Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXbtNvpvBh
“Thanks for your help, Miss Yuzuki,” IA said with a wink. Yukari gave her a deadpan stare, hoping no one noticed IA’s obvious facial gesture. IA wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to her. It was her number.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCb16T2W48M
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3wYCSKxns
The class was boring, so she kept staring at Roro as if doing so would send him a telepathic message to stop ignoring her. It naturally didn’t work.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOICZfSGsf
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgQqtIsVTL
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldU2jl6Q4P
“What did you do? What did you do?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6iyCBJHl9
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6looLWxubg
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfwfjLf1wn
Still nothing. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt6myYToXW
Her mother sat down with a huff. She let go of Yukari, cleaned her glasses with her turtleneck and crossed her arms and legs, tapping the air with her foot.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZfJ1Z9Y6x
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5dsoJ7xkj
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEyVMXuUlh
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTNGxkxOXd
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtE0wa1JbD
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvavybks6ZK
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6CQ1WPYoM
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYbNxyuzUy
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnPAZGKMYa
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ijwswhlhD
“Will there be any punishment for this?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAR1P5LcfH
The Principal shook his head. “I hesitate to give a first-time offender a punishment aside from confiscation, so long as their parents are able to discipline them. I’ll leave it up to you for now.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3tvmboDQL3
Both Yukari and her mother stood up and bowed. As expected, Yukari’s mother dragged her out of the building and to the car. However, she didn’t start the car and simply sat, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She took off her glasses and stared into them as if an explanation would materialise in the lenses.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsoRbw6pQr
She spoke in a haunting quiet voice. “I’m glad you’re reading but I don’t understand what appeal that book would have to you. You’re not a… homosexual. I don’t know how you could look at a cover like that and decide that book’s worth your time.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1GAi6Zc4b
Yukari snivelled as tears started creeping out of her eyes. She rubbed her eyes but that only made the crying worse. Her mother grabbed her arm and pushed it down.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNBW9WvunM
“Are you going to explain it to me?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCjw3uBefI
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WpLfr8Fvw
Her mother leaned backwards. “Know what? Are you trying to tell me… I don’t remember raising a homosexual. And what about your boyfriend? What’s his name?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO7LbvV4kn
“I’m not a ‘homosexual’. I’m… I-I’m… Oh God, I didn’t want to tell you this. I’m… bisexual. I… broke up with Roro because I...liked another girl.” She murmured the last part but her mother seemed to hear it.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb1CqN9aLj
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtecVmRacvd
“Don’t go… telling other people, okay? I’m not against homosexuals but… it’s not exactly something you need to parade around. Does anyone else know?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTXNWZj2tH
“Roro.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XIojD3e1t
Her mother’s face went lily-white. “I see.” The two were silent on the way home. Yukari looked out the window, saw a speed limit sign and noticed how slow the car was moving. She almost missed the speed at which IA drove.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjylfy2GrA7
At home, Yukari lied down in bed and rubbed her runny nose. After getting some tissues, she took out her phone and the piece of paper.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYgAquAEOX
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgxVUuJW8z
It has to be secret.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdpgYuyfJG
842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSXkEYfPMI
Secret.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5J8iSuN55X
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIWWN92T2Z
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLCRf1dJFz
Eventually, she settled on something simple.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTojco57DDN
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNdbsOBTY3
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfsLdndL5J
IA responded later that night.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuh8ZjfRxq
Hey, beautiful. Same here. Btw, I just bought ‘ANOTHER’ lesbian romance novel and so far it’s ‘AMAZING’. I’ll lend it to you when I’m done with it. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVE2iEwe01
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1PA05CJEj
As the next day appeared, Yukari stood by Roro’s desk while waiting for him to arrive. No one else had entered the classroom yet.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLj384rvuAW
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZUJfeEP4nd
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzvnM5z3Pw
“What’s there to talk about?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqAzUtld5T
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiakn6NEI9x
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdZ8JTnMfQ
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWO2eGDPmOf
“You did lead me on, though. Do you know how it feels to know that someone you really like was thinking about someone else behind your back?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoEaCpEUYP
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7laWAXJ9Y
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8gvuaRxLa
Roro rubbed his face up and down repeatedly from his cheek to the side of his eye. He looked at Yukari’s frown and felt his heart twist.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSiw9frE5y
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGA9wZ95YK
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9u1LbDwYh
When Yukari told IA after school about Roro, a grin on her face, IA’s own smile was tiny. Deep lines appeared between her eyebrows, which were close together.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos3KNkQF7H
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A2KmXzTtC
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKaz5tVoAXa
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU6utTZGMv
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibxNI2UT7s
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I just couldn’t wait to see you.” She raised her voice to her normal volume. “Help me out with these books.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYPqjutTxs
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PaNAJzEdm
IA grabbed her hand. “So what do you want to do after I close the library?” She brushed her hand with her thumb. Yukari looked at their intertwining fingers with pink cheeks. The corners of her mouth rose.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIKO6Syz10
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtjRoxweah
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZgjTRHUla
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui7ivIB5Ie
