After everyone finished reading Hina's manga, the group headed to karaoke together.
Colored lights flashed across the walls while off-key singing completely filled the room. Kaito shouted old songs like he was performing at a real concert. Mio laughed so hard she nearly dropped her drink. Even Takeo — who was usually the quietest one there — ended up smiling when Shinohara completely messed up the lyrics to a song she claimed she knew by heart.
Hina watched them quietly for a few seconds.
Everyone was there.
Laughing.
Together.
And for the first time in a long while…
It felt like those days would never end.
Aoi sat in the corner singing softly into the microphone, holding it close to her chest while Yukina teased her about "singing like the heroine of a sad anime."
Aoi only laughed quietly.
But deep down…
She knew.
Their third year was ending.
And it hurt far more than she expected.
Later that night, Aoi returned home.
She slowly took off her shoes by the entrance while Yukiko walked out from the kitchen.
Yukiko looked at her daughter for a few seconds…
Then smiled gently.
— You seem happy, Aoi.
Aoi stayed silent.
Her eyes lowered for a moment, as if she was searching for courage somewhere deep inside herself.
Then, in a quiet voice, she asked:
— Mom… can we visit Dad next week?
Time seemed to stop.
Yukiko immediately covered her mouth with her hand.
Her eyes started tearing up before she could even answer.
Because it had been a long time.
A very long time…
Since Aoi had been able to talk about that without breaking apart inside.
Aoi noticed.
And then she smiled.
A small smile.
Fragile.
But real.
— It's okay, Mom… I'm okay now.
She slowly walked toward Yukiko.
And hugged her.
Yukiko closed her eyes instantly, holding her daughter tightly, as if she was embracing not only Aoi…
But every painful day they had survived together.
And for the first time in a very long while…
That hug carried no sadness.
Only longing.
That same night, Mio arrived home.
The television cast a soft bluish light across the living room.
Her mother sat watching TV while Masato remained beside her in silence.
Mio stepped inside and took off her shoes.
— I'm home.
Both of them looked at her almost at the same time.
— Welcome home, Mio.
She looked at her parents quietly for a few seconds.
Back then, the silence in this house used to feel heavy.
Now…
It just felt calm.
Mio smiled faintly.
— How was your day?
Masato adjusted his posture before answering.
— I… worked, Mio.
Her mother laughed softly.
— And I just went through my usual routine.
Mio slowly sat down on the couch, hugging her knees for a moment before staring absentmindedly at the TV screen.
— Next year will be our last year at school…
She took a deep breath.
— Watching the third-years graduate… and already missing them…
She lowered her gaze.
— It makes me think about next year.
Silence returned.
But this time, nobody tried to escape it.
Masato looked ahead before speaking.
— Life is made of cycles.
His voice came out low.
More honest than firm.
— Just like mine… I accepted a demotion. But because of that… I can stay beside you two.
Mio looked at her father.
For many years, she had seen Masato as someone distant.
A man trapped inside his own pride.
But now…
He just looked human.
Tired.
Trying.
And somehow, that touched her heart more than any perfect speech ever could.
Mio smiled softly.
— I understand…
She leaned her head back against the couch.
And for the first time in a very long time…
That house finally felt like a family again.
Hina arrived home not long after.
She opened the door and saw Haru sprawled across the sofa scrolling through his phone while her parents talked calmly nearby.
She stopped at the entrance.
And simply watched them.
The three of them.
The warm lights of the living room.
The quiet voices.
The comfort of such an ordinary moment.
Her chest tightened slightly.
Because she realized…
These simple moments end someday too.
Then she smiled.
— I'm home.
All three turned toward her.
Her mother widened her eyes.
— Hina! I didn't even notice you opening the door!
Her father laughed right after.
— How was exam week?
Hina placed her bag down.
— I think I did well… probably.
Haru didn't even look up from his phone.
— There's no way the nerd did badly.
Hina laughed softly.
Then, almost without thinking, she said:
— Looks like Aoi's dating someone now.
Haru froze.
Then instantly jumped off the couch.
— WHAT?! WHO IS IT?!
Hina held back her laughter.
— Secret, hehe.
— Aaah no, not my Aoi… I'm gonna find out!
Her parents started laughing at his dramatic reaction while Haru kept complaining loudly.
Hina sat down on the couch.
And in the middle of that small, comforting chaos…
She closed her eyes for a moment.
"Everyone liked my manga…"
Warmth slowly spread through her chest.
