Strings Of Fate:Fate Rewrite

The school felt unusually quiet the next day. Jiho couldn't tell if it was just his imagination or if something had shifted since his last conversation with Mirae. The strange feeling that hung over him was both exhilarating and unnerving.

Su Yong greeted him with his usual grin as Jiho slid into his desk.

"Morning, Jiho. Big plans today? Gonna drop another philosophical bomb on Mirae?"

Jiho smirked, despite his nerves. "I think I've used up my weird question quota for the week."

"You? Out of weird questions? Impossible." Su Yong leaned back in his chair, balancing precariously. "But hey, you've been on a roll. What's next? Ask her about aliens?"

Before Jiho could respond, the teacher entered the room, and the chatter died down. But Jiho's mind was elsewhere. The Fate Rewrite app had been quiet since the last cryptic clue, but he had a nagging feeling that his next move mattered more than ever.

---

At lunchtime, Jiho found himself heading toward the courtyard, as if on autopilot. Mirae was there, as he expected, seated under the same tree with her notebook.

But today, someone else was with her.

A boy with short, messy black hair sat across from her, leaning casually against the tree. His uniform was slightly wrinkled, and his sneakers were scuffed, giving him an air of nonchalance. Jiho recognized him immediately: Su Yong.

"Hey!" Jiho called out, striding over.

Su Yong looked up, flashing his usual grin. "What took you so long? Mirae and I were starting to think you'd bailed."

Jiho raised an eyebrow. "You didn't tell me you were coming out here."

"Figured I'd surprise you," Su Yong said, standing up and slapping Jiho on the back. "And, y'know, get a read on the infamous Mirae myself."

Jiho glanced at Mirae, expecting her to look annoyed or uncomfortable, but she seemed unbothered, her attention back on her notebook.

"You two seem close," she said, not looking up.

"We've been stuck with each other since middle school," Jiho explained, sitting down beside Su Yong. "I'd say we're practically brothers."

"Practically," Su Yong echoed, smirking.

There was a brief silence before Su Yong leaned closer to Mirae, his grin widening. "So, Mirae. What's in the notebook? Is it some kind of world-ending secret, or are you just journaling about Jiho's attempts to impress you?"

Jiho groaned. "Su Yong, please stop."

Mirae's lips twitched slightly, though it was hard to tell if it was amusement or annoyance. "It's nothing like that," she said simply, closing the notebook and standing up.

"Well, you're keeping Jiho on his toes, that's for sure," Su Yong said, leaning back against the tree.

"I should go," Mirae said, brushing off her skirt. "Nice meeting you, Su Yong."

With that, she walked away, leaving Jiho to glare at his friend.

"Did you really have to say all that?" Jiho asked.

"Of course," Su Yong replied, unrepentant. "She's hard to crack, but I think I saw a glimmer of a smile. You're welcome."

---

That evening, Jiho lay on his bed, staring at his ceiling. His thoughts were a jumbled mess of Mirae's enigmatic behavior, Su Yong's antics, and the app's cryptic messages.

Finally, he picked up his phone and opened the app again.

"Progress: 8%," it read.

A new notification appeared:

"The third thread approaches. Stay close to what matters most."

Jiho frowned. What did that even mean?

Just then, a message pinged in from Su Yong:

Su Yong: "So, what's the plan for tomorrow? We gonna grill Mirae some more?"

Jiho hesitated before typing back:

Jiho: "No. I think I need to try a different approach."

Su Yong: "Good luck with that. She's like a fortress."

---

The next day, Jiho decided to stick to his gut. During lunch, he made his way to the library instead of the courtyard. If Mirae wanted space, he'd respect that.

But as fate would have it, Mirae was there too, sitting at a table in the far corner. Her notebook was open, and she was scribbling something quickly, her brow furrowed in concentration.

Jiho hesitated, then approached her slowly.

"Hi," he said, keeping his voice soft.

Mirae looked up, surprised, but didn't say anything.

"Mind if I sit?" Jiho asked, gesturing to the seat across from her.

After a moment, she nodded.

Jiho sat down, unsure of what to say. Finally, he decided to just be honest.

"I'm not here to bother you," he said. "I just… wanted to understand you better."

Mirae looked at him, her expression unreadable. "Why?"

"I don't know," Jiho admitted. "There's just something about you. You seem like you're carrying the weight of the world, and I guess I want to help."

For the first time, Mirae's calm exterior cracked. Her eyes softened, and she closed her notebook.

"Jiho," she said quietly, "there are things you don't understand. And it's better if it stays that way."

"Why?" Jiho pressed.

"Because knowing the truth doesn't always make things better," she replied. "Sometimes it just makes them harder."

Jiho didn't know how to respond to that. All he knew was that Mirae's words carried a gravity that made his chest tighten.

"Okay," he said finally. "But if you ever need someone to talk to… I'm here."

Mirae studied him for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Thank you."

