Tuesday night, 4th week of May114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfxQys0geH
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Kuroiwa Rei…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dKw0Gp90r
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He was someone that I thought was a trouble maker. I was terrified of him. I never had any intentions to get near him. He was different. He wasn’t normal. His eyes were scary, the way he walked was scary, the way he talked was scary. But recently… he wasn’t as scary as I thought he was…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU0qRJqd7Y
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It bothered me that he asked Runa to go to his apartment alone… I blamed him for being the reason why Runa and I fought… I was skeptical about the condition—the one I still knew nothing about… And I never fully trusted him…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfcZrCg98x
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But that was before…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYorRAovfXh
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When I saw his notebooks, I admired them… When Runa showed some knowledge she learned from him, I was impressed… When I talked to him in the hallway, I was mesmerized… When I vented at him, I was vulnerable… And when I saw him bravely standing in front of Runa’s Mom… I was…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYP6Swdeu1
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I had to stop myself from thinking any further about what it could be. Not now… not yet…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78LIdjSBnb
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All I knew… was that… ever since the day he specifically called me annoying…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRq3kFTgGk
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I had never stopped thinking about him.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzJBVqWpNP
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I was starting to think… that maybe all of this was a mistake…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qDHyWKFUp
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Thursday, 4th week of May114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsoTiN39SI
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Two days of the midterm exams were over. Tomorrow morning would be the last day.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTckMUKSDY
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Yesterday, I went to Kuroiwa-san's apartment along with Runa for the first time. As part of the condition Shizuna-san made, I tagged along. And finally, I was able to witness how they studied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nwBaAJIm3
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And it was… different…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpOms0HM0s
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Kuroiwa-san had mentioned his methods before, but being able to see it happen in person was a bit baffling. I was doing my own studying alone in the dining area, but I couldn’t help but look at what he was doing. From where I sat, it looked like he was just torturing Runa. I closed my eyes and held my breath for as long as I could. Repeating after she got it wrong, repeating if she struggled, repeating even after she got it right. In the end, I wasn’t able to hold it in anymore, and I started scolding Kuroiwa-san about his weird methods.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHbwlvXXq2
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That was a mistake…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiLU5nJvZf
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I spent thirty minutes trying to correct Kuroiwa-san, telling him his methods were wrong, and that there should be a better way of teaching Runa. I told him that he was making it unnecessarily more difficult. I told him that he should think about Runa more.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXUpfI9zgE
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But he only stared at me… And when I saw his eyes, I realized the reason why he was against me coming… maybe I was just annoying and a bother after all…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimKbWWnjN9
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How could I ever think of ruining something that had been already built? Like, what right did I have to teach someone else the right way when I tried to do the right way and yet it failed?114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQGAq7sCUI
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But I couldn’t help it… I knew the reason why… I just never intended to say what it was…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQblyG0NP5m
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“Let’s take a break,” Kuroiwa-san said from the living room. His flat voice suddenly brought me back to the present. I was at the dining area like last time.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxFIfkmhsM
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I checked my phone for the time. It was already 5:14 p.m.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNxgZqgm6E
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We arrived at Kuroiwa-san's apartment around 1 p.m. after Runa and I had lunch with Hina and Yui. And as soon as we arrived, Runa and Kuroiwa-san immediately started, just like yesterday. And just like yesterday, four hours later, he finally announced they were taking a break.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJ4HgNAsVy
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Brutal.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwgO9Iulds
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But, I already vowed to myself that I won’t intervene.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6y3SiXzSN
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I glanced at the living room. I saw Kuroiwa-san tidying up the notebooks and textbooks on their study table in front of him before he stood up and sat down on the sofa. When I turned my gaze toward Runa, she was leaning back, tilting her head up to look at me. When she noticed me looking at her, she straightened up, turned around and showed me a victory sign. She looked a little tired yet thoroughly satisfied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao0SBOZn0z
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“Are you done too?” Runa asked, speaking a little louder so I could hear her.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13YZnSulbC
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“Not yet,” I answered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bTGG6lX2T
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“How are you doing?” She tilted her head.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulmZ8PbqUV
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“Fine…” I said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYMj8JaLSu
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But I wasn’t. I had been stuck on this one particular part of English since last week. I tried asking Hina about it, but even she was having a hard time with it. I subtly glanced out of the corner of my eye to see Kuroiwa-san reading a book.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PjRg0DUi8
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Maybe he can…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9Py3Y9rRb
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A phone suddenly buzzed. I checked mine, but it wasn’t the one ringing.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxDxIcSfUR
