^ The whole Sayu-becoming-leader-of-H!P was pretty low key. No official announcements of the like. You see it mentioned on the blogs of the H!P members (mostly Berikyu) occasionally, but it's usually in passing and no one really makes a big deal about it. I guess there's also the consideration that technically Rokkies are actually juniors compared to Berryz, and if you're talking pure seniority in H!P itself, Captain should have become leader of H!P after Gaki-san left.
So far the official leaders of H!P have been Nakazawa -> Aichan -> Gaki-san -> Sayu. Traditionally it seems like the leader of Morning Musume also doubles as the leader of H!P, but I suspect that will change after Sayu eventually graduates, because I would find it really odd if Fukuchan (who is most likely to be the next leader of MM if nothing goes wrong
) is chosen as leader of H!P ahead of Captain again.
Pretty sure that after Sayu graduates, she will still remain an idol somehow. Probably a variety talent like Yaguchi is. She definitely has the ability to pull it off, and I can somehow see her staying on in an advisory capacity (or want to, anyway) in H!P. Sayu is what I would term a "career idol", because she obviously wanted to become an idol, whereas most other idols become idols as stepping stones to other things. Examples are like Aichan (who wanted to become a stage actress), or Reina (who wanted to be a singer). Sayu, on the other hand, simply wants to be an idol. That's it. Everything else is superfluous. It suits her, really. Her personality is a huge selling point, and she knows how to maximise it to its greatest capacity. I would really want her to stay on in H!P somehow even after she leaves MM...not as a soloist maybe (since she can't sing, really
), but like I said before, some kind of unique advisory role. Since she likes little kids so much... >_> She might want to stay just for that orz. Sayu, the terror of future generations.
Just kidding, I love Sayu to pieces.
I personally think she'll likely graduate at the end of next year or at the latest, in spring 2015. Fall 2014 or Spring 2015, that's my forecast.
The kids are mostly ready, they just need more experience with showcasing their personalities and being good at talking (though Harunan is getting there really fast
), and I can't see Sayu staying much longer than the dates I suggested. Even if she wants to stay, I think Tsunku might suggest to her that she prepare to graduate (like he did with Aichan >_> ). Of course, I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade, but I'll just enjoy every day while Sayu is still with us in MM.
That's the best way to go about it, no?