Friday. 9:02 pm.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44qN3EKex9
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MJwejKhx4
Mika called 10 minutes ago. She sent me a message five minutes ago.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaFnAg1TR9
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Right now?67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4350e0Az7
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At that point, I just stood where I was after getting off the train, and just stared at her. Not moving. Still. She was waiting on the platform, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGD2oHitwrU
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I am in trouble.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSd5IIAuID
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I am in really big trouble.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoqdbMN8oy
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She hadn’t noticed me yet. And I hoped it would stay like that for a few more minutes. I was not ready to face her. Not yet.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1djm39hWDE
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Her eyes caught me.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPcIUHOSmK
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I stepped back a little. I thought maybe getting on the train was the best option to do at that moment. But… I slowly peeked at her… I guess there really wasn’t an option. Her eyes were the only option.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNkcroBbUq
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Mika’s eyes cut sharper into me.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi9rc4kDyB
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Without even saying a word, I knew what Mika wanted. I started to walk. Reluctant. Slow. Like what Kuroiwa usually did. Unhurried. Her look got sharper. My steps got faster. Then I stood right in front of her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oYT8kO5GB
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“You’re late!” Mika said. “You’re exactly thirteen minutes and twenty-six seconds late!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVrJpZ6FKw
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“That’s oddly specific,” I replied.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0I5ZUqtim
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“It felt that long.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghCN6K0Fpg
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“Come on, it wasn’t that long.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3skADUJ9og
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“You made me wait for you here, alone, a young girl like me, on a train station platform. Where some creepy old men could be walking. And I am here waiting… ALONE!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVLAJp9rCy
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQODSfcZkY
“But there aren’t any creepy old men walking around?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4qLDTqQeK
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“There are still some possibilities!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJjx3cuUtE
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“I was just ten minutes late.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMb3p0bynz
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf1Oq4ItYK
“That’s long enough! And it felt longer than that.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsm88IrxzWP
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I sighed. “Alright, I’m sorry.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bo03ycqTO
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“I don’t feel any sincerity from that apology,” she said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RgjM6bUF5
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSaqXF7Rfm
“I’ll buy you a pudding next Monday as my sincerest apology.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPXv0ewSmh
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nJ255a9Nn
“Good. I don’t want the ones they sell in the cafeteria. I want the one sold at 7/11.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawkJhPJauw
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“That’s—”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEphBZk0YSD
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“I said it, you buy it. Done.” Mika gave me another sharp stare.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YqfcadPUF
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“Oookay,” I said reluctantly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dujJuqvzt
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“Let’s go,” Mika gestured for us to move. She walked first and ended up in front of me. I walked fast until I caught up beside her, then I matched her speed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvVrfxIews
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I glanced over at her. She started smiling as she muttered a chant to herself as we exited the train station.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwhWNst9u0
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtViEv4bi3K
9:07 pm.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7n34eH5bP
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Mika continued to chant while we walked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BUt8MBdJZ
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“Pudding~, pudding~.” Her smile got wider the more she chanted.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoI4tUhR4g
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“You’re too into pudding, you know,” I taunted her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKvtbJrrwk
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Sharp Mika eyes appeared from their corner. “Are you calling me fat?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwJogFrnZl
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“That’s not what I said.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW2Ml38fI4
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“That’s what you implied.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatVC1ovBOk
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“Then maybe you need to go on a diet.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGHNRiiPwG
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“YOU, go on a diet, you’re 2 whole kilograms heavier than me.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BQvPVCaDw
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7INZpwMmf9
“Sh-shut up!” I almost covered her mouth with my hand but she was quick to step back.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kplS3SaUf
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She smirked at me.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMGRSAwg0j
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“You’re slow, must be because of all that fat.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskCw4XKGpa
