By Zephyria At first, he didn’t understand what he was saying. Koi only barely felt like he had heard something in his dazed mind.
“……Huh?”
Belatedly turning his head, Koi met the eyes of Ashley, who was looking down at him. His face looked unusually red.
Am I that flushed too?
Thinking that, his face and neck flushed hotly, and his skin began to tingle. Seeing that, Ashley let out a short breath and opened his mouth.
“Koi.”
“……Yeah.”
Not knowing what it was, Koi answered. His mind was completely blank, and all that remained was one thing. Ashley’s dark purple eyes, almost black, filled his vision.
Ashley’s large hand grabbed Koi’s wrist. He blankly held out his hand as Ashley instructed. Until then, Koi had no thoughts. He was just staring blankly at Ashley’s face.
……Huh?
A strange sense of unease awakened a part of his mind. Koi blinked and looked up at Ashley before slowly lowering his gaze. And he saw it. The enormous anaconda about to touch his hand.
“……!”
He couldn’t even scream, his eyes widening. Koi realized for the first time that people couldn’t make a sound when they were too surprised. His whole body stiffened, and he couldn’t speak. He couldn’t even breathe properly, his shoulders just heaving as he simply looked at the unknown creature standing stiffly and angrily bobbing its head towards him. Ashley also noticed his reaction.
“Koi.”
There was a hint of desperation in Ashley’s voice. He had never wanted something this much before. I won’t put it in, he whispered.
“Just touch it once.”
Ashley led Koi’s hand towards himself again. But Koi unknowingly resisted with all his might. That wasn’t just a snake. How could he simply call a creature that was standing up so straight and bobbing its head in anger a snake?
That’s right, that can’t just be part of a body.
Koi swallowed hard and thought. It’s definitely alive, no, it is alive. Definitely. Seeing his frozen expression, Ashley couldn’t hold back any longer and called his name.
“Koi……”
“S-sorry!”
Driven by a sense of crisis, he burst into speech. Then, the mouth that had been stiff until now began to move urgently.
“C-c-can’t, can’t, I can’t, I just can’t……!”
Seeing him shake his head and vehemently refuse, Ashley stopped moving. Seeing Koi so terrified, a part of his reason barely returned.
“Koi.”
“S-sorry, sorry.”
“Koi.”
“B-but, but this, this is too, too much!”
“Koi.”
Eventually, Ashley let go of his hand and instead grabbed Koi’s shoulders. Koi belatedly came to his senses and looked up, seeing Ashley looking down at him. Ashley spoke to Koi, who had barely calmed down.
“Okay, Koi. You don’t have to. I’ll stop.”
“Uh……”
Koi blankly looked up at him. He should be relieved, but he wasn’t. Of course, he didn’t think Ashley would force him to do anything. But the question ‘Is it okay to stop here?’ immediately came to mind.
As his panicked mind returned to some extent, he realized something else. It must be very painful to be that erect. Koi had never been that aroused, and even if he had, there was a fundamental difference, so he could never get that big, but he was still a man. Koi could tell how hard it was for Ashley right now.
Gulp, he swallowed hard involuntarily. Then shouldn’t I at least try? He’s my boyfriend. I could help him a little if he’s having such a hard time. It’s just a hand at most.
I can just close my eyes if I’m just using my hand…….
Koi immediately denied it when he thought that far. No, Ash will get hurt if I do that. No matter what, it’s his body, and even if I’m scared to look at it, I wouldn’t feel good if I were him.
What if Ash starts to hate me?
“Koi.”
At that moment when he became anxious, Ashley spoke. Koi was startled and looked up, and Ashley forced a smile. Koi knew that he was trying to reassure him somehow. Even more flustered, Ashley continued.
“Is it okay if you go out first? I’ll come out later.”
“Uh……”
Koi blankly blinked. He belatedly realized what Ashley was thinking. Then, a sense of guilt and pity came over him at the same time.
“S-sorry, I…… I, I’ll try…… I’ll try…….”
