Thursday. Night.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eV9SAdoRN
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxudTe7z0L
Let’s see… If I divide this by this, then I move the result to the other side… oh, I have to change the sign of the number from positive to negative… right?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHDJMg7mhj
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzM4Jsk2WA
Focused…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcmTdamTMK
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qpzCGJowX
The note says I have to… okay… now to just solve the other side…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJVwj6CKmn
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFe0GNDt3q
I was very focused…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvz0YqAEir
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xYppmzmru
Eleven… umm… and negative 6… so I subtract…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2NqIWR4MS
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmCBMivTrcs
I felt my world compress into my desk… studying…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtCW9wlJlT
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIke80AxeMr
“The answer is five… x is equal to five.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76dp8IIbwf
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8kYI50Qdu
I blinked… was it right? Did I get it? It felt like I was right.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ATJ2jRotq
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iRRgPcYJi
Carefully, I scanned my desk. My solution notebook was in the middle, right in front of me, Kuroiwa’s math notebook he gave me was on its left, and my math practice exam test paper sat on its right. I did manage to finish a problem that I wasn’t able to solve, but how would I know if I was right?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclQ6DrF1JV
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDanCHdSCE
Oh…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnA1kRH7Ks
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ElU1GG5aE
I remembered the correction note Hina gave me last week when she, Mika, and Yui were teaching me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpHWTJzqdf
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIU7qNogEr
My hand automatically opened the drawer below my desk. The notebook revealed itself. It was the first thing I saw. I took it out from the drawer and started flipping its pages.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnpUEMKnZS
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjp34MMRyK
Midterm practice exam, math test, problem number five… found it!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BRiqtizD4
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHU7eX22pI
I immediately checked. I analyzed the solution first and compared it to mine… they looked similar. My eyes drifted towards the answer.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7kRGlkXwq
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD0mn3y9xg
“YES!” I accidentally shouted. But who cares. I raised my hands in excitement, so fast I almost threw away Hina’s correction notebook. Right now I felt like I won a gold medal at the Olympics.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESCzFEYYIC
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwC1gut4yew
I heard footsteps outside my door.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrsLonauum
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpDK2TmPUA
Oh no… I thought and hurriedly placed my math test paper inside my desk compartment. I closed it.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLJVCffYIa
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjsYXBuIIu
I now cared that I shouted. I shouldn’t have shouted...83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUQoj3UTlp
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDwl7QzpPs
Three knocks.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwTEcori4w
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWJ3rl4aqj
“Runa, I always told you not to be loud when it’s late.” My mom appeared when she opened my door.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JZgV3GjBy
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0WW4CIsrA
“I’m sorry,” I said, the smile on my face was still lingering.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNn75fYiibe
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcWsaEr6lV
“What are you doing?”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYWZaLu4p9
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVepCxEU3L0
“I’m trying to study.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOyXJU4gMw
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lNAyVv27G
My mom looked at me, then she looked around the room.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy1EpuE9eW
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEjMUsQI36
“That reminds me,” she said, “You haven’t shown me the result of your practice midterms exam yet…”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopW47QqkPb
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat7RItJlk0
I choked for a bit. My smile turned from a victory celebration to a worried, she might find out, kind.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQq1oHWXhb4
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVW3YggPwrQ
“Ah.” I let out without meaning to. “I forgot it at school. I’ll just show you my midterms exam later instead… after it’s done.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5XoziZnAC
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWJCIAOATW
I tried… I tried to make excuses. I had done it so many times in the past, but I was still not used to it.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibiByyF3MR
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKE63ek39DN
She stared at me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LX8HcnUQ7
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hCL6iA22N
“Alright then,” she replied. “Make sure you show it to me afterwards, okay?”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNFjdWzonT
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwX8tfqHPz
“Okay.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckby9OEI7U
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqZMMB1gY7
She smiled at me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCi6mztsnqd
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Jlh6cHJ1
“Well, do your best in studying. I thought I would ask you to come watch Reaching for the stars together tonight, but I guess you’re busy right now.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FEVy0KOPH
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wAn74lrMz
I smiled back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajbD9fWQjF
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIGY6g5ttX
“Okay, Mom, enjoy your show.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0SBEyw0zY
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLpA1nY7jW
She closed my door carefully.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHIRUxiqMG
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZ5ZrI398q
Finally, I was able to breathe.