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6Q5JDgRBw
“I am not fat, excuse me. And besides, I’m two kilos heavier than you because I am taller.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSkTr6wWMS
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7wda59OdE
“Hey! Height doesn’t have anything to do with it, and you’re only three inches taller!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYuRycMGlp
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWlILLqnz8
“Three inches is still three inches. Admit it, you’re just short.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSGAw2LaVt8
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“It is not that significant!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWcvCu17T9
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“It is, though.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8iuQreRKB
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“I am not that short!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eK8M8cJ77
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We stared at each other. Then we both laughed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSaIJq5lT1
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“Seriously, I am not that short,” Mika said after we caught our breath from laughing.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVvzPm07x0
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I giggled and winked at her. Mika pouted briefly but then smiled.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxeVimzr8Z
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We continued to walk, side by side.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakqT8MTRRe
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The street had become dark. And flickers of light, along with the shadows of bugs that were constantly hitting themselves on the bulb of the street light, were the only illumination that filled the night. I looked up at the sky. The moon was hidden. Then the night breeze started blowing into my skin that was not used to the cold, and now exposed to the air that suddenly embraced it. I covered myself. Mika just kept walking.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgNGgvsHMu
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“Too cold?” Mika asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliWJYty6Lu
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“It’s still May after all,” I answered.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgmZZuaxkm
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Quiet occupied around us for a moment. The sounds of our shoes stepping onto the concrete, next. I bathed myself in this silence that I hadn’t had for quite a while, which felt like longer than quite a while. Like almost the whole month of May. But it was nice to know that at least, I was given a chance before the end of the month for this kind of occasion. This kind of comfort.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQti66wWnBK
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I moved my head slightly to where Mika was. Not to look at her but to free my eyes from all the stress I’d been having and cover it with nostalgia instead. Although the neighborhood mostly had houses with walls, and all my eyes saw were these concrete walls, these concrete walls carried memories that I had since I was a kid.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBgiQs3DHM
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Then I noticed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ctaMwMMqN
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Mika had been holding her bag by the handle instead of using the shoulder strap like I did. She used two of her hands and her grip was tight.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DwOKT9l1l
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I looked at her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg3OQtC3TEb
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“Are you okay?” I asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0xoYuo1yF
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Mika looked at me, stared into my eyes briefly and then resumed looking at the street. Her face was covered with worry. I was getting a little confused since we were just having a great time earlier. It was just banter, and it wasn’t like we were fighting. And we laughed too.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgagXmybWfA
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“You know, I haven’t apologized to you yet,” Mika finally said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseRv44K5NY
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“For calling me fat?” I smiled. “It’s okay, I called you short so we’re even now.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbXl5vyycg
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“No, not that.” I thought she was going to be defensive, but she was mostly quiet. “I was talking about what happened yesterday… on the rooftop.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqYqZ0ti7i
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I almost forgot about that.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclqbR2UvqV
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I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Mika continued.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmdTPtkRDN
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“I know you’re probably going to say I should not apologize, but I think I should. I still think I was right when I was preventing you from going to that guy’s apartment alone. But.. I shouldn’t have said what I said after that…”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKkZ8fEQqu
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“That I was not going to pass no matter what?” I told her. Gently. Teasingly. But not accusatory.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqF0QXxjCp6
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My eyes never left her when she stopped walking. I took a step twice before my body could stop after I noticed. I was in front of her. But she was still looking down. She looked up and stared into my eyes. Then dropped her head low.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBadMQneSXk
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“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry,” Mika said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsMPbJC9X0
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I walked toward Mika and carefully pushed her shoulders to lift her up from her bow. My hands stayed on top of them when she finally stood straight.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNactDTu8MQ
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“You don’t have to. You were not wrong after all,” I assured her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGboahhuXZQ
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“But still—”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JSlgVj7dD
