The room was too clean for something this ugly.
Long table. Neutral walls. The school emblem mounted high, as if authority alone could make truth behave.
Marvello stood when she was told to stand.
She didn't fidget. Didn't look around. Didn't look scared.
Too calm—people always mistook that for guilt.
Naoki sat to the side, leg still bandaged, crutches leaning against his chair. His parents flanked him, stiff and offended, like customers who had been inconvenienced rather than people whose son had caused harm.
Ji-Hyun sat behind Marvello with his parents.
His glasses had been replaced. His nose was healing, yellowed bruises still faint beneath the skin.
Mary sat near the front.
Elegant. Composed. Watching Marvello like a stain she hadn't decided how to remove yet.
The principal cleared his throat.
"This hearing concerns the rooftop incident involving Marvello A— and Naoki T—," he said. "The allegation is attempted murder."
A murmur passed through the room.
Ji-Hyun's mother stiffened. His father's jaw clenched.
Marvello didn't react.
Naoki's mother spoke immediately. "My son was pushed. He fell. His leg was broken. That is not an accident."
Mary tilted her head slightly, lips pressed together—not defending, not accusing. Waiting.
The counselor turned to Marvello. "You may speak."
She didn't rush.
"He was bullying Ji-Hyun," Marvello said. "Repeatedly."
Naoki laughed under his breath.
The sound was sharp.
"I told him to stop," she continued. "He didn't. He broke Ji-Hyun's glasses. He broke his nose."
Naoki's father stood. "There's no proof—"
"There is," Ji-Hyun said suddenly.
Every head turned.
He stood, hands shaking—but his voice didn't.
"He cornered me. He hit me. I was bleeding."
The room shifted.
The principal nodded. "Medical confirmation supports this."
Naoki clenched his jaw.
Marvello continued, voice steady. "When I stepped between them, he grabbed me. By the hair. By the collar."
She turned slightly so the panel could see the faint scar still visible near her collarbone.
"I pushed him to get away."
"Hard enough to make him fall," Naoki's mother snapped.
Marvello met her gaze. "Hard enough to stop him."
Silence followed.
Then Mary spoke.
"Intent matters," she said smoothly. "And so does pattern."
The room leaned toward her.
"My niece has no history of attacking students unprovoked," Mary continued. "But Naoki does have documented behavioral reports."
Naoki's head snapped up. "You—"
"Enough," the principal said.
Ji-Hyun's father stood next.
"My son was bleeding on the ground," he said quietly. "If she hadn't intervened, I don't want to imagine what would've happened."
Ji-Hyun swallowed, then added, "She didn't try to kill him. She protected me."
All eyes returned to Naoki.
For a long moment, he said nothing.
Then—finally—he spoke.
"…I lost my temper."
It wasn't an apology.
But it was enough.
The panel whispered among themselves.
Mary watched Marvello carefully—calculating, displeased, restrained.
The principal looked up.
"Marvello A— will not be expelled," he said. "However, this incident will remain on record. Naoki T— will face disciplinary action for assault."
Naoki's mother protested. Loudly.
Mary stood.
"We accept the decision," she said crisply.
Marvello didn't thank anyone.
She simply bowed once—polite, distant—and walked out.
Ji-Hyun watched her go, relief and fear tangled in his chest.
Mary's eyes followed Marvello to the door.
Not with mercy.
With patience.
The hallway was loud again.
Not with voices—with relief.
Marvello leaned against the wall, shoulders finally lowering now that no one was watching her like a threat. Ji-Hyun stood in front of her, hands tucked into his sleeves like he didn't quite know what to do with them.
"You didn't have to take all of that on yourself," he said quietly.
"Yes, I did," Marvello replied. "If I didn't say it, they would've said something worse."
He swallowed. "When you pushed him… I was scared."
Her eyes softened. "I know."
"I thought they'd take you away."
"They won't," she said calmly. "Not today."
Before the moment could stretch—
"EXCUSE ME—THE WOMAN OF THE HOUR!"
Amanda crashed into Marvello's space, throwing her arms around her dramatically.
"SHE SURVIVED THE COUNCIL," Amanda announced. "THEY FAILED TO DEFEAT THE FINAL BOSS."
Ji-Hyun startled. "Amanda—"
She grabbed his shoulders too. "And YOU bled artistically. Ten out of ten. Would defend again."
Marvello sighed. "You're exhausting."
"And you're free," Amanda shot back. "Let me have this."
A slow, deliberate voice cut in.
"You're celebrating too early."
Aria stood a few steps away, perfectly composed, eyes sharp.
"You were lucky," she said to Marvello. "If Naoki didn't already have a record, you'd be gone."
Amanda turned slowly. "Say that again and I'll demonstrate luck."
Aria smirked. "I'm just being honest."
That was when footsteps approached from behind.
"Marvello."
Eiren.
The hallway seemed to tilt.
Aria noticed instantly.
Her entire demeanor shifted—shoulders relaxing, smile warming, voice turning honey-soft.
"Oh! Eiren," she said sweetly, stepping closer. "You're here already?"
She didn't wait for an answer.
She caught his arm lightly and leaned in. "Come on, let's go somewhere quieter."
Eiren hesitated—his eyes flicking once toward Marvello—
But Aria was already pulling him away, fingers tightening like it was casual when it wasn't.
At the same time—
"Marvello."
Mary's voice.
Cold. Controlled.
She appeared at Marvello's side and closed her hand around her wrist.
"We need to talk."
Mary didn't wait.
She dragged Marvello a few steps down the hall, heels sharp against the floor.
"You embarrassed this family," Mary said under her breath.
Marvello didn't resist. "He assaulted someone."
"You escalated it."
"He was bleeding."
Mary stopped abruptly and turned on her. "You don't get to decide justice."
Marvello met her gaze, unflinching. "Then stop letting monsters do it for you."
Mary's eyes hardened.
"You survived today because it was inconvenient to remove you," she said coldly. "Don't confuse that with protection."
Marvello pulled her wrist free. "I didn't ask for yours."
Down the hall, Aria laughed softly as she guided Eiren away, fingers still wrapped around his arm.
Amanda watched both scenes at once.
"…Oh," she murmured. "So it's THAT kind of day."
Ji-Hyun stood beside her, quiet, eyes worried.
Marvello returned a moment later—face calm again, walls rebuilt.
Amanda opened her mouth.
Marvello raised a finger. "Later."
Amanda nodded. "Yeah. Later."
But they all knew—
Nothing about today was actually over.