The tension in the air gradually subsided.
The murmurs of the crowd finally died down as Jack, unconscious and bleeding, was taken care of by a few students who had found the courage to intervene.
Mayohi, still trembling and battered, turned to Hinata.
Her gaze was gentle but tired.
— Hinata... you should go home.
I'll make sure Jack gets to the hospital... some people have offered to help me.
You can't stay here anymore.
Hinata nodded without a word.
She knew.
She felt, deep in her stomach, the heavy and cold weight of what she had just done.
Every step she took in the mud reminded her that she risked expulsion.
Seeing her silence, Mayohi placed a protective hand on her shoulder.
She gently forced her to look at her.
— I know what you're thinking, she whispered.
But don't worry.
This time, I won't abandon you.
If you get expelled... then I'll get expelled too.
We'll look for another school, together.
I'll help you with your brother...
I'm on your side, Hinata. You're not alone anymore. It's over.
Hinata's heart tightened—a sweet, deep pain.
She stepped forward and hugged Mayohi one last time.
Their clothes were soaked with mixed rain and blood, but neither wanted to let go of the other.
Then, slowly, they separated.
Hinata turned her back to the chaos and stepped into the dark, soaked street.
The rain pounded the sidewalk in an almost soothing monotony.
Hinata walked on, head down, heart heavy, breath unstable.
Until a silhouette appeared in front of her.
A dark sweater.
A navy blue umbrella.
Long hair falling on the shoulders.
She recognized the silhouette immediately.
Her body stopped by itself.
Her breathing broke.
The person took a few steps to reduce the distance, then stopped as well.
— I've been worried for so long… started the calm voice.
The class time has been over for a while and I—
Hinata didn't wait for the end.
She threw herself at him as if everything inside her had loosened.
A hoarse, deep sob escaped her as she buried her face against his chest.
— I'm sorry, big brother!
The words exploded between her tears.
I… I fought…
I broke my promise…
I didn't want to fight anymore, I promised you… but he hurt Mayohi… and he insulted you…
I… I couldn't stand it…
I was in too much pain…
I'm sorry… I'm sorry…
Her fingers gripped Melokosa's soaked sweater as if afraid he would disappear if she let go.
Melokosa did not answer immediately.
He remained still, the rain falling on his shoulders, his face expressionless — but his eyes said otherwise.
A silent storm.
A mix of pain, understanding, and immense love for the little sister he had protected all her life.
Finally, he placed a gentle hand on Hinata's head, his fingers gliding delicately through her wet strands.
— I see… he murmured.
Then, with an almost unreal softness:
— It'll be okay.
Let's go home first.
You might catch a cold…
His voice had not changed.
It was calm.
Stable.
Protective.
As if despite the catastrophe, despite the violence, despite the world that had just collapsed around them…
Melokosa would always remain that fixed point, that refuge.
Hinata held onto his sweater even tighter, unable to let go for the moment.
The small house was silent, only disturbed by the regular sound of rain sliding down the windows.
Hinata, changed, wrapped in a blanket too big for her, was sitting on the sofa. Her eyes were lost somewhere between shame, fear, and a strange tranquility.
In the kitchen, Melokosa was speaking on the phone. His deep voice resonated intermittently, calm but tense.
— Very well, madam… yes, I understand. We'll be there tomorrow… thank you, he replied with almost icy politeness.
He hung up gently and returned to the living room. He sat near Hinata, leaving a measured space, as not to overwhelm her, but close enough for her to feel surrounded.
— Well… he murmured. — I think they're already aware. They just called for a meeting tomorrow morning with the principal.
Hinata did not answer immediately. Her fingers squeezed the edge of the blanket as if it was the only thing holding her to the world.
After a long silence:
— I'm really sorry, big brother… she said in a whisper. — But… to be honest… I do not regret what I did.
Melokosa slightly turned his head toward her without speaking.
— I don't regret hitting Jack. He deserved it. He… he went too far.
She took a stronger breath, her eyes wet:
— The only thing I regret… is the consequences.
A heavy silence fell again. Hinata lowered her head, and her voice cracked:
— It's unfair… Jack, he really is bad. Why… why should justice be on his side when he is the one doing all the harm?
Melokosa slid a hand slowly through her hair, almost with fatherly tenderness. His gaze drifted toward the carpet, as if searching for the right words in its patterns.
— Hinata… in the absence of evidence, what you say is not enough. Jack will always be seen as the innocent one. As long as there is nothing visible, nothing recorded, nothing the school can confirm… nothing can be reproached to him.
He sighed. — That's how adults work. Sometimes, unjustly.
Hinata swallowed a sob she dared not let out.
Melokosa finally stood up, stretching his heavy shoulders, and asked with a calm that did not hide his fatigue:
— Well… do you want a hot chocolate?
Hinata suddenly looked up, surprised:
— You're… you're not angry…?
He shook his head without hesitation:
— No.
He smiled a little, a discreet, tired, but genuine smile.
— It wouldn't help if I were angry. And well… given everything you've told me tonight, you did well to act.
Then his voice grew deeper, slightly tight:
— The problem, Hinata… is that maybe you acted too much.
He paused.
— Until now… Jack is still in a deep coma.
The word coma fell between them like a stone in still water.
Hinata's breath stopped.
Melokosa watched her, ready to catch her if she collapsed.
— But… she began with a broken voice. — I… I didn't want to kill him… I just wanted… him to stop…
Her hands trembled under the blanket.
Melokosa placed a warm hand on her shoulder.
— I know, he replied simply. — And that's why we'll face all this together tomorrow. You're not alone, Hina. Never again.
The next day.
The meeting room was cold, almost clinical.
