Thursday. Before first period.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKcZLJe5la
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I feel lost54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s4kiOtFUk
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I felt very lost.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr1f4rTOdg
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This morning just didn’t feel right. Every morning this week hadn’t felt right. And I would definitely feel worse as the day went on.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Qjsu7szIK
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I didn’t know how many minutes had passed since I lowered my head onto my desk. Forehead touching wood and I didn’t care if it was uncomfortable. Uncomfortable to me right now was my only real comfort.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hh4OmUvfK
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The classroom was filled with its usual pre-class noise. Classmates arriving, chairs scraping the floor, bags being dropped, and conversations mixing together. All contained inside this room.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFLJieDin7
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I tried to listen.
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None of it was reaching me.
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Not right now.
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Probably not even later.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpsJEXSBaV
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While everyone else was enjoying their youth. I was here, too busy having the same argument with myself that I’d been having since before I slept last night.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieUCDjJ5Jc
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What do I do?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTdNTUNAbB
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Unwillingly, I turned my head to my right, where Yui sat. I only noticed now, but she had been working through a box of strawberry Pocky. She had that focused contentment of someone who absolutely was just enjoying a snack early this morning.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgrtOavQQ0
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My head turned away from her.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlqau9YFq1
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I didn’t mind her eating. I wasn’t bothered with that at all. I was more bothered that she seemed unbothered while I was here accepting that uncomfortable is the best comfort I’d had ever since the start of this week. Nope. I am totally fine.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3VkgahNn3
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“Are you okay?” Yui asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuTiqeHKTk
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She noticed. I wished she didn’t.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53Y7sKJ8NY
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“Yeah,” I said. Still not looking at her directly.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXml70azwR
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She tugged at my sleeve. I lifted my head, straightened up, and turned.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11j6pD4R3Z
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“Here.” She held out a stick of Pocky, smiling. The way she always smiled when she was trying to make someone feel better.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjIHuPRb2a
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“You shouldn’t be eating before class.”
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhubkiSHUGI
“I didn’t have breakfast. This is all I have.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq3jNxZgW1
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She pulled the piece back and ate it herself.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnBX6dxGyS
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“Did you wake up late?” I asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F8BdZJsjt
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“Yep. I didn’t eat breakfast because if I did, I would have missed you guys at the train station.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCpFhaJ1ZM
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Alright, it was bothering me after all. So I had to say it.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNHg0FwiID
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“You know, eating snacks early in the morning isn’t healthy,” I finally said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHNEKN3G4n
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“Don’t worry,” she replied, still eating, “I have a strong metabolism.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMpSEZlwR4
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I stared at her.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfhFpdrfFa
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Is that… does she think that’s how metabolism works?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4ibw57rOU
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My mouth opened. I wanted to say something. Instead, I sighed.
