Evening of Saturday, 3rd week of May58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81IhVPsBNj
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQdnUT4jO8
I set my phone down on my desk. I called Runa hoping to cheer her up a little, but instead, the call ended with her sounding like she was about to cry.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtrU9T7VRX
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4MADQfdC3
Ugh.
Seriously, what am I even doing? Making her cry again wasn’t my intention at all. Even though I think I’ve done it accidentally. All I wanted to do is help Runa. And if she can’t go back to his apartment anymore, then that’s that. It’s my turn to help her study again. It should be, but…
How?
I don’t even know how this guy was able to teach Runa about quadratic equations in just one night. I taught her about linear equations for a week. And until now she probably still doesn't understand what they are. Well, unless he already taught her about them.
But that’s beside the point.
I mean… studying aside. I understand completely what Shizuna-san, Runa’s mom’s concerns. It is not normal to have a girl and a boy who are still in high school, who aren’t even dating, be alone together in an apartment. I warned Runa about it, but even though she was hesitating, she still went. And by the looks of it, they actually just studied.
I can’t really comprehend this puzzle. It’s so confusing.
And because of that, I found it hard to concentrate on my own studying for the entire week. And again tonight… no… the whole day, I wasn’t able to progress at all. My desk looks busy. Notebooks scattered, pens everywhere. But it’s not because I was diligent. It’s because I was getting irritated that I am not progressing the way I want to, and there are still a lot of materials I need to review.
…and exams are just three days away.
Sigh.
“I can’t stand this,” I shouted toward my desk.
What am I supposed to do?
I hear footsteps suddenly emerge in the hallway outside my room. They sound light but still loud enough that my ears can pick up their rhythm. It's my mother. The footsteps stop when they reach my door. Then three knocks. I look behind me and I see my door opening slightly and her head peeking through. When she sees me looking at her, she enters.
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtyNdQL2VQ
Mother sighed, but then smiled.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcPO44Ehjf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DEiwJQcgp
“Still studying, Mika?” Mother asked.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt1u7NYvPL
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBkwM1AkKr
“...Yeah,” I answered. “I just felt a little bit annoyed about something.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsn0T5BhxiM
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhopKMgYCtg
“Well, if that’s the case, then I think it’s time for you to go to bed. Don’t you think so?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQxPplhpGg
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSySxSnF5g
“But, exams are coming up soon. I don’t want to waste time and not be prepared for them.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEvObORI5Z
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC4DX54yO1
I look toward my mother. She is still smiling. Then she taps my shoulder and points her finger toward my alarm clock that’s on my desk.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2EMLxhbd2
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2aBfi53mg
10:32 pm.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTneOyT44D
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBl1oeM15XA
I turn toward her while I pout.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ofS7c82sb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEfmLvUJIX
“It’s still just 10:32 pm. It’s early,” I said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUwsxl3nAv
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4ji0SCAuo
“You’re a growing girl, and resting is also part of preparing,” my mother replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtQGQcSm9w
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX9AdfVcGF
“That’s not fair, how are you and father allowed to work hard but I can’t?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L1EBSLvFo
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobdhyK9tyr
“True,” Mother answered. “Teru-kun and I work hard, but we work hard for you and your brother. You, on the other hand, are still young, and you shouldn’t force yourself when you are at the point of struggling. Sometimes, take a break.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCsZ78Jy1Y
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNF8DNUO8E
That’s not the answer I wanted to hear from her. It’s like dismissing all the effort that I’ve put into my own studies. I mean, I get it, but I need to do this. Otherwise…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfAn1I0Ne0
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiW7N4SiTt
“And you know Teru-kun and I always go on vacations once a month. I also go out with my friends at least twice a month,” Mother continued, then patted my head. “See, even though we work hard, we both know when to take a break,” she said. Her smile still hasn't left her face.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjivG29irTk
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjtrO2ZKBn
“Okay,” I answered and gently lifted her hand away from my head. I don’t like it whenever she tries to treat me like a kid. But it has become a habit, and I don’t feel like correcting her anymore. Not that I haven’t tried. It's just that I tried too many times and she still ended up patting me on the head every time. “But, don’t you think it’s time for you to stop calling father by a nickname? I mean, you’re not in your teens anymore.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6Z1l7PZCD
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WheI9epcQ
“What do you mean?” Mother pouted. “I still love your dad, you know.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0I9covD0Mm
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvjNhCQGMU
Mother puts both her hands to her cheeks, then she blushes, then her smile gets bigger.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8ear6QiQ1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJbWxtHpwx
“I still remember the time when he confessed to me before we graduated from high school. I’ve known he liked me ever since we got into the same class when we were in second year, but it took him two years to confess. But even so, I think those two years I’ve waited for him were all worth it. And—” Mother continued.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc38vkuiuP
