He was pathetic for feeling self-conscious about something so trivial, but he couldn’t help but slump his shoulders. Ashley, leaving Koi behind and looking over the cart to see if anything was missing, said.

“Can you go to the snack bar and get some drinks and ice? The snack bar is…”

“It’s on the right side of the second floor, right? Yeah, I’ll get it!”

Koi replied with a brightened expression. He belatedly realized his mistake at the expression on Ashley’s face as he raised his head and looked at him. Inevitably, Koi told the truth.

“Um… When I came to your house yesterday. I was looking for you, so I… wandered around the house a bit. I saw it then.”

“Ah…”

Ashley nodded as if he understood. Come to think of it, he had brought soup yesterday.

Unlike Ashley, who was convinced, Koi became anxious. He felt embarrassed for wandering around the house without permission, and he was afraid that Ashley would hate him for this, so he involuntarily shrank his shoulders. He was very nervous and watching Ashley’s reaction, but unexpectedly, Ashley readily turned his head and checked the dishes on the cart.

Huh?

Looking at him in bewilderment, Ashley looked at him again and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Huh? Uh…”

Belatedly regaining his senses, Koi quickly stepped back and said.

“I, I’ll be back.”

“Okay.”

Ashley said casually and grabbed the handle of the cart.

“Where do you want to eat? The dining room? The reception room?”

“Uh, I’m fine with anywhere.”Koi answered hastily. He was sincere. He would gladly eat scorpions in the distant desert if he were with Ashley. Ashley thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Let’s eat in the garden. There’s a gazebo, you’ll see it as soon as you go out.”

“Ah, okay.”

Koi nodded.

“Okay.”

“Alright.”

Ashley led the cart away, saying,

“I’ll get things ready, so bring the drinks and cups.”

“Okay. And ice?”

Ashley chuckled at Koi’s last question.

“Even if you don’t eat it, I do.”

This was Koi’s chance to clear up Ashley’s misunderstanding, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t want Ashley to know that he was from a completely different world. Of course, even if he did, he could never live in the same world as him, but if he were found out to be living in a separate world, he felt like he would be forever separated from Ashley.

As if ice in cola was so important.

Koi thought as he hurried towards the snack bar. He didn’t care if he couldn’t put ice in his cola for the rest of his life. As long as he could be with Ashley.

*

The sun slowly began to set during their meal. Watching the entire sky turn red as it was dyed by the sunset was truly a spectacle.

“Amazing.”

Koi muttered while eating. The mansion where Ashley lived was enormous in size, as well as the grounds. Moreover, it was located on a hill, or rather, at an altitude closer to a small mountain, so the view was high. So, when you stood on the grounds, you could see the houses below the mountain at a glance, and in the evening, the lights from each house sparkled brilliantly, creating a breathtaking night view.

It was the first time Koi had seen such a sight, so he unconsciously exclaimed in a small voice, “Wow.” It was a landscape that Koi, who lived in an old, outdated motorhome, could not even imagine.

Ashley must be seeing this night view every day.

Thinking that, Koi felt the distance between himself and Ashley grow even further. As much as the difference between someone who puts ice in their cola and someone who doesn’t.

“What’s wrong?”

Ashley asked. Koi, who had been staring blankly, startled and shook his head.

“No, nothing.”

Thinking about it won’t help at all. The important thing is the present. Ash and I are having dinner together right now, and that’s all that matters.

“It’s delicious.”

Koi said that even though he could barely taste the food. It was just one of the countless secrets he kept from Ashley.

*

“Thank you so much for today, Ash.”

Late in the evening, Koi, who had finished preparing to return, expressed his gratitude. Ashley didn’t smile as usual, but said with a frown.

“I told you I’d take you.”

“No, it’s really okay.”

Koi refused vehemently, even waving his hand.

“It’s a quick bike ride.”

He absolutely didn’t want to show Ashley the shabby appearance of the motorhome where he lived. It was enough that Koi was the only one who knew that such a world existed.

