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.