There was a pebble stuck in Yuzuru’s right shoe. He could feel it rubbing against his big toe. He ran faster, splashing across the footpath.

A car whizzed past, spraying water from the gutters.

Yuzuru rounded a bend, grappling with the metal bars for balance. Around him, cherry blossom petals fell from the sky, floating in the puddles like miniature boats.

The school gates stretched into view.

They were closed.

His heart sank. But getting closer, he saw there was still a gap, and standing next to it was his homeroom teacher, Mr. Bian, wearing a three-piece suit.

The young teacher waited for Yuzuru to get to the gate before saying, “Late for your own graduation.”

Yuzuru laughed breathlessly. “You know how it is, sir. My sister had some issues in the kitchen this morning. Nearly burned the house down.”

Mr. Bian tapped his clipboard against Yuzuru’s chest. “Stay out of trouble, yea? Don’t waste your talents. Find a job that earns money, and some other wise sayings I can’t remember right now.”

“Those are plenty, sir.”

Mr. Bian stepped aside. “I’ll see you on stage.”

Yuzuru bowed. “Thanks for everything, sir.”

In the auditorium, all the students were seated and the ceremonies looked like they were about to begin. Yuzuru spotted Honoka in the third row from the front, chatting to another girl.

He made his way over to the seat next to her, which was occupied by her phone.

“Sorry I’m late.”

Honoka turned. Her smile was teasing. “Well, you managed it. Late even for the last day of school.” She took her phone and let Yuzuru sit. “Who did you have to save this time?”

“Baby from a building.”

“Was it even burning?”

“The baby? God. You’re messed up.”

Honoka smacked Yuzuru’s arm. Up on the stage, the principal walked out. He was Santa Clause in a suit; not even the formality of a spotlight and an Armani could mask the jolliness radiating from the man.

“My students,” he said, sniffling like he was about to break down in tears right that moment. “It is a bittersweet moment for me to congratulate you all on a wonderful, fruitful three years here inside the halls of Sakura Middle School.”

Yuzuru felt Honoka nudging his side.

“Do you think he dresses up for his kids on Christmas?” she whispered.

“I hope so,” he whispered back. “Otherwise he’d be wasting that beautiful belly.”

Honoka snickered. Yuzuru loved the way she laughed. As the principal continued to talk, he snuck a glance at Honoka and saw she was looking back at him.

Joy danced in her eyes. Her pink lips parted and she spoke, but sudden applause drowned out her words.

“Now, with great honor, I shall hand out your graduation certificates.”

The students in the front two rows stood and shuffled towards the stairs leading up to the stage.

Names were read. Certificates were received. There was much fanfare. Yuzuru wanted to ask Honoka about what she said earlier, but the students next to him were standing and it was already their turn. Heading to the stage with his classmates, he knew Honoka was right behind him but didn’t dare look back, lest it gets them both in trouble.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

As they reached the first few steps, he felt Honoka’s fingers slip into his hand and the heat of her pressing into his back.

“Go to the old place after this,” she whispered in his ear. “I have something to tell you.”

Yuzuru’s heart pounded so loudly he almost didn’t hear his name being called.

Once the ceremony was finished, bodies streamed into the schoolyard, some crying, some dancing. Overhead, pink petals danced on the spring breeze as sunlight shimmered the rain-soaked walkways.

Yuzuru shivered. Buttoning his suit jacket, he looked around for Honoka. He couldn’t see her anywhere. She had disappeared too quickly, the sneaky girl. Tucking his graduation certificate under his arm, Yuzuru made his way down the auditorium steps towards the far side of the school.

He found her leaning against the side of the art building. Half-hidden in shadows, she was looking out at the houses below the hill, her gaze distant and unfocused. But when she noticed him coming over, she waved.

Yuzuru joined her in the shade. The cuffs of his pants were wet from the damp grass but he didn’t care. Without saying anything, he turned to gaze with her at the view beyond the chain-linked fence.

The silence was calming, the noise of post-graduation simmering too far to make Yuzuru feel like a part of it. He closed his eyes and imagined himself three years before, standing in this exact same place with Honoka. It was a lifetime ago.

