Tuesday, After class.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufrgoLjTwJ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9iModvB6K
I had been thinking about it all day.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLOhcLkfTt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Endcjk7PT
About what Hina said yesterday afternoon, about what happened the week prior. Asking someone else to help with my problems. To fix what felt like to me, a burden that I had been carrying all my life. And the person chosen by her?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTW0l6fCQO
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIG2c7mtsJ
Kuroiwa Rei.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01vKApbhbP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyZJ8qlgBT
I was always familiar with that name. But the person behind it always felt far away and I had my back turned towards him. I’ve only caught the words that were constantly passing around the school. And they were not very pleasant to hear or even to think about. I didn't know what he looked like. Well... just vaguely. The same with most people in our class. I felt that everyone’s eyes refused to look at him. Just like mine. Not even a second.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUpd8fsrmP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfpLs5IKNA
“There has to be a better option.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeYCqJkZSI
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfdAQtcdEC
Mika finally broke my chain of thoughts. She was standing in front of her desk, two rows near the windows at the front of the classroom.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi6IC5rgoV
I had remained in my seat ever since class ended an hour ago.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCh7g6Ce5T2
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevp3IkgZQK
I looked at her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtHQM64qfq
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33RlvYbmuK
Her arms crossed like she always did whenever she was against an idea she knew it didn't make any sense. Feet planted on the floor with one slightly ahead of the other. Her face, firm, different from how she usually looked. Her eyebrows tried meeting each other in the middle. I knew that look. I've always known it ever since we were little. And right now? That look was directed to Hina.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1F4XignV9
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J2UpDSzP2
“Hina,” Mika continued. “Have you heard about this guy’s reputation?”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSqO30CRco
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5a7Tf5dnWk
Hina was staring toward the back door of the classroom, sitting at her own desk near it. Calm. Steady. Her eyes looked with expectation and her smooth lips, covered with a thin layer of pink lipstick, smiled. She was very relaxed. In fact, she was so relaxed that if I stared at her for a few minutes, I would almost hear her humming in my head. And that bothered me. A tiny little bit.
“Someone told me that he fought ten upperclassmen behind the school!” Yui raised her hand as she poured some of her cheerfulness into jumping down from the teacher’s desk where she sat. “And as a matter of fact, everyone says he has connections to the yakuza.” 10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1gObEapgf
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnoeGFMcn7
“I heard his eyes have supernatural ability to stab you just by looking,” Hina said. The smile on her face was still there. She turned around to look at Yui. “Apparently three students went blind last week.” She giggled.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SwCdHnkj7
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQsVSYFaSO
“That’s weird, I never heard of that.” Yui pondered.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32obvt3gnc
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewvJ1k3PW2
Mika started getting impatient. She never found anything funny about what had been said.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4uyIxZ4km
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKg9Dq1El87
I did... giggled quietly.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFE2JGPoNw
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDQ49caJcV
“That’s exactly the point!” Mika uncrossed and recrossed her arms, which for her was the equivalent of raising her voice. “On top of everything – he’s a loner, he never talks to anyone, everyone at school avoids him. People don't just avoid someone for no reason, you know.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFciUGBkqK
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoWdzc2Gb9
I knew that. I knew all of that.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjnOEU8qfU
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtm4puNHlv
Since the beginning of the school year, I had spent every school day believing what others had said. And his nature of always being a loner made a radius of two empty seats between him and everybody else during breaks.. The rumors sounded ridiculous, they all did. But there was no reason for me to just throw away all I heard. I never intended to talk to him in the first place, even now.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0yqoSLHev
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gq64kwDdq
But the image of my mom being worried, her calling my father who was working overseas. My friends’ frustrations whenever I didn't get what they were teaching me. The supplementary lessons after classes. Me having to go home alone. Everything. They were all mixing together with the thought of this mysterious person who was also my classmate.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIzhAPBJfL
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiW7NpYJPu
