Capítulo 218: Graduation
Days trickled by after the Banquet of the Gods, and now Yasushi and his friends stood on the cusp of graduation, just a day away. The night before, charged with a strange mix of excitement and nerves, unfolded in full swing. But when Yasushi stepped into his office, he didn't expect to see Xinyi sprawled across his sofa, nonchalantly working her way through a bag of snacks.
"Why are you here?" Yasushi demanded, eyeing her with confusion.
Xinyi looked up, unconcerned. "Remember that message from Guo Tianyu? My would-be fiancé?"
It took Yasushi a second, then he nodded slowly. "Right, that guy. He said he'd visit us before graduation, right?"
Xinyi confirmed it with a nod, reaching for another handful of snacks. "Mmm. Apparently, he's already in town. Wants to meet me tomorrow, just before everything starts. Three o'clock. He even sent another message saying to bring you and Jingliu along…for some reason."
"What time?" Yasushi asked, his mind turning over this strange, last-minute invitation.
"I think it's sometime after the ceremony? Around four fifteen or so…" Xinyi said, looking as casual as ever as the door swung open. Jingliu stepped in, arms folded, her eyes taking in the scene before her. She paused, her gaze settling on Xinyi, who wore nothing but an oversized shirt and shorts that were… well, practically nonexistent. The sight felt a bit much, even for Xinyi's usual standards.
"Your stuff's in the guest room now. Looks like you're moving in with us for college," Jingliu remarked, her stare fixed on Xinyi.
Xinyi's grin widened, and she gave Jingliu a knowing look. "That's right~ I'm finally moving in! Missed my shot last year, but now we can hang out all the time~ Plus, my staff and Catherine can use my place without me underfoot, so they'll get a bit of a break from all the work I dump on them."
Jingliu let out a deep sigh, a hint of frustration crossing her face as she shook her head slowly. "Just don't go being a complete slob around here and piling more work onto the staff," she said, watching Xinyi's reaction. Xinyi shot back a casual peace sign, unbothered by the comment.
Jingliu turned her attention to Yasushi, stepping over and resting her hand on his chest, looking up at him. "How's everything holding up?" she asked in a low tone.
"It's all going well. Actually, I feel lighter ever since that day. Plus, you know everything Shiva showed us, along with what our parents filled us in on," Yasushi replied, his eyes meeting hers as she nodded in understanding.
He glanced over at Xinyi, sprawled on the couch with her feet up, phone in hand. She felt their eyes on her, looking up briefly with a smirk. "So, about the two of us and our trials… they'll probably start right after graduation. We'll be depending on you to perfect them by then, Yasushi~" she said, that teasing lilt hanging in her tone.
Yasushi let out a sigh, feeling the weight of what she said. She wasn't wrong, but it added a fresh layer of pressure on him, knowing that he, their parents, and the team of scientists and researchers were the ones responsible for making it all happen.
"Increasing the human lifespan, sanctioned by the gods themselves...it's a hell of a thought," Yasushi muttered. "Lord Shiva mentioned that I might even reach a thousand years. Their pills cap out at three hundred, which is already considered a huge leap."
Jingliu nodded, considering his words. "Father said they're aiming to duplicate Lord Shiva's methods. They're testing it, increasing lifespan by fifty years at a time. No breakthroughs yet, but with what the gods hinted at, they're hopeful."
Xinyi's eyes widened, her expression twisted in something between amazement and doubt. "Living that long? Honestly, sounds insane to me. But I'm not about to check out before you do, Yasushi. That'd be the dumbest thing," she muttered, crossing her arms before jumping up, slipping behind Yasushi, and wrapping her arms around him. She grinned, her chin resting on his shoulder. "So, what's the plan, Mr. Kind-of-Immortal?"
Yasushi, unfazed by her usual teasing, carefully gathered up the papers scattered across his desk. "The plan?" he echoed, setting the last sheet aside. "It's sleeping. We've got the morning off until the ceremony kicks off at three, so let's crash. We'll talk through everything tomorrow."
Xinyi let go of him, giving Yasushi a quick salute before slipping out of the room without another word.
"I half-expected her to say she wanted to sleep with us tonight…" Jingliu murmured, watching Xinyi's sudden exit, a bit thrown off by it.
