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Io hated his arm. More specifically, he hated a very particular area of his upper left arm. A very itchy area.
It was nothing more, and nothing less, than the area where his mark would appear the day he touched his soulmate for the first time. If he ever did, that was.
Not everyone was aware of where this area of their body was, but most people recognized it as a patch of skin that felt different from the rest. Some felt a light burn, some found it particularly sensitive, while others found it irritable. Io was, unfortunately, the later one.
In moments such as these, when the itching was particularly persistent, Io had one desire: find his soulmate immediately. Not because of the romance, he was completely uninterested in that matter, but simply to be rid of this terrible nuisance. How he wished to just touch this person and get it over with. Afterwards, he’d happily move on with his life as it had always been.
But then it happened, and Io betrayed himself. In a large moving crowd, he brushed his shoulder against another. He immediately caught sight of something dark spreading on his arm. The gasp he released was involuntary, breathless, as if he had been punched. His heart thundered in his chest as his body came to a violent stop, head turning back as if he could reach for this person.
But in the sea of people no face was recognizable, and no one seemed affected the way Io was.
They didn’t notice. Io realized, a numbing coldness sinking into his bones. He continued to stand there, people passing him by, unable to even chide himself for his actions. He felt simply empty in that moment.
Then he was walking again, emotions buried in the numbness that had enveloped him enough that he became capable of making fun of himself.
You said you wouldn’t care. And as he made his way to school he convinced himself that, in fact, he didn’t. But as his eyes instinctively went to the mark on his arm, he couldn’t stop the thought that crossed his mind.
I’d rather have the itch.
“Io senpai! Your arm!”
Io winced at Yumoto’s excited words. He had been able to go a whole day without anyone noticing the new mark, but it seemed any longer than that had been wishful thinking. He had considered covering it with a bandage but he thought it would be making a big deal out of it (because it wasn't a big deal!).
The second year remained silent, typing on and glaring at his laptop in the hopes that Yumoto would catch the hint and leave the subject alone. The blonde boy seemed too eager at this new discovery as he bounced at Io’s side.
“You got your mark! What are they like! Are they pretty? Handsome? Cool?” The question made Io’s expression twitch with a particular ting of annoyance, and his eyes couldn’t help trail towards En and Atsushi, his seniors sitting on the other side of the table. They were both looking at him with leveled surprise, and Io turned roughly away.
It wasn’t that they lived in such an accepting society that Yumoto just assumed that his soulmate could be anything other than a girl, it was simply that their closest friends just happened to be two guys who were each other’s soulmates.
Lucky bastards. Io thought for a second. En and Atsushi’s marks had appeared during grade school, one day where En had stopped Atsushi from tripping. After that they noticed their marks and got talking, discovering they were both heading to the same curry restaurant. A fated meeting at its finest.
It was because of people like these that Io ended up in the situation he was in, he assumed: Some just absorbed all the luck, leaving the others to deal with these things.
“It’s none of your business.” Io finally answered, keeping his eyes unblinkingly on the screen. He heard Yumoto’s groan near his ear and felt a poke.
“Aw, come on! What are they like! Don’t be mean! Io senpai! Io senpai!”
Io mistyped his next word and cursed as his fingers twitched.
“I don’t know.” He answered forcefully, trying to keep his tone neutral. Yumoto’s jumping stopped, and his expression took a hint of surprise. Io looked away. “They brushed past me and didn’t notice. It could be anyone.”
The silence that followed the confession was broken surprisingly soon by the blonde boy.
“No way, Io senpai! You have to find them!”
“Huh?” Io exclaimed, caught off guard and glaring. “Why should I do that!"
“Because your soulmate is out there!” Yumoto spoke determinedly with a spark in his eyes. He suddenly pointed at their two friends. “An En without their Atsushi! We can’t have that!”
“Oi, don’t drag us into this.” En muttered, wanting to avoid any tedious conflict. The water splash shaped mark on his neck all too clear, seemingly mocking Io. The green haired gave a small huff and turned back to his laptop, determined not to talk anymore. Atsushi looked at him nervously before turning to the blonde.