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“I mean, even I agreed with you at that moment, you know.” I giggled. “Besides, no one knows what’s really going to happen.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9WlE4ExVD
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I looked at her but she didn't seem convinced. So I sighed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjGE6UYXVd
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“Fine, I forgive you,” I said. “So stop stalling us so we can finally go home.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLItmJuMNn
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I smiled at her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjo9HgMk3B
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“I was not stalling,” Mika said, and she smiled as well.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1f8AGMgu6
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I let her walk first before I caught up beside her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb47bOSMs5x
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“But didn’t you find him scary?” Mika asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQM7uRSbeKR
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I thought about it for a bit. “...Yeah, he was scary, alright,” I answered. “But you know, if I kept getting scared, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on studying. He’s the one teaching me, after all.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhSPbkmj20
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“Yes, but… I always thought he was a delinquent. Since… the first day of school. He showed up with a bandage patched on his cheek and some bruises on his neck. It was horrifying, and Hina was terrified too. She didn’t talk the whole day,” Mika continued.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4jfWSvRor
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I remember all that but… “He had bruises on his neck? I didn’t know. How did you see?” I asked Mika.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowuiEyPMo8
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“Well, I was sitting at the front when the teacher introduced him as a transfer student. I kind of got startled by his bandage patch that I accidentally looked at his neck, and then I saw them,” Mika explained.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmqKlryBcb
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“Hmm? The neck?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dOtFrQU1L
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“Don’t make it weird.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacCLJXKAPG
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I giggled.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjLMa7RP8R
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“It’s not funny,” Mika said, finally back to her usual self.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYx2fBFQ0yA
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“You know, Hina told me this morning that there’s a lot of difference between knowing someone, talking to them, and not caring at all,” I said. “I thought about what she said and it never really occurred to me at that time what she meant.” I paused. “But I thought, just being able to talk to Kuroiwa is enough to make me separate him from the rumors and all.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0MgbZmlrx
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“Do you mean, you are not scared of him anymore?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NKOlDPMDW
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“Not really… I mean, I figured out later that talking to someone wasn’t enough to actually not be scared of them. But I figured out that the rumors weren’t true because of it.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH66voDPki6
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“So you’re intending to know more about him?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0FaCNM62t0
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I do.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD98QbgdcWt
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I kept it in my thoughts. I wanted to know more about him, but only to become more familiar with him. I was just afraid of him this afternoon, but I also saw the invisible warmth inside that ramen shop. His eyes never gazed at it, his ears never heard it, and his hands never touched it. But that warmth still existed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz8RhMfM8c
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Yet, doubts still lingered in my mind, filled by clusters of imagination that I was trying to navigate. The exit wasn’t open, but it didn’t mean it would stay closed forever. That was why all I could do was to keep moving forward, and maybe, if I knew him better, those thoughts would get erased and leave a picture inside my canvas of trust.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZa4Z5BTYU
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“I chose to believe in him,” I said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuITnZHC2U0
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“Is that so?” Mika sighed. “You’re so impulsive sometimes.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0xDNvmTCL
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“What do you mean?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHedHFz9sQD
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“What I mean is that you always just decide before you even think.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl02t2Tq1qz
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“I-I thought of it, I mean, I really did.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcllCC3d6b4
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“Really?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21Gf7d9mFp
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“I mean, ask me what a quadratic equation is.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ517nislNk
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Mika looked at me. She wasn’t convinced.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBbS78DCgq
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“Okay, so what is a quadratic equation?” she asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvqoPzF6pW
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“A quadratic equation is an equation that has an X squared with a number beside it that’s not zero. Plus or minus an X with any number on it. Plus or minus any number. Equal to any number. Oh, and if the number beside the X and the one after it are 0, I don’t need to write them.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EIUgnc4bX
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Mika lifted an eyebrow. “Well, technically you're not wrong, but that's not what the textbook said.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpwZ1ixHYI
