Thursday. Night.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwRHVH37yt
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9uRB606Or
Let’s see… If I divide this by this, then I move the result to the other side… oh, I have to change the sign of the number from positive to negative… right?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWVvoh41BA
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPS7R4QipL
Focused…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwgJhc7xN3
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu82iTrYsf
The note says I have to… okay… now to just solve the other side…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNFhfbVU9X
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlAHy3TEdg
I was very focused…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyVeKRUcMg
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2AaNyzbci
Eleven… umm… and negative 6… so I subtract…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjYGC5J6Y5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TWkSfXyVy
I felt my world compress into my desk… studying…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC5hcK55aM
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzmotah2uK
“The answer is five… x is equal to five.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYctpb2Slqu
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK5qKO3Fwg
I blinked… was it right? Did I get it? It felt like I was right.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa0MpZivV2
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6UYqgVtFoo
Carefully, I scanned my desk. My solution notebook was in the middle, right in front of me, Kuroiwa’s math notebook he gave me was on its left, and my math practice exam test paper sat on its right. I did manage to finish a problem that I wasn’t able to solve, but how would I know if I was right?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVq3U4huQT
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLkMHKItGs
Oh…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTuuDaqixC
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrXUBvkvRF
I remembered the correction note Hina gave me last week when she, Mika, and Yui were teaching me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMyRNCItgr
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopY0ETyNeA
My hand automatically opened the drawer below my desk. The notebook revealed itself. It was the first thing I saw. I took it out from the drawer and started flipping its pages.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgzPRS2C8D
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBFXz356wZ
Midterm practice exam, math test, problem number five… found it!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi0S5qhmNI
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HUxu0feJK
I immediately checked. I analyzed the solution first and compared it to mine… they looked similar. My eyes drifted towards the answer.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphh4F7b2nc
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsqw9Alnp5
“YES!” I accidentally shouted. But who cares. I raised my hands in excitement, so fast I almost threw away Hina’s correction notebook. Right now I felt like I won a gold medal at the Olympics.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6TLme2imU
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtldWXRcjab
I heard footsteps outside my door.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWaz287Lfm
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJJNF8VIU7
Oh no… I thought and hurriedly placed my math test paper inside my desk compartment. I closed it.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU33cMtxS0
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpga5NiKafA
I now cared that I shouted. I shouldn’t have shouted...127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECzTRcBLE8
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoRv7u7ugq
Three knocks.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHwsv4R5CS
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0iBUE2nLV
“Runa, I always told you not to be loud when it’s late.” My mom appeared when she opened my door.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTfgiNROXt
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfeA7KUIbUg
“I’m sorry,” I said, the smile on my face was still lingering.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sSPgoUKEo
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWedHDDNPq
“What are you doing?”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAY6Ju8u6gS
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOAnBPNkKA
“I’m trying to study.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoojfeJVw4I
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsdHooTWHP
My mom looked at me, then she looked around the room.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDlw33doy6
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuETn8Azgo
“That reminds me,” she said, “You haven’t shown me the result of your practice midterms exam yet…”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7j6zzbnur
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50kdL3Os2s
I choked for a bit. My smile turned from a victory celebration to a worried, she might find out, kind.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtzkOnQYCb
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTltn1Xavc
“Ah.” I let out without meaning to. “I forgot it at school. I’ll just show you my midterms exam later instead… after it’s done.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhP8NlumwR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuxgjjcLyv
I tried… I tried to make excuses. I had done it so many times in the past, but I was still not used to it.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zCPy5aEzX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vxzwM2NVm
She stared at me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG0XptZ1XoH
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDCdyMdGnh
“Alright then,” she replied. “Make sure you show it to me afterwards, okay?”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08r5wduSkk
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjExWZ6utCT
“Okay.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgra9QaJzB
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2vmc4u9RQ
She smiled at me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ln1vbBOft
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtlE3LPkyp
“Well, do your best in studying. I thought I would ask you to come watch Reaching for the stars together tonight, but I guess you’re busy right now.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQDkPOhWZd
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXc3bnuRzRF
I smiled back.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaYGJaw9g4
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLkCkQWd6J
“Okay, Mom, enjoy your show.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlg7hQuNiAl
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8NmlB8vCj
She closed my door carefully.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrM68ZmQRD
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDf2k1AzYr
Finally, I was able to breathe.
