Obsessed with a High-Ranking Esper (BL)-Chapter 220: Holding fingers together

A hush fell over the crowd as the grand doors at the back of the stage opened and Chancellor Lasson emerged, flanked by his entourage of high-ranking officials and senior professors.

Their presence was commanding, robes of midnight blue and ivory flowing over their regulation uniforms, medals gleaming, expressions solemn. They moved with the gravity of tradition, each step echoing with the weight of legacy.

As they reached the stage, the ethereal strains of Virelia’s Anthem began to play. The melody was haunting and proud, a song that had been sung for generations.

The entire courtyard filled with voices of cadets, graduates, professors, and guests alike singing in unison. The sound swelled, reverberating through the marble columns and into the sky, a chorus of loyalty and promise.

When the final note faded, the Chancellor and his entourage took their seats, and the ceremony officially began.

And so did the speeches. One after another, dignitaries, professors, and decorated alumni stepped forward to deliver words of wisdom, encouragement, and unfortunately, lengthy anecdotes. The graduates were expected to sit with perfect posture, eyes forward and their expressions attentive.

Yu Xi, ever composed, barely blinked. But beside him, Jian Ci was beginning to unravel.

He shifted in his seat, then stilled. He clenched his fists and unclenched them. He then tapped his heel once, then stopped himself. His jaw twitched and his eyes glazed.

Yu Xi noticed, of course he did. He didn’t blame him. This was probably the longest Jian Ci had ever been forced to sit still doing nothing.

Without looking, Yu Xi let his hand drift down between them, fingers brushing against Jian Ci’s. He found Jian Ci’s hand clenched tight.

Yu Xi hooked his pinky finger around Jian Ci’s. Jian Ci froze. Then, slowly, his shoulders eased. The tension in his jaw softened. His hand relaxed, and he let his pinky curl gently around Yu Xi’s in return.They didn’t look at each other. They didn’t need to.

For the rest of the speeches, no matter how long, how dull, how pompous, they sat in perfect silence, side by side, pinkies linked beneath the folds of their uniforms. And somehow, for Jian Ci, it was enough to stop his restlessness.

After an hour and a half of stiff-backed posture, polite nodding, and the slow torture of ceremonial speeches, the moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived. The capping ceremony.

The professors shifted in their seats, the Chancellor gave a subtle nod, and the announcer began calling names. One by one, graduates rose from their rows, walked to the stage, and received their caps and certificates each step a symbol of survival, of triumph, of the end of sleepless nights and brutal training.

When Jian Ci’s name was called, he practically bounced to his feet. He walked to the stage with a spring in his step, his ceremonial boots clicking confidently against the polished floor. His smile was bright, his eyes scanning the crowd. He was happy, ecstatic even, to be done with the endless classes, the drills, the lectures.

But beneath that joy was a quiet ache. He was leaving behind the place where he had lived, fought, and grown alongside Yu Xi. The place where their memories were etched into every corridor and training field.

He shook the hands he was supposed to shake. Then he knelt slightly as Chancellor Lasson placed the military cap on his head, the final mark of his graduation.

He could have walked off the stage then. Could have kept it clean. But if he did that, well... his surname wouldn’t be Jian.

So, with a grin tugging at his lips, he leaned toward the Chancellor and whisper, "Can I call Yu Xi’s name?"

Chancellor Lasson blinked, momentarily forgetting the solemnity of the occasion. Then, without thinking, he smacked Jian Ci upside the head with the flat of his hand.

Smack!

"Ouch!" Jian Ci yelped, rubbing the back of his head as he straightened up, still grinning like a devil.

The Chancellor stood there, lips twitching, clearly trying not to laugh. The entire grounds erupted into laughter. Cadets, professors and even a few of the more stoic alumni were chuckling behind their hands.

Jian Ci gave a mock bow and sauntered off the stage, his cap slightly askew, his smile wide and unrepentant.

Yu Xi, still seated in the front row, shook his head slowly, but the faintest smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. Of course he couldn’t behave. He was Jian Ci after all.

The Vice Chancellor’s laugh rang out like a cannon blast, echoing across the ceremonial grounds. It was loud, unrestrained, and utterly delighted. Chancellor Lasson turned his head slowly, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel.

The Vice Chancellor’s laughter died mid-chuckle. He cleared his throat and looked away, suddenly fascinated by the stitching on his sleeve.

Chancellor Lasson faced forward again, cleared his throat, and the rest of the crowd followed suit. The laughter faded into a respectful hush.

Jian Ci returned to his seat, still grinning, but when he glanced sideways, Yu Xi was already looking at him his expression flat, eyes narrowed in quiet disapproval.

Jian Ci mouthed what? but he didn’t dare speak aloud. He wanted to defend himself, maybe say it was worth it, but now wasn’t the time.

Chancellor Lasson stepped forward, his voice carrying across the courtyard. "Now, we honor the top cadet of this year’s graduating class. A young man whose discipline, tactical brilliance, and unwavering resolve have set a new standard for excellence at the Imperial Academy."

He began listing Yu Xi’s achievements. Top marks in combat theory, unmatched scores in live simulations, commendations from multiple field instructors, and a flawless record in both solo and team missions.

Jian Ci sat straighter, his chest puffing with pride. He looked like a parent watching their child win a galaxy-wide competition. His eyes never left Yu Xi. When Yu Xi’s name was called, the applause was immediate and thunderous.

Yu Xi rose with quiet grace, his expression composed, almost unreadable. He wasn’t used to this much attention, so many eyes, so many expectations, but he moved like he was born for it.

He walked up the stage, shaking hands with each professor in turn. Some nodded solemnly, others smiled with genuine warmth. When he reached Chancellor Lasson, the older man clapped a firm hand on his back, pride shining in his eyes.

"Well done," he said, low enough for only Yu Xi to hear.

Yu Xi gave a small nod, then stepped forward to the podium. He didn’t want to speak for long. He never did. But he had prepared something short, sharp, and sincere.

He looked out over the sea of faces, the wind tugging gently at the edges of his uniform.