Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 70

“B-Bonding?”

Koi stammered, amidst the naturally ensuing cheers. Ariel looked at him with a frown, leaving the team members dispersing to get ready.

“Yes, is there a problem?”

“No, um… that is.”

Koi couldn’t bring himself to speak, fidgeting and averting his gaze. He really had no money today. His income had drastically decreased because he only worked part-time on weekends, and he often had to miss even that due to practice. It was so bad that he wondered if he would be fired soon, so every penny counted.

But Green Bell?

At least a cheap fast-food place would be better, but Green Bell was beyond his current budget. Should he say he couldn’t go?

He actually wanted to go with them. He had just started to talk to the kids and fit in with the atmosphere, and how nice would it be to talk with them now? He wanted to have a group like Ashley and his friends, but reality didn’t allow it. On top of that, he had to buy a cheerleading uniform. Right now, he truly had no money to spare.

As he was torn between wanting to go and the harsh reality, Ariel, who had untied her hair, let her abundant hair fall loose and said.

“You should go today, you know? It’s time for all of us to share our friendship.”

Just then, the vice-captain poked her head out from behind Ariel.

“You’ll regret it if you don’t go. We’re going to choose the new uniform design there.”

At that, Koi cautiously asked.

“Um, will I… still wear a skirt even if the uniform changes?”

“Oh, of course.”

The vice-captain, who answered with an exaggerated song like a Disney cartoon character, turned back to pack her belongings. As expected, it’s really not going to work out. Koi stifled his desire to go and thought of reality. He didn’t even have money for a cola. There would be another chance next time. He would look forward to that day.

“Um…”

“Are you trying to skip it because you don’t like the skirt?”

Ariel cut him off with a frown. Koi was startled and shook his head.

“N-No. It’s not because of that, um, I want to go, but…”

“Then go. To us, you’re not a guy. Of course, you’re not a girl either, so you’re something unidentifiable.”

Is that better than ‘jalapeño’? Koi thought for a moment, then hastily snapped back to reality.

“No, of course, I know you don’t think of me as a guy. Of course, you’re right, not a girl either. But, um…”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish his sentence, trailing off, when Ariel said.

“I sold your scrap metal.”

“Huh?”

He blinked at the sudden remark, and Ariel continued.

“Your old junk bike, my dad sold it.”

“Sold? That?”

Koi was flustered, only repeating her words. Ariel readily nodded.

“Yeah, isn’t it amazing that even that scrap metal can make money?”

“Uh… um, yeah, it is, but…”

What is she talking about all of a sudden?

He was surprised that the bicycle was sold and also curious why she brought it up so suddenly. Seeing Koi’s bewildered expression, Ariel said.

“It was such junk, we only got 12 dollars for it. Here, take it.”

“Huh?”

Suddenly, Ariel pulled out a bill from her wallet and held it out. Koi’s mind went completely blank at the unexpected situation. Ariel waved her hand again as if telling him to take it, but Koi didn’t readily reach out.

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“It’s the money from selling your junk.”

“No, that’s true, but.”

Koi still didn’t understand and asked.

“You gave me your bicycle.”

Hearing that, Ariel threw her head back and sighed towards the sky.

“Just take it. Why are you so talkative?”

“No, but it’s true…”

“Oh, seriously.”

Ariel, annoyed, shoved the money into Koi’s shirt. The bill, squeezed between his sweat-soaked shirt, stuck to his body, and before he could do anything about it, Ariel turned and walked away.

“Everyone come! We’re going to have an important meeting!”

Ariel shouted, then instantly disappeared towards her car. Koi managed to pull the sweat-soaked bill from his body, held it in his hand, and just watched the direction she had disappeared in.

Everyone had already arrived at Green Bell and was waiting for Koi. This was because Koi was the only one who rode a bicycle. The rest had left school earlier, either driving their own cars or carpooling. In fact, that was their own way of being considerate. It meant that Koi, as a temporary member, could just go home, but of course, the earnest Koi didn’t realize it at all.

“Koi, over here!”

The first team member to spot him, looking around at the entrance, shouted and waved his arm. They were already holding menus and choosing what to order. Koi walked towards them with awkward movements.

