Chapter 43: The Graduation of the Moon

Chapter 43: The Graduation of the Moon

✿———✦———✿

“And for all these memories, I’m truly determined to be your true heroine... I love you.”

The month of March always carries a distinct scent—a mixture of the sweet cherry blossoms beginning to bloom and the sharp, lingering chill of a winter that refuses to leave. But for me, March this year smelled like a final goodbye.

I attended the university’s graduation ceremony, taking a seat at the very edge of the grand auditorium. Around me, a sea of seniors wore sharp suits and vibrant, traditional hakama in every imaginable color. In the front rows, families and friends sat with faces full of pride—the most important people in the lives of the graduates. Meanwhile, I remained on the periphery, hiding behind the shadow of a massive auditorium pillar. I was merely a shadow spectator, someone whose presence no one knew or cared about. Yet, for me, being here in this nearly invisible corner was an honor I couldn't describe with words.

I wasn’t alone in these back rows. Genki and Mitan, my juniors in Evenfall, sat beside me. Genki had been restless for some time, her hands clutching the hem of her skirt while her eyes never left the stage.

“Yuki-chan, I’m so nervous!” Genki whispered, half-shrieking as she shook my arm. “What if I faint when I see him?”

“Calm down, Genki. You’re watching him graduate, not proposing to him,” Michaella whispered with her usual gentle smile, patting Genki’s back.

Today wasn’t just about Kazuaki and his band. It was the day Evenfall’s formation would change forever. Ageha and Rui, the two pillars of our band, were also graduating today. When Ageha’s name was called, I watched her walk onto the stage in a gold-patterned butterfly hakama—she was so elegant, her chin lifted with absolute confidence. She was followed by Rui-senpai in a sleek black suit, looking cool and composed as always. I clapped as hard as I could, feeling a mixture of pride and the sharp ache of letting them go from our campus daily life.

Then came the announcement for the top achievers from the Faculty of Engineering and Design. Our university didn’t use the term Summa Cum Laude, but instead awarded the Shuseki (Valedictorian) title to the single highest academic achiever in the year.

My heart hammered against my ribs as the Dean walked to the podium. However, the name called was not Kazuaki. But Enji. He’s the smarter one, after all—there’s no denying it.

“The Valedictorian Award, Shuseki, is awarded to... Mizunami Enji, from the Department of Astronomy.”

Genki held her breath until her face turned red. Enji—the bassist of the band Obsidian, the same band Kazuaki played in. He stepped onto the stage with that cold, mysterious aura that always made the girls swoon. His hair was slightly messy, yet somehow perfect. He accepted the award with a flat expression, barely a smile, making Genki nearly slide off her chair in sheer admiration. Enji was a terrifying genius; his academic scores were unrivaled in their year.

Shortly after, it was his turn.

“The Award of Excellence, Yushusho, is awarded to... Minato Kazuaki, from the Department of Computer Science.”

I held my breath. Kazuaki stepped onto the stage calmly. Though he wasn’t the absolute top because of Enji’s presence, the Yushusho was proof of his relentless hard work and consistent brilliance. Applause thundered through the auditorium. I clapped in silence, hiding my hands under my coat, savoring every second of pride even though I knew it went unnoticed.

On the other side of the graduation ranks for the arts faculty, Kiriha-senpai was also graduating today. Even without a high academic honor like Kazuaki or Enji, to me, she held the highest title in my heart. She was my mentor, my pusher, and the best teacher in fashion design, 3D modeling, and my overall survival as an overly shy girl. Kiriha wore a bright red hakama she had designed herself, looking the most striking among hundreds of students. I smiled, feeling both amused and proud. Kazuaki and Kiriha were the heroes of the stories I wrote silently in my mind.

As the ceremony ended and Kazuaki descended from the stage, I couldn’t stop myself. Amidst the crowd, I pulled out my phone. I aimed it at him, trying to capture every precious second. His fingers holding the diploma tube, the happiness on his face—it all went into my gallery.

