The after-school meeting on the Friday before prom was significantly less populated. Only fifteen people stay, and most were ninth or tenth graders who couldn't attend the junior-senior prom. While Shun was busy typing, Dan made a grand entrance and rested his arms on the monitor forcefully. "Dan, please don't break school property!"

"You still haven't told me if you're going to prom or not."

"Isn't it obvious by now? Ticket sales have ended. Student government knows that I didn't buy one. So no, I am not going."

"I told you he wasn't going," screamed Runo from the hallway. "Ignore him, Shun. Dan wanted to hear it from you and nobody else. Also, we made a bet on this, and I just won."

The bluenette held her hand out as Dan slammed a five-dollar bill into her palm. "This never happened. Anyway, National Decision Day just passed. Which college did you pick, Shun?"

"Definitely not where you or Runo are going."

"You don't want to see us?!"

"No, but it was a tough decision. I doubt more than five people—including me—in our class picked that university." Shun stood up and patiently removed Dan's arms from the monitor. "No matter where we go after high school, we'll still live in Wardington and be close friends."

"That's true..."

Runo then placed an arm on each of her friends' shoulders. "We've been childhood neighbors and park playmates for a very long time. Nothing can change that. Life goes on, and change is the only constant."

"Since when did you start using meaningful quotes?" the brunet insulted.

The bluenette's face turned scarlet immediately and looked away. "You're right! Your brain's too shallow to understand deep quotes anyway! By the way, where's Alice going? Doesn't seem like she was in the loop."

"You're right. In fact, I don't think she was very concerned about college applications to begin with."

Shun shut down his computer and packed. "My mom manages Alice's performances and public relations, so I don't know either. Leaving now."

"I still can't believe you're not going to prom! Wait—is Alice going?"

"Nope. She has a huge performance that day," Runo answered as she watched the valedictorian leave the classroom. "I'm starting to not know Shun anymore."

"Something definitely happened during his three-day absence."

The raven-haired student closed his locker when a message came through his phone. "Sorry if I didn't tell you earlier, but I left already for a dinner meeting with venue hosts and staff," Alice texted.

"Good luck. Don't forget about tomorrow evening," he replied before driving home.

After taking the elevator to his floor, Shun immediately smelled a savory aroma in the hallway. Is someone's range hood broken? That's a potential a fire hazard. The smell got stronger in front of his apartment unit. It's coming from my place! Shun unlocked the doors quickly and saw a foggy living room. "Mom, what are you—"

"Ah, Shun is back!"

"Grandpa?!"

Shun's grandfather stepped out of the kitchen as both of them fanned the fumes away. "I was trying to cook, but—"

"What is happening?!" Shiori suddenly appeared with an actual electric fan and opened the balcony glass doors. "Welcome back, Shun. I said I didn't need help cooking dinner, but your grandfather insisted on cooking some traditional dish from his childhood."

"Back when I was a child, we had open kitchens and no concerns about fumes fogging up our living space."

The valedictorian rolled his eyes. "That is why we have range hoods in the twenty-first century. I'm going to shower."

"Yes, please shower as long as you want while your mother and I cook!" his grandfather insisted.

And if I were to do that, the utility bills would skyrocket. "Okay...? Be right back."

Dinner was peaceful, much to Shun's surprise. There were no arguments for the first time, and the only conversations so far were all initiated by Shiori until Shun's grandfather spoke up. "Have you decided which college to attend yet?"

"Grandpa, National Decision Day already passed, so I already made my commitment. Are you asking which one I selected? It's—"

"No need to tell me." That response took Shun by surprise again. "I will know eventually when you have new student orientation. You should feel proud about your decision. What about your major?"

Why isn't Mom asking me this? The raven-haired student glanced at his mother, who held her bowl high to seemingly avoid eye contact, and answered, "That, I haven't decided yet."

"Give him some time," Shiori suggested. "He still has his speech, AP exams, and finals to finish."

