ShuAnn Week 2021
Day 6: Soulmates/Fate & Destiny
Once again, Ann ignored the whispers around her as she took her seat. It was still the same as usual. That she was Kamoshida's "girl" and that she shared him with Shiho, that she was an "easy catch" because of that, and that she was a bitch who would get prissy if she got insulted. The usual. Nothing to get that worked up about.
"Okay, reminder class, just because winter break starts tomorrow doesn't mean you can slack off," her homeroom teacher said when she arrived. "Even more so if you do have end up having a soulmate. So be sure to finish your homework, okay?"
Wait, soulmate? Ann wondered why would the teacher talk about the phenomenon that only happened to a very small percent of the population...until she remembered tomorrow was the winter equinox, otherwise known as Winter Soul Day.
And it would be the first one she would have after turning sixteen.
A part of her hoped she was in the one percent of the population that would have a soulmate, but if she was...then what? What was she going to do about it? What if she didn't like her soulmate? What if her soulmate was a creepy man like Kamoshida? What if he was on the other side of the world? How were they going to meet so that the soul swapping could stop? How would they get the money to meet—
"Ann?"
"Ack!"
Thud.
"Ow..."
Ann rubbed her head where she hit it on the wall.
Of course her best friend chuckled at her misfortune.
"Hey, don't laugh. I hurt myself because of you..."
"Sorry. It's just that you didn't touch your lunch," she said. "Something wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just..."
"Just...?"
Ann sighed. "Tomorrow's Winter Soul Day."
"Oh."
A moment of silence.
"Is that it?"
She glared at her best friend.
"What do you mean 'is that it'? Of course that's it! Why are you acting like it isn't a big deal?"
"It's just one percent of the population."
Ann sighed and slumped, carefully this time, against the bench. True, but...
...with her luck lately, she wouldn't be surprised to somehow have a soulmate she hated.
"Do you want me to be with you?"
She was tempted to say yes. But if the worse case scenario happened...
"No, it's fine."
"Ann..."
She smiled and said, "I'm fine. Really. I mean, you're probably right. It is one percent and all. You're usually right."
And she went back to eating her lunch.
So on the day of Winter Soul Day, she just had her meals, plenty of snacks, and played on her COMPstation Vita, having only just realized none of her model appointments fell on that day. She wished that wasn't the case. None of the games she had were working in distracting her. With that endeavor fruitless, she switched to just using her phone...except so much of social media was hyping up the day so she stopped with a groan, her fears surfacing again. Now that those options were out, there was only one thing left.
Watch a romance film.
It wasn't much. Just one of her favorites that she's watched many times. But when she was done with that, she watched another one, this time a new one she added. Then another, and another, and another. Thus she ended up binging a whole lot of romance movies. But because she was so engrossed in watching all that...she grimaced and closed her eyes as she was punched with vertigo.
"Ugh!"
She braced herself against her couch, trying not to throw up from the dizziness.
"Hey! You all right?!"
Her heart raced. Who was that? She never heard her before. How did she get in her home? She tried to move and see the girl but her vision spun even more and she thumped her head back with a groan.
"Woah woah, it's all right! You're just dizzy from the soul switch! Probably. Uh...were you focusing on something before the switch?"
Switch? Wait...
Ann froze, her eyesight finally settling.
Before her was a girl with black curls, square glasses and plain clothes in a room she's never seen before.
No way... Had she...?
The girl smiled and said, "Hey there. Feeling better?"
"Uh...yeah..."
She startled, her voice much deeper—and smoother—than it should be.
The curly haired girl noticed and laughed.
Ann just glared and said, "Not funny."
But Ann jumped again, the voice of the body she was in still making her heart race, and that made the girl laugh. So Ann settled on continuing to glare at her. She did stop, thankfully, though she doubted it was because of her look when her smile still held mischief.
"Surprised?" she said.
She nodded, not wanting to give her more fuel.
"Hey, don't be like that. I was having fun."
Ann pouted.
