We're Soulmates, Not Just Best Friends
Author Notes
The feeling of having the idea – it's perfect – you're sitting there grinning at the pictures in your head – but you frown when you look at the blank canvas as you can't find the beginning words.
(x years later)
May you enjoy. :3
Soulmates exist. It's not an unknown fact or a romantic myth. For centuries, how someone finds out who their soulmate was is simple – when it's the first time they are meeting, the two of them will be pulled towards each other into a collision like magnets attracted to one another. And they will be connected to one another physically for a day.
Watanabe You and Takami Chika have known each other since birth. They were childhood friends. They were each other's best friends. And so, when their parents, relatives, classmates and friends keep teasing them about being each other's soulmates - they would always deny it. They are best friends. That's what they believe.
"So. Are you planning on getting married after high school or after university?" Mari takes a sip of her pineapple punch, a playful grin obvious behind the straw.
Chika rolls her eyes at her senior's attempt at teasing You and her for the millionth time. "No plans for that."
You shakes her head at the senior sitting across her. "How many times do we have to tell you that we are not soulmates for it to get into your head, Mari-chan?"
Mari laughs, waving away You's question. "You two are literally glued to each other. If you're going to have an impromptu wedding, be sure to at least invite your number one supporter, okay~?" Mari points at herself with both hands and an outrageous wink.
"And the rest of Aqours will show up." Kanan speaks up; the deep-sea diver usually leaves Mari to tease Chika and You alone, but won't say no to piping in when she feels like it.
"Not you too, Kanan-chan." You sighs before looking over to Chika as they both shrugged their shoulders – our seniors – they told each other without words.
"Look. There's a perfectly good method to find out if you two are soulmates or not. It worked twice for me and Kanan." Mari announces with a clap of her hands.
Kanan nods with a distant smile as the memories of soulmate confirmation played in her mind. "If two soulmates were to be separated for a month, the magnet confirmation happens again."
"Exactly~" Mari sings; delighted with Kanan's explanation.
You shakes her head in disbelief; she knows the method, but it's ludicrous – at least to her and Chika."You can't separate us. We got school to go to and we are classmates."
Chika nods in agreement. "That sits right beside each other."
"Yeah." You chimes in.
With their momentum, Chika states, "We see each other every day. Give it up. We aren't soulmates! We are best friends~ Right, You-chan?"
"Uh-huh. Stop with your incessant shipping already. Sheesh." You feels a blush creeping up her cheeks from all this talk about being soulmates with her best friend but pushes it away.
Chika nods again. "Let's go." Chika takes You's hand and pulls her away from Mari who remained obediently silent as they reasoned why they can't be separated for a soulmate test.
As Mari watch Chika pull You away, she leans back in her seat with a thoughtful expression. "We're going to do something about this."
Kanan turns her body to face the blonde, a knowing smile on. "And I'm going to help you."
Mari's lips pulls into a grin. "I'm glad you know."
Kanan chuckles. "Don't I always?"
Mari's plan was simple – kidnap You for a month.
She'll make sure You doesn't escape and Kanan will make sure Chika doesn't get to sneak off to look for You too. Being the headmaster of Uranohoshi made things on the school side easy – You is to be home-schooled for a month and have to miss club practice for family reasons. You's mum gave the green light for her daughter to be "kidnapped" as long as You's studies weren't affected and that she's fed well – Mari can provide all of those.
Mari's execution of the plan was simple.
One, don't make the same mistake twice and try to grope the ash-brunette who knows self-defence. Two, use truth and deception – which worked as You thought she was going to Mari's place for tea and chat but she ended up with a month-long stay in the Ohara hotel after the snacks.
You can't stop thinking about Chika while she's confined in one of Mari's extraordinarily lavish suite in the Ohara hotels.
Oh gods why can't I stop thinking about Chika-chan.
Ever since being trapped and finding out that any attempt of complain or reason with her senior was futile, plus she was betrayed by her family, she could only accept the fact that she is officially separated from Chika for a time. And since the reason of being kidnapped was to find out if Chika and her were soulmates; You's mind couldn't help but drift to her mikan-loving best friend every now and then.
No, it's normal. This is normal. It's normal for best friends to think of best friends.
You found herself commenting about a certain aspect of the hotel while expecting a witty comeback or laugh from Chika – only to look beside her and see that Chika wasn't around. You found herself jokingly say "Goodnight, soulmate…not" before she sleeps at night, thinking that Chika would do the same before they laugh about it together.
That's right. I've had Chika-chan on my mind for the longest of times. Day and night and in between! This is normal.
You has herself convinced.
Mari drops a bunch of swimsuit model magazine cut outs onto the floor You was splayed out on and You takes a moment to scan each bikini or competitive swimwear – though her mind does wonders as the models were all replaced with Chika. You groans loudly and scowls at Mari.
"You're not helping Mari-chan!"
"What am I supposed to be helping you with, dear~?" Mari sing-songs, obviously holding in a dozen chuckles.
With how Chika is all I can think about.
