Friday. 9:02 pm.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm22E2ROVLf
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Mika called 10 minutes ago. She sent me a message five minutes ago.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ53c4kIQqFV
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Right now?115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2G1iWUpARQ
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At that point, I just stood where I was after getting off the train, and just stared at her. Not moving. Still. She was waiting on the platform, arms crossed, eyebrows furrowed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hn4GESdlL
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I am in trouble.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFj49BvmzX
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I am in really big trouble.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITc6RvWgsJ
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She hadn’t noticed me yet. And I hoped it would stay like that for a few more minutes. I was not ready to face her. Not yet.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwECtD2yy7E
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Her eyes caught me.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyJ6QmkvzN
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I stepped back a little. I thought maybe getting on the train was the best option to do at that moment. But… I slowly peeked at her… I guess there really wasn’t an option. Her eyes were the only option.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNosTZXYfoj
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Mika’s eyes cut sharper into me.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONTu8poFVi
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Without even saying a word, I knew what Mika wanted. I started to walk. Reluctant. Slow. Like what Kuroiwa usually did. Unhurried. Her look got sharper. My steps got faster. Then I stood right in front of her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRQaDRLUkZ
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“You’re late!” Mika said. “You’re exactly thirteen minutes and twenty-six seconds late!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOG0Gr4G5A
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“That’s oddly specific,” I replied.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2UxgrJOxs
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“It felt that long.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjnp76nzka
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“Come on, it wasn’t that long.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMogHoAibuW
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“You made me wait for you here, alone, a young girl like me, on a train station platform. Where some creepy old men could be walking. And I am here waiting… ALONE!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ650CLMAu8q
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“But there aren’t any creepy old men walking around?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSAS7XnU1y
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“There are still some possibilities!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuRvX2CJJG
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“I was just ten minutes late.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PBxd2cBIc
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“That’s long enough! And it felt longer than that.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPbR6lk6Wm
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I sighed. “Alright, I’m sorry.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIimth5EnM
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“I don’t feel any sincerity from that apology,” she said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm4RP4rSmD
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“I’ll buy you a pudding next Monday as my sincerest apology.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQssifv2jnu
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“Good. I don’t want the ones they sell in the cafeteria. I want the one sold at 7/11.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLt66oS2Wi
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“That’s—”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HSpTsgBQw
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“I said it, you buy it. Done.” Mika gave me another sharp stare.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4cqiq3kBj
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“Oookay,” I said reluctantly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3d17ZTByX
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“Let’s go,” Mika gestured for us to move. She walked first and ended up in front of me. I walked fast until I caught up beside her, then I matched her speed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhqj8sg7VD
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I glanced over at her. She started smiling as she muttered a chant to herself as we exited the train station.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsTIi3xGvU
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqHGePE3Jv
9:07 pm.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoZvK9vYtM
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Mika continued to chant while we walked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3SddvdEqG
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“Pudding~, pudding~.” Her smile got wider the more she chanted.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXFW5jvpje
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“You’re too into pudding, you know,” I taunted her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4HW573x9U
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Sharp Mika eyes appeared from their corner. “Are you calling me fat?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQA216JhER1
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“That’s not what I said.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWo4QTsFWj
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“That’s what you implied.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW398DgpszY
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“Then maybe you need to go on a diet.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN9VcaNER0
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“YOU, go on a diet, you’re 2 whole kilograms heavier than me.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsI5H43Imz
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“Sh-shut up!” I almost covered her mouth with my hand but she was quick to step back.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCX9jPb8rz5
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She smirked at me.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3jlJ2skFb
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“You’re slow, must be because of all that fat.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcTnjoG2lB
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“I am not fat, excuse me. And besides, I’m two kilos heavier than you because I am taller.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXc2asmf9G
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“Hey! Height doesn’t have anything to do with it, and you’re only three inches taller!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUjWM7tEQg
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“Three inches is still three inches. Admit it, you’re just short.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnInXXsZaU
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“It is not that significant!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW1aUK91Or
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“It is, though.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBbtFX0g5v
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“I am not that short!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF08e7b4ocx