“So, Yumoto!” He asked with a move of his hand to catch Yumoto’s attention. A clover shaped mark on the back of it. ”Do you have a mark?”
He has asked this more out of changing the conversation’s focus away from Io without changing the subject completely than out of expecting an actual answer, but Yumoto gave him a bright grin.
“I do!”
Even Io had the decency to momentarily snap out of his bitterness and look at the youngest member of their group with shock.
“What!?” They all said, Atsushi’s eyes comically wide and En’s mouth hanging open. The blonde turned around and lifted the back of his shirt, allowing a small dark heart to be seen.
“Y-you said you didn’t understand romance and that kind of thing!” Atsushi stuttered, trying to explain his astonishment. Yumoto turned his head to look at them with a grin.
“I was born with a mark!”
“What!?” They repeated dumbly, in Io’s opinion.
“That can happen?” En muttered with a hint of concern, but Yumoto’s grin never lost its brightness.
“It’s rare, but it does!” He said cheerfully. “It means that the person you need is already in your life.”
“When your soulmate is a family member…” Io said in understanding.
“A platonic soulmate.” Atsushi said with interest. “Those aren’t so rare.”
“Who is it?” En asked with barely palpable interest.
“My brother!” The blonde said proudly. “He got his the first time he carried me!"
“He’s probably quite protective, eh?” Atsushi said with a hint of amusement. Io’s eyes hovered lightly over Yumoto’s mark as the boy put his shirt back down. His eyes couldn’t help trace down to his own mark on his arm, a small circle with a line crossing over it. He cursed internally and looked away, fighting the thought that it looked kind of like a planet.
“So… you wont ever look for a girlfriend or anything?” Atushi continued the conversation with the blonde.
“I don’t think so! I could, but you know I don't understand those sorts of things!”
“That's our Yumoto.”
Io was glad at least his own mark had been forgotten, but for some reason he felt more bitter than before.
When Ryuu spotted the new mark on his ankle, he thought he could cry. This was exactly what he needed.
Ryuu Zaou would be transferring to Binan highschool the following week, and he had been desperately trying to think of a way to quickly establish his popularity. After many days of desperate brainstorming, he always went back to the idea of playing the role of ‘casanova’; convincing everyone he was crazy desirable, a downright player. It was an all boys school so it would be easy to boast lots and not need proof. No one would know anything about his past, so all his stories of being greatly popular in his previous school would have no way of being disproven. No way of knowing the years of bullying and ridicule that he had been through.
He was determined to make his impression in this school a strong one. Things would be different.
He had been having his doubts, when the mark appeared. Maybe if his confidence was that of a normal teenager he would have wondered about his soulmate, but the moment he laid eyes on it all he could think of where the story opportunities.
With this mark, he would be the proper casanova.
It was how Io saw him for the first time, a few minutes before the first class of the year would take place. As he entered the room he noticed how practically all his classmates seemed to be surrounding a single desk.
Io raised an eyebrow, tilting his head lightly for a moment to try and get a look at what was in the center of that crowd. A touch of pink caught his eye, and he realized it was likely a new student. Not giving it much thought, he walked towards what had been his assigned seat the year before.
As he neared the crowd, he heard a voice telling an animated story. It was comically exaggerated, the person’s tone too serious for such a barely believable tale in Io’s opinion, but it was delivered with such charisma that he couldn't help pause and listen.
His eyes trailed back towards the group, vaguely searching for the speaker’s figure. Instead, he caught his eye.
Ryuu paused in his story as he met Io’s gaze. For some reason, they couldn’t look away.
Then a comment was sent Ryuu’s way and the conversation flowed again, going on like nothing had happened. Normality also set over Io, and he retook his journey to his seat. His thoughts did not go back to the pink head until the teacher arrived and everyone dispersed from that single desk.
“Excuse me, that is my seat.” A boy politely said to the new student.
“Ah, my bad! All yours.” He stood up and looked around for a remaining spot, which happened to be the one next to Io.
