LMI 42

“Koi?”

Ashley reacted immediately.

“What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well? Your face is red.”

He was genuinely worried. But that was rather counterproductive. Because Ashley leaned towards Koi, his face, which was already filling his vision, completely took Koi’s mind away.

“Koi, are you okay? Should we go to the hospital?”

Ashley reached out his hand at Koi’s reaction, who was even breathing roughly. But the moment the tip of his finger touched his cheek, Koi screamed and stepped back.

No! If Ash even touches me, I’ll die, I’ll really die!

A sense of crisis covered his whole body, and a loud siren rang in his head. Haa, haa. Ashley, seeing Koi’s red face, who was gasping for breath and sticking close to the car window, widened his eyes in surprise.

“I think it’s better to go to the hospital after all.”

“What? No, no.”

Koi shouted belatedly at the sight of Ashley starting the car right away.

“I’m okay, I’m not sick!”

“What are you talking about, your face is bright red. You’re getting a fever.”

“I’m serious, I’m okay! I, I just need some fresh air, I’m serious!”

I don’t even have insurance!

Koi screamed inwardly. Perhaps because of the sense of crisis in reality, his flushed face gradually turned pale. Ashley frowned and looked at him with a serious face. Koi looked back at him anxiously with trembling eyes. As if asking him to believe him.

Haa.

Eventually, Ashley sighed and stepped back.

“Okay, let’s get out for now.”

Koi, who was anxiously watching his profile as he started the car, carefully opened his mouth, saying, “Um.”

“Can I open the window? It’s hot…….”

He deliberately pressed the window button, but of course it didn’t move. Ashley glanced at Koi, who was pointing at the window that wouldn’t open like the door, then looked forward again and pressed the button in the center.

The air conditioner turned on, and soon cold air flowed out.

*

The car door opened after arriving at Ashley’s mansion. After parking in front of the garage, Ashley opened the driver’s side door, and the locked passenger seat door opened at the same time. Koi watched and followed after Ashley got out of the car first.

Perhaps thinking that Koi wouldn’t run away anymore, Ashley didn’t hold his hand. Koi was intimidated and quietly followed him. Ashley spoke again after sitting Koi down at the snack bar.

“How did the test go? Did you pass?”

Koi was startled by the words he said while putting down the cola and cup.

“Didn’t you hear from Al?”

He didn’t know the results? Then why did he bring me here?

Koi was bewildered, but Ashley was surprised by his reaction this time.

“Al? Why?”

Seeing him frowning, Koi stuttered.

“No, well, that is.”

Ashley’s reaction was different from what he expected. What is it? What’s with that expression? Koi was flustered and stuttered.

“I, I thought you two had made up…….”

“No, Koi. You’re mistaken.”

Ashley denied his words with a serious face.

“We’re completely over. There’s no chance of starting over.”

“Uh…….”

He had been thinking all sorts of things since he saw them walking side by side, but now it turned out that it was all Koi’s delusion. Ashley really didn’t understand Koi’s words. Koi’s face gradually turned red with belated embarrassment.

“I see,” he muttered softly, and Ashley frowned and stared at him. As if telling him to say everything he wanted to say. Koi hesitated and carefully opened his mouth.

“Um…… why did it end like that?”

Ashley was silent for a while. Koi thought he might avoid answering. But his expectations were wrong again, and Ashley opened his mouth.

“I.”

He said, still fixing his gaze on Koi.

“I fell in love with someone else.”

What?

Koi widened his eyes in surprise at the unexpected words. Ashley spoke again at his blank gaze.

“I said I fell in love with someone else.”

“Uh…….”

Koi was flustered and just blinked. Ashley’s voice was as calm as ever. He seemed to have already finished organizing everything in his mind. Koi had nothing more to say, so he just muttered, “I see.”

“Um, well, are you going to have a new girlfriend now?”

Ashley chuckled when he asked, barely thinking of something to say.

“Well, I wonder.”

“Huh? Why?”

Koi asked again at the incomprehensible words. Ashley stared at Koi’s face instead of answering.

“I don’t know.”

“Why?”

Koi urged him impatiently. But Ashley poured a drink into a cup with ice instead of answering. Koi waited patiently while he drank the drink. After putting down the cup, Ashley opened his mouth.

“I’ve never confessed before, so I’m worried about what to do.”

“Huh?”

Koi blinked at the unexpected words.

“You’ve always had girlfriends, haven’t you?”

But what is he talking about, saying he’s never confessed? Ashley answered Koi, who didn’t understand.