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We stared at each other. Then we both laughed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTW9nwqovu
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“Seriously, I am not that short,” Mika said after we caught our breath from laughing.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtW6RVdN8qR
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I giggled and winked at her. Mika pouted briefly but then smiled.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3p5qI68BJE
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We continued to walk, side by side.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJKWfbqmkZ
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The street had become dark. And flickers of light, along with the shadows of bugs that were constantly hitting themselves on the bulb of the street light, were the only illumination that filled the night. I looked up at the sky. The moon was hidden. Then the night breeze started blowing into my skin that was not used to the cold, and now exposed to the air that suddenly embraced it. I covered myself. Mika just kept walking.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVfQdXja5g
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“Too cold?” Mika asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExJJQtZ9IC
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“It’s still May after all,” I answered.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb77zzfIgYz
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Quiet occupied around us for a moment. The sounds of our shoes stepping onto the concrete, next. I bathed myself in this silence that I hadn’t had for quite a while, which felt like longer than quite a while. Like almost the whole month of May. But it was nice to know that at least, I was given a chance before the end of the month for this kind of occasion. This kind of comfort.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjoouxuRehn
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I moved my head slightly to where Mika was. Not to look at her but to free my eyes from all the stress I’d been having and cover it with nostalgia instead. Although the neighborhood mostly had houses with walls, and all my eyes saw were these concrete walls, these concrete walls carried memories that I had since I was a kid.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGY2tfx4xT
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Then I noticed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdy1uF1PrI
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Mika had been holding her bag by the handle instead of using the shoulder strap like I did. She used two of her hands and her grip was tight.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv90QTyE1i
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I looked at her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3JTlQggOZ
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“Are you okay?” I asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pslzjMcgN
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Mika looked at me, stared into my eyes briefly and then resumed looking at the street. Her face was covered with worry. I was getting a little confused since we were just having a great time earlier. It was just banter, and it wasn’t like we were fighting. And we laughed too.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqvaxJ3s2lG
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“You know, I haven’t apologized to you yet,” Mika finally said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpN5r2I5Qe
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“For calling me fat?” I smiled. “It’s okay, I called you short so we’re even now.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4O8Zb4OwU
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“No, not that.” I thought she was going to be defensive, but she was mostly quiet. “I was talking about what happened yesterday… on the rooftop.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHs79asxISd
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I almost forgot about that.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ85GzOj7bf
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I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Mika continued.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9E64jZ2JwN
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“I know you’re probably going to say I should not apologize, but I think I should. I still think I was right when I was preventing you from going to that guy’s apartment alone. But.. I shouldn’t have said what I said after that…”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqLkCEoKf1
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“That I was not going to pass no matter what?” I told her. Gently. Teasingly. But not accusatory.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUarLvBi7Zw
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My eyes never left her when she stopped walking. I took a step twice before my body could stop after I noticed. I was in front of her. But she was still looking down. She looked up and stared into my eyes. Then dropped her head low.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAxRGZt1On
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“I’m sorry… I’m really sorry,” Mika said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhSIGVTMTp
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I walked toward Mika and carefully pushed her shoulders to lift her up from her bow. My hands stayed on top of them when she finally stood straight.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RK0e6Ixbb
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“You don’t have to. You were not wrong after all,” I assured her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBcUWTI1Go
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“But still—”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡui8AFUPGBt
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“I mean, even I agreed with you at that moment, you know.” I giggled. “Besides, no one knows what’s really going to happen.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeQV0FUZz0
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I looked at her but she didn't seem convinced. So I sighed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hG21BSt4j
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“Fine, I forgive you,” I said. “So stop stalling us so we can finally go home.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9Y2bLZGPa
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I smiled at her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8Xxa4X9Ig
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“I was not stalling,” Mika said, and she smiled as well.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDan99TGaF2
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I let her walk first before I caught up beside her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGUUhzo213
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“But didn’t you find him scary?” Mika asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksvIEPBmfK
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I thought about it for a bit. “...Yeah, he was scary, alright,” I answered. “But you know, if I kept getting scared, I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on studying. He’s the one teaching me, after all.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJD15yOQDD
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“Yes, but… I always thought he was a delinquent. Since… the first day of school. He showed up with a bandage patched on his cheek and some bruises on his neck. It was horrifying, and Hina was terrified too. She didn’t talk the whole day,” Mika continued.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwHs8segyX
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I remember all that but… “He had bruises on his neck? I didn’t know. How did you see?” I asked Mika.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEw4RqTBzw
