Friday. 9:02 pm.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiUa1aBlrv
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Mika called 10 minutes ago. She sent me a message five minutes ago.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxepiwdVMe4
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Right now?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmtsaRawJY
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At that point, I just stood where I was after getting off the train, and just stared at her. Not moving. Still. She was waiting on the platform, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbEYfZrEwf
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I am in trouble.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw72fQK6Nx
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I am in really big trouble.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8xLR59qNP
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She hadn’t noticed me yet. And I hoped it would stay like that for a few more minutes. I was not ready to face her. Not yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexmIPn7g8p
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Her eyes caught me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEnknbnata
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I stepped back a little. I thought maybe getting on the train was the best option to do at that moment. But… I slowly peeked at her… I guess there really wasn’t an option. Her eyes were the only option.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ2z8EtZk9
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Mika’s eyes cut sharper into me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTs1OaPMMs4
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Without even saying a word, I knew what Mika wanted. I started to walk. Reluctant. Slow. Like what Kuroiwa usually did. Unhurried. Her look got sharper. My steps got faster. Then I stood right in front of her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS1xZqmCP7
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“You’re late!” Mika said. “You’re exactly thirteen minutes and twenty-six seconds late!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlN6ymLxGif
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“That’s oddly specific,” I replied.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡai4xF4ihdn
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“It felt that long.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP55QfcY83q
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“Come on, it wasn’t that long.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3lz7ufIwD
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“You made me wait for you here, alone, a young girl like me, on a train station platform. Where some creepy old men could be walking. And I am here waiting… ALONE!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXI95hZ22B
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“But there aren’t any creepy old men walking around?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgL1RZLwNL
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“There are still some possibilities!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHonCDt195
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“I was just ten minutes late.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav11d00gbM
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“That’s long enough! And it felt longer than that.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQU6DJkJzm
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I sighed. “Alright, I’m sorry.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZebDoJfjGQ
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“I don’t feel any sincerity from that apology,” she said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW0dIiF6Zd
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“I’ll buy you a pudding next Monday as my sincerest apology.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4lFaRMgCU
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“Good. I don’t want the ones they sell in the cafeteria. I want the one sold at 7/11.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZmY3mMsw5
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“That’s—”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8P4s3tO5b
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“I said it, you buy it. Done.” Mika gave me another sharp stare.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e7jRJo6Qw
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“Oookay,” I said reluctantly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypXAvjScwu
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“Let’s go,” Mika gestured for us to move. She walked first and ended up in front of me. I walked fast until I caught up beside her, then I matched her speed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSTe7z47iL
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I glanced over at her. She started smiling as she muttered a chant to herself as we exited the train station.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoG2F3w6P7I
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbBIrOD9Xh
9:07 pm.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspeOCwaDg6
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Mika continued to chant while we walked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzvm87jUOo
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“Pudding~, pudding~.” Her smile got wider the more she chanted.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoLgebx0XS
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“You’re too into pudding, you know,” I taunted her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xIu9VmrB5
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Sharp Mika eyes appeared from their corner. “Are you calling me fat?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SKhPEAcDu
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“That’s not what I said.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBVYJzi8i1
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“That’s what you implied.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KnY4cvt0g
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“Then maybe you need to go on a diet.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTF32qxUhQ
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“YOU, go on a diet, you’re 2 whole kilograms heavier than me.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbj7uGDlqpA
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“Sh-shut up!” I almost covered her mouth with my hand but she was quick to step back.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTny0cvhi4T
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She smirked at me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcCMbuJ16G
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“You’re slow, must be because of all that fat.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerfqlEaRrD
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“I am not fat, excuse me. And besides, I’m two kilos heavier than you because I am taller.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKHpJ7SSLb
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“Hey! Height doesn’t have anything to do with it, and you’re only three inches taller!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLdpDjjRtZ
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“Three inches is still three inches. Admit it, you’re just short.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJDuJ5Cbw6
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“It is not that significant!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELXN4lrXCF
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“It is, though.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gv9iiaqmQ
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“I am not that short!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEpSd4jTTi
