L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 68

“Ash!”

“Ash, you—!”

As soon as Ashley showed up, chaos broke out all around him. Koi watched from a few steps away as the ice hockey team guys rushed toward Ashley in a swarm.

“What the hell? Sick again?”

“Seriously, can you even get sick this often? What’s all that muscle for?”

“Man, you were out for a few days but look totally fine? Don’t tell me you skipped just because you didn’t feel like coming.”

“No, dumbass.”

Ashley grinned and lightly tapped the last guy’s chin. The one who pretended to fly from the impact quickly bounced back to his spot, and the group erupted in noisy chatter. Koi stood there watching, an odd feeling welling up in his chest.

Is that what you call friendship?

He’d eaten with them and hung out a few times, but it had only been brief. Nothing compared to the bond they clearly shared—and nothing that ever would be. Their connection had been built long before Koi ever entered the picture.

Kind of... jealous.

Just as that bitter thought crossed his mind, Ashley turned back and held out his hand to Koi.

“Come here, Koi.”

Huh?

Instantly, all eyes turned to Koi. Flustered, Koi stood there awkwardly, looking around before meeting Ashley’s gaze again. Ashley smiled and beckoned with a gentle crook of his finger.

“Ah... okay.”

Koi nodded without thinking and quickly walked over to him. Ashley naturally slipped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him in, lowering his body slightly so his face rested against Koi’s head while facing the others. The full weight of Ashley made him stumble a little, but his arm wrapped firmly around Koi and helped steady him.

The dumb jokes continued. Koi still didn’t say a word, but he wasn’t an outsider anymore. When Bill cracked a joke, Koi found himself listening intently, his cheeks flushed with warmth.

*

“You didn’t turn me down because you like Bill, right?”

As soon as they were alone, Ashley asked, and Koi flailed in panic, shaking his head hard.

“What—No! Absolutely not!”

He shook so violently it wasn’t enough—he even waved his hands. Dizzy, he finally stopped and caught his breath. Ashley stood with his arms crossed, looking down at him with disapproval, then finally dropped his arms.

“Okay then.”

“Never. Definitely not.”

Koi emphasized it once more and looked away. The one I like is you.

...Not that I can say it out loud.

He wilted again, and Ashley rested his chin on top of Koi’s head, draping both arms over his shoulders.

“You’re—You’re heavy!”

“I like it this way.”

Koi struggled to peel Ashley’s arms off, but even holding one with both hands was tough. They were thick and surprisingly heavy. He gave up trying to lift them both and instead focused all his strength on one arm—only to tire out and slump in defeat.

“Ugh, ugh...”

Ashley lazily trudged forward, leaning his full weight on Koi from behind. A classmate who shared their course waved hello in passing, and Ashley lifted one hand while still draped over Koi. Meanwhile, Koi groaned as he trudged forward, dragging his feet. He’d carried plenty of heavy loads during his part-time jobs, but this... this was easily the heaviest. No wonder—Ashley was nearly 100 kilograms.

It was exhausting—truly—but somehow, Koi’s heart felt lighter.

Doesn’t it feel like we’ve gone back to how things used to be...?

Back before Ashley confessed. Back before Koi started seeing him as more than just a friend. Ashley was acting just as casually as before, and Koi had forgotten the awkwardness. It felt possible—like if they just kept pretending, everything would return to normal.

“A-Ash...”

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Koi spoke up, breath catching from the weight. Ashley answered from above his head.

“Yeah? What is it?”

Koi wheezed as he asked,

“What about... the hockey team? Are you... still playing?”

“Hmm... not sure.”

Ashley paused like he was thinking, then replied,

“I don’t know yet. The teachers know, and I talked to the coach. I think they need time to think. Even if I do play, technically it’s not against the rules...”

With every word, Ashley’s jaw bumped into the top of Koi’s head. Koi gritted his teeth and kept listening. Ashley continued in a bored tone.

“It’s only been a few days since I manifested, so I don’t know anything about my rut cycles or anything yet. It’s hard to make a decision right now. But I think I’ll know within a week.”

“I seeee...”

Koi gasped. So for now, it was still a secret from the others? Judging from the conversation earlier, everyone seemed to think Ashley had just been sick again. Maybe they’d only make it public after things were settled—or maybe they’d hide it until graduation. It wasn’t like you were required to reveal your secondary gender. It was a personal choice. Even if he played in matches, it wasn’t a major issue for the opposing team. The real decision lay with the coach.

Honestly, the team’s kind of screwed either way without Ash...

As that thought formed, something he’d forgotten suddenly came back to him. If Ashley had manifested, he should’ve been emitting pheromones. But no one seemed to notice.

What’s going on?

Koi couldn’t smell anything, so he had no way of knowing. But the others should’ve reacted, unless... he was using suppressants? Koi asked, and Ashley answered without hesitation.

“I can control it a bit. Not perfectly, but I have suppressants with me just in case.”

“I see...”

Still dragging his feet with Ashley on his back, Koi cautiously brought something up.

“Hey, Ash.”

“Yeah?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

Ashley responded right away. Koi glanced around to make sure no one was nearby before speaking.

“Yesterday... I didn’t realize it, but... apparently I smelled like pheromones. That was yours, right?”

“Well...”

Ashley paused, then admitted,

“Yeah.”

He didn’t want to say it, but he had to. With a reluctant sigh, Ashley finally detached himself from Koi and walked beside him instead. Koi, dazed by the sudden absence of weight, looked up at him. Ashley spoke honestly.

“I can’t help it while I’m at school, but once I’m home, I have to let the pheromones out. If they build up, it’s bad for my brain.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.”

Koi had tried reading up on hyper-Alphas online the night before, but there was still so much he didn’t know.

“So, you really are a hyper-Alpha, huh? My dad said your dad’s secretary told him that. She said it was a miracle I didn’t end up manifesting as an Omega too, just from being around you.”

“...Yeah. I am.”

Ashley answered after a brief pause, unlike before. Koi looked up at him—and then suddenly noticed something.

“Your eyes...”

“Hm?”

Koi stared closely and asked,

“Your eye color—it looks different. Is that because you manifested as a hyper-Alpha?”

Ashley’s eyes, which had once been a clear silvery-blue, were now a deep navy hue. Koi remembered reading somewhere that hyper-Alphas' eyes turn violet. He asked, and Ashley replied easily.

“Well, yeah. Kind of. I’m wearing ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) color lenses right now.”

“Oh...”

So that’s why they looked like that. Koi accepted the explanation, but his brows furrowed a bit.

“Didn’t your friends think it was weird?”

Seeing the concern on his face, Ashley chuckled.

“No one cares about eye color.”

He added, lightly,

“Do you even remember what my eye color was before I manifested?”

He didn’t expect Koi to answer. But Koi shot back immediately.

“Of course I do. That silver-blue was beautiful!”

“...Oh.”

This time, it was Ashley who got flustered. He looked at Koi’s face and, seeing his sincere expression, glanced away awkwardly.

“Most people don’t care about things like eye color.”

He said it offhandedly, but Koi disagreed. There’s no way that was true. How could anyone forget Ashley’s beautiful eyes?

Ashley really didn’t seem to realize just how much people admired him.

Koi looked up at him seriously, thinking maybe he should tell him someday.

“What?”

Ashley looked down at him, smiling.

“Am I too handsome or something?”

“...Yeah.”

Hearing that, Koi realized just how wrong he’d been. Ashley Miller knew exactly how handsome he was.