I swallowed everything and said nothing.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRSFUYd7VB
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVVG7wMYXs
“Just trust me,” Hina said simply. She was looking at me specifically even though Mika was the one talking to her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnud78bur1
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOTKxtQ9ea
I nodded. Very subtle nod.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvbZ4MaHPx
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQf3ANqmZ0
Then she blinked towards Mika and gave her a stare, the one she always did when she meant to say that she knew more and had no intention to explain anything. We just had to accept it.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ5HaUZRkE
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ2SiWnK38Y
Mika opened her mouth. Closed it.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6ugUJJY3s
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nlmyAVQpS
I felt the same way. When Hina was being like this, pushing back was going to become a huge wall to overcome. The words she spoke were few, but the weight of confidence in them was too heavy.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRhFTFuagY
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3cqvz4xd0
“I just…” Mika lowered her voice. Her head tilted towards the floor. “I still don’t think this is a good idea.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPKkGxbza7
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgU5s2Id6v
“Terrible idea!” Yui agreed cheerfully while raising both her hands.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66Gz0wFxhv
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI52zNcVFcX
I sighed, stood up and went towards Yui. I couldn’t stand the fact that I felt like I was losing an argument I was never even a part of. Maybe in spirit. I don’t know.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzS5Wl7DKD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlslhP8HqUy
Then the back door opened.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBGolZMYbg
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz1in9w5lg
I stopped in front of Yui when it happened. I saw her stand up straight from the sound. And I could feel Mika do the same without looking at her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARwnP7MaOo
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyzn4C9jY8
I felt him come in.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIMqOvgpDf
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ633MOeTmVv
His steps were slow. With a certain rhythm that sounded careful. Sounded patient. Gentle.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFoGpliDU6
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpYdoVyHxxF
Gentle?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyzNwTARjP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIwaoJBRg1
Curiosity crept into me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFQtx4hN75
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKZSAvt2DC
So I turned. Slowly. Reluctantly, like my body knew something my feet hadn’t caught up yet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsskYvnjqB
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOhNJdkVJp
I looked at him, and he saw my gaze. My eyes snapped back towards the floor.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGfd0yE7rX
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4ygN7nkOh
He kept walking. After taking a brief look, I got the feeling he had been observing us. The three of us in the front of the class. While he continued towards his seat. At the back beside the window.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNATJjXmsNe
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7MuxuTjuR
Behind me, Yui was not moving. I couldn’t see her face but her hands suddenly gripping my arm already told me that she wasn’t looking at him either. Mika as well seemed to be doing the same when I glanced at her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbN3Ex4USs
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ZUyfqB5Sm
“What does he look like?” Yui whispered.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUQVb5OdRH
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2tzHue2mK
“You have eyes.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysXPkWUCQ8
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKj0OHSfPL
“I can’t use them right now.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr86WbZRhnm
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7RludB0Cn
“Why not?”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jPJMEd4ZS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjA51TloiH
“I just can’t.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJAudGds1r
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjjtSsTXXZ
“Hi.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBhyUAphcP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtso0SehTgN
That calm voice that suddenly filled the silence came from Hina.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQXPSUVGmY
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOhtSRfUxs
Just a little bit. For just a little bit I looked up at her direction.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKYxeaJw2h
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5A6PZabpr
She was composed. Walking. Confident with each step. Towards the silhouette of that guy I was currently trying not to look at.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4cRrQF9Mv
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeMXjkuZjn
I could almost hear the thoughts of Yui and Mika synchronized with mine.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK6ppfhNMP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS6P45ZblU
How?
