The hallway was narrow and too clean.
Marvello walked slowly, footsteps measured, the sound of her shoes soft against the tiled floor. Sunlight slipped through the high windows, cutting the corridor into long pale strips that didn't reach the corners.
That was when she saw him.
Nairo.
He was coming from the opposite direction, posture stiff, expression sharp in a way that never softened.
His presence always felt intentional—like he wanted the space to notice him before people did.
They passed each other.
No words.
No pause.
Just the briefest moment where their shoulders almost aligned.
Nairo didn't look at her.
Marvello didn't either.
But something cold passed between them anyway—recognition without acknowledgment.
She continued walking.
As she neared the teachers' classroom, voices slipped through the half-closed door.
Angry voices.
Adult voices.
"…this is unacceptable."
Marvello stopped.
Her body reacted before her mind did.
She stayed still, just outside the doorway, shadowed by the wall.
"You can't just let her walk around like nothing happened," a woman's voice snapped. "My son could've died."
Another voice—deeper, louder. "Almost killing Naoki and you're telling us to be patient?"
Marvello's breath slowed.
Her fingers curled slightly at her side.
"This school is responsible," the woman continued. "If you don't expel her, we will take this further. We have every right."
A chair scraped.
Then silence.
A softer voice spoke—measured, tired.
"…Naoki?"
Marvello leaned just enough to see inside.
Naoki sat there.
Uniform neat. Hands folded in his lap.
His face was pale, eyes lowered.
He didn't speak.
Didn't defend.
Didn't accuse.
He just sat there while his parents spoke for him, over him, through him.
Like his voice no longer belonged to him.
"We want her gone," the woman said firmly. "For everyone's safety."
Marvello stepped back.
Her heart didn't race.
It sank.
Not dramatically.
Just quietly—like something heavy settling where warmth used to be.
She turned away from the door and continued down the hallway.
Her face stayed calm.
Her steps stayed even.
But inside, something shifted.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Understanding.
This wasn't about justice.
It was about control.
And Naoki—
Naoki wasn't choosing a side.
He was letting one be chosen for him.
Marvello reached the end of the corridor and stopped by the window. Outside, the school yard buzzed faintly, life moving forward like it always did.
She rested her hand lightly against the glass.
Still standing.
Still breathing.
Still here.
Even as people discussed erasing her.
Naoki was sitting alone in the empty classroom.
The chairs were still slightly out of place from earlier, one tilted, another pushed back too far. Afternoon light spilled through the windows, dust floating quietly like it had nowhere else to be.
He didn't look up when Marvello stepped in.
She closed the door behind her.
The sound was soft.
Final.
"You're not hurt," Marvello said.
It wasn't a question.
Naoki's jaw tightened. His fingers curled against the desk. "That's not the point."
She walked closer, stopping a few steps away. Not invading his space. Just existing in it.
"I heard them," she said. "Your parents."
Silence.
"You didn't say anything," she continued. Her voice stayed even, but something fragile lived underneath it. "Not to stop them. Not to correct them."
Naoki finally looked up.
His eyes were tired.
"They're scared," he said. "You don't know what it's like hearing your mother cry every night."
Marvello nodded slowly. "I do."
That made him flinch.
"You know I didn't mean for anything to happen," he said quickly. "You lost control. People saw that."
"I lost control," Marvello repeated softly. "And you lost your voice."
Naoki stood abruptly, chair scraping loudly against the floor. "What did you want me to do? Fight them? They're my parents."
"No," she said. "I wanted you to tell the truth."
He looked away.
The space between them felt suddenly enormous.
"They want you expelled," he said quietly.
"I know."
Naoki swallowed. "I didn't agree. I just… didn't stop them."
Marvello nodded once.
That was worse.
"Silence chooses a side," she said. "You just didn't want to be the one blamed for it."
Naoki's shoulders sagged. "I never wanted to get you expel."
"You did," Marvello said gently. "Just not loudly."
She turned toward the door.
"Marvello," he said. "If things were different—"
She paused but didn't turn back.
"They are different," she said. "That's the problem."
She left.
Amanda found out by accident.
She was laughing in the hallway, bag slung over one shoulder, when she overheard two teachers whispering near the staff room.
"…parents are pushing for expulsion."
"…the girl involved with Naoki."
Amanda stopped walking.
Her smile disappeared instantly.
