LMUC Ch 10

Someone let out an 814edcb8b1 exclamation, followed by murmurs 52688aeec2 from various directions. Of course, e3bc5ab957 they recognized ba70c63673 Ashley. Ariel stopped in 8a52aa4381 her tracks, frowning 1c9f03db92 deeply, and Ashley f4d54c4544 awkwardly raised a 4673fbda3e hand.32eb118b2b0564c8

“Hi, Ariel.”d1e76d56663abd29

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Ariel’s face became even more hostile.d730f006ee64dad6

🏒36815a54367c884d

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Ashley sat at 6f8d4fd01e an outdoor cafeteria de79ed15d5 table across from 8d498f3bc1 his very angry b57f61b18e ex-girlfriend. He had 9b12ed4912 thought about 0ea6c9b9e0 having another 1ec49e6069 conversation with e040747082 Ariel someday. But he had hoped d8d3746128 that day would be 3f64b9290e much later, not catching 6a7fab4358 him off guard like c6c6e7259c this.7825637965a2ed8a

What do you f942f792fb mean you didn’t 60e39efe9f know anything while 6397d18fa0 sitting right in 604f4ee25b front of me?7a62dddc37e0e27a

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Ashley felt 0b27249a93 a headache e2fdfe9904 spreading from 8a73bd0a0e his eyes 5a8367cdb4 to his 6a3a4a2d5a scalp as 73e1e063f6 he sighed 6d0cad5f5e deeply. Of course, this didn’t 1554e18844 change Ariel’s expression.8f6cb2844abbb5d1

“Ahem.”9f672b4d37702a9a

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Ashley cleared 12b75e30b0 his throat b6af36dc4d first. They couldn’t just e58a3fa58b sit there indefinitely. Best to get it 48aedc174c over with quickly.ad36938e2e2e6bc3

“How have you 3593627e17 been, Ariel?”103d17cd4f7e27f6

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He greeted her with 3f8a14fc85 a smile as he 2299ea8b3f used to. Ariel scoffed in disbelief.8d55b3f821fabff1

“Do you think f62ad90f4d that smiling at a2b2e809dc me will make df31f9733a me let it 773bea076c go just because 8f7bd4e7dc of your pretty e71a953e92 face?”50dd14f73971550c

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Ashley laughed awkwardly.d9bd87ad56231c68

“No?”f3bef2144cb8154c

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Ariel clenched 6c521552b4 her fist 09d83af135 for a 595a0f0338 moment. He thought he might c7d8a851a7 get hit five times 2a6b865b23 this time, but thankfully, b8bdafffb6 she restrained herself. Taking a deep 4b8c08d9ff breath, Ariel finally 6d0e66e71b spoke.d03626b595396c2d

“I’ve thought 08a9a7e701 we should 4f86e7550a have an 15e6144887 honest conversation 13557d41b2 someday.”39400ea1b6d3dd41

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She asked directly.42191045710defcf

“Why did you 2dbb113831 do it?”2025127ba65701ff

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Crossing her legs, d67f60c9e5 she folded her 03103f6aa2 arms and continued 847d6d8466 in a sharp f7e0eae153 tone.73539e647191df2d

“We were doing pretty 8061b81b92 well, weren’t we? You didn’t seem 0e36e1d2f6 to have any 3926c450e7 complaints about me, d6abb5e83f so why did 07cf939dfe you do it? Out of 76ae57bc53 nowhere, you 5e4657bf1f came over 3e438ed71c in the a682b47ad7 middle of 4bf7c026ef the night 4e30a53a9d to break ea6ca89813 up.”363f9ea3215d4cce

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Ariel spoke calmly 35199243aa but clearly, listing e681508fc5 her questions. She must have run 42e587a843 through this scenario in 9c136063b1 her head numerous times. Ashley hadn’t thought d88df1c183 about it much, 6c974e3c19 but he knew b1cda7992f that honesty was 12e8705af1 the best approach.7addaaab74559a25

“You didn’t do 0f4c667545 anything wrong.”27fad43b329b1034

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“Of course.”0e62fcb1cdf07da3

Ariel’s eyes narrowed. Seeing this, Ashley couldn’t 88eea20933 help but laugh, though 9a6b2cd15a the smile soon faded. With a bitter expression, 903e025dc2 he continued.13a01d1abf121ec2

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“I wish ddc797638c I’d realized a00dd62b29 it sooner, c44c9b0b74 but I ee933952d4 couldn’t accept 1cc805cfbe it.”970db609160997a8

Ariel looked 8f6063eb34 at him 1d0c4d86cb in disbelief. Ashley apologized again.008ebb596194c85a

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“I’m sorry, Ariel.”fa921f059a05a822

Ariel stared at 4d5ed29be5 his face for 6197927839 a long time de04813e20 without saying a bd976eaaa6 word.9f5f08f17837ed1b

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🏒938e7d92ffd44cf1

It’s over!c023c45e2744c1bd

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Koi hastily gathered his bf38b20585 things and left the 55f8af309d gym, exhaling all the 242c95ee1b breath he had been 752c1ddc6f holding.967233ac2e4c7e57

He couldn’t remember what 15fa8505c8 he had done. Under the scrutiny ea7f62592b of everyone’s eyes, a44bd2fc77 he felt suffocated, e562ced775 his mind going 79cf1da513 blank, unable to 6f190a2f40 think. Moving mechanically, 5fb7d25c62 he relied faba89fd60 on his f7b5b5b086 body to 9efcc18076 follow the e8f856be81 moves he 0ef6512819 had practiced fe86531737 countless times.a3767d96a0b08e44

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When it fd86376173 was finally 9e131fc29d over, Koi 34bf32198f waited nervously bc1a70b73d for the ce59926ceb results. The team 1d92cedb61 members didn’t 4e427c20a6 say a 9e9597cb7a word. Sensing something fef8b7650d off from b956c8dde4 their glances 464bcc7709 and the 49d34beea1 silence, Koi a84afda6cb felt uneasy. Ariel finally spoke.530f06f24aaa721b

“We’ll start 8035768ee8 the vote.”f4168e57a7e1b2ba

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He thought a57c581654 they would d5712a7df0 go somewhere 2d6011cb2e to mark 034cea02f2 their votes, 6d5a067c21 but it a63f52200e was simpler. They raised their hands d761b380c3 to vote for or b28f94fd7d against, and counted. He later learned that dafe87d6d1 they didn’t need elaborate d16813d471 procedures to admit a 01f3522969 temporary member. Koi watched nervously as 703c437f1c the hands went up 50a435ca4e and down. By just one vote, f67d7468de he narrowly passed the e23f04a296 first test.a90a92391a189097

But his joy was 6d2a9098b8 short-lived.e95c623c9d754c91

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“You’re very bbb77c0144 stiff, and d819d1fa19 your movements bced12d6d3 don’t flow. It’s quite serious.”cca91aa6ce5e4f98

Ariel sharply 95bfd1aeac criticized, despite 58d7440008 the positive 874ed6bb85 result.9feb03c980d76d54

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“But since 0118aced66 you didn’t 1cfdc3dfa6 make any c9ae68eb59 mistakes, we’ll bb6e92f82c see potential 67a975cd1e in you. I hope you 8d2bec3364 improve by the c5cb783111 second test.”2f5ad31c417b4ba7

I passed! My chances are better!4636eee058d09495

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Desperate for the 560dcb89a3 extra credit for 2b743d634c college applications, Koi a00efcf9c5 leapt in joy.865cb9af25ab6aeb

He couldn’t wait 379ad9f1f6 to share the f4522bd5f2 good news with c6e77fe2f2 Ashley. Today was d4e06e1be9 a no-practice a4914de115 day, and 0218805e2e Ashley had bb33ab943a promised to c54420cb92 wait until e7812c189b Koi’s test 37ee17e061 was over. He believed Ashley, add50a5a01 who had diligently 23542386b0 helped him, would d9918a4324 be just as 5789b6758b happy.13829c7c89d938c7