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN8M1ZXqo5
I suddenly felt tired. I glanced at my bed…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87EdPT3HOx
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe83pUuoMf
It was tempting me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWme6KYPZ3
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLyXeWGXbh
So I launched myself toward it, bouncing once on the mattress.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PGHKW1olK
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivluoI7fMa
I turned around to face the ceiling then tilted my head towards the clock standing on my desk.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SuSdmxLma
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu0L5ZqDXV
9:47 pm83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V6pFqHZ5Q
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRsrfcJUi4
It was already this late. Normally, I would still be with my mom in the living room watching dramas together, but lately I hadn’t been able to do so.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAPTtVayMZ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqLpff6Xqa
I grabbed my phone lying just above me and turned the screen on.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWE4O6tCNCf
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrDmglN5kj
Five notifications from our group chat.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dgn6zHYGZ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0YdsFnlVV
It was Yui and Mika…
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHor8OjZLOT
Yui: Runa~~83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtA69t4nTK
Yui: Runa!!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxytKX163pq
Yui: RUNAAA!?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3pvWxO5RW
Mika: Yui, it’s late!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF8rTfPSVi
Yui: MIKAAAAA!!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29YwVl4K8I
Yui: HINAAAAAA!!! 😭😭😭83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡma7aJAeOYx
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tWmd4XhMm
I giggled quietly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw05aROdzG2
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5sOxUAe6m
Hina: You called?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqrxJ9coGf
Yui: Hina!! Runa is ignoring me. 😭😭😭83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDu9lb6TJxz
Yui: And Mika is being Mika again!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQOuTIfOUU
Mika: Hey! What do you mean by that?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPhUczxVu5
Yui: Love you. 😘😘😘💕💕💕83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl68VTgiaf8
Mika: That’s not an answer. And it’s not a magic phrase to avoid a question.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXK98cvBx2
Yui: Ehehe~~ 😉😉😉83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yJqFm7BPJ
Mika: I’m sleeping, it’s late.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaspARhU8QO
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9XG1ExSGt
I almost lost it laughing before I’d even typed anything.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWbicXkrIF
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbcEPPKl5c
Runa: I’m alive Yui, I was studying.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiB4PGuHTy
Runa: Wasn’t ignoring you, sorry 🥺83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWM0KtGBZ5
Yui: Yay Runa!🎉🎉🎉83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxL1fYkdwBk
Hina: How did this afternoon go?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyta7bgrvTA
Mika: It went quick actually, she went into the building, ten minutes later came out with notebooks in her bag and one in her hand.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HROf5AHRG
Yui: Ooh, spoils of war. 👀👀👀83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9qicPed7p
Runa: We didn’t go to war.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqD4K3lXzg4
Yui: Sure. 👍83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G66pbctLJ
Yui: Anyways. Tell me Runa.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwLkWZb98M
Yui: Is he cute? 😊😊😊83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmRlxnRxYT
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvGGpXmrta
Runa: What?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpEcC3QI7B
Mika: WHAT!?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CCqe4uN5o
Hina: 😂😂😂83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRzkoE1vVn
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVlflb5Qcx
Yui: I mean. You’ve seen him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeALE0Bo4mp
Yui: Up close.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTDDdJ7rmw
Yui: Twice now.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3iZsFRHxc
Runa: As far as I know, you’re not blind.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4oM5pseuq
Runa: Use your own eyes.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsUA52Yjhu
Yui: I prefer to use them on more important matters. 🔍🔍🔍83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCCyrDbGB7
Mika: I’m sleeping.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0Akv8gXVg
Yui: Second time you said that. 😂😂🤣🤣83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8jYaNqglT
Mika: I AM. SLEEPING.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tHQjVyZWz
Yui: Third time~~ 😘😘83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1T5WEzRdR
Yui: Anyways.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUPad1ILda
Yui: Is he?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM4iWIm3lL
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeC0osRwJC
Runa: Hmm. I guess. If you look closely. 🤔83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxT1d19r1B9
Yui: Did you fall for him? 😍😍😍83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QHYYWiIFc
Runa: What? No.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPSDhYzMSB
Yui: Really?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk0VKc1Sdy
Mika: She said no.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxzVJA9Myj
Yui: You’re not sleeping Mika~~ 👀👀👀83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoYLvZLmSg
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5wUIpYzfP
I could practically hear Mika sighing through the screen. I giggled.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhoikJJfxp
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYAA3g48hW
Mika: How would she fall for him? They just started talking recently. And he’s not some hottie you fall for at first sight.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFu6aoiNu4
Yui: hottie?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTcCFNPzx0q
Runa: Oh wow, you know that word Mika?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o0JpdAsya
Mika: What do you mean?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp0coVCL9N
Yui: We thought.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpVYfcVVty
Yui: You wouldn’t know.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ266VJOLozW
