Chapter Text
“Oh, it’s just you,” Sayaka said with an unceremonious sigh and set her pen down missing the way Kirari slightly paused before strolling across the room to sit at her desk. Outside masses of white flakes of snow raged past the window. Which meant that her shoes would get wet on the way to the bus stop despite the use of her umbrella that she had stored away in her bag. If she had known the snow would come this early she would’ve dressed accordingly. Yet here the snow was. A full day early. Of course it had to be today.
“Sayaka.”
The lilting soothing tone pulled her out of her thoughts, “Yes, president?”
“Does the weather bother you?”
“No, no—” she shook her head, “—it’s just that I’m not adequately prepared so the snow is more of a nuisance rather than a bother.”
The slightly older woman tilted her head with a gentle sparkle in her eyes. “I, for one, find snow to be quite breathtaking.”
“O-Of course! It is beautiful! Especially with the full moon!”
“Ah right,” Kirari turned to look out at the world quickly being smothered in white. “It is that time of the month.”
Sayaka blushed then cleared her throat. “I suppose one could word it like that.”
“I must let you go—”
Her head snapped up staring at the other woman. The pen slid an inch through her loosened grip. She was being let go? This couldn’t be happening! She had been perfect at this job. At being hers. Had Kirari finally figured out her secret? Oh no. She would end living if Kirari looked down upon her with any shadow of disgust or disdain. Sayaka studied the perfectly manicured blue nails that she had done this morning. That wasn't possible. So why else would she be fired? She had provided anything Kirari had requested even on a whim. A particular bottle of Dom Pérignon Champagne that was bottled in 1996? Done. New design layouts for the office for the plan to add tanks for sharks? Done. Perfectly brewed tea? She could do that in her sleep. She had done everything beyond expectations but was that where the issue lay? There was no variation. No surprise. No chaos as her president loved. Perhaps if she—
“—home early tonight Sayaka.”
“Oh,” she shook her head fighting off the rising doubts. And the flushing heat rapidly making its way to her cheeks. Naturally, the president wasn’t letting her go. She was too good of a secretary. Kirari was just ensuring she had adequate time to beat the incoming storm home before outside turned too dangerous to travel. “It’s fine. Really.”
“That was not a question.”
It wasn't. Obviously. She should’ve known that already. Sayaka swallowed her disappointment then bowed before slowly packing her supplies into her bag. Soon enough she left through the student council doors followed by light footsteps of Kirari. It was an odd feeling having the president slightly behind her and not seeing the two perfect silver plaited braids swinging with every step. With all the students gone the president could truly do as she pleased. And for reasons unknown, she apparently wished to let her lead them out of the school.
“Well,” Sayaka shuffled her feet preparing herself for the cold wet socks during the walk to her bus stop, “I-I hope you have a good weekend president.”
“Did you not want a ride?”
“What?” The question flew out of her before she realized what an idiotic thing it was to say. How unfortunate it was that every time she was around her president she became this bumbling buffoon. She couldn’t help but blush yet again.
“To your apartment.”
Sayaka shook her head, side ponytail waving behind her, “That isn’t necessary! Not if it inconveniences you.”
“Then it’s settled.”
“Yes, president.” Her voice squeaked despite her best efforts to keep it normal. Receiving a ride from the president wasn’t out of the ordinary yet at the same time it wasn’t a normal occurrence. Perhaps the other times she was showing her some type of favor since the weather was nowhere near as perilous as now. As quickly as the thought came, Sayaka shook it away. The president wouldn’t show her hand to anyone except her sister. Possibly her soulmate. But to her? Her lips twitched downward. Not to her. Even despite how her beat was now well above its normal pulse rate as the back of her hand grazed against the older girl’s. No. She was only the secretary, not anyone to someone as grand as Kirari Momobami.
“It shouldn’t be much longer,” Kirari glanced downwards to see Sayaka frowning and hands fisted within her jacket pockets. She shifted slightly forward doing her best to block the incoming snow from the shorter girl. Tomorrow, she thought, I will have Sayaka buy a snow jacket. Snow jackets. For the council.
A few seconds later a sleek black car pulled up and Kirari swiftly opened the door before either the chauffeur or Sayaka was able to. She motioned for her secretary to get inside the heated vehicle. The younger girl immediately what she was told. Quickly they both settled into the backseat by dusting the snow off of themselves as the car started toward the apartment complex.
“Thank you president.”
Kirari loosely waved a hand at her response. They were both comfortable now. Instead, she opted for staring out the window into the mess of lights peeking out of the mass of gray. “Monthly meetings.”
