10 Red Strings At Your Service - Chapter 7 - Goodbye Peaceful School Life

“Seriously, what’s the deal, Akai?” Youhei asked, clearly exasperated.

“I just felt like singing today,” I replied with a shrug.

“Again with that.” he sighed, rubbing his forehead.

I get where he’s coming from. From his perspective, this must look insane. One minute I’m blending into the background like an NPC should be, and the next, I’m tagging along with the elite clique of the class. Even now, as we trailed behind the lively group marching ahead, laughing and chatting like they owned the street, I was already beginning to question my choices.

“Akai… Don’t tell me…” I turned to see him eyeing me with wide-eyed disbelief.

“What?” I asked, confused.

“…Are you after Himemori-san too?” he said hesitantly, almost in a whisper.

Huh?
Wait—too?
Are you serious?

“Youhei. You…”

“Aaargh, yeah! I think I’m into Himemori-san, okay?!” he blurted out, scratching his cheek with a blush spreading across his face. “How do I say it… like, y’know, love at first sight?”

“EEHHHHHHH!?”
Before, I could even process things. A piercing shriek exploded in my head.

Shut up, Lily! Why are you more surprised than I am!?

“Wha-wha-what should we do, Akai-sama!? Himemori-sama might get stolen by another guy!?” Lily’s voice kept ringing in my skull in full-blown panic mode. “Gasp! Maybe those two handsome guys in the front are also in love with her!? This is terrible, Akai-sama! The three of them are way more charming than you!! Fueeeee~ this is the end!!!”

Wait, did she just casually insult me!?
Ahh, my head hurts…

—✷—✷—✷—✷—

A loud singing voice echoed through the room, bouncing off the padded walls like a curse.
It wasn’t good. Not even close. It was just loud as hell.

We were crammed into a karaoke room just a bit wider than average, though still hardly big enough to comfortably fit seven people.

I took a sip of my melon soda, the fizziness tingling against my tongue as I glanced around the room.

The guy currently singing—whose name I still couldn’t remember—was howling into the mic with all the enthusiasm of someone who mistook volume for talent. I had no idea what song he was even attempting. His voice steamrolled over the melody, the lyrics, everything.

In the middle of the couch, Rihito was hunched over beside the transfer student, patiently explaining how to use the song selection tablet. A little too close for comfort, if you asked me. Not that it mattered to her as her eyes were sparkling with curiosity, completely captivated by the device itself, not the boy beside her.

Meanwhile, the one with the heavy makeup girl who always clung to Rihito. Uh, Miwhore or something?—was trying her best to wedge herself between the two. She was pulling the “Oops, I don’t know how this works either~” trying to get Rihito’s attention away from the transfer student as they starting forming a bond.

Youhei, who had just confessed to me that he was interested in the transfer student, was watching the interaction from a short distance away, eyes darting between the two, clearly waiting for the right moment to butt in.

Beside me sat a girl whose name I also couldn’t remember. That made three people in this room whose names had evaporated from my brain. But I remembered her face. Sort of. Her bangs were long enough to cast a permanent shadow over her eyes. She always seemed out of place with this group and yet, she was always with them.

She sipped her drink in silence, head low, like she was trying to camouflage into the wallpaper. Honestly, same.

Obviously, I wasn’t really part of the group. And in her case, she was easily the most timid of them all. So, naturally, the two of us ended up on the edges of the couch, right where people like us always seem to land when the group dynamics fall into place.

“Uuuuu… Akai-sama, I’m worried~” Lily whined in a listless voice.

She’s been repeating it nonstop ever since Youhei’s sudden love declaration toward the transfer student.

I immediately denied his wild accusation about me also aiming for her. Which, only made Lily more anxious.

Maybe she’s expecting me to fight him for her or something. Sorry, Lily, I’m not part of Love is War.

Well, it’s not like I came here to start anything. My goal for today is to observe the transfer student. No need for any drastic moves.

“Don’t worry that much,” I said out loud to Lily.

“Yesh!?” a surprised voice shrieked beside me.

“Eh?” I turned to look at the girl sitting next to me. She was staring up at me, wide-eyed.

“Eh?” she echoed back, just as confused.

…Oh. Did she think I was talking to her?

“Ah, sorry. I was just talking to myself,” I said quickly.

“Ah… I-Is that so…” she muttered, looking back down and quietly sipping the drink in her hands.

Ah, ah. This is what happens when two introverts accidentally start a conversation.

Hm? I noticed that her eyes weren’t on her drink. They were quietly watching the group across the room with a lonely expression. It wasn’t the way you looked at friends having fun.

“Do you not like Himemori-san?” I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

“Eh!?”

