Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqOnqeiowp
“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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0ddJcP0Tg
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN38niZWAF
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyW11vKLna
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmOj5MX95T
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW16FEKDzmV
“What did you do? What did you do?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQvE7WVhVU
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIOuuxHyXm
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAn6tRkfO2
Still nothing. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFoe63B29E
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExOrrRVWRv
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJT5Bkg9VM
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmFPcaoWMq
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LZR27kH8S
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPB8qEuZMG
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrDqlVeV5k
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMIFkm0dTA
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYEVz4lvXm
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyof9R5Khzt
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwOaAXUmMy
“Will there be any punishment for this?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56g4MWmt15
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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhg0H8bzdK0
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePfcXu3as5
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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WalQ0WvkK
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4IJte0T6O
“Are you going to explain it to me?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DAPonRiUz
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qTUqBbPfy
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?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Jmap1HaKt
“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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBFQy5NxGQ
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxIicOCGoa
“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?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTwGlg9ewQ
“Roro.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcCrSMqdM6
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqQWVVxFFF
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9B0nOGkfo
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHF78LWd4C
It has to be secret.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5esXRIukdV
529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrRcomD6cS
Secret.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CBp4bEpCF
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpjiAC7Bet
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEL3FMlZuBS
Eventually, she settled on something simple.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1FUpdAeSQ
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAWNh10plZ
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6348mlfQZ
IA responded later that night.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlQL29piq2
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. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPOqJPCA5W
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgYfAH7vS1
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJiI3RdMwZ
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEztkDpOnx
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nijNeqPTD
“What’s there to talk about?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6lZRC1X38
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoWWtNIzsp
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QSyEgvlwR
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWcL1ha1ft
“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?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaMhuhcfFE
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbxFyyxgeV
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfttjHwBFCD
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWl2hpRS3T
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSCWIfseJv
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXAJsIpZXv
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr5L3gt4Ls
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzs9sSxJLEI
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAj60PvVcCt
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD1paAbtLG
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThrH8RsXkZ
“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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBTqpnz13M
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4udwVuDZF
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFyD4d4VzP
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vn3oIKD4E
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Iml7H0MF
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzYsiJ9Wxm
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKSVf3EzGW
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pzqR5nULr
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 10.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mJVt4zdZS
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxwP5cTENa
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEeMLOO4Cz
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRjLcesYw7
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOpqxVm54p
“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,”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqqOY93426
“Why didn’t you?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVNsraZeyJ
“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?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJL2RV9rbR
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCuquGl4z0
“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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KBnfgtLL4
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJzceTYJuQ
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBIZpk9kwG
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWbyoTaS7J
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xrd9mOruT
“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?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd3sO3U6sA
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqCYmxMyyW
“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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI1bo8pxxa
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjmGFow6vc
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZzDhFwRQ0
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipFjHjhMap
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhEL7RED6g
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSy0aXOKnm4
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyqEOaPL7f
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIxjZdAl7w
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkGdmbpvW5
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMKg1EU6Hv
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcakikTW34s
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtax5qayAYa
“You don’t think I cried too?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiOa6yeUZB
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqpVwSGUY3
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaxb2IOUrs
“Are you over her yet?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqBL5AM8WT
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvoBDIlIH9
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iqZFRxtXz
“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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaetleSEli0
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRamg6mPGey
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUUQ6CFEFI
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxHg13iUh7
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSFpg13Ob9
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxMecPEEFA
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu3vLo4it3
“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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDZ0PEqDCu
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOAjOrQT0X
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2huaiKrmN
“Can I… kiss you?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VkEjxmGNm
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dxz2pVZsa
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqks9aa005h
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVVYGFygtt
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUH1GgFf6ul
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ovNnPFICo
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyAULQ9vsV
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEGKXmAYFX
“Not bad. Just… different.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuTylh8vDX
Silence.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NCdoBla4h
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeNlTvpMyG
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZqr1QZMX1
“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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1sMzvm3cJ
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyw77er52Q
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1XQNy0shI
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVOtou14e6
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7iWYvpSlM
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!”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyewz4C6YG7
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASpGX1M8OR
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgvNFNKAaG
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxWnWmdyt8
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iC4yKG8Ci
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5uIkaIF3X
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDdoRYoKYt
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKWgRUV147
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn39pyIdboy
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0UBWbxJY1
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7LCLLscL2
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLFsGltwD4
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6GDDAkJh6
“You could make your business a reality.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2LOeGCodq
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftNcSaoY3G
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aPPdQjM7a
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1yTzqDwdD
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTefGfG8PH9
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwI2UFAmfk
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5SWnTV3Jn
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rMQKKRyA0
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4p60FBrt3
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY4wLSeLCz
“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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ852wWcF5bD
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZP44lwBqT
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMoYYvHk7N
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyGcLpicAJ
“How’s that going for you?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDVH3e39XK
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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0e3aBGY0F
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9L9KndrmYZ
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQILGGOcYA
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFfzo14sf5
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNuHwUyRP4
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmCHonslpl
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiQZ8QfODo
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdABxfP44l8
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgEYRJVGMM
“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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeuCaErz1s
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFNFV8Cyin
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQntZegB5Qt
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZad7POkZL
“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.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DWjxSa8fY
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mP3sl0ojR
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Q2vfedz4E
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswuOyQkRep
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95fb4yI9uB
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBESz36yEtd
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvd8Mmj07Dd
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.529Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaTyUxQgrM
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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