Morning of Monday, 4th week of May.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBcWlcplIu
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It was 8:24 a.m., still very early.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1OpumsH5k
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“Did you enjoy your pudding?” Runa asked me. She was in her seat, second row of the second column near the door in front of the classroom. I was standing between her and Yui, who also was in the second row but in the first column of seats. I wasn’t paying much attention when Runa and Yui were talking about a television drama, which Yui was far more enthusiastic about than Runa. I wasn’t the type that watched television much. So during the conversation, the word ‘pudding’ was the one that got my attention.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoemf9OX2j
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“Hmm, it was okay,” I replied. “But it wasn’t the pudding that I asked you for. I told you to buy them at 7/11.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTVE2UsYIx
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“Why are you still complaining? I told you yesterday by the train station that I had no time to find the convenience store. If I had searched before I arrived, I’d be going home late,” Runa explained, a little bit annoyed.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3fvcYludn
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“Mika, you’re so picky. That’s the reason why you’ll never find a boyfriend,” Yui said casually.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeLGvUJHUf
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The nerve of this girl, as if she was any better than me.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOw46efMGw
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“Shut up, toilet-chan,” I replied to Yui out of irritation.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu45qmN1snp
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Yui froze. Her mouth hung open, and her eyes resembled someone who had just seen a ghost. She slowly lowered her head and began staring at the ground. “Never call me that again,” she said. “I still have trauma from Runa calling me that nickname for three months when she found out.” Yui stood up, yet her eyes were still glued on the floor. “The whole class that time almost found out! And I almost decided to never ever come out of my room because of it!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL280o9a7gR
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“Umm, that’s actually not—” Runa was about to say something. But then, Yui launched herself at me and started kneeling. Then, for whatever irrationality that came into Yui's strange mind, she started pulling my skirt.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieEDaaRAqQ
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“Hey! Yui! That’s dangerous!” I shouted. I grabbed my skirt so it wouldn’t accidentally be pulled down by Yui.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tljUKbwCM
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“Please! I beg you, please! I don’t want to become a shut-in,” Yui begged. She wasn’t listening or even aware of the panic she was inducing in me. She was trying hard to be frantic and it was annoying that she decided to sacrifice my dignity just to prove her point.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFtIWSol1E
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“Stop!” I shouted louder. “Fine, fine! I won’t, so stop pulling!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7ku0twLez
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Yui stopped. I observed her further, being cautious of what she might do next. But she was still kneeling on the floor. Yui slowly moved up her head to glance at me. I noticed how she was exerting herself to make her eyes appear almost welling with invisible tears. “Really?” she asked, sounding like a puppy who whimpers for a treat.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BDcrykRbH
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“Yes, really. So please stop.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhoA7YBYVz
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Yui stood up fast, then smirked.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLm1nLhUAa
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“Okay!” Yui went to her seat, returning to her usual quirkiness. As soon as she sat down, I saw her smirk go wider. “Now that’s acting…” she muttered. But I heard it.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrF9X9YUus
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My right eye twitched.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9d3Wf3HbvK
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I knew Yui was just pretending, but that was not the reason why I conceded. I faced her and I was about to express my annoyance at her when suddenly the entrance at the back of our classroom slid open.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLq2c3X4nS
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My annoyance turned to curiosity as I focused on who entered just now.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfTG3lxKcZ
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And I saw him...140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbRSxvCVQ2
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Kuroiwa Rei…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFvvYxBG0C
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Just a week ago I would have definitely pulled my eyes back away from him immediately. But this time I kept them on him. I was actually surprised that I did. And now that I was able to observe him properly, I saw what was going on around him. The back of the classroom that was populated earlier by some classmates, magically cleared when he entered. Not a single stare from anyone toward him, and their backs were turned on him.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpBBOkQ4wV
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I caught his messy black hair.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogApt9Fgt1
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I gripped my left hand.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9RvZTVUWl
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I glimpsed at his uniform looking a bit unironed.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q5pNbw0TW
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I gripped my right hand.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJjzynxwiP
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I spotted how his tie was slightly crooked.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPH4bjoAMv9
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I crossed my arms on my chest.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLqI2O2Tkr
