In a flash, half a year passed like morning dew.
It seemed like just the time of taking a nap, the ginkgo trees outside the window had shed their green and put on a full coat of gold. Occasionally, a leaf fell on a student's desk, like a postcard from late autumn.
For Gojo Satoru, life at the police academy was actually incredibly peaceful. Aside from teaming up with the group of five to solve some sudden cases during the internship period, most of his time was spent in a flat and warm daily routine.
During morning runs, he always deliberately lagged behind by half a lap and then overtook them, causing Matsuda to look back at him in a rage; during class, he casually drew doodles all over his textbook, getting his head tapped not too heavily by Furuya Rei with a notebook; in the cafeteria, he was dragged by Hagiwara to expand his network, which was actually just an excuse to chat up pretty girls; and the routine program of every week was none other than Date Wataru's relentless challenges—though the ending always resulted in him being thrown to the ground.
Occasionally, he would give some pointers to students in class, receiving a flock of looks that were either admiring or unreconciled. On afternoon rest days, he would either go to the gym to play basketball or play games in the dorm. In short, he could never stay idle. Aiming to become the king of e-sports, he never held back, making even the good-tempered Hiromitsu unable to help protesting that Kuno must have cheated.
If there was extra time, the six of them would also go to the supermarket together to buy ingredients, and then prepare dinner in Dorm 144. Under Hiromitsu's guidance, Furuya Rei's cooking skills became more and more exquisite. Meanwhile, Gojo Satoru still stuck to his persona of a cooking idiot, looking forward to the meal with wide eyes every time, looking just like a big hamster waiting to be fed.
In addition, there were also some small episodes from Shiro. Chris Vineyard's advertisement was a huge hit, successfully making a name for the Gojo family's health tea and even expanding into overseas markets. The boss sent a precious gemstone suspected to be Pandora, but after Shiro's identification, it turned out not to be. Chianti didn't forget her thought of competing with him at the shooting range, and even asked Vodka to inquire when he would be free.
However, these matters had nothing to do with Gojo Satoru, who was temporarily using the vest body, for now. Perhaps because the days were too comfortable, he often had an illusion. This kind of noisy routine with this bunch of guys might be able to continue forever.
But an illusion was an illusion after all. Just like a person dreaming, there would always be a day to wake up.
At eight in the morning, Dorm 144.
"Hmm..." Morofushi Hiromitsu, fully dressed, stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the collar of his uniform, and turned his face to ask, "Does it look a bit natural this way?"
"Very great." Looking at this young man who was as gentle and upright as a green bamboo, Gojo Satoru slowly buttoned his coat while speaking, "If you walk out now, girls will definitely come to ask for your second button."
That was a long-circulated romantic legend in Japan. Getting the second button closest to the heart from the person you like meant you could get their love.
"Too exaggerated, Kuno." A faint smile rippled in Morofushi Hiromitsu's eyes. "The one who will be asked for buttons should be you, right?"
Gojo Satoru took a look at himself in the mirror. A white shirt paired with a light blue tie, the formal uniform adorned with a golden sash, and two shoulder badges shining in the morning light, symbolizing his status as an assistant police inspector, quite full of elite style. The instructor said he was too young and could only be an assistant police inspector for now, but as long as he performed excellently within one year after taking office, he could smoothly be promoted to police inspector.
"Looking at it this way, I really understand why little Hagiwara thinks police uniforms attract girls."
"Right... Ah, someone has already set out!" Morofushi caught sight of the figures walking in a hurry downstairs. "So early, probably afraid of being late."
"Understandable, after all..." Gojo took a red ribbon, his long fingers weaving through his hair, tying his shoulder-length black hair neatly behind his head. A few strands of disobedient hair hung over his forehead, adding a bit of casual handsomeness instead. "This is the graduation ceremony."
...
At the entrance of the police academy gate, a blue and white banner with "Graduation Ceremony" was hung, highlighting this special day.
A short-haired girl with a beautiful face and a capable aura was standing a bit far away, her gaze firmly attracted by a white Mazda parked nearby.
"It really looks like... my father's car..." Thinking of her father who died in the line of duty eighteen years ago, an unspeakable nostalgia welled up in Sato Miwako's heart. She couldn't help but walk forward, gently touching that cold hood.
"Wait, Miwako, it's not good to touch it randomly like this, right?" Her best friend quickly followed up, pulling her arm to stop her.
As if verifying these words, an urgent voice suddenly exploded, "You two female college students over there, don't touch that car randomly with dirty hands!"
Miwako, who was immersed in memories, was startled. She snapped her hand back and turned around to see a curly-haired young man with a face full of displeasure rushing over quickly. "This was fixed with great difficulty, it will be troublesome if it gets dirty!"
"It's not what you think, I just..."
