Chapter 177: Graduation
Even after giving birth, the difficult days continued.
With my body still weakened postpartum, I used a breast pump every three hours to prepare milk for my daughters.
Even so, my body gradually recovered. The tubes connected to the babies were removed one by one.
The day I first held Arisa—I cradled her in my arms, scared by how small she was.
During our first breastfeeding session, a strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside me. My chest tightened with a painful, almost lonely ache.
Then came Alicia.
Holding Alicia in my arms again overwhelmed me with emotion, and tears spilled from my eyes.
We were discharged in order: first me, then Arisa, and lastly Alicia.
Alicia was finally able to leave the hospital after the New Year had already begun.
It felt a little lonely, but in hindsight, it may have been for the best that they didn't both come home at the same time. I was already overwhelmed just taking care of Arisa alone.
We stayed in the rented apartment through the New Year. At the end of January, we returned home—after nearly half a year.
Between nursing, diaper changes, baths, late-night crying, and spit-ups, the days flew by in a blur.
Just imagining how things would’ve gone without my family’s help is terrifying.
In February, Yuna and I turned seventeen.
This year, we were truly able to enjoy our birthday party from the heart.
When spring came and the babies began to hold their heads up, I returned to school at the start of the new academic year.
Putting on my uniform again after so long felt strangely off.
I hadn’t changed much on the outside, yet it felt like I was wearing a costume… maybe it was a change in mindset.
Leaving my babbling daughters—saying things like “ah” and “oo”—in my mother’s care, I headed off to school.
Thankfully, I was in the same class as Yuna again this year, so I didn’t feel so alone.
By the way, Souta passed the entrance exam for an out-of-prefecture university and started living alone to study Shinto priesthood. Hisui and Suzuka both enrolled in universities within the city.
Thanks to Yuna, I quickly adapted to the new class. My double life as a student and a mother seemed to be going smoothly.
But then, one early summer day, I was called to the staff room.
The school had found out about my daughters.
When they asked me directly, I answered honestly. I didn’t want to lie and say they weren’t mine.
Now that the girls had turned six months old, they were able to sit up adorably—it filled me with love just watching them.
I want to put these children first in my life. I feel bad toward my parents for letting me go back to school, but...
The teachers told me I should consider withdrawing on my own.
It was true that I’d hidden my pregnancy and childbirth, so I figured it was unavoidable.
But then, people started speaking out against the school’s stance.
Fumika and Jun, along with many of my old classmates, stepped up to support me. Despite it being exam season, they even gathered signatures.
The school nurse and Mr. Saeki spoke to the other teachers on my behalf.
Suzuka, who had already graduated, went directly to the school board chairman—her own relative—to plead for me.
Finally, my parents asked me what I wanted to do. I said I wanted to stay in school.
A meeting was held with guardians present, and I was allowed to remain a student.
Dozens of students had gathered outside the meeting room, and when I shared the result, they were genuinely happy for me—like it was their own victory.
It made me so happy, I couldn’t hold back my tears.
I hadn’t even realized how deeply attached I’d become to this school.
I want to make memories here—right to the very end.
Summer Vacation.
Now that the girls had started crawling, I couldn’t take my eyes off them for even a second.
They roamed all over the living room, bumping heads with each other and crying, or trying to sneak into the hallway the moment a door was left even slightly open.
Their movements were adorable to watch—but also terrifying.
They also tried to put everything in their mouths, so I had to be extra careful never to leave anything small within their reach.
When the second semester began, things got noticeably more tense around us exam students.
Yuna had decided to enroll in a city university, the same one Hisui and Suzuka were attending, and she studied late into the night.
I chose not to pursue further education for now and decided to stay home and focus on raising the kids.
Mom told me it was okay to go to university if I wanted, but she had work too, and more than anything, I wanted to be there to watch the girls grow.
During the fall school festival, I attended with the girls.
I wanted the people who helped me stay in school to meet the children they had fought for.
The twin girls—with their striking silver and black hair—drew attention wherever we went.
Even the strictest teachers, the kind who surely disapproved of me deep down, couldn’t help but soften their expressions when they saw the girls’ faces.
That said—boys, stop calling me “Mom.” I am not your mom.
Also, on a different note—yes, I’ve noticed quite a few of you looking at me with pervy eyes… but, well, that’s just something I have to live with now, huh.
Speaking of pervy—there’s Otonari-kun.
The girls seemed to really like his face for some reason, giggling and squealing when they saw him.
He looked genuinely happy—apparently, kids usually don’t take to him much.
Back when everyone was rallying signatures for me, he helped too, along with Yamazaki-kun and the others. He really is a good guy.
As thanks, I told Yuna the whole story and had her take some swimsuit photos to send him.
…I mean, mine wouldn’t really be a proper “thank you.”
But still, why was his reaction so lukewarm? Yuna’s got a great figure, and I thought she’d be exactly his type…
When the cold wind started hinting at the coming of winter, the girls stood for the first time—pulling themselves up on the living room table.
Not long after, they began toddling around while clinging to the table, stumbling and falling but slowly learning to walk.
November 19th—their first birthday.
The joy of being able to celebrate that day with them was indescribable.
Alicia was still a little smaller than Arisa, but both were growing well.
Since they still couldn’t eat regular cake, I made a special one with yogurt for their birthday party.
The party was truly fun.
The girls—the stars of the day—seemed a little confused about it all, like they didn’t quite understand what was happening.
But they clearly enjoyed the yogurt cake and the ball pit full of presents.
Winter. Christmas.
Starting this year, I took on the role of Santa, giving Christmas presents to the girls myself.
Last year, Alicia was still in the hospital, so this was my first time in the role.
I got them matching Anpanman toys. When they woke up and found the toys by their pillows, they were overjoyed.
Whenever I put on an Anpanman DVD on the TV, they’d sit quietly side by side, completely absorbed. It’s honestly a huge help.
Anpanman is seriously amazing.
And then—graduation day.
It was a major milestone in my life, so the whole family came to see me. Of course, the girls came too.
The graduation photo we took together, all of us as a family, is something I treasure deeply. I’ve placed it somewhere prominent in my room.
Looking back now, as I finally graduate, what I feel most is gratitude—to everyone who helped me get to this point.
I enrolled as one person. Fell off the ferry during the school trip and ended up in another world, then returned in Alicia’s body, transferred back as Alice.
Lived through high school as a girl. Said goodbye to Alicia.
Paused school for childbirth—and then gave birth.
Came back to school, only for the truth to come out and nearly be forced to withdraw… but everyone stepped in to stop that from happening.
The happy times, the painful times—all of it.
Now, they’re cherished memories.
—And so, at the very end—
Under the gentle warmth of spring,
I turned back to look at the school gates, and gave a deep, respectful bow.
“Thank you for everything!”
From the bottom of my heart, I meant it.
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