The curly haired girl looked ready to snicker but she suppressed it, to her relief, and said with warmth,
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry for laughing. I promise I won't laugh at you while you're adjusting, okay?"
Ann stared at the girl, hoping to discern how truthful she was. When she made no further moves to tease her and her mischievous glint disappeared, she relaxed and nodded.
The girl smiled and said, "Good. Now..."
But then there was an unusual jingle and the stranger took out her phone.
"Huh. Unknown number. Must be Big Bro. Give me a sec."
She put the black smartphone to her ear and began to talk.
Ann, feeling her stomach quiver from butterflies, looked away from the girl and tuned out the conversation. That, however, had the unfortunate side effect of her seeing what she assumed was her soulmate's room was like. There were quite a few shelves around her, all of them filled with books, many in Japanese but, to her surprise, some in English, though it seemed some of them had Japanese copies paired with them, particularly the novels. And plenty of mangas were interspersed among the collection. Beside the bed she sat on was a desk with more books, both for school and for leisure, school supplies and a couple of posters, the only one she recognized being one of Risette's new album.
And all of it was arranged neatly.
Nothing at all like her room.
She grumbled. How could a guy's room be so clean?
"Hey," the girl said as she waved a hand in front of her.
Ann squeaked and startled. But before she could say anything, the phone she had was pushed into her hands and she said,
"Here. Talk to Big Bro. I'm gonna go get Mom and Dad."
"Hey, wait!"
But the girl just left, ignoring her plead. Ann slumped and groaned. Everything was so overwhelming. The new body that was making her mind spin and protest, her previous stress coming back full force and the fact that she even had a soulmate...it was just... She didn't know what to feel or do.
And then a very familiar voice said, "Are you okay?"
And she jumped but remembered that her body, her own body, was on the other end of the phone, which had apparently been put on speaker.
She didn't want to speak but...she knew he, her soulmate, was concerned.
Ann was pretty sure she could tell when her own voice was worried.
So pacing her words to not be affected by the foreigness, she said,
"I'm fine."
A second of silence.
She was scared she did something wrong somehow.
But then he said, "Sounds weird huh?"
"Huh...?"
There was a laugh, her laugh, and then he said, "You know, hearing our own voices talking to us. Unless you talk to yourself a lot."
Ann pouted. "I don't talk to myself."
"Ha ha, I didn't say you do," he said in her voice. "But really, it's weird for me too, hearing myself talk and it's not my voice. And also hearing it from somewhere else, but it's more weird my voice isn't 'mine'."
She sighed in relief. She wasn't the only one...
Then her soulmate said, "So, now that we have established, how about introductions? I'm Ren Amamiya. It's nice to meet you. Sorry I have to use your phone without asking."
"O-Oh, I'm Ann Takamaki. Nice to meet you too. I-It's fine. You didn't have any other way of calling."
Ren chuckled warmly. "Still, I wish I didn't have to. What would you prefer I call you?"
Huh? "Uh..."
She had thought he would just call her Ann right away or something. They were soulmates after all and she wouldn't exactly blame him for it. She wasn't much better since she already felt like calling him Ren.
"I won't call you Ann unless you want me to," he said. "I mean, we're still strangers after all. I don't want to make you uncomfortable. Well, more uncomfortable than you probably already are. And I still used used your phone without permission."
Ann gasped and felt close to tears at his thoughtfulness. That just made her want her to call him by his first name all more.
"Hey, are you all right? I thought I heard something."
She smiled, thanking her lucky stars, and said,
"It's okay. I'd...like it if you call me Ann."
There was a pause and for a second she thought she pushed the line.
But then the warm tone came back and he said, "Okay Ann. I'd...like it if you call me Ren then."
And Ann smiled with all her heart as she and Ren talked.
Ren looked out the window, contemplating on the the past few hours.
After the switch, he and Ann got to know each other over the phone as well as get accustomed to the temporary voice and body change. Well as best as they could in a few hours anyway. Though Ren was confident he could tell the difference between him using his voice and Ann using it. Her usage of it much more energetic and bright than his, like a sunny morning to his bright evening, as well as her vocabulary including plenty of words and phrases he had never used regularly, if at all.
