L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 40

But the joy of passing didn’t last long.

〈Your body is extremely stiff, and none of your movements flow. It’s very serious.〉

Regardless of the result, Ariel, who had watched all of the first test movements, pointed it out sharply.

〈Still, there were no incorrect movements, so I decided to consider the potential. I hope you improve for the second test.〉

Anyway, I passed! That means my potential went up!

Since extracurricular activity scores were essential for college applications, Koi couldn’t contain his excitement and jumped up.

He wanted to tell Ashley the good news as soon as possible. Today was a day off from practice, and Ashley had said he’d wait until Koi’s test was over.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

He was the one who had worked hard with him for the past few days, guiding his uncoordinated body—surely, he’d be happy with him.

But when Koi rushed outside and looked around for Ashley, he was flustered not to see the person he was looking for anywhere.

Huh?

He stood awkwardly in place, puzzled—then saw Ashley walking toward him from a distance. Koi’s face brightened, ready to call out to him, but he froze.

Ashley wasn’t alone. Someone was walking next to him.

The girl who had stood in front of him during the first test just a while ago...

Ariel.

The moment Koi saw the face of the girl walking with him, he turned to stone.

*

“Anyway, I’m the one who dumped you.”

Ariel spoke bluntly.

“Yeah.”

Ashley, walking beside her, smiled. That relaxed attitude annoyed Ariel, and she glared at him.

“I used to like that calm attitude of yours, but now I can’t stand it.”

Ashley let out a short laugh.

“You’re seeing me clearly now. I’m not the amazing person you guys think I am.”

“You guys?”

Ariel asked, puzzled. But Ashley didn’t answer this time. Walking forward without a word, he suddenly let out a small exclamation. Ariel instinctively looked up—and immediately frowned.

Ashley’s face had changed completely from how it had looked before.

He had always worn a gentle smile. His tone was soft, and he was always kind to girls. Ariel had liked that about him, but it had also bothered her. Sometimes, she had wondered if he really liked her. Now she understood.

Ashley Miller had liked Ariel, but he had felt the same way about everyone else too.

Because this was the first time she had ever seen him smile like that.

Ariel was stunned—and curious. Who on earth was Ashley looking at with that kind of smile?

And when she followed the direction of his gaze, she couldn’t believe her own eyes.

The applicant who had been flapping like a dried-up leaf in front of him just moments ago was standing there.

*

What... what is happening right now?

Koi blinked as he stared at the two of them walking side by side. From nearby, he vaguely heard the cheerleading team girls whispering to each other as they looked at the pair.

“Ash was waiting for Ariel, right? Huh?”

“Yeah, they left together as soon as they saw each other.”

“Do you think they’re getting back together?”

“I hope so. It’d be such a waste if they didn’t.”

“Right? They looked so good together.”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“A reunion of the Buffalo King and Queen... maybe at the homecoming party?”

Squeals and excited shrieks followed immediately. Koi simply stood there and watched them silently.

Yeah, they really do look good together.

Even to Koi, they looked like a perfect match. It was the kind of pairing you’d probably never see again.

There had been a lot of talk when they broke up, too. Plenty of people had been disappointed. Someone like Ariel was the only one who could stand next to the too-perfect Ashley Miller. So if the two of them were getting back together, it felt more like a given than a surprise. Honestly, hadn’t he also assumed they’d eventually get married?

Come to think of it, Ashley hadn’t dated anyone since he broke up with Ariel.

That was strange too. A guy like Ashley Miller not dating anyone? That didn’t make sense.

He must’ve been waiting for Ariel to come back.

That thought made everything click. For whatever reason, Ariel had dumped him, and Ashley, devastated, had waited for her—and now that wait was being rewarded. The two were getting back together.

So that’s what it was.

Koi nodded to himself. It all made sense. It was something to be happy about.

Then why... why do I feel like this?

He couldn’t understand it. Why did his chest ache so much? Why did his heart feel so unsettled? Like there was a hole somewhere inside him—so hollow, so lonely.

Maybe... maybe he’d thought Ashley was his friend alone. Maybe deep down, he’d harbored a selfish desire to keep him all to himself.

Yeah. That had to be it. There was no other explanation. What he was feeling right now was rejection. If the two got back together, Ashley would definitely become more distant. Then Koi would start to drift further away from him...

No—maybe they wouldn’t even meet anymore.

That seemed even more likely. It hurt so much, but Koi had to accept it. He should be thankful for how close they’d been so far. All that time they’d spent together had been the exception.

And yet—

He found himself instinctively stepping back.

But not now. I don’t want to see this right now. Not this.

“Ah.”

Just then, Ashley spotted him. As always, he smiled and raised his hand—but the moment he did, Koi turned and bolted.

“Koi! Hey!”

Ashley was stunned as he watched Koi suddenly take off running. But it didn’t take long for him to realize what was going on. He let out an exasperated sigh, then gritted his teeth and waved at Ariel.

“Sorry, Ariel. I’ll see you later. Bye.”

With that rushed goodbye, he immediately took off after Koi.

“Hey! Connor Niles! You stop right there!”

Ariel scowled in disbelief as she watched Ashley suddenly sprint away.

“What the hell are they doing?”

*

Haa... haa...

Koi ran like he was about to die. He’d never run like this in his life. But he had no choice. If he could just get away from here, he’d run to the ends of the earth. Faster. Farther. Now—!

“Hey! Koi! Connor Niles!”

He was running with his mind completely blank when suddenly a voice called out from behind him. Koi thought he was hearing things. But it wasn’t an illusion. The voice came again, sharper this time.

“Koi! Are you really not gonna stop?!”

The yell was so loud it nearly burst his eardrums. Even as he sprinted with everything he had, he couldn’t help but glance back—and his eyes widened in shock.

Ashley was chasing him at an unbelievable speed. Faster than anything Koi had managed so far. He had run a fair distance, but Ashley had already caught up this much? Koi gasped and choked down a breath.

“Stop right there!”

“Uwaaah!”

He pumped his legs desperately, but Ashley’s speed was terrifying. He was closing the distance at lightning pace, and in that moment, Koi suddenly remembered something he’d briefly forgotten:

Ashley Miller was the captain of the high school’s championship-winning ice hockey team.

“Shit...!”

Ashley clenched his teeth and reached out. Koi, glancing back again and again, went pale. A large hand suddenly filled his vision, and Ashley grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back roughly.

“Ah!”

Koi’s body lifted off the ground. For a moment, he felt weightless—and then he {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} found himself pulled straight into Ashley’s arms.

“Got you.”

Ashley’s breath poured out over Koi’s head in ragged bursts. Koi, still wide-eyed, clung to the last bit of breath in his lungs.

“You really thought you could run away from me?”

Ashley spoke through heavy panting.

“No matter how hard you run, you’re going to end up caught by me.”

His voice seeped into the fog of Koi’s dazed mind.

“Because I’m never going to let you go.”

Koi still couldn’t say a word. All he could do was lean against Ashley, gasping for air, unable to move.