Evening of Saturday, 3rd week of May23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOCNqSOIOJ
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I set my phone down on my desk. I called Runa hoping to cheer her up a little, but instead, the call ended with her sounding like she was about to cry.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKSfzOGfE3
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Ugh.
Seriously, what am I even doing? Making her cry again wasn’t my intention at all. Even though I think I’ve done it accidentally. All I wanted to do is help Runa. And if she can’t go back to his apartment anymore, then that’s that. It’s my turn to help her study again. It should be, but…
How?
I don’t even know how this guy was able to teach Runa about quadratic equations in just one night. I taught her about linear equations for a week. And until now she probably still doesn't understand what they are. Well, unless he already taught her about them.
But that’s beside the point.
I mean… studying aside. I understand completely what Shizuna-san, Runa’s mom’s concerns. It is not normal to have a girl and a boy who are still in high school, who aren’t even dating, be alone together in an apartment. I warned Runa about it, but even though she was hesitating, she still went. And by the looks of it, they actually just studied.
I can’t really comprehend this puzzle. It’s so confusing.
And because of that, I found it hard to concentrate on my own studying for the entire week. And again tonight… no… the whole day, I wasn’t able to progress at all. My desk looks busy. Notebooks scattered, pens everywhere. But it’s not because I was diligent. It’s because I was getting irritated that I am not progressing the way I want to, and there are still a lot of materials I need to review.
…and exams are just three days away.
Sigh.
“I can’t stand this,” I shouted toward my desk.
What am I supposed to do?
I hear footsteps suddenly emerge in the hallway outside my room. They sound light but still loud enough that my ears can pick up their rhythm. It's my mother. The footsteps stop when they reach my door. Then three knocks. I look behind me and I see my door opening slightly and her head peeking through. When she sees me looking at her, she enters.
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Mother sighed, but then smiled.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpxOlMXA3P
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“Still studying, Mika?” Mother asked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvhd8LKJd9
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“...Yeah,” I answered. “I just felt a little bit annoyed about something.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcaAs6gtTB
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“Well, if that’s the case, then I think it’s time for you to go to bed. Don’t you think so?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7nL8AUFa2
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“But, exams are coming up soon. I don’t want to waste time and not be prepared for them.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcK61FSGEkG
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I look toward my mother. She is still smiling. Then she taps my shoulder and points her finger toward my alarm clock that’s on my desk.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYGlEjnmYF
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10:32 pm.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfYA62In6z
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I turn toward her while I pout.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz5wZqukW6
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“It’s still just 10:32 pm. It’s early,” I said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYonnXtGsj
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“You’re a growing girl, and resting is also part of preparing,” my mother replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNf6icVkBY
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“That’s not fair, how are you and father allowed to work hard but I can’t?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OjPWWd6EM
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“True,” Mother answered. “Teru-kun and I work hard, but we work hard for you and your brother. You, on the other hand, are still young, and you shouldn’t force yourself when you are at the point of struggling. Sometimes, take a break.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5I2mwcPZtG
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That’s not the answer I wanted to hear from her. It’s like dismissing all the effort that I’ve put into my own studies. I mean, I get it, but I need to do this. Otherwise…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3HBQ14UeD
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“And you know Teru-kun and I always go on vacations once a month. I also go out with my friends at least twice a month,” Mother continued, then patted my head. “See, even though we work hard, we both know when to take a break,” she said. Her smile still hasn't left her face.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCFlYi0pNa
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“Okay,” I answered and gently lifted her hand away from my head. I don’t like it whenever she tries to treat me like a kid. But it has become a habit, and I don’t feel like correcting her anymore. Not that I haven’t tried. It's just that I tried too many times and she still ended up patting me on the head every time. “But, don’t you think it’s time for you to stop calling father by a nickname? I mean, you’re not in your teens anymore.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBLw8c31lG
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“What do you mean?” Mother pouted. “I still love your dad, you know.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYODFaTtnY
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Mother puts both her hands to her cheeks, then she blushes, then her smile gets bigger.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwMeo33CqS
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“I still remember the time when he confessed to me before we graduated from high school. I’ve known he liked me ever since we got into the same class when we were in second year, but it took him two years to confess. But even so, I think those two years I’ve waited for him were all worth it. And—” Mother continued.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuSkeEnBl7
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“Mama… I’ve heard you tell me the same story like a million times already. Please spare me,” I said. I really don’t want to hear it again. It becomes cheesier the more I hear it from her. And I had to cut her off before she even began to elaborate more on her romance with Father from when they met to now.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HjFTEqjzM
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I do respect that my mother never grew out of love with Father, but I really can’t comprehend what was so good about being in love. I’ve never thought about it, not even once.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQgBG1nUN7
