Yukari walked out of the library and placed the pile of books onto the desk.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflIyJgA7FM
“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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkEoNRhmJx
The school bell rang. Yukari bowed and headed to class.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglPupmy0j5
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepQRRpiN5i
When school finished, she waited outside the Principal’s office for her parents.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyu1nKjXhaJ
Her father didn’t show up, but her mother stormed into the room and dug her nails into her arm as she grabbed it.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ99iFsyxi
“What did you do? What did you do?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cMozmEFKl
Yukari said nothing, suddenly very interested in the patterns on the wooden floor. She tucked her lips in to prevent herself from crying.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUjQjYYqDa
“Speak to your mother. Are you listening to me?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIhjdzcBs1
Still nothing. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWyBIyvC2O
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNamaVN5uj
The Principal opened the door, tightening his loose tie and pushing his toupee into place, and welcomed the two in. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97wBvNCN44
The book was open and a few pages had creases on the corners. Yukari couldn’t help but glare at the Principal.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAw8UBR0qU
He shut the book and pushed it towards Yukari’s mother, who had one eyebrow up.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bYdTNKDuV
“Your daughter was caught reading this in school.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI16gCxlmzt
Her mother looked at her, the book and finally the Principal.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr9MxTQOhe
“You must be joking. Why would my daughter bring something like this? She’s a good child.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3OmDWDVbX
The Principal shrugged. “Maybe you should ask your daughter.”
Yukari’s mother glared at her. Yukari bowed her head. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzjjIjH16T
“I… I heard it was a good book and…”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAp3h6y8NA
Her mother turned her gaze from Yukari to the Principal.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHmokICyVC
“Will there be any punishment for this?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75BGU4vydq
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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZWPM6zYnM
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTHSPLuVY8
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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwbnqcFddo
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwicv1sqTJ
“Are you going to explain it to me?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLax10GCNAs
Yukari cried louder. “I’m sorry! I can’t help it. I didn’t want you to know.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2905TKVTC
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?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXye0LqDAUB
“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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jlYpwGz5L
He mother put her hands on the steering wheel with a tight grip. She licked her teeth with her mouth closed.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJlC6t7PTm
“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?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSv5mAuTlOz
“Roro.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLFBniJ35y
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUOJn9rH3DO
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd13rKMhZuE
She was about to name the contact number ‘IA’ but remembered what IA said.
“It has to be secret, though.”
713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9kyvnslF7
It has to be secret.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDidJ6dbTh6
713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrGlf73KWl
Secret.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDg3JRZX4Ce
She decided to name the contact ‘Ichiko’. She was the first girl she fell for and the name started with ‘I’.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3eGRgZL1N
She spent almost five minutes thinking of what her first message should be.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2eUwwyW3s
Eventually, she settled on something simple.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B4DLfzawu
Hey, it’s Yukari. Can’t wait to see you.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC5ixeXTMv
Yukari hugged her pillow to contain her giddiness. This feeling quickly gave way to worry. Did she sound too desperate?713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xRh4Jh7yW
IA responded later that night.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavMsCDPJMn
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. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK44aErp93x
Yukari chuckled at the way IA used quotation marks. The couple chatted about books until Yukari felt her eyelids start to get heavier.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweSBizVIIp
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVSsReeUy5
When he did, he ignored her and sat down.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ctjSIw3Ws
“Um… Roro, can we talk?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6almtJkHJN
“What’s there to talk about?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSogv0rfsH1
Yukari put her hand on his shoulder. “I want to be friends. You know, like we used to be.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpDOdLmgnq
Roro said nothing, circling a dent in his desk with his finger. Yukari bit the inside of her cheek in thought.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRXLVIjund
“I’m really sorry. I just thought It would have hurt more if I led you on and pretended to still like you.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1nzpuGMgq
“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?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPT9VuENqr
Yukari let go of him and looked at her hands as if they had blood on them.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhg75xsU5q
“I… didn’t think about it that way. Is there any way you can forgive me?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHqzu2ZGil
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcX5g5O9JvJ
“Let me think about it. Just give me some time to grieve.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHnngnTYn8
Yukari gave him a soft smile before sitting in her own seat.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzOCb3sip2
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxgq5TfL5X
