Tuesday, After class.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsxU4oBuxo
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQxzZQWF1J
I had been thinking about it all day.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWdNgCHy0c
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoyo0NXjiA
About what Hina said yesterday afternoon, about what happened the week prior. Asking someone else to help with my problems. To fix what felt like to me, a burden that I had been carrying all my life. And the person chosen by her?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtxMlhRxcP
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNY0PIvSld
Kuroiwa Rei.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1X3D1yeseY
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvh2aM26u6
I was always familiar with that name. But the person behind it always felt far away and I had my back turned towards him. I’ve only caught the words that were constantly passing around the school. And they were not very pleasant to hear or even to think about. I didn't know what he looked like. Well... just vaguely. The same with most people in our class. I felt that everyone’s eyes refused to look at him. Just like mine. Not even a second.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImHB2DZZf3
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp2eCR61za
“There has to be a better option.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7f1t96rpI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEUmYsvRx8
Mika finally broke my chain of thoughts. She was standing in front of her desk, two rows near the windows at the front of the classroom.
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyevHTDW09
I had remained in my seat ever since class ended an hour ago.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ggGtqHLai
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpPTlJYbpv
I looked at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuv3tmEIEv
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD366zTGEU
Her arms crossed like she always did whenever she was against an idea she knew it didn't make any sense. Feet planted on the floor with one slightly ahead of the other. Her face, firm, different from how she usually looked. Her eyebrows tried meeting each other in the middle. I knew that look. I've always known it ever since we were little. And right now? That look was directed to Hina.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZw7UfWojSF
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6R0MffUjv
“Hina,” Mika continued. “Have you heard about this guy’s reputation?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYy2mxbDAb
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFVBcytiKS
Hina was staring toward the back door of the classroom, sitting at her own desk near it. Calm. Steady. Her eyes looked with expectation and her smooth lips, covered with a thin layer of pink lipstick, smiled. She was very relaxed. In fact, she was so relaxed that if I stared at her for a few minutes, I would almost hear her humming in my head. And that bothered me. A tiny little bit.
“Someone told me that he fought ten upperclassmen behind the school!” Yui raised her hand as she poured some of her cheerfulness into jumping down from the teacher’s desk where she sat. “And as a matter of fact, everyone says he has connections to the yakuza.” 15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiZrgMFGAO
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1fq6ZGGU4
“I heard his eyes have supernatural ability to stab you just by looking,” Hina said. The smile on her face was still there. She turned around to look at Yui. “Apparently three students went blind last week.” She giggled.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwdNuJa6rG
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5G6D0sCMcg
“That’s weird, I never heard of that.” Yui pondered.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDubT2XN9xy
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HamKWlbpB
Mika started getting impatient. She never found anything funny about what had been said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrN90IF6Fq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eufEYakcW
I did... giggled quietly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3kCcHkEoN
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhDNKo9fDk
“That’s exactly the point!” Mika uncrossed and recrossed her arms, which for her was the equivalent of raising her voice. “On top of everything – he’s a loner, he never talks to anyone, everyone at school avoids him. People don't just avoid someone for no reason, you know.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡofvnjyTZlx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyiJayjfnJs
I knew that. I knew all of that.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeiM2iOuyu
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lCOItiDrM
Since the beginning of the school year, I had spent every school day believing what others had said. And his nature of always being a loner made a radius of two empty seats between him and everybody else during breaks.. The rumors sounded ridiculous, they all did. But there was no reason for me to just throw away all I heard. I never intended to talk to him in the first place, even now.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC0CVtBEgE
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCHmMlxk1W
But the image of my mom being worried, her calling my father who was working overseas. My friends’ frustrations whenever I didn't get what they were teaching me. The supplementary lessons after classes. Me having to go home alone. Everything. They were all mixing together with the thought of this mysterious person who was also my classmate.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoOUmeJgiy
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviE8vWtLa8
