A Fragmented Attraction

 The semester was coming to an end. It was time to say farewell to all the loved ones, friends, teachers and everyone else with whom we have shared some of our loving memories. The graduation ceremony preparation began. Members from different clubs started preparing for this ceremony. Everyone had their hands full doing something, the event manager suffering the most with a lot of work. The graduation ceremony is full of sad partings and the happiness to start something new. So, everyone wanted this to be a successful event.

Kitomi also had plans she wanted to implement in this ceremony. She thought of arranging a ball dance event at the college assembly near the lake, with light, music, lanterns and much more at the end of the ceremony. She thought that this might help everyone to make some nice memories before their parting. She discussed the idea with Hirugami. He agreed with her that the idea was truly magnificent.

After getting a positive review about her idea, she took it to the event manager and to her extreme happiness he declared the idea wonderful and that it should be the final event of the day. After his approval to the idea, other club members began helping them, although they already had their hands full at the time. Their enthusiasm for the event made everyone interested in her idea and they opted to help her make it a success.

For the preparation of the ballroom, the art club lent their hands to create banners, paper flags and other different paper decorations to decorate the assembly. The photography club decided to create an album full of pictures of beautiful memories that everyone had made with their friends and family. The music and dance club also started rehearsing their music and dance performances during the ball. Ada and Ichiko, who had participated in these clubs, also started preparing themselves for the ball rehearsing all week.

But out of everyone, Mitori seemed to be the happiest and the liveliest looking one. He has finally decided to gather his courage and confess to his love, Ada, when the mood is right. He is sure that the mood will be perfect during the ball.

In between all this, the bond between Kitomi and Hirugami seemed to grow even more. Between their preparations, Hirugami spaced out a bit thinking about their lives after their graduation and that everyone would soon become separated and engrossed with each of their lives. He became a bit sad, thinking about it and he realized that he would once again be all alone and sad due to his lack of social skills. So, it was all the more reason for him to celebrate his last day with his friends happily.

Sitting on the grass in front of the lake, Hirugami was thinking this, when he felt a tight hug. Kitomi was hugging him tightly. She looked towards him, and it was like she understood each and every word that he had spoken to himself then. She then told him lovingly, that no matter where they went, or if they are thousands of miles apart from each other, she will always be there for him. Hearing this, Hirugami felt a bit relieved and a bit sad too, thinking that Kitomi would have to go away too. Feeling awkward at the situation they were in and a bit shy after the things she spoke, she suddenly released Hirugami from her tight hug and left the place, running as fast as she could.

After Kitomi’s sudden escape from that place, Hirugami noticed that she had forgot her purse beside him. He picked it up and a photo fell from her purse. It was the photo they had taken during the summer festival. He felt a sudden sadness seeing the photo and kept it back in Kitomi’s purse. On the other hand, on reaching home, Kitomi realized that she had forgotten her purse with Hirugami. Feeling a bit ashamed at her absent mindedness, she called Hirugami and she found out that he had the purse with him and he would be returning it to her tomorrow. Relieved that her purse was found by none other than Hirugami, she happily awaited her meeting with Hirugami the next day.

The day finally arrived for which everyone had been waiting. The day of the graduation ceremony is here. The ceremony began with a long and innovative speech by the headmaster, handing out of certificates and a standing ovation for those people who have assisted in making this ceremony a success. Thus, the graduation ceremony started with a bang. The music and dance club mesmerised the audience with their magnificent music and dance show and the visual effects and the background effects made everyone feel captivated by their performance. Ichiko and Ada shined during their performance.

After the music and dance event, Mitori called Ada at the backstage with him. She went there and in the heat of the moment Mitori confessed to her. 

“I love you, Ada. I have developed feelings for you during the times you have spent with us. I feel like if I don’t get it out now I will regret it later. So will you go out with me?”

