Reviews:
Clefeifei: Why thank you :-) Thank you for always being such an awesome reviewer, Fei Fei.
LightSpecter141: I'm glad :-)
PrettyBoo: Fixed it ;-)
Ackbarfan5556: Nah. They already established that they did that stuff XP
Sweet Cari: If you remember from ATOE, it was Joe's brother John that she was after, but he turned her down. Joe has two brothers in the Japanese version, Shin (Jim) and Shuu (whom I named John). For some reason, the dub decided to make both into just Jim. Always happy to read your reviews lately. Glad you liked it.
Music Chick: I'm glad. You're the best.
Greymon Leader Batx flashpoint: I'm glad you liked it, Greymon. Thank you so much for your kind words as always.
Howdy-ho, everyone. Well, this is the end of the line. We have reached the end of the road. I'm honestly very sad that this is the last chapter because this has been my absolute favorite story to write. I have been working on this story for four years almost, so it has been a real labor of love. Thank you all for your tremendous love and support. I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart. With that, let's get to the final major thing. Thank you to Music Chick for writing most of this, save for the last part and some of the middle.
Enjoy!
"A vision?" Matt said shocked as he chopped mushrooms.
"Yup," Tai responded. "That's what it was. It stopped me from making the biggest mistake of my life."
Matt was about to respond when he felt his phone slip out from its hold between his shoulder and ear. He put it back in place before realizing he had better ways to talk than this. It was quickly getting uncomfortable.
"Hold on. Let me put this on speaker. I'm chopping vegetables and holding this phone at the same time isn't comfortable." He put his phone down on the counter and pressed the 'speaker' button. "Okay. Can you hear me?"
"Yeah," Tai responded. "I didn't tell her about that though. Keep it quiet."
"Sure. That's intense."
Matt thought back to his past crush on Sora. A few months ago, this would've put him in a bad mood. Nowadays, the only person that made his heart beat faster with joy was someone different––someone whose own presence had the power to quiet his thoughts with one of her shy smiles.
"Still there?"
Matt snapped out of his thoughts. "Yeah. I'm happy for you. If fate intervened, it's meant to be."
"Think so? I mean, there's still college."
"Idiot," Matt chuckled. "It doesn't mean you're supposed to propose right this instant. I swear, what does she see in you anyway?"
Tai could be heard chuckling as well. "Plenty of things. But you do raise a good point." He went quiet for a second. "Hey, one thing before I go: Are we cool?"
The blonde cocked an eyebrow in confusion.
"Huh? Yeah. Why wouldn't we be cool?" Matt then braced himself with an annoyed growl. "What the hell did you do this time?"
"I didn't do anything! Why is that your first thought?"
"Because you only say that to Izzy after breaking his laptop."
"That's not true!"
"Countless times."
"I said it to you when we were younger after fighting."
"Hmm."
"Shut up and listen!"
Matt laughed, "All right already. Tell me."
"It's just that I've always suspected you liked Sora, and now that we're together again…" Tai's voice trailed off.
Matt stopped chopping. He put the knife down, unsure on what to say. His feelings for her were nonexistent after she told him she never liked him that time under the bridge.
"I'm sorry, Matt. I shouldn't have brought it up."
For a minute, Matt's facial expression was sullen. Remembering what could've been in the past stung. Then again, if Hackmon had been able to convince Meiko to join the group all those years ago when they were introduced to the ways of the Force, would he have forgotten about Sora long ago? Deep down inside, he knew the truth––Meiko was his Sora.
No, even better: Meiko would've been the only one that existed in his eyes. Things would have been a lot easier for them both.
Matt wiped his hands on a nearby kitchen towel, and held the phone to his ear again with the speakerphone function turned off. "We're cool."
"Good."
"Good," Matt confirmed.
"Then you're still conflicted because why?"
Matt pulled the phone away from his ear confused, then returned it. "Says who? We're cool. End it."
"I sense it, dude. What's going on?"
"I get she's yours." Aggravation grew with every word spoken. "Destiny confirmed it. What's your deal?"
Tai chuckled. "Don't be so arrogant. I don't mean Sora. I meant with Meiko."