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“Ah! Sorry, Mom is calling.” Runa stood up, then walked toward the living room door. She went to the main hall to answer her phone.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33S7iE6oXj
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Suddenly, I was left alone with Kuroiwa-san…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FLWJYvcoT
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I inhaled, then exhaled.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGs5PYm9BZ
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This… This could be a chance…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJ9X7THQWe
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I stood up and walked toward the living room. I paused for a second, but I kept moving. It was not like I was nervous to approach Kuroiwa-san. I just didn’t know why I was hesitating. But even if he and Runa were taking a break, I felt like I was still intruding by going over to ask him. But I needed to…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQTcwuEllT
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When I stepped in front of Kuroiwa-san, I leaned my upper body to the left, tilting my head so I could peek at what he was doing.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyYAwyfnjw
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“Hey…” I called out to him, carefully. I waited for a few seconds, but he was not responding. His eyes were very focused on what he was reading.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvh3AhCf0sZ
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I pulled my lips to the side. But I wasn’t annoyed. I was trying to be patient.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PejzTNae6
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Unlike with Runa, Kuroiwa-san and I didn’t have any agreement about him teaching me. But I figured, it didn’t hurt to ask, at least. I stared at him for a few more seconds before I decided to sit beside him on the sofa. I opened the textbook and my notebook that I had taken with me to the living room. I placed them both on my lap and started reading. I kept sighing, hoping that maybe Kuroiwa-san would ask me why I was sighing. I looked at him again… and again, he was unresponsive.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZQNF9IzUd
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I let out one final sigh. Even with Kuroiwa-san sitting down, the significant difference in our heights meant I still had to look up slightly to meet his eyes. I wondered if I was bothering him. But before I gave up entirely, I needed to try one more time.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UCYk99KM1
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“Hey…” I said, louder this time.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGkmkGFhd6
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Kuroiwa-san moved his eyes.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5Uzc70cFE
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I caught myself just looking at them for half a second. I closed my mouth before I continued.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA57oZrugc3
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“Can I…” I hesitated for a moment. “Can I ask you a question?” I asked.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlylKRXNwU
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“What is it?” Kuroiwa-san replied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RhZPqpjd9
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I turned my eyes to my hands, closed my eyes, and then took a deep breath. I took my notebook from my lap, opened it, and flipped the pages until I got to where I wanted to ask him about.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzDz82oIyv
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“This part,” I said, pointing at a sentence using my index finger. “I have a hard time understanding this sentence from the rest. It’s a question that starts with ‘Would you’ but the answer is no if you agree and yes if you don’t, while the others’ answers were the opposite.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1te55QWMvs
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Kuroiwa-san leaned forward to look where I was pointing. I was a little surprised because he was too close. Too close that it was making me feel a little uncomfortable.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhLz06XNIJ
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“That one,” Kuroiwa-san said as he leaned back to how he was before. “If you look closely, one word made a difference compared to the others.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubfTh1mrIz
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I inspected the sentence…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMhR02KA45
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“Is it because of ‘mind’?” I asked.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIesdIrzmdo
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“Yes,” Kuroiwa-san answered. He turned toward me and now his eyes were staring at mine. I held a breath for a second. “Usually, a ‘would you’ question is a polite way of asking someone to do something.” He moved his eyes up to think and then went back to mine. “Like, if you ask ‘Would you open this door?’ Then the answer will be yes if you agree.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM27pH25A68
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“Mhm,” I said. I was getting a little self-conscious from his stare, so I reflexively glanced toward my notebook instead.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXafvUzSmN1
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“But if you add the word ‘mind’ like, ‘Would you mind opening this door?’ the question turns from politely asking someone to do something to asking if someone would hate or dislike doing something. So then, the answer becomes ‘No’ if you agree and ‘Yes’ if you don’t.” Kuroiwa-san continued.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Fyq624TZF
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“How?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJ5TsK54TN
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“Because in this context, mind is a verb that means to object or be bothered by something. So if you add it with a ‘Would you’ question, the question transforms into a conditional one instead.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKp6MfkJbQ
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“I see,” I replied. So that’s how it is. In just a few easy explanations, I understood completely. I never even thought the nuance was due to the verb that was used. I was looking instead at the sentence as a whole rather than checking for context. Of all the subjects we had, English was the one I wasn’t very good at. “Thank you,” I said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnsVbRI9hR
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Kuroiwa-san didn’t respond so I looked up at him. He started reading his book again. His face was always calm and I was staring at it. Then somehow, I had become aware of how close I was sitting beside him. There was a gap of a few inches between us, a typical distance between two people sitting on the same sofa who are not intimate.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9WCXr2mk4
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I shifted myself to the right to get closer to him…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePl9aBDljP
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That didn’t feel right.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHI0NtYyENH
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I shifted myself to the left to get farther from him…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0u8uhQiG3
