Lick Me Up If You Can Novel (Completed) - Chapter 77

“What are you two doing?”

Feeling the unusual atmosphere, Ariel’s voice sharpened. Ashley reluctantly straightened his body, which had been leaning towards Koi, and spoke with a reluctant tone.

“…It’s nothing.”

Koi felt a pang of regret at Ashley’s receding warmth and cautiously observed Ariel’s expression. He could read various emotions on her frowning face as she stood with her arms crossed, looking at Ashley, but it was hard to tell which one was real. What was certain was that she wasn’t in a good mood.

Just then, Ariel’s gaze turned to Koi, as if asking what he was doing there. Koi hesitated, then moved his reluctant feet and approached her. Ashley momentarily almost grabbed him but managed to suppress it, watching Koi shift his gaze from him to Ariel.

Ariel glanced at Koi as he came closer, then met Ashley’s eyes, crossing her arms and lifting her chin.

“What is it? Do you need something?”

“No…”

Ashley narrowed his eyes, looking at Koi’s back, then suddenly gave his characteristic refreshing smile and asked,

“He’s not your new boyfriend, is he?”

“What are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

Ariel immediately denied it, genuinely displeased. It was true, but did she have to react so strongly…? Koi thought to himself, observing them. Ariel continued,

“I told you, Koi is a valuable team member. Why? Do you need something?”

“No, it’s not that.”

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

“Ariel, is something wrong?”

Soon, other team members started coming out of the locker room one by one. Ashley saw the cheerleading members standing behind her and quickly waved his hand.

“It’s nothing. Well, I’m off to practice.”

He said goodbye casually and readily turned and left. One of the members watching Ashley’s retreating figure mumbled,

“Was he perhaps waiting for Ariel?”

At that, there was a stir of reactions from various places.

“Oh my, really!”

“That could be it. Maybe he wants to try again?”

“Was Ash anxiously waiting here for Ariel to come out? Ash is so cute!”

To the ensuing cheers, Ariel denied it, saying it couldn’t be, but no one listened. Koi also agreed with their opinion.

Ash said he would talk to Ariel after winning the game…

He thought, Maybe Ariel is waiting too. Suddenly, Ariel looked at Koi and then made a stern expression.

“What are you doing, Koi? Go in and change, then come out again. We’ll check if it fits well.”

“The clothes are hanging next to the mirror!”

Soon after, the vice-captain added a word and pushed Koi. The door closed behind Koi, who had inadvertently entered the girls’ locker room, and he could no longer hear their conversation.

Left alone, Koi turned his head, and as the vice-captain had said, the uniform was hanging next to a large mirror. Of course, it was a mini-skirt that came above the thighs.

“Ugh…”

A groan escaped him automatically. His face was distorted as he awkwardly put on a skirt for the first time in his life.

“Koi, Koi!”

He had finished changing but couldn’t bring himself to go outside, dithering, when the vice-captain knocked on the door from outside and shouted.

“What are you doing? Still not ready? I’ll count to 30, then open the door, or we’ll open it!”

“U-ugh!”

Koi screamed in surprise and gasped. He heard the girls counting from beyond the door. He couldn’t stall any longer. Finally, he gathered his courage, squeezed his eyes shut, and opened the door.

“…28, 29!”

The girls’ eyes focused on the door that burst open with just one second left. Koi, standing awkwardly with his fists clenched and eyes tightly shut, felt a chilling silence envelop him.

As expected, it’s the worst.

He couldn’t even bring himself to look in the mirror, so Koi, who had no idea what he looked like, could only conclude that. He bravely opened his eyes and spoke.

“Uhm, excuse me, I really shouldn’t…”

“Enough!”

Just as he managed to speak, Ariel suddenly cut him off.

“This is enough. Besides, you’re at the very end of the line. If you don’t make mistakes, you won’t be seen much, so it’s fine.”

Ariel, who had decided arbitrarily, turned around.

“Alright, everyone, let’s go home now. Tomorrow is finally the game, everyone get plenty of rest, okay?”

Behind the team members who cheered in response, Ariel opened the locker room door.

“Come on, hurry up and change and come out. I’ll give you exactly 5 minutes.”

“Quickly, quickly!”

“Huh? Oh, oh.”