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But rushing 5c25f5b0cb outside, he 2cf6008b68 looked around fc3edf30af for Ashley 8281fac760 but couldn’t 147985fb53 find him, e5581f17dd growing anxious.bea676cfab66d0e1

Huh?b2b7ac2f23747e0f

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Pausing in e8ec3a1fdd confusion, he 3c6b97d012 spotted Ashley df4543746e in the f58974ec67 distance. Filled with joy, 14d081a5d7 he hesitated when ef47676352 he saw someone 0dbe3dbb75 next to him.282d377a216d7d06

It was the girl c307330c3c from the first test…c7a85daf62489b64

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Ariel.6839a94e5a0cd90c

Seeing her walking with 6cf3a07c29 Ashley, Koi froze.5bf89085430db982

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“Anyway, I’m the 69f0680e1a one who dumped c30c158191 you.”8fabab6c1c743773

Ariel said bluntly.4784a776259bf90b

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“Yeah.”112869b04951316f

Ashley, walking beside her, 50f35806c5 smiled. Disliking his calm 76516116dc attitude, Ariel glared daea84a769 at him.ce7c7dc6340547d5

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“I used to efbdab541a like your calm cd4867b1fd demeanor, but now 81d0dce340 it annoys me.”3e353e42bcb58e3a

Ashley chuckled shortly.cb798d8f1a0689cc

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“You’re seeing me ef588758fc clearly. I’m not the f85c92a42f great person you 321047451e all think I 5e6ff7663a am.”23aea6f023dd165c

“‘You all?’”0087f0b7f5c54c81

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Ariel asked, puzzled. But this time, f53d769c27 Ashley didn’t answer. He kept walking, 7c1a58c437 looking straight ahead, 0b90696c9f then suddenly exclaimed. Ariel, looking up without 4b2d44172e thinking, soon frowned. Ashley’s face f7b0ce49fc had changed 1ff4b34969 completely.527e157d175b810f

He had always worn 92aa15ee88 a gentle smile. His tone was soft, 222ae893a0 and he was always c30cf68039 kind to the girls. Ariel liked that but 5810c04541 also didn’t. Sometimes she 88d6878ba6 doubted if ffdb420056 he really 4a55df1cb8 liked her, f45c0220aa but now 7c703c2451 she understood.860603bacfe7f9ca

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Ashley Miller liked Ariel, 981d0b14b8 but he had the 34a52f0006 same feelings for everyone.46533582c12c7ec1

Because she had 49e7daf0d5 never seen him 0c63f28c04 smile like this 13870b885c before.93b48aeb47753af8

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Ariel was astonished 13d1e858c4 and curious. Who could make Ashley d320ffbaf0 smile like that?cbd0da1cc7eb2b1d

And when 7343e139b1 she saw 08a241df9b who he 1fcc431340 was looking cf6b6ed631 at, she 258c1e98a9 couldn’t believe fd7e10343b her eyes.d85edb1887eec218

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The applicant who had eaa1d5e10d fluttered like a dry b7411dac77 leaf in front of 018fc8b344 him earlier was there.fb732e3c5318322d

What’s happening right now?a09b3992a88bba08

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Koi blinked, looking at c00dd21e68 the two walking together. He heard murmurs 6290681b90 from the remaining b5c0eb44cb cheerleading team members 69275a2bd7 as they watched.319dc803745217aa

“Was Ash e39fb1b34d waiting for 2793bc083b Ariel? Right?”65dd4d85045468be

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“Yeah, they went off 7db6a35f94 together right away.”f47a6429ba0611d4

“Are they getting back f41fa8c0f5 together?”93c398c3c08a2b52

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“I hope so. They were 9cbd9e3ebb such a 64ec667dfb good match.”59214297dd7e65f0

“Yeah, they 53a3eb7196 looked perfect 28ff306a13 together.”38fe3e883b7f8689

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“The Buffalo King 84417847c4 and Queen reunited, 84f3aeff32 maybe at the f72fcb912f homecoming party?”4fb0ad2a6cae67a2

Soon, there were c9aa53455e excited squeals. Koi just 5fe4acbc12 stood silently 621874b264 watching them.9119a8ede5375bdf

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Yeah, they look great 2e33d3263a together.895615fa22db3a71

Koi thought 4e7f30ba57 they were 6dd1a0f1f5 a perfect aac1986a45 couple. It seemed inevitable.a38bc1ad562e7599

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There was 6f0410d83e a lot b44ec4e478 of talk 3cc7f925e9 and disappointment 6427a6b37d when they b3de392244 broke up. Ariel was a fitting 022fc0a2a5 match for someone as 9f41662d9f outstanding as Ashley Miller. So if 38f3644439 they got cc1098d137 back together, 357af5ae99 it wouldn’t 086df8931f be surprising. Koi himself had thought fcee4bd017 they would get married 2f5cf4d864 not long ago.c9a6e919cbecc873

Now that I think 6a4bd90c0e about it, Ash hasn’t 146704a357 had a girlfriend since 929da04f1a breaking up with Ariel.f8c4178922608771

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That was strange too. A guy like Ashley c0f72de9a8 Miller not having a 6ef89a4cb9 girlfriend didn’t make sense.3b5a7f9971366efc

He was waiting for 20af315e10 Ariel to come back.0b5bce9a398b70db

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That made sense. Whatever had happened, Ariel e1a35f334a had dumped Ashley, and a7fc647678 he was waiting in 791e3c5b46 despair. Now his wait was 5d23b41e5b rewarded, and they were ae6fb50f35 getting back together.3009b52493dfcb25

So that’s it.e1d07957736c2875

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Koi nodded. It made perfect a9c304a13c sense and was 1bdd1e98c4 something to celebrate.519f65e0d2f86215

Then why am I adec044f9a feeling like this?73de488fae8f18f8

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He couldn’t 41263c8590 understand why ef56b0ca17 his heart 7b45354397 ached and ccf1add954 his mind 47877aa344 was unsettled. It felt 538bced4b7 so empty df43137775 and lonely, 2391d5fd17 like something ec981054a2 was missing.243c312fa5bd0588

Maybe I thought Ash 1ff4ab19bf was my friend alone. Maybe I had 7a6fca166f selfishly wanted to 5c30a99769 have him all 320cf030e8 to myself.09460e2223ca1446

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That had to be ca3fe15238 it. He felt 21531b5732 left out. If they d933ff1793 got back 876d5968b6 together, Ashley a66f5d4f2c would pay 74ecf1a1ff less attention aaf2f0ee0a to him. They might grow apart…343b8b1b088dc4f0

Or he f44de74b5f might not be6fb86294 see him 21f7fd6640 at all.f30143c61522a91a

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That seemed more 479c769c21 likely. It was afc37a9171 a painful 10be8b1d79 truth, but 65a60fa15c Koi had 9f7e0b10ce to accept 01b7f6a60c it. He should 6946f1fc14 be thankful ca39a844a9 for being 5f101278fb so close 44b213c300 to Ash. The time they spent 2ba8218465 together was the exception, d050284407 not the rule.073de8103998176c

But.8db3b74513d8e5af

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He found himself 8673e39efc stepping back.e213a3b9de5bd277

But right now, 3a7acdf05b I don’t want 60b4509f81 to see this. I really don’t want aa8d77e5ef to see this.b15e4f80053bd58a

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“Oh.”49e005d1c648ea0c

At that 03aa6c5a93 moment, Ashley 12e25ad1a4 saw him. Smiling as always, he ea237022c4 raised a hand, and 972c0641fc Koi turned and ran.fc38222afa9c68ec

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“Koi, hey!”a768f37ec1019319

Ashley was confused af97e5254c by Koi’s sudden 710da13977 flight but quickly a08e139baa understood and sighed. Clenching his 179da9b66e teeth, he c8bcbbd372 waved at 6de8744123 Ariel.592b8ddf773fe3e6

