Fifteen days later, it was already the end of December. This was a day for celebration, but also a day for farewells.
Having returned to school after sleeping at home, Tsukasa Hatayama stood before the residence's main gate with mixed feelings. The long congratulatory banner hanging above it brought a trace of reluctance to his red eyes.
The banner read, "Congratulations to the Tokyo Jujutsu High 14th Class on your graduation."
After a long silence, Tsukasa Hatayama concealed the reluctance in his eyes, along with his sadness over Mei Mei's impending graduation.
"Time really flies... Next comes the hugely consequential Hidden Inventory Arc."
Tsukasa Hatayama sighed, his emotions tangled. In the end, that saying held true: what was coming would come, and even what was never meant to come could not be stopped.
Carrying those complicated feelings and a few hazy stirrings of affection, Tsukasa Hatayama resolutely crossed the threshold and headed toward the campus Training Ground, as though stepping forward to face reality.
At the Training Ground, all ten of the school's students and teachers had gathered: four first-years, two second-years, and four third-years...
"Say cheese!"
Serving as the photographer, Masamichi Yaga expertly raised an old-fashioned camera and aimed it at the four students wearing graduation caps for their graduation photo.
Click.
The flash went off, marking the end of their three years at Jujutsu High. Whether they continued as sorcerers or became ordinary people was now entirely their choice.
"Miss Mei."
"Mei Mei."
"Mei."
Once the group photo was finished, Satoru Gojo and the other two approached from where they had been waiting, greeting their senior with heartfelt respect.
Holding her graduation flowers, Mei Mei smiled gracefully and nodded to the three of them. Then she swept a meaningful glance around, searching for a certain figure.
When she failed to find him, her bright, beautiful eyes dimmed a little. Forcing an elegant smile, she asked, "Where's our little junior Hatayama?"
Satoru Gojo answered first. "Miss Mei, Tsukasa took leave on the fifteenth to go home and spend time with his family. He does that every two weeks."
"You've been partnered with Tsukasa for a whole year, Miss Mei. Didn't he tell you?"
"He did..." Mei Mei lowered her eyes slightly, a fleeting disappointment crossing her violet-gray irises.
Her little junior had told her by email that he was going home to spend time with his family, but deep down, she had still hoped he would attend the ceremony.
"Mei Mei!"
As the saying went, thoughts held close would find an answer. That familiar greeting suddenly rang out across the grounds. Mei Mei broke into a radiant smile and abruptly looked toward the voice.
Tsukasa Hatayama stood on higher ground, waving with a broad smile. He jogged down the stone steps and hurried over to her.
Satoru Gojo and the other two tactfully left to take photos with the other three graduating girls, giving the famous pair of partners as much of the remaining time as possible.
"Mei Mei, congratulations on graduating."
Tsukasa Hatayama awkwardly opened his mouth. Countless things filled his heart that he wanted to tell her, but in the end, they became a simple congratulation.
"How halfhearted."
In a rare show of displeasure, Mei Mei said something she did not mean. "As my partner, you didn't prepare a graduation present for me?"
"I did. I got you this."
Tsukasa Hatayama awkwardly took an exquisite little gift box from his pocket. When he opened it, a deep-blue, diamond-shaped jade pendant appeared before Mei Mei.
Under the sunlight above, the translucent blue pendant shimmered with crystalline blue light, its long silver chain as beautiful as the Milky Way.
Her small red lips curved upward as she feigned reproach. "The pendant is lovely, but who gives someone a jade pendant for graduation?"
"And you shouldn't take something so valuable out so casually. I'm worried you'll lose it, so I suppose I'll reluctantly keep it safe for you."
"I'll hold on to it until you're eighteen. You can ask me for it back then."
While saying things she did not mean, Mei Mei snatched it from him when he was off guard, giving Tsukasa Hatayama no chance to react.
"Whatever you say."
Tsukasa Hatayama said nothing more. With remarkable good temper, he nodded, then quietly watched her admire the expensive pendant.
The jade pendant was one of the Hatayama Family's heirlooms. In his mother's words, it was something to give to the woman he liked, a symbol of the purest affection...
Time flew. Winter passed and spring came, and in the blink of an eye, their second year at Jujutsu High had arrived.
January 10, 2006.
In the second-year classroom, crisscrossed streamers hung above the lectern, and "Welcome, new students" was written across the blackboard.
Below the lectern, Shoko Ieiri lay listlessly over her desk, using her phone to reply to messages. There was no need to look to know she was chatting with Utahime Iori.
With a lollipop in his mouth, Satoru Gojo was engrossed in his game console. The rattling gunfire made it clear he was playing Contra.
Suguru Geto was thoroughly enjoying a hot-blooded manga featuring Naruto versus Luffy, followed by Sasuke versus Ichigo, and then a showdown to determine who was stronger.
Meanwhile, Tsukasa Hatayama studied furiously, his pen flying. Nearly all the sample questions in his materials were university-level. It seemed he planned to take the university entrance exams early...
In short, now that the new students had become returning students, none of the four felt motivated to celebrate. They would rather stay in the classroom doing what they enjoyed.
Clatter.
The classroom door suddenly slid open. Without a second thought, all four hurriedly put down what they were doing and sat up straight, looking toward the doorway.
Their burly, unsmiling teacher, Yaga, walked in, leading two boys who looked awkward, youthful, and full of energy.
The four exchanged glances, swiftly reached beneath their desks, and pulled out the little party poppers they had prepared, aiming them at the two boys.
Pop!
Streamers showered the two boys, leaving them momentarily stunned.
Always eager to liven things up, Satoru Gojo immediately jumped forward. Making a strange gesture, he called out, "Welcome to Jujutsu High, you two! I'm your senior-the second-strongest, Satoru Gojo!"
The boy with the strange blond side fringe twitched at the corner of his mouth, while the black-haired boy beside him, sporting a bowl cut, responded with lively delight.
"I've heard about you outside school, Gojo! Everyone says you're one of Tokyo Jujutsu High's strongest, second only to Hatayama!"
"Oh, I'm nothing special. Just the second-strongest in the school."
Satoru Gojo waved a hand, letting the praise from his junior go straight to his head.
At that smug display, the boy with the side fringe twitched at the corner of his mouth again. He immediately labeled this senior unreliable and tried to keep his distance from the weirdo.
After offering a little praise, the black-haired boy eagerly looked over the other three in the room, his gaze finally settling on Suguru Geto's helpless face.
He ran happily up to Suguru Geto's desk, wearing a sunshine-bright smile, and excitedly introduced himself. "Geto, my name's Yu Haibara..."
Faced with this junior's enthusiastic chatter, Suguru Geto felt both pleased and helpless. With a particularly desperate expression, he looked toward his close friend, who was watching the show beside him.
Who would have thought Tsukasa Hatayama would pretend not to notice and bury himself in his studies again?
Suddenly feeling jealous, Satoru Gojo came over and interrupted indignantly. "Hey, junior, I'm the second-strongest in the school. Geto's the weakest, in third place."
Yu Haibara scratched his head sheepishly. "Gojo, Geto's my idol, so I got a little excited..."
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
Satoru Gojo and Suguru Geto were both stunned by this declaration of hero worship. They stared blankly at each other, their eyes showing something between sudden realization and disbelief.
Before you continue