Yui: Since, you know.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEpqebZous
Yui: You’re like a dinosaur.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1CJpCqZdJ
Mika: What!?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBy7dH0ZP5o
Runa: Yui that’s a bit too far.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTXiJNfEW6
Runa: Mika’s more like born in Edo period.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaBsnDiQbu
Mika: First off. We’re all the same age. I was born sixteen years ago not hundreds.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcqG3ns80v
Mika: Second, calling me a dinosaur is uncalled for, Yui.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sb9cFUw6y
Yui: Hehehe~~ ✌✌✌83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlCjoTEUGM
Yui: Love you. 😘😘83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XFKWAgyxH
Mika: And third, Runa, do you really think I look like I could be born in Edo period?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84dKn5IAbw
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM9VwQd2Dz
I couldn’t object. She did knew about how to look cute and pretty. It was just not very common for her to say words like “hottie”.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3vAp8ugNR
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5usmDmbRHl
Yui: Mika!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3FRGoVzal
Yui: You’re derailing the topic! 😤😤83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaWIDD77fS
Mika: It wasn’t me!?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLLUGgcsM3
Mika: Oh my god, fine, this time I really am going to sleep!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHfoHEM6In
Mika: Yui, I will see you tomorrow…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3IRQ5viYb
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGG2MkQX0G
Mika went offline immediately.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgJuhQ2wZ4
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PUQYy2f6E
Yui: Uh oh. 😱83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMi8XXomQi
Yui: Anyways~~83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEetYZYSg8Z
Yui: Runa? So did you? 🤭🤭🤭83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMnbg7uqsv
Hina: You heard Mika.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiZmCsgwr2P
Yui: Fine…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBawy52wJEf
Yui: But still.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBTMTWVKu0
Yui: Don’t you think.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL7Scas6Py
Yui: It’s possible?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUThW017nxs
Runa: I don’t think so…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOkPbav3lt
Yui: I mean…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2UVw43JpC
Yui: A fair maiden needs help.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX6eiUjLsn
Yui: Then comes the shadow prince.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OBig0vVmB
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlV9zbp5et
Shadow prince? Who?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oxEhRqslF
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqId1be8Yi
Yui: Rescued her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybDbRipR5v
Yui: Then they fell in love.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvL75ZkvElD
Yui: Just like in a fairy tale~~ 🥰🥰🥰83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14bqqT5JHv
Runa: No.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vzCbYuOfh
Hina: No~~83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdg90YuUwN
Hina: I bet Runa is grateful to Kuroiwa.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSI6KLGmMC
Hina: But that doesn’t mean she’ll fall for him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqf0pFDNVZ
Runa: Exactly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUVyVxOZGW
Yui: BOO!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75zslkAQr3
Yui: BOOOO!!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRgUui5Q2f
Yui: You’ll regret it. 😤😤😤83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaWrbhp0gx
Yui: I warned you.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGdMuk5Mhc
Yui: You’ll regret it not listening to me. 😤😤😤83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpbQBDWIb1
Yui: When you actually fall for him!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPd6ty88Ba
Runa: I’m not.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7702Xnhdc
Runa: We’re just going to study. 😑😑83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kVFhboBlL
Hina: It’s late Yui.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5N8ONoFQEm
Yui: Okay, Mom. 👀👀83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvT1PqdP17
Hina: Goodnight sweetie~83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWB5LzQhMk
Yui: Goodnight 😇😇😴😴83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK7eNA9PA5
Runa: Goodnight!83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGoN75dmiu
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0tYpddo8o
I turned the screen off.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV4PecEsz7
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmKuU0blNa
Love.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq8et9LYnK
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0k1tpAnYk4
I hadn’t thought about that word in any real way since middle school.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZFjpYuU61
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1s73a28C3
I got up, tidied my desk, stacked the notebooks neatly, and turned off the light.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGlH3RgjWe
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDht3CifOXS
My eyes stared at the math notebook Kuroiwa wrote for me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9PzGikdzf
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WeqqNonu2
I smiled.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrDRsNThEQ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqiq8pzMxi
The way I was able to solve a problem I couldn’t during the practice exam still lingered in my head.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhHSwxlA59
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OXMI9kjxo
I went to bed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkl8UkioTGT
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYARQTMbhSh
Then I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of thinking how a gold medal would fit around my neck.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLY3q96xdT
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AvuGBYKS0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlnL7KtCA8
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSps59kEd8
Friday. Second period. Gym class.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXADvtvUAY
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlgJDoQnm4
I bent over slightly, hands on my knees, catching my breath when Suzuki-chan finally blew the whistle.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUo3T9frgbc
