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“I think Serizawa is Shishou’s soulmate.”
When Teruki picks up the phone, he didn’t expect Shigeo to get to the point right away.
Usually the both of them enjoy talking about their respective days in length before they found themselves stuck on a particularly interesting topic. So his soulmate being this forward is quite surprising.
Teruki is aware that Shigeo spent the day with Reigen at Spirits and Such. One odd story was bound to be brought up sooner or later either way. After all, working with Reigen is never boring. However, the stories he’s prepared for range from Reigen convincing some poor client that they needed to come by again because they were cursed three times, all the way to Shigeo having to save him out of the mouth of an incredibly powerful spirit again. News about the latest office drama isn't really what he expected to hear from his boyfriend today.
Surprised, he adjusts himself in his bed, flipping over onto his stomach and props his phone on one of his pillows. He crosses his arms to rest his chin on top of them, eyes focused on Shigeo’s contact picture on his screen. After taking a good look at it, he can’t help the large smile on face, nor the excitement that fills his chest at the fact that Shigeo is the one taking the conversation today.
Teruki is aware that, oftentimes, it’s him steering their phone calls, but he enjoys listening to his boyfriend just as much if not more. This is obviously something the other ESPer has thought about extensively - at least if the way his voice raises is anything to go by. Even before he had known that the both of them were soulmates, Teruki had started to become quite good at reading Shigeo’s mannerisms and inflections. It isn’t hard to guess that this is something he really needs to share.
“You think so? I guess they really are close these days.” he says with interest, his cheek now resting on his arm. “Did something happen? I thought you went because Serizawa wasn’t in today.”
“He wasn’t” Shigeo clarifies immediately and the movement on the other end of the line implies that he’s getting more comfortable himself. “We had to deal with some haunted boat today and Shishou fell into the water.”
At that Teruki can’t help but laugh a little. The idea of Reigen and his gangly limbs falling over the side of a railing is more than in line with things that would happen to him.
“He’s alright though?” he quickly asks and wills down the rest of his laughter. The lingering amusement in his voice is only barely hidden and when Shigeo answers it’s easy to hear his smile as well.
“Yes, he is. He just got wet and had to change, but nothing worse than that.” There is a pause and Teruki gives the other time to continue. Absent-mindedly, he begins playing with the fringe of one of the multicolored pillows on his bed. “I saw his soulmark.”
“Oh? I guess, I never really paid attention to whether I've seen it or not.” Teruki responds, trying to think about it a little. In the end, he doesn’t come up with anything that ever stood out to him in particular. The longer he ponders, the more he realizes that Reigen never seems to talk about soulmates at all - or at least not when Teruki is around. Thinking back on it, the most he had ever heard Reigen talk about was when Shigeo and himself had visited Spirits and Such to let him know about themselves.
Back then, Reigen had simply congratulated them and had made sure to give the both of them a good talk about respect and consent, emphasizing the importance of communication and trust. In retrospect, it had been a little odd. Teruki is sure that Reigen himself knows better than anyone else just how capable Shigeo is. Still, his boyfriend had patiently sat there and listened to everything he had to share with a large smile, determined nods and a tight hold around Teruki’s hand.
However, he tries not to think too hard about Reigen’s behavior and instead pays attention to the other ESPer again.
“You probably haven’t. It’s on his chest. Over his heart actually.” At that Shigeo sounds a little flustered and Teruki identifies the sound that follows as his soulmate picking on the edges of his phone case.
He perks up a bit, though, and pushes himself up on his arms to lean a bit closer to his phone. “Really? That’s really cool!”
There’s a short silence in which Shigeo must nod. He does answer just a moment after, most likely remembering that they are on a phone call. “I think so too. It’s a very nice spot.”
With that Teruki had to agree. Not only is it incredibly romantic, but having one’s soulmark on their chest makes it quite easy to look at it. For his own, he usually requires the assistance of multiple mirrors or another person. On one hand it is nice how big of a surface his mark covers, but being on his back has downsides as well.
