LMI 85

“…Huh?”

It was definitely English, but Koi didn’t understand. He just blinked blankly, not knowing what he had just heard, and Ashley smiled, narrowing his eyes. That smiling face confused Koi even more.

〈Shower together?〉

〈‘Together’ shower?〉

“…Wh-wh-what?”

Koi reacted belatedly. Ashley looked down at him, who was stammering in confusion, and opened his mouth.

“I said, let’s shower.”

Then he leaned down and whispered in Koi’s ear.

“Together.”

Warm breath brushed against his ear. At the same time, a shiver ran down his spine, and pleasant goosebumps spread all over his body. Koi was flustered by the unfamiliar sensation and involuntarily jumped back. But Ashley immediately grabbed his hand tightly, so he only managed to take one step back. Koi was flustered and didn’t know what to do, but he barely managed to open his mouth.

“Wh-wh-what are you saying!”

He panicked even more at the fact that he had stammered like an idiot, but Ashley remained calm.

“What am I saying?”

He said innocently.

“We can shower together, what’s the problem?”

Ashley then frowned and asked.

“Aren’t we dating now?”

“Uh…”

Koi was speechless and stammered again. Ashley didn’t miss the opportunity and pressed him.

“Why can’t you answer? We kissed. You said you liked me, are you going to say we’re not dating now? Koi, are you serious?”

“No, no, no.”

Koi panicked at the barrage of words and desperately shook his head.

“Y-y-yes, we’re dating, we’re dating!”

“Right?”

Ashley finally smiled brightly. Seeing that face, Koi sighed in relief, and he asked again.

“So, we’re showering together?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Koi nodded hastily and then paused. Something felt like it had been glossed over…

But there was no time to think about it. Ashley immediately leaned down and kissed him, and dragged the dazed Koi away.

*

“…Huh?”

Ashley headed for the ice hockey team’s locker room. Koi, who had been dragged along while still dazed, belatedly came to his senses and blinked. Meanwhile, Ashley opened the locker room door and went inside without hesitation.

Koi saw the faces of the ice hockey team members flash before his eyes for a brief moment, but he was soon puzzled by the unexpectedly quiet interior. Ashley said to Koi, who was looking around the empty locker room,

“Everyone must have gone to the after-party. This is probably the only place we can use right now, and you wouldn’t want to shower and change in the cheerleading team’s women’s locker room, would you?”

“…Huh?”

Ashley’s words were so logical and reasonable. Everything fit perfectly, but something was strange.

…What is it?

Koi blinked blankly and replayed Ashley’s words one by one, belatedly realizing.

“Ah.”

Koi asked in surprise.

“So, you’re saying we should shower in the shower booths inside the ice hockey team’s locker room.”

“Yeah.”

Ashley nodded. Koi’s mind gradually cleared.

“Th-there are partitions here, right? For each person?”

Koi asked again, and Ashley smiled and nodded again.

“Ah…”

Koi finally sighed in relief and smiled back. So that’s what he meant.

“I see. Okay, then that’s fine.”

The embarrassment and anxiety he had felt until now disappeared all at once. The small expectation also disappeared, but Koi pretended not to notice.

“Koi.”

Ashley called him from above.

“Yeah?”

Koi, relieved, smiled and looked up. Ashley narrowed his eyes and asked suspiciously.

“What were you thinking about? You weren’t imagining anything weird, were you?”

“Huh? Huh?”

Ashley jeered as if he knew everything at his reaction, which was startled by the sudden attack.

“I didn’t think you were like that, you’re lewd, Koi.”

Koi, startled belatedly, desperately shook his head and denied it.

“N-no, no, I didn’t! I didn’t think that! Really!”

He insisted on his innocence with all his might, but Ashley didn’t believe him. Instead, he put on the face of a considerate boyfriend and comforted Koi gently.

“It’s okay, Koi. I like you even more when you’re horny.”

“I’m not!”

Koi couldn’t help but thump Ashley’s chest. Ashley laughed out loud and immediately hugged him. Koi froze as kisses rained down on his crown, ears, and cheeks.This time it would be his lips, right…?

