By The Time They Reached School, The Grounds Were Already Filled With Familiar Faces — Students In Neat Uniforms, Parents Chatting, The Distant Sound Of Laughter Everywhere.
Ren Walked Through The Gate Slowly, Taking It All In. He Glanced At The Hall, Then Headed To His Classroom. The Door Was Half-Open, The Buzz Of Conversation Spilling Out.
Inside, Most Of His Classmates Were Already There — Talking, Laughing, Some Taking Pictures. The Usual Chaos Of A Farewell Day.
Vicky And Mahito Were Near The Window, Arguing Over Something Trivial As Always. Kaito Sat On A Desk, Waving His Arms Dramatically While Chika Tried To Calm Him Down.
"Hey," Ren Said, Stepping In.
"REN!" Kaito Called Out Immediately, His Voice Cutting Through The Noise. "LOOK WHO FINALLY DECIDED TO SHOW UP!"
Ren Smiled Lightly. "Good Morning To You Too."
"You Took Your Time, Man," Vicky Added With A Grin. "Guess You Were Busy With… Preparations?"
Mahito Laughed. "Yeah, Maybe He Wanted To Make Sure His Hair Looked Perfect For Someone."
Ren Just Shook His Head. "You Guys Never Stop."
Before They Could Continue, The Door Slid Open Again — And Miyu Stepped In. The Class Seemed To Naturally Quiet Down For A Moment.
Chika Waved Her Over Immediately. "Miyu! Over Here!"
She Smiled, Walking Over To Join Them. Her Eyes Met Ren's Briefly — Just For A Second — But It Was Enough To Make Both Look Away Almost At The Same Time.
"Morning," She Said Softly.
"Morning," Ren Replied.
Kaito, Watching The Exchange, Grinned Like He'd Been Waiting For This Exact Moment. "Hey Everyone!" He Shouted Loud Enough For The Entire Class To Hear. "JUST IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW — REN AND MIYU ARE DATING!"
The Room Fell Silent For Half A Second. Then It Exploded.
"What?!"
"No Way!"
"I KNEW IT!"
"They Were Totally Obvious During The Trip!"
Miyu's Face Turned Crimson Instantly, And Ren Could Only Close His Eyes And Exhale Slowly As The Noise Rose Around Them.
"Kaito…" Ren Said Under His Breath, "I'm Going To Regret Ever Being Friends With You."
Kaito Laughed Loudly. "Come On, Everyone Needed To Know! You Two Look Way Too Happy To Hide It Anyway!"
Chika Smiled, "Well, At Least He's Not Wrong."
Miyu Covered Her Face With Her Hands, Her Voice Soft. "I Can't Believe This…"
Ren Glanced At Her, A Small, Helpless Smile Forming On His Lips. "Guess The Secret's Out."
She Looked Up Just Long Enough To Catch His Smile — And Despite The Chaos Around Them, The Only Thing She Could Think Was How Warm It All Felt.
And Somewhere Amid The Laughter, The Teasing, And The Noise Of The Morning — The Realization Slowly Settled In.
This Was Their Last Day As Students.
Their Last Day Sitting Together In This Room.
And The Beginning Of Everything That Waited Beyond It.
—
The Classroom Was Still Buzzing After Kaito's Grand Announcement. Laughter, Teasing, And Playful Remarks Filled The Air, But Eventually, The Noise Settled Into The Familiar Rhythm Of Friendly Banter.
Ren Leaned Back In His Chair, His Expression Calm Though His Ears Were Still A Shade Red. Miyu Tried To Compose Herself, Her Hands Resting On Her Desk, But The Small Smile She Failed To Hide Gave Her Away Completely.
Kaito, Clearly Proud Of His Chaos, Was Still Grinning When Mahito Crossed His Arms With A Mischievous Look. "You Know, Since Ren And Miyu Are Official Now…" He Started Slowly.
Vicky Finished His Sentence Effortlessly. "Maybe It's Your Turn To Confess, Kaito."
The Class Burst Into Laughter As All Eyes Turned Toward Kaito.
"W-What?!" Kaito Stammered, Looking Around In Shock. "Don't Drag Me Into This!"
Chika, Who Had Been Quietly Laughing A Moment Ago, Suddenly Went Red As Well. "H-Hey, Don't Look At Me Like That!"
Mahito Grinned Wider. "Ohh, So You don't Deny It."
Kaito Gaped, Words Failing Him Completely. "T-That's Not—! You Guys—!"
