Notice Letter, Delivered

Xu Nuo really wanted to laugh right now.

The mere thought of the spectacular expression on Horikita Suzune's face just moments ago filled him with immense delight.

Retribution had arrived.

That'll teach you to keep a sour face all day!

He had to admit, teasing a stubborn, cold-on-the-outside-warm-on-the-inside person like her was truly one of life's greatest pleasures.

However.

Now was not the time to reminisce.

Soon.

Xu Nuo reined in his emotions and stepped into the General Building.

The third floor.

This was the seat of power in the school, the location of the Student Council, which occupied the entire floor.

The corridor was covered in soft carpeting that absorbed the sound of footsteps entirely, and the air was permeated with a solemn, quiet atmosphere.

Along the way.

Upperclassmen constantly brushed past him.

The moment everyone saw "Horikita Manabu," they would, without exception, immediately stop in their tracks and bow in greeting, following the Sakura tradition with full reverence.

"Good afternoon, President."

To this, Xu Nuo, as usual, offered no response at all.

Logically speaking, when faced with greetings from Student Council members, Horikita Manabu, as the President, should have acknowledged them.

After all.

They saw each other every day.

But Xu Nuo simply couldn't be bothered with social pleasantries.

Just like that.

He walked openly and brazenly, wearing the identity of Horikita Manabu, basking in the awe-filled gazes of others, and arrived at the office door without a single obstacle.

So this was the Student Council President's private office?

Would he run into the man himself?

A faint arc tugged at the corner of Xu Nuo's mouth. Just as he prepared to push the door open, it opened from the other side first.

"Coming through, coming through..."

A petite figure, clutching a rather heavy stack of documents, walked out from within.

With her light purple hair in buns, a pure and cute face, and slightly clumsy movements, it was none other than the Student Council Secretary and Horikita Manabu's trusted aide—Tachibana Akane.

She walked forward with her head down, seemingly lost in thought, and did not clearly see the face of the person approaching.

"Hey, I said—"

It wasn't until the distance between them was less than three steps.

Only then did Tachibana Akane look up, belatedly. Her little cheeks were puffed out, and her mouth was pouted in a look of dissatisfaction.

Then.

She saw the face that haunted her dreams.

"Pr... President?!"

The girl let out a short, startled cry, and the documents in her arms nearly scattered all over the floor.

She scrambled to steady the files and then snapped to attention.

Staring at the man before her, Tachibana Akane's bright brown eyes went wide, filled with disbelief.

Wait...

This, this, this wasn't right!

Tachibana Akane's mind raced as she looked toward the Conference Room not far away, falling into unprecedented confusion.

She had only come out of the Conference Room two minutes ago.

Her purpose had been to retrieve these documents.

And the President.

Shouldn't he be in the Conference Room right now, presiding over the meeting regarding the budget adjustments for the various clubs?

How could he be walking toward the office?

"Um... President..."

Tachibana Akane's lips trembled. Clutching the documents, she took a cautious, tiny step forward and asked in an extremely uncertain and puzzled tone.

"You... shouldn't you still be in the meeting?"

Facing the question.

Xu Nuo didn't change his expression. He glanced at her calmly and took a pure white card from his pocket.

The texture of the card was quite exquisite, and the craftsmanship was refined.

"Take this."

"Show it to the people inside."

Xu Nuo didn't answer; he simply handed the card to her, pointed toward the Conference Room, and emphasized, "Everyone must read it."

"Huh?"

Tachibana Akane reached out and took it instinctively.

It felt ice-cold in her hand.

Her gaze fell upon the card.

On the back was a comical silhouette drawn in simple lines, wearing a monocle and a top hat.

She flipped it over, and the content came into view.

[When the moonlight washes the pitch-black campus,]

[And the hands pass the apex for the third time,]

[I shall take away your treasures.]

The signature—there was no name, only a single pattern, the same simple silhouette as on the back of the card.

Every single word.

Slammed violently against Tachibana Akane's limited understanding.

Ahhhhhhhhh???

Inconceivable!

Is this, this, this some kind of new prank?

But this is the President...

Tachibana Akane blinked, her brain drifting from the starry sky to the cosmos. She looked completely bewildered, doubting her life. I recognize every word, so why can't I understand them when they're put together?

Instinctively.

She wanted to ask the President who had handed her the card.

But when Tachibana Akane looked up again, the hallway was already empty.

That man had long since vanished without a trace.

"President?!"

Tachibana Akane was dumbfounded. She looked left and right but couldn't catch a glimpse of him. She felt dizzy, and despite it being broad daylight, she felt a chill run through her.

Everything seemed so eerie.

She hunched her shoulders, shivering as she muttered to herself.

"Demons and ghosts, go away..."

But in the end.

Her absolute obedience to the President overcame her fear.

Tachibana Akane took a long moment to compose herself before taking stiff steps toward the heavy wooden door of the Conference Room and pushing it open.

The scene inside was no different from when she had left.

Beside the long table.

The Student Council elites sat upright, whispering to each other, the atmosphere so solemn it felt like it could be wrung out like water.

And the man in the main seat—

His short black hair was neat, his gaze behind rimless glasses cold and sharp, and he radiated an aura of "keep away" without a hint of a smile.

It was none other than Horikita Manabu himself.

He sat there, and compared to when he had left earlier.

He hadn't moved an inch.

"Eek—!"

A strange, startled cry escaped Tachibana Akane's throat.

In an instant.

The Conference Room fell silent.

Everyone's eyes turned toward her in unison.

Even Horikita Manabu was no exception.

"S-sorry, it's nothing!" Tachibana Akane's cheeks burned crimson in an instant, and she hurriedly lowered her head, using her documents to shield her face.

Fortunately.

Everyone was already accustomed to the secretary's occasional clumsiness.

They did not probe further.

They simply withdrew their gazes in silence.

At the same time.

Tachibana Akane took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.

I must have seen things!

The President must have entered while I was distracted; there's no such thing as supernatural phenomena in this world.

Yes, that's exactly it!

She forcibly patched the logic with an astonishing capacity for self-deception.

Immediately after.

Tachibana Akane summoned her courage, set the documents down on the Conference Room table, and diligently walked toward her colleagues with the card, letting them look at it one by one.

"Please pass this around; these are the President's... instructions," she muttered, her face taut.

The Conference Room fell into silence once again.

Hearing that it was the President's instruction, everyone became serious, carefully observing the white card.

However.

Horikita Manabu frowned slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes. He remained silent, merely watching quietly as the card was passed from hand to hand among his subordinates.

He watched as the expression on each person who handled it erupted into confusion, astonishment, or a strange, stifled urge to laugh.

Finally.

It was steadily delivered to its destination, in front of Horikita Manabu.

The pure white card formed a sharp contrast against the dark wooden tabletop.

"..."

Horikita Manabu did not pick it up immediately, instead scrutinizing it with a cold gaze, as if conducting an assessment.

Several seconds later.

He finally extended two fingers and slowly picked up the card.

[When the moonlight cleanses the pitch-black campus,]

[When the hands of the clock pass the zenith three times,]

[I shall take away your treasures.]

"This is..."

Horikita Manabu narrowed his eyes, his face devoid of any excess emotion.

"Tachibana."

"What is this?"