The cheerleading team is very popular at any school. Of course, the team members themselves are no exception. Even now, the teenagers at Green Bell were glancing and peeking at where they were sitting, and when Koi joined them, everyone made strange expressions. Koi, embarrassed, hastily crawled into the most secluded seat.

“We’ve all chosen. What do you want to eat?”

The vice-captain asked, handing him the menu book. Of course, there was only one thing Koi could choose.

“C-Cola. No ice.”

“And what else?”

“That’s all.”

Koi shook his head. In truth, even though Ariel had given him money, he still felt strapped for cash, considering he had to buy the cheerleading uniform.

But he couldn’t ignore Ariel’s kindness. Besides, he wanted to be part of such a gathering for once. Even if it was just tagging along with a group of girls.

“You don’t gain muscle if you don’t eat like that.”

Ariel chided Koi, but Koi could only give an awkward smile. Soon, the order was placed, and the girls began to chatter. It was all trivial stuff—boyfriends, cosmetics, favorite pop stars—but Koi loved just listening. He sat in the corner, his face flushed, listening to their conversation, when suddenly a bell rang.

Suddenly, the air in the room seemed to change. Koi unconsciously turned his head and paused. With a burst of noisy chatter, the Buffalo High School ice hockey team members streamed in.

“Oh?”

“Oh!”

They almost simultaneously spotted each other. The ice hockey team guys, whose eyes met the cheerleading team, widened their eyes and then swarmed towards their table.

“Wow, you guys are here too?”

“What are you doing? What’s going on here?”

“Idiot, of course, we came for dinner. Why else would we come to a restaurant? What about you guys?”

“These big gorillas are here to empty the place again, I guess.”

Even as they chided, all the cheerleading team members were smiling. Anyone could see they were close.

Didn’t Ash come…?

Ashley had said he would hear the results today about whether he could rejoin the team. Did he just hear the results and leave? Koi was diligently checking the faces in the group when someone, as if speaking his mind, asked.

“Why isn’t Ash here? Did he skip practice again today?”

“Ah, there was no parking, so he parked a bit far away. He’ll be here soon.”

To the reply, Koi inwardly thought, I see, feeling relieved, and at the same time, curious. What were the results? He must have gotten a good answer, which is why he came with them, right? His heart thumped inwardly when the ice hockey team suddenly suggested combining tables with them.

“Hey, should we move over there? It’s cramped here.”

No one objected to Bill’s suggestion. As the girls picked up their water glasses and stood up, the ice hockey guys went ahead and pulled out chairs for the girls to sit on.

When Ariel stood up like the other kids, Koi hastily approached her and spoke.

“Uh, excuse me, Al.”

Ariel turned her head, and Koi, feeling awkward, bravely thanked her.

“Um, I couldn’t say it earlier… Thank you. You gave me a bike, and now again…”

“It’s fine. And can we stop talking about that now? I just did it because I wanted to. It’s fine if you weren’t uncomfortable.”

“Uncomfortable? Why? That’s impossible.”

Koi asked in surprise, and Ariel glanced at him, then turned her head.

“It’s also true that I went too far. Well, if not, then it’s fine.”

Saying that, Ariel’s cheeks were somewhat flushed as she headed towards the table where her group was. Koi was surprised that she was unexpectedly shy. He was surprised to receive such excessive kindness, but he hadn’t expected Ariel to be so embarrassed. Koi’s heart seemed to be overflowing with gratitude and goodwill towards her.

“Al…”

Just as he was about to call her name again and follow her, the bell rang again, and the door opened. The person who entered was Ashley. He opened the door, looked around the room once, then spotted Koi first. He had a bright smile, then he paused. Ashley’s eyes went to Ariel, who was excessively close to Koi, then moved back to Koi.

What are you doing?

Just as he felt Ashley’s voice, he suddenly saw the cheerleading girls whispering something. And they divided into two, swarming towards Ashley and Ariel.

“Alright, hurry up and sit down.”

“What are you doing? Let’s start quickly.”

Chatting, they pulled the two of them and seated Ariel and Ashley side by side, then quickly filled the seats on either side with alternating members of the cheerleading team and the ice hockey team. Koi, who had been idly watching until then, ended up being assigned the seat furthest from Ashley.