(Honoka's little sister was still clinging to her, sobbing intermittently, as if she feared being snatched away at any moment.)
Honoka embraced her tightly... her eyes closed... as if she were trying to freeze this moment... before it, too, was taken from her.
The air was charged. And the door... was still open.
Ahmed took a step forward. Quietly. But his presence was undeniable. He looked first at Honoka... then at her little sister... then raised his eyes toward the parents.
Ahmed (in a low, respectful voice):
"Sir... Madam..."
He didn't raise his voice. But his words were steady.
"What is happening now... is not just a mistake."
The mother stopped speaking. The father finally looked at him.
Ahmed continued: "Your daughter... was under immense pressure."
A quick glance toward Honoka. Then back to them.
"She was bullied."
A short silence followed. But this time... it wasn't the silence of ignorance. It was the silence of rejection. The mother crossed her arms. Her father remained silent... but his features were harsh.
Ahmed continued calmly:
"What she did... wasn't because she was weak."
He paused for a moment. Then said clearly:
"It was because she found no one to listen to her."
Honoka's shoulders trembled slightly.
The mother cut him off coldly:
"This changes nothing."
Misaki froze. She looked at her in shock.
The mother continued: "What happened... is a disgrace."
The word fell into the place like something heavy.
"And everyone witnessed it."
The father finally added, in a low but decisive voice:
"Our reputation is more important."
Silence. Deep. Painful.
Ahmed's hand clenched slowly. But his face remained calm. He didn't argue. He didn't shout. He just... looked at them. A long look. As if he were trying one last time.
Ahmed (in an even lower voice):
"She is your daughter."
No one replied. The mother looked away. The father remained silent.
And here... Ahmed understood. It wasn't because they didn't understand. It was because they... didn't want to understand.
His gaze lowered slightly. Then he raised it again. But this time... it wasn't the same look. He turned slowly. He looked at Honoka... and at the child clinging to her as if she were her entire life. Then at Misaki. His eyes said everything.
(It's over.)
He didn't say it aloud... but the decision was born in that moment.
One step backward. He moved away from the door. As if he were closing something... without even touching it.
As for behind him... the house remained as it was.
Cold.
Silent.
And empty.