Editing Sakurasou no Pet na Kanojo:Volume 10 Final Chapter: Under The Sakura Tree

{{status:Incomplete 1/2|comments=Cause I said so. :)}}

After walking out of the hall of Suiko University of the Arts, a warm autumn breeze passed by.

Sorata, who was in his full suit, gently loosened his tie and gazed upon the dazzling sky.

It was a blue and clear sky.	

Clouds that were like cotton candy floated by.

Gentle sunlight.

Because of the soothing sunshine, the Sakura trees have blossomed a week earlier than usual.

At the front of the hall used for the  graduation ceremony, the beautiful Yoshino Sakura flowers bloomed as well.

There isn't a weather more suitable for graduations.

There were students taking memorial pictures everywhere.

The boys were dressed in formal suits, while the girls wore prominent kimonos. 

Exactly like how a university graduation scene should be.

After graduating from Suiko, the 22 year old Sorata was peacefully welcoming his graduation days.

“Sorata-senpai~!”

After hearing his name being called out, he naturally looked for the owner of the voice.

He saw Iori, waving his hands; running towards him from the boulevard.

A white shirt that was suitable for autumn, along with black jeans. The hem of the shirt was hanging out. Sorata noticed the headphones hanging from his head after he came closer.

“You came specially to congratulate me?”

“I, have finally found the truth. I must say it no matter what.”

He didn’t look like he was here for congratulations. 

“Oppai that are far away are not better off than pettanko that are near.”

Suiko students that were walking back and forth from the halls were all like ‘What is Iori saying.’ Even Sorata felt suspicious eyes staring at him. Sorata really hoped that he could stop it. Even the girl with short hair beside him shot a nasty look and backed off from him.

“Man… What dumb things are you saying?”

Sorata stuck his hand out and whole-heartedly pinched Iori’s face, making it seem stretched.
“Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Wha-what are you doing!”

The person who came over was Kanna. 

She was in a light-looking shirt with a short skirt.

Her legs were wrapped in black tights, and she wore boots that were slightly higher than her ankle. Kanna shot unhappy looks to Iori through the glasses of her spectacles. < --Pretty redundant, but still.-- > 

But even after this, she still said,

“Congratulations on graduating.”

“Thank you. Looks like Iori and Kanna are still like usual eh.”

Both are currently students of the Suiko University of the Arts.

They are going to be third-years starting from next month.

Kanna enrolled in the Literature department.

As a novelist, she continued writing novels. Iori didn’t enrol in the music department, instead enrolling into the Games SFX section in the Media Arts department, manipulating original soundtracks and training up on his DTM skills. (Trans note: DTM, or Digital Terrain Model. Check wiki for more info.)

“What do you mean, ‘as usual’?”

Kanna shot her cold eyes towards Sorata.

“Meaning good relationship.”

“Not at all.”

Kanna said flatly.

“No, it’s very good. Extremely good. Really.”

Iori’s view was completely the opposite. 

“Not at all.”

Although it looks like this on the surface, the two were in fact dating.

The two began dating starting from their third year during high school.

Although Kanna seemed to have set conditions for, Iori whose feelings did not weaver for two years.

--If you win at the Japanese National Piano Competition, I’ll go out with you

Sorata attended the competition as well, and saw Iori’s recital attract standing ovations. It was indeed a spectacular performance.

Sorata met Iori’s sister Saori by coincidence.

“Even I never did receive an applause like that eh.”

Saori said with a tad bit of exaggeration. She might have returned to Japan temporarily from her overseas study in Australia. Together with Saori stood the previous Student Council President, Soichiro Tatebayashi.

“Is it regret?” He coldly said. 

From Saori’s speechless stare at Soichiro, one could tell that this was not a baseless accusation.

“I do not feel that achieving first is always a target. A wonderful performance cannot be equated with a performance that can grasp a person’s heart.”

The meaning behind those words could only be understood after listening to Iori’s recital. 

The Iori who even after fracturing his arm, announced that he would be facing another challenge again.

Beautifully completing his determination, Iori performed not as [Himemiya’s brother], but showed the audience his own performance. Furthermore, he was also surrounded by warm applauses. 

Judging from the results, it was still a pity that he did not win…

A frustrating defeat.


“My youth is over…”

The Iori who had lost the chance to go out with Kanna was absolutely depressed.

“I don’t wanna do anything anymore. If only I could disappear from the surface of the Earth this moment…”

Burned to absolute nothingness.

The Kanna who saw that decided, “Haiz… Ok. Let’s go out.” Though it had a forceful feel to it, both of them started their relationship.

To think that two years have already passed like this.

“Looks like it is going successfully, I’m happy oh.”

Sorata poked at them with a jesting tone.

