The Girl Connected to my “Red Thread of Fate” was my Natural Enemy - Chapter 2

TL: samheart564

ED: MPK, samheart564 (edited bad words out for ad money)

Chapter 2:

When I got home, I changed into my uniform and ate breakfast.

My dad was not home (probably at work), so it was only my mom and little sister Kotono in the living room.

“Hey, hey, Onii! Today is the 「Day of Destiny」! Were you connected! What kind of person is your 「Fated Person」? Come on, you already know, so tell me!” (Kotono) 

“Hey Kotono, sit down properly and eat.” (Mom)

“Ouch!” (Kotono)

After my mom chopped her, she stuck her tongue out and started laughing loudly: she was that type of girl.

3rd year junior high school student, Kotono Sanada.

My little sister. 

She has a very mature body for a junior high schooler. 

Although she is only 1 year younger than me, she is as energetic and lively as an elementary school student.

It’s a pity that she hasn’t been able to separate herself from her older brother. 

The same color as mine, Kotono’s dark brown eyes shone brightly, and her dyed brown ponytail bounced around as she asked about me. 

“It doesn’t matter who it is.” (Sanada)

“It does! It’s my future Onee-chan!” (Kotono) 

“No, it’s not like we decided to get married…” (Sanada)

“Tsk, tsk. You don’t get it, do you, Onii. People who don’t marry their「Fated Person」are just ‘retorts’ in this day and age” (Kotono) [EDN: retort is mispronunciation of retro]

“It’s retro.” (Sanada)

“Same thing!” (Kotono)

Where is my stupid sister?

Kotono was wearing a loose-fitting camisole and tight-fitting shorts, and sat cross-legged on a chair, biting into her toast.

Since she’s a girl, she shouldn’t dress so provocatively. 

“H-m-m, gulp. Well personally, I would prefer Riran-tan. You look like you get along with her, Onii.” (Kotono)

Alarms rang in my head.

 I can’t tell her.

I most definitely cannot tell her that my「Fated Person」is Riran. 

It was when I was in my 3rd year of junior high school, and Kotono was a 2nd year.

We were shopping together with our mom, and we bumped into Kuonji unexpectedly.

Our usual exchange broke out there. 

Kotone, who was watching us, liked the cute-looking Kuonji, and came to the conclusion that Kuonji and I were very buddy-buddy. 

What if Kotono finds out that Kuonji and I are connected?

It would definitely be a pain in the a**.

“I don’t know. As we learned in class, the「Red Thread of Fate」is connected to someone in the world who is roughly the same age as you. What is the probability that it would be a woman in the same class as me?” (Akito)

“What!? You’re in the same class as Riran!? That’s already destiny!” (Kotono)

Well, I’ve dug my own grave.

I guess I should leave early. 

“That’s why you’re wrong. Thank you for the meal.” (Sanada) [TLN: ごちそうさま means “Thank you for the meal.” It’s a Japanese cultural thing.]

“Eh, you’re already leaving. Can you give me a ride?” (Kotono)

“I’m on class duty. I can’t give you a ride.” (Akito)

“Boo. Come on.” (Kotono)

“Oh, sorry, can’t be late.” (Akito)

I patted Kotono’s head and smiled.

Really, If only that woman had half the affection that Kotono had… 

…Ah, I’ve been thinking about Kuonji again. I’m fed up with this「Red Thread of Fate」business.

It was 7:30AM in the morning when I left my house. 

Normally, I could leave at 8:00AM and still make it on time, but the person on duty has to go to school early.

Before homeroom, I carry the homeroom teacher’s handouts and wipe the blackboard clean…It’s a troublesome rule, really. 

I biked through a residential area, and through a main street called Ichou Street. 

At this time of day, there are usually no students on their way to school. 

The only people there are the athletic teams that have morning practice. 

However…there are so many people here today.

And they all are the same grade color as me (blue). 

“My 「Fated Person」was very handsome!” (Passerby 1)

“My 「Fated Person」was American…I need to learn English…” (Passerby 2)

“Boobs are justice! Haha!” (Passerby 3)

“My 「Fated Person」was questionable, but…the moment they popped into my head, I thought ‘Oh, he’s the only one for me.’” (Passerby 4)

Ah…I see. You all are talking about what your 「Fated Person」looks like.