“Am I allowed to know what it looks like?” Teruki asks with as little curiosity as he can. He doesn’t want Shigeo to have to feel like he needs to share. Knowing quite well that his soulmate might not want to share anything he isn’t allowed to - Teruki doesn’t want to push even if curiosity is eating at him.
Today seems to be a lucky day for him, however, because Shigeo seems to be just as excited to share his new observation. When he speaks, his voice is dripping with joy and excitement.
“It looked really familiar. It took me a moment, but I figured it looks just like Serizawa’s aura.” he says, giving Teruki a moment to process the new information. After a second, Shigeo continues in a tone that asks for reassurance and an honest opinion. “I told him. I’m not sure he wanted to know, though? He just started to talk around it.”
Teruki can’t help his smile widening a little, feeling his chest swell with joy at being the one that Shigeo confines in. It always makes him feel a little happier when he can be there for his soulmate, even if he doesn’t always have an answer. The both of them figured out a long time ago, that simply talking to one another helps them to come to their own conclusions.
“You just want to help Reigen.” he says, voice soft and cheeks a bit heated. “I mean, he wouldn’t have known without you, yes? Who knows how long it would have taken him to figure it out. In my opinion, that makes you pretty amazing.”
“Thank you, Teru” the other ESPer replies, sounding relieved and thankful.
In a quick motion, Teruki grabs his phone and turns in his bed, his head laying on the pillows now. He blows a strand of hair out of his eyes, ready to ask a few of the many questions he has now. “Why do you think he didn’t want to know? Shouldn’t he be - I don’t know - thrilled? We all know how he looks at Serizawa and he looks back at Reigen just the same way. They are so obvious! I guess it makes sense if they are soulmates, though. This should be good news!”
“I thought so too, but he seemed…” Shigeo struggles for a moment. He’s always had more trouble reading other people's emotions or simply doesn’t want to run into the danger of painting anyone in the wrong light in case he misunderstood.
“Nervous?” Teruki supplies and earns a small affirmative sound. That does make sense. He doesn’t know Reigen nearly as well as Shigeo does, but even he had spent enough time around him to know that Reigen gets oddly defensive about his own emotions sometimes. “Do you think he might just need some time to figure this out? He seems like someone who might need to, at least.”
“Maybe. I tried to tell him that I asked about your soulmark, but I don’t know if that helped any.” Shigeo admits.
At that, Teruki’s soulmark sends a warm shudder through his body, thrumming along with his heartbeat. He still remembers that day quite well - how could he not?
It was a nice day. The sun was shining and the temperature was mild enough to allow Teru to layer some of his clothes. He and Shigeo had decided to meet up to study for some of their upcoming exams, the other ESPer needing help in some of the subjects that Teruki luckily excelled in.
It didn’t take long for him to get from his own apartment to Shigeo’s home and he found himself sitting at the other’s desk, the small lamp on it turned on to illuminate his textbook. Shigeo himself was sitting on his futon, his pen having stopped its movements a while ago.
Teruki lifted his head from his own work. It took a moment for the other to look up at him and he couldn’t help but pick up on the small blush on Shigeo’s cheeks. The sight of it made him smile and his heart beat a little faster.
“Need any help over there? You said you’re doing functions, right?” he said, offering the other his help quite easily. After receiving a nod of confirmation, he slips out of the chair to sit down next to him on his futon.
Once he had looked over Shigeo’s textbook, they worked on it for a while. Teruki allowed himself to steal glances at the other every now and then, noticing how Shigeo’s nose tended to scrunch up and how his forehead wrinkled in confusion or concentration. They might be small, but the differences were there.
With a deep sigh, the other ESPer eventually dropped his pen and fell backwards, his head hitting the pillows beneath him and his arms wrapped tightly around his textbook. The action made Teruki laugh and he leaned forward to look down at him with an encouraging smile. He wanted to ask if there was something he could help with, but the look Shigeo gave him made the words die in his throat. The other’s eyes were wide and looking up at Teruki, a sparkle in them as if he had just decided something incredibly important. With how his mouth was slightly open and his hair messy, it was hard not to consider him cute.
“Hanazawa?” Shigeo said quieter than ever before, his fingers tightening around the cover of his textbook. Their eyes met. “I think we might be soulmates.”
