Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5s0Q0TI0cL
“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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfvc5BdrM0
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1FWTAFgKm
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1d2A4X20VU
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVmwv1CtHk
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡno3VAuLvuo
“What did you do? What did you do?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidNd4pkmsX
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fT2ADkhXM
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGA3RY6dVO
Still nothing. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNp9eDdrfw
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8blzCOw1kQ
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrqLMOTerN
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ULABIBIE6
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fvB6x4KCo
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGzzr0tyC4
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphXh8OQU5Z
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3hspAZH0z
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFc77ANFGcE
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLUQOMpgSE
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Niu8UucRj
“Will there be any punishment for this?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvT8wTODdc
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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZhUSqttfp
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdvyZB83y3
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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJejfn5eBB
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBfxfcygB9
“Are you going to explain it to me?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R08JtJbGi
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gkPop6mRJ
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?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwXepMAXJf
“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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheTExQUfWB
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dOaWrX64I
“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?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2W7mNefMt0
“Roro.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ypNzoHG0V
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcN6KiN1WaQ
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYv2jQgLl2
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXmN802Abl
It has to be secret.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgkckD9Nzv
650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrkpX2R9od
Secret.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmaZeSQdIK
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80cTlamzFL
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZN52YAkll
Eventually, she settled on something simple.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6K4jjQItq
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtCB6oesk6
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJQuGjXrnH
IA responded later that night.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCXmkHtHGs
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. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3x1hEBFgR
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHQooPbp8s
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZXJVLXdwN
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXD6WzEiOU
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BCAaxsX7Y
“What’s there to talk about?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGaeoM18O8
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1mA5oI9Du
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS33bRDhv74
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYZ6saXomk
“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?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuve4iK8oMd
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9eXA1wSi4
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQKGhPNQL1
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnpWAi7oD3
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVLWjHMEQZ
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVYuCwnDw7
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlagDFJTNLG
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhw0l6It8F
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiPDZRe8Ne
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmROInSrlzI
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnMJwhHsYa
“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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOc7KyZdYZ
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bdrVMvFCv
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUVDvijnrs
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydSLxdFd9e
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJ3QxTQaDo
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QdlIEOM8G
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT5J2aJioB
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICCsGLpMRQ
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 10.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEVHeReULp
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjygQbw3ou
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4myQfiiJCp
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiQraXR611
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqn1VAkcaA
“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,”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVXsQP9CIN
“Why didn’t you?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCY5DBqaGyj
“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?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvadY9ZfY0G
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonTXFsVTm4
“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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuKxkITJ8d
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Uvkn5w9rO
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDa76qGkSw
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb21YREiyJm
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9TdWBMYV7
“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?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBMmsNZcTj
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4oyIV17km
“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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4wN3ECJV4
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJXaXXQFmI
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU7yfDKbve
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQlpQ5Lebe
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTYGzr2lcj
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNEu3ZRDCz
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXMhL7h9vK
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7agczR2Bb
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAiVrgwrTB
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnyPEvUIq9
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWJwHJFuHE
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzSe7yqqoU
“You don’t think I cried too?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhNG9wYR9F
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNcl1GoPZm
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMhjSoJnxC
“Are you over her yet?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMV7LllAMe
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLLvNhk589
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBG05zqCKU
“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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHaZTLlCFpT
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8RVPwpiKJ
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquxolmddtY
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrvOzZDy7Z
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYVO3dH5yq
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq2Aj34hEt
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX96Rb5dp0B
“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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlPcEzly7b
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLG99QRV44
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQi7fl3MiL
“Can I… kiss you?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAsEL55qTZ
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJobAxRyCCV
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fwmHMIpDB
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4e1hPZ7ua
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH34wsM6uQk
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfxnVuBVY4
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9wHFRgT1d
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu9nbK6Lwi
“Not bad. Just… different.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJe5f0bFC5
Silence.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKgYEddQAk
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUyzutdSck
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIc74bD1jE
“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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOvUqBBjCF
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx2p8b3Y0F
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImjSG3pcUd
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubgEtpQFLm
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xBjRd2W2W
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!”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxduZNO7Cbw
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt51ZscgtlS
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKo9g7D1S0
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUNQNBjXpR
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq12IuqMyk
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhGkP26Bmf
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPl7wPvKPc
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8M1QB1Bog5
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0VlMGKCZd
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmzpULqm5s
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJXwRrnLuU
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KbfvVPuqL
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DUiZfEgV5
“You could make your business a reality.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcgqPld0iv
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V6lFt3TBI
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD156SPqPQt
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULPH59B7Ao
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPEeujxBDe
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKnzvoAf1p
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk5puxBjlC
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBeP8g3zMj
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYzwA7CbQn
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RYfpKKnz6
“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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3LdHKzmu8
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFWC78WWw1
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxztyYIzw7j
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcADKn7q4E
“How’s that going for you?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLwAxMt4mV
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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwXlVbsbJo
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW0UIzUtfv
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcC5UDhIpf
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrP7tfDZPw6
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XklYZTk1g
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeDy8GEHwC
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ3eoDA4FF
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHKUl2Ai7q
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5Hw8DnRHI
“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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtYUck3cQ4
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqlJAHPKiT
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3oHFvGAWS
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBe6Ii365w
“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.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wlJMZkPQ3
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnjBKHfk31
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT17jM0P8L0
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡir3KP7YzdA
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVFIHMLqRB
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdXzr4umRg
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIes9IhI2Nv
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.650Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkmcL6mqIO
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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