What should have been a rejoicing day filled with warmth and relief that a good friend was to return after what felt like a long and sluggish absence, was instead met with a cold and nerve-wracking atmosphere that consumed everyone as they sat confused and dazed.

Eagerly, Tomoya stood as the rest held their breath, though Kotomi appeared to have tightened her fists and pressed them against her collar bone as she stood strong.

"How is he…?" Tomoya asked.

"He's…not looking good." Sunohara frowned, slumping against the door frame. "That's not the John I know."

"GOD DAMMIT." Tomoya grumbled.

"What the hell happened to him?" Kyou asked.

"He wouldn't tell me a thing!" Sunohara exclaimed. "He looked so upset that it seemed like he wasn't really in the mood to talk to me."

"ARGH!" Tomoya grumbled. "Nagisa's not back yet and John's just-"

"Tomoya…" Kotomi gulped, holding out her palm as a gesture. "Please."

One tilt of his head and he could read the desperation emanating from Kotomi's face. Tomoya sighed and stared over to the others, who seemed more at ease, while still appearing upset and afraid in Ryou's case, while Kyou and Tomoyo shared a stern face of anguish as though they can burst any minute. Sunohara took note of this and gulped before speaking up once more.

"This is going to be a little bit harder but I think..." Sunohara sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I think we need to give him some space. If he's in the hallway, maybe we should let him come back to us at his own pace, ya know?"

"John Key of Class 3B please report to my Office. John Key of 3B, please report to my office."

"Oh you gotta be kidding me…!" Sunohara snarled, beginning to stomp towards the door.

"Wait, Sunohara! Where are you going?" Tomoya asked.

"Take a wild guess!" Sunohara exclaimed, slamming the door shut.

The mere clunk that then came from the impact made everyone in the room feel as though they've had the wind knocked out of them. All of them lost the urge to speak, still affected by the shock.

Principal Nao lay forward on the desk of his office. What layed for a foundation of his authority that his students were familiar with, was now momentarily a space where he become a vulnerable figure. The pressure was beginning to build.

It's been a long time since he had felt this type of a headache. He considered himself to be a fair man who worked as honestly as he could, but a sense of dishonesty, a sense that he had done wrong with his fellow co-workers and his student.

He slouched back into his chair and let out a defeated sigh. Slowly breathing, he could hear distant footsteps coming from outside his office.

"Come in." He said straightening himself, leaning his arms forward on his desk. "Johnathon, good."

His reply was met with a silent thump of his office door closing. The dread was beginning to kick in, but Nao had to maintain his composure as the top figure of the school, and for the sake of allowing his students to become accustomed to the tone of his office. This was different, however. Typically, when students were called into his office, he'd have to be ready with a scripted response regarding academics or misconduct.

John took a bow, appearing stern as he sat himself down.

"Johnathon…" Nao firmly started. "How are you doing?"

"Alive, sir." John replied dryly.

Nao took a deep breath and exhaled as he chose his next words very carefully. He needed to very selective and slow without alarming him.

"I'm sorry for everything, Johnathon. It pained me to see you fall into these circumstances but-"

"With all due respect sir, you were only doing your job. I broke the rules and I needed to pay for it."

"John…!" Nao sighed.

"And as student, I did mine." John reached into his school pack. He placed the object on the table. "All that work and travel for a music box. Hmph," He slouched back and sighed. "A fucking music box."

"Calm yourself, Johnathon." Nao commanded. "You've gone through enough."

"HAVE I?!" John exclaimed.

"Johnathon, listen to me."

Though John responded by clenching his teeth slightly and tilting his head so he was starting at the ground, he was still willing to remain seated instead of darting out from the office. He was willing to respectfully listen and play his role as a student.

"We're making some arrangements for you."

John slowly lifted his head up. "WE?!"

The door behind him shifted open slowly and at the sight of who walked in, John froze in panic as he shivered when his eyes watered.

"Tomoyo…"

Holding his breath, John was unable to resist the overwhelming emotion that washed over him, crushing him under the waves of his own guilt that he gave to himself.

"John…" Tomoyo said, reaching out to comfort him. "Come home with me. Our family will take care of you."

"I don't deserve your kindness." He said, leaning to bawl into his hands.

"Of course, you do, John. We love you and we always will." She firmly reached over to one of John's hands. As soon as he was able to feel them, he exposed his red face and looked into Tomoyo with a blurry lens shrouded by his tears. She leaned closer, pulling him close as she patted him gently. A few sniffs were heard before his breathing slowed.

"Take him home, Sakagami." Nao said. "I will dismiss you two for the day."

"Come on…" Tomoyo whispered.

Reluctantly standing back on his feet, John carefully followed Tomoyo as she continued to take the lead outside of Nao's office. Though he stumbled forward slowly, he took small breaths through his sloppy display. He felt rigged, nervous and unsure of what was yet to come, but he had Tomoyo taking hold of his hand.

It didn't take long for his friends to show up as they walked down the hallway. The tension was evenly divided among them. Not a person uttered a word. Walking past them however, he shot a quick nod at Tomoya not before he was brought under Tomoyo's embrace, wrapping her arm around him as they walked in sync.

They had to walk down the path where the cherry trees resided. The breeze was light and the path remained lively as the two walked alone.

"This path is so beautiful…! It's such a privilege to walk here every single morning!" John exclaimed.

"…yeah." Tomoyo gulped but managed to show off a warming smile.

"I just wish Dad was here to see it. Mom too…I can't lose Dad."

"Don't give up hope, John." Tomoyo said. "It's okay…you can let it out. Don't be ashamed of your pain. You have every right to express how you feel."

"You meant what you said in there…?" John choked.

"Always!" Tomoyo responded. "I promise."

"I'm…really sorry Tomoyo but I need to ask one thing from you."

"Anything."

"What does this place mean to you?"