Chapter 225: Noah Has a Conversation with Each Girlfriend [2].

Two days after talking with Iris, Noah met Aria at a luxury restaurant.

The place had elegantly decorated tables, warm lighting, and service that felt far too formal for a simple dinner.

Noah looked over the menu and then looked at the prices.

"..."

Aria, sitting across from him, smiled.

"Is something wrong?"

Noah slowly lowered the menu.

"Aria."

"Yes, dear?"

"Why did you choose this restaurant?"

"Because I wanted to treat you to somewhere nice."

"And there wasn’t one a little more affordable?"

Aria tilted her head slightly.

"Affordable?"

Noah sighed.

’I forgot who I’m talking to.’

Aria picked up her water glass.

"You don’t need to worry about the cost."

"I know, but..."

"I invited you."

"That still doesn’t mean..."

"Noah."

He looked up, and Aria smiled.

"Enjoy the dinner."

Noah fell silent and finally nodded.

"All right."

After placing their orders, they began talking.

Aria told him about a few things related to her studies and her responsibilities while he listened attentively.

When the food arrived, they both started eating, and for a few minutes everything proceeded normally, so Noah finally decided to bring up the matter.

"By the way, Aria."

She looked up.

"Yes?"

"I’m going to meet with Ayane."

Aria carefully set down her utensils.

"Ayane Kagetsu?"

"Yes."

"The leader of that unit?"

"The very same."

Aria remained thoughtful for a few seconds and then took another sip of water.

"I understand."

Noah waited, but she continued eating.

"..."

"You’re not going to say anything else?"

Aria raised an eyebrow.

"Should I?"

"Well..."

Noah looked away slightly.

"I thought it might bother you... or something like that..."

Aria smiled.

"And why would it?"

"Because I’m going to talk with another girl."

"Dear, you talk with other girls every day."

"Yes, but..."

"And several of them are your girlfriends."

"..."

Aria set down her utensils.

"Noah."

He watched her as she continued.

"I’m not worried."

"Really?"

"Of course."

Aria rested a hand on the table.

"I trust you."

Noah smiled slightly.

"Thank you."

She continued.

"Besides, I know you’ll always have a place for me."

Noah was surprised, and Aria looked at him with a calm smile.

"I don’t need to stop you from talking with Ayane to feel secure about our relationship."

Those words made Noah relax.

"I’m glad to hear that."

Aria nodded.

"And we also shouldn’t forget something important."

Noah raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

Aria smiled a little more.

"I’ll be the one paying for our house."

"..."

Noah blinked.

"What?"

"When we finish our studies."

Aria continued speaking with complete naturalness.

"You already know we have marriage plans."

"Yes..."

"And you also know that my financial situation allows me to take care of our housing."

Noah started to feel uncomfortable.

"Aria, that’s still a long way off."

"I know."

"A really long way."

"Of course I know."

She smiled.

"That’s why we have plenty of time to choose a good property."

Noah brought a hand to his face.

"..."

Aria continued.

"So, technically, you’ll be in debt to me."

Noah immediately looked up.

"Wait a second!"

Aria began laughing softly.

"What’s wrong, my little love?"

"You can’t use a house you haven’t even bought yet to say I’m in debt to you!"

"Why not?"

"Because that’s not how it works!"

Aria tilted her head slightly.

"Then I can buy it earlier."

"THAT’S NOT THE PROBLEM!"

Several people at nearby tables looked over, so Noah immediately shrank back.

"...Sorry."

Aria lightly covered her lips while laughing.

"I was only joking."

Noah looked at her.

"..."

’I’m not entirely sure about that.’

Aria regained her composure.

"In any case, you can meet with Ayane."

Noah nodded.

"Thank you."

"I just want you to be careful."

"I will."

"And that you remember you have no obligation to accept anything you don’t want."

Noah looked at her, and Aria smiled.

"That also includes any romantic proposals."

Noah nodded slowly.

"I understand."

Aria picked up her utensils again.

"Good."

Then she added calmly.

"Besides, we still have to decide whether our future house will have four or five bedrooms."

Noah closed his eyes.

’This conversation isn’t over.’

The last person Noah needed to talk with was Ren, with whom they had arranged to visit a newly opened arcade.

The place was full of arcade machines, game tables, simulators, and different attractions, and Ren seemed especially excited.

"Noah, look at this!"

He walked over.

"What is it?"

Ren pointed at a racing machine.

"We can race!"

Noah smiled.

"You want to lose?"

Ren raised an eyebrow.

"Lose?"

"That’s what I said."

She smiled.

"I’d like to see that."

They both took the seats in the simulator, then selected their vehicles, and the race began.

During the first few seconds, Noah managed to stay in the lead.

"Ha!"

Ren looked at him.

"What?"

"I’m winning!"

"Congratulations."

"Is that all?"

"Enjoy it while you can."

Noah frowned.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

Ren accelerated, so her vehicle overtook him, then took a curve perfectly and increased the distance.

Noah’s eyes widened.

"WHAT THE...!?"

Ren smiled.

"I warned you."

"That doesn’t count!"

"Why?"

"Because you know the game!"

"This is the first time I’ve tried it."

"..."

Noah fell silent.

’How humiliating.’

The race ended with Ren in first place, while Noah finished quite a bit further back, and when they got out of the simulator, Ren looked satisfied.

"Good race."

Noah looked at her.

"...Thanks."

"Want to go again?"

"No, I’m good with that."

"You sure?"

"Completely sure."

Ren let out a small laugh, and then they both started walking around the establishment.

They tried a shooting game, a basketball machine, and a reflexes competition.

Noah managed to win one of the rounds, so Ren congratulated him, though she then won the next three, and they finally decided to rest in an area with tables.

Ren bought two drinks and handed one to Noah.

"Here."

"Thanks."

They both sat down and for a few minutes talked about the games they had tried, but then Noah remembered that he still hadn’t told her about Ayane.

"By the way, Ren."

She looked up.

"Yes, Noah?"

"I wanted to tell you something."

Ren smiled.

"What’s up?"

Noah took a deep breath, since she was the last one he had to tell, so he had to prepare himself mentally for this conversation.