[OreGaIru : New Me!]

….

[-Continuation-]

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[-Hachiman's POV-]

It's Graduation Day.

The soft glow of early spring filtered through the windows, casting faint patterns on the polished floor of the gymnasium.

The air was heavy with a sense of formality, punctuated only by the occasional sound of quiet sniffling.

Before me stretched rows of students dressed in black uniforms, their postures stiff and composed.

A brief glance around revealed adults and faculty in equally formal attire, their expressions solemn yet tinged with quiet pride.

For a moment, the atmosphere almost felt like a funeral.

The somber colors, the subdued murmurs - it was an uncanny resemblance.

But my gaze shifted to the banner above the stage, where the words Graduation Award Ceremony hung prominently.

The vibrant artificial flower corsages pinned to the chests of those lined up at the front further dispelled the illusion.

This wasn't an occasion of grief but one of transition - an end and a beginning all at once.

As the ceremony droned on, the low hum of murmurs rose and fell like a tide, weaving through the heavy air.

It wasn't loud enough to disrupt the formal atmosphere, but it added a layer of human warmth to the otherwise somber proceedings.

From the row of girls to my left, a soft whisper broke through.

"I can't believe we are done." One said, her voice tinged with disbelief.

"I know, right? No more cramming for exams... well, except for college entrance exams." Another replied, her tone shifting from relief to dread.

Mixed groups toward the back had a different energy altogether.

"I am gonna miss this place." Someone admitted, their voice laced with unexpected sentimentality.

"Seriously? You hated coming to school every day." A friend teased, drawing quiet laughter.

"True, but I will miss you guys." Came the sheepish reply.

Meanwhile, the adults scattered around the room exchanged their own remarks, voices low but brimming with pride.

"They have all grown up so fast." One parent said, dabbing their eyes discreetly.

"Do you think our boy will manage on his own?" Another murmured, their voice a mix of worry and hope.

"He will be fine. Besides, it's time for them to spread their wings." Came the reassuring reply, accompanied by a fond smile.

All of it blended together - a patchwork of emotions.

Nostalgia, excitement, relief, and even a hint of apprehension filled the gym.

This wasn't just a ceremony. It was a snapshot of people moving forward, each in their own way.

The sight of all the female students letting out stifling, short breaths, holding hands, and leaning shoulder to shoulder with their friends was the very manifestation of parting.

Their hushed voices carried snippets of emotion, fragments of farewells exchanged amidst the suffocating weight of the occasion.

"I can't believe it's over... it doesn't feel real." One girl murmured, her voice trembling as she clung tightly to her friend's arm.

"Don't cry too much, or your face will be all red in the pictures." Another teased, though her own sniffles betrayed her.

The girl laughed weakly. "You are one to talk, your eyes are already puffy."

A cluster of boys stood nearby, their hushed tones carrying less sentimentality but no less meaning.

"Man, we should have done more during these three years. I barely joined any clubs." One of them admitted, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

His friend smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "You mean aside from skipping practice and eating instant ramen at the convenience store?"

"Shut up, those were the good times." The boy muttered with a small grin, though his eyes lingered on the stage as if lost in thought.

Reluctant to break free from their youth, spanning three years of their lives in high school, it was only natural that such a solemn mood would dominate.

I shifted in, rolling my stiff shoulders and stretching my neck to shake off the discomfort.

As I tilted my head to one side, the corner of my eye caught a flash of movement - bright and unmistakable.

A bouncing pink hair bun, bobbing gently with each subtle motion.

Next to it, the flowing strands of golden hair swayed like a soft wave.

Yuigahama Yui and Miura Yumiko sat side by side, their postures slightly slouched in a way that betrayed the formality of their uniforms.

Though the distance and angle made it difficult to confirm, it seemed their hands were clasped tightly between them, a small gesture of solidarity amidst the bittersweet air of parting.

Yuigahama's head tilted toward Miura's, and her lips moved faintly.

