Sins of the heart

Chapter one: a twist of fate

Riku had never been one to stand out. In fact, if there were a competition for living the most unremarkable life possible, he was pretty sure he'd win by a landslide. Average height, average looks, average job at a convenience store—his life was as bland as the day-old coffee they served behind the counter.

Not that he minded, really. Riku had never been one to seek out excitement. He liked his quiet routine: wake up, eat cereal, go to work, come home, play video games, repeat. Sure, his friends teased him for being a bit of a pushover, but he preferred to think of himself as "go with the flow." Life was easier that way.

Or at least it had been.

"Why... why me?" Riku muttered under his breath, staring at the bizarre contract in front of him. He had read it three times, and it still didn't make any sense. How was this even real?

The words scrawled across the parchment seemed to mock him: *By order of the higher realms, you are hereby bound to date the Seven Deadly Sins. Failure to comply will result in... well, you don't want to know what happens if you fail.*

Riku ran a hand through his messy brown hair, slumping back in his chair. This was supposed to be a normal night. He had just finished his shift and had been looking forward to going home, microwaving some instant noodles, and marathoning his favorite anime. But then that old woman had come into the store, asking for some obscure item that didn't even exist on their shelves.

"Excuse me, dear," she had said in a gravelly voice, leaning heavily on her cane. "Do you have any 'Destiny Threads' in stock?"

Riku had blinked, confused. "Uh... we have sewing kits in aisle three? Maybe they have some string?"

She had stared at him for a long moment, her eyes gleaming strangely. Then, with a sigh, she had waved her hand, and everything went black.

When he woke up, he was no longer in the convenience store. Instead, he was sitting in a dimly lit room that felt like it had been ripped straight out of some fantasy novel. Heavy velvet curtains lined the walls, and an ornate chandelier hung overhead, casting flickering shadows.

That's when the contract appeared in front of him.

"I didn't sign up for this," Riku groaned, leaning forward and dropping his head onto the table. The contract didn't respond, of course, but somehow, he felt like it was laughing at him.

*The Seven Deadly Sins?* It was ridiculous. He didn't even have a girlfriend—now he was expected to date seven of the most dangerous beings in existence?

He sat up and glanced around the room, hoping for some kind of clue. He wasn't entirely sure if he was dreaming or having a mental breakdown. But the longer he sat there, the more real it all felt.

*Okay,* he thought, rubbing his temples. *Let's think about this rationally. Maybe this is one of those "test-your-character" things. Or like, a weird game show?*

But deep down, Riku knew better. The strange woman, the room, the contract—it all felt too surreal to be anything but supernatural.

A sudden knock at the door jolted him out of his thoughts. The heavy wooden door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped inside. Riku felt his stomach drop.

The man was dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit, his eyes glowing a faint gold as he regarded Riku with a mix of amusement and indifference.

"Welcome, Riku." His voice was smooth, but there was an unsettling coldness behind it. "I see you've read the contract."

"Uh, yeah," Riku said, sitting up straight. "About that—there's been some kind of mistake. I don't even like dates. I'm... I'm not really a 'dating' kind of guy."

The man chuckled softly, stepping closer. "I'm afraid there's no mistake. You've been chosen by fate to undergo this trial."

"Trial?" Riku echoed. "No, no, no. I'm not really into trials. I'm more of a 'stay at home and avoid conflict' kind of guy."

The man raised an eyebrow. "That's precisely why you've been chosen. The Seven Deadly Sins each embody powerful forces, and to balance them, they need someone... different. Someone who lacks the desires that drive most people."

"So... I'm too boring to resist their charms?" Riku asked, incredulous.

"More or less," the man said with a smirk. "Your ordinary nature is what makes you extraordinary in this case."

Riku wasn't sure if he should feel insulted or relieved.

"Okay, fine. But why me specifically? There are plenty of 'boring' people out there."

The man's smile faded, and he looked at Riku with a more serious expression. "Because, whether you realize it or not, you have something inside you that draws them. Something they need. If you fail to fulfill your role, the balance of their power will shift. And trust me, you don't want to know what happens if that balance is lost."

Riku blinked. "I... I don't know if I'm cut out for this."

The man gave him a long, appraising look. "Whether you're cut out for it or not, the contract has been sealed. Your first date begins now."

Before Riku could protest, the door behind him burst open, and a gust of hot wind swept into the room. He turned, his heart sinking as a fiery figure strode in, her presence overwhelming.

It was a woman—no, more like a force of nature. Her long red hair flickered like flames, and her golden eyes burned with fury. She was dressed in armor, each step she took leaving scorch marks on the floor.

"Iris," the man said, bowing slightly. "Meet Riku, your first suitor."

"First?" Iris growled, her eyes narrowing at Riku. "You mean I have to deal with this... this human for a whole week?"

Riku felt a shiver run down his spine. This was Wrath? His first date?

He swallowed hard and waved awkwardly. "Uh, hey."

Iris glared at him, sparks of flame dancing on her fingertips. "I don't have time for this," she said, turning to the man. "Why am I being forced to babysit some weakling?"

The man remained unfazed. "Because you are bound by the same contract as he is. Whether you like it or not, you must give him your time."

Iris let out a low growl, her gaze returning to Riku. "Fine. But don't expect me to go easy on you."

Riku's heart raced as he tried to process everything. This was happening. It wasn't a dream. He was about to spend a week with the embodiment of Wrath, and if he didn't survive this, who knew what kind of hell would break loose?

"Look," Riku said, trying to stay calm. "I didn't ask for this either. But maybe we can—"

"Shut up," Iris snapped. "I'm not interested in hearing your excuses. If you're going to survive me, you'd better toughen up fast."

Riku sighed. Of course, his luck would throw him into the deep end right away. Maybe "go with the flow" wasn't going to cut it this time.

And so, Riku's bizarre, terrifying, and utterly surreal journey began.