(Ahmed, Misaki, and Honoka enter the principal's office. The principal rises slightly from his seat, then gestures for them to sit. His office was quiet, but his features still carried the remnants of anger since the spread of the video that shook the school and public opinion.)
Ahmed sits next to Honoka, while Misaki sits on the other side, as if she wants to give her friend a sense of safety.
The principal looks at Honoka, noticing the paleness of her face, the redness of her eyes, and the drawing she was still holding between her hands. Then he sighs quietly.
Principal: "You said you have important matters you want to tell me."
Ahmed nods his head respectfully.
Ahmed: "Yes, sir."
He pauses for a moment, as if organizing his thoughts. Then he begins to speak in a calm but clear voice.
Ahmed: "Everything that happened did not start with the video people watched..."
(The principal focuses his gaze on him attentively.)
Ahmed: "Rather, it started months ago... when Honoka became a target of bullying inside the school."
Honoka's eyes drop to the ground, while she grips the drawing in her hands.
Ahmed continues:
Ahmed: "The insults were repeated every day... until she gradually lost hope."
Misaki looks at the principal, then adds quietly:
Misaki: "I used to see her trying to pretend she was fine... but she would go home crying."
The principal's features change little by little. Ahmed continues, his voice becoming more serious.
Ahmed: "And one day... Honoka was no longer able to bear all of that."
(He pauses for seconds.)
Ahmed: "She tried to end her life..."
(The principal's eyes suddenly widen, and he sits up straight in shock.)
The principal looks directly at Honoka. Her lips tremble, but she nods her head slowly, confirming the truth of Ahmed's words.
A heavy silence prevails in the office. Then Ahmed continues:
Ahmed: "And fortunately... I arrived just in time, and managed to save her."
Misaki looks at Ahmed with eyes full of gratitude, as she remembers those moments very well. But Ahmed is not done yet. He takes a deep breath, then says:
Ahmed: "I thought the hardest part of it was over..."
(He lowers his gaze slightly.)
Ahmed: "But the real shock was when we went to return Honoka to her home."
The principal looks at him with surprise.
Ahmed: "Her parents... denied that she was their daughter."
(Everyone falls silent.)
Ahmed: "And they didn't stop there... they also denied Yoshika, her little sister."
Honoka's hand trembles as she clutches the drawing to her chest. As for Misaki, she lowers her head, the bitterness of those memories returning to her.
Ahmed continues in a voice mixed with sadness and firmness:
Ahmed: "I had no other choice... so I took them both to my house, and they have been living with me so they wouldn't face that pain alone."
Silence fills the office.
As for the principal... he kept looking at Ahmed, then at Honoka, then at Misaki, as shock began to show clearly on his features while he tried to absorb the scale of the tragedy he had just heard.
(At that moment, he rose slowly from his seat, his gaze changing completely...)