Sayaka opted to hum in agreement, too afraid that she would say something lewd as she tore her eyes off of the expanse of pale skin that was revealing itself since Kirari had seated herself and thrown one leg over the other. Her eyes traveled back to their target. Strong thighs revealed themselves, muscles flexing with every air tap Kirari’s foot did as she kept tempo to the soft background music. Sayaka gulped. She had found another obsession.
“Connected for all of eternity by something so,” a soft sigh. “Mundane.”
“True,” she said politely before sneezing. "Excuse me." Hopefully, Sayaka winced internally, I won’t get a cold. “It is true that the method could be improved upon. However, there are many options that are less ideal.”
She waited for confirmation that her president was interested.
“Speak freely Sayaka.”
A nod, “For example, only knowing the last words one says.”
“So much possibility.”
“Bittersweet at best.”
“Or maybe the sweetest.”
Sayaka hummed again.
“You have no interest in meeting your soulmate.”
“I,” violet eyes looked down at her hands clasped neatly in her lap thinking of what to say. She couldn’t say, No, I wish to be yours instead so she merely said, “I have survived this far without them.”
Kirari gave no reply but kept her gaze on the flittering white ribbon she had given Sayaka so many years ago when she caught her trying to copy her own hairstyle. How strange Sayaka was. How very interesting. It seemed she always needed to know more. “Is that all?”
“Yes?” the younger girl’s tone flew up two octaves. “I mean, if I could meet them, then I would.”
Sparkling cerulean eyes shifted onto her. “If you could?”
“If-If I had the resources!” Sayaka blurted out afraid she had given her secret away. That she definitely could not tell. “If I had the resources then I would meet them. Do, umm, do you wish to meet yours?” she meekly stuttered out while pinching the outside of her leg for asking something so trivial.
Bright blue fingernails reached over and gently lifted the young girl's head until once more saw those dark eyes attuned to her. Yes, perhaps it was rather childish on her part but she liked it when Sayaka’s full undivided attention was on her. She allowed herself to follow the rapidly blooming cherry red across the face in front of her. How very intriguing, indeed.
“P-President?”
“Yes is my answer.”
Sayaka blushed harder all the while doing her very best to maintain eye contact with the ones smirking at her. She wasn't doing a good job.
“Except the time must be right.”
“Right?”
Kirari gave confirmation with a head nod. Then shifted her sight outside. “I believe we are here.”
The warmth left her face as Kirari dropped her hand and opened the door.
“Don’t let the bed bugs bite.”
“Yes, president!”
A small wave paired with an oddly wider smile and then Sayaka found herself left standing in front of her apartment complex confused as ever. Why hadn’t Kirari met her soulmate yet if she wished to? She certainly didn't lack the funds. Unless…she already had? That would make sense with the statement about timing. But why would she answer implying that she hadn’t? Maybe—
“Sayaka get your ass inside! It’s your turn to make dinner and I’m fucking hungry!”
She turned and scowled at Midari, “One, it’s always my turn to cook. Two, I’m home early.”
“Yeah, I saw the fancy smancy car and then pres kick you out.” She shifted her package onto her hip. “Don’t have to retell it to me.”
“I wasn’t kicked out. Merely put out.”
“Pshh. Whatever. Kicked out, put out. Same damn thing to me. All I know is that I’m starving.”
“Then you must be starving all the time.”
“Ha!” The taller girl threw her head back as they headed into the elevator. “That wasn’t half bad Sayaka!”
Violet eyes rolled.
“Anyways, I know you’ll be staying up tonight so I bought you a bunch of Red Bulls.”
She scrunched her nose. Those didn’t have enough caffeine for her and tasted like drinking diesel. Yet it was a selfless gesture. “Thank you Midari.”
The girl smiled and threw her arm around Sayaka as the elevator dinged, the doors sliding open. “I still can’t believe that you don’t dream!”
Sayaka shrugged her shoulders doing her best to play it off, “Not everyone has a soulmate.” It never had bothered her until she saw that gamble take place. When she spotted Kirari play with so much beauty and power. Only then, when Kirari looked directly at her while walking away, the thought of dreaming rushed back into her life.
“True,” Midari scratched the back of her head. “But you’re too young for that shit.”
Sayaka blushed as their door swung open. “Death doesn’t have a due date.”
“I bet pres doesn’t dream either.”
“Why-Why would you say that?”
“She’s not made of soulmate stuff. Too much to handle, ya know?”
Sayaka glared and turned sharply on her heel before slipping off her shoes and setting them neatly in their place. Two sneakers flew past her landing randomly. She sighed and picked those up to properly store them.
