March 4th.
Morning sunlight crept in through the open window, feeling slightly brighter than the month before, yet the air that touched the skin still carried the lingering bite of winter's chill. Outside the window, the Tokyo sky was pale blue—clear and cloudless, typical of a spring morning that had only just arrived.
Naoki stood before the mirror in his room, studying his own reflection carefully.
His school uniform was worn to perfection—a black gakuran with a stiff standing collar, brass buttons lined neatly down the front, and black trousers that fell just right above the ankle.
Nothing looked different from any other day over the past three years. Yet today, the uniform felt different. Today was the last time he would ever wear it.
"Perfect." He said to his own reflection. "Today marks the day I'm no longer a student."
Naoki tidied his slightly disheveled hair with his fingers, making sure no strand was out of place. Satisfied with his appearance, he turned and left his room for the kitchen.
In the still-quiet kitchen, Naoki prepared a simple breakfast.
Toasted white bread, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and a thin omelette. He assembled all the ingredients into a sandwich, then ate it alongside a glass of warm milk that accompanied the quick meal.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
At 7:30 in the morning, Naoki arrived at the train station.
The platform was already filled with workers and students beginning their day. He blended into the crowd of other men waiting for the train to arrive.
On the opposite side of the platform, the women-only carriage was marked with its pink signage—a privilege granted to women in this age of female supremacy. The carriage looked considerably less crowded, its female passengers sitting comfortably as they read or scrolled through their phones.
When the train arrived with its characteristic screech of brakes, a scramble broke out among the men. Naoki was pushed along with the crowd, struggling to squeeze into the already-packed carriage.
His body pressed against dozens of other men, the mingled smell of sweat and cheap cologne filling his nose. This was a routine he had endured for three years, and today was the last time.
"..."
Fifteen minutes later, Naoki stepped off the train at the station nearest to school. He walked out of the station and joined the stream of other students heading toward Kaminoge High School.
The streets looked different from usual today.
Female students, who normally arrived later—since male students were required to clean the classrooms in the morning—were now walking in the same direction, neatly dressed.
Today was the graduation ceremony of Kaminoge High School. As such, female students had to come early to attend the third-year graduation.
On the pavement, Naoki watched female students passing by in their own ways.
Some floated a few centimeters above the ground, controlling the gravity around their bodies.
Others glided along the surface of the road on a thin layer of ice they had created beneath their feet.
One girl with short hair was even leaping forward in enormous, super-human bounds.
Unlike the male students who walked normally, these girls stood out with their individual Peach Blossom Blessings.
"Hey, Naoki!"
A familiar voice called from behind. Naoki turned and saw Ryunosuke jogging to catch up, slightly out of breath.
"Morning."
"Morning."
Ryunosuke fell into step beside Naoki. They walked together toward school.
"The day has finally come, hasn't it? Graduation."
"Yeah."
"..."
Ryunosuke went quiet for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Naoki, is your girlfriend coming? The one from the photos?"
Naoki glanced at him, taking in his friend's curious expression.
"She's coming. She said she'd make time for it."
"Seriously?!" Ryunosuke's eyes lit up. "I've only seen her in the photos, I'm dying to see her in person. She already looked incredibly beautiful just from photos."
Naoki smiled faintly. "You won't be disappointed."
They kept walking, passing through the school gate already decorated with graduation banners. In the distance, the school building came into view—the three-story structure that had been a silent witness to their journey over these three years. Today, for the last time, they would step inside as students.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
A high school graduation ceremony in Japan is an extraordinarily formal, solemn affair, governed by strict protocol. If it looks emotional in films or anime, the reality on the ground runs just as deep.
Kaminoge High School's gymnasium had been transformed into a magnificent ceremonial hall. Plastic chairs were arranged in neat, long rows.
First and second-year students sat in their designated areas, their uniforms tidy, their expressions serious.
On the other side, there was a section reserved for the parents of third-year students. Among the parents, who were mostly middle-aged, one young woman stood out strikingly—short blonde hair, a navy blue dress.
Tenka sat alone, poised and graceful, her eyes drifting occasionally toward the entrance where the graduates would soon walk in.
The ceremony began with great discipline.