"Don't be so loud, little Jinpei~ Police officers can't yell at citizens like this." Hagiwara Kenji, who followed behind, had a comforting smile on his face. He gently patted Matsuda's shoulder, then turned to Sato Miwako, explaining politely, "Sorry, sorry, this guy just has a hasty temper. He didn't scare you, did he, beautiful lady?"
His gentle and polite attitude instantly dissolved the trace of anger in Sato Miwako's heart. She shook her head. "No, it was my intrusion... The car is very beautiful."
Just at this moment, a burst of slightly hurried footsteps came.
"Matsuda! Hagiwara! What are you two lingering for?" Date Wataru walked over quickly. "The ceremony starts in ten minutes, hurry up!"
"What, it's all because of this guy Kuno!" Matsuda immediately turned his spearhead, pointing at the figure drifting over slowly behind. "If he hadn't spent so long buying breakfast, we would have arrived long ago!"
The black-haired, red-eyed boy chewed the last bite of the yakisoba pan. "Even if it's the end of the world, breakfast must be eaten well."
"Alright, alright." Morofushi Hiromitsu quickly spoke, "If we linger any longer, we will really be late, Instructor Onizuka will kill us!"
Watching the back of them leaving in a hurry, Sato Miwako's best friend couldn't help but sigh, "Are all the graduates of the police academy handsome guys? If guys all have this level of looks, it's not impossible to consider studying at the police academy."
Sato Miwako looked at her helplessly. "If it's just for this kind of reason, the awareness is not enough, you know?" She paused, her tone becoming a bit more serious. "Wanting to become a police officer is not such a simple thing..."
"Well said." Hearing their discussion, Furuya Rei, who hadn't had time to leave, joined the conversation with a smile. "Although becoming a police officer is not easy, if you are interested, you are welcome to visit today's graduation ceremony." Those purple-gray eyes carried a bit of encouragement. "As long as you hold honor and a sense of mission in your heart, as well as the determination to protect the people of this country..."
"..."
"Hey, Miwako?" After Furuya Rei left, the best friend's hand waved in front of Sato Miwako's eyes. "What are you dazing for?"
"Nothing, just thinking... how to prepare for the police entrance exam."
The best friend blinked. "Eh? Do you really want to enter the police academy?"
Sato Miwako didn't answer directly, just holding her hand. "Let's go, the graduation ceremony is about to start."
Yes, one day... She would become an excellent police officer just like her father.
Inside the auditorium, the old principal wearing a sash stood on the podium, with a huge national flag and police emblem hanging behind him. He looked around at the energetic faces below the stage, speaking in a loud voice, "Everyone, congratulations on graduating!"
"On the path ahead, you may encounter numerous difficulties, but I believe that as long as you uphold a heart of justice and remember the beliefs forged in the police academy, you will surely break through thorns and protect the peace of this land..."
Instructor Onizuka stood on one side of the podium, his gaze shifting to those few high-spirited young people in the crowd, a trace of gratification welling up deep in his heart.
Compared to half a year ago, the current Furuya Rei had become more stable and restrained, unmoved by surprises; the gloom between Morofushi Hiromitsu's brows had disappeared, just like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon; although Matsuda Jinpei was still sharp-tongued, he was clearly more mature and knew how to cooperate; Hagiwara Kenji's smoothness gained a sense of responsibility, making him trustworthy at critical moments; Date Wataru no longer went into dead ends, and that reliable leadership became the solid backup of the team.
As for Kuno Nozomu... although he still had a casual look, he no longer regarded playing as everything. Perhaps, it's because he has a few more invisible attachments?
After finishing his speech, the principal bowed slightly, giving the microphone to another old man walking up slowly. "Then, please welcome Superintendent General Hyakuta to give a address..."
"Wow!" Matsuda Jinpei suddenly felt his shoulder being poked.
"Hey, little Jinpei." Hagiwara Kenji lowered his voice, his violet eyes flashing with a playful light. "This is a big opportunity! Didn't you come to school back then just to beat up the superintendent general?"
"That's right." Furuya Rei said with an exaggerated tone, "Class rep, quick, control Matsuda, don't let him rush up whatever you do!"
Gojo Satoru instigated without fearing trouble, "Why stop him? A real man should carry out his original intention."
"You bunch of idiots..." Matsuda snorted. "How could I go and hit him, I'm not a kid anymore!"
Everyone looked at each other, swallowing the sentence "you clearly are still a kid" back down.
Since the superintendent general's speech was too boring, Hagiwara proactively picked up a topic. "Right, when Class Rep Date and I went out earlier, why didn't I see you guys?"
"Hiromitsu said he wanted us to help put a photo in the letter to his brother, so we messed around with the polaroid camera in the dorm for quite a long time." Matsuda grinned. "After taking his photo, we also took several group photos."
Hagiwara complained, "What?! We agreed to take a big group photo together after the graduation ceremony ended, you guys actually sneaked ahead!"
"Don't be too expectant." Gojo Satoru shrugged. "After all, little Matsuda only knows how to do the V-sign."