“Aww, come on Sayaka! I was just joking!”
She turned around and made her way to the kitchen purposefully sidestepping around Midari. The taller girl chuckled and rolled her eyes at the display. Sayaka opened the fridge, took out some vegetables, and then began thoroughly washing them under lukewarm water. A finger poked her. She ignored it. It happened again. And again. Then three more annoying times after. She grabbed the knife, “Yes, Midari?”
“Oh, uh,” the girl eyed the knife in Sayaka’s hand. “Never mind. Forgot what I was gonna say.”
“Very well.”
A slight pause of silence, well besides the sound of the blade slicing, stood between them as Midari watched Sayaka meticulously ready the ingredients. This was one of the reasons she liked rooming with her. The free food. Okay, so maybe not so free but the girl made great food. Perfected it ever since the third grade. And when Sayaka didn’t feel like cooking then she’d buy them takeout. And that had happened only three times in the history of them living together. Twice when Sayaka was too sick. And once when Sayaka forgot to pick up groceries from the store when a gamble had made twenty new house-pets in one day. She’d been too stressed so Midari bought dinner instead.
“Tell me the rules.”
“What?”
“The rules.”
“Huh,” Midari raised her eyebrows in disbelief. “You really want to know the rules after all these years?”
She nodded. “I already know that trying to share each other’s locations is not allowed, first names only, and that it only lasts for thirty minutes to an hour.”
“Seems like you know most of them already.”
“I’m not a complete idiot,” she drawled out sarcastically.
Hands flew up in surrender. “If you know them then what am I here for?”
“You said most of them. That means there’s more.”
“Oh yeah but,” she plucked a cut up bell pepper and took a bite. Crunchy. “You hit the big ones.”
“Tell me the small rules.”
“There’s the one where the languages aren’t translated for each other. So if soulmates don’t speak the same language then they have to learn it when they’re awake.” She leaned over to grab another pepper only to have her hand swatted away. Midari sat back down. “Plus, it makes it harder to guess if they’re near you and whatnot. Or actually, maybe it's easier.”
Sayaka nodded and checked the timer on the rice cooker. Another ten minutes. Perfect. She tossed the meat into the pan and stirred.
“Then they also give you like a creepy warning that you have five minutes left. And—”
“Creepy?”
“Yeah, like a big red five flashes in front of both of you.” She waited but no reaction came so Midari continued. “You never know when it’ll start. It’s just like bam and then you’re in some place with your soulmate.”
“Some place?"
“Location changes each time. Usually. Well, at least for me it does.”
“And that’s it?”
“Pretty much.”
“Midari.”
The girl was deeply inhaling the air as if the fragrances she was smelling could be consumed.
“Hello? Midari?”
“That’s all I can think of.”
“Midari!”
“Sheesh Sayaka! Calm down. There’s the internet too.”
The girl huffed and put the vegetables in with a dash of soy sauce and whatever else they had.
“What’s changed your mind anyway?”
“Just curious is all.”
“You’re such a liar right now. Look at you! You’re turning as red as that tomato!”
“N-No I’m not!”
Midari threw her head backward and cackled over the weak protests.
“It’s not that funny! I can’t stop natural bodily reactions!”
“Oh man, I bet the pres has you red all day! I bet she’s the reason why you’re even asking about this stuff in the first place.”
Sayaka blushed even harder as the rice cooker began to play its song to let everyone know it had completed its job. Midari didn’t always have to know the truth. Well, hear it from her anyway. She turned around and scooped some into a bowl then took a spoon and placed a hefty scoop of meat-vegetable mix on top.
“So that’s a yes?”
“Shut up and eat.”
They ate in silence for less than a minute before Midari’s voice filled the air again.
“I wasn’t kidding about the president probably not dreaming though.”
“Midari—” she pinched the bridge of her nose “—we just got over this conversation.”
“I’m not! I mean, like come on. She forgot what day it is! No one forgets, no one. Hell, even you don’t!”
“She’s a busy person!”
Midari gave a knowing stare.
“She is!”
“‘Kay let’s pretend she is. But no one forgets. Not unless they don’t dream! And I overheard Mary talking to the vice that she’d stay up with her to make up for the fact that she doesn’t dream.”
“You eavesdropped? Midari! That’s such improper behavior!”
“Hey! I just told you something really important! Ririka doesn’t dream! So…Kirari doesn’t dream either!”
“They’re two separate people!”
Midari rolled her eyes. “Not in this regard.”
“How do you know? Did you eavesdrop again!”
“All she said was that they would have to avoid pres since she’d be awake too.”
“She could be awake for a variety of reasons.”
