Sasuke strides into the crowded auxiliary gymnasium, cursing to himself. He doesn't want to go through with this, but his dads want him to. Kakashi and Iruka had promised him ice cream if he would walk. He had consented. Iruka had smiled and hugged Sasuke. "I'm so proud of you!" Kakashi had smiled behind his mask and gone to cook dinner. They had been surprised to hear Sasuke didn't want to celebrate in a grand manner; however, they simply chuckled when he refused to let them buy him a senior-party ticket. "I don't know anyone there anymore," he had grumped. Since Naruto left, Sasuke had avoided everyone much more than usual. He had spoken occasionally to Gaara and Neji, but not anyone else.
He fiddles with his cap, yanking it so the tassel faces left. After this ordeal, I will gorge on a large container of Haagen-Dazs dulce de leche ice cream, he thinks to himself. He will have to wait twenty-four hours—this is the rehearsal. His classmates are milling about, not saying much out of anxiety. They have already discussed their plans for after graduation. Ino will become a makeup artist. Choji will become a food critic. Gaara will study sand. Lee will become a fashion designer. Everyone thinks he will work with green as his central color. Shika will be a meteorologist. Shino will study bugs. Sasuke walks over to his assigned seat.
Tenten hopes to have her own chain of hair salons. Hinata will work as a mentor to underprivileged children. Temari will be a dispatcher for a rape crisis center. Sakura will be a social worker. The fold-up metal chair is cold. Neji and Sai calmly deadpanned that they would either be escorts in well-paying brothels or join a gang. No one was too surprised to hear that.
The rest of the class of 2007 are all dropouts. Many of them quit school after Naruto left. Others had gotten pregnant in freshman year and could not pay for abortions, so they had dropped out. Still others had joined a gang, already, in the summer of or directly in freshman year. None of the already-gang members or pregnant-in-freshman-year students had gotten to meet Naruto. The rest had, and all adored him. Sasuke doesn't know what he wants to do with his life after graduation. He had wanted to live with Naruto. Had.
"I'm bored," someone calls out. The others laugh. Sasuke remains quiet and inexpressive. Kiba looks over at Sasuke. He plans on taking over the family business of dog breeding. Kiba has always been friendly to Sasuke. "Hey Sasuke, are you excited?"
"Hn."
Kiba always invited Sasuke to sit with his friends at the lunch table, not alone as Sasuke was prone to do. Sasuke had sat with them on several occasions and contributed to the conversations they had, but he preferred to be alone. It had been rather difficult to ward the girls off. A "sorry girls, I'm gay," had finally worked. Kiba sighs. "What types of dogs are you looking most forward to breeding?" Sasuke feels the need to talk as a way to say something of a thank-you for their pseudo-friendship these four years. Kiba grins and nods. He understands. "Pekingese. They are a toy breed, small dogs. Fluffy and long-haired. Originally bred as Chinese guard dogs, they bark in deep, loud voices obnoxiously at everything. They're lap dogs but also trained to sit on their master's feet, which explains their long hair."
"So they are royal foot-warmers," Sasuke muses. Kiba laughs and agrees. "I like pugs too. They have strong jaws and love a good game of tug-of-war. They're courageous to the point of stupidity. Pugs like to cuddle…" Sasuke lets Kiba continue explaining about the toy breed, trying not to remember anything.
Nothing of his sophomore year. Nothing of what he and Naruto did, how Naruto had made him feel.

"I'm still bored!"
"So let's do something."
"Like what?"
"Sing," Sai declares sarcastically.
"Yes, we shall let melodious notes rise from our throats to the sky!" cries Lee, standing up suddenly. This time, no one cares about his over-enthusiastic actions. In fact, they appear to be contagious. Sasuke stands along with everyone else. They arrange into a cluster. Sai rolls his eyes, but stands between Hinata and Gaara, who scowls at him. Sasuke stands between Kiba and Tenten. "How about 'Gay Boyfriend?'" Kiba suggests. Laughter and cheers ring through the gym at mention of the Ukes of Hazzard song. Sasuke had typed the lyrics and passed out handouts of the lyrics on April Fool's eve in their sophomore year. They had all sung it to their teachers except for Naruto. They had been too shy. Now, they arrange much like a choir—tallest in back, shortest in front—towards the double doors that are the gym entrance. They sing notes to get into tune and physical exercises to stay energized. They finally arrange into couples in staggered rows.

Tsunade enters the gym and they begin singing to her. She lets them, laughing. "One, two, ready go!" Temari and Tenten chant. Sakura and Ino continue the song. "I'm tired of boys who cheat on me and tell me lies. The one I love will never stray. When he sees other girls, he looks away," and they smile at Sasuke.

He smirks. Everyone knows they no longer have crushes on Sasuke, so they are free to joke. "And if he never kisses me, well that's all right," Hinata, Choji and Sai harmonize, smiling. Each of the students grin and sing the chorus. Tsunade is laughing, her face flushed. The students amuse her. "Gay boyfriend, gay boyfriend. I really don't care that you're queer. Gay boyfriend, gay boyfriend. I never feel lonely when you are near." Gaara's and Lee's voices blend as they sing, "It'll be a great romance. We'll go shopping and buy tight pants. You don't care how big my ass is, just how fabulous my dress is." Kiba and Shino chant, "One, two, ready go!" Shika and Neji smile slightly as notes pour from their mouths.

"You cry at movies on our dates. Romantic comedies sure are great. But when you're sad I'll dry your tears. 'Cause I'll always think you're fierce." The doors open slowly. Tsunade is still laughing at the eighteen-year-olds singing to the doors. Naruto walks in as Sasuke sings the last verse before the ending chorus. "I like cigarettes, that's no gag," Sasuke's and Naruto's gazes lock. Sasuke sings to him. "But you'll always be my favorite fag. You'll always be my favorite fag." His voice carries the notes well. "You'll always be my favorite fag." Naruto's eyes widen as Sasuke outs him in song. The fermata lasts for two measures. The eighteen-year-olds sing the final verse, the chorus again and fade.
Naruto has kept his promise.
He has come back to speak at their graduation.
He is back.