“Because there isn’t a satisfying man around, I’m temporarily using him to make up for it.”

Kanna’s tsundere side was still in tact.

“Ehhh, I’m also making up with your flat chest eh.”

“Iori I remembered that you said something along the lines of ‘something far away is not as good as something near, something something ’?”

“Can you stop repeating those unclassy words?” Kanna glared at him with cold eyes.

“Ah, speaking of which, are you not together with Ryuunosuke-senpai?” Iori clearly shifted the topic.

As though he was afraid of being reprimanded by Kanna.

“Un? I thought Akasaka said that he was going to attend the graduation ceremony?”

“This morning before Sorata-senpai left, Rita-senpai came to fetch him as well. After which, she forcefully dragged DRAGON-senpai away.”

“Was it like that?”

At this moment, Sorata, Ryuunosuke and Iori was living together as a group of three. After graduating from Suiko, Sorata and Ryuunosuke rented an old building not far away from university, and used it as their development lab.

A place which was across the other side of the University from Sakurasou. <-- Er…don’t ask me. -->Although it was on the same street, at least the scenery was different by a tad. For a fresh start, this was considered okay.

The Iori who had planned to enrol in Suiko University of The Arts started living there as well.

Over at the side on game production, although there were all sorts of difficulties, it has been going well successfully.

The dream Sorata had to establish a game production company before Iori arrived in year two was achieved as well.

The three-man team consisted of Sorata, Ryuunosuke and Iori.

If there was a lack of members, every time when a new project started, they would beg Rita and Misaki, and the Fukaya Shiho from the University’s CG production course to take charge.


“I’ll go look for DRAGON-senpai!”


“Ah, wait!”

The rushing Iori disappeared amongst the crowd of graduating students.

Kanna chased after Iori after slightly nodding to Sorata.

“You can use the phone...”

Sorata mumbled towards the two who have disappeared. He took out his cellphone from his pocket.

“…”

But there was no reply, so he put it back into his pocket.

After detailed considerations, Sorata realised there was no need to meet up exclusively with the Ryuunosuke he is seeing everyday.

Even if it was not like that, we promised to meet each other after today. A meeting with buddies who went through the same times together, at Sakurasou.

Sorata, Ryuunosuke, Iori, Kanna, Misaki, Jin, Nanami, Chihiro, and Mashiro.


There were many friends that he met frequently as well. If they entered the same university, even if they were not taking the same course, they would meet somewhere like the canteen. However, there were also circumstances whereby they did not contact each other for months. 

In this four years, Sorata did not meet with Mashiro once.

But he would always get updated on the latest happenings from Rita who was staying nearby Sakurasou.

“…”

Once he thought of meeting Mashiro, he was extremely nervous. To focus his attention, Sorata started to exit from the halls.

To avoid the chaos, he took the boulevard. 

Sorata decided to exit from the main entrance, with Sakurasou as his destination.

Shortly after he departed, he found many people under the Beech trees.

Was something going on? Sorata looked while bearing these thoughts. 

Looks like people were crowding around a couple who were confronted with.

He had wanted to ignore it, but it looked like he could not. In the midst of the crowd was faces he knew…Ryuunosuke and Rita.

Sorata had no choice but to mix in with the crowd to have a look at the situation.

The Ryuunosuke who was in a suit was rare. His slender legs hinted his slim figure. Because of his naturally neutral face along with black hair, it almost looks like he was crossdressing, but…

Not only was Ryuunosuke eye-catching, the Rita standing in front of him stood out amongst the crowd as well.

She had shinning gold hair, and wore a green sleeve that brought along a hint of pink.

“I’m going back to England next week.”

Rita announced sternly.

“I know. I’ve heard this numerous times starting from a few months ago.”

“We might not be able to meet up as frequently as now anymore.”

“To me it should be something worth celebrating.”

“I’m really going back to England, ok?”

“So?”

Ryuunosuke replied coldly.

“No matter what, you won’t go out with me?”

“Yeah. I’ve said it numerous times already.”

Rita looked down gloomily after hearing his reply.

“…I understand. I will give up on Ryuunosuke.”

Her reply was filled with sadness.

“So, I have a final request.”

“I refuse.”

“If you could kiss me right here, right now, I will give up on you.”

“Absolutely refused!”

“Why?”

“How many times do you want me to listen to your “last request”!? There were forty-eight of those request during the last four years!”

Ever since he was admitted into university, it happened once a month.

And every time Ryuunosuke would be forced to shop with Rita, forced to give her a birthday present, visit the Zoo, the Art Musuem…

They were already a famous couple amongst the cohort. Most likely all of them already think of them as a couple going out with each other.

“It will really be the last today.”

“Even that, I’ll still refuse.”

“Why?”

“I-In front of so many people. H-How can I do something like kissing!”