“But she would be asleep if she dreamt.”
Sayaka huffed but had no comeback. Not when her spark of hope began to grow into a flame of imagination that maybe, just maybe, fate would be on her side for once. After all, being Kirari’s was the only thing she had ever asked for. Kirari was all she ever would want. Instead, she reverted to calling out her one-eyed roommate, “Stop smirking.”
Midari didn't.
Two weeks later Midari found herself speedily walking through the hallways shoving people into the walls if they stood in her way. Her day had been normal enough having won a gamble earlier in the morning until some runt came in asking if she was Sayaka’s roommate. She said yes and then they began spouting off about how the secretary had holed herself up crying in the second-floor bathroom. She scoffed but here she was scrambling her way to said bathroom. Midari grabbed the handle and pulled. It didn’t move. She pulled harder. Nothing. She pounded on the door, “Let me in!”
With a soft click, the door flung open the next time she rammed her shoulder into the door.
There in front of her stood, well slumped, Sayaka. Red eyes, red nose, and, well, just red. She had gone back to that annoying habit of hurting herself. Which meant digging her nails into her skin and ramming her head into whatever was around. Midari sighed and grabbed a paper towel then held it out to Sayaka. The other girl took it and blew her nose. Another paper towel. Another blow.
"Really? Just put pressure on where you're bleeding for God's sake!"
"My nose is a bigger concern."
"Liar."
Sayaka averted her eyes and went to the sink wetting a new paper towel before putting it upon her forehead.
“So," Midari leaned up against the wall. “What’s wrong? Who do I have to kill? Hmm?”
The girl merely sniffled only having just stopped crying.
“I don’t even have to know the full name. First or last will work.”
She shook her head.
“I just wanna talk with them. That’s all.”
“I’m okay,” Sayaka’s voice sounded weak and unstable. She hated that. The information shouldn't have affected her this much. She knew her hopes were too high. She was just…her. Sayaka Igarashi. Plain and normal and not exciting and no one’s soulmate. No wonder Japan looked down upon those who didn’t dream. She watched the blood twirl down the drain. There was no purpose to her. No duty to fulfill. She just existed as if fate had made a mistake when she was born. There was no future. And if there was she didn’t want it. Not without Kirari.
“Yeah right,” the light green eye rolled. “What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“Sayaka—”
“I said nothing!”
Midari glared.
“It really isn't that important."
"It is if you're hiding in here! Crying!"
"Fine!” She threw the used paper towel into the trash and prepared another one for herself. Sayaka took a deep breath and hardened her jaw as she stared at her friend using the mirror. "Mary Saotome is Ririka’s soulmate. Happy now?”
“Okay,” she said slowly trying to figure out the problem. “I don’t see the issue?”
“Kirari then also dreams! I'm-I'm not...”
“Sayaka,” her eye softened. “There's what, like eight, almost nine billion people better than her. You'll find someone."
She scoffed barely holding it together. "I highly doubt that."
"Don't."
“It's just that I really thought maybe. Maybe I would be allowed to have the one thing, the one person, the only something that I truly want. But she dreams Midari. Everyone dreams but me.”
Unbeknownst to the two girls, another student barely held in her gasp that most certainly would have given away that she had been accidentally locked in when Sayaka was maiming herself. Said girl was currently balancing on the sides of the toilet seat trying not to slip into the water. Two blonde pigtails swayed slightly as Mary's left foot slid slightly as she shifted so wasn't holding onto the toilet paper dispenser anymore. No way, she thought. Kirari wouldn’t do that, right? Sayaka was just her secretary. There had to be a mistake. Yeah, she nodded to herself, there's just a mistake.
“It’s okay Sayaka, it’ll be okay.”
“No,” Sayaka began to sob again. “Nothing will be okay from now on.”
“Sayaka—”
“Tell the president that I am sick and had to go home.”
Midari’s jaw dropped, “B-But—”
Teary violet eyes met her friends, “Please?”
“Okay.” She ran her hand through her hair, “Yeah okay. I can do that.”
Sayaka nodded. “Can you also grab my stuff before coming home?”
Midari gave a sad attempt at a thumbs up, “No problem. Do you want me to walk you to the bus stop?”
“No,” the word came out muffled from behind her hands.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“I guess I’ll see you at home then?”
Sayaka gave a curt nod and then ran out of the bathroom.
Moments later, Midari slammed the door open again.
As soon as she knew they were gone Mary crawled carefully down from the toilet seat making sure she wouldn't fall in. The moment her feet hit solid ground she sprinted back to Ririka.