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“But I understood it perfectly,” I said. “Wait a second, then.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfxlsNxJHG
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxVm3SToxO
I stopped walking and stood under a street light, then I started digging inside my bag. I took out a notebook and a pen, then flipped the back cover of the notebook. I began to write.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoJgDzXhZH
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbLKCC7spa
X² - 6X + 4 = 067Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ630GNp3q0m
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSZWCUSrrx
I showed her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA6DCgyUa6
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHMEys3MH1
“This is a quadratic equation,” I explained.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmnMomXNMu
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0qT1wreJX
“Yes, it is,” she said nonchalantly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1WShZrj3L
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsCGREFWcSS
“See this X squared here? If the equation starts with it, then it’s a quadratic equation, right?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1snaoBbGv
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWeYOfUCBW
“I agree, but not every time it is.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTJlYmUSdO
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZMyr5xrUI
“Yes, like if the number beside X squared is 0, then it is not a quadratic equation.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTSpxf6lT5
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4XRpsmCAU
“Mhm.” Mika closed her eyes and nodded.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPOKUzHMp5
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I was getting impatient as she seemed not convinced.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFGShggJpV
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkFzlmHhBa
“But that’s not the only way to find out,” I said. “Even if an equation starts with an X squared, even if the number beside it is not zero, it could still not be a quadratic equation.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKIOWj8tPQ
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bcjY3Gcjj
Mika opened her eyes. She opened them wide.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFw66TlG6w
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5bdkArCGV
“Huh?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfl5IUhsCK
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKbg1zwARV
Then it clicked with me.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbbGWyENtS
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF2aPIaNRK
“Hmm? You don’t know?” I teased her. I put up a smirk, feeling a bit superior since, for the first time, I knew something that she didn’t know. “Should I tell you? Hmm? Hmm?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAA01oNxmw
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVRa0NYIBP
Mika bit her lip. She opened her mouth, closed it, but in the end, she couldn’t resist asking.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkPP1TKl3h
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn03zQjxtjp
“What is the other way?” Mika asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIHzbUHyf7
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaNHlWHBWv
“Well,” I said, and wrote an addition on the equation. “If it’s like this, then the equation is not in its standard form.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRACInhMTSG
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlmicI3vLE
I showed it to Mika.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuNTahg5nJ
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxW18NUZjV9
X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 067Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD7xsdv3wV
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGX7FfhpB0r
“Or like this,” I continued. I wrote another variation of the equation, then again showed it to Mika.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqlEpRo1pI
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepWvSo6slB
X² - 6X + 4 = X²67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbL9nywlYF
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SVqLif7XZ
“Which do you think is not a quadratic equation?” My voice was smug.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDlLjtXxbMk
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0edISrvQs
“Wait, what do you mean by standard form?” Mika asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAhhvTQCOD
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1NrhSifuV
“Eh? You don’t know?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNFbPIv4sl
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq72RMZjsR
“It’s not in the textbook!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRviXk3VaP
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcpTxGxiYL
“It is though.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeBf9nbueo
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUnu5JbuYL
Mika bit her lip again. She was not liking how this was going, I could tell.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BHresDwlK
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYG4iTK5CT
“Fine, it is, but I just didn’t get that far yet.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBnGIoDQDT
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMXuNPX7R4
“Don’t worry, Mr. Tanaka will teach us this on Monday,” I told Mika.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGEA9WQL4D
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32tdxIZdyQ
Mika closed her eyes. She was frowning. Then she sighed and opened her eyes.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCAbQFM4AC
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7cpSfvnia
“Okay, you win. Just tell me,” Mika said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzP3fGOEesw
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I giggled.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ZSA52Nwjn
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1MlIZcD2P
“Standard form is the original form of the equation. Like this.” I showed her the original equation again. “And if it’s not like the default form, then it is not in its standard form.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BNr5CSJzC
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKlYjAsYE8
“Then how can you make it into the standard form?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblL2jW43v6
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVsXprfeUP
“By simplifying it.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyno9HMmfgi
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy9JFXNcBr
“How?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZh7LIfueC9
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvn6h8zgVQ
“Combining the same expressions.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR51Fh6foLJ
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE3w3Yfil6
