By Zephyria This won’t do.
Koi hastily pulled himself together. Ashley is at least willing to be friends with me. How grateful I should be. Being friends is a blessing, how can I be disappointed? I’m really too shameless, Corner Niles.
After scolding himself thoroughly, he straightened his posture and focused on Ashley in front of him. Ashley, who is busy, has taken the time to do this, so I can’t be discouraged and just let it pass.
I’ve come all the way to a members-only restaurant, so pull yourself together.
Koi, reaffirming himself, followed Ashley, securing the unidentified food on the plate with a fork and carefully slicing it with a knife. He put it in his mouth along with the herbs that were decorated with it, but the texture was different from what he had expected. Of course, he couldn’t feel the aroma, and the same was true for the taste. However, the texture wasn’t bad, so he slowly rolled it around in his mouth, and Ashley opened his mouth.
“It’s steamed scallops. Try eating it with the sauce.”
Did he forget that I can’t taste things well?
Koi recalled it, but soon thought it was natural. It’s already been well over 10 years. It would be strange if he remembered small things about me. Changing his mind, Koi said, “Okay,” and, as instructed, cut the remaining scallops and rubbed them in the sauce sprinkled on the plate. He was going to put on a great act so that Ashley wouldn’t be embarrassed. Of course, he wasn’t confident.
…Huh?
Koi, who had put the scallop dish in his mouth with a fairly serious determination, paused for a moment. It was definitely different from before. He could taste it. Koi widened his eyes unconsciously. The taste unfortunately disappeared while he was chewing slowly, but he could definitely tell the moment he first put it in his mouth. The sweet and sour taste of the sauce and the scallops.
“It’s delicious…”
As he said, feeling dazed, Ashley smiled from across the table. As if he knew it would be. Ashley, cutting his own scallops while Koi was still staring at him with a blank expression, said,
“I told them that my companion’s sense of taste is dull, so to make the taste stronger. I also asked them to use natural ingredients and not to make the salinity or sweetness too high, so it won’t be bad for your health.”
Koi was surprised once again at Ashley’s explanation. Still unable to do anything about his dazed gaze, he opened his mouth.
“So, you’re saying you specifically told them to prepare the meal to suit me in advance…?”
“Yeah.”
At the answer that came out so readily, Koi hesitated and asked.
“Why?”
He became afraid that his voice was trembling. Barely managing to utter a single word, Ashley said casually, as if it were obvious.
“We came to have a meal together, so if the other person doesn’t enjoy it, I won’t feel good either.”
At those words, Koi was certain. He couldn’t hide his trembling voice any longer, but he couldn’t help but part his lips.
“You remembered.”
Ashley didn’t answer the words that flowed out quietly like a soliloquy. He just cut the scallops and put them in his mouth. As if it were natural, as if this much was nothing.
His heart became heavy, so Koi hastily lowered his gaze and pretended to eat the scallops, but he couldn’t help but sniffle quickly.
We’re friends now.
He scolded himself for trying to subtly cross the line. Ashley had clearly anticipated this and warned me in advance. So that I wouldn’t have vain expectations, that the two of them had already ended a long time ago, and that all Ashley could give Koi now was just friendship.He was just being considerate as a friend. Don’t get the wrong idea.
Koi swallowed the remaining scallop dish with difficulty and put down his fork. As if they had been waiting for it, a staff member approached and cleared the empty plates from both sides. Koi caught sight of them standing against the wall, observing every corner of the restaurant with hawk-like eyes to ensure that the guests’ meals were not delayed. It was Koi’s first time in such an elegant, classy, and well-serviced restaurant, and he felt dazed.
The next dish came out quickly. This time, too, the staff member placed the plate down, skillfully added an explanation, and stepped back.
“It’s goose liver.”
Once they were alone, Ashley gave a brief explanation again. Koi, seeing the dish he had only heard about before, asked without realizing it,
“Is this the fatty liver?”
“Hahaha.”
