Tuesday night, 4th week of May21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXFAju1ZXQ
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Kuroiwa Rei…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBKEkdN9u1
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He was someone that I thought was a trouble maker. I was terrified of him. I never had any intentions to get near him. He was different. He wasn’t normal. His eyes were scary, the way he walked was scary, the way he talked was scary. But recently… he wasn’t as scary as I thought he was…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkSzoNQcrL
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It bothered me that he asked Runa to go to his apartment alone… I blamed him for being the reason why Runa and I fought… I was skeptical about the condition—the one I still knew nothing about… And I never fully trusted him…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhgKEVznEh
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But that was before…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55lnPj6Ek0
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When I saw his notebooks, I admired them… When Runa showed some knowledge she learned from him, I was impressed… When I talked to him in the hallway, I was mesmerized… When I vented at him, I was vulnerable… And when I saw him bravely standing in front of Runa’s Mom… I was…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevT4zLUIn8
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I had to stop myself from thinking any further about what it could be. Not now… not yet…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvlErV8z7s
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All I knew… was that… ever since the day he specifically called me annoying…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRNTQ0WmZS
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I had never stopped thinking about him.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzDl66Y8Ya
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I was starting to think… that maybe all of this was a mistake…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwevrFajux
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Thursday, 4th week of May21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wv9Zck0VV
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Two days of the midterm exams were over. Tomorrow morning would be the last day.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65YTG2Bhsc
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Yesterday, I went to Kuroiwa-san's apartment along with Runa for the first time. As part of the condition Shizuna-san made, I tagged along. And finally, I was able to witness how they studied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTTx28YgQ4
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And it was… different…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCJD0YNXyH
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Kuroiwa-san had mentioned his methods before, but being able to see it happen in person was a bit baffling. I was doing my own studying alone in the dining area, but I couldn’t help but look at what he was doing. From where I sat, it looked like he was just torturing Runa. I closed my eyes and held my breath for as long as I could. Repeating after she got it wrong, repeating if she struggled, repeating even after she got it right. In the end, I wasn’t able to hold it in anymore, and I started scolding Kuroiwa-san about his weird methods.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6mHIls1Vw
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That was a mistake…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQoCdkAWsb
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I spent thirty minutes trying to correct Kuroiwa-san, telling him his methods were wrong, and that there should be a better way of teaching Runa. I told him that he was making it unnecessarily more difficult. I told him that he should think about Runa more.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPsm4JMZpl
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But he only stared at me… And when I saw his eyes, I realized the reason why he was against me coming… maybe I was just annoying and a bother after all…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvlRwi0LNr
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How could I ever think of ruining something that had been already built? Like, what right did I have to teach someone else the right way when I tried to do the right way and yet it failed?21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtg8YCzWnC
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But I couldn’t help it… I knew the reason why… I just never intended to say what it was…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu16e4ery4
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“Let’s take a break,” Kuroiwa-san said from the living room. His flat voice suddenly brought me back to the present. I was at the dining area like last time.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhQ1nDaGK0
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I checked my phone for the time. It was already 5:14 p.m.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvtOaK1UN4
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We arrived at Kuroiwa-san's apartment around 1 p.m. after Runa and I had lunch with Hina and Yui. And as soon as we arrived, Runa and Kuroiwa-san immediately started, just like yesterday. And just like yesterday, four hours later, he finally announced they were taking a break.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKttqXNLceB
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Brutal.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgXIFiPu92
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But, I already vowed to myself that I won’t intervene.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡes5xnxLxk9
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I glanced at the living room. I saw Kuroiwa-san tidying up the notebooks and textbooks on their study table in front of him before he stood up and sat down on the sofa. When I turned my gaze toward Runa, she was leaning back, tilting her head up to look at me. When she noticed me looking at her, she straightened up, turned around and showed me a victory sign. She looked a little tired yet thoroughly satisfied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdQTXQ2ngA
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“Are you done too?” Runa asked, speaking a little louder so I could hear her.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG49M78gQsk
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“Not yet,” I answered.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwgXGpq1Mg
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“How are you doing?” She tilted her head.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztZUZ4hOpR
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“Fine…” I said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxQ3c3NQ94
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But I wasn’t. I had been stuck on this one particular part of English since last week. I tried asking Hina about it, but even she was having a hard time with it. I subtly glanced out of the corner of my eye to see Kuroiwa-san reading a book.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46qBTU8DG1
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Maybe he can…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQGXRMgIDM
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A phone suddenly buzzed. I checked mine, but it wasn’t the one ringing.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43otl1uNq2