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We stared at each other. Then we both laughed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleACougSAl
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“Seriously, I am not that short,” Mika said after we caught our breath from laughing.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvidzIsE3LJ
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I giggled and winked at her. Mika pouted briefly but then smiled.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6K6S9O02n
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We continued to walk, side by side.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46uRvk21Re
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The street had become dark. And flickers of light, along with the shadows of bugs that were constantly hitting themselves on the bulb of the street light, were the only illumination that filled the night. I looked up at the sky. The moon was hidden. Then the night breeze started blowing into my skin that was not used to the cold, and now exposed to the air that suddenly embraced it. I covered myself. Mika just kept walking.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1eJ8tjvro
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“Too cold?” Mika asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWqs9FK2S2
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“It’s still May after all,” I answered.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjXSNyXekZ
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Quiet occupied around us for a moment. The sounds of our shoes stepping onto the concrete, next. I bathed myself in this silence that I hadn’t had for quite a while, which felt like longer than quite a while. Like almost the whole month of May. But it was nice to know that at least, I was given a chance before the end of the month for this kind of occasion. This kind of comfort.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCRDUFOCby
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I moved my head slightly to where Mika was. Not to look at her but to free my eyes from all the stress I’d been having and cover it with nostalgia instead. Although the neighborhood mostly had houses with walls, and all my eyes saw were these concrete walls, these concrete walls carried memories that I had since I was a kid.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hqIbUGXwL
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Then I noticed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWoWosT2JiS
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Mika had been holding her bag by the handle instead of using the shoulder strap like I did. She used two of her hands and her grip was tight.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadc4ZUPQnQ
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I looked at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNh004q4IU
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“Are you okay?” I asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEQwjdeJ0M
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Mika looked at me, stared into my eyes briefly and then resumed looking at the street. Her face was covered with worry. I was getting a little confused since we were just having a great time earlier. It was just banter, and it wasn’t like we were fighting. And we laughed too.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM8M4j54Yc
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“You know, I haven’t apologized to you yet,” Mika finally said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1LtGpg6gK
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“For calling me fat?” I smiled. “It’s okay, I called you short so we’re even now.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRq9MfnooM
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“No, not that.” I thought she was going to be defensive, but she was mostly quiet. “I was talking about what happened yesterday… on the rooftop.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbXIDQJyEW
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I almost forgot about that.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWy8YPntrm
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I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Mika continued.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnGD7f4O2A
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“I know you’re probably going to say I should not apologize, but I think I should. I still think I was right when I was preventing you from going to that guy’s apartment alone. But.. I shouldn’t have said what I said after that…”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HPvwdNw1r
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“That I was not going to pass no matter what?” I told her. Gently. Teasingly. But not accusatory.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaLMl3z9oZ
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My eyes never left her when she stopped walking. I took a step twice before my body could stop after I noticed. I was in front of her. But she was still looking down. She looked up and stared into my eyes. Then dropped her head low.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzjGXMowDL
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“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry,” Mika said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUq0WsR4Jk
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I walked toward Mika and carefully pushed her shoulders to lift her up from her bow. My hands stayed on top of them when she finally stood straight.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVjbqmbKUL
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“You don’t have to. You were not wrong after all,” I assured her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYABnmxpFe
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“But still—”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmdZUxVBFO
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“I mean, even I agreed with you at that moment, you know.” I giggled. “Besides, no one knows what’s really going to happen.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXwSFdL3vM
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I looked at her but she didn't seem convinced. So I sighed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk6FH5phkL
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“Fine, I forgive you,” I said. “So stop stalling us so we can finally go home.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rIb2goECq
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I smiled at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjms2AspDA
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“I was not stalling,” Mika said, and she smiled as well.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd9VgOkucU
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I let her walk first before I caught up beside her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdBbqeurTD
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“But didn’t you find him scary?” Mika asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2dXjLtlTB
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I thought about it for a bit. “...Yeah, he was scary, alright,” I answered. “But you know, if I kept getting scared, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on studying. He’s the one teaching me, after all.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqFPOE2FRU
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“Yes, but… I always thought he was a delinquent. Since… the first day of school. He showed up with a bandage patched on his cheek and some bruises on his neck. It was horrifying, and Hina was terrified too. She didn’t talk the whole day,” Mika continued.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbmXR4kk5H
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I remember all that but… “He had bruises on his neck? I didn’t know. How did you see?” I asked Mika.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxG1TrPQavS
