Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ138Woy6BDC
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXApVqqfSp
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNfgljRkJR
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhuSdPr7ts
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgztCCtqUVj
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvJsfwdDxT
“What did you do? What did you do?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qONnVIJ3Z
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0rB0Tn0mb
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl4OHLpoEU
Still nothing. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8wBCGp41k
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36zf3tkbBM
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7xPL08hMX
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0lS75WRTs
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9gUX8F2xf
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48PdXjzN7n
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtDdFbqNaZ
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHLgDkL1wn
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirhfMORIlp
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwZ7f6cvzX
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7SZU9fzCA
“Will there be any punishment for this?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCKJ0xinJM
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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfT22WsLHT
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9qR0djKyX
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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7H7fdbsJ0E
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcty0lsY4WV
“Are you going to explain it to me?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IYLdTh1Ze
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSKjxqcxcd
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?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDkebn20IX
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDbJkfRIjB
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb7LiCBUdN
“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?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ8E0bo640
“Roro.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpu0ibPOvb
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYSQ9DpjYx
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVw2VD02o1k
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8fcDELESC
It has to be secret.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F8rw1zAeg
561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfIM66na92
Secret.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDJj1vmUlp
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12UxsPtAG3
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrsuvVattN
Eventually, she settled on something simple.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nmRc81S1T
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyr6HJ0NIlK
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw25VwvbU7R
IA responded later that night.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbYu4h5kTe
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. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIXM2yU2u9
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12fzleA5V5
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfi8DC9oa6r
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOuN9mJiWR
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ9mTEaLL5
“What’s there to talk about?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbf9KVrQ7i
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZpEqRX5Jm
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bwoTzcdPY
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIVJ77Ip5O
“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?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMWSsAb4o9
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbf1qXI6Qs
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOqhuMkl7p
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk24D1fSGMI
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmSrvNHxlX
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6cqofRAE6
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwNEAPNcwt
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYdEc37JLN
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIKamsj4xX
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVuU1mLMHj
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxdgyvLkbw
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPyorIRPiA
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQvI3H1sfx
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pzUrXPl66
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUEsx56PEn
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5x3JZdhoh
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacoEFwI1Qk
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHfENWdhZ5
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccdNgCwQRL
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 10.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYVSiP39Ef
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SHK2x71aE
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1j6QuoGmoj
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKXQtBBEOw
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvrrB3kv6z
“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,”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLynYi6PXqI
“Why didn’t you?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXozQFnZZt
“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?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pk3JmLi43
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTyJVq6Kpx
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjzwBE3uBw
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhqXuXs3Gi
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQilws7jvKD
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7ECvWkgZX
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6Eqa0w0Us
“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?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzDVDJl8Yd
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1nueQbn7T
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjanKP0kupr
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XFv6sCfBJ
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnhf4b1ckgU
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqcm7qPzDG
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1BZvhSCIO
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMughO1uHk
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj6r6GAeX2
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiLBul4CDj
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWIMHHFPwe
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGChAFUDJTT
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoKc0gBhLq
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmSeKZPLJe
“You don’t think I cried too?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HfGrLTONn
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzODCK0vVS
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRrJZHDb1L
“Are you over her yet?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tRas1DzeA
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6VGGzVxkL
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl38Y0xjqYy
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9za3GcHTAH
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jv72wN9dA
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIfi2XFTBq
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzxedPYXcM
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAJs5NoAKj
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfO92zgQNsm
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBhJ0nk53Z
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHIsY2mDWQ
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN6cmAJ2DR
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9edko1efO
“Can I… kiss you?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeUhDHvEbm
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOSYp368zJ
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8x8OhVTRb
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyhStpVfcq
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oya5sRbAI
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblDTVhURw8
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExA5m4Mi5R
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWmszGqhKA
“Not bad. Just… different.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpP04XVGLV
Silence.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDTTqUBHis
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡry0v4VwK85
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJ9EFRPp4z
“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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0Vcz6i2s3
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JhSPPUKvO
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdPwlPjpqq
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYbcFiJcOc
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qYH9OH3bQ
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!”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAGQoFFvrG
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZF9MAPqLkN
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitLA5dek9v
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpczAxrtph
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6CFVj2N2N
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAQpyadhgi
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqmQclOdld
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQyt9FOGZE
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzfTj8PvFO
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUZ5OTN2MV
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEdyOPZMd0
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxhIXF4LnG
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfktO2a0LS5
“You could make your business a reality.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pLPDiGscQ
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru7bNVhPlA
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4tsj8CKDQ
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99Cbl9VK01
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJlxx6ehSD
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pidfjpkP5
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2m0SdMtYm
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SjMEVEdCC
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjI7PlB26q
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa85nXAnxtP
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPIJHoeupy
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡom2mb6OlW1
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskaT3BzsaS
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTe8DyB3Xg
“How’s that going for you?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xmvLga07o
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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlzVrbGONd
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwko67vJkuz
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojlc5wjZTN
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwS4MW0lFTM
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUSHJCC5uI
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXHzrtJHt4
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFLjd5izPd
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEiut4yfoQ
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hprRzVO4w
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyqB5DkmOM
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaer2ZAHjo
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFzZ4C5sz5
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fnbOGUjnV
“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.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBnOIEkeDe
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aNrjleyNQ
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegRkKCyfOx
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjO0GuaXIA
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhmsVHIOl5
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OGHNxI4Yz
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqvYbRWiI2
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.561Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYnGUwnb7T
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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