The dead has risen! Hello! After revisting the sequel a few days ago, I decided to brush up this story a bit and then I felt the need to write a bit more. I started imagining their high school years and thought I should write something about it. It's been ten years since I finished this story I think, so hardly anyone will care anymore but I enjoyed writing this. I think I'll keep working on the sequel too. If you are reading this, thank you. I hope you'll enjoy it.

~EXTRA STORY~

Exams were finally over. The cherry blossoms had bloomed again. Those lazy days were about to end and become a fond memory. Namimori high was peaceful again as ever, even after the demonic chief of the discipline committee graduated. It was their turn now.

Gokudera exhaled his smoke, looking at the yard nonchalantly. His white hair had grown longer with years, reaching just past his shoulders. Maybe he should have a haircut soon. The students had started gathering, most of them arriving at the school gate in groups. No schoolbags today.

"Somehow I knew that I'd find you here."
"Did you finish saying goodbye?" he didn't even turn to look at him.
"Ah… Everyone was a bit sentimental, especially the second years," the tall boy laughed pointing at his dirty trouser. "We ended up practicing in our uniforms and the teachers yelled at us. In the end it kind of felt like a usual day."
"It must me nice… creating memories."

His friend looked at him. The storm guardian was a little more broody that usual that day. Their graduation would start soon, but he he did not expect Gokudera to care that much. He sat beside him. Three years had passed quickly, soon they'd be university students.

"When are you leaving?" he asked him putting out his cigarette.
"This Friday. Though I'm a bit sad that I'll have to leave my dad, he scolds me every time he catches me looking even a little bit sad in front of him. What about you?"
"Tomorrow," his tone was dry.
"So soon?"

He nodded. They fell silent. They used to hang out a lot at the rooftop, almost every day. It was a little bit sad that this was their last time in that place. It's almost like they wanted to savor the moment. Gokudera rested his chin on his knees, his hands placed under it. He looked sleepy.

"Did you prepare your speech?" Yamamoto asked.
"A couple of days ago. Used the usual cliché speech you'd listen every year. Noone will care."
"Well, you can't see a delinquent delivering the speech every year," Yamamoto noted.
"True," his eyes were scanning the are under them

He was clearly not excited about it, anyone could tell. Yamamoto sighed deeply. He didn't even react to him calling him a delinquent. He could tell that there was something on his mind. And suddenly a faint smile. He eyes brightened up a bit. Yamamoto turned his gaze towards the gate.

Ah, of course it was about that.

A young girl with long black hair and onyx eyes had just entered. She was accompanying Kyoko and Haru. They were chatting cheerfully together. What his friend was thinking was so clear that Yamamoto could not tell why he was not doing anything about it.

'Ah… I was working had, practicing every day, tryingg to win a scholarship, but now everything is over, I wished I'd have a girlfriend," he tried to push the conversation towards he subject he wanted to touch upon.

"That's surprising coming from you, you never seemed to care about that stuff."

A deadpan reaction. Yamamoto hit a wall.

"I heard you broke up with your last girlfriend before the exams. That's sad, you should have supported each other through them instead."
"Didn't even last ten days. She asked me out and I just went with it..."
"Ah… I see… I was busy with my team, so I hadn't heard the details," somehow he felt like apologizing for bringing this up.

Wrong route. Maybe the roundabout way.

"Well, it's a good thing you are fee. Maybe you'll get a confession today! I've heard that a lot of third years are being confessed on their last day at school. Maybe they'll even ask for your second button."

He stood up slowly, like he hadn't paid attention to what he was saying. He tidied up his uniform a bit, flicked his trouser, straightened up his shirt, picked up his jacket. His box of cigarettes fell out, he bent down with a grunt to pick it up.

"I'm not really interested," he finally said brushing his hair back with his fingers. "And I think you'll have more chances to get a confession compare to me. I got a bad name after my last break up. That just stopped coming at me."

Didn't even manage to steal first base. He gave up.

"Talking about confessions… Tsuna said he is going to confess today."
"Really?" finally, a reaction. "I feel a little bad about Haru though."
"Well, I think she knows already. I'd given up long ago in her place, I culd not handle it… Since it was so obvious."
"Was it that obvious?" he asked after a small pause. "If it was and she knew it, maybe she'd had returned his feelings already, without waiting for him to confess."

