Chapter 80: Noah verifies that the information is correct.
During the trip downtown, Ava stayed close to Noah while he mentally reviewed his job options.
He could look for a job at a well-known company, or he could ask someone he trusted for recommendations.
Ren might know a few places, and Yume and Luna could also help, but Noah did not want to depend on them for everything.
Ava watched him out of the corner of her eye, and Noah looked serious.
’He’s nervous’.
She tightened her hold on his arm a little.
’Maybe he also feels like this is a date’.
When they arrived downtown, they began walking along the commercial streets lined with shops, cafés, and food stalls.
Noah looked at several signs in the windows.
[STAFF WANTED.]
Some establishments had visible notices and seemed legitimate, but even so, he now distrusted everything.
Ava pointed to a store.
"Do you want to go in?"
"No."
"What about there?"
"No."
Ava noticed that Noah was barely paying attention to the places around them.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing..."
"You’re very quiet."
"I’m just thinking."
"About what?"
Noah did not want to tell her that he was looking for a job, since he knew Ava might worry too much and tell his mothers.
"Money."
"Do you need to buy something?"
"A computer."
"For studying?"
"That too."
Noah preferred not to explain the streaming idea yet.
Ava nodded slowly.
’He wants to plan for his future’.
That seemed responsible to her.
’Maybe he wants to prepare himself before talking about us’.
The thought made her smile, prompting Noah to look at her.
"Why are you smiling?"
"It’s nothing."
They continued walking and, after a while, reached an area with several food stalls.
Ava pointed to one that sold hot meals and desserts.
"We can eat here."
Noah checked the prices, and they were reasonable.
"Okay."
They ordered two meals and drinks.
The employee handed them a number and told them to wait.
They found a table near the stall, so Ava placed her purse on the chair.
"I’m going to the restroom".
"I’ll wait for you."
"Don’t move."
Noah raised an eyebrow.
"I’m just waiting for the food."
"I’m serious".
"Okay."
Ava walked away, leaving Noah alone.
He looked around, and the place was full of women.
Some of them were watching him, which was normal.
Ever since he arrived in this world, many girls had stared at him in stations, hallways, and stores.
Most of them never did anything else, so Noah rested his arms on the table.
’Maybe the news exaggerates’.
The cases he had read about were serious, but they did not represent every situation.
There were thousands of men who studied, worked, and walked around the city without being kidnapped.
Noah had gone out many times, almost always accompanied, but he had also spent time alone.
’I shouldn’t let a few articles scare me’.
He looked toward the stall, and the food was still not ready.
A woman at a nearby table watched him and whispered something to her friend.
Noah paid no attention to it, but then he noticed another woman doing the same thing, so he turned his head slightly and saw that several people were looking in his direction.
One girl pretended to check her phone, but the camera was pointed toward him, while another leaned toward her companions, and Noah managed to overhear part of their conversation.
"He’s alone."
"Maybe he’s waiting for someone."
"There isn’t a man with him."
Noah looked toward the hallway where Ava had gone, but she still had not returned.
Another conversation drifted over from a different table.
"We can follow him when he leaves."
"What if he lives far away?"
"Even better. Then we’ll know which train he takes."
Noah felt his body tense.
’Maybe I heard them wrong’.
He listened more closely, and a short-haired woman was talking to two friends.
"One of us can approach him."
"What do we say?"
"Ask him if he needs company."
"If he refuses, we follow him."
Noah swallowed.
’I take it back, the news wasn’t exaggerating!’
He looked toward the restroom again.
"Ava, come back."
The food still had not arrived, so he could get up and leave, but the problem was that Ava would not know where he was, and she had also left her purse on the chair.
Noah checked his phone.
He could call her, but before he did, four girls stood up from a table and began walking in his direction.
Noah lowered his gaze.
’Don’t panic’.
The girls continued approaching.
One of them was smiling, while another held her phone, ready to type something.
Noah considered using his Shelter Barrier, but that would be too much, since they had not done anything yet.
’They’re only coming over to talk’.
The distance between them narrowed, and Noah looked toward the restroom again.
’Ava.’
She did not appear, and the girls were only a few steps away.
One of them raised her hand.
"Hi, are you...?"
Suddenly, two hands covered Noah’s eyes from behind, startling him.
"¿What!?"
He shot to his feet and turned around as his chair nearly fell over, but Luna was standing in front of him.
She was wearing casual clothes and carrying a small bag in one hand.
She had a faint smile on her face.
"Hello."
Noah stared at her for several seconds.
"Luna...?"
"Yes."
"Don’t do that!"
Luna’s smile widened slightly.
"Did I scare you?"
"I thought someone was trying to kidnap me."
She looked at the four girls who had approached, and they stopped.
Luna’s expression changed, and she was no longer smiling.
"Were you trying to?"
The four of them quickly shook their heads.
"N-No."
"W-We just wanted to say hello."
"You already did".
Luna replied, even though none of them had managed to greet him, but the girls backed away anyway.
Noah exhaled, because for the first time since Ava had left, he felt safe again.
Luna leaned slightly toward him.
"Why are you alone?"
"I came with Ava."
"Where is she?"
"In the restroom."
Luna looked at the empty chair and then back at Noah.
"Then you shouldn’t be left unsupervised."
"I’m not a child."
"I just found you surrounded by women who were planning to follow you."
Noah’s eyes widened.
"You heard them too?"
"Yes."
Luna sat down beside him.
She placed her bag on the table and looked at the women around them, who averted their gazes.
Noah remembered the comments from the news.
Men should stay home, they should not go out alone, and they should not accept jobs without supervision.
That morning, those ideas had seemed exaggerated and offensive to him, but now he did not know what to think.
Luna turned toward him.
"You look worried."
Noah looked at the phone he was still holding.
He had gone out to clear his mind, but instead, he had just confirmed that looking for a job could be far more dangerous than he had expected.
"I’m looking for a job".
He finally said, prompting Luna to remain silent before her expression grew more serious.
"What kind of job?"
Noah realized that the conversation was only beginning.