Today was the graduation ceremony for the third years. Makoto and Haru are officially no longer Shujin students. We all met up on the roof afterwards for a more private celebration.

"It's a shame we won't get to attend alongside you, Futaba-chan," Haru said, hugging her.

"Y-Yeah," the younger girl replied, trying not to cry. "B-But I'll study real hard and make you guys proud!"

"You guys don't gotta worry about her. She's got me an' Ann lookin' out for her."

"That's not very reassuring, Ryuji," said Ann herself.

"Just this once, can you not?"

The mood was lightened by this exchange.

"Congratulations, Senpai," I said to the two. Both seemed happy to hear that from me.

"It's not just us though," Makoto noted. "You're going home for your third year. You've technically graduated from Shujin too."

Ryuji wrapped an arm around my neck. "Yeah, who'd've thought this guy'd actually be able to get through the year without gettin' kicked out?"

"Ryuji!" Ann chastised.

"What? I'm just sayin', the teachers really had it in for 'im back in April. Especially Kamoshida 'n' Kobayakawa. We almost did get kicked out back then."

"But we overcame that crisis by working together," I added. "Thanks for your help back then, Ann."

She blushed at the praise. "Th-Thanks. You, too. I couldn't have fought back against Kamoshida without you guys."

"Hey, what about me?" Morgana demanded as his head popped out of my bag.

"You're really gonna butt in on Ann's spotlight?" Ryuji said in a tone that suggested he knew he had Morgana beat.

"I... I don't...Mmm..." Morgana retreated into my bag and we all laughed.

"That guy is a mega simp," Futaba noted.

"Getting back to the earlier point," Yusuke interrupted, "I, too, would like to thank you all again for helping to open my eyes to the abuse I was suffering under, and to find the inner strength to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves."

"I feel the same way," Haru added.

"I think we all do," Futaba chimed in. "And I don't need to have you guys bugged to know that. Mwehehe."

"You don't, though, right?" Ann asked, voicing our collective concern, but received no answer.

"Concerning addendum aside," said Makoto, "it is true that we all owe you guys a lot. Especially you," she added, turning to me. You saw us through thick and thin, and you were always there to listen to our problems and help us through them."

The others nodded in agreement. I scratched my cheek in embarrassment.

"Come on, guys. I couldn't have done it without you. You're the ones who had the strength to persevere through everything holding you down. And you also helped me with my own emancipation. You were there to help me with Shido's shadow, remember?"

Futaba expressed her surprise in her usual unusual way. "Even though it turned into the final boss of Metal Gear Rising?"

"Even then. Even setting aside how they all abandoned me after the allegations, none of my 'friends' from back home even compare to you guys. None of them were as reliable as Ryuji, as faithful as Morgana, as strong as Ann, as unique as Yusuke, as caring as Makoto, as smart as Futaba, as kind as Haru, or as dedicated as Sumire. I..." I couldn't stop the tears from flowing now. And neither could the others. "I'm really gonna miss you guys."

Ann was the first to step closer and hug me. Then, Futaba and Haru. And then the others. I wish I didn't have to go home next week.