I swallowed everything and said nothing.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kxa1pamil
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDMQVpDq83
“Just trust me,” Hina said simply. She was looking at me specifically even though Mika was the one talking to her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMylRMMiOVB
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EW01PcIIQ
I nodded. Very subtle nod.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgROJj836gE
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuBaspzitX
Then she blinked towards Mika and gave her a stare, the one she always did when she meant to say that she knew more and had no intention to explain anything. We just had to accept it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf78zwbVFQF
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMq6xiYnNsX
Mika opened her mouth. Closed it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyiFdr3TrK
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMxJQsgNAz
I felt the same way. When Hina was being like this, pushing back was going to become a huge wall to overcome. The words she spoke were few, but the weight of confidence in them was too heavy.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClnZYdcv9s
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRubauoyCF
“I just…” Mika lowered her voice. Her head tilted towards the floor. “I still don’t think this is a good idea.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYLI7brD6Q
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQd6nA43ao
“Terrible idea!” Yui agreed cheerfully while raising both her hands.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUS2m4EmStF
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV0tUXBXZP
I sighed, stood up and went towards Yui. I couldn’t stand the fact that I felt like I was losing an argument I was never even a part of. Maybe in spirit. I don’t know.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9hkHqsEDP
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mCTkArSFB
Then the back door opened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqnCyCNRbl
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNWBK783eF
I stopped in front of Yui when it happened. I saw her stand up straight from the sound. And I could feel Mika do the same without looking at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71FiXnrc6Y
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStZbdbzSur
I felt him come in.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ziiqAOKfx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRrW50p4nc
His steps were slow. With a certain rhythm that sounded careful. Sounded patient. Gentle.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2nXjsLLvx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLx9BRwvthn
Gentle?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbCK95XpL1
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUh2O6W1pK
Curiosity crept into me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxs5mkxgmGp
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aTkm99weV
So I turned. Slowly. Reluctantly, like my body knew something my feet hadn’t caught up yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zG9bEHN9N
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQLi0RVa6T
I looked at him, and he saw my gaze. My eyes snapped back towards the floor.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc7bsiNg01
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3oHe7FisL
He kept walking. After taking a brief look, I got the feeling he had been observing us. The three of us in the front of the class. While he continued towards his seat. At the back beside the window.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhxYOSTEZc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkir860G5J
Behind me, Yui was not moving. I couldn’t see her face but her hands suddenly gripping my arm already told me that she wasn’t looking at him either. Mika as well seemed to be doing the same when I glanced at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpvKKmQZi5
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHE19iMo4y6
“What does he look like?” Yui whispered.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9kDAEIJsq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8sbyB86jR
“You have eyes.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfe1rtS3R7
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnOdmvY2Um
“I can’t use them right now.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmGk4IUKB1
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl4v9b3r84
“Why not?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6laUEMx8x
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBORNBfQLs
“I just can’t.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9T9154iIf0
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6Gm4c4I29
“Hi.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdjV4aDooL
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC63IQmJKQt
That calm voice that suddenly filled the silence came from Hina.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03A7SneCwu
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa45KvddTr1
Just a little bit. For just a little bit I looked up at her direction.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRKhbQQHix
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAhVAhv86o
She was composed. Walking. Confident with each step. Towards the silhouette of that guy I was currently trying not to look at.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzrykyinCL
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYu2hCBEc6m
I could almost hear the thoughts of Yui and Mika synchronized with mine.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfNd32MYSt
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEJaLPj87J
How?