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“Ah! Sorry, Mom is calling.” Runa stood up, then walked toward the living room door. She went to the main hall to answer her phone.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3guZv2iUA7
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Suddenly, I was left alone with Kuroiwa-san…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlgwZh03NS
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I inhaled, then exhaled.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wd88aALYG
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This… This could be a chance…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobJWoeCcEc
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I stood up and walked toward the living room. I paused for a second, but I kept moving. It was not like I was nervous to approach Kuroiwa-san. I just didn’t know why I was hesitating. But even if he and Runa were taking a break, I felt like I was still intruding by going over to ask him. But I needed to…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmCiJhIdNP
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When I stepped in front of Kuroiwa-san, I leaned my upper body to the left, tilting my head so I could peek at what he was doing.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWoBcIfqSa
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“Hey…” I called out to him, carefully. I waited for a few seconds, but he was not responding. His eyes were very focused on what he was reading.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKDAq1e8r9
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I pulled my lips to the side. But I wasn’t annoyed. I was trying to be patient.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2SIZlr2cU
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Unlike with Runa, Kuroiwa-san and I didn’t have any agreement about him teaching me. But I figured, it didn’t hurt to ask, at least. I stared at him for a few more seconds before I decided to sit beside him on the sofa. I opened the textbook and my notebook that I had taken with me to the living room. I placed them both on my lap and started reading. I kept sighing, hoping that maybe Kuroiwa-san would ask me why I was sighing. I looked at him again… and again, he was unresponsive.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBkFclboAa
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I let out one final sigh. Even with Kuroiwa-san sitting down, the significant difference in our heights meant I still had to look up slightly to meet his eyes. I wondered if I was bothering him. But before I gave up entirely, I needed to try one more time.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYoume8UK3
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“Hey…” I said, louder this time.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJXJbPzec1
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Kuroiwa-san moved his eyes.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssOciVEpE5
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I caught myself just looking at them for half a second. I closed my mouth before I continued.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPRYlqTDxs
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“Can I…” I hesitated for a moment. “Can I ask you a question?” I asked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKz6Uw5XVw
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“What is it?” Kuroiwa-san replied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux0gqaDrYU
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I turned my eyes to my hands, closed my eyes, and then took a deep breath. I took my notebook from my lap, opened it, and flipped the pages until I got to where I wanted to ask him about.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVD5pJ1FKeI
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“This part,” I said, pointing at a sentence using my index finger. “I have a hard time understanding this sentence from the rest. It’s a question that starts with ‘Would you’ but the answer is no if you agree and yes if you don’t, while the others’ answers were the opposite.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUkqTjyAyb
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Kuroiwa-san leaned forward to look where I was pointing. I was a little surprised because he was too close. Too close that it was making me feel a little uncomfortable.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI6fWL0zPD
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“That one,” Kuroiwa-san said as he leaned back to how he was before. “If you look closely, one word made a difference compared to the others.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETbNN6KUHo
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I inspected the sentence…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrG3JtiUoOG
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“Is it because of ‘mind’?” I asked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqHa7JXJtB
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“Yes,” Kuroiwa-san answered. He turned toward me and now his eyes were staring at mine. I held a breath for a second. “Usually, a ‘would you’ question is a polite way of asking someone to do something.” He moved his eyes up to think and then went back to mine. “Like, if you ask ‘Would you open this door?’ Then the answer will be yes if you agree.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM07s97PcE6
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“Mhm,” I said. I was getting a little self-conscious from his stare, so I reflexively glanced toward my notebook instead.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABscMJXVgL
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“But if you add the word ‘mind’ like, ‘Would you mind opening this door?’ the question turns from politely asking someone to do something to asking if someone would hate or dislike doing something. So then, the answer becomes ‘No’ if you agree and ‘Yes’ if you don’t.” Kuroiwa-san continued.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o5iZ4tSbU
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“How?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCStutVpJy6
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“Because in this context, mind is a verb that means to object or be bothered by something. So if you add it with a ‘Would you’ question, the question transforms into a conditional one instead.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MRoYKSwmr
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“I see,” I replied. So that’s how it is. In just a few easy explanations, I understood completely. I never even thought the nuance was due to the verb that was used. I was looking instead at the sentence as a whole rather than checking for context. Of all the subjects we had, English was the one I wasn’t very good at. “Thank you,” I said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsmL1Xetrt
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Kuroiwa-san didn’t respond so I looked up at him. He started reading his book again. His face was always calm and I was staring at it. Then somehow, I had become aware of how close I was sitting beside him. There was a gap of a few inches between us, a typical distance between two people sitting on the same sofa who are not intimate.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAaPfbzdib
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I shifted myself to the right to get closer to him…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxgdzy6PqB
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That didn’t feel right.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9QN0Zzy3k
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I shifted myself to the left to get farther from him…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9tw1rLJoZ