Mika paused for a second, tilted her head, and touched it with her fist while she crossed her arm to support the elbow of her other arm.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76nEuvMJM0
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEn4ICKEMg
A few seconds had passed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVgifgMyuJ
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7ptWFikmr
“Give me your notebook,” she said, finally.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiACzTGr2u
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop3DUwGasp
I handed her my notebook and my pen. Then I went beside her and she started simplifying the variation of the equation I made.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgn01Sv2FF
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLBGhOA4ng
X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 067Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTp9nqY11Wn
X² - 4X + 4 = 067Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE8cYJsmsV
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvRnKTCqLZ
“That’s one,” Mika counted.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6qsUhVsck
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDd983JgSvz
X² - 6X + 4 = X² 67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbfSsWgoJl
X² - X² - 6X + 4 = 0.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAZArK3BMx
- 6X + 4 = 067Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxByWLMeZS
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyWaDX6Whh
“That’s two, was I right?” Mika looked at me when she asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6StDfyoT8i
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9NUom1EE3
“...Uh, yeah,” I said, hesitantly.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXB0drDVkB
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71KdYFuVVn
“I see. Then… according to the textbook, the second equation isn’t a quadratic equation. I think I understand it now.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YFAgTevhl
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDjcHnf1oc
The feelings of superiority were starting to fade. Erased. Trampled. Gone. I could not believe how fast she was able to understand it.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7hQrBVgbt
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ127zJIpv3E
“You learned all this from Kuroiwa?” Mika asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WGQqk50MP
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRld5SyQcEt
“Yes,” I answered. “He explained it to me five times until I understood it.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxImYgYUWx
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLf3zoPPSX8
It was actually fifteen times. And we started from the very beginning every time I didn’t understand.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetro1P5ACq
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSFa7wgwyj
I felt embarrassed. How could I feel academically superior against a literal honor student? If I could melt right now, I should.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5qXSxN0A1
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqX1JUpbRon
“It’s quite impressive actually,” Mika said, suddenly. Her eyes were still glued to the notebook. “You were able to learn all of this in just one night.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD8c7lc47X
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLDttGNb4F
“Well, it wasn’t without a lot of trying,” I replied.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNs9RV9CgO
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUOC9IGdsO
“What about linear equations?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWx9BtR4gfL
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB66MI85ot
I choked on the air and started coughing. Pretending to cough at least.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJI9u0X73A
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDGICISmgz
Linear equation… uhh… linear equation. I didn’t know anything about linear equations. All Kuroiwa taught me was about quadratic ones. What is a linear equation?67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEod5XuPb6I
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB9p8WkB69
I wanted to ask. But then I remembered something Kuroiwa had said before we separated.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCqA7nXMP4
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj30bGJ4FfD
Check your notes for the other parts we didn’t cover. All I taught you tonight were the most important ones since I anticipate where most of the points of the math exam would come from. The past lessons, you still need to review them yourself since we don’t have much time.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1dbBWTfor
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C7n4tDycM
I covered my face with both my hands. And that also reminded me why I was late, because Kuroiwa had to walk me to the station. I said he didn’t have to, but….67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlySAicIV1
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV3NmnS1zR
You’re in my care at the moment, so I am responsible for your safety.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLn41zSNEE
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4ZNG954zd
I screamed… internally.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7U6pTPGot
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz8Sjp9lKn
“You still don’t know?” Mika asked me.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdi9lR7nNoT
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxq9R4QW3JZ
I nodded. Two slow nods.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrMkBCLfOp
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDXD1NBQfc
Mika smiled. Warm. It wasn’t like the smirk I showed her earlier.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkY5dHSxso
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXmhl6w2QQ
Now I was feeling more ashamed. Ugh.1234 copyright protection63ＰＥＮＡＮＡQePc7bNdJx 尼

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“You’re stalling,” she said. “Let’s go.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN60QEN9Z9Z
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhK7g2b0QbT
We started walking again. I looked up at the sky. The moon was still not there.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi82ncHuEI
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qARwUGzN4
“It’s actually incredible,” Mika said, “that he was able to teach you all that in just a few hours. When I spent an entire week teaching you about linear equations. And yet you still don’t understand.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoPaRXWXh2
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I bit my lip and I smiled awkwardly then I hid the smile under my chin.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgYEsrgFJk
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmnKcAYEY5
