Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrZzQoI4Ks
“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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBDQdRpnTA
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4uQH0Zjdt
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFpGgL7c2b
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2RScsJ9rW
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeG27ERZ31d
“What did you do? What did you do?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy561MzZBw
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAhsH2snTY
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8B5NglvZ0
Still nothing. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPARfVbMxdW
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0PGXLiiJr
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLv7xl61a3b
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtQsfX6pMv
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgPGLnkdRi
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV7UJUyCOb
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbBYw17njS
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoM7KmzFehI
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT6IvpiBkw
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ihGtvRS3b
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0mth1W766
“Will there be any punishment for this?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqXuokCpKj
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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVrBCBt4U1
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVmWFJqSiH
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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHyq9zvboD
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHfaJe6gAO
“Are you going to explain it to me?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhqo1G7R8A
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtna4XwuNH
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?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9UER4xGHc
“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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3xGuIghJJ
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uRzK4LbdL
“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?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46VT18N3Ew
“Roro.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpg2MhdTJz
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5z1meWeyn
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCcVvGAUmw
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebT3iwJRyX
It has to be secret.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJHKoLhmlX
931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1sRKHGvx1n
Secret.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn87VMUls93
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsO6wPFJQcB
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvAigkEF81
Eventually, she settled on something simple.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUE5ZNdhIF
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uJAy3ZJOY
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID7wU5I8E2
IA responded later that night.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvO1dDoLRU
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. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZOxhgMClx
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXamPe1N31W
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MtCbtFU4W
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInRSs4kpaP
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfVC4pCK8J
“What’s there to talk about?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOTOggJ1Xq
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND2BMJOo6m
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUwOcLknnG
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0T8WIk5sFS
“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?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6Kwg0FxSJ
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgdVMUXn8y
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DDGczStSY
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGk8UkvaxP
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlpZ4r2tB6
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStjy68OPv5
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmNC7AQ7Gw
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzLLCV3WaE
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwA6q1CKfi
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eleI9FD5j
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeJvFijyfK
“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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2M9XVYxJQ
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ7IvF2N5Q
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu3f0gqAFq
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3cQKXYiIL
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8W1NVvUj8
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQDyCk4pWq
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgyLQQyH9X
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmqivP2Xww
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 10.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF8rwRM9KM
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT2gXoNyJf
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1dPjhDyF9
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEo7yUBV1tc
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VOWxXfaai
“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,”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatvKdCrKHc
“Why didn’t you?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNd4M6YDO4
“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?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoTlmL8ht9
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Npd5nSYy
“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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiM3zASRFA
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzKVgnrNCW
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6MXA6DxBZ
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdL0uMLoHTf
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9WT2is4kc
“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?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CJqk3yvsQ
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaeDHL3BEv
“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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk2LQWsQrL
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pZ1WpIDrI
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBKDEewDIf
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwm6GZ9yjn
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18KdSjalIw
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0Y6iTeUlj
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosFIgwbK5I
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9JvLDjebN
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhdSd1invB
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDcIVHlupF
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0GTxrlUwr
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1hCHeFoBd
“You don’t think I cried too?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo8tpquXYS
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5fOgwlcty
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvlk4wJXZH
“Are you over her yet?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡun0Tj24tUC
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHLSgBBp2U
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDkQdzVzPu
“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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdoL1RU4b5
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MHw0wfGbr
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ksos8lXO
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJoluttzFN
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwh6F9BQibx
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY5f0bPDgY
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwKo9wsKkl
“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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVJ9cnRCu5
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAn9TLTiO8z
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8gcbvH91t
“Can I… kiss you?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpVrflLPxs
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwRbUlrfPE
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujQKyMRIxo
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeJOlsnEDc
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnvzx4e9eH
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23vb6Ynee6
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDelrV2TQF
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUEG5WB0R8
“Not bad. Just… different.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1c8GNOhABq
Silence.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPBPp7Hg7q
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSgTgdPM57q
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJ2mAVv32T
“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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rXZ05yuyM
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASgDkncwHW
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQj5o2Xi18
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mepIaLnUD
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnE0fucggEf
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!”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKHXfTNUJ1
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9N9mWj3NA
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxorD1YijD
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrNnMtn9YU
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClgFReH22o
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoVptRG55A
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FMCzvGxCM
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgDnCprxmn
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9LyttxFom
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLz44LL3P3K
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhxdZZGvhO
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M6azXLTDn
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBE5An3ctrI
“You could make your business a reality.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJas4C4mkAa
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7pHTQ5lJp
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW8NLe7B66
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ICZCPV1K4
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2B8Sm2dL9
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0KnQMjbFc
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpkqrEH5mY
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUn9qnFNb0
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8rrXXqCpE
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwKXW0P1xt
“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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvw8VOfjzm
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5zAaCqPK4
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wJbtcpiwh
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qaXcUiqIw
“How’s that going for you?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcztNsg4gIq
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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaBVF9apSu
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDrrAIrv9b
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF64CjzPka4
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSMX1uJ8iT
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0lgMDAUXr
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEhlfCYlU9
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vTobS1Grw
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWlSmeMvjO
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zcutyzxt0
“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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72u5t9G5Hw
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7tvaUZ83p
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPQzgwivSt
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZFp5RtWi3
“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.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fdeSLa0OB
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FvVc3T4N8
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZLVdbeKOQ
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfH7dUZxYe
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RTcFpRiFd
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBvvVpupgy
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzn1xBFf4pm
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.931Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaOpO0ph6Z
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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