(When the morning dawned, Ahmed and Misaki were walking side by side toward school. The sky was clear, and the golden sunbeams reflected on the glass windows, yet what was between them remained surrounded by subtle clouds of tension. Both tried to act as if nothing had happened the previous night, but the silence of the heart could not hide its trembling. They exchanged quick glances, then quickly turned their gaze forward, as if they feared the light would expose them.)
(Upon entering the crowded corridor, Ahmed heard the sounds of a group of students talking excitedly, waving their hands as if fighting an imaginary battle, and their words revolved around a newly released video game. Here, Ahmed spotted a suitable opportunity to break the invisible wall between him and Misaki. He turned toward her with a small smile and said in Japanese, in a cheerful voice that hid his nervousness:)
Ahmed: "Misaki-chan... Do you like video games?"
(Misaki raised her eyebrow lightly, her features still bearing the trace of the night before. She answered in a low, hesitant voice, as if she feared he would read more than she intended:)
Misaki: "Sometimes... why do you ask?"
(Ahmed smiled with gentle slyness, and replied quickly, as if trying to lure her into a joke:)
Ahmed: "I was thinking... if you like them, we could play together. But I'll warn you... I'm merciless in matches!"
(Misaki's eyes widened a little, then she laughed lightly despite her confusion. Her laughter was short but enough to melt some of the accumulated ice between them. She replied in a sarcastic tone, her eyes sparkling with shyness:)
Misaki: "You're merciless even when speaking... so what will you be like in games?"
(Ahmed laughed in turn, relieved to see her smile. At that moment, the heavy tension left over from the night seemed to begin to dissipate, even if only slightly, thanks to a simple game of words.)