“Riri!” she shouted finally spotting the silver haired girl sitting with Yumeko and Itsuki. She ignored the weird looks from the other two. “I gotta talk to you. Privately.”
“Mary?” Ririka asked worry filling her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I just need to ask you a few questions, that’s all.”
“Can it wait?” She glanced longingly at the half-eaten burger she was currently clutching, concern dissipated long ago.
“I’ll buy you another burger later!” Mary reached out and pulled the taller girl, who gave a startled squeak, from the cafeteria and into the nearest empty classroom she could find.
“Mary!” She exclaimed as she felt her face heat up when the hands on her hips tightened. “I-I thought we were doing this later tonight!”
“Huh?” The blonde tilted her head. “Doing what later tonight? Oh! No! I mean not that I don’t want to or that we won’t do ‘it’ later tonight,” now it was her turn to fight the rising blush as she stepped back dropping her grip on her girlfriend. “But I actually have questions I need answered!”
Ririka nodded along, taking it all in, “Okay. Ask me.”
“Did your sister dream too?”
“M-Mary! Why would you ask that?”
“Because I just overheard a rather interesting conversation!”
“In the bathroom?”
Mary gave her a look of ‘duh’.
“Yes okay! Yes, Rari dreamed too.”
“So she also knows who her soulmate is?”
“I, uh, I think so?”
“You two never talked about it?”
“She never wanted to!” Ririka whined with sad eyes. “I tried to get her to talk about it but she never said anything. Nothing! I don’t even know if her soulmate is a boy or a girl! Or a, umm,” she scrunched her nose in thought, voice trembling. “A nonbinary human!”
“Woah—” Mary grabbed Ririka’s hands calming her down, “—it’s okay Riri. Really. We can just assume that she knows like how you knew.”
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she plainly stated. Mary stood there twirling one ponytail thinking of how to get herself out of this situation she hadn’t even asked to be in. She could tell Sayaka that Kirari had dreamed but the girl wouldn’t do shit about it. Midari would make a mess. Ririka would probably urge Kirari to do something but she wouldn’t take action either. And her? Mary sighed, she didn’t want to be involved with Ririka’s sister at all if possible. Yet…
“Is that all?” Ririka’s gentle voice pulled her back to reality.
“No. Where’s your sister?”
Cerulean eyes widened. “Kirari? But you don’t like her! Why would you want to find her? Has she played another one of her tricks on you?”
“No. But I'm still not over her pouring salt in my water."
"It was relatively harmless," Ririka timidly suggested.
"I almost choked to death on salt water Riri! Drowned at McDonald's! But," she focused herself. "I need to talk to your sister because it seems that I always get dragged into shit and that shit involves her.”
“I’ll come with.”
“Riri, you don’t have to, you can go finish your burger. I know how much you like them.”
She shook her head stubbornly, “I’ll come with you. If you don’t mind, of course.”
“Of course I don’t. You are my soulmate even if you were born with an evil spawn as your twin.”
“Rari isn’t that bad!”
“Uh-huh. Sure she isn’t.”
“She isn’t!”
“Okay, okay. She’s only satan herself.”
“Mary!”
She rolled her eyes but bit her tongue instead of saying another word. The last thing she needed today was for each twin angry at her. She grabbed Ririka’s hand and they set off.
A few minutes later they found Kirari sitting in a hidden courtyard. Apparently a favorite of hers according to her twin.
The president was lying supine upon the ground, carefully watching the leaves shimmy with the gentle wind gusts. Hearing the footsteps approaching she acknowledged their presence, “Riri. Mary.”
“How did you know it was us? You didn’t even look.”
“You sound like a drunk obese elephant and Ririka is my sister.”
Mary rolled her eyes.
“Why are you here? It is the day they serve hamburgers, is it not?”
“Yeah but—"
"You," her head slowly turned to her visitors, "are displeasing."
"Rari."
"Currently."
"I have something that you want to hear!”
Kirari giggled.
Ririka blindly backed up Mary, “She’s telling the truth, Rari.”
The girl leisurely stopped and sat up facing the couple with her classic smile etched upon her features, “Go ahead then.”
“Sayaka went home.”
The smile fell into a tightly pursed straight line. "Without notifying me?”
“That’s what I just said.”
“Mary,” Ririka hissed. If she knew Mary was going to give that information she would've told her sister herself. Alone. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen Kirari drop her facade that quickly. And if asked, she would now be holding up two fingers.
“The reason?”
“The reason Midari’s going to tell you or the real one?”
“Both.”
“She’ll tell you Sayaka is sick.”
Kirari gave a light chuckle, “Sayaka is never ill. Much less miss school due to an illness.”