"She's probably got a lot on her mind, so let her sort through it," Yasushi replied, standing up and pulling her close. He brushed a kiss against her forehead, his fingers finding hers, giving her hand a squeeze. "Anyway, let's get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a full day."
Jingliu nodded, falling into step beside him as they made their way back to their room.
Between graduation, Guo Tianyu's unexpected return, their own plans, and the uncertain turns love could take, there were choices they'd soon need to face. The paths ahead would hold a mix of gain and loss, and whatever decisions they chose, there'd be no stepping back — not even if it meant someone else might end up feeling the pain of it.
+-+
"You're both already packed and set to head back to China?" Yasushi asked, his brows raised in surprise.
Bhaqui nodded, leaning against the fence with a slight grin. "Yeah. We're not leaving right after the ceremony, though. Probably tomorrow. We planned to hang out as a group for the day, make the most of it."
"Of course," Furuya chimed in, a chuckle escaping him. "Might as well enjoy it while we can, right? College is just around the corner. Though, it's not like we won't see each other, since most of us are heading to the same one."
"True," Bhaqui agreed, "but don't count on always being in the same classes or even running into each other. You're all studying different things, so your schedules are going to be all over the place. College has this weird way of working out — one minute you've got three classes crammed into the morning, and then you're stuck with nothing to do for hours. Then, out of nowhere, you've got one random class slapped in at three, and after that, you're finally free to go home."
Furuya and Bhaqui went on about college, their conversation pulling Yasushi's thoughts upward to the open sky. College — he'd never even set foot in one before. This would be his first time, something he'd only pieced together from things he'd read online, never from real experience.
In his last life, college hadn't been an option. High school ended, and his parents pretty much booted him out, cutting ties and washing their hands of him. To them, he was just a burden — a kid who kept falling into trouble and piling up messes they were tired of cleaning up. The second they had a chance, they'd shoved him out into the world alone, making it clear they didn't want to be there to see what would come next.
So he'd scrambled to make ends meet however he could, landing a job working a loading dock, then butchering. His life went nowhere from there, stuck in the same dead routine, picking fights here and there just to feel something different. A dull, pointless way to exist, yet he couldn't seem to break free of it back then.
"So, what about you? You mentioned you had something lined up, didn't you?" Furuya's voice pulled Yasushi back from his thoughts.
"Oh… yeah," Yasushi said, shaking himself free from the distraction. "I'll be working in the same field as Jingliu and Xinyi. Our parents want us in this together. I told you all about the plan before."
Furuya nodded, giving a short laugh. "Right. Leading the future with all that quantum stuff — way beyond me. I don't get half of it."
They continued, diving deeper into that topic, tossing around thoughts and questions about the work Yasushi would be doing. Their voices held a bit of nervous excitement, but after a while, they moved on, heading out somewhere else — maybe to shake off some of those jitters.
+-+
Two hours before the ceremony, Yasushi spotted a familiar figure approaching him, and he stopped in his tracks. His eyes widened, shock clear on his face as he took in the sight.
"Hakufubuki... what are you doing here?" he asked, caught completely off guard by the sight of the goddess coming his way.
She gave him a warm look. "What do you mean?" she replied, stepping closer. "I came to attend your graduation. There are a few others joining me too — though, most of us will stay outside."
"Wait, other gods? Like who?" Yasushi's brow furrowed as he tried to process it. "I know my parents, Xinyi's and Jingliu's families know about you, and a couple of others do too, but... uh, why do you want to attend our graduation?"
Hakufubuki's expression softened as she explained, "Amaterasu, Fujin, Hachiman, Inari, Sōjōbō, Kojin, and even Lord Shiva will be attending. They wouldn't miss it."
Yasushi's discomfort grew, a mix of anxiety and unease bubbling up at the thought of having so many deities present for his and his friends' graduation. Not like he could exactly tell them to stay away, so he gave a small, reluctant nod. "Just... please don't do anything weird," he said, almost pleading with her.
"Weird?" Hakufubuki asked, a small laugh escaping as she eyed him with a playful look. "I never do anything weird," she insisted before pulling him into a sudden, tight embrace. "You know, I feel like I'm practically your mother at this point. What do you say, Yasushi — will you call me 'Mom'?"
Yasushi eased himself out of her arms, his expression uncertain. "Uh... no… I'm good," he replied, though he caught her expression as it softened, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. "I mean... could I call you Auntie instead?"
