One day they just started appearing. Yuzu woke up one morning and noticed a string coming out of her mother's chest, right over her heart. It was a clear string, dangling limply as if it had been cut. "What's that?" Yuzu asked, pointing to her mother's heart.

When her mother asked what she was talking about, the string had disappeared and Yuzu wondered if she was imagining things.

She had heard inklings of people being able to see the strings, but it was considered a myth for the most part. That a person could be connected to their soulmate was a romantic notion that Yuzu herself would fantasize about in her loneliest moments.

It was just before high school when they would appear in the corner of her eyes. When she started to focus on them, willing them appear, it was as if the entire world changed. All sorts of strings in a myriad of colors tied to people and connecting them together. She stood in a crowded street, awed by the beautiful interconnections of fate at work. And nobody seemed to notice them except her. She took immediate delight in her new senses, and was overwhelmed with wanting to know more about them.

Blue was tricky. Not everyone had one, and the connections seemed a little random. She had one herself tied to her index finger, though unfortunately whoever was on the other end wasn't within walking distance even when she tried to follow it in curiosity. Through observation she concluded that blue simply meant an important person.

Green strings were easy to figure out. The green string was tied around her pinky finger and connected Yuzu to her mother. There were adults with many little green strings around their fingers linking them to their numerous children, and many still with none at all. Some even with strings that were cut. The fate of a clear cut string wasn't too hard to figure out either, and she cherished her green string all the more, knowing she was her mother's last existing connection.

Which brought her to the most prominent string on any person- the red string linking people's hearts together. Some were bright red and strong, some were frayed, and others still seemed to be rotting away. Very rarely did she see people near their other ends, red strings mostly led into the distance never to be found. But when she did see them together– an old couple here, a lucky pair of young lovers there– they were clearly meant to be together. It was as if right out of a book of fairytales! Soulmates existed!

Which was why Yuzu laid awake at night in a cold fear, clutching her hand over her chest where her string was supposed to be. Hoping one day she would see and feel her own string. But no matter how hard she focused it never appeared.

—

The day Yuzu ran into the other end of her blue string was truly a joyous occasion. She had just transferred schools and had not expected such a meeting. Her and Harumi clicked together right away, like a couple of peas in a pod. The blue string between them glowed happily as they laughed together, and Yuzu felt a bit better about lacking a soulmate string. Ever the optimist, Yuzu had decided to enjoy the connections she did have and try not to focus on her missing red string. She was so happy to be united with someone who was surely to be important in her life that she almost didn't notice something odd about another one of her classmates. The girl who immediately called her out for breaking the dress code that morning, the student council president, did not have a red soulmate string either.

Yuzu found herself staring until the other girl turned her head to stare back and Yuzu hurriedly looked away with a blush of embarrassment.

—

The girl was her new stepsister and she turned out to be a very vexing person indeed, even without Yuzu's curiosity concerning her lack of a string. 'A fellow comrade' Yuzu thought at first, taking a little comfort in the fact that she wasn't alone in being stringless. The notion quickly dissipated when Mei never treated her like a comrade at all. Even still, Yuzu developed a fascination and wanted to know more about her. Maybe she wanted to know some clues or similarities between them to figure out what made a person stringless, but she just couldn't figure the girl out. She was a mystery, a black hole that sucked up all of Yuzu's attention and she found herself falling into it hard and fast.

When she realized she was in love she cried tears of joy. She was so afraid she wouldn't be capable of loving another person, or even if she did that they would be forever connected to someone else. Then one day she noticed something truly amazing. A new green string had grown between her mother and Mei, neatly tied as her mother claimed Mei as her own daughter. She was so happy for them both, and filled with hope that she and Mei were perhaps able to form new connections. Not that it mattered to Yuzu at this point. Her heart tugged towards Mei even if nothing tethered them together.

—

When Yuzu got the idea to buy rings for them both, it felt like a stroke of genius. A tangible symbol of her love for Mei felt like the perfect anchor between them. Fate be damned, she wanted to be linked to Mei forever. She wanted to let Mei know that she was all in and ready to commit even if she was afraid. Scared that their relationship wouldn't last or that they were too taboo, of the consequences they would face in society. As long as they were together she didn't need a string to tell her how she felt. She was willing to put the work in to forge their path with her own hands.

She had never felt more vulnerable than now, presenting the ring to Mei with trembling hands, hoping that she felt the same way. And to both of their surprise tears sprung unbidden to Mei's eyes as she stared at the ring. Yuzu internally panicked at the reaction, stammering over her words in fret. However, she was instantly silenced when Mei slipped the ring onto her finger, eyes shining with wonder. She had never seen the other girl more open and beautiful than that moment when she accepted Yuzu's feelings. Gathering Mei into her arms, she kissed the tears away with a heart overflowing with love and affection.

When they separated, Mei gasped in a curious way that brought summoned all of Yuzu's attention. Something was shimmering between them. Mei's newly ringed hand grasped at the beginnings of a tentative pink string tied at their chests with awkward little bows.

Yuzu's eyes widened and her breath escaped her. "You can see them too?"

Mei's eyes were swimming once more as their gazes met in amazement and Yuzu could feel her own tears spilling over but she was smiling. She was smiling so hard right now and she didn't think she was capable of stopping.

"It's perfect," Mei whispered. Their connection was discolored, thin and a little worse for wear, but it was indeed beautiful and perfect in every way. With patience, care, and love, there was only room to grow and make it stronger.

Mei tugged at the string to bring Yuzu ever closer, hearts pulsing in sync for once.