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“Well, off to bed then,” Mother said as she stood up. “One day you’ll understand,” she said as if she just read my mind. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsuK1qdvMQ
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“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’ll go to bed later, Mama.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW02uzbTo2
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“Then don’t stay up late.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAQa8uJ3S0
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“Alright.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ098Smx294W
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I stared at her as she walked toward my door.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FUGZpyk4R
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“Good luck then, and good night,” Mother said before closing the door.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEUzOVJVtP
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I immediately crossed my arms on my desk and hid my face inside them as soon as she left.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLB9A6slu0
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Ugh.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjho09lyC9
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Ughhhhhh.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEICCru0TD
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I knew my mother just told me something to think about life. But that’s beside the point of what is bothering me right now.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjMM8UG7Aq
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Sigh.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy88q2Ui7qJ
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Knowing when to take a break, huh?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInkTuphiCa
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…No.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoB13JGOJJw
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Runa still needs help. I have to think about something. Maybe…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mqj8UAP64
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An idea came to me. Then I reached for my phone from where I left it.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEztUVLWYJ
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First, I’ll have to message both Hina and Yui in private, separately…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVHkLZ9HNf
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Morning of Sunday, the beginning of the 4th week of May.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiYDoKWfrU
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I am wearing my favorite clothes this morning. A frilly pale blue camisole layered beneath a cropped cardigan. My favorite high-waisted skirt with gentle pleats that sway just above my knees. My shoes, white with modest heels. I used my usual pair of small, glossy pink bead hair elastics to tie my high twin tails. I liked how everything came together.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDVzHr4awf
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Beside me on my left, is Yui, who just had her third yawn ever since she arrived at my house this morning. Her eyes are still half closed and she was rubbing one of them with her fingers while she yawned.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXHQqJk76a
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It’s already 9 a.m., for goodness sake. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M650n4Tmw
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Yui is wearing an oversized T-shirt with an embroidered teddy bear taking a nap as a design on its chest. The front hem is casually tucked under her shorts while she leaves the rest to hang loose. A cute star-shaped hairpin decorates the left side of her bangs while her short chestnut brown hair falls just above her shoulders.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jZFJazuFE
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“Yui, wake up,” I told her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWORtKoHtCA
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“Mmmnnn…” Yui only murmured.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7mNapyFKy
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“There’s no way you’re still sleepy at this hour.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1qfRTjmvV
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“But you basically held me hostage last night and kept me up until past midnight.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqdNRZ1CJn
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“We had to discuss something important.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsPivVK6qY
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“I know, but if I am sleepy, then I am sleepy.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiNF0xWRRB
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…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ESVxysK0K
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I shook my head slightly. I guess I’ll just have to try to ignore Yui’s yawns. There are more important things to think about at this point.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NAV5x1ErY
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I turned toward Hina, walking slightly ahead on my right. Tall, perfect figure, long black hair, pretty, and mature. She’s wearing a rose pink one-piece dress with the skirt running down just below her knees. She’s wearing sandals this time, but instead of looking casual because of them, she looks more feminine. I guess that’s what you should expect from her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2NCY2yfaz
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“Hina,” I called, “sorry about my brother.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ExQuuFKOd
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Hina turned her head toward me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzYRTpIyyI
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“It’s fine, you were there to save me, right?” Hina replied with a wink.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErPq43oSAa
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“I mean, he was not always like this, but lately he’s changed and started behaving unacceptably.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQD3IMRF5w
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That’s right, we could’ve gone to Runa’s house much earlier if not for my big brother’s interference. Of all the days he could choose to wake up early in the morning, he chose today. The day when I told Hina and Yui to come to my house early. And as soon as he saw Hina come in, he started hitting on her. Of course I would intervene. He’s not the same brother I know. If he gets together with Hina with how he has become, he’ll just ruin her life. The same thing happened last year as well, when he started hitting on Runa. I’ve told him multiple times to cut it out, and he did for a little while. But when he started doing it again, Runa stopped hanging out with me at my house. What a creep.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Xg0HP5Xq
