Future Plans

*Clink!*

*CHEERS!*

A celebratory cry reverberated through a lavishly decorated hall as Senba Academy students exchanged pleasantries and congratulated each other for graduating high school.

Amidst the group of students, two figures stood out with their handsome and elegant appearance – Kevin and Su. Hailed as the princes of Senba Academy, the duo possessed not only good looks but also a passive charisma that drew everyone toward them.

There were numerous fangirls and dedicated clubs, who were drawn to these two like how moths were drawn to fire. Though normally Kevin and Su could handle them, today was a bit special.

There was a festive atmosphere around them yet, the two princes harboured feelings that screamed, 'When is this going to end?'

"Haa, I am tired already," Kevin silently mumbled to Su in exasperation while the latter nodded in agreement.

The girls, or more specifically, their fangirls, were particularly intense today. After all, this might be the last day they could see their beloved princes.

But still, this was too much for them. All they could hope now was that someone could draw their attention so that they could escape this situation. Fortunately, their prayers were heard as in the nick of time, an announcement rang out.

[All the attendees now, turn your attention towards the podium as Shroud will now give a farewell speech.]

The gathering was hushed, and all eyes turned toward the podium where Shroud was going to deliver the farewell speech.

The room fell silent as Shroud, dressed in a sleek and formal anthracite suit, made his way to the podium. The soft echo of his footsteps resonated through the hall as he arrived at the podium.

The spotlight focused on Shroud, revealing his composed demeanour and his usual poker face. He first surveyed the hall before cracking a faint smile as he thought, 'This does bring back some hazy memories.'

Yet the smile didn't last even a second as his face returned to his usual stoic demeanour - *Ahem* He cleared his throat before he began.

"Senba Academy graduates, esteemed faculty, honoured guests, I stand before you today to mark the end of a crucial chapter of our life," Shroud began, his voice refined and practised.

"First of all, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to every one of you. The hard work, the late-night study sessions, and the shared laughter have all led us to this moment. We've grown, we've stumbled, and we've conquered together."

His speech flowed like a controlled dam, conveying each message in short instances but in a direct way.

"As we step into the vast unknown of the future, I wish you all the best on your respective journeys. May your paths be filled with success, happiness, and fulfilment."

Shroud paused, his gaze sweeping across the attentive audience. The atmosphere held a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences.

"I want to express my gratitude to the faculty for their dedication and guidance, shaping us into the individuals we are today."

He took a moment, allowing the weight of his words to settle. The room hung in a suspended silence, captivated by Shroud's words.

"Life is a series of beginnings and endings. As we step into the unknown, let us carry the lessons learned here and embrace the challenges that await. Whether it's college, work, or whatever your heart desires, go out there and do your best."

Shroud's gaze momentarily met Kevin and Su's, who were listening intently. A subtle nod passed between them, acknowledging the shared sentiments of all the memories that they shared in the Academy.

"In parting, let us not dwell on the farewells but instead savour the anticipation of what lies ahead. Senba Academy will forever be a part of us, and the bonds formed here will endure the test of time."

As Shroud concluded his farewell speech, the room erupted into applause. The graduates exchanged smiles, knowing that this chapter was closing with a sense of fulfilment and the promise of exciting new beginnings...

...

In the aftermath of the ceremony...

"Man, I'm exhausted," Kevin remarked as he, along with Shroud and Su, were now on their way to their respective apartments after the ceremony successfully concluded.

"Well, I guess this might as well be the last time we of Year XX would see each other, so I guess this was expected," Su said, knowing that his remark was right for all the wrong reasons.

"Haaa, I know that Su but... you know what, let's not dwell too much into it, 'I guess being handsome is also a curse,'" Kevin said, whispering the last part to himself.

However, Shroud heard his whisper but didn't say anything when suddenly, Kevin posed a question, "So? What now?"

Kevin turned around and looked at his two friends and asked, "What are your plans for the future?"

"Hmm, I am planning on continuing my studies and becoming a doctor," Su said without hesitation, his family had been specializing in medicine for decades, and he naturally also wished to become a doctor.

Kevin nodded hearing Su's words as he said. "Same here, I am thinking about completing my Computer Science degree," Kevin said with a smile.

"Interesting choice, any particular reason why you chose it," Su asked, a bit interested. Kevin slightly smiled as he said, "Truth be told, I was thinking about becoming an athlete, but I feel like I should first expand my horizons before taking a hasty decision," Kevin said honestly.

After that, Kevin along with Su looked at Shroud waiting for his response. Shroud, understanding their thoughts, began, "I -"

****

Several months later...

"So, this is the Thousand Feather College," A young man with snowy white hair and aquamarine eyes said as he could be seen in a casual outfit with luggage in his hands.

"Kevin... Haa-Haa, Can you... slow down a bit," A whine came from another young man with grey hair who seemed clearly out of breath from running.

"Oh, sorry about that, Su, I was just a bit excited," Kevin said with an apologetic look. Su couldn't help but shake his head at his best friend's antics as he remembered something.

He brought out his smartphone before tapping on it as if he was texting someone. After a while, he seemed as if he was done, so he decided to put down his phone before saying to Kevin, "Should we go then?"

In response, Kevin nodded, but he halted his step as he was about to head inside the college. Su looked at him confused and asked, "Why did you stop?"

Kevin in response answered, "Hmm, I am thinking maybe we should also send a message to 'him'."

Understanding what Kevin was saying, Su nodded, and they took a selfie together with the Thousand Feather College in the background and sent it to a number named Shroud.

****

Somewhere around Washington DC in a grand chamber, a notification pop chimed - *Ding!*

Hearing the notification sound, Shroud brought out his phone from his pocket before remarking, "Looks like they arrived safely."

"Director," It was then suddenly a voice called out to Shroud addressing him with respect. Shroud turned around to see a teenage girl with light grey hair and pink irises.

"Our guests have arrived," Natasha informed Shroud about the arrival of these so-called 'guests' as he nodded slightly, "I see, let them in," Shroud instructed as he looked back at the stained glass window, turning his back towards the door from where some unfamiliar or rather familiar faces entered.

The new arrivals hesitantly walked towards where Shroud was before standing a meter across him as one of them hesitantly asked, "Are you the one who called us here?"

Recognizing the owner of the voice, Shroud replied in his usual demeanour, "It's been a while Robert, Julie, Amelia, Emery, and little one."

As Shroud mentioned their names, the new arrivals recognized the voice, although it had been two years, they knew this aloof demeanour and monotone voice too well not to recognize it.

In unison, they all exclaimed, "Shroud!?"

To be continued...

****

A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter and feel free to comment. Your thoughts and criticism are valuable in helping me improve and stay motivated to write more.

First of all, A happy New Year to all the readers once again and, I hope this year goes well for you and your loved ones. With that said, here is some info on the plot moving onwards.

Initially, I considered the idea of Shroud going to college, but it seemed like an unnecessary complication for the plot. Therefore, he won't be pursuing any academic endeavours.

Now, let's introduce a twist in the plot – a new development that deviates slightly from the usual storyline, although it won't alter the core of the original narrative of Honkai Impact significantly.