Harabi stood in front of the director's office, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The events of the fire in the ballroom three days ago had left the academy in turmoil, and the investigation had finally reached her. Unlike the previous teacher-led questioning, this morning she had been summoned personally. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she raised her trembling hand and knocked on the heavy wooden door.

"Good morning. This is Harabi Kurosaki," she announced, her voice wavering slightly.

"Come in," came the curt reply from inside.

Harabi hesitated, then cautiously turned the door handle. The office was shrouded in a semi-darkness that felt oppressive. Heavy velvet curtains blocked most of the morning light, and the dark wooden panels lining the walls only added to the somber atmosphere. Towering bookshelves filled with dusty tomes loomed in the shadows, lending the room an air of gravitas.

At the center stood a large oak desk, its surface covered in a neat stack of papers and illuminated by the faint glow of a green-shaded lamp. Behind the desk sat the director, a tall man with a stern countenance and piercing eyes that seemed to see right through her.

"Sit down," he instructed coldly, gesturing to the chair opposite him.

Harabi approached hesitantly, sitting down with care, her gaze fixed on her hands. The weight of the room seemed to amplify her anxiety, suffocating her in its stillness.

“You’re all here,” the director finally said, his voice breaking the silence.

Harabi turned her head and noticed the others already seated. Rumiya sat closest to the door, her large eyes filled with worry, though she managed a small, encouraging smile. Next to her was Miki, a frail girl with long hair, nervously chewing her thumbnail. Across from them stood Adena, poised and confident, exuding an air of composure.

Two boys stood nearby, strangers to Harabi. One was tall with short-cropped hair and a serious expression, bearing a striking resemblance to Adena—likely her brother. The other had tousled red hair and a detached demeanor, his focus fixed solely on the director.

The director surveyed the group briefly before his eyes settled back on Harabi.

“We’re here to address the incident in the ballroom,” he began, his voice sharp and deliberate. “The fire was no ordinary accident. Evidence suggests it was deliberately set.”

A chill ran through the room. The word “deliberately” hung in the air like a threat, casting a shadow of suspicion over them all.

“You were the last ones seen near the ballroom before the fire started,” the director continued, his gaze shifting between them. “We need answers, and I expect full cooperation.”

He paused, his intense eyes locking onto Harabi.

“Ms. Kurosaki, you were seen leaving the ballroom shortly before the fire. Can you explain your actions that night?”

Harabi swallowed hard, her throat dry. “I… I went to the balcony. It was too crowded, and I don’t like loud music,” she stammered.

The director’s expression remained unreadable as he leaned forward slightly. “Then why did you run back inside once the fire started? Why not escape from the balcony?"

“I thought someone might need help,” she replied earnestly. “But by the time I got there, the fire was already spreading. I tried to assist… my friends, but the flames were too intense.”

“Were you alone?”

Harabi hesitated. “No. Rumiya was with me on the balcony.”

The director’s gaze shifted to Rumiya, his voice cutting through the tension.

“Ms. Suzukawa, witnesses say you weren’t seen at the ball. Yet, when the fire started, you were somehow inside. Care to explain?”

Rumiya hesitated, glancing nervously at Harabi before responding. “I arrived an hour early with Ms. Blossom. I don’t enjoy crowded places, so I stayed on the balcony when the ball began.”

“The same balcony where Ms. Kurosaki was?” the director pressed, his tone laced with suspicion. “What did you do when the fire started?”

“I saw Harabi running back to the ballroom,” Rumiya admitted softly. “I followed her because I was worried. We tried to help… but the fire was spreading too quickly.”

The director’s eyes narrowed. “Thank you, Ms. Suzukawa. Now, Ms. Blossom.”

Miki froze, visibly trembling. She glanced at the red-haired boy before lowering her eyes.

“I… I had left the ballroom to check on Rumiya bwpfe the fire started” she said haltingly. “But before I could return, I heard a noise—glass breaking. Then the fire started.”