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They were just small details, and except for his hair, the rest that I noticed weren’t really that bad, but it was messy enough for me to question, How could he tolerate going to school looking like that?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5jpWbgLX4
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I took a deep breath.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXazMWAskF
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“Ah, there he is,” Runa said, sitting beside me. “Kuroiwa-kun,” she continued. She stood up quickly then practically jogged toward him.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylS8zzML2A
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Kun?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCbiaddOfg
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Runa stopped in front of Kuroiwa-san. And that was enough to change the atmosphere inside the classroom. Earlier there weren’t any eyes heading toward the back, now it felt like every pair targeted Runa and him. Especially the boys.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJajr4Hh6zC
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I could hear Runa asking Kuroiwa-san questions about past lectures. But I could also hear murmurs around the room. ‘What is going on?’ ‘Why is she talking with him?’ ‘Doesn’t she know he’s dangerous?’140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCRCIEJYav
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I was surprised Runa didn’t even notice those murmurs. But she seemed like she was really paying attention to his answers to her inquiries.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhB8fZACgs
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Sigh…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9OP5cp2lq
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I guess I wasn't really in the position to actually blame everyone else. I mean, this guy showed up during the first day of school with a patch on his cheek. I even thought he was a delinquent. But since Runa trusted him and nothing dangerous really happened whenever she went to his apartment alone, I started to ask myself if maybe I was wrong. But these people had no reason or any basis to even start asking the same questions.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzfK6lV5u6
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“Woah,” Yui whispered.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepvGQOGhft
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“Are you going to fantasize about romance again?” I reprimanded Yui.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96bvzWsKiH
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“No… it’s just that… this is the first time I properly looked at him… he actually looks… human.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TZWAog3mL
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“...What do you mean? What were you even imagining him to look like?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE2l6noQeg
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“The dark lord.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ92Mtmb46o
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“...Who?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnMyeT6hcV
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“Darth Vader, you know, from that popular sci-fi movie.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIhk4RkHeO
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“...I don’t get it.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBWL04Wk5Y
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The front door slid open behind Yui and me. Both of us turned around and saw Hina appearing from the door. She looked like she ran to get here.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaSC5wvmnP
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“I thought I was going to be late,” Hina said while catching her breath.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXfxJuq53l
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“No worries, you’re on time.” Yui smiled at Hina.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Xb3y4H1Ej
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“Where’s Runa?” Hina asked.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQWJTS2DT3
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“At the back, talking to—” I interrupted myself when I thought I noticed Hina’s eyes widen as she looked toward the back. It was so subtle that you could easily miss it unless you were paying attention to her eyes. I only caught a glimpse of it…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3y6Nn5jzwQ
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Hmm?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFtfVLjhHA
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Was it my imagination? I couldn’t tell, since I couldn’t think of any reason why she would react how I thought she had reacted.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMSUuxgXPr
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I glanced at the clock. Homeroom was about to start.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaKhdTYrLD
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During English class…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSB2RHrBen
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“Tojo-san.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tPbbhfmZh
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I was listening to Ms. Eguchi, our English teacher…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhimkOl5FrL
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“Tojo-saaaan.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpSL5mosvn
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We were in the middle of an important lecture that might show up in the exams…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYLfSvkFQ0
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Thud*140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFXWvWWrKy
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But this idiot guy sitting behind me had been trying to distract me. I glanced below my chair to see what the thing that hit my back was. A crumpled paper. I turned my head around halfway toward the one who was causing me annoyance, just enough for him to see my eyes. And then I glared at him. I glared at him like I was stacking tons of papers on his head until he stopped interfering with my studies.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAzRVbnK0s
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“Stop it, Katou-san,” I whispered angrily. But he only smiled at me and gestured for me to pick up the paper. I didn’t want to, so I ignored him and turned my focus back on the lecture.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Wu9WS9bpz
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“Read it,” Katou-san said. I felt his voice get closer so I reflexively leaned forward even though he wasn’t close.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXiRtABuH5k
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I still ignored him.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaI0CG4nJuZ
