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I set my phone down on my desk. I called Runa hoping to cheer her up a little, but instead, the call ended with her sounding like she was about to cry.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9oiMtNkvN
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Ugh.
Seriously, what am I even doing? Making her cry again wasn’t my intention at all. Even though I think I’ve done it accidentally. All I wanted to do is help Runa. And if she can’t go back to his apartment anymore, then that’s that. It’s my turn to help her study again. It should be, but…
How?
I don’t even know how this guy was able to teach Runa about quadratic equations in just one night. I taught her about linear equations for a week. And until now she probably still doesn't understand what they are. Well, unless he already taught her about them.
But that’s beside the point.
I mean… studying aside. I understand completely what Shizuna-san, Runa’s mom’s concerns. It is not normal to have a girl and a boy who are still in high school, who aren’t even dating, be alone together in an apartment. I warned Runa about it, but even though she was hesitating, she still went. And by the looks of it, they actually just studied.
I can’t really comprehend this puzzle. It’s so confusing.
And because of that, I found it hard to concentrate on my own studying for the entire week. And again tonight… no… the whole day, I wasn’t able to progress at all. My desk looks busy. Notebooks scattered, pens everywhere. But it’s not because I was diligent. It’s because I was getting irritated that I am not progressing the way I want to, and there are still a lot of materials I need to review.
…and exams are just three days away.
Sigh.
“I can’t stand this,” I shouted toward my desk.
What am I supposed to do?
I hear footsteps suddenly emerge in the hallway outside my room. They sound light but still loud enough that my ears can pick up their rhythm. It's my mother. The footsteps stop when they reach my door. Then three knocks. I look behind me and I see my door opening slightly and her head peeking through. When she sees me looking at her, she enters.
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Mother sighed, but then smiled.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY5aaNdEMt
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“Still studying, Mika?” Mother asked.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC5GHoCUTC6
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“...Yeah,” I answered. “I just felt a little bit annoyed about something.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBu2Ldxa5q
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“Well, if that’s the case, then I think it’s time for you to go to bed. Don’t you think so?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCOJxBQWRI
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“But, exams are coming up soon. I don’t want to waste time and not be prepared for them.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rjDLRwa6s
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I look toward my mother. She is still smiling. Then she taps my shoulder and points her finger toward my alarm clock that’s on my desk.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCCZzszRUE
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10:32 pm.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6Ni5wQfgg
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I turn toward her while I pout.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk4VUUm15g
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“It’s still just 10:32 pm. It’s early,” I said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5DxDxRgDg
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“You’re a growing girl, and resting is also part of preparing,” my mother replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydVDmqxTn4
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“That’s not fair, how are you and father allowed to work hard but I can’t?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXktUQ917E
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“True,” Mother answered. “Teru-kun and I work hard, but we work hard for you and your brother. You, on the other hand, are still young, and you shouldn’t force yourself when you are at the point of struggling. Sometimes, take a break.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZQs9Qfo5z
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That’s not the answer I wanted to hear from her. It’s like dismissing all the effort that I’ve put into my own studies. I mean, I get it, but I need to do this. Otherwise…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoltP58jKd
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“And you know Teru-kun and I always go on vacations once a month. I also go out with my friends at least twice a month,” Mother continued, then patted my head. “See, even though we work hard, we both know when to take a break,” she said. Her smile still hasn't left her face.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqaIABGunx
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“Okay,” I answered and gently lifted her hand away from my head. I don’t like it whenever she tries to treat me like a kid. But it has become a habit, and I don’t feel like correcting her anymore. Not that I haven’t tried. It's just that I tried too many times and she still ended up patting me on the head every time. “But, don’t you think it’s time for you to stop calling father by a nickname? I mean, you’re not in your teens anymore.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUBaz81vad
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“What do you mean?” Mother pouted. “I still love your dad, you know.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0eLfpjNFS
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Mother puts both her hands to her cheeks, then she blushes, then her smile gets bigger.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQKNjVIZAS
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“I still remember the time when he confessed to me before we graduated from high school. I’ve known he liked me ever since we got into the same class when we were in second year, but it took him two years to confess. But even so, I think those two years I’ve waited for him were all worth it. And—” Mother continued.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MQlZm27Sy
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“Mama… I’ve heard you tell me the same story like a million times already. Please spare me,” I said. I really don’t want to hear it again. It becomes cheesier the more I hear it from her. And I had to cut her off before she even began to elaborate more on her romance with Father from when they met to now.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYCnTmBt5H
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I do respect that my mother never grew out of love with Father, but I really can’t comprehend what was so good about being in love. I’ve never thought about it, not even once.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXOzzCihOv
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“Well, off to bed then,” Mother said as she stood up. “One day you’ll understand,” she said as if she just read my mind. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTZ0MgLhTW
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“I don’t think so,” I said. “I’ll go to bed later, Mama.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRksgGIe0TN
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“Then don’t stay up late.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZjmUGLrJM
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“Alright.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrAmUZITQF
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I stared at her as she walked toward my door.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmlzVFrtrs
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“Good luck then, and good night,” Mother said before closing the door.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMLgBJxKcd
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I immediately crossed my arms on my desk and hid my face inside them as soon as she left.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNynf3IVHz
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Ugh.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2JVL4n6UW
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Ughhhhhh.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxK8BGbWR3
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I knew my mother just told me something to think about life. But that’s beside the point of what is bothering me right now.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJbClzs90e
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Sigh.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPZONHQ1XQ
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Knowing when to take a break, huh?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NqfoFtVrS
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…No.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBedJheM34
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Runa still needs help. I have to think about something. Maybe…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B903RtFSG
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An idea came to me. Then I reached for my phone from where I left it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP7aB26X1v
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First, I’ll have to message both Hina and Yui in private, separately…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn7e7YIsaj
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Morning of Sunday, the beginning of the 4th week of May.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nPd2FwGXN
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I am wearing my favorite clothes this morning. A frilly pale blue camisole layered beneath a cropped cardigan. My favorite high-waisted skirt with gentle pleats that sway just above my knees. My shoes, white with modest heels. I used my usual pair of small, glossy pink bead hair elastics to tie my high twin tails. I liked how everything came together.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYxbC568rs
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Beside me on my left, is Yui, who just had her third yawn ever since she arrived at my house this morning. Her eyes are still half closed and she was rubbing one of them with her fingers while she yawned.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzISVhxtWG
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It’s already 9 a.m., for goodness sake. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS07qWhI6TL
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Yui is wearing an oversized T-shirt with an embroidered teddy bear taking a nap as a design on its chest. The front hem is casually tucked under her shorts while she leaves the rest to hang loose. A cute star-shaped hairpin decorates the left side of her bangs while her short chestnut brown hair falls just above her shoulders.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAcDctttmp
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“Yui, wake up,” I told her.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOvv3yvKny
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“Mmmnnn…” Yui only murmured.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxxw9XfeLn
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“There’s no way you’re still sleepy at this hour.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNL5ASNC1P
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“But you basically held me hostage last night and kept me up until past midnight.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaNuHUsszU
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“We had to discuss something important.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MX3I5MyEd
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“I know, but if I am sleepy, then I am sleepy.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UF1XO249o
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…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZioSDBgimV
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I shook my head slightly. I guess I’ll just have to try to ignore Yui’s yawns. There are more important things to think about at this point.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwj5eDHmTI
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I turned toward Hina, walking slightly ahead on my right. Tall, perfect figure, long black hair, pretty, and mature. She’s wearing a rose pink one-piece dress with the skirt running down just below her knees. She’s wearing sandals this time, but instead of looking casual because of them, she looks more feminine. I guess that’s what you should expect from her.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXL7FV9o2o
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“Hina,” I called, “sorry about my brother.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFTYHkSbs9
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Hina turned her head toward me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlGPEfgjdI
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“It’s fine, you were there to save me, right?” Hina replied with a wink.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NuTP8CF6q
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“I mean, he was not always like this, but lately he’s changed and started behaving unacceptably.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuO595ooDS
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That’s right, we could’ve gone to Runa’s house much earlier if not for my big brother’s interference. Of all the days he could choose to wake up early in the morning, he chose today. The day when I told Hina and Yui to come to my house early. And as soon as he saw Hina come in, he started hitting on her. Of course I would intervene. He’s not the same brother I know. If he gets together with Hina with how he has become, he’ll just ruin her life. The same thing happened last year as well, when he started hitting on Runa. I’ve told him multiple times to cut it out, and he did for a little while. But when he started doing it again, Runa stopped hanging out with me at my house. What a creep.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvmS5B5YCx