IA looked at her watch and nodded. She moved her hand from Yukari’s hand to Yukari’s cheek, stroking it with her thumb. She only did this for a second before stepping back and pulling out several books for Yukari to carry.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXbhW2VDvY
At IA’s apartment, the couple sat on the couch and watched a few episodes of a TV show. Yukari couldn’t tell what the show was about. She was too busy feeling her skin heat up when IA grabbed her hand and rested her head on her shoulder.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IM1CDJ1q0
A large part of Yukari’s mind screamed, ‘Kiss me!’ She almost kissed IA herself but the rest of her mind was reminded of a rule she read in a magazine when she was around 10.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboblAqKRnj
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLWsPZrXyd
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXdHEgbtf9
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IexVXrN3I
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MII8L4u8q
“Well, I always wanted to own my own little bookshop. It would be called ‘Cloudrider Book Emporium’. You know, since reading books is like entering a dream world.” She laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand. “I was a stupid kid. I wanted it to focus on fantasy and science fiction books since those take you to another world,”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6ur45Nu4j
“Why didn’t you?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhvgzVjJEf
“Do you really think I’m the kind of person who could handle a business? I chose the next best option, which was being a librarian. So, what do you want to do when you leave school?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0ozo9lC4k
Yukari shrugged. She figured her parents would tell her which university they wanted her to attend. And what course she would study. And what job she would have.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M5KOiCcsg
“I’m sure a smart girl like you’ll be able to get a job you want,” IA said, nuzzling her head into Yukari’s shoulder.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr05Zm0pERU
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6707aR1tLn
IA giggled again but, judging by her red cheeks, this was more out of embarrassment than amusement. Yukari tilted her head until it was touching IA’s. They watched the rest of the episode in comfortable silence.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRiCAVYOhf
IA and Yukari made a routine out of this, watching television after school every day. Sometimes IA would put some popcorn in the microwave and put way too much salt in the bag. Whenever she did this, she would tell Yukari about her ideas for new popcorn flavours, ranging from steak to eggplant. Yukari always found herself laughing at each new idea.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TpaZCxUoq
Two weeks later, Roro shuffled up to Yukari. With a closed mouth he licked down the inside of his cheek for a second, his eyes not meeting hers. He then sighed.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwPU1bfAtn
“Look, I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. It would be nice to go back to how things were. Is it too late for us to be friends?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz0W9nzB4S
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2u2Agu9XKf
“Um, since when do you initiate a hug like that?” he asked in a voice that made it seem like he was about to laugh.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPtFG0EJhh
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZRlwYmeRQ
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2haTr2deQt
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjKLFtlveH
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU8HfOcgXv
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH7D49WDq1
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF2Bh1bbkJ
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qFNWsrwMl
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgx9GLlWKW
Yukari patted Roro’s back. “I need to find a book for class. I’ll be back.” She left the two, who stared at each other in silence. IA eventually dropped the smile.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyonI9jRcp
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlDRc7FM7Z
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPv752HRdr
“You don’t think I cried too?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJAx2Q9N7S
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl20aUHZfDw
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe1NyUIdjH
“Are you over her yet?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG116i8pSz
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3U8OZe7Btb
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyduSQ3TV0i
“Well, you seem like a nice guy. I’d hate for you to live with unrequited feelings. I know how that feels.” As she continued speaking, she took a few books from the returns box and slammed them on top of each other to create a stack. “Just… don’t do anything to make her cry again, okay? I’m sure you’re smart enough to not make the same mistake twice.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNUGILC8es
Roro finally allowed himself to look at her, and he did so with flames in his eyes. Their gazes were fierce enough to make it seem like there should be a spark of lightning worthy of scaring Zeus appearing between them.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEZpZY9XUl
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG2m2cB3BI
Yukari headed back to them. Before she could greet them again, Roro stormed out of the library. Yukari looked at the IA, then the door, then IA again.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9gc1Kox9L
IA sat by her desk and began scanning students’ borrowed books, forgetting to muster up a smile. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes were narrow as they looked down.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYtbuNPpyg
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Gw7zgbFD
IA was back to normal that night and every night for the next few weeks. One night, IA asked Yukari what her parents were like. It took a while for Yukari to figure out the answer.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshVGYwOuuC
“Well, they’re the kind of parents who are around you when they want you to do well in school but don’t care about anything else so they leave you to do whatever you want outside of study time. I don’t really talk to them much.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNML9UTsmek
IA instinctively gave her a hug. Yukari didn’t cry, but a big grin crept onto her face as she heard IA’s heartbeat speed up.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJktXJxMpG
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOvWQumymZ
“Can I… kiss you?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlitrNeXZqS
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLvgofiLl6
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpsoDDF8kZ
A later night, Yukari asked if they could hang out with Roro one day. IA nodded her head with creased eyes and the smile of a lemon sucker.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwp9y0IwCi
Roro grimaced at the offer but agreed to join them, and the three went to a park on a Sunday afternoon. IA brought a picnic basket and a blanket, or rather she bought a picnic basket and blanket for the occasion. Roro brought three store-bought bento boxes.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgkaV8DQws
Together they chatted and ate like there was no animosity between them. However, when Yukari left the blanket to pat a dog, the glares returned.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kiFjAkXF9
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFDJlryJDb
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfZI9f2W2s
