Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80RNSOSmSY
“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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7cTT7T6qk
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Znnmcg2J
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpJwVBEp6T
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBVBe6Z6LL
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwoC1rHd4B
“What did you do? What did you do?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy2pjB701f
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2zy1ex895
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEwpcSwzp9
Still nothing. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23OKjUCVwV
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJpQGtrv7j
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wZ7LTkuiO
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH58uv3esKo
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt2wxmKLre
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKItvaNPDaP
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG5che5MkC
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8K7f0B7TX
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxrGPjvFsr
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pjwKAFaOY
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5npJKKAYF
“Will there be any punishment for this?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWHn6jOeZU
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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAqlDwcSWc
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7S5mulXvI
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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqYYYHTQOb
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GguOOZ3cT
“Are you going to explain it to me?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKPoHCdN8V
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3gcXfn2hF
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?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8ylmBIeHQ
“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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsddI38xOMK
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCyEPQBj4k
“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?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8JlAbTfsB
“Roro.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEORZavwqaM
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkOtznTlwW
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1C6Rg9nAQ
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYZ6iNOJbD
It has to be secret.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sx4syqCmR
903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsE7hOsk3T
Secret.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNde708iPQp
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6o3gtrkZu
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgw4hUTYci
Eventually, she settled on something simple.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIcwiuGM4O
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIntUaYBMAs
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkCnTv91NF
IA responded later that night.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgIQdSLTEl
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. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87hv76VYk1
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMDZvYajHD
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNx5brJIUc
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡck6x23oSsZ
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgwQmfErNK
“What’s there to talk about?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoB1UFaULe
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1sj8CIvgB
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFqAUrxUO0
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUp8q8uMtW
“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?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzwTqd0Osh
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIXBN7RVby
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAw1DOSI1I
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSd7ehG4HvP
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKppqmElvaf
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwyJB0hEJ9
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9oxkOp1p4
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvX6i3jsja
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD8i5Wmn9j
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBXesYln04
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5gLsHbYvH
“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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpzKcKwGJW
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIdfMexaxX
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PIIyd743T
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h6nEbSrAa
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQyKeBhZ6p
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnX57KOXzW
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAOyq3tuTx
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUMjPN2FWG
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 10.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeY0OPTZvE
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtT9rny0MWX
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilr7abOPtV
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pvNTPrfUf
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHca3oPUrp9
“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,”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhwjGNzob8
“Why didn’t you?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYkastZD86
“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?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcWvpywq5W
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfI6WDdLSHx
“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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKoU1cVNin
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvT6YNGmuW
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KLNNCRjNR
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFOzeiYQCN
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWiiEJ6ldZ
“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?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZC0nlw9iP
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wlnk5LnOg
“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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bB9qXzm8L
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17qVgox5Zx
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuq5dcyopBH
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTnjwYi41T
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRg4wz2tTC
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxT8SfgxUN
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnOe12Xrt2
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8Xk6gqWNE
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAibuamtwf
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIloHcxC60
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipNYqKVx2o
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR8dsBwJz7
“You don’t think I cried too?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnXRvd3JEU
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbp5XPyH91
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuZXt0gbmW
“Are you over her yet?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSNVAY6gy8
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rXcX8f6iU
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQUFcDtz2j
“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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeNz1GrBEL
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStY1L15MBY
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN3ttY4g0o
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJCoM5CS3I
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzijr9OHtr5
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZZbAqAeyt
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0yFm2hATn
“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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWnrAp7qhD
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoONw6A6LM7
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyXmACZ4Ow
“Can I… kiss you?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhei8hmhBS
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XeFDWbxca
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW9EyTvdnx
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZFZOfI51k
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO1riX7IU6
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt4dai1ztk
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr34l2p1jf
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5cuxd8S8y
“Not bad. Just… different.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kQXB1lFq9
Silence.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRVulF3M1P
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwg4jHjbT1S
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMYwcUBSJx
“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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqOBa8WIjU
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzd6MS24Jw
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMZFEig7lP
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecoaT6bqPh
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcC1SaLjpk2
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!”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0qoQtcIB5
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SxvwtTjsi
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡph4N3BcPDR
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAqmCa5mSt
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPmhVYlLeN
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpGnrGaShi
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoyj0ycNxZ
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa5BxvXl6m
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vvlOcMjvR
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJpb1k1O6y
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUZxMJBECw
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXfjwWYGIT
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LZu3Cr5qc
“You could make your business a reality.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDd6sO5Wt5
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMHie8Za2c
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyicbrBgH6
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBe1D857QMI
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q6tAk3np1
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCSMHGY1VB
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjp7lljTAIs
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurXz2EtvdG
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH1jFoWuc7
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBpn3HRlfe
“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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMQz9I44tI
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVa2rKuJIHp
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLRWjwyz94
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkJD76MPhE
“How’s that going for you?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7i2fHLh8F
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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TY99lcXtW
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ577UGwIfyg
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8A84rcVcW
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNXBQoMLEN
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jHVcTpgpZ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF99Nxv0TPc
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZmXn7CP2M
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj2msDlg3u
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk2ktqYpTo
“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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhoyVjMGqF
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZc2Fh9KQLn
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqIEsL9OXON
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFa85X4tAq
“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.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmTGh8GXZF
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPxblKOgfS
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSayl8xZf7U
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiGSofdKMB
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡootrfodGCV
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqeqpxWNLR
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNmyRvJmV1
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.903Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRwjFb7oKk
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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