Matt's cheeks became pink from embarrassment. "Like hell I'm talking about Meiko with you."
"Aw, come on, Matt!"
"I'm going to hang up!"
"All I'm saying is that Meiko's come a long way. She fought to survive and won. She stood up to her parents and won. She's now free. It's been two weeks since it all ended and you still haven't asked her out."
"Shut it. I'm warning you," Matt growled. "I put Raiku down for a nap a while ago. I don't want to wake him up because of you." He sighed. "It's not like I can just go to her. I don't even know where her foster home is."
"There's a connection there. You feel that, right? Even though she got transferred to a new school, it'll only be a matter of time before she leaves forever. Who knows where she'll be after that. Do something about it."
From his growing embarrassment, an angry yell escaped.
"EAT DICK!"
"YAMATO!"
Matt's breath caught in his throat from surprise as he turned around. He didn't hear his father come home. The man stood with a shocked expression on his face. His jaw almost hit the floor.
"Dad?"
Tai was up in hysterics on the other line, filling the room with his laughter.
"I hate you," Matt mumbled into the phone after taking it off speaker. "Don't call me."
The call ended and now he and his father stared at each other, his face striped red from embarrassment. For a moment, nothing happened.
A loud cry then came from the other room.
His father growled in frustration, rubbing his tired face. "You see what you did, Matt?" he admonished the teenager. "You woke your brother up. That's what happens when you use foul language."
"Sorry, Dad," Matt replied, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. "I'll get him."
"Thanks," Hiroaki nodded with an exhausted sigh. "I'm sorry."
"No, it was my fault," the blonde said, slipping past his father into Raiku's room.
He was going to kill Tai the next time he saw him.
Matt killed the engine on his moped that early evening and removed his helmet. Before he left, he had one last thing to do. As he walked into the courtyard between his building and Tai's building, he glanced up to the Mochizuki apartment, knowing Meiko was no longer there, and walked inside the other one. The elevator was open and waiting for him, so he went inside.
The blonde pressed the button for Tai's floor and the lift went on its way. The elevator soon stopped at Tai's floor. Matt stood with his arms crossed at the chest as the doors opened. He knew his friend would be waiting at the elevator entrance for any last minute teasing. He definitely regretted pushing the button.
"Hey, Matt! You've got this!" Tai gave a thumbs up with that famous grin of his.
Instead of answering, Matt used the Force to close the elevator doors with a growl. He was not in the mood for teasing right now. Before the doors met, he frowned and sighed.
"Hey, wait," he said, opening the elevator doors just as quickly. "Do you, uh…"
Tai grinned and cocked an eyebrow. Matt looked away shyly. "…want to get pizza later? After this? You know, after I ask her out?" he finished.
A sincere smile showed from Tai. "Sure, man. We're cool." He then smirked. "But you're paying for mine to prove your apology!"
"Hell no!" Matt replied.
"Do you know where she is now?" Tai asked in a serious voice.
Matt reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. Earlier, he went by CPS to speak to Agent Okumura and ask where they had placed her. After some convincing, the man gave him the address to the foster home Meiko was staying at.
"Agent Okumura gave me the address," he said. "I was on my way there now when I decided to stop by and talk to you."
Tai smiled back. "We just did. You've got it. Go get her. You may not get another chance like this again. If my period away from Sora taught me anything, it's that you don't give up on someone you know you truly care about. Don't give up on Meiko."
The blonde looked down at his feet and smiled briefly before looking up at his leader again. "I don't plan to," he said.
"Then go get her."
"I will."
The elevator doors closed.
Knock, knock, knock.
Matt looked down at the piece of paper and then to the number on the side of the door. It was the same. This had to be where Meiko was staying. The address took him all the way out to Urayasu, near Tokyo Disney. The apartment building seemed nice enough from the outside, but he knew better than to judge outward appearances.
Matt had been standing on the porch now for five minutes. How come no one was coming to answer the door yet? For a moment, he wondered if no one was home, but then sensed the presence of others inside of the apartment. There were two adults and four kids––Meiko was one of them. He hoped her situation at this place was better than with her parents. Even so, there was still a bad feeling in his chest. How come no one was answering the door yet? Meiko wasn't being abused again, was she?