How is she so calm right now?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6XHwBGHNE
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQebRfr2gtG
“Kuroiwa Rei,” Hina said, with a slight hint of familiarity in her voice. But as far as I know, this is the first time I heard her talk to him. “Do you think you can listen for a second?”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtOaIRZvbu
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnspAQAg3H
The silence was everywhere inside the room. Too quiet that the noises that came from the classroom below us were the sounds I could hear.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4d7RZeGYr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8FieijqKF
I never heard an answer from him. Normally, you would stop talking to the guy at that point, right? Normally, you would think that he's not interested in having a conversation with you. But Hina was different. At least I think she was acting differently than normal at this point. I thought she knew what normal meant. But right now? She was definitely ignoring what it meant.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRHz7VkPcy
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgIRATHu1h
“There’s something the four of us need from you.” And there you go, she kept talking. And of course, with the ease of someone acting like she did not just spend the last few minutes being reminded that this could be a bad idea. “We were hoping you might be able to help our friend study.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVIPQvy8xQ1
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3BTIYM6jp
I flinched. I was not ready for the conversation to shift onto my existence.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlycjAx3St
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipMIlawNEA
“Study?” he said.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAN6Wvyn2l
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZqPKh8fW0
One word. The first time I heard him talk as far as I could remember. And it was that one word delivered in a voice that was flat and unhurried yet somehow still managed to fill the space it occupied completely.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12v3Celw5E
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8IW4iRU6y
“Exactly,” Hina said, sounding genuinely pleased.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJJqCYIH4q
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrm4exLFqPY
I was not. Definitely not pleased.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1ofU8gfVj
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhqnLmMHXQ
I kept drifting my eyes towards Hina but when I caught a glimpse of him I reverted to my companion, which is the floor. I kept repeating the same thing, but mostly, the one who I intended to look at was Hina. And unfortunately, my eyes were conversing in silence with the floor when footsteps started to fill the room.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulF09CGeh5
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RQEK6KEnE
Slow. Steady. Careful. Patient.
My eyes refused to look up. I wanted to brace myself but perhaps looking down was the much safer option to choose right now.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrkiwxPJK6
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvBZAb7IqJ
The footsteps got closer. Then stopped.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsAy4tyoAO
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2GTVKwY5N
It stopped right in front of me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE32TnJHLV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9o2oTYSXr
I didn’t move. I tried to breathe.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnZ4dMKx5T
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FLsOpRFFv
Then I looked up because not looking felt worse. I was careful not to look at his face. But an open hand sure appeared right in front of me. Patiently waiting.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXdYoQ1Xrb
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDROldk6x7m
“Test papers,” he said.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlEKn4g11y
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaykWODAYX
“Ah.” I didn’t intend to let out any sound, I did anyways.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTw29YCZLOO
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQMHJ60Gbt
I hurriedly went back to my seat but the grip of Yui’s hand behind me slowed me down a little. I wasn’t thinking about it when I released my arm from her hands. I felt her trying to grab it again but I was already far. I felt sorry. She stood there in front of him for two seconds before she decided to follow me and settled behind me once again. My hands managed to find my test papers inside my bag. I took a deep breath then started walking towards him. Yui followed me, still behind me. Then, without looking at him directly, I offered them to him.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoUMCUcf7M
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcBykOcZIy
At that moment I wondered.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eIeLLVupY
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfQCLBQcQf6
Will he laugh? The thoughts arrived continuously. I’ve never shown anyone these scores except my friends. Not even my mom. Is he even capable of laughing?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMi2Vsq4PRa
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrfAlsa0Qt
“I bet his laugh would sound like a villain’s,” Yui whispered from behind me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGPfxDjbg5
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXztIuDmo8K
“Not now,” I whispered back.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8KNNCACjt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgQZHs1ABp
He took the papers and glanced at the first one.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwJiZzG03I
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL16Wj9TOUp
“Terrible.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Lo3s3Rgts
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpA2egmbhfJ
I heard Yui swallow a laugh behind me and I made a note to address that later.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KWoxUkgQ4
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKHBPHL7Dw
“Hey.” Mika raised her voice suddenly. She still looked stiff but the comment she heard from him somehow gathered some courage for her to say what was on her mind. “You can’t just say it like that.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7u3Pi559C