How is she so calm right now?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmIrDHdNAW
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Hu9FZv42b
“Kuroiwa Rei,” Hina said, with a slight hint of familiarity in her voice. But as far as I know, this is the first time I heard her talk to him. “Do you think you can listen for a second?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4wJbKjvki
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGDmnoEApx
The silence was everywhere inside the room. Too quiet that the noises that came from the classroom below us were the sounds I could hear.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymJPWP5FwS
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J3BO5LlPE
I never heard an answer from him. Normally, you would stop talking to the guy at that point, right? Normally, you would think that he's not interested in having a conversation with you. But Hina was different. At least I think she was acting differently than normal at this point. I thought she knew what normal meant. But right now? She was definitely ignoring what it meant.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPcxnvE1DU
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4Bnvji9Hw
“There’s something the four of us need from you.” And there you go, she kept talking. And of course, with the ease of someone acting like she did not just spend the last few minutes being reminded that this could be a bad idea. “We were hoping you might be able to help our friend study.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRbIpwpn1b
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3srNjApbG
I flinched. I was not ready for the conversation to shift onto my existence.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbn3ht2CJIT
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsrZ5Q9mYi
“Study?” he said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB9UVtzkLqt
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPvJFVIEfW
One word. The first time I heard him talk as far as I could remember. And it was that one word delivered in a voice that was flat and unhurried yet somehow still managed to fill the space it occupied completely.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjLVHFSmYj
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzG3BrkMWo
“Exactly,” Hina said, sounding genuinely pleased.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLP3BqzDXp
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrVBXOIrz0
I was not. Definitely not pleased.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4hBVN2EVZ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm5cBDMsnW
I kept drifting my eyes towards Hina but when I caught a glimpse of him I reverted to my companion, which is the floor. I kept repeating the same thing, but mostly, the one who I intended to look at was Hina. And unfortunately, my eyes were conversing in silence with the floor when footsteps started to fill the room.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsXtWGBzYz
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdqobyAUaP
Slow. Steady. Careful. Patient.
My eyes refused to look up. I wanted to brace myself but perhaps looking down was the much safer option to choose right now.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelNXgRN6lO
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4uRnTrXRQ
The footsteps got closer. Then stopped.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6wBsoFtST
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJzKnL1SuC
It stopped right in front of me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLjKCCdqxK
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Q275W05xV
I didn’t move. I tried to breathe.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWmnlkyB19
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJsQeJU3cm
Then I looked up because not looking felt worse. I was careful not to look at his face. But an open hand sure appeared right in front of me. Patiently waiting.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuBLv4nZOR
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtpPnUlRww
“Test papers,” he said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY3mx0zPNc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNZfckQPjh
“Ah.” I didn’t intend to let out any sound, I did anyways.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59mdN6Yz5V
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3o8A3gyCy
I hurriedly went back to my seat but the grip of Yui’s hand behind me slowed me down a little. I wasn’t thinking about it when I released my arm from her hands. I felt her trying to grab it again but I was already far. I felt sorry. She stood there in front of him for two seconds before she decided to follow me and settled behind me once again. My hands managed to find my test papers inside my bag. I took a deep breath then started walking towards him. Yui followed me, still behind me. Then, without looking at him directly, I offered them to him.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡch2hq0IZmO
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuwCwI8vER
At that moment I wondered.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEKx0iZVFD
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAObhsMRjR
Will he laugh? The thoughts arrived continuously. I’ve never shown anyone these scores except my friends. Not even my mom. Is he even capable of laughing?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQnMldTmxI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwkCHLh3MX
“I bet his laugh would sound like a villain’s,” Yui whispered from behind me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYpQs5HxnM
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pITZcW8aX
“Not now,” I whispered back.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8x4YTpvjje
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44txmfEkEz
He took the papers and glanced at the first one.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFfobfFoN7
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4tZ63hU4O
“Terrible.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajiT6vQ773
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qvsk5T5Qj
I heard Yui swallow a laugh behind me and I made a note to address that later.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapjXonDmw7
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQa4Nnkm4GV
