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Soulmate locket
[ sohl-meyt lok-it ] ☆
noun
- a small case that holds a picture of the recipients soulmate and an accompanying name; usually appearing on someone's fifth birthday. Each has its own unknown requirements to open them; which, after met, releases the lock.
IDIOMS ABOUT SOULMATE LOCKET
- Love in my locket, to reference one's soulmates: They are the love in my locket.
- Until your soulmate locket opens, to insult someone: You’ll be searching for love until your soulmate locket opens.
SEE MORE IDIOMS
ORIGIN OF SOULMATE LOCKET
First recorded in 1300–25
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
To the outside world, Kenjirou doesn't seem like the romantic type. He wouldn't care about a locket, nor the qualifications in which it can open. Many assume he doesn't know the signs that it's unlocked; but he does, and he's constantly thinking about it.
So colour him surprised when he wakes up on New Year's Eve and sees an openable clasp.
He places it back on his bedside table. There's a pit in his stomach. It's not how Kenjirou thought he'd be feeling. A wave of anxiety washes over him. For as long as he can remember he's been waiting for this, but he’s never thought about what he'd do when it actually happened. He finds himself staring at his locket. The locket he can open and see who's inside.
Kenjirou doesn't know why he's so nervous. It's unlikely he knows the person in there. Most people don't; especially if it happens when they're younger.
After noticing he's already late, he puts the locket around his neck and starts to get ready. The team is planning a celebration. Kenjirou's sceptical about how fun it can be considering the usual club ‘bonding’ always ends with someone—mostly Goshiki—crying, but it's nice to have people to celebrate with. Most of them are too far from their families to visit.
The group decided not to wear traditional dress. A smaller group of them, including Kenjirou, plan to visit their nearby shrine in the morning; they'll wear it for that.
He changes his shoes as a knock comes to his door. Knowingly, Taichi’s on the other side about to tell him he's late.
“Come on!” He knocks again, “everyone's already at Ushijima’s!”
“Yeah, yeah,” he calls through the door while grabbing his jacket. Kenjirou wasn't asked to bring anything, though he did offer to help with food. It was turned down. Ushijima said him and Reon were taking care of it. He swings the door open, “I'm not that late, I'm just not on time.”
“That's literally the definition of late.”
“Shut up.”
The two bicker during their short trip to Ushijima’s dorm. It's only a few floors down. Kenjirou is thankful everyday for the fact they picked Ushijima’s to be the usual hangout place. Yamagata’s was the other option and that's in a different building. He would hate walking there everytime.
Three hours to midnight, Kenjirou and Taichi arrive at Ushijima’s dorm.
Tendou's on his way out with Semi when they open the door. It's crowded in the tiny square of a genkan. The Shiratorizawa dorms are spacious because they have money but not that spacious because they're cheap. He switch's his shoes as quickly as possible to get out of there.
“Wait, wait!” Tendou beams, “do you guys want to get mystery bags with us?”
“Don't recommend,” Semi adds.
Yamagata laughs from the couch, Goshiki’s beside him. They're watching Kōhaku Uta Gassen. This years lineup has most of the boys excited. Ushijima and Reon are in the kitchen. Kenjirou makes his way to them.
“You guys are getting them now?” Taichi questions.
“Yeah, before shops close.”
“We forgot earlier!”
Yamagata chimes in, “that's not a good thing, Ten.”
He mumbles out a ‘whatever’ and they're out the door. Leave it to Tendou to do everything last minute. Semi’s just the support system.
The kitchen is full of platers; toshikoshi soba, datemaki, sakiyaki, and namasu, among other things. There's ingredients all over the counter, mostly organized. Unfortunately, though organized, it's everywhere. These two have been making food all day, and they still are.
“You can take some if you like,” Reon offers.
“What!?” Goshiki exclaims, “you told me I couldn't have any yet!”
“That was half an hour ago,” Ushijima points out.
He groans, “w-h-a-t whatever.”