Teruki looked at him, his mouth opening and closing a few times and his cheeks burning.
“Wait wha-”
Just as he had begun to speak, Shigeo shot up again. Their foreheads collided heavily and they both groaned in pain, Teruki’s hand going to rub at the new red spot immediately. The other ESPer seemed to panic a little, suddenly going rigid and tense next to him.
“I-I’m sorry!” Shigeo exclaimed, shifting in his spot now to get a better look at Teruki. He was quite obviously worried. “Are you okay? D-Did I hurt you. I’m so sorry I-”
He stopped himself, pulling his extended hand back after a moment of reconsideration. Instead, he placed it close to his own chest now, the textbook laying abandoned on the futon right next to them.
“I didn’t mean to just- to just say that.” he added, unable to look directly at Teruki at this point. Shigeo’s face was twisted once again. This time however it was in discomfort and Teruki found himself missing the bright and adoring expression from a few seconds ago. His own heart felt as if it was about to explode and he had to remind himself to take a proper breath. “Not today at least. I- uhm- I was just thinking that maybe I could see your soulmark? Just to make sure?”
Relatively quickly, Shigeo interrupted his rambling himself to look at Teruki instead. He was obviously forcing himself to do so, braced for the reaction that was waiting for him. Whatever he might have had expected, he didn’t get. Teruki simply looked at him starstruck, his hand having fallen from his forehead. Without having thought about it much, he reached over to grab Shigeo’s hand and pulled it closer to himself.
“Do you really think so, Kageyama?” he asked breathlessly, raising slightly from his position to cross the distance between them. His face was splitting in two with how big his smile was. Never before had he entertained the idea that the two of them might be anything more than friends. Now that the thought was prevalent in his mind, though, he couldn’t help but find it accelerating and exciting. After all, who wouldn’t want a soulmate like Shigeo? He was nothing if not kind, compassionate, understanding - If there was anyone in this world that was able to change a person fundamentally, it was Shigeo Kageyama.
There was no doubt in how he changed Teruki’s life, how Teruki loved to tag along whenever Shigeo allowed him to. They were friends, incredibly close friends. He knew that no matter what would happen, he could always count on the other ESPer - likewise, there was barely anything he wouldn’t do for him in return. Teruki cared about him with all his heart and with full certainty he could say that there was nothing he’d rather have than Shigeo close to him for the rest of his life. He wanted to grow for him, wanted to grow alongside him - as equals. The thought that maybe they could do it as more than friends made his heart flutter.
This possibility made Teruki reconsider their friendship and he wondered if his immediate adoration and fascination with Shigeo had been something other than friendship or rivalry all along - and maybe that wishing to hold or kiss him wasn't something everyone wanted to do. He just simply hadn’t realized.
“I- yes. I’m sorry I wasn’t honest when inviting you. I - I did want to ask about your soulmark before I said anything. B-but maybe I can still see it? So we can figure this out…?” Shigeo hesitantly confessed and it made Teruki’s stomach flip in excitement.
“Yes!” he exclaimed, quite loudly and his free hand joined the one that was still holding the Shigeo's. “I can show it to you. I- I mean I wouldn’t mind if we were. Soulmates, that is.”
Shigeo’s blush increased tenfold and his breath hitched when Teruki decided to scoot so close that their legs were touching.
Teruki still remembers the sputtering and nervous - but giddy - mess he had been when he had turned around to take his shirt off to let Shigeo see his soulmark. With care, the other ESPer had taken a look and it had been nice to hear him describe it, a sense of something so right settling in Teruki’s chest back then and never leaving since.
His soulmark spans almost the entirety of his back. In the middle of it all is a large blooming sunflower, full and healthy with large and bright yellow petals. It is accompanied by some greenery and other smaller flowers with a shimmering blue and purple dancing around the larger flower in the middle. Behind all of it were blue hues that reminded Teruki of the sky, only sometimes interrupted by the color of his skin peaking through. Whenever he manages to look at it, he can’t help but smile. The warmth it radiates is the same that blooms in his chest when he looks at Shigeo. Now that he knows it is in fact representing said ESPer, it does make sense. Shigeo has a tendency to always look at the good in people, see a bright and refreshing future for them. He’s able to pull in those around him, simply by how bright he is himself. He doesn’t shy away from bettering himself and keeps growing into someone Teruki can’t help but admire.