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1AtnltQd2A
“Mama… I’ve heard you tell me the same story like a million times already. Please spare me,” I said. I really don’t want to hear it again. It becomes cheesier the more I hear it from her. And I had to cut her off before she even began to elaborate more on her romance with Father from when they met to now.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3PRNXCNNG
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIibcyQelR
I do respect that my mother never grew out of love with Father, but I really can’t comprehend what was so good about being in love. I’ve never thought about it, not even once.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLSRmgzAdH
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1olqyybxUR
“Well, off to bed then,” Mother said as she stood up. “One day you’ll understand,” she said as if she just read my mind. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8xoIelsTQ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPkg0tM1ol0
“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’ll go to bed later, Mama.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI83NXB81N
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUE194suhO5
“Then don’t stay up late.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUEfxnHrTe
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUxGRyYby2
“Alright.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSsCLiqB5H
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrk0uUFye4q
I stared at her as she walked toward my door.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVGflHNXoK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZUdYfnOQc
“Good luck then, and good night,” Mother said before closing the door.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaZATsNTln
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonhg6nnI0B
I immediately crossed my arms on my desk and hid my face inside them as soon as she left.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEFjZzcQ47
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSziSoT9My
Ugh.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfYLLCSG6P
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvvVu65qZC
Ughhhhhh.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPoaA80Uyn
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ648pXwfXHt
I knew my mother just told me something to think about life. But that’s beside the point of what is bothering me right now.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpOCwNLJdX
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1SXeUs0XN
Sigh.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4UVYTcQRV
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q3385sBBw
Knowing when to take a break, huh?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jv0M8mnvH
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9JxLG3zvi
…No.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmb1cwAHuwD
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCNBcSScDP
Runa still needs help. I have to think about something. Maybe…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk1E0R4P0H
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWP5E3j1t23
An idea came to me. Then I reached for my phone from where I left it.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhUpmzpqLH
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcgiz3mzZN
First, I’ll have to message both Hina and Yui in private, separately…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlyBL0vLOY
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8uddxdUiV
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuvZe3gSxD
Morning of Sunday, the beginning of the 4th week of May.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfywNyyPzb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDJxD2TZrj
I am wearing my favorite clothes this morning. A frilly pale blue camisole layered beneath a cropped cardigan. My favorite high-waisted skirt with gentle pleats that sway just above my knees. My shoes, white with modest heels. I used my usual pair of small, glossy pink bead hair elastics to tie my high twin tails. I liked how everything came together.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT9ocW71Rr
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YENitzx0U
Beside me on my left, is Yui, who just had her third yawn ever since she arrived at my house this morning. Her eyes are still half closed and she was rubbing one of them with her fingers while she yawned.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCI6n7Ax3D
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu720EZF4T
It’s already 9 a.m., for goodness sake. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwiyb0fc54R
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3TuO1KxrB
Yui is wearing an oversized T-shirt with an embroidered teddy bear taking a nap as a design on its chest. The front hem is casually tucked under her shorts while she leaves the rest to hang loose. A cute star-shaped hairpin decorates the left side of her bangs while her short chestnut brown hair falls just above her shoulders.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbnpVilPNW
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9u0f9Feb2B
“Yui, wake up,” I told her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYIE3VvUxO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwb3FnVTNyJ
“Mmmnnn…” Yui only murmured.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIXll4kBSo
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VGN4Gkkzf
“There’s no way you’re still sleepy at this hour.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh36Qqn3cb3
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwvdek0kPc
“But you basically held me hostage last night and kept me up until past midnight.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa626cmXAW
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz75NnxQ9j3
“We had to discuss something important.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6COwADxmn
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyUmr13U9F
“I know, but if I am sleepy, then I am sleepy.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOov6WO6Ehq
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc0xcs1XdR
…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6is6LOJZqO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4gsV2jvBg
