Graduation

Graduation, huh?

Time surely has flown by. The cherry blossoms that were there to usher in my 3rd year were back. Poetic? It might just be...

My life has really changed over the last year, all thanks to her. It's scary, y'know? Moving on... but I think now I can look towards my future with a smile...

Even if that future means the one I love is miles away...

"3rd year's at SakoYami High, first off, I would like to congratulate you all on graduating. When you first came to this school, you were so tiny compared to now.

Some of you found your people at this school, some hope, others...found love."

"Let me be clear, this is only the end of another chapter in your lives, a new one is starting just outside those doors. I'm so looking forward to seeing where life will take you all, and to even have a fraction of a hand in it is truly an honour.

Some of you will be going to college, others to university. And for some...thousands of miles away.

Just know that wherever life takes you, you will always have us at SakoYami High rooting for you. Good luck to all of you."

The auditorium burst into a wave of applause.

"Wait, before I take my leave, can we have Fujisawa Akio to the stage please?"

Akio? She didn't tell me about this...

"Thank you, Principal."

Akio stood there...so elegantly.

"I know I wasn't at this school for very long, but this place, well, it changed me.

When I came to this school, I thought I had it all figured out - I thought a 'new me' could be born here. I started being loud. I laughed a lot more. Along the way, something changed.

I found someone who reminded me of what it was like to be seen - truly seen - It was scary, y'know? Showing someone the real you...but they didn't care about that. Finally, someone accepted me for who I truly was.

This school hasn't just given me new memories - ones they'll actually remember this time. It's given me the courage to look to a brighter future for myself, even if it hurts.

To everyone here: don't be afraid of change. Life is so much more beautiful with it. Lastly, don't be afraid of loving someone deeply, even if...that love won't last forever.

Thank you."

I can't believe she said all that...

The first time on the roof...it brings back so many memories

What we had was special, huh, Akio? It seems we both felt that.

Even until the very end...

A unanimous applause filled the room.

It was truly beautiful.

No one understood the true meaning of her words, all but me.

After that, I decided to head to where it all began.

"Seems like we had the same Idea, Tatsu-kun."

"Your speech... it was beautiful. I didn't know you wrote all that."

"Sometimes, things are better left unsaid."

Akio's familiar scent wrapped around me.

"I leave soon. Aren't you gonna try stop me? "

"I don't need to - not anymore."

"Bye... Tatsu-kun"

Akio's scent disappeared.

My fingers drifted to the ring.

"Bye, Akio..."

The farther Akio went away, the harder it was to accept. This time, however, was different.

The cherry blossoms looked even more beautiful that day.

"She loves you to bits, you know?

Anyway, you ok, Kyoshiro?"

Suzuku-san?

"Yeah, I know she does...she practically drilled it into me."

"Thank you, Kyoshiro, seriously, for taking care of Ako all these years. I can't thank you enough."

In reality, I should've been thanking her. Akio's done so much for me.

"It's nothing. I should be the one thanking her, really. I barely-"

"Oh cmon, you know that's a lie. Ako told me to give this to you when you were ready..."

Just then, Suzuku hands me a crumpled bit of paper.

"Dear Tatsu-kun,

How are you? I'm sorry we didn't get to spend much time as a couple. Even if you didn't show it, I knew that it upset you. What would our future have been if I hadn't gone? A picture-perfect couple? That's never been how we go about things...has it?

We're a loud girl and a quiet boy who found the same heartbeat. We're like oil and water...except we never really tried to stay apart.

Tatsumi - what I'm trying to say is...that this story, it's not over. Not if I have anything to do with it anyway.

Living apart is a scary thing...we of all people know that all too well. But try to fit in.

Try to make some friends in college... ok? I'll be angry with you if you don't.

Just keep on being you.

Your beautiful girlfriend,

Akio."

...

I folded the paper neatly, as if not to erase her words

"Yeah"

I let my hand wander to the ring again.

"She used to tell me all about you - from before your accident. It was clear to me then that you weren't as bad a guy as everyone said you were."

"I hope you have a better time in college, Kyoshiro."

"Thanks, Suzuku"

Those days were now behind me.

They may have been haunting, but at least Akio made them bearable. She was really my guiding light through it all.

Now what do I do?

"Hey, Kyoshiro-kun, congrats on graduating."

The principal?

"That speech was beautiful, wasn't it?"

"Principal, how-"

"Never forget her. It's rare to find a girl like that."

"She never stopped singing your praises. She even got mad at people on your behalf to...you're lucky to have someone like that in your life, Kyoshiro-kun. Not many people do."

"I won't principal. I mean, how could I?"

He shook my hand.

"You're a good man, Kyoshiro-kun. Good luck with all your future endeavours."

That was really it, huh? These halls we once walked through, people we used to talk to...were all just now a distant memory?

Isn't that right, Akio?