Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdGX5UpCK6
“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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZl78ZTiyvG
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFuThhNc29
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUivFY3Qh9k
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BWrE2E7q2
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdUxswlqUU
“What did you do? What did you do?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikgjnlb3lG
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFrK7Ycdms
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRmfHVTYhG
Still nothing. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ec8wzqSHr
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYD15rfpNI
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl35W4TSFQq
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWfsaeVswZ
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ydZ4xNl6h
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGjfRgJp6j
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4pqBvqwtG
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDBo2ucFHp
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwCSAGzZMY
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd3Pxeb46X
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdW3Gxji8Lc
“Will there be any punishment for this?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4WLDPIu4o
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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsX1SizV5nd
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJQ4xWBZ6S
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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJmCyT6Fj4
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqUcbApJKH
“Are you going to explain it to me?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnxCAaV1yP
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz160UnQ46w
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?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6KR2LFazY
“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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8vJ865dt2
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuc2kg7C4rR
“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?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8a7RZKGP0Q
“Roro.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY7yCd6y4o
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbbYpMO1Om
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLQDJGZVm8
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4TOSQ3BHV
It has to be secret.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkMUqzGP7G
844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88pGdnc9pS
Secret.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc2doKHsEo
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz48LQp7JbF
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJnAWuobpD
Eventually, she settled on something simple.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxJvG4lCE7
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4zs26RbhZ
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9a8ZrqrtM1
IA responded later that night.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScauZsLBWh
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. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhNV1sx8PG
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6maoNLUTEu
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0Z9ilntXx
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfl6LbY5fx
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3TBdPK2yp
“What’s there to talk about?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL49A4JWNX3
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWU1MMtA3B
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMG0Cm4GIn
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxy1KYUkWS
“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?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2Alo7vhG1
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpFjPkFjkh
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiYLfbuoS2
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0PJtl3m5C
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmltaqGC3Xs
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi75ZpuRTLx
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9QCbrFbcv
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ0l7qNhEd
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVGdARd9Bf
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLqewIPHK7
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VdHtsrBYa
“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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYULaH3B1xO
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC7OCg5sWZ
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwoejWyvBf
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvkatPT25f
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGqOYGQdI1
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uzIGpUXWB
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i4oxzyUUQ
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg35WOONnb
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 10.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetLQIveEK9
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLSC7Y2ZyE
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VMpPKIqKK
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPODUNbBNY5
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVS22ZFah5j
“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,”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8HcLjnPrc
“Why didn’t you?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYHsk9ROf0
“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?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDz9P7Hbhd
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I2aLXOaSk
“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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm0SsG7WPk
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRcr0P5xLl
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHdnI3XS33
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJdWf0qDWB
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ159YhnjRHc
“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?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9kNrjGAPI
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BbUAvTajR
“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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxRv3WiosE
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgUS64yduY
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX1UQEdynT
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXlQgoJdvi
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4aKx803uT
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iiVA0mspd
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX5NUiqfY5
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGpU4p6NjR
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zl9kNDJ8B
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzxrN6Wbo1
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40DCmVnfd9
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiWgF0RQxW
“You don’t think I cried too?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlalZOfGuw
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyhN64gfaA
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNsfz1gxUN
“Are you over her yet?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8RyKzpWtU
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOG8Adn2YSO
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYHvv1VY56
“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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFT3H34yo1z
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZiXFX01oj
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39DHmH9oui
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tzu1fjwdo
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV1cbtC7rc
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHdkMW8ZTs
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfx60hSUPc9
“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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1FSXgN5Ke
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1S6Z1i8kX
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaTqIQFV8O
“Can I… kiss you?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGfck2ER6c
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCZSBBohwu
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3cDQl7bgy
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBnFp3FOEg
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPLttgdAjx
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWukr0lQaT
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGsJmqfQOH
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInAFRXM49c
“Not bad. Just… different.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ODIxVjG2
Silence.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRPrXuWN16
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrmBnFFnux
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssmjYXTRul
“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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqjU69O8Al
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSUAArqM51
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAItW5XaSr
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14wOOuStTR
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUr3DZXPTu
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!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHtSn0CmwL
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNpCjNA4sp
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJaGm91XL5
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56CTbSmwmf
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWJ1KG0mrR
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhD0BBhrIlU
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3nv1UqYe2
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXbehsNUF1
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgYzeEYqBi
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyDc2GXS9n
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuvNkeatCZ
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs03YBuj9v
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCIHoqQT2b
“You could make your business a reality.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiZt9fgCSd
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡip9I116lTs
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRuIb3HxEF
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdIeV66fDw
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sPlS8VzXG
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wBfkjX1ub
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw9tDD0RzE
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yZMJoSMZx
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSs3KimYEQ
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmfZXCObwZ
“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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0lA9BShd5
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFPm4HCpsk
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjlqbsS9a8
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFpUqEL16C
“How’s that going for you?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLS3PJmsda
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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC4k6YAvR5
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPQXFMjgVo
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLWWirBz2i
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFgjEu0HC0
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXf3irDL5g
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGdY83KYkr
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4JtZ1mumt
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWz8BR8j2Y
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjw53hv8NrE
“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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kgjNiPJa4
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65IWhSff3I
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0mZBsb9VD
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG4sEtIQ7s
“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.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFlnEqoHWB
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUBweXh4DW
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNcnV4ud8N
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV61deEGeYP
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCe69txCrsR
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nBvczWSGH
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHzhWz88SS
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.844Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZENeujx2Y
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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