Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 69

“So none of your friends know what you’ve presented, right?”

Koi changed the subject and asked.

“Right,” Ashley said.

“Only a few teachers, the coach, my father, and his secretary know that I’ve presented. …Well, there’s a bit of a dangerous person, though.”

“W-Who?”

Koi asked, full of tension. Ashley looked down at him and spoke with a serious expression.

“There’s someone who keeps sneaking into my house. That person knows my secret.”

“R-Really? Oh no, shouldn’t you install some security system?”

To Koi’s question, Ashley shook his head.

“No, there’s no need for that. They’re really small, not even half my size.”

“Still, you never know. Even if it’s you, what if someone attacks you while you’re sleeping? It’s dangerous.”

To that, Ashley seemed to think for a moment, saying “Hmm…,” then said.

“That’s true. When I was sick, they snuck into my house, and I almost got into trouble.”

“See! So, nothing happened, right? Huh?”

Looking down at Koi, who reacted quickly, Ashley continued with a serious face.

“It doesn’t seem like they were trying to kill me, but how do they get past the front gate security and come to my house every time? They’re really scary.”

“Get past the front gate security?”

Koi repeated his words, then suddenly realized something was off. Ashley nodded with a serious expression at his pause.

“Yes, they found some way to go around the mountain and came to my house.”

Only then did Koi understand the meaning and close his mouth. Looking down at his face, which was gradually starting to turn red, Ashley continued in a low, hushed voice, as if sharing a secret.

“And do you know what their mode of transportation is? Not a car, but a bicycle. And a worn-out one at that, practically scrap metal.”

Ashley deliberately grimaced at Koi’s face, which had turned as red as a tomato.

“How can I win against someone who rides that around the mountain? Isn’t it really scary?”

“I-I don’t know!”

Koi hastily turned around and ran towards the classroom. Of course, even so, Ashley easily caught up to him with a few perfunctory steps.

“But Koi, do you know what’s even scarier?”

Koi didn’t answer and ran desperately. Ashley jogged alongside him and said.

“Well, that person changed their bicycle!”

“Stop it!”

Finally unable to bear it, Koi threw a punch. Even if it was no better than a feather duster, he couldn’t even hit properly and it glanced off. But Ashley suddenly cried out “Ouch, ouch,” and sat down from the punch that had only brushed his arm. Koi, who had kept running, looked back a beat later and shouted in surprise.

“Ash, Ash?”

Oh no! Koi turned pale and rushed back to Ash. Ash remained crouched there, clutching his hit arm with his other hand, until Koi came close. Koi, not knowing what to do, asked.

“Ash, Ash, are you okay? I’m sorry, you must not be feeling well since you just presented… What should I do, I’m really sorry.”

Should he call 911? Just as he was frantically trying to pull out his phone, Ashley suddenly grabbed both his arms. Ashley’s smile came into Koi’s widened vision.

“Gotcha.”

“You tricked me!”

Koi belatedly struggled, but of course, it was no use. Ashley readily stood up and wrapped one arm around his shoulder, pulling him close.

“This time, you fell into my trap.”

“Y-You tricked me.”

“Yeah, sorry.”

Ashley said in a tone that showed no remorse at all. Koi tried to get angry at him, but what came up was a sense of relief.

Thank goodness he’s not hurt…

Phew, Ashley smiled, seeing him pat his chest. If they weren’t at school, he would have kissed him. Ashley suppressed his regret and instead walked, holding him close. As he walked beside him, and his breath, which had been up to his chin, somewhat calmed down, Koi suddenly recalled the conversation they had just had.

“Um, Ash.”

“Yes?”

Ashley responded immediately as always. Koi used all the knowledge he had stored in his memory and asked.

“Um, about what we were talking about earlier, so you’re okay normally, but you release pheromones at your house, right? So if I go to your house, I’ll be exposed to them?”

“Yes.”

