Chapter Two – The Walk to School
As the fourteen finished their breakfast, they went their separate ways to finish getting ready for school. Wataru was in his bedroom, donning his graduation outfit. He looked at himself in the mirror, wondering what was next. He questioned himself about the events that occurred at breakfast. Wataru said under his breath, "What is this feeling welling up inside of me?" Ever since the day he told Mami that he wasn't going to Tokyo, he saw her in a different light. This was the first time Wataru had felt something like this, as he had been alone for years before coming to the Welcome House. A lot had happened in the last three years. He scoffed in spite of himself, tossing aside the feeling inside of him, for now anyway. He left his room, headed downstairs to go to school with his sisters. As he came out of his room, he bumped into Hinako who was horse-playing in the hallway. Laughing uncontrollably, Hinako asked in her cute little voice, "Hey, Bro-Bro, I want a piggyback ride. Can I have a piggyback ride, please, Bro-Bro?" Gladly obliging, Wataru said, "Sure, Hina," as she jumped onto his back and clasped her arms around his shoulders. As they traipsed downstairs, Hina was singing joyfully to the beat of Wataru's steps. Hinako released her grip on him when they got to the bottom floor. Hinako exclaimed, "Thank you so much, Bro-Bro! I love you so very much. Congratulations on your graduation!" With a grateful tone to his voice, Wataru responded, "You're welcome, Hina." As the group gathered together, Wataru said, "Well, everyone, let's all walk to school together for the last time." Realizing the gravity of the situation, a few sniffles could be heard as the room got quiet for a few seconds. Wataru stood by the door as his sisters walked by him, one by one, each girl engaging in a warm embrace and giving their beloved brother their congratulations as they walked by. They all gathered on the front lawn after Wataru shut the door.
Now outside, Wataru asked, "Is everyone ready?" Right before anyone could respond, rushed footsteps could be heard approaching them, and a familiar voice bellowed, "Wait for me, ladies!" Everyone knew that it was Yamada coming. He stopped for a bit to catch his breath, and flashed his trademark smile. "You weren't thinking about walking to school without me, were you?" Yamada crooned arrogantly. A few groans ensued, but the sisters were still very upbeat. "Hello there, Yamada," Wataru said. "I have come to accompany you lovely ladies to school for the last time today," said Yamada, his voice cracking. "I'm really going to miss you all," said Yamada, as his voice degenerated to his trademark bawling as tears streamed from his face. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, with not even a hint of a cloud in sight. The sun shone down on the group, as if to say to Wataru, Karen, Mami, and Yamada, "This is your day. Enjoy it." The fifteen friends walked happily to school, chatting cheerfully as they went. As the group approached their school, Wataru, Karen, Yamada, and Mami stood there for a while as the others started walking up the steps. Yotsuba popped out and yelled, "Wait! I want to check Brother Dearest out with his classmates on his glorious graduation day!" She pulled her camera out and began snapping shots of the four graduates from different angles, saying, "Check it out, and check it out!" When she was finished taking the pictures, she sidled up to Wataru, and said, "I will treasure these forever, Brother Dearest, congratulations," as a couple of stray tears trickled from her eyes. "Thank you so much, Yotsuba," said Wataru. The four graduates walked arm-in-arm up to the front door of the school, while the others scurried about their separate ways to their classrooms. Mami said, "Let's go to our classroom, Bud," and the four friends strolled to their class.