Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVnhrvxW6C
“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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N0B5SGwwk
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT12HUohCjT
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeg4ybzYWr
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6u5xlNIkS
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Nip3QShpq
“What did you do? What did you do?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpvGoGLxae
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyKLs6YaEY
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofYLSCOEaO
Still nothing. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQm7etgZz4
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR93fDcFcc
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcTh76o53L
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQqAUp1DxZ
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDD180rIbM
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFAyH9AZg4
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ViO2fIvvz
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrQc7Nk2BU
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSJl5oEpH2
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaQylxkoKj
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLeMUn2hOc
“Will there be any punishment for this?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6xG3vOzUt
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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyU4XJkuhp
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaztddBP4R
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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlxnNBtbJN
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPoLeOBjXr
“Are you going to explain it to me?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3h6NIpii7Q
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XmMA0qLAJ
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?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3HQjpGngf
“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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZsmAzU3bq
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpTL0fyx1s
“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?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SuflJA2lG
“Roro.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcaii6Bfsn
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFVqn8defa
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubwl7S0F9C
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuhbkQi8ir
It has to be secret.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BunsQOCa4
499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06gxHqvNVu
Secret.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6UafGBnZS
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNvkDJsxMz
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTxd0BtGA7
Eventually, she settled on something simple.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJM2aD7JNY5
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwX7OGff2O
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GbuTxn7TV
IA responded later that night.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XjhZdloKc
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. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNesa3jxTsT
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S9X3BNVkv
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RAyn34wjj
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlaFU8UyLG
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNU3c7eaf6
“What’s there to talk about?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLleVutLAO
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKtGtnRVZ6
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr28VYQtYt
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS9YSoAban
“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?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlRvHVxmgn
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTfrQ57H8N
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaFGpinAhR
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlN5zk4kmK
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhBKINcQS5
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mB9MW8LHB
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cuB3svE39
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR7nrX657E
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXbyva6qMu
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpw3l206BE
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzSa0XYKw2
“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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrdiM1GOal
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSWXxQSGEU
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQUgfUUKUK
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkLF88qK8R
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3CmuswGws
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ8pgFx8fU
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMHtmAQcHS
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmUdwo3lte
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 10.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4EBU6W52R
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVXtMiYb7m
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4auiRf5MU7
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcZvpthiYT
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvIizii8aO
“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,”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6DwsNBsDj
“Why didn’t you?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki3JLNgi7T
“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?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5gHamSDUF
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3svsrgeas
“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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB7OBb6T9X
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5I36A9ejb
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sU1ZmfMQt
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfD6FOfoTu
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTOGvUl5Ci
“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?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiK4WLAJMp
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFItOroQsm
“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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKN9wS39hz
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2AAVGmBKp
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gAfTIuIjZ
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8T7HIq0Qk4
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLIEBkjfMq
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQxbifjxHK
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQKjaWiNoU
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqslNcWHOvZ
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhah0fj4MO
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡursoCi9woG
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDECih11qFS
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqVTekWZWp
“You don’t think I cried too?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom6je6ejN4
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2w6gJ94Er
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56duLkr62N
“Are you over her yet?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UV16fd1cr
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhd2zPbQWhz
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkKf8wRpOk
“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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRIMYLgB5O
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlx6zZwZcHA
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxUYylb0ej
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaOW8yqx1Y
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOddTBn0Zw
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDguN4i3F4
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGr6GGUZ97
“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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rNJdzT0OT
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB50FvjzW0
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeufzXidZP
“Can I… kiss you?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98nLqWsBMs
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYozfKK2TZ
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHkO14JZ8g
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs03Fuo72yZ
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09x4pjU0M8
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoAd7FyC7c
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQEo2NcxKt
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITVugllX9g
“Not bad. Just… different.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD3cFnGARz
Silence.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLo9zFOJUP7
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9KdUpQTil
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN0EIn1h0y
“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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkjgxBQCD7
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfoEDlQkVW
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdu4PfPS3l7
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3wqBm1Qo1
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1gnpuAOhX
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!”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEdzeTDyf0
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90BTWmqAyp
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Y77w5Rfi
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zkFAXcbKe
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLPaSkoIhc
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddXuSC2rox
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcsQyQ6pZ0
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBPN9n9Mvy
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYCC1EMx58
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSeKKO6PzNW
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhegoprITKf
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3PmvZyFp1
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsb2e0UZdL
“You could make your business a reality.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nOklkc230
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyavy2CvDcN
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnzQ7Av02R
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxsDDB5eJA
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPbgBuz9Tz
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMDk5NJJvE
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dieOnAbh7
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHObbh6ThRd
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3VCKYipvy
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfcEMl7Fwi
“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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaWsk4QLK7
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVCTikwTd2
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gm5W4446I
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWruwMVDMah
“How’s that going for you?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVj27QbK7wX
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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSHDU6DSGf
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjcwBILWGF
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7tXRlG9z3
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNMbViARKn
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS4515JVmU
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOd3gmwLIgp
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0gBjm8bsT
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHFjuy9W38
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwMnASWFua
“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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0qXdJX6G4
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrW1IqR0fb
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvo1aSd46e
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFM3FR0cmwV
“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.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tGTSJ2jpR
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVytK07rfVW
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhNi3QAgy1
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8fMTl4voF
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNr6RpcgA3P
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWP4hFS9tH
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIJR06MKME
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.499Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4JAwgaxWm
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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