Chapter Dos, yayness! This chapter follows the graduation ceremony in episode 26, but focuses on Yomi and Tomo's feelings about graduating. I also included some dialogue between Tomo and Yomi that occurred in the episode. This will be the last one for this story, so yeah.

Sorry, I still don't own Azumanga Daioh. If I did, there would be lots of pocky in it.

--Rushia

"Graduates enter now," The female announcer's voice echoed throughout the auditorium followed by the loud clapping of the underclassmen. Yomi and Tomo walked down the center of the rows of chair in a single file line along with the rest of their class. Yomi was nervous and exited at the same time, but her mind kept wandering off towards her exams. She had already failed two exams and was about to take her third later in the day.

Tomo on the other hand wore her usual energetic expression, but that was only to cover up her uncertainty of the future. She was just beginning to realize that in a matter of time, she and Yomi would be off to different places meaning a possible end to their twelve-year friendship. Tomo always knew that Yomi was destined for great things and it came as a shock when she failed two exams. Tomo laughed at her and taunted her like she usually did, but she truly didn't know how else to react. Yomi would probably go off to work for some high paying company and leave Tomo with nothing but pictures and memories.

Yukari-sensei's class took their seats in metal folding chairs and the principal stood on the stage, making some announcements.

Yomi paid no attention to what he was saying. The only two words she heard were "graduates" and "leaving", but his words were interrupted by Osaka's constant sneezing. Yomi ignored it all though and dwelled on the fact of "leaving". Again, she would have to go to a new place with all of these strange people who she didn't know and somehow manage to fit it. A nervousness that she hadn't felt in twelve years began bubbling inside the pit of her stomach. Yomi would pass her third exam and then go off to college, only there would be no Tomo. She figured that no one would reach out their hand and ask her to be their friend like Tomo did. Yomi was just beginning to appreciate everything Tomo had been to her, and as she looked back she realized that she had always shot Tomo down or yelled at her for being such an idiot. Tomo had been kind enough to invite Yomi to play and this is how Yomi thanks her? Stealing a glance at the hyper girl next to her, Yomi figured that Tomo never thought about Yomi "repaying her for forming their friendship". With a sigh, Yomi faced forward again and listened to the drone of the principal's voice as he continued speaking.

An announcement was made for the graduate delegate, Ooyama Masaaki, to present the diplomas. Tomo turned to Yomi and asked,

"How come I'm not the graduate delegate?" Tomo's random stupidity moment pulled Yomi out of her deep thought. Yomi slowly turned her head in Tomo's direction, slightly angry that her thoughts had been interrupted with such stupidity.

"You're asking me why?" Yomi replied, speaking slowly to ensure that she didn't explode at Tomo. Tomo remained silent, holding her typical stupid grin on her face.

"Did you're brain stop working?" Yomi asked.

"Well, if you ask me. . .they didn't pick me because I'm the strongest?" Tomo asked in a clueless tone.

"Huh?" Before Yomi realized it, Tomo had karate chopped her head. Everyone sitting around them turned and stared as Yomi clutched her head to suppress the pain.

Tomo slightly smiled as she watched Yomi's attempts to keep from screaming. That was probably one of her last chances to do something stupid before Yomi went out into the world. Sure she may have gone a little overboard, but Tomo knew that she had to make as many memories as possible with Yomi before the two of them separated. Even now, at the graduation ceremony, Time and Distance were slowly pushing the two friends apart with their hands of Separation. Honestly, Tomo was afraid. She felt that she was losing her best friend already and that was slowly tearing her apart.

"Now it's time to award the Gold Brocade Prize to the student with the best academic record this year," The female announcer spoke again. Tomo stood up and put her hand behind her head in modesty.

"It's not you. Sit down," Yomi grabbed Tomo's shirt and the dark haired girl took her seat again, flashing her stupid grin at Yomi. After a few seconds, Tomo stood up again.

"I said sit down!" Yomi shouted, grabbing Tomo's shirt again. Tomo sat down and still wore that stupid grin.

"This year's winner of the Gold Brocade Prize is Mihama Chiyo-san from class 3," The announcer said. Tomo rose from her seat a third time, making Yomi very frustrated.

"I said that's not you!" Yomi shouted and pulled her best friend back down to her seat.

Even though Tomo did the most annoying things, Yomi couldn't help but treasure these moments. It was strange for Yomi to think that these random moments with Tomo would be her most treasured memories. Pretty soon, Yomi would have a crazy best friend to bother her, or ask for the homework. Soon, there wouldn't be someone tapping on Yomi's window at night, asking if they could hang out.

Chiyo-chan walked up onto the stage to receive her award from the principal. Her eyes watered as she stared at the award. When she turned around to face the audience, everyone began clapping and cheering for her success. Afterwards, everyone sang "Aoge ba Tautoshi".

Even though Tomo had to cover her ears to protect herself from Yomi's horrible singing, the song made Tomo think even more about the coming changes with her and her best friend. Although Chiyo-chan's winning of the award threw Tomo's mind off course for a few minutes, it didn't make her worries go away.

. . .As we reminisce, we realize how quickly the days have passed.

Now we must part. Farewell. . .

The piano concluded the ceremony with a melody of sweet sadness, expressing in only a few notes and chords the anxiety of separation from good friends.

After printing every last detail of the school into their minds, Yomi, Tomo, and everyone else headed outside and prepared themselves for a trip to Magical Land; however, there was still the uncertainty of whether or not Yomi would pass her exam.

"Of course you will, believing is important!" Tomo grinned and gave a thumbs-up sign.

"You're pissing me off!" Yomi shouted back, venting her frustration and anxiety about everything on Tomo. Tomo wasn't phased in the least. Instead, she took it as another little quirk to remember about Yomi.

As the day progressed, Tomo and Yomi's worries seemed to suppress for a while. It might've been because of the happy atmosphere of Magical Land, but it also could've been the understanding that the two of them still had the summer to be together. Sure they were both going to depart for different parts of the country, but the memories they were making in those very moments would never ever leave them. After all, separation leads to growth.

Well, that's that. The second and final chapter. I guess you could call this story a two-shot? Or maybe a double-shot. Nah, that makes it sound like beer, XD. Anyways, I love hearing what you guys think, so please leave some reviews! Oh, and in case you didn't know, "Aoge ba Tautoshi" is the typical graduation song they sing in Japan.

Until the next story,

--Rushia