…It’s getting harder and harder to say…

With these classmates’ sidelong glances, I pedaled up the hill to Ichou Prefectural High School. 

It’s a bit steep, but it’s just right for my lack of exercise as a member of the go-home club. How laborious. 

“Hey, hey! You came, Akito!”

“Akkiii, yo.”

Hmm?

“Oh, it’s you guys huh.”

One of them was a cheerful giant. Over 190 centimeters tall, he’s Ryūya Kurashiki. 

The other person has twintails and sleepy eyes. A loli that’s only 140 centimeters tall, her name is Neika Jūmonji.

They were both friends from junior high school, and they were well aware of how badly Kuonji and I get along. 

We parked our bikes in the parking lot, and headed to the school building together. 

“What’s good, you guys?” (Ryūya)

“‘What’s good’ is a greeting you know.” (Akito)

“Today is the 「Day of Destiny」, Akki! Let’s talk about it!” (Neika)

Gah…I’m not sure what to do.

This is…I can’t. I can’t say it. It’s Kuonji after all.

The most irreconcilable natural enemy of them all.

Water and Oil. Dogs and Monkeys. [TLN: assuming ‘dogs and monkeys’ is a cultural thing]

Let’s assume that they knew I was tied to such a woman by the 「Red Thread of Fate」.

“Seriously!? Seriously!? Disgusting! I’ll spread the word to everyone in my group.” (Ryūya)

“I’ll spread the word!” (Neika)

…That would happen. I have to prevent that from happening. For her sake.

…Damn it, what do you mean for her sake? Why do I have to worry about her? 

“Even if we talk, what are we going to talk about? You barely know the person.” (Akito)

“That’s true, I guess. Well, let’s just talk about the characteristics of the person that comes to mind.” (Neika)

The first thing that came to my mind….cute.

AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

“Oi, Akito calm down!” (Ryūya).

“Akki, don’t hit your head on the shoe rack, it’ll hurt the shoe rack.” (Neika) [TLN: In Japan they have shoe racks/lockers to put their normal shoes in, to change into their indoor shoes.]

“Nei, worry about Akito a bit more…” (Ryūya)

Urrghh…! It’s not supposed to be like this….!

Why do I have to be both happy and sad about Kuonji! [TLN: 一喜一憂 (4 character idiom)]

Fuu..calm down, calm down, me. It’s fine, it’s fine Akito.

“What’s wrong Akito? Today you’ve been a bit weird. Let’s get rid of the anxiety. Heyheyheeey!” (Ryūya) [EDN: Heyheyheey is just yelling sfx to relieve anxiety/tension/stress]

“Heyheyheeeey – it’s working Akki!” (Neika)

“I don’t know about Ryūya, but Neika looks like she still has high anxiety…” (Akito)

 “Well, that’s who we are.” (Ryūya)

I know.

…I feel at home when I see these two.

If Neika was my 「Fated Person」it would have been fine.

…No, it wouldn’t. Ever since the moment she became my 「Fated Person」I can only see a future where we grow (as a couple) together. 

As I was talking with them, two girls came in through the main gate.

…Tsk, it’s Kuonji and Ryūgūin.

As Kuonji approached, our eyes met. 

Kuonji also looked uncomfortable for a moment, but then immediately raised her eyebrows. 

“…What, you got a problem?” (Kuonji)

“…No.” (Akito)

“I’ll tell you what, I’m only here because I promised Rion I would be.” (Kuonji)

“I’m not listening.” (Akito)

“Hmmph!” (Kuonji)

I walked quickly around the place as if to escape from Kuonji.

“Hey Akito, wait!” (Ryūya)

“See you later. Rira, Rio.” (Neika)

Ryūya and Neika followed me. In order to prevent the two from finding out, I covered my mouth with my hand and pretended to yawn. 

I was so happy to be able to enjoy the causal interaction with…her that I couldn’t seem to hold back my…grin. 

(Away from Akito, Ryūya, Neika)

“Huh? Riran, you’ve got a grin on your face.” (Rion)

“It-it-it-it-it’s not like that!!!!!” (Kuonji)

TL: Thank you so much for all the support!