Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZQg6pPZqX
“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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivRs83kmCB
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdjdN86pjO
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyVMPPMHkl
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovtm0xTz9D
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMQPAwWErI
“What did you do? What did you do?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJAMA0c2p8
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5LzoYX8YD
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oQ0P3N5DB
Still nothing. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk0R3yVLpG
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrZMgzes8z
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUL54NPZlZ
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjDa0UGu46
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuusACaeYBs
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTqOM2QXHu
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKvtX4AL3G
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXW1lkY7Af
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkTeWzZpPI
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC40siD7XVD
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtUJZm3yAH
“Will there be any punishment for this?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkRzE4xlir
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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv1SVeY1IW
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBF0URh11L
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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtVjklhtS6
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxPXuNgZuD
“Are you going to explain it to me?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31TswklvK0
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FZDeuMVE5
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?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4byXBaPm7f
“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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoauWKet5hS
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU08MwAZxsw
“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?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kundMzFTp
“Roro.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYB9ZvCkZp
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyI7AVUqCF
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtpvvxRbqN
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpkoljboMY
It has to be secret.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsZP8xPYxJ
647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBYIQhvGBH
Secret.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaZBNCgI0y
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8MqJpsUBt
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB99apZ132i
Eventually, she settled on something simple.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpPuISbZwt
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESDCvX9GOh
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdxUwNIxxM
IA responded later that night.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1buCq9dY6
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. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG0bwD2fDc
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge9LD8iOYY
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rZ4NEt2GB
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JzUBq3OB9
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsZ00bnFOk
“What’s there to talk about?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgglpImBa56
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgJBaNoToh
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2w9iMEFQR
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr1oenBFXB
“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?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJr0YdIrGi
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioMEfG6fSg
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIWpMpZTxE
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnn2dKj4R3j
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBJ70BDyxE
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ5063wVJG
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw1ggIZmKC
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7Nk2usCLr
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB82MP7QLR
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNAHkfJ61U
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BnD6jOpte
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXywxJWQBCM
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0Va3LbNjG
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYQAifA8UM
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIWTH98Szc
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6RruAcrvz
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVGwBz8lOb
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSstZL14aQu
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8MLpKmgCdF
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 10.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtebT6FFpkY
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazlYuNkQEt
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpgsDGgkAZ
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsOtQkxS4J
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ689BlVDbdu
“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,”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAZbuUyswY
“Why didn’t you?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB76knJgwQy
“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?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36nbb4L0w9
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUF1MtIxJj
“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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhfwPk5D6f
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmMDYgzA4w
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAK73N3Zcr0
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzaN7Iov22
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DIxW1XsOa
“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?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9UWPSq61V
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCabFJEooQ6
“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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNeWLnksrN
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCLhsE8GwK
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnlTj0Avyl
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtx8GVJlqV
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62A8Fxza5J
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfY6MfsnyOj
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f8ZUANK2n
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZoxSCEkwC
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcOaOAXB6B
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDthGNUTgs
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKlifUDL7C
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy5qHXiLlG
“You don’t think I cried too?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSlW2lu01e
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyjqZ4Bs0y
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8nX84VZsb
“Are you over her yet?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5u0tPpJSx
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uLgNbuCfe
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMghHHdJql
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPICxYx7FC
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04HEB2m217
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVnNVQfyPG
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRov9lEXczT
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIibjZH7Mmk
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVpY8goyJW
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF99EhD77ft
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3AZFehTbT
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N13Wer8Tv
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5MarbHHBB
“Can I… kiss you?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rxW9JXHd7
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEESfZbxt1O
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH96CIc3tux
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbY0GZbXEp7
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WeEndN2GV
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUTtuV75oS
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBQhThnEc3
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSawP86noMQ
“Not bad. Just… different.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Na3LqDKE
Silence.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU9WzXbxGN
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJ8HwKlPWt
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4A8LoJpg8
“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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4caG1tP6WM
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPkpbwV5dW
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmveLukZ5Gz
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4CCwxbgHT
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pqageUKJS
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!”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXqj4pdS9G
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROfTxHFpLD
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDmpSCmf0J
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49MD4ScBA1
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9Kl74S5dc
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDzljzrl5m
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQggkb6rNr
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOB6hO3TQKF
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGsbnU8Ty2
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Kop8I5Lw9
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeqzjS2ywH
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoJegpVlyl
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSetULsT6U
“You could make your business a reality.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnl06Vo0N7
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINFDHDnO3m
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyosV83aUxt
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6LD09bfHw
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h0PjJkSuK
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZYhXaBiWw
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKtJgeTTLC
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZByiiVfoc
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQgfThTBTn
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk6SZAzRW6
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92ChcQWytM
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DAwYOUdge
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl5DslTfuh
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunpP704GgX
“How’s that going for you?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMER8nxXm8z
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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVrV4jWri9
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pTlDQfYk6
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYt0Ajw7UnF
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmerirWc7G5
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnT2xxGmoj
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLghfAlc10
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQfuDOv7KI
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySQqS2ojQv
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83JMUQVpOg
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDFDKx0V0m
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53NjuPRQxz
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LriPLkvXl
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPxPA4CMW3
“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.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUHahhonPf
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD5sckflOI
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLw5gZYQn1I
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMfclPrzPJ
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD3W6qOia4
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FEfFHY2ry
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzlVNS7LAY
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.647Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvK6l4H8XZL
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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