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No matter how many times Kuro pressed the button like a tattoo on his wrist, the timer never went off.
He had tried so many times and he was always left confused.
How couldn't the timer go off at least once?
Everyone was supposed to have at least one soulmate, so why, not even for a second, wouldn't the timer just start?
And so, after one too many attempts, after one too many nights spent wondering if he even deserved a soulmate anymore, he had stopped trying.
Stopped, because it was useless anyway, and would always be useless.
To feel a bit better he started making up reasons why it was better not have a soulmate.
First, he was immortal and his soulmate most likely wouldn't be.
Second, if they were they most like would be a subclass and that would just be weird.
He didn't have subclasses, so he had no clue how his siblings viewed their subclasses but to him, they were like his siblings' kids.
And you wouldn't date your nephew now, would you?
Third, he was impossible to deal with.
He wondered how Mahiru kept up with him and still genuinely liked him.
But then again, knowing Mahiru, nothing could stop this man from caring for someone.
Fourth, he still was a monster.
Now that wasn't a nice word to use and he certainly wouldn't use it for his siblings, but for himself, he couldn't find a better word.
Yes, he did deal with the guilt that came from killing Sensei, but he still did it.
He still did so many more things that someone who isn't a monster wouldn't do.
After reason four he realized that he didn't have any more reasons, so he stopped trying to find them.
And so, the whole topic slipped his mind, until now.
Until the middle of the god-forsaken night, red eyes staring straight at the nonexistent timer on his wrist.
Well, nonexistent was a lie, the outline of the box was still there as well as the button under said box.
It was kind of like the box was mocking him with being there.
See, it would've been completely fine with him if he lacked a timer entirely, but he didn't he had one, but it just didn't work.
That was like fake throwing a ball for a dog that would end up chasing nothing.
Right now he kind of felt like said dog, because the button felt really tempting right now and none of the before listed reasons seemed to taint that temptation.
Still, his arm softly fell against his side, it was like a small defeat.
He knew the outcome, no need to torture himself over again, that was bad and Mahiru wouldn't encourage this behavior.
"Mahi, this shit is stupid"
He was well aware of the fact that Mahiru wouldn't hear him, since the other was soundly asleep next to him.
But he certainly couldn't care less, because talking to Mahiru was nice, even if he was fast asleep.
Oddly enough, it gave him a sense of comfort.
He must've talked too loud though, as Mahiru shifted beside him.
He really needed to remember how light of a sleeper he was.
"Hmm? What did you say? Is everything alright?"
Half-lidded eyes were staring up at him, waiting for an answer but not demanding one.
Kuro groaned quietly, sinking a bit more into the cushions.
He really didn't want to talk about it, but a second look into his eves' eyes managed to change that.
Maybe it was the sleeplessness of three nights finally taking its toll on him, maybe it was all in the way Mahiru looked at him, sleepy yet attentive that made him look for other reasons why he would like to talk.
Or maybe it was because no one else seemed to have this problem and he just wanted to tell someone so badly because it left him so confused.
"The timer is dumb"
At that statement, Mahiru laughed softly before lightly smiling at him.
"It isn't. I think it's amazing."
"It isn't when it's not working. So I think it's dumb"
That seemed to confuse Mahiru for a moment, before he sat up properly, now being in the same position as Kuro.
Looking at him Mahiru answered,
"Press is again then. There are so many reasons why it can't go off. For example, maybe your first soulmate wasn't born just yet. You know, then it can't go off, since it only does if your soulmate closest in time is already born. That makes sense right?"
Now that he thought about it did make sense.
He never thought about it that way, it kind off slipped his mind that if your soulmate wasn't born yet the timer wouldn't start.
Because it would be quite sad if it would since some people's first soulmates were born outside of their timeline, so if they weren't born it wouldn't start.
So he blinked once, twice before answering.
"...But what if they haven't pressed it?"
"Well, that's a possibility but that shouldn't stop you from pressing yours! Now that we're talking about it... I haven't pressed mine in a while. When I first did it went off, but I kinda forgot about it and it never reset. So I guess I'm also kind of without a soulmate."
Mahiru smiled to himself, seemingly taking his time before continuing.
"So...Let's just press it together! Either it starts for both of us, or we are both just a bit hopeless! It's not like it can get worse right?"
"Well you're right but,...Ugh"
Kuro couldn't argue with Mahirus reasoning, even if deep down he would like, so he could find any reason not to press again, not to be disappointed again.
So with a small groan, he sat up properly and raised his arm slightly yet again.
Mahiru seemed to take the hint as he followed his lead, positioning himself in Kuros' line of view while turning on the bedside lamp with his other hand.
"Well, on the count of three alright? And we're not going to let the result drag us down more than it needs to okay?"
Kuro nodded slightly, knowing Mahiru said the last part for him and not for himself.
If he was being honest, which he wasn't, he was nervous.
Even if he was convinced that it wouldn't start counting and never would.
But Mahiru left no time for doubts or backing out as he started counting.
"One"
"Two"
"Three"
As if on autopilot he pressed his button, Mahiru doing the same with his own and for the first time, the timer started, only for the number to change to zero and then for everything to disappear completely.
Mahiru seemed to have the same development, as he now also didn't have the tattoo anymore.
"Well...I guess we're both hopeless"
"Don't say that Kuro, we have each other. And it did something this time didn't it? So this is a small victory!"
And yet again Kuro couldn't argue with Mahirus logic, still, he sunk back into the pillows.
"But it's still useless"
"No, it isn't. We have an endless amount of time to figure out what this means for us. Just because we don't have a soulmate, doesn't mean we have to live without a partner our entire lives. Besides, we'll always have each other"
While Kuro would love to argue with the always part, Mahirus tone didn't leave any room for arguments.
Also, Mahiru was already scooting back to his original position, and with a good night his eves' breathing eased out again.
This showed that Mahiru needed a deep restful sleep more than anything else, thankfully today was Friday so Mahiru could have that sleep.
So maybe Kuro will just turn off Mahirus alarm clock, it was way too loud anyways.
He was ready to face Mahirus anger for that, also he could easily brush it off as wanting to have a non-disturbed sleep so his original intention wouldn't shine through.
It was a win-win really.
Because just like Mahiru, he needed a restful sleep because three sleepless nights wasn't it.
Right before he drifted off to sleep the conclusion, the real conclusion of this whole fiasco dawned on him.
Mahiru was his soulmate.
Mahiru was his nearest soulmate in time, but because he wasn't born yet the time couldn't go off.
Mahirus own timer must've run out when he picked up Kuro, but since he was in cat form Mahiru didn't realize it or as he said, he forgot it was even there.
And since Kuro had already pressed his timer, Mahirus own reset waiting to be pressed yet again.
And that's also why their tuners went straight to zero.
Gosh, they were stupid.
But oh well, he could tell Mahriu about it tomorrow, when they both had enough brain capacity to think about what this really meant because clearly they lost all ability to think just now.