Chapter 60 Graduation Photo
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Saturday, February 14th. Only 12 days remained until the entrance exams. It was also my last day attending the cram school. The head of the school, Takakura-sensei, encouraged me, saying, “You’ll be fine, just have confidence.” Fujita-sensei, who had been coming to our home as a tutor, told me, “Don’t make your cute fiancée cry.”
Kotoha-chan was waiting at the entrance of the school.
”Here.”
She handed me chocolates wrapped in paper.
”Thank you.”
”If you don’t pass, I won’t forgive you,” Kotoha-chan said, leaving those words behind as she went inside the school.
After receiving a message from Manami, I bought a cake and returned home, where Yuzuki and Emilia were waiting. I received chocolates from both of them as well.
”We also brought some from Saki and Asami,” Emilia said. They were chocolates from the two girls Emilia had brought along during lunch before.
When we finished the cake, Manami drove Yuzuki and Emilia to the station. While they were getting into the car, they both mentioned how cute it was, so it seemed to have a good reputation among girls.
When Manami returned, I received chocolates from her too.
”We confirm our love every day, so I thought about not giving you anything, but it’s like a festival for girls after all. But since they’re handmade, I can’t guarantee the taste,” Manami said.
Since Valentine’s Day¹ is a day for girls to confess their love to boys, I understood what Manami was trying to say, but I was simply happy to receive chocolates from her.
Until now, I had only ever received them from my mother, but this year, I received six. My life had completely changed since my parents passed away. As I was thinking that, Aizawa-sensei actually showed up.
”I prepared these for the students in my class, but I forgot today was Saturday. So, I’d like you to take them, Inamori-kun,” Aizawa-sensei said.
I thought it was a painful excuse, but I accepted them honestly. Aizawa-sensei said, “I only came to drop them off,” and left without coming inside.
On the first day of the entrance exams, I was nervous from the morning.
Just like during the University Entrance Common Test², my mother-in-law offered to drive me to the station, but Manami insisted on doing it herself and wouldn’t listen to anything else. Eventually, her mother gave in.
When we arrived safely at the station, I received success amulets from Manami, Yuzuki, and Emilia. As I was about to get out of the car with my lunch, she said, “You forgot something,” and closed her eyes.
”There are people around,” I said.
”No one is looking inside the car. I couldn’t do it last time because Mama was there, but I want to send you off with my power at the very end,” Manami said.
I understood the reason why Manami insisted on taking me.
I checked the surroundings and kissed Manami.
”Do your best,” Manami said.
I attached the amulet to my bag and stepped out of the car. An older woman was standing nearby with a surprised look on her face. She definitely saw us.
On the way back, Manami picked me up again. After getting into the car, we said “I’m home” and “Welcome back” and kissed. I had become defiant, not caring who saw us.
On the morning of the second day of the exams, I woke up feeling an unusual warmth on my thing. Looking closely, the duvet was moving up and down. When I gently pulled the duvet back, Manami was playing with me.
When our eyes met, she turned up the corners of her mouth and resumed the gameplay. Before long, Manami squeezed out my very first win of the morning.
”I haven’t let you win lately, after all. Thank you for the game,” Manami said.
I thought to myself that ‘lately’ was only three days ago, but I didn’t point it out. I might be the only person in all of Japan to receive gameplay on the morning of an entrance exam.
”You feel refreshed now, so you can do your best today too, right?” Manami said, leaving the room.
Looking at the clock, it was only 5:30. Thinking about Manami waking up this early for me, I felt nothing but gratitude.
Just like yesterday, Manami drove me to the station, and after a kiss, I headed to the exam venue.
Perhaps Manami’s ‘good luck charm’ worked, because I felt good about the exam. Combined with the University Entrance Common Test, I felt confident. All that was left was to wait for the announcement of the results on March 10th.
A day after finishing the exams, graduation day arrived. After two years of being a lonely ‘botchi,’ using the sad parting with my parents as a turning point, I found Manami in front of a convenience store and finished my three years with one joyful year.
At the graduation ceremony, Manami, as the class representative, received the diplomas on behalf of the class. Returning to the classroom, we each received our diplomas from Omori-sensei. Finally, there were words of celebration from Omori-sensei.
Classmates lamented their parting, and the sound of sobbing could be heard from everywhere. I waited in the hallway until Manami and Yuzuki came out of the classroom.
When the three of us went outside, Emilia, Saki-chan, and Asami-chan were waiting, holding bouquets.
”Congratulations on your graduation. Thank you for everything until now,” the three of them said in unison.
As I accepted the bouquet, tears unintentionally began to flow.
”Emilia, Saki-chan, Asami-chan, thank you. This isn’t the end, so let’s go out and have fun sometime soon,” I said.
”We’ll be waiting,” they replied.
Afterwards, the six of us took a photo with the school gate in the background.
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Summary:
Inamori finishes his cram school sessions and receives a surprising six Valentine’s chocolates, including a bold visit from his teacher. Manami provides intense emotional and physical support during his high-stakes university entrance exams. Feeling confident about his performance, Inamori moves on to his high school graduation. The story concludes this chapter with a tearful, happy farewell from his juniors and a group photo with his closest friends.
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Character Insight:
Inamori reflects on the massive shift in his life, transitioning from a tragic, isolated state to being surrounded by love and support. Manami’s actions this chapter—ranging from the car ‘power’ kiss to the early morning sexual support—demonstrate her total commitment to his success, highlighting a relationship that has moved far beyond high school romance into a deep, domestic partnership.
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Behind the Scene:
The graduation marks the end of the high school arc, transitioning the narrative toward university life. The inclusion of the junior characters (Emilia, Saki, Asami) at the ceremony emphasizes the protagonist’s social redemption from his ‘botchi’ (loner) days.
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T/L:
Notes:
• Takakura – The tutor recommended by the lawyer, Watanabe-sensei. Runs a prep school.
• Kotoha – Junior high school student, middle school 3rd year (short height). Daughter of Watanabe-sensei. Energetic, playful, short hair in a ponytail.
• Emilia – A second-year student, biracial (French father, Japanese mother), with white skin, dark brown semi-long hair, modest chest, and hazel eyes. A talented hurdler known as the Snow Princess. Looks like bisque doll.
• Asami – A friend of Emilia who also admires Hirokazu.
• Saki – A friend of Emilia who finds Hirokazu attractive.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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