I received a text message the night of Christmas day. It's from the school administration office. The message says, "To all graduating students, you are expected to return tomorrow for a very important announcement. Attendance is a must,"
It is supposed to be our long break until New Year's Day yet this news came. I wonder what's going on.
I walk downstairs to inform mom about the news from our school. We have agreed to visit dad tomorrow but I think it's postponed.
"Is that so?" she utters in a low voice after I told her about to text message I received.
"Yeah," I nod and I can see how mom's face glooms and she smiles bitterly.
"Well, I think it can't be helped," she says while smiling.
"We can visit him the next day though," I tell her and she shakes her head.
"I need to go back to work the day after tomorrow," she says and I feel bad about it. She and I badly want to visit dad together. We haven't done it for a while now because of our differing schedules.
"But it's okay. It's important, right? So you have to come. We will visit dad in our spare time. I know he will understand the situation," she smiles at me and gets back to washing the plates.
"Yeah," I sigh. She pauses from her work and turns her head to look at me.
"You must go to bed now, honey. Today was a big day and I know you're already tired. Leave the rest to me," she waves like telling me to go upstairs.
"Are you sure? Don't you need my help anymore?" I ask worrying maybe she still needs me. She shakes her head and I nod. I stand up from the chair and walk to my room.
"Do you have any idea why we were called in the middle of our break?" Chocho asked me when we get to the classroom and I shrug as a response to her.
"It's strange, you know?" I say and she nods. Only graduating students were called for the important announcement.
"Maybe they will announce our early graduation," she giggles and I sigh while shaking my head. She sounds very excited to go to University.
The room is slowly filled with people greeting everyone Merry Christmas. Boruto enters the room and wears his usually smiling face. I wonder if he and Sumire are okay now.
He heads straight to his seat and before he fully sits down on his chair he stares at me and greets me Merry Christmas. I did not see it coming and my response is somewhat stuttering. He smiles and occupies his seat.
"What does it mean?" Chocho pokes my cheek and I look at her.
"I don't know," I answer and she raises one brow.
"Huh?" she utters in confusion and then I notice someone's presence from the corners of my eyes, it's Sumire. Instead of sitting next to Boruto, she sits beside Namida.
"I smell something fishy in here," Chocho mutters and we look at each other.
So, they are still not okay with each other.
Tsubaki and Yodo exchange whispers. It seems that they are gossiping about Sumire.
In a few minutes, our adviser enters the classroom and everyone gets back on their seats. She stands in front of the table and crosses her arms.
"Well," she gazes from left to right.
"Kawaki's not here yet?" she says and we glance at his seat. I haven't noticed his presence and he did not even cross my mind. Then that scene from the mall flashbacks and I feel so annoyed all of a sudden. I hate that jerk!
"He doesn't have a phone maybe he is unaware of the announcement," I unconsciously say and everyone looks at me. My eyes stretched in shock realizing I have said it louder than I expected. I cup my mouth in front of them feeling so ashamed. I did not intend to say it out loud but I wanted to say it to myself.
Chocho nudges me on my side and I look at her. I think my face is red. If I could run away from the classroom, I think I am a few meters away from them now.
"I see. Kawaki seems to have liked your company Sarada. He is the type that doesn't talk much to others. I'm so glad that I made you two closer," our adviser says cheerfully. I can't help myself from constantly blinking my eyes internalizing what she said.
"No, no. I think you got it wrong. I remember him saying he doesn't have a phone, that's all," I try to clear their doubts. I don't want to be the headline of the platform today.
She just laughs at me and randomly waves in front of us. A few minutes later, someone stands at the doorway that catches our attention.
"Kawaki, glad that you're here now," our adviser speaks to him, and he walks inside the room while his hands are in his pockets. He walks silently in the direction of his desk and settles down upon reaching the point.
"Since all of you are here, let me start with the announcement," she finally says and everyone pays attention.
I can hear my classmates buzz at the back and I secretly peek at them from the corners of my eye.
"First of all, I apologize if you were called here all of a sudden. It's still supposed to be your break but you need to come today for this very important announcement," she continues and clears her throat before speaking again.
"I have good news and bad news for you. Which one do you want to hear first?" she asks us and the majority of the class yells, "good news".
"I think you are not yet ready for the bad news," she laughs awkwardly.
"This good news is about your one-week camp before graduation. And I know you are already expecting it," she reveals and everyone rejoices. This is what we are waiting for.