“You still have a cold, you should rest.”

Koi said sincerely. It was also true that he was worried about his health. He still had a fever, but he had gone out of his way to take Koi back and forth.

After dinner, Koi gave Ashley the medicine one more time, packing the remaining medicine carefully and handing it to him. With the reminder to never forget to take it.

“Okay.”

Ashley nodded reluctantly. Koi smiled once more and grabbed the handlebars of his bicycle.

“Koi.”

“Yeah?”

Turning around at the sudden call, Koi saw Ashley looking at him. He waited for him to speak, but he remained silent for a while before shaking his head.

“No, nothing.”

“Okay…”

Feeling somehow disappointed, Koi hesitated, but his face soon brightened as if he had thought of something good.

“Come to think of it, it’s almost the new semester.”

“So?”

At Ashley’s question, Koi smiled brightly and replied.

“Now I can see you every day.”

Only then did Ashley seem to understand, and his face relaxed.

“Yeah.”

Ashley said.

“I guess so.”

“Yeah.”

Koi nodded again and vigorously stepped on the pedals and got on.

“Bye, Ash. Get well soon!”

Holding the handlebars with one hand and waving the other hand wildly, he looked back. Before Ashley could wave back, he turned his head and quickly disappeared from view.

The surroundings instantly became quiet. All that was left was Ashley and his tiresome cold.

“…Haa.”

Ashley, who deliberately sighed out loud, soon turned around and entered the mansion. The sense of solitude he always experienced felt unusually heavy today.

*

Haa, haa.

Koi pedaled as hard as he could, speeding up as much as possible. He had to get home before Father returned. Father would be very angry because he had stayed out overnight without permission the day before.

Even if he had asked, he would never have allowed it.

Koi, who was thinking inwardly, rode his bicycle even more urgently. He had to quickly get into bed, hold his breath, and try not to be noticed. Fortunately, he knew that if he was sleeping, he wouldn’t be forcibly woken up, beaten, or harassed.

But unfortunately, luck was not on his side.

“Gasp.”

The moment he spotted the motorhome with the dim lights on, Koi gasped in surprise. He stopped his bicycle in its place and watched for a while, and then he heard something breaking inside, and Father shouted. The shout, mixed with curses, was unclear, but it was clear that he was looking for Koi.

I can’t be seen now.

He knew very well from many experiences. He was always beaten to death when he was caught in situations like this. It was better to wait outside in the night dew until Father fell asleep. Father always went to work as soon as he opened his eyes, so he just had to get through this moment. Koi made up his mind and quietly retreated, keeping his distance so that he could still see the lights of the motorhome, and hid himself.

As he laid his bicycle on the ground and sat down in a small crouch, looking at the motorhome, it felt like what had just happened was a dream. To have dinner while watching the sunset in such a large mansion. And with Ashley.

Even though he had spent a night at Ashley’s house, it didn’t feel real. Maybe it was all a dream I had?

Suddenly, he came to his senses.

I really must have been dreaming all this time! Does that mean the test I took was also a dream?

Just as he was thinking that, his cell phone suddenly rang. Startled, Koi looked at the screen and his eyes widened. Ashley’s number was displayed.

“He, hello?”

Anxious and stammering, he answered the phone, and after a moment, Ashley responded.

  • Koi?

“Ah, yeah.”

Koi nodded, trying to force himself to calm his naturally rapid breathing.

“It’s me, Ash.”

Even though he deliberately said his name, it still didn’t feel real at all. Could someone be playing a prank on me to make fun of me? Koi, who had suddenly thought of this, immediately denied it. He realized that he didn’t have any acquaintances who would play such a prank on him.

It’s really Ash.

By Zephyria

Hello, I'm Zephyria, an avid BL reader^^ I post AI/Machine assisted translation. Due to busy schedule I'll just post all works I have mtled. However, as you know the quality is not guaranteed. Maybe just enough to fill your curiosity.

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