The Rooftop Riddle

Episode 1

The story begins with Kaito Suzuki, a reserved and serious high school senior, who has found an escape on the school rooftop, a spot students rarely frequent. He often confides in his only friend, Riku Watanabe, who’s the polar opposite—upbeat and sociable. Riku often tries to coax Kaito into joining after-school events, but Kaito prefers solitude.

Meanwhile, Miyu Tanaka, a lively and eccentric girl, is looking for a quiet place to avoid school responsibilities. She discovers the rooftop and hopes it’ll be her personal hideout, only to find Kaito already there.

When Miyu and Kaito run into each other, tension fills the air. Kaito tries to ignore her, but Miyu breaks the ice with a joke about the “mysterious rooftop loner.” Just as things get awkwardly humorous, Riku arrives, having followed Kaito to his “secret hideout.” Riku playfully scolds Kaito, introducing himself to Miyu and making friendly conversation with ease.

Miyu suggests turning this rooftop into their “secret escape spot” when school gets too overwhelming. Riku, amused, encourages the idea and teases Kaito about his new “friend.” Kaito, feeling cornered, reluctantly agrees. Before Miyu leaves, she playfully challenges Kaito to show up tomorrow. As she runs off, Riku gives Kaito a mischievous grin, clearly amused by the new dynamic.

Episode 2

Kaito Suzuki hesitated at the bottom of the stairwell leading to the school rooftop. The bell had rung nearly ten minutes ago, and yet here he was, staring at the door like it might bite him. He told himself he wasn’t curious if she would be there again—he just wanted some peace and quiet. Still, her voice echoed in his mind: “Let’s see if you’ll be here tomorrow, Mr. Mystery.”

“Thinking about someone, huh?” came a familiar voice from behind.

Kaito turned to see Riku Watanabe grinning as he leaned casually against the wall. “What are you doing here?” Kaito asked, hoping his voice didn’t sound as defensive as he felt.

“Following my bro, obviously. You’ve been acting weird all day,” Riku said, pushing past him to open the door. “Let’s see what’s got you distracted.”

Before Kaito could stop him, Riku stepped onto the rooftop—and froze.

Sure enough, Miyu Tanaka was already there. She’d transformed the quiet rooftop into something resembling a picnic spot. A bright blue cushion sat in the corner, surrounded by a small pile of snacks, a half-empty bottle of soda, and a spiral notebook. She looked up at the sound of the door opening, her eyes lighting up.

“Ah, you came back, Mr. Mystery! And you brought a friend. How generous of you!”

Kaito sighed, stepping past Riku, who was now openly gawking at the setup. “What…is all this?”

“Our club headquarters, obviously,” Miyu said, gesturing to the haphazard arrangement with pride. “Welcome to the Rooftop Club! Membership is free, but there are rules.”

“Rules?” Kaito repeated, eyebrows raised.

Miyu grabbed the notebook and flipped to a page filled with doodles and scribbled text. She cleared her throat dramatically before reading:

“Rooftop Rules:

1. No talking about boring stuff.

2. Snacks are mandatory for entry.

3. Be prepared for random games.

4. No asking personal questions—because secrets are fun!”

Kaito stared at her. “This…is ridiculous.”

Miyu pouted, clutching the notebook to her chest. “Ridiculous? Rules are the foundation of every great club! If you can’t follow them, you’ll have to pay a fine.”

“A fine?”

“Snacks! You didn’t bring any today, so next time, you owe me cookies. Chocolate chip preferred.”

Before Kaito could respond, Riku burst out laughing. “I like her style. Random games, huh? Let’s test that one!” He tossed his basketball onto the ground and grinned.

Miyu’s face lit up. “Great idea! Okay, let’s play—uh—‘Guess That Gossip.’”

What followed was fifteen minutes of chaos. Riku, with his endless energy, bombarded Kaito with ridiculous trivia about their classmates. Miyu, meanwhile, provided exaggerated commentary, much to Kaito’s annoyance.

“Who’s dating who in Class 2-B?” Riku asked.

