Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoiEkmQXEx
“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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsEbaL02Dw
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsjqHFvgN0
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGWmmFcVP4
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MGpWZFVcS
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgldg2W22wT
“What did you do? What did you do?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlTQU5M61n
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLs564lVaC
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqncndjT1G
Still nothing. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHmZXJPOT1
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizE36lBFGp
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNvPAEopxB
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckbY8qFBrz
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlBKGqSdOx
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6spPBR1xT
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94Z8qEygQz
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk3pqYZ3Qk
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVoVLAPBhuO
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf6tdYZgDi
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNYEl0IgJL
“Will there be any punishment for this?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dQj4ceTnp
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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMLwXCsLL4
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqviDlPcaNf
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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YgWgbiq3C
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLnQADW3IV
“Are you going to explain it to me?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMmjGCAevp
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDeIa7QMc4
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?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NnckSoH3I
“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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmv5AQsFNt
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOFpP4KHgH
“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?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCL1w0cpU9
“Roro.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF82UZF72ZP
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JUp1jSIaC
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiu3x7DIKv
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h2soezR3B
It has to be secret.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡss7IzSmVKH
682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlY0LwbHNw
Secret.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGvGiopxM6
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRfHI3dExC
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDZzZxiP6T
Eventually, she settled on something simple.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsQjCaYBUQ
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4FjIWh9qd
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG64gB6wHm
IA responded later that night.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8wQPT44vR
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. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXJGZ9UGOv
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuyrIjDdS9
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRCcdLhhCt
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9xgzWPSFt
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2zg3xjNUx
“What’s there to talk about?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPYIWFqShw
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN35oA1JCB
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiY4DYINTx
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCThcrVNzo
“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?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HnHFQnclJ
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFVzq3GYmp
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjV00plkmK
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVXLi55hHe
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfir7SoPyc
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeBgKFZn3s
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKTTe2AEAq
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzF0Tc9nCgy
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfSdz7XBiC
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jj7JsTJxO
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0f25FYqHbL
“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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDQXCO8jxE
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2niQgtL7C
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmli3TYfevs
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ts5GVI6Dq
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnPOClaZJs
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlHG8LfBJM
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41VjjtgK8J
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2So8ZFT3J
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 10.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5awGAlRW9f
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj2LbQKZ1B
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMfWUqZ3bj
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2BNXS5jwm
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPJG5QuLq3
“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,”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFyixTVZRq
“Why didn’t you?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1306R0EttK
“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?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8R4gpci4s
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUObUz7xZMM
“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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtQZmOpEs0
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fR3auj9A1
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hIidDh9it
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw0RXTNPYo
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPX7IM4Zfn
“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?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEAxsq7epg
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNhcrX9vm5
“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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTkWtSs7SG
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3VW4svh8J
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVxSN6xdow
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7NPXJqjmt
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4FRh3tUY1
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlo1RdxFt1
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzqTFcUMC8
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjCJDOrwZq
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDPPJa4Lcf
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfMgNWeTou
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MavOpgrEk
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAh2UpqLDz2
“You don’t think I cried too?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KSAttOE4x
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTF1Un31H2
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfZBjh04LG
“Are you over her yet?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Wdbpo2FLg
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKfTKEPBQW
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29qL7yR0IU
“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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVo8YZeYGq
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrDf7x0Xn8
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgO7WBd2r5
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0hGq8w9HN
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV8DQTqlq5
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRi735BwVb
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk2ujLKtiN
“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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVDEZ6cbmR
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiu7VdjoSKG
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuLYP6eR2t
“Can I… kiss you?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqRrUxSKwP
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfv7d5vEqAz
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKA3MRVYks
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1sRKlqANw
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPvEN5KG3F
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDKzqXJQG3
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeyjAmFXlo
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVRQoQSBnn
“Not bad. Just… different.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS1u89p5Jf
Silence.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUpPa5yjMb
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRQAIBIK9I
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl6rBlxRrS
“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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIvDZkAboH
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yEV4Mw7L8
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW1JQK8PqE
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPe14zu9DI
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3ZH3NV5Vs
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!”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPxWJYMKAj
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCdRujCw7i
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIRxbr7D6V
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFh5gt2SAVg
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbCWzejPQJ
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWUvSlL73W
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq01gskqeI
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbw9I5XyOZ
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeabLNKJjc5
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIaJz8G4sw
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdZGVSKjo8
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5OwT6vV7Cq
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcFetWNYgy
“You could make your business a reality.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeamCF4k7pm
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PFLiuLk23
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeYMGKG7y8
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZxIQgzNVN
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1eIqL1qkv
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLatdcTWLu
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpAl7TCDyx
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpdP4gx09m
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RvYIKwXO8
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mN1Cbc0ek
“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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7mFP9MuAc
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dedBFZMoD
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUss7ZENhg
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoyhUqh28r
“How’s that going for you?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvjyLfb3KK
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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvli4zDch7
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyDXOcx94H
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSjYDl4n5g
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzZ4dsVARo
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVSd5wPUya
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPzOEhGJo7
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r0j8y7wx1
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPpoZTLu4W
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxeISG2c3k
“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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLEdLYymHN
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8PEW8mZay
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMphm9RRmG
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmIFeQbsKO
“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.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTFuoEjIxH
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuxPAnKlNe
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJAuiaVifo
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXR8RgIdKxe
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuSMqRoytk
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6eI3Zc0qV
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VoLdt5ubV
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.682Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vI80GEvAd
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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