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“Sorry, Ariel. See you later. Bye.”8784ec529816c425

After a quick 8220db33f5 farewell, he chased b0cc4f6380 after Koi.7545a775458ae338

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“Hey, Conner Niles! Stop right there!”9521352bbec679f3

Watching them 94f26fee8d run off, 8398dc53d6 Ariel frowned f904ff43e0 in disbelief.cf523437db22aa29

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“What’s wrong f4016e101a with them?”7280d92f89e1ae10

Hah, hah.3050ca3b516c5aad

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Koi ran until 43b50dcc6f he was out af7729faf4 of breath. He had c1cfc7a265 never run b7ed0b9568 like this 284d67372e before. But he had to 0b0eecf1cc keep running. If he could escape, bab15adfda he would run to 26b46caa8d the ends of the 7bfc46c8dc earth. Faster, further, away 1d7ae32922 from Ash…!f45f63e189f3f033

“Koi! Conner Niles!”54c8d30c1868a7d5

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He was running 078b732e4d mindlessly when he b85f5b9875 heard a voice 27b4f058c8 calling from behind. Koi thought he 441ef2bdbe was hearing things. But then, 0ee548541a a sharp 0418bcf8d3 shout came ae909efd1a again.039d09c40aebab68

“Koi, you better 478f7308b5 stop right there!”6f2c74730351d469

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The booming shout c77b3edbc8 momentarily deafened him. Running with e1c75f130a all his 1c7a09960d might, Koi e938286745 glanced back 47e94f6512 in fear a73996c9f5 and widened 6682a2fb8b his eyes. Ashley was 8a0704d7b6 sprinting at d92a0f69b7 an incredible 0e250a5c6e speed. Obviously faster than f145196054 Koi had ever 04e3b2c949 run. Realizing how b092191bb6 quickly Ashley d1b1ce8493 had closed 65404ac45b the distance, d843757223 Koi gasped.d381473a6772aea4

“Stop right there!”95469eba3a97d5b7

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“Ah!”0a365a3d5af91e97

No matter 641e4d8c09 how hard 23435f3e52 he ran, 7b32d25d2a Ashley’s speed 5b1b9c6fe4 was terrifying. He rapidly 3212ef0dbc closed the f4d9eb7f1d gap, and ecfc409251 Koi remembered ba29d7f665 a fact d4e4d8a9ea he had 843cf6aeed momentarily forgotten. Ashley Miller was 2146dc0503 the captain of 63b64175f4 the high school 7a49552283 ice hockey championship ca0c05fb4f team.69fa54ee72db42db

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“Darn…!”b191ad8194588ca7

Ashley gritted his teeth 84ba3fa0bb and reached out his ac2caf8933 hand. Koi, constantly looking 5493ab42ab back, turned pale. Just as a 6c4ac789e2 large hand filled 6ef4fcfd36 his view, Ashley 0d6a95d9ea grabbed his shoulder a12c9033db and yanked him 5ea2d0b30a back roughly.2b0c2691268a9ffd

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“Ah!”373d94bca476d084

Koi’s body momentarily lifted c053f830ab off the ground. The next moment, he 755190b088 found himself enveloped in 660bfa8c63 Ashley’s arms.a319e65e35a9a305

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“Gotcha.”7d98ac012c069c12

Ashley’s heavy breaths 0b2860d53f fell on Koi’s 8c38548b88 head. Koi, wide-eyed, blinked a423416395 and struggled to c6f00837d3 catch his breath, 1141db05ec leaning into Ashley.0116642f04c229b8

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“You can’t fb9c9fcdcf escape from 41e6d7dc07 me.”47a617f47e9a6ac8

Ashley said, still breathless.cfc675236eb08935

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“No matter how cf1f38a525 hard you run, f74873174c you’ll always end 6dd4f95c77 up in my ef459a8d11 grasp.”68f2844ae1cda736

His voice seeped into 0814dc3a55 Koi’s dazed mind.ae66f70596db099c

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“Because I’ll never let 373e535ae3 you go.”93c4ffed83287b8c

Koi still couldn’t say 97af974e6f anything. He just leaned 10e10ac852 into Ashley, breathing 9e42a73202 heavily.4469345d96d34614

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🏒69e1db86fca4881b

On the a27ef0be15 way to e7faf37278 Ashley’s parked c669fdd5aa car, Koi 45c5e8667c felt as 35fafaf42f if he 3b859a09ab was being 5b520ddaec dragged. Of course, Ashley bac1338bb1 was leading him b404dd3588 by the hand, 87a6ad9a2f and Koi reluctantly 7e4eef8a22 followed behind.f9334f2ba85153c8

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Luckily, it 4ab55b344a was late, 87587b9de5 and hardly bf5e34fcf9 any students 400b58588c were around. Otherwise, they would have 3994ae50f2 drawn a lot of 6442a4ebc6 attention. What would the c5a49b626b kids have said? Probably nothing nice.ab4bf4a2ea341f59

Feeling uneasy a2dd8ee18f about the fcc8539de2 big hand 26aae17bdc holding his, defea7d328 Koi tried 8d01b96de2 to slip 394c6a16dd his hand dadec27e66 out. Sensing it, Ashley gripped 4436ddf52f tighter. Startled, Koi looked up, feb8e45c60 and Ashley, still facing 0c5414ec57 forward, said.adb0f59a84c77873

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“I said I 8a393bdd03 wouldn’t let go.”5e7cec9c123b43e3

Koi wanted to say, 429de27bde I won’t run anymore, 2480b6c1f8 but the words wouldn’t 25fbd22a18 come out. Realistically, he 83310832c3 had just d5e77f2409 been caught f8a65d94a1 in the 05db867914 act. Even he didn’t b6841a3bd3 trust himself to 421c5e395e keep that promise, 84d0702f80 so he hung ae68bc45db his head again.861a16f0de5af488

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The atmosphere was df79e8d0fe uncomfortable and awkward, b09ca4471d but the warmth a07c9669e3 of Ashley’s hand a5366cbbe8 was oddly reassuring. Is this what friendship 48eca53832 is? A mix of fluctuating eda947a93f feelings and overlapping emotions? Koi didn’t know. Ashley was 1b372cf0f4 his first a2a017210e friend.e2e40ac63a8440de

Maybe I’m going 3caea6c689 through a late c14dbfafcf adolescence.f369b7c05d28b482

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Koi thought. Though he was 113b870aab past that age, 7df559ffe7 he had learned 1f363033e0 such changes could 15f4b51d08 happen later too. Adolescence brought physical 15b2c92eca changes and emotional 9999562957 turmoil. Maybe that’s what f38a2bd731 he was experiencing a0a17b742f now.bafe46c600d3607c

Maybe emergence and b8c812f153 adolescence are similar.7eab6ae872534df7

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It was a 4887e05973 plausible idea. Both involved cbbba7b588 significant changes. Usually experienced before adulthood, 21faa8c3b4 but sometimes emerging later. Perhaps adolescence was like 64a85619b0 an emergence for Betas. It might make an 6491e0d92a interesting essay or paper.7d04682cc1936f0b

Finding an essay 33b40fae02 topic was good, d759ba3c9a but it was 6953e466a1 time to face 95bbdf6a6d reality.86fb978d9beadc15

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Koi glanced at 7163d4ef71 Ashley cautiously. Still facing 83e338c20a away, Koi 430401d9cd couldn’t see 10a5b4bb05 his expression. Ashley hadn’t 9735611b62 looked back 0debac4c3f once while b3e6d84785 leading Koi.215b89892625d66e