“How would I know that?” Kaito snapped.

“Wrong! It’s Ayaka and Kenji,” Miyu said triumphantly. “Keep up, Mr. Mystery!”

By the end of the game, Kaito had lost every round. Riku and Miyu were nearly in tears from laughter, and Kaito, despite himself, felt the corners of his mouth twitching upward.

As the laughter subsided, the mood shifted.

“You know,” Miyu said, gazing at the sunset, “this place is kind of special. It’s like…I can just breathe up here, you know? No teachers, no classmates, no expectations. Just…me.”

Her voice softened, and Kaito glanced at her, surprised by the vulnerability in her tone. Riku, unusually quiet, nodded. “Yeah, it’s nice to have a place like this.”

Miyu smiled again, this time softer. “So, we’re all in agreement, right? The Rooftop Club is officially a thing. We meet here after school—no excuses!”

Kaito didn’t answer, but as Miyu and Riku packed up and headed for the stairs, he found himself lingering. His eyes fell on Miyu’s notebook, left behind in her rush. Flipping it open, he found a messy doodle of a sun with the words “Rooftop vibes = happiness” scrawled underneath.

For the first time in a long while, Kaito smiled.

Episode 3

The rooftop was unusually quiet when Kaito arrived after school. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to hope Miyu might not show up. Perhaps she’d forgotten. But as he pushed open the door, he was greeted by a sight that immediately dashed his hopes—and his peace.

Miyu was already there, her rooftop “kingdom” expanded with a small blanket, a thermos, and an even larger pile of snacks than last time. She sat cross-legged, a mischievous grin spreading across her face as she caught sight of him.

“Well, well! Look who’s decided to grace us with his presence,” she teased, pointing dramatically at him. “And…no cookies? Tsk, tsk, Mr. Mystery. You’re already breaking Rule #2.”

“I’m not calling you that,” Kaito muttered, setting his bag down in his usual corner. He reached into it and pulled out a small box of chocolate chip cookies, tossing them in her direction. “There. Happy?”

Miyu caught the box with exaggerated flair, holding it up like a trophy. “Justice is served! Kaito Suzuki, you are now in good standing with the Rooftop Club.”

The door banged open, and Riku burst in, panting and holding a plastic bag. “I’m here, I’m here! And I brought snacks!” He plopped down beside them, pulling out a colorful assortment of chips and candies. “Let’s see what everyone’s got!”

Miyu leaned forward, inspecting the haul with the critical eye of a seasoned snack connoisseur. “Hmm. Chips are decent, but these candies? Kind of basic. Try harder, Watanabe.”

Riku feigned offense, clutching the bag to his chest. “Excuse me, Tanaka, but these are premium quality!”

As the two bickered, Kaito opened a pack of rice crackers he’d brought, content to sit back and watch the chaos unfold. But his peace didn’t last long.

Miyu turned her attention to him, narrowing her eyes. “What’s that?”

“Rice crackers.”

“Plain? No seasoning?”

“Yes.”

Miyu gasped as if he’d just committed a crime against humanity. “Unacceptable! This is a club, Kaito. We have snack standards.”

Riku nodded solemnly. “She’s got a point, man.”

Kaito glared at them both. “Then don’t eat them.”

Naturally, Miyu reached over and grabbed one anyway, popping it into her mouth. She chewed thoughtfully before declaring, “They’re boring, but they’ll do.”

The argument over snacks quickly escalated into a full-blown “snack war.” Miyu insisted on ranking everyone’s contributions, awarding herself the top spot for her variety and presentation. Riku demanded a recount, claiming his snacks had “universal appeal.” Kaito refused to participate, though this only encouraged Miyu and Riku to badger him for his opinions.

“Admit it,” Miyu said, pointing a chopstick at him like a sword. “My snacks are the best.”

“You brought too many,” Kaito replied flatly.

“Too many?! There’s no such thing as too many snacks!”

Riku chimed in, grinning. “Come on, Kaito. Don’t be a coward. Choose a side.”

“I choose silence,” Kaito deadpanned, earning groans from both of them.

