(The door to the principal's office opens slowly.)
Ahmed exits first, followed by Misaki, then Honoka with hesitant steps. Silence surrounded them—a heavy silence after words that had changed something deep within them. But the corridor was not as they had left it.
Students gathered.
Whispers.
Wide eyes.
Raised phones.
Ahmed's footsteps stopped. He felt that something abnormal was happening.
Misaki (whispering):
"Why is everyone... looking like this?"
At that moment, a student passed by them, staring at his phone in astonishment. He unintentionally tilted it slightly... and the image appeared. Ahmed's eyes froze. On the screen—it was him. In the air. Extending his hand. Grabbing Honoka. The fall. The pool.
Misaki's eyes widened.
Misaki (in shock):
"This... the video!"
Voices began to rise around them.
"It's him!"
"The same person!"
"This student right here!"
Honoka felt the ground swaying beneath her feet. She whispered in a trembling voice:
Honoka: "It has... been posted..."
Ahmed calmly took a student's phone and looked at the screen. The headline was clear:
"Student jumps from school roof to save a girl at the last moment!"
Beneath it, the numbers were changing with terrifying speed. Millions... then hundreds of millions... comments in different languages... likes escalating without stop. Ahmed breathed slowly.
Then he whispered:
Ahmed: "This... has gone viral."
Misaki took the phone, her eyes moving rapidly across the screen.
Misaki: "It's not just viral..."
She looked up at him, shock evident in her voice:
"This... is everywhere."
Students began to draw closer. Gazes of admiration. Gazes of shock. Gazes of curiosity. But for Honoka, the looks were all heavy. She lowered her head, as if trying to disappear. Ahmed noticed this immediately. He took a step and stood in front of her... like a barrier.
Then he said calmly:
Ahmed: "We won't stay here."
Misaki nodded quickly, gently taking Honoka's hand.
Misaki: "Come..."
The three began moving through the corridor, with eyes following them from every direction. But this time... they weren't just ordinary students. They were the talk of the school. The talk of the world.
They finally stepped out of the building. The air outside was colder... but it wasn't lighter. A brief silence fell between them. Then Ahmed looked at Honoka. He saw the paleness in her face and the sadness that hadn't vanished despite everything. He exchanged a look with Misaki; she understood instantly.
Then they spoke together, in voices calm and full of concern:
Ahmed and Misaki: "Honoka... do you want us to go to your family now?"
Honoka stopped. She lifted her eyes slowly. In them was something new... a fearful hope. Then she nodded in agreement... hesitantly. And without further words, the three began to walk together toward a place that might change everything.