Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVTS2J5YTX
“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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy8a9R0Nij
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1rbY5wtzZ
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKrSXje2uj
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv35UOKbMTR
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9L27ccX3l
“What did you do? What did you do?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOe2QPtJrl
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYRUzVhUEF
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCmGzNN0zk
Still nothing. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7weiBPU9Ux
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppzI8kbrSD
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTAzvGChED
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RffQocW7n
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfXlCkqyNY
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XcX9JkVpF
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2JS8pRMsL
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2aruDsihk
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalxZ1i3HOd
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpzZR6t3jC
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevUEb6SLCv
“Will there be any punishment for this?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxH1cz9Oc2B
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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibfb1YcEWQ
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4xUk2nY62
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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy4ZaHxKaC
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR357cmieQm
“Are you going to explain it to me?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjU6BZJEkw
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55cu5s9HWj
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?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUx4STpzHY
“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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAPoiMM4RM
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IhZS9dqGG
“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?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXD289hkDB
“Roro.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRrQQBMwOP
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yj5NNcIog
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVhWQhA8Td
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TKjXmvegb
It has to be secret.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDeQjpb9nX
818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYAjjqT2xY
Secret.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOicmq5cbr
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLA7HpQMYv
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLn7BYXjpQ
Eventually, she settled on something simple.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhOJPJS6cy
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jhIEtugJK
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jrsZRPHxj
IA responded later that night.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHQLsPPKoN
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. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFyckNB0uo
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJRJBudg0C
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv71Q2dZJLe
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLOcG4f79X
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfUMa7PhY6
“What’s there to talk about?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbc4JU3CX5
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxpM57u4o6
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJzS54xZEg
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW06au8hiO
“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?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpyjI5SwkQ
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewn3V0rVF4
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXQouVgYY9
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7XE0EeCvW
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4WErXtAA3
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfzKzjQtbH
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSbmksmunw
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qqw5IPYoV
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxq2UvxlbH
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmORnKcG7m
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh35ld2NRuX
“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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZgpWR1PJp
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2XLVLoEUW
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmerefXzA0
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnzCSZArcV
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkIk9QY5Io
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmFl3YqhR2
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcu7t08AsCd
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c8PfnxgOw
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 10.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEqsXhDFnH
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyrXhDAPjz
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyZllpZzq2
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlwSSi4Fqn
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTrbDiGGMt
“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,”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaxms58k4m
“Why didn’t you?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKICPKKjB7E
“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?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVRJojZHYR
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ203Jqg68wj
“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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMudSoayWEv
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqA4IM5hTS
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm54KFK9KT
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErwDlEnPxB
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn4T4Xifd4
“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?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7VzIqZbR0
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzbrqgpV9w
“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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyLDNtHZQ4
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4V847dFOEf
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYPpLmqhUf
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTybJLzIMFg
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkzyOYE6t0
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPL9zw0Axr
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GSmGL5Acl
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxYn1mcEjD
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAcSNSgeQe
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetFjh6dxra
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9KbFFamU7
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0geBhWN4X
“You don’t think I cried too?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOb5MKY4QY
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2PSjpq1WP
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSreN5GY0Kl
“Are you over her yet?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfBGCcifFC
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGQ0OaJ6BE
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OSg5QMzyc
“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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00Ipes1m4R
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRtJWkPgvv
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4le1xbPHj
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxhbplnGqn
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnr4A4arGo
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeq5NsJSoY
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzaw0fYTTC
“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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PncTsdfT9
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGdfZT7mcr
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ6aIUgkrI
“Can I… kiss you?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrirHsYxC92
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3EzcCnjPp
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1icSzcWAN
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1naOV39QC
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqGIfZLNGQ
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLBV45VUTd
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP5BIxb8HX
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPlOTL41nD
“Not bad. Just… different.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3UQRzMil8
Silence.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhMOyFq6Tk
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8DpetqDEf
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eCuAmOdOJ
“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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DtfqV4v8Q
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaodqLrcMUX
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMME7HCsuj
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhka9OHmtaZ
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCN63dp336
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!”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h6Xx0xmUr
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji6OJjgXax
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDvaB3wRKG
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukdhTn3eRD
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnw5spwXuW
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQhb2wcRPh
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR60JUh4ZK
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx2c2i4GaN
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW9XaEgo8U
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr49aVOigK
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJT6FyNHH5
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRcSebKKOt
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrIf3ydOLI
“You could make your business a reality.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrdYTXZLTB
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULclIxpncz
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BhdbxsWHv
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkWTjrEM23
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiDWUXXPkE
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RlCPsbO3h
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2yGyDlWWd
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjB8lv6FBkU
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxwATMxyQz
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0axEPvLlO
“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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0VhKDrWVQ
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiDvExU41P
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f2Q9BPv3J
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TKAlX2XtP
“How’s that going for you?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv196EsebB
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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvIZ4lSZ9D
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ913IZtU9I
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOsn4ZFHUI
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpywX71gGUS
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFBX1zkPqd
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6663VD3TXS
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm0vdNJiTz
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxdWoA3uRm
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowFzoCp22R
“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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnusXutEOY
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr6fwhYgSg
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw2kxo6NRH
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9uvMKmUjl
“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.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW6WEUSaXw
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBdvvrcIT9
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSwXvnK0MP
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWuNrpiZbb
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNJvvzSfA0
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcfD0HxkK3
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfXLHhi1UE
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.818Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRrX77ILpp
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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