The graduating students marched into the hall in perfectly ordered pairs, accompanied by piano music played by the arts teacher.
The school march played with solemn dignity. All in attendance—teachers, parents, and underclassmen—rose to their feet in unison to show their respect. There were no shouts or cheers. The atmosphere was deeply hushed and reverential; only the sound of footsteps and the rustle of clothing could be heard.
Once all graduates had taken their seats, the most central and time-consuming portion of the ceremony began: the Presentation of Diplomas.
The principal, an elderly man with thick-rimmed glasses and a black suit, stood at the podium. Names were called one by one, in alphabetical order.
"Tanaka Akihito!"
A student in the front row stood and answered in a clear, loud voice.
"Hai!"
He walked to the stage with measured, upright steps. On the stage, he received his diploma with the form that had been rehearsed many times over—bowing precisely 45 degrees, accepting with both hands, then stepping back several paces before turning and descending the stage.
This was a symbol of the maturity and discipline instilled over three years.
Names were called one by one. Parents in the audience kept their cameras and phones busy capturing the moment. Several mothers wept quietly.
Fifteen minutes passed. The names continued.
"Kamikawa Naoki!"
Naoki stood.
"Hai!"
His voice was steady, unlike several other students whose voices had trembled with nerves.
He walked toward the stage with certain steps, his eyes briefly glancing toward the parents' section. There, Tenka was lifting her camera, the soft click of the shutter barely audible.
Naoki stepped onto the stage, bowed 45 degrees before the principal, and received his diploma with both hands—a single sealed document declaring that his high school years had officially come to an end. He stepped back two paces, bowed once more, then turned and descended.
Tenka took another photo. Around her, other parents were equally busy with their own cameras. This moment was too precious to miss.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
After the diploma presentation concluded—taking nearly a full hour—the ceremony continued with the Farewell Speeches.
Representatives from the first and second years took to the stage. They read speeches expressing gratitude toward their seniors who had guided them along the way. Their voices wavered at certain points, especially when they mentioned the names of teachers and seniors who had left the deepest impressions.
Next, the third-year representative—a bespectacled girl, the top student by academic achievement—delivered the response speech. She recalled the grueling days of exams, the laughter at the sports festival, and the friendships woven over three years.
It was here that the sound of quiet sobbing began to drift through the gymnasium. Several female students were crying openly. Even a few of the female teachers could be seen dabbing their eyes.
"..."
Naoki sat calmly in his chair, his eyes fixed straight ahead. He didn't cry—not because he didn't care, but because he knew this wasn't an ending. It was a beginning.
Once the speeches concluded, it was time to sing the graduation songs. The national anthem "Kimi ga Yo" was sung with solemn reverence, followed by the school song they all knew by heart. Finally, the farewell song "Aogeba Tōtoshi" was sung together.
The harmony of hundreds of voices filling a single hall created an atmosphere that stirred something deep in the chest. Even Naoki felt a quiet melancholy settle within him.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
After the formal ceremony in the gymnasium had concluded, the students returned to their respective classrooms for the very last time.
Classroom 3-D felt different today.
Desks and chairs were arranged neatly, windows thrown wide open, and sunlight streamed in brightly. Their homeroom teacher—a middle-aged woman with a tied-back hairstyle and reading glasses—stood at the front before the blackboard.
She delivered her final words of advice—deeply personal, brimming with emotion. The teacher who had long been known for her strictness and firmness now spoke with a trembling voice. Her tears fell as she recalled the memories she had shared with them.
Yet, as ever, she was slightly partial toward the female students. For the male students, her attention was perfunctory at best.
Naoki and the other male students simply sat in silence, accepting that in this world, this was simply how things were.
Before they left, their eyes were drawn to the blackboard. Colorful chalk had rendered a beautiful piece of artwork—blackboard art reading "Omedetou" (Congratulations), decorated with cherry blossoms, birds, and small smiling faces of students. It had been created by the underclassmen the previous night, as a parting gift.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Once all the formalities had concluded, the atmosphere loosened. Students spilled out in every direction, reuniting with their parents, taking photos at various corners of the school.
