By Zephyria After leaving the crowded roads and driving for a long time on the outskirts, the car reached its destination as the sun was setting. Feeling the shadows of the trees lining both sides of the road lengthening, Koi, who had been looking straight ahead, furrowed his brow at the faint silhouette of a tall building rising beyond the tall trees. As he stared intently, the building gradually approached and had an unexpected appearance.
Ashley glanced at Koi, who had unconsciously opened his mouth, and began to speak.
“They bought a castle in France and moved it here. They say they transported every single brick.”
So this is possible.Koi simply stared at the approaching building with a dazed expression. The ancient French castle he had only seen in pictures was actually before his eyes. Getting out of the car and looking up at the building, he could tell it wasn’t just a replica; it had a worn and aged feel to it. Koi confirmed the sign that stated, as Ashley had said, that the over 300-year-old castle had been brought over intact, and he unconsciously swallowed hard.
How much would this cost?
He sighed at his own poor man’s mentality, unable to fully enjoy such a wondrous building, but he couldn’t help the reality. Koi quickly recalled the cash he had brought in his head, and while intimidated by the restaurant’s splendor, he inwardly steeled himself.
You’ve been saving every penny for this day. It’s okay if I lose all my money today.
After taking a deep breath, Koi turned to Ashley. Ashley, having handed the car keys to the valet for service, was waiting for Koi to slowly admire the castle from the outside before opening his mouth.
“Shall we go in?”
“Yeah.”
Koi nodded, firmly resolving himself. Before following Ashley, he took another deep breath and finally moved his feet.
* * *
Huh?
Koi squeezed his eyes shut as he received the menu, then opened it with trembling hands, blinking in surprise.
This is strange.
He closed and reopened the menu, but it was the same. Koi quickly found the section with the prices, blinking his still-wide eyes as he checked the numbers over and over. Noticing his reaction, Ashley spoke in a quiet voice from across the table.
“It’s a members-only restaurant, so the prices aren’t high. That doesn’t mean the food quality is low, though.”
Only then did Koi understand why he couldn’t find any information about the restaurant, not even a website. Ashley smiled and asked Koi, who was staring at him with a blank, realizing expression.
“Did you think I was going to bankrupt you or something?”
“Ah, no, it’s not that.”
Koi shook his head, his face quickly flushing. He denied it, but he had nothing to say. Of course, Ashley wouldn’t do that on purpose, but he had thought it might end up that way. Ashley probably couldn’t even imagine how poor Koi was. Unable to find any excuse, Koi gave an awkward smile instead.
“I thought it would be much more expensive, thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Shall I order? Or would you like a menu in English?”
At his words, Koi looked down at the menu and then back at Ashley.
“Order for me. I’ll have the same as you.”
He wouldn’t understand it even if it were in English anyway. Koi knew nothing about French cuisine. Watching Ashley order in fluent French after calling the waiter, Koi spoke again once they were alone.
“When did you learn French?”
“When I was little. Father made me.”
“I see…”
Just as he realized how far apart they were, Ashley said,
“You’re better at Spanish, though. You got a higher score, didn’t you?”
He tried to boost his self-esteem with a gentle voice, but Koi hastily shook his head, rejecting the opportunity.
“Ah, no. I’ve forgotten it all… I’m not good at it now.”
Ashley stared at Koi without a word. After an uncomfortable silence, Koi realized he had made a mistake. As he panicked and sweated, Ashley ignored his blunder and brought up what he had prepared to say.
“Next time we go for Spanish food, you can order.”
“Oh, yeah. I will.”
He could certainly do that much. Koi nodded hastily, then belatedly widened his eyes.
“We’re meeting again…?”
In contrast to his insecure question, Ashley replied with a smile.
“Of course.”
Koi’s eyes widened even further. He had thought this would be the last time, and at the unbelievable reality, he could only blink. Ashley opened his mouth.
“We’re not kids anymore, Koi.”