“Hey.” Mika raised her voice suddenly. She still looked stiff but the comment she heard from him somehow gathered some courage for her to say what was on her mind. “You can’t just say it like that.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblIWvBgQQm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH5gN1DblN
He looked at her from the corner of his eye.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DhcjWcthi
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSFxnOLdfc
She went quiet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4AHoDlUic
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mc3ULi3UC
Thank you, Mika… Sorry, Mika…15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JRcl8IhVm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmOtPlXTZi
The movements of his hands told me that he went back to examine my test papers. I still couldn’t look at his face. Partly because of the conceived idea that this guy was scary. And also partly because I was nervous about seeing his judging eyes. I just stared at his hands. He wasn’t saying anything but I could feel the tension building around my stomach. I could imagine him trying to look at every single mistake I made, every silly answers I gave. And I wanted to sigh. I couldn’t even sigh.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJ22Wb6sT8
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9IwQI4wTo
“But not impossible,” he said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrn6t3VIGq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGucUVbBFz1
I blinked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIrpKnToez
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTmKQ6bt0W
“Really?” Hina sounded delighted. I was confused.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sww8RFlyt
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsHy6FVqa8
Not… impossible… I repeated his words back to my thoughts.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJV7wMTSkk
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0LLaOr7FT
“She answered everything,” he continued. “Ninety percent wrong. But she answered everything.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohU1LLPUhl
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxLzldPbun
Another muffled sound from behind me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOaZaaWS5U
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedVMNr9j27
Yui… I swear.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0w3TpSqzv
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43tVHuFVgY
“The answers she gave were wrong. But they aren’t random,” he explained. “She gave some kind of logic behind them, wrong logic, but there’s effort and it shows that she’s trying to solve them.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv7zwa0kswK
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qWB8g9NjP
I listened to him. And I started thinking back.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTDp3qA8Qz
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZReXSoRFS
Because..15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDChUxi2UNA
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYVQmmGRPZ
I had tried. I had studied. I gave my all.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNBwmouTEL
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5mar812ab
Everything was wrong in the end. It felt like I wasted all those times I stayed up late reading my notes, checking all my text books and yet failing to retain what I learned.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Rk3Uk0G77
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVXWOY71Xn
I gave the right efforts for everything. But the wrong results were what I got back.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUKXJTIGqC
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qplWmYOxg
I wanted to tell him. I wanted someone to acknowledge them. And I don’t know if he did. So I asked.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNCMS54SJW
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjs3zMZzgHj
“Does that mean… there’s still hope?” My voice came out steadier than I expected.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHb58HrED7
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVx1ozqxu4V
“Sure,” he replied.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiL1golIPc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsr9eizrh24
That wasn’t reassuring. An of course would’ve been better. Just sure, like it was simply a fact he was confirming.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDeNvJryXs
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfGMvMDqNQ
I’ll take it, I thought.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH2OHaDFp0
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlnh8X00h9
“But I have a condition,” he suddenly added.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaJMuDWs5g
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjobkKEAM4c
I was in the middle of smiling when I heard that. And I felt my smile slowly fading and then my mouth opened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUH1ZD6h3ko
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbm7MbZm2B
Of course. It’s not going to be for free.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxBkyI5DSS
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprCbxyDhJN
“How much?” I asked, before I’d thought about it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ0qYYxc95
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlUA61xFrH
“I don’t need your money.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPoPEZIUuP
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GA3dpIyPm
I looked at him… for a second then I looked at his hands. Then what?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqTjxexSI0
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJf8JHkUAeo
“What do you mean?” Mika already asked before I could. She already crossed her arms again, and that meant she was already done adapting from the tension. I wished I could do the same. “If it’s not money, tell us what you want.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiWQ8Cct7U
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4W4zShC5df
He was just silent. Then he walked. Unhurried as always, back to his seat.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIcwnRv9Cz
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5IPnvmoQLz
He reached into his bag and took out a notebook. Then he slowly tore a page from it. He steadily placed the notebook back inside his bag. And carefully he wrote on that page he tore. He patiently folded it neatly. And then he finally walked back.
