Breakfast in the Nova-1 cafeteria was louder than usual. Students laughed, argued, and practiced small quirks while eating.
Taiyashè leaned over my tray, grinning like a cat who got the cream. "So… Renny-Penny, you gonna tell me who left you that love note?"
I groaned. "Don't call me that."
"Too late, buddy," he said with a smirk, tapping my shoulder. "You're officially Renny-Penny now."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "This is serious, Kaito. Someone left a note on my window in the middle of the night."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice dramatically. "Secret admirer, secret spy, secret ghost… or just someone with too much free time."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm going to report it to Crowe. Maybe he'll figure out who did it."
Later, we found Elias Crowe in the homeroom. He was standing at the front, black scarf draped loosely, eyes scanning the room with that calm, all-seeing precision.
"Kaito, Ren," he said, tone even. "What brings you here before classes?"
I stepped forward, holding the sticky note carefully. "Sir, something happened last night. Someone left this on our dorm window."
Crowe took it from me with one hand, reading slowly. His dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm. Curious."
Taiyashè leaned over my shoulder. "It says, uh… 'Hello Renny Penny, how you doing cutie?' with hearts on the i's."
Crowe's lips twitched. Not a smile. Not a frown. Just the faintest shift.
"Renny Penny?" he echoed. "Interesting choice of nickname."
I groaned. "It's not a nickname. It's… never mind."
Crowe's eyes scanned the paper. "I've reviewed student handwriting before. None of the enrolled students match this."
My stomach flipped. "So… someone else?"
He shrugged slightly. "Potentially. Or someone who has access without permission. That is not your concern… yet. But remain cautious. Watch, listen, and report anything suspicious. Discretion is key."
Taiyashè snickered. "Renny-Penny, you have a secret admirer AND a mystery writer. I'm telling everyone."
I glared. Crowe raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"That's enough," he said. "Carry on with your morning classes."
From that moment on, no matter how much I protested, Taiyashè called me Renny-Penny constantly — in the hallways, during lunch, even in combat practice.
And every time, I felt that strange little tingle… curiosity mixed with unease.
Someone at Astra Hero Institute was already watching. And somehow… they knew me well enough to write that note.