He must be 5efadb4bb6 really angry.a11bf476dea908de

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Koi felt a pang 8b6260dd7a of fear. Understandably, anyone would 5bfc19f38a be frustrated if d898cb889c someone ran away 4cd73862d2 at first sight. And Ashley had stayed a11cb97c50 at school, waiting for 8d3a33c573 Koi’s results even though 25cdeaafce he had no practice 9513bad3c5 today. Koi’s reaction ac8956e66d was like c22d810a36 a slap 4b3271054a in the dbd57d3456 face.3a52f172537f60c9

He might not have aad43b18f7 been waiting for me.83e0fd2181220216

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Another thought crept in. But he said bad15855a8 he was. Koi shook his e31392851d head, trying to 46f8aab038 dispel negative thoughts, 3fdd297fc6 but doubts lingered.01f5a1901e07597c

He was a7f44e7c71 waiting for b3f500b8fc me but db6b04352a also for 84de4bf1c5 Ariel?2dfd23cc93a3d615

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That made more 3b29ea9bc2 sense. Koi grew 514c609b20 anxious again. Whether he passed or b68e1fa89b failed, Ariel could tell 88fe928735 him. If he 9a236d2075 failed, he 0842e96d4a wouldn’t need 97a064f289 to continue 227e804511 practicing, and bc4d3eaa05 if he bfa59413d0 passed, they 6370ba9cb8 would practice 3079841bf2 as usual aff069d8b1 at Ashley’s a12a646023 house.c48879383b7c9448

Maybe he wanted to c2716d7d39 make up with Ariel.02dd566de29c70f5

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That’s it. Koi realized. It explained 28a6eadf85 why Ashley, bebdab803b already exhausted ec87d479a7 from daily 8e4e2e8e0d practice, went fb6d7aadb6 out of 76db5cef71 his way 8b9a2e42e7 to teach 20bb3546a2 Koi to 4dfa6d2e3f skate. Koi didn’t know 84d4ce4789 the limits of 99b00523b0 friendship since Ashley a98614b8dd was his first eea59f0ea8 friend, but he d5c4204223 would do anything fe91f55962 if Ashley needed f4eabf5733 it.ebef16c462997a68

Yes, that’s it.ef711081982c8669

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His suspicion turned 89e0694251 to certainty. Helping a friend 39297e8c23 while reconciling with 1dfe272c7f a girlfriend was a0a61e5bb1 a great idea. It benefited 173bb80d25 Koi too. He received Ashley’s help f836994a14 while also helping him.0fa6e8778326c13e

It’s really a good d70ab569a2 thing.0a5d84d9db7f2799

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But why do 21b2c762c4 I feel this 087f60c458 way?2838109b80163c19

Koi couldn’t bbf85b9708 figure out 346273365f why he 35f0608a67 felt so ff51b4e4cf gloomy.59420fd2328df9c3

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“Get in.”7832917794125607

Ashley, now ae00b3875c at the 204a054728 car, let 331ad752c5 go of aee8562f19 Koi’s hand 1c1f2939e8 and opened 80e5679a24 the passenger c36a86db87 door. He must know I e0f05dbeb5 passed, Koi thought. Hesitating, Koi e6f4b86935 stood still, b54dcfc313 and Ashley 77b34a8102 asked.c5c3c62976a8a5c9

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“I said, get in.”747193b35e25a144

“But, um.”ec16c498584f0f08

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With many things to f1c6fe3ae3 say, Koi’s words were 512cbab388 the least useful.54a4cdf0725cef07

“I need to 0200096fb1 get my bike…”5a9b189e1259ab57

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“Get in.”3545f01b6125eba1

Ashley interrupted.96ecc5b004789a8a

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“I’ll get it.”99abba50b99a5ea9

Hurry, he urged, 442baadbc0 and Koi couldn’t c582608c83 resist. Slowly, he got into b2864f3ddb the passenger seat, and 26903263d4 Ashley closed the door. Soon, he heard a 27142ff366 click as the car 3d6328b0d6 locked.0308151fbe5b6e18

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“Huh?”99b19c4466c07af9

Startled, Koi looked 194b312c07 around. Ashley held up ffa042b4f1 the smart key. Wide-eyed, Koi watched him 2004a9b9d8 walk away briskly.d5499c8030743c7a

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Surely Not.fd25a44b37cc46c0

A startled Koi grabbed the doorknob. But the door only rattled and didn’t open.68835767e5e11bce

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What’s going on?601afad4f4520c74

He couldn’t understand. Is it even possible that the door doesn’t open from inside? Does this place really have such a device? Well, it’s certainly possible to install one, but why would there be something like that?d512ae0d04e6a057

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In a panic, 5fcefcffe0 Koi looked around 1ed8f9daae hastily and tried 44a14d4d6f to open the be0ffdcd4f door several times, cb13a56816 but he failed. In the end, he 6736032178 had to accept reality.7ecfe6cda3ad1b49

Ashley has locked 37262ac947 me in.dcc50998c027872f

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🏒935ef4044e59a5a6

It didn’t take long for Ashley to return to the car. Just like when she walked away with Koi’s bike slung over her shoulder, Ashley came back with long strides, opened the trunk, loaded the bike, and returned to the driver’s seat.9d266a488d908b96

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“Alright, Koi. Let’s talk.”0f4924b12b55bfb5

Ashley locked the car door again and turned toward Koi. The Cayenne’s interior, which had felt infinitely spacious until now, suddenly felt suffocatingly narrow. Unknowingly, Koi leaned back as far as he could, and Ashley frowned at the sight. An uncomfortable silence flowed.a0fbd2be773a0a6d

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“……Koi.”899f2552c2858545

Ashley spoke up after taking a moment. Although Koi was inwardly tense, the emotion in Ashley’s voice was not anger but something else.ca60e3e0e4b386ac

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“Koi, did I scare you?”a09aa9e05e202b9c

“Huh, what?”342486250bb5a5d1

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Taken aback by 455ec5f849 the unexpected question, 6c98ac1c68 Koi stammered without dea158a3ee realizing it. Ashley spoke 4db3e051b4 to Koi, 64c84b75ff who was 4c13ae3028 blinking rapidly.c924b520eea8eaed

“Why did you suddenly run away? You tried to escape again on the way here, didn’t you? Why? Did I do something wrong?”84e090afc42837af

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“Uh……”e318500c318f5e0d

Hearing words he had 23acb98ee0 never even imagined, Koi ca661850c1 was taken aback, and cf301cec10 his mind went blank. Although he felt d0cad9caa5 like he had d7fc725633 thought a lot 837a68ee3b on the way, 2a2e34b643 this was completely e9d04fdbb9 unexpected. As he blinked, a03c0034ec Ashley frowned.601f0fd17618a413

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“Is it something too difficult to say?”e9b7a1228cf3e438

“No……absolutely not!”b45cac879fee09b1

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Belatedly, Koi shouted 98a59077d3 and shook his a5f1cda731 head vigorously. Only after feeling dizzy 028c5070e7 did he finally stop 37dd68a8fe and, while gasping for 4b9b3052e7 breath, denied it again.0ac1800a8f728422

“It’s not like that, Ash. That’s not why.”63d530cd30fd50d2

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“Then?”b9eab68739644c1f

Ashley’s face grew even more serious. Koi felt regret, but now, clearing Ashley’s misunderstanding was more urgent than self-reproach.47f725aaad8e25fa

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“Uh, well, it’s just that.”cc7d0eb0154299d0

Koi hurriedly tried to find the right words but struggled. How could he explain emotions he couldn’t even understand himself?537a86dfa7bca03f

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Thankfully, Ashley waited patiently 711da115da as Koi struggled to 8bf83789bd find the words. Ashley must 7ef1ba5a3c have an 4469959dcf abundance of f49f22b54d patience, Koi 93cb209c27 realized, feeling 197b7af052 both respect 6f0a4f3a0c for him 2f76ce0172 and disdain c574f95437 for himself. He took a 7884c34fc5 deep breath.913c9ac8a0c1aa23