I shook my head slightly. I guess I’ll just have to try to ignore Yui’s yawns. There are more important things to think about at this point.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5diSTcCL5O
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfNVHbZctL
I turned toward Hina, walking slightly ahead on my right. Tall, perfect figure, long black hair, pretty, and mature. She’s wearing a rose pink one-piece dress with the skirt running down just below her knees. She’s wearing sandals this time, but instead of looking casual because of them, she looks more feminine. I guess that’s what you should expect from her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrl8wRbHZAQ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBnkstee7F
“Hina,” I called, “sorry about my brother.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ubRh6ESgd
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfABEJDj9zd
Hina turned her head toward me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6Y3m7uCFB
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvu2hWWvwp
“It’s fine, you were there to save me, right?” Hina replied with a wink.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qH3E2sGaK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmckcflfcMA
“I mean, he was not always like this, but lately he’s changed and started behaving unacceptably.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpVygToOtL
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagPwK3GuSn
That’s right, we could’ve gone to Runa’s house much earlier if not for my big brother’s interference. Of all the days he could choose to wake up early in the morning, he chose today. The day when I told Hina and Yui to come to my house early. And as soon as he saw Hina come in, he started hitting on her. Of course I would intervene. He’s not the same brother I know. If he gets together with Hina with how he has become, he’ll just ruin her life. The same thing happened last year as well, when he started hitting on Runa. I’ve told him multiple times to cut it out, and he did for a little while. But when he started doing it again, Runa stopped hanging out with me at my house. What a creep.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJv0HyjBYB
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWCju6pakr
But that’s beside the point.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwd99AsEyA
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2UiuInJCv
I am also worried about other things. I don’t want to think about my stupid brother and his stupid behavior right now. What’s more important is Runa.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvs6gdQHfw
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgfs7JNPBO
“Do you think the plan would work?” I asked Hina.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxrzr3ARcy
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdciNDmGu6Y
“Of course it will. It's your plan after all,” Hina answered.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAnge5HBjK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lNqKD0zBH
That doesn’t sound reassuring. I mean, I am already thinking of many possibilities of how this plan would fall apart with the wrong things happening at once. What would we do if we got to that point then?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKn2Ykri387
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPhCwrB8PM
I don’t know. All I know is that we’re already in front of the small gate to Runa’s house. So, I took a deep breath.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWZ3xbp5ec
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBCWRRczKk
“Don’t worry,” Yui said beside me. “With the acting skills I’ve gained from watching dramas, I’m sure everything will go smoothly.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0QAcRqRc1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzuXFMjxPU
Acting what? Why do we need to act again? I know we need to lie, but do we really have to make it seem like we’re going to perform in a play? What is this girl thinking?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQX4oGGEcA
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzH3sWStHc
Now I am more worried…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNvdqmMoqy
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIntgqbiipz
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSvURYYKU8
I checked the time from my phone. It’s already 9:16 am.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenX9Gs9sbV
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHENl4kZZn
Earlier Shizuna-san appeared right before us by the door. She looks proper as always, but her soft expression seems to be dimmer than usual. I saw some evidence of tiredness. But she still keeps that smile she has when she greets us.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBT49GMKfP
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPGXuMIWNt
She immediately led us toward the living room where we are now. Me, Yui, and Hina sat on a long sofa, Yui took the middle spot, I sat on her right and Hina sat on her left. When Yui started swinging her feet while sitting, I started to get annoyed. While I was sitting there being anxious, here comes Yui playing around like nothing’s about to happen.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnpnRQQQRD
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5M6bK454Nz
“Stop that,” I whispered to Yui.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkK6vVseEd
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYdOnH7qvb
“Stop what?” Yui whispered back.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuxwMdJp9V
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUux3phybI
“Your feet, it’s distracting me.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJx2wVC5WF
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHeGd4PK23
“Okay…” Yui said then stopped and suddenly became quiet.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRr6Lpk8US
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhbjOZsv72
Am I imagining things? It doesn’t seem like the Yui I know who always finds a way to continue annoying me. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiecS7LfGu
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89lEGfS95d
I carefully looked at her face. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRJggWUJZz
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC68ORBiXz4
Then I knew. She's also nervous. Her eyes keep looking around, and she’s gripping the sofa hard and then letting go, then she repeats it. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvfanW7Saz
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JmKvdJvCE
