Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoY89pLbDd
“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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhqyy3MPQ6
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW77zJ62mCJ
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLM4kJ9xVx9
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQf9O9pV9t
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXPHxJreSx
“What did you do? What did you do?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTlWEsrL7x
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgTR9CpLGy
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8FR9W4j36
Still nothing. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonb0T7nEo5
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRaRdkqNFp
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsrlGUOFB8
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoc9DpmpYBI
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rNKSJETIg
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI3jDvL3hO
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWB7VrVsVQY
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgS3QtkVVE
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqpsJUJBeR
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPDGKY8SFb
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEbArKRMTu
“Will there be any punishment for this?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVlwX8tWSJ
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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjk9hEfmAL
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9Y0qkz05Y
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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32qJq1W3sA
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWjVpNIyCk
“Are you going to explain it to me?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gVz7D8E9e
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFH0eijkli
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?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV94nH74iu
“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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7NjhWvahp
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQn4GoocDa
“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?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9IFdHtmyi
“Roro.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIOapLQ5qq
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8VHStVShw
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaSoKhdWQH
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3ADJLXeXl
It has to be secret.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMzfdZqbky
801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡii2FcnYNdG
Secret.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXilusszsy
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrRlsJoCDQ
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD2UAH6mOX
Eventually, she settled on something simple.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jXjzP1pKU
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTz2uCw1GO
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8zh4lgp5k
IA responded later that night.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjCcnMmxIc
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. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgsYr39EsD
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwn5NH2RZZ3
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKt1ChMlbzy
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFPsIaB3Dc
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPrXBvwNes
“What’s there to talk about?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnzqHgK7SZ
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc35rGrYci8
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRHHZa1VCH
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0CHdnEgnJ
“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?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6C6hNcUp1
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmeEvxPpUq
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JQQK1Ff8w
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGxzpoy1t7
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWPzB8o02r
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8BXFs27U5
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡildcCzcWvB
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXfbr9Cw6j
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUulkSZWkbu
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMrzDap2J2
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv7voD1NEr
“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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy82yz54WEp
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuClahRHRnB
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBjQovddQ1S
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7FbTSlfos
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrSAAu1KqD
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEbh73iMyY
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkzuaMaJR7
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C0inwcYSp
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 10.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHSL9N9Zfb
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhc5HxYnSt
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUO3qfsKe8
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzDnq3tG1s
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EG3brrbiB
“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,”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYcv9iGDRg
“Why didn’t you?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoFFbsvdZB
“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?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKOUWHCdq2
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlsV7fm2yC
“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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRnarjX3dH
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYEGnERu6E
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Xn9VqFvB3
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdl42TFdJUv
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NaXcfRKqu
“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?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo37t4TyY5D
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYzMVjyM92
“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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5EiIevhsr
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKMjqWlmqF
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQQptmCAnm
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFWj2llhOf
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFRy4plZLH0
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0i1kRSrGm
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnJdirbTIb
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSpgs5ZbL6
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjsEz7vfsn
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMcmMO3K4C
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN2A6rp5WB
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJ6sJkXyVt
“You don’t think I cried too?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1YfROIqvb
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3rms9sg66
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPELZYgYtj
“Are you over her yet?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipJv7P2M6r
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBVBKIg3qS
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL4WovuSRF
“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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoFhe0sVk3
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpTk0J3MfH
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6Eyyil3P0
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwAMnHjTWJ
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH62BBUBFL
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVweROlDX2L
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbQDbEeezy
“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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsvthXeFYU
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEeJzb0YYqb
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RUXCkgOCD
“Can I… kiss you?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUzppOcYUxZ
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM1DuPEXtn
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gF3vc68tp
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBuZ2IOpVC
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoyprA4oms
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrat9l8lJ0I
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppdXRZbNC6
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgagboOo5GU
“Not bad. Just… different.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGBFg6Ic9J
Silence.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIk5fZ57aeD
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNOJegJix1
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqiNF339Vn
“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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWlMajQJPw
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCk4NJy1Y5
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlsHkkgq8I
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXJinTDKGJ
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJA9BzfOjru
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!”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZQciGvrOg
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdOf1B5GDY
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNCnZFkQIt
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYcjfQJRUk
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHKh3gV1OB
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQdqQeoUGG
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43JVeTujZ2
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9NgEMYOp3
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lHPNp9pTz
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9KMGW2QxD
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhlCorPBZW
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDjUbFgD8th
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CgBDDsBqg
“You could make your business a reality.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjKNh0A3nE
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkmOlmBIkh
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GbM8PNLYM
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwObWJEqdBk
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rrmzbsez1
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2wzKCWXQp
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe6zPHhW8A
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VEIoMdx3h
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTG6pThUNE
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lBVYCKAxs
“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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwgUL8Mt95
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1eTz6KaBb0
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H65RmgBwz
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjoniff82n
“How’s that going for you?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EvOW22RCH
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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceMGI3ELbP
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BdebofDb0
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3395MP5zd
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5LwBXksaV
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k5WaxvhjQ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFXrYPODzc
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NnXgVBRaJ
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvt1rS4yEt
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDn77MPG9Gs
“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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iR8SJFvqd
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi33HqoWFRh
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6AdIuyxI3
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFNOCtdkoT
“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.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzEUO0ryhE
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoiNLtr0RW
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmwdyrXC61
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9PznyWe1W
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK9dxeUYZW
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Afq6JS5Y8
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5SKv2dysI
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.801Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPFJSuTXo5
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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