 But, Ada, surprised at this sudden proposal, blatantly rejected him. Ada rejected him with the reason that she will soon move out with her parents to Kyoma. She also told him that he has always ignored the one person who has always took interest in him and cared for him, Ichiko. Saying this, Ada headed out to prepare for the final event of the day. Sad at this rejection and shocked at Ichiko’s secret crush on him, Mitori became confused and sat on the floor holding his head, tears coming out of his eyes. He had prepared himself for a rejection, but didn’t prepare for the Ichiko surprise. Ichiko, who had overheard all of this, feeling a bit shy at her feelings being made public, headed out home early. Hayako, who was passing by the backstage area, found Mitori sitting there went to him to console him. When Mitori explained everything to him, Hayako, felt deeply saddened by the fact that Ichiko had feelings for Mitori. But, Hayako being his good friend, he decided to support him in any way possible.

Finally, the last event of the ceremony was here. The ball dance event at the assembly in front of the beautiful lake was the most awaited by everyone. Everyone had been paired with someone. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ball very much. Hirugami and Kitomi supervised the ball from a distance.

Seeing everyone having fun with each other on seemingly their last day with each other, Hirugami asked Kitomi on a Waltz. Kitomi, who had been waiting Hirugami to make a move, blushed at this sudden proposal and put her hand in his and went straight to the middle of the crowd. It was like time had stopped for the both of them as they danced under the chandelier with Hirugami’s hand on Kitomi’s waist and her hand on his cheek.

As the event was about to end and everyone left the ballroom to light the lantern, Kitomi took Hirugami and nearly dragged him towards the storage house. She took him towards the back of the storage house and with a state of urgency and overflowing happiness, Kitomi told Hirugami that the manga that they had been working on, should have an ending similar to theirs.

She then suddenly, held his hand and with the most beautiful smile on her face with the moon light falling on it, she confesses to Hirugami, “I love you.” She tells him that she loves him and she wants to spend all her remaining time with him. She doesn’t want to be separated from him but life has its own ways and after graduation they will go in their separate ways. But, Kitomi wants there to be a small connection in their paths so that they could meet once again.

As soon as she said, that the lanterns were released in the air and Hirugami just stood there in silence trying to take it all in. He looked towards her and saw that little drops of water were coming out of her eyes. He wanted to hug her and say that he would always be there for him, but he couldn’t. Due to some unknown reason, Hirugami couldn’t bring himself to do that. He suddenly said, 

“No!”

 He couldn’t find any reason for his sudden denial but he kept on repeating it-

“No, No, No, No......”

On hearing Hirugami, Kitomi felt as she had lost the only connection with this earth. She didn’t show any emotion on her face, she rubbed her eyes and in that same heart-warming tone replied to him that it was okay. She then ran away from there towards the college gate, pain building up inside her.

Hayako and Mitori were exiting from the ballroom, when they saw Kitomi running out from behind the storage room, tears falling from her eyes, towards the college exit. They headed to the back of the storage room to find Hirugami standing there in a daze. They asked him what had happened and why was Kitomi crying. Hirugami replied that nothing had happened but his face made Mitori and Hayako think otherwise. Hayako, who knew about the situation between Kitomi and Hirugami, seemed to grab hold of the situation.

He understood that Kitomi might have finally mustered up her courage and finally confessed to Hirugami. But on seeing her outside and seeing Hirugami like that, he quickly understood that Hirugami must have rejected her and pushed her away from him without even providing a valid reason for it. He couldn’t control himself and lashed out on Hirugami and punched him in the face. He asked him what more did he want from her. She, who loved him and cared for him the most and suffered pain to bring out her feelings for him, why would he push her away time to time. Why can’t he ever understand people’s feelings? Why does he always think that he is the one who is always suffering and is in pain? He kept on punching Hirugami while Mitori tried to stop him. After a minute went by like that, Hayako left the beaten up Hirugami there and searched for Kitomi. But she was already gone. A day which was supposed to be full of happiness and excitement became filled with heartbreak and sadness. A happy moment for everyone was shattered in front of their eyes.