By the time she found Marvello, she was already furious.
Marvello was sitting on the steps near the courtyard, knees pulled close, gaze unfocused.
Amanda dropped down beside her without asking.
"Tell me it's not true," she said.
Marvello didn't answer.
Amanda's chest tightened. "They're trying to expel you?"
"Yes."
"For what?" Amanda demanded. "For breathing near him?"
Marvello shook her head. "For almost killing him."
Amanda laughed once—sharp, disbelieving. "That's a lie and they know it."
"They don't care," Marvello replied. "They care about control."
Amanda stood abruptly. "I'm going to the office."
"No," Marvello said.
Amanda turned back, eyes blazing. "You're just going to sit here while they erase you?"
"I'm choosing where I speak," Marvello said quietly. "And where I don't."
Amanda clenched her fists. "Naoki could've stopped this."
"He didn't."
That did it.
Amanda sat back down slowly, anger giving way to something colder.
"Oh," she said. "So that's the kind of person he is."
She reached out and grabbed Marvello's hand, squeezing hard.
"You're not alone," Amanda said firmly. "They don't get to decide who you are."
Marvello looked at her then.
Really looked.
And for the first time since the hallway, her calm cracked just enough to let something real show through.
"I know," she said.
Amanda stayed beside her.
Like she always did.
---
Eiren found out during practice.
Not officially.
Never officially.
Someone mentioned Marvello's name too casually. Someone else laughed and said something about "Naoki's parents." The word expulsion slipped out like it didn't know how dangerous it was.
Eiren stopped dribbling.
The ball rolled away on its own.
"What?" he asked.
His teammate shrugged. "Parents are pushing hard. Saying she almost killed him or something. Administration's scared."
Eiren didn't say anything.
He picked up the ball once—then set it down.
Practice continued without him.
He found Marvello near the back stairwell, where students rarely passed unless they were trying to disappear for a while.
She was standing by the window, arms crossed loosely, expression neutral in that way that fooled people into thinking she was unaffected.
"You're not," Eiren said.
She turned slowly.
"Not what?"
"Invisible," he replied.
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "You shouldn't be here."
"That's not how this works," he said. "They're saying things about you."
She didn't deny it.
"They're saying you hurt Naoki," he continued. "That you're dangerous."
Marvello exhaled quietly. "They're saying what benefits them."
Eiren nodded once. "Good. Then let me say what benefits you."
She studied him carefully now—like she was weighing whether he was real or just another complication.
"You don't owe me anything," she said.
"No," he agreed. "But I don't like lies standing unchallenged."
Before she could answer, footsteps echoed sharply down the stairwell.
Aria Vale appeared.
Perfect timing.
She paused when she saw them together.
Then she smiled.
"Oh," she said lightly. "There you are, Eiren. I've been looking for you."
Her gaze slid to Marvello—assessing, dismissive, precise.
"I heard what's happening," Aria continued, linking her arm through Eiren's without asking. "It's awful. Truly."
Marvello stayed silent.
Aria turned to her. "But you know how rumors spread. Especially when someone gets hurt."
"I do," Marvello said.
Aria's smile widened. "Good. Then you'll understand why some people are… concerned."
She looked up at Eiren. "My parents spoke to the board this morning. They're very invested in school safety."
Eiren stiffened. "About this?"
"Yes," Aria said smoothly. "They don't want distractions. Or scandals."
She leaned closer to him. "And they especially don't want you involved."
Marvello caught it then.
This wasn't concern.
This was leverage.
"You're using me," Marvello said quietly.
Aria tilted her head. "I'm responding to circumstances."
Eiren pulled his arm free.
"That's enough," he said.
Aria blinked—surprised, just for a second.
"You should be careful," she warned softly. "This situation can affect scholarships. Team privileges. Futures."
Eiren met her gaze steadily. "Then maybe we should stop punishing the wrong person."
Silence.
Heavy.
Aria recovered quickly.
"Well," she said, straightening. "I've done what I can. The rest is out of my hands."
She turned to leave, then paused.
"Marvello," she added pleasantly. "I hope things work out for you."
The words were sugar.
The meaning wasn't.
She walked away, heels echoing down the stairwell like punctuation.
Eiren looked back at Marvello.
"I won't let them erase you," he said.
She didn't smile.
But she believed him.
Somewhere deep inside, where belief was dangerous.