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“Well, I was sitting at the front when the teacher introduced him as a transfer student. I kind of got startled by his bandage patch that I accidentally looked at his neck, and then I saw them,” Mika explained.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtRqZ9eJF4
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“Hmm? The neck?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkixC34dQM
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“Don’t make it weird.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjaV2LgYc9
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I giggled.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZHKvaLZeO
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“It’s not funny,” Mika said, finally back to her usual self.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwkPOVaUEY
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“You know, Hina told me this morning that there’s a lot of difference between knowing someone, talking to them, and not caring at all,” I said. “I thought about what she said and it never really occurred to me at that time what she meant.” I paused. “But I thought, just being able to talk to Kuroiwa is enough to make me separate him from the rumors and all.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasL3HjZgNr
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“Do you mean, you are not scared of him anymore?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvvK9B8cJG
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“Not really… I mean, I figured out later that talking to someone wasn’t enough to actually not be scared of them. But I figured out that the rumors weren’t true because of it.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7CiWcIzO3
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“So you’re intending to know more about him?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKvMEQFQzo
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I do.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQUUleSjKh
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I kept it in my thoughts. I wanted to know more about him, but only to become more familiar with him. I was just afraid of him this afternoon, but I also saw the invisible warmth inside that ramen shop. His eyes never gazed at it, his ears never heard it, and his hands never touched it. But that warmth still existed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLnvRBRFbRQ
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Yet, doubts still lingered in my mind, filled by clusters of imagination that I was trying to navigate. The exit wasn’t open, but it didn’t mean it would stay closed forever. That was why all I could do was to keep moving forward, and maybe, if I knew him better, those thoughts would get erased and leave a picture inside my canvas of trust.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwsEwlXvJv
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“I chose to believe in him,” I said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4dCWG1zRn
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“Is that so?” Mika sighed. “You’re so impulsive sometimes.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCCHwCzxwe
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“What do you mean?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2cuVFfeuE
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“What I mean is that you always just decide before you even think.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQWNP2YrGK
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“I-I thought of it, I mean, I really did.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp62wa82LTr
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“Really?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRqe3aOtiJ
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“I mean, ask me what a quadratic equation is.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSYN3svd2k
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Mika looked at me. She wasn’t convinced.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuu9iFdid3
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“Okay, so what is a quadratic equation?” she asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW31N5GdRi1
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“A quadratic equation is an equation that has an X squared with a number beside it that’s not zero. Plus or minus an X with any number on it. Plus or minus any number. Equal to any number. Oh, and if the number beside the X and the one after it are 0, I don’t need to write them.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6lTI5UEte
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Mika lifted an eyebrow. “Well, technically you're not wrong, but that's not what the textbook said.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlwrY0s5EX
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“But I understood it perfectly,” I said. “Wait a second, then.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADgwvUs8WC
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I stopped walking and stood under a street light, then I started digging inside my bag. I took out a notebook and a pen, then flipped the back cover of the notebook. I began to write.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwczhMVepJk
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X² - 6X + 4 = 0115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrZABTmnyC
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I showed her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQEv4hBVXS
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“This is a quadratic equation,” I explained.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6O35i2bemW
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“Yes, it is,” she said nonchalantly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWRxma2Uz3
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“See this X squared here? If the equation starts with it, then it’s a quadratic equation, right?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwKlryRJCd
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“I agree, but not every time it is.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcRxX3jhht
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“Yes, like if the number beside X squared is 0, then it is not a quadratic equation.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CNx4wDQTf
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“Mhm.” Mika closed her eyes and nodded.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq69LtQ0IzS
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I was getting impatient as she seemed not convinced.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBuZF2Z5ni
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“But that’s not the only way to find out,” I said. “Even if an equation starts with an X squared, even if the number beside it is not zero, it could still not be a quadratic equation.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zpRy80Gkh
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Mika opened her eyes. She opened them wide.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8oqyavHBx
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“Huh?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2Hr5XNN9Q
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Then it clicked with me.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYs6SBIyWHg
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“Hmm? You don’t know?” I teased her. I put up a smirk, feeling a bit superior since, for the first time, I knew something that she didn’t know. “Should I tell you? Hmm? Hmm?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtTNCLdinT
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Mika bit her lip. She opened her mouth, closed it, but in the end, she couldn’t resist asking.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJx04YCHw5G
