A/N: Reviews are greatly appreciated! You have no idea how much that means to a writer...

The two seniors walked quietly on the way back home. They shared small talk, but nothing more. To be frank, Eri was scared. It was almost a week since she stuck to Nozomi outside of the hospital, but she still couldn't get herself used to this detatched person. The Nozomi she knew was more attached, not the clingy type per se, but affectionate. It was that constant advancements that pushed Eri to open. While it was Nozomi's very own tactics, Eri wasn't sure if she would be able to bring out the same effect. With graduation coming tomorrow, pushing Nozomi away was the last thing Eri wanted to happen.

"This is where we always part, right?"

Absorbed in her own thoughts, Eri almost missed what her friend had said. She quickly stammered a 'yes.' But she reached out and grabbed her friend's hand before she realized what she was doing herself. She immediately let go, flustered. Nozomi was also flustered, or so Eri thought. Her friend was blushing, but unlike the Nozomi she knew, this girl merely looked questioningly at Eri.

"Do you mind if I walk you home?"

Eri squeaked out. She adverted her eyes away. Anywhere. Anywhere but the emerald eyes in front of her. To say rejection scared her was an understatement. It terrified her. What if this was too much? What if this pushed Nozomi away from her? What if…

"I would appreciate that. Thank you."

All of her 'what-if's were thrown to the wind by Nozomi's answer. Eri happily continued her walk with her friend. The atmosphere between them seemingly lightened than earlier. But just as Eri's hopes started to rise, they had to part because they had reached Nozomi's home. Anymore would have been unwelcome. 'For now at the least,' Eri reasoned herself to not be let down. But her own ministrations seemed futile when her heart sunk at Nozomi's goodbye.

"Goodbye, Ayase-san."

It almost seemed as if it really were goodbye to the old Nozomi.

Eri shivered. The weather wasn't cold, no. But she was nervous. Here she was standing in front of Nozomi's apartment door. She gulped the lump down her throat. Perhaps it was the feeling of inevitable finality graduation would bring, but Eri felt she had to… she needed to be by Nozomi's side since the beginning of the day. But to walk together to school was still something new for her. The one time this had happened was on that particular snowy day when Nozomi had came to her apartment unannounced.

"Ayase-san?"

Eri was caught short on reminiscing and was brought back to the present. She took a moment to look at Nozomi. She was beautiful.

"Um, hi… Toujou-san."

Being caught off-guard and flustered by how amazing Nozomi looked, Eri stammered. Embarrassed, she recomposed herself and steadily asked if they could walk together to school. It would be a first, but a last as well. Nozomi had a stunned look, one that Eri recognized. In moments like this, Eri hung onto a glimpse of hope that maybe, just maybe, the Nozomi she knew would emerge from the shadows. But this was their story. A reality. Not some ridiculous romantic comedy.

Disappointment settled in the blonde's stomach when Nozomi thanked her with one of those smiles: smiling, appreciating, but not genuine. Not to say her friend with no memories was not genuine, but her emotions were still greatly guarded. Her emerald eyes glimmered, but no emotions within.

Eri felt a strong sense of irony and wondered if Nozomi had gone through this with her when they were younger.

Small talk and thoughts on graduation... That was what they mainly conversed during their walk. Eri tried to steer away any small talk on the future. Thinking merely of what would happen in the next hour with her violet-haired friend was terrifying enough. Eri couldn't bring herself what would possibly happen between her and Nozomi.

Instead, Eri was content with the short dialogues as she used the quietness to really look at Nozomi. Earlier she noticed Nozomi had strayed away from her usual pigtails and to a French fishtail braid, and one so intricately done. Eri wondered absentmindedly if this were something to stay. This Nozomi was different in a few ways, more significant than just a hairstyle. Who was to stay that wouldn't change as well? Eri wouldn't mind this difference, though to be honest. While the twin-tails were adorable, this shed her friend in a much more graceful way. Less like a girl, and more like a woman. And this very woman just caught her ogling. Before Nozomi could say anything, Eri stammered an apology and pointedly looked the other way.

Her blush was still visible to her companion, though.

"What was the song you sang in the snow?"

Eri paused briefly while putting her shoes in the shoe cabinet. After the awkward walk, Eri wasn't expecting Nozomi to start a topic so suddenly. But then again, she always had a way with surprises.

"You mean the one we sang for semifinals?"

Nozomi seemed to think over something before she nodded briefly. Eri couldn't stop a fond smile come upon her face. She knew exactly which song Nozomi was referring to: the love song that she and Nozomi had proposed to write. Or rather, the song that she wanted to push for Nozomi. Despite the slightly rowdy atmosphere, Eri spoke to Nozomi in a gentle voice.

"That song was your idea. Or well, what I pushed for to be your idea."

Eri mentally noted that Nozomi blushing with a confused look was the utmost adorable thing she had ever seen. She ushered her friend into the building, more than happy to talk more in details of how the song came to be.

"I know we have perhaps, more successful songs that better fit our personalities, but I think that's my favorite one."

Eri's smile grew wider at the thought of that night when they all finally decided to actually write that song. Nozomi was a slight embarrassed for showing her more… affectionate side to the group. She and Nozomi was always a mystery to the μ's, if she did say so herself. That night had revealed more of Nozomi. And now that she thought about it, she was so… happy, proud… of Nozomi. Nozomi had always given her a push, and then she pushed Nozomi to be a bit more honest. And to see her genuinely happy and opened up, something so warm had burst in her heart.

Unconsciously, her hand came up where her heart was. It was probably around then that Eri started to notice the feelings she had developed for her best friend. She had partially guessed, or more or less hoped Nozomi felt the same. But neither had ever really brought the topic up. Her face fell when she thought of the situation now. If… Eri took a deep breath. If Nozomi never retrieved her old memories, would they ever reach that same point of friendship or relationship in general? Eri knew that she would try to, of course, but how effective would that be? When she glanced slightly at her friend, she noticed she was quiet for a bit too long.

"Ah, sorry. Did you want to ask something about the song?"

"Well… It had a familiar tune."

Eri's heart skipped a beat.

"You were singing this to me when I woke up in the hospital."

"Oh…"

Eri was disappointed that Nozomi hadn't remembered anything from before. But she tried her best not to make Nozomi feel so bad. Her friend still noticed it. Eri was sure she did; it was Nozomi, after all. But for whatever reason, she didn't push the topic. And rather, she asked for a small request. Eri blushed. It was the first time Nozomi had asked for anything.

"I would like to listen to the song together before the ceremony starts. If you don't mind, that is."

All this time, Nozomi had merely gone with whatever Eri and the girls wanted to do for her and never really requested of anything. It was a small request, but a real request nonetheless. And that made Eri happy.

She quietly nodded and handed one side of her earphones. As they relaxed on the bench in the student council room, Eri asked something as well.

"Would you… like me to sing alongside as well?"

That shy but firm "yes" was all Eri needed to know that the Nozomi she knew was still there. Just guarded by walls she was still learning to break down. As the music came close to the first verse, Eri closed her eyes and started to sing, thinking of Nozomi. She sung for Nozomi; she sung of Nozomi. Eri merely hoped this could reach the heart of her friend's.

And when her hand was given a slight squeeze, Eri thought, maybe this time, it did.