Chapter Text
Soulmates were a peculiar thing in this world.
It was only about 20 years since the whole concept popped out of nowhere to begin with. But when it did, it seemed like the world just clicked in understanding of what it meant. The “Soulmate’s Touch” or simply, “soulmark”, a colored mark on the body of when two people deemed as soulmates touch.
And the world was mostly happy with it. All soulmates started as partners in a romantic sense back in the day, and sprouted a strict belief that soulmates should be that way. That they should be a couple, and they cannot have a relationship with anyone else until they meet their soulmate. They fit each other perfectly, right? So why bother falling for other people?
No, Shuichi Saihara thought.
He’s always disagreed with the whole mentality of avoiding romance until you meet your soulmate. Ever since he was young, he always thought that it was stupid for people to be scared fall in love just because they aren’t perfect for each other. Perhaps it was because of his parents, or at least the tales of his parents brought by his uncle. After all, Shuichi would not have existed had they not also believed in his ideal. Or perhaps the idea of not knowing how to maintain a relationship and then immediately diving into one once you meet your soulmate seemed dumb to him.
Either way, Shuichi thought how it worked was bullshit.
It did spark quite the time for him throughout school. He was shunned for his beliefs by his peers, whether it’d be whispers in the halls or dirty looks. But he wasn’t bothered much by it.
On the subject of soulmates as a whole, Shuichi was rather iffy about. Not that he disliked them per se, it was just that he felt… indifferent about them. He would have had the same opinion as everyone else, in that while it had its ups and downs it was a great thing in the world, had it not been for one thing in his life, but he’d prefer to leave that for now.
Other than that, Shuichi had never bothered looking for his soulmate.
Until his life depended on it.
-
“So what you’re saying is,” desperation started seeping in, “That I will… die in roughly two months, Tsumiki-san?”
The nursed sighed, “Y-Yes, sadly.” It took a few minutes of silence for those two words of confirmation sink in Shuichi’s mind. He was going to die. After passing a year of his expectancy, he’d finally die.
“Y-You know,” Mikan stuttered, bringing Shuichi back to reality, “I… I know I-I have no r-ri-right to te-tell you to do anything, but…” she meekly made eye contact with the other, “You… can still g-get surg-gery.”
“It’s okay, Tsumiki-san,” he leaned back from his chair and sighed, “I know I can. It’s just… you know the consequences if I get surgery. At this point I’m way too infected by the disease and then I can’t… love anymore. And if I can’t love,” he tossed his look to the side regretfully, “Then… I’m scared my soulmate will suffer the same fate.”
“…” Mikan looked at the floor, “Y-You have people to live for… don’t y-you?” The question was met with a chuckle, “Yeah, I do. They’re back at the shop.. They’re like my family.”
“Then which will you choose, your family or your soulmate?”
The stuttering was gone in a snap, lifting Shuichi’s head to his nurse. Mikan had a passive, yet stabbing stare. It was hollow and empty and dark. But she blinked, and gone. Shuichi shook his head, maybe it was his mind playing tricks, “I… I-”
“A-Ah, I’m sorry! I d-didn’t mean to…”
“No, it’s okay.”
Silence filled the air once again. As if his disease didn’t make him suffocate enough, the air in the room just felt like pressing Shuichi from all sides. The reality that he’d die was hard to accept for him. When he started with the disease, it was painful enough that he’d long for death, but now… he has a reason to live.
“S-Saihara-kun,” said Mikan abruptly, “You… You still h-have a chance of living. You and I b-both know this..”
“I know, I know,” Shuichi sighed, feeling his throat becoming hoarse, “Find my soulmate and fall in love. It’s just that…” he paused, and looked at his hand, “Do you think I have a soulmate…?”
“W-Well, I…” Mikan gathered herself and answered honestly, “I-I think you’re a wonderful p-person. I-If such a clumsy pig like me c-can get a soulmate, I-I’m sure you can too. Love is n-no picky chooser.”
“…” He looked out the window. The bright sun outside shining on the vibrant leaves made it seem like a pleasant day. Too bad he can’t smell the fresh air anymore. He finally let out a raspy chuckle, “Ironic, huh? Love is the one that caused all of this, yet it is the thing that can heal me.”
“… I s-suppose…”
He got up from his chair and brushed himself off, “Well, thank you very much Tsumiki-san. You’ve helped me with this for a really long time now.”
