Work Text:
Life in Sumeru City had always been described as bustling and lively. Though a far cry from the atmosphere of Liyue Harbor, the everyday lives of the people are no different. Treasure Street is filled with the cacophony of merchants and buyers, while the Akademiya is swirling around with students and staff members alike.
"It's that time of year again, Sumeru City! Where we can experience the rainforest because of the ever-constant shower on the following weeks. Monsoon season has met us again! This is a public reminder to always bring an umbrella. Over to the North we have-"
Alhaitham sighed as he put his phone in his pocket, and looked at the mountain of folders neatly stacked on his desk. It's just another work day after all. These reports won't finish themselves, so Alhaitham got to work.
It was already 7:05 PM by the time Alhaitham heard a knock on his office door.
"It's Cyno. I'm going to head home now, you coming?"
"Give me 5 minutes." Alhaitham responded and began clearing up his things. After all, his sister would worry for him if he were to arrive later.
The walk with Cyno was quiet. It had always been like this since they became friends and both understood that they much prefer it this way.
"How are Tighnari and Collei doing?" Alhaitham asks out of the blue.
"They're doing well. Tighnari is working on a research project and Collei had just started going to school. She's having a bit of struggle making friends, but I heard there was someone from the older class. Amber was her name, I think? She moved from Mondstadt."
"That's nice. I'm sure they're getting along well?"
"Mhm. Collei and Amber went out the other day. And it looked like Collei had a lot of fun." Cyno continued. "I can tell Amber and Collei have a lot in common."
"That's good to know."
They both continued to walk until they parted ways at the train station. The ride was quiet until the first drop of rain fell from the sky and rolled down the window.
"It looks like it's starting earlier than I thought."
~🌧☂️~
By the time Alhaitham had arrived at his stop, the rain had already picked up much. He opened his umbrella and proceeded to walk to his home.
As he treaded over the wet streets and the mass of people who too shielded themselves with their umbrellas, he caught a glimpse of a bright red umbrella. The face of the person under it cannot be seen. But for some odd reason, his eyes decided to follow them as they passed by. Alhaitham turned around to look behind him but they had disappeared.
"Strange, I could have sworn they just walked past me..."
Alhaitham decided to just shrug it off and continued walking to his apartment complex.
~🌿🌱📖~
Alhaitham arrived at the door and put his keys in the lock. He opens the door only to be met with his little sister with her arms crossed.
"Welcome back, Alhaitham! But can you please explain why you are 27 minutes and 36.8 seconds late?" Nahida says.
"Sorry, Nahida. It seemed I had lost track of time at work. Sorry to make you worry." Alhaitham apologized.
"That's okay! How was work?"
"Same as always...exhausting." Alhaitham shrugs off his coat to be put on the rack. He later continues, "How was school?"
"It was great as always! Sayu gave me a book from the Yae Publishing House in Inazuma. She thought I might enjoy it. The concept itself was a bit strange but the characters are well written. I left half of the book but I actually liked the story so far!" Nahida explains.
"Speaking of strange things, I may or may not have encountered something questionable on my way home." Alhaitham says as he walks to the couch, Nahida following after.
"Strange and questionable? What could it be?"
"On the walk, I found some strange person under an umbrella. When I tried getting a closer look at them, and they mysteriously disappeared." Alhaitham explains.
"Huh? Like a ghost? Nahida asks.
"Something like that. I was really certain that they had just walked past me. Perhaps I just lost them through the crowd." Answered Alhaitham.
"That reminds me! The book Sayu gave me had somewhat of a story like that. They encountered a mysterious person and they caught the main characters eye. After a blink they disappeared. The main character couldn't stop thinking about that person. But as it turns out, the main character fell in love with a Grim Reaper!"
"So that means I fell in love with a Grim Reaper as well?" Alhaitham retorts with sarcasm in his tone, raising his brow.
"Not like that! Maybe it is an actual person. The main character mentioned that the Grim Reaper could be their soulmate and they held on to that belief as they continued to encounter each other throughout the story. But they never really 'met'. They never exchanged names but continued to see each other."
"Sounds like a strange concept indeed."
Alhaitham thinks about that person again. They had just disappeared like a mist. If what Nahida is saying could be true...then who is that person?
~☀️🌧⚡️🌱~
The night passed by in a blink and it was already the next day. As usual, Alhaitham and Nahida woke up early to prepare for the day. It had always just been the two of them since their mother passed and Alhaitham or Nahida's father were nowhere to be found. But they were already more than content with each other's company.
