Chapter 53. [Graduation And Entrance]

“”Aogeba, Tootoshi””

Everyone sings in unison.

I can hear sobs from all over the gymnasium.

Today was the graduation ceremony.

It was the last day of elementary school.

As I was singing, someone pulled my clothes’ hem down.

Mai’s fingertips clenched there.

Perhaps it was unconscious. Mai looked straight ahead without a glance at me. Tears were streaming from her eyes.

Her singing voice was trembling terribly.

But it sounded very beautiful.

Looking around, I saw other new students staring at me as if they were trying to burn the image into their eyes, and mothers silently shedding tears at the parents’ table.

…… I was going to graduate.

At this point, I realized for the first time that I’ll graduate.

* * *

“Iroha-jan~!” “Irohasama~!”

“Yeah! How long are you going to keep on sticking around? I mean, your nose is runny! You’ve got snot on your nose!”

After the graduation ceremony, the classroom was in an uproar.

We could use smartphones, and photo sessions were being held everywhere.

In my time, boys used to write on each other’s school bags, and girls used to exchange profile books.

I felt a bit nostalgic, thinking that the times changed.

“Iroha-san!”

“Ah, Sensei.”

“You’re going to a different junior high school from the others. So you may be anxious about a lot of things. But I’m sure you’ll be fine. Sensei will always support you in your future.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Sensei! Let’s take a picture together!” “Sensei! Let’s take a picture together!”

“Yes, yes, yes, yes.”

It’s a little tough to take a selfie with this many people.

Just as I thought that a boy walked by. The new student ran up to him.

“Ano, I want to take a picture. Good, desuka?”

“?!!!? Oh, it’s me? Of, of course, I’m happy to do it! Oh, yes!”

“…….? Thank you very much. Here’s my smartphone.”

The transfer student hands her smartphone to the boy and runs back.

The remaining boy was left standing there with a blank stare.

“Quick! Take a picture of us.”

“What? What? I thought you were going to take our picture What?”

“What are you talking desuka?”

The boy said, “Yes cheese,” with a sad face.

But do your best boy… No, I’m sorry.

There will be another love! I’m rooting for you! Men get stronger through heartbreak!

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a crush and lost it.

“Sensei~! Is this a good photo too~?”

“Yes! Yes, of course. I’m sorry, I was called away.”

“No, thank you very much.”

The transfer student checked the photos taken and nodded with satisfaction.

Then, as if determined, she approached me one step closer, saying, “Irohasama!”

“Well, what?”

“Sono, Irohasama. If you don’t like it, you can always ask me to decline. My contact information! The photo, dakara! I need it to send it to you, so here it is!”

“Hmm? Uh, okay?”

Oh, I see.

It would be inconvenient to share photos without knowing their IDs, wouldn’t it?

After all, we live in an era where even wars are fought using social networking services.

“~~~~ Arigatoo gozaimasu!”

“LIME, Dithcord, or Fakebook? I’m sorry, I don’t do the Tellgram.”

“LIME is fine! I’m fine with LIME! ……! Yay!”

I was about to say, “You’re overreacting just because we’re exchanging IDs.

When I was about to say so, a strong wind blew in through the classroom window.

“Whaap!?”

I unintentionally shielded my arms from the wind.

I could see the swaying silver hair through the gaps between my fingers.

I couldn’t help but admire the view.

Along with the cherry blossom petals, teardrops danced in the air and glittered.

“Iroha-sama… I’ll do my best!”

A notification sounded.

When I turned to my smartphone, a new name was added to my friends’ list.

“… I see, I didn’t know it was a name like this.”

Suddenly, the girl in front of me seemed to have a sense of reality.

Unlike usual, Mai watched quietly.

***

And then March ended, and April began.

I had become a junior high school student.

Biting back a yawn, I rest my cheek on my desk.

The entrance ceremony had just finished.

Everyone in the classroom looked restless.

It seems that public and private junior high schools are no different in this respect.

However, within a few minutes, similar people began to gather here and there.

A boy-only group, a girl-only group, a group of riajuu, an otaku group…

What is unique to private junior high schools in the group of returnee students.

…… What? What about me?

I belong to a group of half-hearted.

I could study on my own up to elementary school, but when I entered junior high school, it was different.

Studying is an information war. In other words, it is a group battle. To do it efficiently, it is a good idea to make friends with others.

It’s not that I can’t do that.

It’s just that I’m not interested in other people to the extent that I can’t remember their names.

It’s not so different from when I used to get tangled up with Mai in elementary school.

…… I’m sure that’s true, but why? I was bored in junior high school.