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBlbHMzpbE
I stood up, wiped the sweat from my forehead and headed towards the corner of the gym.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUwnsxx3bT
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKI3ms2kpn4
Hina, who came from the other side of the volleyball net, walked with me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qD5AH6INK
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPQtbof1m2
One set of a volleyball match had made me quite tired. But Hina didn’t look like she was.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSylNw0ezt
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aNlzn55n4
Her skin glistened a little while she wiped her sweat off, but she still looked put together. Composed. Like she’d been doing something significantly less strenuous than playing a full-effort volleyball match.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvODQyuTJa
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KRc2lpEAP
We played against each other. My team lost.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡee9LKRW4oD
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmXnSnhWq8
I tried to win. I gave my all. But I couldn’t compete against Hina.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfPwUgF9yi
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYjNOYjBZ4
She looked at me while we were walking and I stuck my tongue out at her. Just a little. Playful. Pretending I was bitter about losing.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWRWpV7TTc
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIC8mEVznN
I wasn’t, really. It was just instinct. My instinct didn’t enjoy losing regardless of how I actually felt about it.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmxZhs46Wb
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY2FzO7nDB
I stared at her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugOehsZe3Z
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1J79i08FU
Beautiful. Smart. Athletic.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdqKRRdFxt
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71pGwBR3Vm
On top of all those, she was mature. She also had a great figure.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDT7COTpA63
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP1q6UCxTn
I smiled. I had always thought she was special. And I had always thought ever since we met when we were in fifth grade of elementary that I wanted to become like her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpWuY5TPOp
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3GUjFh3eWW
I didn’t become like her. But I was glad we were still friends.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEg5Pnnreq
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr1s3faRVr
We sat down at the corner, finally.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWKfdok3Xy
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRbjqEcVpB
I looked back to where the volleyball court was and I saw Mika and Yui preparing for their match. They were on opposite teams. Mika looked really fired up. Like she was about to teach some kind of lesson to her opponents. Probably because of what happened last night, but I saw her frown when she looked at Yui.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cLeO1VpiA
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hFLwT9756
Yui joked around with her teammates and was laughing. Unconcerned. She saw Mika staring at her. Gave her a wink and stretched her hand towards Mika to make a peace sign with her fingers.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd9rQPaK51
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVxXmawO5b
I bet Mika didn’t like that. It showed when she closed her eyes and gripped her hand tight.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCgNJF6vJW
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8t7TgsuCb
Hinano-chan was the one who acted as a referee this time. She walked to the middle of the court and tossed a coin.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gLWlivSx9
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXuGUOwJBr
Yui’s team got to serve first.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9creZH5HQ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50mLTRMsqy
While I was in the middle of getting swept by how entertaining this match could become, I finally remembered. The math question from last night I wanted to ask Hina ever since this morning. And I felt this moment was a great opportunity to ask.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM3derXrmt
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndM7Fdzlrd
I turned toward her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGmJqJci22
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4MaLaDSoY
Her eyes were focused. It wasn’t at me. It wasn’t at Mika and Yui.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIVXMtHZdN
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbSqMvBKpu
I followed her gaze and saw what she was looking at. It was at the opposite side of the gym. A match between the boys. And there I saw him. I saw everyone around him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8hUIWyG4Q
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkhyg8BX9E
I saw the orange ball the boys were chasing around and a board that was high around both ends of the area they were playing at.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bpocIeudq
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9MjPkrBYZ
Are they playing basketball? I thought they were. Probably.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjJMknElLX
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60M6nCc783
Kuroiwa was there. Running back and forth but no one paid attention to him. He caught the ball mid-air. And then everyone around him stopped. They just turned around and stopped moving.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbKjiBY10a
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN60IDQWb0d
“Their match is getting interesting,” Hina said. Without me asking.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidr9HGLnKW
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJB31UnMDG
“...Is it?” I asked.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuMJZEKmZA
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMi8jcMzDv
She didn’t answer. But I wondered, briefly, if she actually understood basketball at some level, being as athletic as she was.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2eYFilGlO
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQnrEgkzUb
I continued watching. I wondered what Kuroiwa was going to do, now that the ball was in his hands. Somehow I was expecting him to do something incredible. Was I? I think it’s more like I was curious since he looked like someone who could do everything.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayfC5w4QUK
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCDTsQxeT9
