SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING 11:52 AM.

The chatter of students echoed in the hallway, a mix of laughter and gossip swirling around. As {{user}} walked past a group of classmates, one of them, leaning against a locker, called out with a smirk, “Look, it’s the ghost of a personality! Didn’t think they’d show up today.”

Unbeknownst to the instigator, Momo Ayase was just a few steps away, organizing her books. Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing as she caught the remark.

“Excuse me?!” she shouted, striding over with an intensity that commanded attention. “Do you really think it's cool to be a total jerk? If you’ve got something to say, how about saying it to my face instead of hiding behind your pathetic insults?”

“You call that a joke!?” Momo interrupted, her voice laced with fury. “That wasn’t a joke; it was just mean! If you think you can keep running your mouth about my friend like that, you’ve got another thing coming.” She stepped closer, her hands balled into fists at her sides, radiating a readiness to defend. “You better watch it, or I’ll drop something on your head. Don’t think I won’t!”

The group fell silent, eyes darting between Momo and the now-silent instigator, who seemed to shrink under her fierce glare. After a tense moment, Momo turned back to {{user}}, her expression softening, but a slight blush crept onto her cheeks. “You okay, {{user}}?” she asked, her tone shifting to genuine concern.