The Graduation

The graduation ceremony at university was painfully long. Sitting through three-hours of awards and speeches were tiring beyond my wildest imagination. I thought it bizarre that we celebrated receiving pieces of paper to celebrate our hard-worked achievements. I wanted to miss out on the ceremony, but my father had come to Japan specifically to spectate my graduation, I could not deny him the special occasion. Misako’s family sat next to my father, I knew then and there Misako’s mother had a crush on my father. She sat beautifully dressed, outshining all other mothers and students in the entire hall. I could tell that Miss Ishihara was trying to get to know my father more, but he struggled to understand her as she spoke to him in broken-English.

“Can you translate for me, son?” My father asked me.

“I will, but you should also try to learn Japanese. If you want to date her, that is.” I responded in English to my father.

“What? I don’t like her!” My father retorted with a smirk.

“Don’t lie, dad. I can tell.” I scorned him.

“F-Fine…” My dad admitted.

The hall of the ceremony was decorated with photos of all the graduates throughout the year. Some photos of students studying, some playing sports, some enjoying the campus life. There were a few photos I regretted immensely.

“Hey, look!” Hiroshi prodded me, pointing a finger at one photo on the wall, “It’s the day we wrestled on campus!”

“I can see it... My pants are on the ground, it’s so embarrassing.” I replied in shame.

“Misako’s even in it.” Hiroshi stated.

Misako had a rose-coloured face in the photo, but she was laughing.

“Were you blushing at me because my pants were down?” I asked Misako.

She planted her hands in her face, suffering from embarrassment.

“Maybe.” She stated.

There were other photos of the three of us on the projector screen as well, photos of me and Misako talking outside, photos of Hiroshi talking to multiple women, photos of the three of us laughing together.

“How many women were you smooching up while you studied. Hiroshi?” Hiroshi’s mother asked him.

“Zero, mom. I’m a good boy.” Hiroshi lied.

Hiroshi’s family had come to spectate as well. His mother was stern in the face, a large wrinkle ran across her forehead. Hiroshi’s father was young in the face, with a tinge of greying hairs here and there. Hiroshi sat in between his divorced family to ensure no fights would break out.

“Hey kiddo…” Hiroshi’s father whispered to me, “You and Misako are the top achievers this year. Do you both want to come work for me?”

“I’d have to ask Misako, sir.” I replied.

He clicked his tongue, sitting back in the chair:

“She said no.” He stated.

“Then unfortunately, that’s my answer too.” I finalised.

I inspected Yuta and Yuki bickering in front of me, they argued over something I could not hear; they kicked each other in the shins as the procession in the hall nearly ended. Yuta’s mother and father had asked to come and watch as well, we obviously could not deny them. Yuta turned himself to face me, the boy had a sad look in his eyes.

“Do you think my sister would have graduated with you guys? If she was alive.”

I smiled.

“Of course, Yuta.”

Yuta had a happy look in his eye, then turned back to fighting with Yuki. Mister and Missus Mitamo had explained to Yuta that he had a sister, Hitomi, who passed away when he was very young. He was first sad to hear he had a sibling but explained to his parents that he had Misako, Hiroshi and I as his siblings, so he wasn’t lonely. We were happy that Yuta was fine. We had originally offered Yuta the pocket watch before we decided to place it on Hitomi’s grave, but Yuta said his sister should get it back. He was an emotionally smart child, though I hoped he would grow out of his ultra-sadistic energetic stage soon after I left Japan.

The ceremonies had finally ended, our families decided to have lunch with Mister and Missus Takahashi in our boarding-house. The boarding house was empty, all of the students had graduated or moved out for the incoming vacation, leaving us all to scream and yell and conversate without worries. I looked around the kitchen one-last time, admiring the place I called home for a year. Sadness enveloped my heart, a sadness I welcomed, but did not enjoy having.

“We are going to miss all of you.” Missus Takahashi began.

Mister Takahashi comforted his wife as she wiped her tears forming in her eyes.

“You three made this place so lively, every day was a new experience.” Mister Takahashi stated as well.

“We definitely will miss you, but we will always come to visit.” Misako added.

Misako had decided to move back to Osaka to be with her mother and sister. After years away from home, she missed her family dearly.

“Have you decided what you are going to do, David?” Misako’s mother asked me.

I had made up my mind on what I was going to do going forward in life.

“I have.” I stated.

The table grew quiet, listening to me speak. I took hold of Misako’s hand; she knew what my plans were already.

“I won’t be coming back to Japan after I leave, not yet. I’m going to accept the bursary offer to study in America.” I explained.

“That’s a difficult choice to make, but we are glad you want to do it.” Mister Takahashi replied.

“I want to come back…I will come back. It’s going to be a few years before I return, but I will come back.” I stated.

“If David doesn’t come back, I’ll hunt him down and kill him.” Misako added with a smile in face.

“We will help you hunt him down.” Yuki stated.

“Hunt the alien!” Yuta said, stuffing his mouth full of rice.

“I could always buy you a ticket to visit Misako, David.” Hiroshi asked.

Misako and I shook our heads. We did not want any help.