Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCj7q2WOyo
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSyEuw8i7w
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7AGN8K6xg
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKafm1pvyy
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqAK5iwjFY
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIZC0N2AsT
“What did you do? What did you do?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6GtL6JScb
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV59s7tbsQ
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMV1VdWo91
Still nothing. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGj7ISy93X
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDx67eWUixH
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxHxy9tDua
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoagbWVwvyC
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj1D3CTWOp
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUU09v5xkN
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLSSOoZcV9
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdkBVz5mYu
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9cdcRVecG
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpztoOlDwMh
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahbL7QKluw
“Will there be any punishment for this?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIO9EeQTHS
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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZgJI1AnCo
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwT0ZmDjmK
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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhawYq0tBz8
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqCGAsZkzw
“Are you going to explain it to me?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTkxHcPAOL
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCK1nSr1Dn
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?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdGZZhpmLD
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCD3hehAcN
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvf3gJLw13
“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?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbBrsbEQ24
“Roro.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBbsktRGvQ
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT35pdd3tmm
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChbgne36wF
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs89eGNu4Q
It has to be secret.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI5aGF6B4r
528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTdJjwcFaD
Secret.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxZf1JiyA3
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7gZ1NBRww
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlhbClBbPP
Eventually, she settled on something simple.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHTx3xUt5E
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXUcmLXMH1
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHMXsY4c0y
IA responded later that night.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI9rN6lWxh
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. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhLRPnDj0i
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuP5XIM2tAA
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BKF12oTTl
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kvEXr0npJ
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojnfkqKGSp
“What’s there to talk about?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttIVrXYX2t
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJ5IaJWHIS
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfBSzlQJs2
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3fZymwXVk
“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?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGOpJZKHYh
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDTJ0QCFDV
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4RxDdMdTK1
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HWpY8hox5
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCC1DCv2RMF
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVanOIafVQ
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ASmGkvqKH
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7adDhxy7i2
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Uf6j7A05t
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuGKeYz1Qe
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYG5Qvw61r
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy720POHCrG
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK76Z5u3toB
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgNZQBL8mX
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyC8lKn0gW
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJe5lXWBhdu
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4LARBeeQY
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1d4zWKXPx
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXmb2VdFPv
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 10.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uaPepIdCI
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uydHOadaB
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBySBqu3XO9
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyHt8A98Wr
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeU31aAQaU
“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,”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAalLFY0yNJ
“Why didn’t you?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMcCoGmimR
“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?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAugxZ2xuFN
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiiIhSVg8R
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7sLVlp8it
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn8SEskjrO
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoonzDCYHgE
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmYib4mY82
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbPulUrxO2
“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?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpuNIYgeGd
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRLWNErZ2C
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ57U2knnX
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhOWWLTzsx
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZtueggQHP
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2emKwzBQEw
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpHDiCKxBS
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYBbDIUzHI
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvZUHZhAkA
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbRPjM3UUk
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlsPFFrOmr
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzshd8XjJv
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3T64CVx8E
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2sNwWsbw0
“You don’t think I cried too?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qrzayLKnI
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJD5KxjpKy
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupQYTlhjiR
“Are you over her yet?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pqrlNuFww
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5okCGerZI
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQkYcY6iQK
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCmDGTHeBa
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48DUbwm6L8
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9Lz0wScv5
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2xWXxH7dA
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7slLlAmpQ
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNripqCrq6E
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0DUJOtcJI
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7HLsutv1J
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUsKfZIky2
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QSfaHeHqM
“Can I… kiss you?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoIGXX9ChD
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCTl0trOJP
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENIus3RDjO
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEhRpw3o8i
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmnnj8QRbI
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r2dcRqjYD
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIXoQNteeL
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxss34VhTvz
“Not bad. Just… different.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKOdeRbYY8
Silence.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnISDIV683
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QKNSpMNO8
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcz1ZkNCA7
“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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrfn9am7WI
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG06mv32RYO
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9jk5VURdc
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4Cfgwo3uB
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWQJpqea1X
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!”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAupTp4mtVj
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv4LRifplj
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSezwUfFYwr
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgNyNVxmZX
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv6igs2Jfm
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOuGmnPkl1
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9ucDRSLTR
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vhroQV5f4
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjxJ6wjfG3
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmaVQQF8iT
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc0i9dUfJE
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PnKlbP1PT
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUzzXIn6mb
“You could make your business a reality.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXXLgcZPiR
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqqPSn0dwq
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbCGvXMDSI
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmGTKCKLGz
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdF7P0gMYH
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5LcXqe1od
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZhs6ao71D
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkCwhrR8X6
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS6m12IMB2
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0xDl9770S
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkMOWehqxw
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZyOYi4YF2
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrxty2vDoX
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts4pCEfJ1K
“How’s that going for you?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIim23IzVTy
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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO6Ulm23vZ
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWAK70b3sY
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YayknwSUl
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDSpHZQJgQ
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGO2eMoMRP2
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCo8BECfZX
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNEvLhJoKK
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6ey8yeUql
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPbCbAy0Lw
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSsSiEZIkD
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvXNSRcBnJ
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cJHu88wH1
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklAFjlKUQ7
“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.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjdsH2O50n
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0N6eumDGOC
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgj84jfAzKw
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GhRqp2bsi
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXdf0sObRE
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ZZ7h8667
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68HcZkIpSz
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.528Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmacl3QRNf
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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