Io couldn’t help watch this person out of the corner of his eye. Ryuu had set his chin on his hands, obviously not impressed by the teacher’s introduction to their subject.
Brown eyes slid to the left and spotted Io’s own on him. Io quickly moved his gaze back to the front of the class, trying to pretend like that hadn’t just happened. A moment later, he found his eyes sneaking a look again, and this time finding the other’s own on him. Both boys quickly looked forward, highly aware of the occurrence and both fighting a laugh.
Io thought this would continue for a while, but was surprised by the feeling of paper on his skin. He instinctively looked towards the person at his side, and the pink hared gave a small smirk while quietly pointing at something on Io’s desk.
Io looked and actually snorted because this new student had thrown a note at him. What were they, grade schoolers?
And yet Io took the note between his fingers and untangled it carefully, finding writing in bright pink ink.
Instead of pretending not to look at each other, we should just talk. This class is a bore anyway.
With surprisingly minimal hesitation, Io took a pen out of his bag and scribbled a response. As quietly as possible he folded it back and leaned over to the other’s desk while the teacher’s back was to him. Ryuu rolled his eyes, amused at the overly cautious actions. He opened the note and was greeted by words linked to his own by an arrow in green ink.
What? Won’t keep your attention unless it’s about dates and flirts?
Ryuu grinned before writing back, quickly folding the paper and flicking it onto Io’s desk. The other shook his head lightly at the childishness of the action.
Of course! What this place needs is a little shake! That guy looks like he hasn't gone out with anyone since the edo period.
Io knew he should start paying attention to the class, but that pink handwriting on the paper was just too alluring.
Please keep your ideas to yourself, I cannot fight the image of him in a samurai outfit now, it is not pleasant.
Ryuu covered his mouth for a moment, scribbling back.
And saving all the damsels in distress with his wicked skills and good looks.
I could’ve gone my whole life without thinking of that.
And now you’ll never unsee it. You’re welcome.
Io’s looked at their teacher for a moment before forcing the sudden comical image out of his mind. This first impression was not one he had been expecting.
Well it has definitely made the class more interesting.
Ryuu looked up too and Io could almost see the moment the image repapered in his mind. The pink haired laughed, too late to cover his mouth.
“Is there a problem, Zaou kun?” The older man before them asked as he turned towards Ryuu.
“J-just a sneeze, sorry.” He said quickly before scribbling away.
That was your fault.
No, it was definitely your fault.
The class went on, and to Io's suprise they were still sending notes. Io hadn’t even done this when he was younger; there had never been someone he wanted to have, for pity’s sake, such minor conversations with so badly.
Being new is so tedious, ugh, I have so many things to do!
Like what?
For example, I need to join a club. I have no time to be looking into all of them! I have dates to plan!
Io rolled his eyes and ignored the last sentence of the note.
I’m in a club. The earth defense club.
Pft, you dress in weird costumes and fight monsters or what?
It’s more of “an excuse to not do anything” club.
For some reason he felt slightly nervous as he watched Ryuu scribble his response back, tongue lightly poking out of the corner of his mouth as he hurriedly wrote. Io realized that he really wanted Ryuu to join them. Ryuu grinned as he flicked the paper onto Io’s desk.
Just what I need! When can we go!
Io found it slightly disturbing how quickly Ryuu had adjusted into the earth defense club. It had been only a few days and it already seemed as if he had always been part of the group.
More disturbing perhaps was how at ease Io felt with this new student, and how evident it was. Just the way En and Atsushi seemed to gravitate towards each other and simply ‘click’, the same seemed to apply for Io and Ryuu. Their interest were completely different, but they knew how the other ticked and their personalities seemed to have what the other lacked, perfectly complementing each other.
It frightened Io how such a short time ago he had been living without something that seemed so natural and, dare he say, vital for him. It seemed a dream, the idea that Ryuu had not been a part of his life before. Even everyone in the club suddenly couldn’t seem to be able to picture one without the other.
2 weeks in and they already knew where the other lived and they would already meet up to walk to school and back. Io realized he couldn’t remember mornings that didn’t begin with Ryuu’s cheerful chatter as background noise while they calmly made their way to school.