---

As Jiho walked home that evening, he felt both closer to and farther from Mirae than ever. She was like a puzzle with missing pieces, and every interaction only made him more determined to figure her out.

But deep down, he knew this wasn't just about curiosity anymore.

It was about Mirae.

And he wasn't going to give up on her, no matter how many cryptic messages or guarded smiles stood in his way.

---

Jiho's steps slowed as he approached his house, his mind still swirling with thoughts of Mirae. Her words had been vague, yet heavy with meaning. What was she hiding? And why did it feel like understanding her was becoming less of a choice and more of a necessity?

His phone buzzed in his pocket, breaking his reverie. He pulled it out to see a message from Su Yong.

Su Yong: "Hey, man. You okay? You seemed kinda out of it after lunch."

Jiho sighed, unsure how to explain. Instead, he typed back something vague.

Jiho: "I'm good. Just a lot on my mind."

The response came almost instantly.

Su Yong: "Mirae, huh? You're overthinking it, dude. She's just a person. Probably not as complicated as you think."

Jiho stared at the message for a long moment. Su Yong meant well, but he was wrong. Mirae wasn't just a person. There was something about her—something bigger than her mysterious notebook or her guarded personality. Jiho felt it in his gut, though he couldn't explain why.

Still, he replied with a quick "Yeah, maybe," and pocketed his phone.

---

That night, as Jiho lay in bed, he stared at the faint glow of the Fate Rewrite app on his phone. The message still lingered on the screen:

"The third thread approaches. Stay close to what matters most."

He tapped the screen absently, hoping for more clarity, but nothing happened. Frustrated, he set the phone down on his nightstand and closed his eyes.

What mattered most? The app didn't exactly provide a roadmap for these so-called "threads." Was it Mirae? Su Yong? His own gut instincts? Or was it something else entirely?

Sleep didn't come easily. Jiho tossed and turned, his mind replaying every interaction with Mirae. Her cryptic remarks. Her guarded expression. The way she'd looked at him in the library today, as if she wanted to say more but couldn't.

Finally, exhaustion won out, and he drifted into a restless sleep.

---

The next morning, Jiho was jolted awake by a loud knock at his door. Groggy, he stumbled to open it, only to find Su Yong grinning at him.

"Rise and shine!" Su Yong declared, holding up two cups of convenience store coffee. "Thought I'd swing by and save you from your instant noodle breakfast."

Jiho groaned but stepped aside to let his friend in. "What time is it?"

"Time to stop moping and start living," Su Yong said, plopping down on Jiho's couch. "You've been way too serious lately, man. We need to reset your brain."

Jiho grabbed one of the coffees and took a sip. "Reset it how?"

Su Yong grinned. "By doing something fun for once. There's a new arcade downtown. Let's hit it after school."

Jiho hesitated. Normally, he'd be all in for something like that, but his thoughts were still tangled up in Mirae and the app's cryptic warning.

"Come on," Su Yong said, nudging him. "You need this. Besides, you're no fun when you're all broody."

Jiho sighed but nodded. "Fine. But you're paying."

Su Yong laughed. "Deal."

---

Throughout the school day, Jiho tried to shake off his unease and focus on Su Yong's suggestion to lighten up. But as fate would have it, his resolve was tested the moment he stepped into the courtyard during lunch.

Mirae was there again, sitting under her usual tree. This time, she wasn't alone. Two girls from another class were sitting near her, chatting animatedly.

Jiho hesitated, unsure whether to approach. Mirae didn't seem to notice him, her attention focused on her notebook as usual.

"You gonna stare at her all day or actually talk to her?" Su Yong's voice cut through his thoughts.

Jiho turned to see his friend smirking at him.

"Relax," Su Yong said, clapping him on the shoulder. "If she wanted you to leave her alone, she'd have said so by now."

Jiho sighed. "I don't think it's that simple."

"Nothing ever is," Su Yong said with a shrug. "But sometimes you just have to take the leap."

With that, he walked off, leaving Jiho to make his choice.

After a moment, Jiho took a deep breath and walked toward the tree.

"Mirae," he said, stopping a few feet away.

She looked up, her expression as calm as ever. "Jiho."

"Can we talk?" he asked, glancing at the two girls nearby.

Mirae nodded, closing her notebook. "Let's go somewhere quieter."

The two of them walked to a more secluded area of the courtyard, away from prying eyes.

"What is it?" Mirae asked, her tone neutral.

Jiho hesitated, then decided to be direct. "I don't know what's going on with you, but I feel like you're dealing with something big. I just… I want to help, if I can."

Mirae's gaze softened slightly, but she shook her head. "You can't, Jiho. This is something I have to handle on my own."

"Why?" Jiho pressed. "Why can't you trust me?"

"It's not about trust," Mirae said quietly. "It's about keeping you safe."

Jiho frowned. "Safe from what?"

Mirae didn't answer. Instead, she looked at him with an expression that was equal parts sadness and determination.

"Please, Jiho," she said softly. "Let it go."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Jiho standing there, more confused and determined than ever.