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24pDyXmQxC
I suddenly felt tired. I glanced at my bed…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KLQAWGtPe
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQXnytYq1T
It was tempting me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ytSkWxgBw
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OLDtEfnxL
So I launched myself toward it, bouncing once on the mattress.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdXIgJdNeP
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc4aqAf7Rp
I turned around to face the ceiling then tilted my head towards the clock standing on my desk.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA4tgirv7R
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWhe18fki5
9:47 pm127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiUYolP35b
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ocNLuh4cP
It was already this late. Normally, I would still be with my mom in the living room watching dramas together, but lately I hadn’t been able to do so.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLGh5cCgCp
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jfRQ5jpEl
I grabbed my phone lying just above me and turned the screen on.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUJs2hGQOt
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB80CsUu1u
Five notifications from our group chat.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IiG9hp3xP
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvJUYOpwuB
It was Yui and Mika…
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡih2JeG2504
Yui: Runa~~127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPm34GG97R
Yui: Runa!!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ052yfjDg1p
Yui: RUNAAA!?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVY3xqD0Tn
Mika: Yui, it’s late!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBbeyRsAPN
Yui: MIKAAAAA!!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08pD3vGH9e
Yui: HINAAAAAA!!! 😭😭😭127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgR1ax8FBNa
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hrKOMS4JO
I giggled quietly.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv6iX22Iu5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HtskQTsXa
Hina: You called?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm7ZAlO4Cm
Yui: Hina!! Runa is ignoring me. 😭😭😭127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrxL3JC74a
Yui: And Mika is being Mika again!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEIkegvxhgE
Mika: Hey! What do you mean by that?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUAT8xXfNX
Yui: Love you. 😘😘😘💕💕💕127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ61sNqGiw
Mika: That’s not an answer. And it’s not a magic phrase to avoid a question.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zcwh2AnFO
Yui: Ehehe~~ 😉😉😉127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4190FGEANN
Mika: I’m sleeping, it’s late.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqNYp7qPN5t
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLybNp2zqI
I almost lost it laughing before I’d even typed anything.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGoXqZE5s9
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4oKjZCmFq
Runa: I’m alive Yui, I was studying.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbHtPicXwJ
Runa: Wasn’t ignoring you, sorry 🥺127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF3xSTBo1H
Yui: Yay Runa!🎉🎉🎉127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecDDVyRnBY
Hina: How did this afternoon go?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC0mxrhqG3
Mika: It went quick actually, she went into the building, ten minutes later came out with notebooks in her bag and one in her hand.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLAR7V5VPR
Yui: Ooh, spoils of war. 👀👀👀127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RetuGoD3Z
Runa: We didn’t go to war.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIV3j6ye7Z
Yui: Sure. 👍127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFkLi7lldd
Yui: Anyways. Tell me Runa.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF0ULLNcye
Yui: Is he cute? 😊😊😊127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhu8J1W5hqz
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQFO8E8plO
Runa: What?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW5OBaS7lm
Mika: WHAT!?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvn2eTVxVM
Hina: 😂😂😂127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcun5xYSBi3
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaC4axtHJj
Yui: I mean. You’ve seen him.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZsoOWzL9V
Yui: Up close.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvhRno1vdq
Yui: Twice now.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPj3Z0gHgS
Runa: As far as I know, you’re not blind.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJQjAaSum3
Runa: Use your own eyes.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEewJTUOy1
Yui: I prefer to use them on more important matters. 🔍🔍🔍127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed5UvOUncD
Mika: I’m sleeping.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBWAjMkrKC
Yui: Second time you said that. 😂😂🤣🤣127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0SKi8W2V3
Mika: I AM. SLEEPING.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBhMHm7Fna
Yui: Third time~~ 😘😘127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dbZTuCQka
Yui: Anyways.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrBxO61eaz
Yui: Is he?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaXOS4UEKX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPmL4RSYul
Runa: Hmm. I guess. If you look closely. 🤔127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KEP4rIX40
Yui: Did you fall for him? 😍😍😍127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLBxOJsoyK
Runa: What? No.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1yObAHyxY
Yui: Really?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzANMsK1KG2
Mika: She said no.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46cXHJHb17
Yui: You’re not sleeping Mika~~ 👀👀👀127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0WqSNJXex
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVuENBi7Yg
I could practically hear Mika sighing through the screen. I giggled.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsu1HU6dUr
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cdrnxBhfK
Mika: How would she fall for him? They just started talking recently. And he’s not some hottie you fall for at first sight.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZcebXw92k
Yui: hottie?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NVRILOWsA
Runa: Oh wow, you know that word Mika?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcU3qK5LxY
Mika: What do you mean?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxrGBupIv5
Yui: We thought.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7qDEnw7QC
