By Zephyria 
“Of course! I’ve always loved you, forever!”
As Koi shouted without hesitation, Ashley’s face softened.
“That’s all I needed.”
Was there any need to waste time saying unnecessary things in bed? The answer was, of course, ‘Absolutely not.’
“I love you, Koi.”
Ashley whispered, pushing Koi down onto the bed. Happily wrapping his arms around Ashley’s neck, Koi replied.
“Me too, Ash. I love you.”
No matter how many times he heard it, the sweet confession made Ashley’s lips curve into a smile. Oh, dear. He thought as he kissed Koi again and again. Oh, Koi. You’re so lovable, you keep making me have strange thoughts.
Ashley decided to blame all reasons on Koi’s cuteness. Next Easter, I should dress Koi in a bunny costume.
* * *
“Ashley Miller is a pervert, Koi.”
At his best friend’s serious declaration over the phone, Koi fell into deep thought.
“Al, that’s not true!”
“Oh, Koi, it absolutely is.”
Ariel firmly denied. As if daring him to try and convince her otherwise. Naturally, Koi’s spirit was quickly crushed, and even though Ariel wasn’t in front of him, he fidgeted, unsure where to look, and mumbled softly.
“He just has a bit of a unique taste……”
“Of course he does.”
At the sarcastic remark, Koi felt unnecessarily embarrassed and just took a sip of water. As if she could see his reaction, Ariel casually changed the subject and asked.
“How are the kids? Growing well?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Koi nodded.
“They’re all playing well and are healthy.”
As soon as the topic of the kids came up, Koi’s face instantly brightened. Hearing his voice, Ariel chuckled and asked.
“You love them that much? The kids?”
“Yeah, of course.”
Koi answered without hesitation, then barely stopped himself from immediately launching into a stream of bragging about the children. He’d heard somewhere that parents always mistakenly think their own child is a genius. Especially since he couldn’t see her often, using this precious time on a phone call to talk about his kids instead of catching up with a friend was out of the question.
Of course, they talked on the phone frequently, but it wasn’t the same as meeting in person.
He thought that, but he couldn’t hold back on this one thing. Koi added with a beaming smile.
“Except for the youngest, all five look exactly like Ash. Of course they’re adorable.”
It was true. The platinum-blond hair, almost silver, and the bright blue eyes before manifestation were all exactly the same. They’d probably look even more alike as they grew. Plus, the twins had purple eyes from birth. It was like having five little Ashley Millers. At least the youngest resembled Koi, but the platinum hair was the same as Ashley’s. Every time Koi saw the children, his heart swelled with emotion. He smiled brightly with happiness, but Ariel’s reaction wasn’t quite the same.
“That guy must be disappointed.”
“Huh? What did you say?”
Ariel, who had been muttering to herself, brushed off Koi’s question with a quick “Nothing, it’s nothing,” and changed the subject.
“Still no vacation plans?”
“Ah, yeah. That’s right. What about you?”
“I’m planning to go out west.”
“Ah.”
Koi understood immediately. In other words, she was going to see Bill. Despite being in a long-distance relationship, the two were getting along quite well. He’d heard Bill wanted to propose right away but was holding back because he was afraid Ariel would freak out…
“Dad invited Bill to dinner this time.”
“Really? What?”
Caught off guard, Koi was startled and let out an involuntary shout at the sudden news. Ariel continued in her usual calm voice.
“I thought it was about time to talk. I told Dad about Bill, and he said he wanted to meet him. So we arranged to invite him over to the house this time I’m there.”
“Wh-what did Bill say?”
Koi naturally pictured Bill, who must have been super excited, but Ariel replied.
“He said okay.”
“What? That’s it?”
Startled by the unexpectedly bland response compared to his imagination, Koi asked, and Ariel remained composed.
“What else is there to say? It’s just a meal. It’s not like we’re getting married right away.”
