The world around Rai suddenly lost all sound, drowned out by the deafening roar of his own heartbeat racing in his ears.
'R-Ron... No, no please.'
Rai's knees visibly trembled, nearly buckling beneath him. But the cold reality of the scene shattered his paralysis, and a primal panic took over.
"Ron!" Rai screamed, the boy's name tearing from his throat as he lunged forward, throwing himself onto the jagged pile of bricks.
The dust choked his lungs, but he didn't care. Scrambling frantically over the wreckage, he began clawing at the heavy concrete blocks, the sharp edges slicing into his fingers and palms. He didn't feel the pain. His mind was entirely consumed by a single, desperate thought...
'Get him out. Please, god, get him out. Get him out safe.'
"Help me!" Rai shouted hoarsely, his voice cracking as he looked back at the frozen, horrified teachers and the weeping students. "Don't just stand there! Help me lift this! Now! Hurry up!!"
