Anime Crossover : Living in the Heart of Tokyo

The rest of the school year passed uneventfully, and soon, graduation day arrived.

The gymnasium had been transformed into a venue for the graduation ceremony.

Parents sat toward the back, while the front rows of chairs remained empty, waiting for the graduates to complete the ceremony and take their seats.

Hojou Kyousuke wore a black gakuran uniform with a white flower pinned to his chest.

He stood in line with his classmates, following their homeroom teacher, Takeuchi, who was dressed in a plain kimono.

The school didn't usually require students to wear this uniform, reserving it for special occasions like today.

To be honest, Kyousuke felt a little nervous.

Despite his adult soul, the solemnity of the graduation ceremony was overwhelming—singing the school anthem, listening to guest speeches, and so on.

Originally, the principal had chosen him as the valedictorian due to his top grades and acceptance into Higashi Middle School, but he had declined.

His mother, Mikiko, had been upset about it for a while, saying she had planned to invite all their relatives from their hometown to watch.

Kyousuke broke into a cold sweat just thinking about it.

Thank goodness he had refused.

Still, being part of the ceremony, Kyousuke couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment.

First up was Class 1 of Grade 6—Yamauchi Sakura's class.

"Yamauchi Sakura."

Sakura, as carefree as ever, walked up to the stage.

While some of her classmates were so nervous they stumbled, she practically bounced up to receive her diploma.

After accepting it from the principal, she even waved it toward her mother and then flashed a big smile at Kyousuke.

'This girl...' Kyousuke thought, his tension melting away at Sakura's radiant smile.

Next was Class 2 of Grade 6.

Takeuchi stepped onto the stage and stood beside the principal, calling out names from the roster.

"..."

"Nishimiya Shoko."

The little girl, also dressed in the black uniform, walked up with precise, almost robotic steps.

Her serious expression made Kyousuke chuckle.

In the parents' section, Nishimiya Yaeko covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face as she watched her daughter receive her diploma.

Mikiko quickly wrapped an arm around her to comfort her.

'Shoko graduated from a regular school!' Yaeko was overwhelmed with emotion.

If this school hadn't worked out, she had been prepared to send Shoko to a special needs school, as her previous school had suggested.

But thanks to Hojou Kyousuke, that hadn't been necessary.

"Ueno Naoka."

This girl was much more composed, only smiling at Kyousuke as she walked off the stage.

"Hojou Kyousuke."

Taking a deep breath, Kyousuke stepped onto the stage.

"Hojou-kun, congratulations on your graduation."

He received special treatment—not only did the principal offer his congratulations, but Takeuchi also smiled with relief as he handed over the diploma.

"Thank you," Kyousuke said with a bow before stepping down.

After the formalities, the ceremony moved into the free photo-taking session.

Some students took photos with their homeroom teacher, others with classmates—every corner of the gymnasium was filled with people capturing memories.

The first to approach Kyousuke was Ueno Naoka.

"Kyousuke!"

As soon as he turned around, a small hand grabbed his uniform.

Before he could react, a strong tug nearly knocked him off balance.

"Ugh, why are these buttons sewn on so tightly?"

Failing in her sneak attack, Naoka pulled out a small pair of scissors from her pocket.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing, Naoka?"

"Huh? Taking your button, of course."

"I know that, but why?"

"You really don't know? Don't tell me you're that old-fashioned."

Without further explanation, Naoka snipped off the second button from Kyousuke's jacket.

"What?! Naoka, you're so sneaky!" Sakura's voice rang out as she rushed over.

As the class favorite, she had been swarmed with photo requests but had noticed the commotion and fought her way through the crowd—only to be a step too late.

"Fine, then I'll take the shirt button! It's closer to Kyousuke's heart!"

With that, Sakura grabbed Kyousuke's shirt and easily yanked off the second button.

"Um, I'll take the third one," Shoko's timid voice chimed in.

