Friday. 9:02 pm.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS76VonmcQL
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTAo0t5XuD
Mika called 10 minutes ago. She sent me a message five minutes ago.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAihbt9AQJ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGNTGE1Wtm
Right now?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mmTUkuu52
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmGfmoJG8F
At that point, I just stood where I was after getting off the train, and just stared at her. Not moving. Still. She was waiting on the platform, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57wgZxRPgT
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDQXFfbPST
I am in trouble.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9If6nXNCR
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVRQw4G1lP
I am in really big trouble.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwUNsoGDYA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0irXR98Za0
She hadn’t noticed me yet. And I hoped it would stay like that for a few more minutes. I was not ready to face her. Not yet.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmc8NiLfB9
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfql4exucMk
Her eyes caught me.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSXu9Olvc1
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxDKadQy0W
I stepped back a little. I thought maybe getting on the train was the best option to do at that moment. But… I slowly peeked at her… I guess there really wasn’t an option. Her eyes were the only option.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenlSOdpc24
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5zqsNch4U
Mika’s eyes cut sharper into me.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50ldJVqzAB
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBTJeKODSq
Without even saying a word, I knew what Mika wanted. I started to walk. Reluctant. Slow. Like what Kuroiwa usually did. Unhurried. Her look got sharper. My steps got faster. Then I stood right in front of her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoYJln9eBU
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpvpviEkCb
“You’re late!” Mika said. “You’re exactly thirteen minutes and twenty-six seconds late!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa2DwQJePA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSMfl1ojqh
“That’s oddly specific,” I replied.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUNrVKnzFX
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7yh0SZgfL
“It felt that long.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZgpaE7Xua
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLunz0xlt7
“Come on, it wasn’t that long.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPp66RfUOi
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Y4x3Ju66u
“You made me wait for you here, alone, a young girl like me, on a train station platform. Where some creepy old men could be walking. And I am here waiting… ALONE!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡax9LKptC7Q
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRJ9Mzgake
“But there aren’t any creepy old men walking around?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEaCycTRmC
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4rt1alIk5
“There are still some possibilities!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0hQ8hiOE7
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARYMp2dgBa
“I was just ten minutes late.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ2tOoB51d
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplfpabxE4P
“That’s long enough! And it felt longer than that.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA8ztXa5j6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrcD3Vy8PN
I sighed. “Alright, I’m sorry.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2quLlsof8G
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjLLqWEz5J
“I don’t feel any sincerity from that apology,” she said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UHP3TmStK
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLNZ30f5J0
“I’ll buy you a pudding next Monday as my sincerest apology.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBxYvmKGH2
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZmT0YFH08
“Good. I don’t want the ones they sell in the cafeteria. I want the one sold at 7/11.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePiVPFXkLm
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAzEJ0m6GK
“That’s—”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXJ1Fq1op2
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO19OYqET5Z
“I said it, you buy it. Done.” Mika gave me another sharp stare.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwZrYX5EOc
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrC7aI4hUW
“Oookay,” I said reluctantly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rIP8JuNvG
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsVUEk6dQV
“Let’s go,” Mika gestured for us to move. She walked first and ended up in front of me. I walked fast until I caught up beside her, then I matched her speed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCkjf2w0bM
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIIU5FgD9O
I glanced over at her. She started smiling as she muttered a chant to herself as we exited the train station.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9BsaA9Fmn
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESlGup1AH0
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ntj6juUd
9:07 pm.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMizKoR9EU
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7p7lFB2s1
Mika continued to chant while we walked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F0X11C9wB
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMe7aHXIYj8
“Pudding~, pudding~.” Her smile got wider the more she chanted.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxE7IvdlU3
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiHm7hm23m
“You’re too into pudding, you know,” I taunted her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFz5Gb4VKSR
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3q9QyoZmK
Sharp Mika eyes appeared from their corner. “Are you calling me fat?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvbolSD3GT