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But that’s beside the point.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aW9ynZ3Zf
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I am also worried about other things. I don’t want to think about my stupid brother and his stupid behavior right now. What’s more important is Runa.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgkFvidqjV
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“Do you think the plan would work?” I asked Hina.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6CANi4JAP
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“Of course it will. It's your plan after all,” Hina answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpApFrjHag
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That doesn’t sound reassuring. I mean, I am already thinking of many possibilities of how this plan would fall apart with the wrong things happening at once. What would we do if we got to that point then?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKHKfDrKug
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I don’t know. All I know is that we’re already in front of the small gate to Runa’s house. So, I took a deep breath.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaf3EtOaQ9
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“Don’t worry,” Yui said beside me. “With the acting skills I’ve gained from watching dramas, I’m sure everything will go smoothly.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMud926wG9z
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Acting what? Why do we need to act again? I know we need to lie, but do we really have to make it seem like we’re going to perform in a play? What is this girl thinking?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdR0I09gNE
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Now I am more worried…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Z3L64Q81g
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I checked the time from my phone. It’s already 9:16 am.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLq5aQ6i01
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Earlier Shizuna-san appeared right before us by the door. She looks proper as always, but her soft expression seems to be dimmer than usual. I saw some evidence of tiredness. But she still keeps that smile she has when she greets us.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFrdaDtaLC
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She immediately led us toward the living room where we are now. Me, Yui, and Hina sat on a long sofa, Yui took the middle spot, I sat on her right and Hina sat on her left. When Yui started swinging her feet while sitting, I started to get annoyed. While I was sitting there being anxious, here comes Yui playing around like nothing’s about to happen.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryFWVOzBdg
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“Stop that,” I whispered to Yui.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynMgF5Gszk
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“Stop what?” Yui whispered back.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UAV2Ifg4d
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“Your feet, it’s distracting me.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWXzNEUG48
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“Okay…” Yui said then stopped and suddenly became quiet.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaMBhlwHJ9
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Am I imagining things? It doesn’t seem like the Yui I know who always finds a way to continue annoying me. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD1CFrFpQew
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I carefully looked at her face. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46o3Lsycxo
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Then I knew. She's also nervous. Her eyes keep looking around, and she’s gripping the sofa hard and then letting go, then she repeats it. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSJlPu6Cfd
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I leaned forward a bit to look at Hina. She’s calm. That assured me for a minute. At least someone is really prepared to execute the plan.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4d4T76WMV
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Please, Hina. I am counting on you.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq5ybeGYhB
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Shizuna-san comes back from the kitchen, she’s holding a tray with three glasses of orange juice, then she places them on the table right in front of us.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc4w3bgPYK
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“Wait here, while I call for Runa,” she said as she walked toward the doorway.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Wrku8QHve
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“Excuse me, Miyase-san,” Hina called for Shizuna-san’s attention.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA3KVwlWoX
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Shizuna-san stops right before exiting. She turns around toward us. “You can just call me, Shizuna,” she said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMpJrOZuPp
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I feel like I shouldn’t let Hina do the talking alone. So I replied, “Well, Shizuna-san. We would like to get permission to ask Runa to come study with us in the library in town,” I said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EBBrF07BC
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I wonder if it’s the right decision to take over from Hina, or maybe I should’ve just let her do the talking?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLTEFBRpTR
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I found my answer by how Shizuna-san’s expression changed. From forcing herself to look cheerful, her face transformed to look more stern. Shizuna-san crossed her arms and stared at the three of us with a frown. She walked closer until she ended up standing right before us. Yui froze beside me. I looked at her in disbelief… Why are you looking so guilty? Where is your acting skill now when we need it? Unbelievable.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjV3Baohdb
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I nudged her for a bit. But she only turned toward me with an awkward smile.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzjzBIV4Uh
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“No,” Shizuna-san answered. “If you need to study, you can just study with her here at home.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTId24XNRp