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“Well, I was sitting at the front when the teacher introduced him as a transfer student. I kind of got startled by his bandage patch that I accidentally looked at his neck, and then I saw them,” Mika explained.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9dEPSonfz
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“Hmm? The neck?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR46fHKiiHc
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“Don’t make it weird.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcE9dixBrxt
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I giggled.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RGex8pQG3
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“It’s not funny,” Mika said, finally back to her usual self.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee3OMpdXbh
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“You know, Hina told me this morning that there’s a lot of difference between knowing someone, talking to them, and not caring at all,” I said. “I thought about what she said and it never really occurred to me at that time what she meant.” I paused. “But I thought, just being able to talk to Kuroiwa is enough to make me separate him from the rumors and all.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NcqMHTaBF
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“Do you mean, you are not scared of him anymore?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKqA0VLNtJ
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“Not really… I mean, I figured out later that talking to someone wasn’t enough to actually not be scared of them. But I figured out that the rumors weren’t true because of it.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoqaukRplQ
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“So you’re intending to know more about him?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUerwMb09yT
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I do.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVaYn72IUF
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I kept it in my thoughts. I wanted to know more about him, but only to become more familiar with him. I was just afraid of him this afternoon, but I also saw the invisible warmth inside that ramen shop. His eyes never gazed at it, his ears never heard it, and his hands never touched it. But that warmth still existed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw4PFu98uN
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Yet, doubts still lingered in my mind, filled by clusters of imagination that I was trying to navigate. The exit wasn’t open, but it didn’t mean it would stay closed forever. That was why all I could do was to keep moving forward, and maybe, if I knew him better, those thoughts would get erased and leave a picture inside my canvas of trust.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvgLEDcnPi
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“I chose to believe in him,” I said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomDzMmKgRH
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“Is that so?” Mika sighed. “You’re so impulsive sometimes.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyxi2T27Hq
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“What do you mean?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVKJakCXlq
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“What I mean is that you always just decide before you even think.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOJ3xxIxJr
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“I-I thought of it, I mean, I really did.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA59kvGfF8i
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“Really?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFKU6eSBAj
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“I mean, ask me what a quadratic equation is.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQaJs0eqy8
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Mika looked at me. She wasn’t convinced.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJnSIS42XK
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“Okay, so what is a quadratic equation?” she asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdstm4qa2p
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“A quadratic equation is an equation that has an X squared with a number beside it that’s not zero. Plus or minus an X with any number on it. Plus or minus any number. Equal to any number. Oh, and if the number beside the X and the one after it are 0, I don’t need to write them.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lu5myaJkE
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Mika lifted an eyebrow. “Well, technically you're not wrong, but that's not what the textbook said.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQoNe4XGcn
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“But I understood it perfectly,” I said. “Wait a second, then.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1nDjSu8bt
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I stopped walking and stood under a street light, then I started digging inside my bag. I took out a notebook and a pen, then flipped the back cover of the notebook. I began to write.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUWkm1EE2P
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X² - 6X + 4 = 015Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTp3ukBQs8
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I showed her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJyIZyfJZe
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“This is a quadratic equation,” I explained.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2HvS9OOGZ
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“Yes, it is,” she said nonchalantly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88SiYWXXYb
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“See this X squared here? If the equation starts with it, then it’s a quadratic equation, right?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEaM7AzoJZ
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“I agree, but not every time it is.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8HTEb1TvP
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“Yes, like if the number beside X squared is 0, then it is not a quadratic equation.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuPMmv6U8j
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“Mhm.” Mika closed her eyes and nodded.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUehhhI0wf
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I was getting impatient as she seemed not convinced.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYkp4Echn9
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“But that’s not the only way to find out,” I said. “Even if an equation starts with an X squared, even if the number beside it is not zero, it could still not be a quadratic equation.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv98wu5jUfv
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Mika opened her eyes. She opened them wide.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSislwELIA
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“Huh?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WpDIjmR18
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Then it clicked with me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHovfnYHjwg
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“Hmm? You don’t know?” I teased her. I put up a smirk, feeling a bit superior since, for the first time, I knew something that she didn’t know. “Should I tell you? Hmm? Hmm?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGB99jJu7d
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Mika bit her lip. She opened her mouth, closed it, but in the end, she couldn’t resist asking.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhJ8MR4TS9