Agent Okumura told him everything that happened when he and Agents Yamasaki and Kichibu went by to pick Meiko up two weeks ago. Matt had been off playing a gig with his band so he couldn't be there when they came. He wished he had in case something went awry, but knew there was probably nothing he could have done anyway. Besides, Okumura was a professional. Tai and Kari weren't home at the time, as he had found out during his conversation with the bushy-haired leader.
According to Okumura, it was an ugly affair. Professor Mochizuki refused to answer the door to the point that Okumura had to threaten to call the police for obstruction. Eventually, he did let them in, but he and Mrs. Mochizuki did everything they could to prevent Meiko from going. Mrs. Mochizuki cried the whole time and refused to let Meiko go to the point that Agent Kichibu had to pry her out from her mother's arms. Many ugly words were exchanged, but nothing out of this world happened. Matt had smiled with satisfaction as he imagined her parents groveling on their knees after everything they had put Meiko through.
He wished he had gotten a chance to see her one last time. To hold her and assure her that everything would be okay. He begged and pleaded with Agent Okumura over the phone to tell him where she was, but the man refused to budge citing protocol. After two days of this, Matt finally had enough and went to see him in person. When he was again turned down, Matt tried using a mind trick to get him to talk. He didn't know if it would work, but oddly enough it did. Okumura then gave him the address.
Finally, the sound of a lock undoing reached his ears. The door then opened. Matt now stood face to face with a middle-aged woman with well-combed black hair that was in a traditional bun with a chopstick through it in the back. There were some wrinkles here and there on her face, but not to the point of making her look much older than she was. Her almond-shaped eyes with brown irises stared at him inquisitively. Matt almost felt like he was repeating his first encounter with Meiko's mother. Whatever hope he had before of Meiko being taken to a good foster family was slowly fading away.
"Ah, hello," the woman said. "May I help you?"
Matt politely bowed. "Good afternoon, ma'am. I understand that Meiko Mochizuki now lives in this apartment. Is that correct?"
She nodded, but Matt saw a gleam of fear and distrust in her eyes. That did not make him feel any better.
"That is correct."
"May I see her, please?"
"What do you want with her?" The recognition then flashed in her eyes. Matt's face fell. "I know who you are. You're one of those kids who was involved in all those monster attacks."
Matt grimaced. "Y-Yeah, but if you'd –"
"You're lucky the whole city wasn't destroyed because of you kids! My son and his friends were caught up in that madness and only barely made it out of there. Leave before I call the police."
"Ma'am, please. I would just like to speak to Meiko."
"No! Leave."
"Please!"
"NOW!"
"What's going on, Yukiko?" Then in a surprised voice, "Matt?"
Matt's heart leaped into his throat. When he looked past the woman to see the source of the voice, it confirmed whom he suspected. Meiko. It had been two weeks since he had seen her, but it felt like only just yesterday. A smile formed on his face.
"N-N-Nothing, dear," her foster mother replied in a nervous voice. "This boy was just looking for you, but I am asking him to go away now. You still have chores to do."
Meiko shook her head. "It's okay. I finished them. May I please have some time with him alone?"
The woman balked. "But you're teenagers of the opposite sex! You should never be left alone for long."
"I won't keep her long, ma'am. I promise," Matt said in a voice that was trying to stay even, but had an edge to it. Already, he was reminded of Meiko's mother once again. "We won't be long."
A tense air weighed down on the three as Meiko's foster mother looked between Matt and her. Matt was close to resorting to a mind trick in order for the woman to allow Meiko to go. Luckily, he didn't have to do that as she sighed.
"Oh, very well," Meiko's foster mother relented. "But be back by eight o'clock. That's all I ask."
Matt gave a salute. "No problem, ma'am. I won't keep her out past that time."
"I'll make sure he doesn't, Yukiko," Meiko added as she stepped outside and wrapped her arm around his. Matt's face exploded with redness as he forced a smile.
Her foster mother gave an uneasy stare as she started to close the door. "Okay, then see you later."
The door then shut.
Matt glanced at her, wanting some answers to her situation. "Based on what I just saw, I don't have high hopes for how they have been treating you."
