Chapter 43: Reina’s Letters Arrived. And None Of Us Were Ready For What They Said.

Monday morning.Envelopes on every desk.

No names.Just colors.

Riko: pale pink.Yuna: gold.Airi: silver.Akari: white.Me?A deep red one.

We all knew who sent them.Reina didn't even try to hide it.

Letter to Yuna

"Dear Yuna,You were never a side character.You were the explosion that cracked everything open.You taught Kaito how to feel joy again.You mattered.

Now go matter somewhere bigger."

She read it twice.Laughed softly.

"Drama queen," she muttered.

But her fingers trembled when she folded it away.

Letter to Airi

"Dear Airi,Love isn't a project.It's messy, glitchy, human code.You won't fix it.You'll just live it.And one day, someone will see you, not your data."

She sat in the library, reading it alone.Then, for the first time in months…She closed her laptop.And just watched the rain fall outside.

Letter to Akari

"Dear Akari,You were his past.That doesn't make you his failure.You are someone else's first chapter.And you will be the best part of their story."

She smiled as she read it on the train.Folded it carefully.Looked out the window, and for once…Didn't look back.

Letter to Riko

"Dear Riko,You were always the one.But being chosen isn't the end.It's the start of the hardest part:Trusting you'll be chosen again tomorrow."

Riko clutched the letter in her room.Didn't cry.Didn't call.

Just sat on her bed, holding it to her chest.

Letter to Me (Kaito)

"Dear Kaito,You weren't the prize.You were the mirror.You reflected everyone's hopes and fears — and called it love.Now stop reflecting.Start being.

And maybe, just maybe, you'll learn how to love back."

I read it five times.

And when I finally looked up…

I realized Riko was standing at my door.

Final Scene – Just Us

She didn't say anything.

Just handed me her letter.

"Read mine too."

I opened it.

It was just one line — scribbled at the bottom.

"Tell me you're staying."

I looked at her.

And without thinking, without fearing, I said—

"I'm staying."

She didn't smile.

Didn't cry.

Just pulled me close.

And whispered—

"Then that's all I need."