This is a soul mate A/U where the last name and the first letter of the first name of a person's soul mate appears on their wrist on their 18th birthday. If their mate has not turned 18 yet, they will not receive a name until that person's 18th birthday.

I do not own Haikyuu or it characters.

I know this is an odd pairing or trio. I had never seen it and wanted to read a Yamaguchi/Shimada pairing, so I wrote one. I hope you enjoy the story.

Yamaguchi's Dad passed away when he was young. His Mom commited suicide during his first year of high school. He has spent the almost 2 years since alone and struggling to cope with the burdens of every day life.

Yamaguchi had no other family to take him in so he became his own caregiver. He went to school, went to practice, and then came home where he had to do all of the cooking, cleaning, and laundry. He was constantly exhausted.

For a long time after his Dad died Yamaguchi hoped he didn't get a soul mate. He saw his Mom struggle to go on after the pain of losing his Dad. She drank a lot and cried constantly. She also worked two jobs to make ends meet.

Less than a month after his 16th birthday, Yamaguchi was called to the guidance counselors office at school. He was told his Mom had taken two bottles of her anti-depressants at work and had been found dead by a co-worker. She had left a note for Yamaguchi. In it she told him she was sorry, but she couldn't live without her soul mate anymore. She said she hoped that one day he would understand. The only reason she held on as long as she did was so Yamaguchi would be old enough to not be put into a group home.

He was surprised to find out that the house was paid off and he had a trust that would keep him from having to work and would pay his way through college. It was part of his father's life insurance policy. His Mom had worked the second job to contribute to it because she had planned this the whole time.

It hurt. Knowing you were not important enough to make your mother want to live. The loneliness was overwhelming. At some point since that day Yamaguchi had started to long for a soul mate. He just didn't want to be alone anymore.

He wondered what she would be like. Would she be beautiful? Cute? Smart? Funny? Would she like volleyball? Would she be shy? A good cook? He had created so many different types of women in his head trying to think of what his soul mate would be like. He knew deep down that it didn't matter what she was like because she would be his and he wouldn't be alone anymore.

For a few months after his Mom died he had spent a lot of time with Tsukishima's family. It was nice to be around a family and feel welcome, but then Tsukki had started dating Yacchi. It had felt like a betrayal. Yamaguchi had a crush on Yacchi. He had never told this to Tsukki so technically his friend didn't know and didn't do anything wrong, but it still put a noticeable rift in their friendship. Which sucked because Tsukki was the only real friend Yamaguchi had.

He got along well with the rest of the team and had other acquaintances, but no real friends. He could tell people often weren't sure how to act around him or what to say about him being an orphan. Conversation got awkward when people brought up holidays and vacations.

Yamaguchi found himself spending most of what little free time he had at Shimada Mart. Which is where he was now. Sitting at one of the small cafe tables doing some homework and eating Poki.

"Hey Shimada, what was it like when you got Takinou's name on your birthday?." Yamaguchi asked.

"Well I turned 18 before Yusuke, so I actually didn't get a name on my birthday. When he turned 18 though it was both exciting and kind of awkward."

"Why awkward?"

"Well, we were best friends and we were both gay, but we had never thought of the other in a romantic way. So it was a little awkward at first. It was better than Ukai had it though. As you know he got Ittetsu's name, but at that time we didn't know who that was. He had to wait 8 years for him to show up at his store & beg him to coach the team before he had his mate."

Yamaguchi panicked "What if that happens to me? What if I don't get a name or I get one and I don't know who she is? What if I never find her? What if I spend the rest of my life alone?" The last part came out a whisper, but Shimada still heard him.

Shimada walked over and ruffled his handed through the younger man's hair, "Tadashi, never finding your mate is highly unusual. I'm sure you will get a name and she will be a wonderful woman. Fate has a way of giving us exactly what we need, when we need it."

Yamaguchi smiled at his friend and mentor, "Thanks Shimada."

Shimada went back to stocking his shelves and Yamaguchi went back to his homework. After a short while Yamaguchi voiced another concern "What if she can't handle me?" He blurted.

Shimada burst out laughing "Wow Tadashi, I had no idea you had so much confidence in your sexual prowess. "

Yamaguchi's face turned bright red and he tossed a wadded up piece of paper at Shimada. "That's not what I meant pervert."..."I meant, what if she can't deal with my depression and anxiety and the fact that I don't have a family."

Yamaguchi sighed and put his head on his book. He started to cry, which just pissed him off, but he sobbed out the last bit "what if she hates that I am her mate because I am a train wreck."

Shimada stopped working and sat down across from Yamaguchi "Everyone is different, but our mates are chosen for us by fate for a reason. And I can honestly say that there is nothing that could ever make me walk away from Yusuke. He is everything to me and you will be the same for your mate."

Yamaguchi sniffled and nodded his head, "yeah. OK."

Talking to Shimada always made him feel better.