Yui: You wouldn’t know.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECIBDG4eNb
Yui: Since, you know.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfseU6HE63
Yui: You’re like a dinosaur.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAOvelaaHI
Mika: What!?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEUvkDeZNB
Runa: Yui that’s a bit too far.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6gaVO486L
Runa: Mika’s more like born in Edo period.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLknfaeUcC
Mika: First off. We’re all the same age. I was born sixteen years ago not hundreds.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eC5AUlN7b
Mika: Second, calling me a dinosaur is uncalled for, Yui.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwq29w1ehC3
Yui: Hehehe~~ ✌✌✌127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRoan5uHaX
Yui: Love you. 😘😘127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92Reo0uHzb
Mika: And third, Runa, do you really think I look like I could be born in Edo period?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhnuwoz3hT
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumgUOeQsqM
I couldn’t object. She did knew about how to look cute and pretty. It was just not very common for her to say words like “hottie”.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIikVRpH8r
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLUKZhlekD
Yui: Mika!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmioHOHckAo
Yui: You’re derailing the topic! 😤😤127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRduPg2Dlsd
Mika: It wasn’t me!?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZ1F8qBPwF
Mika: Oh my god, fine, this time I really am going to sleep!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoYp2AleAV
Mika: Yui, I will see you tomorrow…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyTMadwwSD
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtiXEqa5TI
Mika went offline immediately.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi0usg0d5K
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskI6ohpf6F
Yui: Uh oh. 😱127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqbgyRbX3L
Yui: Anyways~~127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PcAGqrjAs
Yui: Runa? So did you? 🤭🤭🤭127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb2HdnqrEl
Hina: You heard Mika.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJLJGhR3e2
Yui: Fine…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEqKeUH0Vk
Yui: But still.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Uj6jGlG4z
Yui: Don’t you think.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrI8vNtSSV
Yui: It’s possible?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhpGvrCfBN
Runa: I don’t think so…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTzsJ0NdbH
Yui: I mean…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdaVc1VdOUG
Yui: A fair maiden needs help.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnS6zKoxWG
Yui: Then comes the shadow prince.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs52QcvkFyp
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DsrYv8Tnn
Shadow prince? Who?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9PdzXAM8Q
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTET5VqqAR
Yui: Rescued her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnXXUDx1bV
Yui: Then they fell in love.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vsSpVhgeL
Yui: Just like in a fairy tale~~ 🥰🥰🥰127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzpi6yIhcM
Runa: No.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQj0lj9yXre
Hina: No~~127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwhyBdBAh8
Hina: I bet Runa is grateful to Kuroiwa.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rs2hh1C3v
Hina: But that doesn’t mean she’ll fall for him.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpqZtlRMPj
Runa: Exactly.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOaNOgny7X
Yui: BOO!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpTIBeJeYP
Yui: BOOOO!!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRrFf43q3T
Yui: You’ll regret it. 😤😤😤127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXq9nnBtCX
Yui: I warned you.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB5eigfP2M
Yui: You’ll regret it not listening to me. 😤😤😤127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsuBWaPq1g
Yui: When you actually fall for him!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSv9x2EiRh
Runa: I’m not.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRT2vkE1FX
Runa: We’re just going to study. 😑😑127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdte1oQwed6
Hina: It’s late Yui.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAha8cvzDd
Yui: Okay, Mom. 👀👀127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7hnxKnRHO
Hina: Goodnight sweetie~127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNt9ksQmXH
Yui: Goodnight 😇😇😴😴127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7NeqxFc2t
Runa: Goodnight!127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ118Wl6i3Er
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJm0e6wlOiH
I turned the screen off.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PEbjGPze7
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrSpCxFkwx
Love.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJpczZF29V
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmV3yCgNfsI
I hadn’t thought about that word in any real way since middle school.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdVxdggLVu
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhnGoxFNNP
I got up, tidied my desk, stacked the notebooks neatly, and turned off the light.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tFzqCONKh
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3eny3Bat0
My eyes stared at the math notebook Kuroiwa wrote for me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQAQ4dF6Es
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxLSnfIwQu
I smiled.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiq68WzyyO
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPzHYyvuVp
The way I was able to solve a problem I couldn’t during the practice exam still lingered in my head.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQVcNOizmY
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4tBlUbtotJ
I went to bed.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRbijxln4A
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQqigOtR1G
Then I fell asleep somewhere in the middle of thinking how a gold medal would fit around my neck.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XJKOD7o32
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcA0sGjSyr
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hnN61tiqR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamUnnlECGf
Friday. Second period. Gym class.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSlngP6Zb6
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitJDZcat5E
I bent over slightly, hands on my knees, catching my breath when Suzuki-chan finally blew the whistle.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTzOF8QeNN
