10 Red Strings At Your Service - Chapter 6 - Normie Activity

“What should I do, Lily…” I muttered under my breath, urging her to come up with something.

“Eeh!? Me? Umm… how about getting to know her first, maybe?” Lily’s voice echoed in my head, sounding unsure.

“I figured it’d come to that, huh… Haaaah…”
I let out a long sigh while staring at the crowd forming around the transfer student. It’s so thick I couldn’t even catch a glimpse of the person herself. The red string that’s attached to us is also stuck between people.

“Akai-sama, you’re not going to join them? It’s a good chance to get to know her!” Lily chirped, not knowing my position here in class.

“Do you seriously think I can just walk into that? That’s like tossing a toddler into the wild and tell them to make friends with wolves.”

“That example is kind of scary, Akai-sama…”

I glanced around the classroom. A few others, like me, stayed in their seats even though it was obvious they were just as curious. Some had already left for the cafeteria. Where I’d normally be, too.

My gaze shifted to the seat beside me.
There she was, quietly eating her bento while flipping through her book while the other hand is for chopsticks.

Honestly, I’ll never get tired of saying this, but it’s impressive how she can read in literally any situation.
Maybe for her, books are what watching videos while eating are for the rest of us.

“C-Kiritani-san, you’re not gonna join them? You know, I mean as a Class Representative.”

Class Rep paused, reluctantly turning her head towards me.

“Ha… I see no point in joining. I’m already in charge of showing Himemori-san around the school tomorrow. I’ll have plenty of chances to get to know her then.” Class Rep replied leaving no room for argument.

“Besides…”

Just when I thought she was done and would go back to her book, she added.

“Shouldn’t you be the one joining over there? You’re clearly lonely enough to hold entire conversations with yourself.”

Goddamn it, she can hear me after all!!!

Here I am thinking she’s too focused on her book that she won’t even hear me talking to Lily. Now I’m branded as a guy, so lonely that he talks to himself out loud.

“I’m sorry, Akai-sama~!”

Please bury me!

—❀—❀—❀—❀—❀—

Nom nom nom nom…

“Akai-sama… Is now really the time to be eating so leisurely? One of your fated partners just appeared right in front of you, you know?” Lily pleaded with teary voice.

“Mmph—wham I shupposed to do wif it?” I mumbled, mouth stuffed with yakisoba-pan.

“I can’t understand you like that, Akai-sama~! Please chew and swallow properly first!” Lily retorted without missing a beat. She’s already getting used to this.

“Calm down, Lily. Look, I bought one for you too.” I held up another yakisoba-pan in front of the button she resides in.

“You’re giving it to me!? Yay! Thank you, Akai-sama!” she replied, bouncing with excitement. “Wait—! I can’t eat it like this!”

Ah, she realized.

“Well, as long as you transform back later, it should be fine. We’re in one of the old clubrooms, no one’s coming up here anyway.”

Currently, I’m spending my lunch break at one of the unused rooms on the top floor. No one ever comes near, thanks to rumors about the place being haunted.

Suddenly, a familiar bright light flared within the room. If anyone had seen this, it would definitely strengthen the rumors. Wait, does having an angel in here make it haunted or holy?
And just like that, Lily materialized back in her mini wing angel form.

“Fwaaah~ I’m finally out! I haven’t used my ability this long. I was starting to worry I’d poof any seconds now.” She grumbled, stretching her arms as if waking from a nap.

“Here, recharge with this. We don’t want you turning back during class.” I handed her the still-wrapped yakisoba-pan.

“Waaah~! It looks delicious!” she said, eyes sparkling as she clutched the bread with both hands.

Well, I’ll let her enjoy herself for now. I did keep her sealed for hours. Still, she seemed to enjoy the class anyway. I could hear her whispering stuff like “Heee~”, “I see…” and “That sounds interesting, right, Akai-sama?” in my head the whole time. If Lily’s voice weren’t so cute, I think I would’ve lost my mind by now.

“Sho, Ashai-shama. Whash yur pran on duin’?” Lily asked with her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel, yakisoba-pan crammed into her mouth.

“Chew and swallow your food first.” Deja vu.

I sighed. “Well, first and foremost, I need to gather information about the transfer student.”

“Yesh…”

“I’ve already got that covered,” I continued. “You remember who her seatmate is, right?”

“Yesh. The guy with the blish hair,” Lily replied, still refusing to let go of her bread.

Seriously this girl. Aren’t you the one pleading me to take action earlier.

