Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbdSFoD0YW
“Thanks for your help, Miss Yuzuki,” IA said with a wink. Yukari gave her a deadpan stare, hoping no one noticed IA’s obvious facial gesture. IA wrote on a piece of paper and handed it to her. It was her number.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHO3nLdv3sm
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzW5JlpRrc
The class was boring, so she kept staring at Roro as if doing so would send him a telepathic message to stop ignoring her. It naturally didn’t work.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9ZukP6y1C
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1sBfy1J5B
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIAyLLHVVZ
“What did you do? What did you do?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85YGaoxKd0
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlWwJ3pqiy
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCpmk9f2VN
Still nothing. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0UR4Ah0zD
Her mother sat down with a huff. She let go of Yukari, cleaned her glasses with her turtleneck and crossed her arms and legs, tapping the air with her foot.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUL9ZrFv3i
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZNaK2WQQY
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLwITyvHSV
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJv43LDmST
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqVxsCQhge
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpW1GYA1jC
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvHfg9MgXa
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2L8ljAmcZ
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkB712X4zML
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC48HfPXhT
“Will there be any punishment for this?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMumtPTY34
The Principal shook his head. “I hesitate to give a first-time offender a punishment aside from confiscation, so long as their parents are able to discipline them. I’ll leave it up to you for now.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyWUXu7lQz
Both Yukari and her mother stood up and bowed. As expected, Yukari’s mother dragged her out of the building and to the car. However, she didn’t start the car and simply sat, rubbing the bridge of her nose. She took off her glasses and stared into them as if an explanation would materialise in the lenses.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uRTG4h1fQ
She spoke in a haunting quiet voice. “I’m glad you’re reading but I don’t understand what appeal that book would have to you. You’re not a… homosexual. I don’t know how you could look at a cover like that and decide that book’s worth your time.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdEZjOCaga
Yukari snivelled as tears started creeping out of her eyes. She rubbed her eyes but that only made the crying worse. Her mother grabbed her arm and pushed it down.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0LDeGFebe
“Are you going to explain it to me?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNTbAGm3V7
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm0en1gK6A
Her mother leaned backwards. “Know what? Are you trying to tell me… I don’t remember raising a homosexual. And what about your boyfriend? What’s his name?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHx9ShrIeXj
“I’m not a ‘homosexual’. I’m… I-I’m… Oh God, I didn’t want to tell you this. I’m… bisexual. I… broke up with Roro because I...liked another girl.” She murmured the last part but her mother seemed to hear it.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUqd1sy05t
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPDIFfFH2I
“Don’t go… telling other people, okay? I’m not against homosexuals but… it’s not exactly something you need to parade around. Does anyone else know?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBt3hveiYIF
“Roro.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Vst4TW81j
Her mother’s face went lily-white. “I see.” The two were silent on the way home. Yukari looked out the window, saw a speed limit sign and noticed how slow the car was moving. She almost missed the speed at which IA drove.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD6otdhehl
At home, Yukari lied down in bed and rubbed her runny nose. After getting some tissues, she took out her phone and the piece of paper.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjunmg9xfG
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVlLoH5nCO
It has to be secret.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZF4sUg7yJ
686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnSQUdaMZ5
Secret.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr5RIDhpZ9
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6X0TD52ih
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ441smCs0
Eventually, she settled on something simple.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq4xDKDmJW
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBUYdrdTGX
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAhupN35wv
IA responded later that night.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoIh4hWfUK
Hey, beautiful. Same here. Btw, I just bought ‘ANOTHER’ lesbian romance novel and so far it’s ‘AMAZING’. I’ll lend it to you when I’m done with it. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHzYPleNTB
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KKeHVBgEr
As the next day appeared, Yukari stood by Roro’s desk while waiting for him to arrive. No one else had entered the classroom yet.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLtEIcwbsa
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGrGFRUaHS
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspwT7tmTaM
“What’s there to talk about?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOu7ilAJem
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3qfLqV0ce
