Daiki Miyamura dropped Shouko off at Futaba Kindergarten and told Ms. Ueo at the gate that Akira would be absent today due to a cold.
"Are you still feeling dizzy or weak?" Shizuka Miyamura asked gently, pulling the mercury thermometer out from under Akira's arm. The fever had gone down slightly.
Akira watched as his mother came in every ten minutes to check on him. Any trace of sleepiness had long vanished.
"Just a little tired," Akira replied, shaking his head.
"Then I'll check on you later," Shizuka said, standing up and heading back to the living room to watch TV.
But Akira quickly stopped her. "Mom, I want to try to sleep for a bit. Can you come check on me every ten minutes? I think it helps me relax."
"…Alright." Shizuka realized she may have been a little too anxious, so she nodded and quietly closed the door behind her.
Left alone, Akira lay in bed, staring at the sky outside his window, slowly drifting off to sleep.
A few sparrows fluttered past the window.
"Akira, wake up! Today's the big day!" Shouko's excited voice called from outside the room. Akira's gaze moved from the window to the door.
"You're not sleeping in today for once!" Shouko chirped as she gently opened the door. She was surprised to see Akira already awake and sitting up.
"Go on ahead. I'll change and be right down," Akira said, not answering her teasing directly.
Shouko nodded and headed downstairs while Akira quickly changed into his kindergarten uniform and followed after her.
"I can't believe it… Akira and Shouko are already graduating. Time really flies," Daiki Miyamura sighed as Akira passed by the dining room on his way to the bathroom.
Without stopping, Akira called back, "Dad, don't tell me you're going to say you feel old now?"
He didn't hear what Daiki replied after that as he disappeared into the bathroom.
Once everyone was ready, Daiki drove Shizuka and the two children to kindergarten. Today, Shizuka even brought along a special pink backpack, looking rather mysterious.
It was graduation day, and the kindergarten was holding a ceremony. A simple stage had been set up a week ago, and parents were invited to watch the children perform a choral number they had been practicing for months. Due to the unique makeup of the Sakura Class, they would be performing a group dance instead.
"Come on! Let's grab the front row before it fills up," Shizuka said eagerly as she stepped out of the car, holding a child in each hand and heading straight toward the auditorium, leaving Daiki trailing behind.
"Mom, is Aunt Nishimiya coming today?" Akira asked curiously. He hadn't thought to ask earlier—Yaeko Nishimiya was always so busy. It was only because Shizuka insisted on reserving three seats that he thought to ask.
"She should be here by the time it starts." Shizuka wasn't entirely sure either. After securing their seats, she sent Akira and Shouko back to their classroom to listen to Ms. Ueo's instructions.
Thankfully, Yaeko Nishimiya arrived just before the Sakura Class took the stage. From the stage, Shouko spotted her sitting next to Shizuka and immediately straightened up, performing with even more enthusiasm.
As the final performance ended, the auditorium erupted in warm applause. Even the children in the younger classes cheered enthusiastically.
"Here," Ms. Yoshinaga, seated in the audience, handed a tissue from her bag to Ms. Ueo, who was quietly sobbing.
"This was my first time teaching a graduating class… I didn't think it would hit me this hard," Ms. Ueo said, dabbing at her eyes.
Ms. Yoshinaga chuckled softly and said gently, "You've been with them since they were toddlers. It's completely normal to feel emotional."
Her own eyes were red too, though not as tearful as Ms. Ueo's.
After the performance, the children returned to their classroom. The girls took out small gifts they had prepared in secret and began exchanging them excitedly, while the boys just huddled together, chatting as if nothing was changing. There was no visible sadness—yet.
"Alright, everyone, take your seats," Ms. Ueo called out as she entered the classroom. "The teacher has a few words before you go."
As Shouko returned to her seat, Akira noticed her backpack bulging oddly and didn't know what to say.
Sensing his gaze, Shouko leaned over and whispered, "Don't worry, Akira. I made something for you too."
"Alright, that's it from me," Ms. Ueo said, clapping her hands briskly to end her farewell speech.
She sat down in the tiny teacher's chair at the front of the room, and after all the children had said their goodbyes, she stayed behind to check the room and lock up.
One by one, children approached Ms. Ueo, bowed, said goodbye, and left through the wooden classroom door. Their parents were waiting for them downstairs.
Eventually, only five girls and Akira remained.
Ms. Ueo was puzzled—why were they still sitting there, staring at Shouko?
"Wait for me, Akira," Shouko said suddenly, standing up with resolve. She walked to the front of the classroom holding a small, plush white rabbit doll.
She bowed and held it out to Ms. Ueo. "Thank you for taking care of me these past three years," she said shyly.
Ms. Ueo stared at the doll in surprise. She hadn't expected any gifts. Embarrassed by her lack of preparation, she hesitated, trying to suppress her emotions so Shouko wouldn't see her cry.
But Shouko's courage inspired the others. The five girls followed suit, each pulling out their own handmade gifts and walking up to the front.
"Thank you for your care these past three years…" they all said at once, voices overlapping but full of sincerity.
Ms. Ueo hadn't even noticed them standing. As she looked at the variety of heartfelt gifts being handed to her, though their words weren't clear, the message rang loud and true.
"Here, Ms. Ueo." Akira walked up, offering her a tissue.
Only then did she realize tears had started streaming down her face. She took the tissue and, her voice trembling, said, "I didn't prepare anything for you… You kids are too much…"
"It's okay, Ms. Ueo," Akira said gently. "I didn't bring anything either…"
"That's not true!" Ms. Yoshinaga's eyes sparkled as she waved the tissue Akira had handed over. "This is the gift Akira prepared!"
"…Does this count too?" Akira asked sheepishly.
"Of course it does. When the teacher needed something, you were the first to help. That's a gift from the heart," Ms. Ueo said, her eyes moist but smiling. She knelt down and pulled Shouko into a warm hug. "Thank you, my sweet Shouko."
The other girls giggled and rushed to the front.
They placed their gifts carefully on the podium, forming a small pile of childhood gratitude and affection.
Support me at .com/Lukas25