"That's right!" The elderly man snapped his fingers. "You're the one and only valedictorian! You should be proud of that too."

From the corner of his eye, Shun saw his mother discreetly point her chopsticks at his grandfather. "Thanks, Grandpa."

"I mean that, Shun. You'll get through all this."

After dinner ended, Shiori cleared the table while Shun followed his grandfather outside. "I can take you back to your dojo, Grandpa."

"It's okay. I want to take the bus home this time. I have yet to try out the new seats..."

After receiving another cue from his mother, the valedictorian chuckled and pressed the elevator buttons. "At least let me walk you to the bus station."

"That would be great."

After completing his task, Shun returned upstairs and approached his mother. "Mom, I'm going to the orphanage around noon tomorrow."

"Orphanage? You're not busy?"

"I'm not going to prom, if that's what you mean."

"Got it. I'll be with Alice at a luncheon performance, then I have a dinner meeting with others. Can you stay here alone by yourself?"

"Mom, I've done that before." Then he realized what she really meant. "It won't happen again, I promise." And I won't be alone anyway.

"Shun, listen to me." Shiori ducked slightly and whispered. "I know your grandfather sounds strict and old-fashioned, but just because he doesn't say out that he cares about you think doesn't mean doesn't think that way. He'll understand."

"I hope so too."

"Great! I'll wash the dishes tonight. Take a break."

Shun nodded and returned to his room. Resolving conflict is a good thing, but I'm not used to it yet. After typing a draft of his speech, he opened his message inbox and scrolled to Alice's name, but didn't open the chat yet. How do I phrase my thoughts into a text message so that it doesn't sound weird? Why do I even need to think about this?

He finally opened the chat and began typing. Alice, this all your fault...but in a good way.

-x-x-x-x-x-

After finishing a performance at a country club afternoon tea meeting, Alice bowed through the applause and then descended the stage. All done for the day. As for tonight...

Once Shiori finished speaking with club members, the violinist approached her manager and asked, "Am I free to go?"

"Of course! However, I have a meeting with these people soon and have a conference meeting elsewhere tonight. Your aunt should be free to take you home."

"Alright. See you next time."

Clara also just finished talking to others and was clearing her area of the dining table when her niece approached her. "Sweetie, just in time! Ready to go home?"

"Mm-hmm."

A few hours after arriving home, Clara moved her belongings from purse to messenger bag before leaving. "Alice, I'm working night shift later. Please stay safe and be careful when cooking dinner."

"I will. Drive safely!" After she watched her aunt leave the garage, Alice messaged Shun, "Directions please."

After a few minutes, Shun replied, "Are you sure you don't need me to pick you up?"

"I can walk while it's still bright outside. Might need a ride home, though."

"We can deal with that later." After another few minutes, Shun sent directions to his apartment address with the unit number, followed by, "Don't forget your violin."

Didn't expect him to say that. Alice slung her violin case across her chest and locked the house. Half an hour later, she arrived at her destination and pressed the call button for Shun's apartment unit. After a loud buzz, a male voice spoke through the speaker. "I just unlocked the lobby entrance."

"Thanks, Shun." The violinist took the stairs, found the apartment number, and pressed the doorbell. "I'm here."

Shun opened the wooden interior door and then unlocked the steel exterior door. "You walk fast."

"It's my first time here, after all."

"That's true. I always went to your house for tutoring. Take your shoes off first."

Alice left her flats by the shoe rack and walked on the laminate wood floor. The living room was spacious but also about the same size as the kitchen and dining area combined. She walked across the living room and stared outside the balcony glass doors. "This is a beautiful view of Wardington."

"The balcony faces south, so you can kind of see both sunrise and sunset through the day. The school is in the distance, too."

"Shun, why did you ask me to come over again?"

The raven-haired student exited his room with his messenger bag on his left shoulder and a large stuffed shopping bag in his right hand. "Do you want a better view of the sunset?"

"Uh...sure? Where? How?"

