March 20th—Ichin and Utaha's long-awaited graduation ceremony finally arrived.
For this day, Ichin's parents even made a special trip to attend, despite his repeated insistence that it wasn't necessary.
Walking along the path to the school auditorium, Ichin let out a small sigh of relief.
"Good thing that for this part of the ceremony inside the hall, parents don't participate. Otherwise, it'd be way too lively."
After all, a graduation ceremony—especially in a large high school like Toyogasaki—was already a bustling affair. If parents also joined in at every stage, things would get over the top.
Utaha chuckled beside him.
"What? Getting nervous, Ichin?"
"Not really. I just know that if parents were allowed in, my mom would absolutely film my entire speech… no, not just film—she'd record the entire thing start to finish."
Utaha thought for a mont about Ichin's mother's personality and couldn't help but nod.
"That's true, she definitely would. But even if she didn't, wouldn't the school still record the whole thing?"
"School archives and my mom's personal recording are two very different things. I don't want her pulling it out years later and replaying it on repeat."
As they chatted, they arrived at the auditorium. Ichin split from the main group and headed backstage—he was going to be giving the speech as the graduating student representative.
Backstage, he greeted the grade supervisor before taking a seat to wait for the ceremony to begin.
A few minutes later, Hiratsuka Shizuka arrived. She patted Ichin on the shoulder with a smile.
"Nervous?"
"C'mon, Hiratsuka-sensei, don't treat like so rookie student who's never seen the world. I'm running a company already—a little speech isn't going to rattle ."
"That's true."
She pulled over a chair, sat down beside him, and took two mints from her pocket, handing him one.
As she popped hers into her mouth, Hiratsuka said,
"Still, I didn't expect that after being top of your grade for two years, you'd only agree to give a speech now, at graduation."
"Because it's a hassle, isn't it?" Ichin replied casually. "You have to prepare the manuscript, and when you speak, you can't just keep your head down reading—you've got to do it half-off-script, or even fully off-script. And then the draft still has to go through a teacher check, and if you're unlucky, they'll make you rewrite parts. Not that I'm saying you are troubleso, Hiratsuka-sensei—you never nitpicked my stuff."
Hiratsuka laughed and shrugged.
"I don't like that kind of formal hassle either. And your writing? Never doubted it. It's just a speech to give the underclassn so motivation. Alright, looks like everyone's here—the ceremony's about to start."
A graduation ceremony really wasn't complicated—first the principal gave a speech about the graduating class's achievents and hopes for their future, then the student council president spoke, followed by the graduating class representative.
While Ichin lounged backstage, a teacher ca over to let him know it was almost his turn.
He snapped out of his daze, patted his cheeks lightly, stood, and followed the teacher to the stage.
In the auditorium, the emcee teacher announced the next segnt—the graduating student representative speech—and nad Ichin.
anwhile, in the second-year section, in Eriri's class—
The girls sitting in front of and behind Eriri turned to look at her.
"Eriri, it really is Ichin-senpai! Didn't think we'd get to hear his speech!"
Eriri stayed calm.
"It's just a speech, what's there to be excited about?"
"That's because you know him too well," the long-haired girl behind her said, practically bouncing in her seat. "You have no idea how popular he is among the first- and second-year girls. Tons of them secretly have a crush on him!"
"Huh? Seriously?" Eriri blinked. "How co I've never heard that?"
"Because you never paid attention, that's why," the short-haired girl in front whispered. "I've heard plenty of them say they're just waiting for him and Kasumigaoka-senpai to break up so they can try to steal him away!"
"They've got zero chance. Like, zero point zero percent."
"Exactly. Their relationship has always been solid. Oh, Eriri, didn't they already et each other's parents?"
"Yeah, ages ago," Eriri replied casually—since the two were already graduating, she didn't mind sharing. "Ichin's apartnt is right next to Utaha's. They beca neighbors as soon as he moved in. And for the past two Lunar New Years, Ichin's taken Utaha back ho with him. Both families have already t. My guess? They'll probably get married in college."
"Ehhh!!"
"Alright, enough gossip—it's starting," Eriri reminded them, and the chatter stopped.
Standing at the podium, Ichin scanned the audience. His gaze quickly found Utaha among the third-year graduates. They exchanged a brief smile before he began.
"Good morning, teachers and fellow students…"
The speech wasn't long—about five or six minutes—covering mories of school, thoughts on studying, advice for future plans, and of course, a dose of encouragent for the underclassn.
He'd kept the tone light, slipping in monts that made the audience chuckle, so everyone listened with interest.
The principal, listening from the side, nodded in satisfaction.
"What an excellent student—strong grades, steady temperant, and impressive entrepreneurial skills."
The grade head agreed.
"Exactly. I wonder if we'll ever have another like him. Well, there are still so promising ones—like Yukinoshita Yukino, the current second-year top student, who's apparently close with Ichin and Kasumigaoka. And then there's Sawamura Spencer Eriri—her artistic talent is outstanding, and she's already considering Tokyo University of the Arts."
The principal knew those two well—both ca from notable families.
"Good. Keep an eye on them and give them priority support."
When Ichin finished his speech, thunderous applause erupted. He bowed slightly, ready to step down—
—but before he could turn, a first-year girl suddenly stood up and shouted,
"Senpai, I like you!!"
All eyes imdiately locked on her—including Ichin's.
And once the first brave soul had spoken, several more girls quickly followed, calling out their own confessions toward him.
*
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