Koi was certain and squeezed his eyes shut. But the kiss, which had descended as far as his nose, seemed to have no intention of continuing any further.

Waiting with his eyes closed, Koi eventually grew anxious at the continued silence and cautiously lifted his eyelids. He immediately met Ashley’s gaze as he looked down at him, and confirmed the smile on his face.

Again…!

The realization that he’d been tricked again made his face flush crimson, and just then, Ashley suddenly lowered his head and kissed his lips. Immediately, Koi’s mind went blank, and all the strength drained from his body.

Ashley continued the kiss, holding Koi tightly. His legs felt like they would give way beneath him, but Koi entrusted himself to those arms and tried his best to respond to Ashley’s kiss. Though all he managed was to slightly pout his lips.

Should I teach him how to kiss today?

Ashley thought, lightly licking Koi’s lips. At the same time, the body in his arms trembled. Confirming that his ears also twitched briefly, Ashley smiled faintly. Even the slightest touch brought an immediate reaction. The fact that he alone knew how sensitive this body was filled him with immense delight.

How enjoyable will it be to teach him, one thing at a time?

He had to take several deep breaths to suppress the urge to knock him down and devour him, bones and all. Not yet, he told himself. He would surely regret it if he did. The best things should be savored slowly.

The thought of teaching him how to use his tongue, and showing him which parts of his body aroused him, sent a shiver down his spine. Koi had all the qualities of an excellent student, so the process would be nothing short of satisfying.

One thing at a time.

Deciding to save the pleasure for later, he instead gently nipped Koi’s lower lip. The startled reaction was clearly conveyed from within his arms. Suddenly, Ashley regretted that Koi had confessed his feelings.

I could have kept him captive.

Slowly lifting his head, Ashley looked down at Koi’s face, who still had his eyes tightly shut. He didn’t even know when the kiss had ended. If he started kissing him again, Koi would probably think it was still going on.

Just as he was about to kiss Koi’s lips again, unable to resist, he cautiously opened his eyes. Imagining how long he must have been calculating the timing in his head made him laugh involuntarily. Koi stared blankly at Ashley’s brightly smiling face.

Is my boyfriend falling for me again?

Koi asked, just as Ashley was thinking happily.

“Are you not wearing your contacts today?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Ashley paused and looked down at him. Koi was still staring intently at his eyes. He had seen them when they first kissed, but he had dismissed it then. But this time, he was sure. Was it okay? Would it cause problems if he was caught Manifestation?

“Ah…”

Ashley answered with a wry smile.

“I’m not. No one would care anyway.”

His eyes were even less visible under the helmet. Besides, since brawls were common in the sport, it was better not to wear contacts. In fact, no one had noticed that his eye color had changed today.

“You’re the only one who noticed.”

At Ashley’s words, Koi blinked blankly, then suddenly blushed. Puzzled by his rapidly flushing face, Koi lowered his gaze and mumbled softly.

“That’s because… I’m the only one who kissed you.”

This time, he couldn’t help but burst out laughing. The body in his arms flinched. Unable to resist his loveliness, Ashley hugged him tightly.

“That’s right, Koi.”

Ashley whispered in Koi’s ear.

“My boyfriend.”

Koi’s heart began to pound as if it would burst.

Boyfriend.

The sound of his pulse echoed dully in his ears, and his fingertips tingled. The whole world sparkled as if stars had appeared before his eyes, and fireworks exploded in his head.

“I’m… a boyfriend?”

“Yes.”

Ashley readily answered Koi’s stammered question.

“I’m your boyfriend.”

Koi stared blankly at his smiling face. The same word kept echoing in his head. Boyfriend. Boyfriend. Boyfriend.

“…That’s right.”

Koi finally spoke after a long pause.

“You’re mine.”

The moment he uttered the words, his whole body felt like it was exploding.

“Yes.”

Ashley whispered, holding Koi tightly.

“And you’re mine.”

Their lips met again. This time, Koi closed his eyes at the right moment. And in this kiss, Koi learned how to put his arms around Ashley’s neck.