Chapter 86: Not-So-Discreet Spies.
Ayane watched the café from the opposite sidewalk, wearing a cap, dark glasses, and a jacket that was far too big for her.
To her right was Misaki, who also wore glasses, along with a scarf and a long coat even though it wasn’t cold.
To the left stood Reina, who was wearing a blonde wig and nothing else.
Ayane looked at her.
"Is that your entire disguise?"
"Yes."
"You only changed the color of your hair."
"Exactly."
"I don’t think it’ll work."
Reina raised an eyebrow.
"Did you recognize me right away?"
"Yes."
"That’s because you know who I am."
Misaki cut in.
"I recognized her too."
"Because you also know who I am."
"Any normal person could recognize you."
Reina pointed at her hair.
"I’m blonde."
"You still have the same face."
"There’s a chance that one person has the same face as another."
Ayane closed her eyes for a few seconds, since nearly twenty minutes had already passed in front of the café and they still hadn’t managed to go inside.
The mission was to keep an eye on Noah Reed.
Not to capture him, not to attack him, and not to provoke a confrontation with the magical girls.
Only to observe his routine, study the place where he worked, and figure out how difficult it would be to approach him.
At least that was Ayane’s official plan.
The Grand Mother’s general order was still in effect.
Every unit had to locate and capture Noah.
The unit that managed to deliver him would have the right to claim him as personal property.
Ayane hated that last part, and ever since she received that order she had started watching the other units as well.
Not because she was worried about Noah, that was what she kept repeating to herself, but simply because she wanted to keep anyone from acting irresponsibly.
’I won’t let some stranger kidnap him and lock him up somewhere.’
Ayane went still.
’That would be dangerous.’
It had absolutely nothing to do with the dreams she’d been having lately.
Reina looked through the café window.
"There he is."
Ayane reacted at once.
"Where?"
Reina smiled, and Ayane realized too late how quickly she had answered, while Misaki slowly turned toward her.
Ayane adjusted her glasses.
"I asked for operational reasons."
"Sure."
Misaki replied, and Reina pointed inside.
Noah was walking between the tables with a tray.
He was wearing the café uniform.
Ayane stopped breathing for a moment.
’He looks really good.’
She looked away immediately, and Reina watched her.
"You’re blushing."
"I am not!"
"You are."
"It’s... the heat."
Misaki checked the temperature.
"It’s not hot."
"Th-Then it’s the disguise!"
Reina started walking toward the entrance.
"I’m bored of watching from out here."
Ayane grabbed her arm.
"Wait."
"What?"
"We have to go in without drawing attention."
"Then just walk in."
"We can’t act like ourselves."
Reina smiled.
"Speak for yourself."
Misaki discreetly pointed to a corner of the building.
"There’s a camera above the entrance."
Ayane looked.
"Can you avoid it?"
"I could destroy it."
"Denied."
"I could jam the signal."
"Denied."
"I could shoot it from here."
"That’s still destroying it!"
Misaki sighed.
"Then don’t ask me."
Ayane activated a small perception barrier around the three of them. It wouldn’t make them invisible; it would only make it harder for anyone to pay too much attention to their faces.
It was enough for a short surveillance.
"We go in, order something, and observe."
Reina raised a hand.
"I want Noah to wait on us."
"You can’t demand that."
"I can ask for it."
"No."
"Then I’ll go in and wait until he comes."
Misaki adjusted her scarf.
"That’ll increase the chances he’ll remember us."
Reina smiled.
"Perfect."
"We’re not trying to get him to remember us."
"Speak for yourself."
Ayane took a slow breath.
"We’re going in."
The three of them crossed the street, and when they opened the café door a little bell announced their arrival.
Noah was wiping down a table and lifted his head.
"Welcome."
Ayane froze, but Reina gave her a gentle push from behind.
"Walk."
Ayane reacted.
"Y-Yes."
A waitress approached.
"Table for three?"
Reina pointed at Noah.
"I want him to wait on us."
The waitress blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"Him."
Reina pointed at him again. Noah looked their way, and Ayane immediately lowered her head.
’Don’t look at me in these clothes!’
Reina continued.
"We’ll wait until he can take our order."
The waitress looked uncomfortable.
"We don’t guarantee which staff member waits on each table."
"Then guarantee it."
Misaki took Reina by the shoulder.
"Sit down."
"Don’t give me orders."
"You’re drawing attention."
"That means my disguise is working."
Ayane spoke in a low voice.
"Reina."
Reina finally gave in, and the three of them took a table near a wall.
Misaki immediately chose the seat that let her see the entrance, the staff door, the windows, and part of the counter. Ayane noticed.
"Don’t be so obvious."
"I’m not being obvious."
Misaki opened the menu and, while holding it, her eyes moved above the edge.
There was a camera near the register, another aimed at the entrance, a third covering part of the dining area, and also a door at the back that probably led to the storage room or the employee exit.
Misaki took mental notes, and right away Reina tried to take the menu from her, but she wouldn’t give it up. Reina asked,
"Aren’t you going to order anything yet?"
"I’m thinking."
"Then think faster."
Misaki started reading.
"Drip coffee."
She paused before giving her opinion.
"Too basic."
She moved to the next option.
"Cappuccino."
She frowned.
"Too much foam."
Reina cut in.
"What’s your problem with foam?"
"It hides how much actual liquid you’re getting."
Reina looked at her.
"It’s a drink. It’s not like you’re going to die over it."
"Everything has to justify its price."
Ayane took another menu and tried to concentrate, but she couldn’t, because Noah was waiting on two tables only a few meters away, and every time he got closer Ayane raised the menu a little higher.
Reina watched her.
"Are you hiding?"
"N-No, it just looks that way."
"The menu is covering your whole face."
"I’m reading."
"You’ve been on the same page for five minutes."
Ayane turned the page.
"Not anymore."
Misaki kept criticizing.
"This tea costs too much."
"Then don’t order it."
"This cake has a misleading photo."
"How do you know?"
"Because it’s lit from above."
Reina pointed at another.
"This one looks good."
"Too much cream."
"That’s the good part, isn’t it?"
"That’s unnecessary sugar."
Reina dropped the menu onto the table.
"Can you enjoy anything?"
"Yes."
"What?"
"Nobody talking to me while I eat."
Reina smiled.
"Then I picked the right table."
Ayane tried to ignore them for the next few minutes.