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuYEzRceC5
I stood up, wiped the sweat from my forehead and headed towards the corner of the gym.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxteeGmMWHG
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGB6BwWnSk
Hina, who came from the other side of the volleyball net, walked with me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFbR9PiNm2
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZZ8mJHj7m
One set of a volleyball match had made me quite tired. But Hina didn’t look like she was.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8xSBuXctR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp6oVv078r
Her skin glistened a little while she wiped her sweat off, but she still looked put together. Composed. Like she’d been doing something significantly less strenuous than playing a full-effort volleyball match.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxdqor3JZi
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUlfK3Tny0
We played against each other. My team lost.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AmQcG0XUX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjuuKMm3NP
I tried to win. I gave my all. But I couldn’t compete against Hina.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TXVfE4spT
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIHr2SrgyW
She looked at me while we were walking and I stuck my tongue out at her. Just a little. Playful. Pretending I was bitter about losing.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVbCjTqAy2
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1c2OUQJFL
I wasn’t, really. It was just instinct. My instinct didn’t enjoy losing regardless of how I actually felt about it.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaVeEoqUXT
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73bDKZHaBa
I stared at her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpLs76masv
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1WFVHGzHT
Beautiful. Smart. Athletic.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvdhMcxQKR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFzM3WEc8Y
On top of all those, she was mature. She also had a great figure.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRbY0i0e66
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUQ6ccfX46
I smiled. I had always thought she was special. And I had always thought ever since we met when we were in fifth grade of elementary that I wanted to become like her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9RWiloWSM
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfHh130tkQ
I didn’t become like her. But I was glad we were still friends.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxebOaOo3M5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOOfiv44j1
We sat down at the corner, finally.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkfbFkuxTW
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTC91WVj2mN
I looked back to where the volleyball court was and I saw Mika and Yui preparing for their match. They were on opposite teams. Mika looked really fired up. Like she was about to teach some kind of lesson to her opponents. Probably because of what happened last night, but I saw her frown when she looked at Yui.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAtkrAWfvn
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdwJVHI23A
Yui joked around with her teammates and was laughing. Unconcerned. She saw Mika staring at her. Gave her a wink and stretched her hand towards Mika to make a peace sign with her fingers.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ667TZaQVwY
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpNG31WYpP
I bet Mika didn’t like that. It showed when she closed her eyes and gripped her hand tight.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPz4foCoTbu
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUmAxo9l0F
Hinano-chan was the one who acted as a referee this time. She walked to the middle of the court and tossed a coin.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28lRatN1GE
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdTJkIrgT6
Yui’s team got to serve first.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5mNwsl174
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSclH9CtScb
While I was in the middle of getting swept by how entertaining this match could become, I finally remembered. The math question from last night I wanted to ask Hina ever since this morning. And I felt this moment was a great opportunity to ask.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkM1kwgaeg
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqeG6uraGk
I turned toward her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur2CrjiFFT
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0zpfVoQd1
Her eyes were focused. It wasn’t at me. It wasn’t at Mika and Yui.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlgaT8Uwni
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqNsaL9IZt
I followed her gaze and saw what she was looking at. It was at the opposite side of the gym. A match between the boys. And there I saw him. I saw everyone around him.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyagAMdu46A
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A2KsTO2fr
I saw the orange ball the boys were chasing around and a board that was high around both ends of the area they were playing at.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepAswGT1oC
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba80KLlYGS
Are they playing basketball? I thought they were. Probably.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGiXk4GkR3
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXJeHdAOkF
Kuroiwa was there. Running back and forth but no one paid attention to him. He caught the ball mid-air. And then everyone around him stopped. They just turned around and stopped moving.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVm58cDMf5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFtOxtszmT
“Their match is getting interesting,” Hina said. Without me asking.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEouya5Wmi
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrVXaaVpQY
“...Is it?” I asked.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLUuTQ26rr
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8nvdDxZI0
She didn’t answer. But I wondered, briefly, if she actually understood basketball at some level, being as athletic as she was.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaQRFYShxt
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZcb4xxLGn
I continued watching. I wondered what Kuroiwa was going to do, now that the ball was in his hands. Somehow I was expecting him to do something incredible. Was I? I think it’s more like I was curious since he looked like someone who could do everything.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMcXWYqaM0
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGlxD4mCSF
