Chapter Text
Tokuno Yushi, he was only 15 years old when he won second place in the Kanto Region Painting Contest. At that time, Yushi was just trying to send his work. However, who would have thought that this trial and error would actually result in him getting 2nd place.
His love for painting has been going on since he was young. He was very happy to see his grandfather's work and began to learn, maybe this is where Yushi has this talent.
Yushi's name became famous when his painting, which he called "Tears Are Falling", was sold for a high price. This earned Yushi a new nickname, namely the Talented Young Painter from Kanto. Apart from that, every time Yushi participates in an exhibition, his paintings always attract attention. Yushi's name is also increasingly soaring, not only in Japan but also in several neighboring countries, especially among art lovers.
Once upon a time, Yushi participated in a charity auction. Two paintings he auctioned also received high bids. Yushi is very grateful because he can help people in need through his work. And now that Yushi has been working for almost 10 years, Yushi is holding his first solo exhibition.
"Tokuno-san, congratulations on the opening of your first solo exhibition. Apart from being a commemoration of ten years ago, I heard that this is also a celebration because you have reached 25. How are you feeling today?"
Yushi, who was asked like that, couldn't contain his joy. Every artist must have a dream of holding their own exhibition and now Yushi has succeeded in doing it at a relatively young age.
"That's right and of course I'm happy, I've been preparing everything for a long time and finally I can show it to you all. I hope you enjoy being at my exhibition this time."
"Of course we will enjoy it," said the reporter, smiling. "People say your painting has a magical impression and can stun everyone. What do you think?"
Yushi smiled slightly in response. That's right, tons of reviews boast the same thing. Yushi took it all as a compliment. "I think you're right, maybe my brush has a magical impression. But actually I just paint with my heart. If you like it, it means I've succeeded in conveying my feelings."
Again the reporter smiled. Yushi always has various charms, including the way he speaks. "Then which painting do you think is the most special?"
"『夢 を みたい』Yume wo mitai," Yushi replied simply.
The reporter saw a large painting in the middle of the hall. The painting is quite abstract. It was a fairly dense forest. There was only a rickety hut and what was interesting there was a person looking down, alone. The reporter shed tears as if he had just felt the "magical power" of Yushi's painting.
"Who is he, Tokuno-san? I feel like I just felt his sadness."
"Is that so? I don't know either, this might sound like TMI but I dreamed about it several times and I felt I had to paint it," said Yushi, who for some reason felt sad after seeing the painting which he named 『夢 を みたい』.
"Could it be your soulmate?"
Yushi's eyebrows rose.
"Isn't Tokuno-san already 25 years old? You should have found him or her."
***
Yushi's exhibition was a success. Many positive reviews have been written in various media. Yushi himself is always happy, especially when visitors come that are completely unexpected. Not even once was the exhibition quiet.
However, Yushi's happiness only appeared on the outside, inside Yushi was confused.
"Soulmate...?"
Yushi repeated the words several times to himself. It's been more than a week since Yushi's interview at the opening of the exhibition Yesterday. However, the reporter's words still rang in his mind.
It's not that Yushi doesn't know about soulmates. He knows that every human being born has someone who is destined to accompany his life. Who knows anywhere he, whoever he is, but their souls have been connected from the start. Yushi also knows an ancient prophecy that says if a soulmate is not found until the age of 25, perhaps one of them will suffer or suffer greatly.
Indeed, since his birthday last April, Yushi has started to feel different. At first it was normal, but lately Yushi often dreams about a human figure who always stretches out his hand. Yushi couldn't see his face but he always looked in pain and suffering. Yushi himself always wanted to reach him, but when Yushi got close the figure disappeared and Yushi started to wake up. This is what inspired his 『夢をみたい』painting.
Yushi then stood up. He lifted his short-sleeved shirt and revealed a magical tattoo on his left arm. Yushi got the tattoo when he was starting to enter adulthood. At first it was just a thin line and then it formed an abstract pattern and now Yushi was just paying attention to it again. And Yushi's eyes widened perfectly
"Is it a tree surrounded by a star? What does it mean?" Yushi wasn't sure what it was. He wanted to ask his parents but unfortunately they were abroad so the only person Yushi thought about was his grandfather.
***
"Yushi, in our family there are actually two ways to find out who our soulmate is. One is from the magical tattoo on your arm and the other is through dreams," said his grandfather when Yushi told him his purpose and purpose for coming.
"Through a dream? Why did grandfather never mention it? Even my mother and my father never discussed it." Yushi became frustrated with himself.
"We thought you had found it, after all you always told us not to worry, even on your birthday yesterday. How are you feeling?"
Yushi groaned even more. He didn't really care before. But the reporter's words seemed to evoke something. Yushi often feels uncomfortable and anxious. Even the dreams that came to him were increasingly sad. It's not uncommon for Yushi to wake up with puffy eyes like he's been crying. Yushi didn't know but it clearly hurt.
