As February passed by, March began.
And today, March 3rd, is… the day of my first and last graduation ceremony.
“If you need help, just let me know anytime, Kayanoh-san.”
“Thank you, Miyauchi-san.”
“Didn’t Kayacchi say she’d try everything she can do?”
“Yes… I’ll probably be busy for a while.”
“Just because you’re busy doesn’t mean you can ignore our messages, okay?”
“Of course…!”
Miyauchi-san. Tateyama-san. Onodera-san.
Today is the last day I’ll see the faces of these three every day.
That thought made my heart feel a bit lonely.
If the middle school me saw this, she would definitely laugh it off as nonsense.
Thinking that, I absentmindedly fiddled with the bright red rose pinned to my left chest.
It’s a flower given to me by a junior I met for the first time during last year’s sports day.
She said she admired me and then blushed red and ran away, so I didn’t catch her name.
According to another junior who came with her, she would be satisfied just watching from afar, so she didn’t tell her name either.
…Huh?
But isn’t it impossible to just watch from afar now?
As I voiced my confusion, Miyauchi-san pointed it out and brought back the junior who had run away with wide eyes.
…Did they really not know?
“H-Hujiwara Momoka here…!”
Then, Hujiwara-san introduced just her name before running away at lightning speed.
Uh, um…
Shouldn’t we at least exchange LINE IDs… I was thinking.
Anyway… it’s really graduation today.
Today, Kayanoh Mina from Class A, 3rd year at Shiodome Private High School, will be transitioning from an active JK (high school girl) beauty to… a jobless beauty…!
No, that’s not right. I’ll be working as a VTuber until this week, so I’m not jobless.
So I can just say I’ll be jobless (pending)!
★
“From now on, you will be leaving this high school for a much broader society. You will meet far more people than you did in school, and experience far more farewells. But that doesn’t mean what you gained from this school is useless. One day, when you’re exhausted from society and look back, the memories up until today will surely stand boldly as the footprints of your journey. Even if it’s hard, and you may want to give up at the moment, I hope you can rise and move forward again one day using those memories as your nourishment. If there is someone at school you think you’ll remember fondly, please cherish that connection.”
Is the principal really saying such nice things?
Of course, the length of the speech is a bit of a flaw, but… it’s graduation, so I guess it’s only natural.
Come to think of it, what kind of speech did I hear at my middle school graduation?
Sadly, I don’t remember at all.
Maybe I don’t even want to recall those times a little bit.
Anyway, after listening to the principal’s long and nice speech, it was finally time to receive the diplomas.
“Kayanoh Mina. Congratulations on your graduation.”
The principal, with neat white hair and a gentle expression, handed me the diploma while looking straight into my eyes.
This was the first and last time I would have a conversation like this with just him.
But I could tell there was genuine sincerity in his words.
Surely, the principal is someone who truly cares for the students.
“…Thank you!”
“Yes. I will continue to support you.”
After exchanging final goodbyes and stepping down from the stage, this time I saw the teachers who taught us for three years seated at a table.
“I’ll support you no matter what path you choose, Kayanoh.”
Receiving such encouraging words, I bowed my head in thanks.
And at the end of the table sat….
“Kayanoh.”
My homeroom teacher for three years, Kaname-sensei.
“Sensei….”
Seeing her smile gently as usual made me feel like I might cry for no reason.
But I can’t do this.
Others behind me still need to thank the sensei.
I shouldn’t block the way like this.
I need to quickly express my gratitude and pass through.
“Ugh….”
However, there was no way to stop the lump forming in my throat.
“I was… really sorry in the first year.”
Even though I distanced myself from the profession of teaching due to distrust, Kaname-sensei never gave up on me.
She always found ways to help me.
“For three years, I really… thank you….”
If it weren’t for Kaname-sensei… I’m sure I would still distrust teachers today.
“Kayanoh.”
So if there’s someone I can call my mentor.
“Congratulations on your graduation. I’m truly happy to hear such words from you, Kayanoh.”
It must be only Kaname-sensei.
“I’m sure I lacked in many ways as your first homeroom teacher, but thank you for saying that. I will always support you, Kayanoh!”
With that, I bowed my head once to my mentor.
“Yes! Thank you very much!”
I was able to sincerely express my gratitude.
★
“Congratulations on your graduation, senpai!”