Her face lit up immediately, and she pulled him close again, hugging him even tighter. "Then call me Auntie Haku," she said, adding a playful little lilt to her words. Her tone shifted, affectionate as she fawned over him, clearly delighted. Yasushi sighed, letting her coo over him, figuring he didn't want to risk making her feel down again.
It was hard to deny her that, especially after all she'd done for him over the years, even if he'd only recently learned the truth. She was the one who'd been there, looking out for him all along, and that realization left him feeling... well, he was grateful in ways he couldn't really put into words.
"You tease him too much, Hakufubuki," came a voice from nearby, low and calm. Yasushi turned as Hakufubuki released her hold on him, and both looked over to see the gods she'd mentioned earlier arriving in their own quiet way. Amaterasu raised her hand in a light greeting, her eyes sharp.
"Greetings, Yasushi. It's been a while," she said.
Yasushi gave a nod. "…Amaterasu, yeah, it has been. Didn't expect the whole group would actually show up," he replied, trying to hide his surprise.
Hachiman, leaning back with his hands resting behind his head, gave a smirk. "Hades might even swing by, just to see what the fuss is about. You got him interested. Though, knowing him, he'll keep a low profile. After all, we gods have some tricks up our sleeves — changing appearances isn't hard for us."
"So that's why you don't look like humans imagine, Lord Shiva?" Yasushi asked, glancing over at Shiva.
Shiva chuckled, a steady grin spreading across his face as he nodded. "Exactly. We gods roam the human world more than you'd think, but if I went around with four arms, you think people wouldn't lose their minds?" He laughed, clearly amused by the thought.
"…Alright, makes sense. But, we were with gods before. So why the extra formality?" Yasushi asked, squinting a bit.
"I run several businesses; came straight out of a meeting and figured I'd keep the look," Shiva said, striding over and clapping a firm hand on Yasushi's shoulder. "I expect good things from you in the future. Don't let me down."
Right behind him, Hachiman gave Yasushi's shoulder a sharp smack that stung more than Shiva's, chuckling. Inari and Sōjōbō approached next, each giving their congratulations before they began heading toward the school's entrance.
Then, Fujin and Kojin stepped up, Fujin reaching into his sleeve to pull out a small, intricate ring. He held it out, looking at Yasushi with an unreadable expression. "Fuse this with yours," he said, his words brisk, then turned and walked off with Kojin, who gave Yasushi a light pat on the shoulder, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he followed.
"Uh…" Yasushi looked at the ring in his palm, glancing around with a lost expression until he turned to Amaterasu and Hakufubuki.
"It'll be helpful. Fujin's what you might call… a 'tsundere,' like in those anime series you watch sometimes," Amaterasu said, a faint smirk hinting at her amusement. "That ring has a few surprises from the gods of this land. You'll see soon enough."
"I… I see… thank you," Yasushi replied, watching the gods drift toward the others gathered at his school, ready for the ceremony to start.
He moved through the school gates, taking in the sight ahead. His feelings tangled, a strange mix he couldn't easily pin down, but each step forward felt less heavy. The weight he'd carried for so long seemed to lift, leaving him almost… lighter, like he could finally breathe.
+-+
The ceremony was moving along, almost twenty minutes in, but the school president's speech had stirred up emotions all around. Students, parents, and siblings were wiping their eyes, overcome by her words.
Even Furuya, who'd sworn he'd stay dry-eyed, looked like he was on the verge of breaking down. Yasushi's other friends didn't fare much better; each one struggled to hold back tears. Yasushi, though, held his expression steady — or tried to.
He focused on the president, listening to her, but his mind couldn't help wandering back, to a time he didn't often revisit.
This graduation, this new life — he started to compare it to the one he'd had before. In that life, he'd walked away from school alone, left in the dust of rumors and resentment, his name barely whispered without bitterness.
Jack Taylor, he thought to himself, had been nothing but an empty space, wasted and despised. His memories from those years were stained with anger and regret. He'd walked away then with nothing, no one waiting, no one caring.
But now… Yasushi let his eyes drift over the crowd. Friends, family — even gods had shown up for him, standing with him here. The contrast was impossible to ignore, and for the first time, it was a difference that felt right, something he never thought he'd have and one he could accept.
