Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwADpmopY1
“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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzrTc2YoTy
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ643M4TrzsH
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29TEutcgaO
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8YC9QC1Nv
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWfweCc67Q
“What did you do? What did you do?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag8z4ltgR6
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjtf1skwfC
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjDvgWmfpT
Still nothing. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPkf2U1BCl
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIJMrawxSj
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQaw6SBrio
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpuJvyeYX4
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfziKXUWvZH
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNRrU9UI9O
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqT0XY7kXO
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyvOUhxd2d
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAkZhn6vK6
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXrqQtODVq
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOj1EVn9Ng
“Will there be any punishment for this?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBQGLTWMOH
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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0ioS3JbZP
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8YwuKNjKR
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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHCaCfriVR
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRkxk67hl5
“Are you going to explain it to me?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGyXATLiyQ
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQUFxZEiI3
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?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJvXqzM67n
“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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo1TYxRXld
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXog4MT4lQD
“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?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdFyVeEmLA
“Roro.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gmfbLidm8
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC6m0GWZ59
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwjDn76Nu7
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VHv58mQWJ
It has to be secret.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3fqMcQoq7
743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfA4p57W4s
Secret.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndaJucnlEo
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡya9WdUln7p
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoahBzm99Aq
Eventually, she settled on something simple.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Fwieyn75k
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuBPCEeWBj
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2b9AsTyBN
IA responded later that night.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxqOwVlr7C
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. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBgxJ7lA75
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6ioDyRxY6
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTp82rpuIs
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcr3WlzXhLe
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSoc8Wg4sG
“What’s there to talk about?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm4yd9Ukqs
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLjbJ7pGLL
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzcJmmMa3s
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtoKj8zbEu
“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?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63MEDTVaOl
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdkMBXyMQM
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2usiSRJAQ
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QZYtlJtgK
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQgaYcuPIz
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczziCYnN3T
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskGTzDH9GU
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYm5OYS1f9L
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOROp1EpIJR
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSL6wqNDxQ
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPzyLxFDPO
“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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAriTMeaHnx
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3b3NYyphO3
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNr4a3GoI7
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkgbJ7WK7B
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4Yzymhpmf
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7O8xOMnOi
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWWD3Nvzyo
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6b3phKUB09
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 10.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQzsoRG0oS
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q6I8wgVk3
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxebBZCB5Oj
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjHqjzbJEm
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4RJ61u7Ud
“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,”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3ZWzg3TPf
“Why didn’t you?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RD8xs6hiE
“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?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQBZWHSC6Y
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yrCtPoPhY
“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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ338GZe9DN
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUmGMAKmBb
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvsuLeSpe1
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBkY0Luhnh
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCLjK6vnRp
“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?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZG6ZmPkPE
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzYjktOJsp
“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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4AWx7nNR7
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmE8qAfS9qz
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SuvH8JmcX
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAjVMnk6fx
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PI252CGqq
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjrbyzVBPj
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlceJy2Eiop
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwRV5PveOH
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaJrHxGqJj
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMq1oZoGtA
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4TWU2wcDs
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMbKzCgAmG
“You don’t think I cried too?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKnwPk4qdq
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLHfz5VZv3
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMmCNmPbHT
“Are you over her yet?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOrt7TzosT
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1W0J6zi6ha
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7vxjp6BVO
“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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGp15k4QhG
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡToUvPdgseb
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBPFGyRdBW
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWisWej1a7L
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHKpS46eIk
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDajJp842mc
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6wi1Oij4L
“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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5ieM54iO0
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPx7SsRZJVY
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTTBgYAoVv
“Can I… kiss you?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxFO9BzFF9
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPepBo3NLeO
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZ7fIJMUQ6
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIkvltAssV
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcnuE62C83
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JEmFx8Zzo
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI0Z1MN2NX
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hTCn417SH
“Not bad. Just… different.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYO5lbTv0q
Silence.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTI75ubjOU
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZGRifX27d
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnED4yySek1
“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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvlk1fBwCv
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHrmmTj8Jx
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO15TkIPzfd
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4NprQVkpZ
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnivZQ8l4Re
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!”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1WuPMbMA5
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStZMeISjLm
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiGkhTBEKY
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlyp7iiOTX
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8KUshnFq6
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kS9jhmSb6
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIJ5Cz4PC7
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqMttW0haB
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMf31CKXK3X
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj08WYpsOg
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI8yEltnUo
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOccew4I9Xf
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvtVUAJA1t
“You could make your business a reality.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzxnePH1kX
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD3VBtnK3S
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9hwmLQH3s
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGATguAnVG
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZEWf1arcm
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡau4aZbsmQ9
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMH7t0IT8re
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgETUjc2aV
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVssagu39Dc
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K4rrhXgN7
“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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfGLXiPE9C
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmLtxXNAON
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBwLKKSFWb
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcZQQdO92k
“How’s that going for you?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lk6ok67Fq
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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzy6bqHrom
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rEO8rS4BZ
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcVFKASlg7
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfW1jRyd4k
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLwmrbresf
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQoX0gOK85
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmIb9pjB8I
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmJ00I55qo
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP5AOWaBpd
“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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTZQOnT8Vj
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogCKRX9JWx
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fX1U28IjI
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OMcOQSnBV
“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.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbkE2XDxWR
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4DfcKYXBP
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdCy2HSVyf
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Rb61jRyW8
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOogZHa7VxW
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gt49e6uEJ
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrxd8vtT5T
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.743Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZiIlb2SSf
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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