I leaned forward a bit to look at Hina. She’s calm. That assured me for a minute. At least someone is really prepared to execute the plan.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBoWyLDA1t
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UiK47qzmu
Please, Hina. I am counting on you.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHITfxSUGDF
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLJvZz4Tku
Shizuna-san comes back from the kitchen, she’s holding a tray with three glasses of orange juice, then she places them on the table right in front of us.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWNSEdp2JI
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OyQxk1uRn
“Wait here, while I call for Runa,” she said as she walked toward the doorway.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8MydGrEh2
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJrLSAQHeY
“Excuse me, Miyase-san,” Hina called for Shizuna-san’s attention.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkZYBl1X1C
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaRrXYb5tA
Shizuna-san stops right before exiting. She turns around toward us. “You can just call me, Shizuna,” she said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKoNC9tfBF
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OTWWFpkZ7
I feel like I shouldn’t let Hina do the talking alone. So I replied, “Well, Shizuna-san. We would like to get permission to ask Runa to come study with us in the library in town,” I said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAss0RuTLLj
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ8MESODD3
I wonder if it’s the right decision to take over from Hina, or maybe I should’ve just let her do the talking?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6qH1s6F4A
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoviFN12Suz
I found my answer by how Shizuna-san’s expression changed. From forcing herself to look cheerful, her face transformed to look more stern. Shizuna-san crossed her arms and stared at the three of us with a frown. She walked closer until she ended up standing right before us. Yui froze beside me. I looked at her in disbelief… Why are you looking so guilty? Where is your acting skill now when we need it? Unbelievable.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2Lzzqp5Rf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSPLGCycET
I nudged her for a bit. But she only turned toward me with an awkward smile.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8m30dQNY83
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9ueuN6QDa
“No,” Shizuna-san answered. “If you need to study, you can just study with her here at home.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxOpy9hDmp
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡandXCLCEXU
Okay, this is as far as I think I can do. At this point, I already don’t know what to say.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmOVodFU4v
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABnUH9m5A3
“But there are things we can use as reference to help us study in the library,” Hina replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEBkr8Pdll
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewfJs3T9QS
Nice going, Hina.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMcsqTAJs0
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBacuP8k6qb
“Can you just use the internet to find those references?” Shizuna-san said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfMO1z3muCq
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLmGSBNcRf
“Yes, but books are still the more informative option,” Hina replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKijvTAK8xH
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmM6Byh2Nj
I asked for both of their help last night because I knew that if I were alone in this situation I'd be rendered useless. And here, beside me was also someone who was being useless. Thank goodness Hina came. Otherwise, if I had done this all alone, the moment I entered the house it would have been over.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xVOsanmqv
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvaFmCTV8W
At this point, I just listened.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybH7nzLqDC
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvJLHOgQtG
“How?” Shizuna-san continued.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSQBOnLLIU
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKjibxJpRh
“Because a book will always be written with a lot of care by the author,” Hina replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSLBdVdGRX
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o5QOXAavU
“How is that different from what is written on the internet?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOxUhwuiSd
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DY3OOMtp0
“It is, because books that are well-written have years of research that were put into them.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BDGDLzoN7
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHnPZS9AEX
“But with the internet, you can do the same.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb9TU4eyna
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi4oKr2A8l
“Yes, but a lot of articles online can’t always be trusted.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZT31alJgQ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIoxPuXgcO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsiXcYtQT4
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9kSxtGap2
“How come?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vY8nW7P21
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8iFhI2eUi
“Miyase-san, are you familiar with the saying that ‘you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet’?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc2pJwOfBQ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qyevEj7KL
“I guess I heard it once from the news.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAReXT8Vwv
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NvtknXUNN
“Right? And a lot of the things you find on the internet can’t be easily verified.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlXb2S2tn0
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1X4SpkEMh
“Hmm… maybe, but I really don’t know anything much about the internet.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvmbZfjQE7
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1feblOgno
