Crossposting this story from AO3.

Not soulmates

Soulmates.

There were soulmates everywhere. Not only was a person bombarded by them through the media and nearly any place one looked at but even in school they had a subject on the history of soulmates and their importance.

Ryuu wasn't too happy about soulmates.

For one, he didn't have one of the marks that seemed to be etched on everyone's body. And then, he had fallen for someone. And that person wasn't like him, no, that person had the mark of their soulmate quite clearly etched on their left shoulder.

Ryuu grumbled and stared blankly at the pages of the book he was holding. He couldn't make sense of the words he was seeing. He just felt like closing his eyes, laying down the book and sleeping. His body was demanding it of him. Volleyball practice was at its most grueling, they needed to get better to face against the other opponents. It was hard work.

But through it all, the team was coming together. Despite the fact that sometimes the tension was so high you could almost cut it with a knife, Ryuu knew that he was counted on to throw in some silliness, he and his best friend, Noya. Their antics going after Kiyoko were always a much needed stress relief and everybody ended up with big smiles plastered on their faces. Except Tsukishima, he was still a sourpuss but one or two times Ryuu had already caught the small smile exchanged with Yamaguchi. It made Ryuu wonder if there was something more going on there, no-one had said anything but there were high chances of them being soulmates. It was actually an interesting fact, there were many pairs of soulmates that had grown in the midst of their team.

Yes, mostly everyone of the team. Except Tanaka, yeah, he was alone in this... No-one knew of his secret, only Noya – though he thought that Daisuke and Suga may have some suspicion. It was a hard secret to have. Especially when he had fallen in love anyway.

Why did he have to go and just fall for someone who already had a mark? There was no way it could be corresponded on, right?

But Ryuu never acted on it. He couldn't – and wouldn't – dare to risk their friendship like that just because of a silly infatuation. Besides, Noya had already shown him the soulmark, the name written on it someone they both knew. In the end, how could Tanaka ever compare to Asahi-san? It seemed as if they were perfect for each other, balancing each other. Yin and yang. They just were it. And it showed on the outside. When they were out people would take a look at them and murmur how they had to be soulmates. And they weren't wrong.

Just…

Tanaka couldn't help but curse the unfairness of it all.

And why hadn't the infatuation disappeared already? It had been going for such a long time already!

Still, the friendship mattered the most. And he always done his best to not let the crush affect them.

Except…

Noya-san was unpredictable and unexpected.

So Ryuu was totally blindsided when one day they were heading home, the air around them had become much more somber than usual.

At first Noya looked pensive, like something was weighing on his mind.

Of course that Tanaka, as best friend, had to say something.

"So, Noya-san, what are you thinking about? You haven't said a word since we left practice and Kiyoko threw us her new glare of doom."

He tried to go for humorous but he could see that it didn't have much of an effect as Nishinoya glanced briefly at him and looked back down, not replying.

This had Ryuu stopping, a frown etched across his face. He crossed his arms and stared at Nishinoya who had stopped a couple of steps ahead. "Okay, out with it. What's the matter?"

Nishinoya shook his head and remained still, his head lowered and posture stiff. It was an unusual, if not nearly out of character, thing for the libero who didn't let himself go so down. Even to Ryuu he tended to present a more low-key version of himself when he was going through a rougher bit.

'What the hell is going on?' he wondered.

"Ryuu…" Noya said in a low voice, running a hand through his hair as he usually did when he was agitated. "Let's not talk about it, okay?" he glanced at Tanaka over his shoulder before looking forward again, with a sigh.

"Huh, okay." Tanaka replied. "If you say so."

And so they resumed their walk home.

Later that night, as he was lying in bed and looking at the ceiling, the thought of Nishinoya wouldn't leave his mind.

He just didn't know how to help him.

With a grumble he ran his hands through his face and turned to his side. He needed to get some sleep.

On the next day Nishinoya was behaving as his usual hyped self. Tanaka was relieved but he knew that whatever had been in the other's mind hadn't cleared up yet. He knew that he just had to find a way to make the other talk.

He went to the corner to drink some water as the team was gathered and talking. In this small break everyone was relaxed, despite the games that were coming their way.

He saw Nishinoya talk to the team, his voice loud, posture open and confident and hands moving excitedly to enhance whatever he was saying. And then Azumane-san said something and Nishinoya turned to him and seemed to glow, the same way as a sunflower blooms turning to the sun.

Tanaka frowned at his water bottle. He ran his towel through his face and let out a sigh. Yes, he had been right about not doing anything. He couldn't get in the way of what destiny had decided. It just wasn't idone/i. And, in the end, he did want Noya to be happy.

So Tanaka strengthened his resolve and returned to the team, laughing at the antics of Kageyama and Hinata who were arguing over something that had Suga laughing and Daishi starting to rub at his forehead.

The coach called them and so the break was over and it was time to go back to work.

A/N: So, I was looking at a list of prompts and there was one that caught my attention: "I care about people who fall in love with someone who isn't their soulmate and aren't willing to leave."

This story was the result.

Unbetaed.

Feedback's always nice.