Principal Kobayashi turned and handed the sheet to Miss Sato who bowed her head as she accepted it in silence. He then finished his about face and exited, leaving the classroom door open in his wake. Everyone remained at attention.
Miss Sato cleared her throat as she fought to remain respectable in front of the students, tears continuing to trickle. "Girls, it has been an honor to be your instructor. I wish the each of you both safety and contentment during these difficult times." Miss Sato cleared her throat and spread the sheet open between her hands, before looking down. "I will now read each of your names, followed by your corresponding work assignment. Once I have called your name, please approach the front of class and give a formal goodbye." Her voice broke. "This is likely your graduation."
One by one Miss Sato read through the names. One by one each student made her way to the front of the room, bowing deeply, before murmuring or sobbing a few tearful words of farewell. Yumiko choked back her own tears as she kept her head down. This could not be goodbye. Could it? Could they really be graduating, in this manner? Would the war really last that long? The Allies were winning, right?
"Fujiwara Miyuki."
Yumiko looked over as her childhood friend bowed her head. "Yes ma'am."
"You will report to the gun works on Eighth Street."
"Yes ma'am."
Miyuki took her book bag and shuffled slowly to the front of the room, head down, glasses splattered with tears. She bowed deeply. "Good bye everyone. It has been so nice to be a part of this class." Her voice quivered, barely above a whisper. "I-if I ever hurt anyone's feelings accidentally, I am very sorry. I didn't mean it. I respect you all very much." Then, before she broke down completely, Miyuki turned and fled out the door hurriedly.
"Eto Tori."
Yumiko and Tori shared a glance.
"You are assigned to the aircraft factory on Harbor Avenue."
"Y-yes ma'am," Tori choked out. Clasping her book bag's handle in both hands she approached the front of the class and bowed with a shudder, hair loops bouncing erratically across her shoulders. Sobbing softly, she reached up to wipe away the tears, hand quickly returning to join the other grasping her bag. Dressed in her older sister's oversized hand-me-down school uniform, the tiny Tori looked even more pitiful than usual. Her shoulders trembled as she made no effort to hide her grief. "B-bye. . . bye."
She exited, one hand over her face, unable to say anything else.
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