Because for the first time…
She felt like something she created had truly reached someone.
And maybe…
She could reach her own dreams too.
The following week…
Takeo, Shinohara, and Kaito went together to the station to check the entrance results for Toho Gakuen.
The train arrived with a metallic screech echoing across the platform.
The doors opened.
Takeo stood quietly with his hands inside his coat pockets.
Shinohara gripped her bag strap far too tightly.
Kaito tried to act relaxed…
But he wouldn't stop talking.
— If I fail… I'm becoming a street actor.
Nobody answered.
Silence boarded the train together with them.
The train departed.
And little by little, the city began disappearing beyond the windows.
The familiar streets.
The stores.
The traffic lights.
The places where they had grown up.
Everything slowly faded farther away.
Because Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music…
Was far away.
Far enough to feel like another world entirely.
At the entrance to Toho Gakuen, dozens of students were already waiting.
Parents.
Teachers.
People trying to stay calm.
People already crying before the results were even posted.
A massive bulletin board stood covered in white paper.
Staff members slowly taped the sheets into place.
The sound of tape sticking against the board felt unbearably loud in the silence.
The three of them stopped in front of it.
Nobody spoke.
Nobody could.
Then the white cover dropped.
Absolute silence.
And immediately after—
Running footsteps.
Takeo didn't run.
Shinohara didn't either.
Kaito tried to act calm…
But he was the first one forward.
The three of them searched for their registration numbers.
Takeo's finger slowly traced the list.
Down.
Down.
Then stopped.
He blinked once.
Checked again.
His number was there.
Takeo didn't smile.
He simply closed his eyes for one second…
And finally released the breath trapped inside his chest.
Like someone who had been carrying tension for months without even realizing it.
Beside him, Shinohara instantly covered her mouth.
Her number was there too.
Her eyes trembled.
She closed them for a moment, trying to stop the tears before they could fall.
But Kaito…
Kept searching.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
He moved to the second page.
Then back to the first.
Again.
And again.
His number wasn't there.
The world became silent.
The noise around him suddenly sounded distant.
As if all the air had been ripped away from that place.
Shinohara noticed first.
Then Takeo.
Kaito remained standing in front of the board for several seconds.
Then forced a smile.
A small one.
Painful.
— Guess I really am becoming a street actor…
Nobody laughed.
Takeo slowly walked over.
And placed a hand on his shoulder.
It wasn't pity.
It never was.
It was respect.
Because Takeo knew how hard Kaito had tried.
How much he fought for this.
How much it mattered to him.
Takeo spoke quietly.
— You… still have Nihon.
Kaito shrugged, trying to act casual.
But his eyes were wet.
And in that moment…
The three of them understood something without needing to say it aloud.
Not every dream follows the path we imagined.
But that doesn't mean the dream is over.
On the train ride back, the atmosphere felt strange.
The sound of the rails echoed through the carriage while the city blurred past the windows in shades of gray.
Shinohara held the folded results paper tightly on her lap, almost afraid to wrinkle the moment itself.
Takeo stared outside in silence.
Kaito scrolled on his phone…
But he wasn't actually looking at anything.
The screen hadn't changed for several minutes.
He didn't want to check yet.
Because part of him was already afraid of the answer.
And another part…
Still hadn't given up.
When they got home, each went their separate way.
Kaito slowly climbed the stairs.
His room was dark.
His bag dropped carelessly onto the floor.
He didn't even take off his coat.
He simply collapsed onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
The silence in the room felt unbearably heavy.
Then his phone vibrated.
A message from Shinohara:
"The Nihon results are out."
His chest tightened instantly.
Kaito swallowed hard.
He sat there for several seconds without the courage to open it.
Then he took a deep breath.
And picked up his phone.
He opened the Nihon University College of Art website.
The loading screen took forever.
Far too long.
Every second felt worse than the last.
He refreshed the page.
PDF results list.
His finger slowly scrolled downward.
Down.
Down.
Down.
His heartbeat pounding painfully against his chest.
Until—
His number appeared.
Kaito froze.
He blinked.
Checked again.
And once more.
It was there.
Immediately, he covered his face with one hand.
And this time…
He laughed.
But at the same time, tears slipped through his fingers.
Because all the pressure he had been carrying finally broke apart.
All the insecurity.
All the fear.
All the feeling that maybe he wasn't good enough.
Everything collapsed at once.
With trembling hands, he took a screenshot and sent it.
"I got in."
Shinohara replied first.
"I knew you would."
