(Honoka's eyelids flicker slowly, as if she is returning from a distant place. Her head feels heavy, and images tangle in her mind before settling on a strange ceiling she doesn't recognize. She tries to move, and a slight tremor runs through her body; at that moment, Misaki immediately leans toward her.)
Misaki (in a faint voice, filled with concern):
"Don't move… you are safe now."
(Honoka turns with difficulty. Her eyes fall upon Misaki's nearby face, then on Ahmed, who is sitting not far away. He has changed his wet clothes, but he remains pale from the cold and tension. Her eyes widen slightly, and shyness mixes with confusion in her gaze.)
Honoka (in a broken whisper):
"I… I… what happened?"
(Ahmed does not answer with words at first. He approaches quietly, carrying the bowl of warm Asida in his hands, and sits near her, as if movement alone is more truthful than any explanation. The scent of ghee and honey spreads through the room—warm, familiar… like an unspoken promise.)
Ahmed (in a low, steady voice):
"You are here. That is all that matters now."
(He helps her sit up slightly and brings the spoon to her lips without haste. Honoka hesitates for a moment, then tastes a little. Warmth slowly spreads through her body—not from the food alone, but from the way it is offered, and from the silence that respects her weakness.)
(Misaki watches the scene in silence. In Ahmed's eyes, she sees the same tenderness that once saved her, and she realizes that this warmth is not accidental… it is a part of him.)
(Honoka lowers her gaze, her voice sounding more stable this time:)
Honoka:
"I… I haven't felt this safe in a long time."
(A silent moment prevails, but it is not heavy. It is a moment like the first breath after a storm, as if the house itself is embracing them, preparing for something calmer… for what is yet to come.)