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I sighed.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBB8QtWXHE
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I needed to ask him again about another sentence and grammar structure that I could not follow. But then the living room door opened.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjDKarKBzq
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“Sorry, Mom’s call took a little longer,” Runa said as she was entering. “Mom was asking a lot of questions and… Oh! Wait, Mika, stay like that…” she said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPfWnfX7JL
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“What?” I replied, but before I knew what was happening, Runa had already pointed her phone’s camera at me and took a picture.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGy2WVxTu6
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“Picture, get!” Runa called out. “Ok, next is to send it to Mom… And sent…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCQeDrO2yt
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“What was that for?” I asked Runa.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr5WmkCZHL
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“Proof,” Runa answered. “Mom wanted to know if I’m with you.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYPIBm6KsJ
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“You could’ve warned me first,” I said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB69kChRRRL
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“Sorry,” Runa apologized to me, smiling awkwardly. But then she turned toward Kuroiwa-san. “Anyways, Rei-kun—”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfRibt12e4
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I frowned. I didn’t know why so I tried to untangle the frown.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW34MI6RGrj
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“Let’s start studying again,” Runa continued. “Mom said that we need to get home in an hour so…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9ibtnuHlh
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“Are you sure, Miyase-san?” Kuroiwa-san replied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwftDc55Vqd
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Runa pouted and went silent, staring at Kuroiwa-san intently.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQYuEUYgSO
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Kuroiwa-san stood up beside me and I did the same. I wanted to ask more questions but I didn’t want to be a nuisance, so I just had to go back to the dining area.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjDE5ZJQ97
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“Then open your notes to page 15,” Kuroiwa-san said as he sat down in front of their study desk.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yDuaOKzyz
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“...No,” Runa said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QnqhkQ9J0
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I stopped walking and wondered what Runa was thinking so I turned around to look at her. She turned her head toward the right. She was facing the side, her eyes were closed, and was still pouting. Even behind her, I could see her arms crossed on her chest.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWUdYkbUBg
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“Why?” Kuroiwa-san asked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHFkh0QLAY
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“Rei-kun… Why are you calling me with my last name again?” Runa replied as she turned her head back to him.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsPHlvuZ8W
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Kuroiwa-san moved his eyes to each side then up.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLco55R7tm
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“My Mom’s last name is also Miyase. If you keep calling me the same as her, I wouldn’t know if you are talking to me,” Runa continued.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbVPOihkZS
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I lifted an eyebrow. I knew immediately what Runa was implying but the circumstances of that time on Tuesday forced Kuroiwa-san to call her by her name. To me, it seemed unfair to just ask him to change the way he addressed her just because of that one time. I was so sure Kuroiwa-san wouldn’t agree with it as—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXd7uPHlpif
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“Alright,” Kuroiwa-san answered.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRP8r6EMcPS
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I opened my mouth.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKNKo0onQK
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“Okay, good,” Runa replied, smiling. She paused for a second. “C-can you try saying it then?” she asked, sounding a little shy.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWqixoLjJF
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I bit my lips.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr2dkX2lOS
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“Now?” Kuroiwa-san said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJkmI0jpgm
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“Yes,” Runa nodded.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz6mQnrGdt
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“R—” Kuroiwa-san hesitated for a bit. I was watching him very intently. “Runa-san,” he finally said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkUhtoLngr
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Runa kneeled then leaned forward toward Kuroiwa-san slowly. She reached her left hand to him and poked his nose with her index finger.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAM2IrMpv01
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“Just… Runa…” she said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHHsnh6Xpr
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Kuroiwa-san crawled backward so fast and so far that he almost hit the TV behind him, almost jumping. “W-w-w-what are you doing?” he said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8rFCqUoEc
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Runa just giggled then proceeded to sit properly in front of the table. “Alright, then let’s start,” she casually replied. Even without looking at her face, I knew she would be smiling.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQgGnjx7vt
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I looked at Kuroiwa-san… He was blushing…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAV8d20zf9P
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I closed my eyes. I suddenly felt uneasy. I immediately turned to the dining area. I took all my belongings and put them inside my bag.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDqVzr6xVF
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“I’m going home!” I declared.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMlJ15uAYQ
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I walked toward the living room door and opened it. My feet were stomping, and before I closed the door, I heard Runa surprised behind me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXSuvdBe8e
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“Huh? Mika!? Why!?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhFYqjwLKf
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What was all that? How was Runa able to just touch him casually like that? It was just a poke in the nose but…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEwRGgGb1y