“That’s right. Technically, we’re friends, so I can probably get some surface-level info from him” I paused then added, “The problem is figuring out how she’s connected to the red string.”

If my guess is right, making meaningless contact with her might just stir things up further. Worst-case scenario, I’ll drag her into something she shouldn’t even be part of.

“Lily, just to confirm again. The higher-ups in the heavenly realm still don’t know who’s on the other end of my red strings, right?”

“Yesh…” she finally swallowed, then wiped her mouth with her sleeve. “They only detected a major distortion in fate centered around you, Akai-sama.”

Figures.
If my assumption is correct, among the nine altered red strings, mine is the one that was tampered with the most. After all, their destined partner remained one. Only mine was changed to multiple person. As for why their original fated partners were replaced and redirected to me? I have no idea. It’s pointless to dwell on something even heaven doesn’t have the answer to yet.

My goal is simple. Resolve this peacefully. Find the culprit behind this whole mess, convince her or whatever it is to revert the fates back to normal, and prove our innocence. That way, both of us can get off that ridiculous dead or alive watchlist.

With that plan in mind, carelessly approaching the transfer student without any real lead could be dangerous. If she’s innocent and I involve her unnecessarily, it might mark her as a candidate for elimination. I can’t do that.

I was too shocked when she first entered the classroom to properly read her expression. But judging from what I saw after, she didn’t seem conscious of me—or the red strings, for that matter.

That said… it’s still too early to assume she can’t see them.

For now, all I can do is observe and gather more information.

RANG

The sudden chime coming from the broadcast speakers interrupted my thoughts. The signal that break time was over.

“Time’s up, Lily. Time to transform back.”
I said pulling the button out of my pocket.

“Eeeehhh~ Already~?” Lily remarked, her wings drooping slightly.

“We don’t have a choice. Unless you want someone to see you? You don’t—”

“Yes!” she blurted out before I could even finish.

“You’re supposed to say ‘No’ there.” I replied instinctively.

“Come on, Lily,” I said, holding up the button.

“Yesss~…” Lily replied slumping her shoulders like a sulking puppy.

—✙—✙—✙—✙—✙—

The final chime echoed through the school hallways, signaling the end of the day.

The moment the teacher stepped out of the classroom, I could already feel the classroom atmosphere shifting. Like hyenas ready to pounce on the freshest prey. As students began stirring, all clearly aiming for the new transfer student, I stood from my seat and made my way toward my target—Youhei.

“Hey, Youhei. Let’s walk home together,” I said, intentionally raising my voice higher than usual.

I threw a quick side glance towards the transfer student, but she doesn’t seem to show any particular reaction to my existence.

Just a second later, a swarm of classmates already flocked around her.

Tch.

“Ah, sorry, Akai. We already made plans to go to karaoke with Himemori-san, Rihito, and the others.” Youhei replied, scratching his cheek awkwardly.

Goddammit. They’ve already made it that far during a single break time. As expected of normies who can level up their relationship stats by just breathing in the same room.

Still, this was within my calculations.

“I see… Well, just keep an eye out for my text tonight.”

“Sure, no problem… But hey, Akai—what’s up with you? Did you eat something weird or what?” Youhei gave me a suspicious look.

Is the fact I’m socializing really deserves to be that skeptical?

Just then, a voice cut through the conversation—smooth and effortless, like a prince descending.

“I’ll go calm everyone down. We’ll be ready to go in a minute.”

A radiant presence approached, with a warm smile that you’ll find in a celebrity magazine cover.

“Ah, hello, Ito-kun,” Rihito greeted me casually, his grin sparkling enough to make background flowers bloom like shoujo manga.

“Y-Yeah…” I responded, voice cracking slightly. Damn it, even I wasn’t immune to his protagonist aura. My mob character ass recoiled instinctively. Pathetic.

“Waaaah~ He’s so handsome~” Lily whispered dreamily in my head.

Even angels aren’t immune to the allure of the main character, it seems.

Tch. I guess today’s a loss. No way I’m charging into the boss room on day one.

Just as I was about to quietly back out and retreat like a good background character, Rihito’s voice struck again.

“Oh, right! Ito-kun, why don’t you come along with us?”

…Huh?

“You’re good friends with Youhei, right? I’ve actually wanted to be friends with you for a while now.” he added, smiling like a prince extending his hand to a peasant.

He’s probably just trying to keep up his image as Mr. Nice Guy, inviting even the gloomy classmate to tag along for the sake of appearances. He probably doesn’t even expect me to say yes.