The pink haired’s stories were always about girls, although Io had never seen him with one. He always brought them back to his mark, which was clear on his ankle, so Io thought there must be some truth to them (although he questioned what exactly). He recognized Ryuu’s energy and need to exaggerate everything to make it more interesting and alluring. He simply hummed or nodded at even the most ridiculous tales, both knowing he never took them seriously.
Yes, Io couldn’t remember a time without Ryuu. The worst part was that he didn’t want to.
Everything started going downhill one day after school as the group made their way home.
They had been chatting like normal, when Io suddenly caught sight of a couple before them. They were walking close, talking and holding hands and looking so content. Both their marks were clear on their arms.
Io felt a strange heaviness wash over him. He hadn't given his mark much thought for a while now, and all those conflicting thoughts and emotions it provoked in him hit him unexpectedly.
The sudden silence felt off to Ryuu, and he turned to Io with a slight frown.
“What’s wrong?”
Io stayed silent a second longer, and now Ryuu really was worried. The other just gave a light shake of his head.
“It’s nothing.” He said simply, directing what could barely be described as a smile to Ryuu. Only then did the pink head realize they had stopped walking.
“Io.”
The other simply remained quiet, appearing lost in his thoughts.
“I think I’ll be heading back to school, there was some work I wanted to consult a teacher with.”
Ryuu knew instinctively that this was just Io wanting space, but that didn’t mean he was ok with just knowing his friend was feeling down and not being able to do anything about it.
“But-!”
“Head home without me. I’ll see you all later.” He said pleasantly, but it sounded cold to Ryuu’s ears.
“Wai-“ But Io was already walking away, and Ryuu knew he didn’t want to be followed.
He could hear the others behind him reacting with slight concern, but the pink haired’s mood had lowered dramatically and he just wanted to leave as fast as possible. Without saying a word, he walked past them.
“Oh, dear.” Atsushi murmured, looking at the scene.
“What happened to Io senpai!” Yumoto asked worriedly. Atsushi placed his hand on his chin in thought.
“It’s probably about his mark.” En reasoned, putting his hands in his pockets.
“You really think that could still be bothering him so much?”
“Of course.” En stated to the blue head. “The thought that for a single mistake you could never find that person you were meant to be with? That you walked past them and now they’re gone? The opportunity lost forever.” Those words saddened both boys (although Atsushi felt quite touched at En’s sentiment).
“But… shouldn’t they see each other again? I mean, they are soulmates. If its meant to be then it means they must find each other somehow, no?”
“And how do you suppose that would happen?”
“By finding another person who also doesn’t know who their soulmate is!”
En sighed, tired by the difficulty of the subject.
“If only it where that simple.” He murmured, turning back towards the school’s exit with Atsushi and Yumoto following.
None of them noticed the person who had been lingering behind.
It was a new day, and the members of the defense club were gathered in their clubroom just like every morning.
Except for Io.
Ryuu gave a frustrated sigh before righting his chair which he had been precariously leaning back on.
“Where did Io go to! What could he possibly be doing right now.” He huffed, crossing his arms. Io hadn’t been at their usual meeting spot to walk to school and no one had heard from him. Ryuu was starting to regret not going after him the day before. His sigh became tired, and he turned to the others. “Do you have any idea why he’s being so weird?”
Yumoto nodded quickly but his words were muffled by the morning onigiri his brother had made for him. Atsushi motioned for him to stop before he chocked on his food.
“We’re thinking it’s because of a problem with his mark.” Atsushi began. Ryuu felt his eyes widen in surprise.
“His mark?” He had never given it much thought, but he had often looked at it and wondered how Io could have one when he seemed very obviously uninterested in anything of that sort. He had never spoken about his soulmate or even acknowledge the fact of having one. Ryuu at first had felt kind of hurt by not having Io trust him with that kind of information, but soon found himself becoming glad.
For some reason… he didn’t think he’d be able to handle Io talking about someone in that way.
