A letter in the red mail post box

Chapter 1: The Road After School

Aira walked slowly on the quiet road after school.

The sky was light blue, and the air was cool. It was the kind of afternoon that made people feel calm. Trees stood along the road, their leaves moving softly with the wind. Aira wore her school uniform, her black shoes making small sounds on the road as she walked.

She was tired but relaxed.

School had ended, and her bag felt lighter than her heart. She was thinking about small things - what to eat for dinner, the homework she needed to finish, and the funny joke Hikari told her during lunch.

Aira liked walking home alone sometimes. It gave her time to think.

As she walked, she passed a familiar place - a red post mail box standing quietly beside the road. It was old, round, and bright red. Many students passed it every day, but most of them never stopped.

But today, something was different.

Aira noticed several letters on the ground, just below the post box.

She stopped walking.

Chapter 2: The Letters on the Ground

Aira looked around.

No one else was there. The road was empty and quiet.

She bent down and picked up the letters one by one. They were light brown envelopes, some a little dusty. Maybe they fell when someone opened the post box. Maybe the wind pushed them out.

“This is not good,” Aira said softly to herself.

She felt worried.

“If these letters are lost, people might not get important news.”

Aira stepped closer to the red post box. She stood on her toes and carefully placed the letters back inside, one by one. She was slow and careful, like she was handling something very important.

When she reached the last letter, she stopped.

Her eyes widened.

She saw a name.

Aira Takahashi.

Her heart skipped.

“That’s… my name,” she whispered.

Chapter 3: A Name That Should Not Be There

Aira stared at the envelope.

She turned it over.

Her full address was written clearly. The handwriting was neat but soft. It looked careful, like the writer took their time.

Her hands began to shake a little.

“Why… is my name here?” she thought.

She did not remember waiting for any letter. Her parents usually received mail, not her. And this letter was not from school or any office.

It felt… personal.

Aira pulled the letter out and held it close to her chest.

She looked around again.

Still no one.

Slowly, she sat down beside the red post box. The road felt cold under her legs, but she did not care. Her heart was beating fast.

She took a deep breath.

And she opened the letter.

Chapter 4: The Secret Admirer

Inside was a single piece of folded paper.

It was handwritten.

Aira unfolded it carefully and began to read.

“Dear Aira,”

“I know we have been together in the same school for a long time, but you may not notice me.”

“I see you every day. I see your smile, your kindness, and the way you talk with your friends.”

“I am very shy. I always want to talk to you, but my words get stuck in my heart.”

“We laugh in the same place. We share the same school halls. Sometimes we are so close, but I feel very far.”

“I want to tell you how I feel, but I am scared.”

“So I write this letter.”

“When you are happy, I feel happy too.”

“When you are sad, I want to protect you.”

“I do not ask for anything. I just want you to know that someone admires you quietly.”

“From your secret admirer.”

Aira stopped reading.

Her face turned red.

Her heart felt warm and confused at the same time.

Chapter 5: A Heart Full of Questions

Aira read the letter again.

And again.

Each word felt gentle.

Each line felt honest.

Her fingers touched the paper softly, as if the feelings inside could be felt through it.

“Who wrote this?” she thought.

She tried to remember the handwriting of her classmates. Boys from her class. Boys from other classes. Friends. Quiet students. Loud ones.

But no name came to her mind.

She smiled without noticing.

Her heart was beating fast, but it was not fear.

It was excitement.

She hugged the letter close.

Then -

Chapter 6: The Postman Appears

“Ahem!”

Aira jumped.

She looked up.

A postman stood in front of her.

He wore a dark uniform and held a brown bag over his shoulder. His face looked serious.

“Why are you reading mail that is not yours?” he asked in a strong voice.

Aira’s face turned red like the post box.

“I - I’m sorry!” she said quickly.

She stood up in a hurry.

“These letters fell on the ground. I was just putting them back,” she explained.

The postman looked down and saw the other letters near her feet.

He sighed.

“You should not open mail outside,” he said.

Aira bowed deeply.

“I’m really sorry,” she said again.

She quickly hid her letter inside her uniform pocket and handed the other letters to the postman.

“I didn’t mean any trouble.”

The postman nodded.

“Be careful next time,” he said, then turned and walked away.

Chapter 7: Running with Mixed Feelings

As soon as the postman left, Aira let out a deep breath.

Her heart was racing.

She felt embarrassed.

But she also felt happy.

Very happy.

She touched the letter hidden inside her uniform.

“It’s safe,” she thought.

She bowed one more time toward the post box, then started running home.

Her shoes hit the road fast.

Her face felt hot.

Her heart felt light.

She was smiling while running, even though she did not know why.

Chapter 8: Home, Safe and Quiet

When Aira reached home, she closed the door gently.

“I'm home,” she said softly.

No one answered. Her parents were still at work.

She went straight to her room and sat on her bed.

She took out the letter again.

She read it slowly.

This time, she paid attention to every word.

She tried to feel the heart of the person who wrote it.

“Someone likes me…” she whispered.

She hugged her pillow.

Her phone vibrated.

She picked it up.

She opened her chat with Hikari, her best friend.

Chapter 9: Telling Hikari

Aira took a picture of the letter.

Her hands were shaking with excitement.

She sent the picture and typed:

“Hikari… do you know whose handwriting this is?”

Only a few seconds passed.

Then -

Hikari:

“WHAT?! ”

Hikari:

“Is this real?! A LOVE LETTER?!”

Aira smiled.

Aira:

“I found it in the post box…”

Hikari:

“SECRET ADMIRER?! THIS IS LIKE A DRAMA!”

Aira laughed quietly.

Her heart felt warm.

Chapter 10: The Teasing Begins

Hikari:

“So? How do you feel?”

Aira:

“I don’t know… I feel shy… and happy…”

Hikari:

“I KNEW IT! Someone finally noticed you!”

Aira:

“Stop teasing me!”

Hikari:

“No way! This is exciting!”

Then Hikari sent another message.

Hikari:

“Tomorrow, we will investigate.”

Aira blinked.

Aira:

“Investigate?”

Hikari:

“Yes! We will check every boy’s handwriting in class.”

Hikari:

“Whoever matches this letter is your secret admirer.”

Aira covered her mouth.

Her eyes shined.

Aira:

“Really?”

Hikari:

“Of course! This is our mission!”

Chapter 11: A Night Full of Smiles

That night, Aira lay on her bed.

She held the letter close to her heart.

She thought about school tomorrow.

She thought about the shy boy who wrote the letter.

She wondered if she had smiled at him before.

Or laughed near him.

Or passed him in the hallway without knowing his feelings.

Her heart felt full.

She smiled in the dark.

A Question for You

Somewhere, someone wrote a letter with courage.

Somewhere, a heart waited quietly.

Now, let me ask you:

How about you?

Have you ever received a love letter from your crush, a secret admirer, or a classmate?

What did you feel when you knew someone was interested in you?

Shy? Happy? Surprised?

Or maybe all of them at once?