Ashley suddenly burst out laughing. Koi blinked in surprise, and he nodded, still smiling.
“That’s right. Bon appétit.”
Koi knew this French phrase. Although his pronunciation wasn’t great, Koi plucked up the courage to repeat his words and cut a piece of foie gras to put in his mouth. This, too, left a new taste in Koi’s mouth and disappeared.
“How is it?”
“It’s delicious.”
When Koi answered Ashley’s question honestly, he gave a faint smile and resumed his meal.
After hearing Ashley’s laughter, Koi’s heart felt lighter. Koi smiled along and focused on eating again. Then, before the next dish came out, during a brief lull, Ashley opened his mouth.
“What’s your date like?”
Koi wanted to correct him again that it wasn’t a date, but it was obvious that it would be futile. Koi resisted the urge and answered.
“She said she’s a reporter, and she knows Al.”
He was briefly explaining how he had met her when a well-grilled swordfish dish came out. With that in front of him, Ashley opened his mouth.
“Julie? By any chance, Julie Robinson?”
“You know her?”
Ashley answered casually to Koi’s surprised question.
“She’s a pretty famous reporter. She’s written a lot of good articles, though not very good ones for me.”
Koi paused at Ashley’s words, accompanied by a sneer. What had happened between them? When he asked cautiously, Ashley said without any particular emotion.
“An article titled ‘Ashley Miller, the Guardian Devil of the Wealthy’ can’t exactly make me feel good, can it?”
“Ah…”
Only then did Koi understand, and he let out a blank exclamation. Ashley chuckled again.
“The truth can be quite painful, you know.”
He laughed, but Koi couldn’t laugh along.
Is that true, Ash? What the reporters say, the bad rumors, I still can’t believe it.
Koi, who had lowered his gaze to his plate, looked down at his own dish, which had a different sauce than Ashley’s swordfish, and thought with a gloomy feeling.
You’re still so kind.
Even though he’s busy, he’s making time for me like this, and he even came all the way to get me out of jail. He came to a members-only restaurant and even prepared a special dish with Koi in mind. No matter how you look at it, he was the same Ashley as before. If that kind and considerate Ashley Miller, who smiled as brightly as the sunlight, isn’t the man in front of me now, then who is the man across the table?
“Haven’t you read the articles she’s written?”
Koi, startled by Ashley’s question, shook his head absentmindedly. Seeing that, Ashley gave a bitter smile and said.
“Why don’t you read even her most recent article? It’ll be helpful.”
“Helpful for what?”
When he asked, puzzled, Ashley readily answered.
“Even if you’re not meeting her with that in mind, it’s good to know about the other person so you can have a good conversation.”
“Ah…”
It sounded plausible when he heard his words. Ashley continued, seeing Koi exclaim blankly.
“Even if you don’t intend to at first, you often develop feelings as you meet, so it’s better to keep various possibilities open.”
It was a perfectly reasonable story. But as soon as he agreed, he immediately felt bad. Ashley had already had several girlfriends before dating Koi. So it’s natural that he’s much more skilled than Koi. But getting advice like this didn’t make him feel very good. Above all, Koi didn’t like the fact that Ashley was so calmly and smoothly rattling off dating tips.
“Why are you telling me this?”
How many women has he met since he broke up with me?
Even though he knew he wasn’t qualified, he couldn’t help but feel upset. He thought he didn’t have to reveal it like this, but Koi knew. Ashley wasn’t deliberately showing off. He knew it was just a few words that came out naturally, but that made him even more upset. He would have preferred it if he was just showing off.
When he spoke dejectedly, Ashley answered indifferently as ever.
“Because I want your first date to be a success.”
And he added so casually.
“I’m just giving you advice as a friend.”
Of course, he would. Koi thought, but he couldn’t hide his resentment towards him. So he impulsively told a lie.
“I, I had a girlfriend too.”
As Koi blurted out hastily, Ashley stared intently at his face.
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