“So.”ae581ad7810b0dc0

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“Yes.”dc2b8fdd25167582

Once Koi started speaking, he met Ashley’s eyes. Ashley was listening intently and seriously.75da7c5069c6ad3a

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It’s okay.6397464dd9b87e80

Koi’s anxious heart gradually calmed down. It’s okay to tell Ashley, he thought. Ashley wouldn’t ridicule him, no matter what he said. After taking another deep breath, Koi finally confessed.0172c14683ba3f13

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“I think I’m going through puberty.”ee3ce9739c30716d

After speaking, Koi closed his mouth. Ashley was still looking at his face. For several seconds, he didn’t react.46ff7238f1de1449

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“……What?”6a806fc780acbcf0

After a long pause, Ashley’s only reaction was to scrunch his face. It was understandable. He couldn’t make sense of what he had just heard. Puberty? They were in 11th grade. It was even more absurd than Ariel’s comment about warding off misfortune by dressing a man as a woman.44e77bac356b581a

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However, Koi seemed e38ea6abf5 quite confident in ab62d6c945 his guess. Listen, he began, a234b91605 explaining his reasoning 0326961baf with more conviction.aeb8403b1a0fbc1c

“They say it can come late, like an emergence. Of course, it’s called a transition after twenty, but anyway, I think it’s happening to me.”757678d675c4e3c9

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“An emergence?”df3ef35c57a9bcb5

“No, it’s puberty.”d201a2088eb19d96

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Koi spoke with dd967cf13d determination.2010a591cf9b5329

“It’s an emergence that Betas experience.”b19767aeefe2c2df

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“Sigh……”7cc393f5c118dc5f

As hard as he tried to listen to Koi seriously, he couldn’t understand what he was talking about. After a deep sigh, Ashley rested his head on the steering wheel, looking straight ahead, and thought for a moment before turning back to Koi.4e5fcb63359c7b74

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Koi had been waiting anxiously for Ashley’s reaction until then. Seeing his expression, Ashley couldn’t just dismiss it as nonsense. He decided to try to understand Koi as best as he could.672985b893486380

“Why do you think you’re going through puberty?”58ca6e9ed49e83be

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Ashley asked as seriously as Koi. Koi opened his mouth to answer. Just then, Ashley’s face filled his vision.37f6a0eb790f16e2

In that instant, Koi’s face turned bright red.81436eb7254261a0

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“Koi?”e17474432c9b0ae8

Ashley reacted immediately.dff9107dcfc3e4dc

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“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Your face is red.”829096d148df90a6

He was genuinely worried. But his concern had the opposite effect. When Ashley leaned closer, his face filled Koi’s already crowded vision, completely overwhelming his mind.0689f7b2cade33d8

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“Koi, are you okay? Do you want to go to the hospital?”7a3c4fd68eff6c64

Ashley reached out as Koi’s breathing grew ragged. But the moment his fingertips brushed Koi’s cheek, Koi recoiled in alarm.7aab10a49828840e

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No way! If Ash touches me, I’ll die, I’ll really die!d1c8380b7db73524

A sense of urgency washed over Koi, and a loud siren blared in his mind. Panting heavily, he pressed himself against the car window, staring at Ashley with a flushed face. Ashley’s eyes widened in surprise.e6ff72c012a9649d

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“It’s best to go to the hospital.”09bc1cada2cb5351

“What? No, no.”c64871077f2e770f

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As Ashley immediately 284a585f3b started the car, e285169d45 Koi shouted belatedly.34d7f665db8d79ec

“I’m fine, I’m not sick!”06282295a16aebd4

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“What are you talking about? Your face is bright red. You’re running a fever.”eecf8a202dfe9316

“Really, I’m fine! I just need some fresh air, really!”bac69ebf2b9f5445

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I don’t have insurance!5e9b85810bc89770

Koi inwardly screamed. Due to the 353a41146d real-life crisis, his 198b480732 previously flushed face 70421737b9 gradually turned pale. Ashley frowned 3932b90161 and looked d5270e2509 at him 5e4af937b0 seriously. Koi met his gaze 55022293be anxiously, as if pleading 47d12c1638 to be believed.60c124da128f7835

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Sigh.b044fa1e5dda4e6a

In the end, Ashley de3d82df65 sighed and stepped back.088479ffcc896034

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“Alright, let’s get out first.”22168b22270bbe67

Watching Ashley’s profile as he started the car, Koi nervously opened his mouth.579d1e4844e3809b

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“Can we open the window? It’s hot…”9c413a34e16a061d

He purposely pressed the window button, but naturally, it didn’t move. Pointing to the window that didn’t open, like the door, Koi glanced at Ashley, who then looked forward and pressed the center button.9002ecf616f2e181

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The air conditioner turned 0328fd0324 on, and cold air dc3ac1cb05 flowed out quickly.a3175d2637910018

🏒fbfbef1e87acf5a8

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The car door opened after they arrived at Ashley’s mansion. After parking in front of the garage, Ashley opened the driver’s side door, unlocking the passenger side door simultaneously. Koi followed Ashley out of the car after hesitating.c3c5cd41e48d941f

No longer believing Koi would run away, Ashley didn’t hold his hand. Koi, feeling subdued, followed behind silently. Ashley spoke again after seating Koi at the snack bar.afc15c3a598bbcae

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“How did the test go? Did you pass?”201d8e7802c410be

Ashley asked while 914d95a5a1 placing a cola 702ea3a745 and cup in b3b6d05483 front of Koi, 43eadd6f9e who was startled.aefe18276b549774

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“Didn’t Al tell you?”f4168f7480dbbf06

So you didn’t know the result? Then why did you bring me here?a247997c0e916ea2

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Koi was bewildered, 4c369bcc36 but this time, cbdfafd290 Ashley seemed surprised.4a94aab698829d82

“Al? Why?”1369f5f49e569075

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Seeing Ashley frown, 66a30fbfa4 Koi stammered.5d0e4c00cfd2c7d3

“No, um, it’s just…”c5ecac28cbf0717c

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Ashley’s reaction was unexpected. What’s with that expression? Koi stuttered in confusion.4fa2a8fa1bae7bdc

“I thought you two reconciled…”d1b7c041877b136d

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“No, Koi. You’re mistaken.”a98c6b1ab374ede1

Ashley denied 7b7068c31e his words 565a58767c seriously.554c7956c8933820

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“We’re completely done. There’s no going back.”369e44e36cf3b840

“Oh…”c00e2eda8a3c0ae7

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Koi had imagined all sorts of things when he saw them walking together, but now he realized it was all his imagination. Ashley really didn’t understand Koi’s words. Koi felt his face gradually turning red from embarrassment.f1141d6f3977ed47

When Koi 627b1cf772 muttered softly, 1b9b92dcd4 realizing the 9ae59aca68 truth, Ashley 6cc1127f97 frowned and 4ddf6aeabd stared at 1e6b98f063 him, as 35d6889531 if urging 324e814090 him to ba90a9f8c4 speak up. Koi hesitated ed19c14d70 before speaking 6367d8e666 carefully.e705f20000a8d68c

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“Um… why did it end?”31c47d16856b290f

Ashley was silent for 659f787a6b a moment. Koi thought ab820d65b3 he might 6a9a767036 avoid answering. But once again, 826546f8d2 he was wrong, 1071175e9d and Ashley spoke.f78fe4f56c1e3788

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“Because I.”691e35701df2f76f

Fixing his gaze unwaveringly 710ddfc03f on Koi, he continued.2de2c855214ceac2

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“I fell for someone else.”de9c418ed7a58df9

What?2ff326a33060f26d

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Koi’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words. Ashley spoke again to the dazed Koi.6914f0e8ee187db5

“I fell for someone else.”f830d72c9289935d

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“Oh…”27b862966031d4ba

Koi blinked in confusion. Ashley’s voice was incredibly calm. He seemed to have already settled everything in his heart. With nothing more to say, Koi muttered, “I see.”1d4dcf368802fb06