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I sighed.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUiGp83G4g
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I needed to ask him again about another sentence and grammar structure that I could not follow. But then the living room door opened.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedUFMOPX9c
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“Sorry, Mom’s call took a little longer,” Runa said as she was entering. “Mom was asking a lot of questions and… Oh! Wait, Mika, stay like that…” she said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMFlkZhAYQ
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“What?” I replied, but before I knew what was happening, Runa had already pointed her phone’s camera at me and took a picture.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2E9LPEpiEP
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“Picture, get!” Runa called out. “Ok, next is to send it to Mom… And sent…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OaEtUlWgx
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“What was that for?” I asked Runa.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnqFlqAGdv
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“Proof,” Runa answered. “Mom wanted to know if I’m with you.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVOIHkBNeZ
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“You could’ve warned me first,” I said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dZAerH4og
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“Sorry,” Runa apologized to me, smiling awkwardly. But then she turned toward Kuroiwa-san. “Anyways, Rei-kun—”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8x1b7Hh5Q
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I frowned. I didn’t know why so I tried to untangle the frown.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGJ9a2XJYC
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“Let’s start studying again,” Runa continued. “Mom said that we need to get home in an hour so…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe53oTSkfWM
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“Are you sure, Miyase-san?” Kuroiwa-san replied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdE0wH6ACAA
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Runa pouted and went silent, staring at Kuroiwa-san intently.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZuLbMft7U
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Kuroiwa-san stood up beside me and I did the same. I wanted to ask more questions but I didn’t want to be a nuisance, so I just had to go back to the dining area.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHA5SXyE5P
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“Then open your notes to page 15,” Kuroiwa-san said as he sat down in front of their study desk.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uqlN0eZf3
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“...No,” Runa said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEjte5iFko
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I stopped walking and wondered what Runa was thinking so I turned around to look at her. She turned her head toward the right. She was facing the side, her eyes were closed, and was still pouting. Even behind her, I could see her arms crossed on her chest.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3Hn1f0mhX
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“Why?” Kuroiwa-san asked.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NBvzfA6uW
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“Rei-kun… Why are you calling me with my last name again?” Runa replied as she turned her head back to him.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2DPU9s4C3
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Kuroiwa-san moved his eyes to each side then up.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmfQ1wk61i
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“My Mom’s last name is also Miyase. If you keep calling me the same as her, I wouldn’t know if you are talking to me,” Runa continued.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK1a3E8FYF
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I lifted an eyebrow. I knew immediately what Runa was implying but the circumstances of that time on Tuesday forced Kuroiwa-san to call her by her name. To me, it seemed unfair to just ask him to change the way he addressed her just because of that one time. I was so sure Kuroiwa-san wouldn’t agree with it as—114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDK7yeVsvl2
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“Alright,” Kuroiwa-san answered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNCL5PtrET
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I opened my mouth.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxWKTggedDh
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“Okay, good,” Runa replied, smiling. She paused for a second. “C-can you try saying it then?” she asked, sounding a little shy.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs1qTSEV77
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I bit my lips.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiew2vUUS8
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“Now?” Kuroiwa-san said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3geqOq6cs
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“Yes,” Runa nodded.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ002w4gSJId
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“R—” Kuroiwa-san hesitated for a bit. I was watching him very intently. “Runa-san,” he finally said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9347YtihU
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Runa kneeled then leaned forward toward Kuroiwa-san slowly. She reached her left hand to him and poked his nose with her index finger.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU18TGQt8BL
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“Just… Runa…” she said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOr5PkUSMjc
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Kuroiwa-san crawled backward so fast and so far that he almost hit the TV behind him, almost jumping. “W-w-w-what are you doing?” he said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscCqRZUqEJ
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Runa just giggled then proceeded to sit properly in front of the table. “Alright, then let’s start,” she casually replied. Even without looking at her face, I knew she would be smiling.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cYgSHH6gM
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I looked at Kuroiwa-san… He was blushing…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOEtZWO3DZP
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I closed my eyes. I suddenly felt uneasy. I immediately turned to the dining area. I took all my belongings and put them inside my bag.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbG7jjrlQtF
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“I’m going home!” I declared.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZLObKACEO
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I walked toward the living room door and opened it. My feet were stomping, and before I closed the door, I heard Runa surprised behind me.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmLYcMVO5e
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“Huh? Mika!? Why!?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0GS6mqg7s
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What was all that? How was Runa able to just touch him casually like that? It was just a poke in the nose but…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyPiKJq8Pe