"Hey, hey, how are you any better!"
Furuya Rei suddenly remembered something. "Right, Matsuda, you are sure Hiro's photo was put into the letter, right?"
"Of course!" Matsuda pulled out his phone, showing them a photo of Hiromitsu wearing a police hat and saluting. "See, isn't this Master Hiro very handsome?"
Hagiwara touched his chin. "Indeed."
Matsuda was quite proud of his photography skills, looking at it left and right for a while, and then said with some regret, "It would have more spirit if some stubble was added."
"Huh?" Date Wataru imagined it. "Wouldn't that be very strange?"
"A stubbled face..." Morofushi Hiromitsu blinked, seemingly really considering it. "What do Zero and Kuno think?"
Furuya Rei took a serious look at his childhood friend's face. "Hmm... maybe it will make you look older? Just like your brother."
The image of a cat-eyed man with stubble appeared in Gojo Satoru's mind, precisely Scotch Whisky. "...It might be very suitable." He said meaningfully, "A mature and stable stubbled detective, that sounds like someone with a lot of stories, right?"
Morofushi Hiromitsu smiled. "That's not bad either."
They were just discussing what kind of stubble style to keep when they heard the principal on the stage speak into the microphone, "Let's welcome the two outstanding graduate representatives to come up to the stage in turn to give speeches—Student Furuya Rei, and Student Kuno Nozomu!"
Yes, just like their scores in the entrance exam, in the graduation assessment, these two still tied for first place. Therefore, the two had already become legendary existences among the successive generations of police academy students.
When getting up, Furuya Rei turned his head slightly, casting a glance at Gojo Satoru, as if saying: This speech won't be as high-profile as the opening ceremony again, right?
Gojo Satoru, however, returned a pure and harmless wink. Take a guess~
Furuya Rei's mouth twitched, and he had to walk up to the podium first.
"It is my honor to stand here as a graduate representative..."
"The decision I will least regret in my life might be choosing to come to this school..."
His speech was still perfect with no faults to pick out, and could even be said to be particularly moving. Some people, listening to the end, clapped while sniffing their noses.
However, when it was Gojo Satoru's turn, the first sentence he spoke made the whole venue dead silent.
"To be honest, until now, I also think everyone sitting here is too weak."
Before anyone could protest, he turned his tone around.
"However, during this half year, I met many surprising and interesting guys... And because of that, I saw that they have something more important than being powerful."
"It is the stubbornness of never giving up, the original intention of protecting others, and the courage to move forward even when knowing it's difficult..."
"Perhaps, these are the things truly worth praising."
The black-haired, red-eyed boy paused, his gaze sweeping over the peers below the stage, among whom there was no lack of people who still held hostility toward him, and no lack of people who looked at him as a goal to aspire to.
"All in all, I hope everyone... can become a better version of themselves."
"..."
After a brief silence, the applause lasted for a long time. Even the principal, while clapping, quietly said to the instructor on the side, "This child Kuno has indeed changed a lot."
After he returned to his seat, Matsuda clicked his tongue. "Actually so serious? It doesn't feel like your style anymore."
Gojo Satoru stuck out his tongue. "I just didn't finish my words."
"Hmm? What words?"
"If they become more powerful than before, it will be more interesting for me to bully them, right?"
"...Give me back my touch from just now!"
After the two finished their speeches, all students received their respective graduation certificates, and the graduation ceremony came to an end.
The men and women walking out of the auditorium all cheered and threw the police hats in their arms into the sky, looking forward to their future after taking office.
Meanwhile, the six people from the Onizuka class were gathering under a tall ginkgo tree.
"Instructor! Help us take a group photo!" Hagiwara Kenji, holding Hiromitsu's polaroid camera, stopped Instructor Onizuka who was about to leave with a smile.
"A group photo..." Instructor Onizuka said with his mouth "don't blame me if it doesn't look good," but immediately reached out to take the camera.
Date Wataru extended his strong arm, grabbing the shoulders of Morofushi Hiromitsu and Furuya Rei in one go, showing his trademark hearty smile. Matsuda Jinpei and Hagiwara Kenji leaned on them from left and right, smiling with bright faces.
As for Gojo Satoru, he propped one hand on Date's shoulder, while his other hand made a classic V-sign, his eyes curving into a crescent shape. "Yeah~ Eggplant!"
Matsuda noticed his gesture and complained, "The one who only knows how to do the V-sign is clearly you!"
"Oh, because it's indeed very cute, right?"
Instructor Onizuka held the polaroid, shouting at the six people under the ginkgo tree, "Going to take it!"
"Three, two, one..." Capturing everyone's most relaxed state, he pressed the shutter quickly with a sharp eye and hand.
"Click!"
The autumn wind brushed past, and the golden ginkgo leaves drifted onto the shoulders and hair tips of the six people, just like a picture scroll that would never fade.
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