He bounced the ball once, twice, and jogged. At his usual slow pace. In his usual unhurried ways. No one was in front of him, there was no resistance at all. And then he reached the far end of the court. He threw the ball toward the circle thing with a net.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ElVbuiQS9
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpm10XaWQD
It didn’t go in.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0y4gkHyFjH
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBpdUtV8cE
That was unexpected...83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5NsnZyZF6
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYT1B9GGF7i
The moment it bounced away, everyone resumed moving. Someone grabbed a new ball and the game continued… Like nothing had happened.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g3YYoa0zM
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc7y67oM32
“There’s a rumor,” Hina said, leaning slightly toward me, “that if you touch the ball after he misses, you get bad luck for the rest of the day.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12xUrA0L2l
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYY1zuLgC2
I stared at the ball that no one picked up. It was still rolling away from everybody, toward the edge of the gym, untouched.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0C8V5i6ri
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssnHe72Fdl
“...That’s ridiculous,” I said.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc8ObSWix0
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHBK9CKZbN
“Right?” Hina agreed easily. “People will say and believe anything. All because someone looks a little different.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlarJlsu19X
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEgYfRBTmn
I didn’t respond right away.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvRBw9HDv8
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0NqTtI0wK
Well, a week ago, I was one of them too. So I really couldn’t judge anyone. Otherwise I would just be a hypocrite. All I knew was what I knew about him, but I was glad that at least, at this point, I stopped believing any of those exaggerated rumors.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIjAJAclHa
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5HGdTg7e5
But it was not like he was suddenly not scary anymore.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0x3hewJl3
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZy6FI2KkU
I contemplated on that for a bit.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9uRzZN3bo
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxPo0psB5Y
Hina smiled at me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhGur9DdlO
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Y4VcjqFbm
“But you’re different now, right?” I wondered if she could actually tell what I was thinking.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPQKMPfLb1
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GdEYz2nHp
I nodded.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqVI3J2CIP
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkm0V7DMqiX
“Yeah.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLnD1PGtzI
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxvBRPts61
“You know, there’s a lot of difference about knowing someone, talking to them, and not caring at all.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQAbl2jQF5
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci8DGcE51z
“I know.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN2bCqI1Uf
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGHQDialeD
“Now that you’ve talked to him, it doesn’t mean that you know him entirely, but at least because of that, I know you can’t imagine such rumors to be true. Since, you know, he’s human.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z4AsRu9nt
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEyW762Mac
I stared at her for a moment. Her smile never faded. She always knew what to say. Always.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT12M0A9NtD
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8AJPJHogB
“Look,” she said, gesturing toward the ongoing basketball match.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgx98p7nZ6f
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuL72nC4Z11
I turned around. It seemed like Kuroiwa caught the ball accidentally again. And just like last time, everyone around him stopped moving and stopped looking.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTB6N8QmeV
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9HJL9PBAC
He bounced the ball like he did earlier. Tried to run…83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEONrG7wD7
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkGFdJCSO1
Then slipped.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNtWcOC51U
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkX43JEWIEC
He fell to the ground. His face on the floor.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH857vh9MFo
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsTCagn8tT
The ball went out of the area where they played and everyone continued to move again. Someone got another ball and then they resumed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitM6zEwogB
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJexNYMrAc
Hina giggled.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGxNBkq9RD
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fjIKxQQeK
“He’s actually pretty clumsy, huh.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYL9pSwOVPG
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZoFDiCXxX
“Yeah.” I agreed, smiling.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgNmhY9ChX
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDin8LbVehy
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49NgSvcHsI
Lunchtime.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTabhbTFxia
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQy6kmgUU6
Same spot on the rooftop.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsjQz6Z7bk
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4m95WUvjU
We were already finished eating and packed our lunch boxes in our bags. But there was apparently one piece of business still that I needed to do inside mine.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyUZjfRemo
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49MJoKvPHc
Hina requested to see the notebooks Kuroiwa gave me. Then Yui got curious. Which made Mika also want to see them.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8mJ8pfhsY3
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXflVuB1Br
I sighed.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYEL7rT49Y
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgRjWISYCU
I took three notebooks out. Math, science and English. I couldn’t take the others because if I did, my shoulder would definitely complain about the weight and would retaliate with pain later. And I was already getting a lot of other pains in other places lately, specifically my back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rlb9A96jH