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“What is the other way?” Mika asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOdvI5Kivh
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“Well,” I said, and wrote an addition on the equation. “If it’s like this, then the equation is not in its standard form.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eUlDIJHXN
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I showed it to Mika.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvVF9FO8RE
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X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 0115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAAlLoivzF
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“Or like this,” I continued. I wrote another variation of the equation, then again showed it to Mika.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUN2SFpnQu
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X² - 6X + 4 = X²115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmXmOa8OTP
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“Which do you think is not a quadratic equation?” My voice was smug.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPgEggHnlr
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“Wait, what do you mean by standard form?” Mika asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GK8VxIheY
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“Eh? You don’t know?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85pRAq1hvK
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“It’s not in the textbook!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8F4wc5IZ9l
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“It is though.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4l6jOgz2f
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Mika bit her lip again. She was not liking how this was going, I could tell.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeEqOUEjYy
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“Fine, it is, but I just didn’t get that far yet.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4V3kEhpfn
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“Don’t worry, Mr. Tanaka will teach us this on Monday,” I told Mika.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctDWguHraF
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Mika closed her eyes. She was frowning. Then she sighed and opened her eyes.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YaVcDZCr4
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“Okay, you win. Just tell me,” Mika said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdY9pXDl2t4
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I giggled.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQWeB1XVI2
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“Standard form is the original form of the equation. Like this.” I showed her the original equation again. “And if it’s not like the default form, then it is not in its standard form.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pEUlW1Brb
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“Then how can you make it into the standard form?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvfTyNUsZ9
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“By simplifying it.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfRVBJn19b
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“How?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxfADQUgbh
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“Combining the same expressions.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXD6EI4SmG
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Mika paused for a second, tilted her head, and touched it with her fist while she crossed her arm to support the elbow of her other arm.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuM8mUPa1Fn
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A few seconds had passed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNx0ZCuNjb
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“Give me your notebook,” she said, finally.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPffP2H84IW
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I handed her my notebook and my pen. Then I went beside her and she started simplifying the variation of the equation I made.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOWVnKXlAw
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X² - 6X + 2X + 4 = 0115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuW7P3CvqQA
X² - 4X + 4 = 0115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gYERo6vvM
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“That’s one,” Mika counted.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAqfocg1jGc
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X² - 6X + 4 = X² 115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFLSeWBHCH
X² - X² - 6X + 4 = 0.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PvDhLtxEg
- 6X + 4 = 0115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPauaoD6177
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“That’s two, was I right?” Mika looked at me when she asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTp28k8eHw
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“...Uh, yeah,” I said, hesitantly.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdKllIQF94
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“I see. Then… according to the textbook, the second equation isn’t a quadratic equation. I think I understand it now.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dwsGzRUzV
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The feelings of superiority were starting to fade. Erased. Trampled. Gone. I could not believe how fast she was able to understand it.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMhMqS4lZe
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“You learned all this from Kuroiwa?” Mika asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehalt3nXok
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“Yes,” I answered. “He explained it to me five times until I understood it.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvGtXW5txC1
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It was actually fifteen times. And we started from the very beginning every time I didn’t understand.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvd4t3yckA
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I felt embarrassed. How could I feel academically superior against a literal honor student? If I could melt right now, I should.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvcEosPvxy
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“It’s quite impressive actually,” Mika said, suddenly. Her eyes were still glued to the notebook. “You were able to learn all of this in just one night.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5uDvwJGw0
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“Well, it wasn’t without a lot of trying,” I replied.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwUaLCpHn5
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“What about linear equations?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0muG7pWErk
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I choked on the air and started coughing. Pretending to cough at least.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovUHFFVoYv
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Linear equation… uhh… linear equation. I didn’t know anything about linear equations. All Kuroiwa taught me was about quadratic ones. What is a linear equation?115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz79oOZei8
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I wanted to ask. But then I remembered something Kuroiwa had said before we separated.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPog0gegVu
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Check your notes for the other parts we didn’t cover. All I taught you tonight were the most important ones since I anticipate where most of the points of the math exam would come from. The past lessons, you still need to review them yourself since we don’t have much time.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfVqJC8RKH