“Not bad. Just… different.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76gf5UsZFG
Silence.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIWd87Ys73
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ085kSG0SoM
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEXD9idPzW
“Why would I want to do that? She’s wonderful. As much as I’d like to grow alongside her, I still want the core of her to remain. A good relationship won’t completely alter you, only improve you.” She picked up her prawn again and took a bite. “But that’s something adults figure out, so it’s not surprising if you don’t know that yet,” she said with the food still in her mouth.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3e5uZr9zI
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY7JeitbfL
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyoEhGXVv6
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlS10wjr9u
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP3NMBCV0y
The other two ignored her. “Well sorry for thinking it’s a little strange that my girlfriend wants to spend time with both me and her ex!”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllslh2cBA2
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2QZE9i7kS
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5SAtOuycK
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI1kQnmwv6
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55WcFK2E1J
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvOVgnuKt9
That last word caused a few people in the park to stare at them, including a teacher from Yukari’s school. Yukari froze, her eyes wide and her mouth open.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOCFd2gQX4
She eventually closed her eyes as they started to spit out tear after tear. IA felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and treated it like playdough, but before she could apologise, Yukari picked up her handbag and ran away.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8j9XLgo8b
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjplZXqybQe
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8PYI17yPc
The Principal showed her security footage showing her taking Yukari to her car. She was told to pack her things. That night she ended up staining her pillow with tears as well.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFQJSRlVLQ
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5DEMn8cAb
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj54YrqyfGe
“You could make your business a reality.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHddPNztgI
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0guCaDuiLP
Yukari still hung out with Roro, but it just wasn’t the same as before. The jokes started becoming less and less frequent. It remained this way until exams.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt5XWOrGS3
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgLPXPxfMO
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTkcpyUnDAb
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSVa2yHtpB
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZxo5Bxg93
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5JAXB6ro1
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjUaDQ9h7k
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJUu4XfLwU
“I don’t think she’s going to be on my side. I don’t think she’s going to forgive me and even if she did, she probably won’t forget. If I can make myself say sorry and let her know how much I mean that apology, that’s enough.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatCyYijtEh
Roro saw IA’s expression and felt as if a hole in his heart has been patched up. He felt freed from some mysterious force as soon as he realised that he would not have worn that expression if he was in her shoes.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBCU8dSvyv
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rbZZ3bXA3
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb49zBBfC7Q
“How’s that going for you?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWlrOKoMDt
IA laughed. “Not super great, to be honest. I really need some people to help me since I hardly know anything about budgeting or planning. I don’t have any employers. I want to make an international online store but my English is a little rusty.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0gEbFn6cz
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvEktCew5r
IA rubbed the back of her neck. “I didn’t think to do that. Thanks for the tip. Um, goodbye, and once again I’m sorry.” She drove off. When Roro arrived home, instead of procrastinating like he expected to do he went straight into studying for the exams.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeZ18AkjiY
Graduation rolled around, and after the ceremony, Yukari and her parents passed a building available for lease. IA was standing in front of it and tapping her chin. When she saw Yukari she beamed at her.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QKH0grfB1
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtPLnfa4W8
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPPik4fAqA
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKa0UBxr9nb
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrLkscdnhz
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDApG6bOPj
“It was the same me, just a crappy side of me. I was just…” IA began to tear up. “I was so scared that you’d leave me for someone else like you did to Roro.” She shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t give excuses. I was an insecure idiot and I ruined everything. I love you and someone who’s in love with someone shouldn’t treat the other person like that. So, um, goodbye. I hope you find someone wonderful who doesn’t have a terrible side to them.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1JnWAgPjd
Yukari rubbed her lips together in thought. IA waited patiently for Yukari to return to her parents. Yukari remembered a message she received before exams.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8sCgGCjrF
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9Bwa04PW5
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9PaXMJBhp
“I doubt anyone is perfect and has no terrible side to them. They just learn to keep it in check. Just… don’t use my sexuality as an insult ever again.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxReAPnUTf
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpxO2akBJl
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2q208p4xw
IA nodded. “I look forward to redeeming myself.” She almost gave her a kiss but then she remembered that Yukari’s parents were standing there.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPhsEHUcZ8
Yukari managed to get into university and, with the permission of her parents, changed her course to Business. IA had told her about the bookstore and Yukari jumped at the idea.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyOl5Bdv0P
Roro got a high score in English for the first time in a while and used that knowledge to help with the building of the bookstore website.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzxUPG8514
IA still felt jealous whenever Yukari was hanging out with someone else, but she learned to control her feelings by reminding herself that Yukari loved her. The store took a while to gain customers, so IA was by herself a lot of the time and she used that time to reflect on her previous mistakes.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPNIDZlF7u
About a month into Yukari’s first year at university, she introduced IA to her parents. They were a little worried until they saw the way IA’s eyes sparkled whenever she talked about their daughter.842Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNjjV0yfGk
After classes, Yukari helped out at the store, so sometimes it wasn’t just IA and the books. Sometimes it was her, the books and the adorable bookworm she fell in love with.
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