(Silence prevails on the school rooftop after Ahmed's question. Honoka's words were still hanging in the air, while a light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees surrounding the fence.)
Honoka lowered her head, unable to hide the confusion filling her heart. As for Misaki, she looked at her friend sadly, realizing that the answer she was searching for was not easy.
Ahmed looked at Honoka for a long moment, then sighed quietly. He didn't try to pressure her with more words, nor did he ask her again. Instead, he slowly opened his school bag, took out the small sketchbook he always carried with him, and held the pencil.
Honoka raised her head in surprise.
Honoka: "Ahmed-kun... what are you doing?"
Ahmed smiled a calm smile.
Ahmed: "Just sit as you are... only for a few minutes."
Honoka and Misaki exchanged glances, then Honoka sat on the wooden bench as he requested.
Ahmed's pencil started moving across the paper with lightness and confidence. Simple lines... then finer details... He wasn't just drawing a beautiful face, but rather drawing the emotions he had seen in her eyes since they first met.
The sadness... the exhaustion... and the tiny hope that had begun to be born anew.
Several minutes passed, and the silence was broken only by the sound of the pencil scratching against the paper. Misaki was watching Ahmed with admiration, while occasionally looking at Honoka, who remained still without moving.
Finally... Ahmed set the pencil aside. He took a deep breath, then gently tore the page from the sketchbook. He stood in front of Honoka and stretched out his hand to her.
Ahmed: "Here you go."
Honoka slowly took the drawing. And as soon as her eyes fell upon it... they widened in surprise. She saw herself as she had never seen herself before.
Ahmed hadn't drawn her smile... nor had he drawn her tears... but instead, he drew the strength that was hiding behind her sadness, and the kindness that the cruelty of life could not tear from her heart.
Her fingers trembled as she ran them over the paper. Tears began to well up in her eyes without her realizing. She whispered in a voice that could barely be heard:
Honoka: "Is this... me?"
Ahmed smiled quietly, contenting himself with a small nod. As for Misaki, she looked at the drawing, then at Ahmed, and a smile full of admiration formed on her face. She realized that Ahmed hadn't tried to change Honoka's reality... but rather tried to make her see herself in a different light.
And while Honoka stared at the drawing in silence, Ahmed stepped toward her with quiet paces, determined to speak the words that had remained locked in his heart over the past days... the words that would make her feel she was no longer alone from this day on.