Whatever she said was too quiet to carry over the hushed murmurs of the crowd, but Miura turned her head in response, her features softening into a rare, unguarded expression.

"You are thinking something bad, right?" A low whisper brushed against my ear from the left.

Of course, it was Hayama.

I turned slightly, meeting his gaze as he leaned just enough to make his presence known without drawing attention.

His tone carried its usual air of playful reprimand, the kind that made it hard to tell if he was joking or genuinely annoyed.

"You can't sit still, can you?" I asked sarcastically with an infuriatingly calm tone.

He responded with a shrug. "Are you searching?"

"For what?" I snapped, my irritation slipping out.

My sidelong glare didn't deter him, though it probably amused him more than anything.

It felt like he had read my thoughts earlier when I tried to subtly turn in my seat.

Hayama tilted his chin slightly, pointing diagonally to the front.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I followed his gesture.

My gaze landed not on the students, but further ahead - to the visitors' seating area. And there, among a sea of adults dressed in formal attire, I spotted her.

Yukinoshita's mother.

Clad in elegant, traditional black Japanese clothing, her poised figure stood out effortlessly. Her distinct features made her presence impossible to miss, even from this distance.

My thoughts stumbled as I muttered, half to myself. "Why is she here…?"

Almost as if she heard me, her gaze shifted.

A moment ago, she seemed focused elsewhere, but now her eyes snapped directly to mine, sharp and deliberate, as if she had sensed my attention from across the room.

A bead of sweat trickled down my neck.

Then, her expression softened into a controlled, almost imperceptible smile. She gave a small nod, one that felt both polite and pointed.

Caught off guard, I managed a hesitant nod in return.

Without lingering, she turned her focus away, leaving me unsettled by the brief but oddly weighted interaction.

That's when Hayama decided to chime in. "It's not uncommon for members of the local government to attend these ceremonies. A lot of them have overlapping schedules, though, so she is probably here as their sole representative."

"Uh-huh..." I muttered, feigning indifference while grudgingly admitting his explanation made sense.

"It's especially common for public institutions." He continued, undeterred. "They use ceremonies like these to promote themselves when they can. Entrance ceremonies, graduation ceremonies - it's all part of the package."

I gave my opinion, trying to focus back. "Right. I doubt any of the students or parents are actually paying attention, though. They're probably just doing it out of obligation."

Hayama sighed, clearly unimpressed. "That's a terrible way to put it. Call it tradition. There is meaning in showing up for these events - teachers and parents are potential voters, after all."

"That sounds even worse than what I said…" I shot back, equally tired of his holier-than-thou tone.

He sighed again, and I mirrored it, both of us sounding equally fed up with each other.

No matter how much I wished he'd fade into the background of my life, Hayama had a way of showing up when I least wanted him to.

…Actually, is it even possible to avoid him?

Because if things go his way, we might end up as brothers.

My attention shifted, and I noticed the familiar presence of Yukinoshita's mother sitting nearby, her appearance strikingly similar to Yukinoshita.

It was Yukinoshita Haruno, dressed in a sleek black suit, her hands resting gracefully on the bag in her lap as she lowered her gaze, exuding a composed elegance.

"And the reason for her being here is...?" I asked, curiosity creeping into my voice.

Hayama sighed. "Who knows? It's either because of her position, or a courtesy call... something along those lines."

"Uh-huh..." I nodded, processing his words.

Then, I looked at him, raising an eyebrow. "You seem to be really happy about seeing her here though?"

"Was it that obvious?" Hayama said, an amused glint in his eyes.

I couldn't help but stare at him for a moment. He wasn't even trying to hide it now.

And just as I was about to make a sarcastic comment to put him in his place, my angel decided to intervene and, quite literally, save me from my own thoughts.

"Hachiman..."

Her sweet voice rang from behind, like the sound of a bell in a sea of noise, instantly calming the chaotic whirlpool of my mind.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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