As I exited the auditorium, three juniors from the media department approached me with a bouquet.
“We know we don’t deserve this, but we really wanted to say it.”
“Oh, no! Thank you so much….”
Even though it started off poorly, now we could celebrate and give thanks like this.
This is the story I’ve built over the past three years.
I was genuinely happy to receive the bouquet from them, not out of falsehood.
“Mina.”
Then someone tapped my shoulder, and when I turned around, Mom was standing there with a kind smile.
“Oh, Mom….”
“Congratulations on your graduation. Your sister also told me to pass on the same words.”
“Thank you, hehe….”
While I chatted with Mom, Tateyama-san came running, calling me out loudly.
“Kayacchi!”
Of course, Miyauchi-san and Onodera-san were right behind her.
“Oh, A-chan…?!”
“Oh my, it’s Onodera-san from last time, right?”
“Yes! Th-That’s me!”
…Ah. Speaking of which, Onodera-san said she was a fan of my mom.
But showing such a side in a place like this would be really awkward.
“Please continue to be good friends with Mina.”
“Yes, A-chan….”
“D-Don’t make that face like a girl in love!”
My mom is for Dad, right?!
As my face turned red and I yelled, Tateyama-san and Miyauchi-san chuckled.
…I was being serious.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Kayanoh Yui, Mina’s mother.”
Before long, we had all engaged in conversation, the parents with the parents.
“Oh, right. Kayacchi, I actually have a favor to ask….”
“Oh, yes. What is it?”
“Here, take this!”
As she spoke, Tateyama-san pulled out a male student’s uniform top from our school.
“Please wear this!”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head in confusion over the incomprehensible request, but Tateyama-san wouldn’t back down.
In the end, I found myself wearing the mysterious male student uniform top.
“…Wh-Who does this belong to?”
“It’s mine. I happened to buy it with Haru before. Don’t worry about it; it’s practically brand new.”
What are the chances of accidentally buying a male student’s uniform top…?
“So… now what should I do?”
“Now unbutton the second button and give it to me!”
“Huh?”
Didn’t she just say this uniform top is brand new?
Why does she want me to unbutton the second button?
What on earth does this mean?
“Ah?! Tateyama-san?”
“Th-That way?! Haru, that’s unfair!”
…Looking at Miyauchi-san and Onodera-san’s reactions, it seemed to have some kind of significance.
Come to think of it, I feel like the second button had some meaning in graduation ceremonies.
I don’t exactly remember.
This is the first time I’ve spent time like this with someone at graduation… Yeah, there’s no way I’d know about such insider culture.
“C’mon! Kayacchi, hurry!”
“No! Kayanoh-san! Give it to me!”
“What about me, Kayanoh? I’m sure I’m way more…!”
“What are you two on about?! This is the outfit I prepared!”
…Looks like a fight is starting.
What on earth does the second button mean?
I’m too scared to look it up, so let’s not.
“Oh my….”
“Such youth.”
The parents quietly watched our… no, the three of their quarrel with amusement.
In any case, the winner of that fight was Tateyama-san.
Ultimately, Miyauchi-san and Onodera-san couldn’t beat the justification of being the person who brought the uniform.
“Here you go….”
“Whew, hehe…”
As I unbuttoned the second button from the uniform, Tateyama’s mouth curled into a grin.
Then she exclaimed.
“I’m the one who got Kayacchi’s button!!!”
She probably shouted loud enough for everyone gathered at the sports field to hear.
Is she that happy about it?
What in the world does that mean?
“What?!”
“No way!”
“Don’t mess with us, Tateyama!!!”
Yet, somehow, our female classmates from our class started to gather at lightning speed.
And they… naturally surrounded me.
…Huh.
What’s going on here?
“Uh, um….”
“So cute!!!”
With that comment, everyone surrounding me cheered and started hugging me.
“What’s going on? You’re super cute… Kayanoh-san, should I raise you up?”
“Er, but we’re classmates, Maika-chan…?”
“Even without a second button, I wouldn’t mind!”
“This isn’t even my outfit?!”
“Kayanoh-san!”
“Wah?!”
Wh-Who just touched my butt and my chest?!
★
“See you all next time!”
In any case, Kayanoh Mina’s last graduation ceremony ended in a bustle like never before.
“Did you enjoy your high school life, Mina?”
To my mom’s question.
“Yes!”
I nodded with a bright smile.
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