"To the roof. Hope you're not scared."

After Shun led the way to the apartment complex roof, Alice observed and walked around. "This is much safer than the roof above Shiori-san's office building. What did you even bring?"

"My laptop, phone, AP study books, food and drinks, so on..." Shun took out a large towel from the shopping bag and spread it across the ground. "Have a seat and eat whatever you like."

The violinist laid down her belongings. "There has to be another reason why you're not attending prom."

"I didn't go last year. I still don't see the point of going this year, especially since AP exams are after prom. You're not going either."

"I had a performance at a luncheon today would be too tired for anything afterwards. Besides, prom tickets are expensive."

"Good point. I already spent a lot on registration fees for STEM-FX competitions."

"Shun, aside from asking me to come for a 'better' view of the sunset, why did you need me to bring my violin?"

"In case you get bored."

"I might as well stay at home if I wanted to play."

"You still agreed to come anyway despite being 'too tired'."

Knowing she wouldn't win this conversation, Alice changed the subject instead. "I won't argue with you on this. I heard that the deadline to select which university to attend was a couple weeks ago. Where are you going?"

"I'm staying in Wardington. We have one of the best universities in the state, but people overlook its existence. I don't understand why everyone else wants to go to a different, maybe even faraway city. Statistics say that 99% of all students during any academic year have a permanent address more than a fifty-kilometer radius from most colleges."

"That's...good to know. Of course, location shouldn't be the primary factor in deciding where to attend. What about your major?"

"Haven't decided."

"What about STEM?"

Shun was taking a sip of water when he choked in response. "Alice, do you know many categories fall under the term 'STEM'? The acronym stands for four different things already. Even I know that music has multiple types."

"Looks like you did some homework, but being undecided is not the Shun I know..."

"I'm not completely undecided. My focus is engineering, but I haven't decided which concentration yet. After four years with STEM-FX, I'm lost about what to do. Not because I know nothing, but because I've seen almost everything. I asked Mom for her opinion, but she told me to look back at what I did with STEM-FX for ideas."

"How about asking your Grandpa?"

"He's not as strict and narrow-minded as before anymore, probably because of that incident, but I think he wants to let me decide for myself as well."

"Ever considered incorporating music into your practice?"

"There was a program for those who want to incorporate music to help the hearing-impaired regain their hearing, but it didn't interest me. After today, most graduating seniors will only have AP exams, regular final exams, and graduation rehearsal plus ceremony—all in less than a month. Then comes the last easiest summer break you'll ever have. So...what about you?"

"Shiori-san managed all the applications for me. I only had to attend the interviews and demonstrate live in front of the interviewers. Since she started late with the applications, we're still waiting for responses. I'm standing again on the line between waiting and knowing..."

"Are you staying local or leaving instead? What about public performances?"

Alice ate some candy and shrugged. "It doesn't matter. My options were limited to begin with. Aunt Clara realized how busy I was trying to balance schoolwork and performances. She said I can either continue touring or attend university instead after graduation."

"Let me check something first." Shun opened his SNS feed and scrolled through the post. "What time is it? Did prom start already? People already posted pictures of themselves waiting in the lobby of the venue."

"That's so unnecessary..." Alice checked her watch and added, "Prom started fifteen minutes ago. People said that check-in for Winter Ball took forever, so maybe the same thing applies here to—"

"Hold on. People are flooding me with messages." He dragged the notification screen down and read every single message preview. "Everyone decides to tell me how much fun they're having at prom right after I just checked my feed."

"Maybe they saw that you just went online."

"But that would mean they were stalking and waiting for me to go from 'Active XYZ Minutes Ago' to 'Active Now'..."

They both stared at each other until laughter ensued. "Okay Shun. What are you going to do then?"

"Ignore them. Since I'm not at prom, then I have no reason to talk to these people about it, either. Dan sent me seventeen consecutive messages within a minute. Who does that? The other day, he also sent many messages in a row asking how my speech was."