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I shook my head…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctoMgXl61d
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Was that how they usually acted when they were alone? Was that the reason Kuroiwa-san didn’t want me to be there? Were they really just studying?114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErz9fcbRx9
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOKMNj2SP2
While I was always alone in the dining area, being careful to not disturb them, as soon as they forgot about me, they would start flirting. They didn’t even think that I was there, like my existence didn’t matter. They never even thought I would feel uncomfortable looking at them that way.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLVBOgnN4k
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZriBv7jVE5
…How could he be blushing?114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJ2bcnbaiD
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5yYY6CLgr
…And how could I even feel uncomfortable?114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zY8YqeJTD
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I stopped walking and I ended up standing in the middle of the street. I was on the way to the train station. I just wanted to go home at this point. I wasn’t needed there. I was just a bother.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXUZ3V9arY
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I clenched my hands tightly and felt my nails digging into my palms. I choked as I felt my heart starting to squeeze in my chest.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhG8Zl8IdG3
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I didn’t know how to answer the questions I asked myself. All I knew was that I never wanted this. That I did not intend to feel like this. All I wanted was for his help. That was the whole reason I volunteered to accompany them in the first place. But I never even got the chance to get close to Kuroiwa-san. They just spent hours facing each other, talking to each other, and…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBXtmhsqQJ
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Looking at each other…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hTrzKjw4u
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What the heck! What the heck! What the heck!114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqRfur135J
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66ogHvxOYS
I let my chest soak up the pain that I didn’t fully understand. I just wanted to ask one more question. Just one more. But Runa…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqtXFzJ8Hc
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I tried to inspect myself. I still couldn’t figure out what it was.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwFYgX2oWp
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4PXnqNB87
…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEszL3lSZn5
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Maybe… coming here was a mistake after all…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Yln0Ic2t2
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“Wait! Mika!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRt2HSNOQP
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I heard Runa’s voice behind me. I turned to see her running toward me. But I turned back quickly and resumed walking.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGnMJt53sB
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIowH15Rz6Q
“I said wait!” Runa caught up to me and grabbed my wrist. It forced me to feel unbalanced for a second but thankfully I did not fall down. I turned my head toward Runa and she was bending down a bit with her right hand holding her knee, looking down while catching her breath.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJw0acqEHD
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“Why are you here?” I asked.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxffNedGjhc
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“Why?” Runa took one deep breath, let it out, then stood up properly to face me. “You know why. If you’re not there and Mom finds out, I’ll get in trouble again!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpo2k11Zgtd
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I frowned.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjKz3pmzX3
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“Yeah, that’s right. I was just there to be your proof afterall.” I replied with a sharp voice that I did not expect to come out.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxpxRzrlUl
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“No! Mika, what are you talking about?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7szHUTNQB0
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCXLLSdICB
“Go back, even if I wasn’t there, you’ll be fine. Besides, you have already sent your proof to your mother. My usefulness has already ended right there.” I pulled my arms from Runa’s grip and continued walking.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35s1GScu43
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“Mika,” Runa said as she walked beside me. “You know that’s not how it is.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE52VF9tV1H
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I didn’t answer. I just kept looking forward. I didn’t want to look at her.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC51oqVmw0
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“I’m sorry,” Runa continued. “But that was not my intention. I want you to be there. Really.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqfjfZEJg4M
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I didn’t budge.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklEZI8wYcP
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“Mika, please…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqyywI2UV1
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My eyes forward.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaMEe4azij
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“Stop ignoring me please? I’m sorry…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPE924o19U8
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Runa’s voice started to sound more earnest and softer every time. But I wasn’t paying attention. I was just looking ahead. Then I felt her stop walking beside me, and then suddenly I was walking alone in front.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9kB9Eadbd
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“You’re so stubborn!” Runa yelled. “If you have a problem with me, then just tell me. You're being unreasonable right now!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz41fuD6vY1
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I did not intend to stop as well, but my feet refused to take another step and just ignored what Runa said. Instead I turned around.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3fFC4SZPu
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“Look who’s talking!” I yelled back at Runa. “If you’re the one who has something in mind, and whenever I asked, you’re not even telling me what it was, then why should I? I was always worried about you, and you just kept on dancing around what really was on your mind!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6K1I0OM60B
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAcc3ME8wp
“That’s different. I never made you feel like you did something wrong like what you’re doing to me now!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDPAuSVdjR
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU6ZBE1bdv
“Then how about you think about it!?”