To this day, it still baffles him that he’s fortunate and lucky enough to have someone like Shigeo at his side.
“I’m sure they will figure it out.” Teruki eventually answers, wanting to let his soulmate know that there is no reason to be too nervous or worried about Reigen. Levitating his phone now, he sits up to cross his legs on his bed. “You’ve known him much longer than I have, so I’m sure he’ll take what you said to heart. It might take Reigen some time, but he’s pretty good at figuring things out after a while.”
As a response, Teruki earns a happy sigh from the other side of the line and he finds himself wishing to sit next to Shigeo to be able to see the cute smile that accompanies the sound.
“For all we know, he might have figured it out already!” he adds with a laugh, not sure how much he is actually joking. Reigen does have a knack to be full of surprises.
“You think so?” Shigeo asks, his voice a little smaller and filled with something hopeful and a great deal of affection. It makes Teruki’s chest feel a little warmer and there’s nothing he wants to do more than hug the other right now. “I think that would be nice. Shishou deserves someone good like Serizawa, I think.”
“That’s true. Though, I’d argue that my soulmate is the very best of them all. No one else will ever have someone as kind, honest, cute, dedicated-”
“Teru!” Shigeo’s protest stops his onslaught of compliments and makes him laugh softly once more. Even if he can’t see it, he can still very well imagine how red the other ESPer’s cheeks must be right now. At this point, Teruki’s face hurts from how much he is smiling - not necessarily a rare occurrence during their phone calls.
From here on they simply continue chatting. Shigeo tells him more about his day and eventually asks Teruki to elaborate about his own, even if it wasn’t quite as life changing and rather boring in comparison. They talk for a good hour or maybe a bit longer, before Shigeo suddenly gasps. The frantic rustling on the other end of the line makes Teruki frown in concern.
“Everything okay, Shige?” he asks, sitting up a bit in case something is wrong.
“Y-yes. I just think I have to go. I forgot about my homework.” the other ESPer says, sounding quite distressed at his own oversight and Teruki can’t help but feel a little guilty about being partially at fault. “I’m so sorry,Teru.”
“Don’t worry about it, we can always continue to talk tomorrow. If you need any help just send me a text.” he says. Considering how much Shigeo sometimes struggles, Teruki is more than willing to help out when needed.
“I will. It’s not math, so I think I should be fine.” the other replies, an admirable confidence in his statement. It causes a sense of pride to swell in Teruki’s chest. “I really have to go now, though. I’ll message you later then?”
“I’ll be waiting for it with great anticipation.” Teruki replies, winking even if Shigeo isn’t able to see it. There’s a soft chuckle at the other end of the line and he just wants to reach through his phone to pull Shigeo in for a small kiss. He hums softly, falling back into his bed once more. “I guess I got to wish you goodnight?”
“Mh.” Shigeo agrees, hesitating just as much as Teruki to end their call.
However, they do say goodnight soon enough and he wishes the other good luck with his homework - putting great emphasis on reminding Shigeo to not overdo it. Once the call is over, he looks at the time and decides to get ready for bed himself. A pair of pajamas and an extensive night routine later, he snuggles under his covers and pulls his phone off its charger to check his messages.
His cheeks spread in another large smile when he sees Shigeo’s name on the home screen, emphasized by the sparkly emojis around it.
✨💞Shige💞✨
Goodnight, Teru ♥
The simple message makes him sigh happily and he answers it with a quick goodnight of his own, adding an abundance of heart emojis and a single sunflower before pressing send. Afterwards, he gets comfortable and for a moment he allows himself to bask in the warmth in his chest and his happy beating heart. Like almost every night since finding out that Shigeo is his soulmate, Teruki closes his eyes to slip into a deep sleep filled with dreams of flower fields and beautiful smiles.