She jumped at the question. Maybe that was too direct.

“Um… th-that’s not the case.”

“I see.” I was about to leave it at that since it wasn’t really my business, but then she continued.

“It’s just that… Youhei-kun seems to have taken quite a liking to her…” Her lips tightened as she spoke, a touch of sadness leaking through.

Huh…?
Hmm…?
Ah…!

I see now. That Youhei. Flirting with the new girl when there’s someone who’s clearly been harboring feelings for him this whole time?

You’re the worst, Youhei.

And being dense isn’t an excuse. Even I, a complete outsider, figured it out in seconds.

“Umm…” I tried to recall her name but drew a blank. Only the names of my favorite heroines popped into my head instead.

“Kobayashi. Kobayashi Maya,” she said, noticing the confusion on my face.

“Ah. Yeah. Kobayashi-san. Now I remember,” I lied. There was nothing to remember because this was literally the first time I’d heard her name.

“I-I’ve heard about you from Youhei-kun before, I-Ito-kun,” she said quietly.

Her voice was so soft that if we hadn’t been sitting right next to each other, I would’ve missed it entirely.

“So… is there any problem with Youhei taking a liking to Himemori-san?” I asked, deciding to press just a bit more.

A timid girl like her suddenly bringing this up to someone she’s barely spoken to—who also happens to be Youhei’s close friend—it was clearly intentional.

“I-It’s not that I have a problem with Himemori-san… I just wondered if… that’s the kind of girl Youhei-kun likes…” she said, her face flushing as she struggled to get the words out.

She’s definitely seeking advice.
I wanted to say, If you can tell me all this, why not tell him directly?

Then again, I know it’s not that simple.

They’re total opposites. And while Youhei isn’t exactly popular, he got that quiet reputation, kind of like Rihito. Now that he’s openly showing interest to the transfer student, even I can imagine how her confidence must’ve crumbled after seeing how different the two of them are.

What I’m even supposed to say in this kind of situation?
Should I try to console her? Tell her she still has a chance or something?
But coming from me, it’d probably sound completely fake.

“Abe, enough with your jokes! Can’t you see she’s uncomfortable!?”

While I was lost in thought, trying to figure out the right words, Youhei’s voice suddenly echoed through the room.

I was used to hearing Youhei’s loud way of speaking, but this time it was different. There is seriousness in his tone.

“Huh!? I’m just trying to get close to Chie-chan. What, Youhei, does that bother you that much?”
The guy responded with a mockingly pretentious tone.

“What I’m saying is—get your hand off her shoulder!” Youhei shot back without backing down an inch.

At first, I was stunned by the sheer anger in Youhei’s voice.
But now that I was taking a step back and looking at everything more calmly, what surprised me even more was the fact that he was actually standing up to them.

“Youhei, you’re getting annoying, y’know that?”

The guy clicked his tongue and finally took his hand off the transfer student’s shoulder, glaring daggers at Youhei with so much killing intent in his eyes.

I guess the rumors about that guy being a delinquent weren’t just for show. Honestly, I was more amazed that Rihito managed to keep this guy under control.

Speaking of which… I glanced over at Rihito.

He was just standing there, calm as ever, holding the mic.
Apparently, it was his turn to sing, so the guy had moved from beside the transfer student—and that’s when he got all handsy with her, sparking Youhei’s outburst.

Is he not gonna help at all?

—Θ—Θ—Θ—Θ—Θ—

Two boys, glaring at each other with rising tension crackling in the air between them.
And caught awkwardly between them—was Himemori Chie.

It had all started a few moments earlier.

Without warning, Abe had slung his arm around her shoulder, as if they were close friends. The sudden skinship made Chie’s entire body tense.

“Ah—”

A small sound escaped her lips before she could stop it. Her expression faltered just slightly—too subtle for most to notice, but clear to anyone who was paying attention.

It wasn’t just the contact that unsettled her. It was the weight of his arm, the force he put into it, like he was claiming space that wasn’t his. It was suffocating.
She didn’t like it. Not at all.

Yet, as always, Chie tried to remain composed. She didn’t pull away violently or raise her voice. She simply looked down, letting her soft, reserved demeanor act as a quiet wall. Even so, the discomfort was written on her face is clear.

Before she could voice her displeasure at Abe’s actions, a loud voice echoed through the room.

“Abe, enough with your jokes! Can’t you see she’s uncomfortable!?”

The sudden sharpness of Youhei’s voice made her flinch slightly. He wasn’t yelling at her, but the tension in his voice startled her all the same. She lifted her head in surprise, her eyes widening slightly as she looked between the two boys.