Then Takeo sent:
"Theater wasn't going to lose you."
Kaito stared at the screen for several seconds.
Then finally smiled for real.
Not the exaggerated smile he used to hide his nervousness.
A genuine smile.
Calm.
Almost emotional.
He leaned his head against the wall behind his bed and thought:
"I may not be with them… but we can still act together…"
And for the first time that day…
He felt at peace.
A week after the results…
The news spread through the entire school.
"The third-years already know where they're going."
The hallways felt different now.
The underclassmen started looking at them with a strange kind of respect.
As if the third-years were already halfway gone.
As if they had already become memories before even leaving.
On the school bulletin board, a notice read:
"Graduation Rehearsal — Third Years — Friday."
Takeo read it silently.
And stood there for several seconds.
Shinohara stood beside him.
She looked at the notice…
Then quietly said:
— Feels like it's really over, huh?
Takeo didn't answer immediately.
He only took a deep breath.
Because for the first time…
It finally felt real.
The third-years headed to rehearsal.
The gymnasium was filled with perfectly aligned chairs.
All the students sat in organized rows.
The teacher spoke loudly from the front:
— When your name is called, answer "Hai!" loudly and clearly.
— Three steps. Bow. Receive it. Bow again.
They repeated it.
Again.
And again.
And again.
The echo of voices filled the gym.
"Hai!"
"Hai!"
"Hai!"
Among them, Kaito answered louder than everyone else.
As if he needed to prove to himself that he was still there.
That he had made it this far.
That he hadn't been left behind.
Inside classroom 3-A, the teacher adjusted his papers before announcing:
— The student chosen to give the graduation speech will be Shinohara Mai.
Silence.
Then soft applause began.
Takeo looked at her.
Shinohara lowered her head discreetly.
But beneath the desk…
Her hands trembled.
After class, she hugged her own arms nervously.
— I don't know if I can do this…
Her voice came out barely above a whisper.
Takeo answered without hesitation:
— You always can.
Kaito smiled slightly.
— Just don't make everyone cry too much.
Shinohara looked at both of them and laughed nervously.
— Easy for you two to say!
But even while joking…
She still looked scared.
Because she understood the weight of that speech.
It wouldn't just be speaking on behalf of the class.
It would be saying goodbye.
The students cleaned the classroom together.
They erased the chalkboard.
Stored old materials away.
Stacked books.
And someone quietly wrote in the corner of the board:
"Thank you, 3-A."
Takeo stopped for a few seconds, staring at those words.
Then looked out the window.
The school courtyard was empty at that hour.
The wind gently swayed the trees.
He touched the window glass lightly with his fingertips.
And silently thought:
"Even this view… I'm already going to miss it."
GRADUATION DAY
The morning was calm.
Perfect uniforms.
Parents arriving.
Bouquets of flowers.
Photos being taken at the school entrance.
Smiles.
Hidden tears.
Aoi watched everything from afar.
She was still only a second-year student.
But somehow…
It felt like she was saying goodbye too.
Because those seniors had changed her life.
And now…
They were leaving.
Inside the gymnasium, the piano began to play.
The graduates entered in order.
Their synchronized footsteps echoed across the floor.
Takeo walked forward seriously.
Kaito kept taking deep breaths.
Shinohara maintained perfect posture…
Even with her heart racing.
As they walked, Shinohara quietly glanced at her friends and whispered:
— Toho Gakuen… and Nihon University…
Kaito smiled faintly.
— We'll still see each other, okay?
He looked at Takeo.
Then at Mai.
— You guys are the best.
Takeo simply nodded.
But even that small gesture said everything.
Diplomas were handed out one by one.
— Fujimoto Takeo.
— Hai!
Takeo walked onto the stage.
Bow.
Receive the diploma.
For one brief second, he held the paper tightly.
As if it weighed more than it should.
Because it wasn't just a diploma.
It held three entire years inside it.
— Tachibana Mai.
— Hai.
Shinohara stepped onto the stage.
Steady gaze.
Elegant posture.
But her fingers trembled slightly as she accepted the diploma.
And when she stepped down…
Her eyes met Takeo's.
No words were exchanged.
Even so…
They understood everything.
SHINOHARA'S SPEECH
She stepped onto the stage.
The entire gymnasium fell silent.
Shinohara held the speech paper in her hands.
But at first…
She didn't look at it.
Instead, she looked directly at the audience.
Her hands trembled softly.
Then she began:
— When we first entered this school… we thought three years would last forever.
She paused slightly.