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“What is the other way?” Mika asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyPIrIHLGE
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“Well,” I said, and wrote an addition on the equation. “If it’s like this, then the equation is not in its standard form.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQlD6tgsQJ
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I showed it to Mika.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn5k4RtJ0m
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X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 015Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3stLMXt4ZF
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenYKOzgBFW
“Or like this,” I continued. I wrote another variation of the equation, then again showed it to Mika.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4Qeq0sD5A
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X² - 6X + 4 = X²15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0ErIYKTdP
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“Which do you think is not a quadratic equation?” My voice was smug.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDJQlZRRbg
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“Wait, what do you mean by standard form?” Mika asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYV0ZAraAr
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“Eh? You don’t know?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXjmqTEKxT
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“It’s not in the textbook!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDpuucVwoN
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“It is though.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JvuhEJ5zS
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Mika bit her lip again. She was not liking how this was going, I could tell.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolm6mKIInR
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“Fine, it is, but I just didn’t get that far yet.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VSau9xvzO
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“Don’t worry, Mr. Tanaka will teach us this on Monday,” I told Mika.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPJsTGdnaI
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Mika closed her eyes. She was frowning. Then she sighed and opened her eyes.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6VK6xAYpC
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“Okay, you win. Just tell me,” Mika said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtG3MIvBUX
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I giggled.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpllaj4moor
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“Standard form is the original form of the equation. Like this.” I showed her the original equation again. “And if it’s not like the default form, then it is not in its standard form.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIpYYw6kKM
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“Then how can you make it into the standard form?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVwoIaNZlC
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“By simplifying it.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1zFYJbmGx
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“How?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl62TYBbaVc
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“Combining the same expressions.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7TEyoBHWf
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Mika paused for a second, tilted her head, and touched it with her fist while she crossed her arm to support the elbow of her other arm.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqBRv66A5S
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A few seconds had passed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltI7ffxDpS
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“Give me your notebook,” she said, finally.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeF5jvgYHh
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I handed her my notebook and my pen. Then I went beside her and she started simplifying the variation of the equation I made.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAGi3KCBvF
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X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 015Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPBmdVre6X
X² - 4X + 4 = 015Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBk0QahLNTX
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“That’s one,” Mika counted.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqPPvCypGU
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X² - 6X + 4 = X² 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgnAKUhhFP
X² - X² - 6X + 4 = 0.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfRzUQxRU9
- 6X + 4 = 015Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC6sWxk7dk
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“That’s two, was I right?” Mika looked at me when she asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCCkZH89gj
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“...Uh, yeah,” I said, hesitantly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1mjwjcOec
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“I see. Then… according to the textbook, the second equation isn’t a quadratic equation. I think I understand it now.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU61hvyGVLq
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The feelings of superiority were starting to fade. Erased. Trampled. Gone. I could not believe how fast she was able to understand it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNREEQhvsPh
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“You learned all this from Kuroiwa?” Mika asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI2dCaRSuu
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“Yes,” I answered. “He explained it to me five times until I understood it.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuwgORjJFu
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It was actually fifteen times. And we started from the very beginning every time I didn’t understand.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv1MM53bu9
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I felt embarrassed. How could I feel academically superior against a literal honor student? If I could melt right now, I should.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERHl3yrF2h
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“It’s quite impressive actually,” Mika said, suddenly. Her eyes were still glued to the notebook. “You were able to learn all of this in just one night.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaNHQYHpmT
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“Well, it wasn’t without a lot of trying,” I replied.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6SOetDgJq
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“What about linear equations?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfNV55woHp
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I choked on the air and started coughing. Pretending to cough at least.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlCbsENCQC
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Linear equation… uhh… linear equation. I didn’t know anything about linear equations. All Kuroiwa taught me was about quadratic ones. What is a linear equation?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKQ6ylI2Ci
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I wanted to ask. But then I remembered something Kuroiwa had said before we separated.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabXUXKoQn2
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Check your notes for the other parts we didn’t cover. All I taught you tonight were the most important ones since I anticipate where most of the points of the math exam would come from. The past lessons, you still need to review them yourself since we don’t have much time.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEf3Urr6kXY