After about a few minutes of just learning a bit about each other, like her love of sweets and his love of books, they talked about meeting each other so that they could switch back and stop switching, Ann telling him that Aki brought his parents into his room. With a lot of back and forth, it was decided he, in Ann's body, would leave Tokyo and head for his home in Iida, Nagano by train, and that they would inform Ann's parents and so on when he arrived. But before he left, he had to change. Thankfully Ann's room being filled close to the brim with a variety of clothes meant he found some that he could just put on top of his current attire, no getting naked, and thus looking at Ann's body without permission, needed.
In the midst of putting them on though, he looked at himself in the mirror. To say the least, he had been floored at how...beautiful Ann was. She looked like a foreign model, platinum blonde hair, curvy and fit body and bright blue eyes. And not only that, she seemed so kind and cheery too when they talked. It was like she was the complete package, amazing looks and an amazing heart.
How lucky was he to have a person like her be his soulmate?
So it was no surprise he got a lot of looks on the train, especially as he got closer and closer to Iida, some of them making him want to wring their throats. He was glad he brought a knife from her kitchen just in case. A teenage girl all by herself was quite the tempting target. But thankfully all he needed to do was give his best glare and they would look away. Thus he made it home with nothing more than curious looks and being a bit late for dinner.
"Hey—woah. Is that really you, Big Bro?" Aki said when she answered the door.
Ren couldn't but smile and stand tall. "I know right? I got really lucky."
"You got that right."
"Akira? Is that Ren?" Mama said from further in the house.
"Yeah Mom!"
And they both went in, after Ren put away his shoes of course. When he made it into the dining room, Mama was the first to speak.
"My, is that really you Ren?" she said.
"That's what I said," Aki said, smirking.
Mama smiled. "Well of course I'm going to say it. My son's soulmate is beautiful, both inside and out."
"Mrs. Amamiya!" his voice squeaked, high pitched from embarrassment.
Ren turned to her by instinct and...blinked, his vision going blurry for a second. When it cleared, he was met with sight of his concerned family, the dining room from a seated position, and Ann being supported a bit by Aki.
"Big Bro, you okay?" his sister said.
"I'm fine," he said in his voice.
Everyone turned their attention to him as he stood and also held his soulmate.
"Ann? Can you hear me?" he said.
"Ugh..." She shook her head but said, "Yeah. Just...didn't expect that."
Ren sighed in relief then laughed.
"Sorry. I shouldn't have looked at you in the eyes."
"It's fine..."
"It's Mom's fault anyway," Aki was quick to say.
Mama, thankfully, had the dignity to be sheepish and say,
"Sorry. I meant it in good fun. Are you sure you're all right, Ann-chan?"
He looked at Mama, then at his soulmate appraisingly.
"Ann-chan?"
He knew she won him over quite quickly, but he hadn't thought he would win Mama just as fast.
"U-Uh...well...she offered and I..." Ann said. "Ugh! Never mind! Yes I'm fine! So can we eat now?!"
Ren couldn't help it. He laughed again and that made the rest of his family laugh. All except Ann, who was pouting at all of them.
"What's so funny...?"
That just made it worse.
His soulmate groaned. "I just had to get a soulmate with a family who likes to tease, didn't I...?"
Ren stopped his laughter first, the rest following suit once again.
"I'm sorry about that, Ann," he said, holding her hand. "We're just happy that you're the one here, right?"
"Yup!" Aki said.
Dad nodded.
And Mama said, "Couldn't have said it better."
"So, you forgive us?"
Ann grumbled a bit, but as soon as she eyed the dinner on the table, she crumbled and said,
"Okay."
Ren smiled and led her to the table. "All right then, let's eat."
Dinner had always been lively with their family, but now that Ann was in it, it doubled and all because Ann was being herself.
Ren still had a hard time believing it.
