Shinsuke Tanahashi IV : Letter

April 3rd. Spring. Cherry blossoms are falling from the trees. 

It's also Shin's funeral day. The five of us are all at the front of his grave, as the ceremony had just finished.

Shin's grave was right next to his parents and grandmother.

I put down the flowers that I bought. "Here you go, Shin."

Sakura asked me, "Are you okay, Yuuki?"

I replied, "I'm fine. I'm not going to cry. I don't want to make Shin worry about me anymore."

Nise looked up at the sky, "He is probably giggling about it right now."

Miu followed suit, "You bet he will."

Itsuki also looked up, "I wonder what he is doing right now?"

Suddenly, a voice from someone behind us, "Probably looking after you guys."

We turned around, "Dr. Minoru."

Dr. Minoru retrieved something from his pocket, "This is for you guys."

I took it from Dr. Minoru's hand. It's a letter. Dr. Minoru spoke, "It's a letter from Tanahashi."

From Shin?

Dr. Minoru continued, "He gave me this letter the night before graduation.  He told me to give this to you guys on the day of his funeral. He must've written at the same night."

I smiled, "Thanks, Dr. Minoru."

"No problem," as Dr. Minoru left us.

Miu asked, "What's in the letter, Yuuki?"

I replied, "Only one way to find out."

I opened the letter and read everything aloud.

"Dear Itsuki, Nise, Sakura, Miu, Yuuki,

Hello guys, by the time you see this letter, I'm already sleeping with my parents and Grandma. You know, it's kind of weird on receiving a letter from someone else who just passed away recently. I remember the first time I met you guys, you guys gave me the worse first impression. While I was talking to Yuuki, the rest of you just barged in on our conversation. I was thinking to myself "What the hell are these people doing?" But that was the start of everything.

When I met you guys, I didn't know what to expect. Are these people good? Can I consider them friends? My head was filled with those kinds of thoughts. I kept my condition a secret from you guys because I don't know if I'm going to get bullied from that again. 

But, it was really assuring to know that everyone else has secrets that they don't want to be known by everyone else. Those secrets made our friendship even stronger.

You guys take me in on my first day and consider me already as a friend and it led to a lot of special memories. The welcoming party, the amusement park, the summer festival, the cultural festival, the field trip, and the Christmas party. It was fun while it lasted.

I will forever treasure these memories that we had and I will forever remember you guys. I hope I was able to live in everyone's heart.

I hope you guys will never forget me and I love you guys.

Thank you for the smiles and the memories,

Shinsuke Tanahashi. "

Nise smiled, "Don't worry, we won't forget you, Shin."

Miu replied, "No, we should be the ones that should say thanks, Shin."

Itsuki followed, "It's Shin. He would never tell us about it."

Sakura jokes about it, "He really lives in our hearts rent-free."

I giggled at what Sakura said, "You're right."

As I was about to return the letter to the envelope, there was one more thing that was inside the envelope. I took it out, "Hey guys, there's more."

It's a picture.

Nise looked at the picture, "That picture!"

Itsuki went after, "It's the picture that we did when we threw Shin a welcoming party."

Sakura smiled, "That takes me back."

Miu followed suit, "Sure it is."

I smiled and looked at the sky. I turned the picture around and there was something written on it.

"I'll wait here in ten years and I'll talk to you guys again."