After the national competitions, the third years retired. The weather cooled, the band room emptied, and Kumiko felt uneasy.

"Do you miss them?" Reina asked her, heading home one night.

They were resting in front of a convenience store on the side of the street, and Hazuki and Midori were testing their luck at the gachas.

"Maybe I do…"

She didn't know. It wasn't like she was close to every every third year - in fact she was only close to one in particular.

"I just don't know if it should end like this," Kumiko said. "I feel like I'm regretting something."

She learned a lot this year - the past few weeks especially - and one of the most important things was to not leave regrets.

"That we didn't get gold?"

"Maybe."

That might have been part of it. Even Shuichi was thinking about it while she walked together with him that same night after being pressured by her friends. He chatted about performances and competitions in the coming year, that new students would join. But it was something else that was troubling Kumiko.

What was really making her uneasy was her realization that she loved Asuka-senpai. She struggled with a single question - should she do something about her feelings?

Then she heard a familiar voice, one that made the hairs on her neck stand up.

"Oh to be young! Right, you two?"

Speak of the devil.

Asuka had been walking home with Aoi. They chatted with casually about their grades, college entrance exams, their plans for the future. At least, Asuka let Aoi do most of the talking. She had let herself be selfish enough, but her days of being in the school band were over. The less people knew of what would become of her, the better.

Then she saw Kumiko ahead of her, walking with another boy - Tsukamoto, was it? They were just friends...right?

"Hey, it's Oumae-chan," she pointed out to Aoi. "Is there something going on between them?"

"No—well… not really."

"Good, so it's fine if I tease them a little."

Before Aoi could stop her, she called out, "Oh to be young!"

Kumiko wasn't amused. Tsukamoto soon left, and the girl immediately denied anything. Tsukamoto might have liked her, but it was not mutual.

"Come on! You don't have to deny it!"

It was fun teasing Kumiko, and it made her a bit happier every time she denied it. It just meant a slightly better chance that her own feelings would be returned.

"You never stop talking out of your ass."

Kumiko was much bolder now, and that's good because she's practically a second year. So Asuka decided to be a little honest too, and perhaps a little brave. She might not get another chance.

"Hey, I do love you, Oumae-chan."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

So she didn't get it. It was just as well though, because how could their relationship continue any further? Especially now when she was about to leave.

Meanwhile, Kumiko didn't know what to make of that comment. Asuka had a habit of saying nonsense, but after she had opened up to her, Kumiko could now generally tell when she was being sincere. So was that the truth?

Kumiko's chest pounded at the thought, but it seemed way too convenient. While she muddled over the situation in her head, Asuka had started walking away.

"Ah… You're going already?"

"Yeah, I have somewhere to be. Did you need something? "

Kumiko struggled to find an adequate excuse. She just wanted to be with Asuka-senpai just a little longer.

"Uh, no, it's just that I haven't seen you in a while."

That wasn't a complete lie, but Asuka dismissed it all the same.

As Asuka headed off, Kumiko couldn't help but feel bad about herself. After everything, was she still so spineless? Could she still not be honest with herself?

"Did something happen with Asuka?" Aoi asked her.

"No… nothing happened."

That's right. Nothing had happened, even while she had learned to never leave regrets.

For the following days and weeks, Kumiko's thoughts were nothing but Asuka-senpai. She missed her even more than the times she was gone before the competition.

She saw Asuka again at the band's graduation party. As they played "Crescent Moon Dance" for the third years, memories of the eventful year flashed through her mind. During her short euphonium solo, Kumiko noticed Asuka staring directly at her. A thought came to her - when will they get to see each other again?

Kumiko finally decided then. She would take Asuka's words to be sincere, and she had to do something about her own feelings.

Asuka wasn't around after the party. When can they see each other again? At the very least - she realized - once more at the graduation ceremony. She had to do something then.

It was the day of the graduation ceremony. The graduates received their honors, and the students were gathered outside for their final farewells.

Snow fell in tiny flecks, like dust that found its way into every crevice of one's clothing. Kumiko didn't notice the cold though. She was looking for Asuka-senpai.

Kumiko checked everywhere - the courtyard, the hallways, the classrooms, that breezeway - but she couldn't find her. She came to stop by the steps leading to the school's entrance, and caught her breath.

Suddenly she remembered when Asuka and the band welcomed the new first years there. To think she couldn't find Asuka-senpai when she need to see her most. Defeated, she slowly trudged up the stairs.

