FEBRUARY and the beginning of march flew by quickly, leaving hoshimi with her graduation coming up.

shigaraki sat in the audience section along with the rest of hoshimi's friends.

apparently bakugo also finished his credits early and was also graduating.

aizawa, yagi, yamada, and a few others teachers were sitting on the stage. principal nezu was standing on top of a box so that he could reach the microphone that was on the podium.

"aizawa hoshimi!!", nezu announced. people cheered while the campus star walked onto the stage. she shook the principal and the teachers' hand, including her own father.

"good job on making it through college kid", aizawa said, giving her one of his rare smiles.

"thanks dad", hoshimi said, shaking his hand.

hoshimi waved at the audience as she walked down the stage and into her seat. after a few hundred people, they reached the b names.

"bakugo katsuki!", the principal announced. people cheered and you could definitely see his mother standing up excitedly, while his father just clapped, sitting down.

after all students were called, it was time for the valedictorian to give their speech. unsurprisingly, it was bakugo katsuki.

everyone knew he worked hard at being the best. even the seniors recognized his talent and determination.

"hey guys. my name is bakugo katsuki, most of you know me. and if you don't, you've been been living under a rock". bakugo's mom, mitsuki, cringed at that. she looked around and bowed, apologizing to the nearby parents.

"I'm glad to have spent these 3 to 4 years with you extras. hope you do great things in life. but I'll do better", bakugo said.

everyone just gawked at the valedictorian. they had one in sync thought.

'that was a terrible speech!'

hoshimi started clapping, reminding the other thousands of people to also clap. the band played as the crowd cheered, despite how short and...blunt the speech was.

"congratulations students!! thank you for attending u.a university. I assure you that only great things will happen. this is only the mere beginning of your journey. I can't wait to see what great things this class does, as I believe in you all".

hoshimi started tearing up as she listened. it truly was a short yet rigorous three years. yet she was still not done with school. she wanted to get her masters then doctorates.

"thank you for all your hard work and efforts. goodbye students. may you prosper like flowers under the sun!!", nezu said.

"now that's what I call a good speech", sero said, to which kaminari just laughed.

after the principal's speech, the students threw their caps. the students and their parents slowly filed out, waiting to take pictures and such.

"CONGRATULATIONS HOSHI!!", ashido exclaimed, hugging hoshimi.

"thank you guys for coming!!", hoshimi smiled, happy that she got her diploma.

"of course!! we wouldn't miss it for the world!!", sero grinned, patting bakugo's back.

"alright!! ready for celebratory dinner??", kaminari asked.

"yep! just let me text my dad", hoshimi replied.

kaminari, sero, ashido, bakugo, and kirishima got in a car while shigaraki drove hoshimi, dabi, toga, and twice.

"hoshi", aizawa called out.

"yeah dad?"

"here's your congratulatory gift for graduating", aizawa said, handing hoshimi an envelope.

"open it at home and see you later", aizawa said, walking away.

hoshimi smiled. sticking it in her bag, which shigaraki was wearing, she held his hand and walked to his car.

»»————-　★　————-««

"so hoshi, what are you doing after college?", twice asked.

"oh, well I still want to get my masters and doctorates. so it's another 6 years of school. hopefully 5 and 1/2, if I can get my masters quickly".

"so we have a present for you", ashido said, smiling. she took out an envelope, just like hoshimi's father had.

"we all pitched in since we knew y'all will need it soon", toga exclaimed.

hoshimi and shigaraki looked inside the envelope. there were 10 $100 bills stuck together.

"oh my god no! no no no no no!! y'all need it for yoursel—"

"it's fine hoshi. just take it as a congratulatory gift", dabi said.

hoshimi begrudgingly accepted the money, then proceeded to continue eating.

"alright!! see you all later!!", hoshimi smiled, waving goodbye to all her friends.

shigaraki drove her back home. currently, he was still staying with hoshimi's father since he's been trying to save up.

"oh my god. papa gave me an extra $1000", hoshimi gasped, looking inside the envelope.

the young couple went into shigaraki's current room. hoshimi took out the jar bakugo got for them during christmas, and put all the money in it.

"look tomura!!"

shigaraki smiled. he moved hoshimi's hair to the side. hugging her from behind, he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"we're getting closer to our goal", shigaraki whispered.

hoshimi just sighed, while giving shigaraki a tired smile.

"6 more years of school though".

"you can do it. I believe in you".

"thanks tomura", hoshimi mumbled, turning around to kiss shigaraki.

"we promised to always be here to support each other after all".