And a sad smile appeared on her face.
"— Today… it feels like everything passed in the blink of an eye."
A few quiet laughs echoed through the gymnasium.
"We made mistakes. We fought. We laughed louder than we probably should have."
Her eyes slowly drifted across her classmates.
Until, for just a brief moment, they stopped on Aoi.
And in that instant…
A memory crossed her mind.
Her and Aoi on the stage.
The performance.
Those five seconds of silence.
The nervousness.
The light in Aoi's eyes.
Everything came rushing back like lightning.
Shinohara stopped looking at the paper in her hands.
Her eyes filled with determination.
Then she continued.
"But we learned something greater than anything written in textbooks."
The principal watched her carefully and quietly murmured,
"Shinohara…"
Even so, she continued.
Her voice firmer now.
More honest.
"We learned that growing up hurts…"
She took a deep breath.
"But it's worth it."
Takeo swallowed hard as he listened.
Shinohara continued.
"We learned… that the script we planned isn't always the best path."
Some people in the audience frowned slightly, not fully understanding.
But her classmates did.
Because their lives had never gone exactly as planned.
And maybe that was what made everything so special.
She looked toward the younger students.
"To our kouhais…"
Her voice softened.
"Don't be afraid of time. It passes far too quickly to live with regret."
The entire gymnasium remained silent.
She inhaled once more.
"To our teachers… thank you for taking care of us."
The teachers lowered their heads slightly.
Some of them were already emotional.
Then Shinohara looked at her classmates again.
And this time…
Her eyes began to tear up.
"And to my classmates…"
She smiled.
A small smile.
A real one.
"Thank you for existing in the same era as me."
Silence.
Some students were already openly crying.
Shinohara continued.
"What was passed down to us by our senpais… we'll pass on as well."
She said that while looking directly at Aoi in the crowd.
Aoi's eyes widened instantly.
They trembled.
"Shinohara… senpai…"
A tear slid down Aoi's cheek as she smiled.
Shinohara continued, barely able to hide her emotions now.
"I'm going to miss this class…"
Her voice faltered for a moment.
"I'm going to miss… this school."
Aoi covered her mouth, trying desperately not to cry.
And then Shinohara finished.
"This may be a goodbye for some of us…"
She looked at everyone one last time.
"But it could also be the beginning of a forever."
She gave a deep bow.
And with a trembling voice, she concluded,
"My name is Shinohara Mai, graduating student of Class 3-A…"
At last, her tears finally fell.
"Thank you… all of you."
She bowed again.
A few seconds of silence lingered inside the gymnasium.
Shinohara still stood on the stage, holding back tears with all her strength.
Her eyes shimmered.
Her hands trembled faintly at her sides.
No one seemed able to speak.
Until—
Aoi stood up first.
And began to clap.
For a brief moment, the sound echoed alone.
Then another person joined.
Then another.
And another.
Until the entire gymnasium erupted into applause…
Restrained.
Yet deeply emotional.
Some teachers smiled softly.
Others discreetly wiped their eyes.
Shinohara lowered her head, trying to hide the tears that were finally escaping.
And in that moment…
She understood that her words had truly reached everyone.
—
The graduates lined up together.
A soft piano melody began to play.
And then they sang.
Their voices trembled.
Not because they were off-key.
But because everyone was trying to hold back too many emotions at once.
Takeo sang while staring ahead.
Kaito started loudly at first… but his voice cracked halfway through the chorus.
Shinohara closed her eyes as she sang.
Her fingers quietly tightened around the fabric of her uniform.
Her voice shook.
But it was beautiful.
Because it was real.
As the song continued…
Some students cried silently.
Others simply smiled at one another.
As if they wanted to engrave that moment into their hearts forever.
After the Ceremony — School Courtyard
The outside of the school was crowded.
Photos everywhere.
Hugs.
Flowers being handed over.
Kouhais calling out to their senpais.
Laughter mixed with tears.
A younger girl stopped in front of Takeo.
She quietly held onto the sleeve of his uniform.
Her eyes drifted toward the second button.
Takeo immediately noticed.
For a moment…
He simply smiled gently.
But only thanked her.
Because his eyes were already searching for someone else.
On the other side of the courtyard…
Shinohara was smiling.
But her eyes were still red from crying.
Takeo slowly walked toward her.
The noise around them suddenly felt distant.
When he stopped in front of her, he quietly said,
"You did well."
Shinohara laughed through her tears.
"I cried…"
Takeo smiled faintly.
