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Ever since he was young, he has heard a voice in his head.
The voice was a girl's voice. It was bright and lively, with a warm tone. Sometimes, when he gets excited, this voice raises her pitch with an excited squeal. And when he's happy, he feels like he could physically feel the happiness radiating from that mysterious voice. Other times, when he gets sad, the voice turns small and sad. When that happens, it saddens him even more, because he felt like that voice shouldn't ever be sad. And yet, that voice is saying what he's thinking.
It confused him, growing up. He was clearly a boy, and saw himself as such. Why was there a girl's voice in his head, and why was he the only one who could hear it?
He remembers the first time he came to his mother with this news, saying worriedly that he keeps hearing a girl's voice when he's alone. After realizing that they were searching for someone that wasn't physically there, his mother laughed to herself and assured him that there was nothing to worry about.
"That little voice in your head is supposed to be the voice of your soulmate!" she said. "When you meet someone out there in this big wide world with that same voice, that's when you know you found your soulmate!"
"How does that work?" he asked her.
"Nobody knows. It's one of life's great mysteries, Akira. To be honest, I never put too much stock in it myself… at least, not until I met your father. And even then it took a while to really get it. When I recognized that his voice matched the one in my head, that's all she wrote. "
"...." Akira didn’t say anything to that, but he still looked very confused. His mother then smiled gently as she placed her hands on his shoulders.
"You don't have to worry about that voice now. Just think of it as a new friend, hm?" His mother suggested. "You should be friends with your soulmate, at the very least. No relationship should be built out of nothing. And from what you told me, Akira… she sounds like a friendly sort. What a lucky boy you are."
"Uh… Okay, Mom." he said to her half-heartedly. He still didn't understand all of this so-called 'soulmate' talk, but at least he could say this:
The voice sounded pretty.
-----
Ever since she was young, she has heard a voice in her head.
The voice was a boy's voice. It was deep and rich, with powerful conviction behind it. Sometimes, when she gets excited, the voice gets more carefree and warm. When she laughs or finds something funny, the voice laughs, and it’s the warmest laugh she's ever heard. Other times, when she's sad, the voice sounds so… vulnerable and hurt. It sort of felt like it didn't want to say anything at all, but since it was saying her thoughts in its' voice, it hurts even more when it speaks.
It confused her, growing up. She was clearly a girl, and saw herself as such. Why was there a boy's voice in her head, and why was she the only one who could hear it?
She didn't have too many people in her life to tell about that voice in her head. Her parents were often busy with their demanding careers, so she doesn't see them in person too often. But Ann had the feeling that her parents would know about it, so she waited until their next video call to talk about it. When she told her father, he simply smiled at her.
"So you're at that age already… I wouldn’t worry about that voice, sweetheart. You're hearing the voice of your soulmate." he said.
"Soulmate?" She questioned. "Like… what some of those couples say on TV?"
"Yes, yes. Exactly that!" he affirmed, nodding sagely. "It’s always been a popular concept to show in the media, but no one really knows how we're able to hear another person's voice as our conscience. But, that's just the way it is, dear."
"Weird…" Ann commented.
"Hmm… How should I describe it?" Her father hummed, rubbing his chin in thought. "When I realized that it was your mother's voice I've been hearing in my head all of this time, it felt like… everything in the world made sense. It took me a while to recognize her voice as the one in my head. After all, you don't always know immediately after they start talking. Sadly life isn't that convenient."
"...."
"But then after spending time with her, little by little, I recognized that the voice inside of my mind was hers. Once I did, I heard my own voice in my head for the first time. That sealed it for me. I knew then that she was the one."
"Daddy…"
"Ann, my dear. This is all to say that you don't have to worry about that voice. That is a precious clue to a possible connection that you have with someone out there in the world. You don't have to search for him outright, just live life as you normally do. But once you recognize that voice in someone else… it will be that most enjoyable feeling in the world."
"...Okay. If you say so, Daddy." Ann said, a bit half-heartedly. She still didn't quite understand this 'soulmate' talk, but at least she could say this:
The voice sounded cool.
-----
The loneliness gets unbearable when he’s alone.
He sat in an empty house, with his textbooks and manga sprawled in a messy pile in front of him. His father was doing overtime at work… again. His mother was off in the night trying to find another job… again. And the two of them were avoiding each other… again. Weren't soulmates supposed to be on the same page all the time? Then, if his parents were really supposed to be soulmates, then why were they fighting so much and avoiding each other?