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Thud*140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG1N4goOFc
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I assumed that was another crumpled paper thrown against my back. My left eye twitched and I immediately grabbed the first one from the floor. I was about to throw it back at him when the teacher called.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjtf8uToZN
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“Is something wrong, Tojo-san?” Ms. Eguchi asked with her usual soft tone that sounded more worried than upset.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYGLyb3io8
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“N-nothing,” I said. I took a deep breath and composed myself. I sat straight and prepared to continue focusing on the lecture. I hid the crumpled paper inside my hand and crushed it.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PwVbyHOHm
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“Just read it,” Katou-san insisted.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb4cJG0ZO5
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Alright fine then.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQXR7wX6F8
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I opened the crumpled paper to see what was inside. I was not careful. I didn’t care if I accidentally tore it.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WJBvEqeXc
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‘Hang out with us later?’140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvi6bqaKMR
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I took another deep breath. I wrote ‘NO!’ on the paper, crumpled the paper carefully, glanced at Katou-san, and threw the paper at him.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd6YFCJraG
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It hit his nose. I was satisfied.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpnvpWkuT8
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I stuck my tongue toward Katou-san before he even realized just what happened. Then I faced the front. Hopefully, he got the message and finally stopped.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OAE4L0CTg
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A few seconds later140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcnuosVQm2
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Thud*140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8Y4thVOkB
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Seriously! This guy!140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cpjazU9HC
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Thud*140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKveTHw5zk
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Two in a row?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPdwx5pETF
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I gripped my hands and I almost broke my pencil in half because of it. I reflexively stood up and snapped in his direction.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG4IeDF2i4
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“Will you please, stop!” I shouted.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzWC1w73pn
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“Huh? Umm, huh? What’s wrong, Tojo-san? D-did I make a mistake?” Ms. Eguchi panicked in front of the blackboard, and she was shifting her attention between me and what was written on the board. “I-I’m sorry if I did…” she said with her left hand covering her mouth slightly.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4LJA8XRETK
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I raised my hand reflexively. “Sorry,” I said, “I think I just had a headache. Can I be excused to the infirmary?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt0O5E85c8
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“Oh… Oh! Alright then, I thought you were angry because I made a mistake. Thank God.” Ms. Eguchi sighed in relief. “If that’s the case, let’s see…” She pulled out the attendance book from the desk and laid it out on top of it.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3OSnLqHX6A
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I knew what she was about to do, so I tried to tell her it wasn’t necessary.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oDueIsHpJ
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“Umm… Eguchi-sensei. There’s no ne—”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaMIaLLmTH
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“The one to take you to the infirmary is this person!” Ms. Eguchi said as she closed her eyes and randomly placed her index finger into the attendance book.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9XQgrJiFJ
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There were thirty students attending class 2-B, me included. Three of them would have been the ones I would have preferred. Fifteen of them, I wouldn't mind. Nine of them would make me think twice. And two of them were the ones I definitely wouldn’t want. And of all the names where Ms. Eguchi’s finger landed, one of the two that I didn’t want was chosen to walk me to the infirmary.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj295vnsKK5
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And this particular one was now walking a few steps behind me.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBhuamgJuT
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“Hey!” I said. I stopped to face him. “Kuroiwa-san, if you’re really not into this, you can go back to the classroom, you know.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji8WPAxcAV
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Kuroiwa-san just stood there and said nothing. He only stared at me looking confused.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3erEli2S0x
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“I mean, you look like a creep walking behind me like that. You’re supposed to accompany me, not become my stalker.” I explained to him assertively.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ189OsG7GXQ
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“Okay,” Kuroiwa-san replied with his dull voice.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtv3Mswpsf
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I closed my eyes and took a deep breath and turned around to continue walking.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIKx0gpiju
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A few steps later… Kuroiwa-san was still walking behind me.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJp1qvI7sWw
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I stopped, crossed my arms and turned around toward him. And this time he was a few more steps further than before.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmh4B7Xhoj
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How?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr4Ebo9RtK