Why is he being slow when I’m already nervous?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69W50kWzba
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoxk5YwpGi
He stopped in front of me and held out that neatly folded paper to me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm08zbm6AY
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu87Br59c0K
“Don’t open it yet,” he said. “That’s my address.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fCOaH9PT4
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiK3bivcx4
“Why are you giving her your address?” Mika’s voice went sharp immediately.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWOS1pMLBE
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fWY5LicKr
He kept his eyes on me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3NjNGAHnj
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMCkksgOHW
“Come to that address tomorrow afternoon,” he said. “Alone. If you want to hear the condition, you’ll hear it there.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlnmXkSIyI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhGP4tekeN
Alone? I sat with that word for a moment.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9syjg1l1cz
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6zytLEgwb
Alone. In his apartment. Just the two of us?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJFvOE2TEt
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkUS25y5Sv
Me, with a boy with a terrible reputation?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv0Se2Hpxj
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKei4NSC4Z
I had to say no. No was the immediate answer. And it’s where this conversation should end.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3D2Hq50JP7
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6n1jPrDxK
But the word. That one easy word to say wouldn’t come out. Instead it was drowned by two other words.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgaMaIGfBy
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKOCr8FlsS
Not Impossible.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOujMHx6jR
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQKSkaq2en
“No!” Mika said what I couldn't. “Absolutely not! Why does she need to come alone? I’ll go with her.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdMShEAHHq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVoT9krU8I
“I need her to come alone.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcZI9U9Bwx0
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzEHpK14IT
“Then this is over. We’re not agreeing to that.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO1vB9VBpV
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79JE9FRTYo
He looked at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7EAareyQz
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aJkU5u5T3
“Tojo Mika,” he said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkgKy3d1tT
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchTsbKvY8k
Mika stopped.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfU6DcZt0Jq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsuNNYJMLG
“Always ready to answer when the teacher calls on you. Above average grades. A few points from breaking into the top ten.” He retained his usual way of talking. Serious, precise and unwavering. “The annoying girl with pigtails.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLnaSqFggx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5iaFRgx7D
Mika’s mouth opened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7w2heEskqN
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmX3iVSiBk
“Shirogane Yui.” He stared at the one who had been trying to hide behind me all this time.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtUvwhzEYW
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7vVPym92s
Yui made a small startled sound.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYEHqciEjQ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbgFFWekMM
“Decent in class. Your reasoning when teachers call on you is good. You just don’t take studying seriously enough. A little more effort and you’d be above average.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IIeqSq5cO
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQHYhILfHx
“Oh,” Yui said softly. I could practically feel her eyes glittering wide behind me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosVl4zCyWB
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡig1mr67rsL
“Asakura Hina.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWH7YLJomKm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDsCJPRcqm
“Hmm?” Hina tilted her head like she’d just been greeted across the cafeteria.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qYC77jcPV
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rx0j6SogI
He paused for a second.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡli0o2Rh4uA
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodSof2GOUq
“Top two in our grade. Excellent across subjects. Your math is the one place you’re leaving points on the table.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMnzBNJh9U
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6leB6DFqM
“My, you’re actually right.” Hina smiled. Genuinely smiled. Like she was pleased someone had brought it out and noticed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf6ETUE48t
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLWLmH9uLo
I heard that. And I wanted to protest. She got 91 in math and he still called it lacking? Isn’t that a little bit absurd?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkVEMAMUCB
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLx1PtlAu1
I felt mildly annoyed this time.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlrV9yENZd
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtN7UdxCfVO
“None of you are bad students,” he continued. “All three of you know how to study.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i0IlZpBfS
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYdKny7Ykj