The last words sounded like he was really squeezing his vocal cords. Koi panicked at the voice that was clearly showing how distressed he was, even to his own ears. Ashley must have noticed. He’s definitely not as dense as Koi.
What do I do!
Just when he wanted to tear his hair out, Ashley said.
“It’s okay, Koi.”
He added in a low voice.”Just get out for a bit, I can handle this myself.”
“Ash…”
“Koi.”
Ashley cut Koi off before he could speak again.
“Please, just leave before I do something I regret.”
Ashley wasn’t smiling anymore. Koi could see that he didn’t have the energy for it. He’d even said “please,” so Koi couldn’t stall any longer. He gave up and backed away. As Koi hesitated, trying to slip past Ashley, he stopped.
“Ash.”
He turned around, but Ashley still had his back to him. Koi looked at Ashley’s back and asked,
“Is there really nothing I can do to help?”
His voice was trembling, but he couldn’t help it. Koi took a chance and offered him another opportunity. Of course, Ashley knew what he meant.
After a moment of silence, he sighed softly and tilted his head back. Still not looking at Koi, Ashley stared at the ceiling and said,
“Give me your cheerleading uniform.”
“Huh? My uniform?”
Koi was puzzled, but there was no time to hesitate. Still not understanding, he hurried out of the shower room. The uniform was right next to where he’d left his clothes. Koi snatched it up and rushed back inside.
Ashley had turned off the water and was standing with one hand against the wall. Koi quickly handed him the clothes and said,
“H-here.”
Ashley didn’t turn around, just reached out his hand. Only after he’d grabbed the clothes did Koi let go, hesitating before asking,
“Um, is there anything else you need…?”
Ashley’s request was simple.
“Go wait outside.”
His voice was lower than usual, and almost sounded hoarse. Koi felt so bad for him, but he had no choice but to do as he was told.
Koi left, looking back several times with a worried expression. He thought he heard a groan from behind the closing shower room door, but he couldn’t be sure.
*
It was almost an hour before Ashley came out of the shower room. Quite a bit of time had passed, so Koi, who had changed and was waiting on the bench, was starting to get impatient and wondered if he should go inside.
What if he’s collapsed or something?
Finally, as he was looking at the clock and deciding to wait just five more minutes, Ashley came out.
“Ash…”
Koi jumped up in relief, but stopped short when he saw Ashley’s face. He’d never seen him look like that before. Father’s face had looked like that after he’d been drinking for three days straight and had to be taken to the hospital.
Oh no, he looks so tired.
Koi’s mind raced, his face paling. If something happened, would he have to call 911? Would it be a problem if his type was revealed? What should he do? Right, the director and coach know, don’t they? Should he contact them first…? Wait, he doesn’t have their numbers. Would the security guard know? Bill would know. That’s right, if he looked at Ash’s phone, he could find emergency contacts…
All sorts of scenarios played out in his head, but Ashley picked up the towels piled in front of the shower room and headed straight for his locker. Koi belatedly snapped out of it and quickly turned to look at him.
“Ash.”
He was about to ask, ‘Are you okay?’ but he was struck dumb. He’d thought the sculptures in art books were beautiful, but the real thing in front of him was beyond comparison. Ashley’s two-meter-tall body was the very definition of ‘honed by exercise.’ Even though he was so big, he seemed to have almost no fat. Koi understood why Ashley could move so nimbly despite his size.
Why hadn’t he noticed until now?
Come to think of it, Koi had never really had the chance to look at his body closely before. Even just now in the shower. He’d been so distracted by other things that he hadn’t seen this beautiful body, which was just unbelievable.
If he ever had the chance to learn about human muscles, he could have Ashley stand there and memorize the names one by one. That’s how dazzlingly magnificent his body was, with small muscles intricately interlocking between the large ones, creating a perfect harmony. Every time he dried himself with the towel, the subtle muscles rippled and undulated.
Just as he was thinking he might lose consciousness if he kept looking, Ashley suddenly turned his head and looked at him.
“What is it, Koi?”