(Evening fell with its warm stillness...)
The scent of the dinner Ahmed had prepared still lingered throughout the apartment. The four sat around the small table, their exhaustion feeling much lighter than it had hours ago.
Yoshika was the most energetic of them all. She ate with enthusiasm and talked non-stop about her television appearance, while Misaki laughed from time to time, and Honoka settled for shy, yet sincere, smiles. As for Ahmed... he watched them in silence. Inside him was a strange sense of tranquility.
(As if this place... had become warmer.)
After they finished the meal, everyone began clearing the plates. Then, Yoshika came back and sat beside Ahmed on the floor. She fidgeted with her small fingers hesitantly, as if gathering her courage to say something important. Ahmed noticed. He smiled gently.
Ahmed:
"Is there something you want to say?"
She raised her head toward him, her eyes filled with anticipation. Then she said in a shy voice:
Yoshika:
"Ahmed-niisan..."
She paused for a moment, then continued quickly, as if afraid to back down:
"Can you teach me, too?"
Ahmed blinked in slight surprise. Misaki and Honoka turned toward her. Yoshika lowered her head slightly.
Yoshika:
"My grades aren't good... and I want to become better."
Then she raised her eyes to him again.
"And I want... to be smart like you."
A short silence followed. But it wasn't an awkward silence; it was a silence filled with something warm. Ahmed smiled, then reached out and patted her head gently.
Ahmed:
"Of course."
Her eyes widened instantly. Ahmed continued with a smile:
"But on one condition."
She leaned toward him with curiosity.
"That you work hard."
She jumped with excitement.
Yoshika:
"I promise!"
Misaki laughed softly. As for Honoka... she was watching the scene in silence, a new feeling creeping into her heart. For the first time in a long time... she saw her little sister smiling with such peace, as if she had finally found a place where she could dream.
The Quiet Before the Change
(On that night...)
As the lights gradually turned off inside the apartment... none of them knew that the coming days would carry something much larger.
For outside... their message had begun to arrive. And the whole world... was starting to respond.