Ashley readily answered this time too, but he was tense inside. Koi might say he would never come to his house again. It couldn’t be helped. This was all because he had presented so poorly.

Just as he was bracing himself, Koi unexpectedly nodded.

“I see. Okay.”

“…That’s it?”

Ashley, surprised by the simple reaction, unconsciously took his eyes off the front and looked at Koi.

“Huh? Oh…”

Koi scratched his head, bewildered.

“But won’t it be fine if I just wash thoroughly? It’s okay, I shower twice a day.”

He added, smiling brightly.

“I was with you the whole time you were presenting, and I didn’t present, did I?”

He deliberately didn’t mention that his father told him not to meet Ashley. After all, Koi had no intention of obeying those words.

Let’s be together.

A smile slowly spread across Ashley’s face as he recalled Koi’s words.

“…Okay.”

Ashley said.

“Let’s be together.”

“Yeah.”

Koi nodded. It didn’t matter what his father said. He would never break up with Ashley.

With that resolve, Koi smiled brightly at Ashley.

“I’ll be with you.”

At that moment, Ashley clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms, trying to restrain himself from pulling Koi into a hug and showering him with kisses. This is school, he repeated to himself like a mantra. I have to hold back for Koi’s sake.

They weren’t officially dating yet. He hoped that day would come soon, but no one knew when it would be. For him, every day, no, every hour, every minute, every second, felt too long.

“Koi.”

They reached the classroom where their class was held, and Ashley spoke. He felt Koi raise his head and look at him, but Ashley continued to look straight ahead as he spoke.

“I can’t wait long.”

Uh…

Koi didn’t react immediately and blinked. Ashley released the arm he had around him and entered the classroom first. He sat down, leaving Koi behind, who was hesitating in the hallway, then Koi entered the classroom and sat in the seat next to Ashley, watching his reactions. Ashley deliberately smiled at him.

So acknowledge it before then, Koi. Your feelings.

Another student entered, and the teacher began the class. Ashley watched Koi hastily straighten his posture. His expression, more tense than usual, clearly showed how much he was shaken by Ashley’s words. Looking at Koi’s face, Ashley thought.

I might not be able to bear it anymore and just kidnap you.

“One, two, three, finish!”

Everyone moved in unison to Ariel’s cue. At the same time, the music stopped, and a few seconds later, everyone gasped for breath and relaxed their poses. Koi also panted, bending his body to catch his breath.

Cheerleading practice was more strenuous than he expected. Moreover, the amount of exercise was much more than he anticipated, and thus the team members’ stamina was enormous.

Since joining the team, Koi felt a sense of atonement every day, every moment, towards all cheerleaders in the world, including the team members. He had never imagined that such strenuous effort, training, and tears were hidden behind their constant smiles and bright leaps. And above all, they were sincere about their roles.

“We’re leading Buffalo High School to victory!”

Everyone shouted in unison, repeating Ariel’s cry. Koi also shouted along, moved by their pride.

But the moment of emotion was never long. Koi always had extra training.

“You don’t have enough muscle.”

Ariel would constantly poke Koi’s body here and there, harshly criticizing him. And rightly so, all the cheerleaders boasted quite solid muscles from repeated physical training. Among them, Ariel was, as expected of the captain, the best.

“Ariel even won an amateur boxing match.”

One day, the vice-captain proudly said that about their captain, and while Koi was impressed, he shivered as Ashley’s swollen red face came to mind.

“Alright, everyone worked hard today.”

As they were roughly tidying up, Ariel clapped her hands to get their attention. As everyone looked at her, Ariel continued.

“We’ll be getting our uniforms fitted before the upcoming homecoming game. Prepare your uniforms in advance, and if anyone has any problems, please tell me or the vice-captain. This game is like the start of the season, so we really need to do it right.”

“Yeah!”

“Yes!”

To their spirited shouts, Ariel nodded, then suddenly smiled brightly.

“In that spirit, how about we all have some bonding time at Green Bell today?”