L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 14

"Ashley."

Koi mumbled softly, and Ashley, his voice still hoarse, murmured back.

"...Koi. Hey."

He then cleared his throat with an awkward cough. Koi watched as Ashley turned and browsed through the snack shelves.

He couldn't believe what was happening. This was the first time he’d seen him since the start of summer break. His heart pounded in his chest.

Koi never took his eyes off him, not even for a second, as Ashley walked up to the counter with his selection. When Ashley finally set a few snacks down on the register, he spoke.

"It's Independence Day. Aren't you off today?"

"Huh? Oh. Yeah."

Koi hurriedly scanned the barcodes, answering quickly.

"My family doesn’t do the whole ‘getting together for a meal’ thing on days like this."

"...Hmm."

Ashley gave a vague response as Koi pulled out a plastic bag and started packing the snacks.

"What about you? Your parents didn’t visit?"

Ashley handed him his card in response.

"My family doesn’t do the whole ‘getting together for a meal’ thing on days like this."

Repeating Koi’s exact words back to him, Ashley made Koi burst into laughter. Ashley froze for a moment, watching him, before Koi smiled and spoke.

"Guess you and I have something in common."

Ashley looked down at him without a word.

It hadn’t been a joke. It was closer to mockery—whether it was self-mockery or aimed at Koi, even he wasn’t sure.

But Koi was grinning brightly, his eyes sparkling as if he was genuinely happy.

That expression felt strangely overwhelming. The moment Ashley grabbed his card back, he quickly picked up his bag and turned to leave.

"Ah, Ash, wait! Just wait a sec!"

He was about to get into his car when Koi ran out of the store, calling after him. When Ashley stopped, Koi hurried over and held something out.

"Here."

"...What is it?"

Rather than taking it, Ashley simply asked. Koi, clearly excited, explained.

"It's a holiday giveaway for Independence Day. You should have it."

"Go on," Koi urged, practically pushing it into his hands. With no other choice, Ashley took it.

He looked down at the odd-looking pink plush toy in his hands, saying nothing. Koi's voice rose with even more excitement.

"Isn't it cute?"

"..."

Ashley stared at Koi’s face for a long moment, then looked back down at the toy.

No matter how he looked at it, the thing was ridiculously ugly.

Its expression was outright mischievous. This was the kind of toy that no one would ever pay for—it was the kind that only got handed out for free.

But Ashley couldn’t bring himself to say it out loud.

Because the way Koi was looking up at him...

He looked so, so happy.

"Pfft."

Before he knew it, laughter escaped from his lips.

Koi blinked in confusion, tilting his head. His cheeks were still flushed, his eyes sparkling, his mouth stretched into a wide grin.

"Yeah. It’s cute."

Ashley surprised even himself by saying it.

Thankfully, he didn’t have to cover it up.

Koi’s smile stretched even wider, his eyes turning into crescents.

"Right? It’s adorable, isn’t it? Actually, it’s a limited edition, and they ran out. One of the customers didn’t want it, so I was gonna keep it for myself, but—"

"What? Then you don’t have to give it to me."

"No, no."

Koi waved both hands in protest, pushing the toy back toward Ashley.

"I want you to have it. Take it."

"Uh?"

Ashley couldn’t refuse when Koi kept insisting with that look on his face.

"...Alright. Thanks."

The moment he accepted it, Koi’s face lit up again.

That’s when Ashley saw it—Koi’s ears twitching ever so slightly.

...Ah.

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

For a split second, he almost reached out to touch them.

Half-raising his hand, he caught himself just in time and quickly lowered it.

Before Koi could notice, Ashley hastily spoke.

"Alright. I’m heading out."

"Yeah! Take care! Drive safe! Happy Independence Day!"

Koi waved enthusiastically. Even as Ashley got into his car and started the engine, Koi remained in place, waving until the very last moment.

Ashley’s Cayenne smoothly curved out of the parking lot.