Ren Couldn't Help But Smile, His Voice Calm As Ever. "You're Not Making It Any Better, You Know."
Chika Glared At Him, Flustered. "Ren! Don't You Start Too!"
But The More They Tried To Defend Themselves, The More The Group Laughed. The Lightness In The Room Felt Like The Perfect Blend Of Old Memories And The Present Moment — The Kind Of Laughter That Only Comes When You Know Each Other Too Well.
Eventually, The Noise Was Interrupted By The Familiar Sound Of The Door Sliding Open. Their Homeroom Teacher Walked In With A Warm Smile.
"Good Morning, Everyone," The Teacher Said, Adjusting The Papers In Hand. "I See You're All In A Very Good Mood — As Always."
The Class Laughed Softly.
"Alright," The Teacher Continued, "The Graduation Ceremony Will Begin Shortly. Everyone, Please Head To The Hall In An Orderly Manner."
There Were A Few Groans — Not Out Of Disinterest, But Because No One Wanted The Day To Move So Quickly. Still, Everyone Began Gathering Their Belongings, Straightening Their Uniforms, And Checking Their Badges One Last Time.
Kaito Stretched His Arms With A Sigh. "Alright, Let's Go, Everyone."
But Just As They Were About To Leave, Chika Stopped Near The Door. "Wait, Can We Get Something To Drink First? I'm Kinda Thirsty."
Mahito Agreed Instantly. "Yeah, Good Idea. It's Gonna Be A Long Ceremony."
So The Group Turned Toward The Canteen — Their Usual Spot For Midday Breaks That Now Felt Strangely Nostalgic. The Air Was Warm, The Halls Buzzing With Voices And Footsteps, Students From Different Classes Passing By In Groups.
They Reached The Counter, Ordering Cold Drinks — Some Took Soda, Some Juice, And Vicky, For Some Reason, Grabbed A Carton Of Chocolate Milk.
Kaito Laughed. "Chocolate Milk? Seriously?"
Vicky Shrugged. "Hey, Don't Judge Me. It's My Celebration Drink."
As They Started Walking Back Toward The Hall, The Group Chatted Casually About The Ceremony, About Who Might Cry First, And About How Strange It Felt To Be Graduating Already.
Ren And Miyu, Still With Their Drinks In Hand, Ended Up Walking A Little Behind The Others. It Wasn't Intentional — Just Natural.
Miyu Took A Small Sip From Her Can And Glanced At Him. "You Seem Calm Today."
Ren Looked Over. "Do I?"
She Nodded Lightly. "Yeah. Though I Guess You Always Are."
Ren Smiled A Little. "Maybe I'm Just Trying Not To Look Nervous."
Miyu's Lips Curved Into A Small Teasing Smile. "So You are Nervous."
He Chuckled Quietly. "A Little. Guess It's Hard Not To Be."
Her Eyes Softened. "Same." Then After A Short Pause, She Added Lightly, "But... I'm Glad We're Going Through This Together."
Ren Looked At Her, His Expression Gentle. "Yeah. Me Too."
They Walked The Rest Of The Way Like That — Just Talking, Smiling Between Sips Of Their Drinks, The Distance Between Them Feeling Smaller Than Ever.
When They Reached The Hall Entrance, The Sound Of Music And Voices Filled The Space. Parents, Teachers, And Students Were Already Gathering — The Hall Bright With Decorations And The Soft Murmur Of Conversations.
Ren's Eyes Scanned The Room, And He Soon Spotted His Parents Sitting Toward The Middle Section, With Riko Waving Subtly Beside Them — A Mischievous Smile Already Forming On Her Face.
Across The Room, Miyu's Parents Sat Along With Her Siblings, Who Looked way Too Excited For Their Own Good. Yui Caught Miyu's Eye And Grinned, Whispering Something To Her Older Brother, Who Nodded With The Same Teasing Smile.
Ren And Miyu Exchanged A Knowing Glance, Both Sighing Quietly.
"They're Definitely Planning Something," Ren Said Under His Breath.
Miyu Nodded, Her Tone Half Amused, Half Resigned. "I Can Feel It Too."
They Both Offered Small, Polite Waves To Their Families Before Moving Toward The Rows Reserved For Third Years.
Kaito And Chika Had Already Secured Seats For Them. "Hey, We Saved You Spots!" Kaito Called Out.
"Thanks," Ren Said, Sitting Down Beside Miyu As The Group Settled In.
