"Do your best." That was the last phrase of my graduation ceremony. Even though I had it hadn’t done much for me. Let me explain.

My name’s Yabe Masaki, high school graduate. I’ve liked the same girl for three years now. I met her at our entrance ceremony and since then she’s been the only one I could think about, but no matter what I would do or say she would never seem to reattribute the feelings I have for her. I would always tell myself it was because of the first time we met. The ceremony had just finished and as we were heading to our classes she bumped into me. I stared down at her, stunned by her beauty and could find anything to say…so I didn’t. Her friends soon called out to her and she had the idea that I was a mean person. I tried various times after that to talk to her but never could complete my plans.

After snapping back from my flashbacks I noticed the guys of DISH// and my family members were coming towards me. I quickly changed my face to a happy one.

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After receiving various different types of advice and congratulations I managed to get away from the crowd by saying I need to go to the bathroom. As I vaguely walked down the halls of my school for the last time I wondered back into my classroom. Looking at the room lit by a faint winter sun I felt a sudden regret. Pacing through the chairs I watched my hand slide on top of the desks. Unexpectedly my hand hit a small white box that was placed on one of the desks. At first I hesitated but then picked it up and was surprised to find I had my name on it. I carefully undid the golden satin bow and opened the lid. Inside was the most unexpected thing of all: a button. I looked at the object not knowing what to do. I reached into the box and picked it up under it was a golden card also. I lifted it up and began to read the instructions written on it. “

Hold on to the button and close your eyes while thinking of the one moment you’d like to redo in all of your high school life. You get three redo’s.

I stood still looking at the card then turning to its back to see anything else but that was it. I reread the card out loud.

“One moment I’d like to redo in all my high school life?” I question then immediately remember the girl of my dreams.

Grasping onto the button tightly I close my eyes and think of the entrance ceremony. As I open my eyes I’m no longer in my class but sitting next to other students. Everyone stands and bows and I look around bewildered and follow. Just as I turn she bumps into me. This time as soon as she looks up to me I cup her face and kiss her. She stares at me with a shocked look. Everything turns blurry and white and out of the blue I’m at the classroom again. Everything seems normal. I take out my phone to see if I have any picture of her and me, but to my deception there’s nothing. I look back down at the button and try to think what I did wrong.

“Maybe I shouldn’t be so upfront.” I reflect and decide on what I should do this time. When I decide I hold onto the button once more and squeeze my eyes shut. Again I’m sitting at the entrance ceremony and everyone stands and bows. I prepare for the scene to repeat and when it does I’m ready. She bumps into me and I smile back at her.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Yabe Masaki.”

She smiles at me and suddenly the white, foggy lights eat away the scene and I’m at the classroom as expected. Again I take out my phone. As I opened my images I saw nothing but the same ones as before. I let out a heavy sigh and my head hangs as I think over what I was doing wrong. After a long while I decide to give up and leave it as it was. A last time I held the button in my palm and lightly closed my eyes. One more time I stood and one more time she bumped into me and one more time I couldn’t find the right thing to do or say. The lights reappeared and I was taken back to the class this time neither the white box nor the button was there. I turned around to leave the room and as I walked out of the class I bump into someone. It was her. I look at her still dumbfound even after repeating that situation so many times. I start to walk away but she calls out to me.

“Wait! Yabe-san!” She says and I slowly turn around.

“Y-yes?” I answer.

She runs up to me and bows suddenly.

“Please give me your second button.”

I look down as she bows and don’t know what to say. She lifts her head and looks directly at me as she starts to talk.

“I know nobody says such a thing anymore but I don’t know how to say it. I’ve liked you since the first time I saw you at the entrance ceremony, but my family made me promise I wouldn’t date anyone until I got into a prestigious collage. That’s why since the first day of school I’ve been working hard to get the best grades I could…so that I could ask you…I’m only sorry it took so long, but Yabe-san…Yabe-kun…please be my boyfriend.”

I can only stare and smile as the girl completes her explanation. I reach for my second button and pull it off. I walk up to her and hand her it.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t say anything to you.” I apologize as she looks at the button.

She takes it into her hand and hugs me suddenly. I breathe in sharply, but slowly breathe out as I ease into her arms and embrace her also. She pulls back and takes my hand.

“Let’s go.” We walk back out of the school.

That was how the girl I loved became my girlfriend. With fate, a hint of magic I learned that sometimes the best things don’t happen based on what you do or don’t but on how long you’re willing to wait for them to happen.