Chapter 114: A Dinner Interrupted by Luna.
Noah stayed silent upon hearing that Aria had spoken with his manager.
"What did you tell her?"
"I explained the situation."
"What situation?"
"That I needed your time tonight."
Noah took a moment to reply.
"Aria."
"Yes?"
"What exactly did you tell her?"
"What was necessary."
That was not a good answer.
"And she agreed?"
"Yes."
"Just like that?"
Aria smiled.
"We reached a friendly agreement."
Noah felt a slight chill.
"What does friendly mean?"
"That both parties were satisfied."
"Did you give her money?"
"Not directly."
Noah leaned forward a little.
"Aria..."
"The café received certain conveniences."
"What conveniences?"
"You don’t need to worry about that."
"Now I’m more worried."
Aria kept the same expression, so Noah watched her for several seconds.
’I don’t want to know.’
He decided it would probably be better to ask his boss directly when he returned, because if he kept pressing now, Aria might explain something he preferred not to hear.
The dishes arrived, but Noah didn’t recognize half the ingredients, while Aria began eating with absolute naturalness.
Noah tried a little and it was good, too good, but that didn’t help him feel comfortable either.
"Do you like it?"
Aria asked.
"Yeah, I think so..."
"Then stop staring at the plate like it’s dangerous."
"I’m thinking about how much each bite costs."
"Don’t."
"It’s hard not to think about it."
"You’ll get used to it with time."
Noah looked at her.
"Used to what?"
"To this."
Aria made a gesture around them.
"Restaurants like this."
"Why would I have to get used to it?"
"Because when you accept my proposal, it’ll be normal."
Noah set down his fork.
’She was taking her time, but we’ve arrived at the topic.’
Aria also set down her utensils.
"Noah, I want an answer."
"My answer hasn’t changed."
"Really?"
"I need time."
"I already gave you time."
"It was only a few days."
"Correct."
"That’s still not much."
Aria watched him, but she didn’t seem upset, just insistent.
"What do you need to resolve?"
Noah immediately thought of Yume, Luna, Ren, Iris, the goddess, the mission, and the fact that Aria still didn’t have powers.
"A lot of things."
"I could help you."
"No, I don’t think you can."
"You don’t even know what I was going to offer."
"Because every time you try to help, you end up causing something."
Aria rested a hand on the table.
"I want to give you stability."
"And I want to keep making my own decisions."
"You can."
"As long as they match yours, right?"
Aria fell silent and Noah continued.
"That’s what worries me."
"I’m not trying to turn you into a possession."
"But you talk like you can organize my work, my safety, where I go and with whom."
"Because I can make your life easier."
"Maybe I don’t want you to make it easier that way."
Aria watched him for a few seconds and, for the first time since the dinner began, she seemed to be truly considering what Noah was saying.
"Then tell me what part I should change."
Noah blinked.
"What?"
"If the problem is the way I handle things, tell me what boundaries you need."
That caught him by surprise, since Noah had expected another defense, not that response.
Aria continued.
"I don’t promise to accept every condition."
"That sounds more like you."
"But I can listen to them."
Noah lowered his gaze, because he had avoided giving a clear answer for too long and there was still another problem.
Aria was destined to become a magical girl and the goddess wanted him to recruit her.
Besides, if Noah completely rejected all contact, it would probably complicate the situation even more.
He couldn’t accept a real marriage at that moment, but he also couldn’t keep leaving everything indefinite.
After thinking all that, Noah breathed slowly.
"All right."
Aria looked at him.
"All right what?"
"I accept."
She went completely still and then wanted to say something, but Noah raised a hand before she could speak.
"But wait..."
Aria closed her mouth.
"I’m not saying we’re getting married tomorrow."
"Naturally."
"Or that you can organize my entire life."
"We can discuss that."
"I need time."
"How much?"
"I don’t know exactly."
Aria furrowed her brow slightly, but Noah continued.
"I have several things to resolve first."
"Your girlfriend?"
Noah didn’t answer immediately, which Aria understood.
"She’s one of them."
"Yes."
"Ren?"
"Her too."
"That shouldn’t be a problem."
"Maybe not for you."
Aria fell silent while Noah went on.
"And there are other things I still can’t explain to you."
The magical object was one of them.
Aria watched him for several seconds and finally nodded.
"Fine."
Noah was surprised.
"Just like that?"
"No."
Aria smiled.
"But you accepted."
"With conditions."
"You still accepted."
Noah felt that she would probably only remember that part.
"Aria."
"I’ll wait."
"Really."
"Yes, believe me."
"Without organizing my life in the meantime."
Aria paused slightly.
"I’ll try to reduce it."
"That’s not the same."
"But it’s progress, isn’t it?"
Noah sighed and Aria stood up, at which Noah looked at her in confusion.
"What are you doing?"
"Celebrating it."
"How?"
She approached and Noah understood immediately.
"No, wait a moment."
Aria leaned toward him.
"Just one."
"Not yet."
"You already accepted being my fiancé."
"With a wait."
"That doesn’t invalidate the engagement."
"Don’t kiss me yet."
Aria was only a few centimeters away.
"Why?"
"Because every time you do that a problem appears."
"That’s superstitious."
"Not after the last few times."
Aria kept getting closer, so Noah prepared a hand to stop her, but then a familiar voice came from behind.
"Get away from him."
Noah closed his eyes.
’Of course there was going to be a problem.’
Aria stopped, at which Noah turned and saw Luna, who was a few meters from them.
She was wearing the café’s clothes and had a serious expression, too serious.
Aria sighed.
"You again."
Luna walked toward them.
"Yes, is there a problem?"
Noah stood up.
"Luna, I..."
She looked at him.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I’m fine."
"Good."
Then she turned back to Aria.
"Then we can leave."
Aria raised an eyebrow.
"We’re having dinner."
"You’re already finished."
"That’s not for you to decide."
"You’re right."
Luna looked at Noah.
"He decides."
Noah looked at both of them and immediately decided.
"Yes, actually, I should get back to work."
Aria crossed her arms.
"I already explained that you’re free for today."
Luna looked at her.
"He’s not free."
"His manager agreed."
"After a conversation with me, she changed her mind."
Noah went still.
"W-What conversation?"
Luna looked at him.
"A small and harmless interrogation."
Upon hearing that, Noah thought.
’I hope the manager is okay.’