It might be just my imagination, but I feel like I just saw Hina’s eyes sparkle after what Shizuna-san just said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkpqhLb7si
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCb4sRZHaI
“Yes, and that’s why, since books are already verified because of years of research, if we rely on the internet, it might take years for us to find reliable references we need for our study material.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUG321HMiw
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA69YjvlaPb
I don’t like that reply from Hina. That doesn’t make sense. Even if Shizuna-san isn’t that knowledgeable about the internet, if she at least used it a few times, she’ll know that’s a lie.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNomsLwsJj
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy0VLbcl9s
“Is that so?” Shizuna-san replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFmag3sCjO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBiMgD5afd8
I let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness the internet is not for everyone yet. I don’t know if Hina deliberately calculated the risk or was just winging it, but it produced a nice result.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ6oNjZ52R
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEMrx41tZZ
Shizuna-san noticed me completely relaxing my posture, and when I saw her turn toward me, I straightened up. Then she looked toward Yui who was still completely still beside me. Yui noticed Shizuna-san’s eye on her and from being still and not moving, she started swinging her feet like before, stared at the ceiling, and then whistled.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXJ11o9Sle
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykkyIbCEwI
I raised my hand by reflex.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9ymEMGGvm
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIObbNlKl7
“Shizuna-san, um, can we borrow your bathroom for a second? I think Yui needs to use your toilet,” I said as I stood up.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdj5e2beYpP
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6w35fUpEF
Yui whispered to me, “I don—” but I interrupted her with a pinch on her back. Impressively, she didn’t let out a sound. “Y-yes, Miyase-san, please let me use your toilet,” she begged.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKtr9XX2GL
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yZZOYSbQV
“Do you need to go together?” Shizuna-san asked.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C107BdaMS
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWWXMoVp2b
“Mhm.” I nodded. “Yui is kind of shy, so she needs someone to accompany her at least by the door if she’s in another house,” I replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQg3hfGNgr8
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmVLHtyuuk
“That’s weird. I know it’s been a long time since Yui’s last visit here, but I don’t remember her being shy,” Shizuna-san said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSevHgGr0O4
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12eR5YyVqA
“Umm… Well, you know, since it’s been a long time… umm… I-I’ve become more shy…” Yui answered.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BH8iIlcPH
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeSTGzu3Ou
“I see. Well, I guess that makes sense, since back then you were still in your second year of middle school. You looked shorter back then. I guess it makes sense that your personality would change as you grow through the years, especially when you entered high school,” Shizuna-san replied. “My, that’s too bad then. I kind of miss those times when we talked about silly stuff and dramas together.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvP4WKzhejF
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTscXnh0wbL
I glanced at Yui and saw her eyes start to well up. Is nostalgia hitting her right now? So I immediately pulled her out of the living room. I excused the both of us to Shizuna-san, then took a peek at Hina. Hina just winked at me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4g4bGI4736
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCOZL5AeB3
At this point, if Yui and I stay, we’ll just become a liability. Better we retreat now and wait a couple minutes before we go back. Hina, I leave the rest to you.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVpZz904t1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tzNA1D1iD
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwM6LkB6KHX
It’s already 9:42 am. That took longer than expected. I wonder if Runa will have time to study the materials she hasn’t covered yet.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VMN5tPWPO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUtCNs6dvR
I looked at her. She doesn’t look the same as how she was when we saw her come down from her room. Her hair is not a mess anymore, she’s dressed more proper now, with her fitted light yellow short-sleeved shirt, paired with skinny jeans, and white rubber shoes. At first glance, you will think that she’s probably fine. But if you look at her eyes, the soreness is still there. And she’s also forcing a smile. She doesn’t look the same as she did, but she’s still feeling the same as she felt.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4JLWXRCUZ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5DWJESPJA
“How did you do it?” Yui asked Hina. “I mean, when we came back, suddenly Runa’s mom gave us permission. What did you do when we were gone?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncbVMCV2NP
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUV27XPmeCT
“I just tried to convince her,” Hina answered.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4HJjwPJU6
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqngN6ILwbq
“How?” I asked out of curiosity. Indeed, to me, everything that went down in that living room looked like a magician pulling some tricks out of her bag.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh6LrUFVr7
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAzNxgu9c3
“I showed Miyase-san the materials we are going to tackle, and explained to her why we needed to be in the library,” Hina said with a smile.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GDZrp4d1m
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwYHdZXUh7
“Is that it?” I did not sound convinced. I mean, it’s that simple? Maybe there was something more, but Hina isn’t the kind to elaborate on her thoughts, not like she can’t, but it’s more like she’s just summarizing everything for us, and hiding important details from us. I’m totally curious now, but it’s my fault for leaving the room.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJIIUjmDl7