Yasushi kept his eyes forward, but the warm touch of Jingliu's hand slipping into his pulled him back, grounding him in the moment. He glanced her way, and her smile — gentle and understanding — made him return it.
It was hard to believe that he'd come to find any joy in high school life again. But here he was, and this time, the memories weren't filled with the same bitterness, the endless frustration that had haunted him before.
As music floated through the air, each student was called up in turn to accept their Sotsugyō Shōsho, their Certificate of Graduation. The paper, issued by schools across the country, stood as proof that they'd made it through, completed their years of study. It was a rite of passage — one that felt more significant now than he'd ever thought it could.
One by one, his friends went up to the stage, each collecting their certificates. Most of them kept things simple, making their way across without much fuss. But Furuya, of course, couldn't let the moment pass without making one last impression.
He raised his Certificate of Graduation high above his head with a grin, a small act that was met with scattered chuckles from the audience. It wasn't one of his more outrageous antics, but it was enough to leave a mark as he left the stage, still beaming.
Finally, Yasushi's name was called, and he made his way up to accept his certificate. As he reached out for it, the principal paused, giving him a hard, almost amused look. "You gave us quite a time these past two years. But…" The principal's voice softened just slightly. "You also stepped up when it mattered. I'd like to thank you for that, young man."
Yasushi gave a small nod and a smile, accepting the certificate before stepping off the stage. The principal's words lingered in his mind, feeling odd, almost surreal.
He'd never seen himself as someone to be thanked, not for anything meaningful, anyway — except maybe for that time he'd helped out when everyone was stranded in the snowstorm near the beginning of his final year.
Back at his seat, he settled in as the principal wrapped things up with one last speech. When it finally ended, an eruption of cheers and cries filled the hall as the seniors were officially released, their time at Nosenki High School now behind them. Some had their sights set on college, while others would dive straight into work, each stepping toward what lay next.
Yasushi glanced at his friends, catching sight of a few misty-eyed faces among them. But the real shock hit him when he looked over to see Furuya, who'd claimed he wouldn't break, bawling like he'd never cried before.
Yasushi couldn't help the smirk that crept onto his face — it seemed his friend's promise not to lose it didn't stand a chance today.
"Congrats, son!" Yuji Futakao said, pulling Yasushi into a strong hug that left him feeling like his ribs were getting squeezed. Yasushi just let his dad hold on, only exhaling a bit when Yuji finally let go. Then, his mom, Kohana, wrapped her arms around him, pulling him in tight as she echoed her own congratulations.
"Thank you," Yasushi replied once she released him, giving them both a small nod. "I'll make the most of college and put my all into work when the time comes."
They exchanged a chuckle, and Yuji shook his head, patting him on the shoulder. "Don't start worrying about that now. You've got a short break before college — so use it to kick back a little, relax, take it easy. Enjoy these last days while you've got them."
Kohana nodded, adding, "Yes, we don't want you stressing yourself out all the time. We'll come over to that new place of yours, make lunch and dinner for everyone. It'll be nice, just us together." Her eyes held that hopeful look he knew well.
Seeing that, Yasushi couldn't really refuse, so he agreed, saying he'd make sure to invite his friends and their families, knowing he had no chance against that look of hers.
Eventually, their families gathered, and the gods joined them as well. Yasushi's parents, along with Xinyi's and Jingliu's, introduced each other, casually presenting themselves as business associates while they mingled among the group, letting everyone connect in their own way.
In the middle of the light chatter, Xinyi tugged at Yasushi's sleeve, with Jingliu standing beside them. The three exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them.
"We… need to go meet someone real quick. Shouldn't take more than ten minutes," Yasushi told the others, giving a quick nod to ease any concern.
Their families looked puzzled but gave a nod, agreeing to let them step away as long as they promised to return soon. With a final nod from Yasushi, the three made their way toward a quiet spot near the school, a place where they expected to find Guo Tianyu. Yasushi, Xinyi, and Jingliu exchanged glances, each of them holding a curiosity about what Guo Tianyu might be waiting to say.
REFLEXIONES DE LOS CREADORES 
Haruki_Murakami
Haruki_Murakami "De tal palo, tal astilla" – Spanish proverb
"From such a stick, such a splinter."
Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in character or behavior.
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