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hkMarw8rt
I shouldn’t have asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIPWnaExBK
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I tried to shake the thought away. It didn’t matter after all. Nothing about Yui’s nutritional logic mattered right now.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpek8HIlVk
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“Hey,” I said carefully.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqE1342r6c
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“Yes?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGotxTsVkMY
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“What if someone challenged you to climb a really long ladder, and at the very top there was a huge bowl of curry waiting for you. You could eat all of it.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfSdUw13H1
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Her eyes lit up immediately.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0V7ozCN5k
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“I’ll climb it! Definitely!”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJz7GUgVG1r
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“But,” I said, “if you slip and fall even one step, you have to eat green peas.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK3xtBQ2tz
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The light from her eyes went out.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbraZ9tf5An
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“Ugh.” The sound came from her very soul. She never liked green peas. She hated it with such passion she would never talk to you again if you forced her to eat just a single pea.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zaXtq2siS
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She thought about it for a bit, placed a finger under her chin, crossed her other arm at the elbow to support it, closed her eyes, and tilted her head slightly.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEAolqP3dJ
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She’s actually thinking about it?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLAjgRabGW
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“How big is the bowl of curry?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETr1egjsTe
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“Huge. Like, really huge.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrDQSRtzK0
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“Hmm, well… then I’ll take the risk.” She opened her eyes. Her voice sounded reluctant. But still…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWbMxE07Iu
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She’ll take the risk…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RyzN3Aabe
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“Why?” I asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHPiIP5TET
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG35hov2ze
“I hate green peas! And I loooove curry,” she answered with no hesitation.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbD47g95oI
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She stared at me. The look in her eyes told me that this was more than just a serious matter for her.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI6TfXpkwe
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But to be honest… It is for me too.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBAwSIv5pO
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“But you know, even if the challenge sounds hard, if there is a prize in the end that I really love, then I would do it,” she continued, almost casually, like she didn’t hesitate just a while ago. “I think before you take on a challenge, you look at the prize first. Before you look at the risk, you ask yourself… is it worth it?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkvPjSisLP
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I blinked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAe9WXe2Hcz
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“The huge curry bowl at the top… super huge curry bowl. I think it is worth the risk!” Yui continued, suddenly sounding excited.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2BcJ8p1Qn
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I looked down at my own hands. I felt a sudden shift inside me. Not entirely a huge one, just a slight tug into a direction that I had not thought about. Something different that I hadn’t considered before.
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Is it worth it?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8YCYSKHsq
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I pressed both hands flat against my chest without meaning to.
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Suddenly, Yui popped up in front of me, leaning forward. I felt like she was trying to read whatever was written in my face.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpirw5TH8qk
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“So?” she said. “What is it about?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNKBVNAeAl
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“Uh… no, I mean… well…”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡneGTGjBPR7
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“Is it about the condition?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtAcIz4TbS
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I went still.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0uDIRnciJ
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“...Yeah.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnzmPwlBqy
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“Ooh,” she said, leaning a little bit closer. “So what is it?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gRJfXQqTS
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNddr3uSzw
“I can’t tell you… It’s…” I didn’t know what to say. What could I even say? “It’s something that…”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7AaiAcb5p
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“Okay,” she said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt54NDf3Qrz
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I paused for a bit.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwd2UCullq
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“What?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjUnrl0vL7
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“Well.” She smiled. “I could force you to tell me now. But it’s almost time for class.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDBrURj9P4
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I looked at the clock hanging way above the black board. Placed in the center of the wall.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rIBNT02fE
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She was right.The teacher would be here any second.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡposmjTFCjr
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I let out a breath.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOgnsBwZkD
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Out of relief?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlb18UdgW4
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Yes, mostly. I was aware that this would be brought up again later. But at least I got a lot more time to think about what to say.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pWqgIEU4p
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Maybe… if I could think about anything.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4xic9ui5a
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My eyes drifted without permission toward the back of the room.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuUDtNADZI
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He isn’t here…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgsYCan259
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At least that was one less person I had to think about all day. But this afternoon…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwHBj1jPKr
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I stared at his empty seat for a moment longer than I needed to.
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Lunch. Rooftop.