Well… they didn’t have to worry about him. He had everything under control.
Akira took good care of the house while his parents were gone. He cleans the house, he cooks meals for himself whenever he needs to, he doesn't invite people over or let strangers in. He does whatever he's supposed to do like a good boy.
Besides, it's not like he had anyone to invite to his house even if he wanted to. He didn't have many friends to begin with.
'It’s quiet…'
The girlish voice rang in his head once that thought entered his mind. Akira sighed to himself as he sat on the living room couch and let his back hit the cushion with a 'plop'.
"Tell me about it…" he groaned, as if talking to the voice in his head.
Though hearing that voice again did make him wonder… if this voice was a real girl, then what would she look like?
Akira felt like she had to look like she matched the warmth he always heard in the voice. Maybe she was a bubbly type of girl, with bouncy short curls upon her hair. No… maybe she had pigtails! No, a ponytail… Well, if she was supposed to be the friendly, bubbly sort, as his mom would say, then pigtails would make the most sense. And she would have the biggest, most expressive eyes. Like, the ones that clearly show what she’s feeling at that moment. She'd be so… expressive and lively, with infectious energy that can sweep a guy off his feet. Maybe he could think of more details if he thought about it long enough, but what he thought of at the top of his head felt… right.
Akira heaved another sigh as he shook his head at himself. God, what kind of lonely guy imagines what a disembodied voice that is supposed to be his soulmate might look like? This was just sad…
And yet...
"If you were real…" he said to himself, fiddling with the ends of his wild curls. "Then would you like me? Would you be friends with me?"
'I really hope you would be…'
-----
The loneliness gets unbearable when she's alone.
She sat in an empty house, looking at all of the unopened boxes sitting all around her room. They were all filled with clothes, furniture, posters, stuffed animals… you name it. Ann just needed help setting them up so that her room could really feel like her room… for however long that lasts. Her parents were working abroad again, for about… four months this time, or so they say. Ann felt like she was seeing her parents less and less each year, and she also felt like she was getting used to being in empty houses that they just moved into.
Was that a good sign? Probably not…
The only ones that were ever in the house were Ann and her caretaker. Thankfully, this one was about to beat the longest record for being the caretaker who stayed the longest, but no matter how long she stays, Ann felt that it just wasn't the same as having her parents around… or even having friends around.
...That is, if she ever had friends in the first place.
'It’s quiet.'
The boyish voice rang in her head once that thought entered her mind. Ann sighed to herself and threw herself onto her bed, the one thing that was set up in her room so far.
"Tell me about it..." she groaned, as if talking to the voice in her head.
Though hearing that voice again made Ann wonder… if this voice was a real boy, then what would he look like?
Ann felt like he had to look like he matched the coolness she always heard in his voice. Maybe he was tall and lithe, with the most piercing eyes to match that deep, rich tone he had. Those eyes of his can't just be intense, but honest. Like… looking into his soul honest. It would show his genuine nature. And maybe, to match that cool persona, he had short, full hair. It can't be too short, no! That'd be too plain! It had to be full of character! Maybe he had wavy hair that framed his face… or maybe even curly hair? Or slicked back hair! That'd be a sight to see! And he can't look like a slob! Even when he's casual, she imagined him to be kept together… like a English Gentleman. Maybe she could think of more details if she thought about it long enough, but what she thought of at the top of her head felt… right.
Ann heaved another long sigh as she buried her face into her pillow in frustration. God, she knew that she was at the age where she could fantasize about others, but imagining what a disembodied voice that was supposed to be her soulmate would look like? How lonely and sad could a girl get?!
And yet…
"If you were real…" she murmured to herself, lifting her face off the pillow for a moment. "Then you would like me? Would you be friends with me?"
'I really hope you would be…'
-----
Hopeless… he felt so hopeless…
Why is this happening?
He did the right thing, jumping in to save that woman from being assaulted from that drunk… so why? Why is he being punished for something that he didn't even do? Why were the courts slapping him with an assault charge? Why did he get expelled from school? Why were his so-called 'friends' abandoning him? Why was he being shunned by his own town by doing the right thing?
Why? Why? Why?!
As Akira sat upon the top of the staircase, he overheard his parents screaming at each other about what happened at the court hearing and what to do next. Sorrow, anger, disbelief, confusion… he could hear it all from their heated words. Just when they were becoming united in being a family again… this happens. It was so overwhelming… he wanted to cover his ears and shut out the world. After all those times of constantly telling the truth about that night to the courts, his voice was silenced. He wanted to scream at them for being so wrong. He wanted to hunt down the bastard who framed him and make him tell the truth, proving his innocence. But he knew he couldn't do that. The only thing he could do was just… live with that stain on his record. He shouldn't even have to go through this… no one should have to go through this.
