Chapter 26 : Farewells

                                    

                                          
Graduation, something that happened to all of us at some point. It is filled with sadness, happiness, and farewells. And today's my day to graduate from Karasuno with the others. 
                          
I have to tell it was pretty sad to be saying goodbye to the first and second years, especially Yukari but I know they'll do well.
                          
"Thank you for everything!!" The art club said while bawling their eyes out. Me and Daisuke giggled like we did before when we greeted the club at the first day. 
                          
"This year has been a really great year, right, Hashimoto-san?" Daisuke said while looking at me. I nodded and smiled a cheeky smile, looking at the others, made my heart ached, I was leaving them. "Right you are!" I gave him a punch to the shoulder, making him giggle and a bit red. 
                          
When we were about to go up to the members, they went first and crashed into us. Me and Daisuke laughed as they hugged us. We got up and gave each and one of them an embrace. 
                          
When I hugged Yukari, she was crying so hard. "I'm not going to forget you!" She cried. I smiled softly and petted her grayish black hair. "Me too." 
                          
"Sumire-san!!" Takahiro cried like a child. I remembered back in his first year, he was the only member who was really enthusiastic about being a member and even made me laugh my ass off. 
                          
"Omigod! Hi! I'm Nomura Takahiro!" The first year said to me. I was a bit hesitant about it and waved at him shyly. "I'm Hashimoto Sumire, nice to meet you, Takahiro-kun!" I smiled. 
                          
Takahiro tilted his head and pouted. "Y'know, Hashimoto-senpai, you shouldn't be shy!" He said. I flinched and rubbed the back of my head, I didn't expected that from a first year. "I like his personality!" Arashi said, Daisuke followed with a nod. 
                          
From that day, Takahiro kept on convincing me into a more sociable person, and he made me more open with smothering. 
                          
"Thanks, I'll never forget your jokes!" I smiled at him, making him stopped crying and laughed. 
                          
I got to Amane, she was holding back her tears again. I looked at her with soft eyes and ruffled her hair. "Hey, Salty-face." I joked. 
                          
Amane was always warning me when I was going to far with something, like one time, she gave me a glare when I was trash talking about how the calligraphy club was really garbage. 
                          
"Sumire-san, you've never been here if you didn't get rejected by the face." Amane stated and I giggled. 
                          
"Of course, Smother-mother." Amane smirked and wiped her tears away. I couldn't help it and hugged her immediately. She was holding back from hugging me but she gave in and hugged back. 
                          
"Hi, little Yoshiteru-kun." I cocked my head to him. He tried to hide his face from me with his scarf and I cupped his face. "You're going to be the best leader, I bet it." Yoshiteru went on to be red as a tomato. 
                          
"Hashimoto-senpai, I really appreciated your time with me." Jiro spoke up. His voice was hoarse as he tried not to cry again. "Hey, Jiro-kun." I said sternly, making everyone flinch. They thought I was scolding him. But in actuality, I pinched his cheek and smiled, "Your welcome and don't forget, Yukari-chan got your back." He nodded and looked at Yukari. 
                          
When finally I got to Naho, she still sobbing. Naho and I was closer than ever, before Yukari joined. Whenever she had any plans and none of her friends wanted to go with her, I did it with her. She also called me with mother honorifics sometimes. I always know that she'll be a great leader someday, and I knew it.
                          
"Hey, Naho-chan~" I said and she looked up to see my face. "I'll visit you in Tokyo!" She said loudly. 
                          
"I bet you will."