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB7XrggzzJ
He looked at her from the corner of his eye.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaexhjI5Sv
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDIW63VJ83
She went quiet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVrIhGz0XU
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXtsICKd7J
Thank you, Mika… Sorry, Mika…10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUhLGXX1Fj
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLjtxeQfIm
The movements of his hands told me that he went back to examine my test papers. I still couldn’t look at his face. Partly because of the conceived idea that this guy was scary. And also partly because I was nervous about seeing his judging eyes. I just stared at his hands. He wasn’t saying anything but I could feel the tension building around my stomach. I could imagine him trying to look at every single mistake I made, every silly answers I gave. And I wanted to sigh. I couldn’t even sigh.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ4phXQWM8
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMVdVo80pd
“But not impossible,” he said.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKj2F54R2e
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGyAl4FZkh
I blinked.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIwnJ4uQaY
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtm0Qon41RC
“Really?” Hina sounded delighted. I was confused.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dp4zl1pZ7
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iSIAzVaLv
Not… impossible… I repeated his words back to my thoughts.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllSDTNN1a8
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEbdH7hd8z
“She answered everything,” he continued. “Ninety percent wrong. But she answered everything.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3HkO4mx9D
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mjyRS7EXj
Another muffled sound from behind me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKdlWIL4MHm
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO6p5oKFav
Yui… I swear.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUy36UIquZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrxdkoUTSS
“The answers she gave were wrong. But they aren’t random,” he explained. “She gave some kind of logic behind them, wrong logic, but there’s effort and it shows that she’s trying to solve them.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIwlsTBucE
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIVrwomIql
I listened to him. And I started thinking back.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UFCsicQB3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzafdSy5Rle
Because..10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz9UXeKfhd
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6KSZdpSPh
I had tried. I had studied. I gave my all.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eIP6x5FJt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fg7lCajeE
Everything was wrong in the end. It felt like I wasted all those times I stayed up late reading my notes, checking all my text books and yet failing to retain what I learned.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwYZjljG7y
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WuBohQjWz
I gave the right efforts for everything. But the wrong results were what I got back.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hqss1ygIz
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikXNKtYyoe
I wanted to tell him. I wanted someone to acknowledge them. And I don’t know if he did. So I asked.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUD5F1X6T5
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO3KxvdUMy
“Does that mean… there’s still hope?” My voice came out steadier than I expected.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmzMZ5cUzM
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDZD8NzY0S
“Sure,” he replied.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUrlcJyPsG
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lmaIMiTKg
That wasn’t reassuring. An of course would’ve been better. Just sure, like it was simply a fact he was confirming.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4qrOYedB4
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq46Wm8XTG
I’ll take it, I thought.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6zcxV50jt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnaJWDEGpA
“But I have a condition,” he suddenly added.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJX1SMI9uA
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjznGFnQdVj
I was in the middle of smiling when I heard that. And I felt my smile slowly fading and then my mouth opened.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgvqsY6NEy
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZRe8rALE8
Of course. It’s not going to be for free.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3Jm5i1XzD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYKyA5Ke7Q
“How much?” I asked, before I’d thought about it.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdGHGxdbhA
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4cia0ynn3
“I don’t need your money.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFii0ovqO5R
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoeAjmgAYo
I looked at him… for a second then I looked at his hands. Then what?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKIUinABvD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarL7K9BkG1
“What do you mean?” Mika already asked before I could. She already crossed her arms again, and that meant she was already done adapting from the tension. I wished I could do the same. “If it’s not money, tell us what you want.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ4OU7Zdl1
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObhnh7jqIU
He was just silent. Then he walked. Unhurried as always, back to his seat.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66C60AkZAB
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVsur0O5Wh
He reached into his bag and took out a notebook. Then he slowly tore a page from it. He steadily placed the notebook back inside his bag. And carefully he wrote on that page he tore. He patiently folded it neatly. And then he finally walked back.