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhqZsDY5L0
No…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcbpGPSVZV
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OGyBOAfCf
It’s Yui’s fault.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVaZAZSXZL
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI5DykFVha
“Anyway, Yui, I thought you would show us your great acting like you said before we went in,” I said to her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTPIiP6Puj
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LnWDuFQa5
“Ah, well, I showed a different kind of acting. Hehe.” Yui laughed it off.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPF20PBviA
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4nu0ElyjL
“Yeah, acting like a robot,” I replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QjVXuHRzf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F5eOphB4u
“No, I wasn’t!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWPmMdAhkx
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeo5i8sqlt
“Yes, you were!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIEtJA37k2
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeoc48JYv1
“No! You’re just jealous because I was a really good actress.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8r8VBIk5BO
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBWFPAAjeb
“Explain?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbvm9hvfTE
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIB3DC6uKGP
“I don’t need to explain, I mean did you hear me whistle?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvw5A9zOLnE
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3TTjnpBQZ
“Yes, and it was awful.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQrFYEzVcR
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYksJXDIltA
Yui pouted after my remark.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaZpEkMHIf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe1MvRR6Xy
“You’re awful, look at you. You’re just like Runa’s mom, crossing your arms like that and frowning at me.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehpsSf5qZn
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCtRoxViRX
“What? I’m not—” I looked at my arms. They were indeed crossed.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqPW0Ak0tI
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfLznxo4aq
“See, scary,” Yui said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IDiLse1g4
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9q4xt91QER
“I don’t think it’s nice to say Miyase-san is scary, she really wasn't. She was actually rather nice,” Hina said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLHcUegnvJ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cOG7gIGZT
Yui and I looked at Hina for a second. “Sorry,” both of us said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwY9jddnr8
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphyhnh1kYn
Wait… why am I also apologizing?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x01f4fiR3
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Iq24WyUd3
I heard someone giggle behind me and Yui and both of us turned. It was Runa. It doesn’t look like she’s forcing herself this time. It sounded genuine.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVUOeh69CM
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDClNNO6id
I smiled. I’m glad at least she’s feeling a little better now to laugh. I walked toward her and we started walking together. Yui joined us, and walked beside me, while Hina walked beside Runa. We never really asked Runa how she’s doing. I mean, we didn’t need to. We can see with our own eyes. And asking her felt wrong in a way. We just wanted her to feel better. And that’s why we’re walking beside her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tPvyCaAJQ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKyDPXoYiy
We reached the train station about five minutes later. We stood at the entrance first, before we entered. I thought it would be the best time to tell Runa what this plan was supposed to be.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvD3WWDgwR
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxQlyEfFK4
“Runa,” I said. “I think this is where we split.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzUbGrCKjN
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfEn94skZz
“Hmm? What do you mean?” Runa asked.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpEO8sH4Hs
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbl3vGyaBC
“She means, you’re going to Shadow Prince’s apartment,” Yui answered for me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolPRWoUQQH
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gBI45vKER
“Huh? Eh? What’s going on?” Runa’s eyes widened and she looked at us like she wanted to know if we’re telling the truth.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqMhAYIBAT
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVx1Jllqeh
“Well, the plan all along is to get you out of your house, and then we let you go on your way. You know, to go study with him,” I replied.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEoqkwmQKe
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuM1WJMgpi
“Really!?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeb5Qqpm9I
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcOPmxNtPS
“Mika was the one who thought of the plan,” Yui enthusiastically revealed.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oiqwhIkXr
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TpkZfhqpp
Runa looked at me, her eyes started to well up with tears.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBiK7aKejv
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gHM0TjmsF
“Careful with your makeup,” I reminded her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuqSJoBYnD
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1QKTyzsj5
Runa started biting her lips and fanning her eyes with her hands. I laughed. Then suddenly she hugged me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IHLbjgscu
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7my6jfWrsg
“Thank you,” Runa whispered.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm060yd82t4
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78m0xcvEds
“Then I need one more pudding tomorrow,” I said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOS8ONthijm