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But that’s beside the point.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKStryJ7Ji
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I am also worried about other things. I don’t want to think about my stupid brother and his stupid behavior right now. What’s more important is Runa.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpGxJJBDeR
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“Do you think the plan would work?” I asked Hina.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX38NRxHJcy
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“Of course it will. It's your plan after all,” Hina answered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrqAehWC19
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That doesn’t sound reassuring. I mean, I am already thinking of many possibilities of how this plan would fall apart with the wrong things happening at once. What would we do if we got to that point then?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP03Y5wex0h
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I don’t know. All I know is that we’re already in front of the small gate to Runa’s house. So, I took a deep breath.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gfnEb2Jve
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“Don’t worry,” Yui said beside me. “With the acting skills I’ve gained from watching dramas, I’m sure everything will go smoothly.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDisg50plQ
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Acting what? Why do we need to act again? I know we need to lie, but do we really have to make it seem like we’re going to perform in a play? What is this girl thinking?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoh2pavOGo5
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Now I am more worried…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjmufR3rb7
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I checked the time from my phone. It’s already 9:16 am.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWxtKjFdUR
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Earlier Shizuna-san appeared right before us by the door. She looks proper as always, but her soft expression seems to be dimmer than usual. I saw some evidence of tiredness. But she still keeps that smile she has when she greets us.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMPU3ipOEF
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She immediately led us toward the living room where we are now. Me, Yui, and Hina sat on a long sofa, Yui took the middle spot, I sat on her right and Hina sat on her left. When Yui started swinging her feet while sitting, I started to get annoyed. While I was sitting there being anxious, here comes Yui playing around like nothing’s about to happen.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZdJeROpVl
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“Stop that,” I whispered to Yui.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaSDp6o7ec
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“Stop what?” Yui whispered back.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlntx5pBVUM
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“Your feet, it’s distracting me.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnrISlrbT7
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“Okay…” Yui said then stopped and suddenly became quiet.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbc8D0QYIi
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Am I imagining things? It doesn’t seem like the Yui I know who always finds a way to continue annoying me. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8LqSZlp79
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I carefully looked at her face. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdjDCCh8Hz
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Then I knew. She's also nervous. Her eyes keep looking around, and she’s gripping the sofa hard and then letting go, then she repeats it. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGKFsxBWan
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I leaned forward a bit to look at Hina. She’s calm. That assured me for a minute. At least someone is really prepared to execute the plan.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2H5p1ugoh
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Please, Hina. I am counting on you.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsSxv243H9
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Shizuna-san comes back from the kitchen, she’s holding a tray with three glasses of orange juice, then she places them on the table right in front of us.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVGiUevlFQ
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“Wait here, while I call for Runa,” she said as she walked toward the doorway.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0Q82saY2J
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“Excuse me, Miyase-san,” Hina called for Shizuna-san’s attention.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNnkkspeg9
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Shizuna-san stops right before exiting. She turns around toward us. “You can just call me, Shizuna,” she said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4J22PZEwR
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I feel like I shouldn’t let Hina do the talking alone. So I replied, “Well, Shizuna-san. We would like to get permission to ask Runa to come study with us in the library in town,” I said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8ponyfmYj
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I wonder if it’s the right decision to take over from Hina, or maybe I should’ve just let her do the talking?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKipOvt1NNm
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I found my answer by how Shizuna-san’s expression changed. From forcing herself to look cheerful, her face transformed to look more stern. Shizuna-san crossed her arms and stared at the three of us with a frown. She walked closer until she ended up standing right before us. Yui froze beside me. I looked at her in disbelief… Why are you looking so guilty? Where is your acting skill now when we need it? Unbelievable.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMfnj490gf
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I nudged her for a bit. But she only turned toward me with an awkward smile.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCh1KZ4Td6
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“No,” Shizuna-san answered. “If you need to study, you can just study with her here at home.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqmuCnPg0G