"Yukiko and Masaru actually treat me well," Meiko replied. She pressed her index fingers together nervously. "It's just that––"
"––They're scared of you?" he finished.
"Sort of. You know how crazy it's been lately. I've tried laying low as much as I can and showing them I mean no harm, but I guess everyone has already made up their minds about us."
Matt rolled his eyes. "Of course." He nudged her playfully as they stepped inside the lift. "I want to take you somewhere. Up for a new adventure?"
Her eyes met Matt's. A true smile showed from her as the doors closed. "Yes. Let's go."
Matt smiled as well. He knew this smile from her well. This was the one she reserved only for him––the same one that puzzled him before.
"Should we ask Kari and Tai if they want to come too?"
"Nah," Matt pressed the ground floor button, shoved his hands in his pockets, and grinned. "I've had enough of that idiot today. Besides," he looked away shyly as the next sentence came out, "there's something I'd like to talk about alone."
"Oh," Meiko said with concern. "Is it something bad?"
Matt laughed, not expecting that response. "Not at all! It's actually," he paused trying to think of the right words. He tried facing her, but felt his cheeks turn pink. He then laughed it off with a nervous wave of his hand. "It's nothing like that. I wouldn't worry about it. Let me take you somewhere first."
Matt and Meiko sat on top of a blanket on the sands of Odaiba Beach. His moped was parked nearby. The sun was setting as they stared content at the ocean waves and the Rainbow Bridge as the small traces of light showed from it. It looked like it was going to be shining plain white tonight, much to Matt's disappointment. He liked it better with the rainbow colors that helped give the icon its name.
Meiko broke the silence as she watched the setting sun. "This is nice. The silence too."
Matt turned his head towards her. "I felt you needed it," he said with a gracious smile.
She looked to him with gratitude. Matt playfully nudged her again, this time his arm to her shoulder. Meiko silently laughed, and shook her head.
"Good ol' Matt," she said. "Always looking after his friends."
The words stung his heart. Friends. He shook his head as if to physically shake the statement away. He couldn't give up that easily.
"What was it that you wanted to talk about?" Meiko asked.
Matt internally panicked. He couldn't say it. Looking back at all the times they were together, it was him falling for her. It was him making the effort to see who she really was. It was him that constantly reached out to comfort her and give support. When did she ever give hints that she felt the same way? With everything that happened, did the idea of them being an 'us' even have time to enter her mind? Probably not.
He was a fool. That's what it was. They had a few instances with the stars, but she probably didn't see him that way. In her eyes, he was her friend, and friends were family. It was unthinkable to date a family member.
"Oh, it's nothing really. I felt you needed to get out of there, and I have a free ticket to my next concert coming up," Matt slapped every pocket of every piece of clothing he had on him in search of the ticket. Mimi was going to kill him for giving away her ticket, but that didn't matter. He then pulled it out of his left pocket and sighed with relief, knowing he was able to use this as an excuse.
"Here we go," he said, handing it to her. "Come watch me play."
Meiko took the concert ticket. "Of course I'll be there! You're family! But, is that all you wanted to talk about?"
"Yeah," Matt shrugged. "What else would it be?"
She shrugged as well in disappointment. A blush painted her cheeks. "I thought when you asked if I was up for another adventure, it was something bigger, or serious."
"Well, it is serious. I wrote this new song, but I'm not sure if it'll be a big hit."
Meiko released a polite smile and nodded. "Ok."
Matt frowned. He recognized that particular smile, and he never liked it. "You don't believe me."
She paused from answering, searching his eyes. Instead, she tucked the concert ticket inside one of her pockets. "You'll tell me when you're ready."
Matt's heart skipped a beat. She saw right through him.
Ba-bum
"You're disappointed."
"Matt, you've helped me so much that I can't even begin to figure out how to repay you. As your friend, I'm here when you're ready. That's what family does, right? We're here for each other."
"Friends," Matt muttered. "Family. Right."
"What did I say wrong?" Meiko asked, insecurity coating her voice.
Matt sighed to himself. That was not the way to say it. "No, you didn't say anything. It's me. I'm…" Were his hands sweaty? Yeah, they sure were. He rubbed them on his pants. "Crap. I'm ready to say it."