“That’s right. But when you date someone, you don’t say you like them or anything like that and start dating. It just happens naturally.”

I see…….

Koi just nodded, realizing this for the first time. He wondered for a moment if he, who had never dated anyone before, was qualified to give this kind of advice, but he soon gave up his worries. It’s a friend’s business, I have to do my best.

Koi asked actively.

“Then just do what you’ve always done, right? Naturally.”

“It’s a bit different.”

“How?”

Ashley looked at Koi with one hand on his chin.

“I don’t know what he thinks of me.”

Koi reacted immediately to Ashley’s words.

“What are you talking about? Of course he likes you, no, he does!”

Koi continued, speaking in a higher voice than usual.

“Who in the world wouldn’t like you? Of course he’ll be happy, if he hears you say you like him!”

Ashley chuckled embarrassedly at the enthusiastic reaction.

“No way.”

“Yes, he will!”

Koi shouted with all his heart.

“If you said you liked me and asked me to date you, I would say yes right away!”Ashley’s eyes narrowed as he quietly gazed at Koi.

Uh.

After blurting it out, he belatedly realized something was off. But the water had already been spilled. As Koi paused, frozen, Ashley placed his arm on the table and leaned toward him.

“Is that so?”

Koi met the silver-blue eyes staring at him and was lost for words. A face with distinct features and a neat appearance was right before his eyes. Seeing those two eyes fixed solely on him and the softly smiling lips, his heart pounded like crazy. Ashley opened his mouth.

“Koi.”

A soft, sweet voice whispered.

“I like you.”

……Huh?

Koi’s eyes widened. It was as if fireworks were going off in his ears. Or perhaps it was the sound of his own heart. The loud roar echoing wildly was something he was hearing for the first time in his life.

I like you.

I like you.

I like you.

Ashley’s low voice continued to linger in his ears.

Ash likes me.

“……Ah!”

Koi was so surprised that he screamed and stepped back.

“Koi!”

Ashley urgently reached out and called his name. With a crash, the chair fell over. Koi blinked blankly and remained frozen for a while.

“Are you okay?”

Ashley asked with a surprised expression. Little by little, Koi’s consciousness returned to reality. He then realized that he had slipped from the chair he was sitting on and collapsed to the floor. If Ashley hadn’t grabbed his arm, he might have hit his head on the floor. Only after seeing Ashley’s pale, frozen face did Koi finally answer, “Yeah.”

“I’m okay. ……Thank you.”

“……Okay.”

Only then did a smile return to Ashley’s face, as if he was relieved. Soon after, he readjusted his grip on Koi’s arm and suddenly pulled him in.

“Ah!”

Koi, caught off guard, was pulled up and ended up in his arms. His eyes widened at the unexpected situation, and Ashley hugged Koi and said,

“Don’t worry me.”

Thump.

Suddenly, he felt as if his heart had fallen to the floor. And then it began to beat like crazy. His vision blurred and his mind went blank. Only one thing came to mind.

What if Ash finds out?

As excitement and fear mingled, Ashley suddenly let him go. He staggered for a moment but soon regained his balance. Ashley released his hand only after confirming that Koi was standing straight. Ashley’s face, smiling as usual, came into Koi’s view.

“Did you pass the test? Should we skip training today and have a celebration party instead? There’s probably cake.”

“Cake?”

As Koi repeated Ashley’s words, he got up from his seat and said,

“I left a memo telling them to make one because I thought you would definitely pass.”

Koi forgot to even react to the unexpected words. Cake? For me? And it’s not even my birthday?

He had never eaten a cake on his birthday. He might have in the past, but it was so long ago that he couldn’t remember.

And now, out of the blue, cake.

Just for passing a test that wasn’t even a big deal.

Ashley opened the refrigerator and took out a chocolate cake. Koi silently watched him place the cake on the table. Soon, he placed a fork and plate, then set the fallen chair back up and sat Koi down. Koi stared at him cutting the cake without even blinking.

“Congratulations, Koi.”

Ashley said as he pushed the cake in front of him. Meeting his softly smiling face, Koi felt his throat tighten.

“Tha, nk you.”

Ashley simply smiled at the barely squeezed-out voice. The hand holding the fork trembled slightly. Koi carefully took a piece of cake and brought it to his mouth.

“How is it?”

Ashley asked.

“It’s delicious.”

Koi replied. Ashley smiled again. His heart was pounding like crazy and the cake was so sweet that Koi almost burst into tears.