“And that’s maybe why you chose to believe him,” Mika continued. I lifted my head and looked at her. “It’s because he knew what he was doing, and we didn’t.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTl5EJUIq6K
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjcC87DTyl
“I trust you more,” I said, my eyes emitted a certain worry.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN96MFvq36
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRbT2Ih76e
“I know, and I didn’t say that because I want you to pity me.” She frowned and flicked me between my eyebrows.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNNJ68iMiR
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU3KteoGBf
“Ow!”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD39igvf1td
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcUJ8EE0LP
“It’s just that… maybe I was wrong… maybe I was wrong about him.” Mika looked up into the sky. “There is no moon today,” she said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz82H0EgNUa
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzKDIkvnnZF
A few minutes more and we were about to reach our homes. Her house was next to mine and it had been like that as far as I could remember.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iXlN3Ruko
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSLTfPMZ3aF
I stared at where she was staring and thought of the words she had just said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFimZ9atutS
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“We all did,” I said to her, still looking up.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKe2nYFuk9
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But I knew she smiled.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDdfaygGZR
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLYlDDjRT0
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9:15 pm.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb5puLkVMz
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“I’m home!” I announced myself by the entrance of the house. I was busy removing my shoes when Mom came out from the living room.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0ARSyYyhM
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSMkqlYaRY
“You’re late,” Mom said as soon as she saw me. She sounded like she was about to lecture me but then, she turned her eyes toward the one who was beside me.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeBP8GNAm8
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0YpvVWhOl
“Good evening,” Mika greeted Mom. “Excuse me for intruding.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LRArMSVRl
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFZIBVkYZE
“Oh, you’re here, Mika. Come in.” Mom’s voice sounded delighted.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0iwHJFfey
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKq2B5AlHY
Is she more glad to see Mika than me?67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Pe4GwiLDC
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAYiZOXDP2
“Sorry we were late, exams were about to start soon and we had Hina to help us study.” Perfect excuse from Mika. I gave her a wink because she did not stutter this time unlike when we were still outside the house earlier. But she nudged me with her elbow and hit me in the ribs.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRAyGyQmNI
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8B3r1EMoK
I closed my eyes. Took a deep breath. Then continued to take off my shoes as I eyed her menacingly. I knew she didn’t like lying but she didn’t need to hit me that hard.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLViHoztSx
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTomR9TCi2V
After we were done, we headed to the living room, which also connected to our dining room and kitchen. At the dining table, I saw a portion of meat and potato stew in a bowl with a plastic cover around it. Mika and I sat at the dining table. Mom sat on the sofa in front of the television. She was watching some drama I hadn’t watched for about a week. I was curious about where the story was now when my Mom asked before I could.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVdIBrBjAH
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“Have you eaten yet?” Mom asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLSRZkbPJZ
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I looked at the covered dish but it wasn’t tempting enough. After all, I had already eaten.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBav9J8224
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsf2Mj0JJA
“We already ate,” I answered but someone kicked my foot. I opened my mouth at the suspect while I rubbed my shin. “What are you doing, Mika?” I whispered. But my whisper had sharpness in it.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5VrMgvQL9
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf8BkxyAAC
“I haven’t eaten yet,” Mika whispered back.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL9ZfRkABk
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjSuy3vSWr
“Then go eat at your house.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtMBF2UAD6
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aI49oVVCO
“Mom went on a weekend vacation with her friends and Dad is going to be late.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9Vzfb2NKI
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSt6DyQyQD
“How about your big brother?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nNGVYapx9
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNUXvNqD8h
“He doesn’t know how to cook. You want me to eat cup noodles when your Mom’s cooking is better?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghvWY4qjS7
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFFbxq6bOt
I conceded. I sighed and turned toward my Mom.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhNFxZq9GD
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“Mom, Mika is still hungry. We already ate but she still wants to eat more.” I looked at Mika afterwards. Her eyes were wide open. I felt her kick coming and I was able to avoid it.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOzIiuX73F
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKPVTuuPA6
“Is that so?” Mom said as she stood and walked toward the kitchen.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj45jfKK6Vj
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJf7FycT8Q
Mika was preparing for another kick but my Mom approaching us prevented her from unleashing it. I stuck out my tongue a little toward her. She looked away instead.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDw1s7ZjWr
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡthO9cN1Axd
Mom took the bowl sitting on the dining table and put it into the microwave. Then she took another bowl and filled it with rice from the rice cooker.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxo9VhAXjrK
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLgVpBkf2v
“So, how’s your Mom?” Mom asked Mika while still waiting for the dish to heat up from the microwave. Mom leaned by the counter to look and talk with her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0fu4LbZfR