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Okay, this is as far as I think I can do. At this point, I already don’t know what to say.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD87tGegTMQ
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“But there are things we can use as reference to help us study in the library,” Hina replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCxbaMVxuP
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Nice going, Hina.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBsUrRgD6J
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“Can you just use the internet to find those references?” Shizuna-san said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9L0KLLnxF
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“Yes, but books are still the more informative option,” Hina replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JiAhbqxiY
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I asked for both of their help last night because I knew that if I were alone in this situation I'd be rendered useless. And here, beside me was also someone who was being useless. Thank goodness Hina came. Otherwise, if I had done this all alone, the moment I entered the house it would have been over.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdgzMELnx7
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At this point, I just listened.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnbB4ZrYAc
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“How?” Shizuna-san continued.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5TRQ9Bivv
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“Because a book will always be written with a lot of care by the author,” Hina replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSNOXk5Feg
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“How is that different from what is written on the internet?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2627gyEZH
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“It is, because books that are well-written have years of research that were put into them.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3XzkZLsyL
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“But with the internet, you can do the same.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLHuEodARu
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“Yes, but a lot of articles online can’t always be trusted.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t2V68LwDF
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“How come?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KcAG11FC6
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“Miyase-san, are you familiar with the saying that ‘you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet’?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0NTHdza5E
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“I guess I heard it once from the news.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1exJi4oNC
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“Right? And a lot of the things you find on the internet can’t be easily verified.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL8C3oa46f
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“Hmm… maybe, but I really don’t know anything much about the internet.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJSOruwyBc
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It might be just my imagination, but I feel like I just saw Hina’s eyes sparkle after what Shizuna-san just said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAs5PjgcvV
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“Yes, and that’s why, since books are already verified because of years of research, if we rely on the internet, it might take years for us to find reliable references we need for our study material.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LHP8TQ4KU
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I don’t like that reply from Hina. That doesn’t make sense. Even if Shizuna-san isn’t that knowledgeable about the internet, if she at least used it a few times, she’ll know that’s a lie.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1qQCekvZm
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“Is that so?” Shizuna-san replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3Lwh3vLqi
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I let out a breath of relief. Thank goodness the internet is not for everyone yet. I don’t know if Hina deliberately calculated the risk or was just winging it, but it produced a nice result.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ5D8ybliD
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Shizuna-san noticed me completely relaxing my posture, and when I saw her turn toward me, I straightened up. Then she looked toward Yui who was still completely still beside me. Yui noticed Shizuna-san’s eye on her and from being still and not moving, she started swinging her feet like before, stared at the ceiling, and then whistled.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uY6kYRKbl
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I raised my hand by reflex.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5J3Zl7LH0
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“Shizuna-san, um, can we borrow your bathroom for a second? I think Yui needs to use your toilet,” I said as I stood up.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCVdaLiuzr
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Yui whispered to me, “I don—” but I interrupted her with a pinch on her back. Impressively, she didn’t let out a sound. “Y-yes, Miyase-san, please let me use your toilet,” she begged.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8XFuCtCFN
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“Do you need to go together?” Shizuna-san asked.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy8CiPBIGY
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“Mhm.” I nodded. “Yui is kind of shy, so she needs someone to accompany her at least by the door if she’s in another house,” I replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEwtvm4cT9
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“That’s weird. I know it’s been a long time since Yui’s last visit here, but I don’t remember her being shy,” Shizuna-san said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyzWwpHpFf
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“Umm… Well, you know, since it’s been a long time… umm… I-I’ve become more shy…” Yui answered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5c1gH6I35
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“I see. Well, I guess that makes sense, since back then you were still in your second year of middle school. You looked shorter back then. I guess it makes sense that your personality would change as you grow through the years, especially when you entered high school,” Shizuna-san replied. “My, that’s too bad then. I kind of miss those times when we talked about silly stuff and dramas together.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6fP7b1zYq
