Title: A Shoulder To Cry On
Characters: Honoka, Nagisa
Word Count: 642
Rating: G
Summary: The girls on their graduation day from Junior High.
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Honoka made a promise to herself that she wouldn't cry on graduation day. Her classmates were bound to shed more than enough tears for her. They would need a shoulder to cry on and while hers may not be the biggest, she knew they could take the extra weight. She needed to be strong for them, as a reminder that even though they are saying good-bye to classmates today, it wasn't the end for those friendships.
She came close to breaking that promise a couple times during the day. She felt her eyes begin to water as she walked into her homeroom for what was most likely the last time. It had been empty but she could still see and hear in her mind her classmates lively and active as they were during their breaks between classes. The other time was during her speech to the graduating classes and their family and friends as an honor student. Looking at the rows of girls that she had come to know so well over the past three years threatened to choke her voice as the feelings of loss crept in. But she knew better than to let it get the best of her and even if she may never see some of them ever again, she would never forget them.
She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder then turned her head around to find Nagisa there. It was undeniable that the other girl had been crying earlier as her brown eyes were still red and a little puffy, but the usually passionate girl had a calm look on her face.
With a bond that had been forged between them as they worked and fought together as Pretty Cure, Honoka could tell why the other girl was there. Without a second thought she flung her arms around the other girl as she buried her face on Nagisa's shoulder and began to sob. She could feel a gentle hand stroke her raven hair while another hand rubbed her back in comfort. How long they remained like that the blue eyed girl couldn't tell, but they only separated once she had finally run out of tears to cry.
When she stepped back she saw the comforting smile on her friend's face and it automatically made her smile too. She wasn't sure how Nagisa could do that to her every time but as a warm and happy feeling always followed she didn't quite care to reason it out. Nagisa was Nagisa, her closest friend and the one person she never wanted to say good-bye to, and she was glad she wouldn't have to worry about doing so until their high school graduation.
With one last sniffle she said, as calmly as she could manage, "Thank you."
The brown haired girl just shook her head and responded with, "There's no need for that between friends. Giving each other shoulders to cry on are what friends do. Just like treating each other to takoyaki." The last sentence is said with a bright smile that erases the last of Honoka's sadness away.
With a bright smile of her own she quipped in friendly teasing, "I don't think you can call it treating someone when you get the takoyaki for free."
"Well it's the thought that counts, right?" Came the answer as they both turned to leave their old classroom. "Come on lets hurry to senpai's and celebrate, there's been enough tears for today."
Honoka just nodded in agreement. The time for tears had passed for now and she couldn't help but feel now in the presence of her dearest friend that no matter what the future held they would always have each other, to celebrate with in the good times and lend a shoulder to each other in the bad. That was what friends were for after all.