An unexpected homerun!

"I don't know when she realized her feelings, though it's obviously mutual for a while now. But I think she just waited until he was ready. Not everyone is like Haru... or Ryohei."
"The worst example, really..." Gokudera flinched with the thought. "Just waiting, eh?" he touched his second button. "I didn't have the chance to watch the cherry blossoms this year. Too busy with the exams."
"Well, there is always next year. We could organize a gathering here in Namimori, catch up with everyone, share our news. We'll have a lot to talk about," Yamamoto stood up.
"I guess… Ah, the bell."

'As the cherry blossoms bloom again this year, we say goodbye to our most innocent days, walking towards a new path. With the support of our respected teachers, our families and our dear friends, we open...'

"I can't believe I cried!" Haru swept her tears. "For Gokudera to deliver such a beautiful speech, it was unexpected."
"You cry way to easy, Haru," Yamamoto smiled nervously.
"Well, I do, but I still think it was a wonderful speech. We made so many memories here, it'll be sad to see everyone go. Plus my heart is broken, I have the right to cry as much as I want today," she wailed.
"So, it's still about that… Ah, here he comes, the man of the day," he waved at the storm guardian.
"Gokudera… Your speech was great, it moved my heart" she grabbed his shirt crying. "You must have put a lot of thought in it."

He gestured at her and looked at his friend as if he was asking what was wrong with her. Yamamoto gave a broken smile and respondies with a waving gesture as not to ask anything.

"I didn't sleep well last night," he recognized her voice right away among others.
"Me too, I was so anxious about today," the other girl whined.

He looked at her. She had cut her hair a bit, he hadn't noticed until now. He hadn't dared to look at her during his speech. She was smiling at her classmates politely. It was true, she was looking kind if tired, but she was wearing a bit of make up that day. That was new. She caught his eyes staring at her and gave him a smile. He almost waved like an idiot, but he scratched the back of his head instead and just smiled back.

"I think that you should go wash your face a bit," Yamamoto pulled Haru away from Gokudera noticing the small interaction between them.
"What's the point…" she cried.

"Senpai, nice speech," she came to them as she was passing by with her friend. "Congratulations on your graduation everyone."
"Aaakira, I'll miss you," Haru hugged her tightly. "Let's meet whenever you have time."
"I'll miss everyone too," she smiled softly, she was a bit stiff but she returned the hug. "I have to go now."
"Akira..." he finally spoke. Yamamoto was still trying to drag Haru away.
"Yes?" her friends looked at him from head to toe.
"May I see you in the club room later? There are a few things left to take care of."
"Ah… Sure. I'll be there," she blinked.

Yamamoto pushed him slightly. He turned to him quizzically but he gave him a look of disappointment in return. He knew very well what his friend was trying to say, he just had to make up his mind. He looked at the diploma in his hands. He wouldn't have many chances anyway. He was about to take a step forward when a girl stormed passed them in tears, her friends were running after her.

"Come on!"
"He doesn't deserve you," they called.

"At least I'm not the only one with a broken heart," Haru commented sniffing her nose.
"That's not nice!" Yamamoto reprimanded her.
"I know, I'm sorry," she lowered her head. "I couldn't help it."

He sighed deeply and looked at Gokudera who was taken aback by the scene. He had lost her from his sight.

"I think I'm going to go now," he announced.
"Huh," Yamamoto nodded. "Go for it!… I'm going to stay with her, she is not herself right now."
"...Well, you won't get many chances to be confessed to if you stay with her though."
"Eh? I think it's a bit late for that now," he laughed loudly. "See you later."
"Huh."

Leaving them behind, he first visited her class. Not many students were still there and most of them didn't seem willing to talk to him. He spotted the two girls she was with in the yard. They told him they had no idea were she was, they had parted midway to their classroom. Maybe the club room then, he thought, but she wasn't there either. He checked the rooftop next; no luck. He looked down and spotted her in the yard, heading towards the back. They used to eat lunch together there from time to time, he used to share her bento with his, always tasted better than the cafeteria food. Maybe he'd find her at their spot.