“So you’ll agree if there was nobody around!”

Rita interpreted his words from a positive viewpoint. 

“That’s not what it means!”

“Then let’s go to the recording studio. There won’t be anyone there right, plus the soundproofing is perfect!”

The Rita who was in good mood hugged Ryuunosuke’s arm tightly. Tightly in front of her chest.

“Uuahh! L-Let go of me!”

The panicking Ryuunosuke wanted to retract his body, but it was already too late. Sorata entered Ryuunosuke’s plain of view.

“Ah, Kanda! Don’t just crowd around, come save me!”

“Frankly speaking, my view is that everything can be solved if you stop going out with her, right?”

It was from the bottom of his heart. There was also a basis for this thought. Sorata was the only one who knew of Ryuunosuke’s honest feelings. They also discussed on this topic previously.


“Ne, Akasaka…what do you honestly think of Rita?”

It was not long after when the company was established.

“Nothing much.”

“You were so enthusiastically approached to. It can’t be that you dislike it? Although she is a little wilful, she still is a beauty, and her personality isn’t bad at all, right?”

“She’s extremely kinky with me right now.”

“What happened?”

“…Currently we are in an extremely important phrase of establishing the company. I cannot be focused on anything other than game production. If you have a method to focus on two things simultaneously, please do enlighten me.”

“…”

Sorata could not reply. Since it was also because of that that he broke up with Mashiro. 

Only that he could fully understand how Ryuunosuke felt at that moment.

Somehow he felt that it was because of time that it became like that, but it also felt that Rita would be going on the offensive soon.

“See, even Sorata said so. Go out with me!”

“Stop spouting nonsense! Enough, let go of me!”

Ryuunosuke struggled desperately.

But, he was once again clinched onto like chopsticks by Rita.

“Ahhhh…Eh, Ryuunosuke, stop touching me at weird spots in public.”

“!”

Most likely sensing the soft feeling of breasts from his hands, Ryuunosuke blushed instantly.

It looked like steam was going to appear soon.

“Ah, right, Sorata.” Rita looked at Sorata as though she remembered something.

“Un?”

“About that, although it’s hard for me to say it…”

Rita’s volume decreased clearly.

“What?”

“Mashiro…She won’t be coming today.”

“…” In that instant, Sorata’s mouth was wide agape and he could not say anything.

“…I see.” He finally managed to squeeze something out.

“I looks like she is busy with her Manga sketches…”

“After all the next chapter is the final one.” The current Mashiro was an extremely popular Mangaka. Since serializing her Manga from from then, she won several awards from famous Manga Awards, and had her manga released in Anime, Drama and Cinematic format.

No matter what she was popular.

The cumulative number of sold books broke through a thousand, and it was even written on the flap of the tenth volume. As a young female mangaka that was a powerful figure.

Furthermore, that popular manga series by her also had a serialization spanning five and a half years. It will be ending soon during the April instalment of the magazine. It was no wonder that she was busy. It must be the most intensive period of her work.

“Although I was hoping that she would at least show herself for a short while…”

“It’s ok. Thanks, Rita.”

It was not that Mashiro was avoiding Sorata on purpose. It was just that she wanted to put in her all for her work. Four years have already passed. It was only that…Even though they lived on the same street, that wasn’t even a chance to meet her once in a blue moon. 

There was this time when he saw Mashiro’s silhouette along with Rita when they were buying something, but although the distance was considered near, Sorata missed the chance to greet Mashiro as due to business reasons, he had to speak with Fujisawa Kazuki on the phone.

“Well then. Sorata, we’ll meet later.” Rita forcefully dragged Ryuunosuke away.

“Enough, let go already!”

“If I don’t do this we’ll be separated due to the crowd, right?”

“Even if we were separated, I can find you immediately because of your golden hair!”

After which, Ryuunosuke let out a whine while being dragged away by Rita.

After watching them leave, somebody greeted them.

“Looks like Ryuunosuke and Rita’s relationship is also going well.”

“Un?”

Sorata saw Nanami standing there after rotating his head. Nanami wore a deep green kimono, with light blue sleeves. There were also cherry blossom patterns inlaid on her kimono, as though a stream was slowly flowing through. <-- Need some help with this part -->

“Ohh.” Sorata could not hold in how touched he was.

“W-What?”

Nanami was alerted after witnessing Sorata’s reaction.

“As expected, if one wanted to wear a kimono she should look like this.”

“What.”

“For the sake of discussion, it can be said that Rita’s kimono dressing can only be COSPLAY.”

Those blue eyes coupled with golden hair.

Absolutely did not work well together with the impression given off by a kimono.

Sorata’s plain of view stopped naturally at Nanami’s tied hair.