“Well, that’s the excuse they’re sticking with.”
Suddenly the temperature around them dropped as freezing blue eyes pierced amber ones. Mary shuddered. How could Ririka even be related to her? Where were the warm soft eyes she loved?
The painted blue lips spoke, “And the truth?”
“She found out that Ririka and I are soulmates.”
Confusion fluttered almost instantaneously across Kirari’s face before she schooled it back into submission. “So?”
“She figured out that Ririka dreamed.”
Kirari froze still while behind her Ririka eyed her twin closely. Rari almost looked like her right now. The genuine emotions in her eyes. Fear. Doubt. Worry. The concern about someone else thought. What someone else felt.
“I see. And how long do they plan on playing this prank?”
“I don’t know.”
“Useless.”
The president went back to staring at the leaves. But with less vigor than before. Much less.
“Hey! I—” she stopped when she saw the slight shake of the head from her other half. Mary took a deep breath in. Then out. She had to do it twice. “There’s something else.”
Kirari truly frowned.
“Sayaka doesn’t dream.”
"And how, pray tell, do you know that?"
"I overheard."
Kirari looked at her dear sister, "Teach her morals next."
Mary growled.
"So," blue eyes landed back on Mary, "who did you hear that rumor from?"
"Sayaka!"
A glint of light came back into cerulean eyes.
"So she doesn't dream like us?" Ririka asked.
"Yeah."
"Oh," she breathed out. “Oh.” Throughout the years, she had guessed about Kirari's soulmate. Once she thought it was a young boy named Sota but Kirari had ruined their family when she realized the boy's interest in her. But now? It was settled.
Melodic humming filled the air as Kirari stood and walked away as if she had been reborn leaving one girl worried about what she was going to do and the other with a soft smile.
Kirari shuffled the papers on her desk. Right then left. Top to bottom. Bottom to top. Left to right. No…right to left. How Sayaka liked them to be. Today was the day. It felt right. She had lain in bed all last week deciding if she should plan it out. She went with no. But now she was wondering if perhaps it would be better if she had set some guidelines for herself. After all, this was life or death.
A knock on the door.
“Enter.”
Sayaka walked in. Her attire and appearance perfectly organized and orderly. Kirari’s eyes softened as Sayaka gave a deep bow as her greeting.
“I hope you are feeling better Sayaka.”
“I am, thank you president for your concern.” She went over and pulled out paperwork. “Additionally, I apologize for missing the rest of last week.”
"No matter. Runa was able to do everything that was required."
“Of course.”
"Although our tea times were missed."
"I suspect my illness will be gone for the rest of the year."
"That would be preferred."
The silence continued. Scratching of paper filled the air within two seconds as Sayaka deemed their conversation to be over. Usually it would be until whatever first meeting of the day occurred. But today was different.
Kirari cleared her throat, “The other day I heard something rather intriguing. Would you like to know?”
Sayaka hesitantly nodded. The last time Kirari said that she had to do hours of research about whale falls. Which was interesting but she had other things that needed to be done. Such as filing taxes on time.
“Someone told me that you don’t dream.”
She gave a startled yelp as her hands flew to her chest, pen clattering to the floor.
“Is that true?”
Sayaka scrambled to pick up the writing instrument. Kirari watched only mildly amused, after all she was waiting for an answer.
“Sayaka?”
“Y-Yes president?”
“Is it true that you do not dream?”
Sayaka trembled and hung her head low, “It is true.”
“Have you ever dreamt?”
“No,” she whispered.
“Would you like to hear a story?”
“What?” She glanced upward, confused. “A story? That's all you think about me not dreaming?”
"Should I be thinking something?"
"I don't have a soulmate! I'm useless!"
Kirari tried again, "Would you like to hear a story?”
Hesitantly, she nodded.
“Being born a Momobami and becoming the inheriting heir of everything my family owns by mere fate meant that childhood was to properly raise me for those responsibilities. Head of the Momobami. Entire Clan head. Reared for greatness. Ririka. And me. Kirari.”
She paused then glared at how Sayaka had gone back to looking down and digging her own nails into the palms of her own hands.
“Leisure was not encouraged. We did not have toys or trinkets. The items we owned were clothes yet even those could be taken from us. Neither my sister nor I truly possessed our own free will. Any possessions or attachments were highly frowned upon. The greatest attachment being our soulmates. A source of great vulnerability as we would destroy or build worlds for them.”
Sayaka let out a small gasp and squeezed her hands tighter finally piercing her skin. Small crimson droplets began to seep. Kirari wouldn’t tell her this unless…she looked up to see Kirari softly smiling at her. “C-Continue, please.”
