A/N: The final chapter of this tale. You can thank WolfieRed23! Here we go!

Chapter Three – Graduation

Luke's POV

I brushed the blue and gold tassel out of my eyes once more, looking around. The stands were quickly filling up. Young adults in black cap and gowns, with gold insignias on their lapels, milled around just inside the entrance to the stadium, waiting for the time when we have to move towards our seats.

"I can't believe we're finally here," Ben said, clasping my shoulder. I chuckled.

"I know. Four years. Feels like they flew, huh?" I asked, looking over at him with a grin. He held up his phone, and there was a click. "WHOA! Hey!" I protested, knowing he just took a picture of me. He laughed.

"What? We need pictures!" he said, flashing another grin before wrapping an arm around me, putting his head next to mine, and taking another picture, this time of the two of us. I caught my hat as he knocked it askew with his, laughing.

"Keep this up, and one of our tassels will get tangled!" I said. He pulled back and shrugged, looking at the picture.

"It'll just be another puzzle for you to solve before we graduate," he said, making us both laugh.

"We did it!" a female voice cheered, and both Ben and I were tackled from behind, an arm wrapping around each of us.

"Whoa!" I yelped, stumbling forward, laughing. I knew exactly who it was.

"Jessica!" Ben said happily, before taking pictures with and of her. I shook my head, watching with a smile for a moment, before looking up at the stands again, then sighing, thinking back to my call to the Professor the other day.

Two Days Ago

"Hello?"

"Hi Professor!" I said with a smile, sitting back on my bed, the phone pressed to my ear.

"Ah! Luke, my boy. How is finals going?" he asked, sounding pleased to talk to me. I grinned.

"Good. Well, actually, all finished." I laughed. "It was… and interesting finals week, to say the least," I said. "Dad said you were in America though?"

"Why, yes. I plan on coming and seeing you on Sunday, in fact. It was supposed to be a surprise though. Ah well," he chuckled. I shook my head.

"Well, actually Professor, I managed to get an extra graduation ticket. I was hoping you could come to the ceremony," I said.

"Oh… I'm sorry, my boy. I… have a prior engagement…" he said. My shoulders drooped.

"A prior engagement?" I asked.

"Yes. It is of the utmost importance. I really cannot cancel or reschedule," he said. I just nodded, forgetting that he couldn't see it.

"Luke?"

"It's okay," I muttered, blinking quite a few times. My eyes stung slightly, but I tried hard to ignore it. "I understand. After all, you're in America for a reason, right?"

"Luke… I—"

"I have to go. I'll talk to you later. Bye, Professor Layton." I hung up, chucking the phone onto my bed.

Present

"—uke? Luke?" Ben asked, shaking my shoulder and bringing me back to the present.

"Hm?" I asked, looking over at him.

"You okay? You look upset," he asked. I forced a smile.

"I'm good," I said. Just then, one of the faculty members came in.

"Okay! Everyone get to your lines. We'll be walking out there in five minutes!" she said as she continued down the line. Jessica gave my shoulder a squeeze.

"See you afterwards!" she said with a smile. I smiled back, stumbling forward slightly from the thump on my back from Ben. I chuckled.

"Yep. See you, guys," I said, watching after those two before going and finding my place in line. Not too long after, the band began to play, and we began our procession onto the field. We reached out seats (mine was, of course, in the back), and continued to stand. The faculty and guest speakers walked onto the field after us. Finally, after the presentation of colors and the national anthem (where the men had to take off their hats), we were allowed to sit, and I inspected the faculty on the stage. There was the president of the university, the three deans, and a few people I didn't recognize. With a sigh, I looked in the program that was left on my seat, wondering who the guest speaker was.

My eyes locked on the name. In fact, I had to read it three time to be sure I was reading it correctly.

'Hershal Layton, Ph.D

Professor of Archeology, Gressenheller University'

I quickly looked up at the stage, searching for that familiar top hat, and finding none. I then looked closer, realizing all of them were in Academia regalia. Much fancier and elegant then our own robes, but still caps and gowns.