“I'd suggest eating before Tendou gets back,” Reon elaborates, “he promised to sing—”
“Shout,” Yamagata interrupts.
He sighs with a head shake, “to shout along to the program.”
Goshiki jolts up from his spot. If all went to plan, he's been here for a few hours already. Originally he said it was to help cook, though everyone knew that was a lie. Being the youngest in the friend group, Goshiki is sometimes treated like a sixteen year old. Although, if you ask Kenjirou, sometimes he still acts like a sixteen year old.
Kenjirou takes a bowl before he gets there. He does not want to deal with Goshiki inspecting every dish to pick the best one. The weird quirk makes a lot of sense to Kenjirou. He’ll never admit to understanding that little loser though.
He sits between Taichi, who's in Goshiki's old spot, and Yamagata. This will result in an earful from Goshiki later. Yamagata tries to steal noodles out of his bowl. Eventually they all sit and eat there food. There's a few hums and headbobs to the program as people finish up for the moment.
Two hours and twenty minutes till midnight, Tendou and Semi arrive with mystery bags.
“Hey, hey! We bought the cheapest and worst quality ones we could find!” Tendou cheers, placing a bag with each team member. Some on laps, some by feet; depending of who has food.
Not everyone has this tradition, but no one says no to free stuff when Tendou buys it for them. Especially since Tendou rarely pays.
There's a dip next to Kenjirou as a bag is placed there. However, it's Semi who does it. After he sits in the floor in front of him holding a similar type of bag. They're better quality than the others. Kenjirou doesn't want to dwell on the idea that Semi bought better ones for the two of them.
If he asked, Semi would say a dumb thing about how Kenjirou wouldn't keep anything in his if it was bad quality and useless. Thats the draw for Tendou—dumb and useless little things. He can imagine the conversation as Semi convinces Tendou it's a waste of money to buy for him.
Tendou goes immediately to open his. It's surprising he didn't on the walk back. Kenjirou peaks through his. Goshiki’s is already torn apart.
Yamagata goes to get—what feels like—his seventh serving of food. In reality it's his third. Enough was made, it was assumed him and Tendou would eat whatever was left. Those two have black wholes where their stomachs should be.
“I don't know if I'm starving or if this is just so good that I can't stop eating,” he comments.
“You would eat anything,” Taichi adds.
“That's not exactly true.”
“Then what is?”
Reon cuts in, “how about I accept the compliment and you two stop?”
Completely unaware of what's happening, Tendou starts going on, and on, and on, about what's in his bag. Mostly raving about how there's sweets.
Kenjirou decides it's time to open his. There's a couple cute things he can see immediately. It's a lot of stationary supplies. He can never have enough of that. There's a green rabbit pen, some highlighters, as well as other things. They're all brands that Kenjirou has heard good things about. Overall, it's pretty good.
He wonders what Semi has in his. If they're similar in contents or if it stops at the outside of the bag. Most likely different. Their interests aren't aligned.
Nevermind, that doesn't matter to him.
The team goes back to shouting and—badly—singing along to the next performer. It's an K-pop group that Kenjirou follows. Every once and awhile somebody talks about what they did for the day; mostly during intermissions. It's fun. Loud, but fun.
One hour and thirty minutes till midnight.
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
Forty minutes to midnight, and Kenjirou's thinking about leaving.
The shouting, the people, the television, and the stuffy feeling in the room finally gets to him. Kenjirou takes the opportunity to slip out and get some air. He slunks against the door the second it closes. After a moment—which he uses to collect his thoughts—he starts walking down the hall. Thankfully, Ushijima’s dorm is on the first floor so it doesn't take long to exit the building.
The December chill seeps through the light fabric he's wearing. He didn't grab his jacket on the way out. Whatever warm air was trapped close to him is gone now. Frigid temperatures attack his nose and ears.
Despite this, it's calm. Fireworks won't go off till midnight. A mix of yellow and blue streetlights illuminate the snow. There's a couple odd colours coming from Christmas lights that have yet to be put away.
