Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrasC2AMaS
“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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZI8mE2Dm6
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKmcLpUXPp
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25Ym7BcAJF
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FrSqDgF5L
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yZpFIagTS
“What did you do? What did you do?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtb894hZmI1
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrSHm0Vz6A
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsJTnHi9Kk
Still nothing. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMMfSWH1SS
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3WdRXprNa
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUnUHqQw5L
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbAc1uyZLR
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0Tyw0NUcL
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVTYmCLPZd
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgPbyjDObS
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlGcB6zBjQ
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhbmQyp5nd
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvOkRpkYJD
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaRyfVS5sl
“Will there be any punishment for this?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoriCM505yF
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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yPVhK4bUX
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemTWhcNYFx
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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQismgU6YE8
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD59tUNFZF
“Are you going to explain it to me?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7edXnTzgQ7
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1vYj1C66c
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?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ngBS9kGPZ
“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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl45VqqVVjn
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbE9QQV0Bx7
“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?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrngjcucCU
“Roro.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgAilstWZN
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd2AdgJoj6
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aWlogiq5B
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9CrAyU7VR
It has to be secret.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD1RGtO0cG
889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KNrNnfiOx
Secret.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVnS3xgI4H
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGiMcvrDfa
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsiJX2Jplc
Eventually, she settled on something simple.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRY3C81kcAz
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKFIVOFhCI
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ksg4pwp21
IA responded later that night.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCKrf8ro5C
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. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzF5I6QJIG
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMZhiw6NHX
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvgAcs94HN
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGmDpEbEr4
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYPaoOobmj
“What’s there to talk about?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrj1qX1Rca
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jswZQhc0S
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8J4Rw8QKsp
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwxAC1AGxZ
“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?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8URFicWtuT
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLpeQWNaNe
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlLOwlh37r
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87PVLlgT5Y
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkn1y8plFA
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQYR5X9Sf0
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVV7lBtk4QP
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2owmUmuSV
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgPX54ZSUY
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiRxSnGKYz
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmGEgK594N
“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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjvTqiNvJ0
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqBkoeWHVh
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbNNUkjOll
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMstbLIoWfm
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDIhSahTjr
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1h9JMBOpl
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nBZJArVu5
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMawyvLVXD
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 10.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4ZkkOb8MJ
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewtdtAoZhd
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhVYes87Hp
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYL3CpJhgT
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8C47p5O2N
“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,”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06k8tbNrAK
“Why didn’t you?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTHnFvFIMJ
“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?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPs6URlv6QJ
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloa3febpsY
“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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmHoYN2iTG
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNa0N4VwdZ
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIUPB39XQU
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJkdAFlJyM
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMplMwufKpq
“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?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJh8nOAtho
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQASsdTnNp
“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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkgWSzWWLL
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDwzxE7Fca
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YfvuMnegV
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wCdOIHvWS
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9PWO2BUg3
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmo0wecSPHQ
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsaHO9VcFK
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw64uY4LP8
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltbVen05NY
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFmOVTQ5cD
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeIoiUkaCR
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dg1hl87uy
“You don’t think I cried too?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmv2riNwgu
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5F404KSDY
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtGPeF93fW
“Are you over her yet?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uO4qaBoCd
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KqNGD8ZIA
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8T10YA9z4
“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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwYdOCxKUo
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHypwbi3kvt
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTMnejujN4
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RqYORuzBk
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IKC0feFRx
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY0QbRLzmt
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEan7nlh3Tn
“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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtcWjdSpKa
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtNybuzf4E
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfdVj4WpLp
“Can I… kiss you?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk1i9mdgNk
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xXk77WeeY
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnmEhCRWb8
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX5ypmLSXJ
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YdwOS1VtZ
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinB0TqJR1l
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzSQINDNgR
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNHfaGQo0T
“Not bad. Just… different.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcx4f4PuPz
Silence.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb7eTHOfbo
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Xc0NVsCha
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz9z3mWU4Q
“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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIYr5ca1Da
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0YEsIUxmf
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyVkuY1SsQ
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5a9Plazy9
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWsEawVDBu
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!”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSotSXcxSjg
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwsHwCqJaJ
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21irnCcJiA
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N5knfYR8E
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1K7Fkf2XZ
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFCHWAzwcB
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSfSax2ksP
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1NPMz4CYN
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NgsWuCLJL
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RenFV0SdO
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xm2zTuRaP
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjWZKvjf3M
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUc598l7lV
“You could make your business a reality.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqJ0BGECks
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQFNsNE2fv
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk8nNuWeqe
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJCEXGcDpS
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj6lLm9ZD7
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iVpBoc7Ws
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h0KhYfBkH
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AjpXIXxCz
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmthE4gYaI5
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcgc3wKa7H
“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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wUEpyMZF4
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWe14VCsB7V
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4JRrOd3aE
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAafKzeWkB
“How’s that going for you?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB043sHX0K9
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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfMVB3svZn
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHdsuMl6qf
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5JtRvf7VZ
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxuXTzPHdK
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh3ZIixTyQ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfJUHABarB
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDfdZsitZ1
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSBn9SzK9L
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYLwyYcnPu
“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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwIve1spyu
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE6wk0LVF8
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3El6fXHGb
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5McYhiInd
“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.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8nsQKT7LJ
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqgbBXfmqg
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8NN0UaNvR
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FmWmXP4yn
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwbCBkbaV5
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIV1lpF9by
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejcBZMg9GM
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.889Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkAwCDwavV
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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