Though she looked embarrassed, she efficiently pulled out her own pair of scissors and snipped off the third button from Kyousuke's jacket.

"Hey, hey, what's going on? How am I supposed to take photos like this?"

Kyousuke's jacket was now wide open, and his shirt was partially unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his well-defined chest.

Hearing his complaint, the three girls burst into laughter.

"Ara, Kyousuke, did you save a button for your mom?" Mikiko teased, having appeared out of nowhere to watch the scene unfold.

"Mom, don't make things worse. I'm already confused enough."

Kyousuke tried to straighten his clothes, but Mikiko pulled him aside to explain the tradition of graduation buttons.

"Huh? Are these girls all Sakura's readers or something? Believing that a button close to the heart symbolizes love? That's ridiculous!"

"Anyway, that's how it is. Now go back."

"Hey, wait—"

Before Kyousuke could protest, Mikiko pushed him back into the fray.

Now understanding the significance of Naoka's request, Kyousuke felt a bit overwhelmed.

Unlike Sakura, whom he knew would eventually become family, he had never realized Naoka harbored such feelings for him.

With Mikiko gone, the girls returned to normal.

"Kyousuke-kun, do you remember the night you walked me home after the choir competition?" Naoka began.

Sakura, ever considerate, quietly pulled Shoko away to take photos with Takimoto Kyoko and others, never wanting to put Kyousuke in an awkward position.

"I remember."

"That night, I wanted to tell you this. It's been three years."

"Naoka—"

"Let me finish, okay?"

"Okay."

"That night, when you fought Yamamoto Kenichi and the others, I saw everything. I thought, 'Kyousuke-kun is like a superhero,' just like my parents."

"They were police officers who died as heroes."

"Naoka, you—"

"I'm fine. Just listen."

"Over the past three years, I've watched everything you've done—how you protected Shoko, how you disciplined Ishida."

"I became more and more certain that you were the hero I'd been looking for.

But sadly, that hero wasn't protecting me."

Naoka's voice carried a hint of regret, but her eyes shone with warmth, making Kyousuke feel like he was about to catch fire.

"I won't give up! That's Ueno Naoka's resolve!"

With that declaration, Naoka stepped forward.

"See you later, Kyousuke~"

Before Kyousuke could react, Naoka planted a quick kiss on his cheek and ran off.

Kyousuke stood frozen, not just because of the kiss but also because of the fireworks that exploded in his mind.

Vivid lines danced in his head, forming a message:

"Gift from 'Ueno Naoka' received—Kendo Talent."

As Kyousuke was about to check the details of the gift, a soft voice came from behind.

"Are you that happy? Do you need to savor it for so long?"

Startled, Kyousuke turned to see Sakura standing there, holding Shoko's hand.

"I was just surprised, that's all. I wasn't savoring it."

As he spoke, Kyousuke unconsciously touched his cheek.

"Liar! You totally enjoyed it!"

Sakura pouted, hands on her hips, clearly annoyed.

"Um, Sakura, don't be mad. I also have something to say to Kyousuke-kun."

Shoko tugged on Sakura's sleeve, her voice soft.

"Huh?"

Then, to Sakura's astonishment, Shoko stood on her tiptoes and kissed Kyousuke's other cheek.

"Thank you, Kyousuke. See you later."

With that, Shoko also ran off.

"Even though I was here first..."

Even Sakura couldn't handle this level of unfairness. Her lips trembled as she fought back tears.

"Alright, alright, let's go to my place for a big dinner! I've got yam ice cream for you."

Kyousuke pulled Sakura into a hug, gently kissing her forehead.

"That's more like it! Let's go take photos with everyone."

Sakura's mood shifted instantly, her usual cheerfulness returning as if nothing could keep her down for long.

"Gift from 'Nishimiya Shoko' received—Academic Talent."

And so, Kyousuke's elementary school life came to an end, surrounded by the girls who had made it unforgettable.

.........

[TL Note]

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