Nothing. No calls, no texts, nothing. Ren hadn't contacted her for a week. Not only that, Akira hadn't called or texted anything either, as well as their parents. It just made her worry that some disaster befell on them. It made her want to visit them when weekend came around. But with fate being fickle by having her have a bunch of model appointments she couldn't really cancel for many reasons and there being no news of anything major happening in Iida, Ann hadn't had the chance nor the excuse to do so.
She hated it. She got to know Ren over the past couple of months and now this happened. She hoped she didn't lose him just as she got him. Ann wasn't sure if she could stand that, on top of Kamoshida's continued harassment that she couldn't stop otherwise Shiho's dream would be in danger, or worse, he could somehow ruin Ren's life and that was the last thing she wanted to happen to her soulmate.
So of course, even though she was dead tired from her latest shoot and collapsed on her bed, she answered her phone right away when it was Ren's number.
"Ren! Thank God you called! Did something happen? Why didn't you—"
But then he said, in the most defeated and pleading voice she had never thought she would hear from him,
"Ann..."
And she paused.
"Ren...?"
"I'm sorry, I just..."
"A-Ah, it's okay Ren. I shouldn't have dumped all of that on you. I know you wouldn't have stopped calling me without a good reason."
Ren laughed but it was completely broken and her heart wrenched at it, even as he said, genuinely grateful,
"Thanks Ann."
Then he went silent. The only assurance Ann had that he was still there was the rustling of the speaker from his breath.
"It's...kind of a long story..." he finally said, thankfully much closer to normal now.
And she said, "I'll listen."
And she did...and she started shouting in anger as soon as he was done. Ren had been falsely charged of assault, along with Akira. The past week they had both been detained and doing "court hearings", their parents trying their best to change the sentence but failed. And not only that, they were expelled from the school they had been attending.
That was just unfair.
But instead of being angry about it, Ren just laughed and said,
"I should've known you would react like that."
Ann frowned. "Well it's not fair," she said. "Don't tell me you're not mad."
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't, but..." He sighed. "You know how it's like in interrogations. I didn't want any of that to happen to Aki, not when the one who accused us obviously has some control over the police. So I just signed the 'confession' so that it would convince Aki to do the same before it would get worse than shouting."
Ann flinched, not even wanting to imagine the experience. "Ren..."
"I'm fine," he said, tone warm despite everything. "And hey, it's not all bad."
Ann pouted. "How can being expelled and falsely accused be 'not bad'?"
"Well, for one, Aki and I are on probation so we're not in jail. And for two...we did manage to get accepted into another school."
"Huh? Another school? Really?"
"Yeah, I know. Want to guess?"
"Guess...?"
She tried thinking of any schools that could possibly accept teens with a "criminal record" but none came to mind.
"I can't think of anything."
But then Ren said with cheer,
"Shujin Academy."
And Ann froze.
No, no, no. He was coming to her school? With Kamoshida? Who still harassing her and probably abusing Shiho and the other volleyball team members? No, no, no... If Ren and Akira saw that, they were no doubt going to do something about it, like they did which caused them to transfer in the first place. But then Kamoshida could ruin their lives somehow, being who he was—or worse, he could greatly injure Ren like he did with Sakamoto. The thought made her shiver.
What was she going to do now?
Before she spiraled on and on in her mind, Ren said,
"Surprised huh?"
"U-Uh, yeah. I didn't think that would happen."
"I know. I'm looking forward to seeing you everyday."
"Y-Yeah, me too," she said.
She had to find a way to have Kamoshida stop before they came to Tokyo, without ruining Shiho's chances at volleyball.
But as April came closer, and no solution came to mind, her worry got to the point that Ren noticed and tried to get her to talk. She may have been terrible in her excuses, but she refused to say anything. His dejected expression and his attempts to hide his sadness with small smiles almost made her talk, but the thought of Kamoshida ruining him like he did with Sakamoto stopped her. His life was already in dire straits as it was.
But it turned out to be pointless. There were already rumors going about on two new transfer students being criminals, the record going from extortion to drugs to murder and more. And then before she knew it, Ren told her he and Akira just arrived in Yongen-jaya and are settling in, her problem no closer to getting solved. He told her he wanted to see her but, thankfully for her nerves and guilt, he was too busy making sure their new place was okay for Aki as well as finishing any remaining paperwork needed for Shujin. So when Monday rolled around and it rained on the way to school, as if to add to her problems, she just...