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyL9uAQAKn
What I took were only the ones relevant to the subjects we were getting lectured on today.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiCDjkGyKS
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OhTFVzKzf
I presented the notebooks to them.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlazFgO7ia
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjTzOPnpGB
Hina immediately took math.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOip9AoX106
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLNzELhyIP
Mika wanted science.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVyoKPhmdZ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0yUKedY3N
And Yui just took what was left.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVB8jMYVX2
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrDgdIxkhF
I watched their faces.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV5RNkpZPx
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4s8pIrVyV
Yui’s eyes were doing that sparkly thing. I genuinely couldn’t tell if it was about the notebook itself or about whatever fantasies she started narrating in her mind.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhhyZhHndr
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrKhtARCtf
“Lo—”
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls0bxYMCGP
“No,” I said, before she got past one syllable.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsFYMKoseg
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKNydB5E68
I looked at Mika instead. Her face was so focused that I felt if I called her name she wouldn’t even hear me. She was analyzing what was inside, something that I felt last night, checking the notebooks myself, would definitely catch her eyes.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG9DbXaXOo
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3llQ3rwsyN
The whole structure of the notes. The labeling, the way everything was organized, like the way she wanted to make her notes look. Whenever she showed me hers, she would always complain that she couldn’t organize them as neatly as she wanted to, even though they looked perfectly neat to me. Explanations everywhere, detailed remarks on what was important to remember and what was not. Contexts and simplified words to actually make definitions easier to understand. Kuroiwa made them all. He wrote them all.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L4Lft6FSr
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSOOxRl6iN
I could see it in her eyes. And I could guess that she was memorizing everything and would try to do the same with her notes from now on.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot4H2RtrDh
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvtRETsdm8
Finally, I looked to the person sitting beside me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy8csLwqRQ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYx0D8pHyk
Hina.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxa1Vj8sqx5
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5Z6GNbYOk
“This is amazing,” she said. Quiet. Like she wanted to be the only one who heard it.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwpzomoeRd
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmwoImBNXf
Her expression was something I never thought I would see in her face. It wasn’t analytical like the way Mika was, or even creating fantasies over her head like Yui did. Hers was different. There was reverence in it. Like she was looking at the rarest treasure in the world.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMr2LQVCbBV
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnxmRHk2O4
She turned a page.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxV8IF6I5s8
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwghGPTMS6s
“This part… this is where I got it wrong on the practice exam.” She lifted a hand slightly, almost covering her mouth. “Oh. So this is how you’re supposed to do it.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNuXVprfNVk
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG7mjCu4eQ
She stayed on that page a moment longer, and then turned to me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1VnEKND5D
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7AAU2tSSe
“Runa.” Her voice was careful yet urgent. “Can I borrow this for five days? No! Three days, three days is enough.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwYKzQlhHp
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqtawTcF4U
Three days?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiKqnUyLpb
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPl4rv6vkMt
“No!” I said, instinctively.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDA7e9uYZj
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7gjGLgCr7
“Why?”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJfaKG6RX2
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLNlNNYzHW
Why? Because I need it. Obviously.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFmB43Lx1P
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWH67YEOUp1
“Just one day, then.” She kept going.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KhnnxxAQE
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWjTxZuB4E
“No,” I said again. Firmer.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfYV50ueER
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRCwd7xAan
“Please.” She almost bowed her head toward me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRp96PUjZFr
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLu5fXiAdS
“Hina, you don’t need it,” Mika cut in.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnB7igSRiLY
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF9eJgzF5o
“But look at this—” Hina turned to show Mika the page.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSwtq6AUWu
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAK9nbjy82
“I know,” Mika said, before even fully looking. “It’s well organized. It’s easy to understand and it explains the mistakes we made during the practice exam. For both of us it would feel like — like someone wrote down exactly what we needed and handed it to us from above.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VlAJ8UD5U
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7yP4FrixF
“If you already understand it, then—”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWaoLY54Rg
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZawE1DU25w
“Runa needs it more than you do, Hina.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwVV2PcQJH
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXzMRihTgmD
Hina looked shocked. She stared at Mika for a second, she probably couldn’t believe she wasn’t taking her side.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQUYM6WjCL
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrE1dCFGWi
She lowered her head, defeated, and handed the notebook back to me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCCfu3anWU
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7EeVOpmbK7
