Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlcV9uooBe
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uq4FzyBh0
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbSgz6GLQ6
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMISWLqda0y
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0KkgA0N2P
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUkJqHcTTu
“What did you do? What did you do?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QlUtDeyug
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYpqSricHx
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1sZStkfV0
Still nothing. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CSy0mzKPo
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysznF2eXOl
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQkgqq2gLk
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnFeIBCsGK
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s98t7kG86
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm7igkaVN6
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZNkzOwtaz
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPyxpqRynh
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbcwpI3nZo
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S6GkMEct0
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSPnBKZWNn
“Will there be any punishment for this?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFk6TAJK70
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBZUcTfSey
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEdjdUyCev
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo7RF2NQWW
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiTUhSbNLg
“Are you going to explain it to me?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFvtM7hqd2
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ8ZavXJCH
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?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHecqv1ZIa
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs6CTmUyVh
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKBmoGVlQd
“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?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraMr2wYS3j
“Roro.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t92wnZltM
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q6jEkOrRh
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmjEzhoEjN
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqOtBSGkyB
It has to be secret.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡug7cv5PCyY
668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZqNDe0b4i
Secret.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqp99joWzr
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsS46IevZ66
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybLdPOdCC6
Eventually, she settled on something simple.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wCDpn7ekQ
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T1zwfJAqq
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPTTirpbwh
IA responded later that night.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIy0aVZTV4
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. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQ8nyEh9SO
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6IV2sS4eL
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMhQ4FsteJ
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8q7huDs6gb
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74oAWYGNaO
“What’s there to talk about?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTTedE7UT3
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhSsmAyLTc
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONcYXJLPxN
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw5hBvqLbf
“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?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNS7CKaekAv
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEO5qMSz0SF
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfB0U5Pe3b
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtDpI4Yn1E
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHZJQjiXE7
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHXCFU8NYS
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpqxMpl6T2
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXBpkbArfl
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA0tFHLohv
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoVc9JKV8Y
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKgCKJREUt
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHbFpf7bHP
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo83LL2akHj
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡArEiCzyGsj
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrQY7EKoJ8
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg4X9TIQgb
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBhbPMjN3K
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs3I6kKCPj
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhBCKBduPAi
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 10.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdzhpuo0Kl
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhuPx8tSy4
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEE675gbFp
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p9J9jpZIJ
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0pjtSNJes
“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,”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5C3OT1IBo
“Why didn’t you?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglzeb7z2CY
“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?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrQn8Ox3UP
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLIqDOQ4TR
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfWQUOqriF
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknqEhIovA1
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAVhesp2BH
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOip3lmHSvT
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8Y1sv75CU
“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?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1ygEiNwSx
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiS0WJM8te
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48e8QnuLYk
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtGMizWec2
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSfQ1M90VQ
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkXszo2gUM
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZMA8DbUCu
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yxOt05SSq
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXvWA80XnE
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJinBFHQjG
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV50HdIhhyN
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHAVrQwxQ7
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEOOYEOPIU
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ9PxPf1U5
“You don’t think I cried too?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVTJ3wr9z6
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU201nISzEG
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcBMxBas70
“Are you over her yet?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckGcdsEwSD
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNEszGbl0x
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfKpidDUeX
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJGaTeKuFc
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtvp5UVkOs
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziNTAIjO7P
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEfaYoY2uk
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKDUQxA6e4
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6X5zkqQxuv
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAqjZnbI4R
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmQEuEPBzE
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwUw8uOuhV
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGSuZr7bmD
“Can I… kiss you?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHP4k06gIDm
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX71jP2bO84
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uhSQctYaW
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OD784D2U2
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG1jO17Fcxm
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPoa4RZ960
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RJpBFL77s
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJT6resD6kQ
“Not bad. Just… different.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXu7HhDach
Silence.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsrsHbbeAM
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt4wSJr0Le
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdbWjep3Yd
“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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdtfJy9IFH
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVZQ9DgKqj
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWJjjXPdm8
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowzpeWAsJr
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMtjz5ngBB
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!”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwJQhQ3kcn
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcsg27spdc
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklNQ0P0YkC
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgU0ZXGz3g1
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEmvf4FfHb
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWAg3zaGej
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AihwxMFdr
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQ47tDz55j
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ824cBG1YAL
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhHvrBKxSY
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpAhi6zA1z
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4c6xwzyJI3
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5jg82nkO2
“You could make your business a reality.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpPEuO917r
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3CxdvGJcT
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOYQJoR4xE
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1bgdBKnro
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc89lywSFmY
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi001KjByOh
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aHIz2mivc
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvXe7XZZaT
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVtFMziXnO
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxQpMpSBcw
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmihcdrbnO
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaS3jVogxuZ
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡASRk0O72gV
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGUiafWoAq
“How’s that going for you?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ywk5wlsSf
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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDiqHCBau8
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7qPXvCTir
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncUqZfkOcD
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNAkWhesXD
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3BNjPDBwv
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkeknbwKSg
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTBxhIrDIT
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbPNrI8BDB
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp03jrFlAjU
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiWVrXj4C9
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU4HOZyrCw
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uf618rWES
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMV5GI4FL0
“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.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Aj4O2GkOd
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQqjfq2Le9
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcZjJkp6w7
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R6Wo4zY91
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHjF1HJyCx
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMB1jYtdBX
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jUpk5jTgb
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.668Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7fOJfDsqI
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.
ns3.17.176.77da2
and then Add to home screen.