He continued in a quiet voice.
“I actually embarrassed you a lot yesterday. I was also very confused by the sudden meeting, and I wasn’t feeling well, so I wasn’t myself. The trial dragged on for quite a while. I had to prepare for the next case right away.”
Koi, recalling the article that Ashley’s law firm had recently won a major lawsuit, quickly pulled himself together and listened to him.
“I’ve been thinking, even if we had something in the past, it’s already been 10 years, right?”
“Yeah.”
Ashley said to Koi, who nodded hastily.
“Whatever we were before is all in the past, and there’s no reason why we can’t start over now. Don’t you think?”
“Y-yeah.”
Hope began to grow in Koi’s heart. Seeing his face gradually brighten with a hint of expectation, Ashley added,
“Since you’ve come all this way, I’d like to start over if possible. Of course, only if you agree.”
“O-of course. I want to too, definitely.”
Koi eagerly accepted his words. His heart felt like it was about to burst with anticipation. Could it be, maybe.
Ash also likes me.
“Koi.”
Had he been waiting?
Ashley smiled at Koi. Koi suddenly superimposed his youthful face from a long time ago onto his current one.
“Koi.”
Ashley slowly opened his mouth. Koi felt like he was watching everything in slow motion.
“I like you.”
“We’re, now.”
Just as he felt like he was about to cry at his brightly smiling face, Ashley said,
“Shall we be friends?”
“…Huh?”
Koi still blinked with a dazed expression and a silly grin. He didn’t immediately understand Ashley’s words. Ashley, seeing him only utter exclamations like a screwball, asked with a serious face.
“Koi, did you understand what I said?”
Koi belatedly came to his senses at Ashley’s action of leaning over the table and looking into his face. Only then did he realize he had misunderstood, and Koi’s face flushed.
“Ah, I do. Friends, yeah, let’s be friends.”
Koi said hastily, stammering, and then added hesitantly.
“You mean, we’ll be friends from now on…?”
When he asked with doubt, Ashley smiled again and leaned back leisurely in his chair.
“Yeah, why not? We’re high school classmates, and even if we dated for a while, it was already 10 years ago.”
There was nothing wrong with his words. Everything fit together so perfectly that there was no room left to find a loophole and attack.
“Y-yeah.”
Koi nodded slowly, drawing out the word more than necessary. Something felt strange in his heart, but he didn’t know what it was. What was I expecting from Ash? Confusion came amidst the bewilderment.
I thought I’d be satisfied just being able to meet again, so was I perhaps having other expectations?
Ashley said we should be friends, and I should just be grateful for that, so what is this feeling now? Feeling shameless and ungrateful, he wanted to hide somewhere, but just then, the waiter came with the first dish and wine.
After placing the dish down, he explained the food, but Koi couldn’t hear anything. He needed more time for the current shock to wear off.
After the waiter left, Ashley, who had been sitting blankly with a confused expression until then, raised his wine glass towards Koi.
“Shall we toast, Koi?”
“Huh? Oh…”
Belatedly coming to his senses, Koi hastily picked up the wine glass placed in front of him. He grabbed the bowl by mistake, but seeing the glass Ashley was holding, he quickly moved his hand and carefully held the stem with tense fingers. Ashley, who had been waiting for Koi, opened his mouth.
“To celebrate our reunion.”
He added with a gentle smile.
“For friendship.”
Koi opened his mouth with difficulty and repeated Ashley’s words.
“For, friendship.”
Ashley lightly raised his glass and brought the wine to his lips. Koi also carefully poured the wine into his mouth, but he couldn’t taste the wine, which was sure to be incredibly expensive.
Ashley has completely given up on me.
It’s so obvious. It’s already been over 10 years. And all we did was kiss.
As he hesitated and put down the glass, he met Ashley’s eyes sitting across from him. Seeing his smiling face, the emptiness in Koi’s heart grew even larger.
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