They were alone. Not literally, but emotionally. They had only each other and then, not even. They were alone, their worlds were separate yet they were the same world. One, a captain, the other, a lieutenant. Not even of the same squad. By pure chance happened they meet. By pure chance did they get the same mission. And even then… They were alone.
That was how they lived. Alone. By pure chance would they pass time together, unknowingly in the same room but so far away. Glancing towards the door, they might make eye contact. Brushing through the crowd, they might bump into each other and apologize before moving on. Never once staying longer than necessary. They are alone and when you are alone, you need no one. They might glance back at each other and smile in shock that the other is looking. They just might.
By chance they do linger when they touch, they linger long enough to learn the other's name. They might smile and touch ever so slightly before leaving. They might happen upon the other while out. They might greet each other hesitantly, afraid to crush their happy worlds, occupation: one. Respectively, of course. They might go eat lunch together, still hesitant to ruin their perfect worlds where they only need themselves and have never pondered letting another enter their bubble. They are similar in this instance. They want to make friends, but they don't know how. They might leave each other after lunch. They might exchange phone numbers before leaving. He might text his new friend even after they are feet away. They might be a hike away from learning to let others in.
By chance do they continue together after lunch. They might go to his favorite store while his new companion sighs. He doesn't like this store. But he does, so he puts up with it. They might wander around absently, occasionally sharing secret glances. The other people in the store might notice, but they don't. They have lived so long in their own worlds that they can't tell what they feel other than solitude. Because, they were alone. Maybe they noticed the looks. They don't know what to make of the looks though. Maybe they think that's what friends do. Maybe they know what the looks mean. Maybe they are going o ride it out all the way and learn to accept people into their respective bubbles.
However, we can be certain of things that won't happen, even in our world of uncertainty. They won't jump over in each other's arms, declaring love for each other. They won't grin and be happy the moment they are in the same room as each other. In fact, if not by pure chance, they won't know each other. But, we know this is not the case. For they do know each other. For they do know the other's name. They won't think back to how they met because if they do, they will think of the things that shouldn't have happened that did. The lingering touch, the lunch together, the exchange of phone numbers, the shopping. They remember all of these things when they think back to the day they met. But the one thing that stands out most, when they remember how they met, if the shattering of their worlds. They were alone. Then they met.
"I-I'm Izuru…"
Cockily, the other replied, "Tōshirō."
Population: Two.