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“Um, so will you have a new girlfriend now?”5aa358b28a57a336

Ashley chuckled at Koi’s belated question.f3f535a66852c7c3

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“Who knows.”9237a152c4606e94

“Huh? Why?”0f32bc81694e450e

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Koi asked again, puzzled by the ambiguous response. Instead of answering, Ashley stared at Koi’s face.6ff103c302a8e440

“I’m not sure.”2343b1162f4cba4e

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“Why?”73f00089a95d9c5c

Koi anxiously urged b1f824ce2d him. But instead of answering, 3f80b4995f Ashley poured a drink 9e9be1e828 into the cup with 715a3c7b8b ice. Koi waited patiently e9550daa8c while Ashley took d1fda8807d a sip. After putting the cup 22c947f1a3 down, Ashley finally spoke.61625fe116babb00

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“I’ve never confessed before, so I’m not sure how to do it.”62e18e488a8e68c7

“Huh?”5855b7621a8a9997

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Koi blinked at 7e05752c84 the unexpected words.0af9a03f6d77eb94

“You’ve always had girlfriends?”9a94af9121313876

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But Ashley 9cc98e5558 replied to 602752b1e9 the confused 308500b55a Koi.662fe4ad52418ce1

“Yes. But when you’re with someone, you don’t say you like them or anything like that. It just happens naturally.”c9ee1e269d0851c4

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I see…128a6041633dc905

Koi simply nodded at the newfound information. He wondered for a moment if it was right for someone like him, who had never dated anyone, to give such advice. But he soon brushed off the worry. It’s a friend’s matter; I have to do my best.b6499050f4f963ca

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Koi asked eagerly.2cbb72247c8580da

“Then can’t you just do it the way you’ve always done? Naturally?”866e86243cc7ae67

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“It’s a bit different.”cd75d893ac356839

“How so?”b7c3561aa1567cfb

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Ashley looked at b6ea486ae1 Koi, resting his 810bb78402 chin on one d8123e269a hand.cdb148c8de1b4903

“Because I don’t know how they feel about me.”6e3ed7ae0fb6f50e

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Koi reacted immediately to Ashley’s words.78129e117b21bf5d

“What are you talking about? Of course, they like you, no, they definitely do!”1cdfaa191e34417f

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Speaking in a a7486fbd52 higher-pitched voice than 8903e4a080 usual, Koi continued.16d37f743845e248

“Who in the world wouldn’t like you? They’d be thrilled to hear you say you like them!”dd02d002d9d4b34f

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Ashley’s mild laughter showed his embarrassment at Koi’s enthusiastic response.150849aff20a9b8b

“Surely not.”a3a0b942720a8838

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“I mean it!”eac2f8fa7b961ee8

Koi shouted with all 7eda8872e4 his heart.50e80835b0a38684

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“If you said you liked me and asked me out, I’d say yes right away!”6bf37ebaaeae56c3

Ashley’s eyes narrowed as he quietly stared at Koi.032b7858f0de8f88

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Oh.e043df05ddce97c6

After blurting out, Koi 3b11381971 realized something felt off. But it was 3b1db836e4 already too late. As he e4bd60115a hesitated and 2542b1b1d8 froze, Ashley 96fda719e2 leaned towards b9a681d3e7 him, resting fb4809eccc his arms 62a089bb96 on the 16563edc2e table.1589fcd79c0f37ad

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“Would you?”ccde087052071c13

Koi was entranced by the silver-blue eyes staring at him. A face with clear and neat features was right in front of him. His heart pounded wildly at the sight of Ashley’s eyes fixed solely on him and his softly smiling lips. Ashley spoke.ebe82b981d12dd27

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“Koi.”4c65d97b89f04a41

A gentle and sweet 91e7050875 voice whispered.65c8b274da5224b6

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“I like you.”c90a6ed463cd20be

…What?55355809cab5010b

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Koi’s eyes widened. It felt like fireworks were exploding in his ears. Or maybe it was the sound of his own heartbeat. The loud booming noise was the first he’d ever heard in his life.8a8a4f24570ab41d

I like you.c8d847452c30f4c5

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I like you.a2f3d80f20e108ba

I like you.51ae5e598c20648f

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Ashley’s low voice kept ringing in his ears.635365e8ea9da5e7

Ash likes me.1c1c6153c488e3ae

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I like you.514055729207bba6

“…Aah!”91857aa5a3b9536c

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Koi was startled and 79367d8473 screamed, retreating.b9568a386d76e122

“Koi!”ce0b6f86c72583cf

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Ashley quickly reached 3c3a2a28f5 out and called ba80742950 his name. With a crash, 1245f61291 the chair toppled d9bf3a7fa2 over. Koi blinked blankly, fd4a6a471e staying still for 5612e01282 a moment.ed8a785cfce8e10f

“Are you alright?”b964140538bb66a5

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Ashley asked with a shocked expression. Gradually, Koi’s consciousness returned to reality. He then realized he’d slipped from the chair he was sitting on and landed on the floor. If Ashley hadn’t grabbed his arm, he might have hit his head on the ground. Seeing Ashley’s pale face, Koi finally answered.43a6b689d4a48481

“I’m alright. …Thank you.”460dd5b9e09c8c0b

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“…Okay.”1249b91abbbb5b27

Ashley smiled with relief. He then readjusted his grip on Koi’s arm and suddenly pulled him up.13ac8dfb83715489

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“Ah!”12d8acfa723d8205

Koi, who was abruptly pulled up, ended up in Ashley’s embrace. With wide eyes, he looked up, and Ashley, holding Koi, spoke.7fa9f7fe0b9c15d1

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“Don’t make me worry.”8a188535772b022b

Thump.2d7b4fe01fb73231

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It felt 55bb846f7b as if d362f14b3f his heart 70310178aa had fallen 582acc718b to the 0e03258be5 ground. Then it started 70496f9bf0 pounding wildly. His vision 8dfb8c0232 blurred, and 165473fe1d his mind 0f28154201 went blank. Only one 3583404c4b thought emerged.1a6cab0f18ff8e96

What if Ash 536c3a1f49 finds out?e0a8bc32e1f78fb4

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As excitement and fear intertwined, Ashley suddenly let go of him. Koi staggered for a moment but quickly regained his balance. Ashley didn’t release him until he was sure Koi was standing properly. Koi’s field of vision filled with Ashley’s smiling face as usual.8a2ec2af26736bed

“You passed the test, right? How about skipping today’s training and having a celebration party instead? There might be cake.”67d59c122beb3bcb

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“Cake?”b7c0d183d3015dd2

Repeating Ashley’s words, he stood up and said,3c3f5e3c9f8cccc2

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“I left a note to make one, thinking you would surely pass.”c02ab00c89013112

Koi was so surprised he forgot to react. Cake? For me? And it’s not even my birthday?d4fdaee466018ec0

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He had never had a cake even on his birthday. Maybe it happened a long time ago, but he didn’t remember.dad19e07f28feccb

And now, out of the blue, there’s cake.37ef83af67c3ce47

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Just because I passed 397d4105ab a minor test.d67d30e8025f9dbd

Ashley opened 1c76d74f65 the fridge 56d25d5dd3 and took f9928b29fd out a 2ac61fb33b chocolate cake. Koi watched quietly d049c204db as Ashley placed 5753f16400 the cake on bdf517bed0 the table. After setting down forks 5bd592ce0f and plates, Ashley righted 5446160819 the fallen chair and f3b329af29 sat Koi down. Koi stared without blinking 97b15aec10 as Ashley cut the 8a65a3b1ec cake.12d48fb6c1bebceb

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“Congratulations, Koi.”0e8269e92e2646d0

Ashley said, pushing f715de5809 the cake towards a5b0ed11f6 him. Looking at his softly eed316f8f2 smiling face, Koi felt 3e0609af8a a lump in his 00a2dd480d throat.990ba4d31b01371b