The lighthearted chaos took a surprising turn when Miyu, in the midst of her dramatic snack rankings, paused and looked out over the edge of the rooftop. Her voice softened. “You know…when I was little, I used to do this kind of stuff with my parents. We’d pack snacks, go to the park, and rank them. It was silly, but it made me happy.”

Riku, sensing the shift in mood, quietly leaned back, giving her space.

“I guess,” Miyu continued, “it’s nice to have something like that again. Even if it’s just snacks on a rooftop.” She laughed, brushing off the sudden vulnerability.

Kaito, who had been silent, glanced at her. For the first time, he felt like he understood her a little better—why she was always so over-the-top. It wasn’t just for fun. It was her way of holding onto something that made her feel safe, something that reminded her of better times.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the three of them settled into a quiet, comfortable rhythm. Miyu scribbled more “club rules” in her notebook, Riku leaned back and tossed snacks into his mouth, and Kaito watched them both, feeling, for the first time in a long time, like maybe this rooftop wasn’t such a bad place after all.

Episode 4

The rooftop had become Kaito’s reluctant sanctuary. As much as he wouldn’t admit it, the chaotic but oddly comforting presence of Miyu and Riku made the once-quiet space feel...different. Less lonely. But today, something was off.

When Kaito pushed open the rooftop door, he was met not with the usual laughter and Miyu’s dramatic greetings, but an unfamiliar voice.

“Whoa, so this is your secret hideout?”

Kaito’s eyes narrowed. Sitting cross-legged next to Miyu was a girl he didn’t recognize—petite, with short, spiky hair dyed electric blue and an expression that screamed trouble. Beside her, a tall boy with glasses and a smug grin leaned against the railing, clearly amused.

Miyu, oblivious to Kaito’s glare, waved enthusiastically. “Kaito! Look! We have new members!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “New members?”

Introducing the Intruders

The blue-haired girl grinned, pointing at herself with her thumb. “I’m Nao. Miyu wouldn’t shut up about this place, so I had to see it for myself.”

The boy adjusted his glasses, his smirk widening. “And I’m Jun. Riku’s been bragging about how cool it is up here.”

Kaito shot a withering look at Riku, who appeared behind him, panting slightly from running up the stairs. “Uh... surprise?” Riku said sheepishly.

Miyu clapped her hands together. “Isn’t this great? The club is growing!”

Kaito, however, didn’t share her enthusiasm. “No. This was supposed to be a quiet place.”

Nao snorted. “Quiet? With these two?” She jabbed a thumb at Miyu and Riku. “Good luck with that.”

Jun crossed his arms. “Come on, Suzuki. You need a little variety in your life.”

Kaito felt his patience wearing thin. “I don't even know you.”

“Yet,” Nao corrected, grinning.

A Turf War Begins

Miyu, ever the peacemaker, jumped between them. “Okay, okay! Here’s the deal. We let them stay for one day. If they survive, they’re in.”

“Survive what?” Jun asked warily.

Miyu smirked. “Rooftop Club initiation, of course.”

Nao’s grin widened. “Now we’re talking!”

Kaito sighed, realizing there was no way he was getting rid of them without a fight. “Fine. But they follow the rules.”

Jun raised an eyebrow. “Rules?”

Miyu proudly presented the notebook. “Behold! The sacred Rooftop Rules.”

Nao skimmed the list and laughed. “No talking about homework? Mandatory snacks? I like it.”

Jun, on the other hand, looked skeptical. “This is ridiculous.”

Miyu gasped, hand on her chest. “How dare you! Rule-breakers will be punished!”

“Punished how?” Jun challenged.

Miyu’s grin turned mischievous. “You’ll see.”

The Trial of Snacks

The first test came in the form of snacks—naturally. Riku dumped out a variety of chips, candy, and questionable “mystery snacks” onto the blanket. “Let’s see if you’ve got what it takes.”

Nao confidently pulled out a pack of spicy chips, popping one in her mouth without hesitation. “Easy.”

