Author's Note: I've searched high and low for info on Japanese graduation ceremonies, but I couldn't find any mentioning how honor students are awarded, so I decided to pattern this after the graduation ceremonies I know. J

Disclaimer: I do not own Gravitation nor any of its characters. I do own Dr. Aizawa Oribe and Fumiko.

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Title: Medals

Word Count: 673

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"Taki, you're getting honors," Ma-kun whispered excitedly beside him.

"I know," came the subdued reply.

"'I know'? What kinda answer is that?! I'm more excited than you!" Ma-kun punched the sullen youth lightly on the arm.

"I'm not gonna shriek like a fuckin' girl, Ma. It's no big deal. It's pretty easy getting honors, if you don't slack off so much." Taki replied with a pointed look.

Ma-kun stuck his tongue out. "Listen to the smart one talk. Be nice. It's graduation! Finally, out of this hellhole."

Taki laughed softly. "Damn right."

"You going to Osaka University, right?"

"Hush, they're calling the names now."

Over the loudspeaker: "With honors: Abe Hirotada, Sato Akiko, Tanaka Rikyu." In their school, whenever an honor student was called, the parents would stand and meet their child at the aisle and together they ascend the stage to receive the medal from the principal. The beaming parent would pin the medal on her child's lapel and then descend, some as slowly as possible, basking in the spotlight.

When the students and their parents left the stage, Ms. Haruko looked up from the podium. Although her mouth remained set, a twinkle in her eyes broke her somber expression. "And now, second honors. Aizawa Taki."

Taki stood and proceeded to the aisle. As he passed, his classmates grinned and whooped silently, some giving thumbs-up signs. Taki managed a small smile, and upon reaching the aisle, bowed as required, and ascended the stage. Alone.

The low buzz permeating the auditorium suddenly died down. Ms. Haruko's eyebrows lifted a fraction but he pretended to miss the look, passing her with a deadpan expression. It seemed only the principal understood what was going on. With a sympathetic smile, he pinned the medal onto Taki's lapel. Again Taki missed the look and descended the stage. As he made his way back to his seat, the grins and cheers were gone; everyone seemed to suddenly find their folded hands fascinating.

Ma-kun, being Ma-kun, immediately got on Taki's case. "Dude, where are your folks?! What happened?" Taki sighed, noticing his classmates in the row ahead slightly lean backward. Loud enough for them to hear, he replied, "Dad had an emergency at the hospital, and mom's down with a virus." His classmates seemed to deflate back to their normal positions.

"That majorly sucks man. If I got honors, I think my mom would have the whole frikkin' town in tow."

Taki shrugged and stared down at his hands. Good for Ma. Taki wished his parents were as supportive. But no, only the best could satisfy them. Not one person here needed to know he lied, that his parents were lounging at home, Dr. Aizawa Oribe probably poring over medical journals and reports and elegant Fumiko entertaining fellow bored snooty wives at another tea party, boycotting their only son's graduation simply because he wasn't valedictorian.

I'm not good enough for them. Not he, with his near-perfect grades and amazing vocal talent. Bitterly, he recalled the time he ran up to his father with the Osaka Times and excitedly showed him an enthusiastic praise of his performance at the school musical. His dad had thrown the newspaper in the trash without even looking at it.

Enough with that foolishness. You're going to become a doctor, he'd said sternly.

Taki recalled they never attended a single show of the one-week run.

As soon as the ceremonies were over, Taki made his way towards the exit. He paused by the door, fingering his medal and recalling all the sleepless nights suffered for this fancy piece of metal.

When the janitor cleaned the auditorium later that evening, he would find a medal with the name of Aizawa Taki on the seat next to the door. He would bring it to the principal's office and the principal, when he comes in the next morning, would call the Aizawa household. But by then Taki, with only a knapsack of clothes and $400 in his billfold, would've already arrived in Tokyo, leaving a medical scholarship and an uncaring family behind.

- end -