Chapter 143
In contrast to Koi’s chatty tone, Ashley replied flatly.
“Still short.”
“Short?!”
Koi widened his eyes in protest.
“I’ve grown a lot, you know—over ten centimeters...”
His voice, which had rung out confidently toward Ashley, began to trail off until it vanished completely. Koi, who had been looking up to meet Ashley’s gaze, hesitated before speaking again.
“Um... did you get taller again?”
“What?”
Ashley frowned at the quiet mumble, then nodded once he understood the question.
“About twenty centimeters? I’m not sure exactly.”
Suddenly, Koi felt like a tortoise endlessly running toward a finish line he could never reach. Up close, the difference between him and Ashley was even more glaring. Koi had thought his height, his shoulders, even a bit of muscle had finally come in—but standing next to Ashley, he felt completely insignificant. His height, his shoulders, even the width of his chest—Ashley was easily twice his size in every way.
“...Did you keep playing ice hockey in college?”