Why is he being slow when I’m already nervous?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqk8CFpQXi
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFVjau4kzV
He stopped in front of me and held out that neatly folded paper to me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldfQvuXQJW
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVMez1AQ2t
“Don’t open it yet,” he said. “That’s my address.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Z00y7ezq
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FI2YNIUam
“Why are you giving her your address?” Mika’s voice went sharp immediately.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHLXv5M1BC
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xqJmuEHJQ
He kept his eyes on me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscvqAOFYjw
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0Bjmdy1GQ
“Come to that address tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “Alone. If you want to hear the condition, you’ll hear it there.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMqwn4pDeZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqLXrRCMYF
Alone? I sat with that word for a moment.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSY3paEQbS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAL342W7CA
Alone. In his apartment. Just the two of us?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUpf2jTV4w
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJWoCejoul
Me, with a boy with a terrible reputation?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhiPmYkMWA
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrV0wPDPTD
I had to say no. No was the immediate answer. And it’s where this conversation should end.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lnn1otwyC
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSGLqxVfJb
But the word. That one easy word to say wouldn’t come out. Instead it was drowned by two other words.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpDK5U0gqs
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxJ5BwsIWK
Not Impossible.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9O5Tyr9AU
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhIfqfLvsN
“No!” Mika said what I couldn't. “Absolutely not! Why does she need to come alone? I’ll go with her.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHGIlcvd8e
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoQGygGtWK
“I need her to come alone.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDL2TAjwgh
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2JFoE5nMr
“Then this is over. We’re not agreeing to that.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tt1Tfuqx5
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUpxeYwN9N
He looked at her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjiclkQdx7
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKN3gsJ1zay
“Tojo Mika,” he said.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MjCgV8ctI
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWk2ZWdylp
Mika stopped.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkiIHjH8FI
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ilZo8NbTA
“Always ready to answer when the teacher calls on you. Above average grades. A few points from breaking into the top ten.” He retained his usual way of talking. Serious, precise and unwavering. “The annoying girl with pigtails.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqc2ObT5A1
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcsDToD3hW
Mika’s mouth opened.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bgOyidKfD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYdcmylR9C
“Shirogane Yui.” He stared at the one who had been trying to hide behind me all this time.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWRTqPLP4q
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgDTz6OpTI
Yui made a small startled sound.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOqobv9yyt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouN661zPdt
“Decent in class. Your reasoning when teachers call on you is good. You just don’t take studying seriously enough. A little more effort and you’d be above average.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKISoik0bzJ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRraWNk7CI
“Oh,” Yui said softly. I could practically feel her eyes glittering wide behind me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1xNkwkdtc
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pfNzQOezI
“Asakura Hina.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzliSyfgRm
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBklxq3Udoa
“Hmm?” Hina tilted her head like she’d just been greeted across the cafeteria.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2l3CfGwuX
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXARnCrqc8s
He paused for a second.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlo17d9lSh
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDWFv5uywR
“Top two in our grade. Excellent across subjects. Your math is the one place you’re leaving points on the table.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8TsYxJHsP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxaZsBAPD0
“My, you’re actually right.” Hina smiled. Genuinely smiled. Like she was pleased someone had brought it out and noticed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW0gkS2hwO
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMuMjZrQQ0
I heard that. And I wanted to protest. She got 91 in math and he still called it lacking? Isn’t that a little bit absurd?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEVxQVtRJ6
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Yw1vbeUz
I felt mildly annoyed this time.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRuQuWkpmB
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KjPXGu7Mh
“None of you are bad students,” he continued. “All three of you know how to study.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HWcL0C5vZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgVZRD38Pv
