Chapter Text
Soulbonds could manifest themselves in various ways - timers on wrists, first words ever spoken to each other imprinted on their skin, dreams of their shared past life, love at first sight...
As for Takemichi, he had received his soulbond at six years old in the form of a red string.
Soulbonds, as far as self-reports and documentation would go, were uncommon - rare, even. Although, Takemichi was inclined to believe that many kept details of their soulbonds to themselves as they were more so a private affair than a public celebration. At least, that was what made sense to him if Takemichi of all people had managed to attain a soulmate.
And since his soulmate was more than half a decade younger than him, it made things pretty awkward for him, especially when red strings were always indicative of a romantic bond.
Throughout the years, Takemichi had ignored the persistent tugging on the string, an attempt to beckon him to where his soulmate was or to discern his location. And Takemichi, not wanting to encounter his soulmate until they were both adults, would either faintly respond or not respond at all.
After all, he on his good conscience could not approach a toddler and solidify the bond. He was also certain that there were laws against that - something about grooming and pedophilia.
The idea caused him to shudder.
A part of him did feel terrible for treating his soulmate this way, however. It wasn't like he wanted to neglect his soulmate, but when one happened to be in middle school while his soulmate had barely been out of kindergarten, there was a good reason why Takemichi remained resolute in putting off their meeting.
Now in high school, the tugging just as persistent as ever (to the point where he was surprised that his pinky had yet to lop off), Takemichi intended to go through the motions and get through school as peacefully as possible. The day wasn't starting out so great, though, when knowing that his friends were placed in another classroom.
Takemichi rubbed his pinky when his soulmate gave a particularly harsh jerk. Jeez, this kid was throwing a tantrum now.
"You too, huh?"
Startled, he looked up. A pretty girl was taking a seat next to his and smiled brightly at him. "I know what that means," she said, nodding at Takemichi's hands. "Your soulmate causes you trouble too?"
His eyes widened. "Red string?" he guessed.
"Red string," she confirmed. Sure enough, she held up her hand, revealing a red knot tied at the base of her pinky for all to see.
Before the meeting, red strings were visible to no one other than the pairs of the soulbond. Even so, there was a cut-off range as to how far one soulmate could follow the string until it would fade away, turning invisible. It was only when both soulmates would accept the bond that they could trace the string all the way to the end. Upon the encounter, the bond would be set and the string would disappear only for the red knot to take its place.
"At some point, my soulmate's going to sever my finger," Takemichi joked.
"That means that they really want to see you. How come you didn't meet yet?"
Takemichi was astounded by the bold question, especially this early into the day. They had just finished orientation and were settling into their respective homerooms, and yet this girl had the audacity to pose the question that intruded upon his privacy.
But it was either the stunned disbelief or the girl's genuine curiosity that got Takemichi answering, "My soulmate is nine."
Understanding filled her gaze. "Ah. My soulmate is ten."
What?
"Don't get the wrong idea, though," she said with a slight pout. "He's best friends with my brother, so our encounter was inevitable."
"Erm, no, no, that's not - I mean - " he sputtered, a bit guilty for jumping to conclusions.
"It's fine," she dismissed easily. "A lot of people have the same reaction. I'm used to it."
That made Takemichi feel worse. "No, it's not fine. I shouldn't have assumed. I'm sorry."
The girl tilted her head. "Well, okay, I forgive you. I'm Inui Akane, by the way."
"Hanagaki Takemichi."
It didn't take long for Inui and Takemichi to become friends, especially when they had a few things in common. The former Mizo Middle Gang just wouldn't understand the struggles that Takemichi had to put up with having a baby for a soulmate. Inui, though, had attested that her soulmate was rather mature for his age.
At some point, Takemichi got to meet Inui's soulmate.
There were a pair of elementary students waiting at a block. One of them could easily be recognized as Inui's little brother since he looked like a male kiddy version of her. The other one, though...
"There they are," Inui said, and then raised her arm to wave at them. "Seishu! Hajime-kun!"
Hajime had dark hair, dark eyes, and a viper-like gaze that narrowed in evident displeasure when he noticed Takemichi.
"Hey, sis," Seishu greeted back around a yawn.
"Geez, tired already?" Inui clicked her tongue.
"Akane-san, who is this?" Hajime inquired, his eyes never once leaving Takemichi's face. Was it strange to feel intimidated by a brat? Or was Takemichi just that much of a wimp?
"Hm? Oh, this is Hanagaki-kun. I invited him over to study with me."
Hajime made it obvious that he did not like the sound of that. "A-Akane-san, you didn't mention this earlier this morning," he said, eyebrow twitching.
"Nope. It was a decision made on the spot, after all," the girl replied blithely. Inui was oblivious to her soulmate's jealousy or she was messing with him. Takemichi had known Inui long enough to know that she could be described as a sly airhead, so it truly could be either.