But meeting the parents means the relationship is serious enough to consider marriage, doesn’t it?
For Ashley and Koi, coincidentally, neither had parents, so they hadn’t experienced it, but he knew it as common sense. In most cases, it was pretty much proof that you were taking the other person very seriously.
“Have you ever introduced a boyfriend to your parents before? Besides in high school.”
Koi quickly added. In school, when you dated, they’d pick you up or you went to the same school, so you naturally got to know their face. But for adults, it’s different. Especially for an independent child to specifically go to their parents’ home to introduce their dating partner.
No matter how much Al tried to act like it was no big deal, this was a huge event.
Koi waited anxiously for the answer, and after a pause, Ariel reluctantly replied.
“…It’s the first time.”
“See!”
Koi got excited, his voice rising on its own. I got her! I did! Conor Niles, how about that, I have my day too!
As if she could see Koi, who had unconsciously shouted ‘Wow!’ and jumped up on the spot, Ariel let out an ‘Ahem,’ a fake cough.
“Anyway, that’s how it is, so this vacation will be a bit longer.”
“When’s the vacation? Then I won’t see you for a while.”
Koi unintentionally revealed his disappointment, and Ariel said kindly.
“I’ll contact you as soon as I get back.”
Realizing his mistake, Koi hastily shook his head.
“Don’t push yourself, you don’t have to make time. Ash was worried too…”
“Ash? About me?”
Ariel asked suspiciously, but Koi, not catching on, nodded.
“Yeah, you’re a journalist and busy, so he said not to meet too often and be a burden… Ah, the ‘don’t be a burden’ part was from me. Anyway, so…”
“Got it, Koi. Thanks for thinking of me.”
Ariel added in a voice softer than usual.
“But we talk on the phone often, so it’s fine.”
“Right.”
Koi answered in a brightly cheerful voice. Stupid lawyer, thinking it’s over if we don’t meet. Ariel thought with a silent laugh. There’s a very convenient machine in the world called a telephone. You can even see faces with video calls.
No matter how much you act all high and mighty, I know Koi better, you idiot.
With a satisfied smile on her lips, Ariel spoke in a lighthearted tone.
“We’ve been talking quite a while. Lunch break is over.”
“Ah, sorry.”
“It’s fine. More importantly, the kids? Is it okay to leave them alone for this long?”
“Ah, yeah.”
Koi nodded and added.
“There are plenty of staff, and they play well together.”
“Really?”
At the lightly voiced concern, Ariel asked.
“Does Ash watch the kids well? He doesn’t seem like the image of someone who’d be good at childcare.”
“Huh? Uh…”
At the seemingly casual question, the hesitant reply made Ariel immediately frown and ask.
“Don’t tell me Ashley Miller or whatever is complaining about childcare stress?”
“Ah, no! Absolutely not!”
Koi was startled and hastily denied.
“Ash plays with the kids really well. When they were younger, he practically lived with the kids attached to him.”
“Really?”
How unexpectedly commendable of him, that guy who’s crazy about Koi. Ariel thought with a sense of wonder. Is it because they’re Koi’s children?
From the other side of the phone, Koi continued with a ‘Yeah.’
“When he was home, Ash always watched the babies. He held them whenever he had a chance, to the point where I couldn’t even get in. During the day when I was at the company, I watched the kids, so when Ash came back, I gave them all to him…”
The more she heard about how much Ashley loved the children, the colder Ariel felt. Of course. He just can’t stand the sight of the kids being with Koi.
Koi, of course, was completely unaware of that dark ulterior motive. Ariel briefly considered revealing the truth to her precious friend, but soon gave up the thought. The world is full of facts you don’t necessarily need to know.
Anyway, Koi is living happily and satisfied, isn’t that enough? No matter how close friends are, it’s not good to meddle in other people’s family affairs. Thinking he wants to monopolize them because he cherishes them too much is more comfortable than thinking he doesn’t like babies, right?