By Zephyria 
“Your son will do splendidly. Even if there are some mistakes along the way, that too is part of the learning process. Keep your spirits up!”
Another peculiar silence descended. She stared blankly at Koi’s face for a moment—still smiling, only his eyes blinking—then turned her head without a word and drank her wine. The woman who had been standing with her arms crossed, watching until then, drained her wine in one go and spoke up.
“Come to think of it, what did Mr. Niles do before marriage? The articles said he was a ‘plumber.’”
Her speech was also slow and her pronunciation precise. Koi readily nodded and answered.
“Yes, I did plumbing and generally all kinds of home repairs. Electrical work too.”
Just as he felt a bit embarrassed, wondering if he had boasted too much, another woman exaggeratedly raised her voice.
“Oh my, how impressive. Plumbing, you mean, like drains, right?”
Immediately, yet another woman chimed in.
“I once had a clogged toilet and called a plumber. It was so smelly and filthy, I felt so grateful and sorry. What would we do without plumbers?”
“Exactly, who would unclog the drains? Mr. Niles, if something like that happens at our house, could you come? Plumbers are often too busy to come right away.”
Under their pitiful gazes, Koi reluctantly replied.
“Ah, I’m currently taking a break from work…”
“Oh, that’s right. Mr. Niles doesn’t work anymore, does he? My mistake.”
Before he could even finish, the woman from earlier cut in. Wearing a regretful expression, she soon asked with a smile.
“Then, by any chance, if you have a colleague’s contact, could you share it? If it’s someone you’re acquainted with, I’d trust them much more.”
Of course, that was possible. Koi readily took out his phone and asked.
“Ah, yes. Just a moment. Could you give me your phone number?”
“Huh? Me?”
The woman who had just spoken stammered in confusion, hesitated, then recited a number. Koi dialed the number as he heard it, immediately copied a saved contact, and sent it to her. When a short notification chimed indicating the message had been delivered, she and the others looked at him with somewhat dazed expressions. Koi beamed at her and said.
“He’s skilled and works fast, so you’ll be satisfied. He’s the best worker I’ve seen. He finishes most jobs in half a day. I learned a lot from him too.”
“Ah… yes…”
Muttering with a somewhat drained expression, she averted her gaze, tilted her wine glass, realized it was empty, and looked around flustered.
Somehow, a weary atmosphere drifted through. Koi, puzzled, listened to what they were saying, but after that, only sporadic, disjointed conversation continued before they began leaving one by one, until finally, Koi was left alone.
The night was already deep, well past midnight. He usually wasn’t awake at this hour. Just as he was thinking that and sipping the remaining champagne—
“Ah!”
Suddenly, someone roughly grabbed his arm. Startled, Koi nearly dropped his glass. Letting out an involuntary short cry, he was abruptly pulled behind a wall.
“What the…”
Turning his head in confusion, Koi saw the playful expression of a man looking down at him and finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Ash! You scared me.”
Scolding him pointlessly, Ashley laughed, said sorry, and kissed the tip of Koi’s nose. Holding Koi firmly around the waist, Ashley spoke.
“You were doing well, Koi.”
“Doing what? Oh.”
Only after speaking did Koi realize and blush.
“You saw?”
“Yeah, all of it.”
Koi looked up at him, both embarrassed and proud.
“I was worried since it was my first time at such an event, but it wasn’t bad, so I’m relieved. I kept feeling something was off now and then, wondering if I’d made a mistake.”
“Not at all. You did great. Just keep doing that.”
Ashley said seriously, advising him. A fresh surge of pride welled up. He had worried that Koi might be harshly treated and cry by the flock of crows who might have been eyeing him, but Koi effortlessly neutralized all their snide remarks. My adorable Koi, when did you grow up like this? Proudly, Ashley sucked on Koi’s lips and released them.
“How did you come up with the idea to give a phone number? Was it a fake number?”
“Huh? No, it’s a real number?”
Ashley, who had been smiling until then, paused. Still smiling, he looked down at Koi and slowly opened his mouth.
“…It was a real number?”
“Yeah.”
Koi readily nodded.
“It’s not a difficult thing. I happened to meet someone here who’s good at the job. So I gave it right away.”
His face was as innocent as ever. Ashley, silently staring at Koi, muttered.
“You really introduced a plumber.”
“Yeah, she said she needed one. It’s good if it helps.”
Heh heh, Koi scratched his cheek. Ashley stared intently at his face. His gaze was somehow similar to the one directed at him earlier, making Koi flustered and blink.
“Uh, did I make some mistake after all…”
“No, you did well. Just keep doing that.”
Ashley smiled again and kissed Koi’s lips with a smack. That’s my Koi. Ashley resisted the urge to push him down right then and instead hugged him tightly. Koi made a stifled sound as if breathless, but Ashley paid no mind. Holding him close, burying his nose in Koi’s nape, Ashley took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, and finally spoke.
“Shall we head back now?”
“Are you done with your business?”
Mumbling from within Ashley’s embrace, Koi asked. When Ashley answered yes, Koi finally replied as if relieved.
“That’s good, I was getting a bit tired…”
“Koi, it’s Saturday now.”
“Yeah…”
Koi, who had spoken without thinking, then widened his eyes. Confirming that he remembered, Ashley smiled. Saturday is special. Since Ashley rests over the weekend, barring special circumstances, they usually spent time alone together.
“Even if it’s my son, I can’t yield on this.”
Ashley declared firmly. Usually, after work, he would immediately go to see Nathaniel and spend time with the child until bedtime. Since it could hardly be said that his time with the child was short, Koi ultimately agreed. And since midnight had passed, it was now precisely that weekend.
Seeing Koi’s face instantly flush, Ashley tilted his head and whispered by his ear.
“Shall we head back now, Koi?”
“…Yeah.”
With a small nod, Ashley promptly wrapped his arm around Koi’s shoulder and started walking. After briefly bidding farewell to the party’s host and hostess, he readily crossed the party venue and went outside. While waiting for the hired valet to bring the car, suddenly his phone rang. Checking the caller, Ashley immediately furrowed his brow.
“…What is it?”
His voice filled with irritation made even Koi look up at him in surprise. Then, as if it were nothing, Ashley kissed Koi’s lips and listened to the phone again. After a moment of silence, he rubbed his tired eyelids and let out a short sigh.
“Why on earth can’t you resolve that… Fine, I’m coming now.”
Just as he ended the call, their car pulled up in front. While the driver opened the rear door and waited, Ashley let Koi in first, then followed and sat down.
“Something came up at the company.”
Ashley continued speaking in the moving car.
“I’ll drop you off at home, so go ahead. You can sleep.”
“I’ll wait.”
Koi said urgently.
“I want to wait, it’s okay even if it’s late.”
At that, Ashley gave a faint smile. After a gentle kiss, he asked with their lips still touching.
“Then, Koi, can you lie down wearing only my shirt?”
“Huh, wha-what?”
Blinking at the secretive request, Ashley leisurely added.
“Take everything off, and wear only my shirt.”
His hand meaningfully stroked Koi’s thigh. Ashley gently bit Koi’s earlobe, released it, and whispered.
“I want to see you wearing my shirt.”
How alluring would those long, smooth legs revealed beneath the shirt be? Just the thought made his lower abdomen tighten. Koi, flustered, eventually answered, Okay. He granted whatever Ashley wanted. Once again, as Koi accepted as expected, Ashley couldn’t help but let his lips curve into a smile.