Keyaki Mall Karaoke.
Two days before leaving school, most of the third-year students staying behind were holding one last party.
If nothing unexpected happened.
They would leave this school that had accompanied them for three years the next day.
At this time.
In a large Karaoke private room.
Horikita Suzune sat in front of the coffee table, next to her were Sudou, Hirata Yousuke, Wang Mei-Yu, and a few other girls.
Hasebe Haruka, Kushida Kikyo, and Karuizawa Kei sat to the side playing with their phones; the atmosphere was mainly a bit awkward.
As for Ayanokouji.
As early as after the exam ended, Ayanokouji chose to honor his promise and withdraw from school on his own.
Anyway, this wasn't a big deal for him; his future path had been decided long ago, and it made no difference to Ayanokouji.
It's just that he would probably be a bit dissatisfied.
After all, Hikigaya was more like using the rules to play foul; it wasn't fair at all.
Despite agreeing on a final class gathering, only these few people showed up.
Looking at these sparse few people.
Even Horikita Suzune, who didn't care much for interpersonal relationships, felt somewhat unpleasant in her heart.
The friendship they built over three years.
Was it only to this degree?
If they couldn't even build friendly sentiments during their student days, let alone wanting to build friendship in work—that was even more of a fantasy.
Even more so for Hirata Yousuke.
At this time.
Looking at the several girls sitting beside him, Hirata's face was gloomy.
Ayanokouji was right.
As long as he could keep persevering, he would definitely leave many people behind him by then.
However.
Whether these people were willing to follow behind him was another matter.
It was a matter of course.
Failing to graduate from Class A was naturally one of the reasons.
But even if they graduated from Class A, the number of people willing to participate in the graduation party probably wouldn't be many.
Saying people like Sotamura were cold and heartless was fine, saying they were selfish was fine, and saying they were self-centered was also fine.
The result was only one.
The actions of Horikita Suzune and Hirata and the others did not gain everyone's approval.
A group integrated because of interest will ultimately dissolve because of the disappearance of interest.
"Those guys are really too much, they clearly agreed to come to the party today."
Sudou broke this stagnant atmosphere, his heart also truly feeling some dissatisfaction.
He originally thought they were friends who played well together, but only at graduation did he find out the other party didn't take him seriously at all.
His heart felt somewhat uncomfortable.
Yet he forgot that his two best friends were personally sent away by him.
You cannot have your cake and eat it too.
While sacrificing companions, yet craving sincere friendship.
Where in the world is there such a good thing.
Sotomura and the others might be foolish, but they weren't stupid.
Knowing that the other party might cut them off when interests were touched, how could they sincerely believe in the other party's friendship.
Even for Kushida Kikyo and the others.
They probably didn't sincerely want to participate in this gathering either.
"Forget it, how they choose is their freedom. We probably won't have many chances to meet again in the future. Let's celebrate well on our last day!"
Horikita Suzune said, raising her drink.
From Hirata Yousuke's expression, one could tell that the scene before them was probably not what he wanted.
There was no so-called understanding.
A person doesn't even necessarily understand themselves, so how could they expect others to understand.
In fact.
The vast majority of people in the world.
Actually aren't clear about their own thoughts, even less clear about what they want, so how could others understand.
Perhaps they feel they want enough wealth, perhaps they feel they are pursuing true love, perhaps they feel they are a good person, perhaps they feel they are an unpardonable bastard.
However, in reality.
Everything is just opportunity.
The crime rate in remote rural areas is low, not because of nobility, but simply because there are no choices. Without choices, there is no pain.
Once choices are placed in front of them.
Today's thoughts might change tomorrow.
Seeing the girl they love.
They might give up the dream of pursuing wealth.
After being abandoned by the girl they love.
They might only then understand that what they wanted to pursue was only wealth.
It is all just the difference between experience and choice.
They originally thought what they wanted was to rise to Class A or to rise to Class A together with everyone.
But until this moment.
Looking at the sparse few people before them, Hirata Yousuke and Horikita Suzune finally suddenly realized that what they wanted might not be those things.
In another private room.
Hikigaya and the others were holding their final gathering.
Also participating were underclassmen like Nanase Tsubasa, Tsubaki Sakurako, Hikigaya Komachi, Ichinose Kanon, and other juniors.
"Honami-senpai, Kanzaki-senpai, Shibata-senpai, congratulations on everyone successfully graduating from Class A... wuwuwu..."
At this time.
Nanase Tsubasa hugged Ichinose and the others.
At the thought that it would be difficult to meet for more than a year to come.
Tears fell uncontrollably, and several more sensitive third-year girls followed suit, sobbing.
Rather than saying kindness is a kind of character.
It's better to say it's an ability to feel empathy.
It's just that with age, one's heart will somewhat become numb, thus losing the ability of kindness.
Parting is always a sad thing. Hikigaya stood to the side, sobbing along with them.
"Wuwa, Onii-chan, disgusting."
While handing over tissues, Hikigaya Komachi said with some disdain:
"Onii-chan is the graduate, why did you suddenly start crying? Disgusting, super disgusting. At least act like a senior and say goodbye properly."
"It's okay, Hikigaya-senpai. We can still meet in the future. I have already memorized the seniors' contact information in my heart."
"Really, to actually need a junior to comfort him, Onii-chan is truly useless..."
"That's true..."
Hikigaya sniffled.
As a senior, he must act like a senior, and there would still be chances to meet in the future.
Thanks to Hikigaya Komachi's interference.
The sad atmosphere from just now was also swept away. In the past, Hikigaya didn't know, but now he also knew that Komachi was intentionally adjusting the atmosphere.