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9hz4XvMmP
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBFk1VhBjh
“You did lead me on, though. Do you know how it feels to know that someone you really like was thinking about someone else behind your back?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6mv2lPv0U
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGPWOoMW6I
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD63xOmQmrL
Roro rubbed his face up and down repeatedly from his cheek to the side of his eye. He looked at Yukari’s frown and felt his heart twist.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEQ77ITF5a
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp2L75bnps
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfu4JKnRtX
When Yukari told IA after school about Roro, a grin on her face, IA’s own smile was tiny. Deep lines appeared between her eyebrows, which were close together.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkgUZjE9KJ
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6H17pUp1ay
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSB1pY3XpHJ
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSntDpo7EK
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzwIhqceKI
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I just couldn’t wait to see you.” She raised her voice to her normal volume. “Help me out with these books.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTthewqvwP
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6JklxKgKd
IA grabbed her hand. “So what do you want to do after I close the library?” She brushed her hand with her thumb. Yukari looked at their intertwining fingers with pink cheeks. The corners of her mouth rose.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvSfRLv8Mu
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16E35EdbCb
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hEh8fD7IG
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHRhaGZJw8
IA looked at her watch and nodded. She moved her hand from Yukari’s hand to Yukari’s cheek, stroking it with her thumb. She only did this for a second before stepping back and pulling out several books for Yukari to carry.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDShPhQpqV
At IA’s apartment, the couple sat on the couch and watched a few episodes of a TV show. Yukari couldn’t tell what the show was about. She was too busy feeling her skin heat up when IA grabbed her hand and rested her head on her shoulder.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4FuQqML1n
A large part of Yukari’s mind screamed, ‘Kiss me!’ She almost kissed IA herself but the rest of her mind was reminded of a rule she read in a magazine when she was around 10.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTU0ULLfBl
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFs09M3bae
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfNlsceZnu
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXKQK2aoyB
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycK9kfyZ97
“Well, I always wanted to own my own little bookshop. It would be called ‘Cloudrider Book Emporium’. You know, since reading books is like entering a dream world.” She laughed nervously and rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand. “I was a stupid kid. I wanted it to focus on fantasy and science fiction books since those take you to another world,”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH9pDwXJIM
“Why didn’t you?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemK5zLZjgg
“Do you really think I’m the kind of person who could handle a business? I chose the next best option, which was being a librarian. So, what do you want to do when you leave school?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9jOb4uDYA
Yukari shrugged. She figured her parents would tell her which university they wanted her to attend. And what course she would study. And what job she would have.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHlgfGxqBb
“I’m sure a smart girl like you’ll be able to get a job you want,” IA said, nuzzling her head into Yukari’s shoulder.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbNyFsU4H3
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ4LAYjDGX
IA giggled again but, judging by her red cheeks, this was more out of embarrassment than amusement. Yukari tilted her head until it was touching IA’s. They watched the rest of the episode in comfortable silence.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL8CI0nJqv
IA and Yukari made a routine out of this, watching television after school every day. Sometimes IA would put some popcorn in the microwave and put way too much salt in the bag. Whenever she did this, she would tell Yukari about her ideas for new popcorn flavours, ranging from steak to eggplant. Yukari always found herself laughing at each new idea.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra0NBosBLV
Two weeks later, Roro shuffled up to Yukari. With a closed mouth he licked down the inside of his cheek for a second, his eyes not meeting hers. He then sighed.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4s4vEef89q
“Look, I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. It would be nice to go back to how things were. Is it too late for us to be friends?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmcqVrX8Xn
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpKXH8tFCR
“Um, since when do you initiate a hug like that?” he asked in a voice that made it seem like he was about to laugh.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal0Y46hofJ
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih5wHl4aNO
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzQGUuChgG
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWh8fETGPm3
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacNs6tZYvn
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDGxqUwfX7n
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdElR9D51X
