"..."

"And you suddenly appeared, kissed me, and decided on your own that I couldn’t have any more girlfriends."

Luna’s expression changed slightly.

"Well..."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"I don’t think you need any more girlfriends."

"..."

Noah sighed.

"Luna."

"I’m just giving my opinion."

"I know."

She crossed her arms.

"There are already several of us."

"I’m not arguing about that either."

"And we share your time."

"I’m aware."

"Besides, Ayane belongs to the organization that tried to capture you."

Noah nodded.

"Now, that’s a valid concern."

Luna looked at him.

"Then..."

"But that doesn’t mean you get to decide who I talk to."

"..."

Noah held her gaze.

"If you think someone poses a danger to me, you can tell me, and after we talk about it, we can decide what to do."

Luna lowered her eyes slightly.

"I understand."

"What I don’t want is for you to show up invisible every time I’m talking to another girl."

"That doesn’t happen every time."

Noah stared at her, and Luna stared back, and several seconds passed before she finally looked away.

"...Not always."

Noah brought a hand to his forehead.

"Exactly."

Luna remained silent.