Chapter 265, The End

As I was drowning in the warmth of everyone, I suddenly heard some gasps. We all turn around to see the leaves of the Perennial Cherry Blossom begin to fall and the tree begins to dim, it's brmaches beginning to wither and eventually fall.

"What's happening to the Perennial Cherry Blossom?" Yuuki asked as I stepped closer to the tree.

"It probably exhausted all the Vi left in it to bring me home." I said as I kneeled down before the tree. "Thank you, for all you've done so far."

After paying my thanks to the tree, my stomach suddenly growls and Will ends up chuckling.

"Arata, let's all get inside." Will smiles as he pats my shoulder. "We were in the middle of a big party. Come on, you must be hungry."

"Will's right! Now that Arata's home, we have another reason to celebrate!" President Mayumi smiled as we all entered the Great Hall.

As the lights glare and I end covering my eyes, I stumble and Liam catches me. He gives me a smile and when I look up, there's a giant banquet.

"What's the occasion?" I asked.

"I'll fill you in." Alex says as he wraps a protective arm around me.

Everyone circles me throughout the party and end up stuffing my mouth with food. Will and the others are extremely clingy for some reason and I later learn from Alexis that I've been gone for a month. Even I'm taken by surprise as I tell him that I could still recall the moment I said goodbye to everyone before ending the Ancient War.

"Arata, your hair's back to it's old form." Ethan smiles as he tucks back a strand of my hair.

"Because Arata has given up the Seed of Fate inside him." Alma, who floated above us smiled. "Arata is now a hundred percent human, I can't sense Felicia's blood inside him."

"It seems that when Arata ended the Ancient War, he gave up the Blood of Fate that was inside him." Ragel says patting my head. "To be honest, I like the way you like now more."

"I agree." I smiled as Will gives my head a gentle pat.

Alexis also tells me that they'll be graduating and I felt a little sad. With the threat of the Chimeras gone, Pierrot defeated and Karen surrendering, there's no reason for us to stay here anymore. The World Union has decided that the Braves will still be trained and the Academies will still be open, not for war but to help them control their powers and to be peacekeepers. The Zodiacs will apparently be overseeing everything and Wings Academy will be the school to head everything. They want to make the area around the Academy a Memorial, to the end of the ancient war.

As the party goes on, I find myself outside, gazing at the stars as the others enjoy themselves completely despite tomorrow being graduation day.

"Getting some fresh air?" Theo smiled as he held a glass of cold water.

"Thanks." I smiled.

"So, how does it feel?" He asks.

"To be honest, I'm still not sure. I can't believe it's all finally over. I also can't believe it's been a whole month." I told him as I leaned against the balcony. "I mean, to me it has only been a day."

"There's no point in thinking about it now. Why don't you focus your eyes on what you wanna do from now on." He smiled and I nodded. "Well, I better go put an end to their endless drinking. You should get some rest."

"I will." I smiled.

After a while, Will comes to me a bit drunk but still conscious. He gives me a big hug and says it's time to turn in. I nodded and soon we're joined by Liam, Alistar, Reinhardt, Alex, Zhen, Andrew and Ethan. When we return to the dorm room, they all give me a big hug before turning in to go to sleep. As I lie in my bed, the warmth of the bed feels so distant yet so familiar. As I'm drifting to sleep, I recall Theo's words and wonder what I want to do from here on out.

"What should I do from now on?" As I mumble this I end up falling asleep.

------

"And now, a word from William Akatsuki..." The Principal says.

The graduation ceremony ends without a hitch, Will's speech was so amazing that I actually cried. Everyone was now exchanging words as Felicia and the Ancients wandered about giving advise and gifts to the others who are graduating. I can't believe that I'm also graduating.

Will woke me up, told me to get ready and to my surprise he already had a graduation outfit readied for me. Spiro was so happy to see me in the outfit. As the others were making small talk, I noticed Yuuki and some juniors gathered around the dead Perennial Cherry Blossom.

"What's the matter?" I asked them.

"Arata... Apparently they're going to cut down what's left of the Perennial Cherry Blossom." Yuuki answered.

"I feel really bad. After all, the tree has been here for so long." Lotte says.

"This tree... It's been here for so long... It's kind of sad to see the three go." Hanako says.

"All things must come to an end..." I smiled and stepped closer to the tree. "Endings are always sad because of farewells. However, for something else to start, something must come to an end."

"Arata..." President Mayuri approaches me with a gentle smile.

"President Mayuri, please call everyone here." I smiled to her.

After a few minutes, everyone has gathered around the remains of the Perennial Cherry Blossom.

"So, why'd you call us all together Arata?" Touya asked to which I smiled and opened my hand to reveal a small seed. "What's that? A seed?"

"I know everyone must be sad, after all some of us may not meet as often from now on." I began. "But... I hope everyone will never forget. In the coming years, as a peaceful era awaits us, let's not forget what was paid for these peaceful times. The countless lives that were offered for this peaceful world."

I hand the see to Will and cover his hand with mine as he clasped the seed.

"Please infuse the seed with a portion of your Vi. Because I want it to be something we leave behind for the future generations." I smiled. "A new tree, to symbolize the beginning of a new era, and watch after the worlds after we are long gone."

The others begin to pass the seed around till finally Leon returns the seed to me. I take the seed and infuse it with my Vi.

"What we plant here today is a new sampling. May it grow to be as strong and large as the Perennial Cherry Blossom, and become the guardian of this land." I say and suddenly the remains of the Perennial Cherry Blossom begins to glow faintly and wither away to reveal a center, a spot to plant the new tree. "This is what we leave behind to the future generations and our future selves. Everyone, let's all meet again in the coming years, under this new tree."

I smiled and planted the seed into the ground. The ground glows and the tree begins to sprout. Will takes my hand and smiles and soon the others all stand beside me.

"I hope that this tree will watch over us, as we all head off to new horizons. And welcome us should we ever return here." I smiled as I leaned against Will.

I step away and smile at everyone with tree behind me and the school in front of me.

"Everyone, let's all go. Towards a new horizon and new era, filled with hope, peace and brighter days!" I smiled.

No matter how many years may go by, no matter how much time may pass us, this tree is our memorial. Something we leave behind to future generations, that no matter what happens in the future, there will always be hope. This tree, may it be our watcher as leave this play today and may it welcome as when we return one day in the future.

"Farewell, Wings Academy. Farewell, our life as Braves. We now depart for a new life, beyond the battles and strife we've faced."