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I covered my face with both my hands. And that also reminded me why I was late, because Kuroiwa had to walk me to the station. I said he didn’t have to, but….115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQqm45aOdE
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You’re in my care at the moment, so I am responsible for your safety.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdbPGTyImh
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I screamed… internally.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsuVFI7joU
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“You still don’t know?” Mika asked me.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQqlPR1L2l
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I nodded. Two slow nods.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm85FrnTpri
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Mika smiled. Warm. It wasn’t like the smirk I showed her earlier.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5TeOOtkPS
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Now I was feeling more ashamed. Ugh.1234 copyright protection111ＰＥＮＡＮＡxphHE9J66w 尼

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“You’re stalling,” she said. “Let’s go.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmF7WipUqU
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We started walking again. I looked up at the sky. The moon was still not there.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5bjdTedcg
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“It’s actually incredible,” Mika said, “that he was able to teach you all that in just a few hours. When I spent an entire week teaching you about linear equations. And yet you still don’t understand.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdafovgqP8
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I bit my lip and I smiled awkwardly then I hid the smile under my chin.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF947fR0Ru
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“And that’s maybe why you chose to believe him,” Mika continued. I lifted my head and looked at her. “It’s because he knew what he was doing, and we didn’t.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4a4bsc8ZtI
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“I trust you more,” I said, my eyes emitted a certain worry.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT5d5HRUbq1
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“I know, and I didn’t say that because I want you to pity me.” She frowned and flicked me between my eyebrows.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD9Jy6yWDT
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“Ow!”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7Ungb0An0
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“It’s just that… maybe I was wrong… maybe I was wrong about him.” Mika looked up into the sky. “There is no moon today,” she said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68QUHhdhT9
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A few minutes more and we were about to reach our homes. Her house was next to mine and it had been like that as far as I could remember.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyspqxHqnH7
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I stared at where she was staring and thought of the words she had just said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3QN3UrKcH
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“We all did,” I said to her, still looking up.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwf2gbQnTT
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But I knew she smiled.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bIKvcadAp
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—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9EIA81mMO
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9:15 pm.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpzWxDPx1r
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“I’m home!” I announced myself by the entrance of the house. I was busy removing my shoes when Mom came out from the living room.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QuN9zjYen
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“You’re late,” Mom said as soon as she saw me. She sounded like she was about to lecture me but then, she turned her eyes toward the one who was beside me.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE9B665oqy
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“Good evening,” Mika greeted Mom. “Excuse me for intruding.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyEncpzYLE
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“Oh, you’re here, Mika. Come in.” Mom’s voice sounded delighted.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡflzhW9H2DB
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Is she more glad to see Mika than me?115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXON5tvQvl
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“Sorry we were late, exams were about to start soon and we had Hina to help us study.” Perfect excuse from Mika. I gave her a wink because she did not stutter this time unlike when we were still outside the house earlier. But she nudged me with her elbow and hit me in the ribs.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHvnlXTiYS
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I closed my eyes. Took a deep breath. Then continued to take off my shoes as I eyed her menacingly. I knew she didn’t like lying but she didn’t need to hit me that hard.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPRsPKUnoq
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After we were done, we headed to the living room, which also connected to our dining room and kitchen. At the dining table, I saw a portion of meat and potato stew in a bowl with a plastic cover around it. Mika and I sat at the dining table. Mom sat on the sofa in front of the television. She was watching some drama I hadn’t watched for about a week. I was curious about where the story was now when my Mom asked before I could.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNIi0C2y2N
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“Have you eaten yet?” Mom asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSRFTxIw6y
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I looked at the covered dish but it wasn’t tempting enough. After all, I had already eaten.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD26NYk7ukR
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“We already ate,” I answered but someone kicked my foot. I opened my mouth at the suspect while I rubbed my shin. “What are you doing, Mika?” I whispered. But my whisper had sharpness in it.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSow0TN4LY
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“I haven’t eaten yet,” Mika whispered back.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkd5BsDm7m
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“Then go eat at your house.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SMJwi5kan
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“Mom went on a weekend vacation with her friends and Dad is going to be late.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvja54e4VX
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“How about your big brother?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk2Ylc4HIC8
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“He doesn’t know how to cook. You want me to eat cup noodles when your Mom’s cooking is better?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn92DRdLLAD
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I conceded. I sighed and turned toward my Mom.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHLvF45lEb