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Okay, this is as far as I think I can do. At this point, I already don’t know what to say.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEl1RkKnDi
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“But there are things we can use as reference to help us study in the library,” Hina replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6x41DysHS
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Nice going, Hina.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgPRexM5k5
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“Can you just use the internet to find those references?” Shizuna-san said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5uPhNk6VW
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“Yes, but books are still the more informative option,” Hina replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagnstJxemO
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I asked for both of their help last night because I knew that if I were alone in this situation I'd be rendered useless. And here, beside me was also someone who was being useless. Thank goodness Hina came. Otherwise, if I had done this all alone, the moment I entered the house it would have been over.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOa3FzrAFn
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At this point, I just listened.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwj4po3dj8G
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“How?” Shizuna-san continued.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnhBDEikJC
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“Because a book will always be written with a lot of care by the author,” Hina replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIKZnj6diW
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“How is that different from what is written on the internet?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmU9RlmHuz
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“It is, because books that are well-written have years of research that were put into them.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXy7SCqWvF
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“But with the internet, you can do the same.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KkgyhpSdx
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“Yes, but a lot of articles online can’t always be trusted.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkEhy6M8w0
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“How come?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjyFEmwpxi
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“Miyase-san, are you familiar with the saying that ‘you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet’?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmF2yGeXGp8
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“I guess I heard it once from the news.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hs4eyekiR
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“Right? And a lot of the things you find on the internet can’t be easily verified.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1eVeYduOd
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“Hmm… maybe, but I really don’t know anything much about the internet.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY381Fl1PX
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It might be just my imagination, but I feel like I just saw Hina’s eyes sparkle after what Shizuna-san just said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpum8WiMfs
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“Yes, and that’s why, since books are already verified because of years of research, if we rely on the internet, it might take years for us to find reliable references we need for our study material.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEvZmcy03u
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I don’t like that reply from Hina. That doesn’t make sense. Even if Shizuna-san isn’t that knowledgeable about the internet, if she at least used it a few times, she’ll know that’s a lie.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50IPvp5B4X
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“Is that so?” Shizuna-san replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Z6OhbJQt
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I let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness the internet is not for everyone yet. I don’t know if Hina deliberately calculated the risk or was just winging it, but it produced a nice result.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsDwwx8V0q
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Shizuna-san noticed me completely relaxing my posture, and when I saw her turn toward me, I straightened up. Then she looked toward Yui who was still completely still beside me. Yui noticed Shizuna-san’s eye on her and from being still and not moving, she started swinging her feet like before, stared at the ceiling, and then whistled.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd66hThERhA
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I raised my hand by reflex.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUP6nEmMCN
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“Shizuna-san, um, can we borrow your bathroom for a second? I think Yui needs to use your toilet,” I said as I stood up.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34v421z9Tp
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Yui whispered to me, “I don—” but I interrupted her with a pinch on her back. Impressively, she didn’t let out a sound. “Y-yes, Miyase-san, please let me use your toilet,” she begged.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuPq3UYHTE
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“Do you need to go together?” Shizuna-san asked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KZtuVIoMm
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“Mhm.” I nodded. “Yui is kind of shy, so she needs someone to accompany her at least by the door if she’s in another house,” I replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FKZOIK0lQ
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“That’s weird. I know it’s been a long time since Yui’s last visit here, but I don’t remember her being shy,” Shizuna-san said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWe1jz9iq4
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“Umm… Well, you know, since it’s been a long time… umm… I-I’ve become more shy…” Yui answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPj4sD4qG7q
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“I see. Well, I guess that makes sense, since back then you were still in your second year of middle school. You looked shorter back then. I guess it makes sense that your personality would change as you grow through the years, especially when you entered high school,” Shizuna-san replied. “My, that’s too bad then. I kind of miss those times when we talked about silly stuff and dramas together.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2cx5l56Yy
