The gymnasium had never looked so… gentle.
Sunlight filtered through the high windows like golden lace, spilling over the decorated banners and rows of folded chairs. The stage was draped in navy blue and white cloth, trimmed with soft fairy lights that flickered like stars.
It was the farewell ceremony—a formal nod to the ending of high school life, complete with speeches, awards, and the kind of sentimental background music that made even the most stoic students shift awkwardly in their seats.
Ren sat quietly in the second row beside Yuuji, fidgeting with the edge of the program booklet. "I don't know whether to cry or cringe."
"Do both. Just not at the same time," Yuuji murmured, lips barely moving.
Ren elbowed him lightly. "You're not allowed to make jokes if you're not going to cry too."
Yuuji's expression softened. "I might. Quietly. Internally."
On stage, the headmaster droned on about the "importance of growth" and "the courage to walk into tomorrow." But most eyes in the audience weren't on him—they were scattered, drifting toward the people who had changed them during the past year.
Rio Wilson leaned slightly to his right, where Ian Moore sat with arms crossed and eyes locked forward. Rio whispered, "Bet you ten bucks the next speech makes someone cry."
Ian didn't look at him. "You cried during the last one."
"I got misty-eyed."
"You got sniffly."
Rio grinned. "Yeah, well. I cry with style."
Ian's eyes flicked sideways. "You do a lot of things with style."
Rio blinked. "Was that a compliment?"
Ian cleared his throat. "Shut up."
Elsewhere, Will Ethan had snuck his arm around the back of Kenji Suguru's chair, his fingers casually brushing his jacket sleeve.
"You nervous?" Will asked.
Kenji exhaled. "No. But if I see one more slideshow of people fake-laughing in photo montages, I might combust."
"You're soft underneath all that grump."
"And you're loud underneath all that glitter."
Will chuckled. "You love it."
"I tolerate it," Kenji muttered.
"And that," Will said, leaning close, "is love in Kenji-speak."
---
By the time they reached the "Class Memories" video segment, the room had softened. Students began to lean into each other, some smiling through tears, others staring at the screen as if trying to burn every moment into their minds.
Clips flashed across the screen:
– A blurry selfie of the "Perfectionists" mid-presentation.
– Rio accidentally knocking over a microphone stand and bowing like a prince.
– Ren's wide-eyed shock when Yuuji whispered a joke mid-class and he burst out laughing.
– Ian and Rio huddled over a laptop, arguing animatedly.
– Kenji fixing Will's tie before the group presentation.
– The entire class singing (badly) during sports day.
– Ms. Nishida accidentally smiling during the project showcase, then scowling immediately after.
When the lights turned back on, a strange silence filled the room.
And then, applause.
Loud, warm, real.
---
Later, after the ceremony, the sun had begun to dip toward evening. Students lingered in the courtyard, unsure how to say goodbye without actually saying it.
"I'm going to miss this," Ren admitted, staring at the pale pink sky.
"Me too," Yuuji said beside him. "Even the messy parts."
Ren tilted his head. "Even me yelling at you during group project hell?"
Yuuji smiled, the kind that made Ren's heart thump. "Especially that."
Ren laughed softly. "We've come far, haven't we?"
Yuuji nodded. "Far enough to start something new."
Ren turned toward him, heartbeat steady for once. "So… what now?"
Yuuji looked at him—really looked. "Let's date, Ren. Like… for real."
Ren flushed, but his smile was sure. "You're late. We're already doing that."
"But now it's official."
They leaned in, foreheads resting together, a quiet moment in the soft breath of dusk.
Across the courtyard, Rio looped his arm around Ian's shoulders.
"Think they'll last?" Rio asked casually.
Ian snorted. "They survived deadlines. They'll survive life."
Rio smiled. "Guess we will too."
Ian didn't answer, but his hand found Rio's, fingers locking naturally.
Not far off, Will threw an arm around Kenji's neck.
"Ready to leave all this behind?" Will asked.
Kenji looked back at the courtyard, the laughter, the golden sky.
"No," he said quietly. "But I'm ready for whatever comes next."