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRKNr9jbpH
“She’s okay,” Mika answered. She sounded stiff. “She just went on a weekend trip with her work friends today. She said she’s coming home on Sunday.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UOQZbQGDA
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8ZpmY42nI
“Hmm… How about your Dad?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmdYCfrM7J
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIkko6foFo
“He’s okay.” Mika’s voice was getting even more stiff. ”He was very busy at the university today. He said he would work until night today and probably go home around eleven P.M.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHG0g3UXQag
67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXkbtjlNel
I snorted quietly. The way she answered both questions was mechanically the same. Like how she sounded when a teacher asked her a question during class, but more nervous and less dignified. She clearly was still shaken by the fact that she lied to my Mom when we were still at the entrance.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmANkTtx3Sc
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I felt Mika’s stare. Sharp.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfjvQsvQqz
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“It’s nice that they’re doing well.” Mom continued. “Well, I haven’t really seen them that much lately.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3znFPuokK
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“Ah,” Mika tried to sound less monotonous this time but she still failed in the end. “Well, they have been very busy lately, and during the weekends they mostly come home late. Mom tries to come home early to cook for me and my brother, but sometimes she can't come home in time.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A2AFXhHvd
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“Is that so? Well, can you tell your Mom that whenever she’s free, I’m inviting her to go to that salon we went to last time? I’ve been meaning to go but I needed someone to go with.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4HYJG8EJG
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“Can’t you just call her or text her, Mom?” I asked an obvious question trying to be witty.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25CX1PNBlW
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My Mom turned to me to answer my witty question. “Talking in person is more important than talking on the phone,” she said.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddi1HvPhHH
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“But you’re using Mika as a messenger.” I wittily replied.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkevG3NILt
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“That’s not the point.” Mom sounded a bit defensive. I giggled a bit. “Speaking of phones, you should’ve called me when you were planning to be late.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B5HDm234x
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My smile faded. I didn’t feel witty anymore.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSV2RuLM4B
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I looked at Mika. She smirked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JrFS9D0cK
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“I agree,” Mika said, sounding less flat and sounding more smug, which I didn’t appreciate at all and I proved it to her with my eyes. “She never calls even when you tell her to.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOYOXXy4iY
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“Right?” Mom said. “No matter how many times you remind this girl, she always forgets.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OQktxuVBH
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“I am being unfairly teamed up here,” I said. I put my head on top of the dining table. Forehead kissing wood. I sighed.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkIXuIx2T1
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“Listen,” Mom continued the lecture, “I am not trying to be strict with you, but you have to understand as well that people get worried about you. I didn’t buy you a cellphone just to be a decoration. I bought it so you could reach out to us whenever it's needed.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZf0KQfKah
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My Mom’s voice was calm. But her tone had already adapted to being a parent, lecturing like a professor. It’s not like I don’t understand what she was saying. It was just that sometimes I got into the moment of what I was doing that I genuinely forgot. Like tonight, I was so focused on studying and wanting to pass the upcoming exam that I failed to message her.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjI6HxA07XT
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I sighed in defeat.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lv2ZPotVq
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“I’m sorry,” I muttered into the dining table. I didn’t move for a few seconds then I decided to sit straight. Slowly. “Where’s Ruri, by the way?” I asked.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL608LmML0C
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“Look at her, she’s just now remembering Rurika after getting scolded,” Mom commented. “She already went to sleep.”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOW6RSVIJZ
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My face dropped back onto the table. The table was comfortable. The table was my friend.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EAUsMaJT0
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“I’m sorry,” I muttered for the second time.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sQ9tRka9v
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The microwave timer went off. I turned my head to look inside the kitchen. Mom turned off the microwave, carefully taking out the bowl of meat and potato stew while wearing a mitten. I looked up toward Mika, and she looked a bit uncomfortable because of the lecture. I heard Mom start walking towards us and when she reached us, she placed the bowl of rice in front of Mika together with the dish.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84s4w5ABer
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“Sorry, you have to hear all of that,” Mom said to Mika. “Just forget about it and eat, okay?”67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHIYq7yKWu
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“Yes, thank you,” Mika replied.67Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJWOqyCq5e
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I, on the other hand, was waiting to get back to the comforts of my bed.1234 copyright protection63ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JD2srTq6b 尼

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