Others also began to celebrate and sing, mostly songs related to friendship between best friends and friends.
At this time.
Hikigaya also turned his head toward the corner.
Tsubaki Sakurako was holding a drink and looking over here. Meeting his gaze, she quickly lowered her head, pretending not to care.
"..."
Hikigaya nonchalantly sat beside her, together watching Ichinose and Shiranami Chihiro and the others who were holding each other's shoulders.
After a long while.
"What are you doing?"
Tsubaki Sakurako finally couldn't hold it back: "Can't you finally resist making a move on me?"
"Cough..."
Hikigaya coughed heavily, then looked at Ichinose and the others:
"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Honami and them?"
"No need. Anyway, I was dragged here, so I won't bother you guys."
Tsubaki Sakurako put down her drink, unwrapped a lollipop, and put it in her mouth, looking at Ichinose's side with feigned indifference.
Naturally, it was impossible; it was just saying one thing but meaning another.
For two years.
Ichinose kept taking her through various events, seemingly always worried about her state.
Even her parents had never cared about her so much.
Although most of it was meddling in other people's business, which Tsubaki Sakurako didn't like, she still kept this sentiment in her heart.
One could even say.
Ichinose was her first true friend and her best friend, but Tsubaki Sakurako was too shy to express it.
If she were to suddenly cry, it would be too embarrassing.
However.
Except for Ichinose, Tsubaki Sakurako didn't really like contacting other people; she was the type for whom having two or three friends was enough.
Ichinose obviously also already knew this.
Therefore, considering the thoughts of both Kobashi Yume and Tsubaki Sakurako, it was probably hard for her to speak up directly.
In the past, Hikigaya might not have cared, but now even without dialogue, he could guess their thoughts.
It's probably the tacit understanding built up over time.
At least today, he couldn't let Tsubaki Sakurako and the others leave with regrets.
"Is that so."
Hikigaya laughed indifferently and suddenly raised his hand and called out loudly:
"Honami, Sakurako says she also wants to sing along!"
"Eh?"
The somewhat expressionless Tsubaki Sakurako turned her head sharply, her gaze at Hikigaya instantly becoming dumbfounded.
"Is that so? Sakurako-chan, don't be polite, let's sing together!"
Saying that.
Ichinose ran over and pulled Tsubaki Sakurako away from her seat.
Now was the girls' party time.
"Eh..."
Tsubaki Sakurako was instantly somewhat speechless...
Truly a bunch of people who like meddling in others' business...
Surrounded in the middle by Kobashi Yume and the others, Tsubaki Sakurako held the microphone a bit shyly, but she also gradually became infected by the atmosphere.
Tears couldn't help but flow slowly; it wasn't particularly embarrassing, since quite a few people nearby were crying.
After several songs were finished.
"Are you okay?"
Hikigaya handed a tissue to Tsubaki Sakurako.
While twitching her nose, Tsubaki Sakurako said:
"Were you intentional? Your personality is truly nasty."
"Then I'm really sorry..."
Hikigaya indifferently raised a slight curve: "So then, did you say goodbye properly?"
"I said there's no need. I have my own ideas."
"Eh? What ideas?"
Hikigaya was instantly dumbfounded; so she still hadn't said goodbye properly?
"I'm not telling you."
Tsubaki Sakurako gave him an indifferent sideways glance.
Next it was the boys' time, and some people were chatting and reminiscing about past fun events.
========================
==
After a song was finished.
"Right..."
Kobashi Yume clapped her hands and excitedly suggested:
"Everyone, in ten years, let's gather together like this again?"
"This proposal is good."
"Save!"
Shibata also agreed: "Although we might go our separate ways after graduation, I still hope this friendship can last long!"
"Okay, I also agree."
"Ten years from now, everyone gather together again. No breaking promises!"
"..."
Looking at this scene, a smile appeared on the corner of Hikigaya's mouth.
Their relationship.
Definitely won't be reset like after middle school.
Hikigaya believed so.
The farewell party ended.
Hikigaya and the others who were leaving the private room.
Just happened to run into Horikita Suzune and the others, as well as people from Ryuuen's class and Katsuragi's class.
They probably all stayed until this last day, but there were differences in the number of people in the groups.
Naturally, the most people were from Ichinose's class, which was full, followed by a dozen or so from Ryuuen's class and a dozen or so from Katsuragi's class.
Of course.
Most people still resented Ryuuen and Katsuragi for failing to lead them to graduate from Class A.
However.
Although they didn't graduate from Class A.
Ryuuen and Katsuragi had also built reliable relationships with some people.
Like Ishizaki and the others, and Machida Kouji and the others. Even if they didn't graduate from Class A, they could understand the efforts of Ryuuen and Katsuragi and the others.
Hikigaya and the others nodded toward Horikita Suzune and then turned to leave.
Complex.
After all, they were in the middle of a farewell party, and it was better not to disturb them now; a greeting was enough.
Watching this huge collective of Hikigaya and the others leave the Karaoke, Kondou and the others from Ryuuen's class instantly became dissatisfied.
The huge group size.
In their eyes, it was an act of arrogant showing off.
"It's just graduating from Class A, what's there to be arrogant about."
Watching the huge collective gathered around Hikigaya—or more accurately, surrounding Ichinose—Horikita Suzune and Hirata Yousuke had complicated expressions.
They then turned their heads to look at Ishizaki, who followed Ryuuen, and Machida Kouji and others, who followed Katsuragi.
Failing to graduate from Class A was indeed a pity.
Was being able to build firm relationships with many people because of the difference in strength and interest?
It seemed not to be...