He felt his heart skip a beat, which seemed to affect the rest of his body and make him feel suddenly unsteady.
“I know it doesn’t sound much like Io.” Atsushi said with slight amusement. “But he was really bothered by it when it first happened. He brushed by his soulmate in a crowd and now he doesn't know who it is.”
Ryuu felt like his breath had been forced out of him. Io had brushed by his soulmate in a crowd-
Just like me.
He stood up so suddenly his chair fell back. Ryuu’s heart was beating like crazy, and even though he didn’t understand it, his mind had been flooded with a sudden want- no- need.
I think I am Io’s soulmate.
“When!?”
“Huh!?” Atsushi had pulled back at Ryuu’s sudden outburst, catching everyone’s attention. Ryuu slammed his hands on the table.
“When did this happen!? Do you know the date!?” The urgency in Ryuu’s eyes intimidated the blue haired.
“W-why would I know that!” He said defensively.
“Oi, what is it, Ryuu?” En spoke, trying to get some pressure off Atsushi, but Ryuu was already cursing and turning away from them. He couldn’t be sure unless he knew the date, he couldn’t tell Io something like that with at least having some proof.
Isn’t this reaction, this… damn mess of feelings in my chest, proof enough?
“I know!” Yumoto said suddenly, standing up as well. Ryuu turned to him with wild eyes. The blonde grinned excitedly. “The day I asked Io senpai about his mark was the day we had a special discount at the bathhouse! My brother makes me keep track of them so we have them spaced out!”
“Yumoto!” Ryuu said, looking at the short boy with such admiration that he never thought he would feel towards him. “Do you remember when?”
“It must have been the first week of September! We haven’t had a discount since!”
The wave of relief Ryuu felt wash over him was the best feeling he had ever experienced in his life. Excitement, fear, and impatience began to blend into it as he turned away from everyone and began to run out the door.
He was Io’s soulmate, he was sure.
And as he ran, there was the realization at the back of his mind that his soulmate had turned out to be a guy. Deep inside, he was troubled by it, maybe even disgusted at himself, but he knew already that he would deal with those thoughts later and that the desire to be with Io right now was stronger than any other feeling.
He had no idea where the other boy was, and he ran and ran through hallways and classrooms, with only one target in mind.
But what he eventually found was not one person, but two.
Ryuu stopped dead in his tracks at the sight, his body reacting before his mind did; cold dread spreading through his system.There at the top of the stairs was Io with one Gero Akoya pressed against him and handing off his arm.
“Oh- Ryuu.” Io said, noticing the other. Ryuu gave a small jolt because he himself had forgotten he was there, for a moment all he could see had been Io and that guy…
The pink haired’s mouth was open but he couldn't make a sound. There were so many things he had wanted to say just a moment before but it felt worlds away. All those words were now heavy and bitter in his tongue as his eyes continued to take the sight in in search of understanding.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the meeting today.” Io said apologetically, probably thinking that was what Ryuu was searching him for. “The morning took quite the turn for me…”
Io looked at Akoya, and the way the other gave a small laugh as he tightened his grip on Io’s arm made Ryuu feel numb.
“It turns out we’re soulmates!” Akoya exclaimed happily. The numbness turned into a potent shock.
“You’re lying.” The words slid off his toungue with no hesitation, but Ryuu began to felt doubt creep into his heart. What if Io had brushed past Akoya that day? A crowd is crowd after all. What if Ryuu had brushed by someone else? How was fate so cruel as to mix them up this way and toy with him?
But the spark of panic in Akoya’s eyes said it all, and Ryuu was certain once more. Before he could say anything, Io intervened.
“I’m sorry I didn’t explain it to you before, but my mark situation was complicated. Let’s talk about this later, ok?” Io said as Akoya pulled him back towards the direction they had been walking. Ryuu couldn’t say a thing, he was frozen on the spot, arms limp at his side, and was invaded by just a terrible feeling that everything was wrong.
Io hadn’t taken his eyes off him, and worry began to etch onto his face.
“Ryuu?” He began, but Akoya pulled him more.