Honoka said softly, “I can’t believe this is the last time we’ll ever see the town like this.”

Yuzuru opened his eyes.

“I mean, we could come back, but that would be weird.”

“Yea,” he answered.

Honoka tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. She had started growing it out since middle school had started. Now, seeing the black braid resting over her shoulder, Yuzuru suddenly found himself wondering how it managed to grow so long without him noticing.

As sunlight moved over their hiding place, Honoka’s hair flashed between silver-white like a waterfall. Her eyes were the same deep blue color, even though they were supposed to be brown. Weren't they?

“I guess what I’m trying to say is that we seemed to have all grown up,” she said.

“Yea,” said Yuzuru. He wanted to smile but couldn’t stop staring into Honoka’s eyes. They were so real, and yet something about them stood out as fantastical. But all that went out the window when she stepped closer, lips parting.

Their first kiss was brief, but it left them both flushed. Honoka dipped her head and laughed, stopping when Yuzuru caught her wrist.

“Honoka,” he said. “I didn’t know… didn’t… when did you…”

“Lost for words?” Honoka winked and stuck out her tongue. “Now I know we’ve really changed.” She took Yuzuru’s hand and threaded their fingers together.

This time, they each took their time exploring each other's bodies before meeting for another kiss. Yuzuru felt Honoka’s smile on her lips as she started to pull away. He wasn’t ready to let her go. He wanted more. God, he’d wanted her for so long, longer than even he knew. But Honoka still slipped away. Laughing, she danced around him and whacked him on the head with her rolled-up certificate.

“Not so fast,” she said. “You still haven’t heard what I wanted to tell you.”

Yuzuru rubbed the back of his head. His fingers came back wet but to his relief, it was only water. “That wasn’t it?”

Honoka shook her head. “There’s one more thing. It’s something I want to ask of you.”

“You’re killing me with anticipation here, Honoka,” said Yuzuru. “You know I’d do just about anything for you.” He smiled to show he was joking, but Honoka didn’t return his mirth.

“I know,” she said. “That’s why I almost don’t want to tell you to wake up.”

Clouds moved across the sun, blocking out the light.

“What are you talking about?” Yuzuru asked. “I’m not asleep.”

Honoka clasped her hands behind her back and stood up on her tiptoes. Trickles of water slithered out of the grass, wrapping around her shoes. "I don't want this to end," she said. "But everything has to."

Yuzuru felt cold. His breath was coming too quickly but there wasn’t enough air. “Honoka? What’s going on?”

His voice sounded muffled in his ears. He could no longer hear the celebrations coming from the auditorium.

“This isn’t funny, Honoka.”

Honoka didn’t move. She just kept looking at him with those sad, watery eyes.

Yuzuru took a step forward and heard a splash. He looked down. The grass had been replaced with water, and it was rising around his legs.

“No…” Yuzuru’s throat seized up. He looked back up to see Honoka crying, silent tears rushing down her cheeks.

And he knew what was about to happen. He knew. He damned well knew since the beginning.

“Don’t go.”

Honoka smiled. “It’s you who has to.”

And then Yuzuru started to run. Murky water smashed out from the windows behind him, swarming around the trees and fences. He waded, then swam. An icy wall churned him into the air and slammed him down, stealing his heartbeat. With desperate strength, he clawed out of the surface and reached for Honoka, calling for her.

She didn’t move. The water swirled around her, higher, higher.

“Take care of Gweyn for me,” she said, and then with a flash of white, it took her.

Yuzuru curled onto his side and vomited out liquid fire. His lungs screamed for more air but too much inside him was needing to get out. He sputtered out the last of the lake then fell back onto the snow, gasping.

Sunlight streamed through his eyelids. There was not a cloud in the sky.

It was a beautiful day.

Fuck.

Yuzuru brought one arm over his eyes, muffling his sight. He started to cry, three years of grief and anger and confusion tumbling end on end until he was hollow. Then, when he was done, he rolled over, scraped the frozen tears off his face, and got up to look for Gweyn.