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I glanced at Yui and saw her eyes start to well up. Is nostalgia hitting her right now? So I immediately pulled her out of the living room. I excused the both of us to Shizuna-san, then took a peek at Hina. Hina just winked at me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQdC2eQXUQ
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At this point, if Yui and I stay, we’ll just become a liability. Better we retreat now and wait a couple minutes before we go back. Hina, I leave the rest to you.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Tvv3I8ZpX
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGm34bg6qmr
It’s already 9:42 am. That took longer than expected. I wonder if Runa will have time to study the materials she hasn’t covered yet.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuCZBfSlICH
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I looked at her. She doesn’t look the same as how she was when we saw her come down from her room. Her hair is not a mess anymore, she’s dressed more proper now, with her fitted light yellow short-sleeved shirt, paired with skinny jeans, and white rubber shoes. At first glance, you will think that she’s probably fine. But if you look at her eyes, the soreness is still there. And she’s also forcing a smile. She doesn’t look the same as she did, but she’s still feeling the same as she felt.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnkBiu97qU
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“How did you do it?” Yui asked Hina. “I mean, when we came back, suddenly Runa’s mom gave us permission. What did you do when we were gone?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0s5gAyopBd
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“I just tried to convince her,” Hina answered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLlSxkSmoL
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“How?” I asked out of curiosity. Indeed, to me, everything that went down in that living room looked like a magician pulling some tricks out of her bag.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfjZ3SppEn
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“I showed Miyase-san the materials we are going to tackle, and explained to her why we needed to be in the library,” Hina said with a smile.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgFdCqikqy
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“Is that it?” I did not sound convinced. I mean, it’s that simple? Maybe there was something more, but Hina isn’t the kind to elaborate on her thoughts, not like she can’t, but it’s more like she’s just summarizing everything for us, and hiding important details from us. I’m totally curious now, but it’s my fault for leaving the room.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73uToStY5a
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No…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz2kZXDKWX
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It’s Yui’s fault.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZdkG7aHkB
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“Anyway, Yui, I thought you would show us your great acting like you said before we went in,” I said to her.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZ7ii6QDJ1
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“Ah, well, I showed a different kind of acting. Hehe.” Yui laughed it off.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlYHKl7AYp
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“Yeah, acting like a robot,” I replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I25uCsaJH
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“No, I wasn’t!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJNRryA7za
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“Yes, you were!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HlEHANzk7
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“No! You’re just jealous because I was a really good actress.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdriV5ngL1S
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“Explain?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKWKTlzoz8
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“I don’t need to explain, I mean did you hear me whistle?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPGok1qFeJ
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“Yes, and it was awful.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGGENER8mw
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Yui pouted after my remark.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtiBvTMwIr3
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“You’re awful, look at you. You’re just like Runa’s mom, crossing your arms like that and frowning at me.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8sj16yvHi
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“What? I’m not—” I looked at my arms. They were indeed crossed.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugZFKDm8Zl
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“See, scary,” Yui said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAp14AaGQMI
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“I don’t think it’s nice to say Miyase-san is scary, she really wasn't. She was actually rather nice,” Hina said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBCtYY7yuR
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Yui and I looked at Hina for a second. “Sorry,” both of us said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VR07OrNJ6
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Wait… why am I also apologizing?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRuiiWb1At2
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I heard someone giggle behind me and Yui and both of us turned. It was Runa. It doesn’t look like she’s forcing herself this time. It sounded genuine.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQahpJbzMt
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I smiled. I’m glad at least she’s feeling a little better now to laugh. I walked toward her and we started walking together. Yui joined us, and walked beside me, while Hina walked beside Runa. We never really asked Runa how she’s doing. I mean, we didn’t need to. We can see with our own eyes. And asking her felt wrong in a way. We just wanted her to feel better. And that’s why we’re walking beside her.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg2E8JzBYJ
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We reached the train station about five minutes later. We stood at the entrance first, before we entered. I thought it would be the best time to tell Runa what this plan was supposed to be.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWwSHWx7MXn
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“Runa,” I said. “I think this is where we split.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfJzE7kNWz
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“Hmm? What do you mean?” Runa asked.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO50PxgS7nq
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“She means, you’re going to Shadow Prince’s apartment,” Yui answered for me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCduqdEA3T6
