A new day began with the school filled with quiet energy. Students slowly entered Satoru High, some walking while holding their bags, others arriving on bicycles and parking them near the gate. Small groups gathered to talk, laughter mixing with casual conversations. A few students were already cleaning the grounds, moving brooms across the pavement as morning sunlight spread over the campus.
Kehea walked toward the student council room with her bag resting against her side. A small, relaxed smile sat on her face as she tied her black hair properly, making sure no loose strands were in the way. She stopped briefly in front of a mirror along the hallway and looked at her reflection. Her black eyes met her own gaze for a moment before she turned away and continued walking.
Soon, she stood in front of the double doors of the student council office. Normally, at this hour, the room would still be empty. Kehea slowly pushed the doors open and stepped inside.
Her footsteps stopped.
Renka was already there.
She was sitting on the sofa, leaning slightly forward, carefully writing something on a sheet of paper placed on the table in front of her. Kehea walked closer and greeted her casually.
"Good morning, Renka. What are you doing?"
As Kehea looked down, her eyes caught sight of a pink envelope placed beside the paper. Small heart patterns decorated its surface. Renka's pencil continued moving, focused and steady.
Kehea froze for a second. Her eyes widened, and a faint blush appeared on her face.
"Kyaa, Renka is writing a love letter!!!"
She bent down slightly, trying to look more closely.
"Who is it for?!" she asked, her voice filled with excitement.
But as Kehea read what was written on the paper, her smile slowly faded. Her expression turned awkward, unsure of how to react.
Meanwhile, outside the school gate, the surroundings were much quieter. Most students had already gone inside, leaving the area calm and nearly empty.
Urano walked toward the gate at an unhurried pace, his bag hanging loosely from his shoulder. His dark eyes looked tired, with faint dark circles beneath them. His brown hair was messy as usual, untouched by any effort to fix it.
He entered the school grounds and stopped in front of his shoe locker. After opening it, he paused.
Beside his shoes was a pink envelope decorated with hearts.
Urano stared at it for a moment, then slowly reached out and picked it up. He opened the envelope and pulled out the letter inside.
Written in neat, familiar handwriting were the words:
"Please, Urano, we need this. The school festival is kind of doomed. Today's disaster forecast: rain of sad confetti."
Urano stared at the letter for a long moment before closing his eyes.
"This handwriting…" he murmured quietly.
He opened his eyes and glanced around, scanning the area.
Not far away, hidden behind the gate, Renka watched him with a small smirk on her face.
Later that day in class, Urano sat quietly at his seat by the window, positioned in the far corner of the room. Sunlight filtered through the glass, casting faint shadows across his desk. While other students talked among themselves, he remained still, resting his chin on his hand.
He slid open his desk rack to take out a notebook.
Inside, there was a folded piece of paper.
Urano stared at it for a moment before unfolding it. Written plainly were the words:
"Fill our rack with money!!"
His expression didn't change. He tore the note cleanly in half, folded the pieces, and tucked them into his pocket before closing the rack again.
By the time lunch was nearly over, the cafeteria had grown quiet. Only a few students remained, slowly finishing their meals. Urano stepped outside, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand as he walked.
He headed toward the vending machines near the side building. After inserting a coin, he pressed the button for melon soda. The can dropped with a dull sound. As he bent down to pick it up, his eyes caught sight of something taped just below the slot.
Another note.
"I see you are buying melon soda again. Addicted? I won't judge, but the school festival will if you don't help!!"
Urano straightened up slowly, stared at the note for a second, then peeled it off and crumpled it lightly before walking away.
Later, on the rooftop, he approached the bench where he usually sat. It was quiet, just the sound of the wind brushing past the fence.
Taped to the bench was yet another note.
"Festival budget still crying in the corner. Current death cause: no money. Future death cause: President Sugato's tears flooding the school. Save us, melon soda boy?"
Below the writing was a small doodle. A tiny chibi version of Urano stood proudly, wearing a superhero cape made entirely of money.
Urano stared at it with an awkward expression. His eyes slowly moved around the rooftop, scanning the empty space.
'She's not here… right?'
He removed the note, folded it, and slipped it into his pocket before leaving.
On his way back downstairs, he reached for a door handle, and froze.
Another note was taped to it.
"Emergency broadcast: The council is now accepting applications for grumpy rooftop guardian."
Urano's face stiffened. This time, there was a clear hint of unease in his eyes.
Inside the student council room, Sugato sat in his chair, staring ahead with a slightly shocked expression. Across from him, Renka was writing rapidly, papers spread across the table, her pencil barely slowing down.
The next day, in a quiet corner of the campus, Urano walked toward a vending machine. But before he could reach it, he noticed a piece of paper stuck directly beside the melon soda button.
"This machine and I have something in common: We both run out of things people want. It runs out of melon soda. I run out of hope.
Be the hero neither of us deserves but both desperately need!!
I pressed the button three times for you. You owe me 360 yen or one festival donation."
There was a doodle drawn on the machine itself, a face with teary eyes and a speech bubble saying, "help me".
Urano stared at it in silence.
The day after that, he sat alone in a corner of the library. A thick book rested on the table in front of him. He opened it carefully.
Another note slipped out.
"I see you are checking out 'Advanced Calculus Vol. 3'. Nerd level: confirmed.
Here's an easier problem: If festival = fun and money = 0, then fun = ?
Hint: the answer is not hide on the rooftop forever."
Urano slammed the book shut, the sound echoing faintly through the library.
"How did she know I was going to take this book…" he muttered under his breath.
Day after day, notes kept appearing. On desks, doors, benches, corners he thought no one noticed. He ignored them all, even though each one unsettled him a little more than the last.
Then one afternoon, while walking down the hallway, he slowed his steps.
He glanced around carefully.
"Is there a note behind that girl…" he murmured while looking at a random student chatting with her friend.
"It can't be."
As he walked past her, his eyes flicked briefly behind her back.
There it was, a note.
"Gotcha ya!"
His eyes widened. He immediately picked up his pace.
He turned a corner that led toward his classroom.
And stopped short.
Renka was standing right in front of him, holding a folded note in her hand. Her expression was calm, slightly serious.
Urano jumped back in shock.
"Please don't kill—"
Before he could finish, she raised her hands and gently offered him the note.
He stared at it for a moment, then slowly took it from her fingers.
Renka looked at him, gave a small, quiet smile, and walked past him without another word.
Urano stood there, still stiff with shock. He unfolded the note which says:
"It's fine, we'll cancel the festival… Sorry for bothering you, Urano."
"Thanks for saying no. It's easier than disappointing people later."
"I get it. Sometimes being invisible is safer."
At the bottom, one final line was written.
"Can we meet later after school today? I need a small help from you. It's not about money this time. Just help."