Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDjsqmcGLI
“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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dvVrii0GP
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfbSOH2iHu
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOmPnOHEP8
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4BwZ14Kdv
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPyBL9GUzX
“What did you do? What did you do?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQB2NyWmvng
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZyidQxLA4
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8ceI7oZy7
Still nothing. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBRHtmIRkA
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsypmZ3mWm
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oeZubuXHk
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TOMaHbeuL
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGlEvCeXja
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8N31G7fUxQ
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1pp1tvYTh
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSzUG1GGXI
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvyYxQiF0A
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJdlhdJ6ae
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EG0pOzQmD
“Will there be any punishment for this?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRg1T4CkYjc
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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrmHEZ4Fpm
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjHYEiONCv
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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAr0p9yI6y9
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr82hFKD14
“Are you going to explain it to me?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcz3NzfT5G
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPW9uF6ege
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?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHQYJF0jNd
“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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAkRX6mhbY
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlBQwgevJG
“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?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqmYWg5PBz
“Roro.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5WwhIt7Oq
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorJJ0dtJLa
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKcNn7L27x
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrfzIBNC0y
It has to be secret.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjfMzhtUDl
738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFbfeXzoSj
Secret.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsLq2jUaTM
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XB7KmzgGJ
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGde619VWEh
Eventually, she settled on something simple.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EzhrFZyy7
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewu0v30GTZ
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLJp72IN6j
IA responded later that night.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn05frB9QWZ
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. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkG1BozeVTU
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrt0OW3GOs9
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IbO7rvp13
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbK7MlFZDR
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMo3ud1JOM
“What’s there to talk about?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUT8UIBWaXt
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyRd4DOETZ
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkhPHaPD2L
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYWMVcCEXb
“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?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYr64xdfJHo
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQpZwcdVnXE
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yjrQE3GB1
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8FuUWMaBg
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJFjGF0upt
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEApHTSIAb2
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2NZSfXO3t
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoMR74hWLM
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qFQ3M8tm2
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDBD5WD6BA
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmFspfifgc
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMY1MBIFPJ
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPl4QYNU2z
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLeUvw0Hj2
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF3bnSONvy
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcB5XSqYiFd
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcoG4kyFba
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTzb06vgby
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEkDxhXfd8
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 10.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVQ9C2oMa5
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYgcBxn14y
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwXFCGAU80
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9cl7Osljt
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCubhe9qK5B
“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,”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hm6n521vl
“Why didn’t you?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4w735o1l6
“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?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVpqJystJj
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzkabvknKy
“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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fe7ir1gEf
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVp9J1EPdJI
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Yot7cFJwQ
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEQsuUaX6c
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK41LuhtwNm
“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?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwWhYgyzVR
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0tXltovsd
“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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFMHmGY0hn
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyCcdLUTJX
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQHzSEOZj7
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxC1S5RszJ
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfUUIxrrsu
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJBcQKRLY6
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCalpei8TJk
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlB2L7riSQ3
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6abitBqoq
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvixxwVWM8
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7GsKnS7FB
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwv0Ki4XeDH
“You don’t think I cried too?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgM3HNAtrR
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0QZPmOQ0n
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdZGS0VahR
“Are you over her yet?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygiaW5lQzx
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PavWC5d4S
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsxcmyFhnN
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6Tx4MOK0y
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SIKVb4OkS
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrTHexnMDq
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AoQ5nKlXl
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kUanRFfE3
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkjDa6iqTj
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiOMCHMs2O
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiTwcPL1O5
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kmxlzbEwx
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlPgegZjyW
“Can I… kiss you?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq7r5TL6ft
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVgTiS2z2O
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FOFMFEEd1
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOHEdC1ARh
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPWPoGErw8
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFkZcecNWG
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YttiW1vQs
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GwRKYtq1K
“Not bad. Just… different.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWBHTDwrPn
Silence.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOxf7GMdTo
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtLiazAaTm
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKt4OptG22
“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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXvOzZc9VA
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9STCkrFwp
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI0htXRJeL
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYpN3pkQeV
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GqeQKFSsU
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!”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42RdamjzEn
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDMLGKPIzP
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauMhUNKN3w
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag4RElTa34
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rqOOzQGGD
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qtUrVA1GO
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGSimNUgax
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77EvDOGs3k
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyfu5A3yMX
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNLOX1lKSi
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjWEcxkc1Q
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B0lluLk4z
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQSrY3Ve6S
“You could make your business a reality.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ofNPKXq34
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppU82T7nD2
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv4fXvYK7m
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Jiyq5mdxF
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqClCrPwZ1Y
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfLm1vP7EM
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3GwrQZCeD
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n4SALA6Wl
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6FtfzZKQU
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlVIVuym9r
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvepL39sDs
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pV42bkxXe
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWNomJzFcA
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8eTttoowU
“How’s that going for you?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbknAVyIN9
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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDvtVJ1hpK
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjt2QkwTOJL
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiPr5arTAd
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdaAGzcFf2
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZV523Ww0HJ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9c0CvTtvX
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOVG0lE5J6
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSo4zY5lqt
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrg4rB7XsZ
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLXGUCu64s
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLN6cDWn3d
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg9qRY9nG1t
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigYkDc9bKz
“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.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcf7dWhiYgP
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4cgNx9ope
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK05jTBeoP
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4ul8KNuBK
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoUykRbRDa
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYNeILKBN7
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb4mdo7pCv
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.738Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wpk0SwCjP
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.
ns3.16.164.60da2
然後按「加至主畫面」