Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFVb019uBO
“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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu7vHeuJRL
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSpiCEWPxy
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVq9i9edGbi
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z30rug0IZ
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhsHrKgDk8
“What did you do? What did you do?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrnPGCeaO8
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWX958o9WAo
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzephHYo7M0
Still nothing. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3mZ2le6Wn
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7P9LkMA6d
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1qrbjWzLG
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4R1yMpmqG9
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnDC6TXARPa
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Oi81Fff7t
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCmlumAMW4
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJWwVWofJh
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg01pGrlND
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZOw4wpYu3
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUNCIXDUsc
“Will there be any punishment for this?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFlB5t8tby
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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Eb0Ap1gvS
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q7NKqmWdI
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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2CpHW0VrA
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2WAIqiSgB
“Are you going to explain it to me?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwz11HcT6U4
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDEmm25APK
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?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8ORAmHU2v
“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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs6c7ElP3D
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiegtZ3LlK
“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?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99BIWkfohI
“Roro.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQO62y21cJ
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9cJEUSFIs
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDdhrOw6gi
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsk5Q6ucfj
It has to be secret.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21P41zrBQr
649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JLqxAazUg
Secret.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpmoRA5e0y
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBCanUrMEO
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD4b5l9TqV
Eventually, she settled on something simple.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7hpTY854D
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsZM4htVNi
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRytmTY5kk
IA responded later that night.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwpGWucKvu
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. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsaG57lseS
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUyIxvpiZz
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nXHJZ29Bl
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD8oFDgHvy
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4tzmQOi1M
“What’s there to talk about?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyjoaPPBvg
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX3ojVPudd
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vgiqbhMub
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEEa4jggEe
“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?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UFNbC6e2v
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6xJyU01Iz
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWh6Eo1BYw
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxBcJUuT8K
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN9EXwEHGW
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKucXsbWTb
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK0IA6GWeI
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9mbnONlVi
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefWsF8hEkO
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hRSTlZUxt
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZC0e4CgbL
“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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURonliV3UC
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oGlcc21dL
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIl6Mmx9Dd
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjH2YrUTpn
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK6noVndLT
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Lfkqwhvgl
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IiImY5TvF
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmQD5U3hNg
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 10.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUlD7pXyyf
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJNW1KuEii
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYl02ySnUI
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDmhPfIgAA
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0wBErE1rk
“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,”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq65RIDVLD5
“Why didn’t you?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIfFGsrwrd
“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?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e6GE6JEMB
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDWtjdakZ8
“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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFux3lEy8d
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTSRB22qsD
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZITqxJknev
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMgnERVyN1
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ9hp2UuoJ
“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?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EeW5F3ocl
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A427zg0ex
“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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE2af2OUQX
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML3yby1giu
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiptYTSnyKQ
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhm3IplxkpH
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DPFcf3ENW
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dVfadWhbB
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq83IpHWoSO
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdihbDc90Ew
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5ZpLBSlGc
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDi1fOPRbl
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr5mXkv74f
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDF71gXurr
“You don’t think I cried too?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgwmut3Ikz
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Lb0FNoSk
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7IcfNgElx
“Are you over her yet?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBQCrc1LQU
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw6GDRx4jx
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHmIT01xxq
“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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ347UZTF3Mu
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDIw8FHR3L
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQVAh4Cq6u
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJecdiuKfyZ
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhGG3iHPQy
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunyWX09K7m
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSZk8jhTwJ
“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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2XeRqtOQe
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡka4HWpSnDG
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKM4WFHXL3
“Can I… kiss you?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEeWF05OaP
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPIoyhgCYp
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1ijqLDrDt
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxM2REwWJ3t
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpjm4TP2dD
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheDrNd7cdb
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa3W3s9Q5G
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8ao2byCe6
“Not bad. Just… different.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEI663iHniK
Silence.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrymDRggJ1s
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SNtY7uqQa
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4qWs56txZ
“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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2600eRH4zw
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsyNTZkWUl
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcxra1f6vv
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX67pQpwt6
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhKVHgMlL3
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!”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFO92qWVCs
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUY2MrEkD6J
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmxFfaFzvk
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSx7tzc3HdU
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMRf12kSDP
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAcmaYJePr
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nP2Mch8lY
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1lThAIfx7
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuFVRJIfdr
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RsUzSHaKg
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KhKWZUBLU
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiPgtde6jU
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgKZPkGYtR
“You could make your business a reality.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpo0cmEadB
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxbWNymVCk
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKuJ0g9Q2x
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUHC7xJlpG
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3pTzDa0VA
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiL5L5VxK8c
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomKBI1ukjD
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfgIfN4KKR
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qmJ8lyBwu
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYzd7tR6SE
“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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1LmhE5tqF
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAHn4Cj7m6
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0UjYdSj4V
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAyFT41JeT
“How’s that going for you?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZW7HFFRI7L
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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7U94k3QRm
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MzvwRXcTI
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcnT3oSzbY2
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYCD8Z2tph
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUmRKYlLHJ
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22crovpf17
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoegSGihmG
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJEn6hxcpb
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxFrioaVK6
“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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWQsx6y3t7
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdkFxhaprS
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHDBgGOW3q
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUPSgb8VHK
“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.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoJQCXJYv3
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9mT6QYhJU
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXptzy6rzOt
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKpVv1tDkI
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOd7Xlk4RC
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92ivUzg675
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPJsqjhkii
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.649Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5iCxzIJO3
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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