'Someone, please… just listen to me…!'
The voice in his head matched his agony as that thought entered his mind. It makes Akira’s heart sink further than it already has, hearing his sadness in her voice. It almost made him want to cry. He buried his head in his arms, his body shaking as he felt those overwhelming emotions wash over him again.
"Hey… if you were real… Would you believe me?" Akira murmured, his voice shaky as he spoke. "I know my parents said they believe me, but… I don't know… I don't know who to trust anymore. I can’t count on my classmates, my neighbors, or even the law! I just… I really need a friend right now…"
He was alone in this. He knew he was alone, but… he couldn't help but wish for that one thing that seemed impossible in his eyes.
'Tell me… what should I do…?'
-----
Hopeless… she felt so hopeless…
Why is this happening?
She didn't do anything… why was this creep constantly bothering her? Wasn't he supposed to be a teacher?! And yet he keeps… leering at her, pestering her, holding her best friend's dreams over her head! Why doesn't he just leave her and Shiho alone? Why do the teachers constantly let him get away with this? Why does everyone in school believe that they're dating? Why does she keep being shunned by these people by just breathing?!
Why? Why? Why?!
Ann ignored the constant buzzing of her cell phone, looking away from her pocket with a look of disgust. It's him… she knew. After saying her latest excuse about her needing to go to the hospital for her appendix, she thought he'd show a little mercy and back off. How wrong she was… Frustration and anger swirled in her mind. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run and take Shiho with her. She wanted to tell the world everything about what this bastard was doing! But in the end, all she could do was keep Kamoshida at bay. She shouldn't even have to go through this… no one should have to go through this.
'Somebody, please… just listen to me…!'
The voice in her head matched her agony as that thought entered her mind. Hearing her sadness in his voice made Ann just… crumble even more. She sank to the ground and buried her head in her arms while crouched, looking so small and helpless.
"Hey… if you were real… would you believe me?" Ann murmured, her voice low and small as if she was about to cry at any moment. "Shiho… she doesn't deserve any of this from him! I hate him! I want him to just leave us alone already! B-But… no one at school would believe me. Not the students, not the teachers… nobody! Shiho is my best friend, and I can hardly do anything to protect her! I just… please… I really need a friend right now…"
She was alone in this. She knew she was alone, but… she couldn't help but wish for that one thing that seemed impossible in her eyes.
'Tell me… what should I do...?'
-----
"What…? What am I even saying? I barely even talked to you before…"
Akira’s eyes softened as he watched this girl continue to wipe at her watery eyes. This girl, Ann… she and her friend Shiho have been put through hell thanks to Kamoshida. Hearing her story made Akira more determined to stop that bastard, and more willing to go with whatever Morgana had planned. Ann’s tale didn't just stoke his fire in seeing justice done, he also felt that she was… a kindred spirit.
"It’s fine. Maybe that's why it's easier to talk to me." he said.
"Huh…?" Ann questioned.
"I'm not biased, and I'm not blind to what's really going on here. I did hear the rumors about you and Kamoshida, yeah. However… I always thought it was all bullshit." Akira explained. "I never put any stock in those rumors at school. I didn’t do so for Ryuji, and I damn sure didn't do so for you."
"...."
She was just staring at him, completely dumbfounded at his words. Did no one besides him and her friend believe her?
"Besides… if that was all true, then you wouldn't have looked so sad when he offered you a ride to school."
"...That's right. You were there, weren't you? In front of that clothing store?" Ann asked.
"Yeah… Sorry that I just… stood there staring at you like an idiot then." Akira then said, rubbing the back of his neck a little. He was a little embarrassed apologizing like this, but the way she smiled at him then… that left a strong impression in his mind.
"Hehe… it's okay." Ann assured, forming a half-smile. "Somehow, I felt like you didn't mean any harm by it. That's pretty different from what I'm used to around here."
"Takamaki…"
"Still… you're so weird. Usually everybody at school just ignores me…" Ann continued, her half-smile disappearing as quickly as it came. "And yet… here you are chasing after me and hearing me out…"
"...I’ve always seen you," Akira said. "And hearing you out made it clear that my hunch about you was right. I believe you."
