March.

Winter has passed, and spring has arrived.

It's another graduation season.

Kagura Hikaru stared blankly at the cylindrical case containing the graduation certificate in his hand.

"Next, please welcome the Student Council President to the stage for a speech."

On the auditorium stage.

The principal stepped aside from the microphone, and a stranger male student walked to the front of the stage.

"Esteemed teachers, fellow students, hello everyone..."

Like other students, Kagura Hikaru listened quietly and carelessly to the Student Council President's lengthy speech.

The current Student Council President is no longer Ayakoji Chiyoko.

After reaching the third year, she handed over the position to her junior and focused on preparing for the exams.

The goal seems to be Tsukuba University.

Kagura Hikaru turned the cylinder in boredom.

His heart was a bit heartfelt.

A year ago, Ai Cheng graduated from Yuqiu High School and successfully entered Kyoto University.

Now, it's finally his turn.

[Is the speech not over yet? So annoying~]

[I want to drink milk tea....]

[Finally graduated, thanks for taking care of me over the past three years]

[Goodbye, cage!]

[...]

The students in the auditorium maintained a reserved silence.

They gave enough respect.

But their hearts were quite noisy.

However, this level was something Kagura Hikaru was already accustomed to.

Training with Mizuno Yuna, the shrine maiden, in Wakayama, and combining her abilities with Komori Ai for hypnosis assistance.

Now he can hear people's inner voices as if they were melodies.

As Mizuno Yuna said, he walked the path of coexisting with troubles, no longer seeing them as burdens.

He owes it all to them.

Kagura Hikaru patted the head of the seriously sitting Komori Ai beside him to show gratitude.

She obediently nudged his hand.

Komori Ai is still seen as his sister now.

As initially planned, she stabilized using this identity and lived like an ordinary person.

Although due to her peculiar personality, she couldn't make friends other than himself and Hina.

But Komori Ai is happy now.

That's enough.

Twenty minutes later, the speech ended.

The principal announced the official graduation of the third-year students.

Amid cheers.

Kagura Hikaru walked out of the auditorium indifferently.

Three years of high school.

There were both painful and joyful things.

He left many precious memories here.

Next will be a brand new journey.

He should also start preparing for Kyoto University's exam.

He promised to go to the Capital City to find Ai Cheng.

Before leaving school, there was a place Kagura Hikaru wanted to visit.

He took Komori Ai through the courtyard's small forest.

Arrived at the initial secret base.

The bench under the maple tree was covered with fallen leaves.

Kagura Hikaru simply cleaned up.

Then he and Komori Ai sat down to rest and feel the breeze.

Today's sky was a beautiful azure blue.

A few heavy clouds moved slowly.

Above, the maple tree was growing green leaves.

Surely, it will soon return to its golden appearance.

This maple tree had witnessed his three years in high school.

If the maple tree had a spirit.

What evaluation would it give?

Would it think these three years were worthless, or thrilling?

"Hey, look at this, isn't it beautiful!"

Komori Ai kicked her legs, sharing pretty candy wrappers with him.

Kagura Hikaru nodded: "Yes, it's beautiful. Where did you buy it?"

"A classmate gave it to me!"

"Is it tasty?"

"It's yummy!"

Just then.

Footsteps came from a short distance away.

Ayakoji Chiyoko walked over, stepping on the fallen leaves: "I knew you'd be here."

"Chiyoko."

"It's you, Mochizuki Chiyonosuke!"

"Chiyonosuke? Are you talking about Sengoku Ninja stuff?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko glanced at Komori Ai puzzledly, then said to Kagura Hikaru: "I have something to tell you, let's talk alone."

Kagura Hikaru nodded.

Took out a comic from his backpack to entertain Komori Ai.

Ayakoji Chiyoko sat down beside Kagura Hikaru after watching Komori Ai walk away.

She crossed her right leg over her left, stretching comfortably, looking very relaxed.

"Are you going to Kyoto University?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Indeed, you're going to find Ai Cheng, right."

Ayakoji Chiyoko muttered to herself.

"Actually, I never quite understood you, why did you choose Ai Cheng Hua Lian?

Not that she's bad, but compared to others, she seems a bit too ordinary."

The 'others' in this context wasn't quite 'others.'

Referring simply to Hina, Chiyoko, and Suse.

But Ayakoji Chiyoko must be aware of how extraordinary the three of them are.

Ai Cheng Hua Lian's 'ordinary' is only in comparison to them.

But Kagura Hikaru didn't argue about such things.

"Feelings are not something that can be quantified, there's no suggestion that someone should be preferred over others.

My liking for Ai Cheng is different from my liking for you guys."

"Hmmm... so, you're saying you like me too?"

Ayakoji Chiyoko raised an eyebrow.

Kagura Hikaru didn't take the bait: "It's the kind of liking one has for friends."

"Tch."

"... Speaking of which, I must apologize to you."

Kagura Hikaru's gaze was fixed on the distant, "Back then, the conflict between Hina and me dragged you in innocently, I've always felt sorry."

"Okay, don't make me sound like a little girl, so much time has passed, I'm not resentful anymore."

Ayakoji Chiyoko waved her hand to interrupt him.

"If you really want to repay me for something, turn your back."

"?"

Kagura Hikaru was puzzled.

But he turned his body to face away from her.

Then he heard Ayakoji Chiyoko moving on the bench.

Something hard pressed against his butt.

Kagura Hikaru: "..."

In the next moment, electricity surged through his body starting from his butt, making him shake all over.

It turned out to be a stun gun that was just pressed against him!

Ayakoji Chiyoko held the switch for several seconds before releasing it.