Meiko's eyes widened in surprise.
He turned to face her. "What if I wanted to be more than friends?" His hands were turning clammy. "What if, to me, being family with you isn't enough? What would you say?"
Ba-bum. Ba-bum.
Meiko's face turned bright red and she sneezed the way she always did when embarrassed or nervous.
Matt closed his eyes for a short, inward sigh. Of course she'd sneeze. He was an idiot. She didn't see him any more than a friend. He started to stand to his feet.
"I'm sorry. I'll take you home."
"You like me?" Meiko asked, taken aback.
"Uh…" He paused in the middle of standing while a nervous smile crept upward then answered, "Yeah."
She looked down to her hands and played with her fingers. "I don't understand. After everything I've done, what part of me could you possibly be attracted to? Are you sure you're not confused?"
"Confused? What is there to be confused about?"
"I was the classic 'girl in distress'. That can be very attractive to a guy that likes to fix problems."
"Meiko," Matt shook his head, disagreeing as he sat down again.
"Not to mention–" She raised a hand in the air to emphasize her point and gestured towards a group of girls passing nearby that she recognized from Tsukishima High, "–there are plenty of other girls at school that like you."
"Meiko," Matt tried to cut in.
"Why haven't you asked Mimi out?" She insisted with her point. "You two would be cute together."
A laugh of disbelief rolled out. "You've got to be kidding me! Not only is she my friend and dating Izzy, she wouldn't stop talking," he winced, holding his head, imagining the nightmare of that relationship. "Or whining. Or fussing over my clothes. Or being a pain in my ass. I'd have a constant headache. No," he rolled his eyes. "I've never thought of her that way."
"Then what about Sora?"
He raised an eyebrow with a chuckle and joked. "Are you going to name every friend that's a girl? Why not ask about Kari or Yolei too?"
"Matt!" The leader of the group of girls greeted him as they stood next to them. "Are you on a date?"
Matt held the groan he wanted to release inside. What timing. "Hi there. Did you buy tickets to the next show?"
The girls squealed. "Yes! We can't wait! One week to go!"
Matt flashed his on-stage rocker grin. "Great! Can't wait to see you all there."
They squealed again as they walked away. Matt flashed a peace sign towards them until they were farther away then sighed. The stars were emerging as he turned back to Meiko.
"You don't want to be with me, Matt," she mumbled. "I'm not good enough for you."
"Get out of here with that 'not good enough' crap," he said with annoyance. "Those girls just now? It's a rocker persona I put on so they'll buy my tickets. Most of my fans are female. It's what makes the money. It's a business. I don't care about any of the girls in school. No, I don't want to date anyone else. Not Sora. Not Mimi. Only you."
He used a finger to lift her chin.
"I don't care about your past because I've gotten to know who you really are. You're worthy of being loved, Meiko. Stop punishing yourself."
Meiko gently pulled away from his touch. Matt felt his heart sink.
"I still think you're confused because…" Meiko went quiet. She bit her lip as she first looked up to the stars, then her surroundings. "…because…you really like me?" She seemed to be asking herself more than him. Her facial expression softened as a slow smile appeared, like a happy surprise. "After everything?"
Matt wasn't sure what else to say as he scratched his head. His answer was meek.
"Yes."
The only sounds that could be heard were the waves crashing on shore. Both teenagers sat in awkward silence, unsure on how to continue the conversation. Matt didn't want to lose her after coming this far. So, he tried again.
"Here's a crazy question," he said. "Do you like me?"
She held a hand to one of her cheeks as if trying to hide how hot it felt. "I thought it was one-sided. I would have never thought in a million years you felt the same way. I thought this whole time you were only concerned about me because you took the time to see me, not the infection. Plus," she covered her eyes to hide from her next statement, "you're the sweetest guy I've ever met. Someone would have to be blind to not see that."
Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum
Matt let out a deep laugh from relief until he caught Meiko showing a hurtful expression. "I'm not laughing at you. I'm so relieved! I didn't think you felt the same way. For how long?"
"It doesn't matter. It wouldn't work out," she said with defeat, regardless that she instantly forgave him.
"Why?"