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“Walk beside me!” I said with more assertion. “Can’t you walk faster?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXGAhcR2CI
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“...I was,” Kuroiwa flatly said.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjpvULKEDi
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Sigh…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqMwSqqXHh
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“Alright… just try to walk beside me, I’ll wait,” I replied. I tried to be calm. This guy was too weird. Was he really just slow or was he deliberately being slow? I couldn’t tell at all.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4OVgtwsdO
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When Kuroiwa-san finally reached me, I uncrossed my arms and started moving with him. I matched his speed and glanced up at him. I smiled.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC71jiuM6v
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“See, much better, right?” I said.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuI8uyjdDpS
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Kuroiwa-san didn’t answer, he just kept his eyes forward. I didn’t mind it at all but some other things still did. Other things that didn’t involve walking. We took a couple of steps and during those I was debating myself if I did want to ask him or not. And ultimately, I just really wanted to know. I wanted to know if he had the answers I was looking for.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRVjfhqN3ik
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“So, umm.” I hesitated for a bit. I took a little breath to clear my mind before I continued. “How did you manage to teach Runa about quadratic equations so quickly?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGkI0Kzmir
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Kuroiwa then stared at me. I noticed that while he was still facing me, he would move his pupils to the right, then up, then toward me.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAD6GwcPd8
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“I made her understand them.” Kuroiwa-san answered.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvS5iBtANF
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“Well, evidently. But that’s not what I’m asking.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY3EbP3yCY
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Kuroiwa-san sighed. What? Why? Was he annoyed? I couldn’t tell just by looking at his face. But if he was then, the nerve of this guy. I just asked a simple question.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwUgqxpxLX
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“Fine, if you don’t want to answer then nevermind,” I said while getting mildly irritated by his attitude.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtZZ6uqCkN
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“Sorry,” Kuroiwa-san replied. “I was just thinking.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8L8u7TGdx
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Huh? Really? So he wasn’t annoyed?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacCBD1fZbx
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“My method was to integrate information into her by making her become familiar with what quadratic equations are. I needed her to listen to all the words and their meanings and simply have her make a conclusion for herself. To solve it, I made her do one problem repeatedly and had her focus on it until she understood the basics before we moved onto a more difficult problem.” Kuroiwa-san explained. He sounded very competent and I could somehow understand the logic behind what he was talking about. But repeatedly making her solve one problem?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7yq0bOrPf
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“So, how many times would you have her repeat solving one problem?” I asked.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSTHkYW0l5
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“About twenty five for the first one. Fifteen for the second. Eighteen for the third. Eleven for—”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHDPlS8Vcy
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“Wait, wait a minute.” I was surprised. Kuroiwa-san made Runa repeat that many times in one equation? Could you even call that progress? “Is that even teaching? Isn’t that a bit of a torture? What would you do if she got bored and instead stopped learning because of it?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking every question I had. His methods were just so nonsensical that I believe the risk if he failed would have heavier consequences than if he taught her normally.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJCiAOH3Zc
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Kuroiwa-san sighed again. Which is it? Was he annoyed, or was he just thinking, or maybe something else? My eyes kept observing his expression. Still the same, but I never left my sight away from him.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsCBJEzyaT
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“I have reasons why I chose that method,” Kuroiwa-san said. His eyes were meeting mine, but for some reason, I would avoid his gaze and glance over to the side, my heart beating a little faster. However, I eventually succeeded in locking my gaze onto his, while I tried to calm myself down.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mHLzzLy5v
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“What is your reason then?” I asked, still not convinced of Kuroiwa-san's explanation so far. Runa suffered a lot internally for this guy and I need to know why she kept going back. “Are you talking about… the condition you gave her?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtQ5hMPTBq
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Kuroiwa-san turned his gaze up front slowly. I frowned because it looked like he was trying to avoid my question. As we stepped on the covered walkway that separates the new school building from the old one where the infirmary was, I asked him again.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ZvNMP9zH
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“What was the condition exactly?” I asked with clear resolution. There was no way I would just let Kuroiwa-san not answer it this time.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYKAl74utl
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“That’s between me and Miyase-san,” Kuroiwa-san said.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPfaGBKnew
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I closed my eyes and stopped walking halfway through the covered walkway. Was this guy serious? Did he really think that I would just let this go and accept his answer? There is no way. I clutched my hands so tight that I felt my nails dug in my palms.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP7tvRdBbf