A Quiet Calm Spread Across The Hall As The Director Walked Onto The Stage A Few Minutes Later. The Rustle Of Movement Filled The Room As Every Student Stood Up Respectfully.
The Director Smiled, His Voice Carrying Through The Microphone, "Good Morning, Everyone. Let Us Begin This Year's Graduation Ceremony."
The Room Fell Into Silence — Warm, Proud, And Heavy With Meaning.
The Ceremony Had Officially Begun.
—
After The Greetings From The Host, The Atmosphere Inside The Hall Slowly Settled Into A Gentle Stillness. The Soft Echo Of Shoes On The Wooden Floor, The Rustle Of Uniforms, And The Faint Whisper Of Excitement In The Air All Seemed To Melt Into A Quiet Anticipation. Then, From The Side Of The Stage, The Principal Stepped Forward — A Calm, Elderly Man With A Gentle Smile And Measured Steps. The Microphone Caught A Slight Crackle Before His Voice Filled The Hall.
"Good Morning, Everyone."
His Voice Was Deep Yet Soothing, Carrying A Warm Authority That Drew The Room Into Silence.
"Today Marks The End Of A Journey — One That Began Three Years Ago When You All Stepped Into This School As Strangers, Unsure, Curious, And Maybe Even A Little Frightened. Over These Years, You've Grown — Not Just In Knowledge, But In Character. You've Learned Not Only From Books, But From Each Other, From Your Failures, And From The Countless Moments That Shaped You."
He Paused, Letting His Words Sink In As Many Students Lowered Their Heads Slightly, Lost In Thought.
"You've Faced Challenges — Be It Exams, Responsibilities, Or The Expectations That Life Often Places On Young Shoulders. But Despite It All, You've Come This Far, Standing Here Today As Graduates. Remember — Success Is Not Measured By How Fast You Reach Your Goals, But By How You Continue Moving Forward, Even When The Road Isn't Clear."
His Gaze Softened.
"Cherish The Friendships You've Made. Cherish The Teachers Who Guided You, And The Memories You've Built Within These Walls. Because These Are The Foundations That Will Hold You Steady In The Days To Come."
He Bowed Lightly, The Audience Responding With Gentle Applause That Spread Throughout The Hall Like A Wave Of Warmth.
Soon After, An Educational Official Took The Stage — A Middle-Aged Woman In A Dark Blue Suit With A Calm But Passionate Expression. Her Voice Held A Sense Of Earnest Pride.
"Congratulations To All The Graduates Here Today. It's Truly Heartwarming To Witness Such Bright Faces Ready To Step Into The Next Chapter Of Life. Education Is Not Simply About Memorizing Facts Or Scoring Marks — It's About Learning How To Think, How To Feel, And How To Understand The World Around You."
She Looked Around The Hall, Her Gaze Moving Across The Rows Of Students.
"Each Of You Has A Story — A Different Path That Has Led You Here. Some Of You Worked Hard To Reach The Top. Some Found Strength In Helping Others. Some Struggled Quietly But Never Gave Up. And That, More Than Anything Else, Is What Education Truly Means — The Strength To Keep Moving Forward."
Her Words Carried A Quiet Emotional Weight, Stirring A Few Soft Sniffles Among The Students.
"I Hope That Wherever You Go, You Continue To Learn. Not Just About The World, But About Yourselves. Keep That Curiosity Alive, And Never Let Go Of The Compassion You've Found Here."
When She Finished, The Hall Filled With Warm Applause Once Again — Gentle Yet Sincere.
Next, The Third-Year Homeroom Teacher Walked Onto The Stage. The Familiar Face Drew Out A Ripple Of Emotion From The Students. She Smiled, Trying To Hide Her Own Feelings Beneath A Professional Calm.
"Well… It's Hard To Believe This Day Has Finally Come," She Began, Her Voice Soft Yet Unmistakably Emotional. "I Still Remember The First Day You All Walked Into My Classroom — Some Were Sleepy, Some Were Chatty, And Some Looked Like They'd Rather Be Anywhere Else."
The Students Laughed Quietly At That, Especially Those Who Knew She Was Hinting At A Few Particular Faces.
"But Over Time, You Changed. You Grew More Mature, More Thoughtful. You Learned To Trust Each Other. You Argued, You Laughed, You Worked Hard, And You Supported One Another."
Her Eyes Flickered Over The Third-Year Section.
"You've Faced Tests, Projects, Late Nights… And Somehow You Made It Through. As A Teacher, Watching You All Grow — Not Just Academically, But As People — Has Been My Greatest Reward."