“Well, that’s just unfair!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSrJD2Fs8A
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vE4SEef0n
“Same goes for you!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUpllXfioc
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“Alright, then I’ll think about it!” Runa yelled and took a moment to actually think. “Was it because you felt lonely alone in the dining area?” she asked.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRTgf5vLvn
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I didn’t answer.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW30CsQvuGA
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She frowned while staring at me. And again she took a moment to think. “Was it because I took a picture of you without permission?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhXNfhGXOM
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“No!” I answered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsZIYcGYYt
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“Was it because I was teasing Rei-kun?” Runa continued.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZylDV79Kp
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I turned my head to the right to avoid her gaze.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bCwnt1vXZ
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“Was it?” Runa asked to confirm.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcIFyBzukM
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“No!!” I replied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzOl3eUaFs
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“Mika, I was just teasing him.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CCiRcSqRC
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“You were forcing him to call you by your first name.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQlgBipAdz
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“That was not—I was not forcing him. It’s just awkward, you know, if he kept calling me by my family name because he already met Mom.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE2W7AkziL
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I looked at her suspiciously. “Liar,” I said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEariFFWS4
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“I was not lying.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRdEJKWxoO
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxL1kfuJ7J
“Then explain to me why you would tease him?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX52PrxjUsk
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtuRSEnL31
Runa opened her mouth, but she never said anything. She lowered her head, looked at me, looked at the sky, then to me. She closed her eyes tight, and when she finally opened, she turned her gaze away from me.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6duG2VFQIX
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“I—” Runa hesitated. “I don’t know.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZdRO87exV
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“See, proves my point earlier. You have something in your mind and you’re not telling me,” I said.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMl1WYy2C2
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“Wha— I honestly don’t know!” Runa yelled. Then her eyes turned toward the ground again and she started talking a little quieter. “It was just… fun…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hW57ERQP0
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I frowned.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYAbRbr8gf
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Fun? You tease someone because you think it was fun? Wasn’t that just bullying? I never pictured Runa to be a bully. But if she didn’t want to tell me why, then I would not be interested to continue asking.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIMpLcRHtj
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I turned around and walked.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfhpFdc5xP
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“Mika,” Runa called me. “I’m sorry,” she said. Her voice softened as she told me her third apology. “If those weren’t the reasons, can you please tell me?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9v9XLBI3E
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My steps slowed but I kept going. But I wasn’t looking ahead this time. I was just looking to where I placed my steps. What was I even telling her? ‘Think about it then?’ I didn’t even know what she did wrong. I—114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbDHTJGxC2
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“Fine!” Runa shouted behind me. “If you’re not going to talk with me, then I will not talk with you!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRS7sl0meo
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I held a breath and closed my eyes.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSgwlfBoa8
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And for the rest of the way, we stopped talking.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSn8ToG6sbh
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFs4oYdxbf
Sunday Night. Last day of May.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2TtPKd6KA
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Everything that happened afterwards was quiet.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BmvEvlRsS
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There were no text messages, no phone calls, not even a press from each other’s doorbell. There was no attempt at any communication.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW74GTT3nza
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Three days of nothing between me and Runa.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqLnuYKVAD
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I felt horrible. Yet I felt justified.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4avEsNlsV
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And I felt both for one reason: I didn’t know why.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGyGcsOD4L
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Runa was right, I was being stubborn. She apologized, and I just couldn’t accept it and move on. Because when I tried to think about it, it didn’t feel right. I felt uneasy. And so I decided not to tell her anything. I decided it was easier that way.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUTWFlbk8l
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Unlike her, I wasn’t ready to be honest with myself.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡevkvdMSNR9
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It was just… fun…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTVhVnQi7O
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I recalled how she said it. Fun? What was so fun about teasing someone? If it was me…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQgARCIQDa
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmE5aMfPLz
My phone suddenly rang at the corner of my table. I was in the middle of tidying up my study materials when it happened. I peeked at who was calling.