Jun eyed the pile of snacks skeptically. “I don’t really do junk food.”

Miyu gasped. “BLASPHEMY!”

Riku leaned over and whispered, “You better eat something, man. She’s serious about snacks.”

Grumbling, Jun grabbed a rice cracker and bit into it, chewing with the enthusiasm of someone being forced to take medicine.

Kaito watched silently, half-amused by their antics but still feeling uneasy about the newcomers invading his space.

Unexpected Connections

Despite Kaito’s reluctance, the afternoon went on with surprising ease. Nao fit right in, challenging Riku to an impromptu game of “snack throwing” (which involved throwing candy into each other's mouths, resulting in near disasters).

Jun, though quieter, eventually settled in, asking Kaito, “So, do you always just sit here and brood?”

Kaito shot him a look. “It’s called enjoying the peace.”

Jun smirked. “Must be nice. No expectations, huh?”

Something about the way he said it made Kaito pause. He wasn’t the only one using the rooftop to escape from something.

Closing Scene

As the sun set, Miyu stretched her arms and declared, “I hereby declare today a success! Our club is bigger, better, and more chaotic than ever!”

Kaito groaned. “That’s not a good thing.”

Nao grinned. “Face it, Suzuki, you’re stuck with us.”

Jun adjusted his glasses. “Might not be the worst place to hang out after all.”

Kaito sighed, but deep down, he knew the rooftop was never going to be the same again. Maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing.

End Scene:

As they packed up to leave, Miyu pulled Kaito aside and whispered, “You’re not mad, right? It’s more fun this way.”

He looked at the group—Riku and Nao arguing over the last bag of chips, Jun quietly observing everything—and shook his head. “I’ll survive.”

Miyu beamed. “Told you you’d like us.”

Kaito didn’t respond, but as he glanced at the sunset, a faint smile appeared.

Episode 5

It had been a week since Nao and Jun became unofficial members of the Rooftop Club, and Kaito was already regretting it. The once peaceful sanctuary had turned into a daily circus, with Nao’s relentless energy and Jun’s constant sarcasm making it harder to find the quiet he once enjoyed.

Today was no different. As Kaito stepped onto the rooftop, he was greeted by the sight of Nao balancing precariously on the railing while Riku cheered her on.

“Get down before you break your neck,” Kaito muttered, tossing his bag into the corner.

Nao grinned, hopping down effortlessly. “Relax, Suzuki. You worry too much.”

Jun, sitting cross-legged near the wall with a book in hand, smirked without looking up. “He’s right, though. If you fell, it’d be a pain to explain to the teachers.”

Miyu was busy scribbling in her ever-growing “Rooftop Club Handbook,” completely ignoring the chaos around her. “Okay, everyone! Today’s meeting has a special agenda.”

Kaito sighed. “Please tell me it doesn’t involve more snack contests.”

“Wrong!” Miyu declared, holding up a small, crumpled envelope. “It’s about this!”

Everyone leaned in curiously. “What is it?” Riku asked.

“I found it stuffed under the old air conditioning unit,” Miyu said, eyes wide with excitement. “It’s addressed to... ‘My Rooftop Angel.’”

Kaito groaned. “Seriously?”

Miyu ignored him and carefully opened the letter, reading it aloud in her most dramatic voice:

‘To the one who saves me from my worst days, I see you here every afternoon, staring at the sky, lost in your thoughts. You don’t know me, but I know you. You make my days brighter, even if you never notice me. Thank you, my Rooftop Angel.’

The rooftop fell into stunned silence. Even Nao, usually the first to make fun of anything sentimental, looked intrigued.

“Whoa,” Riku said, leaning back. “That’s... kind of sweet.”

Jun raised an eyebrow. “Or creepy, depending on how you look at it.”

Miyu ignored him, eyes sparkling. “Isn’t this amazing? A mystery! Someone up here has a secret admirer!”

Nao smirked. “So, who’s the lucky angel?” She glanced at each of them suspiciously.

Kaito crossed his arms. “Don’t look at me.”