“O-Of course! It’s o-only my job as a nu-nurse.” She went up to open the door, “Don’t forget t-to take your medicine. It’ll h-help with the episodes…”
“I know. Thanks again!”
The door closed behind Shuichi with a click, leaving him with his own thoughts. He knew he’d have to tell the others. Though knowing him he’d do it at his deathbed.
Before he could think any longer, he felt his lungs burning. Quite the familiar feeling. Rushing up to the bathroom, he doubled over the sink. He could feel it come closer. His throat was extremely dry, though small tastes of blood were felt.
And finally, it came.
Fucking flowers…
In the blink of an eye, the sink was filled with flowers. Beautiful ones, but they were covered with his blood. Each day he can feel these exact flowers filling his lungs to no end until he suffocates from them. Most people would call it inhumane to cough up flowers, or even just petals. But he knew what this was.
Hanahaki.
Hanahaki was a disease that most have forgotten. After all, in a world with assigned partners by an unknown force, who has time for unrequited love? And so the studies of the disease were buried in who knows where right now. The only reason he had a vague idea of what it was is because he dug deep in the internet for days on end. He only knew fully what it can do when he saw that Super High School Level Nurse Mikan Tsumiki knew about all diseases throughout history. So that’s how he got his medication, even if he had to ride a train across Japan.
Usually the life expectancy for a victim of Hanahaki is 1-2 years depending on certain elements. Although… let’s say Shuichi has been both lucky and unlucky and has managed to make that to 3 years.
He looked at the pile of flowers and blood on the sink. Ripping some toilet paper, he wrapped the flowers and threw it in the trash can, while he washed the blood off of the sink.
I can… deal with that later. I have to come back to the shop.
-
Taking a seat in the train, Shuichi finally had time by himself in his mind.
I wonder if I can find my soulmate in the matter of a couple of months… Seems unlikely, but who knows.
He sighs slowly and leaned back.
I remember I used to crave for death because of this… Although it was extremely severe at the time.
My body couldn’t handle it and just wanted to… end it all. But now…
I have something to live for. And it… sorta scares me in a way now.
All I have to do is find my soulmate. But I’m anxious about that as well. What if I’m too late?
He felt a shuffle on his left, but he paid no attention
… What if my soulmate doesn’t love m-
Suddenly, he felt a weight on his left shoulder. Holding back on flinching, he snapped his head to his side.
To his surprise, he saw a petite male leaning against his shoulder. It was clear that he was sleep deprived by the bags under his eyes. And while half of his hair in pressed between his head and Shuichi’s shoulder, it was… weirdly springy. Like one of those weird tentacle plants, but purple with… highlights, apparently. This completely snapped Shuichi out of his train of thoughts and threw that train down to Panic Pit.
Oh god oh god oh god… what do I do?! I don’t know where his destination is..! And this ride will be like 15 minutes!! Oh what do I DO.?
…
He… looks kinda cute- wait no. Now’s not the time for your bi, Shuichi.
He glanced at the clock,
I guess I’ll wait until I get off… There’s nothing I can do about it now. He sighed, This is going to be a long ride..
And so time flew by faster than he thought. His shoulder was aching a bit, but he felt used to it. After all, he’d feel guilty to wake up the guy. Just as his station was coming close, he felt something in his throat.
Oh god, not now…
Hu cupped his hands as hard as he can and coughed up in it. Actually, it was more like he tried to throw up the flowers. He didn’t want to risk his shaking to wake up the stranger next to him. It was filthy, he knew. But there was nothing he could do now as he felt his palm brushing the petals and dripping with blood.
“Next stop: Tochigi Station. Exits are at the right side.”
Thank god…
He turned to the stranger, then reluctantly tapped on his head, “Um… Hello? I’m really sorry, but can you please wake up..? This is… my stop.”
He stirred, “Hnn…?” He lifted himself up from Shuichi’s shoulder weakly, definitely still half-asleep, “…Wha..?”
Not being able to take it any longer, he bolted out of his seat with a squeaky “Sorry!” and got off the train. Heading to the bathroom to deal with his problem, he started feeling his shoulder burning.
Oh wow.. Apparently my shoulder was aching quite a lot… Oof, it hurts.
Massaging his shoulder, he went on to his next train, “Well, I hope I didn’t bother whoever was sleeping on it…” he muttered to himself, “And I hope he doesn’t remember me….”