(Honoka's father extends his trembling hand toward the remote control, then presses the power button. The television lights up, and silence falls over the entire house. Everyone turns toward the screen, while the father remains standing before it, as if fearing what he is about to see.)
A local news broadcast appears, and the news anchor was speaking about the bullying incident that shook public opinion over the past few days.
News Anchor (in Japanese): "The case of the female student who was subjected to bullying inside a school continues to occupy the public's attention, following the spread of video clips documenting what occurred, and the subsequent demands to protect students and tighten measures against bullying."
Footage appears on the screen of the school grounds, police cars, and a number of journalists gathered in front of the gate. Then the report moves on to talk about the victims' suffering, without revealing new personal details.
The father freezes in his place. Every word he heard added to his feeling of guilt. As for the mother, her tears began to stream silently as she looked at her two daughters.
Honoka looks at the television screen, then lowers her head, having wished her suffering wouldn't reach this extent. Yoshika feels frightened by the tense atmosphere, so she draws closer to Ahmed, who gently pats her shoulder to reassure her.
The principal looks at the father, then says calmly:
Principal: "What happened is no longer just a family matter... It has become a lesson for the whole society about the danger of bullying and the importance of family responsibility."
The father falls silent, while his eyes remain glued to the screen.
Moments later, he slowly turns off the TV. He turns his back to everyone and takes a deep breath. Then he raises his hand to his face, trying to hide the tears he could no longer suppress. The struggle he had lived with all this time had finally collapsed.
He slowly turns toward Honoka and Yoshika. He looks at them for a long moment... as if searching for the words he had delayed for far too long to say.