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“Huh? Eh? What’s going on?” Runa’s eyes widened and she looked at us like she wanted to know if we’re telling the truth.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx42deOyTog
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“Well, the plan all along is to get you out of your house, and then we let you go on your way. You know, to go study with him,” I replied.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy9HKOAf0A
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“Really!?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSsQb3wdq1
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“Mika was the one who thought of the plan,” Yui enthusiastically revealed.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3lpovohEu
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Runa looked at me, her eyes started to well up with tears.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9XiCmbLrN
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“Careful with your makeup,” I reminded her.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLppr5lbj2
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Runa started biting her lips and fanning her eyes with her hands. I laughed. Then suddenly she hugged me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqDBikEQVq
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“Thank you,” Runa whispered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSILWnaEnOo
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“Then I need one more pudding tomorrow,” I said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2dyU3gZ6u
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“Awww,” Yui made a sound and hugged both of us.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Q4VaTUFki
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Then I felt Hina’s hands touch the top of our heads one by one.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOodNsdEwYV
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After that…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18p6zOuqk3
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We went inside the station and parted ways with her in the lobby. She looked excited, almost running toward the platform where the train she needs to ride is. She would turn sometimes and wave, and then she turned toward a corner and there she went.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaurCWUprBb
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I exhaled a little bit.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGCtgX010a
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“Look at Runa, so happy to go meet her prince,” Yui said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhsYnbPsvu
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“You’re still onto that?” I replied, judging her for always forcing romance fantasy onto others. “You should know by now that they aren’t actually a thing.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWEPwoZOin
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“Why? Don’t you—”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20agxZsotx
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“Yui, making assumptions without evidence is bad,” Hina interrupted Yui.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfejtGbBqo
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“Hnnngh, why are both of you so stubborn about romance!” Yui pouted. “This doesn’t make sense at all, you’re supposed to be a teenage girl like me.” Yui looked at me specifically when she said the latter.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDrd9ZM9Pp
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“...Are you saying that to just me?” I asked to confirm if she really intended to say what she said only to me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpxqFLhH9P
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“Because you’re always studying. When was the last time you even liked someone? I think if you find a boyfriend you’ll be able to relax more,” Yui answered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHRJtMP960
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“Huh? What does that have to do with anything?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRR1F0E4uB2
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“I mean, don’t you feel bad?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyOxOwU8hg
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“About?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8HvPryijx
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“About those boys you rejected last year. You could’ve accepted at least one of them and enjoyed your youth.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoudxEVtFz
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“I am enjoying my youth now.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSUNb8aJOm
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“Studying in your room?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1ybtDr6m8
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“Yes, thank you. And besides, you know how bad those confessions were. And I don’t have any time to spare for those kinds of things.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCArQueIAfD
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Yui’s expression suddenly shifted. She’s now smirking.. 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rUcpLRxXf
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“Oh, they were bad, alright,” Yui said. “Fujimoto-senpai, from last year. He was a second year student back then and was running to become the president of the student council.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntINStTjtL
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“Stop!” I shouted at Yui. I didn’t know whether to cover my ears so I can’t hear what she’s saying or to cover my face to hide my embarrassment.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNgytRylpv
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“During the election, he went up to the podium. And instead of giving his speech, he started mentioning your name. Then read a poem, talked about the bees and the birds, the blues and the violets, and compared you to a rose that bloomed in the morning. Then, when everybody turned their attention to you, you just glared at him. In fact you glared at him so badly that when he finally decided to give his speech he started crying. And because of that he lost. I heard he transferred schools after a few months.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAL93pqJvq
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“That wasn’t my fault, I was still wearing glasses back then and I forgot them in my bag. It was a mandatory assembly so I just hurried there without my glasses. And also I wasn’t paying attention to what he was saying since I was focused on seeing what’s in front of me, but still…”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23nQl9FwvF