He felt his heartbeat raising as he was running to her. He unbuttoned his jacket, skipped a few stairs and pushed a few people. He has waited long enough. He could not take it anymore. Being a good friend, acting like a caring senior student. He was out of breath when he reached her.

"A… ki..." he didn't call out her name.

She was standing there blushing. She tacked her hair behind her ear, like she did everytime she was nervous about a situation. A tall guy with black hair was standing in front of her with a determined expression on his face.

"...So, please, go out with me. I promise you I'll make you happy!"
"I..."

He didn't want to listen. He run away like a coward. It didn't matter anyway, he was going to leave tomorrow. It was his fault, He had waited too long, trying to sort things out. Afraid of rejection, thinking about the family. He didn't have the right to stop that guy, he was too late. He could not stand his heartbeat anymore, it hurt just feeling, He wished he could make it stop. He bet her heart was beating fast too the very same moment, but he wasn't the one who made her heart skip. Even if he'd reject him, he'd be in her thoughts, he hated that.

Why was he crying? Cowards had no right to cry. Pathetic. What was he waiting after all? The right time? Wasn't it just an excuse? Such weak feelings, he had no right to cry at all. He thought he heard Haru calling his name at some point, he didn't stop. He didn't want anyone to see him. Was it how she was feeling too? He admired her for having the guts to show it so openly, he wished he could do the same.

He found himself in the rooftop again. He could not catch his breath. How could he face her right now? He kicked the fence, releasing his frustration. Why was he even that mad? Didn't he choose this? Dating other girls, hiding his feelings. What did he expect. Every time he was a bit disappointed when she didn't look jealous seeing him with a girl.

"I'm the worst," he curled in the corner.

He just wanted to stay there forever. Time could stop for all he cared. But it didn't. Everyone was leaving, the cheerful chatting stopped after a while. He felt grateful that no one came to look for him. He saw Tsuna leaving holding Kyoko's hand at some point. Good for him, he thought. Yamamoto looked up before exiting the gate. He must have realized that something went wrong by then. Haru looked a bit better now, even his tears had stopped. At least he could see her one last time before he leaves. Even if it was from afar. It was getting late…

Late… The clubroom… He had forgotten about that… Could she still be there? He… He wanted to see her… He wanted to see her so badly… Even if she'd tell him that she had a boyfriend now, he wanted to see her. He opened the door, walked downstairs. The school was mostly quiet at that hour. He stooped by the bathroom first to wash his face, splashed a lot of water on it, it felt refreshing.

His steps felt heavy as he was approaching the room. History Club. He stood outside and looked at the sign, then took a big breath and opened the door slowly. She was there, sleeping soundly on hair chair by the window. How many hours did she wait for him? A soft breeze was waving the thin curtain behind her. She looked like a doll, even more beautiful than usual.

"Akira," he called her name softly, he didn't really want to wake her up.

He approached her making no sound. She looked so defencess, sleeping like that. He bit his lips. How many times he had held back his urges when they were alone in that clubroom? He joined spontaneously when she was looking from member. The other third years hardly ever visited because of the exams, so they were mostly the two of them. He never got tired of listening to her talk. Even when she was reading quietly, looking at her was enough.

He touched her hair at first, then his fingers traveled slowly to her cheek. He cupped it between them, leaned over her slowly, his eyes fixed on her cherry lips. He desired them for such a lot time. He had fantasized about this moment many times. He was even thinking about them while he was kissing other girls… He was the worst… He stopped inches away.

"It wouldn't be fair to you..."

His hand dropped to his sides. He looked at her sadly for a moment then took off his jacket and placed it on her with care. He smiled softly. He was about to do something he would regret. If he were to take her lips, she'd like to give them to him wholeheartedly.

I wanted to watch the cherry blossoms with you so badly this year. I regret I didn't. I wanted to speak a bit more with you. I regret I didn't. I should have reached out to you sooner. I regret I didn't. My first, my second, my third button… I'll give them all to you even though you didn't ask for them… Goodbye… Thank you.