Ever since we were in first year, the rooftop had become our place during lunch. The four of us appreciated the quiet it brought to us. Nobody else came up here for some reason. And if there were any, they would see us and go back down.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt9cwN7VOm
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We ate lunch here most days. When it wasn’t raining at least. It had just become the thing we did.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWkZpg8yun
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This morning the teacher had done the roll call the same way he always did. When he reached Kuroiwa’s name, he just moved on… No explanation, no pauses, he did not even wonder why he didn’t get any response.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PjmtPffSP
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Usually when a student was absent, they would call the school to tell the teacher. But somehow it seemed like Mr. Tanaka did not even think to share it with the class. He always did. But today he didn’t.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGgvPfqA8T
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Did he even call? I thought. I felt like Kuroiwa probably did not.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOnHKru71O
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I hadn’t expected this. That I would feel bad about how he was treated.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6LpvxVAKX
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After all…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvNI7k8rDl
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A week ago I wouldn’t have thought twice about it. But now, after seeing what he actually did, his room, his work, and his goals. Those were different pictures of his life painted on a wall separate from what we all saw at school. Everyday he sat on his seat, yet everyday he didn’t exist to anyone.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqiuN1hd9e
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It’s all so strange.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEk5RqPqRB
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“You know what!?” Yui announced before we’d even properly settled down, lunch box already in her hand. “Miyamura-senpai from the basketball club and Anegasaki-senpai… they’re dating!”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNG3Y5hhomF
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I saw Mika glance at her in disbelief. I could tell that she was asking herself if Yui was actually going to do this now. After a brief look, she went back to getting her lunch out. Her lunch box bag looked almost like a small purse. That’s very Mika.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ807or6rtzz
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“Really?” Hina said. She sounded interested… or probably not.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tkv5lfT6e
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“I saw them this morning holding hands on the way to school. But when other students got close they separated and just walked normally. Like nothing!”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2s7XvWtO5
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Mika frowned without looking up. “We all walked to school together from the station this morning.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5exAFhZl6n
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Yui slowly turned her head toward Mika. Smiling like she knew Mika was going to say what she had just said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nFxBSmdfQ
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“I have very good peripheral vision.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWGQSwicg4
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Mika closed her eyes briefly. Hina was quietly amused.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uMrFjVltS
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I giggled.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrz5K3Zqo8
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“Just by tilting my head slightly…” Yui demonstrated. “…I can see what’s a few meters behind us in the corner of my eye. They were right there the whole time and none of you noticed!”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bdXWoDc3U
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“Wow,” Hina said. “It’s like you have a superpower.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWc2Eu98GIu
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“Yes. My very own.” Yui straightened up proudly.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwLacSMr3n
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Hina smiled. Mika sighed for a bit then started eating carefully and calmly. I could tell she was still not fully used to how Yui exposed her energy to everyone, even after a year together. Although, I thought, she was getting better at handling her now.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQMGfGxMTQ
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“Also,” Yui continued, sitting down and finally opening her own lunch box, “Sakamoto-kun from our class confessed to Nakano-chan. You know, the girl from the library committee in 2-C.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6QPAGC5jI
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“The one who’s always peeking into our classroom when she walks past?” Hina asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMU8c6Jvlw
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“Yes! They were behind the school building Tuesday afternoon. And she rejected him. That’s why Sakamoto-kun was absent yesterday and today he looks terrible.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9GyU0JpFA
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Mika looked like she was trying to restrain herself, but eventually she asked. “Tuesday afternoon you were with us. You know… during that whole thing. How did you even see that?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekweDHvXFt
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Yui looked at her with the patience of someone who had already read her like an open book.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyUpSSPqPA
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“Very good peripheral vision.” She winked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbwyNmbzf1
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Mika groaned and I bit the inside of my cheek.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxdcFn14pZ
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“One glance out the classroom window and I could see the entire view of the back building. I happened to look at the right moment.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViXIrnbj9h
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTG8sgdTIr
