Chapter 45 - Graduation

"Congratulations, Yukishiro-Onii-san."

"Congratulations, Yukishiro-kun."

"Thank you very much."

Seeing me receive my diploma, both of them were in tears.

"Yukishiro, congratulations."

"Congratulations."

Later, my mother and father came, and it seems they had already stopped crying as their eyes were a little red.

"Miho-san, thank you for coming to Yukishiro's graduation ceremony. Of course, Eri-chan too."

"No, thank you for letting me come. I really wanted to see Yukishiro-kun's big day."

"Me too, I'm glad to have seen it."

While the three women were talking…

"Yukishiro."

"What? Dad."

"You've grown up."

"Do you think so? I hope so."

"Yes, I can tell. You're doing great. Next time, let me try some of your cooking."

"If I had the chance."

"And to marry two such beauties…"

"Well, that's…"

"Do your best."

My father's face was bright when he said that.

"I'll do my best even if you don't tell me to."

"I see."

He laughed and patted my head.

I was embarrassed, but I couldn't bring myself to shake him off.

"Then let's all have a graduation party for Yukishiro."

"Okay, but first… There's a place I want to go with Miho-san and Eri-chan."

"All right, let's go, honey."

"Yes, yes."

I'm sorry to Mom and Dad, but I'm going to have to ask them to go ahead first.

"Then, let's go."

"Yes."

It took about an hour's ride in the car.

A grave stood in a place with nature, a little far from the city where we live.

"Nice to meet you, Seiya-san. My name is Sekka Yukishiro."

I put my hands together in front of the grave.

I greeted this man, Eri-chan's father, and the man who was Miho-san's husband.

I felt that I had to tell him everything that I was going to do and everything that I had done.

"It's been a while, Darling."

"It's been a while, Dad."

Both of them put their hands together in the same way.

After that, we started talking about how it all began. I told him how we met and what we had been doing.

"Then, Yukishiro-Onii-san, he…"

"I'm sorry, Darling. I…"

Laughing, crying, feeling sad, it was as if Seiya-san was really there and the four of us were talking to each other.

"Then, I'll come again. See you later. Dad."

"I'll come again, Darling."

"We will be back."

Once we bowed our heads, we left the place.

Thank you, take care of them both.

I turned around in a panic, but there was no one there.

"Yukishiro-Onii-san! Let's go!"

"Okay."

Maybe I was just hearing things. But I will never forget those words.