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“Tanaka-kun.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvs410qxo1n
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She’s still going!?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eMoefAiuW
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“He confessed to you during lunch break at the beginning of the school year last year. You rejected him right then and there in front of everyone in the classroom,” Yui continued.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UbSVZF0qs
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“His timing was bad, we were eating. Why would someone even confess in front of others while they were busy having lunch?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWTyhpPd3r
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“So, you would’ve accepted if you weren’t?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9wPxRd3Po
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“...No.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfrfyaIgiV
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“See! After that Tanaka-kun didn’t eat lunch for days from being heartbroken.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3NyCjjkB5
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“That’s a lie! How did you even know that?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwB2txFA32
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Yui blinked. “Peripheral vision.” 125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77vJ4lwdHt
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I just hit my forehead with my palm. I shouldn’t even have asked.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f1ZuF5kU9
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“Yui,” Hina suddenly said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHRMFYd143
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“What?” Yui turned toward Hina.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2emrNNCxHf
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“Yamada-kun,” Hina said. And as soon as Yui heard what she said, Yui’s expression changed.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkW7Nr6s4NI
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“Wait. Hina, that’s different!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnzyCb45nw
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“During our third year of middle school, he said you were cute in class and then you knocked down your pencil case, you stood up, and apologized to the pencil case for five minutes.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDNZrxb3tA
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“I-I was stressed that day!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Yc5gPPEIr
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“Goto-kun,” Hina continued. “You asked me to turn him down on your behalf and pretended to have diarrhea. And you hid in the bathroom for twenty minutes.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqif9ISBq8
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“I wasn’t really hiding, I was—”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQb6zz0Gh7
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“You messaged me ‘Hina help there’s a boy’ and sent me a selfie of you hiding in the stall.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq9WcEVwCf
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I tried at first, but I couldn’t hold my laughter after that one. That’s the first time I heard a different side of Yui. I didn’t go to the same middle school as her, Runa and Hina, so knowing more about Yui is kind of a pleasant surprise, and funny.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabgovVtC65
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“Hey it’s not funny,” Yui said to me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4sOX8sebZ
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“Yui, you were worse than me.” I replied while still laughing.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6jZKKxkeG
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“No, it’s different, it’s like a disease… This is not fair!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCabqTcuaxO
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“What kind of disease?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IkYzh7SpN
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Yui was quiet.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNc4UW8Qom5
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“Aww, little Yui being shy around boys I see, even though you always dream about romance.” I teased her.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXaHnaTalX
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“Stop!” Yui pouted.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MvjHFZGgd
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I laughed for a bit longer, but when I settled down I turned toward Hina.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvuGl9euqB
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“How about y—”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJbh3eOZD3
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I was interrupted by her stare.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAu0PhLBlO
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“N-nevermind,” I just said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqARkmWaFp
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“Let’s head toward the library then and study,” Hina said, smiling at me.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVS6Rc89a5
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“Seriously,” Yui replied. “It’s Sunday, let’s go window shopping at the mall instead!”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8VZsKuZrb
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“Yui, we already planned last night that we’re really going to the library after Runa leaves,” I said. “Didn’t you read what I messaged you?”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUl3k7V0tC
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“Uhh… well… I only read the part about Runa, I might have accidentally erased the part where we have to go study later from my memories.” Yui looked at me and she let out a sigh after she saw my frown. “Fine… Library it is.”125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYzB1qYxb0
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“Let’s go then,” Hina said.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrOdC4gzAn
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I watched them walk first toward another platform. Before I decided to follow, I looked one last time in the direction where Runa disappeared.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FxKr3xe0z
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I stared for a few more seconds. Then a thought appeared in my head…125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNljkAfzKw
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Love… huh?125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiuaizcqFF
and then Add to home screen.