Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CPAXr52qs
“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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPDB9l0wxY
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfRIG2Xazb
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMtDMNA2SL
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXMzHXqLzL
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIKGHBc6q4
“What did you do? What did you do?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwkVEChSy4
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHpg3tzVRN
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zOWr9yONR
Still nothing. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9SzjkTu91
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpvW0YeG8y
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbS6H5uZnnK
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvP5GASHNz
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPprxQNOhEq
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuULibHU7y3
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLew9faQTb
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMMPQg2Aoq
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFbLw9e6eE
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMBylJexeL
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVoeuWewwV
“Will there be any punishment for this?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GHXfM0Umt
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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmjC1BND8O
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENIU9jHjKJ
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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVk5XHANIr
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfABfd4lEH
“Are you going to explain it to me?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0keHosxPEA
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3AdL8V3hQ
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?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHl7ZQFZJbr
“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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiipPFVb2K6
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSigByRlmmD
“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?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuBVMq2olj
“Roro.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3WLGiEJ3U
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1w1VlZbqF
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdiQRQJtz0
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSWfAIK1uS
It has to be secret.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAT91zoAeyj
888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiEejKYklM
Secret.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZhzDnOI4z
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMH7p7teF6
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulcA5xslyh
Eventually, she settled on something simple.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4cNlnxgZM
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UKbmMdgDL
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOnFMXc8KM
IA responded later that night.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl88UTz7gh1
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. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt7m4aGoNx
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq8R7zWdur
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexJprIO4d2
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7WCtDJ7CB
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxMjCdmzO7
“What’s there to talk about?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQ4qZfZkun
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdgRrKt0Om
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZsVK4oWDJ
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL2tSOjYeI
“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?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlxU9vm5MJ
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKhfkR02N8
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMvcBCERtw
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BxM12xiOr
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0ZzebyLAr
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64rTxsPOzU
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigngp6X5Xm
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjibvVCemI
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvoRLNCOPI
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofXTmrRgrj
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYYvQua7ZP
“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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ4PYTSOi3
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmMxiigwFY
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zG6i9IF7w
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU56XYXVte
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgQt1J5LMT
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC6yoR0Mod
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHl7izyW3Y
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2wpW7sNDQ
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 10.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR35MkSoSmr
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlV9tNbAscK
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrZk5Ifw3o
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvitQe2ulqt
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlY3kWg4uu
“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,”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rhi6NbOUS
“Why didn’t you?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06cg5p84By
“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?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxIXpwvcA1
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sUIkWW194
“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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIDCdEuvNs
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLVeRDEzP3
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqHFeWz83X
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EgqF5AFIX
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ye7YOtq7U
“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?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5YKLrJPb7
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcCZeXnSNx
“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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tPTaizlR1
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgu9EqiUpQ
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskoqGtklcW
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6u9lJ8sSi
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNgeTSPFus
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡniaj1C0N7R
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUNH89WBOd
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDQ0Y5bUCC
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL1Yn3QTru
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwxIxLvkPx
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MDJlCKKCJ
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93UyduYN51
“You don’t think I cried too?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKVukDBfrT
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl3OvIfzuP
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55l0N0mPv3
“Are you over her yet?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrUn9zAThC
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7JF6n9Y4d
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXIHhSAIBB
“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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBeHyAb3qJ
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrwAG5zcrn
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluSFxASLQh
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQoEtZYsav
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrkPNFNQRG
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNukYFglZnh
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q1S3y9GJi
“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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0n7W3Jrylz
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRIBIu3q7j
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgRlLweTDQ
“Can I… kiss you?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH2zp0zIVu
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZ8MFgqMNW
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61vkv5IhYR
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjW2suB7XKk
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZzeNtvYW9
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayL30IPfyQ
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQRUASRWDy
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NPfVfmN17
“Not bad. Just… different.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG4OOr0hLK
Silence.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLxtCAQZif
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq5VDDQYAw
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToOXG34JSz
“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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKum43H9d15
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjUX2wJqHF
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7gCZU4smn
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopZ4THs2rA
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopAaIozH3h
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!”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlPgSCaGM7
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQBhVfovDC
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvDLss8YCH
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02kRnoy7XH
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDbS0HSApa
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOnaAWqrY1
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcgvUpamcV
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXQv1TmGhN
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReyCxxM2WB
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlgSeM1rNq
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB60ZztBH54
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7nOSpXrQM
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWfS7DKfvo
“You could make your business a reality.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡki9Gc9pGn9
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpQCFrwR0y
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkinTEH9qn
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBVe1GZ4O6
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsCElS375S
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOCXtKn00j
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGfMMlhJhA
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9cXCpPCdY
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthODDFM4js
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAZ43UlNt9
“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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVJGQR4t2M
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQo40WoJxQ
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjpLTmwdgp
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37wlITqFWO
“How’s that going for you?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V2LKDrjSz
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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvr33a3Lae
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIrpopA7i7
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7dktReyI5
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUsJmE1JI6
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUBClC8XoX
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2xYmco2eA
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaxcbnvg9Q
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4q6ooXdF1
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXU9hFIBZEu
“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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJREGHsMMel
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUNNiCer7z
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dj2MXk6XG
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvwOa7N24X
“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.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBpDjZ5pgL
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE1KXAclGd
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJYzWpKL4H
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknTTTSmMkz
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHj2UaKG1M
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXsOo45mOs
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsi75Ar9k0
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.888Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbraFo34gvA
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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