"It's nice to meet you," Takemichi said, mostly as a means to get them going. Formalities first. "Inui-san told me a lot about you two."
"Funny. She told us nothing about you," Hajime deadpanned.
Takemichi tried not to cry. This kid was jealous, alright.
"Hajime-kun, don't be like that," Inui reprimanded lightly. "I told you about how I made a new friend in class."
"Of course, Akane-san." Like a flip of a switch, the boy went from menacing to pleasant. "I just didn't realize that your friend happened to be a guy."
"Well, we happened to have some things in common, after all."
"I have the red string soulbond," Takemichi disclosed, hoping that would abate Hajime's jealousy.
Without missing a beat and his sweet tone, Hajime replied, "How curious it is that you're here instead of being with your soulmate, then."
While both Inui and her brother remained oblivious, Takemichi got a full front-row seat to the underlying threat that lurked in that smile, which shouldn't have been present in someone who was only ten years old. Takemichi barely got to hold back a shudder.
The kid acted just like how he looked - a snake.
It has been a few months later since Takemichi and Inui had become friends, and, to his surprise yet delight, they still maintained that friendship. That did mean that he had to see more of Seishu and Kokonoi, though.
Yes, Kokonoi. When the kid had heard him refer him by his given name, he had flipped out.
Nevertheless, despite their rocky beginning, Takemichi liked to think that he was getting to the boy. Sure, Kokonoi still behaved like a territorial brat and always had a barbed remark to make, but after making it clear that Takemichi had zero interest in stealing Inui from him, Kokonoi had marginally relaxed.
The kid was still on the fence with Takemichi, though, not liking his reason as to why he didn't want to meet his soulmate yet.
Seishu, on the other hand, was neither hot nor cold towards him - just indifferent. It didn't matter how many times Takemichi would swing by the Inui residence; Seishu remained as a pillar of "I don't give a damn." Which kind of made Takemichi sad, especially after hearing about what kind of people Seishu tended to gravitate towards according to Inui.
Strong people. People with the strength and courage to lead others. People not at all like Takemichi, naturally.
Still, at least Seishu was easy to deal with compared to the ever disdainful Kokonoi. He couldn't imagine the dark-haired child willing to accompany Takemichi to purchase snacks even at Inui's request.
Right now, they were on their way back to the Inui residence, plastic bags full of chips and cookies hanging off their arms. Inui had ushered them off as she and Kokonoi went off in another direction where the bakery was. Takemichi thought that getting themselves cake was a little too extra for a study session, but, well, Inui and her random cravings were not something that could be quelled.
It was then that the gentle tugging on the red string abruptly turned into painful yanks, startling Takemichi into dropping his bag. Seishu paused to turn around and look at him in confusion. "Hanagaki-san?"
Takemichi stared at the string. Normally, whenever his soulmate would pull on the string harder than usual, he could tell that it was due to impatience and petulance. This was nothing like that now. A cold sensation ran down Takemichi's spine when he registered what his soulmate was feeling from the other end. This was desperation and fear and -
His soulmate was hurt.
Takemichi hadn't realized that he had set off running until he heard Seishu incredulously call after him, but he couldn't stop. His eyes were fixated on the string as he frantically chased after it. With every twist and turn that the string took him through, Takemichi would not stop.
Eventually, he found himself in front of a house, his chest heaving from the exertion. Then, he lurched forward and proceeded to pound on the door, crying out, "Excuse me! Please, open the door!"
"Hanagaki-san - !"
It didn't take long for the door to open, revealing a disgruntled scarred man. "What the hell do you - "
Takemichi ducked underneath the man's arm and slipped into the house. Behind him, the man yelled out in alarm, but Takemichi paid no heed. He was within reach - !
He stood in front of a backyard where two boys were on the ground. One was pinning the other, his fist raised and bloody, whereas the other...
His soulmate's face was - !
Takemichi threw himself forward and shoved the boy off of his soulmate. The boy tumbled off and was quickly sidled up by a third boy. Meanwhile, Takemichi gathered his soulmate into his arms and hugged him tightly.
He glared at the offender. "Don't you dare touch him," he snarled with so much vitriol that he didn't know that he was capable of. The hate in his voice was enough to startle the other two boys into staring at him with wide-eyed shock.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Seishu, the scarred man, and another man enter the scene. His mind vaguely processed just how Inui's younger brother could have been here when he had abandoned the kid a few blocks away.
The scarred man had an expression of fury as he stepped off the porch and marched towards him. "Just what do you think you're doing to my bro - "
Two hands grasped Takemichi's face, directing him to look into the eyes of his soulmate. His soulmate - with twin tears on each side of his lips, blood gushing from the wounds that painted his teeth red and dribbled down to his chin and neck - peered up with him with eyes filled with wondrous awe. Takemichi stared back with equal emotion.
"I-it's you," his soulmate gasped.
And, just like that, the bonding commenced.