“I’ll be waiting on the rooftop tomorrow morning ♡ Ryouta-senpai”
That was it. A single sentence was all the letter contained.
It was written in bright red ink with a feminine, bubbly script. The vibrant red heart beside the words “I’ll be waiting ♡” was enough to make my heart—the heart of a lifelong virgin—hammer against my ribs.
“Ryo—Ryouta-kun! This is...!”
“Yeah... there’s no mistaking it. It’s a red love letter.”
“I don’t even know what to say, but I totally get it! Wait, that’s not right! I mean, this seriously has the vibe of a major confession event!”
Tanaka was even more worked up than I was. She grabbed me from the side and started shaking me with everything she had.
“This is incredible, Ryouta-kun! A love letter for you? Even if that famous mangaka who draws prophetic dreams put this in one of her books, I still wouldn't believe it!”
“What’s that supposed to mean?! Even I get love letters sometimes! Are you making fun of me?”
“Well, obviously!”
“You really are?!”
It seemed that in Tanaka’s eyes, I was still nothing more than a Virgin Gloomy Otaku.
But sorry, Tanaka. The current me was a hero who had already felt the warmth of real breasts and thighs. I’d been a bit shaken at first, but I wasn’t so fragile that I’d lose my cool over a simple love letter.
(Still... an underclassman calling me out, huh?)
The word “love” wasn’t actually written anywhere, so it felt a bit premature to decide whether this was truly a love letter. However, no one would use such cute handwriting and add a heart unless they had something romantic on their mind.
“Hmm. But... something feels a bit off about this.”
“Huh? Off? What is it now, Tanaka? Are you still trying to find flaws even at this stage?”
“I’m not that petty! I just think something is weird.”
Tanaka stroked her chin, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the letter again.
“Assuming this is a love letter, doesn’t the sender seem a bit too composed?”
“Composed?”
“Yes. I mean, if she really liked you enough to call you out for a confession, wouldn’t proper etiquette be to express her feelings more sincerely in writing, sign her name, and then ask to meet?”
“I mean, you have a point... the single sentence is a bit weird.”
“Exactly. Plus, the heart mark makes it feel like she has way too much poise. And using red ink is just eerie!”
My love letter was being systematically dismantled by Tanaka, a girl who looked like she’d never experienced a drop of romance in her life. I wanted to point out that she’d probably never even written one herself, but I held back. A remark like that might actually break her heart.
“It’s true that it’s a bit... unusual for a love letter. I thought so too.”
“Well, regardless, there’s nothing to do but go and see for yourself tomorrow.”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“By the way, I’ve been summoned to the Faculty Office by our homeroom teacher tomorrow morning. It’s a shame I won’t be able to lurk on the rooftop as a spectator.”
“Don’t act disappointed! And stay away in the first place!”
Wait, summoned by the teacher? Did this girl get herself into trouble, too?
With those thoughts swirling in my head, I nervously awaited the next day.
The next morning, the school was hushed just after seven o'clock. The only students around were those heading to morning club activities.
Clutching the letter in my hand, I climbed the stairs toward the rooftop, one step at a time.
“...I'm here.”
I forced my racing heart to settle and turned the handle of the door leading to the roof.
Wait. Was that...?
There, standing on the rooftop with her crimson hair fluttering in the breeze, was a girl gazing out at the morning sun.
“Honestly. I’ve been waiting for two whole minutes, you know? Ryouta-senpai ♡”
“...H-Himesaki!?”