Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKgxNGvZVI
“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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplvZamu4ua
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFBCAa0RYX
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYQ1B1Co2n
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27i5gE1Cqp
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpqfLBq1jB
“What did you do? What did you do?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJ3QYSuzCE
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxyWcm09LI
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mqayGAVwZ
Still nothing. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOorUNidoFo
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkjptn1PbA
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFPQ5nYbVD
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cPEf5WMz8
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTF7e7MYKYj
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeIsNlf68j
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHS5LJv6r9
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AgxO3fx39
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBc1e676MwV
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAoRQlWNZl
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo09QoRsfJL
“Will there be any punishment for this?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBgPavmfQJ
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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgelmaflXG
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg0d1roYzy
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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPDUNuoJGn
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gW23qwU9z
“Are you going to explain it to me?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nqYwT1CJd
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHALDLseFA
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?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7LkksUc79
“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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxvWdi9vis
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa91icTmZS5
“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?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RnVe7aZ8E
“Roro.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjLcqd5Mz3
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsbOwojluF
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40FmeI2IKM
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W7ExafmI2
It has to be secret.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKC6hYf7dRO
709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobyVgDAOnQ
Secret.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gXroMieze
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZcXETrZs7
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgEy2Kcl73
Eventually, she settled on something simple.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMVhBpLTX7
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HK7PatRye
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz5XPRMcps
IA responded later that night.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEvwve4f8f
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. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrfAc7dpFQ
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IolYy2H6h
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpIilpuwth
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKyppirSTS
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpfTJw5Ny8
“What’s there to talk about?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5vSZ1UwRL
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv65aCNfwYF
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXE0acbeGPp
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrIGMz9Psa
“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?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmd7Ljqswq
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbB5U6Uw6N6
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgIyvzpdvc
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBKhzaWg0w
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNQu1jGcPd
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QJddWORs2
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyrfik5TVI
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7ylHgbaDH
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevllzY28de
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qLCpxAWlG
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsxevCZjVR
“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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH7dvvuNRl
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAC6EK2SJs
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73h5qh7xXX
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd7niJVQrW
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG6KxOekHC
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8US9bV80YE
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznuPIl9vI5
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57CCdNkBxM
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 10.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2x8d8rKoB
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQskkeHK1K
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN5c3z7GWB
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9QavPs5IY
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V6B615KqA
“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,”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt4YDXQ5Es
“Why didn’t you?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTEn0fK9lv
“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?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQSGPlCELj
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsjrV5GMNb
“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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LUAwAGn5d
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oBkFOM3IL
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY8xHb5aL0
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3B0YDBcWy
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1JOtmSPe1
“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?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK74Bl9Ltj
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4H0r6FbuN
“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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJDKLPb7hP
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSH7caHU63g
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYbSSzmP9Q
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuojGcXjdUz
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUuap4qscD
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVcfNfWzZD
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzNPfUEkwM
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvlbvU75dA
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8FPraF4xi
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEpRC7TAzu
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r6XagBhbt
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoYRIe2QEK
“You don’t think I cried too?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMHmlvTvYz
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEJVobdSGi
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vtPU5V45J
“Are you over her yet?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx2KnEx1ig
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYZXfuy9Ky
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0929iN1vym
“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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJto4IzxXgj
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrPWUbP18x
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkngRBTzDS
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJky3IgKeS
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH80UEXVBCy
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOjJgnPHf6
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCmLXDh7ze
“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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCNPvyBzrs
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8Uk1aM5nC
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGq5xwM67H6
“Can I… kiss you?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzRMLFOwqp
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRBdAXcrml
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntZWvf9J8u
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qdONKX0ZP
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoWYcV8BOh
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkO0bPwZZa
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbne9wBn143
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjdmIzAafL
“Not bad. Just… different.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGrgXDMyUr
Silence.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3TkBaPomMp
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZgYbFOYdo
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAssjtbriGS
“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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wE6Vm7MYJ
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmjPhidRxV
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCIksesMQ4
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOuRlvohVf
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oCj0NmHaU
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!”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLerMRkOiT
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjKziBRtdA
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eEdcAWqXC
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOueW6uHGPK
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnunO2yhgYw
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98KEUM4J2R
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiagaTJeyo
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBUQPVPVuY
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4Stxhs4MZ
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9MUXhPdGL
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz55iOtgSN
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmDSJPbUJU
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQwDqmLxQf
“You could make your business a reality.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3GlHayasF
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawwiW52Jo4
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffB8JUvTG0
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN44tyLKcVQ
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XwsdBj3G3
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxJZLtbG58
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurR6rUILp8
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLmzDyup6o
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQ8XZrYzui
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6t4uW5ePq
“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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESCPuVKdLA
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ig8g0USNE
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllRD8Z9IUx
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87la3MpBYh
“How’s that going for you?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwVvhSkxPA
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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBmJZZHBpG
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9U5SU3XVi
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5GNq6oiXh
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjVtR7fXi3
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aeV4h3umZ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimG4dTSF17
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4ILJSQkDG
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprzeKCrky1
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJlZIEOnwC
“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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmeYgqQv7WQ
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDKOBs5TV2
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoRuURbG6Ro
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxNreezl9N
“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.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V0u3kNwo3
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJP5Lmoqjia
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjrnG8rHee
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4WHr23hUq
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXhCSor05B
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSsWPkx74W
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fUXUVEpxb
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.709Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxzBQzRxBa
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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