You squints at Mari. She can't admit she has Chika running through her mind; it sounds like she's lovesick. Which she isn't! It's normal for best friends to think of best friends. "I can't believe you had me kidnapped and locked up here. Do you have any idea how much of an I-need-to-be-up-and-moving kind of person I am? This room is suffocating me."
Mari grins throughout You's whines and she crosses her arms across her chest. "No one said you can't go outside."
You blinks and sits up. "Wait. Seriously?"
Mari's smile widens. "Of course~ You're free to go all about the Ohara hotel. Treat it like your home~"
You couldn't keep in her huge, excited smile and her blue hues twinkled with so much vigour that Mari walked over to pat the girl's head as though she was a five-year-old. You ignored that; she was too busy thinking.
I can move around the Ohara hotel? They can lock the windows and doors to one room, but there's no way they can keep the whole place locked!
You grins and jumps to her feet. "Thank you, Mari-chan!" And she was out the room before Mari could put in another word. Not that Mari was going to say much more anyways – the third-year knows she's going to be entertained.
You is no amateur. She never experienced being kidnapped and having to plan her escape before but she knew better than to try in broad daylight, while the mastermind (Mari) was still in the premise, and it's smarter to scout her surroundings. So You walked, skipped and jogged about the Ohara hotel analysing doors and windows.
Alright! The plan is simple. When night comes, I'll be sneaking out of one of these fanciful windows where Mari would least expect me to. And I'll head over to Chika-chan's place and show her – no one can lock up a Watanabe You for more than two weeks!
You pauses to consider if sneaking to Chika's house in the middle of the night was a soulmate thing to do. When heat crept up the ash-brunette's cheeks, You quickly shakes her head and slaps herself twice (not in a painful way).
This is what best friends do.
You discovers soon enough that her plan wasn't going to succeed when she dodges patrolling men in black (Seriously, Mari?!) only to meet a grinning blonde in her nightdress at the third-floor window she wanted to descend from. You sulks all the way back to her room. Another two weeks before she could see Chika again.
Three days before the month of being separated from her best friend ends, the suite You was staying in was a gallery. Mari gave You as many sketchbooks the costume designer requested and with so much time on You's hands – she drew more than enough to fill the room with art.
You gathered a few pieces on the bed together so that she could have space to sit.
Wow, I've drawn a lot…
You drew lots of Chika - Chika snoozing in class, Chika eating her lunch, Chika being fed mikan by her, Chika being afraid of Mito-nee, Chika playing with Shiitake, Chika shining on stage, Chika taking her hand; the scene of Chika's back, but turns to smile at You.
Forget about soulmates…
You trails her fingers along Chika's cheekbone to her shoulder where Chika's sitting there smiling without a care in the world on a Summer day. The scene of two best friends making idle chatter and just enjoying each other's presence.
Do I have more than best friends feeling for Chika-chan?
You falls onto her back with a groan, covering her face that was slowly heating up at the mere thought of loving her best friend in a soulmate kind of way.
I do miss her…
You blindly reaches to one of her drawings to touch the roughness of pencil lines, easily making out Chika's cowlick.
I do want to always make her smile…
You whines at how embarrassing she's being and flips to the other side of the bed.
Chika-chan…If we're soulmates…
You's nervousness about liking Chika more than best friends was thrown out the open window on the day Mari opened the door with a huge smile and announces that she's free to go to where Chika is. You wanted to retort "What makes you think I'm going to see Chika-chan right away?" but the ash-brunette knew she was going to anyways.
You was gonna run down to the Takami inn, but Mari managed to catch the excitable second-year by the collar and usher her to her van. "I'm driving you there. There's no way I'm going to let you have a soulmate moment and still be in denial because there weren't any eyewitnesses!"
You rolls her eyes as she put on her seatbelt. "We would be stuck to each other for a day if we are soulmates. Remember?"
Mari giggles as she starts the engine. "You two are always stuck with another remember? You'll try to lie to the world and yourselves!"
"I won't- WAHH-" You grabs the side handle as Mari pulls out the parking lot with a sudden acceleration and sped down the road towards Chika.
You did ponder from time to time if Chika missed her as much as she did, and how Chika would react when they could finally reunite. But she certainly wasn't expecting to see Chika waiting eagerly outside the inn, not bounding over to You only because Kanan had a strong hold on her best friend's shoulder. You felt her cheeks flaring up a little from being happy that Chika wants to see her too.
"Best friends miss each other. See? Normal." You comments as she waves at Chika and Kanan.
Mari snorts loudly after freeing herself from the seatbelt. "Keep telling yourself that, sweetie. The moment of truth is near."
You turns to grumble at Mari's still insistent belief that her soulmate is Chika but Mari already hopped out the van and opened You's door for her. "What happened to all that energy and desire to be just a second faster to meeting Chikacchi that you asked me to step that pedal, You?"
You's face flushed and she elbows Mari out of embarrassment. "I didn't ask you to drive like a monster at all!"