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I shook my head…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqZDjUf9aW
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Was that how they usually acted when they were alone? Was that the reason Kuroiwa-san didn’t want me to be there? Were they really just studying?21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TQpnqSu2L
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While I was always alone in the dining area, being careful to not disturb them, as soon as they forgot about me, they would start flirting. They didn’t even think that I was there, like my existence didn’t matter. They never even thought I would feel uncomfortable looking at them that way.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryD3dlIAZ2
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh9YbzPHFw
…How could he be blushing?21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCJfRnxRu8
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHIN5oW6Gw
…And how could I even feel uncomfortable?21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02Mk6xT8XR
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I stopped walking and I ended up standing in the middle of the street. I was on the way to the train station. I just wanted to go home at this point. I wasn’t needed there. I was just a bother.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYsSwdynW6
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I clenched my hands tightly and felt my nails digging into my palms. I choked as I felt my heart starting to squeeze in my chest.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkCX3yIWoy
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I didn’t know how to answer the questions I asked myself. All I knew was that I never wanted this. That I did not intend to feel like this. All I wanted was for his help. That was the whole reason I volunteered to accompany them in the first place. But I never even got the chance to get close to Kuroiwa-san. They just spent hours facing each other, talking to each other, and…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oJZe0Gquw
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Looking at each other…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXklZSHGFs
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What the heck! What the heck! What the heck!21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YRZOc1uHd
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I let my chest soak up the pain that I didn’t fully understand. I just wanted to ask one more question. Just one more. But Runa…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vzmxdEBRI
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I tried to inspect myself. I still couldn’t figure out what it was.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjocbJnOfH
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNEFIEsqCZ
…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTPJSpqwu4
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Maybe… coming here was a mistake after all…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6ssegy7b4
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“Wait! Mika!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzg1iw94yI
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I heard Runa’s voice behind me. I turned to see her running toward me. But I turned back quickly and resumed walking.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwp2UggR3G
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“I said wait!” Runa caught up to me and grabbed my wrist. It forced me to feel unbalanced for a second but thankfully I did not fall down. I turned my head toward Runa and she was bending down a bit with her right hand holding her knee, looking down while catching her breath.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GxkLIcNAY
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“Why are you here?” I asked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7EDWyguSm
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“Why?” Runa took one deep breath, let it out, then stood up properly to face me. “You know why. If you’re not there and Mom finds out, I’ll get in trouble again!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8zKKTYBS2
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I frowned.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFhgcc8Dim
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“Yeah, that’s right. I was just there to be your proof afterall.” I replied with a sharp voice that I did not expect to come out.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXimmpH5Y1x
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“No! Mika, what are you talking about?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJh2iR5SMy
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“Go back, even if I wasn’t there, you’ll be fine. Besides, you have already sent your proof to your mother. My usefulness has already ended right there.” I pulled my arms from Runa’s grip and continued walking.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN8a4Xitpa
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“Mika,” Runa said as she walked beside me. “You know that’s not how it is.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHsY1CgOAE
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I didn’t answer. I just kept looking forward. I didn’t want to look at her.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojYsujAklA
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“I’m sorry,” Runa continued. “But that was not my intention. I want you to be there. Really.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxIFVdwsEz
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I didn’t budge.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg01HfLWHn1
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“Mika, please…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo9g3njTtk
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My eyes forward.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64wQMH6Tgm
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“Stop ignoring me please? I’m sorry…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB7maRvxgG
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Runa’s voice started to sound more earnest and softer every time. But I wasn’t paying attention. I was just looking ahead. Then I felt her stop walking beside me, and then suddenly I was walking alone in front.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF5K5khpXH
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“You’re so stubborn!” Runa yelled. “If you have a problem with me, then just tell me. You're being unreasonable right now!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBSM6xzclL
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I did not intend to stop as well, but my feet refused to take another step and just ignored what Runa said. Instead I turned around.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuOLPMUmD2
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“Look who’s talking!” I yelled back at Runa. “If you’re the one who has something in mind, and whenever I asked, you’re not even telling me what it was, then why should I? I was always worried about you, and you just kept on dancing around what really was on your mind!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmjlEyOCds
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“That’s different. I never made you feel like you did something wrong like what you’re doing to me now!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BWZ3MKUyi
21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBxXpFrdSC
“Then how about you think about it!?”