“So what is your point?” Mika said. Still sounding fierce. But when I looked at her. She was looking at the floor. It felt like she knew what he was going to say next but still asked anyway.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8acUbz7xz
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vJwYBHk7k
“And yet.” He paused. “You gave up on her.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGg7hrO1TL6
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SxvT1hr7X
Everyone went still.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVDx0m1Wm3
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXD3an4Cii
Yui stopped moving behind me. Mika’s arms dropped slowly. Even Hina was quiet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD9wbTySaN
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1AIMTgyVD
As for myself. I did not understand what he meant.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkodupJStq
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLxVga8xF0
“You probably tried,” he continued. “And when it didn’t work, you stopped. Three people who know how to study. And none of you stopped to ask why it wasn’t working for her. Why she couldn’t hold onto what you were teaching her.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPuWVvXfUw
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK6mfQmkcd
“It’s not their fault.” I let it out. I wasn’t planning to, but I let it out all the same. My voice was shaking slightly, I wanted him to stop. “It’s hard for me to hold onto things. They’d explain something and I’d get it, and then after a while it would be gone. It’s not their fault. They did everything for me. They did everything they could. I was just… lacking…”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouKrRHOlgp
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdr9LxcwYt
My hands were shaking at my sides.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUn23axJ0X
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyU4GkP6A8
“I’m the problem. Not them.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV96YhyBRCE
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzNHVJWmX9
I tried to let those words sink into him. But the voice that came out next wasn’t from the person I wanted to speak in this moment.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYge2StAXGm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyJQb9GB0L
“I’m sorry, Runa,” Mika said. It was barely a whisper.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc7NrNvMhS
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb7nODVbYe
Behind me. Yui’s hands let go of my arm and she wrapped hers around me. She was quiet, and her embrace meant an apology I didn’t want her to give.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDTAK549sJ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBRLmeQvPV
I stared at the floor.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtLisfxVv2
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjN1WomQ1As
It’s not their fault. It was never their fault.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHmHzL3gCh
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cXaK8KA9U
He let out a long exhale from across me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3kbQ4OjEJ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnSaj8q7RF
“I know,” he said. “You think it’s your fault.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInxBnkt94M
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAFeaFufl1
“You don’t understand…” I looked up at him. I looked up at his face. And for the first time I actually looked. Really looked. And I noticed immediately. His hair, messy and dark. Clearly never been introduced to a comb. His face that looked sharper than I expected up close. Angular in a way that would have been striking if he put any effort into it at all, which I assumed was something he would never do. He’s taller than me by some noticeable margin. And his eyes were just looking back at me. Dark and direct and completely still. Intense, in a way that made sense of why people avoided them. But honest. Telling me that all he just said was true. “Don’t say it like that about them. They tried. They really tried to help me. They tried everything.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKyBodwVfQ4
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycIpSy36fQ
He held my stare. Never looked away, never felt threatened. Somehow it was more unnerving than if he had.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJIBvSuRxH
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN0sBCwC4q
“You’re right,” he said. “I don’t understand.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtEmYwr9Ve
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQU2pxKwhMz
He looked around and then stopped his gaze on me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AoFYCE79Y
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbKN00YQ1c
“But from where I’m standing. All of you are at fault.” His voice cut through my excuses. “Not because they gave up, but because none of you understood why it wasn’t working. Not them. Not you. Nobody stopped to ask the right question.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByOSNrJnE1
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy6EcUq29y
Where I failed, he succeeded. Those words he said sank deep inside me. But the quiet my friends had surrounded me with, made me feel like it sank deeper for them.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwLE31Kwcf
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIoJu6McaS
“Studying is a skill,” he said suddenly. “It’s not something you either have or don’t. It’s something you learn. Something you can get better at. But only if you understand how.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCZQYh0RlG
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHo5jmLuHEw
That stuck inside my thoughts.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FOLoR97dw
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYjb2Ow7lp
A skill.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zSQmVGOMv
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdbzPmCONL
Not a talent. Not something you either had or didn’t. Something you could actually get better at.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYR5D36LOK4
