At the door, they bowed to the teachers, parents, and juniors in the stadium, then walked through the corridor formed by their juniors and arrived at the front of the formation.
[Ah! I can’t see anything!]
[The position of the trombone is too disadvantageous]
[I’m satisfied just looking at their backs]
[I want to see that handsome guy just now!!!]
[No worries, he will go up to speak later, surely we’ll be able to see him]
Everyone took their seats, and the Wind Music paused as the dean of instruction took charge of the graduation proceedings.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed parents..."
After a lengthy introduction, he said, "Next, I would like to invite the representative from the first grade, Dubian Che, to come up on stage and deliver his speech."
In the venue, the applause from the students was particularly enthusiastic, especially among the girls.
Some parents guessed it was because the children had had enough of the head of instruction’s speeches;
Some thought that this student, Dubian Che, was very popular;
Others guessed that the children simply wanted to amplify the grandeur of the graduation stage with their applause.
Following the children’s gaze, a student near the stage stood up.
He was slightly taller than the average male high school student and extremely handsome.
He walked with confidence, his slow steps seemingly carrying the wind.
His back was straight, his eyes looked straight ahead, and occasionally he glanced around, almost like a bright sunshine piercing through dark clouds.
Such a person clearly looked intelligent;
Such a person clearly seemed flawless;
Such a person clearly appeared sincere.
Moreover, he radiated strong confidence.
He believed he was the finest among young people, believed in his talents, believed that one day he would own the world—it was this confidence that defined him.
As everyone marveled at the young man’s demeanor and were captivated by his handsomeness, a beautiful female teacher suddenly walked over and stopped him.
Curiosity swept through the crowd.
The teacher spoke softly to the young man while quickly buttoning up his unbuttoned school uniform.
Afterward, with an apologetic bow to those around, she swiftly returned to her seat.
The sophomores near that area burst into laughter.
"Mr. Dubian can be absent-minded, too," murmured the Wind Instrument Club as they discussed the scene.
"He must be used to unbuttoning his school uniform."
"It’s acceptable in the summer, but in the winter, it’s just for show," Yuzao Haomei argued, staying true to her stance as ’Dubian Black.’
"But Mr. Dubian is handsome whether he buttons his school uniform or not."
"I concur too; it’s just a different style of handsome."
"Do you all have eye problems?"
"Haomei, why do you always bad-mouth Mr. Dubian? Is there a conflict?"
"It’s weird that you guys have forgotten how he insulted us," Yuzao Haomei could not understand these people.
Mr. Dubian walked to the podium.
"Hello everyone, I am the first grade representative, Dubian Che."
His clear and melodious voice echoed through the speakers, reaching everyone’s ears, and the gymnasium quieted down.
"Grass germinates, oaks blossom, warm wind blows from the sea..."
His voice lacked much emotion, yet it deeply sounded melancholic.
Just hearing the phrase "oaks blossom" made Ichiki Aoi feel distressed.
She looked at Mayi, the senior, gazing towards the stage.
After today, no matter how many times she came to school, she would never hear the beautiful sound of the tenor horn played by her senior echoing down the corridor.
She would no longer be by her side.
She would never play the tenor horn by her side again.
"Next, I’d like to invite the representative of the third-year graduates, Mayi Asuka, onto the stage."
Hearing this voice, Ichiki Aoi snapped back to reality, only to realize her eyes were blurred with tears, unable to see the farewell ceremony in front of her.
She quickly wiped her tears.
It wasn’t just her; many in the Wind Instrument Club were tearful.
Perhaps they too were loathing to part with Mayi Asuka, perhaps it was the regret for saying goodbye to corps leader Komatsu Misaki, perhaps for the Saxophone section, it was the senior Miyazaki...
Everyone had their own treasures.
On stage, the representative from the first year year pinned cherry blossoms on the graduates of the third year.
"Hello everyone, I am Mayi, a representative of third-year graduates..."
When the speeches concluded, the instruction head advanced once more, spoke into the microphone:
"Graduates, please stand."
The third year stood up, everyone watching them.
"The school anthem, let’s sing together."
The Wind Instrument Club played the music, and the third year sang the last Goda school song.
"Shibuya Hills, where crows fly over the school, our alma mater, Goda."
This was the school song.
At the beginning of the school year, it was the song of welcome;
During competitions, it was the song of glory;
Now, it was the song of farewell.
It lingered in the large and enclosed space of the gymnasium.