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I glanced at Yui and saw her eyes start to well up. Is nostalgia hitting her right now? So I immediately pulled her out of the living room. I excused the both of us to Shizuna-san, then took a peek at Hina. Hina just winked at me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KWPsTv46m
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At this point, if Yui and I stay, we’ll just become a liability. Better we retreat now and wait a couple minutes before we go back. Hina, I leave the rest to you.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ56xLxnjd6
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqNFYOccaN
It’s already 9:42 am. That took longer than expected. I wonder if Runa will have time to study the materials she hasn’t covered yet.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI37kfqsJw
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I looked at her. She doesn’t look the same as how she was when we saw her come down from her room. Her hair is not a mess anymore, she’s dressed more proper now, with her fitted light yellow short-sleeved shirt, paired with skinny jeans, and white rubber shoes. At first glance, you will think that she’s probably fine. But if you look at her eyes, the soreness is still there. And she’s also forcing a smile. She doesn’t look the same as she did, but she’s still feeling the same as she felt.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cxm27D7R0
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“How did you do it?” Yui asked Hina. “I mean, when we came back, suddenly Runa’s mom gave us permission. What did you do when we were gone?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fYSo831bF
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“I just tried to convince her,” Hina answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBnP4UeGsi
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“How?” I asked out of curiosity. Indeed, to me, everything that went down in that living room looked like a magician pulling some tricks out of her bag.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnYlQJjglw
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“I showed Miyase-san the materials we are going to tackle, and explained to her why we needed to be in the library,” Hina said with a smile.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGXg2mAWb0
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“Is that it?” I did not sound convinced. I mean, it’s that simple? Maybe there was something more, but Hina isn’t the kind to elaborate on her thoughts, not like she can’t, but it’s more like she’s just summarizing everything for us, and hiding important details from us. I’m totally curious now, but it’s my fault for leaving the room.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn34C6NKY4
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No…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3HV6RJbgL
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It’s Yui’s fault.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAcYrMcrf4
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“Anyway, Yui, I thought you would show us your great acting like you said before we went in,” I said to her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQvcUn5NnC
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“Ah, well, I showed a different kind of acting. Hehe.” Yui laughed it off.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4tgFG2mrA
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“Yeah, acting like a robot,” I replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEit2WcGmR
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“No, I wasn’t!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1BwlSAlAA
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“Yes, you were!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIgXrIE0r2
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“No! You’re just jealous because I was a really good actress.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvk9NMUkxic
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“Explain?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ19P9S8Tjd
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“I don’t need to explain, I mean did you hear me whistle?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBAbeGZX2M
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“Yes, and it was awful.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb538xsuxzj
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Yui pouted after my remark.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoMO7hIO8U
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“You’re awful, look at you. You’re just like Runa’s mom, crossing your arms like that and frowning at me.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46puPnng4l
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“What? I’m not—” I looked at my arms. They were indeed crossed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzHtbPLSas
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“See, scary,” Yui said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79oqOjpZE3
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“I don’t think it’s nice to say Miyase-san is scary, she really wasn't. She was actually rather nice,” Hina said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEBtIELpFC
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Yui and I looked at Hina for a second. “Sorry,” both of us said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZlSQc3wwK
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Wait… why am I also apologizing?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKuXo93rax
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I heard someone giggle behind me and Yui and both of us turned. It was Runa. It doesn’t look like she’s forcing herself this time. It sounded genuine.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyNEM3dH0W
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I smiled. I’m glad at least she’s feeling a little better now to laugh. I walked toward her and we started walking together. Yui joined us, and walked beside me, while Hina walked beside Runa. We never really asked Runa how she’s doing. I mean, we didn’t need to. We can see with our own eyes. And asking her felt wrong in a way. We just wanted her to feel better. And that’s why we’re walking beside her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZqvPqgHbK
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We reached the train station about five minutes later. We stood at the entrance first, before we entered. I thought it would be the best time to tell Runa what this plan was supposed to be.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuWunbfVfz
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“Runa,” I said. “I think this is where we split.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwETQRVraf
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“Hmm? What do you mean?” Runa asked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIISmYUZboO
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“She means, you’re going to Shadow Prince’s apartment,” Yui answered for me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZjWwGWstW
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“Huh? Eh? What’s going on?” Runa’s eyes widened and she looked at us like she wanted to know if we’re telling the truth.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1J4lHiU9Ep
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“Well, the plan all along is to get you out of your house, and then we let you go on your way. You know, to go study with him,” I replied.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQCAvPNPwc
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“Really!?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OhM7TtsRT
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“Mika was the one who thought of the plan,” Yui enthusiastically revealed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjJVbd8lTu
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Runa looked at me, her eyes started to well up with tears.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZhpILR8pD
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“Careful with your makeup,” I reminded her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K4Mt4UU7Q
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Runa started biting her lips and fanning her eyes with her hands. I laughed. Then suddenly she hugged me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6ugOzFLiC
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“Thank you,” Runa whispered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2X06qtlvd
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“Then I need one more pudding tomorrow,” I said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8ErCMDmzj
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“Awww,” Yui made a sound and hugged both of us.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas0mRGERlp
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Then I felt Hina’s hands touch the top of our heads one by one.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7MiQtn51K
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After that…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28t3aTAKZ1
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We went inside the station and parted ways with her in the lobby. She looked excited, almost running toward the platform where the train she needs to ride is. She would turn sometimes and wave, and then she turned toward a corner and there she went.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP07OeOWEKV
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I exhaled a little bit.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5vQUeOKH7
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“Look at Runa, so happy to go meet her prince,” Yui said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPa75MC8LW
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“You’re still onto that?” I replied, judging her for always forcing romance fantasy onto others. “You should know by now that they aren’t actually a thing.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkdO1VP35K
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“Why? Don’t you—”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslI4CDpLVa
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“Yui, making assumptions without evidence is bad,” Hina interrupted Yui.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL199XRKnNR
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“Hnnngh, why are both of you so stubborn about romance!” Yui pouted. “This doesn’t make sense at all, you’re supposed to be a teenage girl like me.” Yui looked at me specifically when she said the latter.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIlOQZOlGf
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“...Are you saying that to just me?” I asked to confirm if she really intended to say what she said only to me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnuw3c3itX
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“Because you’re always studying. When was the last time you even liked someone? I think if you find a boyfriend you’ll be able to relax more,” Yui answered.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjcQIr4gsc
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“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2da6PMzJor
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“I mean, don’t you feel bad?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHWBZM2ZAw
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“About?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCWMTuQE3V
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“About those boys you rejected last year. You could’ve accepted at least one of them and enjoyed your youth.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvlbnmX8IF
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“I am enjoying my youth now.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctL5yLk7GG
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“Studying in your room?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLHWGIyYjj
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“Yes, thank you. And besides, you know how bad those confessions were. And I don’t have any time to spare for those kinds of things.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vJ4Uwz8lQ
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Yui’s expression suddenly shifted. She’s now smirking.. 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxbUAXcg2u
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“Oh, they were bad, alright,” Yui said. “Fujimoto-senpai, from last year. He was a second year student back then and was running to become the president of the student council.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ik3qQ1ucF
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“Stop!” I shouted at Yui. I didn’t know whether to cover my ears so I can’t hear what she’s saying or to cover my face to hide my embarrassment.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVG7Olk31f
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“During the election, he went up to the podium. And instead of giving his speech, he started mentioning your name. Then read a poem, talked about the bees and the birds, the blues and the violets, and compared you to a rose that bloomed in the morning. Then, when everybody turned their attention to you, you just glared at him. In fact you glared at him so badly that when he finally decided to give his speech he started crying. And because of that he lost. I heard he transferred schools after a few months.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeq9MIUrjWj
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“That wasn’t my fault, I was still wearing glasses back then and I forgot them in my bag. It was a mandatory assembly so I just hurried there without my glasses. And also I wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying since I was focused on seeing what’s in front of me, but still…”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbkUTS4fVj