"I know."
He looked away for a second before admitting,
"Because of you… I almost cried too, hehe."
Shinohara laughed softly.
And the silence that followed…
Wasn't awkward.
It was comforting.
Then—
Kaito came running toward them.
His eyes still watery.
His smile overflowing with emotion.
"Guys…"
He took a deep breath, almost unable to believe it.
"We actually graduated."
The three of them stood side by side.
Behind them…
The school gate.
The same gate they had walked through for years.
A gentle breeze passed through the courtyard.
And then, without saying a word…
The three of them gave a small bow toward the school building.
Naturally.
After that, they started walking toward the gate.
But before they could even get very far—
Kaito suddenly started crying for real.
Tears streamed down endlessly while he desperately wiped his face.
"D-damn it… I can't… stop… sniff…"
Takeo kept walking backward for a few steps.
Then discreetly raised a hand to his eyes.
"Damn…"
His voice cracked slightly.
"I didn't want you guys to see me like this…"
Shinohara looked at both of them…
And smiled through her own tears.
"Kaito… come visit us whenever you want."
She wiped away a tear before continuing.
"Or we'll come visit you too."
Kaito laughed while crying.
Then suddenly said,
"I can already picture you two married… with a kid."
Complete silence.
Takeo and Shinohara turned bright red instantly.
Shinohara quickly covered her face with both hands.
"K-Kaito?!"
Takeo nearly choked.
"Y-YOU'RE SKIPPING WAY TOO MANY STEPS!!"
Kaito burst into loud laughter through his tears.
"Leaving while laughing is better, hahaha!"
Takeo and Shinohara sighed at the exact same time.
Then they looked at him.
And smiled.
"We're going to miss you, Kaito."
For a moment…
None of them wanted to keep walking.
Because crossing that gate meant accepting that it was truly over.
Even so…
They moved forward.
And slowly disappeared down the street.
—
The gymnasium was empty now.
The chairs remained perfectly aligned.
The stage was silent.
But the echoes still seemed to hold onto their voices.
Their laughter.
Their rehearsals.
Their goodbyes.
Everything still lived there.
—
April arrived surprisingly fast.
A new school year began.
Cherry blossom petals drifted through the air as if time itself had started over once again.
Near the school entrance, crowds of people gathered.
Parents took photos.
Freshmen nervously held their orientation booklets.
Some took deep breaths before walking through the gates.
Among them—
Minase Rina
Her eyes sparkled as she looked at the school.
A small smile formed on her lips.
"So… this is where it begins."
Kujo Haruto
He silently observed everything.
The way the light touched the building.
The wind moving the uniforms.
The shadows stretching across the ground.
And he thought to himself:
"What beautiful lighting…"
Tachikawa Yui
Standing slightly apart from the others.
She quietly wrote inside her notebook:
"First day. Everyone pretends to be brave."
Then slowly closed it.
The three exchanged brief glances.
Tachikawa quickly looked away.
And soon returned to what they had been doing.
Still strangers.
Still distant.
—
Aoi walked through the same school gate once again.
But now…
Her posture was different.
Stronger.
More mature.
She smiled while walking beside Mio and Hina.
"So… now the three of us are senpais too."
Mio laughed softly.
"Seriously? Haha… me too. But I still need to figure out what I'm planning this year."
Hina adjusted her hair with a smile.
"And now I'll be helping with illustration guidance too, hehe."
The three walked among the freshmen.
Familiar uniforms.
Confident footsteps.
Hina noticed Yamada Riku standing farther away.
Souma waved from the distance.
Takumi complained about the noise around them.
Matsuda carried his bag over one shoulder while quietly muttering something.
Misaki and Hanae chatted excitedly.
Then everyone stopped in front of the class assignment board.
Close-up on the names.
Class 3-A.
Together again.
Matsuda smiled.
"We survived long enough to make it here."
Takumi adjusted his glasses.
"Or maybe we were simply condemned together."
A few people laughed.
Then Hanae smiled brightly.
"Taku-kun, we're in the same class again."
Silence.
Everyone slowly turned toward Takumi.
"…Taku-kun?"
Takumi instantly turned red.
He nervously adjusted his glasses.
"B-But we're dating! That's normal, right?!"
Mio answered slowly,
"Y-Yeah… sure…"
The silence somehow became worse.
Takumi sighed in defeat.
"…Okay, you can laugh."
And everyone ended up laughing quietly.
Misaki smiled emotionally.
"We're together again!"