For the second time that night, it felt like his heart would shatter any second. He didn't like where this was going.
"Did you forget? I'm turning eighteen soon. After that, I'll be out on my own. I have to start looking for a job to save up money so I can afford an apartment and start paying for the rest of this school year's tuition. Then college. I won't have time for friends, or even a relationship. It's doomed from the beginning."
He gritted his teeth. "So what? We'll make it work out. We're Destined Jedi. If we can beat Himekawa, we can beat anything."
She looked up to the stars as if in search of a constellation. Wringing her wrists, she said after shutting her eyes tight, "I can't find them. I guess we're in the wrong season, but it wouldn't work between us because we'd be like Orihime and Hikoboshi. They represent the constellations Vega and Altair."
Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum
"The story of the star-crossed lovers that could only see each other once a year? As in the Tanabata Star Festival?"
Meiko nodded.
"Didn't Orihime's father disapprove of their marriage?"
She tried to say something, but was too embarrassed to say any more.
Trying to reason with her, Matt said, "I get you feel that soon the whole world will be on your shoulders, but we don't need to have all the answers right away. I can ask around to see who's offering low rent in a good neighborhood."
By now, tears streamed down her face as she wiped them with her hands.
"I don't want to feel helpless. I hate this feeling. Matt, it's better if we stay friends since I'll always be busy."
"Damn it, Meiko!"
That was the final straw. Matt had enough of the excuses. Before he even knew what he was doing, Matt held her cheeks and passionately kissed her until he felt her respond just the same.
After they parted, Matt said while hugging her tight, "No more excuses. We're not star-crossed lovers, and I won't let anything keep us from being together. Not a job, distance––nothing. You're just as worthy of having someone care for you as anybody because guess what, your past doesn't define you. Let me in, Meiko," he begged, running his fingers gently through her hair. "Let's start this new adventure together."
Meiko cried. She held onto the back of his shirt, allowing all her frustrations and worries to spill out. Matt rubbed her back in silence with the occasional kiss to the top of her head. After she calmed, Meiko pulled away using her shirt to wipe her face.
What Matt saw next made his heart leap for joy. This smile that she had on was a mixture of joy and the one she kept only for him. This one was his new favorite.
"Let's do it!" Meiko exclaimed with laughter. "Let's start this new adventure together. You're right. We can do this together."
Matt put an arm around her shoulders after positioning himself to sit side-by-side with her. He looked up to the stars with the widest grin ever as his heart thumped wildly in his chest.
He did it. He got the girl.
Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum Ba-bum
"I present your class of 2007 valedictorian, Sora Takenouchi."
Sora took a deep breath to calm her nerves as she was greeted with a round of applause when she stepped up to the podium. The auburn-haired Jedi of Love looked out at her 100 fellow graduating seniors in the gymnasium. At the very back of the gym, she saw her parents; the Kamiyas; Matt's mom, dad, stepmother and half-brother; and the other Destined Jedi. Her mother wiped tears from her eyes, while her father smiled proudly.
Sora wore her school uniform, but with a rose on the lapel, which all the other seniors wore for the ceremony. Her eyes immediately glanced at Tai sitting in the middle row. He nodded with that goofy smile on his face. She had to restrain herself from laughing as she looked at Matt, who was seated not too far from Tai. He nodded with encouragement before she began her speech.
"A very special friend told me something," she began. "That no matter what life throws at us, we have the choice of who we want in our lives when we go through it. After today, we will all be going our separate ways to pursue what we desire—whether it's university, a job, or traveling around the world. Whatever your dream is, as long as your friends are there with you, nothing is impossible."
Sora looked directly at Tai again as she began the next part of her speech.
"Before we all say goodbye and embark on our journeys as young adults, I leave you all with this advice: Have the courage to try, even when you're afraid of the unknown," then Matt, "Value friendship above all else. Love everyone around you; be a reliable friend; be sincere in your thoughts and actions; heck, even expand your knowledge." That earned a much-needed laugh from the audience. "Never lose hope; and always be the light that shines in everyone else's world. Thank you all and congratulations to my fellow graduates."