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVgeh2vPje
“Awww,” Yui made a sound and hugged both of us.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI6WQl9y3j
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTEQAtBDOI
Then I felt Hina’s hands touch the top of our heads one by one.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAuLN9WW3p
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbftCro4wnx
After that…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB0W5A5NZJ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooIw2mXj6Y
We went inside the station and parted ways with her in the lobby. She looked excited, almost running toward the platform where the train she needs to ride is. She would turn sometimes and wave, and then she turned toward a corner and there she went.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUH74So7hI
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqhEvfG7JQ
I exhaled a little bit.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbAzxIl2W4
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgS79kkwBI
“Look at Runa, so happy to go meet her prince,” Yui said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybAMmlB7oK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xqTrqxisM
“You’re still onto that?” I replied, judging her for always forcing romance fantasy onto others. “You should know by now that they aren’t actually a thing.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3908pUYuk
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1ZDpTOjEY
“Why? Don’t you—”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zb4MXvV8w
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQZl1IxYzN
“Yui, making assumptions without evidence is bad,” Hina interrupted Yui.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4iwLApo7u
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF6sfhFaBE
“Hnnngh, why are both of you so stubborn about romance!” Yui pouted. “This doesn’t make sense at all, you’re supposed to be a teenage girl like me.” Yui looked at me specifically when she said the latter.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfkf8bBNa1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtvTnLnEDm
“...Are you saying that to just me?” I asked to confirm if she really intended to say what she said only to me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOsjqE14kT
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoT5jn7oOkm
“Because you’re always studying. When was the last time you even liked someone? I think if you find a boyfriend you’ll be able to relax more,” Yui answered.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAL9pW68NcU
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjCOjGS1Ml
“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZxvQi1RC5
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyivI9vkQa
“I mean, don’t you feel bad?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfCsv0eaI1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR38g3P99S
“About?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7vOqEEOm6
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8gU14Kzai
“About those boys you rejected last year. You could’ve accepted at least one of them and enjoyed your youth.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fTxt6SbnZ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg4IE24KDp
“I am enjoying my youth now.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UKAxteNiU
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjvMxQXPST
“Studying in your room?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W1A6RPNRh
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS23k0hfwaL
“Yes, thank you. And besides, you know how bad those confessions were. And I don’t have any time to spare for those kinds of things.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQweF71cCh
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvvXokBAU0
Yui’s expression suddenly shifted. She’s now smirking.. 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqFcG99bRQ
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCitgClEOQ8
“Oh, they were bad, alright,” Yui said. “Fujimoto-senpai, from last year. He was a second year student back then and was running to become the president of the student council.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCVMbIeJ4H
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzs26o6RwE
“Stop!” I shouted at Yui. I didn’t know whether to cover my ears so I can’t hear what she’s saying or to cover my face to hide my embarrassment.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkmr8tM0W0
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK5RxEhWOQ
“During the election, he went up to the podium. And instead of giving his speech, he started mentioning your name. Then read a poem, talked about the bees and the birds, the blues and the violets, and compared you to a rose that bloomed in the morning. Then, when everybody turned their attention to you, you just glared at him. In fact you glared at him so badly that when he finally decided to give his speech he started crying. And because of that he lost. I heard he transferred schools after a few months.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DqizhhcII
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLeUtmrsxv4
“That wasn’t my fault, I was still wearing glasses back then and I forgot them in my bag. It was a mandatory assembly so I just hurried there without my glasses. And also I wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying since I was focused on seeing what’s in front of me, but still…”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVTr8UGiDj
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jHQvIhVEg
“Tanaka-kun.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLRKpGd3lM
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZQobZuH9K
She’s still going!?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyf492ABal
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVG0Qmpvu3
“He confessed to you during lunch break at the beginning of the school year last year. You rejected him right then and there in front of everyone in the classroom,” Yui continued.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgbPQx9mat
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GZzw3774S
“His timing was bad, we were eating. Why would someone even confess in front of others while they were busy having lunch?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRaKl0jTWl
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE3NfyCzp3
“So, you would’ve accepted if you weren’t?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YSKno7KE9