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2M0bt8c0t
“That’s not what I said.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlDiu3htpO
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2209YYvtW
“That’s what you implied.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepA1JKZKi3
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqsvYWod3I
“Then maybe you need to go on a diet.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBsTmhthSe
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXIqz2Su1O
“YOU, go on a diet, you’re 2 whole kilograms heavier than me.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zApeHmXw6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdZiZ4WkgE
“Sh-shut up!” I almost covered her mouth with my hand but she was quick to step back.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMDKUjj8IZ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWjDqFz4IT
She smirked at me.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jdJVZmi5k
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9G8F5o4prv
“You’re slow, must be because of all that fat.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpGgpY406Vu
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMzpqQA9g9
“I am not fat, excuse me. And besides, I’m two kilos heavier than you because I am taller.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ341GPoDJYi
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfzlqHvufZ
“Hey! Height doesn’t have anything to do with it, and you’re only three inches taller!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4OsIdYLbR
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVYPrJ6eE0
“Three inches is still three inches. Admit it, you’re just short.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7l1EjGNf2C
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu1TOHpbQa
“It is not that significant!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIUa2AXRl8
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIK4DN2R4f
“It is, though.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5z9pp2T8EB
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6t1nPOHAY6
“I am not that short!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRShYBbcmH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5MR4OuWK8
We stared at each other. Then we both laughed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtiZhI9JSe
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ027J1wGwVz
“Seriously, I am not that short,” Mika said after we caught our breath from laughing.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMSF8dCsRy
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG6OIKQfQq
I giggled and winked at her. Mika pouted briefly but then smiled.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjBG05bEvb
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW94MrLBihf
We continued to walk, side by side.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3rkn5giS9
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo1amLt9JE
The street had become dark. And flickers of light, along with the shadows of bugs that were constantly hitting themselves on the bulb of the street light, were the only illumination that filled the night. I looked up at the sky. The moon was hidden. Then the night breeze started blowing into my skin that was not used to the cold, and now exposed to the air that suddenly embraced it. I covered myself. Mika just kept walking.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQnfj77Loz
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IHErlnAs5
“Too cold?” Mika asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQXXuo6x5w
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8O3VmoE23O
“It’s still May after all,” I answered.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGwEWc9elt
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS38Ja2V52M
Quiet occupied around us for a moment. The sounds of our shoes stepping onto the concrete, next. I bathed myself in this silence that I hadn’t had for quite a while, which felt like longer than quite a while. Like almost the whole month of May. But it was nice to know that at least, I was given a chance before the end of the month for this kind of occasion. This kind of comfort.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9SeWfyh1I
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1avRUhOAEl
I moved my head slightly to where Mika was. Not to look at her but to free my eyes from all the stress I’d been having and cover it with nostalgia instead. Although the neighborhood mostly had houses with walls, and all my eyes saw were these concrete walls, these concrete walls carried memories that I had since I was a kid.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpVxnICfXz
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIYgbv4jAM
Then I noticed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NeMpPetMl
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ78tsMcWJU
Mika had been holding her bag by the handle instead of using the shoulder strap like I did. She used two of her hands and her grip was tight.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeSUKrrAlU
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnwFjmJnJ0
I looked at her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAabKRjvUR
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEyXHRfAt1
“Are you okay?” I asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYyxuEnR1C
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpwaBwUGBa
Mika looked at me, stared into my eyes briefly and then resumed looking at the street. Her face was covered with worry. I was getting a little confused since we were just having a great time earlier. It was just banter, and it wasn’t like we were fighting. And we laughed too.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJUFbpreYO
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlVMp62evP
“You know, I haven’t apologized to you yet,” Mika finally said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt06uIyqqA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlX17SexDO
“For calling me fat?” I smiled. “It’s okay, I called you short so we’re even now.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ92JqDpzb
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwTdjDeE6p
“No, not that.” I thought she was going to be defensive, but she was mostly quiet. “I was talking about what happened yesterday… on the rooftop.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGDK61CNez
