Countdown to Goodbye — Preparing for the Last Bell
The buzz of the final semester had a different kind of energy. Hallways once filled with lazy chatter now carried bursts of excitement and nervous laughter. Posters for the graduation ceremony were pinned across bulletin boards. Teachers started handing out forms and reminders. Even the class jokers were suddenly seen checking their grades or asking about their speeches.
Ren walked into Class 3-A, greeted by the soft hum of morning. He slipped into his seat, catching Aoi's eye from across the room. Her lips curled into a secret smile — one only he understood now.
Their relationship, still hidden from the world, had become a quiet rhythm between stolen glances, hidden texts, and whispered conversations after school. To everyone else, they were just the tech duo who once won a national hackathon. But behind the scenes, their hearts were syncing like code written perfectly in parallel.
"Morning, boyfriend," Aoi mouthed from across the room.
Ren blushed instantly and turned away, pretending to fidget with his pen. She giggled silently, already writing something in her notebook.
On the board, their homeroom teacher scribbled in bold chalk:
"Graduation Planning Committee: Volunteers Needed!"
Aoi raised her hand immediately. Ren stared, stunned.
Later, during lunch, he asked, "You really want to be on the committee?"
She leaned closer, whispering over her sandwich, "Of course. If I'm part of it, we get to spend more time together… and maybe plan a moment worth remembering."
Ren chuckled, his heart fluttering. "You're always thinking two steps ahead."
They weren't the only ones caught in graduation fever. Yuna and Hayato had also been invited to help with the event, being honorary guests due to their university placements.
Yuna, ever elegant, was selected to sing during the farewell. Hayato volunteered to handle the lighting and stage setup — mostly to stay out of the spotlight.
As the days passed, Ren found himself more involved, helping with tech logistics. It was strange seeing the classroom through the lens of "lasts" — last sports day, last club meeting, last walk down the hallway during sunset.
During one such walk, Aoi quietly reached for Ren's hand behind the old music building. He squeezed it gently, eyes focused on the fading light.
"We don't have much time left here," she murmured.
"Yeah," Ren replied. "But we still have one promise to keep."
Their eyes met, and in that moment, graduation wasn't just an end — it was the start of something more.