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“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I shouted at Kuroiwa-san. He stopped and turned halfway to face me. But his eyes locked onto mine. “You don’t know anything about what Runa went through last week because of your recklessness!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiSxA2LYmL
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I walked toward Kuroiwa-san to meet his stare closer. I wanted him to hear me. I wanted him to listen to every single word I would say to him. He needed to understand.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLDB4P8XN1
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“Ever since she came back from your apartment, ever since she heard about your condition. No matter how much she tried, it showed on her face. She looked scared, she looked unsure, she looked like her world was being torn to pieces. She tried to keep it all to herself but it showed, yet she kept coming back to you. There’s no way I would just let you answer me with something vague. I won’t allow it. You don’t know how much distress you’ve caused her!” I poured all the tightness in my chest into my words. My eyes gradually gravitated to the ground. And my voice started to sound quieter. “And I worried about her. I kept thinking if I was making the right decision to just let her go alone. And almost every night that’s all I could think about. And because of that… because of that…”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqOzfXcCO6
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“I apologize,” Kuroiwa-san said. “I understand I caused her distress.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgYBoHSkT1
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“Don’t give me that nonsense!” I forced my head up to meet his gaze fiercely. “Don’t tell me that you understand it when you were the one that caused this all!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xPscIaogD
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Kuroiwa-san just kept his stare. I could feel him trying to observe every expression I was making. I reflexively avoided his eyes and turned my head to the side.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qCbBUkWBj
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“Did you know that Runa’s mother forbade Runa to go to your apartment yesterday?” I said while my head returned to staring at the ground. “Did you know that when her mother found out, Runa cried herself to sleep? That she’d do that after a night and a day of your study sessions. That you transformed her fears into trust in just an instant. That after just one session. I was so impressed when she started teaching me lessons that I didn’t know about. I couldn’t make her remember one lesson I taught her for a week. And you made her understand a lesson that is more difficult than what I taught her. How did you even do that…?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUv8TZhPWBr
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I couldn’t sustain the animosity from my voice. The more things I said, the softer they sounded. I was supposed to talk about what Runa was feeling. I was supposed to make him understand what he made her feel. But each sentence I spoke started to reveal what I truly felt.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYAxuqtaA2
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It’s unfair.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsw8DKLx03K
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“Even I need help.” I muttered to myself. I was consciously careful for Kuroiwa to not hear it. I wasn’t jealous of Runa about anything. It was just that I also needed what she had. I held my breath and tightened my shoulders. I caught my lips before they could even tremble. I felt the need to cry but I couldn’t afford it. So I had to suppress it, if not, I would spend time fixing my contacts that I was wearing. But still, my eyes couldn’t escape tearing up.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtAchEdZ8E
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I shut my eyes. I tried to glue them together. Then I heard Kuroiwa walk toward me, then behind me.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRuPdR2C6c
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“If you can’t tell me what the condition is… then at least tell me what it is for.” I said one last time before he could leave.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg9fNJD47T
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I heard nothing. So I turned around to see if he went back inside the new school building without hearing me. And I saw him still standing right in front of the entrance.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjesRR62EkQ
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“I asked her to show me her resolve,” Kuroiwa-san said, straightforward and true. I didn’t feel like he just lied to me. His eyes, even though I couldn’t read them, didn’t show any malice.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQY90VvHvuh
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But resolve…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8l12gHQH58
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Was I not showing enough resolve?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIT2QnsLK1
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“The infirmary is close by. I think you can get there on your own at this point.” Kuroiwa-san continued. He carefully turned himself toward the entrance but he paused. “If you overthink too much, your headache will get worse,” he said then started walking.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiu1fAudB0
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpS7riJxMZ
Afternoon of Tuesday, 4th week of May.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzMJZWIisX
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I checked my phone. Still 4:26 pm.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwfDYw25Tl
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I sat here at the train station for almost an hour now. Today was supposed to be my turn to cover for Runa. Well, yesterday, it was Hina and Yui’s turn. I went home early before lunch break because I genuinely started having a really bad headache. I felt guilty that I had to make Yui and Hina handle covering for Runa, and that I had to volunteer to do it alone today.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTfF3FI4UL
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Last night, Runa messaged me about her plans to be absent this morning. I wanted to tell her no, but I couldn’t. I knew it was because she needed more time to study. And because of that, this morning, everyone noticed that both Runa and Kuroiwa-san were absent. So naturally, everyone started talking about it. And if these two weren’t careful enough, people would start to misunderstand their relationship. That would be another set of problems if it happened.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAz5uhMy4Ry