Hina gave a small, genuine clap. “Impressive.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIJ91aFkxr
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“Aren’t I?” Yui said, settling back with great dignity.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGzXBLUW6u
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNJG2ghuba
“But then why was Nakano-chan looking into our classroom?” Mika asked, and I could tell from her tone that she had already decided not to care whether she would regret asking this or not.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SfVY0P5BN
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“I figured that out too.” Yui pointed her chopsticks forward. “She wasn’t looking at Sakamoto-kun. She was looking at his best friend! Katou-kun! Who sits right next to him.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdePcyQnV9z
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERE0j4KCNU
“Oh,” Hina said, with the delight of someone who finally got into the most interesting part of a television drama. “A love triangle.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtg9jilZ5D
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvKHOv61Du
“Exactly like in dramas!” I said, because at this point, I was already invested.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDzaL8XLVo
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggs7kcaSwj
I heard Mika sigh beside me.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPzmmhtDYI
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3gdrckDyy
While Yui and Hina continued for a few more exchanges, Mika spoke to me.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBieXfpsj7S
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YTzuW4C4f
“So.” She set her chopsticks down. “What happened yesterday?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9MirL9kSn
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcc4u2pgZeS
Yui stopped talking mid-sentence.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWcmfmavjD
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavUd9nlwgx
Hina was already staring at us expecting to hear my answer.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpEfAziMKR
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhTCmikMMg
I… I didn’t feel ready to say anything.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXnIPajTv3
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkf1oVHsPF
The rooftop went a little quieter.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVJ4vujck1
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdahHI31lP1
I stared at my food for a moment before I found the first few words that appeared in my mind.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jBOllhgoI
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmO62ziQ2Ot
“Nothing really happened,” I said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzgrxIPmXo
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3HQ9nVnBx
“What do you mean?” Yui asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwPWCjoWmy
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTzxktBi8y
I turned my chopsticks over in my hand once. Twice.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhwV4283F2
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhupTfzZGr
My friends patiently waited, but I knew I couldn’t let them wait any longer.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIlqdc5YgW
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaHbTfxERD
“I got there, he let me in, I sat in his living room, he got me a soda, he brought out a table, and then we talked about the condition. He said I didn’t have to give him an answer right then. That if I came back today it would mean I accepted, and if I didn’t that was fine too. And then I went home.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHzHrvG8ZK
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTxyju4ApY
“That’s really all?” Hina asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNQdou858y
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3nXFk7wAo
“Yeah.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCsrZDlD5p
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc5NujnWpu
I wasn’t lying. Everything I said was true. There were just some things I didn’t add. Because they would land very heavy no matter the words I chose to say. His workspace, his sacrifices, and then the condition itself. And how he would just sit on the sofa and read his book after all that. Like nothing, like everything he had just said didn’t matter at all.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH6d1CSvRa
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRXCu2GbCS
I took a quick look at Mika and I knew already what she was going to say.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnkRFt4q2I
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQRGiYrpUB
“What’s the condition?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBPwGESM1s
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBt2L3DCK1
I knew it54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9wwzfLkpb
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ829jIdaoQ5
“...I can’t tell you.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMrAPNDwT0
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzVLUEUZvV
“That’s not acceptable.” Her voice lifted slightly. “I knew I should have come with you.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOpOiuEtKZ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUifsg0gHj
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m going to be fine. You don’t need to worry.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlepO1QL012
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkcZTvMiIA
Mika stared at me. Her eyebrows knitting showed that she didn’t like what she heard.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfFJBOSGJC
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXe3TLz8LcT
“Why are you saying it like you’ve already decided to go back?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzG5be9LY27
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyg70qnY0o9
I opened my mouth. Closed it.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVazePGww5
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyz0peBh4zc
Have I?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUEjBOKHOc
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I thought about it and slowly, I was surrounded by quiet.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIUmErpDJT
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEM5zPAuVeF
“I…” I hesitated.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljI7KSZZb3
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycOxfUPvab
“You have decided to go, haven’t you?” The tone of her voice started to sound accusatory. “I can tell.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmH5kCmTChi
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbXSQeyDXl
I didn’t argue.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL6QP9MAZq
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zZt5ybM7P
I knew I haven’t decided yet.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWlCSmFSAO
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Or… maybe…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6bPGHONK7
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXZaAR6v24
I was just convincing myself that I hadn’t decided even though I was already thinking about what would happen this afternoon.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfU378QGbA
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQH0oy5TAUd
“How can you always make reckless decisions like that?” Mika continued.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqFY7bLHyr
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfutRDd1Eh0
“I haven’t said I am going, right?” I replied.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFLEWZ19h4
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vckDZcAR0
“But you didn’t say that you wouldn’t go.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeplDjKuWTt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjoaRNA2pT
“Mika, don’t make up things I haven’t said.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnqMAyDTOe
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlMUWPzAsW
“It doesn’t matter, what matters most is that you don’t have to do this. You don’t have to always expose yourself to danger.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykNluvczHw
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0OpaZNxWg
“It’s not dangerous.” I paused. I knew I was lying.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfjjmWdQM1
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Rk0OYwWXU
“If it’s not, then tell us what Kuroiwa’s condition is.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWVrY1LD84
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1EOXvMRZy
“I… it’s none of your business…”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpNkrffXS1
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTK4OT0ec8
I looked down.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPZZeSixuk
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I noticed that both Mika and my lunchbox were already lying on the concrete. Grains of rice everywhere. Her favorite dish, my favorite dish, both our chopsticks… they were thrown when we stood up. I didn’t even realize I had stood up. She probably didn’t either.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DDUuUuW2x
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Mika grabbed my hand.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQl6wzfBKc
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewx271TyX0
“You don’t have to go,” she said and her voice was trying to reach me even though I could hear it perfectly. “We can go back to studying together. All four of us. We’ll find a different approach this time. We’ll do better.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Rd6LiQaX
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qKw5aphWt
“There’s no time,” I said quietly. “Midterms are next week, only six days left, including today. If one week didn’t produce any result… how would six days be different?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8pzUBF3Ga
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA7pLFiPiD
Mika let go of my hand.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjehzmJ5KMD
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4eeL6zPcf
“So instead you are choosing to accept a condition you can’t even tell us? You’re choosing to believe what he said?” Mika’s words were just coming, she wasn’t stopping herself anymore. “He is not a miracle worker. It’s not like he can actually turn your scores around in six days either!”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN57IM2NC1C
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezLFzJg0Lt
She paused for a second and let out a small gasp. I could see it on her face… regret… and the recognition of what she’d just implied. That even if I tried, the outcome was already written. That I was going to fail regardless.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPVwByxmJ1
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She didn’t say she was sorry. She just looked down. I saw her grip both her hands but also bite her lip trying not to say anymore.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowXiD1ugzI
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghXYCQNqja
What she said was true. I couldn’t deny it. And that’s exactly why I needed to say what I was about to say.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrso2Lhn5el
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgByJw9JMTP
“He told me he can.” I kept my voice careful. Even. “He told me my answers weren’t random. That even though they were wrong, they were well thought of. That if we applied the right methods, I would eventually produce the right answers.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAfq1AF0fb
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GbYnGb4ai
“You can’t trust him,” Mika mumbled.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEwE4fXkHL
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNVfn60Tmi
“I don’t,” I said it plainly. “But he’s the only hope I have left.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEe5MhNKy8F
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkVyX61MEc
My hands tightened slightly on my sides.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b1GrxSUqE
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“I don’t want to worry my mother anymore,” I said. “All four of us have been studying together since last year, but I still ended up taking supplementary lessons. It’s even a miracle that I was able to move up with you all. Last year was hard enough and now the material is harder. I laughed it off to you guys whenever I failed a subject. I tried not to show you that I was actually worried. Whenever I was at home, I studied. Whenever I was with you, I studied. But no matter how many times we did this, I could never keep up. I feel like I’ve wasted all your time, and I don’t…” My voice choked for a second, but I pushed through it. “I don’t want to be a burden to all of you anymore...”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYvt3cISH7
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaStscqWMqr
Tears welled from the corner of my eyes. I fought to keep them from dropping but they kept on flowing down my cheeks.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMooYKGk7qQ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqCDyuMVV0
I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to see myself in the expressions my friends were wearing right now.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLfJLc0hNg
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I felt Mika come closer, and then I felt her arms wrap around me. She buried her face against my shoulder and I felt it slowly getting soaked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjJSaQGlmr
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mXErpHKQd
“I’m sorry,” she said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38N2a40xuH
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSx5hnWYmr
“Don’t be.” I shook my head slightly. “It’s not your fault. You’ve been helping me a lot since we were kids. How could any of this be your fault?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlofJAfkfXR
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lBXWJnu60
Mika let go of me but not my hands. She gripped them tightly, but carefully.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52d1vAfxVi
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ65eKN9hb0
“Are you going?” she asked. Her voice was still faint with sobs.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNO6sdTYf8
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTpbH35WCs
“...Yeah.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Lq13Vb7h2
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Yui made a sound from somewhere and then her arms were around both of us, holding on without saying anything, trying very hard not to sob and not quite managing.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffx0KpVLj3
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuJZ1wrSJ2
After a moment Hina stood up. She came to us and placed her hand on each of our heads in turn. Gently, unhurried. Then she looked at Mika.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDjgLnUeTU
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThlRyEPjE8
“If you’re that worried,” she said, “go with her this afternoon. You don’t have to go inside. Just wait nearby.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31X6Cu3UKb
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQo0DFMNQ9
“What if it takes a long time?” I asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4IAJgnGmN
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqqRjispfP
“Then she goes home.” Hina’s voice was calm. “But we both know she won’t.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxRtKG1WNF
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiQNqNA7Is
“I’ll wait,” Mika said immediately. She pulled back enough to look at me properly, eyes still wet but firm and steady. “I’ll come with you and wait outside. Somewhere close.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdLVPHIORw
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVSjKivkTB
I nodded.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFANEqooel
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qcvkKeH5s
Yui, still holding both of us, let out a long shaky breath.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHPiK3MHQn
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf07Jx47A9
“Please don’t fight again,” she said, almost begging.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JKw3T6Zco
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5slmASJ9H
“Yui.” Hina’s voice was gentle. “That’s just how it is sometimes. We argue because we care. And then we come back to each other. That’s what it means to be friends.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM6Goj6dZ0
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYl9TrYdllM
Yui peeked up at her, still sniffling, as she thought about what Hina had just told her.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAmbtmfRb0
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFiJBboJqu
“Okay,” she said quietly.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiave6iloE
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I looked at the three of them. Mika with her wet eyes and her steady conviction. Yui, who had wrapped herself around us both and refused to let go. Hina, who knew exactly what to say whenever things like this happened.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4eWRRqnPf
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0giiLhFiwT
These were my people. All of them. And I wasn’t going to let myself fail in front of them without having tried absolutely everything available to me first.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWR1PDmaxWY
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAPTG39HYH
This afternoon…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztBOIYfI5s
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I’ll have my resolve.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9dgGAr1CQ
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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBbBAe0Gmu
Afternoon.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEfH4RQpKQ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyiXyx7NNf
Mika walked with me to the building and stopped at the park just beside it. She’d insisted she wasn’t going anywhere. I told her she didn’t need to wait if I took too long, but she only gave me the look, her look that said she heard me, but she was the one who would decide whether she stayed or not.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHRQXyVhkq
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I smiled at her. She smiled back. We laughed for a bit, the kind of laugh that showed that we were both okay, that we were both fine and we were going to be best friends for a long time.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviCkEAWkZX
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRtBbW4ymE
I went inside, found the intercom panel, and typed in Kuroiwa’s room number.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9waPk5Ttk
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lPZLK7u5B
“Who?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzeoxhVYkC
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cXlY4ljZ4
Hmm?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtAqk4cDN2
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUeFBuMc7A
His voice sounded a bit different today. Was he sick? I mean, it still sounded stern and strict but… somehow a bit mellowed.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUc9aBEDV3
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzin7ZuRZSp
I shook my head.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7x9NJVnju
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Mellow didn’t seem like the right word to describe him. It didn’t seem right at all. I didn’t know why I thought of it.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAORDMUnmce
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG2QpXXB38
I told him it was me, then the inner door opened.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwFVo8vyGq
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuvkRiA5yz
I took the elevator to the fifth floor, and when I stopped in front of his door I immediately found the doorbell. I had reminded myself of that one ever since I entered the lobby.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfUQ3a5wTN