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I covered my face with both my hands. And that also reminded me why I was late, because Kuroiwa had to walk me to the station. I said he didn’t have to, but….15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIjoGCjrbz
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You’re in my care at the moment, so I am responsible for your safety.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dwjMWppuS
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I screamed… internally.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBF1NKXKX8
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“You still don’t know?” Mika asked me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqMhZcYtMx
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I nodded. Two slow nods.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BBwePESCK
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Mika smiled. Warm. It wasn’t like the smirk I showed her earlier.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjTmzEK2rh
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Now I was feeling more ashamed. Ugh.1234 copyright protection11ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmkA9ZN1Ul 尼

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“You’re stalling,” she said. “Let’s go.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMQh2LEPKF
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We started walking again. I looked up at the sky. The moon was still not there.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbmn2EfrxE
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“It’s actually incredible,” Mika said, “that he was able to teach you all that in just a few hours. When I spent an entire week teaching you about linear equations. And yet you still don’t understand.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAdLM8chc2
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I bit my lip and I smiled awkwardly then I hid the smile under my chin.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0RX4ATHUu
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“And that’s maybe why you chose to believe him,” Mika continued. I lifted my head and looked at her. “It’s because he knew what he was doing, and we didn’t.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY3HFOtFMJ
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“I trust you more,” I said, my eyes emitted a certain worry.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFxfyYfoTm
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“I know, and I didn’t say that because I want you to pity me.” She frowned and flicked me between my eyebrows.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfapg0GCbW1
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“Ow!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszGZdfu9ra
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“It’s just that… maybe I was wrong… maybe I was wrong about him.” Mika looked up into the sky. “There is no moon today,” she said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivjCI1N4GY
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A few minutes more and we were about to reach our homes. Her house was next to mine and it had been like that as far as I could remember.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78DjKbMwZc
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I stared at where she was staring and thought of the words she had just said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8smxWXjliS
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“We all did,” I said to her, still looking up.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4My7HWjkgB
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But I knew she smiled.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErAdYcADi2
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVmYC4oODa
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9:15 pm.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO6CVkVA7J
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“I’m home!” I announced myself by the entrance of the house. I was busy removing my shoes when Mom came out from the living room.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pVUwMWkaE
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“You’re late,” Mom said as soon as she saw me. She sounded like she was about to lecture me but then, she turned her eyes toward the one who was beside me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMMyEz45Og
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“Good evening,” Mika greeted Mom. “Excuse me for intruding.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrDHjVBbdv
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“Oh, you’re here, Mika. Come in.” Mom’s voice sounded delighted.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsM5E7DJiz
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Is she more glad to see Mika than me?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpMvlu8QyB
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“Sorry we were late, exams were about to start soon and we had Hina to help us study.” Perfect excuse from Mika. I gave her a wink because she did not stutter this time unlike when we were still outside the house earlier. But she nudged me with her elbow and hit me in the ribs.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkPCLCUKic
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I closed my eyes. Took a deep breath. Then continued to take off my shoes as I eyed her menacingly. I knew she didn’t like lying but she didn’t need to hit me that hard.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0vcE34P1y
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After we were done, we headed to the living room, which also connected to our dining room and kitchen. At the dining table, I saw a portion of meat and potato stew in a bowl with a plastic cover around it. Mika and I sat at the dining table. Mom sat on the sofa in front of the television. She was watching some drama I hadn’t watched for about a week. I was curious about where the story was now when my Mom asked before I could.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIUWHGSU61
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“Have you eaten yet?” Mom asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z4CDsazGw
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I looked at the covered dish but it wasn’t tempting enough. After all, I had already eaten.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nk3KFpMKs
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“We already ate,” I answered but someone kicked my foot. I opened my mouth at the suspect while I rubbed my shin. “What are you doing, Mika?” I whispered. But my whisper had sharpness in it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIrztUw07w
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“I haven’t eaten yet,” Mika whispered back.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLQaVj54BM
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“Then go eat at your house.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s91KH5CO5
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“Mom went on a weekend vacation with her friends and Dad is going to be late.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg2rjRLwCC
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“How about your big brother?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmUCJ6XeLe
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“He doesn’t know how to cook. You want me to eat cup noodles when your Mom’s cooking is better?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo5WGsygxi
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I conceded. I sighed and turned toward my Mom.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB9fuYpML8