“Oh. Good. Great. Congratulations. Wonderful.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwArlYnhct3
Yukari’s smile dropped but she didn’t question those words.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrRtYqfkBC
IA immediately snapped out of her mood and gave Yukari a hug. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrlLVYsigF
“IA, remember…” Yukari hissed. IA let go and blushed.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYKquQcWLT
“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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbBkLmK11A
Thankfully, IA didn’t wink this time. Yukari followed her into the office.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fWhdew9Mj
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQwaNMFlty
“Can we just hang out at your place? I like your apartment. It smells of books.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSW6FbCR8C
“Um… okay.” IA couldn’t help but giggle at the request. “We can watch TV. Uh, what time do you need to be back?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONg2hoKlC4
“If I’m home by 7, I should be fine.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxP2KXPogRI
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHrokxVsVU
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOw0CqGokw
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 10.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd31jJadzpM
If you try to kiss on the first date, you’re likely to scare your date off.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68Mnv0tLwm
As Yukari stared at the bookshelves rather than the television, a question popped into her head.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPJaHdG385
“IA, what made you decide to be a librarian?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IYYrZsP9e
IA rolled her shoulders back as if she was using them to turn back time or at least remember her past.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9i2s1EQcKE
“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,”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ww2X3PauT
“Why didn’t you?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinYMqJxHjx
“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?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTP6exaEbE
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb9kU3FhdU
“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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jdxtfl2bd
“Well, I’m sure if you found the right assistant, you could make your business a reality. It sounds really cute.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxrV0QXtrb
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HrRck4VZz
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXOXQSa2Y9
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaOTJNS3w4
“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?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyK4IVsCgLQ
Yukari shook her head and reached to give him a big hug, almost pouncing on him. He stepped back in shock.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu4ofpFbdXh
“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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLTf6mBxMG
Yukari’s eyes became the size of records. IA’s response to the question about her speeding habit played through her mind.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5woXME3D6
She could come up with no reply for Roro. She just stood there, dumbfounded and with the colour pink splashed onto her cheeks.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYcpClTkSd
Roro chuckled. “Geez, you see a ghost or something?” He noticed her cheeks. “Was it a sexy ghost?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyEUptX08E
Yukari snapped out of her surprised state and lightly slapped him on the arm. The two joked around until class started.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpl2d2fycO
A week later, Yukari brought Roro to the library, telling him about her new relationship along the way.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlAjKXrDADI
Roro’s stance was a little tenser than before, but he put on a smile. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyFjumVLif
So did IA when Yukari introduced her to Roro. Her eyebrows were furrowed, but a smile was technically on her face.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQpyTNndtA
“Um… nice to meet you, Mister Yuma.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEa4rGsw5a
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp87j0XF7ny
“So you’re the guy who made her cry, huh?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30nA0Nv3cU
Roro took a step back and averted her stone-cold gaze. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRAAOskQTt
“You don’t think I cried too?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3xjapcVbhB
“Oh, I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s great that you finally came around and became her friend again.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThsPHDG7VV
Roro looked like he just ate a lemon. “Yes. I ‘finally’ did.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Yj99bvnNe
“Are you over her yet?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19VLkjD2VP
“I… don’t see how that’s important.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNgNK5wNSH
IA saw Yukari turn around and wave. She put the smile back on.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNZ4gr5e41
“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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWwlaPgyXh
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQWVMjzP2p
“Well, since you’re a librarian, I’m guessing you’re smart enough to learn from others’ mistakes.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8GhWG7YG3
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWVBoqMh5s
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89VtrKANam
“I-IA?” was all Yukari could say. Who was this person in front of her?713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYeLT4DaLz
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfzllvTa9Z
“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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWjpUGtv7q
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYBNf0SYTY
The two looked at each other and inched closer. IA caressed Yukari’s cheek.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJTkdC8XEk
“Can I… kiss you?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcfXV5NcM2
Yukari nodded and closed her eyes. IA’s lips were as soft as feathers, almost tickling Yukari’s own lips.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo88jlnPEuR
The couple chuckled. “That was our first kiss, wasn’t it?” IA asked. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0btqF1TyJ
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnjDWqc8WX
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4MlAV0EII
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAh1Ehy1qs
“She’s changed since dating you,” Roro remarked.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡre3SAOhJ8f