'How come your pancakes are always so delicious?' Nahida signed.
'They're your favorite. And what kind of brother would I be if I didn't make my sister's favorites for her?'
'That's true. But still, I would love you even if you don't make good pancakes!'
'I appreciate that. Greatly.' Alhaitham smiled and continued eating his food. It was moments like this that they enjoy. An early morning of warm pancakes and quiet sign language. They both have a long day ahead of them.
---
"Are you certain you're not forgetting anything?" Alhaitham asks Nahida.
"Umbrella, check. Homework, check. Sayu's novel, check. Extra pens and pencils, check. Keys, triple check. I didn't forget anything!"
"That's great. Have fun at school and keep safe." Alhaitham kneels down to hug Nahida from her height.
"Thank you. Keep safe on your way to work. I'll see you later Haitham!" Nahida exclaims as she sauntered off on her way to school.
~🌧☂️🏛~
The rain seemed to never stop in Sumeru City, but the people still went on with their normal lives. Most people found monsoon season to be calming as the continuous patter of rain hits asphalt streets.
Always on the same path to work, Alhaitham hoped that this time he could catch a glimpse of that mysterious person under the bright red umbrella. "What am I even thinking? Focus Alhaitham. There is no need to think about something as trivial as a ghost person-"
There they are again.
Passing by like a ghost, the bright red umbrella appears among the crowd once more. Alhaitham picks up his pace to catch up to them. But to no avail, he once again lost the mysterious red umbrella. Alhaitham let out a sigh of defeat as he went back on the path to work.
~⚡️🌱~
Alhaitham set his bag down with a huff since he failed in trying to find that red umbrella again. He feels that he himself is going insane for trying to look for someone who is most definitely a total stranger. He contemplates about the plot of the book Nahida was reading and that main character who fell in love with a Grim Reaper.
Alhaitham's trance was broken when he heard a knock on the door.
"Alhaitham, it's Cyno. You looked a little tense coming in here. You want to join me for coffee?"
"Sure. I'll be out in a bit."
---
The scent of fresh coffee fills the kitchenette as the white noise of rainfall collides with it. Alhaitham takes a sip of his coffee and begins "So, about you and Tighnari. I never really asked how you both got together. Nahida told me it was because of the 'soulmates' thing she always talks about. But you're free to not share your story if you want."
Cyno was suddenly dumbfounded by the question. Sure, he was always asked about the state of his fiancé and child. But never the history of their relationship. "Hmmm...how I felt when I met Tighnari. Let me think. When Tighnari and I met for the first time, I was sure that it was him I wanted to see every day. It made me crazy just thinking about it. Of course, Tighnari was a busy person, and I rarely ever saw him before we were together. But it was always him. Those times that I basically blanked out? I was wondering how he was and if he has eaten anything yet." Cyno pauses to take a sip of his coffee. "That's a soulmate. Thought it makes your head go in circles and you want to chase them to the end. They are the someone you know that would haunt you if you haven't noticed you love them, and soon enough, you get to meet more of them in dates. And later, you adopt a rather shy kid on the way. But she opens up to you later on. It was tough, but Tighnari and I powered through. You get what I mean?"
Alhaitham slowly nods. He never really had a solid grasp on the knowledge of relationships and how one can be fated to a 'soulmate'. He always thought that it was an absurd concept and he didn't really believe in the power of fate.
But now? He wants to know more.
~☂️🌧🌱🏛~
The work day flashed by in a breeze and it was time that Alhaitham headed home for the day. He always goes by his usual route to and from work. It had always been the same. Yet, this rainy season changed it all. Under the protection of his own umbrella, Alhaitham subconsciously walks his route as he watches the rain fall on the asphalt.
Alhaitham always thought that soulmates are only a small belief in the love department. He didn't truly understand what it means. Until now. If only the red string of fate were visible, maybe it would be easier to follow-
"Red...just like that mysterious umbrella..."
Alhaitham broke out of his trance and realized he had arrived at the same place where he encountered that person. He paused to try and look around for a familiar bright red through the crowd.
He found it in the distance and it seemed as if his legs reacted immediately. He ran to follow the color, pushing through the crowd. The person under the umbrella noticed that they were being followed so they too picked up speed.
"Wait!" Alhaitham yelled.
Something dropped from the mysterious person as they turned the corner.
