Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 45

He immediately wanted to reach out and pull Koi back into his arms, so he deliberately shoved both hands into his pants pockets.

“So.”

Ashley spoke casually.

“Why did you run away this time? Is it because of puberty again?”

“Oh, no.”

Koi shook his head but couldn’t bring himself to look up. To run into Ashley of all people. He wasn’t mentally prepared for this, and to be caught so quickly…

His heart kept pounding. He subtly stole a glance and saw Ashley take his hands out of his pants pockets and cross his arms. The moment he saw that, Koi’s face turned pale.

What do I do, he’s angry at me. Of course, who would like it if someone ran away the moment they saw them?

He was completely intimidated, but Ashley, looking down at Koi, was thinking something entirely different.

I want to hug him.

Even with his hands in his pockets, he had to cross his arms to stop them from immediately reaching out. But this emergency measure wouldn’t last long. He had to end this situation quickly.

“Koi.”

Ashley called his name again. Koi flinched and hunched his shoulders, and he heard a deep sigh from above his head. Koi just rolled his eyes, not knowing what to do, when suddenly Ashley’s face was thrust close to his.

“Eek!”

“Where are you going?”

Ashley laughed, grabbing Koi’s arms and holding him still as Koi instinctively tried to back away. Koi was held immobile, facing Ashley’s face. Contrary to his anxiety, Ashley didn’t look displeased at all. In fact, seeing him smiling at Koi as usual, his anxiety gradually faded.

Is he okay…?

He blinked and watched, and Ashley opened his mouth.

“I’m not angry. So don’t worry.”

His gentle voice seemed sincere. To Koi, who was still just looking at him, Ashley smiled once more.

Thank goodness.

Only then did Koi’s face relax, relieved. And as the tension disappeared, another joy took its place.

It’s Ash.

The moment he thought that, he realized his ears were twitching and quickly grabbed them. Soon after, his face flushed hot. He had vowed yesterday to never move his ears again, but the habit had resurfaced. The moment he saw Ashley’s face, his ears had moved on their own out of happiness and joy.

What do I do!

He was dying of embarrassment, but Ashley laughed aloud. Koi’s face became a tearful mess, but Ashley found even that expression so adorable that he wanted to immediately hug him and shower him with kisses.

Koi, why are you so cute?

Ashley thought, looking at Koi, who was flailing with both hands holding his ears.

I like you, Koi.

His heart felt like it would burst. It was the first time his heart had pounded like this. And it was also the first time he was so helpless in front of someone.

I want to hug him. I want to bite those ears. How sweet would it be to kiss those lips?

Ashley gritted his teeth to suppress a groan. Instead of taking a deep breath and calming himself, he moved his hand and gently took Koi’s wrist. Koi looked up at him with a bright red face. A dangerous impulse took root in Ashley’s mind.

Ah, I want to grab Koi right now and lock him in my room.

“We’ll be late for class, Koi.”

Having narrowly avoided becoming a criminal, Ashley said in a deliberately gentle voice. Only then did Koi blink, “Ah.”

“S-sorry.”

Ashley quickly caught up to him with long strides as he hastily turned around, and walked beside him, asking,

“Did you get home okay yesterday? Nothing happened?”

“Uh, yeah.”

Ashley asked casually, but Koi’s heart pounded again. Does Ash also look at the posts on that site? Did he perhaps see my post? No, I heard popular kids like Ash don’t do that. Besides, he has a lot of friends, he has to study, and he’s even the ice hockey team captain, so where would he find the time to mess around on a site like that?

If he had seen it, he wouldn’t be talking to me so casually like this.

Koi had reached a conclusion that was quite plausible and close to the truth. But his anxiety didn’t disappear. Finally, Koi couldn’t hold back and opened his mouth.

“Um, um, Ash.”

“Yes?”

At the immediate reply, Koi cautiously spoke.

“Um, you, um, when you do homework? Um, like, those internet sites where you ask questions? Do you go on those?”

Is this what they call leading questions?

Ashley found it absurd and wanted to laugh, but he feigned innocence and said,

“No, I don’t go on any sites unless they’re professional ones.”

“Oh, really?”

Koi’s face brightened, then he asked again with an anxious expression.

“Then, um, like bulletin boards, where people post their worries. Do you go there too?”

“No.”

Ashley said without hesitation. It was the truth, so there was nothing to hide.

“I don’t go on those sites. Reading those posts isn’t fun either.”

“Oh, I see.”

Thank goodness. Koi clutched his chest, relieved. He was so glad he asked. Now I can completely relax. Phew, he finally exhaled the breath he had been holding. Suddenly, he heard a bird-like sound. It was Ashley’s whistle. Koi looked up at Ashley, who was walking and whistling, and asked,

“Did something good happen? You look happy.”

“Huh? No, not really. Same as always?”

Saying that, Ashley smiled brightly. Koi, bewildered, just let it go, “Oh, okay,” but a corner of his mind still felt puzzled. Why? Ashley always smiles, but today he seems exceptionally happy.

Did I see it wrong? Koi tilted his head, then suddenly grew curious. He was too scared to look at any of the comments until now. As a result, his worries remained, and he still had no one to consult. Except for his only friend, who was also the subject of his worries.

What would Ash say if I asked him?

Koi looked up at Ashley again. Even though he hadn’t spoken, Ashley looked down at him. Their eyes met, and Ashley smiled again. Koi was too startled to speak and quickly turned his head away.

I can’t, never.

Koi thought, his face bright red.

How could I ask something like that? And to him, of all people. Absolutely ridiculous.

He should just be grateful that Ashley hadn’t seen the post. Asking him himself was out of the question.

Please, let Ash never see that post.

As he prayed inwardly beside him, Ashley walked leisurely, thinking,

I want to devour him.