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjecuNJmZ8
I almost forgot about that.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOQlIg5AoB
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspMUdgkFlh
I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Mika continued.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRS7AVf6AKM
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv736luzgA
“I know you’re probably going to say I should not apologize, but I think I should. I still think I was right when I was preventing you from going to that guy’s apartment alone. But.. I shouldn’t have said what I said after that…”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYvx3Daqgq
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfDRhk8PF1
“That I was not going to pass no matter what?” I told her. Gently. Teasingly. But not accusatory.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXN6L1QBLn
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJV0920jQj
My eyes never left her when she stopped walking. I took a step twice before my body could stop after I noticed. I was in front of her. But she was still looking down. She looked up and stared into my eyes. Then dropped her head low.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6osllJy34
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfFYZIKdYH
“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry,” Mika said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiS75LgK20
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALo0ZdlStb
I walked toward Mika and carefully pushed her shoulders to lift her up from her bow. My hands stayed on top of them when she finally stood straight.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeS2xVlpR5s
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx1KPiN3M7z
“You don’t have to. You were not wrong after all,” I assured her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡad8JFft9Dq
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwVPla7ZHe
“But still—”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtysuVHzkq
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG3t4MhamZ
“I mean, even I agreed with you at that moment, you know.” I giggled. “Besides, no one knows what’s really going to happen.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNv73pibJU
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkYkiO2sjw
I looked at her but she didn't seem convinced. So I sighed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jCIkfjEIt
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2QyqZJVzz
“Fine, I forgive you,” I said. “So stop stalling us so we can finally go home.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRygY2AbIx
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmppGv9RNK
I smiled at her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqmk39l53x
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxSiV3igV8
“I was not stalling,” Mika said, and she smiled as well.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlRD1o4nos
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjMguNwomz
I let her walk first before I caught up beside her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBdtIlgh3C
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTV3jOKs5YF
“But didn’t you find him scary?” Mika asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6NBsLFGg6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajHhufOWpl
I thought about it for a bit. “...Yeah, he was scary, alright,” I answered. “But you know, if I kept getting scared, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on studying. He’s the one teaching me, after all.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp5zrYGdUj
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwFNhwb07m
“Yes, but… I always thought he was a delinquent. Since… the first day of school. He showed up with a bandage patched on his cheek and some bruises on his neck. It was horrifying, and Hina was terrified too. She didn’t talk the whole day,” Mika continued.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P5ZvF90Ec
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshqpw2Vd1L
I remember all that but… “He had bruises on his neck? I didn’t know. How did you see?” I asked Mika.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R8NyEMxSG
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbFEB0I55S
“Well, I was sitting at the front when the teacher introduced him as a transfer student. I kind of got startled by his bandage patch that I accidentally looked at his neck, and then I saw them,” Mika explained.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqJm5X7MRW
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIJHdbzy83
“Hmm? The neck?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN3Xe4dwwQ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcf0QjlJxG
“Don’t make it weird.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vld5joheH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDJTjXvmHL
I giggled.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ijptLDBpt
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjYikqJpIs
“It’s not funny,” Mika said, finally back to her usual self.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAWphV7xkv
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwlOMcbpsv
“You know, Hina told me this morning that there’s a lot of difference between knowing someone, talking to them, and not caring at all,” I said. “I thought about what she said and it never really occurred to me at that time what she meant.” I paused. “But I thought, just being able to talk to Kuroiwa is enough to make me separate him from the rumors and all.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukNfVmPoPw
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDQFC1CiMh
“Do you mean, you are not scared of him anymore?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOaalrc3rn
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIx7C5ZOGf
“Not really… I mean, I figured out later that talking to someone wasn’t enough to actually not be scared of them. But I figured out that the rumors weren’t true because of it.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5tqOlMYth
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOp3DuVIjaC
“So you’re intending to know more about him?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQMBTUk5Ut