He bounced the ball once, twice, and jogged. At his usual slow pace. In his usual unhurried ways. No one was in front of him, there was no resistance at all. And then he reached the far end of the court. He threw the ball toward the circle thing with a net.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VfXEZ3y3E
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z0TdqAj6w
It didn’t go in.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVeWSytQZC
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfqJyCpmi6
That was unexpected...127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBKUzRz9ra
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJqRjMp1OQ
The moment it bounced away, everyone resumed moving. Someone grabbed a new ball and the game continued… Like nothing had happened.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr6Nh72M7V
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYU4bgLwJrt
“There’s a rumor,” Hina said, leaning slightly toward me, “that if you touch the ball after he misses, you get bad luck for the rest of the day.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbrMUdxxvR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJQ1lmFe6N
I stared at the ball that no one picked up. It was still rolling away from everybody, toward the edge of the gym, untouched.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv0KaE7P1M
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquPvjaopF8
“...That’s ridiculous,” I said.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OttDeDtil
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBHVra5JkZ
“Right?” Hina agreed easily. “People will say and believe anything. All because someone looks a little different.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k5SZ8BWZf
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp6uM5BhNT
I didn’t respond right away.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGUeipdow5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFroRBFE2rB
Well, a week ago, I was one of them too. So I really couldn’t judge anyone. Otherwise I would just be a hypocrite. All I knew was what I knew about him, but I was glad that at least, at this point, I stopped believing any of those exaggerated rumors.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65LAEYBuUO
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76RS3KXijM
But it was not like he was suddenly not scary anymore.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wfAGKLkHE
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqqy2HcEJX
I contemplated on that for a bit.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFKC49otp8
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmO3t2VGcG
Hina smiled at me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN6MbCjJD4
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRb632BJM6C
“But you’re different now, right?” I wondered if she could actually tell what I was thinking.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8le1TvcDkN
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx52lyFLo7c
I nodded.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOsZX2UF7t
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQOuETrz6a
“Yeah.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0QW8z6Ujz
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYY6zkTht1e
“You know, there’s a lot of difference about knowing someone, talking to them, and not caring at all.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfjeTcJZyR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HrlmqmxKu
“I know.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8bN2Q7zrZ
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOVBy5tZ3V
“Now that you’ve talked to him, it doesn’t mean that you know him entirely, but at least because of that, I know you can’t imagine such rumors to be true. Since, you know, he’s human.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mgGh2VodS
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLBrbx3qb2
I stared at her for a moment. Her smile never faded. She always knew what to say. Always.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQdmHYPICL
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlE2x5Kjr1
“Look,” she said, gesturing toward the ongoing basketball match.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PWAwTZgrX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpSDuVftE5
I turned around. It seemed like Kuroiwa caught the ball accidentally again. And just like last time, everyone around him stopped moving and stopped looking.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8UaN399HF
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEJIGCevr1
He bounced the ball like he did earlier. Tried to run…127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvYCi3rWXZ0
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2pvNOfrDi
Then slipped.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6UEY2nw4V
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsD47Xi0FT
He fell to the ground. His face on the floor.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHFf914w7q
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAvTC4dQn9
The ball went out of the area where they played and everyone continued to move again. Someone got another ball and then they resumed.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡie8cebolnB
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTPpnGqVY4
Hina giggled.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkHhYQssmU
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk2pGQorFl
“He’s actually pretty clumsy, huh.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzQENVE3ko
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThtsARhoCU
“Yeah.” I agreed, smiling.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsQy7TOwyp
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrs42cnKw4
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM75o4EU0M
Lunchtime.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9qSrDyLB9
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9xwsLA499
Same spot on the rooftop.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9AWaP7VWN
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMlO4ZSc0A
We were already finished eating and packed our lunch boxes in our bags. But there was apparently one piece of business still that I needed to do inside mine.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovIvizsnb6
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1z1bl21eb
Hina requested to see the notebooks Kuroiwa gave me. Then Yui got curious. Which made Mika also want to see them.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJ1ohJUWdo
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbe0wzA7Er
I sighed.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPdCB0kfDQ
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPA48QXxZU
I took three notebooks out. Math, science and English. I couldn’t take the others because if I did, my shoulder would definitely complain about the weight and would retaliate with pain later. And I was already getting a lot of other pains in other places lately, specifically my back.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFcsFjvrLe
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjM7zFpTpPa
What I took were only the ones relevant to the subjects we were getting lectured on today.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YPgp4gIfM
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dV5UvUqio
I presented the notebooks to them.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j4NHOvPb1
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP89xJaE8q
Hina immediately took math.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYsl09N0lC
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaan5QiTPuN
Mika wanted science.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6H7Mragfb
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnNaBxvvLd
And Yui just took what was left.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPfie6D8lj
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdrRtcJ5Hb
I watched their faces.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqJQmjuvxe
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eNN4CFo8u
Yui’s eyes were doing that sparkly thing. I genuinely couldn’t tell if it was about the notebook itself or about whatever fantasies she started narrating in her mind.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS82mJTugcH
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI36MRcYuIO
“Lo—”
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6nxppaZW3
“No,” I said, before she got past one syllable.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p83wkGs9O
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLg9gFRDt55
I looked at Mika instead. Her face was so focused that I felt if I called her name she wouldn’t even hear me. She was analyzing what was inside, something that I felt last night, checking the notebooks myself, would definitely catch her eyes.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmycoNVdUq
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4i69X6PpCl
The whole structure of the notes. The labeling, the way everything was organized, like the way she wanted to make her notes look. Whenever she showed me hers, she would always complain that she couldn’t organize them as neatly as she wanted to, even though they looked perfectly neat to me. Explanations everywhere, detailed remarks on what was important to remember and what was not. Contexts and simplified words to actually make definitions easier to understand. Kuroiwa made them all. He wrote them all.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgxKqDl8bR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YfGa1bE63
I could see it in her eyes. And I could guess that she was memorizing everything and would try to do the same with her notes from now on.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Z94oAPeFE
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTnDJH9tcq
Finally, I looked to the person sitting beside me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjR5GZHKBp
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqi5mNsnxN
Hina.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4maYWKSbh
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lcoDWPhQq
“This is amazing,” she said. Quiet. Like she wanted to be the only one who heard it.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkhVQ5YYhi
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9POgHXwU9
Her expression was something I never thought I would see in her face. It wasn’t analytical like the way Mika was, or even creating fantasies over her head like Yui did. Hers was different. There was reverence in it. Like she was looking at the rarest treasure in the world.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvOh6pqrPc
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplJZ2IiXdd
She turned a page.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYc35niR3Z
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJV1PVyNXAA
“This part… this is where I got it wrong on the practice exam.” She lifted a hand slightly, almost covering her mouth. “Oh. So this is how you’re supposed to do it.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjL6ynmMMhL
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NDVwGqqf0
She stayed on that page a moment longer, and then turned to me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz5MDnumrE
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaELNUFj5V
“Runa.” Her voice was careful yet urgent. “Can I borrow this for five days? No! Three days, three days is enough.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib7aFns9Iu
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Sr0kHiZnU
Three days?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM51ygzvwy5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xKFcBfQl5
“No!” I said, instinctively.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb0aqoxFny
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpOpZgkpfq
“Why?”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Rnu696pgX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwQNOXKvi4
Why? Because I need it. Obviously.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SGC2yMFlQ
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6ZC5Riz1H
“Just one day, then.” She kept going.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCm8EwdeFlY
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1h5A8V0Q3
“No,” I said again. Firmer.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOltaAKQurH
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPJHknNT4Z
“Please.” She almost bowed her head toward me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSDnpzTCE2
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmoCrT7Yav
“Hina, you don’t need it,” Mika cut in.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnglTMsTrY
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0jXFluALo
“But look at this—” Hina turned to show Mika the page.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBL1IcAuIK
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqchykqkkhU
“I know,” Mika said, before even fully looking. “It’s well organized. It’s easy to understand and it explains the mistakes we made during the practice exam. For both of us it would feel like — like someone wrote down exactly what we needed and handed it to us from above.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMREgN6083
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsnzd2ciKk
“If you already understand it, then—”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9bgaz7mapk
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdljZkJFrT
“Runa needs it more than you do, Hina.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSLQ1hEYlL
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUr68kko76
Hina looked shocked. She stared at Mika for a second, she probably couldn’t believe she wasn’t taking her side.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Jgg8fiIhe
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnZtXBpXP6
She lowered her head, defeated, and handed the notebook back to me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WbzeZTNTM
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8VUvMSdVU