“So what is your point?” Mika said. Still sounding fierce. But when I looked at her. She was looking at the floor. It felt like she knew what he was going to say next but still asked anyway.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobOnDRgDMD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7drRazBlC
“And yet.” He paused. “You gave up on her.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WzntDsqG9
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGG5wyeU65t
Everyone went still.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEi8x6lbyw
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6xisF1ARo
Yui stopped moving behind me. Mika’s arms dropped slowly. Even Hina was quiet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqezzNQSjL
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklv0BCiVes
As for myself. I did not understand what he meant.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEM3BSDTQy
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5D7klacOl
“You probably tried,” he continued. “And when it didn’t work, you stopped. Three people who know how to study. And none of you stopped to ask why it wasn’t working for her. Why she couldn’t hold onto what you were teaching her.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFNE6xk0oZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0UXqH5Oio
“It’s not their fault.” I let it out. I wasn’t planning to, but I let it out all the same. My voice was shaking slightly, I wanted him to stop. “It’s hard for me to hold onto things. They’d explain something and I’d get it, and then after a while it would be gone. It’s not their fault. They did everything for me. They did everything they could. I was just… lacking…”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk5N5MoRr0
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD1Rk8UQJZ
My hands were shaking at my sides.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVcjzLx4bx
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppahvFb3EY
“I’m the problem. Not them.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmRdsa41jC
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWDruTAAc8
I tried to let those words sink into him. But the voice that came out next wasn’t from the person I wanted to speak in this moment.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi33Hz3t0vV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsMNlSz2Va
“I’m sorry, Runa,” Mika said. It was barely a whisper.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJPHS8efPR
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebsyyIrMfn
Behind me. Yui’s hands let go of my arm and she wrapped hers around me. She was quiet, and her embrace meant an apology I didn’t want her to give.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD4Rt7m3UR
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy0rda4885
I stared at the floor.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhJS8cu8s7
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKWouDBHO7
It’s not their fault. It was never their fault.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPsv05Zu2v
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfSlWWhSFJ
He let out a long exhale from across me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcjjUjC2ke
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQ2QRrz2eP
“I know,” he said. “You think it’s your fault.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ANipty2Sp
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS88sm7X1HB
“You don’t understand…” I looked up at him. I looked up at his face. And for the first time I actually looked. Really looked. And I noticed immediately. His hair, messy and dark. Clearly never been introduced to a comb. His face that looked sharper than I expected up close. Angular in a way that would have been striking if he put any effort into it at all, which I assumed was something he would never do. He’s taller than me by some noticeable margin. And his eyes were just looking back at me. Dark and direct and completely still. Intense, in a way that made sense of why people avoided them. But honest. Telling me that all he just said was true. “Don’t say it like that about them. They tried. They really tried to help me. They tried everything.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmD0gWEVgGY
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QxPraizQ0
He held my stare. Never looked away, never felt threatened. Somehow it was more unnerving than if he had.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4A8wVlSJr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXHlWjvEkY
“You’re right,” he said. “I don’t understand.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOokCBTFW2V
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKCVOgRBlV
He looked around and then stopped his gaze on me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRfVX4Wh6G
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH55DZmhIt
“But from where I’m standing. All of you are at fault.” His voice cut through my excuses. “Not because they gave up, but because none of you understood why it wasn’t working. Not them. Not you. Nobody stopped to ask the right question.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk7DMMxnpD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyomO6rC3P
Where I failed, he succeeded. Those words he said sank deep inside me. But the quiet my friends had surrounded me with, made me feel like it sank deeper for them.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNze45cwHp
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mhbLTLUn9
“Studying is a skill,” he said suddenly. “It’s not something you either have or don’t. It’s something you learn. Something you can get better at. But only if you understand how.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTD7BJ6ElK
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViKvOh6BcE
That stuck inside my thoughts.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU7qGjqcQF
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJk5mFHjcHi
A skill.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uoY6zK3N3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fXQEVCtyv
Not a talent. Not something you either had or didn’t. Something you could actually get better at.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDBbIn7Ebi