“Huh!? I’m just trying to get close to Chie-chan. What, Youhei, does that bother you that much?”

“What I’m saying is—get your hand off her shoulder!”

Youhei didn’t back down. For a moment, Chie could only stare, caught between them, her hands quietly clutched together in front of her.

She wasn’t used to being in the center of conflict. Especially not like this.

Abe scowled. “Youhei, you’re getting annoying, y’know that?”

With visible irritation, he finally removed his hand from Chie’s shoulder, but it was too early to relax.

Abe shot a glare at Youhei, his eyes sharp and dangerous. The hostility in them made Chie instinctively back down, though she tried to hide the motion.

The glaring went on for several tense seconds, until a hesitant, almost pitiful voice intervened. From the person no one in the room expected.

Everyone in the room turned their attention to the source.

A boy stood up awkwardly from a corner seat, clutching a half-filled glass in his hand. His posture was unsure, like he regretted standing the moment he did.

He is the guy Chie doesn’t know the name of yet.

“Hah? It’s none of your business! Who even are you?” Abe shot back with an intimidating glare.

The boy flinched, but didn’t sit back down.

Chie blinked. Even his classmates… don’t know his name? She thought.

“Akai…?” Kanzaki Youhei muttered under his breath, staring at the boy—Akai—looking genuinely surprised.

The boy, Akai, shuffled forward, visibly nervous, his shoulders drawn in as if trying to make himself smaller. He kept his gaze low as he spoke again.

“Our goal here is to welcome Himemori-san, right? So… I think fighting like this is probably making her uncomfortable…”

His voice lacked confidence. It trembled with each word, and his posture didn’t help—timid and anxious, like someone who knew he didn’t belong in the spotlight but stepped into it anyway.

“What are you trying to say, loser?” Abe jeered, a wide, mocking grin spreading across his face.

The way Akai spoke, the way he moved and all looked so feeble. No doubt, everyone in the room saw him as pathetic.

“I-It’s just… maybe we can get along or something… haha…”

Now he was standing right in front of Chie, still facing Abe, still trembling.

Chie looked up at him, eyes widening slightly. This boy—Akai—he was clearly unsuited for something like this. He looked like someone who could barely hold eye contact, let alone face someone like Abe.

“Tch. Trying to show off in front of a girl, huh?” Abe stood up, eyes narrowing as he squared up with him.

There wasn’t any height difference between them, but somehow, Abe felt overwhelmingly larger.

Akai took a half-step back without meaning to, fingers tightening around the glass he was still holding.

And then—

“Aah—!”

His hand jerked. The glass tilted.

A splash.

A chill ran through Chie’s body. She gasped softly.

Cold liquid splashed down across Chie’s blouse and skirt.

“…!”

The room fell into stunned silence. Akai froze, face pale as a sheet.

“I-I’m so sorry!” he blurted, panicked, as if the world had just ended.

Chie sat there stunned, her blazer soaked, the liquid quickly seeping through the fabric.
She looked up at him again. His hands were trembling. His eyes wide with guilt. His whole body was slightly shaking.

It looked like a genuine accident. Like he was just that nervous.

Chie narrowed her eyes a fraction.

Was it really?

No one else seemed to doubt it. To everyone, Akai just seemed like a loser who got over his head and made a bad situation even worse.

“Hey! What the hell are you doing?!” Abe’s voice exploded through the tension, his face twisting in fury. “You trying to humiliate her?!”

He stormed forward, fists clenched.

Akai stumbled back a step.

“I-It was an accident… I didn’t—”

“Shut up! You think you can just mess with her and walk away?! You little—!”

“That’s enough, Abe.”

Rihito stepped in, cool and composed. His calm tone cut through the rising heat like a splash of water. “It was just a spill. You’re overreacting.”

“Seriously, Abe,” Youhei added, his voice tight. “It’s not like he did it on purpose.”

Youhei looked over at Chie, his gaze softening. “Himemori-san, are you okay…?”

Before she could respond—

“Ew, that’s all over your uniform,” Mia’s shrill voice cut in with artificial concern, her overly made-up face twisting into a sympathetic smile. “Are you okay, Chie-chan? Ugh, it’s sticky too… That guy seriously just dumped it on you.”

Mia gave the guy a disgusted look. “You should really watch yourself.”

Chie slowly rose to her feet, the wet fabric clinging uncomfortably to her body. She adjusted her skirt with a quiet, practiced motion.

“I’m fine,” she said softly. “I’ll go to the restroom.”

“You sure?” Rihito asked, stepping slightly closer. “I can let a staff know if you need to borrow something clean.”

“Thank you. I’d appreciate that.”

