A letter in the red mail post box

The Confession That Changed Everything

Chapter 22: A Morning Walk Together

The morning air was cold.

Aira walked to school with Hikari, just like always. The sky was pale, and the road was quiet. Their breath turned white when they talked.

“You’re quiet again,” Hikari said.

Aira smiled weakly.

“I’m fine,” she said, but her heart was not calm.

Just then, a familiar voice came from behind.

“Good morning.”

They turned around.

It was Yoshi.

Because Aira and Yoshi were neighbors, they sometimes walked to school together. Yoshi waved like usual, smiling widely.

“Morning,” Hikari said.

Aira nodded.

“Good morning.”

The three of them walked together. Yoshi talked a lot, joking about homework and teachers. But sometimes, his eyes moved to Aira. Only for a second. Then he looked away.

Aira noticed.

Chapter 23: Someone Waiting at the Gate

When they reached the school gate, someone was standing there.

It was Haruto.

He stood quietly, his hands in his pockets, looking at the road.

When he saw Aira, Hikari, and Yoshi, his face relaxed.

“Good morning,” Haruto said.

“Good morning!” Yoshi replied loudly.

Aira felt her heart jump.

Haruto walked beside her as they entered the school building.

Their shoulders were close, but not touching.

Aira wanted to say something.

But no words came out.

Chapter 24: The Early One in the Classroom

When they entered the classroom, Fuyutake was already there.

As always.

He was arranging desks neatly and watering the flower pot beside the classroom door. His movements were calm and careful.

“Good morning,” he said politely.

“Good morning,” everyone replied.

Aira sat down at her desk.

Her heart beat faster.

Yoshi.

Haruto.

Fuyutake.

All three were in the same room.

Hikari noticed Aira’s hands shaking slightly.

Chapter 25: A Dangerous Joke

Before class started, Hikari leaned close to Aira.

“You didn’t sleep well, did you?” Hikari whispered.

Aira looked at her.

“Huh?”

Hikari smiled.

Then, suddenly, she spoke louder.

“Of course you didn’t sleep well. You got a love letter from a secret admirer, after all.”

The classroom went silent.

Three boys stopped moving.

Aira froze.

“Hi-Hikari!” Aira whispered.

Yoshi looked away.

Haruto blinked, surprised.

Fuyutake paused, then continued watering the plant like nothing happened.

No one said anything.

The air felt heavy.

Chapter 26: Class Begins

Soon, other students arrived.

The classroom slowly filled with noise again.

Then the teacher came in.

“Good morning,” the teacher said.

“Good morning,” the class replied.

Lessons started.

As usual, Yoshi was noisy, making jokes and comments.

The class laughed.

Haruto listened quietly.

Fuyutake took notes seriously.

Everything felt normal.

Until -

“Yoshi,” the teacher said.

“Go to the board and solve this problem.”

The class laughed loudly.

Yoshi stood up.

“Aww, sensei…”

He walked to the board and picked up the chalk.

Chapter 27: The Handwriting

As Yoshi wrote the answer, Aira stopped breathing.

The way he wrote.

The curve of the letters.

The space between words.

Aira’s eyes widened.

Hikari leaned closer.

Their eyes met.

They both knew.

It was almost the same.

When Yoshi returned to his seat, Hikari whispered:

“Talk to me during recess.”

Yoshi froze.

“…Why?” he asked quietly.

Hikari smiled.

“You know why.”

Chapter 28: A Hidden Truth

Recess came.

Students stood up, talking loudly.

Haruto and other boys went to the cafeteria.

Fuyutake left to do student council work.

Yoshi stood up to follow them.

But -

“Not so fast, Mr. Secret Admirer.”

Hikari’s voice stopped him.

Yoshi turned pale.

“What… are you talking about?” he asked.

Hikari looked at Aira.

“Aira.”

Aira stood up slowly and took out the letter.

Her hands were shaking.

She held it out.

Yoshi stared at it.

His smile disappeared.

Chapter 29: The Confession by the Window

Yoshi walked toward Aira.

They stood near the window.

Sunlight fell softly on them.

Hikari stood a little behind, watching quietly.

Yoshi scratched his head.

“I didn’t want you to know like this,” he said.

His voice was low.

“I joke a lot… but I’m not brave.”

Aira listened.

“I like you,” Yoshi said.

“I wrote that letter.”

Aira felt her chest tighten.

She liked Haruto.

She always had.

But Yoshi’s words were honest.

She looked at Hikari.

Hikari smiled gently, giving her strength.

Chapter 30: The Twist

Aira took a deep breath.

“Yoshi,” she said softly.

“Thank you.”

Yoshi looked hopeful.

“But…” Aira continued,

“I can’t accept your feelings.”

Yoshi lowered his head.

“I like someone else,” Aira said honestly.

Silence filled the space.

Then -

Yoshi smiled.

A real smile.

“I knew,” he said.

Aira looked up.

“Huh?”

“I saw the way you look at Haruto,” Yoshi said.

“I just wanted to be honest once.”

He laughed weakly.

“But I’m glad I told you.”

He bowed slightly.

“Thank you for listening.”

Then he walked away.

Chapter 31: What Aira Didn’t See

Outside the classroom -

Haruto stood still.

He had returned to get his notebook.

He heard everything.

His hands trembled.

She likes someone else…

He didn’t know it was him.

Yet.

Chapter 32: The Quiet Decision

The bell rang.

Recess was over.

Students returned to the classroom, talking and laughing.

Aira went back to her seat.

Her heart was still beating fast.

Yoshi entered with the others.

He was smiling.

“Recess always ends too fast,” he said loudly.

“I was in the middle of a good story.”

The class laughed.

Yoshi laughed with them.

The same loud laugh.

The same voice.

But Aira noticed something.

When Yoshi sat down, he looked out the window for a moment.

His smile faded.

Only for a second.

Then it was gone.

The teacher entered the room.

“Sit down,” she said.

Class began.

Yoshi raised his hand, joked, and made the class laugh again.

No one could tell.

But inside, his chest hurt.

This was his first confession.

And it had ended quietly.

Aira tried to focus.

But her eyes moved to Haruto’s seat.

He wasn’t there.

Her fingers tightened.

Then the door slid open.

Haruto entered.

He walked calmly to his seat and sat down.

He didn’t look at Aira.

Not because he was angry.

But because he was thinking.

She likes someone else, he thought.

I waited too long.

He opened his notebook.

His face was calm.

But his decision was already made.

At the end of class, Haruto packed his bag.

Before leaving, he paused.

He looked at Aira’s back.

Just once.

I won’t stay silent anymore, he thought.

Yoshi passed by Aira’s desk.

“Hey,” he said lightly.

“You okay?”

Aira nodded.

“Yes.”

Yoshi smiled.

“Good.”

Then, quieter -

“I meant what I wrote.”

Aira looked up.

But Yoshi was already laughing with others.

That afternoon, Haruto stood alone in the hallway.

He took out a clean sheet of paper.

He began to write.

Not jokes.

Not hiding.

Only the truth.

In another part of the school, Aira opened her locker.

Inside -

She found an envelope.

No name.

Only one line on the front:

Please read this after school.

Aira’s heart skipped.

What will Aira find when she opens the letter?

And will this confession finally change everything?

Part 4 is coming.