Kenjirou brushes a patch of snow off a nearby railing and leans on it. He takes a deep breath. It's almost like a cleanse of his lungs. Admittedly, a room full of college guys doesn't have the best atmosphere.
Now, he has time to think. He pulls the locket out from his shirt and lifts it over his head. They range in size, shape, and colour. For instance, Taichi’s is different from Kenjirou’s. His is a silver oval with intricate designs spanning the faces. It's too big to wear so he has it hanging on his mirror. Kenjirou’s is a small rose gold heart. It’s unhealthy how much he's looked at this locket. At the tiny gem on the front, surrounded by an engraved heart. It's simple; it fits him.
He stoped showing people after it was called girlie in middle school.
Kenjirou feels a weight on him as a jacket falls over his shoulders. Soon after, someone leans on the railing next to him. That ‘someone’ being Semi of all people. He expected Taichi or Reon, possibly even Ushijima, but not Semi.
Kenjirou hides the locket in his hands before speaking, “what are you doing here?”
“Well,” Semi starts, “I saw an idiot walk out in what was essentially a t-shirt and thought he might have forgotten something.”
He rolls his eyes. Only Semi could do something courteous and then insult him. It's almost endearing. Kenjirou slips his arms into the jacket. It's quickly apparent that it's not his. “Whose jacket did you...” he inspects it and almost laughs, “you brought me Taichi’s jacket.”
“Yeah,” Semi fiddles with the one he's wearing, “I grabbed whatever was on the way out. I'm pretty sure this one is Goshiki’s”
“And it's still too big. Even though he's two years younger than you,” he teases.
The elder scoffs, “that's not valid, Goshiki is like… it's like comparing me to Ushijima. I'm not built like they are—plus, look at yourself,” he gestures, “you're hands aren't even out of the sleeves.”
“Tai’s like 15cm taller than me, that's not fair!”
“Doesn't matter,” he shrugs, “you guys are the same age, that's embarrassing.”
Kenjirou shakes his head, pressing his tongue to his cheek. Semi has never failed to push his buttons. Although it's less annoying then it was in the past. Ever since they came to an understanding with volleyball it's been better. The team never fails to comment on every minuscule change in their relationship.
Still, it's questionable why he came after him. Even if Semi’s the only one who saw, he could have told someone else.
Kenjirou sighs, fishing his hands out of his sleeves. The locket falls out during the attempt. Both boys stare down as it disappears in the snow. Fuck, he curses under his breath and rounds the railing. Semi follows soon after.
Thirty minutes till midnight, two idiots are digging through snow.
“You don't have to—” he tries to refuse Semi’s help but when he looks, Semi’s already holding the locket.
“You can open it?”
Silence. Kenjirou doesn't know what to say. This is the first time Semi’s seen it. Of course it had to be when it could be opened. It's embarrassing that he carries it around all the time. He gets to his feet.
He hasn't told Taichi yet. How is he supposed to explain this to Semi if he can't build the courage tell Taichi. That being said, he has to; because Semi’s looking up at him and holding the very thing he has to talk about. If he doesn't talk about it soon, he might explode.
“Who's in it?” More questions start flowing, “do you know them? Have you told anybody?”
In the blink of an eye, his heart rate spikes. With a quickening breath he steps back, a little panicked. The string of direct questions is too much.
“Woah, woah,” Semi stands up, “I didn't mean to—” he reaches for Kenjirou’s arm before pulling back, “I didn't… I thought something like this might happen. You should sit down.”
Huh? Kenjirou can't wrap his head around the statement. He’s manoeuvred to the nearest bench. They both sit; silently for a while. Semi places the locket in Kenjirou’s hand and closes it.
“What do—” he struggles to get the words out. His throat feels tight. There's not a single congruent thought swirling in his hurricane of a mind.
After Semi’s sure he's not continuing, he speaks, “do you not like who's in it?”
Kenjirou swallows the lump in his throat. He's left staring at his hands. “I haven't opened it.”
It hangs in the air for a moment. Semi sits with the new piece of information.
“Why not?”