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7r9rdEk7ph
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMrWP5oXWG
Yukari patted Roro’s back. “I need to find a book for class. I’ll be back.” She left the two, who stared at each other in silence. IA eventually dropped the smile.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcViYzFdHE
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmP8cpxL2r
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTVqXhO5sn
“You don’t think I cried too?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk8snx9MrV
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FNKJT6tGQ
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJiwQIsk2T
“Are you over her yet?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFBwAx2eUh
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qHIkFjrMG
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpilQsbGnI
“Well, you seem like a nice guy. I’d hate for you to live with unrequited feelings. I know how that feels.” As she continued speaking, she took a few books from the returns box and slammed them on top of each other to create a stack. “Just… don’t do anything to make her cry again, okay? I’m sure you’re smart enough to not make the same mistake twice.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnl1HzLy2S
Roro finally allowed himself to look at her, and he did so with flames in his eyes. Their gazes were fierce enough to make it seem like there should be a spark of lightning worthy of scaring Zeus appearing between them.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XJDeRNBEZ
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIYMEEQ4FV
Yukari headed back to them. Before she could greet them again, Roro stormed out of the library. Yukari looked at the IA, then the door, then IA again.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fzWl1GsRR
IA sat by her desk and began scanning students’ borrowed books, forgetting to muster up a smile. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes were narrow as they looked down.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnWB9yOfhP
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmp9VQyADX
IA was back to normal that night and every night for the next few weeks. One night, IA asked Yukari what her parents were like. It took a while for Yukari to figure out the answer.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTaYy5fP7O
“Well, they’re the kind of parents who are around you when they want you to do well in school but don’t care about anything else so they leave you to do whatever you want outside of study time. I don’t really talk to them much.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0UdckJOkO
IA instinctively gave her a hug. Yukari didn’t cry, but a big grin crept onto her face as she heard IA’s heartbeat speed up.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjOCGiWOEJ
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmBaUthuxd
“Can I… kiss you?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOkHy9tI58
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAwNihvg22
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQbpICMs0n
A later night, Yukari asked if they could hang out with Roro one day. IA nodded her head with creased eyes and the smile of a lemon sucker.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsa6zjjinuc
Roro grimaced at the offer but agreed to join them, and the three went to a park on a Sunday afternoon. IA brought a picnic basket and a blanket, or rather she bought a picnic basket and blanket for the occasion. Roro brought three store-bought bento boxes.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CtcDiVGJp
Together they chatted and ate like there was no animosity between them. However, when Yukari left the blanket to pat a dog, the glares returned.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8By7EZBmk
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7QfxC3VE5
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68SJjUpRQl
“Not bad. Just… different.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAZECiYiVu
Silence.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mF7aeqVQr
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcFFAktUWA
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fouYuTSPQ
“Why would I want to do that? She’s wonderful. As much as I’d like to grow alongside her, I still want the core of her to remain. A good relationship won’t completely alter you, only improve you.” She picked up her prawn again and took a bite. “But that’s something adults figure out, so it’s not surprising if you don’t know that yet,” she said with the food still in her mouth.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73uQwS8U7Y
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedgHCEnJkH
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7RVgtmHyF
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmlXRycYfa
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm31nDKxZ2z
The other two ignored her. “Well sorry for thinking it’s a little strange that my girlfriend wants to spend time with both me and her ex!”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolURnhiuM1
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqtTaBPP9C
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0zEuTwzPZ
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKNX8bE4Fm
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYIpyG74gD
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNKCaWo2qC
That last word caused a few people in the park to stare at them, including a teacher from Yukari’s school. Yukari froze, her eyes wide and her mouth open.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBdAhMcSA6
She eventually closed her eyes as they started to spit out tear after tear. IA felt as if someone had grabbed her heart and treated it like playdough, but before she could apologise, Yukari picked up her handbag and ran away.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRNrVIkH3u