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“Mom, Mika is still hungry. We already ate but she still wants to eat more.” I looked at Mika afterwards. Her eyes were wide open. I felt her kick coming and I was able to avoid it.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrqAdCVNTs
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“Is that so?” Mom said as she stood and walked toward the kitchen.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozqbPLsNue
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Mika was preparing for another kick but my Mom approaching us prevented her from unleashing it. I stuck out my tongue a little toward her. She looked away instead.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDkp4ABIvr
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Mom took the bowl sitting on the dining table and put it into the microwave. Then she took another bowl and filled it with rice from the rice cooker.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4xweXSnV4
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“So, how’s your Mom?” Mom asked Mika while still waiting for the dish to heat up from the microwave. Mom leaned by the counter to look and talk with her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKjFp4Asom
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“She’s okay,” Mika answered. She sounded stiff. “She just went on a weekend trip with her work friends today. She said she’s coming home on Sunday.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr4ht2QHvF
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“Hmm… How about your Dad?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XWCLY1s4H
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“He’s okay.” Mika’s voice was getting even more stiff. ”He was very busy at the university today. He said he would work until night today and probably go home around eleven P.M.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe68wtjSpKZ
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I snorted quietly. The way she answered both questions was mechanically the same. Like how she sounded when a teacher asked her a question during class, but more nervous and less dignified. She clearly was still shaken by the fact that she lied to my Mom when we were still at the entrance.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV59Y137MG
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I felt Mika’s stare. Sharp.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS8Nrg1zLJ
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“It’s nice that they’re doing well.” Mom continued. “Well, I haven’t really seen them that much lately.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPnyR1j1q1
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“Ah,” Mika tried to sound less monotonous this time but she still failed in the end. “Well, they have been very busy lately, and during the weekends they mostly come home late. Mom tries to come home early to cook for me and my brother, but sometimes she can't come home in time.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQqYX7SYXI
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“Is that so? Well, can you tell your Mom that whenever she’s free, I’m inviting her to go to that salon we went to last time? I’ve been meaning to go but I needed someone to go with.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7dj1IdieA
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“Can’t you just call her or text her, Mom?” I asked an obvious question trying to be witty.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnSDYosnD1
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My Mom turned to me to answer my witty question. “Talking in person is more important than talking on the phone,” she said.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHSMYjm42Pb
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“But you’re using Mika as a messenger.” I wittily replied.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6Prwy1HVG
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“That’s not the point.” Mom sounded a bit defensive. I giggled a bit. “Speaking of phones, you should’ve called me when you were planning to be late.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESmecgaRXr
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My smile faded. I didn’t feel witty anymore.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhV0CfoAmz9
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I looked at Mika. She smirked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hfkWPbjxa
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“I agree,” Mika said, sounding less flat and sounding more smug, which I didn’t appreciate at all and I proved it to her with my eyes. “She never calls even when you tell her to.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuIUwAHO2z
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“Right?” Mom said. “No matter how many times you remind this girl, she always forgets.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6gwRbZovA
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“I am being unfairly teamed up here,” I said. I put my head on top of the dining table. Forehead kissing wood. I sighed.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHfvmDQyV5
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“Listen,” Mom continued the lecture, “I am not trying to be strict with you, but you have to understand as well that people get worried about you. I didn’t buy you a cellphone just to be a decoration. I bought it so you could reach out to us whenever it's needed.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqBJAjPUjS
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My Mom’s voice was calm. But her tone had already adapted to being a parent, lecturing like a professor. It’s not like I don’t understand what she was saying. It was just that sometimes I got into the moment of what I was doing that I genuinely forgot. Like tonight, I was so focused on studying and wanting to pass the upcoming exam that I failed to message her.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6rbxQGP3X
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I sighed in defeat.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWWzphCIhQ
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“I’m sorry,” I muttered into the dining table. I didn’t move for a few seconds then I decided to sit straight. Slowly. “Where’s Ruri, by the way?” I asked.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6kpP1nj9I
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“Look at her, she’s just now remembering Rurika after getting scolded,” Mom commented. “She already went to sleep.”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbOu97yLPJ
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My face dropped back onto the table. The table was comfortable. The table was my friend.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfaD6jcs9s
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“I’m sorry,” I muttered for the second time.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPnB2CRbvM
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The microwave timer went off. I turned my head to look inside the kitchen. Mom turned off the microwave, carefully taking out the bowl of meat and potato stew while wearing a mitten. I looked up toward Mika, and she looked a bit uncomfortable because of the lecture. I heard Mom start walking towards us and when she reached us, she placed the bowl of rice in front of Mika together with the dish.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU606Qdxbu4
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“Sorry, you have to hear all of that,” Mom said to Mika. “Just forget about it and eat, okay?”115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotZaDmDMmq
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“Yes, thank you,” Mika replied.115Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvCVwtH0qw
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I, on the other hand, was waiting to get back to the comforts of my bed.1234 copyright protection111ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNkpYZvbsk 尼

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