Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 76

Even at school, Ashley no longer clung to Koi or made silly jokes like before. He still talked to Koi and ate with him, accompanied by his other friends, but Koi felt a distance that hadn’t been there before.

“H-hey,”

It was lunchtime, and as they ate together, Koi mustered up the courage to speak to Ashley, who was laughing and chatting with the others. Ashley looked at him, still smiling, as if asking what was wrong. Lunchtime was the only time during the day when he could talk and spend time with Ashley. They didn’t even meet on the way to and from school, and Ashley didn’t move around with Koi during classes like he used to.

Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Koi finally managed to voice the topic he had been racking his brain over all day.

“You know, our cheerleading uniform. We’re getting new ones for the whole team this time… I got my size measured yesterday.”

“Oh, really? It’ll suit you well.”

Ashley said that and then rejoined the conversation with the other guys. Koi watched his profile and slowly bit into his sandwich.

You didn’t even see it…

Ashley pretended to laugh and chat, but secretly glanced at Koi’s expression. He looked like a drenched puppy, listlessly nibbling his sandwich.

Koi is down because of me.

He felt truly awful about his own personality, but he couldn’t suppress the thrill. He had never imagined he had such a side to him. It annoyed him to think that he, too, had inherited his father’s blood, but he couldn’t help his heart pounding whenever he saw Koi like that.

Koi’s dejected appearance was so pathetic and lovely, but Ashley desperately ignored it. Many more days awaited him. He was eagerly anticipating pouring all the emotions he had held back onto Koi once the competition was over.

It’s okay, I’ll definitely make Koi happy.

From that day on, Koi’s ears never moved. He wanted to see Koi happy, smiling at him, and moving his ears like before. But this time, he really had to settle things.

Thinking that, Koi looked at Ashley, who was laughing along with Bill’s silly jokes, with a hurt expression.

Now, to Ash, I’m nothing…

Of course. Now that he would be dating Ariel again, his time with Koi would surely become a past he wanted to bury.

You knew this would happen, that’s why you refused. Don’t feel regret for nothing, you fool.

His nose tingled, and he sniffled. Just then, Bill suddenly spoke to Koi.

“Are you okay, Koi? Do you have a cold?”

“Huh? Uh…”

At the sudden question, Koi unconsciously looked up at Bill, who was sitting next to him. Bill’s genuine concern made Koi feel somewhat comforted. The guys on the ice hockey team were sometimes mockingly called “gorillas” because of their large physiques, but they were the kindest and gentlest gorillas. At Bill’s words, the other guys, who had been laughing and chatting loudly, also widened their eyes and looked at Koi in unison.

“Are you sick? Where?”

“Oh, now that you mention it, your face is red.”

“I have a fever reducer. Want some?”

“Are you running a fever?”

At the sudden outpouring of concern, Koi hastily shook his head.

“N-no. I’m really fine. It’s nothing.”

He couldn’t even look at Ashley and bowed his head.

“It’s just… I think I got a bit of rhinitis. I’m fine, thanks for worrying.”

“Oh… well, if that’s the case, that’s good.”

As they gradually withdrew their attention, one of the guys added,

“Let me know if you need it, I’ll give you the medicine.”

“Hey, wouldn’t it be better to just go to the nurse’s office?”

Another guy interjected. The remaining guys nodded in agreement.

“Yeah.”

“Right, there was a nurse’s office.”

“I’ve never been there in my life, so I don’t even know where it is.”

“I think it’s in Building A?”

“Isn’t it Building B?”

“It’s Building C, I know it.”

“It should be Building D, I saw it.”

“I’m telling you, it’s Building C.”

“It’s Building B.”

Their attention immediately shifted to where the nurse’s office was located. True to their “gorilla” nickname, they were kind but simple-minded, just like kids. And unfortunately, they were all wrong.

It’s Building F…

Koi considered telling them the correct answer, which never came up, but then stopped himself. They wouldn’t have to go there anyway.

Meanwhile, lunchtime ended, and everyone got up and headed to their respective classrooms. They never did settle on where the nurse’s office was.

After everyone dispersed, Koi walked a couple of steps behind Ashley. Before, Ashley would walk side-by-side, matching Koi’s pace, or even lean on him, but he no longer did such things. Koi even preferred it when Ashley rode on his back. Feeling a profound emptiness in his chest, Koi walked with his head down.

I have to get used to it.

Koi promised himself.

This kind of life will continue from now on. Let’s just think of everything that happened as a dream. It’s okay, I always lived like that before. I’m just going back to that time.

…It’s okay.

Before entering the classroom, Ashley glanced back. Koi was following with his head bowed low. Why is he being so stubborn? Ashley couldn’t understand. All he had to do was admit he liked him, but why couldn’t he do that? It was utterly baffling.