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAEkuDqMkN
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OVGiDnqoW
The Principal showed her security footage showing her taking Yukari to her car. She was told to pack her things. That night she ended up staining her pillow with tears as well.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTPR6mlMJp
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87rnWmBfr6
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0epeIBu35
“You could make your business a reality.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fOqwyTiy2
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmk58aEFuV
Yukari still hung out with Roro, but it just wasn’t the same as before. The jokes started becoming less and less frequent. It remained this way until exams.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HI1l99t1u
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqUazsHL3ju
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGRqIqH1dK
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvGDu6k7qm
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4ukhGWwOV
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I3oFII0B0
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfn1fwZUYjd
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe9ZMFCKq3
“I don’t think she’s going to be on my side. I don’t think she’s going to forgive me and even if she did, she probably won’t forget. If I can make myself say sorry and let her know how much I mean that apology, that’s enough.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXo8WUApIU
Roro saw IA’s expression and felt as if a hole in his heart has been patched up. He felt freed from some mysterious force as soon as he realised that he would not have worn that expression if he was in her shoes.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHGRBhgiiP
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F1Np2Mc5v
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFJNN0ZguQ
“How’s that going for you?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQzPfrVmDx
IA laughed. “Not super great, to be honest. I really need some people to help me since I hardly know anything about budgeting or planning. I don’t have any employers. I want to make an international online store but my English is a little rusty.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nfL25Wjls
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkvPoL8DQi
IA rubbed the back of her neck. “I didn’t think to do that. Thanks for the tip. Um, goodbye, and once again I’m sorry.” She drove off. When Roro arrived home, instead of procrastinating like he expected to do he went straight into studying for the exams.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJVwUSDeW1
Graduation rolled around, and after the ceremony, Yukari and her parents passed a building available for lease. IA was standing in front of it and tapping her chin. When she saw Yukari she beamed at her.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzafh2Oxg8
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKps7pAVib
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiy9xga4Zt
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteY18kQu8P
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIOYk2udRF
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwltc1eZzY
“It was the same me, just a crappy side of me. I was just…” IA began to tear up. “I was so scared that you’d leave me for someone else like you did to Roro.” She shook her head. “No, I shouldn’t give excuses. I was an insecure idiot and I ruined everything. I love you and someone who’s in love with someone shouldn’t treat the other person like that. So, um, goodbye. I hope you find someone wonderful who doesn’t have a terrible side to them.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdkHmKMnsz
Yukari rubbed her lips together in thought. IA waited patiently for Yukari to return to her parents. Yukari remembered a message she received before exams.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFECFTlGt2
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyNaUvY4JC
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUD2cqc7XJ1
“I doubt anyone is perfect and has no terrible side to them. They just learn to keep it in check. Just… don’t use my sexuality as an insult ever again.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsgsHL1zNe
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqAh9DUJC1
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDbd9HJKUq
IA nodded. “I look forward to redeeming myself.” She almost gave her a kiss but then she remembered that Yukari’s parents were standing there.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7VY1aOVkM
Yukari managed to get into university and, with the permission of her parents, changed her course to Business. IA had told her about the bookstore and Yukari jumped at the idea.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFtizHKcCQ
Roro got a high score in English for the first time in a while and used that knowledge to help with the building of the bookstore website.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg5zpM6M4b
IA still felt jealous whenever Yukari was hanging out with someone else, but she learned to control her feelings by reminding herself that Yukari loved her. The store took a while to gain customers, so IA was by herself a lot of the time and she used that time to reflect on her previous mistakes.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux17TPt1Aq
About a month into Yukari’s first year at university, she introduced IA to her parents. They were a little worried until they saw the way IA’s eyes sparkled whenever she talked about their daughter.686Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KD2hAiITS
After classes, Yukari helped out at the store, so sometimes it wasn’t just IA and the books. Sometimes it was her, the books and the adorable bookworm she fell in love with.
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