Her Voice Shook Slightly, But She Continued, "Wherever You Go From Here, Remember — It's Okay Not To Have Everything Figured Out Yet. Life Doesn't Need All The Answers Right Away. Take Your Time. Make Mistakes. Learn From Them. And Don't Forget The People Who Helped You Get Here."
She Bowed Deeply, And The Room Burst Into Applause That Lasted For Several Moments.
Then, The Stage Lights Shifted. The Student Council Representatives Walked Onto The Stage — The President, A Calm, Well-Spoken Male Named Takumi, And The Vice President, A Soft-Spoken Yet Passionate Girl Named Yuna.
Takumi Took The Microphone First, His Voice Clear Yet Tinged With Emotion.
"On Behalf Of The Student Council, I Want To Thank Everyone — Our Teachers, Who Guided Us With Patience And Dedication. Our Parents, Who Supported Us Even When We Complained About Homework Or Exams. And Our Friends, Who Made These Years Feel So Much More Than Just School."
He Smiled Lightly.
"We've Shared Countless Moments — From Rushing To Finish Assignments Before Class To Laughing Over The Smallest Things During Lunch Breaks. These Memories Might Seem Ordinary Now, But They're The Ones We'll Miss The Most."
He Handed The Microphone To Yuna, Who Took A Small Breath Before Speaking.
"High School… Wasn't Always Easy," She Said Quietly. "There Were Times When We Felt Lost, When The Future Seemed Too Far Away, Or When We Felt Like Giving Up. But Looking Around Now, Seeing Everyone Here Together One Last Time — I Realize That We Made It. We All Made It."
Her Voice Wavered, And A Few Students In The Front Row Began To Tear Up.
"Let's Not Forget The Lessons Beyond Books — The Importance Of Kindness, Of Listening, Of Being There For Each Other. Even If We All Go In Different Directions, The Time We Shared Here Will Always Be A Part Of Us."
When They Finished, The Hall Fell Into Silence For A Moment Before The Sound Of Applause Rose Up — Louder, More Emotional, Filled With The Weight Of Three Years' Worth Of Memories.
Some Students Shouted Playfully, Others Wiped Their Eyes. A Few Laughed Through Their Tears.
Then Came The Moment Everyone Had Been Waiting For — The Certificate Presentation.
The Host Called Each Name One By One. The Sound Of Footsteps, Applause, And Camera Clicks Blended Into A Gentle Rhythm.
When Miyu's Name Was Announced, The Hall Filled With Applause. She Walked Gracefully Onto The Stage, Her Posture Straight Yet Calm. The Principal Smiled Kindly As He Handed Her The Certificate.
"Excellent Work, As Always. You've Made Everyone Proud," He Said Softly Into The Microphone.
The Applause Grew Louder, Many Students Cheering For Her With Genuine Admiration. Miyu Bowed Deeply Before Stepping Down, A Small Smile On Her Lips As She Returned To Her Seat.
Then, A Few Names Later — "Ren."
He Walked Up, Somewhat Hesitant Yet Calm. The Principal Looked At Him With The Same Gentle Smile.
"You've Come A Long Way, Haven't You?" The Principal Said Quietly. "Top Ten In The Year — That's Quite An Achievement."
Ren Just Nodded Lightly, His Expression Neutral But His Heart Warm. The Students Applauded Loudly — Some Cheering, Some Whistling — Especially His Friends Who Made Sure To Be The Loudest.
Kaito, Chika, Vicky, And Mahito All Followed In Turn — Each Walking Onto The Stage With A Mixture Of Pride, Nostalgia, And Quiet Joy.
When The Last Certificate Was Given, The Host Returned To The Stage.
"Now, As We Reach The End Of Today's Ceremony, Let Us Take A Moment To Reflect — To Remember Not Just The Endings, But The Beginnings That Await."
A Soft Farewell Song Began To Play — A Gentle Melody That Carried The Weight Of Every Memory.
All Students Stood Together, Bowing One Last Time Toward The Stage, Toward Their Teachers, Toward Their Past Selves.
The Graduation Ceremony Was Officially Closed.
Applause Filled The Hall, Parents Wiping Tears, Teachers Smiling Proudly, And Students Holding Onto The Last Glimpse Of Their School Life.
As The Music Continued, The Graduates Slowly Began To Exit — Some Laughing, Some Crying, All Of Them Carrying A Quiet Understanding That This Was A Moment They Would Never Truly Forget.
To Be Continued....