“As you wish.” She straightened her spine a little and did as she was told. “You very well know that the dreams don’t occur until a child is eight years old. And so on the night before our eighth birthday we were forced to drink this absolutely vile liquid. Months after, I was still confined to bed barely staying conscious for more than a few minutes. My dear sister faired no better. You have already probably guessed what came next Sayaka. ”
“The drink somehow stopped your dreams from never coming.”
“Logical as ever. Yes…it made our meetings stop.”
“Then,” she furrowed her eyebrows together. “Then why tell me this?”
“The Momobami clan has never been normal per se. Although I assume you have already caught on to that the very first time you met Ririka. Or rather whom you thought was me. But yes, there is more to the story.”
“It’s never been heard of! Dreaming before the eighth birthday!”
“Except it happened to Ririka and me.”
“Right, so uh, I, umm, was it, uh—”
“I only dreamt once. It was rather mundane. One night, I suddenly awoke to find myself in front of a lake. The sky was blue and the air was warm. Summer. I walked on the path for a minute before running into an opening where another girl was dressed in a light dress that contrasted with dark hair and deep violet eyes. Eerily similar. And do you know what she said?”
Sayaka shook her head.
“Oh, it’s just you,” Kirari chuckled. “As if we had met a million times before. Perhaps we had and only she remembers. What a romantic notion. That we had met in every lifetime before. So much so that her only greeting was that.”
“She should’ve been more appreciative!”
“Should she?”
“Yes! Absolutely she should have! You’re her soulmate!”
Kirari stared expectantly for more explanation.
“Even if you had known each other in every lifetime you hadn’t yet met each other in this one.”
“It is fate.”
Sayaka shook her head, “Fate is known to lose favor.”
“Not to me.”
“Perhaps to a different version of you.”
“Yes,” she responded as if she were galaxies away. “Fate favors Kirari Momobami.”
“In this universe.”
“The Kirari Momobami made of matter.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Somewhere, way out there—” she waved her hands “—is an anti-matter Kirari!” The girl giggled. “What an idea!”
“Well, it is possible using the assumption that an entire universe can exist using only anti-matter in a way identical to this matter-universe.”
“I forbid you to meet your counterpart.”
“Of course. I don’t wish to ‘blink’ out of existence.”
“Although I do wonder what it would feel like to be annihilated by myself.”
“P-President! I forbid you to meet your anti-matter counterpart if she does exist!”
Kirari finally truly laughed and squeezed Sayaka’s hand in agreement with her request. After all, the odds were too low for it to become reality anyway.
“Why don’t you finish your story?” Sayaka asked trying to veer her off of physics.
“Very well. We, the girl and I, walked further down the lake path when I spotted a group of lilies growing upon the water. She of course noticed my intrigue then my dearest dove in and caught me a water lily with her own bare hands. It was rather entertaining to watch her wade into the lake.”
Blue eyes glazed over before softening themselves and landing on violet ones once again.
“Then it ended.”
Her face felt as if it were on fire with how madly she was blushing. Was that young girl in Kirari’s dream her? It couldn’t have been as she was too young. Sayaka couldn’t have been the one who had greeted Kirari so rudely. Right? Except Kirari had dreamed. And that look in Kirari’s eyes meant that she was. She had to ask. She needed certainty. “That’s it?”
“That’s all.”
“Did you learn her name?”
“No.”
“You never introduced yourselves?”
“She spoke with a Kagoshima accent. I couldn't understand anything she spoke but that didn't matter to me.”
Sayaka harshly swallowed her heart forcing it down from its climb up her throat. They both knew that her parents were from Satsuma province and then had moved further north once they married. There was no possibility that fate was on her side. But fact by fact, it built evidence that all roads led to her. Could it be true? Had her wish been granted? Would she finally be able to be her president's number one? Was the future bright once more?
“They say that each pair of soulmates came from the same star. That when we were born each of us had half a star. Yes Sayaka, I know, it is a children’s tale. But it’s intriguing to think about. How stardust inside of us continues to reconnect across time in every life. Across universes. That together, united, a couple shines brighter than the original star. That only together do they finally feel complete. Have you ever felt whole?”
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. The first time I saw you gamble. The first time, the second time, and all the times after that. Every time you look at me. Every time you say my name. Every time we touch. Anytime I’m with you. I just want to be with you. “Yes,” she slowly spoke, heart pounding loudly in her ears drowning out anything else. “I believe I have.”