Mari grins evilly. "But you won't deny missing Chikacchi~"
You groans again. Chika was going to be in earshot in a bit but Mari's voice is loud so her best friend most probably already heard how much You missed Chika, and she's going to be teased for sure.
Two metres. When they are two metres close – the magic will happen.
If we're soulmates… Perhaps I'll tell Chika-chan I love her.
You couldn't stop her lips from spreading into a huge smile when she saw Chika smiling and waving at her. Her heart buzzed in her ribcage and ears but she's hyper-sensitive to Chika's voice instead.
"You-chan~~"
Her palms was getting sweaty but she's self-conscious and anticipating the familiar warmth and softness of Chika's skin when they do make contact instead.
Chika stops speaking and You misses that sound all over again, but large red eyes looks back at widened blue ones as they both felt the pull, the tingle, the magic. You thought she stopped walking but her legs moved on their own, Chika seemed to be doing the same – meeting each other halfway. Their fingers intertwine with one another without consciously wanting to do so and You wonders if she should crack a joke to get out of this.
What if Chika-chan doesn't want this?
You's throat clamps up as she blinks to realize that Chika's beautiful scarlet eyes was moist like hers. And Chika was smiling a smile she's never seen before – pure relieved? Joy? Love?
Chika-chan and I…
You couldn't quite believe what's going on. She's can't stop staring at Chika and she wouldn't mind just standing there, hands intertwined with Chika for an eternity.
Chika breaks the silence, smiling a crooked smile. "Hey, soulmate. Did you miss me?"
You made a weird sound that was a cross between a sniffle and a snort; she wanted to cry tears of joy and didn't want to either for how uncool it would be. "More than you could ever imagine…"
I surprise myself with how much I missed you.
"Really?" Chika's eyes lit up more than it already was and You wished she could dive in them. "Here I thought it was only me…"
You chuckles softly. "I couldn't stop thinking about what if you're my soulmate in the duration of my kidnap."
Chika laughs as she remembers that You was kidnapped. "And what if I was?"
"You are…" You raises her eyebrows at Chika's question.
Chika pouts. "I meant what you thought you'll do if we are."
"Oh…" You's face heated up again. Chika waited. "I love you, Chika-chan."
"Eh!?" Chika jumps back from the sudden confession but their hands were still connected so You was pulled forward too. "W-What are you saying so suddenly!"
You grins despite her burning blush. "You're my soulmate…So as I told myself, I would confess to you. I love you, Chika-chan."
Chika shakes her head from side to side vigorously in an attempt to shake off the embarrassment. "Ahhhh! Stop, stop! That's embarrassing!"
You laughs. "You asked for it."
Chika grips You's hands in hers tightly and hugs You with her other hand, hiding her face on You's shoulder. "I didn't think you'd be so embarrassing…"
You smiles as she hugs Chika too. "Hey… Do you love me?"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Chika says in a snippy tone.
You hums. "Mm…What best friends do."
Chika headbutts You's chin on purpose.
"Ow!" You moves to rub her chin but Chika took You's hand. "I love you." And Chika presses a kiss to You's chin before pulling away with a very red face.
You couldn't blush any harder so she just averted her gaze from Chika while whispering. "You should've hit me on the lips…"
The way Chika squeezed extraordinarily tighter on their connected hands told You that Chika thought of doing that but would die of embarrassment if she did, so You simply returns the squeeze – reassuring Chika – yeah, I know.
"So. Are you planning on getting married after high school or after university?" Mari takes a sip of her strawberry punch, a playful grin obvious behind the straw.
Ah, this question again.
Chika laces her fingers with You's that was stuck to her for a day when they found out they were each other's soulmates, and she smiles at her girlfriend before smiling to Mari. "Whenever we feel like it."
I love how Chika-chan loves holding my hand…
"Yeah. It could be now or it could be tomorrow-"
"That's ridiculous." Chika squeezes You's hand.
You know you'd do it, Chika-chan.
"You're ridiculous." You tugs Chika's hand towards her.
"How so?" Chika pulls You's hand to her.
"Ridiculously cute. And mine." You grins as she brings the back of Chika's hand to her lips – to kiss and to hide her blush.
I can't imagine not being yours.
Chika rolls her eyes. "Flirt."
"For you." You immediately adds, ignoring the drumming of her heart in her ears.
"Stop that!" Chika laughs and uses her other hand to hide her already red face. You joins in the laughing.
And they just stared into each other's eyes – lost in love with each other. It's not an unfamiliar feeling since they've felt this way for a long time now. But now they know they are not just best friends. They are soulmates.
Author Notes
Writing this was such a funny process. OwO I had the idea and couldn't sleep but couldn't write it out straightaway too. Then I wrote a middle part, then the beginning, then the ending before going back to filling the centre content again. XD
And I realize that I love writing KanaMari with ChikaYou. :P
Ahh~ I feel so accomplished from finishing this! XD
I hope y'all enjoyed this~ XD
Leave me comments to let me know your favourite part or what you think about this soulmate au and really, any comment/feedback will make me happy~ XD See you next story!