Chapter 73

The graduation ceremony for the middle school division.

Unlike when I graduated from the elementary school division, this one is quite emotional.

After all, next month, the protagonist will be entering the high school division. I wonder what will happen.

So far, there have been quite a few small troubles, but overall, my school life has been peaceful. But from now on, who knows? It would be nice if Tachiki could just stick with Yurie-sama.

Maybe I should try to appeal to Yurie-sama through Aira-sama. But I can't think of any appealing points about Tachiki...

By the way, Aoi-chan and Sakura-chan also said today was their graduation day. Unlike Sakura-chan, who went through the school system like me, Aoi-chan's exam was so tense that it made me feel uncomfortable just watching. When I received the email saying, "I passed the exam," I was genuinely relieved.

"It's thanks to Rika-chan's pencils and headbands," how delightful.

I also studied at home with a headband. When I wandered around the house, my family was shocked. "You don't have to be so serious," my mother worried, but I was just creating the atmosphere for studying and wasn't under any pressure at all.

Rather, I was under pressure from drinking too much hot chocolate, which made my stomach a bit fuller. Going to the same place every day was probably not a good idea.

I revived the hula hoop to get through it.

Tachiki gave the graduation speech. Despite his stalker-like tendencies and his obsession with the sports festival, he is apparently the most excellent in our grade.

I thought this kind of thing was usually done by the student council president. Don't be discouraged, fellow scapegoat.

His speech on the stage was impressive, captivating not only the female students but also the male students. The emperor, who showed unshakable strength in the horseback riding competition, seems to have a firm grip on the hearts of the male students.

When the emperor announced his retirement from the horseback riding competition, there was a surge of applicants wanting to become his disciples. Among them was that ragged first-year. He apparently has a great ambition to become the next emperor of the horseback riding competition. What a steadfast fool. But how much do the male students of Zuiran love the horseback riding competition?

The emperor rejected all the disciples, saying, "Skills are not taught but stolen."

The applicants were moved, exclaiming, "Yes!" They are all fools. The male students of Zuiran are all fools. This is a serious problem.

Ensei, who is always next to me, stood a bit away at that time. It must have been a statement that he is not associated with these fools.

I thought Tachiki would definitely include a story about the horseback riding competition in his speech, as it must be his best memory from the middle school division. He kept his word.

When the ceremony ended and I went outside, there was my brother!

I was hesitant about asking him to come this year because he is busy, but he must have sensed my feelings and said he would come.

So, taking advantage of the situation, I also asked him to bring Uraura.

As promised, my brother brought a beautiful bouquet with Uraura.

Thank you, brother, for coming despite being busy! When I said I would definitely come to his university graduation ceremony to thank him, he politely declined with a smile... Why?

In addition to my brother's bouquet, I received flowers from Pivoine's juniors and, surprisingly, from Ririna's subordinates! And Ririna gave the bouquet she was holding to my brother, not me. Hey!

"Brother, please come to my graduation ceremony next year with lilies! They are Ririna's flowers!"

Lilies as her flowers? Will the emperor get angry?

Look, Ririna said it loudly, so he turned around.

"Are Ririna's flowers red spider lilies? They suit you very well."

"What are you saying! They are not lilies! My flower is the Madonna lily!"

Wow, how bold.

"Umm. I will be working next year, so I can't make a promise."

"Whaaat?"

I will go to Ririna's graduation ceremony and bring her a bouquet of lollipops, which suit her perfectly.

"Shouldn't Ririna go and greet Tachiki-sama?"

"Of course, I will go now."

Tachiki was surrounded by a crowd of female students, like a handshake event.

Ririna, holding a bouquet of blue roses, charged into the circle with her subordinates, breathing heavily.

As she turned around,

"By the way, Rika, congratulations on your graduation."

And she left that message.

What a tsundere...

"You and Ririna have become quite close, haven't you?"

"Is that so? But they say the sillier the child, the cuter they are."

I nodded, and my brother also agreed, "Yes, that's true. The sillier the child, the cuter they are."

This time, my father also brought a congratulatory bouquet to compete with my brother. "It's the queen of orchids, Cattleya. It suits Rika perfectly," he boasted.

He must have learned it from my mother or someone nearby. I underestimated my father.

Ah, Miharu-chan entered the circle with a digital camera. Oh my.

And behind her, the committee chairperson with a digital camera... Is the committee chairperson's plan failing? Did she overestimate Nakayoshi?

After taking photos of Tachiki and Ensei, Seika-chan and the others invited us to take a group photo. "Please include Rika-sama's brother," they said. Could that be their real goal?!

Still, I had a great time taking photos and laughing with my close female friends.

Unfortunately, no male students asked me for a photo. Is there no male student who admires me? You don't have to be shy. I can add a handshake now.

...Well, it's fine. My love life will surely bloom in the high school division. The curse of the bad fortune is over today!

But I am so lucky. To be celebrated by so many people.

I hope this happiness continues in the high school division and beyond, into the future.