The anniversary festival was over. The performances had ended. The fireworks had faded.
But for Sakuragaoka High, the real story was just beginning.
Class 2-B walked through the halls like celebrities. Whispers followed them everywhere. Pointing fingers. Envious glances. Their performance had been legendary—everyone agreed.
But the conversations weren't about the music.
They were about her.
The unknown girl. The brave soul who had shouted her love during the final firework. The mystery that had gripped the entire school.
---
The News Club struck first.
By morning assembly, a special edition newsletter was circulating. "WHO CONFESSED TO THE ICE PRINCE?" The front page featured a blurred photo of the fireworks, a heart shape, and absolutely zero answers.
The Literature Club wasn't far behind. By lunch, they had published a small booklet titled "Anthology of Unspoken Love: Theories and Speculations." It sold out in ten minutes.
And then—
A new club appeared.
The Confession Investigation Club.
Their banner hung proudly in the club room hallway. Their mission: find the girl who confessed to Kaito Sato. Their president: Nakamura Yuki.
---
Riko stared at the banner. Then at Yuki. Then back at the banner.
"You're kidding."
Yuki beamed. "Nope! Official club status! Approved by the Student Council!"
Hikari's eye twitched. "You made a club. To find out who likes Kaito."
"Correction—" Yuki held up a finger "—to find out who confessed. Very different. Very important. Very fun."
Kaito, standing nearby, showed no reaction.
Riko turned to him. "And you're okay with this?"
Kaito's voice was calm. "If their curiosity has grown so much, why not stop them? Let them investigate." He paused. "I also want to give her my answer, after all."
Yuki gasped dramatically. "THE ICE PRINCE HAS SPOKEN! HE WANTS TO FIND HIS MYSTERY LOVER!"
Hikari's face went pink. Riko's composure cracked for exactly half a second.
Neither spoke.
---
The morning passed in controlled chaos. Students whispered. Pointed. Theorized.
But the four of them—Kaito, Hikari, Riko, Yuki—moved through it all like an island of calm.
Until lunch.
They climbed to the rooftop, their usual sanctuary. Yuki chattered about her club's first official meeting. Riko responded in monosyllables. Hikari said nothing. Kaito listened.
They opened the door.
And stopped.
The rooftop was covered.
Streamers. Balloons. A banner reading "WE SUPPORT THE MYSTERY CONFESSOR!" A table with snacks. A small crowd of students who immediately began cheering.
"What—" Riko started.
"—is this—" Hikari continued.
"—AMAZING!" Yuki finished, already running inside.
Kaito stood frozen at the threshold.
His eyes swept across the scene. The decorations. The students. The invasion of his sanctuary.
Then his gaze landed on Yuki.
Her smile froze. Her blood ran cold.
Oh no.
Kaito's voice cut through the celebration like a blade. Flat. Cold. Absolute.
"Remove every piece of equipment. The banner. The decorations. Everything. Now."
A member stepped forward nervously. "But senpai, we just set it up for—"
Yuki grabbed their arm. Hard. "Shut up and remove it. Now. Unless you want to die."
The member paled.
Kaito's eyes narrowed. His voice dropped—lower, darker. "Did you just dare to argue?"
The temperature seemed to drop ten degrees.
He looked at them. Really looked at them. And what they saw made their spines freeze.
The death stare.
The same stare that had frozen teachers after the Takeda incident. The same stare that made students press against walls. The same stare that reminded everyone why Kaito Sato was called the Ice Prince.
No one moved.
No one breathed.
Then Kaito spoke again, each word a separate icicle.
"Remove. It. Now."
They moved.
Streamers were torn down. Balloons popped. The banner crumpled. Within minutes, the rooftop was empty—just wind and silence and four people who had forgotten how to breathe.
Yuki stood frozen, her face pale.
Kaito looked at her. Just looked.
Then he walked past her to his usual spot, sat down, and opened his lunch.
"Next time," he said quietly, "ask before you invade my space."
Yuki nodded frantically. "Yes. Absolutely. Never again. Sorry. So sorry."
Riko and Hikari exchanged a glance.
The confession investigation club had just learned a very important lesson.
Some lines weren't meant to be crossed.
(End of Chapter 91)