“Well, that’s just unfair!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkKRKAeb8m
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“Same goes for you!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFT25vgJ48
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“Alright, then I’ll think about it!” Runa yelled and took a moment to actually think. “Was it because you felt lonely alone in the dining area?” she asked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEObvhPIvA
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I didn’t answer.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg0RNhf9JF
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She frowned while staring at me. And again she took a moment to think. “Was it because I took a picture of you without permission?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa84afagDWR
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“No!” I answered.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQ5FbL8vMM
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“Was it because I was teasing Rei-kun?” Runa continued.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPFi26f8Sd
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I turned my head to the right to avoid her gaze.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVeDZJZOGi
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“Was it?” Runa asked to confirm.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX3UFoqXG9
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“No!!” I replied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbn8oKzxke
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“Mika, I was just teasing him.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNejLf4yy6b
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“You were forcing him to call you by your first name.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc27FLaMNK
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“That was not—I was not forcing him. It’s just awkward, you know, if he kept calling me by my family name because he already met Mom.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YjCMVyhfL
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I looked at her suspiciously. “Liar,” I said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87XscOic3z
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“I was not lying.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmScgAndoEi
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“Then explain to me why you would tease him?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDC4YKmhrqi
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Runa opened her mouth, but she never said anything. She lowered her head, looked at me, looked at the sky, then to me. She closed her eyes tight, and when she finally opened, she turned her gaze away from me.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnQJo5p7Ss
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“I—” Runa hesitated. “I don’t know.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmQmuUqkqw
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“See, proves my point earlier. You have something in your mind and you’re not telling me,” I said.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDIiyhRotU
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“Wha— I honestly don’t know!” Runa yelled. Then her eyes turned toward the ground again and she started talking a little quieter. “It was just… fun…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinefFFcAbo
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I frowned.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Aw95fjly5
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Fun? You tease someone because you think it was fun? Wasn’t that just bullying? I never pictured Runa to be a bully. But if she didn’t want to tell me why, then I would not be interested to continue asking.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HzR0JjLy3
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I turned around and walked.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfuZNwDdFe
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“Mika,” Runa called me. “I’m sorry,” she said. Her voice softened as she told me her third apology. “If those weren’t the reasons, can you please tell me?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtJAegXkkO
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My steps slowed but I kept going. But I wasn’t looking ahead this time. I was just looking to where I placed my steps. What was I even telling her? ‘Think about it then?’ I didn’t even know what she did wrong. I—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8KzjnxEQ8
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“Fine!” Runa shouted behind me. “If you’re not going to talk with me, then I will not talk with you!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbexhZcW2v
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I held a breath and closed my eyes.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kcsoGwVTj
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And for the rest of the way, we stopped talking.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9UOb3VqGz
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡus20y0gwGE
Sunday Night. Last day of May.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIX03zeSUV
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Everything that happened afterwards was quiet.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXUewMEwc2
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There were no text messages, no phone calls, not even a press from each other’s doorbell. There was no attempt at any communication.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yfDL6Yon3
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Three days of nothing between me and Runa.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55jPHaTbj0
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I felt horrible. Yet I felt justified.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvjNslZh8v
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And I felt both for one reason: I didn’t know why.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vD1gcy2G4
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Runa was right, I was being stubborn. She apologized, and I just couldn’t accept it and move on. Because when I tried to think about it, it didn’t feel right. I felt uneasy. And so I decided not to tell her anything. I decided it was easier that way.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAudT3Q38z
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Unlike her, I wasn’t ready to be honest with myself.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpeVdaaf53
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It was just… fun…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWCCm0pJKT
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I recalled how she said it. Fun? What was so fun about teasing someone? If it was me…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEwvF8Ujje
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My phone suddenly rang at the corner of my table. I was in the middle of tidying up my study materials when it happened. I peeked at who was calling.