What was she going to do?
"Ann?"
She startled and turned to see her soulmate and his little sister under the same shade as she was, both with concern in their eyes.
"Big Sis? You all right?" Akira said.
"I..."
She should just run. She couldn't think of an excuse to get away.
But as if to make fun of her, a car came up and stopped by the side, the window coming down to reveal Kamoshida.
She flinched as he said, "Hey, you're gonna be late in this rain. Want me to give you a ride?"
Well, she had wanted an excuse, this was going to be the best she was going to get.
So she said, "Uh, yeah, sure."
And moved closer but then Ren said,
"Ann, please, don't go. Are you...scared of me now?"
Ann flinched. "Ren..."
What could she say? She didn't want to avoid him but she didn't know what to say and Kamoshida was right there, ready to have more excuses to ruin her life and others.
"Hmm? Who're these two?" Kamoshida said, hostility creeping in his voice.
"Um, these are—" she said, ready to make up something.
But her soulmate said, "I'm Ren Amamiya. I'm Ann's soulmate. This is my sister, Akira."
"Hey," Akira said, glaring.
Kamoshida glared right back at the siblings. "Amamiya, huh? You transfer students to Shujin Academy?"
"Yes," Ren said.
"Well then it's obvious why she's scared of you then, criminal."
Ren's expression turned cold for a moment and her heart twisted at the sight. When it was put that way, it did look like that was why she was uncomfortable with him.
But that expression changed into a more stern one as Ren said, "Well it's just as obvious she's scared of you too."
Now Kamoshida looked livid and Ann's heart raced in fear of what could happen.
"Be careful of what you say, wouldn't want to add falsely accusing people to your records now."
Ren scoffed. "I could say the same of you."
"Ren, wait, don't—" anger him, Ann almost said.
But the look her soulmate gave, eyes determined yet pleading, as he said,
"Ann... You're scared of him, right?"
"Ren..."
It was true but... The look Kamoshida was giving her, thinly veiled rage waiting for her to deny him, made her just stand there, not saying more.
And then Ren's posture slacked and he frowned and it broke her heart as he said,
"Or...did I just see that wrong?" He laughed but it was self-depecating. "I guess I'm really a possessive boyfriend if I'm just seeing things about you..."
No.
And something snapped in her mind.
She took Ren's hand and, as best as she could, she said,
"No, you're right, I..." She looked straight at the Kamoshida, ignoring her weakening legs. "...don't want to go with you."
For a moment, Ann thought the man was going to come out and drag her in the car with how outraged he looked, or worse beat Ren and even Akira senseless. But then someone she was somewhat familiar with said,
"Screw you Kamoshida!"
And the form of Sakamoto skid in front of her, Ren and Akira.
"Sakamoto..."
"She said she don't wanna go, so go!" he said.
"Yeah, aren't you gonna be late? It wouldn't be good to have a late teacher," Akira said, stepping forward.
Somehow, that was enough to have the man back down and drive off. As much as she feared what he would do—that had been much too easy—she sighed in relief and leaned against Ren, who automatically wrapped her in his embrace.
And the first thing she said was,
"I'm so sorry..."
"It's okay," he said. "I know you wouldn't do anything without a good reason..."
She felt her tear coming back. "But..."
"It's okay. I mean it. Whatever it is, we can deal with it. Together. Right?"
"Mmhmm..."
Yeah, she liked the sound of that.
Unfortunately...
"Wait, who're you two?"
...the moment was ruined by Sakamoto.
"Guess we should do introductions?" Akira said.
"I think it'd be best if we go before we're late." Ren said.
Which was also unfortunately true. Ann sighed. Of course just when she was willing to actually talk about what has been bothering, they had other things to attend to. A warm squeeze on her hand pulled her out of her thoughts and Ren said,
"Promise to talk after school?"
She smiled.
"Promise."