“Io, we’re leaving now, remember?”
And so Io walked away, still looking at Ryuu with a troubled expression. Maybe, Ryuu thought, he could also feel that this situation was wrong.
Ryuu was trying, he really was. He had taken a step away from the defense club after the Io soulmate situation and had tried to socialize with other classmates, take his mind off of things, maybe flirt with a few girls, but it immediately felt off. He had thought of the perfect anecdote to explain how having his mark as a flame meant he was destined for a more passionate love life, but the moment the first words left his tongue he knew he wasn’t feeling it. His smile was shaky and his laugh hollow. He shortened the story as much as he could, and left the room.
He only tried once more the next day before giving up. No, this soulmate thing wasn’t something that could be ignored. Just like that cursed mark on his ankle would never go away.
Io could tell there was a problem, but he barely had any time for his friends anymore. Akoya was a demanding partner, and the time Io had left he had to use it for his studies and stocks. If he had known Akoya better, he would have known the pastel haired was trying to keep him away from the others, but he figured it was just the first stages of a relationship and the intensity would lower after some time.
But he did notice Ryuu, and honestly it frightened him the way his friend slowly seemed to be wasting away. It wasn’t anything an outsider would notice probably; but he had stopped telling jokes, stopped flirting and socializing with others, stopped doodling or secretly playing with his phone in class, stopped grinning and laughing and… and just being Ryuu.
Io at first thought Ryuu was mad at him for spending so much time with Akoya but it didn’t even seem to be that: he didn’t seem angry, but down. And when Io tried to talk to him, he would talk back, meaning he wasn't angry. He would smile, but it wouldn’t reach his eyes, and he would chat at times but others simply look away silently. Io noticed, of course he did, but it was hard for him to do anything at first because the few precious moments he had with Ryuu he used them to talk to him and try to clear his mind from his already slightly overwhelming relationship. He would forget to ask what was wrong or he wouldn't want to mention it in fear of ruining these few moments. But as it got worse, Io began to get scared. Ryuu was starting to avoid him now.
En had turned out pretty intuitive for these things and had figured out the truth. Everyone wanted Ryuu to say something but they knew there was technically no proof: Akoya had a mark, a matching story, and no reason to be doubted.
“This isn’t fair!” Said Yumoto fuming one day. “You two should be together! He must be lying!”
“We know this, Yumoto. There’s nothing we can do.” Said Atsushi calmly, hoping Ryuu wouldn’t react badly to the blonde’s words. The pink haired simply looked tired as he stood.
“I’m going home early today.”
Something sparked in Yumoto’s eyes suddenly and he stood up.
“No, wait!” He took Ryuu’s hand and pulled his out of the room, not before taking En’s water bottle with the other.
“Oi!”
The blonde ignored them all as he dragged Ryuu through the school.
“Io senpai said he was meeting with the other one in front of the library, right?”
“W-why are you asking that? Stop!” But the blonde went all the way to the library hall, dropping Ryuu’s hand suddenly. The other blinked in confusion. “Yumoto, wha-“
“Shhh!”
Ryuu watched as Yumoto sneaked against the wall of the corner leading to the hall. Before he could process what he was planning, he heard footseps and voices, recognizing them as Io and Gero’s.
Then the blonde gave a battle yell and threw the bottle’s contents right at the pair.
“Gyaaaaaa!”
Ryuu gasped at the yells but didn’t move, watching as the two wet victims moved forward and searched for their attacker.
“Y-yumoto?! What are you-!?“ Io began, but the blonde interrupted him, pointing at Akoya.
“His mark! His mark is fake!”
And Ryuu gasped again because it was true: The water had made that dark circle at the edge of Akoya’s jaw smudge.
“Wha- bu- you-“ Io’s eyes were wide with shock and a hint of hurt. Akoya was clearly panicking now.
“I- I know! I’m sorry! I just heard about your mark and I- I really like you s-so I thought-“
But Io had taken a step back and the look in his eyes very clearly said there was nothing he could say.
“I need to go.” He murmured quickly before going out of sight.