But deep down…
Everyone knew.
This was the final year.
Gymnasium — Entrance Ceremony
The freshmen entered first.
Their footsteps echoed through the gymnasium.
Rina tried to maintain composure.
Haruto observed the stage lighting.
Yui mentally recorded every detail.
The principal stepped onto the stage.
"Today, you begin three years that will pass faster than you can imagine."
Aoi listened to those words from the middle of Class 3-A.
And for a moment…
She saw herself standing there years ago.
Her trembling hands.
Her racing heartbeat.
She smiled to herself.
"I remember trembling like that too… hehe."
The freshman representative gave the oath.
Applause echoed throughout the gym.
Veteran Ceremony
Now the focus shifted to the second and third years.
The teacher announced,
"Third-year students… this will be your decisive year."
A faint silence spread through the room.
Souma crossed his arms.
Takumi sighed.
Hina stared silently at the stage.
Mio looked toward Aoi.
And Aoi…
Kept her gaze steady.
Because now she fully understood the weight of that final year.
Class 3-A — First Meeting
The teacher entered the classroom.
He wrote on the board:
"Responsibility. Future. Exams."
Then turned toward them.
"You are no longer ordinary students."
Schedules were handed out.
Mio dramatically sank into her chair.
"I already want to go back to March."
Hina laughed.
"Too late."
Aoi looked out the window.
The cherry blossoms were still falling.
As if time never truly stopped.
Class 1-A — Freshmen
The teacher asked for introductions.
Rina stood up first.
"Minase Rina. I like theater."
Excited murmurs spread around the room.
Haruto introduced himself next.
"Kujo Haruto. I like filming."
Then Yui.
"Tachikawa Yui… I like writing stories."
The three exchanged glances for the second time.
A small connection.
But a real one.
Break Time
In the courtyard.
Rina immediately approached the other two.
"Hi, I'm Rina. I noticed you both like movies and stories, right?"
Haruto replied,
"Since middle school."
Yui held her notebook against her chest.
"I used to write short plays."
Rina smiled brightly.
"I was always the lead actress."
Haruto smirked slightly.
"I was always behind the camera."
Yui lowered her eyes.
"And I was always the writer."
Silence.
Then Rina smiled full of energy.
"Then let's keep going."
The other two nodded.
And in that instant…
Without realizing it…
A new cycle began.
Afternoon — Club Presentations
The freshmen sat in the gymnasium once again.
Clubs stepped onto the stage one after another.
Baseball.
Music.
Arts.
Then—
The Drama Club.
Aoi stepped onto the stage.
Souma handled the improvised lighting.
Aoi took a step forward.
And said,
"The stage is a place where you can become someone you haven't yet had the courage to be."
The lights dimmed.
A short but intense performance began.
Complete silence filled the gymnasium.
Rina held her breath.
Haruto studied the scene composition carefully.
Yui felt chills run down her arms.
When it ended—
Applause.
Rina whispered softly,
"This is the one."
Hallways — Recruitment
The lively chaos began.
Posters.
Invitations.
Students calling out.
Aoi handed out flyers.
Mio talked with students interested in literature.
Hina explained the training routines of her art club.
Takumi exaggerated his explanations like always.
Yamada simply smiled.
Matsuda held a sign while glancing toward Misaki talking with a few boys.
Souma organized the signup list.
Then Rina grabbed Haruto and Yui by the arms.
"Now."
The three stopped in front of the Drama Club room.
Silence.
Rina slowly slid the door open.
Club Room — Sunset
Golden sunlight poured into the room.
Aoi was organizing chairs.
She turned when she heard the door open.
The three freshmen stood lined up in front of her.
Rina took a deep breath.
"I want to act."
Haruto looked around before speaking.
"I want to film… if possible."
Yui hugged her notebook tightly against her chest.
"I want to write."
Aoi quietly observed the three of them for a few seconds.
And then…
She smiled.
A gentle smile.
Warm.
Mature.
"Then you came to the right place."
She lightly placed a hand over her chest.
"I'm Sakamoto Aoi from Class 3-A."
Outside the window, cherry blossom petals continued to fall.
Aoi kept smiling as she said:
"What was passed on to me… I'll pass on to you."
The three freshmen looked at Aoi with admiration.
Behind her, the other members of Class 3-A slowly appeared.
The room suddenly felt larger.
More alive.
Filled with future.
Outside…
April continued on.
The cherry blossoms bloomed once again.
And so did the cycle.
End of the standalone story.