Jun chuckled. “Yeah, Suzuki’s not exactly radiating angelic energy.”

Miyu tapped her chin thoughtfully. “It has to be someone who comes up here often.” She gasped, turning dramatically toward Kaito. “What if it’s... you?!”

Kaito rolled his eyes. “It’s not.”

“But you’re always brooding up here alone!” Miyu said, pointing at him accusingly.

Riku chimed in, grinning. “Yeah, man. That sounds like prime rooftop angel material.”

Kaito shot them a glare. “Drop it.”

The Investigation Begins

Of course, Miyu wasn’t about to drop it. Over the next few days, the group launched a full-blown investigation.

Nao interrogated other students during lunch, blatantly asking, “Hey, you write any love letters lately?”—which only earned her weird looks and a trip to detention.

Jun used his tech-savvy skills to dig up surveillance times of students entering the rooftop, but to no avail. “Whoever left it did it late,” he concluded.

Riku, meanwhile, insisted on staking out the rooftop after school, but all he found was a suspicious-looking cat that stole his sandwich.

Through it all, Kaito did his best to ignore the chaos, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Who else came up here besides them?

A Private Moment

One evening, long after the others had gone home, Kaito found himself back on the rooftop. The sky was turning shades of orange and pink, and the familiar hush of the place settled over him.

He pulled the letter from his pocket and read it again.

‘You don’t know me, but I know you.’

Kaito frowned. Was it possible he wasn’t as invisible as he thought? He had always assumed his rooftop escapes went unnoticed, but clearly, someone had been watching.

“You look deep in thought.”

Kaito nearly jumped at the sound of Miyu’s voice. She stood near the door, watching him with a softer expression than usual.

“Shouldn’t you be home?” he muttered.

Miyu walked over, leaning against the railing beside him. “I left my notebook behind. But... I saw you reading the letter.”

Kaito didn’t respond.

Miyu tilted her head, her usual teasing tone replaced by something more sincere. “Do you think it’s about you?”

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “I don’t know. Does it really matter?”

Miyu smiled. “Of course, it matters. It means someone sees you, even when you think no one does.”

For a moment, Kaito didn’t know what to say. He had spent so much time convincing himself that the rooftop was his own personal escape. But maybe... he wasn’t as alone as he thought.

Closing Scene

The next day, as the group gathered again, Miyu held up a brand-new sheet of paper with a mischievous grin. “Alright, everyone! We’re writing a reply to the mystery admirer!”

Kaito groaned. “I knew this was coming.”

Nao grinned. “Let’s have some fun with it.”

Jun smirked. “Let’s make it as dramatic as possible.”

As the others began brainstorming ideas, Kaito leaned against the wall, watching them. Despite himself, he couldn’t help but feel... curious.

Whoever the admirer was, they had unknowingly brought the group closer together. And maybe, just maybe, Kaito was starting to enjoy it.

End Scene:

Miyu hands Kaito the pen. “Come on, Mr. Mystery. You have to contribute.”

He hesitates, then takes it with a sigh. “Fine. But no hearts.”

Miyu giggles. “No promises.”

Kaito smirks slightly, and the rooftop fills with laughter.

Episode 6

It had been two days since the group wrote their reply to the mysterious rooftop admirer, and there was still no response.

Miyu, naturally, was spiraling into full-blown conspiracy mode. “What if they saw the letter but were too shy to answer?” she wondered aloud, pacing around the rooftop. “Or what if... they moved to a different school?”

Nao yawned. “Or maybe they saw our reply and ran for the hills.”

Riku grinned, stuffing chips into his mouth. “I did suggest writing in all caps. It makes us seem more serious.”

Jun adjusted his glasses. “You mean more terrifying.”

Kaito sat quietly in his usual corner, staring out at the skyline, wishing the topic would die already. He was tired of Miyu’s wild theories, and more importantly, he didn’t want to think about the idea that someone had been watching him for so long without him noticing.

Miyu plopped down next to him with a huff. “You don’t seem very invested in this mystery.”

Kaito shrugged. “Maybe because it’s not my problem.”