A long gray table, metal chairs, the smell of damp paper. Hinata remained standing, her fingers tight against her skirt, unable to sit.
Melokosa, on the other hand, sat still, staring straight ahead.
Around them, several members of the administration observed the scene with icy stiffness.
The principal spoke, hands clasped, in a stern tone:
— Miss Hinata… I'm afraid your case has reached a point of no return. Violence in school is already a major problem, but what happened yesterday goes beyond any reasonable limit.
He paused, his gaze sharp.
— Since your arrival here, we have had to deal with several incidents involving you. But this time, you sent a student into a coma. And not just that. This student has multiple fractures on the face, chest… critical blood loss. The doctors speak of a long hospital stay, missed examinations, and probably a compromised year.
The words fell like stones.
Hinata lowered her head, her eyes trembling, unable to answer.
Melokosa remained completely silent.
The principal continued, categorical:
— You now represent a danger to this school. The decision is difficult but inevitable. Hinata… you are expelled.
Hinata's heart tightened violently.
She almost staggered.
She did not have the strength to argue... she almost accepted the sentence.
Suddenly, knock knock.
A knock on the door.
A member of the administration opened, and astonishment fell on the room.
It was Mayohi.
Her face was covered with bandages, strips of dressing peeking from her hair, and discreet bruises still marked her skin.
She greeted politely with a small bow… then raised her eyes with cold determination.
— Mr. Principal…
I'm sorry for being late… and what I'm about to say may be rude, but… I listened behind the door before coming in.
A leaden silence.
Mayohi took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly… but firm:
— If you really think Hinata is the source of violence in this school… and that Jack is the victim…
Then you are making a monstrous mistake.
The room froze.
Hinata looked up at her, stunned.
Mayohi took a step forward, showing her bruised face:
— Look at me. These injuries… they are not from Hinata. They are not accidents.
It's Jack, my own brother, who inflicted them on me.
Yesterday, he dragged me on the ground in front of everyone, hitting me like a rag.
Hinata only defended me.
She paused, then added coldly:
— And if you don't believe me…
She pointed to the door.
The door slowly opened.
A group of students entered in line, more than eight.
Some had bruises, others did not… but all had the same expression: fear, shame, and relief to finally speak.
One of the boys spoke, voice trembling:
— Jack… he took my money every day.
And when I tried to say no… he hit me.
A girl behind him said:
— He forced me to do his homework. He said he'd break my fingers if I refused.
Another added, clenching fists:
— Once… he locked me in the bathroom for an hour because I "looked at him the wrong way."
A fourth student, eyes watery:
— He called me "trash." He threw my things out the window.
I told no one… I was afraid.
An older boy concluded with a broken voice:
— Jack went after everyone. Every day.
Hinata didn't assault him.
She stopped him.
In the room…
No one breathed anymore.
The principal, pale, unsettled, didn't know where to look.
The administration members exchanged uncertain glances, unable to find words.
Hinata trembled… completely overwhelmed.
She had never imagined the others suffered so much.
She had never imagined they would dare come and testify for her.
Mayohi turned her head to Hinata, smiling gently despite her injuries:
— Hinata… you are not the monster here. You were never the problem.
You were the only one… to have the courage to do what we were all too terrified to do.
Mayohi turned again to the principal, her voice trembling but firm:
— Mr. Principal… Hinata was also threatened by Jack. He even… indirectly threatened her with assault.
A shiver ran through the room. Even the administration members stopped writing.
— Last time, Mayohi continued, when Hinata came to talk to you… I couldn't confirm. I was scared. Scared of what Jack might do to me if I spoke.
She lifted her head, her gaze full of courage and mixed terror.
— If Hinata must be expelled… then Jack too. And us too, she said, pointing to the other students behind her. Because we will not accept that the one who washed our honor… the one who ended the hell Jack made us live… be punished while he gets away with it.
Silence fell like a guillotine.
Hinata lowered her head even more, her eyes shining.
Melokosa, meanwhile, watched without blinking, waiting for the sentence, impassive on the surface.
The principal took a long breath, as if the weight of the revelations crushed his chest.
— What I just heard is… serious, he said. Maybe Jack was indeed a problematic student. But that does not give Hinata the right to respond with such violence.
He paused.
— Jack is between life and death. His injuries are extremely severe. Your explanations do not change that fact.
He let out a heavy, almost resigned sigh.
— Finally… this matter will be put on hold. We will investigate more thoroughly before making a final decision. Hence, the expulsion will not be immediate. It will all depend on what the investigation reveals. You may leave.
He turned to Melokosa.
— We will need an additional interview with you, sir.
The students left one by one. The eight victims of Jack stayed a moment in front of Hinata.
— Jack deserved it, said one of them, fists clenched. If I had your strength, I would have done the same.
— Hinata, today… you are my hero, said another, eyes wet.
Others followed, giving awkward thanks, looks of gratitude, then they walked away.
Hinata remained there, upright, silent, hands clasped against her, a fragile thin smile on her lips — as if she didn't know if she had the right to feel relieved.
Mayohi gently tapped her shoulder.
— Is that all you have as a reaction? After a guy literally told you you were his hero? Are you going to stop that cheap modesty now, yes?
Hinata looked up at her, genuinely moved.
— I… I thank you all. I can't even believe that… that you defended me like that.
Mayohi smiled, gentle and determined.
— I would never have let you face this alone. And even until the principal's final decision… I will be by your side. Always, Hinata.
Hinata no longer had the strength to contain her emotions. She threw herself into Mayohi's arms, who immediately embraced her.
They stayed like that, holding each other tightly, in a silence no longer heavy—but healing.