I'm Yours
By: Iceyicecream
Chapter 26: Graduation
"Ryosuke is going to get out of school soon isn't he?" Ryoma asked Sakuno
Sakuno nodded her head, "and he's going to be in middle school in no time"
"Aoi is going to start kindergarten next year too isn't she?"
Sakuno nodded her head and frowned. Ryoma noticed this and wrapped his arms around his wife, "do you wanna make another one?" He asked playfully.
Sakuno hit him softly, "Mou!"
Ryoma chuckled and buried his face in the crook of her neck. "We've grown up so much since high school."
Sakuno nodded her head, "yeah...though that was a sad year."
"Why?" Ryoma asked looking up.
"Because you had left that summer to America to compete right after graduation and I didn't know whether or not I was going to-"
"Do you still have it?" Ryoma asked cutting in
"Have what?" Sakuno asked confused.
Ryoma pointed to his neck and Sakuno gasped. She raced to their bedroom and rummaged through her jewelry box. She came back with a golden locket in her hand.
FLASHBACK
"All 3rd years please rise!" The principal stated.
All graduating students rose to their feet. Sakuno smiled and clasped Tomoka's hand, "this is the last time we'll be students here." Tomoka's squealed
Sakuno nodded her head and looked forward to find the back of Ryoma's head and her heart felt a squeezing feeling. Tomoka's saw her best friend's face and squeezed her hand, "everything is going to work out Sakuno-Chan."
Sakuno turned and couldn't help but smile. "Mmm"
"You all are our futures and I am proud to have you all as my student," one of the teacher's stated, "we have great expectations for all of you. Now I would like to call up Ryuzaki Sakuno to the stage to present her farewell address."
All the 3rd years applauded as Sakuno made her way to the stage some even whistled which caused her to redden. Sakuno looked at all the faces of her fellow peers and couldn't help but feel a fluttering feeling in her stomach, this may be the last time she saw these people. "Good morning, hopefully you all are aware of whom I am, but if you are not, my name is Ryuzaki Sakuno and I am standing before you to represent all of us 3rd year. We've been through so much this past year and the years before. We've struggled throughout elementary, middle, and high school and we're only going to struggle more throughout our life. But we will never forget this year that we spent preparing our transition to college. I must admit that I am afraid what is to become of me and my future but I am not afraid of that I will be able to achieve the goals and expectations I have laid out for myself. We all have our own goals that we want to pursue and I have no doubt in my mind that we are all able and capable of achieving these goals." Sakuno looked at everyone sitting, "and the last words I would like to say...I would like all of you to look around and remember these faces around you. These faces are the faces of those you will see on TV or see in the newspaper doing outstanding things. And do not forget that you are never alone. Thank you and congratulations everyone in graduating."
Sakuno bowed and made her way off the stage. Everyone cheered and applauded Sakuno. Tomoka smiled and hugged her best friend, "Spoken like a prophet!"
Sakuno playfully smacked Tomoka, "Mou!"
The principal went back to the mike. "Thank you, now I will call up all graduating student to the front to receive their diploma."
One by one each student was called up to the stage and when all diplomas were handed out there a moment of pure silence. "I would like to now congratulate all of you on your completion of high school."
Everyone cheered and the doors to the gym were opened and everyone headed out. There was a buzz outside as people swarmed around the graduating students. Outside, underclass men were crying and there were lovers embracing. Sakuno looked frantically for Ryoma but she couldn't find him, where had he had gone? "Looking for me?" A voice tickled at her ear.
Sakuno let out a yelp of surprise and spun around to see Ryoma with his shirt unbuttoned showing a green t-shirt under. "Congratulations," Ryoma said showing her his rare smile.
Sakuno nodded her head, "Mmm, you too."
Ryoma opened his mouth and was about to say something but his phone began to ring. "Sorry." He said as he pulled it out to check who it was.
He frowned and excused himself and started talking in English. Sakuno was still not as fluent as Ryoma but she could understand a majority of what he was saying. "Yeah, I know but at least let me stay for a few weeks…what? What do you mean? You said that it doesn't start until next month! Just let me stay a few weeks, you know I'll train on my own."
Ryoma hung up the phone and let out a sigh and walked back over to Sakuno who was frowning. "Do you have to go?" She asked.
Ryoma shook his head and wrapped his arm around her waist. "No."
Sakuno smiled. "Okay."
Ryoma kissed her forehead. "I can't wait to see what will be in store for us in the future."
Sakuno smiled. "Me either."