IA ripped the tail off a fried prawn. “Is that a bad thing?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPS0ATZf80
“Not bad. Just… different.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ETdBLIhS5
Silence.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4VscKu07s
Roro eventually continued. “You didn’t try to change her, did you?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO1awhWr01
IA dropped her prawn and curled her hands into fists.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjbSf7Y0gn
“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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazoZRCzOQO
Roro stood up. “If you’re so much more mature than me, then you’re clearly too mature for Yukari.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq6GoGpr85
IA stood up as well. “She’s certainly more mature than you. What’s your problem?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTddCAjAhp
“What’s your problem?” Roro shouted.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGsgGwjcs4
Yukari ran back after hearing this. “What’s going on?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkDmvA0qQm
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!”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1OUYOlDEy
“Well sorry for being ‘mature’ enough to stay friends with people after a breakup!”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPOvsDLW5D
“So you can worm your way back into her heart.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QsaMayTSU
“You’re pathetic. Calm your tits before throwing around accusations!”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJq7apGS8y
“Enough!” Yukari yelled. She turned to IA. “I thought you trusted me.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6x3829Epw
IA gestured to Roro. “How can I trust you around this guy when I know you’re bisexual?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ2pPcvbTIU
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW0orClLHU
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBagCoOutq
IA tried to apologise over text that night but Yukari refused to reply, instead choosing to cry into her pillow.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jMlkNK2GX
The next day, the teacher from the park told IA that the Principal wanted to speak to her.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28Kzk4tc3y
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJJKN3QC1M
However, the image of Yukari’s smile made her feel bittersweet, which she considered an improvement over the soul-crushing sadness of the situation. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M8KyFVbkL
She abruptly sat up. Yukari’s words played over and over.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFnE6yULTQ
“You could make your business a reality.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCe6k1GmC0
The next morning she headed to a bookstore and headed to the economics section.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ918aoc8hvv
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxhrYImD9S
Just before the final exams, IA spotted Roro heading home from school and stopped her car, rolling down the window a little.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc2u93yHRt
“Mister Yuma, can I speak to you for a sec?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMqPe9bqWm
Roro continued walking for a bit and IA followed him. “Please. You deserve an apology.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7dB8QGIHF
Roro stopped and glared at her. “And what about Yukari?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i0qusOzcW
“I just haven’t built up the courage for that yet.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDZPzoY4fx
“So I’m supposed to be your guinea pig so you can know how to get her back on your side?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukswkXMI6M
IA looked down at the concrete next to the car, her hand folded over the top of the remaining glass window. 713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ218YKjW7gQ
“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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptr6tW8wdH
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6smzWXW8Qs
“So I noticed you’re not in the library anymore,” Roro said. “What happened?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2GuYtqGkd
“Oh, I’m making plans for a bookstore business I want to create.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYLlgz6rB6
“How’s that going for you?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtyKFNluqr
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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHniEaftna
Roro stroked his chin. “Huh. Have you thought about hiring some people who are good at different languages?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgxFciBSlJ
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGvGGQ4vWr
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTKF5WBm86
“Yukari! Can I speak to you?”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtnMFMTumu
Yukari continued walking. Her mother asked her who it was and Yukari didn’t answer.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HhZf5f4wn
“I won’t ask for anything, I just think you deserve to hear me say sorry,” IA pleaded her.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLSYB21LLf
Yukari stopped and turned around. She told her parents to wait there as she walked back to IA.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsjqeEb8bAf
She crossed her arms. “I must say it was unexpected. That day it was like you were a completely different person.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6j5a6mixuK
“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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkOX9q5eL6
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUb9uNEYtW
The other day IA apologised to me. Has she said sorry to you yet? She said she was going to- Roro row your boat713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqoR2Fnqzd
She grabbed IA’s hand, causing her to stare at her like she’d grown a second head.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i8CKCXXPf
“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.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIR0dZoPuw
“Roger that. I’m such as idiot.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetWQQrzQHE
“I’ll… I’ll message you tonight. You have one more shot. No third strikes. I’m only giving you two.”713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNKW0NmoGG
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oaMJtK5vd
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5MOUwrsYm
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAogSqb9s8
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuemjzeqwz2
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.713Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojObPm6UZD
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.
ns18.117.145.188da2
and then Add to home screen.