Ahmed cast a slight smile, warm as a fall sunbeam touching the edges of paper, then straightened up calmly and continued on his way to his classroom. He didn't look back, as if that moment was enough for him, or as if it was all he needed to get through his day. (5)
As for Misaki, she remained where she was, sitting on the ground amidst her scattered notebooks. She didn't move, as if something was pulling her to that very moment. She looked at the empty space he had been standing in moments before, then lowered her gaze to the sketchbook resting in her hands.
Her fingers lightly traced the page, over the drawn flowers, as if searching among the lines for an explanation of what had happened. Words were not enough, not even glances. All that remained inside her was the voice of that strange young man... and the echo of his smile.
For the first time in a long time, she heard the noise.
The sound of the school, the footsteps, the distant laughter—everything had returned. But she was no longer the same as she was moments ago. Something had pierced her stillness, something kind, honest, and completely unexpected.
Amidst the caution that resided in her eyes, something new appeared... a faint, strange glint, as if asking: "Who could he be?"
She slowly lifted her notebook and stood up, still holding it as if it were a rare treasure. The next class no longer mattered to her so much, nor did the time...
For the world she had thought was completely closed, had suddenly opened through a smile.