Miyu pouted. “You have no sense of romance.”

“I have a sense of realism.”

Before Miyu could argue further, the rooftop door creaked open. The group turned in unison as a figure hesitantly stepped onto the rooftop.

It was Reina Sakamoto—the quiet girl from their class who barely spoke a word to anyone. She looked nervous, clutching a small notebook in her hands, and Kaito immediately had a sinking feeling.

“Oh.” Miyu’s eyes widened. “Ohhh.”

Reina’s gaze darted around the group before finally settling on Kaito. “I... um... saw your letter.”

Reina's Revelation

The silence was deafening as Reina shuffled awkwardly, clearly debating whether or not to run away. Kaito, for his part, wished the rooftop floor would just swallow him whole.

Miyu was the first to break the tension, smiling brightly. “So you’re the mystery admirer!”

Reina blushed furiously, shaking her head. “N-No! I mean... yes, I left the first letter, but I wasn’t expecting anyone to... reply.”

Nao smirked. “Well, surprise! You’re famous now.”

Reina visibly cringed, clutching her notebook tighter. “I... I didn’t mean to bother anyone.”

Kaito finally sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “You didn’t. Miyu’s just... Miyu.”

Miyu ignored him, scooting closer. “Okay, but why did you write the letter? Is Kaito really your ‘Rooftop Angel’?”

Reina turned even redder. “I... I don’t know.” She hesitated, then took a deep breath. “I guess... I just liked watching him sit here every day. He always looked so calm, like nothing in the world could bother him. And... I wanted to be like that.”

Kaito blinked, surprised. “You... wanted to be like me?”

Reina nodded slowly. “I have anxiety. Really bad anxiety. I’ve always been too scared to come up here, but seeing you—how you just sit and watch the sky—it helped.”

The group fell quiet, their usual teasing absent. Even Nao, who normally would have made a joke, simply nodded in understanding.

Kaito wasn’t sure how to respond. He had always thought his rooftop visits were just a way to escape, but to someone like Reina, they had meant something more.

A Midnight Rooftop Visit

Later that night, Kaito found himself unable to sleep. He tossed and turned, Reina’s words echoing in his head. Finally, with a sigh, he grabbed his jacket and snuck out of the house, heading for the school rooftop.

He didn’t expect to find anyone there. But to his surprise, Reina was already sitting against the railing, staring up at the moon.

She looked startled when he appeared. “Oh... I didn’t think anyone would come.”

Kaito sat down a few feet away, resting his arms on his knees. “I could say the same thing.”

Reina smiled softly. “I like the rooftop at night. It’s... quieter.”

They sat in silence for a while, the cool night breeze making everything feel distant and surreal.

Finally, Reina spoke. “I don’t think I was really writing to you, you know.”

Kaito raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Reina hugged her knees to her chest. “I think I was writing to the idea of you. Someone who isn’t afraid of being alone. Someone who can just... exist without worrying.”

Kaito looked up at the stars. “It’s not always like that.”

Reina glanced at him, surprised. “It’s not?”

He shook his head. “Sometimes being alone isn’t a choice. Sometimes it’s just... easier.”

Reina smiled gently. “I guess that’s true.”

They sat together in the peaceful silence, two people who understood loneliness in different ways.

Closing Scene

The next day, as the group gathered on the rooftop, Reina stood at the door, looking hesitant. Miyu waved her over excitedly. “Come on! You’re part of the club now.”

Reina hesitated, then slowly smiled and took a seat next to Kaito.

Nao grinned. “Looks like we’ve got another introvert in the group.”

Riku handed Reina a bag of chips. “Welcome to the chaos.”

Kaito glanced at Reina and, for once, didn’t mind the intrusion.

Maybe, just maybe, sharing the rooftop wasn’t so bad after all.

End Scene:

As the group laughed and argued over snacks, Reina quietly wrote in her notebook:

"Today, I wasn’t alone."

Kaito, glancing over her shoulder, allowed himself the faintest smile.

Episode 7

Coming Soon...