"I still need to revise my speech so that it falls within the allotted time. How's yours going?"

"Mine is getting there. What's yours about?"

"Just...anything? I'm sure it's no different from yours."

"Alice, I'm Valedictorian. My speech is required to be longer than the senior speaker's speech."

"Either way, you'll hear what I have to say during graduation."

"You win." Shun's phone beeped nonstop again, and he checked his message inbox and home page. "What is this?!" He played a video and went full screen. "Isn't that—"

"EDM?!" the violinist interrupted as she grabbed Shun's phone to view for herself. "Why are the dancing and dining zones so dimly lit?! You can't see anything!"

"Wait—how did you this is EDM?

Alice froze as she returned Shun's phone. "Just because I perform classical music doesn't mean I don't know other genres. Sounds like you don't like EDM."

"I think it's inappropriate for this setting."

"You've never told me what kind of music you liked."

"I don't listen to anything."

"I've heard your ringtone a few times, and it sounds like a mainstream pop song!"

"Clarification—I do not listen to songs when studying because the brain will focus on the lyrics instead of studying. I usually play rain simulation in the background instead."

"Study music exists too. Some of them are based on classical music, and I'd be glad to—"

"At this rate, you could've applied for and taken AP Music Theory and then perfect the upcoming exam."

"Hmm...I'd rather not." Alice was about to reach for another pack of wafer rolls when she saw her violin lying on the edge of the towel. "But there is something else that I can do."

"What?"

"Play that bittersweet song that you like so much." The redhead took her violin out and prepared everything. "Wow, the sky turned dark fast..."

"Here." Shun aimed his phone's flashlight at Alice's violin case. "When will you tell me what the name of this song is?"

"I don't know...you can give it a temporary name until I feel like telling—hey!" She was about to place her violin on her shoulder when Shun sat closer and leaned behind her. "I can't play if you're so close to me."

"This might be the closest that we'll get before we pursue different paths after graduation."

"Aren't we doing that already? You're in STEM, and I'm in music."

"But we still crossed paths at the same high school...even if just during the final year."

Alice set her bow down and asked quietly, "You asked me to come just to talk, eat, and play my violin?"

"We also insulted that EDM prom, too."

"That was part of the talking!"

"But still...as long as you're here, anything is better than an EDM prom."

The violinist breathed deeply and picked up her bow again. "I know you need to study, so I won't take up too much of your time. Can you drive me home once I'm done?"

Instead of agreeing, Shun leaned on Alice again and whispered, "Then I'd rather you never finish playing this song..."

Speechless after hearing his response, Alice held her violin carefully and played to her heart's content.

-x-x-x-x-x-

Advanced Placement exams are college-level assessments taken during high school, in which satisfactory scores qualify for college credit at the college of the student's choice. Most exams only have two portions—multiple choice and free response—with a rest break in between. Each portion has a time limit, and students may not leave early for any reason until everyone is finished. Other exams, such as computer science and foreign languages, have additional computing or verbal components.

Because there were so many topics, AP exams spanned over two school weeks and occupied both morning and afternoon time slots each day. All students will miss at least one class each day, but most study year-long for these exams and will not skip the exams for no reason. Each student receive their own booklet with AP information and barcode stickers so that all exams can be identified to prevent loss.

The time that the absolute final exam ended was just a few minutes before normal school dismissal. Dan ran outside to breathe the fresh air. "I am free!"

"No, you're not." Runo smacked the brunet with her booklet. "We still have final exams for our non-AP classes and then graduation practice."

"Can't you just let me celebrate? I seriously wish prom were after AP exams."

"Says the guy who complained about prom being boring."

Shun exited the testing classroom last and saw his two friends arguing. "Dan, prom was over two weeks ago. Get over it."

"See? Shun's on my side," the bluenette insulted with a smirk.

"But Shun wasn't at prom, so he has no right to speak!"

"Considering that the DJ played EDM all night, I'm so glad that I didn't attend."