“Take it before I change my mind,” she said.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqyMAEBBIs
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6VaVVZHTR
“That’s not really your decision to make,” I said, gently but firmly, taking it from her before she could reconsider anything.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6etbDaviA5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXTWeo1u4z
I put it in my bag. Immediately. Safely.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxMGalmrQ7
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEc3P9TE0ob
“He wrote this? And there are six more of these besides the one brought?” Yui asked.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEmYAob2WM
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqffoTQhCgj
“Apparently,” Mika answered for me. “And apparently he didn’t even sleep so he could write them.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9CUDQT0co7
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQURianM96
“Without sleeping!?”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvu7tOZ1qk3
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4au8NtozYp
Yui’s voice made me regret telling Mika the second part.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYrQtabZq2
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6H0Pry14h
“Wow.” Yui held the English notebook up toward the sky with both hands, like she’d unearthed something sacred. “For someone he barely knew. He did it. For you.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNRSeQgxzy
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuFAgOUrFB
I sighed. I didn’t need to look at her to know that statement was aimed directly at me.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLErHRued3
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2XDvUU6lb
“To help me study.” I clarified whatever she was assuming it could mean.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMI8Xtsg8US
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38uDdHDF4e
I held my hand out for the notebook. She handed it over carefully.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEfRC4IRi8
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy5Uc8tYDO
“That’s not the only reason,” Yui continued.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQx2rtMGKhX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInuvP7TpPG
“It’s the only reason.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRh41K1kNMo
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmDC5ab20G
To be honest, I didn’t fully understand it either. He did and said a lot of things I couldn’t make sense of. But he’d told me it was to help me, and at this point I’d decided to just take his word for it, because I didn’t want to spend the entire time studying with him, trying to figure out what was on his mind.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ825U23IPe0
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX05J4RRvCO
“So you’re saying he just did this for no reason?” Yui shot back.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwUDtuuPJC
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sy488MG0T
“Hello? Helping me study is reason enough.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyYrBCfRTk
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMaHb34fby
“I doubt it. I think there’s more. And something is in the air that I can smell.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5aCXMU7bU
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkapU6TTdG
She paused. Sniffed the air.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN8uT97oOJ
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqE9a2bPR9V
“I smell LO—”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2J4vTv7Z8l
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6KjDZ86Lf
“NO,” I said and without meaning to, covered her mouth with my hand.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOUANszn7y
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOprJOLPZIf
Yui was surprised and she freed herself immediately.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvofLmmxbvS
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBinWroxyXE
“Don’t ever do that again!” she said then pouted.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMlWQ4Q09k
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ad2x0pGZ5
Mental note. I would definitely do that again next time. The moment another opportunity came.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo11PPTg2n
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBMNpYgPsJ
“Your hand smelled like garlic.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8jqTWRabw
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiP29PTz20F
I blinked.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi4RCa9qJW
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtG4djSuiyj
“Excuse me!? I used my hand sanitizer after eating!” I took out my hand sanitizer again from my bag and used it. “See!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlHun3YR5R
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEqPMFlgnG
I stretched my hand toward her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZoaipjRz1A
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn9Z6dd34V
“Smell it,” I said.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRIxQSp77C
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDfJGN5bYs
“Nope, it still smells like garlic.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzpFuv8OhHo
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlosBulFFJr
My mouth opened.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHT7sKYuRib
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3RrI8IaNo
Yui stuck her tongue out.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9nX5pzSsB2
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2PFR3G531
All I could bring myself to do at that moment was sigh, so I did.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJzeZU4RCh
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu3qeXBoIM
Fine… I’ll admit defeat this time.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw6weIxq0n
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJS9yosUPxM
“Yui, you watch too many dramas,” Hina said softly.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYbRBA3IPV
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymlyL4PzLw
“I do. And I love them.” Yui said it with actual sparkle in her eyes.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9P0ywHXMo1
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1aTeUAokU
“Dramas are dramas. Reality is different.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMPlBxTMA6
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoev9HMhXKE
“But the possibility is still there.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR3DKLdCkw
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizCkbQpVD4
Hina just looked at her.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsKCVBcJI5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfVuHbibTr
Even Hina was no match for Yui when she was being like this.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlNt4Hyg3S
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTikTs9lsjg
“Fine.” Yui muttered, finally reading the room. “But mark my words. Don’t blame me when it actually happens. And if it does. I would grant you permission to call me,” she stood up, “the great Yuistradamus!”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiWbwBV60B
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7Fhr2ly2q
“Definitely not,” Mika said, finally joining the conversation.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3migHEbTS
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O88xV9SGy
She was so consumed by reading the notebook she had that I doubted she noticed what happened earlier except for what she actually noticed just then.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvPJRR2Crp
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhAvg7tEa9
Yui pouted but let it go.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkTnmo4rKu
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvcrlzpOTo
Mika handed me the science notebook.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEU0DGEwPOO
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjqI71pJ93
“Here.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJm6pYb8km
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmJwbsm9dh
“Thank you.” I took it carefully and put it away with the others.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRbu90voot
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ok6Z68txE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrLRCmuZW6
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW87X5yqIbm
Friday. Afternoon.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE41p1URP0C
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyivo0d0vF
This afternoon was different in one way. Mika wasn’t coming with me. I’d asked her, Yui and Hina instead for something else. I told them if my mom called and the session ran long, if they could say I was with them. Yui and Hina agreed instantly. Mika took half a second longer to consider for a bit, and I knew why. It was because she wasn’t really the kind of person who liked to lie. But then she nodded anyway.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NOv6oKSxN
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAINotpfPrY
I’m sorry Mika. I thought. I would apologize to her properly next time.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBPpJRNRCn
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWGniftvQx
We split at the station. But I was the first to board the train. Going in a different way that I was finally getting used to over the past few days.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWA1FO9BdOL
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQny79acP9w
The walk felt different too. I was getting familiar with the street.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWzJ8lWAJgK
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzF9HzSnrp
I would know where to turn now. In fact, my feet just did that for me. And if I saw the ramen shop, I would know that just about five minutes more and I would arrive at Kuroiwa’s apartment.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhMen7DOZb
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkZo8hflAf
I passed the convenience store on the corner. Two minutes away.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRc8RdDhzj
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2wrMJGNKX
I thought about last night. I thought about how I felt when I finally got something right without guessing. I thought about everyone’s faces, especially Hina and Mika, when they saw what was inside the notebooks. And I got nine of them. All of them made for me so I would have a chance.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkp3Am0yQdl
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIa5Py4DkX
This afternoon, I’ll do my best.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwAOYRByK5
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwf2lJYKGN
I turned the last corner. The building finally came into view.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt9AhpYk5P
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF9AbHOIe8h
And like a routine, I got in, pressed the intercom, went inside the elevator.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOb7blwm7TJ
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc24VZeXCq3
Fifth floor like always.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0nHGR0Q0b
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawW8Zb7RES
As I stepped out, everything from the past few days seemed to catch up to me at once. The anxiety building toward midterms. That Tuesday afternoon in the classroom. The first time I stood at his door. Every conversation with Mika, with Hina, with Yui. The notebooks. I’d only brought three today… but maybe I should’ve brought all six that he said we’re gonna use for midterms.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOQPHG7ysa
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxX1ErZeugg
“It’s finally starting,” I whispered to myself, walking up to his door.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6MdFRFuSH
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE62SaJbpxH
I pressed the doorbell.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLt5FMEi141
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bdrPAQi4w
Same as always. I waited for a few seconds.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfPgO0a2Q8
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjJmBkREwE
I felt small fluttering nerves around my stomach, looking forward to what this session would bring and also a bit of nervousness that I didn’t want to think about. Not right now. Not in this moment.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCutn8Gy6ze
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6KRpsDI4o
I took a breath.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQSKMvVlBO
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqJLWxor1X
The door opened.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYheg2b9mk
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaPf1idW7Tp
I looked at him.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKojoYlL3IV
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQT3KuTSvEJ
“Solve x squared minus six x plus five equals zero. By completing the square.”127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKybu8IVtjk
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cS3TPhndT
I blinked.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeu2GeuYFYR
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEuPoA9Y7n
What?127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpWLCYPHdX
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2xWfSS7Zq
I wasn’t ready for all of this… This was not what I had been expecting.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz8LIMxSOp
127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0D7QRGTlZ9
This was not what I had been expecting at all!!
and then Add to home screen.