Auditorium. Noon.
Everyone sat in silence.
A silence louder than any noise.
Every whisper before the assembly felt like a gunshot — everyone knew why they were gathered.
I felt Miyako squeeze my hand.
We sat side by side, like always.
But even in that closeness, there was tension.
At the center of the stage stood Principal Aoyama — usually calm, almost indifferent.
Today — serious and stern.
He brought the mic to his lips and looked out over the hall.
— "Today, we're here to address a problem we cannot ignore.
A situation that has gone far beyond a simple school conflict.
A reminder that words can be weapons.
And trust can be shattered in mere days."
He paused.
Everyone froze.
— "Several weeks ago, within these walls, rumors, emotional manipulation, and targeted slander began to spread.
There was faked evidence, distorted truths, and worst of all — a calculated effort to destroy someone's relationship."
Now even the whispers had vanished.
Only silence remained.
— "We conducted an internal investigation.
With input from teachers, students, and where needed — parents.
The results are clear."
He nodded to someone offstage.
A school assistant pressed a button — and behind him, the screen lit up.
Screenshots of chats.
Clips showing video edits.
Messages from classmates confirming the pressure.
And then, he said:
— "Haneda Sayo. Step forward."
Sayo
She stood slowly. Hesitantly.
The room tightened with tension.
I looked at her.
No makeup.
No smile.
Her posture — that of someone who knew she'd lost.
Sayo walked to the mic.
She took a breath. Tried to speak confidently — failed.
— "I… yes, I'm guilty. But…
I just wanted…"
She looked around.
Her voice cracked.
— "I was lonely. I didn't know how to approach. How to be close.
All I had left was… trying to stand out. Somehow."
She clenched her fists.
— "Kurume… I never wanted you to hate me."
I saw the tears shimmering in her eyes.
— "I lied because I didn't know how to be myself.
Because every time I saw you and Miyako together — I… felt like I didn't belong."
She tried to smile, but her lips trembled.
— "I tried to justify what I did…
But now I understand — it was just weakness dressed up as persistence."
Sayo lowered her gaze.
— "I'm sorry."
Principal
He stepped closer.
— "Being alone is not a crime," he said calmly.
"But hurting others because of it — that's not weakness. That's a choice.
And you made it. Consciously."
A pause.
— "Haneda Sayo is hereby expelled.
From today, you are no longer a part of Hinomiya Academy."
Afterwards
Miyako and I stood by the entrance as Sayo walked past.
She stopped.
For a moment — a look.
No anger. No rage.
Only… emptiness.
— "I hope you'll be happy. Truly happy."
— "…Thank you," Miyako replied.
Sayo nodded… and walked away.
On the school rooftop
The sun was slowly setting.
We sat on the rooftop. Just the two of us.
— "It's over," Miyako whispered.
— "Not everything," I smiled. "Something new is beginning."
She leaned into me.
— "Promise me… no more lies.
Promise me we'll always be 'us.'"
I squeezed her fingers.
— "I promise."