"...." Ann was staring at him again. This time, instead of disbelief, it was shock that filled her wide eyes. It made Akira both relieved and a little sad. Relieved because she knew that his words were true. Sad because… she's been misunderstood for so long that even someone believing her was considered to be a shock.
'I'm on your side.'
…?
Akira blinked a few times in confusion, causing him to lean back against his seat. That was the voice in his head saying his thoughts again, but… didn't it sound like Ann? But Ann didn't say anything… He was staring right at her, so he knew she didn't say anything right then.
This… never happened before.
"Are you… really a bad person?" Ann finally spoke after the moment of silence had passed. "I've heard other people talking about you, but… I just don't see it."
Akira put on his best playful grin as he pushed up his glasses and crossed his legs. "Oh, I'm bad to the bone." he said slyly.
Ann stifled a laugh. "Is that supposed to be a joke?" she asked.
"Sure was," Akira admitted, nodding as he relaxed his body. "Just wanted to hear you laugh, is all."
"Heh… you're a bit of a dork aren't you?" Ann said, wearing that little smile of hers. "But that just proves it even further… I had a feeling those rumors were all just exaggerations."
"...You did?" Akira questioned carefully.
"Yeah… You looked lonely -- almost like you didn't belong anywhere," Ann started to explain. "We're the same in that regard. Maybe that's why it was so easy for me to talk to you."
"...Birds of a feather, right?" Akira said sadly.
"Yeah… like that." Ann agreed, nodding.
Two misunderstood souls... Despite Ann not knowing the whole story about his arrest, she was willing to believe that he wasn't a bad person. Just like… he believed her. For Akira, that was more than enough. He just hoped that he was able to help her in her moment of need.
But now that he's actually talked to Ann for a lengthy period of time... there was now the matter of the voice in his head. He didn't know if Ann’s voice and the voice in his head were one and the same, but he had to admit…
Ann’s voice sounded similar to it.
-----
"...The rest, you guys already know."
Ann frowned to herself as she kept her back turned on the sofa, making it look like she was still fast asleep. In reality… she hasn't slept at all. She was still awake as Ryuji explained both his and her past as outcasts, and she was wide awake when Akira started telling his story to the others. She already knew that he wasn’t a bad person, but the details about the circumstances… and how Akira sounded so sad and bitter while he was telling that story… it made her blood boil.
What happened to Akira was completely unfair…! He didn't do anything wrong, and yet he gets slapped with an assault charge on his record and gets treated like a pariah in both his hometown AND here in Tokyo. Ryuji was right to say that this world was messed up. He couldn't even remember the guy's name, or even what he looked like because of the shock. Even if they could find this bastard that set Akira up, there's nothing that can be done about Akira’s record. That pissed her off.
If nothing else, Ann wanted to make sure that she had his back, just like he did for her that day when she finally talked about what was happening with her and Kamoshida.
'I'm on your side.'
…?!
Ann sat up with a jolt. That voice… that was the voice in her head saying her thoughts again, but… didn't it sound like Akira just now?
"Ann?"
That was Akira. Ann turned her head to see the boys looking at her with concern.
"What's up? Bad dream?" Ryuji asked.
Ann shook her head. "Nah, I've been up for a while. I just thought I heard something…" As her words trailed off, her eyes fell to Akira in particular. "Hey, Akira… did you say something just now?"
"Huh? No…" Akira answered, shaking his head. "Morgana, Ryuji and Yusuke have been doing all the talking. Maybe you heard one of them instead?"
"You sure you weren't bullshittin' when you said you were up for a while, Ann?" Ryuji asked.
"I know what I heard!" Ann snapped at him. That voice has been there in her head ever since she was a little girl. For a moment, Ann thought that it sounded like Akira. Not Morgana, not Ryuji, not Yusuke… Akira. And yet, Akira said that he didn't say anything…
This… never happened before.
"A-Anyways…" Ann sputtered, running her fingers through her hair. "What I really wanted to say was... I just had this weird feeling come over me while I was listening to you guys. It almost feels like I've known you all forever…"
"What, is that all that's got you spooked? Feelin' like you've known us all forever?" Ryuji grinned, swiping his nose with his thumb.
"I wouldn’t say that's a bad thing," Akira admitted, smiling to himself. "What made you think that way, Ann?"
"I dunno… maybe it's because our backgrounds are so similar?" Ann guessed.
"Hah! Well, if anything… it sure ain't 'cause of anything good." Ryuji chuckled.
