Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCH1GDPZBKC
“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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOepQECexx
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrVIDegYgl
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB2rs7PGPw
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsfrnigCHM
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxehZhjSprc
“What did you do? What did you do?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iw9mXrAYI
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0g5geowIp
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zlDFkk9uD
Still nothing. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm21Jds0bc
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPi9LXrSEN
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62huzFFQGb
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaE0zwgmIH
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhRbLputV3
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdcQNCRN56
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ43aCA7nsd
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqec33z9lxb
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzmGBejo1y
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNtBNpczyU
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZPvXeJJI2
“Will there be any punishment for this?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pRnuY95VW
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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuls4fycFkQ
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFxh9QgHlT
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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgT3gg7npM
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGTPFhcbP2
“Are you going to explain it to me?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4h0K4QqPx9
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5c6V0R9Ss
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?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGmbj6L81m
“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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX3CFowUoI
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiJZzEsMuJ
“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?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnoy4g90k4
“Roro.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pHk83Jbit
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsHoXxqqNY
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIirrujzFXC
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzU0XkB7a0V
It has to be secret.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNOibS7910
890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwhoT8OPuY
Secret.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvY0GqjewD
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbFNSBssOg
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4M1EmhyNt
Eventually, she settled on something simple.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzFrVmwBJb
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCAlyvS0M3
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9ag2RSQXk
IA responded later that night.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxRivjEJdb
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. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZUeLXoDdl
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepTQsXvfBj
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2y69WkLXA
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSihKHRAaD
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxDV9IEZyN
“What’s there to talk about?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMw4IphGYn
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9WSqGR7k9
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2oeuj3EnP
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQxkh0fGUx
“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?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o8uwu0Wbd
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzJcAgpQLv
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC44lvw3cPI
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFsQlDmPRL
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTReiW84Km
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfqbj6ZSWD
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NuD5Na1Uv
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMzgXvzOKV
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJpjMDouEy
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07gUkjueI0
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Us6IrpV2G
“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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigRAEkqZJU
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdefarfUGa
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPw3MQHwg7
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtR0EVeTApn
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RFNT563cB
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6pmOu0xl0
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJWNWk1rGi
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoN9eSeCqk
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 10.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZRVgSzaqW
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wtpMnsfdB
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPow1Xnp9F
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BQOKiJnLN
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcfWW5PF7d
“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,”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstCdttO2kj
“Why didn’t you?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGdVrZ1Ii4
“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?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoSwjPHTdv
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm5scaj0f8
“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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5OVo12kw4
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmvEDQmeYD
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmK2jis4zFx
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPF8I2ulao
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRgu9UnY8O
“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?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHCqnYlF0K
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YSngDJl5R
“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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZrRiZhs3x
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCABCYuRyAf
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdBGTEzYrc
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6QL1dCmpG
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmtevsw9imG
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4NjJXB4Va
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRfVvGrBRQ
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqw9SqpyfiS
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoWSJjiz53
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlXJYTeiLM
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlbQPOmBRl
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcDMbj8QhJ
“You don’t think I cried too?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeHwsfhO4H
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEj6vOhT4O
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcZ6VXfr69
“Are you over her yet?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jg9dwbTtN
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7CSM1fJb9
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDTnuB8HX8
“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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKQCliOcyC
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HfUEyYonH
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uvXZ04YDx
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFh1ZyKOZQ
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAgSMVEgeO
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO9G4gFaMW
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqEqv0cTNX
“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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOeUfCHm9Z
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGaw2iZdRB
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrLZiNKVTE
“Can I… kiss you?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGOp38vmhT
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaJUi9uDsV
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvaLHOsuw5
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQV99rCEPdJ
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtBhxSP7RU
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZdBxr7XkH
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTUlIYkqZT
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4vLiB7ueC
“Not bad. Just… different.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVIYhSEoUz
Silence.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWzTD8Xs8R
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtTDA6Wteq
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtL1GY3U1mR
“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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPq3mwhcfz
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9kjITcYVi
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtWoMsQlsD
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡer6NWaEJ8q
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPUI2jZGhK
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!”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGZr7krGRh
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5ectTMJh5
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhOgi7TxLR
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZwW5ey5yz
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQZ7mkTSSs
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqzP3fVE7H
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J5r3U5sHI
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3kLMWT8PR
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2bVFLIiYv
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO7al4T3yk
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHfq3msMjf
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyEo7pojlT
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRGbujTl9M
“You could make your business a reality.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8vzGeqU47
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb7nLZ3lYM
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxwjo1FtGS
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwI5tDrGQK
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2eW0ow1uK
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ809t6xMPLm
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7hJUiB0Or
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1cCXmEkm6
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxdf2sFwa0
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHU3WXuVcK
“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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxF27rbPQL
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVco2BLKgP
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8TdM8R34C
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVOA0KIvTk
“How’s that going for you?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJ5JuMpSSd
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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6JaoCckDF
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBdz4pn3Mo
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATw8dHbPOf
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDwTaF5Uhw
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARzPtXqrwb
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4oonHuIwz
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlf5NbAlWH
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6WPoCyDNa
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlswI81VojZ
“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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSc8BwIChn
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtH1iDhFrx
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUprpqGJbLu
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTS5G0ov7Q
“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.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtffk5kQJaG
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWwI3QlyFB
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOiOt2Lubb
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrH9rTH35C
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fCpfA9Egn
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb57u9f4JFo
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9fgtvSyPF
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.890Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPdHcSuFsk
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.
ns216.73.216.225da2
and then Add to home screen.