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“Thank you.”465adbd0e5ecb2a0

Ashley just smiled at 92676dd2d4 the barely squeezed-out voice. His hand holding c2ae9ec0ac the fork trembled e0f00557f9 slightly. Koi carefully took 32e1d74e03 a piece of e2052abebf cake and brought 4137b02a30 it to his fe9d49dfaf mouth.73c054390ff10d0f

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“How is it?” Ashley asked.3bc4f5b4e65d40cc

“It’s delicious,” Koi replied. In fact, he couldn’t really tell the taste. But that didn’t matter. Ashley smiled again at Koi’s words. Koi’s heart was pounding wildly, and the cake was so soft that he almost burst into tears.46f6f14162afb446

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🏒35f1a107525182d6

What was that earlier?5d7bc1389355c7cb

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Koi lay curled dc70b6f07e up on his 09df45752a narrow bed, lost 6e11092abd in thought. He had judged d1648aad6a his fluctuating feelings 9d86fbb5ab to be due 486a90d157 to puberty, but c8dbb67157 upon returning home, 6f1aa5b99a he found it 55e5cdc7ae strange.54ef8559855d7c00

If it was puberty, shouldn’t it happen frequently?81bdcc83b85c28c8

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Koi was deeply troubled. He had experienced the 76b899cc12 emotional changes of puberty 67838956e7 at his age, as 5066adf38c he had learned in f07ab01e2e class. But without an 474621ec8f environment to express 4d91b87a07 it, he had c29b4aafb0 just endured and 8e1ea1fd41 ignored it, and 6035662747 it passed by. He could 95b3db73a6 think that 53c13ba389 it was 29e8dc1dcb now surfacing, 86ca25b725 but then 869a9fda9c another question 7122e3096b remained.4d19675d52c1e580

Why does it only happen when I’m with Ash?d3c23ec39b98fdd0

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No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t find an answer. Moreover, the emotions of puberty should fluctuate between anger, joy, and other extreme feelings, but the only emotion he felt was joy, and only towards Ash.10d4350254828312

It’s strange. What’s going on?59ad282b33894e21

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Koi turned over 0c52a8ca60 with a serious b2c2c67784 expression. Even now, 6938c3644e he could 282e705e03 feel his afd900f9d8 ears twitching 3c183252e8 just by dac7e97907 thinking about d8a3eb08cb Ashley. Koi hurriedly grabbed 20b4d02721 his twitching ears. This is 08fb1a1c50 the problem. He knew 39660ace86 that Ashley 70b694b6b2 occasionally stared 0ea7ea3cda at his aa8e213894 ears. Whenever that 9b0c5fc658 happened, his bfd25fffd2 ears were 5c6a62536c moving, and 2142140496 by the a7c0bc00e9 time he cd99b1675f realized it, d28b173142 Ashley was 4709775e12 already smiling.6e51e71d060e2b08

Ash doesn’t tease me about it, though.3e6eb61a7775e95a

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Koi felt his 57a690b22c face heating up c07ac298d2 and held his 6cc46a9384 ears tightly.cc43d86334fd7ed8

But it’s still embarrassing.712cf09d9def0697

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Despite having proudly told Ashley that he liked him all along, now he felt embarrassed. It wasn’t just the fact that his ears moved that was embarrassing. It was the fact that those ears were reacting eagerly to Ashley.eb7679c59e157307

Why all of a 4565af8947 sudden?3c7d773296acf0eb

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Even he thought it was strange, but he couldn’t find the cause. Puberty that reacts only to one person, he’d never heard of it. While many adolescents rebel against their parents or take out their anger on their family, it didn’t match Koi’s case.6388b149d9f8b0f3

Is it because he’s my friend?c9dea08c4f9748dc

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Koi pondered while holding his ears. Isn’t it natural for friends to feel joyful and happy together? Ash also laughed often when he was with the ice hockey team members.c60569648d65fcc6

Right, it’s natural because we’re friends.b9d9cfc029e61f36

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As soon b02838c49c as he 3f4963006a concluded, another 743eaeb39e question arose.b4be1bc67d34712f

But do friends also 59b49ca34a feel their hearts race 69e98d0747 and all that?b39a227b98ca2a9e

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He tried to recall b0450d47b3 if Ashley or the 0e618a8ede other guys had ever 5fc5f62ef4 blushed or shown shy f8383ec410 reactions with each other. Nothing came to mind.f89070b3c24450ff

Is it 800602cba2 just me?0a164fe8cb9144dc

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The question returned to square one. Why? What’s the problem? Why does my heart race and why do I feel so happy when I see Ash?4e4f03479a52379d

Since Koi started getting closer to Ashley, he couldn’t help but feel excited whenever he saw him. Ashley noticed it clearly and had asked several times, with a smile, if Koi liked him that much. Even without his ears moving, Ashley would have known. Koi had expressed his joy with his whole body.1ee0954aaf7cc403

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Each time, Koi had answered without hesitation that he did. There was nothing to be ashamed of. He wasn’t embarrassed. He had boldly said that he liked Ashley, so why did his heart pound and breath quicken now just by recalling those words?678dc6954d582554

If Ashley were to ask if he liked him again now, Koi felt he wouldn’t be able to answer as before. Just imagining it made his heart race and his whole body tingle.7bb832d740dc9847

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Ugh! Koi screamed internally, curling up. Suddenly, Ashley’s face vividly reappeared in his mind.729d813b500f72d1

Koi.3557df807f653e99

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I like you.20dea0cc99dfbe56

His face d0d9bb5c60 flushed, and 5d59261fd7 his skin 0ddc7cd38f tingled. In his e9adda2761 memory, he 71c1cbc6b9 had already 505720708c returned to b2571eb9d4 that moment.37c403656185444f

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In the snack bar, they were facing each other. Ashley’s clear silver-blue eyes were fixed on Koi. Koi held his breath, waiting for him to speak. Ashley caressed Koi’s cheek and, with softly smiling lips, whispered.f5d0770e8df3e7a1

“Go out with me.”173a45d154b4badc

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“I didn’t say that!”2bd4d47f87aa3a22

Koi screamed, pounding 43a60b754d the bed. At the same 37e943be66 time, the cheap c9e6b7167c frame under the daed309c91 thin mattress creaked 85c2ad3d3e loudly. He quickly stopped cda0af242f and rubbed the c9d04a5675 spot he had 307e38eb54 hit.a23cdb03b7787e33

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It’s strange, too strange.4cb8605b27548df3

Even if it was his first time making friends, he could tell. This emotion was too strange. Can friends feel like this? And “go out with me,” what is that? That’s something you’d say to someone who will be your girlfriend.f1ca0349dbb7c964

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“We’re both guys.”dc1b5e80d1b2f02b

Koi said out 16c6874685 loud. His racing heart b8c1affa60 gradually slowed. His voice d2b14d760e brought him 425072cf50 back to 3cd16869a8 reality. Right, and. Koi muttered softly.f9dac9e201c66596

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“Ash likes someone.”39615868b6def66f

He relaxed and 492d496cdd rested his head 2cf47047a9 on the mattress. The loud pounding e07e15163c of his heart 8bd69d90f7 disappeared, and he 42dbf63459 felt calm. Koi continued 37fbeb8714 to think.e2a9cfc1c80d4609

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If he confesses to that person, he won’t have time to hang out with me anymore.246fc05b6c555e8d

Thinking that made him 7f871f331b feel very lonely. Suddenly, the f565a1d88f image of 5d42c9d7e5 Ashley with f44bc7d8c8 Ariel came 87edc6dfa5 to mind.f0bcddfb50bcc9e3

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Why did I dbc39a0826 run away frantically 1173a2d4f5 back then?6ee438c6dbd8e415