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“Tanaka-kun.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8atBfZfol
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She’s still going!?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWxBwQgqJg
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“He confessed to you during lunch break at the beginning of the school year last year. You rejected him right then and there in front of everyone in the classroom,” Yui continued.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0ManX9fmq
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“His timing was bad, we were eating. Why would someone even confess in front of others while they were busy having lunch?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEnyX9HBFM
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“So, you would’ve accepted if you weren’t?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6L7sAEAadi
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“...No.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYn8UgujOI
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“See! After that Tanaka-kun didn’t eat lunch for days from being heartbroken.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AFDFpsFdz
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“That’s a lie! How did you even know that?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpijC7H03xF
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Yui blinked. “Peripheral vision.” 23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsMUELgkz6
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I just hit my forehead with my palm. I shouldn’t even have asked.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeuR6appqm
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“Yui,” Hina suddenly said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUGpY0QnKv
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“What?” Yui turned toward Hina.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ671xDquj7K
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“Yamada-kun,” Hina said. And as soon as Yui heard what she said, Yui’s expression changed.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Of38okqJC
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“Wait. Hina, that’s different!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HWpxfBPag
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“During our third year of middle school, he said you were cute in class and then you knocked down your pencil case, you stood up, and apologized to the pencil case for five minutes.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99EUGLLREi
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“I-I was stressed that day!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCjPSECjhd
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“Goto-kun,” Hina continued. “You asked me to turn him down on your behalf and pretended to have diarrhea. And you hid in the bathroom for twenty minutes.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh5o0ldIHi
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“I wasn’t really hiding, I was—”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC6Oe5v60A
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“You messaged me ‘Hina help there’s a boy’ and sent me a selfie of you hiding in the stall.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZfZlbCODu
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I tried at first, but I couldn’t hold my laughter after that one. That’s the first time I heard a different side of Yui. I didn’t go to the same middle school as her, Runa and Hina, so knowing more about Yui is kind of a pleasant surprise, and funny.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iAa5zIfMw
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“Hey it’s not funny,” Yui said to me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYgn5RbmKe
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“Yui, you were worse than me.” I replied while still laughing.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUViLZ5BlX5
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“No, it’s different, it’s like a disease… This is not fair!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vQpeJ5yDV
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“What kind of disease?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0Lpop6Tfs
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Yui was quiet.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiaM38Jy3t
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“Aww, little Yui being shy around boys I see, even though you always dream about romance.” I teased her.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzKftOnwMa
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“Stop!” Yui pouted.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19UwsKfSt3
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I laughed for a bit longer, but when I settled down I turned toward Hina.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8Y2muBoML
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“How about y—”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCFqCP5QyR
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I was interrupted by her stare.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7lQcvG9Fa
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“N-nevermind,” I just said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpGOhmF4U8
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“Let’s head toward the library then and study,” Hina said, smiling at me.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMosmdqf8wX
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“Seriously,” Yui replied. “It’s Sunday, let’s go window shopping at the mall instead!”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG43rREVdX
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“Yui, we already planned last night that we’re really going to the library after Runa leaves,” I said. “Didn’t you read what I messaged you?”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hikz8OP5l
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“Uhh… well… I only read the part about Runa, I might have accidentally erased the part where we have to go study later from my memories.” Yui looked at me and she let out a sigh after she saw my frown. “Fine… Library it is.”23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxH7DR4vCv
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“Let’s go then,” Hina said.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttIlC2c2ON
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I watched them walk first toward another platform. Before I decided to follow, I looked one last time in the direction where Runa disappeared.23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOtLJkmalb
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I stared for a few more seconds. Then a thought appeared in my head…23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUPJivzexb
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Love… huh?23Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FAHKP4v93
and then Add to home screen.