The dismissal bell finally rang, and Dan tossed his personal barcode booklet into the air. Unfortunately, it landed on the bluenette. "What was that for?"

"Just practicing for how to throw my graduation cap in a couple weeks."

"In your dreams." Runo picked up the fallen booklet and shoved it into the brunet's face. "Shun, how about we celebrate at my parents' diner?"

The last time I went there was with all four of us. "Sure. Do you mind if Alice comes along? The last time she came during winter break, it was cut short..."

Dan scratched his head. "Why Alice? She didn't take any—"

"Of course we don't mind!" the bluenette interrupted after elbowing her confused friend. "The more, the merrier! I'll message her now!" While texting, Runo whispered to Dan, "Shun's making it very obvious that he—"

"I get it, Runo. Move on."

After picking up Alice from the performing arts building, all four of them went to the Misakis' diner and sat at a square table. Alice noticed the fatigue in her friends' eyes. "Were the exams that bad?"

"They were horrible," Dan exaggerated. "I don't understand how Shun can take seven exams but still keep his cool on the last day."

"Seven? I thought there were only six class periods in one day?"

"There are, but economics and government classes are one semester each," the valedictorian clarified. "Five plus two is seven."

"Dan and I only had four this year," Runo added. "Last year, we had two while Shun had four. The only thing worse than consecutive exams for days in a row is back-to-back exams on the same day. Worst case is—"

"Oh shoot!" Dan smacked the table shortly after food came. "When's senior checkout?"

"What's that?" Alice asked.

Shun checked his phone and replied. "Senior final exams are next week, and senior checkout is next Friday. We pick up a form from the main office, fill out our information and course names, and have all teachers sign off with a letter grade. After classes end, we hand the forms to the counselors in the cafeteria, and they'll know which colleges to send our final transcripts to. That's all we have left before graduation practice and ceremony. Dan, why do you ask?"

"I have a dentist appointment in the afternoon."

"You might be able to find your afternoon classes' teachers during brunch and lunch, if lucky."

"Good idea, Shun. Also, I hope it doesn't rain or get extremely foggy during graduation practice. I hate sitting on wet chairs."

After eating, Dan chose to stay with Runo before walking home, and Shun offered to take Alice home. "By the way, the school staff said they chose me to be senior speaker."

"I knew you'd make it." The valedictorian hugged her immediately but pulled away after seeing people and cars pass by. "Sorry. Got too elated."

"I don't blame you. You're the one who told me to try out."

"Good point." The valedictorian opened the door for the redhead before he started the engine. "You'll sit in the front row then. Makes it convenient to go up and down the stage for speeches."

"Aren't you also in the front row as valedictorian?"

"Front row and first seat. Then comes the salutatorians, student government officers, and then you. Some of the officers are also salutatorians, so the seating will be slightly off."

"I guess we won't be near each other then."

"Maybe we will." Shun counted on his fingers and concluded, "If the seating chart doesn't change from last year, then you'll be at the end of the front row while I'm at the beginning."

"I don't get it."

"There's an aisle between the two arrays of chairs for us to walk through. Left and right lines of students split off and sit on their corresponding side. We fill up the ends first before the middle, then a new row starts."

The violinist tried visualizing it in her head and finally understood. "It makes sense now! What a coincidence!"

"I thought you didn't believe in coincidences. You also still don't have a word to describe that feeling you described at the hospital."

"Right... Destiny? Fate?" The car arrived at Alice's house when she came up with another answer. "Affinity!"

"Why 'affinity'?"

"Because..." The violinist glanced around sheepishly before answering softly, "Opposites attract?"

"Uh..." Shun gripped the steering wheel tightly before he pressed the UNLOCK button in a fit. "Go home already. I can't take this."

"It's nice seeing you relaxed and not so focused on studying."

The raven-haired student gasped and watched the violinist exit. "I have you to thank for that. Don't forget to rehearse your speech."

"You too! Thanks for everything, Shun."