(After school hours ended, students left the classrooms exchanging conversations and laughter, while the sunlight leaned toward sunset, coloring the Tokyo sky with calm shades of orange.)
Ahmed was walking in silence, his hands inside his jacket pockets, while Misaki and Honoka walked by his side. Misaki noticed that Ahmed had been lost in thought since his family's departure in the morning, so she turned to him and said quietly:
Misaki: "Ahmed-kun... are you still thinking about your family?"
Ahmed smiled a slight smile.
Ahmed: "A little... but not just that."
Honoka looked at him with surprise.
Honoka: "Then... is there something occupying your mind?"
Ahmed stopped walking for a moment, then raised his eyes toward the school building.
Ahmed: "Come with me... I want us to talk in a quiet place."
(Misaki and Honoka look at each other, then nod in agreement.)
The three climb the stairs leading to the school rooftop. As soon as Ahmed opened the door... a cool breeze greeted them, carrying with it the calm of the evening. The city stretched before them, and the buildings gleamed under the last sunlight, while there was no one else on the rooftop but them.
Ahmed approached the metal fence, placed his hands on it, and kept looking at the horizon without speaking. Misaki stood by his side in silence, while Honoka sat on a nearby bench, watching him anxiously.
Silence prevailed for several moments... a silence that wasn't uncomfortable, but rather full of thoughts yet unsaid.
Ahmed took a deep breath, then slowly turned toward them. Features of seriousness appeared on his face, as if he had made an important decision. Misaki and Honoka exchanged glances, feeling that the upcoming conversation would not be ordinary.
Ahmed raised his gaze to Honoka, then said in a calm and clear voice:
Ahmed: "Honoka... I want to ask you an important question."
(Honoka raises her head toward him, while Misaki waits in silence for what he will say.)
And the scene shifts to the question that will change the course of the conversation...