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[I]

“Can someone please tell me why am I doing this?” complained Suka to no one in particular, as he went around serving drinks. It was the night before convocation for the final year students and as a result, Suka and Shun had gotten the dorm together to throw a farewell party for the seniors.

For all the good times that they shared.

“Because the sempais are leaving and we want them to have a nice time,” replied Shun, his face lit up by his perpetual closed eyes smile. Suka merely grunted in reply as he headed back to the refreshment table for more cups to place on Shun’s tray.

“But why are WE doing the serving?”

“Aw come on, Suka-chan! Don’t be like that.” Shun followed behind his roommate and smiled. “You’re just upset that Igarashi can’t drop by today.”

“Don’t call me Suka-chan!!!”

“Suka-chan! Suka-chan! You look so cute when you’re mad!”

“Shun!!!”

“Hey, Mitsuru-sempai and Shinobu-sempai are over there,” Shun waved wildly behind Suka, teasing forgotten as Suka eyed the wobbling tray of drinks Shun was holding with trepidation. The two seniors wandered over and smiled to the two juniors, one exuberant, and one certain he was hovering on the precipice of danger standing next to Shun who was not paying much attention to the tray he was holding. Fortunately for Suka, Shun finally calmed down enough to get a firmer grip on the tray.

“So what are you planning to do next, Sempais?” queried Shun as he handed them a cup each. The two of them gave their trays to Fred and Noyama, their kouhais and followed the two seniors as they ascended up the stairs, away from the gathering.

“Huh? Hey, aren’t you guys supposed to be waiting on the rest of the seniors back there?” Mitsuru asked in mock anger as he finally realized that the two were on his trail. Shinobu merely shook his head and continued up the stairs.

“Nope,” Shun smiled. “Our shift was just over. So I guess you’re stuck with us. So what are you planning to do after Greenwood?”

The former dorm-president shrugged. “Get an apartment and holiday job I guess, apply to university, that sort of thing.” They entered 211 and hefted the last few bags in the room. He looked wistfully into the almost barren 211. “But I’m definitely going to miss Greenwood.”

Shinobu leaned over from arranging the last of his books. “And bullying Suka?”

“Precisely!”

“Hey!” retorted the junior. Shinobu just shrugged and returned to his packing. Picking up the jacket he had been wearing earlier, a rustling sound of paper within caught his ears and almost imperceptibly, his face darkened. Pulling out an envelope from the garment, he stared at it for a few minutes before turning back to the others.

“Suka, Shun, I need to talk to Mitsuru.”

“Huh?” blinked Shun, confused.

Suka nodded and said round the biscuits he’d liberated from Mitsuru’s supply and was busy chewing, “Go ahead.”

Shinobu sighed. “Alone.” He stated pointedly.

Suka blinked. “Oh, erm... okay. We’ll be next door then.” Grabbing Shun with one hand and the box of biscuits in the other, he made it out of the doorway.

Almost.

Mitsuru snagged the back of his shirt and looked pointedly down at the food in hand. “And where do you think you’re going with that?”

Suka looked very earnest as he started, “These are property of Greenwood residents. I am the Dorm-President of Greenwood... ergo...”

Shinobu sighed. Again. “Just take it. Mitsuru, I can always get you another box.”

Mitsuru sniffed. “It’s the principle of the thing, we can’t have the Dorm President taking food from... erm... err...” he trailed off under Shinobu’s withering stare and meekly acquiesced. “Hurry up and go.”

With a loud martyred sigh, he closed the door behind and turned back to Shinobu, leaning against the doorjamb as he did so.

“So, what’s wrong?”

Shinobu looked out of the window. “It’s about the university posting.”

“University?” Echoed his friend in surprise. “So that’s what’s been bothering you? Tokyo University’s enrolment slips are…”

“I’m not going.”

“What?” blinked Mitsuru in surprise. “But I thought you had decided to enroll inside Tokyo? What happened?”

Shinobu looked down at the letter. “Apparently my father thought otherwise. He wants me at Harvard University and has already gotten a place for me there.”

Mitsuru’s eyes widened as he slowly took in his roommate’s words. Walking over he took the letter Shinobu held out. With a deliberate motion, Mitsuru opened the envelope and scanned through the heavy bond paper.

“Well, I’ll be.” Mitsuru remarked finally, slumping his shoulders in sudden defeat. “America.” For once, Mitsuru found himself to be at a loss for words.

“So what are you doing to do?” he asked finally.

Shinobu glanced at Mitsuru. “I will do what I have to do. Go to Harvard.”

“But you wanted to go to Tokyo University.” Mitsuru pointed out.

“Yes. But plans change.”

“I see. So you’re not going to do anything about it?” Mitsuru pressed. He couldn’t believe that his roommate was acting like this at all. Shinobu wanted to go to Tokyo University.

“Yes.”

“At all?!”

“Yes.”

“But… why?”

“You won’t understand.”

“Understand? Of course I’ll understand!”

They stared at each other in a silent contest of wills, each one unwilling to relent and give way.

“Fine, be that way.” Mitsuru bit off in anger. Shinobu watched silently as his best friend got to his feet and stalked off, slamming the door soundly as he left.

It had a tone of finality to it.