Graduation
Nezumi x Center
I squeezed her gloved hand tightly as we walked towards the school gym/ auditorium together. The distance seemed eternal, but at the same time it seemed too short. I wanted to get to the gym. I didn't want to get to the gym. "Are you nervous?" my companion asked looking at me with curious eyes. Those eyes that were once distance and cold now radiated warmth and affection. Things had changed a lot in the past year. Thing were still changing. "Of course not. Why would I be nervous? We are just getting our diplomas. It's not like our family is here or anything," I replied even though in reality I was nervous, but for an entirely different reason than the stuff I had just named. It was because it was the end of a long journey. Soon we would be adults. I didn't know how to process the fact.
"Your palms are sweaty," Nezumi commented. I blushed, pulled my hand away and wiped it with my light brown cardigan. I looked down a bit embarrassed. Nezumi grasped my hand again and smiled, "It's okay." We kept on walking through the hallways we knew so well. They were filled with memories. "Do you remember when we convinced everyone to ambush Rappapa?" Nezumi asked. I nodded. "You mean you convince them. It was all your scheming," I reminded her remembering the posters she had made. I had always wondered how Nezumi got so many posters done by herself, but Nezumi refused to tell me saying it was a secret. "You know I couldn't have done it without you. Those girls were already trying to beat me up in the first meeting when you stepped in," Nezumi replied. The distance between us and the gym was getting closer. "Well wasn't that why you kept me around? To prevent yourself from getting beaten up?" I questioned with a smirk.
Nezumi grinned. "Yup you are my personal body guard." Nezumi joked knowing that we were long over those issues. I smiled back. "And you were always doing these math equations I could never understand while all I wanted to do was fight," I said reminiscing our now fading high school life. We were silent as the undeniable realization seem to hit both of us at the same time. Those times were over. We would no longer be high school girls getting into fights instead now we were turning into adults where everything was serious as Maeda would say. Soon we would have to leave each others side. Not forever, but it wasn't going to be the same. We both knew it. Nezumi, using her dad's influences and money, had actually managed to get into a good university, while I had no idea what I was going to do with my life.
A month ago all I was thinking of is who was going to replace the us in Rappapa and now I have to figure out how to live my life. "Do you think Karen will be alright?" I asked Nezumi. "Those girls will be fine, Center. You fought her yourself and said that even though she lost she was pretty strong. They are going to be okay," Nezumi reassured me. I chuckled. "I am being silly aren't I? I should trust them more. I left them in charge after all." I replied starting to feel slightly emotional. I didn't want a replacement. I wanted to stay. I wanted to keep my spot in Rappapa by Nezumi's side. I wanted to keep fighting over senseless things. I don't want to leave. The distance between us and the gym door was now only inches. I grabbed the knob and was about to open it when Nezumi stopped me. "Jurina." Nezumi said calling me by my first name for the first time in three years. I turned around bewildered. Nezumi looked like she wanted to cry, but she stayed strong.
"What is it?" I asked in a gentle voice. Nezumi looked down. "I love you," Nezumi mumbled. I smiled and kissed her forehead. "I know. I love you, too" I told her and pulled her for a hug. Nezumi broke down crying and so did I. I couldn't help it. As much as I wish I could say that our relationship which was something between friendship and lovers would remain the same I don't think I can. Nezumi was off to do big things now and I... I had so much to figure out. I couldn't possibly hold her back or tie her down. Doing that would be selfish. I pulled away caressed Nezumi's cheek. Tears were still streaming from both our cheeks, but I smiled. "Come on. We need to go inside or we will miss it." I told her. Nezumi nodded and wiped her eyes. I opened the door. It was time to leave our youth behind and start a new chapter in our lives. Even if it was painful.