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I pressed it and waited.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqRuw5eF4R
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A few seconds passed and the door opened.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB4zsa8UJt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWakKm18n7e
Then I understood what was bothering me about his voice earlier.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1q7ADzopx
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He looked… exhausted…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RwqkfdbkR
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His hair was messier than its usual mess. The shadows under his eyes were darker and more pronounced. The way he was standing wasn’t quite as straight as it always was, like he was acutely aware that if he didn’t balance himself, he would fall.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaaiWuyujf
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw0KrXBM4x
“Wait here,” he said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpO12DrAmU
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He left the door open and disappeared into the other room he hadn’t shown me yesterday.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPS80Bzcmn
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8OUYkeHIi
I didn’t know what to think. Was he not going to invite me in?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Af8cssh0
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl562YNPETV
This is quite awkward.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD59koI8JMZ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXfOZT9BYe
A minute passed. One minute of pure confusion ran through my mind. Maybe it was even five minutes. Who knows, all I know was that I was standing in front of his door, outside his open door to be exact.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Mio01womx
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IwxzCSTGk
Why is everything with him always so specific and so unclear at the same time?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1FxS5WwlY
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh2o4gDpZc
I sighed quietly.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWL4gP4YLr
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB8EGoSuNg
And then he came back.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvrp0hsmFa
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBZkG5HlCW
With notebooks?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRccmLm3Sqw
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuFvBeQRZu
A lot of them… stacked and thick. I could already see myself struggling to hold all of them in my hands. And I could also see him struggling to keep his balance while carrying them as he kept walking towards me.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kE9DJlBXt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm5QDQ6252
He managed though.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxlupDZTp3
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhImpcVPcgC
“Hands,” he said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnaD2qFgGU
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIjwZEbB3t
That didn’t sound right to me for some reason.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMHc37Yrzt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKEiuSXgh3
But I still reached both my hands out.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuW8lhFnd8
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiULOOoQk2c
He placed all those notebooks on top of them and I almost fell. Thankfully I didn’t.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KOIxaCoDI
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53ophXfbVC
“The three notebooks at the bottom are for the finals. You won’t be needing them right now,” he explained.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtnKfHZftk
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFA1rKwTfMA
I tried to count how many notebooks he had placed on my hands.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI4UBlJNEc
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyjMIxGJb5
… nine…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyLFAh1w0V
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz2P2eXHFl
Nine notebooks… Nine? Each one as thick as a novel?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2THHNFQpkT
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeeAZBTGAs
“The rest are the ones you’ll need for midterms. They will also be used for the finals,” he continued54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSznUJsmW0x
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXov7qkOnw
“That’s… that’s a lot,” I said. I had no idea that we needed this many notebooks for this term. Do we really?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpgT0Fk60Z
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgIJFDYQZG
“That’s all,” he said. “You can go home now.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoIGpy2mho
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AOmWeaEdH
I blinked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFo4nWh4TM
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjbsMcTiW4
That’s it? Just… here are some notebooks, go home?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh5JkbYAEd
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcaWLitFmQ
He moved to close the door.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ60PHUdvQ4
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Pnkz8VTzC
“Wait.” The word came out before I’d decided to say it.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI641tlBd5p
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wsRPHdSrb
He stopped.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMPgiBCNXm
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb7NenubJI
“Are we not starting today?” I asked.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1LjU85Jdp
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoREfbe6Wvr
“No need. There’s enough time.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv4SInUlOk
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfzVnpR3D1
Is there though?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodx6jtk4Q5
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIyFF1u9nv
My mouth moved before my brain caught up.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRJUk65ZSU
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuVZgNTzXs
“Why were you absent?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ivyNIdqaB
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyhhBMRm8n
“I was writing those.” He nodded at the notebooks in my arms.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOunROJxtdC
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwf5WwMn6t
He wrote these!? Really?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T777Yz7Qz
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHMZ39oMXM