“Hmm,” Kirari began. “I, myself, questioned whether I had or if I was tricking myself into thinking I felt whole. When I think back in time, I believe it’s similar to what you once said. You answered ‘I have survived this long without them’ to my question of whether you wished to meet your soulmate. A phrase I found odd. Survival. Was that what my life was called? Surviving? Except my soulmate is not dead and so I’m not technically surviving as they still exist within this universe. I think the word ‘maintain’ fits instead. Every day, waking up to the same alarm. Eating the same things for breakfast. Riding the same route to and from school. Then back to the house. Signing off on tedious things. Merely carrying on. Sustaining. Preserving. You could say I was stuck in a loop. A state of existence that merely kept me continuing. Do you understand?”
The younger girl could only nod as her words had inexplicably glued themselves to her throat. This…this was it. What she had been waiting for to hear for the past three years. Sayaka blinked back her tears. This was what she wanted but did Kirari want it too?
“Then one day it all changed. I was-” Kirari paused, chuckling at herself “-excited for life. Everything suddenly drew itself out of monotony. I began living. Taking action instead of flowing through the motions. Ordering new foods. Trying new drinks. Redesigning my bedroom despite the possibility of it all being taken away. Reading. Creating. Pushing my twin to become her own person instead of me. Laughing. I felt emotions again, Sayaka. Something I truly believed I had lost the ability to do. And it all began the day I walked into your classroom to accept your offer to be my secretary.”
“Pres-”
“Kirari.”
“Kir-” she stumbled over the letters. “Kirari, how can you be certain that I was the cause of those behaviors? You can’t!”
“You are my soulmate Sayaka Igarashi.”
“I-I am?” she squeaked. Finally! The words she longed to hear were being spoken by her angel! Sayaka gave a strangled sob as her tears finally freed themselves. Hands flew through the air slapping themselves over her mouth as her eyes widened with disbelief that the sound came from her.
Kirari chuckled and handed her secretary a tissue while wiping the tears that spilled “Yes.”
“But,” Sayaka blurted out, her thoughts of probability calculating the odds that Kirari was wrong. “You will never know with a hundred percent certainty!”
“That’s true.”
Her jaw hung open then closed rapidly. Multiple times. “Th-Then why? Why!”
“Fate fortunes me.”
“Still,” she faltered. “That doesn’t confirm this.”
Kirari tilted her head, “Do you wish to have not met me?”
“Of course not! It’s just that won’t it bother you to know that there may be a microscopic possibility that I may not truly be your soulmate?” she whispered out the last bit then stared at the ground waiting for everything in her world to crumble and burn.
“No.”
Sayaka slowly raised her head and stared in wonder as she always did at Kirari. Wonder that maybe in fact it had been love all along. Because there was no other logical thing to call what she felt for the woman in front of her except love.
“You are my soulmate. Do you not feel the pull between us? That sensation of having all yourself together when we are near one another?”
“I do—”
“If somehow I am wrong, which I am not, and you are not my soulmate. Then I have no interest in meeting them."
“Really?”
“I choose you.”
“O-Oh!”
“Will it bother you?”
“No!” She shook her head madly. Certainty, after all truly was just another probability and if Kirari wanted her then she would gladly settle for ninety-eight percent certainty. Hell, she’d settle for only one percent if her president wished it that way. Sayaka had always been hers. She bravely grabbed the pale hands in front of her and grasped them tightly, “I want to be yours! I am yours! Heart, soul, and mind! Now until my last breath, I am yours!”
A delicious pink blushed upon Kirari’s cheeks, “So you, Sayaka Igarashi, confirm the fact that we are soulmates?”
“As sure as I am that the sun will rise in the next twenty-four hours!”
“Oh my," her voice rose higher along with the feeling in her chest. Sayaka going beyond her limits just for her. Kirari felt her knees wobble slightly. Only Sayaka could make her tremble like a new born dear with a cheesy statement like that. "Those high of odds?”
“Yes, Kirari!”
“Then it’s settled.” Kirari smirked then leaned over to plant her lips upon a warm cheek near the perfectly moisturized lips. She pulled back admiring the blue lip marks left upon her secretary. “There’s much to plan Sayaka.”
“Plan?”
“Such as the correct time of year. Auspicious dates only of course.”
“I-I’m a bit lost president.”
“About what my lily?”
Sayaka turned bright red and sniffled through the end of her joyful crying. “Your wish for an auspicious time of the year. What is the occasion for?”
“Why,” she grinned, “our wedding, of course.”
Sayaka looked up to see Kirari leaning toward her once more as light poured down upon her. A miracle come true. Kissed by her own angel with an eternity to travel. Her future was blinding.