The crowd exploded with thunderous applause. The tears finally came to Sora's eyes when she walked off the stage to take her seat towards the back of the graduating class. This was not only the first day of the rest of her life, but also those of her friends.
One-by-one, each of the students received their diplomas, which were enclosed in black cylindrical cases. Matt received his first among the three of them, then Tai.
Meiko was not among them.
Sora remembered that she had left town after her eighteenth birthday a few months ago. Matt said that she went to Kyoto in hopes of getting into Kyoto University as they had an excellent veterinary science program. Last she heard, Meiko had finished their entrance exam. Sora already knew where she was going: A women's college in Tokyo. Tai had gotten a scholarship to play soccer at Waseda University and had passed their entrance exam. Matt was going to Keio University in Yokohama. Everything would soon change.
Since their schools were not far apart, she and Tai decided to find an apartment and move in together. Her mother was initially against the idea, but after some assurance from her father and talking about it more, Mrs. Takenouchi came around to it.
After a final speech by the school chairman, the ceremony concluded. Everyone went outside to see their families and mingle with their fellow graduates for the last time. So many photo ops were taken that Sora had a hard time finding a moment to breathe. Luckily, she stuck close to Tai the whole time and he helped her through it.
Finally, the two of them and Matt managed to get a moment alone with the rest of their friends.
"Congrats, you guys," Izzy congratulated them with a grin. His right arm and Mimi's left arm were intertwined together as they stood side by side. "Great job."
"I'm so happy for you!" Mimi exclaimed as she rushed forward to hug Sora. The auburn-haired girl squeaked from the force of Mimi's hug, but then settled into it. The Jedi of Sincerity then moved on to Tai and Matt.
After she hugged the blonde, she asked, "Hey, Matt, have you heard from your girlfriend yet about her entrance exam results?"
Matt nodded with a smile. "Yeah. She got into Kyoto University."
A loud cheer went through them. Sora smiled proudly. It was wonderful to hear that Meiko was doing fine on her own. Hopefully this was the start of her carving out a better life for herself than what she had before.
"Did you guys hear the news?" Tai asked them. "Mr. Nishijima's gone."
That killed the happy mood fast. A stunned silence passed by as Sora saw everyone else soak in the news. The former leader of the first team of Destined Jedi had not been at the ceremony that day. In fact, Sora could not remember seeing him since he got into his own van and drove off after Professor Mochizuki took them from the Big Sight.
"Gone? As in gone forever?" Joe asked. He was now nineteen years old and had finished his first year as a medical student at the University of Tokyo.
"It would be strange for him not to be here," Kari agreed. "Where did he go?"
Tai shrugged. "I don't know. No one could tell me." He then sighed. "Ever since the day we won, he's been incognito."
"Do you think he's alright?" TK asked.
Tai looked up at the sky. Sora followed his gaze. It was a clear, cloudless day in March. Nice and warm too. The last bits of winter snow had finally melted just a few days ago, signaling a bright, beautiful spring was on the horizon.
She nodded. "Yeah. I think he is," she said. Her arms wrapped around Tai's right arm. "We cannot guess what the future will hold, but as long as we have each other, there is nothing we can't do."
Her boyfriend looked down at her with a smile. "I could not agree more."
They kissed. How Sora thought she could go for long without this, she did not know. She never wanted to leave Tai's side ever again. He was her world.
(Ending credits song: 'I Can See Clearly Now' by Johnny Nash)
Hey, this was really fun. I hope you liked it too. Seems like we've just begun when suddenly we're through. (Bear in the Big Blue House if you guys remember ;-))
That's it. That's all, folks. Thank you so much for your love and support over these eight months. I love you all more than you could ever know. Your kind words and support motivate me to keep churning out this great content every week. There are times where a kind review brightens up my day. To everyone that has helped me out with this story (you know who you are), thank you for everything.
Leave a final review letting me know how this finale was for you.
I'll see you all again real soon. Mark your calendars for March 27: the day that my version of Kizuna comes out. Believe me when I say that you guys are going to like this one way more than the steaming pile of garbage movie we got. I'll see you all then, but for now it is time to say goodbye like I have done the last two times.
So long
Farewell
To you, my friends
Goodbye, for now
Until we meet again
Tootles.