Yushi again told about the dreams and things he experienced and his grandfather said it was the effect of Yushi not having found his soulmate even though Yushi was already 25.
"Grandfather, what would happen if I hadn't found him?"
"Meet your cousin, Riku, you'll find out. Don't forget to bring him a gift. It'll be his birthday soon, right?"
***
"Please help me, I need you Yushi, I miss you."
The thin hand stretched out to ask Yushi to grab it, but the next second the hand and figure froze. The atmosphere around them became uncontrollable. Then when Yushi tried to get closer the frozen body exploded and shattered into pieces.
"No!"
Yushi woke up from his dream. He gasped and his eyes watered again. Not to mention the pain in his left shoulder. Yushi started to worry, he started to get scared.
"What happened to you?" Yushi said to the empty air in his room. There was no answer until finally Yushin decided to go to meet Riku, his cousin.
***
"Look, who's here today? A talented young painter from the Kanto Region!" said Riku too enthusiastic.
"Cut it out, Riku!" Yushi snorted, he didn't like it when the words came out of Riku's mouth. He kept the fruits he brought and sat next to Riku. Yushi said rather harshly but it was just Yushi's way of diverting his sadness.
"You're so mean, Yu-chan. Three months, four months, you haven't visited me for that long." Riku didn't pay any attention to Yushi's previous curt words. Riku instead closed the tablet he was using so he could focus on Yushi completely. "I'm happy that the exhibition that I worked so hard for until I couldn't visit was a success. But what are you doing here?”
"How are you?" Instead of answering Riku's question, Yushi asked back and this made Riku snort in annoyance.
"Grandfather asked me to come to see you. There are some things I want to ask." Yushi finally gave up because he knew Riku didn't like being asked about news like now.
"Grandpa?"
Yushi lifted his sleeve. Yushi's magical tattoo is visible. Riku himself understood where Yushi's conversation was going.
"Looks like we have to find a new atmosphere and talk outside. Just a moment, I'll call my nurse to prepare a wheelchair."
***
Maeda Riku, Yushi's cousin who is only one year older than him. Riku has been sick since last year. At first Yushi didn't really understand why Riku who was healthy, a volleyball athlete, and even active in various communities was suddenly attacked by an illness that paralyzed his legs. Riku has never been seriously injured, but suddenly Riku's health declines and his ability to move is limited. Yushi just realized that it all started when Riku turned 25.
"Just stay here, I'm tired of pushing you all the time," complained Yushi. He sat on one of the benches in the hospital garden and started massaging his feet.
"So what happened? You met your soulmate?" Riku asked enthusiastically and was ready to tease when Yushi looked away. But Yushi's expression was different. His jaw tightened.
Riku realized one thing. Since Yushi came, his cousin hadn't looked him in the eye. This is something that Yushi rarely does because Yushi always looks at the person he is talking to.
"Yushi, what's wrong?" This time Riku's tone weakened. Riku is a bit annoying though Riku is the only cousin close in age to Yushi. Riku has been his best friend and confidant for a long time. Honestly, Yushi is always sad when he sees the situation with Riku Now.
"Yushi, Yu-chan?"
"Riku does it hurt?" For the first time Yushi saw Riku's eyes today. "Is it difficult when you are in a wheelchair? Haven't found it yet soulmatemu so painful?"
Riku was silent for a moment then lowered the jacket he was wearing to show his left shoulder which was engraved with a tattoo of a tulip between a squirrel.
"This flower, its petals keep falling off for several months. I don't know where it is but I hope it doesn't feel the pain I feel."
And in that second the two cousins hugged each other while crying silently.
***
Far from Tokyo, a Daegu man was transfixed by an object he had just photographed. At first his face was so happy because he managed to capture the moment with the camera in his hand. But when he saw the results, his expression changed 180 degrees.
The photo on his camera was not a tragedy, nor was it an accident that could make him cry. It was a portrait of a street cat that looked ravenously eating the sausages that Daeyoung, the Daegu youth, had brought before.
Daeyoung didn't know why his heart hurt so much just watching the cat eat. It was as if what the cat had eaten was its liver which had been bitten and torn apart. Her chest suddenly felt tight and her tears just flowed.
His sobs were muffled and then they became louder until they managed to attract the attention of several people to look.
"Daeyoung, hey, what's wrong with you? Are you hurt? Is there something bothering you? Talk to Hyung."
The person who called himself "Hyung" looked worried.
Daeyoung shook his head. He held his chest which was becoming increasingly tight.
"Sion Hyung, how do you cover the void here?" Daeyoung pointed at his chest. "How can I stop being lonely and feeling this pain all the time?"
Sion shook his head, he didn't have the answer. Sion was only able to hug Daeyoung, the person he considered his younger brother, tightly.
"I hope you can meet your soulmate soon, Daengie. I hope the void in your heart will soon be filled."