This camp is about having fun, thinking about what career you are going to choose before getting into a University, and reconciling with people with who you have had a conflict lately so there will be no hard feelings before you go separate ways.
"Teacher, we are so excited about it," Namida giggles, and Wasabi pats her back.
"It's obvious right now," she responds keeping her arms crossed.
"What is the bad news?" Denki asks and everyone silences. I am afraid this bad news is extreme and I am crossing my fingers wishing my fear will not come true.
"The bad news is your camp will start tomorrow until New Year's Day," she confesses and we all are like, "What?!"
"Our principal rushed this because our school was chosen to hold an international sports competition a month before your graduation, and the rest of the months are already scheduled for all important events. This sudden twist of events pushed us to conduct the camp this week," she explains and this is very awful.
"So that means, we are not celebrating New Year's Eve and New Year's Day with our family?" Yodo scoffs.
"This is unfair. I have plans with mom and dad for New Year's Eve," Tsubaki adds to complain.
"I know it's being unfair with you all but we have to abide by the rules of the principal and this is out of our control too. You need to come no matter what because this is one of your requirements for graduation together with your two-day community service," she continues, and buzzes become louder and louder.
"We have no choice, right?" Wasabi asks her and she nods to confirm it. I am thinking that I would not be able to visit dad with mom and to welcome the new year with her too. Sadly, this is my first time celebrating New Year's Day without mom.
"I apologize for this but please try to understand," she humbles herself knowing how sad it is for us and for her too. She had to sacrifice celebrating this once-a-year event with her family because she is coming with us as well.
"No way," I hear some of them cry in frustration.
"That's all and please prepare yourselves for tomorrow. We will depart at 7:30 a.m.," she reminds us and Denki speaks to her.
"Where are we going to do the camp this year?" she is astonished for a moment gesturing like she forgot to tell us about it.
"Well, the principal said it's at the Saiko Wildbird Forest Park. Mount Fuji looks stunning in winter," she smiles at us and we are in awe. I have never seen Mount Fuji and it makes me excited.
"Saiko Wildbird Forest Park is very close to Mount Fuji. We can see how beautiful it is from there," Denki says and everyone is amazed by his words. He sure is very knowledgeable about places and other stuff.
"Have you seen Mount Fuji, Chocho?" I press her side to make her look at me. She shakes her head and I can say that she is excited too. I can see her eyes glitter like the stars at night.
"You know what? It's romantic when you do the camp in a freezing place. It feels like love warms your heart," how odd it is to hear her say this kind of stuff.
"How is it romantic when you don't have a boyfriend to share the born fire with?" I say while narrowing my eyes at her.
"Well..." she didn't finish her sentence because our adviser interrupts her.
"You have to prepare thick coats, booths, and scarves," she adds, and we all nod.
"Do you have questions?" she asks and we shake our heads.
"If none, you can proceed to my office after this for the waiver," she says and grabs her things from the table and waves goodbye to us.
The last year's batch will be jealous of us. It's them who suggested the Mount Fuji camp yet they had been rejected," Iwabe says and Denki adds, "We are lucky to have been chosen to conduct the camp in the Saiko Forest Park. But, I am sure the place is stunning in the spring," Iwabe pouts and raises one brow.
"Is that so? But what's important is we are going near the spot," Iwabe remains positive and he is looking forward to it like everyone else.
I am stuck between coming and staying at home to accompany mom to New Year's Eve.
"Let's go to the faculty office and get our waiver. I'm so excited to see Mount Fuji," Chocho says and stands up from her seat.
I don't know what to do but I badly need this to graduate. I know mom will understand.
"Don't worry about me, Sarada. I'll be fine here. You need to come it's for your graduation," mom cheerfully says after I told her about the announcement.
"Are you sure? You'll be alone here from tomorrow until New Year's Day," I worry that she will need me here.
"Come on, you don't have to worry about the chores too. I won't cook much just enough for the both of us. And I won't stress myself out at work too," she tries to comfort me and doesn't want to make me worry.
"I will call you always, okay?" I say and she nods.
"Go and prepare your things. You will depart early in the morning, right?" she waves in front of me like telling me to go upstairs already. I nod and stand up from the chair and go to my room.
"You finish packing?" I received a text message from Chocho. I type my reply to her, "Yeah," and a few seconds she replies once again, "All right, see you tomorrow,"
I did not reply anymore and slams my back on the bed. I wonder what are we going to do there and we need to stay for like a week.
I think I am overthinking again. I must enjoy the trip and return home with a peaceful mind and heart.
I hope that our goals for going there will be achieved.