(After a warm Yemeni dinner filled with laughter, the sounds in the Tanaka family home quiet down, and the warmth of the dishes and their aromas linger in the air, as if the table is still alive.)
(Everyone sits around the table, and happiness has crept into their eyes and hearts. Ahmed Mohammed Al-Omari looks at Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka with a smile filled with gratitude and reassurance, then turns to Misaki, who was still eating pieces of cake with a childlike passion and unconcealed happiness.)
(Ahmed leans forward slightly, places his hand on the table gently, then says in a sincere, flawless Japanese voice, with a real sense of pride:)
Ahmed:
"Misaki has improved so much in her studies! I am sure she will be a great scientist one day."
(Misaki's eyes widen in astonishment, her hands freeze in the air, and the spoon trembles between her fingers. Her cheeks turn a shy crimson, similar to cherry blossoms in early spring. Her parents laugh at her spontaneous reaction and exchange glances as a taste of joy fills the room.)
(Misaki pretends to be angry, gently hits Ahmed on the shoulder, then whispers in a low voice that is barely audible, filled with confusion and warmth:)
Misaki:
"You are really…"
(Ahmed gives her a look in his sparkling eyes, not with mockery, but with something deeper... a quiet admiration, and an appreciation that is not often said in words.)
Ahmed (in a quiet voice, as if speaking to his heart):
"But you are so beautiful... with your soft hair... and your sparkling eyes."
(Misaki freezes, as if time has stopped between his sentence and her heart. A silent moment, but a loud one inside her. Her heart races, as if she can hear it in her ears. A strange heat rises from her neck to her ears... so she suddenly stands up, turns around without saying anything, and rushes to her room, hiding behind the door.)
(The family's laughter grows louder, while Ahmed remains staring at the door that closed behind her, smiling faintly. He didn't want to embarrass her... but in a moment of sincerity, he simply said what he saw... and what he felt.)