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Ushijima was never one to worry himself with trivial matters like the meaning of friendships and reading other peoples’ emotions, so when the concept of soulmates was brought up it was quickly dismissed by the stoic man. Why does it matter whether you find someone labelled as “the one” for you? He would much rather spend his time focusing on school, and more importantly, volleyball. Maybe someday in the future he would consider what his soulmate would be like, whether they be understanding, kind, good looking-
“Hey! Gimme back this week’s ‘Jump’!” is all Ushijima heard as Tendou threw his dorm room door open.
Ushijima would rather run an entire marathon before admitting that he may have been mulling over the concept of soulmates just moments ago, so he needs to come up with an excuse. “I’m still reading ‘Removes Unnecessary Hair and Leaves Skin Feeling Silky Smooth’,” he says seeing as it is page left open on top.
“Could you read the actual manga instead of the adverts for once?” Tendou says in a rather annoyed tone before inviting himself in. “By the way, you should be receiving your watch any day now since you turned 18 isn’t that right?”
Actually, Ushijima had completely forgotten about the item that seems to rule society – a watch that shows the time zone and time your soulmate is in as well as their initials. “Yeah, I got my letter a few days ago I think,” he simply replies. Tendou’s grin grows wide, “When I got mine a few months back it felt like magic the way it turned on once I put it on my wrist!” Tendou knows Ushijima would rather talk about most other things but he can’t help but annoy his seemingly emotionless friend. “What do you hope your soulmate is like Wakatoshi-kun~,” Tendou half sings while batting his eyelashes dramatically. “Tendo, I have told you before that soulmates aren’t really all that important to me,” is all he comments back to the crimson-haired boy.
Tendou lets out a whine, “Ahhhh, you’re no fun Ushiwaka! Hopefully your soulmate is as nice as yours truly or else they might not appreciate you.” Ushijima thinks about what Tendou said for the rest of the night – what if his soulmate wasn’t an understanding person?
* * * * * One Month Later * * * * *
“Normally I wouldn’t involved myself in your doings but… you shaved your head?” Ushijima asks partly concerned by mostly shocked. Tendou isn’t sure if his own laugh is more of a breathy giggle or a sigh. He runs his hand against his freshly cut hairs while sitting in his empty dorm room, “I thought it would help with a fresh start, don’t I look pretty good?” Tendou mischievous grin grows into a smirk when he sees the slight blush on Ushijima’s face, “You would probably look good with any hair style.” There is a bit of a silence between the two before Tendou speaks up again, “I um, bought a one-way ticket to Paris… and I’m leaving tomorrow evening.” He searches Ushijima’s eyes for any hint of emotion to see how this affects him, or if he even cares that his friend is moving nearly 6,000 miles away.
“Oh. Well, I hope you will be happy there. Do you need help packing or a ride to the airport?” Ushijima questions calmly. Tendou tries not to feel dejected as he glances down at the ‘U.W.’ on his watch screen, “Ah, no, my mom is able to send me off since she doesn’t work late, and I don’t plan on bringing too much.”
“Okay,” is all that is said before Ushijima begins to stand up and leave. He quickly gives Tendou a hug that lasts long enough for a few pats on the back. “If you need anything feel free to reach out to me, or Semi, we’ll be here for you.” Tendou politely smiles and shakes his head before waving at Ushijima’s retreating figure while he shuts the door.
On the opposite side of the door, Ushijima has to take a breath to ground himself. Yes, Tendou is a good friend, but in the back of his head he kept reminding himself that high school is superficial and just the beginning, and often so are the friendships made. Tendou can’t help but shed a couple of tears wondering if Ushijima happened to in fact be his soulmate, or if he’d have to give up his short-lived search for his.
Truthfully, Ushijima had not given much thought to the initials that decorated his watch’s screen, ‘T.S.’ could stand for many different names. If he was meant to find his soulmate then surely his would ask him, right? Someone was bound to ask what two letters he was given, right? There are thousands of people with these initials, it does seem a little much to ask from his soulmate.
* * * * * The Next Evening * * * * *
Tendou: My flight is about to take off. Good luck playing on your new team Wakatoshi-kun, I’ll be rooting for you from Paris! <3 ^_^
Ushijima stares at the message on his phone feeling uneasy, although he knows his friend will fair well over seas. He decides to keep his message rather short while showing his appreciation for Tendou’s kindness.
Ushiwaka😊: Thanks. You’ll have to show me around Paris someday.
Right as he’s about to turn his phone off he sees the message come through. Tendou can’t help but smile sadly at the screen and try to keep his composure after leaving his old life behind.