“Take it before I change my mind,” she said.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7EQDALXCo
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkkwmG5ET5
“That’s not really your decision to make,” I said, gently but firmly, taking it from her before she could reconsider anything.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAPwlfUgct
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpubKX54CC
I put it in my bag. Immediately. Safely.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ820WlmSlRP
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBvFDXcpQO
“He wrote this? And there are six more of these besides the one brought?” Yui asked.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDaFrWYsl63
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZcwFVOo9U
“Apparently,” Mika answered for me. “And apparently he didn’t even sleep so he could write them.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjXpU8u44I
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Pc6gPzRvS
“Without sleeping!?”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2QCWVkBqn
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsFvJqu1sZ
Yui’s voice made me regret telling Mika the second part.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2UpVn9gpP
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78EL6fiZ5R
“Wow.” Yui held the English notebook up toward the sky with both hands, like she’d unearthed something sacred. “For someone he barely knew. He did it. For you.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVVUvRxovI
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpstw9m6HJ6
I sighed. I didn’t need to look at her to know that statement was aimed directly at me.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCGkWIuUk1
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeUYVsHMYKq
“To help me study.” I clarified whatever she was assuming it could mean.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1vMQVljLG
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3ZRZ3KYj4
I held my hand out for the notebook. She handed it over carefully.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UbTQ5Lsmy
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtUJeSVBDn
“That’s not the only reason,” Yui continued.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ngDhSBVOa
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSjuNaqiZv
“It’s the only reason.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTaUEjjqME3
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFhkcYPRMk
To be honest, I didn’t fully understand it either. He did and said a lot of things I couldn’t make sense of. But he’d told me it was to help me, and at this point I’d decided to just take his word for it, because I didn’t want to spend the entire time studying with him, trying to figure out what was on his mind.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmfR6zSOIz
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdcFVgpP8l
“So you’re saying he just did this for no reason?” Yui shot back.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iQHCRcgQS
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9WKnHSmwy
“Hello? Helping me study is reason enough.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqvX1i44Ot
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIndYiWyfp
“I doubt it. I think there’s more. And something is in the air that I can smell.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnd84NAeb9V
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DR2SfGDUU
She paused. Sniffed the air.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyd69FL4Rt
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1ckx0vWX1
“I smell LO—”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UkewBMdw6
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNORdjrb91w
“NO,” I said and without meaning to, covered her mouth with my hand.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdyouL6Rt6n
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZcIukZTzE
Yui was surprised and she freed herself immediately.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FLbPXOhcd
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BFDadbz2W
“Don’t ever do that again!” she said then pouted.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxlhs9q5aM
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLUZX7CD0T
Mental note. I would definitely do that again next time. The moment another opportunity came.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9EB2W4Yee
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbs69utexh
“Your hand smelled like garlic.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWawqbdYJ8v
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqn2GtcVPr
I blinked.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjGqRpmE8E
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD92eVAgYEs
“Excuse me!? I used my hand sanitizer after eating!” I took out my hand sanitizer again from my bag and used it. “See!”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQP8zStCfzs
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8fZu3rZsL
I stretched my hand toward her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTslZVAyAd
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOatXlZepxj
“Smell it,” I said.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88JFCbStaV
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0J2WcIGx63
“Nope, it still smells like garlic.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5eVflBytx
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nGhUd7vQP
My mouth opened.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6wQrLgDzS
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJqJZmA74Y
Yui stuck her tongue out.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdzG2d0fAP
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm9ZKFJ5Kr
All I could bring myself to do at that moment was sigh, so I did.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAL9DFfWy2
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsveyLaJLQw
Fine… I’ll admit defeat this time.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSovZ7KVOh
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tLY2ux9Iw
“Yui, you watch too many dramas,” Hina said softly.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcFnCaDz8n
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYE9wrQX5Vm
“I do. And I love them.” Yui said it with actual sparkle in her eyes.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgd45rrxdgF
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTH2BQCtVP
“Dramas are dramas. Reality is different.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2SGmr1aoA
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVrLiEHkeA
“But the possibility is still there.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUvRAEEkZ6
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdpVa26cWL
Hina just looked at her.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiDV4bcjGY
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv35ZlD0SH
