Prologue: Graduation Day
It was the beginning of spring here in Japan, and it marked that the school year was coming to a close. And in this case, I would like to point out a school called Sakuragaoba High School for Girls.
It was the day of graduation, and all the third year students were going to graduate as they moved on to their college days. The second year honored them with a special red ribbon decorated with sakura (cherry blossoms) just as the ceremony was about to begin. When it began, the president of the school made his speech before handing out each and every third year student their certificate.
Afterwards, the students had two options. One was to stay behind and say their last goodbyes to the people they'll miss, from their close friends, to the teachers. The other, was to go out and celebrate with their family and relatives. I'll be talking about the former option because this was the case of a group of girls that happen to be the High School Band of Sakuragaoba High.
It was the day of graduation, and all the third year students were going to graduate as they moved on to their college days. The second year honored them with a special red ribbon decorated with sakura (cherry blossoms) just as the ceremony was about to begin. When it began, the president of the school made his speech before handing out each and every third year student their certificate.
Afterwards, the students had two options. One was to stay behind and say their last goodbyes to the people they'll miss, from their close friends, to the teachers. The other, was to go out and celebrate with their family and relatives. I'll be talking about the former option because this was the case of a group of girls that happen to be the High School Band of Sakuragaoba High.
The four girls, Yui, Mio, Ritsu, and Mugi, have graduated from high school, and will go to J. Women's University together. Because of this, their underclass girl, Azusa Nakano, will be left behind in charge of the band.
As afternoon passes by, everyone has left, except for the Light Music Club members, and a couple of teachers and students. The four girls were just having one last tea party (their tradition, of course), when Azusa arrived. She began crying saying that she doesn't want the four to leave her behind.
As afternoon passes by, everyone has left, except for the Light Music Club members, and a couple of teachers and students. The four girls were just having one last tea party (their tradition, of course), when Azusa arrived. She began crying saying that she doesn't want the four to leave her behind.
Yui felt some sympathy for her, and so did the others. By then, they went up near the exit, and got ready to perform their song that they wrote together, "Tenshi ni Fureta Yo (Touched by an Angel)."
After the performance, Azusa gave them a round of applause, saying it was not good at all. Needless to say, she enjoyed the song. This was when Sawako and Nodoka showed up. And then, Yui came up with an idea.
After grabbing her certificate, she went up to Sawako and began telling her something.
"I would like to stay here for one more year," Yui said.
This sentence left a huge shock impact towards all the other students.
"But Yui-chan!" Nodoka began. "What about all that effort you've been through?"
"Yui-chan!" Mio shouted. "Are you sure you wanna do this?"
Yui nodded back.
"Guys," Yui said. "I wanna thank you with all my heart for helping me reach this far. I know this might be stupid of me to do this, but here's the question. Where were you when you needed me? What did you want to pursue in the first place? I only joined because I wanted to help make the club last up until now. If I wasn't there, where were you anyway?"
Yui went up to Azusa, who hugged Yui back saying, "Thank you, Yui-senpai!"
"No need to call me that anymore," Yui replied.
She turned around and continued her speech.
"Me and Azusa have one more goal to fulfill together," Yui said. "It's time that we finally go our own ways.
Sawako smiled and accepted Yui's offer to stay for one more year. The rest of the people inside all smiled at Yui, and began saying "Farewell!" to her, wishing the two good luck as Yui repeats another school year, with Azusa...
After grabbing her certificate, she went up to Sawako and began telling her something.
"I would like to stay here for one more year," Yui said.
This sentence left a huge shock impact towards all the other students.
"But Yui-chan!" Nodoka began. "What about all that effort you've been through?"
"Yui-chan!" Mio shouted. "Are you sure you wanna do this?"
Yui nodded back.
"Guys," Yui said. "I wanna thank you with all my heart for helping me reach this far. I know this might be stupid of me to do this, but here's the question. Where were you when you needed me? What did you want to pursue in the first place? I only joined because I wanted to help make the club last up until now. If I wasn't there, where were you anyway?"
Yui went up to Azusa, who hugged Yui back saying, "Thank you, Yui-senpai!"
"No need to call me that anymore," Yui replied.
She turned around and continued her speech.
"Me and Azusa have one more goal to fulfill together," Yui said. "It's time that we finally go our own ways.
Sawako smiled and accepted Yui's offer to stay for one more year. The rest of the people inside all smiled at Yui, and began saying "Farewell!" to her, wishing the two good luck as Yui repeats another school year, with Azusa...