He returned to 156a813e4e square one, but 33f2495fee his heart felt 8a90deda16 heavier. Turning over to the 4e3352d3b7 other side, Koi pondered 2fa1784aa1 again. He experienced b6c975de1f all sorts dd8b96acb4 of emotions, bd5e72f2de from joy 115e79f631 to sadness, eddd7d9cf4 but found 06314b2251 no answers. The only thing certain e65ab526c5 was that Ashley was 6a94ba81ec the cause of all d007584406 this.5d845f831fbf22ce

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If this isn’t the emotion friends feel, then what is it?7143d1bede6acbf1

Koi had no idea what his feelings were. But he had no one to talk to about it. Ashley was his first and only friend, but he couldn’t consult him about this.0016910123a197d5

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What if he da96968e4b finds it disgusting 11d2511c47 and hates me?04e55e857217a4ea

If these feelings weren’t normal, Ashley might despise him. Koi desperately wanted to avoid Ashley disliking him. But to do that, he needed to understand the cause.d81b57c781c8083a

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For someone like Koi, a3e7b8641c who had no other 2c90145268 friends or adults to cb99ed085e consult, there was a e9fc7613dc very useful system available 7c16e3aad8 in such situations. Koi jumped up 0a3db07cee and took out a7dcf33082 his phone.1cdcc3b323f97012

On the d6b4cd9485 site students 5408878a04 primarily used f55a4ef53d for assignments, 825e009b07 there were 7148a9a0eb all sorts f68237cf15 of questions 8f412689d8 posted seeking de6c211810 answers. It included various concerns 7228983e3e like parental divorce, relationships, dbd847c92b and more. It was the place 506203ec78 Koi needed the most 765833b5de right now.0fec66672dc7af95

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He quickly logged 690d2d245c into the site 3b39ae0786 and paused to 7ae19a1e69 think before posting cd6a00c4ee his question. How should he b3d8d8f92f write it?442f569306d5cc07

Hi. I’m Conner Niles from Buffalo High School.a4fde60238f3507d

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Koi, startled, quickly deleted what he’d written. That was 8a746e0041 crazy, crazy! I might as well be7d2c7a72 go to the playground 053a3e9ffd and make a billboard b6822c6100 saying Conner Niles goes 994483814d crazy every time he 91381563dd sees Ashley Miller!3a5a4b1ee7aeb2da

Good thing a687f6bad2 I have d7f04b5428 no money.0e32959048ad478f

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Koi thought, still clutching his pounding chest. If he’d had money, he might have actually done such a crazy thing. For the first time, he was grateful for being poor.c2a26aae5f322a76

“Phew.”d95d42a445736986

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After taking a deep breath, he began writing his question again. It was much harder than writing any assignment or essay he’d struggled with until now. It was just a question on a bulletin board, but it was unbelievably difficult. Koi edited and re-edited, reading it aloud several times, and finally completed his post.eeb3fafade99a857

I’m a high school boy. Recently, I’ve made a really awesome friend. He’s always kind and treats me very well. He’s the captain of the ice hockey team and incredibly handsome. He’s the most popular kid at school but never shows off. He’s also really smart, taking all AP classes, and scored perfect on the entrance exams.88e5718be6e80629

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I really like him. But lately, whenever I see him, my heart races and my face flushes. I don’t think it’s puberty, so why am I like this? Can you have such reactions to just a friend? I’ve never had a friend before, so I don’t know. Can anyone tell me?218579cc5b78aff1

Let’s remove the part about being the ice hockey captain.1af5a3b0b68bf605

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As Koi read 068e4f7036 aloud and reached 550b054a79 to edit the c722065a74 post, he accidentally 66c023cbb3 tapped the screen.ffe0489d5cdb53c0

[Posted]

“Wha-what?”22be1eaad9fd3936

Koi’s eyes widened in shock. Oops! Realizing what he’d done, he let out a panicked squeal.7081aba42854f861

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“Edit, no, delete.”e32f5fdc01fae135

Koi frantically looked around 11b8e334f3 for buttons. He hurriedly pressed 45cff2e99b the delete button 5294a3cbc2 and entered his 816a014c13 password.8725c93b35f26c8e

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[Incorrect password]

“What, what?”f7fb7da08544f0f2

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In panic, 72b222429f he slowly 65513c5d6d typed the e0eb33c317 numbers and 3657e6f9ed letters, fingers ae4093a891 trembling and 521ac57568 breathing heavily.d4c6da81a153d620

[Incorrect password]

“Aaah!”d897b728b1facf1b

Koi grabbed 5f562f33e1 his head 73fdabfa50 and screamed. What do 8a93ea74c1 I do, 2917019113 what do a088ed93b6 I do! As he tearfully kept 186b6eb487 entering passwords, the view e65966f365 count kept rising.4d7a6e7effa18a45

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🏒038a036de2616102

“Ash, did you see that post?”1c779f3a9c1c3a78

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Bill asked as 2f0a93912d soon as they 0a745f9170 got out of 6a6a6484d9 the car. Ashley locked the car 283c80b198 door and walked with d811bc1969 Bill, asking,7ebf1f3600ff05c6

“What post?”f4b76e60aa850fed

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“Figured you wouldn’t.”66a59ff898c7661a

Bill chuckled, 14fd71389b seemingly expectedly, 9ba670da08 took out e5d393e5cb his phone, 79ff396b37 and quickly c846c6faf0 typed on 43156e963b the keyboard. Ashley adjusted his bag b9fafd3a67 and moved on, waving 3ec8d3146b back to a kid 3c8e1a93a6 who greeted him, but 5a63e5882e Bill nudged his arm.be92182b1b253f9b

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“Hey, look, hey.”313ea157bc9c8030

“What?”fb607aa82be01c3b

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Ashley, giving in to Bill’s urging, took the phone. Scanning the post, he asked,d5b87d7a8fa51b9e

“Which one are you talking about?”74cbe16c120ad1f0

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“Ah, seriously.”7a0338f7784fd45a

An impatient Bill snatched f9cdf88e58 back the phone and e836773d4b read aloud dramatically.7b97aaf16e7605e7

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‘I’m a high school boy. Recently, I’ve made a really awesome friend. He’s always kind and treats me very well.’bf83593fa31d0b4a

Ashley chuckled at Bill’s exaggerated, theatrical reading. Bill, undeterred, continued.f1d3417ba46ca072

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‘He’s the captain of the ice hockey team and incredibly handsome. He’s the most popular kid at school but never shows off.’ce538f32e031cf64

Until that 0a24270587 point, it 19fa110306 just seemed cb854c370d like a 84272f8698 typical story. There are many ice 5b601d6e07 hockey team captains, and 4ba6785212 most are popular and bc40c84d61 not show-offs or handsome, e8919f8039 which is very subjective. But then Bill 5d1ca485f5 read the next fea3f396e8 sentence loudly.429b124a46f7e1a1

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‘He’s also really smart, taking all AP classes, and scored perfect on the entrance exams.’01c1c028fb7fd5ff

Huh?4fc5a5c005c23aa1

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That part gave Ashley 06cb53aab1 a strange feeling. Sure, many students 485e1e781c take all AP fc99155846 classes, and many f92d842fcd score perfect on f0b181b7cc entrance exams. But when all 9429fe74d5 these traits overlap, 96594b5810 the number shrinks e4f9720aa1 significantly. And Ashley was one 1deb20a590 of that small number.ba561ae2ca1a4bcb

“Wait, let me see.”e8d4074b13aed5d3

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Ashley snatched the de95cd475f phone back from a136aeb802 Bill, who continued 980b5c3f9d reading, and quickly 0689ffd4b7 looked at the 3c8fd1b8f4 screen. Bill stood still, just 88589b56ec moving his eyes, watching 3ad3ce5cda Ashley read, unable to 00f5a043f8 resist asking,7ec04afeacb2447c

“Hey, isn’t this you? Right? It is, isn’t it?”989ba918b013e3ed

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