There was a strange stillness in the air the morning of graduation—like even time itself had paused to hold its breath.
The school gates were decorated with white ribbons, streamers flowing gently in the wind. Students arrived in tidy uniforms, some fussing over their ties, others posing for photos in front of the gate with teary-eyed parents and smiling siblings.
The ceremony was being held outside, under a sea of fluttering white tents. Rows of folding chairs stretched across the courtyard, the stage lined with bouquets and a giant navy banner that read:
"Congratulations, Class of—"
Ren Sakamoto didn't read the year. He just stared at the words for a long second and swallowed.
"Feels fake, right?" Rio Wilson's voice broke the silence.
Ren turned to see Rio straightening Ian Moore's collar as Ian tried (and failed) to swat him away.
"It feels like we're all dressed up for a wedding we weren't invited to," Ren muttered.
"Ian would rather be at war," Rio teased.
Ian adjusted his glasses. "I'd rather be done with long-winded speeches and fake-smiling at people who forgot my name."
Yuuji Aikawa arrived beside Ren, brushing invisible lint from Ren's shoulder. "You'll miss this."
"I'll miss you teasing me constantly," Ren deadpanned.
"I don't tease," Yuuji said.
"You do nothing but tease," Rio cut in.
Will Ethan and Kenji Suguru appeared moments later, hands stuffed in pockets and eyes scanning the crowd.
"You guys ready?" Will asked.
"No," Kenji answered flatly.
"You scared?"
"No, I'm nostalgic."
Will blinked. "Wow. Did you just admit to having emotions?"
Kenji sighed. "Let's not ruin graduation with your optimism."
---
The ceremony began with the national anthem, followed by a long-winded opening speech from the headmaster. There were polite claps and polite yawns.
But then came the part everyone was waiting for—diplomas.
One by one, students were called forward. Applause followed each name.
"Ian Moore."
Ian walked with his usual controlled poise, took the certificate, and gave a sharp nod before returning to his seat beside Rio, who mouthed, "You looked like a military commander."
"I am one," Ian whispered back.
"Rio Wilson."
Rio strutted up like it was his runway, flashed the principal a wink, and returned holding the diploma above his head like a trophy.
"You're such a show-off," Ian muttered.
"You're into it."
"Shut up."
"Kenji Suguru."
Kenji strode up silently, accepted the certificate, and ignored Will's exaggerated two-thumbs-up from the audience.
"Will Ethan."
Will half-bowed, then casually jogged back to his seat, waving at the camera. "Gotta give the people what they want," he whispered to Kenji.
"Ren Sakamoto."
Ren walked calmly, heart thudding louder than the applause. He caught Yuuji's eye halfway through the crowd. The look they exchanged—half smile, half "remember when we hated each other?"—lingered like electricity.
"Yuuji Aikawa."
Yuuji walked up next, steady, sure, and subtly glanced back at Ren before stepping down.
A final speech, a flurry of thanks, and then—
"To the graduating class, congratulations."
Applause erupted. Streamers popped. Some students cried.
Others didn't even try to hold it back.
---
Afterward, the courtyard turned into a chaos of hugs, selfies, flowers, and laughter.
"You cried," Ren whispered.
"I did not," Yuuji denied.
"You sniffled."
"I was choking on confetti."
"You're a terrible liar."
Yuuji looked down at Ren. "And you're the best thing that happened to me in this goddamn school."
Ren blinked, stunned by the honesty.
Rio tugged Ian into a quiet spot beneath the sakura tree. "So... we survived."
Ian nodded. "Barely."
"You going to miss me?"
"Obviously."
Rio leaned in, kissed his cheek, then pulled back to wink. "Let's not wait another three years before our next kiss."
"Three minutes is too long," Ian replied.
Meanwhile, Will and Kenji stood a little apart.
"College together?" Will asked.
Kenji nodded. "Dorms assigned already."
Will smiled. "Same dorm, maybe?"
"Same room," Kenji corrected, handing him a printout.
Will grinned. "Roommates or something more?"
Kenji looked him dead in the eye. "You're lucky I like you."
Will leaned in, kissed his cheek. "Lucky is my middle name."
---
That evening, after the crowd had thinned and the lights dimmed, the six boys met one last time in their old classroom.
No teachers. No ceremony.
Just them.
"I feel like if I say goodbye, something ends," Ren whispered.
Yuuji took his hand. "It does. But something else starts."
They all stood in a circle—Rio, Ian, Will, Kenji, Ren, Yuuji—just breathing in the moment.
"We were a mess," Rio said. "A beautiful mess."
"Agreed," Kenji added.
"No regrets?" Will asked.
Ian shook his head. "None."
Yuuji looked around the room—at the cracked whiteboard, the scuffed desks, the old windows. "Let's meet here again one day.
They nodded.
A promise.
And then, with one last shared glance, they walked out together into the summer night, laughter echoing behind them.
-
Volume 2 .....still coming right away
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