L*ck Me If You Can-Chapter 117

Dragged out of the cafeteria by Ashley, Koi scrambled after him in confusion, practically running to keep up. Ashley rounded the corner of the building, finding a quiet spot, and backed Koi against the wall.

When Koi, flustered, finally lifted his head, he saw Ashley standing over him, arms braced against the wall on either side. He’d always known Ashley’s body was at least twice the size of his own, but for the first time, Koi truly felt overwhelmed by it.

He’d never felt this kind of pressure before.

Uneasy, Koi shrank back slightly. Ashley frowned, clearly displeased with his reaction. But it was the shadowed expression on Ashley’s face that frightened Koi even more.

“H-Hey... Why...”

Koi finally managed to speak, but his tense voice cracked and wavered helplessly.

His inability to understand what was going on only seemed to worsen Ashley’s mood.

“You really don’t know why I’m doing this? Not even a clue?”

Ashley’s voice was quiet and low—more controlled than usual—but that only made Koi more afraid.

“S-Sorry...”

He mumbled the words, and the furrow in Ashley’s brow deepened.

“Sorry? For what?”

“I... uh...”

Koi faltered, words stuck in his throat. He had to say something, but he was terrified that opening his mouth would only make Ashley even angrier. “I-I mean...” He kept stammering, cold sweat forming at his temples, until Ashley finally said it himself.

“What the hell was that back there?”

“Huh? ...What did I do?”

Koi blinked, bewildered by Ashley’s sharp tone. Trying to keep his anger in check, Ashley continued, his voice still low.

“I’m talking about what you just did to Bill.”

“Oh...”

Only then did Koi recall what had happened. He looked away awkwardly, and Ashley, taking a deep breath, pressed on.

“How could you do that? Right in front of me? How could you, Koi? Say something. Go on, explain.”

His voice sped up with rising anger. Koi could tell he was barely holding himself back, and that only made it harder to speak.

“I... I didn’t mean anything by it...”

After swallowing hard, Koi repeated softly, “I’m sorry...”

“You didn’t mean anything?”

Ashley jumped on the words.

“What do you mean you didn’t mean anything? I was right there, and you still did it—without thinking? Why?”

“I-I mean... Bill’s just a friend. I was just helping him...”

“You were helping him? By wiping his mouth?”

“Not his mouth exactly, just... the corner...”

Koi was flustered and clearly panicking, not knowing how to explain this. Ashley could see right through him. Koi had much less experience than he did—it was obvious his imagination couldn’t reach that far. He shouldn’t be yelling, shouldn't be cornering him like this.

...He knew that.

But he was burning up inside. He knew he should just talk it out, be rational, gently tell Koi not to do something like that again. But the image of Koi gently wiping Bill’s mouth and the two of them smiling at each other—it kept flashing in his head, and it drove all reason out of him.

“...Ash?”

Koi’s voice trembled with uncertainty. Seeing that pale face looking up at him triggered two conflicting urges inside Ashley: the desire to comfort him... and the violent impulse to push him to tears.

...What if I—

Koi looked at him with frightened, wide eyes. Staring down at those shaking pupils, Ashley thought: What if I did it right now...

“Ash.”

Koi swallowed hard. His eyes widened in alarm—but Ashley didn’t even notice.

What if I raped you right now.

“Ash, your eyes... your eyes look weird...”

Koi’s voice came out as a terrified whisper.

Ashley’s eyes, which had darkened until they were almost pitch-black, suddenly turned bright gold. Koi, shocked by the sudden shift to dazzling golden irises, pressed his body flat against the wall. Ashley, still looming over him, clenched both fists against the wall, his entire body pulsing with heat.

Haa, haa.

His breath came quicker. His skin flushed red. Koi, seeing his burning face and erratic breathing, panicked.

“Ash, are you okay? Is something wrong with you?”

He reached out with both hands to cup Ashley’s cheeks in worry—but suddenly, Ashley grabbed his wrist.

“Ah!”

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The grip was so strong that Koi let out an involuntary scream.

The next moment, his back slammed against the wall as Ashley’s body pressed against his. Koi’s feet lifted slightly off the ground, making him rise onto his toes as he stared up at Ashley, pure fear on his face. He knew it now too.

Ashley wasn’t normal right now.

Could this really be...?

Koi squirmed, desperate to escape the overwhelming sense of danger.

But there was no way he could overpower Ashley’s strength. Ashley easily pinned both of Koi’s wrists with one hand and used the other to wrap around his waist, completely trapping him.

Their eyes met—Ashley’s still gleaming gold—and Koi continued struggling, but the most he could manage was a slight twist of his shoulder.

Ashley let out a short laugh and released Koi’s wrists, as if to say it wouldn’t matter either way. And he was right—Koi tried pushing against Ashley’s shoulder with both hands, but he didn’t budge at all.

Ashley wrapped both arms around Koi’s waist and pulled him even closer. He looked down at Koi’s pale face—and for some reason, he liked the way it looked. A sigh, more like a moan, slipped from his slightly parted lips.

“Ash!”

Just as Ashley tilted his head to kiss Koi, a voice suddenly rang out.

It was Bill.

Both Ashley and Koi froze on the spot.

Koi turned his head—and there, not too far away, was Bill, standing awkwardly with wide, shocked eyes.

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Why was Bill here?

Koi felt a strange mix of relief and confusion. But before he could say anything, Bill, clearly flustered, spoke up.

“Ash... what are you doing with Koi right now? And what’s that smell?”

He wrinkled his face, pinching his nose with his sleeve. The scent of pheromones was thick in the air.

He followed us because he was worried.

Koi immediately understood. Bill must’ve felt guilty for causing tension between them and had come to check on them.

It was something he could do because he thought of both Ashley and Koi as friends—but it was a poor choice. Unlike Koi, who had a sensory disability, Bill could smell. The heavy scent of Ashley’s pheromones was affecting him instantly.

“Urgh...”

“Bill!”

Suddenly, Bill hunched over and started retching. Watching him vomit up his lunch, Koi turned pale and cried out.

“Ash, wait! Let me go—Bill’s...!”

“Bill’s what?”

Ashley interrupted coldly. Koi flinched and looked up—only to meet that same golden-eyed glare. He suddenly remembered how they’d ended up here in the first place. Because I did something stupid back in the cafeteria.

“A-Ash, I’m sorry. I messed up. I won’t do anything like that again, I swear...”

Koi apologized desperately. Seeing Bill like this, he knew there was no time to hesitate.

“We—We need to call an ambulance. Or at least take him to the nurse. Bill’s really sick. We have to help him. Please—he’s our friend...”

Koi’s voice shifted into a plea. It wasn’t just Bill—Ashley was acting strange too. His eyes had changed color. Something was seriously wrong.

But Ashley didn’t seem to hear a word.

Instead, he tightened his grip on Koi and growled in a harsh voice,

“Don’t worry about it. Just keep your eyes on me.”

“Ash...!”

Koi cried his name again, desperate. Then, Bill threw up once more—this ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ time collapsing to the ground in convulsions. Koi’s panic spiked.

“Ash, I’m serious! This is bad—really bad! We have to help Bill—!”

He screamed, frantic. But then Ashley turned to him with terrifying eyes and spat through clenched teeth,

“Shut up. Don’t talk about another guy in front of me.”

The words fell heavy against Koi’s ears. He tried to push Ashley away again, but it was useless.

Ashley wasn’t listening to him at all anymore. His reason had clearly snapped. Koi’s mind raced. He had to do something—anything.

Then he saw it—Bill staggering to his feet through his blurred vision.

And in the next second, Bill threw himself at Ashley with all the strength he had left.