But right as I took the last photo... click.

Perhaps it was the glow of my screen, but Kazuaki suddenly turned through the crowd. His gaze landed straight in my corner, right into my eyes.

I froze. Time stopped.

Could he have realized I was taking his photo?

Panicked, I aimed my camera at the ceiling, pretending to be fascinated by the auditorium’s lighting. My fingers trembled violently. I wanted to dissolve into the floor.

But from the corner of my eye, I saw something that made my breath hitch. Kazuaki wasn’t angry. He laughed softly—so quietly—as if acknowledging my clumsy behavior. With an unspoken kindness, he deliberately looked away to spare me from further embarrassment.

I watched him rejoin his friends. Mitsuki suddenly wrapped an arm around Kazuaki’s neck.

“Hey, Kazu! We finally did it! So, when are you going to introduce us to that ‘secret admirer’? Didn’t he show up on graduation day?” Mitsuki teased loudly.

Kazuaki shook his head. “I don’t know,” he replied with a thin smile. “Maybe she prefers being behind the scenes.”

Those words were simple, yet they felt like a breeze carrying the scent of fresh autumn. He didn’t think I was weird. He respected the boundary I had built.

After the ceremony, I slipped away to the Engineering Faculty’s storage room. It was empty. I recognized Kazuaki’s faded gray backpack on a long table.

With shaking hands, I left a small box on his bag. Inside was a miniature bouquet of Gardenia flowers and a nameless card. On the back of the card, I had sketched his face—a simple pencil drawing of him reading in the library. I hoped he could feel the sincerity in every line.

I ran out before anyone could see me. Ten minutes later, I watched from the end of the hallway as Kazuaki entered with his friends. He stopped when he saw the box. He opened it carefully. When he saw the sketch, a remarkably warm smile spread across his face. He touched the drawing gently, as if afraid to smudge it. A simple happiness washed over me. These small gifts were my tickets to a future near his light.

That evening, I sat in a small cafe in Nakagyo, waiting. The door bell chimed, and Kiriha-senpai walked in, followed by a very elegant Ageha-senpai.

“Yuki-chan! Sorry we’re late, the circle’s farewell party was chaotic,” Kiriha said, pulling up a chair and immediately taking out her tablet.

“I’m here too,” Ageha added, sitting down with a graceful sigh. “I needed a drink after that long ceremony.”

“You should see this, Yuki,” Kiriha smirked, pressing ‘play’ on a video. “The multimedia kids made a documentary. A sort of impromptu podcast where everyone was interviewed. Guess whose turn I saved just for you?”

The screen showed a messy studio. Mitsuki and Yorishiro were acting like talk show hosts, holding mics. On the sofa sat Kazuaki and Enji. Seeing them side-by-side was a study in contrasts: Enji leaned back with an indifferent rockstar vibe, while Kazuaki sat stiffly, glancing at the camera with awkward eyes.

Kazuaki was clearly “out of his element” in front of the lens. He kept blinking, looking at the camera with uncertainty.

“So, Minato Kazuaki,” Mitsuki shoved the mic at him. “As an Excellence Award winner, what’s your message to the juniors struggling with their thesis?”

Kazuaki froze. He turned to Enji with a look of pure desperation. “Enji... help me. What am I supposed to say? I’m dying here,” Kazuaki whispered, loud enough for the mic to catch.

Enji didn’t even change his expression. He looked at the camera and gave his “advice.” “Just tell them you’re going to use your degree to build a cyberpunk robot girl who can hug you at night because you’re too busy coding.”

Laughter exploded in the video. Kazuaki’s face turned bright red. “I am not building a robot! Enji, you’re not helping at all!” he protested, rubbing his temples.

“Enji! How could you!” Jiro exclaimed with a laugh.

“Yeah, yeah, you should just make a volouptus robot for Konoha instead,” Mitsuki added, holding back Konoha, who was annoyed by his remark.

