guitar picks - semishira angst

13~ceremony

"1...2...3"

"HAPPY GRADUATION SHIRABU"  a collection of voices yelled.

Shirabu's eyes creaked open to reveal his team mates all standing around him, in graduation robes with hats ready to throw into the air. 

"You guys..." Shirabu said. Tears of overwhelming happiness brimmed in his eyes but he bit them back. Shirabu caught Semi's eyes and shook his head.

"How did you manage this in a day . Nah, not even. It was a night?" Shirabu asked in disbelief

"He had some help obviously. Shirabu-kun, would you do the honours?" Tendou said, handing him a graduation hat. Shirabu's mom stood beside him, looking cleaner and healthier than before as she had her phone out recording.

He grabbed the hat and stroked the velvety material, before tossing it up in the air with everyone else. Everyone yelled and started clapping, and for a second, Shirabu forgot the beeping of the monitors and the stench of the antiseptic spray. 

He just enjoyed himself, revelling in such a normal celebration. Tendou handed him a slip of paper that was lazily laminated, and on it read

"DIPLOMA"

Tendou shook Shirabu's hand and handed it to him, and Shirabu feigned a bow. Everyone else started chatting to him and to each other, making him grateful to have a change from the empty ward he was so used to. 

After a while, a nurse came in to check his vitals, and everyone cleared out. 

"Semi," Shirabu called out. "You're insane. No one's pulled that shit for me ever. Thank you," Shirabu said, still biting back his tears of joy

"Mhmm. Glad I could be your first," Semi winked "Get some rest," He said, walking out of the door

Once everyone had left, the nurse refilled Shirabu's IV. 

"That's a wonderful friend you've got there," she smiled

"They're all my friends," Shirabu smiled fondly

"I'm sure. But the one that keep visiting you? You must be close," she said, confidently

"I guess." he paused "Um, I had a question. Why is there always paper left beside my bed on the table? I'm not complaining it just looks really fancy and I feel bad for never using it," Shirabu asked

"Oh, well we do that for most...patients,", She said awkwardly

"You can say terminally ill. It's way less painful than whatever you just said," He smirked

"R-right sorry. I'm not really used to working with youngers, we don't get many kids around here," she admitted, scratching her nape

"All good," he assured

"We leave the paper in case you want to write letters before you pass. The paper and envelopes are provided by the hospital, you're welcome to use as many as you like. If you want me to stop putting paper by your table...

"...nah it's okay. I'll use it." He said as she finished filling his IV

"Alright then. Just...buzz if you need anything else then," She left with a smile

Letters huh? Shirabu thought. He had considered leaving something behind. He knew he wouldn't be able to take a video seriously, but he didn't think to leave a letter. 

Everything he had to say to his mom, he knew he could finally say to her face. She was never a sentimental person, but he knew she'd appreciate the gesture. He didn't have much to say to his friends, and everything he did want to say would just be stuff they already knew.