Fate. A predetermined supernatural power. The will of the universe. Fate is order. It writes, and rewrites, gives and takes. It spins vibrant red strings that flow into the world and connect people who are destined to meet, to love, to share a story...
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A sunny day. Moist grass under my feet. The school building rising in the distance. Kurumi-senpai standing before me, smile intact. A swell of something rosy—happiness—in my chest. Everything is so freaking perfect.
No.
Wait.
There's more. An abnormal pinkness to Senpai's cheeks, a restless energy in the air. Ah, shit. "I like you, Ren." The words echo around me in a way that is only possible in a dream, louder and louder each time they return. "I like you so much."
The world tilts a little. I'm sorry. I feel my mouth start to move, and I know what's going to come out, but I can't do anything to stop it. Because this already happened. Even so, I throw my arms forward in a fruitless attempt to hold this image in place. A sunny day. A smiling Kurumi-senpai. Then the words came out.
"You're kidding."
Everything goes up in flames.
I wake up in a sweat and jerkily kick the blanket covering me to the floor. It's...hot. So fucking hot. Is my house on fire? Am I on fire? I try to sit up, but my head is all groggy. My throat feels painfully dry, like heavy, hot coals have settled at the base of it. What is this?
I feel like shit.
An annoyingly shrill ringing fills my ears then, and it takes me a minute to place it as the doorbell, the noise responsible for waking me up in the first place. Huh? I move clumsily to get off the bed, and for an unreal moment, the world tilts again, by ninety fucking degrees. I feel my feet find the ground, and before I know it, I'm on my knees, violent coughs shaking out of me. What the fuck? This must be a dream. I must be dreaming right now.
The bell rings again, dissipating some of the haze that's trapping me.
School. Fuck, what time is it? I didn't go to school. I push myself up onto shaking legs. Has standing always been this much work? I have to go to school. If he finds out I skipped, he'll... I try to walk and catch myself on the wall. He'll kick me out. He doesn't like getting called in to school because of me; it disrupts his precious daily schedule.
The bell rings again and again.
My hand slips on the door knob, slick with sweat, but I manage to get the door open and drag myself down the stairs, my head pounding, my heart thrumming with nerves. But by the time I descend the last step, I can't remember what I'm nervous about anymore. Suddenly, thinking is too much work. Ah, fuck it.
I move to answer the door, my legs feeling like weights, and grip the handle, tearing it open. A hand instantly appears through the entrance, pressing up against my forehead. "Ren," a quivering voice breathes. "You're burning up."
"Hah?" I say, eyelids drooping.
"Where are your parents?" The voice asks, strained.
"What?" I mutter, frowning as my head starts to get heavier.
