LMI 90

“H-huh?”

Caught off guard, Koi stammered without realizing it. Ashley frowned. Only then did Koi realize that he had called his name first.

Why did I call him?

He’d completely forgotten. He just blinked in confusion, and Ashley tilted his head, wearing only his pants. Only then did Ashley’s face come into Koi’s view. His face was pale and exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes.

Ah.

Only then did Koi remember why he had called him.

“Um… you looked like you weren’t feeling well…”

He hesitated, then added with difficulty,

“It’s not… because of me, is it?”

Once he said it out loud, it became a certainty for Koi. Ashley’s bad complexion and unwell appearance were all his fault. Because he had rejected Ashley.

What if Ash starts to hate me?

He should have done what he wanted. He was suddenly filled with regret. What was the big deal? It wouldn’t have worn out. He just had to put up with it for a little while, but how disappointed must Ash have been? He’d been going on and on about how much he liked him, but when Ash actually needed him, he refused. What was so great about just being touched a little?

He should have said everything was okay.

He regretted and blamed himself repeatedly, but it was too late to turn back now. The mood was already ruined, and all that was left was to go home. Why was he so stupid? His nose suddenly stung, and he quickly sniffled and composed himself, but suddenly Ashley strode towards him with large steps.

“Koi, are you crying again?”

“N-no.”

He shook his head frantically, but Ashley didn’t believe him and grabbed Koi’s cheeks with both hands, lifting his face. Koi looked up as he was told, and Ashley looked at him with a serious expression.

“Koi, you’re not regretting it or thinking weird things, are you?”

“Huh?”

Koi couldn’t help but ask back at the sudden question. Ashley continued seriously.

“I’m asking if it’s because of what happened earlier. Tell me honestly, we’re dating, so we shouldn’t hide or lie to each other.”

‘We’re dating.’

At those words, Koi’s anxiety disappeared and was replaced by trust. Ash was right. Koi took a deep breath and nodded slightly.

“I thought you were angry because of me.”

“I’m not angry, not at all. Why would you think that?”

Ashley answered so readily that there was no room for doubt. Koi was relieved, but on the other hand, he felt even more guilty. Ash wasn’t some kind of beast, so why had he misunderstood him so absurdly?

After apologizing, Koi added,

“You didn’t look good and seemed tired… I mean, I know how painful it is to stop in that state…”

As he spoke, he became aware that he had done something cruel to him again, and he automatically became depressed.

“If I had just been a little more brave, I’m sorry.”

“Koi.”

Ashley called his name softly. He hesitated, then looked up to see him looking down at Koi with a serious face.

“Don’t say things like that. Even if the mood was like that and I wanted it, I won’t do it if you don’t want to.”

Koi couldn’t answer at the unexpected words, so Ashley spoke first.

“If you did it then because of me, against your will, swept away by the atmosphere, that would make me a rapist. You don’t want me to be a rapist, do you, right?”

“N-no, absolutely not!”

“Okay.”

Ashley nodded at the strong denial.

“Then it’s okay. Don’t regret it, just be honest with your feelings then. If you don’t want to but you force yourself to match my mood, I’ll get hurt too.”

His words resonated strongly in Koi’s heart. Koi nodded slowly.

“…Okay.”

The next voice that came out was much lighter.

“I will.”

Hearing Koi’s answer, Ashley smiled as if that was enough, lightly kissed his lips, and then lifted his head.

“You don’t hate this, do you?”

“No, I like it.”

Koi’s face turned bright red at the words he blurted out without thinking. Ashley laughed out loud, kissed him again, and went back to his locker.

He wasn’t upset.

Sighing in relief, Koi watched him take out a shirt and put it on, then belatedly remembered something. He wasn’t upset, but what about his body…?

He looked a little uncomfortable walking earlier. Koi opened his mouth again, worried.

“Um, Ash.”

Ashley poked his head out of the shirt and looked at him. Koi carefully asked again.

“Are you okay? I mean, well, what I mean is.”

He added an explanation to avoid misunderstandings in the current situation.

“You took too long in the shower, what if you catch a cold?”

He spoke with genuine concern, but Ashley didn’t react immediately. He paused as if choosing his words, then replied.

“…I won’t catch a cold anymore. Probably.”

Koi tilted his head, not understanding what he meant. But Ashley didn’t explain further and picked up his bag. In fact, there was only one reason. But it would take too long to explain.

Because Ashley had Manifested as an extreme Alpha.

The reason why extreme Alphas are considered superior to other types is their excellent immunity. The reason why their immunity is several times higher than the average is due to their Pheromones, which have a different scent from ordinary Alphas and are produced in several times the amount.

Due to the influence of these Pheromones, which differ greatly in quantity and quality, extreme Alphas are basically not susceptible to diseases, including colds, and are particularly resistant to alcohol and drugs. They rarely get drunk or addicted to drugs. If they live out their natural lifespan without any major problems, their average lifespan is also longer than that of ordinary people. In addition, there are endless physical and mental effects. Manifesting as an extreme Alpha is, in a sense, a blessing from God.

These Pheromones make extreme Alphas special beings, but they also demand a price. The change in eye color to purple is just a minor incident. The biggest problem is that Pheromones are fatal to the brain. The huge amount of Pheromones that are secreted from time to time turns into poison when accumulated. In academia, it is simply expressed as ‘the brain melts down,’ but in reality, there are various phenomena that appear. Commonly, memory impairment occurs, and in severe cases, madness or dementia can occur. To prevent this, they had to periodically remove Pheromones.

Someday, that day will come for Ashley too. For the rest of his long life, he will have to fight against the Pheromones that gnaw at him from within. Desperately averting his eyes from the black mass that is crouching, ready to devour him at any moment.

“Let’s go, now.”

Ashley spoke first, picked up Koi’s bag from the bench, and readily slung it over his shoulder.

“Okay.”

Koi belatedly came to his senses and quickly followed beside him.

“Um, let me carry my bag.”

Koi felt so sorry for him, seeing him carrying his own bag and Koi’s bag on each shoulder.

“You’re tired, very tired.”

Koi said again, watching Ashley’s face. He seemed a little better than before, but when he thought of his face when he first came out of the shower room, he was worried again. Besides, Ashley had been in there for too long. Thinking of how he often caught colds, he couldn’t just let it go. But Ashley’s answer remained the same.

“I’m okay, Koi. Really.”

He meant it. The reason he wasn’t feeling well was something else.

Fuck, my dick hurts.He frowned. It was the first time he’d masturbated so intensely, for so long. He didn’t even masturbate often in the first place. There was no need, and even when he did it by hand when circumstances didn’t allow for anything else, it was only once or twice at most. He’d never even imagined rubbing himself raw like that.

But this time, it was unavoidable. Koi’s cheerleading uniform—nothing could get him hotter except for Koi himself wearing it. He inhaled Koi’s scent lingering on the uniform, and eventually just rubbed himself against it until he came.

Koi didn’t seem to give the uniform’s whereabouts a second thought, but Ashley was different. The thought of it in his bag slung over his shoulder made him feel himself getting hard again. If he hadn’t spent an hour calming himself down, his anaconda would be rearing its head again right now.

Is this intense desire all because of Pheromones?

Don’t be ridiculous, you wanted to imprison Koi and do all sorts of things to him even before Manifestation.

Yeah, you’ve been having all kinds of dirty fantasies, don’t blame it on Pheromones.

For once, his inner selves spoke with one voice. Ashley reluctantly admitted that it was his true nature.