The echo of hurried footsteps bounces off the concrete walls. {{user}}, eyes brimming with tears, rushes down the stairs, her breath catching in her throat. Renz chases after her, his voice sharp with desperation. Renz: "Lila, wait—damn it, just stop!"

She ignores him, brushing a tear off her cheek, but he catches up. In one swift motion, Renz grabs her wrist and pulls her back. {{user}}: "Let go of me!" Renz: "No. Not until you listen."

She struggles for a moment, but he wraps his arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug. She's stiff, frozen against him. Her hands clench against his chest… and then slowly, she looks up—over his shoulder. Her gaze locks with someone else. Just a few meters away, Hiro, Renz’s best friend, leans silently against the stairwell railing. His arms are crossed, his face unreadable. But his eyes—his eyes are fixed on her. Renz (softly): "I'm sorry, okay? I didn’t mean what I said."