As hours begin to pass and Ushijima finishes his daily routine with a warm shower, he picks his watch up off the counter and goes to put it on. This has become a typical habit that he doesn’t think twice about, and when he looks down his first thought is that his watch had broken.
“Do these watches usually break? Is that even possible?” Without wasting too much time, Ushijima grabs his phone off the nightstand to message his old teammate, Semi.
Ushijima: Has your watch ever stopped working properly? How do we know how it is supposed to work?
Semi: Um, I haven’t heard of that happening before, what is it showing?
Ushijima: Well, it’s currently 10:30pm here, and my soulmate has usually been the same time as mine, but now it shows 3:30pm.
Semi: That just means they are in a different time zone; it changes as they go through different ones.
Semi: It seems like your soulmate went on quite an adventure today lol
After reading Semi’s texts, it felt as though time stood still. That could just be a strange coincidence, right? He closes the messages app and looks up locations with a 7-hour time difference from his apartment in Japan. Amsterdam, Berlin, Milan… Paris? His eyes felt like bricks staring at the word on his screen.
He needs to go see him now, there is no other way to be sure than to change time zones himself for verification on his potential soulmate’s watch. Luckily the professional volleyball season had not started for him yet, so after grabbing his passport, a change of clothes, and other essentials he was heading for the airport.
After flagging down a taxi and asking to be taken to the airport, he quickly pays the driver that graciously drove him while he was having a pseudo-meltdown. He grabs his bag out of the backseat, thanking the driver, and all but sprinting to the nearest door to get in the airport. While trying to be polite, he couldn’t help the anxious feeling in his stomach that caused him to push past people in the halls. After reaching an information counter and then being redirected three times to various counters and people, he was able to purchase a ticket for the last departing flight to Paris for 12:15am. With nearly a half hour to spare, he sat down by his gate and decided to text Tendou, without potentially letting him know of his plans and that they might be soulmates.
Ushiwaka😊: What is your address there in Paris? We wanted to be able to send mail to you.
Tendou: Ooo of course! As long as you guys promise to send me housewarming gifts :D
XXXX Rue_____, appartement 47
75005 Paris
France
‘Thank God I remember to ask before I got there’, Ushijima thought to himself. Wasting time on his phone, the half hour passed quickly and before he knew it, he and the other passengers were buckled in their seats and in the air. Fortunately, it was past when Ushijima would normally be sleeping, so his drowsiness outweighed any anxiety keeping him awake.
Slowly coming back to an awake and aware state, Ushijima realized the man next to him had woke him up due to their landing in Paris. Since he packed light there was no need for a checked bag, and customs would be relatively simple – although every minute felt excruciating. Once he was on the other side of the customs checkpoint, he looked for the nearest exit where a taxi may be available to take him to Tendou’s apartment. By good fortune, the airport was littered with cars and taxis waiting to give rides to those just getting off flights.
Despite a slight language barrier between Ushijima and the driver, he was able to show the text from Tendou that contained his address, arriving no more than 45 minutes later thanks to traffic. After a moment of searching and aimlessly walking through the apartment complex’s parking lot, he was able to find the skinny white door with the number “47” plastered on front.
Taking but a second to compose himself, he heavily knocked on the door and prayed that his once ruby-haired friend is on the other side.
Tendou releasing a startled yelp after hearing the knock, especially since he had only been officially living in that apartment for not even 48 hours. He decides to peek through the peephole in the door first, and who he sees standing their makes his heart stop and his head spin. While slowly opening the door, he asks him the million-dollar question:
“What are you doing here?”
With a straight face but shaky voice, Ushijima mutters, “I need to see your watch.” Tendou is left speechless and subconsciously he is hopeful for answers as to who his soulmate is, so without a second thought he turns his wrist to Ushijima, whispering, “Can I see yours?”
In the midst of the emotional rollercoaster, it is then that they both see their times aligned once again with their respective initials adorned on the other’s watch – ‘U.W.’ and ‘T.S.’ boldly staring back at them. There is a moment of hesitation before tears unknowingly begin to spill from Tendou’s eyes and Ushijima wastes no time in pulling him into a strong but loving hug.
“I guess we have some things to talk about now,” Ushijima states.
“You’re right… did you get to watch the new Sadako film this week?” It takes everything in him not to laugh, but before he could Ushijima lets out a soft chuckle.
“Satori, you know I was never really a ‘soulmates’ focused person, but I think if it’s you I get to spend my life with it makes it that much easier,” he comments with the prettiest smile Tendou has ever seen.