She walked toward the door with quiet steps, her fingertips lightly brushing her skirt where it clung uncomfortably to her thighs.

As she reached for the handle and slid the door open and excuse herself out of the room.

And just as she began to close it—

Her gaze flicked back.

Through the narrow gap, she saw him.

Her eyes met his.

Akai was still standing near where the spill had happened, but his posture had now shifted.

Now, he was simply watching her. Calmly. Silently. As if none of the chaos moments ago had fazed him.

Chie felt like she was being read like a book.

Click.

The door closed with a soft sound.

—❖—❖—❖—❖—❖—

“A.ka.i-sa.ma~” Lily’s voice stretched out.

“What?”

“Was that really the only way? I feel bad for Himemori-sama…” she said, I imagined her pouting.

“I do feel bad about pouring a drink on her. But it was the most efficient solution. I managed to accomplish a few objectives along the way, too.”

“Is that true~? From my perspective, all you did was make Himemori-sama’s more uncomfortable.”

Hey, have more trust in me.

“Look,” I began, ticking the points off mentally, “I stopped the fight. I got the transfer student out of the room. And I made myself the common enemy.”

“A common enemy?” she repeated.

I nodded. “Think about it. The two of them were about to start a fight over her. But then some outsider” I pointed at myself “Swoops in, tries to steal the spotlight, but ends up screwing things up and embarrassed the girl they were fighting over. Now they’ve got something in common—a shared disdain. It’s not friendship, but it’s unity. People bond fastest over something they hate.”

“Akai-sama, that’s not something to be proud of…”

Youhei might not harbor the same level of hostility as the others, but it worked well enough. The mood shifted. In the end, they all redirected their frustration toward me—and that was good.

“More importantly,” I muttered, “I’ve more or less confirmed something important.”

“Eh? What is it?” Lily asked.

“The transfer student,” I said plainly. “She can’t see the red strings.”

“Really!?”

I leaned back, folding my arms as I pieced together my thoughts.

“Back when Youhei and the guy started glaring at each other, her red string shifted slightly. The usual trembling. It matched what you’d expect from someone caught in an awkward situation. Nervous. Uncomfortable.”

“And then,” I added, “When I dumped a drink on her trying to ‘help’… There was nothing. Not even the slightest emotional response through the string.”

“So… she wasn’t mad at you?” Lily once again asked.

“She was, probably. Just not in the way that matters enough for it to be shown through red string.”

If she was my fated partner, there should have been something more. The red strings don’t just connect people—they influence emotions. That’s how this whole thing works. Whoever’s tied to me is doomed to fall in love with me. No free will. No exceptions. But that’s not the case here.

“Lily, fated partners connected by the red string of fate… they’re guaranteed to fall in love, right?”

She’s a bit startled by the sudden question, but answered without hesitation.

“Yes, that’s how it works. They’re made for each other, so it’s only natural.”

But Himemori Chie didn’t show even the faintest sign of attraction.

I let out a long sigh. “So yeah. That pretty much confirms it.”

“She’s not one of your fated partners?” Lily asked cautiously.

“She’s connected to me at least. But the string didn’t get its job done the way it should’ve… Either way…” I narrowed my eyes, “…She’s not under the effect. Which is good I guess.”

This is enough evidence to confirm it that our red strings of fate were tampered with, and somehow, they’ve all been connected to me.

Whoever did this, either made not everyone is bound by the original conditions, or whoever the culprit is, wasn’t capable to make them fall for me unconditionally like the original effects of the red strings. After all, they’re not my real fated partners to begin with.

Following that logic, if the transfer student were truly my fated partner, I should’ve already fallen for her by now. But so far, I haven’t felt anything in particular. Sure, I think she’s beautiful but that’s just a general impression. Everyone else seems to think the same.

“Um… Akai-sama?” Lily’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Hm? Got a question, Lily?”

“Ah, no, not exactly. It’s just…” She trailed off before eventually blurting it out, “How long do you plan on staying here… sitting on the toilet?”

“…”

“W-Well… I’m kinda nervous about going back to the room,” I admitted, looking away in shame.

Yes. I ran away.

The second the transfer student left the room, I slipped out too, straight to the one place where no one could bother me.

The bathroom stall.

“You sounded so cool earlier, saying how you deliberately made yourself their common enemy but in the end, you do care what they think.” Lily let out an exasperated sigh.

Urgh. It’s not like I care about their opinion, really. Not at all.

But those cold glares and suffocating attention? Hell no.

So here I am strategically retreating inside the safety of a toilet stall like a true tactician.

Sigh.

I’m definitely getting bullied by that group from now on.

So long, my peaceful school life. Uuh…