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIwZUntXxQ
Which sounded like exactly the kind of thing someone said right before they sold you something.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYReekiryx
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3GSdwfDqd
And yet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWrACHdLr2
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDQwTKdJ6p
I wanted to believe it so badly. I wanted it to be real. But I don’t know if he was telling the truth. I don’t know if I could actually trust his words.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrKCkXsfRD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxvWPPa5BK
He moved towards his bag and carried it with his hand towards the back door of the classroom where he suddenly stopped.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YIldvvW1G
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6d7vz9QSda
I watched him. He was moving slowly, but not as slow as I remembered a few minutes ago.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRM2DSlUUK
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoaMQWiv2L
“If I help you,” he said, “you’ll be in the top ten of our grade by the end of the year.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSxYOajljp
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdFqQq7G9X
Mika’s eyebrow went up.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXnKXzPdas
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVq2YEWdl9
I didn’t say anything. I just listened.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡje2jHnER3z
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5p8uR7A7Y
“It won’t be easy,” he continued. “But it’s achievable.” He stared at me. “If you agree to my condition.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnlB6NQAZV
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsswLaLGD4
And just like that. He was gone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKkFD3vJGd
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LAy6dAWF1
Nobody was making a sound. Not even Yui, who I thought would’ve already said something ridiculous but she stayed behind me gripping her arms around me tighter than before.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvPvHVAPWD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnsiUqCaMq
“He called me annoying.” Mika broke the silence. Her voice had a mix of ‘about to get angry’ and ‘about to get confused’.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEnS8mbxVK
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60fJq9iiGB
“He called all of us by name,” Hina offered.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMsL4b0hdQ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOnO57VILC
“He specifically called me annoying!”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCN93t4jff
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImgLhYiZhs
“He also assessed all our academic capabilities without ever being asked.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7hIYvdqn5
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltcbqQetQs
“That’s creepy and also not the point.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBJbktzxPo
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡms37H7D1LY
“He was wrong to call you annoying,” Hina said. “But was he wrong about everything else?”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGhbPdCFLv
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtIkjauetV
Mika slowly stared at the floor. “...No.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vvq5nDdxh
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLybtvbN3f
“I was hurt as well, since he was right.” Hina carefully walked towards Mika, then she placed her hand on Mika’s head. “But I think he is someone we can trust,” she said and her familiar smile returned.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHiFhmUEkQ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXVOh8gL0y
“How do you know that?” Yui finally spoke, peeking at Hina from behind me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJy17CIlr9
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhqFayUbKS
Hina smiled wider. “I just do.” She glanced at Yui and gave her a little wink.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqLTIZ3NkP
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAb3quMrFk
“You can be really weird sometimes,” Yui told her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6gclN6sCX
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxp1395tNVw
And I agreed with Yui. I didn’t know what to think. Everything he said seemed too good to be true. Top ten? In just a year?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KcXiJXWxT
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKVOJcqAif
I looked at the folded paper in my hand.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ3NaKTHxu
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoTMKUDN6J
“… I still don’t trust him,” Mika said quietly. But I heard it.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X4159D4Al
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ujcW1g6zw
I don’t either. But the hope he gave me was uncomfortable and at the same time something that I wanted to hold onto. Something that maybe could turn my life around.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakAptpFKWh
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2f2qf7rwd
I closed my fingers around the paper.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqCQOP8k32
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlt3uqkys3
This idea is terrible, I thought.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtw8PkTezvk
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4jONM0y1g
And yet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lUOCzK1nr
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyjXOEUJQk
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm0Eb2l52p
Tuesday, afternoon10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcS9YTLuPDf
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujh4f4YrLT
On the walk to the station, Yui and Hina did most of the talking.