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGnk4GBZlG
I do.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXXzGlakdm
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAycA5eu57
I kept it in my thoughts. I wanted to know more about him, but only to become more familiar with him. I was just afraid of him this afternoon, but I also saw the invisible warmth inside that ramen shop. His eyes never gazed at it, his ears never heard it, and his hands never touched it. But that warmth still existed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E6ybzBs0I
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k33bRkq9A
Yet, doubts still lingered in my mind, filled by clusters of imagination that I was trying to navigate. The exit wasn’t open, but it didn’t mean it would stay closed forever. That was why all I could do was to keep moving forward, and maybe, if I knew him better, those thoughts would get erased and leave a picture inside my canvas of trust.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfYhZS8ojy
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVM79vJ8ui
“I chose to believe in him,” I said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYRskQjdtp
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A5ZsdT5As
“Is that so?” Mika sighed. “You’re so impulsive sometimes.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RWJstR316
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnstLCrogpt
“What do you mean?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXERuUHzfD
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHae8NZqsjX
“What I mean is that you always just decide before you even think.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEeCK79NFh
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRtozVnZke
“I-I thought of it, I mean, I really did.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMnPwxaTKz
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQuX4Xub57
“Really?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxWIlaiYWr
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KZZucc2VW
“I mean, ask me what a quadratic equation is.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZWQwhCK99
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4mLmzQfR7
Mika looked at me. She wasn’t convinced.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPmM0m8MqW
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEIbHfqBSB
“Okay, so what is a quadratic equation?” she asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0CAduMATL
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSkXHjN5l6
“A quadratic equation is an equation that has an X squared with a number beside it that’s not zero. Plus or minus an X with any number on it. Plus or minus any number. Equal to any number. Oh, and if the number beside the X and the one after it are 0, I don’t need to write them.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHbEg5x8MR
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01rfqLgZZV
Mika lifted an eyebrow. “Well, technically you're not wrong, but that's not what the textbook said.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3hlfdyISC
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HbEw7pKlT
“But I understood it perfectly,” I said. “Wait a second, then.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAFtojnaqm
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDJPOEVftl
I stopped walking and stood under a street light, then I started digging inside my bag. I took out a notebook and a pen, then flipped the back cover of the notebook. I began to write.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmJ9fAMSLi
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwZDQRrCG7
X² - 6X + 4 = 056Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIa3sZMgTO
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5xcSX3zPH
I showed her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAJlJ8E5N2
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTesb5sLQB
“This is a quadratic equation,” I explained.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xgtajnwg5
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPyvtAYLH9
“Yes, it is,” she said nonchalantly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CKg2qRI2R
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkPlbAzxGF
“See this X squared here? If the equation starts with it, then it’s a quadratic equation, right?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMM1TTgciv
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTcTIemWlN
“I agree, but not every time it is.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3nceuyyJU
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZVbmnQgR1
“Yes, like if the number beside X squared is 0, then it is not a quadratic equation.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9I1ykCzXv
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwC9ZBhh4T
“Mhm.” Mika closed her eyes and nodded.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8SrZApBQp
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqGVplGuih
I was getting impatient as she seemed not convinced.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8RiUO5nCI
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kvVxaIjXr
“But that’s not the only way to find out,” I said. “Even if an equation starts with an X squared, even if the number beside it is not zero, it could still not be a quadratic equation.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMYzx3nQJs
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMwEHxfxYy
Mika opened her eyes. She opened them wide.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcP3NcB50o
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fgSnqxeBW
“Huh?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJdL3q13dv
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZRMyH2nV5
Then it clicked with me.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Zn8WgoRs1
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZHLBMWaF6
“Hmm? You don’t know?” I teased her. I put up a smirk, feeling a bit superior since, for the first time, I knew something that she didn’t know. “Should I tell you? Hmm? Hmm?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid6spnu8qJ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfBW5yDuSS
Mika bit her lip. She opened her mouth, closed it, but in the end, she couldn’t resist asking.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED3FVB6siH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1zlknSXZz