It was Yui.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8BrX6Gg7d
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I ignored it.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpvow0iQNZ
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A few minutes later, the ringing stopped.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqncrrxN0c
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I stood up after I was done tidying. Before I could even take one step toward my bed, my phone rang again.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3KubSeZNs
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I grabbed my phone to see.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvS6HsKZTB4
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It was still Yui.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqnT7E3Kei
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This time I dropped it.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIZ1wTfezq
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But not even a second later, Yui called again.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj9PlIXB8H
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I sighed.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Xt0aklOcG
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“Hello?” I said as I surrendered to Yui’s persistence.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRVNar27wE
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“Why didn’t you answer sooner!?” Yui replied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ltHZ0M8wy
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“It’s late, I was about to go to sleep.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AV7ZMijGb
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“Really? You can go to sleep like that?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLJkUr63y5
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“Like what?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAy1MS6X4Ts
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“While… you know… between you and Runa.” Yui whispered.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocEf5MogoM
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I didn’t say anything for a moment. Of course, I couldn’t sleep easily after what happened. I just tried to close my eyes every time. And I would just wait. Wait for minutes, wait for hours, until sleep pulled me in.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCsc7nQ0Xe
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“It’s none of your business,” I finally answered.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2j1LRmlTz
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“But it is!” Yui replied, almost yelling. “You promised you won’t fight anymore!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYlj0AJxf8
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“I didn’t promise that.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEyLqGDpIC
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“Then you’re a liar.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkWCX8YcJI
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“Fine, I’m a liar then!” I said. Then I ended the call.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmy97UIz2w
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What am I—21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1kqpsyw0L
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My phone vibrated in my hand and by reflex I answered it.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2c065t9Z3
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“Don’t drop the call!” Yui shouted. I pulled my ear away from the phone as her shout pierced through.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdh0tvmK5Zr
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“Okay, okay. I won’t. I’m sorry,” I replied.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpcqdiFbBY
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“Good then,” Yui said cheerfully. “Anyways, tomorrow, let’s fix both of you.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUAr7K88JE
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“What? You don’t need to—”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJuQttQFl6
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“I need to!” Yui replied, sounding very firm. “We’re not going to just let this keep on, you know. It’s not healthy.”
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I kept my silence.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMR7yL7W1d
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“Listen, Mika…” Yui continued. “I really don’t like this. If you both stop talking to each other, then you’ll both drift apart.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXXTK5NHBL
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“...I know.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnNa1aiivi
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“I don’t want that to happen. I want all of us to stay as friends. You know, me, you, Hina and Runa. All of us, until we become old ladies.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbODB2QR2gM
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“...I guess… me too…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOkO4FJZbb
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“So… let’s talk about it tomorrow, okay?” Yui said. Her voice sounded gentle. “If you’re not ready to talk with us during the morning, we’ll wait for you at the rooftop at lunch.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtVVncKzkN
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“...Okay,” I answered.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP7AXuhFL0
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“Be sure to be there!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk9nVadD3B
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“...I will.”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00uRcVjn4H
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“Promise?”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR82Cb8Yejr
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“Promise…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPQ8OviSZW
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“Alright then, I’ll let you go to sleep now! Good night Mika! Love you!!”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztRi8T07IP
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“Good night…”21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fC8ngztIr
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The phone call ended.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFn5mvZ7Edb
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I sat on my bed for a few seconds. And when I finally decided to lie down, I immediately closed my eyes. I placed a hand over my chest, feeling what my heartbeat was trying to tell me. Then I knew I wasn't looking forward to tomorrow.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbLhiTPqiD
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I didn’t want to. But I knew that would be another mistake.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbCYzx7e53
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So while I was closing my eyes, I waited.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPeHaU6FLO
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoMxAorLn1
Lunch, Monday. The beginning of June.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGe910tbO7
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I shouldn’t have stood here. I shouldn’t have looked at them yet.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvzZNgZW86
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I should have gone straight to the rooftop after the bell rang. I should have just listened to Yui. But, I saw a teacher post the rankings of each student for our grade on the board just beside the staircase. So I went to see. Based on the test papers from the midterm exams that I had retrieved during homeroom, I knew I didn’t do well. But reality had not settled at that point—because reality was right before my eyes now.21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHIBbqpURb
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Tojo Mika… Rank 36…21Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9Z9emMeZm
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I never went to the rooftop afterwards…
and then Add to home screen.