Yui finally regained enough of her composure for her to tell us stories about what was happening in another class. Specifically class 2-C. And she presented them with such focus and energy that she was like delivering some breaking news. Hina listened as she always did and sometimes contributed to them as well.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuVGzq78QI
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDA74rbSrft
I laughed with them. I said the right things. I didn’t want to show that what happened just a few moments ago was still shaking my thoughts.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzjUf6UwRc
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FTTXggEJQ
Mika walked beside me like she always did. She wasn’t talking.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuySui54S3
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJOZ2HVUhB
That was always how she got when something was sitting on her. The words went inward instead of out. I knew because I’d been watching it happen since we were small enough that the walk between our houses felt like an adventure.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaiHS35a1F
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYnET2onKm
We split at the station like we always did. Yui and Hina going one direction, Mika and I going the other. Yui waved her hands as she rode the train with Hina. I smiled at her. And then they were gone.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKXgI8M0ga
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqEaRyZKv1
The train was quiet for the few stops between school and home, and by the time we were walking the familiar street toward our houses the afternoon had gone golden and long around us.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RdC0LS4SE
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblzB7CDQ5j
Mika hadn’t said anything yet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7HmSMnfVd
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVzH0BiC8y
I let her be.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYvPSc79yt
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKgFFrQwF4
“Will you go?” she asked finally.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiO0UWJEHQ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxeWejYpKG
“I don’t know.” I wasn’t sure. Maybe I was sure.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOxrHT3qpZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SVxLwlRZc
I don’t know. I repeated in my head.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aGzh46vnd
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXsqQU1iiK
“He’s not someone you can trust easily,” Mika continued.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPvEcBF6dg
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL39eyVSGF
“I know.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDmXrL717r
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgEZlOeM2S
“Everything he said…” She stopped herself. I knew what the end of that sentence was.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyLK2DR7S0
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwvapE0l25
Sounds impossible. Doesn’t add up. Doesn’t make sense.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOJyfrw9Cn
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoYvI5TJLV
“I know,” I said again.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDgmbVBav0
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdvsf5160y
We walked half a block without talking.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajtlYcEvh5
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY9m8R42Po
“I’m sorry,” Mika said. Softer this time. “I keep thinking, if we’d tried harder, or differently…”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7uvUuZH38
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZimlVxK2o2
“Stop,” I said gently. “It’s not yours to be sorry for. I mean it.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc0zhkakNj
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUK4AhghQh
“I want to try again. We can start over, do it differently…”
“Mika…”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHi6VXRoNg
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNJw23Zzru
She went quiet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX9DvJQjfa
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlixCq76utP
“You already tried,” I said. “You all did. And I know you would again if I asked. But I also know it didn’t work, and I don’t know why, and maybe that’s what he was talking about.” I looked at the street ahead. “The right question nobody asked.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7tSH1S5k7
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCdy0KTJ4n
Mika kept silent as we continued to walk.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAmzD5O9pM
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSxs9ISqV9
A few seconds later.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CFTbcPMZS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0LKVRSY8r
“If you decide to go,” Mika said eventually, “and anything feels wrong…”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxslYCyUeD
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79OUWwmujz
“I’ll call you immediately.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuuuK4orpJ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r677zAbrZ
“Before immediately.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYISxTwTzm
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cnREPNlW3
“Before immediately,” I agreed.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY60MkdYcS
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGs8NRwDknw
“I don’t want you to go.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oRrfPrtul
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqDAosEEdN
“I know.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCD4sgiywfk
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGCOyqw6hg
“But you’re going to anyway.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL2NeRscjJ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58eyK5naUf
I looked at the folded paper still in my hand.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhO7N9nG8x
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEyLt8RRsR
“...Maybe,” I said.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFjLf9IoCe
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRXrXJJN3h
Mika exhaled. She knew that at this point she would never be able to convince me.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2ScEZKJfa
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq42jV2jXku
I smiled at her.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkNgnJNmWZ
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaasKS6hvUW
“Stay safe,” she said. “Call me when you get there. Call me when you leave.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qNAndc5ei
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoYTJ0noiF
“Okay, mom.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4YdVUzV4l
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWCm7lZ338
“I’m serious.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYt8eR6FEl
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBDlWwLiFo
“I know you are. That’s why I said it.”10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHSmXmieDP
She smiled at me but as soon as she turned away, I caught her trying to hide an expression she didn’t want me to see.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tEydNeME1
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFNnEbhTKj
I looked up at the sky instead. The clouds had turned colors, orange edging into pink at the horizon, the blue above it going deeper.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtNkZncy4w
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zyAchWcmn
Will I go?10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T6CAZxaFh
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1Vj0DIapj
I didn’t have the answer yet.10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AJY3Pl0Oy
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBp8aKiowb
But I was running out of time to keep saying I didn’t know.
10Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFoacdsXKA
and then Add to home screen.