At the gate of Kaminoge High School, Naoki stepped outside. There, already waiting, stood someone he knew well.
Izumo Tenka.
The moment she saw Naoki, Tenka walked swiftly toward him and pulled him into a firm embrace right there at the crowded gate. A few students turned to look—some let out a whistle, others wore sour expressions.
"Congratulations on your graduation, Naoki-kun!" Tenka's voice was soft at his ear.
Naoki returned the embrace, feeling the warmth he had always missed.
Behind him, three figures stood frozen.
Ryunosuke, Tanaka, and Sato watched the scene with their mouths half-open. Tenka was far more beautiful than in the photographs. Her presence was graceful, her clothes elegant, and she radiated an aura that left anyone who saw her captivated.
After releasing the hug, Tenka turned to face them. A warm smile was on her lips.
"You must be Naoki-kun's friends, right?" She stepped slightly closer, speaking with genuine warmth. "Thank you so much for being there for Naoki-kun all this time. I've heard a lot about all of you. Allow me to introduce myself—I'm Izumo Tenka, his girlfriend."
"A-Ah, yes! Likewise!" Ryunosuke answered, his voice cracking with nerves.
Tanaka and Sato also looked visibly awkward. They weren't used to being treated kindly by a woman this beautiful—let alone spoken to directly with such warmth.
"I-I'm Tanaka... it's a pleasure to meet you..." Tanaka's bow was stiff and jerky.
"Sato... nice to meet you..." Sato managed only a few words, his face turning red.
Tenka let out a small, amused laugh at their reactions. "You're all adorable."
"Hey... Naoki..." Ryunosuke whispered, just barely loud enough for Naoki to hear. "You're genuinely the luckiest bastard alive..."
"Yeah."
Naoki only smiled faintly.
Tenka suddenly produced her camera. "Ryunosuke-kun, could you take a photo of the two of us? In front of that graduation board."
Ryunosuke nodded eagerly, accepting the camera with slightly trembling hands. "O-Of course! Leave it to me!"
Naoki and Tenka stood before the large wooden board reading [20xx Graduation Ceremony] with the school gate as the backdrop.
Tenka hooked her arm through Naoki's, smiling sweetly toward the camera. Naoki held up his left hand, diploma in hand.
*CLICK!*
"One more." Tenka said softly.
Ryunosuke took several more shots, changing poses between each one. Tanaka and Sato could only watch with a mixture of feelings—admiration, envy, and a quiet sadness that they had no such moment of their own.
*(It's a shame I can't experience the second-button tradition I always saw in anime. But in this era, there are no longer any female students who would ask for a button from a male student.)* Naoki thought to himself, a touch of disappointment in his heart.
The Second Button Tradition is one of the most romantic and bittersweet cultural phenomena in Japanese high school life.
The second button on a male student's gakuran uniform is the one positioned closest to the heart. Giving this button to someone is considered a symbol of offering "the most precious part of one's heart" to that person. Since the school uniform is only worn until graduation day, the button becomes a permanent physical keepsake.
But with the hierarchy between men and women now reversed, the tradition had slowly died. Female students no longer asked for buttons from male students. It was a relic of the past that he could only witness on a screen.
As though she could read his thoughts, Tenka suddenly looked at Naoki's uniform. Her gaze settled on the row of brass buttons.
"Naoki-kun."
"Hm?"
Tenka smiled, then extended her hand. "Your second button. Give it to me."
Naoki blinked. "What?"
"The second button. The one closest to your heart." Tenka's voice was gentle. "I want to keep it. As a sign that your heart belongs to me."
For a few seconds, Naoki could only stare at her. Then, without a word, he looked down and unfastened the second button of his uniform—a small brass piece still warm from his body. He placed it in the palm of Tenka's hand.
Tenka closed her fingers around it tightly, then pressed her fist against her chest.
"Thank you, Naoki-kun. I'll take good care of it."
Naoki smiled. Behind him, Ryunosuke, Tanaka, and Sato could only let out a collective sigh—a feeling caught somewhere between admiration and envy that was simply too much to contain.
Above them, the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting its warmth over the gate of Kaminoge High School. This graduation day would become a memory none of them would ever forget.
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