“You were found injured in the ballroom,” the director pointed out. “Why did you return?”

“I thought someone might be trapped,” Miki whispered. “But I was too late. The fire spread so fast… I fell unconscious.”

The director leaned back, his piercing gaze shifting to the boys. “And you two? Where were you when the fire started?”

The taller boy straightened, meeting the director’s stare without flinching. “I was with my sister in the garden,” he said evenly. “We saw the smoke and ran inside to help.”

“And you, Mr. Flamer?”

Damien Flamer finally looked up, his green eyes sharp. “I was assisting the student council with containing the fire,” he said curtly.

The director scrutinized him for a moment before speaking. “This investigation is far from over. Until the truth is uncovered, you are all under suspicion. Speak of this to no one. Dismissed.”

They all walked outside, the cool air of the academy's courtyard brushing past them, a stark contrast to the tension that lingered between the group. Harabi had intended to speak with Rumiya about the strange happenings, but her attention was quickly diverted when she noticed how Rumiya’s gaze was fixed on Miki, who was speaking with Damien.

"I have to talk to you, Damien," Miki spoke, her tone laced with sincere care, her brows furrowed with concern as she stepped closer to him.

Damien turned to face her, his jaw tightening, a flicker of impatience crossing his features. "Not now, Michelle. My family is here. I can't leave them alone with the teachers," he said, his voice firm but not unkind. The urgency in his voice was clear, and Miki hesitated, her worry evident.

"But..." Miki began, her voice trailing off, but Damien cut her off with a quick wave of his hand, a gesture that was almost too dismissive.

"Later, Michelle. I said later," Damien said, his words final, leaving no room for argument.

Miki's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, but then she lowered her head, nodding reluctantly. She knew there was no point in pushing him further right now. Still, the expression on her face reflected the weight of something unsaid, a lingering concern she couldn't shake.

Rumiya, who had been standing off to the side, watched the exchange with an unreadable expression. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she turned away, her steps sharp with irritation. She hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but the scene had caught her attention more than she would have liked. As she started walking, she wasn’t looking where she was going and, in her haste, collided with Harabi, who had been standing nearby, lost in thought.

"I didn’t notice you," Rumiya said, her voice startled but quickly recovering, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she stepped back.

Harabi, surprised but not offended, offered a sheepish smile. "Sorry... I was caught up in that drama over there. Is that Damien Flamer everyone talks about?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Rumiya nodded, but her gaze drifted back toward Damien and Miki. "Yeah. The genius magician with the bright future and the loud surname," she said, her tone distant, almost dismissive, as if the words themselves carried more weight than the person they described. "And also Miki’s boyfriend."

Harabi raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the casual mention of the relationship. "I didn’t know... He looks much older than her," she remarked, watching Miki and Damien for a moment.

Rumiya let out a soft snort, shaking her head as if dismissing the very idea of age. "And she doesn’t care about that," she said, her voice laced with something sharp, something that hinted at deeper feelings of frustration.

Harabi noticed the slight tremor in Rumiya’s voice, the subtle tension that had begun to settle between them. It was clear now that something had shifted in Rumiya’s demeanor, something unfamiliar and unexpected. There was a visible irritation in the way she held herself, her shoulders tense, her jaw clenched just slightly.

"Do you not like him?" Harabi asked, her voice careful, probing gently but not intrusively.

Rumiya paused, her eyes narrowing for a fraction of a second before she turned to look at Harabi. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a brief moment, Harabi saw a flash of something almost bitter in her gaze.

"It’s not that simple," Rumiya muttered, her tone darkening. "People idolize him, but I do not trust him."

The words hung in the air, thick with meaning. Harabi watched as Rumiya stepped away, her pace quickening. Rumiya didn’t look back, her steps echoing in the empty space between them, as if she was trying to leave more than just the conversation behind.

Harabi remained still, watching her retreating figure, the unanswered question lingering in her mind. She couldn’t help but wonder what exactly had caused this tension, this unspoken rift between Rumiya and Damien.