Alhaitham continued following the figure. He also turned the corner and came across another crowd of people. Alhaitham frantically looked around for the red umbrella. But to no avail, he lost them...again.
Defeated, Alhaitham went back to his route when he encountered something on the way. He picked it up. A blue feather ear accessory. It's their blue feather.
Alhaitham felt a large wave of relief, clutching the accessory close to him. He found something that could lead him closer to that stranger. Feeling delighted, he returned to his home.
~🪶🌱🏛☂️~
Alhaitham kept the feather for quite a while. Until he meets the stranger again. So far, he only caught a few glimpses of them under their umbrella. It wasn’t enough to know their full identity, but enough to describe them; Male, of average height, long blonde hair that is often braided, and is the owner of the blue feather.
It had been 4 weeks since Alhaitham saw the stranger. The thought of them never left Alhaitham's mind. Even if he didn't know their name.
The monsoon season still hasn't subsided. Alhaitham continued his search everyday on his route to work. There were some days where they were never found, and there were some days where they were so close yet unreachable. And, the troublesome days where they ran when Alhaitham got close.
Alhaitham woke up like he did for the past few weeks, filled with the hope that today is the day that he finds out the identity of his so called 'fated soulmate'.
He left his apartment much earlier than usual, a meeting is waiting for him today. The weather had been the same as it was when it started, light to moderate. Alhaitham opened his umbrella began to walk on his route when he noticed something in the distance.
The red umbrella...
Alhaitham walked stealthily towards it as to not startle the person under it. Who knows? It could be another stranger not matching the description of who he was looking for.
Once Alhaitham reached a reasonable distance from the stranger, he called their attention.
"Excuse me?" Said Alhaitham as he tapped the stranger's shoulder.
The stranger turned around. And hey matched the rough description of who Alhaitham was looking for. Turquoise eyes met prepossessing Ruby. Alhaitham felt as if his breath had been taken away. Their eyes are beautiful.
"Do you need something from me?" The stranger asks, breaking Alhaitham out of his trance.
"Indeed I do. Are you by chance the owner of this?" Alhaitham takes the feather out of his coat pocket.
"I am. Thank you for finding it." The stranger reaches out to take the feather.
"Please, allow me."
Alhaitham's finger brushed off some hair on one of the stranger's ears and placed the feather on its rightful spot, shades of pink rushed to the stranger's face.
"I...thank you."
"It's my pleasure. And I greatly apologize for running after you for the past few weeks. I didn't intend to scare you." Alhaitham says.
"That's okay. Pardon for asking, why were you chasing me all those weeks before?"
"On my route to and from work. It is your umbrella that I always found. I felt something strange around it. But when I try to follow it, you were already gone. I wanted to know more about you, so I continued trying to look for you, but I couldn't see your face under that umbrella."
"I see. Then I'll start. My name is Kaveh, 31 and I work as an architect." Kaveh declared with a smile on his face.
"Alhaitham, 28 and an office worker." Alhaitham said with overwhelming joy in his tone.
The two stand under their umbrellas, unable to look away from each other's eyes. Only the sound of rain exists in their ears, hearts beating as one.
Alhaitham finally found him, his soulmate, the other end of the red string, and the Grim Reaper in his strange romance novel.
~🌿Nahida Extras!📖~
Nahida leans on the wide apartment window as she watched the sight unfold before her with the nearly finished novel resting on her lap. Alhaitham standing in front of someone under a red umbrella, she can see the smile on their faces as they stare at each other's eyes.
Feeling pleased with the novel and the sight of her brother meeting his soulmate, Nahida closes the novel and pulls out her phone.
---
6:13 AM Nahida
Hey Sayu! I finished the novel.
And you're right, I did enjoy it.
I rate it a 9.8/10 for outstanding presentation.
Sayu 6:14 AM
I slept on the first quarter of it...
How did you manage to finish it?
And also, this is the first book you rated that is over 9.5
Why though?
6:14 AM Nahida
I just enjoyed the story so much that I went beyond my highest rating!
Also, how come you're awake this early? Aren't you still asleep this early?
Sayu 6:17 AM
I fell asleep on the homework that I was supposed to do last night...
Why does the sun keep rising?
6:17 AM Nahida
I see.
Because the Earth continuously rotates around the sun Sayu!
We learned that in Science. Hahah.
Sayu 6:20 AM
Oh...I was asleep that time...
Oh well, I'll see you at school later.
Bye-bye.
6:20 AM Nahida
I'll see you late Sayu!
Bye!