Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjjiM7Bz37
“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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklGnjXHW06
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfHz27DDIP
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X9DKKhb0b
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHHbbMKk4h
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdz1KjvxNo
“What did you do? What did you do?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zfcNqdu4g
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2ytNEmWlU
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKb9QwIMxIO
Still nothing. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGt2q1vUrbU
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFlxx1p1Qg
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GfQJ9Ljlz
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN68K4wRWW
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpspOsAwlU
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAsLwkt8zz
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXSzvNp05u
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91Go85g9zn
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeNPpuRlL0
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qYPrYQPkZ
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr5HO3jMJb
“Will there be any punishment for this?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05VWGLA20y
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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f1Ztw9fvs
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJF5Gxzqz4
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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsZuKXko1Q
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJIn1WYUtt
“Are you going to explain it to me?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChe1AUbJ5S
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdtXJWybqu
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?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37eBfKmpsW
“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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75oqlczzw8
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODoxUMPsw8
“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?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnYqNTr7ij
“Roro.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcMV8zXVKl
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lJKPAVah2
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfVSrsKfpu
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczq3ys1zgV
It has to be secret.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCLy5QInAB
846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuVFHC9Pcg
Secret.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD03URQGLd
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhlC2lZhMf
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMZjqaRPNc
Eventually, she settled on something simple.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtRr2rNMDh
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIgAY2aWEA
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YFVSSGJUT
IA responded later that night.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdP4Dkh5nv
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. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgH7yG9XKk9
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54yyrL5KrU
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IE7nD7kkc
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNU90fx1o4
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJEfKdpw0X
“What’s there to talk about?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEz6uuLjGtI
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCIoYCRngo
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDORKx9rVcJ
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IKsSSII3y
“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?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55KprcQOjv
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFCwJ6oSZc
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygyxLOVfm4
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvSb8yG06w
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpiWdHKlR1
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdOWsIz36v
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5aDptw7XK
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKgHS4Y73o
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7GVdpKMih
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWyFlYwiNv
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOJpaxwI36
“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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDggN20QJe
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR7VQJs7pN
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7G7ZloFWc
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpOC6UfKl1
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYqUDuXsdu
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiDOGrAE3l
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9myVxa3R3F
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziiBBgfOi2
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 10.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8KlUXLGrK
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNH74tbwzw3
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgq4liwvDPe
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQhihph2sE
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOyV5itxUP
“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,”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM6m1cZp28
“Why didn’t you?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41KHqqvPq6
“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?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqm4EfvaRK
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkGH7kDpmV
“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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpzueMWwZm
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWFc6tZeJh
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2BikSSFAC
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSRibMnV4D
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQw8Q24yL2
“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?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAHZkFSV1b
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUGehQLmkQ
“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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEKXwRtrED
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTuRyfn2Jf
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAueoFWKf9g
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7HJ5VruTP
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI5MNZzOoS
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO2WrLFb8S
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42H4GMXDXX
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNtJUTF1Iv
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kv0yjx5Wu
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1NDQYkHQJ
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwev3HbMy9
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bGvecaywz
“You don’t think I cried too?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHHD0foqzy
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqyLFR6Ekp
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG27EfciLhY
“Are you over her yet?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiw9yX3DdO
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIV63Pfnqw
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmk1brhcLyV
“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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80TbJK8rtq
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XbnQcfTBS
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUR4qQIUlo
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8XFMRCrU9
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SqOJo5nS9
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRANZgIp52i
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpThn6nMxXO
“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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUS4zXxcc8
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjInTKVY5y
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR0s6kkezg
“Can I… kiss you?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHsws2DMfS
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mEt6K2jxN
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6Nic3YW7g
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ19xXICnro
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSdTqcWBZC
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CXMtIFKsI
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AyPOK6Pdi
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeRwTWJe3D
“Not bad. Just… different.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiN7jvGUqm
Silence.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoaUEDZ1Tt
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqluEBnEqT
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoXm4eH6EY
“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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVza7zWPdT
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrHsbZSvJl
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki1xdqPUvQ
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJZyC6dzLy
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9X1xIOiHo
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!”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwKO8adLsv
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikvnoiUnE9
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxbeoTOoQH
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjxBEpen2S
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx5DoCQiyU
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKhKpAfjIN
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMkKt3GEqH
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCx7EMaBPS
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcpr4m75vH
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz200iNTPev
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeIzzREvyZ
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkzYTis0ur
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBk3glBGDK
“You could make your business a reality.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAC3lsAg8An
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD4fnkVxYg
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyS3JV7XFh5
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGl5zizAU9
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mQRJpqozs
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2j8jsZcA6
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOZnXnRGCT
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagEub6srX3
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FWykPvYo6
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyjsMT6qXO
“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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1t5qJuxHa
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNM6AilS1A
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqXKSfsXJM
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2r74p7ha3
“How’s that going for you?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4byCoIf2fL
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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqTfRY6bnW
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4bb3PNGju
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWzRhhsDPB
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDlGSzkqiS
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnorcRTuGwQ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJB3ltAA8t
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZjo70k5yy
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiDdXD3gkt
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinUtIj1EBc
“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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSF6oMgBeMf
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXSn3CM9js
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pCNSZq7vm
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOcEL10vPO
“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.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENcJRIczhI
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMAOdeXQnE
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTU0GxJLWd
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddTE7THsGH
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vyq2WXG0e
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzn7qpGv9j
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSRUOmmpHS
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.846Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjFTchJ1Zm
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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