After all the speeches concluded, the students exited in order, and the parents applauded as they watched them leave.

"Everyone, return to your classrooms to rest. The homeroom meeting will start at 12 o'clock."

Ms. Nobe left this instruction and turned to leave, and the students also scattered.

Akira glanced at his watch. It was already past eleven-twenty. The graduation ceremony had lasted for almost two hours, which left him a bit speechless.

"Akira... I didn't prepare a bento..." Shouko looked down at her toes, feeling a little embarrassed.

Akira didn't mind. He gently patted her shoulder and said, "What do you want to eat? I'll go buy something at the convenience store."

"I'll go with you."

"It's really crowded right now. I'll just go by myself."

"I'll wait for you at the entrance!" Shouko quickly interrupted, her fingertips quietly hooking his sleeve.

The morning light filtered through the corridor glass, dancing on her hair, and for a moment, Akira was entranced.

"Alright, what do you want to eat then?"

"The same as you."

"Let's go then. If we don't hurry, there might be nothing left." Akira took her hand and walked quickly toward the convenience store.

Even when they passed in front of the teachers, the two didn't let go. With the entrance exams tomorrow, Akira didn't care—but Shouko wanted to quietly show off to the girls who still eyed her Akira.

When they returned to the classroom, Ayumi and the other two were already eating their bentos. They noticed the pair's tightly clasped hands, which was a bit glaring, so they chose to look away.

These two weren't even pretending anymore. And if they remembered correctly—weren't they childhood sweethearts? Was this really okay?

"Shouko-chan, you didn't prepare a bento today?"

Ayumi was surprised. In the past three years, unless there was a special reason, Shouko always had a bento.

"It's because of the graduation ceremony today. I thought we'd only have a half-day, so I didn't prepare one..." Shouko brushed it off with a laugh.

Once this little interlude passed, the topic shifted back to whether everyone would attend the same high school.

Finally, Ms. Nobe entered the classroom, interrupting their conversation. After the students finished their bentos and restroom breaks, she began the final homeroom meeting.

Ms. Nobe reviewed the past three years, played memorial videos and photos, called out every student's name, and for the first time, hosted with a cheerful tone they had never heard before.

It was meant to keep everyone from feeling sad about parting, but it still couldn't lift the heavy atmosphere.

From time to time, faint sobs could still be heard.

Clap, clap, clap... Ms. Nobe clapped her hands on the podium. "Alright everyone, this homeroom meeting is over. Next is the collective classroom cleaning."

Seeing no response, she returned to her usual serious tone: "Those who need to use the restroom, go quickly. You have ten minutes. Hurry!"

At this familiar tone, everyone began moving again.

"Akira, what if we don't go to the same high school?"

In the noisy classroom, Akira still clearly heard Shouko's soft words beside him.

He turned his head and saw her slightly red eyes, and for a moment, he felt helpless.

But before he could comfort her, Ayumi, who sat in front of Shouko, turned back and interrupted.

"Shouko-chan, what if we don't go to the same high school?"

"...?" Akira felt that line sounded far too familiar.

But her words successfully shifted Shouko's sadness. Shouko noticed the water stains still clinging to Ayumi's eyelashes and quickly began comforting her. Takagi joined in, too. Yet the more they comforted, the more Ayumi wanted to cry.

"Hey! Cheer up, don't cry like a little kid!"

"..."

Akira couldn't even bear to look at the three of them. He turned back and began chatting with Nishikata instead.

"Akira, do you think I should confess to the person I like these next few days? Otherwise, I won't have another chance."

"Takagi?" Akira followed his gaze and felt a bit speechless.

It was obvious to anyone in class that Nishikata liked Takagi. Even Shouko had noticed.

As for whether Takagi liked Nishikata—it was hard to say, but Akira's intuition told him she probably did, at least enough to have a strong favorable impression.

"Wh-wh-what?!" Nishikata waved his hands frantically. "I didn't say it was her!"

"Yes, yes, I was just guessing. Don't get so worked up."

Teenagers in their puberty years... Akira couldn't really comment.

"Seriously though, do you think I should confess?" Nishikata asked again, his face serious now.

Seeing this, Akira stopped teasing. "There's no rush. We still have time to see if you're going to the same high school.

If not, we can always have Shouko invite Takagi and the others out, and you and I can join too. Wouldn't that also be an opportunity?"

"...That makes sense."

Nishikata's gaze drifted toward Shouko's side and accidentally met Takagi's eyes as she turned. He quickly looked away and pretended to keep chatting with Akira.

But honestly—his awkward act only made Akira more speechless... Pretending to be busy, he made three or four fake movements in a single second.

Ten minutes passed quickly. Ayumi was comforted, Nishikata was calmed, and Ms. Nobe soon called everyone back to start cleaning.

The class worked together. Some slacked off, but the cleaning was done quickly.

"You have one hour of free time now. Be back in the classroom at 3 PM. I'll go over the exam details for tomorrow and the day after."

Ms. Nobe left the podium after that instruction, and the students scattered—some eager to explore the school, some staying behind to chat.

"Shouko-chan, where should we take pictures?" Atsuya Ayumi pulled out her phone.

Today, the school had allowed third-year students to bring phones, but Akira and Shouko hadn't brought theirs.

"By the cherry blossom tree?" Takagi suggested.

The others quickly agreed. Shouko also called to Akira, and neither Ayumi nor Takagi objected.

Shouko worried that if she left him behind, some girls might pull him away for group photos she wouldn't know about.

When Akira turned back to invite Nishikata, though, his seat was already empty. Takagi explained:

"Nishikata was pulled out by his friends to take pictures."

"Alright."

Akira didn't ask further and got up to follow the three.

But just as they left the classroom, an uninvited guest blocked their way.

A male student in uniform stood there, holding a love letter in his hand, his eyes fixed firmly on Shouko in the middle.

Akira instantly realized what this meant.

"Uh... Nishimiya, could you come with me to the lucky cherry blossom tree on the west side of the school?"

-------------

Support me at patréon com/Lukas25