“Two weeks from now, huh? That’s a longer gap than I expected.”
“My parents are busy, too. It can’t be helped.”
After Neika’s persistent pleading, they managed to find an opening two weeks from now on Saturday.
Even though they’re family, I don’t think they should need to make an appointment like that… but I suppose that’s just how things are in their house.
“What are we going to do until then? We can’t exactly just do nothing.”
I was hoping there might be some kind of plan, but…
“Well, yeah. But as for what to do, I have absolutely no idea!”
“To be honest, me neither.”
““Hey!””
Don’t “Hey!” me. And don’t give each other high-fives.
I’m the one who pushed for this, but both of them are being surprisingly carefree.
As I looked at them with a judgmental gaze, Ryūya gave a shrug like a foreigner.
“Well, joking aside… Sorry, Akito. Let me be alone with Nei for a bit.”
Ryūya grasped the hand of Neika, who was sitting next to him.
Neika’s eyes widened in surprise, but she seemed to understand his intention and squeezed his hand back.
Is this like the bond between people connected by the Red Thread of Fate?
It’s nice, seeing something like this.
“…Well, I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about. I’ll head home for today. See ya, you two.”
“Yeah. See ya.”
“Bye-bye, Akky!”
I said my goodbyes and left the room.
A lot has happened… Neika facing a political marriage, and the two of them being connected by the red thread.
However, there’s no decisive factor to convince Neika’s parents.
It seemed like those two had some ideas of their own, but… I don’t want to just sit around and watch with my thumb in my mouth.
But there’s nothing I can do alone. In that case.
I took out my smartphone, found a certain person’s message history, and pressed the call button.
Ring, ring, ring… clack.
“Ah, hello—”
*Clatter! Crash! Kaboom!!*
Whoa!? W-What was that?!
“H-Hey? Are you okay?”
『I-I-I-I-I lo— I mean, I’m okay…!』
“I-I see.”
She didn’t sound okay at all.
Anyway, I pulled myself together.
“Sorry for the sudden call. I need you to lend me a hand… Riran.”
『—It’s about those two, right? I understand. Let’s talk at that park from before. I’ll be there in 15 minutes.』
“Thanks.”
I hung up and started jogging toward the park.
…Hm? Come to think of it, I only said I needed a hand; I didn’t say what it was about.
Yet she realized it was about Ryūya and Neika… Is it just because she’s perceptive, or is it some kind of telepathy possible because we’re tied by the 『Red Thread of Fate』?
Hmm… I don’t know! Anyway, I need to get to the park!
◆
Twenty minutes after hanging up.
As I waited in the sheltered rest area, Riran arrived at the park five minutes late.
“S-Sorry. I’m a little late…”
“No, it’s fine… wait…?”
She was wearing fluffy pastel pink roomwear and carrying a polka-dot umbrella.
Her face was so flushed it was visible even in the dark, rainy night.
She was restlessly fixing her bangs, looking extremely fidgety.
“W-What is it?”
“…Ah, no, it’s nothing…”
Crap, I was totally staring.
Calm down, me. That’s not why I called her here today.
“Sorry for the short notice.”
“It’s fine. So, what happened?”
“…I want you to listen without getting too surprised. And after you hear it, I want us to think about what we should do together.”
“…Alright.”
Riran sat across from me at the table.
I placed the milk tea I had bought beforehand in front of her.
I summarized the current situation regarding Ryūya and Neika.
Riran’s complexion didn’t change, but she had a surprised look on her face as she listened seriously until I finished.
“I see. I understand the gist of it. Based on that, what I can say is that there’s nothing we can do.”
“That’s—!”
“Listen, Akito. You and I are tied by a red thread, but those two are, so to speak, complete strangers. We have no authority or right to intervene in other people’s lives.”
At Riran’s words, I reflexively stood up.
Riran’s scarlet eyes stared back into mine.
“Kurashiki and Neika are tied by the 『Red Thread of Fate』, right? But a massive wall has stood in their way. Their destiny will be decided by whether they can overcome it or not. They have to overcome this together, just the two of them.”
I can’t do… anything…
Am I really unable to do anything for my friends in their time of need?
If they really end up separated, am I just going to offer some comforting words like “That’s just how fate was”?
—Screw that.—
“…Those guys are good people. They’ve stayed best friends with someone like me, they’re always energetic, always laughing…”
“Akito…?”
Unknowingly, I had clenched my fists.
My nails dug into my palms, but I didn't care.
“…When my best friends are in a pinch, I can’t just say it’s not my business… I can’t just say it can’t be helped because of fate!”
“…Sigh… You really are an idiot.”
“What did you say?!”
“I mean it in a good way, idiot.”
Huh? Oh, I see, then… Wait, what does being an idiot “in a good way” mean?
“Honestly… Well, there are already people whose fates have been distorted by you, so one or two more won't change anything now.”
“Eh, I don’t have any memory of that.”
“Me, Hiyori, and Anrakuji-san. That’s three people I know of.”
I have no recollection of this at all.
“Well, that’s why I… N-Never mind!”
“O-Oh?”
I wasn’t quite sure what was going on, but Riran cleared her throat.
“Fine, let’s do it.”
“! …That helps. Thank you, Riran.”
Just you wait, you two.
We’re going to find a way somehow.