If you tell the truth in a room full of liars, they'll kill you for the noise.
---
7:42 A.M.
Naomi's Apartment – Internal Affairs Report
Naomi reads the email three times.
She doesn't need to.
> "Detective Kisaragi, your conduct regarding Kai Noboru has been deemed emotionally compromised and procedurally reckless. Effective immediately, you are suspended pending review."
She closes her laptop.
No fight left.
Not today.
---
8:56 A.M.
St. Gabriel's High – Morning Assembly
The school is trying to return to normal.
New counselors. Police patrols. Mental health workshops.
And a new student speaker:
Sora Nishida, 17, class president.
Popular. Articulate. Clean record. Family of lawyers.
He steps to the podium and speaks:
> "We are not helpless. We do not need violence to fight back. Whoever this 'Hollow' is — he does not speak for us."
Applause.
Camera flashes.
He makes eye contact with Silas in the crowd.
For just a moment, Sora flinches.
---
10:14 A.M.
Silas's Studio
Silas replays the speech.
Zooms in.
Sora's hands — trembling.
His neck — a single bead of sweat.
He's afraid.
> "Good," Silas murmurs.
He opens a new folder:
TARGET: Sora Nishida
Pros: Vocal, admired, visible.
Cons: Emotionally stable, suspicious of Hollow presence.
He types one line beneath the photo:
> "Break him in public."
---
1:07 P.M.
Downtown Police Precinct – Basement Archives
Naomi isn't technically allowed inside.
But the archives guy owes her five favors and two bottles of whiskey.
She pulls every sealed file linked to "unsolved student-related deaths" in the last 12 months.
Four names come up.
One of them?
Sora Nishida's older sister — Hina Nishida.
Found dead in a lake. Ruled a suicide. No foul play.
But Naomi reads the witness logs:
> "No water in her lungs."
"Bruises on both wrists."
"Brother found her first."
And one last note, handwritten:
> "Boy is evasive. Won't discuss who she was texting night before."
She exhales.
> "That's why he's speaking up. He's afraid it's starting again."
---
3:14 P.M.
St. Gabriel's – Rooftop
Silas finds Sora sketching in a notebook.
No mask. No knife.
Just silence.
> "Can I sit?" Silas asks.
Sora hesitates. Nods.
> "You're Creed, right? People say you're too perfect."
Silas smiles. "People say a lot of things."
> "I know who you are," Sora says, staring out at the sky.
Silas tilts his head.
> "No you don't," he says.
> "You think pain makes you real. It doesn't. It makes you lazy."
Silas doesn't speak.
He just reaches into his bag, pulls out a thumb drive, and slides it next to Sora's notebook.
> "This has the last messages your sister ever sent."
Sora stares at it.
> "Why give me this?"
Silas stands.
> "Because truth is heavier than silence. Let's see how loud you can scream before it crushes you."
---
6:01 P.M.
Naomi's Apartment
She listens to the audio Silas gave Sora.
Hina's voice. Crying. Terrified.
> "He said he'd post the photos. Said no one would believe me. If you find this, Sora… I'm sorry I wasn't stronger."
Naomi grips the phone. The case was buried.
And now? It's about to be dragged into daylight.
She dials Sora.
No answer.
She tries again.
No answer.
---
7:47 P.M.
St. Gabriel's – Auditorium
An emergency school forum.
Sora steps onto the stage. Not school-sanctioned.
Just him.
Microphone in hand. Crowd watching.
> "My sister died last year. They told me it was suicide. But that was a lie."
He clicks the projector.
The messages play.
The audio.
The photos.
Everything.
Teachers panic. Students scream. Staff cut the feed.
But it's too late.
It's already gone viral.
---
10:33 P.M.
Undisclosed Location – Burned House
Sora hides alone.
Silas arrives quietly.
No mask. Just his golden eyes.
> "You were brave."
Sora doesn't answer.
> "You were loud."
Still silence.
> "Now let's see how many people come to save you."
He tosses a lighter onto the floor.
Gasoline burns quickly.
---
Final Scene
Naomi watches the video footage of the auditorium.
She sees Sora's face.
Not afraid.
Just… resolved.
She runs to her car.
Police reports flood her phone.
> "House fire."
"Single occupant."
"No confirmed ID."
She drives into the night.
Alone.
---
Final Line:
> And as the flames dance, Silas watches from a distance and whispers:
"Let the light show begin."
---