"Oumae-chan!" Kumiko's eyes snapped up at the voice. "What are you doing here?"

It was Asuka-senpai. Kumiko felt relief flood through her, but she couldn't say she wasn't a little angry as well. Why wasn't she among the other students, where she could find her easily?

"Well, what are you doing here?"

Avoiding everyone - but Asuka couldn't just say that. She couldn't just tell everyone that this had always been part of the deal. Even though she brokered with her mom to play in the national competition, it didn't extend beyond that. It was a losing battle since the beginning.

"I'm not good with these situations."

Well in that case… Kumiko thought.

"Congratulations on your graduation," Kumiko said with a slight bow.

"I told you, I can't stand these things. Anyway, what's up?"

Kumiko steeled herself. Here was the moment.

"There's something I wanted to tell you."

Asuka put her hands to her face in feint surprise.

"What is it? Is it love advice?"

This is the third time Kumiko had approached her for a private talk, and third time's the charm, they say, right? Asuka was still joking though. She wasn't prepared for Kumiko's response.

"Yes."

Stunned, Asuka put her hands down, and listened quietly.

"I used to not like you. But you were senior to me, and in the same section, so I tried to ignore it."

Kumiko hadn't prepared for this conversation. She didn't know where the words came from. All she knew was that she wanted to get her feelings across.

"But you seemed so difficult. In fact, I might've hated you."

"This is what you wanted to tell me?" Asuka said, forcing a laugh.

Asuka took off her glass and wiped her eyes. She hoped Kumiko wouldn't notice how she looked up to the sky so to prevent her tears from spilling. She really was bad with these situations.

"I mean, I've always known this-"

"No you didn't, because now I love you!"

That brought her eyes back down, and she saw Kumiko on the verge of tears, just like her.

"You wouldn't ever show your true feelings. You said stuff like you didn't care about friends, but… but now, I'm lonely."

Asuka should have been happy. She should have felt elated that her feelings were returned, but the truth was, Asuka had never felt worse. Kumiko was lonely, but there she was about to leave them all behind, and she couldn't even tell her the reason why.

"I want to hear you play the euphonium again. I want to play like you."

Now Kumiko was really crying. Seeing it pained her heart like a hot iron, scalding in the cold snow. As much as she wanted to, Asuka absolutely couldn't cry either. Someone had to be the strong one, for the both of them.

Asuka suddenly knew what to do.

She walked up to Kumiko, all the while reaching into her bag. She pulled out a spineless notebook, ruffled and worn, and handed it over to Kumiko.

"You can have this. I don't need it anymore."

There was no point for her to keep it, when she now had to shut away her feelings.

Kumiko whimpered in her tears and shook her head. Asuka couldn't help patting her head a little, and then ruffling her hair. Who knows when she would get to do that again?

"Now it's your turn to see that the underclassmen hear that piece."

Asuka knew it would help her too though. It was the piece that her father gave her, carrying his sentiments. Now she's passing it to Kumiko, pouring in her own, and perhaps just maybe, letting a little bit of herself remain behind, unforgotten.

"I don't want to say goodbye!"

Asuka didn't either. It was too final, so this was her last act of defiance.

"Then we won't."

As Asuka walked past her and down the steps, memories of the year in the band flew across Kumiko's eyes again. Except this time, they were all of Asuka, because Asuka had always been there.

Kumiko spun around to see her walking into the street, then turning around to look back at her.

"See you!" she yelled out.

"Okay," Kumiko cried back, her voice unsteady, and she watched Asuka walk away.

Before long, the path in front of her was empty. Only a trail of footprints was left in her wake, and Kumiko felt a new wave of pain shake her. She wiped her eyes breathed out her sorrow into the wind.

She looked down at the folder of sheet music Asuka gave her - the only thing still connecting them. Though she had already worked out the melody without it, she flipped to the first page.

That was when she saw it, eyes wide - the title of the piece.

"Kumiko! There you are."

It was Reina was calling for her to practice. Kumiko made her way back the band room.

Even though Asuka didn't say goodbye, if there's one thing Kumiko knew about her it's that Asuka was a liar.

However, in that moment, Kumiko felt the pain lift from her mind.

She will never forget the warmth of that piece. It carried the kindness and care passed down from senior to junior - from past to present. That was why it sounded so nostalgic, but it was also a comfort. It was her forerunners watching over her, encouraging her to keep going even in the roughest times.

"Sound! Euphonium."

Kumiko was glad she met Asuka-senpai. From that day on, she had a new reason for playing music.