[22.4] Every Day is a Gift

The next day, I pounced on my tutor Marx as soon as I saw him.

I spoke quickly, "Have you heard of the red string of fate?"

He blinked slowly, "No… I don't know what that is."

I leaned back in my seat with a slight frown, "Okay... I guess you don't have that legend here. But it's a string that connects two souls together."

He propped up his head lazily, "Sounds like something the gods would do."

I pressed on, "But what if you see this string and who it connects you to? What does it mean if the string starts bleeding because the other person is dying? Then you also start to die, but your friend heals you… And then suddenly the other person is healed too? What does that mean?! How is that possible!?!"

Seeing his suspicious stare, I cleared my throat, "Hypothetically speaking…"

He frowned, "This seems oddly specific for a hypothetical… But I would say that's the work of a demon."

"Ugh!!" I leaned back with a groan, "It's not the work of a demon!!! I would know!"

He raised an eyebrow, "And how would you know?"

My expression turned stale.

Because I can see demonic magic with my sense of smell and the string looks completely different!!!

Ugh… But I can't say that…

I frowned, "So you don't know what it means?"

"No idea." He waved his hand, "But you are in a library. Just look around for the answer."

I jumped up in irritation, "I'm surrounded by useless men!"

As I stomped away, I heard him shout after me, "I doubt you'll find the answer here though!"

That night I didn't get much sleep as I frantically tried to figure it out. The next morning I woke up to see the terrifying expression of the Headmaster looming over me.

I screamed and nearly fell out of the bed.

The Headmaster motioned to me, "Come with me."

I raised an eyebrow, "Don't I have class?"

"There are no classes today."

"Really? Is it a holiday or something?"

"Nope. I canceled all the classes."

"...Why?"

"...."

"WHY!?!"

Is he going to kill me!?

After Zephyr helped me get ready, I followed the Headmaster outside. He started leading me away from the Academy.

Yup. He's going to kill me.

I saw a large garden hedge come into view that blocked the sight of all prying eyes.

Oh my gods. He really is going to kill me.

I looked up at him with pleading eyes, "Did I do something wrong?"

He lifted an eyebrow, "No?"

I ignored him with a frown.

So he's just going to kill me with no explanation!? Well hah! I won't give him the chance!!! As soon as we walk through this hedge I will use my wand to-

A crowd of people suddenly shouted, "SURPRISE!!"

"F*CK!"

I dropped my wand with a scream.

There were a handful of people in front of me, all with smiles and gifts in their hands.

I stared at them with my mouth wide open, "What the…"

The Headmaster bent down to me, "Happy birthday, Reika."

"B-B-B-Birthday!?"

Hazel ran over to me and thrust a gift in my face, "Happy birthday Reika!!!"

Felix joined with another gift in his hand, "Happy birthday!!"

Wait, wait, wait!

Slow down!!

What's happening here!?

I stuttered out, "B-But it's not my birthday????"

Felix smiled, "You said you didn't know."

Hazel nodded, "So we picked a day!"

Felix gave her a glance, "But it was Cyrus's idea."

Cyrus walked over behind them flushing slightly. He muttered, "The Headmaster was the one who chose the day… I just made the suggestion."

Caldwell waved to me with a bright grin, "Happy HAPPY birthday!!"

I looked at everyone gathering around me.

Cyrus.

Felix.

Hazel.

Zephyr.

Caldwell.

Chief Gonza.

The Headmaster.

My trashy tutor Marx.

Karen the Secretary.

Even that crummy Captain Lou is here.

I furrowed my brow suspiciously, "You're all here to celebrate me?"

Felix grinned at me, "Of course we are! Our favorite person was 'born' today."

Captain Lou snickered sarcastically, "Favorite person!? I was dragged-"

Chief Gonza stomped on his foot, silencing him immediately.

Hazel grabbed my sleeve and started pulling me over to a table fully decorated with gifts. She forced me to sit down, "Open my gift first!!"

Having a gift forced into my hands, I cautiously opened it up. My face grew dark, "..."

Socks.

She got me socks.

Hazel flushed and tugged on her braids in embarrassment, "I-I knitted them myself. It's a tradition in my country to give handmade socks on birthdays… Oh! But I also added something else!"

Phew. At first, I thought it was just going to be these wooly socks.

I pulled out a tiny handmade book.

My expression soured even more, "Are these…"

"Homemade coupons!" Hazel smiled proudly, "You can use them whenever you like!"

I read her neat handwriting:

One free massage.

One free girl's night.

One free-

No. I can't read anymore.

I put it down quickly, "Thank you for the socks."

Zephyr thrust a small box into my face, "OPEN MINE! OPEN MINE!"

I took it from him feeling annoyed, "Okay, calm down. Jeez. Why are you so- ACK!"

I threw the box down and we all watched in horror as a dead mouse rolled out.

I screamed, "WHY IS THERE A DEAD MOUSE!?!"

Zephyr put his hands on his hips looking extremely pleased with himself, "I caught that myself. Isn't it great?"

…He really is a cat.

He laughed, "I see you're so impressed that you're actually speechless. Fufu~"

Caldwell muttered to himself, "... Disgusting."

Zephyr shrieked at him, "You're an owl you twit! You eat these things for fun!!"

Caldwell stuck his nose in the air, "I have a refined palate now. How could I call myself a worthy familiar when I eat something so lowly? It would be an insult to my beautiful young Master!!"

Cyrus looked at him incredulously.

I glanced at the Headmaster with pitiful eyes.

He understood my meaning and grabbed a napkin. He placed the poor mouse into the box and placed it very far away from me.

Caldwell handed me a tall gift with a bright smile, "Open mine. I guarantee it will chase away the memory of that terrible present."

Zephyr shrieked, "Oi!!"

I opened it quickly and pulled out a hat. My eyes lit up, "No way! A witch's hat!!!"

How amazing! It looks exactly like my drawing!!!

I put it on with a bright smile, "How's it look???"

No one responded, but you could tell they didn't appreciate the style.

Hazel was the first to speak, "I think it's lovely…"

Felix laughed, "Anything looks good on you, Reika."

Cyrus glared at Felix before turning to me bashfully, "It's okay…"

Just okay?

Hah!

I'm fabulous.

But… Ah… His shyness is a bit cute. It makes me want to pinch his cheeks.

"It was difficult, but I managed to make it exactly how you requested." Caldwell added quickly, "Just don't tell anyone I was the one who made this."