“What is the other way?” Mika asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ffJIbEjMl
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWACrB0GZAM
“Well,” I said, and wrote an addition on the equation. “If it’s like this, then the equation is not in its standard form.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfa4riN6xR
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNP9QW4JBf
I showed it to Mika.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRdpePFEHZ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDbUmbXYru
X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 056Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77ipW4Gftq
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCr4LHiZBpV
“Or like this,” I continued. I wrote another variation of the equation, then again showed it to Mika.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNwxjDAVG5
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuHmqQkpqp
X² - 6X + 4 = X²56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzG5u8HUV4
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93NIN4vZoD
“Which do you think is not a quadratic equation?” My voice was smug.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGkDXCd3J5
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WjYdBjKSi
“Wait, what do you mean by standard form?” Mika asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MDnleAL0i
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVh9NSCuwgK
“Eh? You don’t know?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NwmUlS27U
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK61t2YsnU
“It’s not in the textbook!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml3pbMLLN4
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzlNTCk6cW
“It is though.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGfaIt9Rc9
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvFslWnUMR
Mika bit her lip again. She was not liking how this was going, I could tell.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmEuT3Znyv
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYaNlUJzSN
“Fine, it is, but I just didn’t get that far yet.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcfhfo65wO
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoktMKXkJQ
“Don’t worry, Mr. Tanaka will teach us this on Monday,” I told Mika.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwwOcEbVwG
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlBGrDQwi4
Mika closed her eyes. She was frowning. Then she sighed and opened her eyes.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxYZfCJHnt
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV0hkUlXfp
“Okay, you win. Just tell me,” Mika said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrWISZnSNZj
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenfMtav5U1
I giggled.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbbhhXRMcA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LyC7dfan0
“Standard form is the original form of the equation. Like this.” I showed her the original equation again. “And if it’s not like the default form, then it is not in its standard form.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5O9MVDLn6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbEJRVZG15
“Then how can you make it into the standard form?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpQI5wjPMI
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDROauCSP6l
“By simplifying it.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1HCSt8IgE
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHgA2TnzJ0D
“How?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5xFYnXdJH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IGZsc9sa4
“Combining the same expressions.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNe8QEbciD
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQeAMwApTe
Mika paused for a second, tilted her head, and touched it with her fist while she crossed her arm to support the elbow of her other arm.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUS6g2spNn
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGN9RmHuZ4
A few seconds had passed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D2pX1tl6Q
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH5fNHYS7X
“Give me your notebook,” she said, finally.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGGHmp4qvN
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3mNUHL4Z8
I handed her my notebook and my pen. Then I went beside her and she started simplifying the variation of the equation I made.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQBwv4AaCe
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8pTNs6bwK
X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 056Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2F1as62MSW
X² - 4X + 4 = 056Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYpjKnDBtj
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyby0zXrSI
“That’s one,” Mika counted.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSBHv66ZFJ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcdPyX5XK7
X² - 6X + 4 = X² 56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bcyrOJDNJ
X² - X² - 6X + 4 = 0.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAduKqeEvj
- 6X + 4 = 056Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqF16qHc5b
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOIDejvyRg
“That’s two, was I right?” Mika looked at me when she asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6I4tvsj46i
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRvTqz6pr7
“...Uh, yeah,” I said, hesitantly.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEoHD83e3d
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnL8Vkqu42
“I see. Then… according to the textbook, the second equation isn’t a quadratic equation. I think I understand it now.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfMw861xSJ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaSP5cnGqR
The feelings of superiority were starting to fade. Erased. Trampled. Gone. I could not believe how fast she was able to understand it.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpzyNQUY3S
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebvDYpju3Y
“You learned all this from Kuroiwa?” Mika asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ThyJnH3Qr
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglCg5b0n64