“Really? Then I’ll take you up on that,” I said, trying my best to sound casual. It probably came out more awkward than intended.

Both Youhei and Rihito blinked in surprise.

But unlike Youhei, whose jaw was practically open, Rihito’s shock lasted barely a heartbeat. He immediately returned to his usual, flawless self.

“I see. I’m glad. Let’s get along, Ito-kun.” he said with another radiant smile with sparkling shoujo manga effects, again.

As if on cue, he turned and walked toward the crowd of students buzzing around the transfer student. With just a few words—something about her already having plans with his group—he effortlessly defused the situation.

Naturally, everyone backed off.

After all, it’s Rihito. If he says so, it must be true.

Youhei leaned in, eyes still wide. “What the heck are you thinking?”

“Calm down,” I said, shrugging. “I just thought I’d try experiencing a normie activity for once. Is it really that surprising?”

“IT IS!” Youhei snapped, practically shaking me by the shoulders.

O-Oh. That much, huh.

—✾—✾—✾—✾—✾—✾—

The final bell rang, echoing softly through the school halls like a gentle reminder that a new page of her life had just begun.

She gathered her things with a faint smile, her heart still fluttering from the warmth she’d received today. It felt surreal. Friendly faces, open conversations, a welcoming atmosphere—this world was different. So different from the confined, distant life she once knew. This was her first time going to something like karaoke.

Back then, she could only wish to be part of it with her previous schoolmates, that are now impossible to happen.

Her father allowed her a limited time after school as long as she maintained top-tier performance in her lessons and studies. That promise was not a burden. She would show him she could handle both—a new life and her responsibilities.

Now, standing at the school gates as the group began to gather, Chie felt a bubbling anticipation.

“Let’s go, Himemori-san!”

Rihito, the charismatic boy who had instantly calmed the crowd earlier, led the group with a smile that sparkled reminded her of the dazzling lead from one of those theatre plays as though he’d simply stepped out of a script meant for someone born to stand in the spotlight. There was no denying his presence—kind, charming, approachable. Everything about him radiated perfection. Too perfect, in fact. But Chie, still new to this world, simply appreciated the kindness he’d shown her so far. He was someone everyone seemed drawn to.

Trailing beside him was Abe, a boy who couldn’t seem to calm down since the break time.

“Man, I can’t wait! I’m totally gonna sing a song that will impress Chie-chan!” Abe laughed.

Chie gave him a small, awkward smile. He was loud and blunt. And perhaps a little rough around the edges. The way he practically shouted her first name still make her flinch. She hadn’t exactly given him permission. It was more like he bulldozed his way with a grin too wide and a voice too loud to argue with. Chie had given up the moment she realized her words wouldn’t reach him.

Next was Mia, the girl with a perfectly applied makeup even after a full day of classes. Her sweet smile, was always ready.

“I bet it’ll be sooo fun with you around~”

Chie gave a polite nod. Mia-san’s friendliness was practiced, almost too exaggerated. There was always a weight behind her words, like a handkerchief hiding a blade. Still, Chie didn’t mind. After all, she had unknowingly lived her entire life navigating conversations that danced around intention. If anything, this was familiar territory.

Beside her stood a girl named Maya. Quiet, soft-spoken, and always a step behind. A surprising contrast to Mia, especially since Chie had overheard they were childhood friends. Maya only glanced at her once, offered a small bow, then quickly hid behind her bangs again. Chie smiled softly at that. There was a kindness in shy people, and a gentle strength that was often overlooked. She hoped they could talk more next time.

As the group moved down the street, filled with chatter and laughter, Chie noticed two figures talking, walking just slightly behind.

One was Kanzaki Youhei, her new seatmate. He was surprisingly easy to talk to, despite his delinquent-like appearance. His reactions were sincere, his tone honest. She found that comforting in its own way.

But the person beside him…

Chie blinked once, then turned forward again. She didn’t know his name yet. During introductions, he’d been sitting near the back, and his expression at the time… was memorable, to say the least. His jaw wide open, eyes wide open as if he’d seen a ghost. It wasn’t hostility she sensed, but rather sheer shocked.

Still, out of everyone in the class, he was the only one whose name she hadn’t heard. That, in itself, piqued her curiosity just a little.

But for now, Chie smiled gently, letting her gaze return to the group.
She clutched her bag a little tighter.

She would treasure this new life of her—one karaoke song at a time.

PS: Since the first cover is slightly a bit spoilery. I’m changing into a new cover. Since we’re entering Chie’s Arc, and it also helps the readers to visualize her.