Chapter 2: Planning Their Graduation
After everyone got Yurippe back to the infirmary, the entire SSS was just standing around watching her. "It's kind of strange to see her not giving orders." Said Fujimaki to break the silence. Hinata, who was sitting in a chair next to the bed, smiled. "I guess so. She deserves a good rest though." Noda who was standing behind and to the right of Hinata, nodded as he slung his halberd over his shoulder. "I only wish I would have been of more use to her." Someone shoved some hospital clothes in his face and he gave a confused look. "What's this?" Hinata pushed them into his chest, forcing him to grab them. "You said you want to be of use. Maybe you can change her clothes for her." Noda's eyes widened in anger. "What the hell makes you think I should do it?" Hinata shrugged. "Well, somebody's got to go it." He smirked. "But I'm sure you might enjoy it." Noda was now red with anger and embarrassment. "What kind of man do you think I am?" He looked at Yuri. "Fine, I'll do it, but the rest of you get the hell out of here. If I catch any of you peeking I'll fucking end you." Hinata nodded. "Yeah, yeah noise, noise." He said as he led everyone out of the room.
Otonashi came over to him. "Noda, I know we've had our differences. But-" Noda cut him off, but didn't even turn to face him. "Otonashi. If you're going to try to give me some heart-filled speech then spare me." He was confused as to why Noda was saying this. "I don't need anyone's sympathy or their friendship. The only thing that matters is the safety of Yurippe." Otonashi nodded. "I understand." Noda shook his head. "You don't. You, Otonashi, are the protagonist. The main character. Ever since you showed up here, everything has strangely revolved around you. Some of the members even follow you just as much as Yurippe." Otonashi nodded at this as well. "It is strange, I'll say that." Noda continued. "I am only a side character in this game we've been playing. And a side character can never be the hero. So spare me your heart-filling speech. Besides, I've already chosen to move on." Otonashi respected Noda's wishes and left. He thought that he would run a few errands before heading to the SSS room.
Everyone met up in the old SSS room, for the first time ever without Yurippe being there. The last one to come back was Noda, whose face was red as a tomato. "Did you enjoy changing your beloved's clothes?" Asked Hinata mockingly. Noda glared at him, immediately losing his red glow. "It's not like I saw anything. I had my eyes closed." He said. Hinata chuckled. "Yeah, sure you did." Noda held his halberd tighter. "Are you looking for a fight?" Otonashi walked in the doors and smiled. "Well everyone seems to be here." Hinata nodded. "We were just teasing Romeo here about how he had to change Yurippe out of her clothes." Noda gripped the halberd tightly again and turned toward Hinata. "I already said that I didn't see anything!" Hinata chuckled again "Alright, alright. So Otonashi, why don't we explain the plan?" Otonashi nodded. "Alright, so has everyone decided if they're staying or if they'll be leaving this place for good?" Everyone nodded. Naoi walked in front of Yuri's desk. "Alright then, if you would all step up, I will help every single one of you." His eyes began to glow red as he grinned. Hinata pushed him down and held him there with his right foot. "We already told you, we aren't doing that." He looked at Yuzuru and nodded, signaling that he can start explaining it.
Otonashi explained his plan for a graduation ceremony for the SSS members. "Why should we put on a grand ceremony like that if we're only staying for it for maybe 20 more minutes after." Asked Fujimaki. Hinata stepped over. "Because in our lives we never got to graduate. Graduation in life is like the doorway to your new life. So that's what it will be for us." The door opened and everyone turned to look thinking it would be Yuri. "Angel?" Even the walls of the room expressed its surprise. Otonashi smiled. "Kanade is going to be helping us with decorating the ceremony." Otonashi said with a smile. "Why would we trust her? She's the enemy!" Exclaimed Noda. "So shallow minded." Shiina said, still in her corner. Hinata walked over to Noda. "Just so you know Kanade here actually saved Yurippe from the shadows. You should be thanking her." Noda looked over to Kanade and looked away, not wanting to admit his embarrassment or thankfulness.
After the scene of the room calmed down everyone finally agreed to put on a graduation ceremony. "Alright, but someone has to hand out diplomas. And I highly doubt any teachers would help us." Takamatsu said fixing his glasses. "Maybe if we ask really nicely.." Ooyama said before trailing off with his words. "Hey, sexy lady!" Shouted TK in the corner of the room. "I think we should have someone on the inside do it." Said Matsushita. Hinata looked up in thought. "But what idiot would go up and present everyone with diplomas and…" Hinata looked around the room. "I guess the moron who said it huh?" He just knew that if Yui were there she would have nodded with a large, arrogant smile on her face. The thought seemed to calm him this time but at the same time made him sad that she wasn't there to help them. Otonashi patted him on the back. "Don't worry. You'll be seeing Yui soon." He said with a smile. Hinata returned the smile and nodded.
Everyone was broken up into groups to help assemble everything. As a joke Fujimaki got a bald cap, false mustache, and glasses that they said Hinata had to wear on the stage as he called everyone's names. Kanade got to work on trying to write the SSS anthem. She lay on the ground humming a cheerful tune as she wrote. "She looks like a little kid coloring in her coloring book." Otonashi thought. He, of course, was in charge of the entire thing, with Naoi following him like a lost puppy the whole time. Noda seemed to be very much into the ceremony. He was directing people on what to do and where to go. "Wow, Noda. Honestly, I never thought we'd see actual team work from you." Hinata said as he approached him holding buckets of paint. "Someone has to keep these morons on schedule." Hinata smiled. "It's really nice to see you helping out with-" "Get to work!" Noda shouted through a megaphone at him, cutting his words off. Otonashi smiled and continued to observe everyone. "Otonashi-san." A quiet voice came from behind him. Otonashi turned to see a blond-haired girl. "Yusa? I thought you would have moved on by now." Yusa just stared forward at him. "I am here because I would like to assist in the making of this ceremony." Otonashi stared at her. "Well, maybe you can help keep everyone on task." Yusa stared at him. "Or… you could maybe help Kanade with the song?" She continued to stare silently. Otonashi sighed. "Not very talkative are you?"