Koi couldn’t help but tense up, instinctively glancing at everyone’s faces. Just as he feared, Ashley’s friends looked completely stunned. They looked at one another, then back at Ashley, and then at each other again. The first to react was, unsurprisingly, Bill.
“...Manifested? You?”
“Yeah.”
Ashley nodded, and more looks of shock followed. It was clear none of them had seen this coming.
Well, manifesting isn’t exactly common.
Koi thought to himself. And in Ashley’s case, he was even more unique. If this got out, it could stir up serious trouble. That’s why only the principal, Koi, and a very small number of others knew. Ashley himself had no intention of speaking about it publicly.
Because of that, he was only revealing part of the truth to his friends.
It was the only option. This would explain most of their questions anyway.
“I beca an Alpha. That’s why I couldn’t play. I’m sorry.”
“Uh...”
The guys, who were usually loud and rowdy, were suddenly quiet—and it didn’t feel good. Koi anxiously glanced between Ashley and the others. What if this ruined their friendship?
〈Then that’s just how it is.〉
Ashley had said it like it didn’t matter, but Koi was on edge. If Ashley drifted apart from the people he was so close to before he manifested... it would hurt Koi more than anyone.
Ashley had said Koi was all he needed...
But Koi didn’t agree. Even if that was how Ashley truly felt, Koi saw things differently. Ashley wasn’t like Koi, who only had him. He’d always been surrounded by people—at the center of everything. Koi didn’t want that to change.
While he waited nervously for a reaction, Bill suddenly turned to him. Koi flinched at the unexpected eye contact, and Bill frowned slightly as he asked,
“Koi, did you know?”
“Huh?”
Everyone turned to look at him. Flustered by the unexpected question, Koi blinked. Uh... what do I say?
Hesitating, he looked to Ashley, who gave a subtle nod. That was enough for everyone to figure it out. Koi lowered his gaze and answered quietly.
“...Yeah.”
“...Haa.”
Bill let out a long sigh. The other guys looked at Ashley with expressions of visible disappointnt.
“Dude, how could you not tell us?”
One of them grumbled, and then others chid in, backing him up.
“That’s cold. I didn’t think we were just those kinds of friends.”
“You told Koi and kept it from us? Co on, man, really?”
“Even if you’re into Koi, still! We were Buffalo, dammit—well, we were!”
Despite all the noise, none of them sounded like they were turning away from Ashley. It was more like the frustration you’d only get between close friends. Koi’s heart gradually lifted. Ashley seed montarily taken aback, then gave a wry smile and apologized.
“I wanted to tell you sooner. I just... couldn’t co back.”
“Why the hell were you gone so long? Was that because of the manifestation too?”
Bill’s face was a mix of concern and curiosity. Ashley nodded again.
“Yeah. You guys know, right? How unstable pheromones can be right after.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard.”
“That’s what they say.”
As Betas, they didn’t really get it, but they seed to be doing their best to process it for Ashley’s sake. Koi finally relaxed and watched them with ease. Then another friend asked,
“So, are you okay now?”
“Yeah, how’s your body? You look kind of thin.”
“Is that normal? Do you lose muscle when you manifest?”
“Hey, does anyone have a protein bar? Give it to Ash, now!”
Seeing them scramble to keep up with the conversation made Koi smile uncontrollably. Ashley smiled too—then let out a laugh without aning to. A warm sense of peace washed over him.
This is it. This is what I missed.
The ordinary monts he’d once taken for granted had finally returned. When Ashley turned his head, his eyes t Koi’s. Seeing Koi smiling so brightly, he felt completely at peace.
I don’t want to lose this.
He thought. Can’t it just stay like this forever? Never having to go back East?
But Ashley knew the truth. This sweetness wouldn’t last. His father had only given him until graduation—a temporary reprieve. And this was his last taste of freedom.
It’s okay.
Chatting with his friends, Ashley soothed himself. It’ll be fine. I’m not going to beco a monster like them. I’m not like my father. I have these friends. I have Koi.
I’m not like them.
He believed that with all his heart. The filthy, chaotic pheromone parties that haunted his mind began to blur, little by little. And Ashley believed that eventually, he’d forget—just like all mories fade.
“Oh, class ti.”
Unfortunately, the reunion had to end. At soone’s cue, they agreed to catch up more during lunch.
“See you later.”
“Later.”
As Ashley walked off beside Koi, the remaining guys muttered quietly.
“Do you think Ash likes Koi because he manifested?”
“Could be. Alphas and Ogas don’t have as high a barrier with the sa sex.”
“Koi hasn’t manifested, right?”
“Right.”
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
They all shared the sa thought—and soone finally voiced it.
“So... Koi must’ve accepted it, if they ca to school together like this.”
“He knew about the manifestation, rember?”
Bill sighed and replied.
“We don’t know anything for sure yet. Let’s keep our mouths shut until Ashley says sothing. Maybe Koi’s just going along with it as a friend.”
“Yeah, true.”
Another agreed.
“If I were a Beta and so sa-sex Alpha or Oga said they liked , I’d be pretty uncomfortable.”
“Let’s just pretend we don’t know.”
“Yeah, just act like we forgot.”
They reaffird their friendship and headed to their respective classrooms.
Whether Ashley had manifested or not didn’t change the fact that he was still their friend. Whatever the reason behind his confession, it was between him and Koi. They intended to respect their friend’s feelings the best they could. And they were right to do so.
*
“That went well, right?”
Koi said as they walked to class together. Ashley looked down at him and smiled.
“Told you it would.”
He had said it in advance, but honestly, even Ashley hadn’t been sure.
You never really know people until sothing happens. Even if they’d been teammates for years, there was no guarantee. He’d only said it to reassure Koi—but seeing his friends respond with more than just politeness made Ashley truly happy.
Maybe I could’ve even told them I’m an Extre Alpha.
But that was out of the question. His father’s secretary had already warned him—if word got out, his security detail would be increased.
Extre Alphas, due to their rarity, often attracted unwanted attention. There were plenty of people who hated them for their supposed promiscuity or other reasons. For safety, bodyguards were practically required. But flaunting that at an ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ ordinary high school would be like screaming, “Look at !”
And Ashley wasn’t that kind of idiot. He wanted to quietly finish school and graduate like anyone else. So the secret had to stay a secret.
“Hey, you’ll tell them after graduation, right?”
Koi asked, and Ashley nodded.
“Yeah. After that, I’ll be free.”
“Okay.”
Koi nodded too, and Ashley spoke again.
“When we graduate, Koi—”
“Yeah?”
They slowed as they neared a school building, no one else around. Ashley asked quietly,
“Will you co to the East Coast with ?”
“...What?”
The question made Koi freeze in place. He hadn't expected it at all. Stunned, he looked up at Ashley, who continued,
“Co with . I’ll take care of everything over there.”
Seeing that Koi was still too shocked to reply, Ashley added,
“College tuition included.”
“...That’s...”
Koi didn’t know how to respond. He didn’t want to be apart from Ashley.
He’d known all along that Ashley would return East. But in his mind, the most he’d ever considered was seeing each other during breaks. Going with him had never even entered his mind. Faced with the sudden proposal, Koi could only stare at Ashley in stunned silence.
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