Pushed into the locker room, Koi hastily changed his clothes. The tight shorts felt awkward, but there was no time to hesitate. Five minutes was too short. He quickly folded the cheering uniform, put it in his bag, and came out of the locker room, and suddenly, silence fell. The hallway was quiet. Everyone seemed to have left already. Everyone except one person, Ariel.

Ariel, who had been leaning against the wall looking at her phone, saw Koi rushing out and quickly straightened up.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh.”

Is there somewhere else to go? Koi was bewildered but quickly followed her out of the hallway. Outside, Ariel pointed to where her car was parked and said,

“Get your bike, quickly.”

“Huh?”

When he made another dazed sound, Ariel frowned.

“It’s late, so I’ll drive you. Hurry up.”

“Uh… why?”

Koi asked belatedly. He was about to say he could go alone, but Ariel spoke first.

“Did you forget? Tomorrow is the game. If you go late, your rest time will be reduced. Get in quickly, and don’t even look at your phone today, just go straight to sleep, okay?”

“Hurry!” she urged, and Koi hastily left. When he returned in a flurry, Ariel was already waiting with the engine on.

Remembering her dislike for dawdling, Koi moved as quickly as possible. He pushed his bike into the trunk that she opened as soon as she saw him, then swiftly ran to the passenger seat and buckled his seatbelt, moving at a speed he couldn’t have imagined.

He belatedly caught his breath and looked around cautiously, but Ariel said nothing, chewing gum, and started the car. Thank goodness. Koi breathed a sigh of relief and cautiously opened his mouth.

“Uhm, thank you, Ariel.”

“No need to thank me. It’s all for tomorrow’s game.”

Ariel spoke curtly as always, but her hands on the steering wheel were incredibly gentle. Thanks to her, Koi was able to go home comfortably.

“Don’t look at your phone, just go straight to sleep.”

Even after dropping Koi off, she urged him, then drove off without looking back. She, too, would have to go home and rest. Nevertheless, Koi felt deeply grateful for Ariel’s kindness in driving him home, yet a corner of his heart ached.

Because she’s like that, it’s only natural that she suits Ash better.

Koi stood there for a while, then turned and headed home. His steps were slower than usual.

“Ugh!”

Bill let out a gorilla-like roar and swung his hockey stick. The puck, hit accurately, soared through the air and beautifully struck the goalpost before flying off.

“Ugh, damn it!”

The others laughed and booed him as he clenched his fists, feeling wronged, and cursed. Ashley also chuckled, but his mind was filled with something else.

What was that just now?

The incident in the hallway kept replaying in his mind. Ariel’s attitude was clear. Koi was one of her “sister” group, so it was natural for her to protect him like a mother bird.

What bothered him was Koi’s attitude. The sight of him leaving Ashley behind and moving towards her was utterly displeasing.

Did I give him too much slack?

Ashley seriously reflected on his actions. He had given Koi free rein to enjoy his remaining freedom, but it definitely didn’t mean he should go over to girls. Koi was a beta, a normal guy. So it was only natural for him to be interested in girls his age.

I should have prevented him from joining the cheerleading team.

He chewed on his belated regrets and calmed himself down. Only one day left. Tomorrow, everything will be over.

“Hey, Ash!”

At another guy’s shout, Ashley snapped back to reality and chased the puck. The guys closely followed him as he sped across the ice. Sticks crisscrossed from all directions, aiming for the small puck. Ashley seized the opportunity, body-checked the guy in front, and shot the puck. Bill immediately received it, swung his stick accurately, and the puck went into the goal. Amidst sighs of disappointment and cheers, Bill raised his hand to Ashley and said,

“Tomorrow’s finally the day.”

Ashley gave him a high-five and spoke, looking at his smiling face.

“Yeah.”

Only one thing remained in his mind. All preparations were complete. The thought of Koi confined in Ashley’s room made the tension around his mouth relax automatically. He smiled faintly and added,

“Only one day left.”

At that moment, Koi arrived home. The house was quiet as always, and no one was there. Koi gently pressed the soil in the paper cup, gave it a little water, then quickly washed up and lay down in bed.

He thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but unexpectedly, he fell into a deep sleep without even dreaming. As he drifted off, Koi’s last thought was of Ariel with Ashley.

Now, only one day left.