AN: once again... i'm sleepy haha

Chapter 17

This was it. It graduation day and most likely the last day she would see Momo and the others in a school setting, and for Tomo it was hard to sit in the classroom know that down the hall and around the corner there were classrooms where the students were saying final goodbyes. When it came time for the 1st and 2nd years to come down to the gym to watch the ceremony Tomo found her feet to be like lead, dragging across the hallways, following behind Mikimoto-san in front of her.

Like a zombie she watched the ceremony, fading in and out of the speech. The speeches lacked luster and failed to hold anyone in the crowds attention but in the end maybe that's what made it so emotional in the first place. Instead of listening Tomo found herself reflecting on the moments she had with the 3rd years at Seishun Senior High.

Tomo couldn't help but look back fondly at it all.

There were funny times with Arai and Isumi-fukubuchou. There were the moments that caused her to remember with such pride the victory against St Lillian's girl's tennis team, the number one seed in the Kanto region and the way Kiyoko-buchou worked really hard to get them there.

There was also one time when Kaidoh's class set up a dumpling booth at the festival that just so happened to be beside Momo's class' BBQ stand. That was the craziest festivcal she'd ever been to hands down. Just the fighting and sheer competition between those two had distracted everyone's attention from the other attractions and made so much business for the 3rd years.

And then there were the sweet times. All the years of being with Momo amounted to all of the years he had spent here. In this very school. She remembered the notes in her shoe locker, the watch from White day of her 1st year and then now her 2nd year when Momo bought her those cute pearl earings to match her birthstone. She couldn't help but remember thee sweet moments of going out for hamburgers after they finished practice or just how he'd always eat her Valentine's day chocolate even if they didn't look as good as the ones Sakuno always made.

Tomo sighed and felt her heart become more heavy. She'd miss them all. Arai, Kaidoh, Isumi, Kiyoko, and Momo. Especially Momo. And at that moment when the last speaker said his goodbyes and the ceremony was winding to a close, Tomo almost couldn't bring herself to feel happy.

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It was just after the ceremony and Tomo found herself lingering.

She was lingering in the 3rd year hallway, hoping to say her final goodbyes to the few who loitered about hoping to hang on to their final moments. In particular she waited for Momo-sempai. For some reason just the thought of him being too busy once he enters university to even talk to her made some of her anger cool off a little. They hadn't had a chance to talk since that day on the roof and really, Tomo didn't know how to approach him, but she just wanted to say something.

She had already saw most of the 3rd year girls from the tennis team including Kiyoko and Isumi. They hugged, awkwardly but there was affection in it and had walked off to join their parents by the time Arai decided to surprise attack Tomo for one final strangle-hug.

"Tomo-chan!" Arai draped his arm harshly over the shorter girl's shoulder.

"Ow ow! Sempai!" Tomo feigned hurt as she struggled to remove herself from his headlock.

"I'm a free man!" he cheered, not even bothering to let go.

Tomo laughed and wiped away some more of the tears that were again threatening to fall. She didn't like to cry a lot in front of people but all of the other girls were doing it too and it was just so darn contagious. Besides it was a happy/sad occasion so she allowed herself it this time.

"Where are your parents?" Tomo asked. "Aren't they worried about you?"

"They didn't come," Arai said, slackening his hold. "Had to work. You know how it is."

Tomo nodded and just then Sakuno and Ryoma approached.

"Congratulations, Arai-sempai," Sakuno stated with a wave.

"Thanks. Just think next year it'll be you three that'll be graduating," Arai said. Turning to Ryoma he continued, "And you take care of the team ok. Not that I think you won't. I just felt I had to say something. You know final words as a sempai."

Ryoma merely nodded with his impassive stare.

Arai shrugged and then with another grin said goodbye and walked off.

"Arai sure gotten a lot nicer, y'know. Man everyone's gone," Tomo pouted.

"Oh come on, you know you'll love ordering all those little fresh meat around!" a voice boomed.

Tomo turned around only to see Momo with his trademark grin.

"Take-- Momo-chan!" Tomo exclaimed, for a moment forgetting herself and throwing her arms around his neck.

"Woah now," Momo replied, steadying himself by setting his hands on her waist, though they both knew Tomo couldn't really knock him over. "You that happy to see me go?"

Tomo pouted slightly and pulled away from his hold, "No! I'm sad actually! Don't you see I'm crying. Loser! You don't deserve my tears!"

Momo's smile remained the same but his eyes softened, his fingers twitched against her hips and Tomo felt her face begin to burn. For a moment she forgot who she was and who he was as of now. Her body reacted, sliding her arms down from where they looped around his neck, her hands resting on his chest. For a moment she forgot why they shouldn't be standing like this in the first place.

"Che, drama queens."

Ryoma's statement broke the trance the two seemed to be in and Tomo quickly pulled away, retreating to learn against the wall beside the future Seigaku Boy's team Buchou.

"Whatever, Ryoma-kun," Tomo frowned. "Don't act like you're not sad."

Sakuno giggled, "He probably isn't."

"It's not like I won't see Momo-chan anymore," Ryoma reasoned, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah right, don't try to act so tough now!" Tomo slapped Ryoma's back with more strength that both parties anticipated, and Ryoma lurched forward from the impact.

"Yeah, remember last year?" Momo wagged his eye brows.

"Psh, I don't know what you're saying?" Ryoma feigned innocence, but the slight pinkening of his cheeks told that he remembered to just as well.

Ryoma at Kunimitsu's graduation… enough said.

"Well, that's ok Ryoma. You don't have to be sad. Sakuno and I are sad enough for the three of us," Tomo laughed.

"Aw, but Ryoma is right," Sakuno said. "We don't really have to let this be the last time we all see each other.'

"Yeah. We didn't spend all this time getting to know each other just to say good bye," Momo agreed. "We'll have to get together soon and--"

He cut himself off, something having caught his attention down the hall. Tomo turned her head and followed his gaze, only to feel her chest tighten to see he was looking at Kiyoko Buchou.

"Hey guys I'll get back to you. There's still some people I have to talk to as well before they hurry and leave!"

Momo jogged off and Tomo crossed her arms, watching him near the Morino family.

"Tomo-chan he isn't worth it," Sakuno said.

"What? I'm not bothered."

"You're glaring," Ryoma observed.

Tomo sucked her teeth, "Shut up!"

"He's not with her you know," Ryoma said.

"Yeah I know," Tomo shuffled her feet. "It's just rather awkward. I don't know the proper way to act around him."

She didn't want to admit that despite her constantly trying to remind herself that she was (supposedly) over him whenever she saw him the feelings and the hurt returned.

"If you want to take him back that's fine," Sakuno said. "That is your decision."

The words 'we won't judge you' seemed to linger in the air after that. She could tell that Sakuno expected her to take Momo back, but Sakuno was mistaken on that point. Tomo knit her brows together in a deadly glare, her teeth clenched to show her passion.

"I'd rather not give him the pleasure," she growled in a low tone.

And with those words Tomo stomped her foot and walked away.

To be continued…

AN: thanks for taking the time to read. i'm really sleepy. maybe if i wrote when i'm not sleepy the chapter would come out better

oops

please review they are appreciated