Well, it doesn’t matter.

Ashley readily sat in an empty seat and put down his bag. Only a few days remained. Ashley suppressed himself, coaxing his own feelings.

Soon, I can make Koi mine.

And finally, the day before the Homecoming game swiftly arrived.

“Buffalo!”

Everyone shouted in unison to Ariel’s cheer. After one more practice of the choreography, the rehearsal finally ended. Since it was the day before the game, the ice hockey team only did light physical training, and the cheerleading team used the empty ice rink instead. They had been constantly rushed, squeezing in time until now, but today, for once, they could comfortably focus on training.

Koi, exhausted after finishing the last move, turned around, and Ariel called him from behind.

“Koi.”

“Huh?”

He turned around without thinking, and she expertly skated to a stop in front of him.

“You stay a bit longer. To check if the costume fits.”

“Costume? Oh.”

Koi’s face turned pale as he realized belatedly. But Ariel brushed past him casually, even gesturing for him to come.

“Oh, if you give me the clothes, I’ll try them on at home.”

Koi, who had hastily left the rink, said, and Ariel, who was already walking down the hallway, frowned and waved her hand.

“What are you talking about? You have to check it now, and if there’s a problem, we need to fix it or exchange it right away. The game is just around the corner.”

“T-that’s true, but.”

Before Koi could say anything more, Ariel spoke first.

“Just wait 10 minutes. We’ll change first and come out, then you can change in our locker room. Call us when you’re done. We’ll come in and check.”

“Y-you want me to change in the girls’ locker room?”

Ariel said as if it were obvious to Koi, who had shouted in surprise.

“The boys’ locker room is far. It’s already getting late. Let’s change quickly, check it, and finish, okay? The alteration shop said they’d wait, but we can’t drag it out.”

Having said that, Ariel stood at the door and knocked. Then she turned to Koi and said,

“Wait here, don’t move.”

Ariel emphasized again, pointing at the floor with her finger, and went inside. Koi belatedly realized that he had followed her all the way to the girls’ locker room.

“Haa.”

He sighed deeply and leaned against the wall, resigned. Ariel was right. The game was already just around the corner. Today was the only day to check the costume. Phew, he sighed again.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps and turned his head, freezing. The man he had so desperately wanted to see was walking down the hallway from the other end.

Ashley Dominique Miller.

Koi held his breath and watched him approach. He hadn’t expected this situation. He had struggled so hard to exchange even one more word with him, and now, out of nowhere, an opportunity had presented itself.

What should I do?

Koi tried to calm his pounding heart and just watched the approaching ice hockey team captain.

With padding attached to various parts of his body before the final practice before the game, he walked with a somewhat swaggering, exaggerated gait befitting his large physique. Of course, Ashley never walked like that normally. On the contrary, he gave the impression of being agile despite his build, but dressed in his uniform for the game, his already large body seemed even more enormous.

Koi plastered himself against the wall, only his eyes darting around, waiting for him. Suddenly, he wondered. If I hold my breath like this, will Ash even know I’m here?

His presence was always less than a tiny speck of dust in a corner. Given Ashley’s recent behavior, it might even be natural.

And he thought that’s how it would be.

Ashley, who had been walking while looking at his phone, suddenly lifted his head. Soon, his eyes met Koi’s, who had been watching him until then. At that moment, Koi’s existence transformed from a faint speck of dust in the corner to a clumsy classmate standing glued to the wall.

“Oh.”

Ashley tilted his head and gave a faint smile. It was perfectly natural for him to smile when he made eye contact with someone. It had no special meaning. But Koi’s heart still pounded, and his face flushed red. Despite Koi’s utterly awkward reaction, Ashley approached him, still smiling without any change, and spoke.

“What are you doing here?”

“Uh…”

Koi barely managed to move his parched lips to answer.

“Just… waiting.”

He realized only then that he had said something grammatically incorrect. He blinked in confusion, and Ashley chuckled playfully.

“Who?”

“Uh…”

As he struggled to speak, Ashley suddenly leaned in. He whispered into Koi’s ear, who couldn’t even retreat.

“Is it… me?”

His heart literally plummeted. It had been so long since he had felt Ashley’s breath this close. Hadn’t Ashley treated Koi as if he didn’t exist these past few days? No, he treated him equally with others, but Koi felt that way. But suddenly, like this, when they were alone in the hallway, to do something like this…

Koi couldn’t even breathe and squeezed his eyes shut. His heart pounded painfully.

I like you.

Only one thought filled his mind.

I like you, Ash.

“I…”

Just as he spoke, as if possessed. Suddenly, the girls’ locker room door burst open, and Ariel appeared. At the same time, Ashley and Koi turned their gazes to her, and Ariel stopped, frowning.

“What are you two doing?”