Finally, I found Professor Layton, wearing a black gown with blue felt patches on his arms and down the front, trimmed in gold. The colors, which symbolize which doctorate the wearer graduated with, were that of the Anthropology department. I chuckled, finding it weird for the professor to be wearing the eight pointed version of our graduation caps with a gold tassel, rather then his ever present top hat.

The provost spoke first, before introducing the student chosen to speak. Then other faculty members, until Professor Layton was introduced. He stepped to the podium and looked out at us all.

"Well now. Congratulations, Class of 2031," he began with a smile, studying our faces as we looked up at him. I doubt he was able to pick me out from the mass of black caps and gowns, but I still couldn't help but grin like a fool when his eyes swept my way. He talked about how we were on the cusp of beginning an even more exciting journey then our last, and how our choices would dictate the rest of our lives.

It was just like sitting in his office at Gressenheller all those years ago, listening as he lectured me about my future.

I still miss those days sometimes.

"And remember," Professor Layton said with a smile, reaching up and holding the front point of his hat. "Life is simply a puzzle, and every puzzle—"

"Has an answer," I said softly in unison with the professor.

"Thank you, and good luck," he finished, stepping back and allowing the provost to take the podium again.

"Luke Triton. Summa Cum Laude," the provost announced. I stepped onto the stage, proud of the gold chord that hung around my neck, and shook hands with the president, receiving my degree case in return. I then continued across the stage, grinning hugely at the Professor, who nodded with a proud smile. I then walked down the steps, had my picture taken in front of the green screen, and continued to my seat, where I watched the rest of the graduating class of 2031 receive their own degree cases.

Unfortunately, we don't receive our actual degrees until they send them out in the mail.

Once they were done announcing the names, we stood and did the recession, walking back to where we started this morning. Once we were allowed to break ranks, the audience came onto the field, seeking out their graduates. I, however, made a beeline towards the stage, getting there in time to see Professor Layton coming down the steps.

"Professor!" I cried, darting over and hugging him tightly.

"Whoa!" he gasped before laughing, hugging me back. "Well, hello there, my boy!" he said, hugging me back. I laughed, ecstatic to see him again.

"Was this your prior engagement?" I asked, finally pulling away. He smiled warmly.

"Yes. I do hope you managed to give someone else your extra ticket?" he said. I nodded.

"Yeah. Ben, actually, for his grandfather," I explained.

"Luke!" an excited voice called from behind. I turned in time to be tackled by a powerful spirit-medium (in training), her lips landing directly on mine. My eyes widened first, in surprise, but then closed as I pulled my girlfriend closer, my arms locking around her. Pearl wrapped her arms around my neck, not letting go for a few minutes, until we had to pull away for air. She giggled breathlessly.

"I can't believe it!" she said happily, hugging me tightly and burying her face, now turning red, into my chest. I laughed, feeling my own cheeks blazing, and glanced sheepishly at the Professor. He chuckled, shaking his head.

Click!

"Mum!" I protested, turning to her, knowing she was the one who took the picture.

"Oh I'm just so proud of you, sweetie!" she said, hugging both Pearl and I. I blushed more.

"MUM!" I protested again, not knowing how else to respond, though I did hear Dad's chuckling from behind her.

"Is this a bad time?" another voice asked. I looked up from where I was being choked to death in time to see Mr. Wright and Ms. Maya. With them stood Professor Layton's adopted children, Flora and Alfendi. I grinned hugely, happy to have everyone here. Mum demanded everyone get together and took pictures until Dr. Kingston came along, stealing the camera from Mum and making her join us. I soon lost track of how many pictures were being taken until, finally, we were done.

"Well, how about we head back to the house and decide where to go get dinner?" Dad suggested.

"About time," Alfendi snapped, crossing his arms.

"Now, Alfendi, a true gentleman always has patience," Professor Layton said, wrapping an arm around him and following after the rest of us. I glanced back in time to see him look away from the Professor, the only man he would never snap at.

"Whatever," he mumbled.

A/N: Alfendi is 11 here. I haven't written the story where he and the Professor meet (yet!).

Summa Cum Laude is the highest one can graduate with honors, meaning Luke here graduated with a GPA of 4.0+.

And this is the end of this tale. I had fun writing it, and it did help me get a lot of my feelings out. Except for this chapter. This chapter was purely fiction.