Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3gzlWUvGi
“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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xAS07qraL
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBkx2KlQPO
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuWM4GxNgp
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpR4jMcemN
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyagUDMzo6
“What did you do? What did you do?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLceJFwPG0n
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPzmd9ROCP
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaZUPDCoia
Still nothing. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxavFDtQQHk
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT41GYPqM9e
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsm8ZkwoG4
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eBw5SGVtf
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6pKuzIbHn
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3CPjCYHel
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEyaIpxJtq
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9smaAngrM2
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYTDqTzcl2
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm19IPC5PK
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmgx9b9TR3
“Will there be any punishment for this?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlT5jstuvk
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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMOVNh7Wl7
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eZGCPdg5k
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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93PUsE3i21
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJzcYr7RmN
“Are you going to explain it to me?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB37gL1VAIa
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVsi4EVQtF
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?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDBVfYCMAf
“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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoMaQQbcuC
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3yqKfllGN
“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?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN1MulqOE7
“Roro.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwFlId1ig7
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLVsGCoDki
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMLiOBsLBj
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfO9y7aixQ
It has to be secret.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPf1Le3j9vH
600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH99sR39Ytk
Secret.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4H0eMxpSP
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVtPoVKsS0
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡex8oHAJkF6
Eventually, she settled on something simple.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58iogO5ERh
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQPGBenmoT9
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQl2SXFy67q
IA responded later that night.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlogxyrAHF3
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. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLuDXUU2Am
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdfR0IKnCE
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBcZgVGp4A
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIVAsJGVjk
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXhiBGPuyg
“What’s there to talk about?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5A9BnSp3XY
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamcsaYle1v
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw17UjPGlDm
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUpYo4EYCr
“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?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1wMQQX1NC
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYS1nZaWrPG
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWo9dWhlcC6
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrrrO1v4Bk
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmasRPF5Ji
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdT43yA6FOw
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUyuN5ZpVS
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiYC7qPAL1
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOhP5kFFVH
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX0Ty8OY7M
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF9taavr6L
“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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzMMiW2lSk
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58wBWkhMOK
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw31PjFW9EU
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa736YtISs
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTNWu7uw6E
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgD83up8TH
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgceTJt8ln
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1Z0rswCSZ
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 10.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XZeyclHLy
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7n0O4WHrQ
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiFgmUCZ7e
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Fc1jH5f71
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSlLQFwGQ5
“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,”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYVzbiAhme
“Why didn’t you?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHQnOr9j2w
“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?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZkPAjA5fn
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfGnWSAUy2
“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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yCYCA0WLD
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4GnIWpck7
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLc4wdRQDst
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7d1BZmtmB
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkunt2BoMP
“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?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VDhU6BiHb
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuPdFl6R4a
“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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM81BGVmrH
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tGC8MKoB2
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw661bJP7D
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsIQnCKGwb
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxU7MoVIzo
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8REwPwaZyu
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUaZWsezdf
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8smJFEjII
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nhc6XQN4b
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UhxqdNI03
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB83KDWDrrA
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSxtwzfgTH
“You don’t think I cried too?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDuiKYQxuX
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgwHtnVeC3
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QV10iDF9o
“Are you over her yet?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ8s8kL6as
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6wKVZcFMH
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDQ0unRCVs
“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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JXgalvvWU
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGHYzT31Bm
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpxTXRMs66
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCwa4E9IrF
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWCOx0dF3j
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzCMAvfIl6
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1M9nmU4WfP
“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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29EhM3WSMm
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehf6jaEM43
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn6y7D0NIZ
“Can I… kiss you?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAYhVz63hW
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJaraS4ueu
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozDvkQrxQs
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7p8rIwujD
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdSm97AtJX
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX3TfaZOUf
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDf2W69OrhV
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwflYxJzAFG
“Not bad. Just… different.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh633C6lEMs
Silence.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIhTcjxgFP
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKQdl6e3JT
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKvG40Ay1P
“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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoZrcF1E99
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9h2MORgk3g
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCVTLl0Dks
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhPJqUIQoI
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm8CO9Z4hw
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!”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbdXsnpe4h
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzpNhlFHH4
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM47prf5za
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfWMPgiT6b
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nVMIgg9f5
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0DFh0bUxi
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4nk9uoYva
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanLa2G9LBs
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBzoR6CGDK
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxmRvNWln3
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1t7W5rnJjl
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xrydxL1ml
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mo9XWNzEi
“You could make your business a reality.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMUVLNBGwO
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlUF8Tl809
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1zWYSOsUA
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMNZElRvXC
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOaFnaGBnb
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe0WRJbCEr
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0p5HneKtC
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2jOH8GV64
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETRl73dUpi
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGmyRoS8Kn
“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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBrhN0GJlS
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mofXA4JCm
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyFOWklWB7
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAjV9XxSn4
“How’s that going for you?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkln1vFGih
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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKd23PbkwX
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcYR7qBWTY
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu4dYkq4ns
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfH5l2quFx
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3veCqZIa02
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LGxPueRPX
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oRQWQVWlR
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvChZtyCYTk
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4qjFGStbn
“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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvFe2gyxzk
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbG7yPMbnC
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KonM7wj0x
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHKfsawdx8
“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.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITk0m41U8y
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxRqyKSZJJ
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2ykz6SfzA
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd8Cl60HK6
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2BYz5FOwN
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPnr1DvMvK
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPpAPvkG6m
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.600Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpBl74xPQW
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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