Chapter 12: Fated

(Hirai – POV)

I slowly open the door to our classroom and as expected its empty since I arrive first before the others. I smiled and sit on my desk and take one of our books to read while waiting for the others to arrive.

"It sure is nice to be here"

I uttered and open the book in my front, as usual the letters found in the book are colorful. Normally they are just black and white but not to me, who can see many colors that overlapped the letters and it makes reading harder because of it.

As I tried to focus myself in reading, a lost butterfly came through the gaps of the almost open window. It went towards me and landed on the book. The butterfly in front of me should be colorful yet I only see one color that crisscrossed to its existence.

Red threads

The threads that is vibrant in my eyes became darker and then it is suddenly cut and showed me the real color of the butterfly which means one thing.

Death

Once it dies, the true colors of the butterfly is now visible to my eyes.

It has a beautiful pattern and colors on its wings.

"It's so beautiful"

I smiled

***

Since I am a child I can see fate through threads or strings that are associated with different colors. At first, I am confused if this is the normal things humans can see but I soon realized that this wonderful world is only for my eyes to see. As I continue living, these threads accompany me and if I follow these threads I can live easily and predictably.

Yet this sheltered way of life has been disturbed by one single boy, the boy who ignored these threads called fate. This boy's name is Kiro Yougaza, he is the same age as me and we are classmates back then.

One day, there is a so called field trip in a forest to observe some plants and for some unfortunate accident the both of us get left behind by the others. I, who can see fate is calm that I won't be in danger no matter what. Yet I am stuck with the boy who only knows to cry.

I shrugged my shoulders and continue to follow these threads of fate but the boy who is still crying makes me guilty if I left him alone.

'What a troublesome child'

Though I am too is a child but because of these eyes I can remain calm. I urged him to follow me yet he won't budge. I felt frustrated and I decided to leave him alone.

'Don't worry I'll be back with some help'

I assured myself. I thought as long as I can see this threads I will be fine but I overestimate my body whom is still a child. Even though I have a strong mental fortitude but my body cannot keep up with continues moving. Even though the forest is small but with my small strides it felt so large.

I fell down to my knees and did not get up immediately, instead wait for help.

Minutes passed but no help came and my eyes who can are being blinded my many colors in my front add more frustration with the given situation.

I want to cry

I want to complain

These threads are not helpful at all and just confused me now so I close my eyes and stop seeing this colors.

Then all of a sudden someone tap me from behind, and the face of the crying boy earlier.

"You"

I shouted and head hurts suddenly when the colors overlapped with his appearance.

"Why.. are you.. sleeping h…ere?"

He asked as he fumbled his words.

"I am waiting"

I answered immediately and tried to close my eyes

'Help will arrive soon, don't worry'

I thought because the orange thread which I classify as someone's fate is glittering towards us.

"Then why are you sleeping?"

The boy stop crying and continued to ask me

"Because help will arrive"

I proudly declare but the boys keeps getting flustered and nervous and made me irritated

"Stop moving, will you!"

I shouted and then frown at him.

"What do you mean help will arrive?"

"Because I can see it"

I answered and he tilt his head, I know it sounds crazy but that's how it is. You are scared right so let's just wait patiently here.

I thought but suddenly

"Le..ts go"

He replied as his fingers are continue to fidget

"Huh? I told you help will arrive!!"

"But we don't know when"

He retorted and this give me an afterthought.

"…"

Now I think about it, the orange one whom I classified as someone's thread is getting dimmer and the threads are not moving. I tried to think of it but because of fatigue earlier I cannot think straight

"Let's go?"

He asked once again and he hold my small hands

"Sure"

I nodded then stand up.

The forest is not so large like I thought but because of our small size we felt this forest is big. So with the use of my eyes we venture in the forest once again. I followed the orange thread which is becoming dimmer but we didn't get out in the forest because we are too exhausted.

We are still children and this circumstances seems so tough for both of us. Yet the crying boy never let go of my hand since then, he also stop crying and blindly trust me and my eyes.

The threads are just hanging in my front which makes the way more clouded than before right now these threads whom I trust which is my hope become a doubtful existence.

"Hey, will you trust me?"

I asked the boy and he just smiled and nod

I grasp his hands and we both run with all our might and in that moment the colorful world I am used to see became black and white. It hurts my eyes more than it is and it makes me nervous for the first time. I felt so weak now that these threads are not disappearing one by one but his warm hands whom I hold did not let go even once.

"Let's run! Screw you fate"

I shouted and swear at the existence called fate. I never felt so free and delighted. We laugh as we run until our body reach its limit.

"I won't back down, I won't let this dictate my fate"

Then as if answering my plea, a glittering orange light show in my front, unlike before it gives a brilliant radiance that lightens the way as if a road has been shown to us. In the end of it, we arrived where the teachers and guardians are who are desperate searching for us.

'I see, this color represents hope. Not someone's fate'

The brilliant orange thread vanish as soon we arrived.

"So this is fate"

Ever since I started seeing these threads I followed this threads, I forgot that fate is just one factor of living. I did not doubt these eyes of mine nor the existence called fate yet I am wrong. To follow fate is to make a choice and what you choose becomes your own fate.