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtYemAPpTa
Which sounded like exactly the kind of thing someone said right before they sold you something.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtTPAj3S8St
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPeKbBC8wQD
And yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbH4XzwQhw
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4qeFlmUqm
I wanted to believe it so badly. I wanted it to be real. But I don’t know if he was telling the truth. I don’t know if I could actually trust his words.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkmipqaPez
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Zmi8NEjSg
He moved towards his bag and carried it with his hand towards the back door of the classroom where he suddenly stopped.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPDSPLqmHx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiDDtUdSSQM
I watched him. He was moving slowly, but not as slow as I remembered a few minutes ago.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqdisKj9on
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCZNUo6S3E
“If I help you,” he said, “you’ll be in the top ten of our grade by the end of the year.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULgTWQvzDB
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHUdKYy57U
Mika’s eyebrow went up.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEfeRP0qHi
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOMX1Zow90t
I didn’t say anything. I just listened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtAXxcBkrZ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubHrlVfRzC
“It won’t be easy,” he continued. “But it’s achievable.” He stared at me. “If you agree to my condition.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4LligPwFi
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfnE3PKk8VI
And just like that. He was gone.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4vpbRZNvx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dsOdWaqju
Nobody was making a sound. Not even Yui, who I thought would’ve already said something ridiculous but she stayed behind me gripping her arms around me tighter than before.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO4kUj7aBW
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ166tVG6ml6
“He called me annoying.” Mika broke the silence. Her voice had a mix of ‘about to get angry’ and ‘about to get confused’.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86kdpK3yim
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk34T6Q9dP
“He called all of us by name,” Hina offered.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTkRpaykn3
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGj8Boc5cq
“He specifically called me annoying!”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpacIlWzew
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiPJqot5fe
“He also assessed all our academic capabilities without ever being asked.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z6TmgAO2e
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KiR0yzCli
“That’s creepy and also not the point.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLB85lKiDk
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZtbrQo4xA
“He was wrong to call you annoying,” Hina said. “But was he wrong about everything else?”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwfbNHIemb
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq5pyS1MLr
Mika slowly stared at the floor. “...No.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2s1GXklCE
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncziKfiesT
“I was hurt as well, since he was right.” Hina carefully walked towards Mika, then she placed her hand on Mika’s head. “But I think he is someone we can trust,” she said and her familiar smile returned.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94ZU20TOxs
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuWaeRgNw1
“How do you know that?” Yui finally spoke, peeking at Hina from behind me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzb4qGz6lq7
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWjcYHO4vg
Hina smiled wider. “I just do.” She glanced at Yui and gave her a little wink.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcYpLU8qEl
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHwgLjbYez
“You can be really weird sometimes,” Yui told her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSl7b7cvIX
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPRbFiORzO
And I agreed with Yui. I didn’t know what to think. Everything he said seemed too good to be true. Top ten? In just a year?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSu5tBUoqr
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkTM1rgqWEH
I looked at the folded paper in my hand.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg4dqohmuS
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUmKkjyVsl
“… I still don’t trust him,” Mika said quietly. But I heard it.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcs44bHGlG
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoKJW6BLjR
I don’t either. But the hope he gave me was uncomfortable and at the same time something that I wanted to hold onto. Something that maybe could turn my life around.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj1UGhK7Tu
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbXjDlQVkf
I closed my fingers around the paper.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf3jkY28hX
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnLsJGYHie
This idea is terrible, I thought.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsumkgDpjFL
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcAV6I7VZ7
And yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvByOCizaI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhnw3CkXRn
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMKZFOV9qB
Tuesday, afternoon15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKaVGrrMql
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXEEAOePCM
On the walk to the station, Yui and Hina did most of the talking.
