"Kaa-san!!! I graduated!!!" Sakura cheered as she skipped towards her mom.
"Congratulations, I knew you could do it," Mebuki smiled as she held her daughter's hand. "Let's go home, I'll buy your favourite umeboshi on the way."
Naruto blinked as he saw Sakura holding her mother's hand. He stared at his own hand and looked down.
He glanced around.
"Good job, Yoko!!! Let's go home! We have a surprise for you at home!!!"
Yoko held his father's hand.
"Let's go, Ino!"
"Hai, kaa-san!"
Ino held her mother's hand.
"Congratulations, Haroke!"
"It was so easy!!!"
Haroke held his brother's hand.
"Hands..." Naruto muttered.
"Naruto!" Iruka called as he ran over.
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Iruka-sensei!!!"
"Congratulations on passing," Iruka ruffled Naruto's hair. "You did a great job, Naruto! Wanna go for ramen to celebrate?"
"HAI!!!!!" Naruto cheered, gaining the attention of several civilians.
"Look...it's that boy..."
"The demon...I can't believe they let him pass."
"Shh...tone it down..."
Naruto frowned slightly which went unoticed by Iruka.
"I'll take you to that, uh, Ichiraku ramen!" Iruka smiled. "Dinner's on me!!!"
"Arigato, Iruka sensei!" Naruto grinned.
"Let's go, let's go," Iruka ruffled his hair and walked next to him as the two headed to Ichiraku ramen.
"I-Iruka-sensei," Naruto called out shyly.
"Hm?" Iruka looked down at his student.
"C-Can you hold my hand?"
Iruka blinked.
"It's okay if you don't...well I just saw the others doing it and I thou-"
"Sure," Iruka smiled and stretched out his hand.
Naruto blinked.
He gasped happily and held Iruka's hand tight.
Iruka-sensei's hands...
Were warm.
So warm.
Naruto liked it.
"Well, you can walk home yourself right? I have stuff to do so I can't walk you home, sorry," Iruka smiled.
"It's okay, Iruka-sensei!!!" Naruto grinned. "I don't mind."
"Well then, bye!" Iruka said and ran off.
Naruto's hand dropped down as Iruka stopped holding it.
Naruto stared at his hand, touching it with his thumb.
"It's cold..."
Naruto unlocked the door and walked into his apartment before locking it again.
"Tadaima," Naruto said as he hung his keys next to the door.
No response as usual.
"Okaeri," Naruto called again with a small, sad smile.
He walked to the kitchen and peeped into the cabinet. He pulled out a few bowls and set it on the dining table.
"Congratulations on passing!!!" Naruto grinned.
There was silence.
Naruto sighed. "Meh...this ain't going to work..."
He put the bowls back and headed into the shower.
Naruto stared out of his window as he laid on his bed.
He softly rubbed his hand. "Congratulations on passing, Naruto."
He wished Iruka was here to stay with him.
