Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSeUVIBc5D
“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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBPNs6AfFq
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxByP1iRWH
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvElrl38Ir9
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHbnIDR5Az
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUOAAMiazJ
“What did you do? What did you do?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbu35ytoYo
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIA8KUWMzK
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnf16dxvW4
Still nothing. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVlz5tXhtq
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyGjlU9QAG
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgIRaFoqUZ
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MoM1cMveT
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8HfmiH0WM
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAl033x8pm
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tzqvAzcZW
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoXkzrw5zD
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd9oETBz4u
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hGDMjajQD
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPogRA4DtJI
“Will there be any punishment for this?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h8HF7HWXn
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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1CPOmVXyC
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxpa6oyAOm
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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBlZEhANg6
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdt4IIRyXx
“Are you going to explain it to me?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZXgsftoI2
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXxVULA1n5
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?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdahRhHUs7a
“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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4AXfACj2Q
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE8TOFXgcL
“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?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk0sDHoenI
“Roro.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrfaTViBk3
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxnArL7TpE
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6OBqOQniF
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYEFjuYAiI
It has to be secret.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhGFj6Dhxa
652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XuwnjpX2r
Secret.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN8X3hwc4V
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6x2fACsUBf
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1d0R1J1CO
Eventually, she settled on something simple.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TjKe8MQDd
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTVZaww6Vm
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVSU56PZdZ
IA responded later that night.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP66HvecoCU
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. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fv741R6Sj
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMfhk5sCKT
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nBRK0Ha1J
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUPFXFUgZY
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdeWEqO4cA
“What’s there to talk about?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPh1XoJkOC
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoVhHgKwQN
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmX0X2mmK9
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FwIwboBsm
“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?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0DwekB5i9
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEtZOl6tkG
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ix7d01zPm
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7z4FCAQeO
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjziu8hioPm
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tsFn6OFJ1
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQatOcYF2LK
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxddhoD3mU
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetiNjSS9Gc
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuzX4pSQA3t
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQtvHhlnzH
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GC8NHjpzw
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9ii7j3bXh
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRWUy9zoRW
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVgC5qQ2FO
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiCfKxm1eX
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6KPb5vlV79
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fjXqW1CZj
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFuiYEdd4v
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 10.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuL34JU8op
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hJ5tHCGHL
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNqxCRS8B4
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7AvJT7OWo
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGOwAmzkRF
“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,”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtwDqQnNR6
“Why didn’t you?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x0zV1HzkN
“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?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6XWIdjA16
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6g5eJrXHzX
“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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsYtKKCV5U
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSDl8Jycp5
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyecu67NF7
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllSDmyOct8
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnliZIJJQIt
“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?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuWrK8C82j
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlvCBa4yyN
“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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwZQHbjP66
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBehQXAh4dp
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ygwKjUl3Z
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgVErmklPJ
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nH3rYHINx
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY4yorYUj2
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjUH1u17S4
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mZ5Wh6hyw
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqNsUg0zYx
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDtNssnTLr
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4usmqclv7
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhP4GdUGovu
“You don’t think I cried too?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMaVwOEYRg
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJJ2Lrsk3Q
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60eh5ui0Hx
“Are you over her yet?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bPceXyQAH
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf7PUQNyXH
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsaxKEf1tk
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UdIH2d9in
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqYiImPffL
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9Iub7DjRb
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALnSgwnS6Y
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51oQQBH3z3
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cK71XHwkE
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD20JTPPdN
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF6mm9T0et
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtj36XCWNn
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7DdjDjEKU
“Can I… kiss you?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Hd1TQ71r5
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n8yHhOoXl
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QzRZKfmGI
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqgrMPtJ7t
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECZn9VqRGa
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NuXtl2ZzM
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQgIxmXlyB
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc8PGw4b61
“Not bad. Just… different.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthygGdoIpP
Silence.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGExk05QDsk
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhx9r9Nmus
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidsFf3VBTd
“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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxITmA20aK
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUC03FTVMJ9
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKekZgtMqi2
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU8mQTtmxw
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWigExuc6hK
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!”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuCHfg5Sxo
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRlwA43INM
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrJKhtGeVq
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh1ulGDSvA
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sED1KWZs7
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QL6KZmDbQ
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONMuIUNGOS
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLqShfeOQ1
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmTJcqhSc6
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fllNc0Ycb
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspqG4VQVLh
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEByam91LDY
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWDkdL1Vwx
“You could make your business a reality.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6qvirWXlV
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYRk5Slijy
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8GFB2Mu8T
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAEEG9mwsc
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gPWNefY0G
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59hg203en6
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbWM45D7le
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEoyVVQohg
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpnzD5wLIH
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsXajjaOiY
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fXUWS6Q5b
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSspOHAZlrM
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvyETnfzjJ
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKxXuZE2kz
“How’s that going for you?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClfZggvRvN
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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzALi0l77hi
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwIw4H7W8c
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuPk3Hj6sq
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCTByfb9Ct
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnHkWnzsBQ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNJ7n8FaWf
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvwz1U5PNR
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrJsW8bJg7
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTY8Szo3tx
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOigR3wjp90
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWA7vsq5Kq
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0oNIt6E6O
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWG3rEZu7g
“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.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfSdb7TjVY
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtIWPbxMdZ
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5SXujOWMs
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ko3MkwiMb
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRmAPX8Cna
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtBR6l5OWy
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJkoMZu7QT
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.652Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBohcQWhpEp
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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