Even Hina was no match for Yui when she was being like this.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SPlYdTvkp
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWEtSjpC8m
“Fine.” Yui muttered, finally reading the room. “But mark my words. Don’t blame me when it actually happens. And if it does. I would grant you permission to call me,” she stood up, “the great Yuistradamus!”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiq7V3UCUb
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzcWMbx1Vp
“Definitely not,” Mika said, finally joining the conversation.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ499ikw3nPs
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fRNdoSGYX
She was so consumed by reading the notebook she had that I doubted she noticed what happened earlier except for what she actually noticed just then.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4rOOntQFl
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TTJbBDIG9
Yui pouted but let it go.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Lhw0abwHV
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0niiCRrnp7
Mika handed me the science notebook.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7XJEiQIFm
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8DZTfHPgv
“Here.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjKu9hAWLa
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbH6MUnFUJ
“Thank you.” I took it carefully and put it away with the others.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIO4FDDDwH
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclKQjIOV9d
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v0rjANErq
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZNwJAlIoH
Friday. Afternoon.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFyiDUzd1m
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiN5qmGOz5t
This afternoon was different in one way. Mika wasn’t coming with me. I’d asked her, Yui and Hina instead for something else. I told them if my mom called and the session ran long, if they could say I was with them. Yui and Hina agreed instantly. Mika took half a second longer to consider for a bit, and I knew why. It was because she wasn’t really the kind of person who liked to lie. But then she nodded anyway.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEcxuLzXmi
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZplT0WLGHo
I’m sorry Mika. I thought. I would apologize to her properly next time.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq35nxZpFwM
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzEYGGTf6n
We split at the station. But I was the first to board the train. Going in a different way that I was finally getting used to over the past few days.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XUDp1D29m
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanlktYVQUe
The walk felt different too. I was getting familiar with the street.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1tbhwp4vl
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMvRsx6KL9
I would know where to turn now. In fact, my feet just did that for me. And if I saw the ramen shop, I would know that just about five minutes more and I would arrive at Kuroiwa’s apartment.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmXLG0nrYh
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiAYF2HGuC
I passed the convenience store on the corner. Two minutes away.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWsqLuwtNf
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAVwISvCBq
I thought about last night. I thought about how I felt when I finally got something right without guessing. I thought about everyone’s faces, especially Hina and Mika, when they saw what was inside the notebooks. And I got nine of them. All of them made for me so I would have a chance.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwH4wkimQd9
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGpPaHMXOH
This afternoon, I’ll do my best.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UuaNr0fuO
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZu2tbMiob5
I turned the last corner. The building finally came into view.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXDYcL6MXU
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkGAiVEbfN
And like a routine, I got in, pressed the intercom, went inside the elevator.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGMLijtaYe
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd9ny6Sium
Fifth floor like always.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFXtjdAA6F
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBGYXAOksf
As I stepped out, everything from the past few days seemed to catch up to me at once. The anxiety building toward midterms. That Tuesday afternoon in the classroom. The first time I stood at his door. Every conversation with Mika, with Hina, with Yui. The notebooks. I’d only brought three today… but maybe I should’ve brought all six that he said we’re gonna use for midterms.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb8KHa8sfP
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzwcmzzB1h
“It’s finally starting,” I whispered to myself, walking up to his door.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNF2BjRLCO
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawbqwaqBtY
I pressed the doorbell.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx2bOmHgmg
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWXOiHKfkc
Same as always. I waited for a few seconds.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYMZyAJ4d4
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4m4wGKFyym
I felt small fluttering nerves around my stomach, looking forward to what this session would bring and also a bit of nervousness that I didn’t want to think about. Not right now. Not in this moment.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejeNz5VS9P
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1Yj2bn0ms
I took a breath.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30BEoaBYvE
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0PqmpB225
The door opened.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPAnKncQ1C
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18ANoPpPNv
I looked at him.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSWV0pUOO7
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fHpMQKcJy
“Solve x squared minus six x plus five equals zero. By completing the square.”83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7CqATsi8I
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL2Otg1w2X
I blinked.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxemSDjqJy2
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYmNiqVIIW
What?83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXj0L1VkAYL
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1j6LCgfPl
I wasn’t ready for all of this… This was not what I had been expecting.83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNGdVicaBJ
83Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdw68UaW7gA
This was not what I had been expecting at all!!
and then Add to home screen.