Time quickly flows.
In my memories or heart, it feels like just yesterday was New Year, but when I come to my senses, the last day of the semester is approaching.
Then again, the speed of time during student days is rather polite. Once you start working, without the tension of exams and similar events, time flies by without you even realizing it.
Winter has long since passed.
Winter vacation has ended quickly, and, of course, we started attending school again.
After that, I barely saw Izumi and Kaoru.
Both seemed busy with various things beyond exams. They probably had to fill out university applications and take various entrance exams aside from the ‘Center Exam’ which is similar to Japan’s standardized test.
And they have to go through interviews too.
Still, when I finally got to see their faces, they looked quite bright. It seemed that the efforts they had put in during the past time didn’t go to waste, as both greeted us cheerfully.
For reference, Hagiwara also seemed to be studying diligently this year since it’s her graduation year.
I managed to see Sota a few times, but I hardly got to meet him. Honestly, I think I might have been avoiding him a bit. There were many tangled matters between the church and me, after all.
Yet, it seemed like he was studying properly, as he didn’t look haggard when we last met.
Watching the busy seniors made us, who had only a few days left of our second year, quite anxious. We’re students preparing for entrance exams this year.
In fact, I was quite heavily studying under Yuka’s urging. It’s a good thing to have many smart kids around. Especially when that smart kid happens to be a close friend or my younger sibling.
Even during club activities, I studied while receiving various advice from the kids. Sometimes, I helped other kids too, and in the process, my own knowledge increased.
I think Kagami also started studying at home after seeing me and Koko studying together, but let’s just say that’s because she’s my mom.
She’d probably feel sad if she can’t answer when her daughter asks various questions…
Kagami would be that kind of person.
I figured there was no reason for me to say anything; it just became a casual atmosphere of studying together at home.
As we spent our time like that, spring eventually arrived.
The season of cherry blossoms blooming, it’s about time we should be moving on to our third year.
In Japan, high schools have varying graduation periods. I heard some have theirs in early March, but for Hanagawa High School, it’s at the end of March.
Given that the university advancement rate is quite high, it seems they purposely postponed it to not interfere with the university entrance exams.
The season when cherry blossoms bloom brightly. It’s about time to wrap up university admissions, alongside the graduation ceremony.
As it softly transitions into spring break, emotions run high for the kids, and we had people to send off.
“Wow~ I had no clue how things would turn out during exams.”
“I had such a blast in my third year that it felt a bit precarious…”
Listening to Kaoru and Izumi’s words made me chuckle a bit. They definitely participated and played around a lot for third-year students.
Well, I’d probably do the same throughout my third year.
Honestly, if there’s anything I’d regret not participating in, it’d be the cultural festival.
“But we managed to get in somehow.”
“Even though our majors have changed… Well, it couldn’t be helped.”
It must have been because what they wanted was different from each other.
Izumi is leaning towards literature while Kaoru surprisingly is heading for education. It seems she wants to become a physical education teacher.
Still, since they’re in the same school, it’d be nice if they could find time to meet. I hope their friendship continues. It’d be easier to hang out together later on.
Kaoru and Izumi were both holding black cylindrical objects resembling swords. Inside are their diplomas.
Around them were other students wearing uniforms and holding diplomas as well. In the background, pink cherry blossoms were blooming beautifully. The sight as the wind brushed through was lovely.
Yet, the way these kids looked appeared even more beautiful than the cherry blossoms falling.
“Um, seniors…”
Not knowing who they were looking at, Tsuneda ultimately couldn’t hold back her tears.
“This is quite something, our chairman crying so much this year.”
Kaoru spoke while placing a hand on Tsuneda’s shoulder.
At that moment, tears were already shimmering in Kaoru’s eyes too.
After giving Tsuneda a tight hug, Kaoru and Izumi looked over at me.
“…”
After gazing at each other for a while, without anyone saying it first, they hugged. Actually, it looked more like the three of us had arms draped over each other, facing one another, rather than a proper hug. You know that atmosphere when sports players huddle and plan? That was it.
“Thanks to you guys, I had a really fun school life.”
“Yeah. Because of Koto Ne, we managed to keep the Literature Club alive. Really, it was fun. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have made these memories.”