“Yes,” I answered. “He explained it to me five times until I understood it.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW6ix9hI4q
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1DxPQUtJG
It was actually fifteen times. And we started from the very beginning every time I didn’t understand.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTWIXU4etk
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNKSFcU0ar
I felt embarrassed. How could I feel academically superior against a literal honor student? If I could melt right now, I should.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuA8KXHC56U
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMqqjHqKFn
“It’s quite impressive actually,” Mika said, suddenly. Her eyes were still glued to the notebook. “You were able to learn all of this in just one night.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK8EJw77hD
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSvsPnrJPF
“Well, it wasn’t without a lot of trying,” I replied.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2rUr82CBl
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBO1oU9xPLp
“What about linear equations?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PVtBChEZ8
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELpyLz0rQq
I choked on the air and started coughing. Pretending to cough at least.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Svh15CCgA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WbglOb8eJ
Linear equation… uhh… linear equation. I didn’t know anything about linear equations. All Kuroiwa taught me was about quadratic ones. What is a linear equation?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uqbWabfax
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mqEV0faQu
I wanted to ask. But then I remembered something Kuroiwa had said before we separated.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uzgSTMKls
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GC8JsNQDx
Check your notes for the other parts we didn’t cover. All I taught you tonight were the most important ones since I anticipate where most of the points of the math exam would come from. The past lessons, you still need to review them yourself since we don’t have much time.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybcg7fCz2A
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUHd2uvnYq
I covered my face with both my hands. And that also reminded me why I was late, because Kuroiwa had to walk me to the station. I said he didn’t have to, but….56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVfT6TXuJl
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrQJyCJFRO
You’re in my care at the moment, so I am responsible for your safety.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2clKuwlCH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFKBxKNMmQ
I screamed… internally.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwwBkLSko6
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJ9IhltWiu
“You still don’t know?” Mika asked me.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAeqSFHM3X4
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe12Dmpt8Hy
I nodded. Two slow nods.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf6YMTQK4H
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWLDZsVSbM
Mika smiled. Warm. It wasn’t like the smirk I showed her earlier.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA8VVkRnZP
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uQcKe1BuO
Now I was feeling more ashamed. Ugh.1234 copyright protection52ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAvzziPBbU 尼

56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEXEt3R2bl
“You’re stalling,” she said. “Let’s go.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx9ZkYyow0
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGrCbVYeIR
We started walking again. I looked up at the sky. The moon was still not there.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIP56Sx4oX
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoVmF4qlvs
“It’s actually incredible,” Mika said, “that he was able to teach you all that in just a few hours. When I spent an entire week teaching you about linear equations. And yet you still don’t understand.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMg1x6P0ya
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7I6pjyHb8
I bit my lip and I smiled awkwardly then I hid the smile under my chin.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9PxTi0L8T
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZAg4BH1Ix
“And that’s maybe why you chose to believe him,” Mika continued. I lifted my head and looked at her. “It’s because he knew what he was doing, and we didn’t.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHcN23aD10
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hsutuEbrW
“I trust you more,” I said, my eyes emitted a certain worry.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6wloJefC0
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz2WqPBtJd
“I know, and I didn’t say that because I want you to pity me.” She frowned and flicked me between my eyebrows.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XHxlpagd4
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPmeur22N0
“Ow!”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAp2ETz6VJ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ395THkCFT7
“It’s just that… maybe I was wrong… maybe I was wrong about him.” Mika looked up into the sky. “There is no moon today,” she said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6fmQO5evW
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMI56PjhVv
A few minutes more and we were about to reach our homes. Her house was next to mine and it had been like that as far as I could remember.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiRL9rtXou
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV399iX45Q
I stared at where she was staring and thought of the words she had just said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0hNv0iJsp
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZYEGRFycn
“We all did,” I said to her, still looking up.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZc4Si7zoD
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrr9a0QlGp
But I knew she smiled.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNGopFRnGc
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLmce0m3ni