I wanted to check, I wanted to look inside one of the notebooks, but my arms were currently occupied and I found myself wishing I could grow at least one more. Just for this moment.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh2Utu5lhw
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx7SPQJcU5
“Since… when?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oi67oI7HJ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczobSwuyzN
“Yesterday, after you left. I finished a few minutes before you arrived today.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRIClVXjOh
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdF37CvygA2
I stared at him.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqdGEaOm3v
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFoV8DXr5w
“Did you sleep?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKzdXhq0xP
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2Me2AcRLL
“No.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0b8WuDFSF
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwPL7aiRf4
“Why?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPJNtYbgjI
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6QUVELbRN
He looked at me and I guessed he was trying to understand why I asked a question with an obvious answer.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVcd5g7bKQ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoYMT03lEt
“You want to pass,” he said. “I wrote you materials to help you do that.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Hz2fGUCJ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0qimXpn4k
I opened my mouth to say something… maybe a thank you, maybe ask him why again, or ask what was wrong with him… but none of it came out.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqyEXFhXkF
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBxGRwr3jj
He hadn’t slept just to write all these nine notebooks I was carrying? I didn’t understand. Every time I thought I had some tiny grasp of who he was, he would just shatter it right in front of me.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRM8OHL1Tn
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9qJbYlHJU
I had asked him why?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYkR7lAN5w
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX5c0pgDay
He had answered because I needed help.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rb3SZEVhN
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpUCXQbs3i
I had asked him again…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7si2gV7W0Q
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJpS8x7F6I
He had answered because I wanted to pass.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwcovAm9uk
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUPAUgEMPe
Was it really that simple to him? That he didn’t have to think too much about it. Just, I could help you so I would help you.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADbsfUBzmV
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU0YWg6422
Why?54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyM0KwBCky
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhW2q7tu4jq
I asked him that question one more time from my thoughts.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZm48zcxsl
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAmvGohMLK
“Is that all?” he said.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvfEUo9RRM
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PTLjHq7mX
“Umm… wait.” I hesitated for a bit. “Don’t you need to hear my decision?”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq41Yj00WLI
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtK4zM91fK
He stared at me for a moment.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7okPxxadri
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezfiMTrYSH
“But you are here now.”54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGALsxqmPt
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30TJbhf4ZI
This guy…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclK4Wgl665
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhiG4D5NUR
I just nodded, I didn’t know what to say anymore.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbRYPsdW72
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1ZWkRjL7K
“If that’s all then… Goodnight…” he said as he slowly closed his door.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbnhsmTevZ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBP4mdJWt8
It was the middle of the afternoon. The light outside was still golden.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQZL55bZow
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvulwLkXlhB
I stood there for a few more minutes until my arms started reminding me I was holding nine heavy notebooks.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4tmA06tFO
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAYS88ha9T
I placed them on the floor first, knelt down, then carefully placed eight of them in my bag. They were so thick that one of them had to be left out. I stood up and carefully balanced the weight of my bag while I tucked the remaining notebook under my armpit.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXCEhCCS3U
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4qeeZ5P99R
I faced his door and bowed just a little. The only way I could express gratitude now, because I didn’t earlier while he was here.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiwh2sLv47
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFP8LYeFDtH
I walked towards the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor and waited for the doors to close. I started thinking about Mika waiting in the park below, about the curry at the top of the ladder, about the image of him sitting alone in that room all night writing materials for someone he’d spoken to exactly twice.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs2pPlDhIv
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0aZX3qIS7
I don’t trust him, I told Mika. And that was true.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA35xtznup3
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡerQ2f1owgC
But maybe it wasn’t about that at all.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5iPILOc1q
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Vzv1Qxbj2
Maybe… it was more about whether the prize was worth it or not…54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajcnPpRnUq
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F7GSc7UUP
I felt the heaviness of my bag, then took the notebook under my armpits and gripped it with my hand.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGPzyTnDww
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObVQ64Izir
Then a thought came right after.54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNoi0vloUZ
54Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WaBiDm8p1
I think it’s worth it.
and then Add to home screen.