“…”
Hearing the two’s conversation made my nose tingle a little. I also found my vision becoming a bit blurry for no reason.
It’s not that we won’t meet again. We will definitely meet again. After all, they live close to this school.
But when we meet again, it won’t be as school seniors.
They will be outsiders, the first adults, while we are still students.
The connected ties will leave traces, but the feeling of being part of the same group will fade away.
That fact is heart-wrenching.
Even this feeling will slowly fade away with the passage of time.
“I hope we can create joyful memories until graduation day. That’s what I wish for.”
Izumi spoke.
“Stay healthy. You really seem to have improved a lot lately. It seems I won’t need to give you bread anymore.”
Not a gift, but probably setting a trap or something, right?
But I couldn’t properly retort.
It felt like I might burst into tears for some reason.
Am I really this emotional?
After we parted ways, other club members all gathered around.
Even Shii and Nanami were there—though Sota was nowhere to be found.
I briefly made eye contact with Nanami, but she just gave a bitter smile and a slight nod.
At the edge of that gaze, Sota and Hagiwara were facing each other.
…Is it okay to just leave those two as they are?
The atmosphere feels a bit off, right?
I looked back at Nanami, but she only shrugged her shoulders with a bitter smile.
Ah, I see.
Basically, since she’s in a position of overwhelming advantage, she’s saying she’ll allow it for a day or so.
I now know that Sota is not someone easy to get. It took me some time to realize that.
I have no clue what kind of conversation went on between Sota and Hagiwara, and I probably won’t ever know.
Whether Hagiwara confessed, or promised a future together.
Whether they promised unchanging friendship.
I had no particular desire to ask.
Yet, both of them were smiling. Comfortably.
Hagiwara hadn’t seen Sota much over the year, but there was no awkward atmosphere as they talked.
They chatted pleasantly for a while before Sota turned toward me.
Hagiwara didn’t come this way.
That gaze reached me.
“…”
After a brief moment of hesitation, I approached where Hagiwara was.
“…I’m sorry for all that time.”
The thing I heard first was that.
“Isn’t this story contrary to the will of God?”
I joked as I said that, but Hagiwara’s face turned truly pale, causing me to hurriedly wave my hands.
“In the end, it’s nothing special, so it’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”
“…”
Hagiwara stared at me silently for a while.
“The next time we meet, I hope it will be… in a way that has nothing to do with all this.”
After all, I suspect she will come to meet Sota.
If she says she was busy studying during her third year… Ah, don’t tell me she’s coming to offer to tutor me or anything?
Various romantic comedy-like events crossed my mind, but I had enough sense to keep them to myself.
“I don’t think we’ll get entangled in that kind of thing anyway.”
“That’s true.”
When I casually answered, Hagiwara finally smiled at the corner of her mouth.
After thinking for a moment about what to say, Hagiwara suddenly reached out her hand toward me.
I reached out and took her hand.
As we lightly shook hands, up and down.
“We’ve known each other for quite a while, yet we still don’t know anything about each other.”
“If we give it time, we’ll get to know one another little by little.”
Two years can be a long time or a short time. Even with people you’ve known for five or ten years, you often find out something new each time you meet.
“Yeah, if we give it time, meet again. That’s a good story.”
Hagiwara laughed softly.
“Congratulations on your graduation, Senior.”
At my words, Hagiwara momentarily had a blank expression, then quickly nodded her head vigorously.
“Right. Thank you. I hope you have a meaningful third year as well.”
I nodded my head with a smile.
*
“Well then… Goodbye.”
Kaoru said.
Standing at the school gate, she waved at us. Behind her were individuals who seemed to be her parents.
Kaoru and Izumi had strange expressions that were hard to tell if they were crying or smiling.
I don’t think I acted that way during the graduation ceremony.
…Will it be like that in this world? Probably, because leaving juniors behind makes a big difference.
“Goodbye. See you next time.”
Izumi said while waving.
“Congratulations on your graduation.”
I said, and the two of them smiled brightly.
Waving, we parted ways.
The two walked out of the school gate.
The fluttering cherry blossoms seemed to celebrate the future of the two.
Now… from next year onwards, I probably won’t see the two of them at the Literature Club room.
That fact felt a bit regretful.
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