𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕣𝕚𝕥 || 𝕂𝕪𝕠 𝕊𝕠𝕙𝕞𝕒

Bye For Now!

"...You know, of everyone here, I wasn't expecting you to look so depressed." Daichi smiled weakly. "And yet, at the same time, this is exactly what I saw coming."

Clutching her high school diploma and her gifted flower bouquet to her chest, Hiyori was trying her best to keep the pool of tears from leaving her eyes. Her best, however, only got her so far.

It didn't seem like it should be a sad day. There was a light breeze, with just the right amount of clouds in the sky. The weather almost seemed like a gift to celebrate their graduation.

Somehow, the thought only made Hiyori cry even more.

She'd probably cried more than anyone the past several months. Ever since the end of the school term, the smallest things managed to make her tear up, such as the flowers that Momiji and Hatsuharu gave her and Tohru earlier. It was all because she knew that she'd be saying goodbye to so many things before she knew it. Hiyori had brought new meaning to the word "sensitive".

She tried her best to hold back, especially in front of those closest to her. She didn't want anyone to think that she was having second thoughts about leaving, because that certainly wasn't the case. It was only...

Saying goodbye was always difficult, wasn't it?

"I can't help it..." She sniffled. By this point, she now had a handkerchief with her at all times for just such an occasion. "It's just...This'll be our last time all here together at school!"

Of course, that was also exactly how she'd reacted to their last time eating lunch together. And their last time walking to school in the morning. And her last time stepping foot in the library.

Smiling at her, Uo set her hand on Hiyori's head. "Hey, now, it's okay. We can always come back and visit someday."

"That's right!" Tohru agreed. "I'm sure that graduated students do that all the time when they're feeling nostalgic!"

Hiyori sniffled again, reaching to touch the butterfly clip that sat behind her ear. "Yeah...I guess..."

"And you don't have to worry, Hiyori!" Looking up, she found Momiji grinning with one raised finger. "This school will never forget you!"

Hatsuharu nodded. "Yeah. That ink stain on the floor of the hallway will live on forever in your name."

Hiyori flinched at the memory. A distant one from her first week at school, which she had tried to forget about and didn't really want to relive now.

Yuki sweatdropped. "I don't think that's really what he meant, Haru."

"Cheer up, Hiyori." Hana set her hand on Hiyori's shoulder with a gentle smile. "This day isn't meant to be a sad one. It's the start of new beginnings."

Instinctively, Hiyori looked up at Kyo. He nodded along in agreement to Hana's words. And his smile might just have been the most comforting out of everyone's. Especially when she thought of their new beginning, coming soon enough.

Wiping the last of her tears, she willed her eyes not to let any more fall. A smile found its way to her face. "Yeah..!"

"Alright!" They'd finally reached the outer school gates, where not many people were gathered. "Let's take that picture!"

The seven graduates gathered together. Momiji took the bouquets from Hiyori and Tohru, then returned to Hatsuharu's side. Hiyori wound up between Tohru and Hana, frantically asking them if her eyes were still red and puffy from crying. She would hate to always look back and scold herself for ruining the picture with her drama.

But then again, knowing herself, Hiyori would probably cry while looking back on that photo, anyway. And maybe she was okay with that. After all, it meant that she had a lot of fond memories which she cherished.