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNWjk88odO
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzoLURtFQA
9:15 pm.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAwMnD6s6n
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLOqNE6z7H
“I’m home!” I announced myself by the entrance of the house. I was busy removing my shoes when Mom came out from the living room.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm71FN0mLvh
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1x87ECTVRE
“You’re late,” Mom said as soon as she saw me. She sounded like she was about to lecture me but then, she turned her eyes toward the one who was beside me.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndaI6x0Ngs
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTJ6q3RqxJ
“Good evening,” Mika greeted Mom. “Excuse me for intruding.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9rJu13bqm
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCT9qv8nk7
“Oh, you’re here, Mika. Come in.” Mom’s voice sounded delighted.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXDgmNO0WN
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbd8KsrwSm
Is she more glad to see Mika than me?56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVeF9Lp4ueS
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalPeUabks0
“Sorry we were late, exams were about to start soon and we had Hina to help us study.” Perfect excuse from Mika. I gave her a wink because she did not stutter this time unlike when we were still outside the house earlier. But she nudged me with her elbow and hit me in the ribs.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPkkCPuJgV
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngUqDrELuZ
I closed my eyes. Took a deep breath. Then continued to take off my shoes as I eyed her menacingly. I knew she didn’t like lying but she didn’t need to hit me that hard.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW5TXDBAcX
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2RUxDfv7K
After we were done, we headed to the living room, which also connected to our dining room and kitchen. At the dining table, I saw a portion of meat and potato stew in a bowl with a plastic cover around it. Mika and I sat at the dining table. Mom sat on the sofa in front of the television. She was watching some drama I hadn’t watched for about a week. I was curious about where the story was now when my Mom asked before I could.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuZDUMmwO0
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvo2WJawBg
“Have you eaten yet?” Mom asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZJYkT2A2V
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPwmyFcWFa
I looked at the covered dish but it wasn’t tempting enough. After all, I had already eaten.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TMpVfsSl7
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKVMrbCbXR
“We already ate,” I answered but someone kicked my foot. I opened my mouth at the suspect while I rubbed my shin. “What are you doing, Mika?” I whispered. But my whisper had sharpness in it.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDmffQnRoh
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXiXFkQpGB
“I haven’t eaten yet,” Mika whispered back.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UJGg55Owo
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcKLQsVEVr
“Then go eat at your house.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeZklpkVr9
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfqw36nKnl
“Mom went on a weekend vacation with her friends and Dad is going to be late.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7byiozc6UA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAiGEyxNLC
“How about your big brother?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNoirQUi5K
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtwcWNpsxO
“He doesn’t know how to cook. You want me to eat cup noodles when your Mom’s cooking is better?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvW6SCs7VN
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiW4jEvPa3B
I conceded. I sighed and turned toward my Mom.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFllGoVdSz
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFhWU4GPPx
“Mom, Mika is still hungry. We already ate but she still wants to eat more.” I looked at Mika afterwards. Her eyes were wide open. I felt her kick coming and I was able to avoid it.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYHNwlJo3I
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBEDEcnx0J
“Is that so?” Mom said as she stood and walked toward the kitchen.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Wr3nmfMtH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE7vYI3OQm
Mika was preparing for another kick but my Mom approaching us prevented her from unleashing it. I stuck out my tongue a little toward her. She looked away instead.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUVsBGai7M
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqubQP37E1
Mom took the bowl sitting on the dining table and put it into the microwave. Then she took another bowl and filled it with rice from the rice cooker.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTJhhuW30S
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8aH1ya1FZ
“So, how’s your Mom?” Mom asked Mika while still waiting for the dish to heat up from the microwave. Mom leaned by the counter to look and talk with her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAl13GDouB
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqghr4smYK
“She’s okay,” Mika answered. She sounded stiff. “She just went on a weekend trip with her work friends today. She said she’s coming home on Sunday.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLbUnU9cDA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwdyj1DWvT
“Hmm… How about your Dad?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuYHzD22Iz
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhmVgTrOgY
“He’s okay.” Mika’s voice was getting even more stiff. ”He was very busy at the university today. He said he would work until night today and probably go home around eleven P.M.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BrWhEvDXy
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaF1lrZuEn