Once he could no longer see Koi in the rearview mirror, Ashley glanced at the passenger seat.

The source of this c𝐨ntent is freeweɓnovēl.coɱ.

The ugly stuffed toy Koi had given him sat there.

"What the hell is wrong with my eyes?"

Ashley muttered to himself.

He thought it was ridiculous.

And yet, for some reason, he was smiling.

*

"Ashley!"

The moment she saw him, his girlfriend practically threw herself into his arms. Ashley caught her with practiced ease. It had been ten days since they last met.

Only after exchanging several kisses did Ariel finally speak.

"You have no idea how much I missed you. I couldn’t even sleep properly last night. My dad was just—"

Ashley let her complaints about her parents flow in one ear and out the other.

His hockey teammates often whined about their parents in the same way. He knew their grumbling came from a place of attachment.

Ashley, on the other hand, never had much to say about his parents. He didn’t hold any resentment toward them, nor did he have any particular affection.

His parents gave him everything he could possibly need, at least materially. Complaining about them would probably make him seem ungrateful. He didn’t resent them, but neither did he feel particularly close to them.

That’s why he always found it odd when his friends vented about their parents.

This time was no different. Even as Ariel ranted about how old-fashioned her father was, her words were full of affection.

"Oh, what’s this?"

Just as she was about to sit in the passenger seat, Ariel suddenly shouted.

Ashley, about to get into the driver’s seat, paused.

Ariel had already picked up the stuffed toy lying on the seat, turning it over in her hands as she inspected it.

"Where did you even get this? Oh my god, it’s so ugly."

She burst into laughter and tossed it carelessly aside.

Ashley’s eyes followed its trajectory.

The plush landed in the backseat, abandoned.

Ariel, oblivious to his reaction, fastened her seatbelt and asked,

"So, where are we going today? Your place is fine too."

"Yeah."

Ashley answered smoothly and started the car.

Ariel leaned out of the open window, her hair whipping in the wind, and let out a loud cheer.

Ashley joked and laughed with her, just like always.

Nothing was different.

"Whooo!"

Ariel squealed with excitement as she leaped out of the car and ran straight for the pool.

Ashley stepped out of the driver’s seat to follow her but suddenly stopped.

His gaze landed on the ugly plush toy, now lying haphazardly in the backseat.

He stared at it for a moment.

Then, he opened the car door, carefully propped the plush up in the seat, and even buckled its seatbelt.

Seeing the strange little thing sitting there comfortably made him feel oddly lighter.

Without thinking, he started whistling as he walked toward the pool.

*

"Whoo-hoo!"

Bill let out a yell as he plunged into the pool, sending water splashing in all directions.

Screams erupted as people were hit with the sudden wave.

Surfacing with a loud gasp, Bill shook his wet hair out wildly.

"Cut that out, you lunatic!"

"Ahh! I told you not to!"

Laughter and complaints echoed around the pool.

Bill’s girlfriend, lounging on a float, handed him her drink. Bill took it eagerly, gulping it down in one go.

"Ah, this is the life."

He let out a satisfied groan and tilted his head back.

Then, he spotted the host of the party lying on a beach chair and swam over to him.

"Ash, aren’t you coming in?"

"I’m good."

Ashley lifted a hand lazily, declining the offer without moving.

The mansion was bustling with noise.

Before the summer break ended, the hockey team and their girlfriends had all gathered here for one last party.

Ashley’s house was enormous, with no parents around to get in /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ the way. It had everything—a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a fully stocked fridge.

It was the perfect vacation spot.

"Man, summer break’s really over, huh?"

One of the guys plopped down onto the beach chair next to Ashley, letting out a deep sigh.

The conversation quickly shifted to college admissions.

Most of them had already taken their entrance exams before the break.

The rest planned to finish before their senior year.

Once their final year started, there would be no time to take tests.

"This is our last season."

Someone muttered.

Ashley hummed in agreement.

Bill raised his can of root beer and grinned.

"For Buffalo’s championship!"