Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKacVfE7XVd
“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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdF7dKBKS0
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lcE1kTcgb
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshCFbQGwO5
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k3AuiNiL2
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO99oAiqyLc
“What did you do? What did you do?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT7AmMTrR4
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWmuPV97bT
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvo5Ag1SeR
Still nothing. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoK9H1l4e1N
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybSvsQdXNE
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFva5tdYsbh
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8eLPI0EvO
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1TmhVuStU
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf68giRxFBf
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccCx2SHgiL
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPRhzZVoJ0
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG17AzZv5O
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFZo8TeoRI
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTdQKaIoN4
“Will there be any punishment for this?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYOX8hNayO
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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyy6D8oKa2V
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xfxmaFPEf
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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT59aztdfY
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fscBpTHgy
“Are you going to explain it to me?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11p3AopGnK
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVasXNzQeE
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?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjSsNzOIxa
“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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEf0u4aYuk
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFQtUvu5VE
“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?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxzEpchChk
“Roro.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenjX1hEONj
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXUTak6xjN
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4XbwfT5FP
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x2snOYFEX
It has to be secret.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe6Urjo311
571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk05E0rb9o0
Secret.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXWRwtIp8Q
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP1ZGCJU2A
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKkJ6yRxgQ
Eventually, she settled on something simple.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57YHHzx8Vz
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqj51Tdrde
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbdCdSuBHe
IA responded later that night.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBkY04L9G8
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. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6P6Ma0Asy
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKysGp1N7k
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnp8ZTznJWi
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7D0e4olFK
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED2Ni2mNur
“What’s there to talk about?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwG6x0r5Mj
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsI3TZEfLl
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSXvMIpHP1
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMSP5BtNfm
“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?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSagez0fNMG
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHR0SFkqRBy
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wN4IzJpYT
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0kHDiQeB8
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZX1RmCeOI
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDdrtyohxV
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHiNm3VtUi
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHtFGRgH47
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiBdZs9PXj
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVhiHBUVLV
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtNscyUCTz
“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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8vSsBVzyy
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvFzz4jutB
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVP4nraiKb
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24vTQvrEsA
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqbwWZzIgL
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdjDzKV40n
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKQqtZgzkl
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPYKSs5AIV
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 10.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6cnmVEOp9
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqrtnsjnz2
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgXOhM2iEY
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLtY0QVniA
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwNrhv7O2b
“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,”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9uuOx2qHT
“Why didn’t you?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiNs60YS2J
“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?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDdlQaorfl
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4msshJP1Mn
“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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwrmILEX3R
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoYIuWIlNS
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGrfVUSrSu
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEqA6oJM3K
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFzU3Ol87e
“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?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm4cSfOxPz
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMx4wehz7CR
“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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6PU9JyX3C
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsL6AfF9uFH
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Eb5ZDJca3
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqHTzrzMUS
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxYazvyOcY
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48m4Mxdexl
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssGCbqYsBG
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCLAsWaAqD
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGojs3fOzh
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrRQWS682z
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmucdGWDOyq
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMXdMutURq
“You don’t think I cried too?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jj4mCUuls
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldJDpc3awI
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGT7F52HSxw
“Are you over her yet?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV8dEY6rb3
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjKTTfNCaL
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1nSK37z2j
“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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrGmcYKnfW
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOyzTR7OdL
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqvApy8BSj
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2h0LSa27n
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1XDx0k91G
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVxB8kKTSc
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxQ5Vu8XTU
“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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTOwY6X7Wl
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBypzpNkuLE
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsZ8D1kUga
“Can I… kiss you?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHEWLpMASX
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaqq3oFPjQ
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi3wjmsECd
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAkFLm8C7J
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZ8Hm9j0o7
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfno5GF6Ip8
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8s2IUSdHwm
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmSuvBULAx
“Not bad. Just… different.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQVymOtABC
Silence.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLVdG13X0S
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WyW3tcIau
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIEHPwbuYa
“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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFj0roQzPI
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHM8EfTlicw
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCQmOcCbAz
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmysnVP1Q9
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgtvzLiUav
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!”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LM2BhBtX6
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcy86OkkOR
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODkCDmfN5E
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8MM1b2IHw
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8QjrtQwOO
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIyGWM7Pse
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdE8f6aAcF
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb4l6aSauw
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMzkB8xdKw
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuUebSWP8T
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeA00ANPQEj
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSs9fnINNY
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2k3ZOs5oU
“You could make your business a reality.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4KVSlwedk
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRDHIXn2p3
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhphmNlfrZN
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk7jA6fUKE
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjYjl2gDeB
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbglqGJ5XP
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0m9XQAKwA
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC9fumwGMK
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qVISeGvnS
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeZSI8PK5L
“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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0L9NnlSEb
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNah8IZ5fl
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObAjLRJ8aW
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDjEbx5kYW
“How’s that going for you?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopvw0eqYfk
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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZbsQpN1sH
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrx4jp0TJo
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd7eqtCnJn
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu1pmiNVMc
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYYzWrigpP
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWI4yWxJQgh
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYET3A2fkU
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeCHwOArfF
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFDkvce1Er
“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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcjXz127g8
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0FOrBzOd0
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt5sbQD6D2
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg9ciDsoY2
“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.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LQ2CzLzsr
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXv5RAgEr2
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYk5tJlZEUi
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxrbL7nMps
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2fe8QRjCA
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiHf1eXWBX
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlInkpHKSx1
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.571Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HQhhnI1qU
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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