Ryuu thought he would be glad to see Io finding out the truth, but honestly he just felt saddened. Now Io was sad, and his already weak trust in others would crumble even more. How could Ryuu declare himself his soulmate after all this had happened? Io would think it some cruel joke and he’d definitely be putting their friendship at risk.
No, there was no happy ending for Ryuu here.
He whispered a thank you to Yumoto before leaving quietly. His every step to his home felt heavy, like his heart.
It had been a few days since his break up with Akoya, and Io couldn’t take Ryuu’s attitude anymore. He thought this whole avoiding thing would end but it was just getting worse. Ryuu wasn't meeting up with him to walk to school anymore, and now he even gave excuses to not go to the earth defense club. The worry in Io chest became a constant constricting pressure that grew every day and wouldn’t let him rest. He missed the morning chatter, the jokes, the smiles, the comfort of his presence, the warmth of his eyes, the amusement of his actions, just Ryuu.
So Io decided he wouldn’t let him continue to run away. Early in the morning, he headed straight for the boy’s house and knocked on the door. Ryuu’s grandmother answered, well acquainted with the boy.
“Good morning, love! I haven’t seen you here for a while now, specially not this early!” She greeted brightly. Io gave her the best smile he could muster, and asked for Ryuu. “He’s still getting ready upstairs but I’m sure he’ll be down soon, wont you come in.”
Io dragged the kitchen chair with a sigh, quickly forcing himself to straighten and maintain a pleasant image for Ryuu’s grandmother. The woman looked at him for a moment before her smiled softened.
“I don’t usually have the opportunity to be alone with you, io-kun.” She began. “But now that I do, I would just like to thank you.”
The boy blinked in surprise, not knowing at all what she was referring to.
“Thank me for what?”
“For being such good company for my Ryuu. You wouldn’t know how nervous he was to be joining a new school, or how hard it was for him to make friends before. But everything’s been going better for him ever since he met you and your friends, but specially you. I just wanted you to know that.”
Io’s expression saddened. It was obvious Ryuu had been avoiding his home too, the woman had probably not seen his state as of late. Maybe he had even been using Io as an excuse. He felt like such a terrible friend.
The woman had gone back to her cooking. She looking thoughtful for a moment before speaking once more.
“Oh yes, ever since he got his mark that week before school, things seem to have taken a turn for the better.” Those words froze Io for a second. “I was worried he wo-“
“I’m sorry, when did you say? A week before his first day?” Io’s heart was hammering in his chest and he had stood up. Ryuu’s grandmother blinked.
“Yes, I’m quite sure. He had been worried about going but then that happened and he seemed much more confident.”
Io didn’t understand why he was shaking or why his mouth was so dry.
“Would you happen to know the exact day? By any chance?”
Please, please.
“You shouldn't be testing an old woman’s memory, Io-kun.” She kid, and Io felt his hope sink.
“Oh... I guess not...”
The woman winked.
“Lucky for you, I wrote it down because I was so happy for him!” She moved towards a drawer and took out a very used agenda. Io could feel his palms sweat as the woman flipped the pages, knowing exactly what he wanted to hear.
Please let it be him, please.
“I was so worried because he had no idea who it was that had touched him but he couldn't care less! He was so glad… lets see…” Io felt as if the world had stopped spinning. Because Ryuu didn’t know who… did that mean…
“Ah, here! 5th of september! Marked with very happy colors.” The woman turned towards the sound of io’s chair falling to the ground as he clumsily made his way towards the hall.
“I need to go upstairs!” He declared with force, body shaking as he made his way past the kitchen.
“D-do be careful, dear!” She said at seeing him in such a sudden rush.
Io ran up the stairs with all the strength he could muster and with a clear wish in his heart.
Ryuu was his soulmate and had been all this time.
Just as he made his way to the top step, Ryuu was coming out of his room. His eyes caught sight of his breathless best friend as he took the final steps to reach him.
“Io-“ His words were cut off as Io captured Ryuu’s lips with his, one hand on the back of his head and the other around his waist.