A school that looked like a castle.
A teacher who thought himself a king.
And Ann in barely concealing clothing.
All of which very much revealed to Ren what Kamoshida was really like and gave him an inkling on why Ann had been so closed off in the days leading to their arrival in Tokyo. It also made him want to wring the man until he could almost not breath before making his crimes known so that he would have to deal with a stained reputation just like he would, except in his case it was well deserved.
But that wasn't important right now.
Right now he, Akira and Ann had just finished talking to Sakamoto-san about the mental landscape they had escaped from at around noon. Akira, thank his sister, noticed the chance and dragged the "punk" with her, saying something about dealing with her own troublesome soulmate and wanting Sakamoto-san's help for it. The clang of the door echoed when they exited and the two were alone on the rooftop.
"Um..." Ann said but stopped and looked away, twirling her hair in her fingers.
Well it looked like he would have to start.
He moved his seat closer to hers and held her hand. She flinched for a moment and Ren thought he had pushed too much too soon, but she returned his grip and leaned onto him.
Then he said, "How are you feeling?"
"Huh? Oh, I'm...fine," she said.
"Really?" he said.
"Okay, not really but..."
"But...?"
She sniffed. "I'm sorry..."
"Sorry?"
"I'm sorry for treating you like that. I know you wanted to help but...but..."
"But what, Ann?" he said, rubbing his free hand on her back in comfort.
"I was scared... You already tried to help someone and something bad happened to you... What if it happened again? And it's because of me? I can't... I can't..."
Ren heard her gasp as he hugged her properly.
"Oh Ann..."
Now she cried in earnest, saying "I'm sorry" whenever she could, asking him not to leave, while Ren held her and told her he wouldn't go. They stayed like that for a while, just Ren offering comfort until Ann finally let go of her tears.
It was only when she stopped and calmed did Ren say,
"You know I don't regret helping that woman, right? Even though she lied in her testimony and me and Aki got convicted?"
His beloved nodded.
"Well I wouldn't regret helping you at all too, even more so. Even if we weren't soulmates, I would help you, because you are a kind, cheerful and amazing person and I...I love you for that."
Ann gasped and squirmed in his arms, likely from embarrassment, but he wasn't done hugging her yet, or speaking.
"So I forgive you, Ann. Because I know you meant well and did your best, okay?"
"Ren..."
"So will you now let me help you? As best as I can?"
"But...there's no way we can stop Kamoshida...who would believe us?"
That was true. But...
"We'll find a way," he said. "There is that castle of his we saw after all. Maybe we can do something with it."
Ren let go Ann so that she could lean back and look at him with a disbelieving expression.
"Really? You think so?"
"I'll certainly try, for you and your best friend. We can ask that cat even. I'm sure it'll be easy to convince it to help us."
Considering how smitten it was with Ann.
Not that Ren could blame it. He wasn't much better.
Especially when she smiled like he was the best thing in the entire world.
"Thanks Ren."
He gave an eskimo kiss and said, "You're very welcome, Ann."
His soulmate laughed and tried to get away but Ren held her close and prevented any escape, continuing to shower her with his affection.
He would always show how grateful he was to have her as his soulmate.
Author's Note: I swear I could have made this longer but I already made Culture Blend and Loving Joker waaaay longer than intended so no thanks...as tempting as it is to keep going.
And maybe I could do better with the ending and the bit that lead up to it but, again, I already had two pieces for ShuAnn Week 2021 over 10,000 words, so I didn't want another one for my own sake.
Otherwise I'm fine with this piece with how short I tried to force myself to make it.
I was originally tempted to the "name somewhere on body" soulmate thing, especially after seeing one pointing out the Japanese kanji would add another layer to it, but I also REALLY liked the idea of body switching (blame Your Name for that) and how would that affect the main story of P5 if soulnate switching happened.
I had initially thought of doing the typical shenanigans with a bodyswap, especially since it'd be in the middle of a school day, but I thought it'd be more interesting that the soulmate thing is an actual phenomenone to the point that the equinoxes are holidays that stop most work and schools.