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Sigh…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ309CaDLdI5
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I leaned back to get comfortable on the bench I was sitting on. After what happened yesterday, I started to think more about many things. But what I had thought most was what he said.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAnBSlfTKs
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Resolve.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZOWt9HKvQ
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The word echoed inside my thoughts.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpomYegav4
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As if I didn’t have it from the start. It was always resolve that kept me up at night to study, it was always resolve that kept me going even if everything started to feel heavy. Resolve was what I gained first before I chose to walk toward this path. So I didn’t think I was lacking it. And I didn’t think that was something I was missing…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRytsi6qCi
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So what do I lack?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHZUZEwvd3
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I didn’t know…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZA1vJnImL
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I closed my eyes to think more about it. To try and understand the question itself and find the answer afterwards. After all, leaving it unanswered didn’t sit well in my mind. And it didn't sit well with me all afternoon yesterday, all night last night, and all day today. I didn’t like to call a puzzle complete when it was still missing many pieces.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZ23T0WKyX
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Suddenly, I felt a vibration inside my bag. I could also hear the faint ringtone coming from it. I hurriedly opened my bag to see what it was all about. Then it was a call… from Runa…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAJYYYu159
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I answered it.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwCxeLCoL5
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“Hello?” I said.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfAIqmfod7
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“Hello, Mika?” Runa spoke from the other side of the call, sounding like she was freaking out.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmZM4Uyv9z
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“What’s wrong?” I asked immediately.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EXizYUh8R
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“It’s Kuroiwa-kun, I am walking far ahead of him now so he wouldn’t hear me but he’s following me to the station!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2wxlTPyni
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Huh?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVXyuFrXqa
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“That creep! Did he finally show his real motives now? Is he stalking you?” I asked genuinely concerned.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0Yii3s4AQ
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“No, it’s not that,” Runa answered. “He said he’s going to my house to meet Mom!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdKJvzPWyW
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“Why?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYPYLxK3u2
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“I don’t know, he said he wanted to talk to her.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LN5iZZkrq
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“You have to stop him! You know your mother is going to kill you if he shows up at your house and finds out you were still going to his apartment alone!!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkT9jTOXnxY
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“I tried, Mika, I really did. But he wasn’t listening.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlxgeucR9h
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I paused for a second to consider the options we had.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvJR8siugn
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“How about you ditch him. He walks slowly so if you run to the station he won’t be able to follow you,” I gave Runa some advice I thought would definitely work.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CtHijuVjO
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“No!” she replied.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7EoLtJV2L
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“Why not? Runa, this is going to become a disaster if you let him.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3yO4ovo3o
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“I know, but he told me he would still go with or without me. And besides, he knew which train I always ride. He has been walking me to the station every time we’re done studying.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhyU6FqWIG
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“Seriously?” I said.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVBZWnpvFd
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“Seriously!” Runa replied. “And also… What if he gets lost?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrd81BzIj1
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“Runa! You’re more concerned about him than what he is about to do to you!?”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWFNPWHTrm
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“I mean… wait, we’re almost at the station. We’ll talk when we get there.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjo17WqPxv
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“No! Ditch him!”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJ5GD9JxAp
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“Okay bye, talk to you later.”140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡey5ib3Ldjb
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The phone call ended.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS66QZQojQ1
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Did she not hear what I said? And what was that weirdo even thinking?140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDadS3riBw
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I squeezed my hands because I knew what caused this. I shouldn’t have told him. If only I had known he would be this reckless. A day before the exams started and he chose to do something irresponsible? I couldn’t even imagine what was going to happen later.140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K5h4s1DDn
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This is bad…140Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSrbcSWHSc
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This is seriously bad…
and then Add to home screen.