Chapter Text
Tooru unconsciously let his tongue peek out between his lips as he concentrated himself to move as quietly as possible. With a quick glance behind him to confirm that he really closed the door of the room he just came from, he tiptoed further down the corridor and hugged the stolen object from his sister, hidden under the soft fabric of his shirt, with both arms.
As soon as Tooru reached his own room, he shut the door tightly and let out a satisfied sigh.
Mission accomplished!
When he sprawled out on the floor and took the object out from underneath his shirt, a big grin appeared on his face. Every time Tooru saw the cover of the book he became happy. He liked the prince and the princess with their unique clothes on it. They were riding together on a white horse and smiled at each other happily, surrounded by birds and plants and deer. Everything looked magical.
Tooru touched the silver letters at the top of the book and moved his lips along as he read the title.
Allbeh’s realm of happiness
He always wanted to read the story of Allbeh since his mother bought the book for his older sister as a present for her eight birthday but every time Tooru would just touch it, Yukiko would snatch the book away from him and say that this was something for girls and not for boys.
That was the day Tooru decided that all girls (especially Yukiko) were stupid.
Tooru opened the book and a warm feeling spread inside his chest. The drawing on the first page was filled with colourful houses and dresses. The people looked cheerful and peaceful as they danced on the streets and laughed with each other. With every word Tooru read, he felt as if sparkles rose up from the pages only to fill his room with light and warmth.
This was the first time Tooru came to love the name Allbeh and learned the meaning of the word soulmates. He would never ever admit it but the first time Tooru read the story he was maybe, just maybe, feeling a tad envious of Allbeh that he found his soulmate. A person which understood him and a person which was always by his side. It was something tiny nine years old Tooru always wished for.
Little did Tooru know that just a couple of weeks later he would meet his own soulmate.