Ann gave a relieved smile as she looked at the guys one by one. What she said before wasn't a complete attempt of covering her embarrassment. She really did feel like she's known the guys forever, even Morgana… despite knowing next to nothing about him. It's like she’s found her own family of misfits in this messed up world. She… never thought she would find friends like these aside from Shiho, but she's glad that she's found them.
But… the voice in her head... That was going to bother her a lot now. She's been friends with Akira for a while, so she knows what his voice sounds like. But only now has she made the connection? She must've been more preoccupied with the Phantom Thieves than she thought. What if he’s...
No, she can't just jump to conclusions. She didn't know if Akira’s voice and the voice in her head were one and the same, but she had to admit…
Akira’s voice sounded similar to it.
-----
"I guess… I'm alone again, huh…?"
…!
Those words… those words of hers struck at his very soul. As she stood there on the rooftop and sobbed into her hands, Ann uttered that sentence in a small, sad voice. Akira’s throat felt dry, his fingers trembled in nervousness… but he knew what he had to do.
Ann was never going to be alone again.
"You have me."
He walked up to her crying form and put his arms around her, feeling her go limp. But even as she lost the feeling in her legs, Akira kept her upright with a firmness, unwilling to let her go as he squeezed his eyes shut.
'I love you…'
The voice in his head again… she voices his tender, loving thoughts for this girl. Akira couldn’t help but feel a little guilty. He knew that the voice is supposed to be the voice of his soulmate, but… he just loved Ann too much to let her go. It was just the truth. He'd rather spend his day with someone he grew to care deeply about rather than an disembodied voice that has haunted him since he was young. He may have fantasized about what this girl may have looked like before, but Ann was real. She was here with him right now, and he felt strongly about her. He can't just chase after what ifs when he felt that happiness was right in front of him.
"Akira… I love you…"
…!
Akira’s eyes shot wide open once Ann spoke those beautiful words. Not only because of what she said, but he realized that he heard that exact voice just now. There's no mistake…!
"Say it again." He breathed.
"Huh…?" Ann looked up at him in confusion.
"Ann, please…" he pleaded. "Say it again."
"Wh-What, you didn't hear me…?" she questioned, her cheeks growing red with embarrassment.
"No… I heard you clearly. That's why I want you to say it again," he answered, parting somewhat to look her in the eyes as he spoke. "Ann… I love you."
"Ah...?!" Ann gasped as she looked at Akira in shock. "No way… that voice…"
"That voice…?" Akira repeated.
"That voice… your voice…! I heard it in my head so many times!" Ann cried, her watery eyes shimmering as if she was ready to burst into tears again. "I knew it...! I knew I wasn't just hearing things all this time! I just kept doubting my gut, but I was right…! The voice in my head belongs to you, Akira!"
"You've heard my voice in your head…? H-Holy shit… This is unreal..." he said with a shaky breath.. Akira looked taken aback at the revelation Ann made. Because if his voice was the one Ann was hearing, and her voice was the one he was hearing, then that means…
"You wanted me to say it again 'cause my voice is the one in your head, right?" Ann asked. Right now, Ann wore the brightest smile. Her cheeks were red, and her blue eyes were still watery, but she beamed at him as if she was the sunshine itself.
"Yeah…" Akira answered, nodding slowly as his expression softened. "Say it again. Please."
"I'll say it as many times as I need to!" Ann declared. She was probably going to be embarrassed over this moment, but right now she didn't care. "Akira… I love you. I love you! I really, REALLY love you!"
Akira wore the biggest smile on his face as listened to Ann's enthusiastic declaration of love. There's no doubt about it now. The voice of his soulmate, the one who has been stuck inside of his head without a form for so long... belonged to Ann. It seems there really was stock in the story his mother told after all.
He closed the small distance between them once more. He wrapped his arms around her waist and gently pressed his lips against hers. Ann's eyes fluttered closed, letting the tears building up in her watery eyes fall down her cheeks. Time seemed to stop for the two of them as they remained in that one kiss, finally hearing their own voices in their heads for the first time.
'I finally found you…'
'I finally found you…!'
When they finally parted from their first kiss, they still kept close. Akira gently pressed his forehead against Ann’s, smiling softly as he listened to the sound of her giggle. Ann kept her big smile as she giggled, and her beautiful eyes met his.
"Nice to finally meet you, soulmate." she said.
Akira laughed heartily at those words. "I've wanted to meet you for a long time."