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYZG1YesGO
“...No.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUEvyvNuRY
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQ3Q5x51yg
“See! After that Tanaka-kun didn’t eat lunch for days from being heartbroken.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEQsLL76ul
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdf9VjAEGg
“That’s a lie! How did you even know that?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF4F3ZGLnT
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcFzJgj2dK
Yui blinked. “Peripheral vision.” 58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUOKLXHsE1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw5vtQTeDk
I just hit my forehead with my palm. I shouldn’t even have asked.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL4iMTe9oa
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiTM43jcyc
“Yui,” Hina suddenly said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfvKa1EcMf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYBCobh6bt
“What?” Yui turned toward Hina.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TjCvgcadb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmIZUEQCGY
“Yamada-kun,” Hina said. And as soon as Yui heard what she said, Yui’s expression changed.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4CRyLFPBf
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUXBhf0vSS
“Wait. Hina, that’s different!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tqazujr3H
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ13RatFPD
“During our third year of middle school, he said you were cute in class and then you knocked down your pencil case, you stood up, and apologized to the pencil case for five minutes.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQDLDma9Hy
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw2vg3ULtW
“I-I was stressed that day!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFO48eB071
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHxIJSPx64
“Goto-kun,” Hina continued. “You asked me to turn him down on your behalf and pretended to have diarrhea. And you hid in the bathroom for twenty minutes.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoak2GaIJH4
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCVENssHiu
“I wasn’t really hiding, I was—”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFj6uIaIpl
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xem5MtX5x
“You messaged me ‘Hina help there’s a boy’ and sent me a selfie of you hiding in the stall.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVv71mpRim
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeC6YrJDMo
I tried at first, but I couldn’t hold my laughter after that one. That’s the first time I heard a different side of Yui. I didn’t go to the same middle school as her, Runa and Hina, so knowing more about Yui is kind of a pleasant surprise, and funny.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90bx5Ykn77
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoFkSMVbAl
“Hey it’s not funny,” Yui said to me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78Ki6TVfyB
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBVTj5biQA
“Yui, you were worse than me.” I replied while still laughing.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFdfn2dn3f
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxkeTXmg8N
“No, it’s different, it’s like a disease… This is not fair!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1ngbJNfVL
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dKnjQTDxb
“What kind of disease?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4nZOyYXfG
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11dmdfgN3F
Yui was quiet.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznxMy2A7pW
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh5yvdAQBU
“Aww, little Yui being shy around boys I see, even though you always dream about romance.” I teased her.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vx6PbBx5Z
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzB3DO4FSTd
“Stop!” Yui pouted.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZqtmy886G
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8YeTAsmNc
I laughed for a bit longer, but when I settled down I turned toward Hina.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyi9H6feOlk
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmP48hLrHQ
“How about y—”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhIBripFbA
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQpu3ImLzT
I was interrupted by her stare.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F5beYGFqN
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eBhnQn8Ut
“N-nevermind,” I just said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanGymHC7Gl
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhKua9bM1U
“Let’s head toward the library then and study,” Hina said, smiling at me.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNgQfHqIyx
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNTdSExWYM
“Seriously,” Yui replied. “It’s Sunday, let’s go window shopping at the mall instead!”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBa6VNueQnW
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWenu7AWGRM
“Yui, we already planned last night that we’re really going to the library after Runa leaves,” I said. “Didn’t you read what I messaged you?”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PGryvKlF1
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL3MeJBQA5
“Uhh… well… I only read the part about Runa, I might have accidentally erased the part where we have to go study later from my memories.” Yui looked at me and she let out a sigh after she saw my frown. “Fine… Library it is.”58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOuzngxWfK
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3POlVC9ri
“Let’s go then,” Hina said.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSHSnuouxb
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzgkBgmFYJ
I watched them walk first toward another platform. Before I decided to follow, I looked one last time in the direction where Runa disappeared.58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaJ7hbLzQs
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiJDzD4J5w
I stared for a few more seconds. Then a thought appeared in my head…58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJVfLrSazd
58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcncGU32F5p
Love… huh?58Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7sNpt4OoN
and then Add to home screen.