Ageha, watching from the cafe table, leaned in. “They really are a tight unit,” she commented, her eyes soft. “Obsidian’s chemistry is impressive. Even when they’re just bickering, you can tell they trust each other completely.”

Kiriha laughed. “Speaking of bands... do you want to tell her why we don’t have a graduation video for Evenfall?”

Ageha groaned. “Don’t remind me. We wanted to make a sentimental video, but the moment the ‘record’ button turned red, Rui-senpai vanished. She refused to be on camera. Every time Mitsuki aimed the lens at her, she’d hide behind the speakers or hiss like a cat. We spent so much time chasing her that we forgot to actually record anything. Evenfall’s graduation legacy is just sixty minutes of blurry footage of Rui’s back.”

We all laughed, but then the video on the tablet reached its core. Kazuaki’s awkward smile faded, replaced by a much more serious, tender expression. He was silent for a few seconds, searching for the right words. Finally, he looked directly into the camera lens.

“I don’t know who is behind every gift,” Kazuaki’s voice was low, calm, and incredibly clear. “But somehow... it feels like a blessing. To others, maybe those gifts look like funny coincidences. But for me... when I was exhausted by deadlines, or when I felt doubt about my projects... those gifts felt massive.”

He stared at his intertwined hands. “There’s a meaning behind every ‘small’ gesture. Something that seems to guide me. Like a ticket that carries me through many seasons. It brings beauty in the spring, shade during the scorching summer, peace in the autumn, and the warmth I so desperately need in the winter. Every gift, in its unique way, reminds me that my life isn't just about computer screens and lines of code.”

Kazuaki glanced at Enji briefly, then back to the camera. His voice trembled slightly with suppressed emotion. “You know I don’t socialize much outside our circle. But those gifts... they make me feel like I’m not alone in this journey. I’m grateful not just for the physical items, but for the intent. Every time I find a chocolate, a coffee, or a sketch... it feels like someone is standing there, walking beside me without a sound. Giving me a ticket to a brighter future where I’m allowed to have a story outside my routine.”

He took a deep breath, leaning toward the camera. “If she ever finds the courage to show herself, I want to thank her in person. Whoever she is, she made me see my boring world from a different perspective. It gave me a new color. It made me feel like there was a little miracle waiting ahead. I feel like someone out there is hugging me in the quietest way... like the comfort of a silent forest.”

At the end of his speech, Kazuaki exhaled softly. He chuckled, trying to shake off the heavy emotion, and smiled with such sincerity that his eyes crinkled.

“To whoever you are, thank you. And I hope one day, when the time is right, you can be brave enough to step forward. Because I am, truly, not a scary monster. I’m just a traveler on a long road, deeply touched by all the grand miracles you’ve given in silence. And I will keep walking, waiting, carrying all of this with me on my journey.”

The video ended. 

Kiriha looked at me. “Hayashi Yukifuyu... you must be brave.”

I couldn’t help it. My heart felt so full that my defenses crumbled. I started to cry—loud, sobbing tears of pure joy.

“H-hiks... uwaaa...”

I wailed in the middle of the cafe. Kiriha panicked, grabbing tissues. “Yuki! Stop! People think I’m bullying you!”

Ageha just smiled, patting my hand. “Let her cry, Kiriha. She’s been holding this in.”

Kiriha stood up, bowing awkwardly to the other customers. “Ah, sorry! My friend is just... very emotional! She just watched a very sad anime! The protagonist’s cat died! Yes, very tragic!”

Kiriha hurried me out of the cafe, shielding my face as I continued to sob with happiness.

✿———✦———✿

Back to the Present.

Under the warmth of my blanket tonight, I closed my eyes. The memories of that graduation day felt like a beautiful old film. The tears, the laughter, the fear, and the hope.

Ageha was right—Obsidian was tight, but Evenfall was family. And Kazuaki... Kazuaki was waiting. I am the girl who used to stay in the shadows, but I’ve realized the castle doors are open. One day, I won’t just be taking his picture from behind a pillar. One day, I will be standing right by his side.

Amen.