“I'm nervous.” It's a cop out answer, but it's the true one.
“When did it—?”
“This morning.”
Another silence clouds them. Semi’s thinking through his words; that much is obvious. It's not uncommon for the two to sit in silence. They usually do when alone; which is not often. Kenjirou’s either glued to Taichi’s hip or wanting to be by himself. In all honesty, Semi’s not much different, but Kenjirou doesn't know that.
Twenty minutes to midnight, and they're freezing silently in winter weather.
He can imagine how he looks right now; pink in the face—especially his ears and nose—tucked into a jacket that doesn't fit him. There's almost no feeling in his fingers. Despite being in the cold, his hearts beating so fast he feels like a furnace. The stark difference to sweating and his hands being immobilized is nauseating.
“You should open it at midnight.”
Kenjirou doesn't let it process, “why would I—” until he does, “open it at midnight?”
Semi gauges Kenjirou's reaction. There isn't much of one. His brows are furrowed and his eyes haven't left his hands since they sat down. The locket is out of sight, but they both know it's in there; safely secured behind Kenjirou’s tight fist.
“That's a lot of pressure.”
“Then open it now.”
He releases a breath of air, “it’s not that easy.”
“I know,” Semi nods.
Then Kenjirou does something out of character. In a swift motion the locket finds its way into Semi’s hands. They're shut around the object by Kenjirou. He releases Semi’s hands before he can think about what he did. “You should open it,” he fixates on his feet.
“Shirabu, I can't—” Semi tries to hand it back but is met with refusal. Kenjirou can't look at his friend.
“Please.”
“Why? Why can't—? Shirabu this is a lot of pressure.”
“You don't think I know that?” His face is now in his hands, griping into his hair.
Hypothetically, Semi understands it's not about him. He shouldn't be nervous. The contents of the locket don't change just because he's opening it. Having him open it is less pressure than opening his own.
It's also because he's the one around. If someone else followed Kenjirou out, it probably would go the same. Right? It's easier for him to think it's nothing.
“Are you sure you want me to do this?”
“I can't do it myself, Eita.”
Ten minutes till midnight, and Kenjirou's asking Semi to open his locket.
“I just want you to be one hundred percent sure you know what you're asking for,” he looks at the locket.
Kenjirou pushes his forehead into Semi’s shoulder. His eyes are shut, brows furrowed. The loose sleeves are gripped in his right fist, his other around Semi’s arm. It's to keep him grounded; so his head doesn't get lost in the clouds.
“Okay,” it's only a soft murmur as Semi prepares himself.
With a soft mechanical click, Kenjirou knows it's open. The random locket that appeared in his desk drawer at five years old. The locket that's constantly been in the back of his mind for roughly fifteen years. The locket he wears everyday. That locket, is open.
The silence from Semi is revealing. It's something bad. It's horrible; horrible enough for Semi to deem it so.
“What is it?” Kenjirou blurts, “how bad is it? Please say something—anything.”
Nothing. Complete blackout. The only thing Kenjirou can hear is his own heartbeat.
After building determination—or letting nerves erode him—he opens one eye. His forehead still pressed firmly to Semi’s shoulder. Once his foggy vision fades, he focuses with the dim light; then he sees it.
An up to date picture of the very man he's holding onto. The script on the side is too small to read, but that's definitely him. His friend that he has a comically confusing relationship with is photographed in the small capsule. Semi Eita is in his locket.
Another thought hits him. He's in Semi’s locket. A locket he's never seen. He lifts his head, immediately face–to–face with him. Semi’s had a few more seconds to process the situation they're in, still, neither can say a word. It's a common theme of the night.
Kenjirou jumps as a loud bang goes off. A bright show of lights flood through the sky. They're a ways away but the sound amplifies over the water and catches in the mountains. Distant shouting can be heard from open windows. All Kenjirou's worries dull in comparison.
He looks to Semi, whose still looking at him. There's a soft smile on his face as he places the locket in Kenjirou's hands.
“Happy New Year, Kenjirou.”