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“Mom, Mika is still hungry. We already ate but she still wants to eat more.” I looked at Mika afterwards. Her eyes were wide open. I felt her kick coming and I was able to avoid it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4sbA4w5pC
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“Is that so?” Mom said as she stood and walked toward the kitchen.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT1fb5if78
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Mika was preparing for another kick but my Mom approaching us prevented her from unleashing it. I stuck out my tongue a little toward her. She looked away instead.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnL2Zmqbb7b
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Mom took the bowl sitting on the dining table and put it into the microwave. Then she took another bowl and filled it with rice from the rice cooker.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmuEOPrDejl
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“So, how’s your Mom?” Mom asked Mika while still waiting for the dish to heat up from the microwave. Mom leaned by the counter to look and talk with her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDr3yWApDo
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“She’s okay,” Mika answered. She sounded stiff. “She just went on a weekend trip with her work friends today. She said she’s coming home on Sunday.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNiveJurmrz
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“Hmm… How about your Dad?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUggEn1u75P
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“He’s okay.” Mika’s voice was getting even more stiff. ”He was very busy at the university today. He said he would work until night today and probably go home around eleven P.M.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQWyuJUPFB
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I snorted quietly. The way she answered both questions was mechanically the same. Like how she sounded when a teacher asked her a question during class, but more nervous and less dignified. She clearly was still shaken by the fact that she lied to my Mom when we were still at the entrance.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJKXLVj4Bf
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I felt Mika’s stare. Sharp.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0D74Ilomq
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“It’s nice that they’re doing well.” Mom continued. “Well, I haven’t really seen them that much lately.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3KT45523d
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“Ah,” Mika tried to sound less monotonous this time but she still failed in the end. “Well, they have been very busy lately, and during the weekends they mostly come home late. Mom tries to come home early to cook for me and my brother, but sometimes she can't come home in time.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb16uCBz5FO
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“Is that so? Well, can you tell your Mom that whenever she’s free, I’m inviting her to go to that salon we went to last time? I’ve been meaning to go but I needed someone to go with.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAWfzfpeHj
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“Can’t you just call her or text her, Mom?” I asked an obvious question trying to be witty.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLVeMvBL3T
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My Mom turned to me to answer my witty question. “Talking in person is more important than talking on the phone,” she said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv5QK2hgw1
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“But you’re using Mika as a messenger.” I wittily replied.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRigQIUvq9
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“That’s not the point.” Mom sounded a bit defensive. I giggled a bit. “Speaking of phones, you should’ve called me when you were planning to be late.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M1ThtgIZB
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My smile faded. I didn’t feel witty anymore.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6Cyy7b3zf
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I looked at Mika. She smirked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAicuqxP9R
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“I agree,” Mika said, sounding less flat and sounding more smug, which I didn’t appreciate at all and I proved it to her with my eyes. “She never calls even when you tell her to.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxBIcEdF9p
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“Right?” Mom said. “No matter how many times you remind this girl, she always forgets.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5XXqyVPt2
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“I am being unfairly teamed up here,” I said. I put my head on top of the dining table. Forehead kissing wood. I sighed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnAKIdMoAb
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“Listen,” Mom continued the lecture, “I am not trying to be strict with you, but you have to understand as well that people get worried about you. I didn’t buy you a cellphone just to be a decoration. I bought it so you could reach out to us whenever it's needed.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfV5ISQ84r
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My Mom’s voice was calm. But her tone had already adapted to being a parent, lecturing like a professor. It’s not like I don’t understand what she was saying. It was just that sometimes I got into the moment of what I was doing that I genuinely forgot. Like tonight, I was so focused on studying and wanting to pass the upcoming exam that I failed to message her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7brM7TgPw3
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I sighed in defeat.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLHN2ls9Fc
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“I’m sorry,” I muttered into the dining table. I didn’t move for a few seconds then I decided to sit straight. Slowly. “Where’s Ruri, by the way?” I asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAqn3p7WaO
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“Look at her, she’s just now remembering Rurika after getting scolded,” Mom commented. “She already went to sleep.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbfRE7siLr
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My face dropped back onto the table. The table was comfortable. The table was my friend.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN69bL3cfG
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“I’m sorry,” I muttered for the second time.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrds4ptUlHn
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The microwave timer went off. I turned my head to look inside the kitchen. Mom turned off the microwave, carefully taking out the bowl of meat and potato stew while wearing a mitten. I looked up toward Mika, and she looked a bit uncomfortable because of the lecture. I heard Mom start walking towards us and when she reached us, she placed the bowl of rice in front of Mika together with the dish.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyHK4nO6I0
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“Sorry, you have to hear all of that,” Mom said to Mika. “Just forget about it and eat, okay?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut4HJCH94b
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“Yes, thank you,” Mika replied.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWc4kl43WN
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I, on the other hand, was waiting to get back to the comforts of my bed.1234 copyright protection11ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCdA4R6inW 尼

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