I snorted quietly. The way she answered both questions was mechanically the same. Like how she sounded when a teacher asked her a question during class, but more nervous and less dignified. She clearly was still shaken by the fact that she lied to my Mom when we were still at the entrance.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEejg0oib9
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zVWOdijk2
I felt Mika’s stare. Sharp.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOhaaN6t3K
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINdb0VUqni
“It’s nice that they’re doing well.” Mom continued. “Well, I haven’t really seen them that much lately.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyGmTutZUZ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQzNc1sPMi
“Ah,” Mika tried to sound less monotonous this time but she still failed in the end. “Well, they have been very busy lately, and during the weekends they mostly come home late. Mom tries to come home early to cook for me and my brother, but sometimes she can't come home in time.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHykuaaBMn
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0hnGwtkyF
“Is that so? Well, can you tell your Mom that whenever she’s free, I’m inviting her to go to that salon we went to last time? I’ve been meaning to go but I needed someone to go with.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrElniXLXxo
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffE5GEyct9
“Can’t you just call her or text her, Mom?” I asked an obvious question trying to be witty.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9gOL06Bwk
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZ03s19RY6
My Mom turned to me to answer my witty question. “Talking in person is more important than talking on the phone,” she said.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyzR3LbL8h
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTnWgUEeDp
“But you’re using Mika as a messenger.” I wittily replied.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6TBj6Hg5W
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchJvKYhnmf
“That’s not the point.” Mom sounded a bit defensive. I giggled a bit. “Speaking of phones, you should’ve called me when you were planning to be late.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDV131QM0j
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy8i795aW0
My smile faded. I didn’t feel witty anymore.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjuOP67T19
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZLcnOXkBt
I looked at Mika. She smirked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6Gcjq1Tmu
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0yVyOx2g7D
“I agree,” Mika said, sounding less flat and sounding more smug, which I didn’t appreciate at all and I proved it to her with my eyes. “She never calls even when you tell her to.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtz37AUUrA
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9e9acaZoh1
“Right?” Mom said. “No matter how many times you remind this girl, she always forgets.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAHH9iiEXH
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshC4Qomu9F
“I am being unfairly teamed up here,” I said. I put my head on top of the dining table. Forehead kissing wood. I sighed.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtKU4hMXaf
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXy2fRrUDzE
“Listen,” Mom continued the lecture, “I am not trying to be strict with you, but you have to understand as well that people get worried about you. I didn’t buy you a cellphone just to be a decoration. I bought it so you could reach out to us whenever it's needed.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1Vt45ggj5
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNSVYmKDGs
My Mom’s voice was calm. But her tone had already adapted to being a parent, lecturing like a professor. It’s not like I don’t understand what she was saying. It was just that sometimes I got into the moment of what I was doing that I genuinely forgot. Like tonight, I was so focused on studying and wanting to pass the upcoming exam that I failed to message her.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbGbxtHoF8
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY9BgQvDzJ
I sighed in defeat.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5yD3Ni49n
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdV0NSCWewy
“I’m sorry,” I muttered into the dining table. I didn’t move for a few seconds then I decided to sit straight. Slowly. “Where’s Ruri, by the way?” I asked.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyCyTimk1S
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEjYOUpXpM
“Look at her, she’s just now remembering Rurika after getting scolded,” Mom commented. “She already went to sleep.”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoUxIjFvbE
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ39yKsQE25z
My face dropped back onto the table. The table was comfortable. The table was my friend.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMTAcdDoaf
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ARQRmaZQ6
“I’m sorry,” I muttered for the second time.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58KiD3JZZl
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBawLrcK7z
The microwave timer went off. I turned my head to look inside the kitchen. Mom turned off the microwave, carefully taking out the bowl of meat and potato stew while wearing a mitten. I looked up toward Mika, and she looked a bit uncomfortable because of the lecture. I heard Mom start walking towards us and when she reached us, she placed the bowl of rice in front of Mika together with the dish.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSj06nGMjf
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGB6uLnnXJ4
“Sorry, you have to hear all of that,” Mom said to Mika. “Just forget about it and eat, okay?”56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqDYvPWEyQ
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT02POwHfyG
“Yes, thank you,” Mika replied.56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfr7fkvSLKx
56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWrsfKW4sx
I, on the other hand, was waiting to get back to the comforts of my bed.1234 copyright protection52ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJD8iJJqgs 尼

216.73.216.67