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People are always trying to figure out their soulmarks, what they mean, what the context for the words might be, if the words are initial contact or response. No one knows until after they've been said, but it's something people will always wonder about. It's a mysterious and wonderful thing. No one really knows how they work. Everyone is born with their soul joined to someone else's. Their first words to them are written on their skin in the handwriting they'll have when they say them. Once spoken, the words that are black, dull ink, transform into bright, vibrant colours, the colours of the combined souls. It's a beautiful thing even if no one really understands it.
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I'm in love with you! Or so says the messy scrawl of words on Akaashi's collarbone. He scratches at them lightly as he brushes his teeth. He's no closer to understanding them today as he was any other day of his 25 years of life.
There had been a period of time he'd believed that he would become someone famous. People tell celebrities that they love them all the time. It's one of the only circumstances he can imagine someone saying that to him as soon as they meet. But, that's not the case. Akaashi never developed any rare skills, never got discovered as some sort of model or actor, and though he likes literature and to write he doubts he'll ever have one of his stories published. He's an unknown face drifting through the world. He's nobody.
What kind of idiot falls in love at first sight with someone they don't know at all? He figures it means that this guy, whoever it will be, must be replying to something that Akaashi says. It's not an initial greeting, it's a response. And Akaashi has no idea when he'll hear those words, or what stupid shit Akaashi will be doing to make someone fall in love so quickly. It doesn't seem possible. Maybe in another ten years he'll have accomplished something notable enough to be worth an instant declaration of love, but it won't be any time soon, he's sure of that.
He sighs and goes about his normal routine, getting ready for another normal day.
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Bokuto Koutarou is the furthest thing from a normal guy. He didn't really mean to end up famous. He'd just been a kid with too much energy and a love for Volleyball. Now his face is on the billboard across from his house. He wakes up every morning to see his own manic grin gleaming down on him. It's better than when the billboard was of Oikawa's face, but still. It's weird, okay?
Being a celebrity is weird. Sometimes he wonders if it was all worth it. But whenever he's out on that court, he can't help but want to do this for the rest of his life.
Always in the morning he takes a minute to examine his words. In this middle of his left thigh, a straightforward script reads But I'm no one. I'm a nobody. He frowns, rubbing a thumb into the words idly. He doesn't know what they mean exactly, he never has. He does know that they're the response. Meaning that one day Koutarou will see his soulmate and will say something that will send them reeling and calling themselves 'no one'. Koutarou hates that.
He also realizes that the bigger of a name he becomes- the more people know him and his face- the more likely his soulmate is to have that kind of reaction. He'd quit, if he could imagine himself ever doing anything else ever. He can't. Volleyball is a part of him, and the fame that comes with it, is just something that both he and his soulmate will have to live with.
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Volleyball is a guilty pleasure of Akaashi Keiji's. He'd played back in middle and high school. He'd always enjoyed it, though he never played it at a particularly high level. Since the publishing company he works for is in Osaka he gets the pleasure of being close enough to the MSBY jackals that he can catch a game whenever his schedule allows.
The energy of the crowd is addicting. It's such a good feeling, blending in with thousands of others who also feel good, screaming for their team, yelling and cheering all together. The games are always so high energy, the teams down on the court fighting with all they have. The only downside is that he always hears a handful of people yelling his soulmarks down to the players below. He understands though. It's easy to love people who are so passionate, so crazy about what they're doing. Not to mention that they are all insanely talented. He played volleyball, he knows exactly how difficult it is to pull off some of these moves.
The game passes in a flash, and Keiji lingers in the gym as the crowds start shuffling out. He's got no where to go, and isn't eager to get in the line of cars rushing to get home. He feeds off the energy in the stadium for a while longer before finally easing himself up to his feet to start his shuffle out to his car.
He always parks in the back parking lot, not wanting to deal with the stress of the majority of the rushing crowds or fighting for parking spots. There's usually room in the back lot and it's just easier than dealing with the traffic. He leaves through the front doors, making his way through the thinning crowds, and walks around the stadium. Its a nice evening. Warm enough that he almost regrets the coat around his shoulders. He's not thinking about anything but the satisfaction of having watched a good game when he hears thudding steps running towards him.
He glances sideways to see a large body running down the stadium steps directly towards him. He sees a flash of the Jackals tracksuit, and then wide golden eyes, and then smack! The man runs right into him, sending them both flying.
Keiji takes a second, but he isn't hurt, just surprised. He quickly climbs to his feet and reaches a hand out to the other man who lets out a groan. Keiji opens his mouth to ask if the other is okay, when his eyes fly open and focus on Keiji with an intensity that's absolutely startling.
The man opens his mouth and nearly shouts, "I'm in love with you!"
Keiji jumps back, startled.
No way. That's not how this is supposed to happen. It's not supposed to happen now. Keiji hasn't accomplished a damn thing in his life, he didn't even get the chance to say anything charming or anything like that.
"But... I'm... no one. I'm a nobody."
The man's eyes flash, something complicated as hell dancing across his expression. He jumps to his feet, grabs Keiji by his shoulders. "Don't say that. We're the protagonists of the world!"
"Protag- huh?" What the hell does that even mean? What is even happening right now? Actually, on closer inspection, Keiji totally knows who this is, doesn't he? His white and black hair is down, wet ends curling around his face from a recent shower, but it's pretty obvious anyway.
"Are you Bokuto Koutarou?"
The man beams, "I am, I am! Did you just see the game? Are you a volleyball fan? Did you see my last cross shot?"
Keiji is still feeling shell-shocked when he answers, "I did. It was very impressive, Bokuto-san."
Bokuto laughs extremely loudly. He still hasn't let go of Keiji's shoulders.
"Hey, what's your name?"
"Akaashi Keiji."
"Aghashi!" He immediately totally butchers the pronunciation. It hits Keiji as being far funnier than it should be, he can't hold it back, he laughs.
"Sorry, Bokuto-san." He says as he covers his mouth, attempting to rein in the laughter.
Bokuto is staring at him with a look of awe on his face. It's a bit baffling. Keiji has never had a look like that directed to him ever. He's never done anything to make someone that impressed, that obsessed with him, and he didn't even do anything now. It makes him feel... Invincible.
He has a feeling he'll never understand this man in front of him. He just hopes he gets a chance to try.
It makes him brave enough to ask, "Can I get your phone number? That way you can get back to whatever you were in such a hurry for earlier."
Bokuto is digging his phone out of his pocket before Keiji even finishes his sentence. He hands it over eagerly. "I wasn't going anywhere really. Just to get food. I'm starving."
"Oh, would you maybe-" is this crazy? Is it supposed to be this fast? But then again, considering a love confession is Keiji's soulmarks, should he be surprised? He pushes forward anyway. "Want to get something to eat with me?"
"Yes! I'd love to!" Bokuto answers instantly. Not a second of consideration or hesitation in him.
Keiji feels a laugh building back up in him again, but he holds it back with a smile and finishes typing his contact info into the phone instead.
"Good. Lets do that then."
He has no idea where the courage comes from, but when he had the phone back, he holds out his hand instead. Bokuto's face lights up so much it's nearly glowing. He's so bright it's nearly painful to look at. But Keiji can't force himself to look away.
Bokuto grabs his hand tightly, and immediately starts pulling him along.
"My car is in the back lot." Keiji points, and Bokuto immediately corrects, leading them that way instead. It's easy, to let Bokuto pull him along with him. He has a feeling it'll be easy to let Bokuto pull him along for the rest of his life.
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