By Zephyria 
Bill didn’t understand the meaning of the words coming from the other side of the line at all. The name Ashley Miller was just spinning around in his head. Standing there blankly, he belatedly came to his senses at the voice calling him from the receiver and asked.
“A-Ashley Miller? A lawyer?”
-Yes, they said they were a high school classmate. Would you like me to show them up?
Hearing the patiently repeated words, Bill hurriedly slapped himself on the cheek. Barely regaining his senses, he rubbed his sore cheek and racked his brain. According to Koi, Ashley was aware of what was going on. Maybe they came to give him advice as a lawyer.
Just as he was harboring cautious hope, the voice on the other side suddenly changed.
-Bill?
“A-Ash?”
At the unexpected voice, Bill stuttered without realizing it. It had been a long time since he had heard his voice, but Bill recognized it at once. Ashley continued to speak to Bill.
-We have something to talk about, just the two of us, right? Can I come up?
His voice was extremely cold and calm. Bill felt a sense of distance from the emotionless tone, but on the other hand, he was relieved. As Koi’s phone call came to mind, a groundless conviction took hold of him.
That’s right, we were the best of friends.
Childhood memories filled him with hope. Ahem, Bill cleared his throat and passed the phone back to the employee, readily accepting the visit.
“Yes, that’s fine. And could you bring up a bottle of champagne? Anything is fine.”
After hanging up, Bill exhaled and rubbed his palms together, looking around. He couldn’t be doing this. He hastily tidied up the messy room and began preparing to meet his old classmate. Yeah, a friend is the best in times like these. We can have a drink together and talk about the old days.
I should apologize for that article about Koi.
If he were in that situation, he would want to beat the other person to within an inch of their life. But Bill trusted Ashley. More precisely, he strongly trusted the friendship they had shared.
〈Ash didn’t say anything special, though?〉
Recalling Koi’s bright voice, he regained his composure. By the time the doorbell rang, he had already finished an emotional reunion with his old friend in his head. Bill rushed to the door without hesitation, opening it with a bright smile to greet his friend.
“Ash, long time no see, ugh!”
The energetic greeting turned into a scream before it could finish. With a loud thud, his vision flashed, and he stumbled backward, clutching his nose.
“Wh-what.”
Bill’s eyes widened as he barely regained his senses. The man who strode into the room after him was definitely Ashley. The sight of the sophisticated man in a long coat, a flawless suit, and neatly combed-back hair overlapped with the youthful figure he had seen so often in high school for one reason only. Just like back then, Ashley was holding an ice hockey stick in his hand.
“W-wait, Ash, calm down, what are you doing!”
Bill quickly turned pale and shouted, holding out one hand.
“What the hell is that? You said we were going to talk!”
“Yeah.”
Ashley adjusted his grip on the stick and said in response to his desperate cry. Still in a chilling voice.
“Now, try having a conversation. With my stick.”
Immediately, Ashley swung the stick, and Bill screamed, covering his head.
“You crazy bastard!”
“Koi!”
Koi was startled and greeted Ariel as she rushed in, looking pale as soon as she opened the door.
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
Thinking that maybe a stalker had followed her, Koi quickly looked behind her, but Ariel asked him urgently.
“You’re the one who has something going on! Are you okay? Did anything happen?”
Ariel looked around and then turned her gaze back to Koi’s face. Koi tilted his head, bewildered, and answered no. Ariel quietly studied his expression, then sighed in relief and patted her chest. Koi brewed her some herbal tea as Ariel plopped down on the sofa, belatedly realizing the situation.
“It’s been crazy all day, and you didn’t know?”
Ariel asked after taking a sip of her tea and finally catching her breath. Koi scratched her head, feeling embarrassed.
“Bill called and told me. I haven’t been on the internet or anything, so I didn’t know at all… Bill must be in a tough spot.”
Ariel didn’t bother mentioning that she had become a ‘non-existent woman.’ There was a more important issue at hand.
“The situation is more serious than you think. Reporters might come looking for you and raid this place.”
“Really?”
Koi cried out in surprise. But there was an even bigger problem.
“What about Ash? Have you contacted him? What did he say?”
“Huh? No.”
Koi shook her head and answered.
“Ash called me first. He didn’t say anything special, and he asked me about Bill, but he understood everything and hung up. You don’t have to worry about Ash.”
Koi said that and even smiled, but Ariel’s face gradually turned white.
“When was that?”
At the urgent question, Koi blinked.
“Well, a little after lunchtime…?”
“Give me your cell phone. No, call him. Right now, call Ash.”
Koi, feeling flustered, did as she was told and soon shook his head.
“He’s not answering.”
“Bill isn’t either.”
Ariel immediately put down her cell phone and stood up abruptly.
“We can’t stay here, let’s go.”
“Where to?”
Koi, bewildered by the hand that suddenly grabbed him arm and pulled him along, asked as he was led towards the front door. Ariel turned around.
“To Bill’s. If we leave him alone, he might die.”
“Bill? Why?”
Ariel started walking again and spat out as Koi cried out in surprise.
“Ash won’t let him off the hook.”
“What? No, wait!”
Koi said, flustered.
“That can’t be, Ash understood everything. He said it was all a misunderstanding, remember?”
“I hope you’re right.”
Ariel looked at Koi with a serious face.
“If I’m right, you’re the only one who can stop Ash.”
“Wait, Ash! Stop, I said stop! Ugh!”
Bill, who had desperately shouted and jumped over the sofa, lost his balance and slammed his face into the floor. Fortunately, there was a carpet, but that didn’t mean it didn’t hurt at all. He had to be careful not to strain his injured wrist, but right now, staying alive was more important. Ashley was incredibly angry. His purple eyes looked black, and the pheromones emanating from his entire body were suffocating.
“Nothing happened between Koi and me. Really, please believe me!”
Bill shouted with all his might at the stick that had narrowly missed his face. Suddenly, Ashley withdrew the stick and looked down at him. He opened his mouth in a quiet voice to Bill, who was panting and looking up at him.
“You’re saying you didn’t call Koi to the hotel room?”
Bill hesitated before answering.
“W-well, that’s true.”
“You’re the one who gave Koi champagne to drink, right?”
“T-that’s also true, but.”
“…The kiss?”
“That was… me…”
Bill realized that he was being cornered. As proof, Ashley narrowed his eyes and blatantly mocked him as he asked.
“What am I misunderstanding? It’s all true, isn’t it?”
“No, it’s true but not true, don’t do this! What happened was, ugh!”
Bill screamed as he barely dodged the stick that flew at him again and rolled on the floor.
“You said you checked with Koi, so why are you doing this? Are you saying Koi lied to you?”
“Koi doesn’t lie.”
Ashley stated firmly without disturbing his breathing at all. Just as Bill was about to have hope, he added coldly.
“There’s no way my Koi would betray me, you must have seduced him.”
“My Koi?”
Bill repeated Ashley’s words, dumbfounded. He didn’t know what all this fuss was about. Memories of him flashed through Bill’s head as he barely dodged Ashley’s stick. We were so close, how could you do this to me?
Bill screamed, overwhelmed with injustice.
“Then Koi is also at fault for coming to me! Why are you only doing this to me? You’re saying you went to Koi just fine!”
The answer that came back to Bill, who was screaming and arguing, was still calm.
“I can’t hit Koi.”
“You son of a bitch!”
It was when Bill shouted again. Finally, his body was trapped in a blind spot, and the stick was about to fly straight towards his head.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and someone’s voice was heard. And immediately, Ashley stopped moving.
“Bill, it’s me, Koi! Is Ash here?”