Yui finally regained enough of her composure for her to tell us stories about what was happening in another class. Specifically class 2-C. And she presented them with such focus and energy that she was like delivering some breaking news. Hina listened as she always did and sometimes contributed to them as well.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8KaaNgz5o
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0g37Z4TUm
I laughed with them. I said the right things. I didn’t want to show that what happened just a few moments ago was still shaking my thoughts.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4UEs0HY3sd
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNhD6io6sty
Mika walked beside me like she always did. She wasn’t talking.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymJbcjO4Pv
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVhFhQDcrBO
That was always how she got when something was sitting on her. The words went inward instead of out. I knew because I’d been watching it happen since we were small enough that the walk between our houses felt like an adventure.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcz7elI1gu
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0IqZhAzvP
We split at the station like we always did. Yui and Hina going one direction, Mika and I going the other. Yui waved her hands as she rode the train with Hina. I smiled at her. And then they were gone.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCscmmRhqh
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9NQEP7i11
The train was quiet for the few stops between school and home, and by the time we were walking the familiar street toward our houses the afternoon had gone golden and long around us.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51xGbxUWUc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aqgBcIm8y
Mika hadn’t said anything yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡreaxq7uwxs
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAzHWNdtg11
I let her be.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc5ggSZcQI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoDSm43fIr
“Will you go?” she asked finally.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFO5x9N29ut
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwef0sSIuL3
“I don’t know.” I wasn’t sure. Maybe I was sure.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzENY8kx3p
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tb8SguzUE
I don’t know. I repeated in my head.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA05iHsRTCx
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYHu0qgtWk
“He’s not someone you can trust easily,” Mika continued.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnqw9TdqpQ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsVLq3LItx
“I know.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdpClbvio6
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksYYSMZgDk
“Everything he said…” She stopped herself. I knew what the end of that sentence was.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aHkl9KUPU
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBT1Z30ccW
Sounds impossible. Doesn’t add up. Doesn’t make sense.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbKT9xpzZWI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7MhXNgYR1
“I know,” I said again.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECV8pu9wEQ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozPQU4Iq94
We walked half a block without talking.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI00ZSCMa0K
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdElX2ycXpr
“I’m sorry,” Mika said. Softer this time. “I keep thinking, if we’d tried harder, or differently…”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEBbrGYmPl
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbyBvQ1g13
“Stop,” I said gently. “It’s not yours to be sorry for. I mean it.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sfOnbvQAc
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTANY2n5rVY
“I want to try again. We can start over, do it differently…”
“Mika…”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdX033ZPuB
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4Optr4NAb
She went quiet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYiL3ZLAFw
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0rHqI5pXu
“You already tried,” I said. “You all did. And I know you would again if I asked. But I also know it didn’t work, and I don’t know why, and maybe that’s what he was talking about.” I looked at the street ahead. “The right question nobody asked.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbatOTUg2tW
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspptb24mPW
Mika kept silent as we continued to walk.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnvXyfNqAU
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptUNXUDQC3
A few seconds later.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUdhMZmvov
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlosxJJc90y
“If you decide to go,” Mika said eventually, “and anything feels wrong…”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRinvlJRUM5
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO95vtcDHpx
“I’ll call you immediately.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDYlxLhNeg
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3tRox5vFr
“Before immediately.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhAPnXugIX
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZb8Bkh1Jj9
“Before immediately,” I agreed.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvAazzxOgm
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKdvJMggwU
“I don’t want you to go.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9xqI0QzMi
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMG8B5U3LsD
“I know.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt86Y69iAC6
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UZ2lfjSAT
“But you’re going to anyway.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7J0IBKcSY
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9fAwZgFfV
I looked at the folded paper still in my hand.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmk3XEaSsu
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHIyD4ALJR
“...Maybe,” I said.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtqX4NpH0y
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPA3QNZCOA
Mika exhaled. She knew that at this point she would never be able to convince me.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RuGL1u0v8
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBdB1VzXjJ
I smiled at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJRpS2dM1yI
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPktwv8lP0
“Stay safe,” she said. “Call me when you get there. Call me when you leave.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzPyeExyax
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9dzVtm3EC
“Okay, mom.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRV9qwlJtBW
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqotHDy8PQ
“I’m serious.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh12FUL0URZ
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzX7JP0Pll
“I know you are. That’s why I said it.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOObzqHK0o
She smiled at me but as soon as she turned away, I caught her trying to hide an expression she didn’t want me to see.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC0PrONYply
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EhMklzFru
I looked up at the sky instead. The clouds had turned colors, orange edging into pink at the horizon, the blue above it going deeper.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6hyeFt3of
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHWTFOhWp8
Will I go?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnHQxAyzTg
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU32ZC90FUh
I didn’t have the answer yet.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGCx095fgD
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEua8PGb7oE
But I was running out of time to keep saying I didn’t know.
15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K1RbF7kLZ
and then Add to home screen.