Her hair seemed to have grown longer during these four years, as compared to the short hair before he graduated from Suiko.

“Your hair, you grew it.”

“Kanda-kun, you would say that every time we meet.”

Maybe that was because he did not meet the Nanami who was in a different course for a few months.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”  

As though hinting “Is there nothing else you want to say”, Nanami unpleasantly pouted.

The two naturally started strolling together side by side.

Because there were group photos being taken almost everywhere, it was obstructive to remain in their original location.

“How is it going for your job being a seiyuu?”

“I’m starting small.”

“Starting small heh.”

“Even though I participated in numerous selection trials at the agency, I could not get many recognisable character roles…”

“The competition sure is tough.”

“It’s a fact that although there is only a single role, there are a few hundred contestants.”

It seemed like even after she entered an agency things were not going well, but was it because of the fact that she got contracted to an agency that things are not going well?

“But I will not give up.”

Nanami looked elated. 

“I’m going to give my best shot at acting for Girl A tomorrow.”

“That is also not a bad job.”

“Un… What about you Kanda-kun. How is the company doing?”

“Well, we’re trying to keep it going, though we frequently get headaches when we bump into developing fees. 

One wrong step and it will ruin a small company’s future. We have to handle the management side meticulously. Even though some ideas might be interesting, we cannot delve into it brainlessly. We have to confront the schedule and budget tables every day.

“But Kanda-kun is still happy even going through all that right?”

“Eh?”

“Your facial expression, you’re smiling.”

After being pointed out to, Sorata stiffened his face.

Nanami laughed in a weird manner.

“It’s already been two years since the establishment of your company heh.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s so fast, all in the blink of an eye.”

The reason why her words could inject a sense of realiaty into Sorata was because the two years should have also been two very special years to Nanami.

“I’m already twenty-two. It feels a little unbelievable.”

“Yeah. Back when we were in high school, we thought that we’d become like adults past twenty, but it seemed like nothing had changed when we really become at age.”

“Although I feel that Kanda-kun had become a lot more mature.”

“Really?”

“I’m the one that did not really change much.”

“Aoyama is the one that matured greatly.”

“Really?”

Nanami looked back. She had neat eyebrows and eyelashes. She did not apply make-up when she was in Suiko, but did so after entering university. 

Nanami had started to wear high-heels with a certain length, and it felt that her legs had slimmed down quite a fair bit. Although it was somewhat a pity that it could not be confirmed as she was wearing a Kimono.

Other areas were different as well. Sorata did not know when it started, but the both of them can have a natural conversation now. It wasn’t any special reason, but just that time had diluted her feelings for Sorata.

According to Rita, Nanami had bumped into Mashiro as well. They would usually have a hot pot party once a month together with Misaki and Kanna. 

It was not the same when compared to those times when they were together living at Sakurasou, but the minute hand on the clock indicated that it was indeed fresh memories that they left behind during these parties.

“Ah, I have to look for Chihiro-sensei for the keys to Sakurasou.”

When they were almost at the university entrance, Nanami took a turn into Suiko high’s dormitory.

“Well then, I should go as well. Since I’m bored.”

“Kanda-kun should probably greet Mitaka-senpai and Misaki-senpai first…Or put it another way you should look for her to prevent her from doing any weird things. How do I put this...Last week when I bumped into her she even said that she wanted to have a fireworks exhibition to celebrate.”

Indeed it felt like something Misaki would do. Something this extreme totally seemed like her style.

“I got it, if I can stop her I will.”

Although if Sorata remembered carefully, there were no traces of memories that he had successfully prevented Misaki ever before.

“Well then, we shall meet again.”

Sorata waved and parted with Nanami temporarily.

“Well then, be on your way.”






Sorata walked along the roads that led to Sakurasou.

He should have been very useddd to walking this path, but during the four years after he graduated from Suiko, the road now as compared to then seemed a tad bit different in his memories.

The uneven road was flattened, and new houses were built. There were even high class condominiums that he had never seen before.

What should have been an unchanged scenery also injected into Sorata a subtle sense of intrusion. 

When he passed the children’s playground, he saw a familiar couple.

“Oh, Kouhai-kun!”

“Eh? Why are you guys here?”

They were still walking in another area despite having promised to meet up at Sakurasou awhile afterwards.

“We went to the convenience stores to shop. According to Chihiro’s request, I have to buy an adequate amount of beer.”

“Even Himemiya is twenty huh.” (TL Note: 20 is the legal age of an adult, and to drink beer in Japan)

The Jin who had graduated a year earlier than Sorata from the university in Osaka had returned to the same street. He is now living in the amazingly built house with his wife Misaki, and the two cats that Sorata once kept happily ever after.

If it was Misaki, she probably have not ‘graduated’ even after she had.

“I am forever a female graduate!”