The principal remained still, his gaze fixed on the screen as realization slowly set in that Haruma wasn't there.
His eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of confusion crossing his face before he exchanged a brief look with Coach Kenta, who seemed just as uncertain.
After a moment, the principal shifted his attention to Haruma's mother who was still watching the screen with a warm, gentle smile resting on her face, untouched by the confusion around her.
Just then, a sudden wave of roars and cheers erupted from the crowd, breaking the silence, causing the principal to instinctively look back at the screen, only for his eyes to widen.
The formation of the pose had changed, as Kurogami and Jiho had now stepped aside, creating space at the center, as if making way for someone.
Across Hanaka High, breaths caught mid-air. The principal, Rukia, Toru, Masaru, Shino, every one of them stood frozen, eyes wide and locked onto the screen, anticipation tightening with every passing second.