It was Yui.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvvXnoYIrc
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I ignored it.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7raf15GE8
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A few minutes later, the ringing stopped.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN73UOb3r21
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I stood up after I was done tidying. Before I could even take one step toward my bed, my phone rang again.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MVNScOI70
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I grabbed my phone to see.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8sKgKzoRI
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It was still Yui.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWngTkGHMn
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This time I dropped it.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLDa7JCvBU
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But not even a second later, Yui called again.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn93hI7tag
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I sighed.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8eHiMgTYR
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“Hello?” I said as I surrendered to Yui’s persistence.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM3sNQUl6n
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“Why didn’t you answer sooner!?” Yui replied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHiE471vdq
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“It’s late, I was about to go to sleep.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBh314KT3S
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“Really? You can go to sleep like that?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIRXKYdJz5
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzA8bAAgzt
“Like what?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLDre8cuNU
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF4owX6cIDq
“While… you know… between you and Runa.” Yui whispered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFF1W4OH8U
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I didn’t say anything for a moment. Of course, I couldn’t sleep easily after what happened. I just tried to close my eyes every time. And I would just wait. Wait for minutes, wait for hours, until sleep pulled me in.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4GEw3Shdk
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“It’s none of your business,” I finally answered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjmdfnM8d1
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFYLia9UQP
“But it is!” Yui replied, almost yelling. “You promised you won’t fight anymore!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWYKRlchSJ
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiueiJ8QqnP
“I didn’t promise that.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhH1vMgQqYt
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“Then you’re a liar.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEq4EktmyG
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“Fine, I’m a liar then!” I said. Then I ended the call.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvqzDRr0Nt
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What am I—114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFujODso3FQ
114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLsDcE3Rml
My phone vibrated in my hand and by reflex I answered it.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndnAsPMdGC
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“Don’t drop the call!” Yui shouted. I pulled my ear away from the phone as her shout pierced through.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNBp2Iat9t
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“Okay, okay. I won’t. I’m sorry,” I replied.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7uIS8o00V
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“Good then,” Yui said cheerfully. “Anyways, tomorrow, let’s fix both of you.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4ZFcwifjI
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“What? You don’t need to—”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFxS1SfI2Z
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“I need to!” Yui replied, sounding very firm. “We’re not going to just let this keep on, you know. It’s not healthy.”
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I kept my silence.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrccG8dTme
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“Listen, Mika…” Yui continued. “I really don’t like this. If you both stop talking to each other, then you’ll both drift apart.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqofQILCwVp
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“...I know.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkcsMOW0FN
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“I don’t want that to happen. I want all of us to stay as friends. You know, me, you, Hina and Runa. All of us, until we become old ladies.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5X0NwJ5ki
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“...I guess… me too…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoviWZwqkgf
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“So… let’s talk about it tomorrow, okay?” Yui said. Her voice sounded gentle. “If you’re not ready to talk with us during the morning, we’ll wait for you at the rooftop at lunch.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94oke0FqIH
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“...Okay,” I answered.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VA7YNWUbt
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“Be sure to be there!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOxl2QC2Y4
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“...I will.”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZS7fVt915R
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“Promise?”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbXxh50as0
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“Promise…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88R98CRVib
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“Alright then, I’ll let you go to sleep now! Good night Mika! Love you!!”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45i41pr302
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“Good night…”114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTdI30pjPx
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The phone call ended.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsdzrdkD1y
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I sat on my bed for a few seconds. And when I finally decided to lie down, I immediately closed my eyes. I placed a hand over my chest, feeling what my heartbeat was trying to tell me. Then I knew I wasn't looking forward to tomorrow.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSmGBF1wWL
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I didn’t want to. But I knew that would be another mistake.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFnpuNI9Wc
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So while I was closing my eyes, I waited.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6URAj888l
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiuVOkLq1TH
Lunch, Monday. The beginning of June.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt4nxuQJHN
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I shouldn’t have stood here. I shouldn’t have looked at them yet.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0Etq7sX0L
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I should have gone straight to the rooftop after the bell rang. I should have just listened to Yui. But, I saw a teacher post the rankings of each student for our grade on the board just beside the staircase. So I went to see. Based on the test papers from the midterm exams that I had retrieved during homeroom, I knew I didn’t do well. But reality had not settled at that point—because reality was right before my eyes now.114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwypVhTGaIO
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Tojo Mika… Rank 36…114Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F1MpvoFxZ
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I never went to the rooftop afterwards…
and then Add to home screen.