Chapter Text
Sugimoto still remembers being little and hearing about soulmates for the first time. He had been wide-eyed and in awe of the idea that destiny would bring him the one person he was meant to be with, tailor-made to be his perfect match. Sugimoto used to fall asleep at night, hoping he wouldn't have to wait long to meet them, his young heart already yearning for his happily-ever-after.
Dreams of your other half descended whenever someone was about to meet theirs. Anything from a perfect visual of them, to strong audio of their voice, coupled with a rough image detailing their body language. The variation of dreams was quite wide, but all that mattered was that when you did happen to step into the vicinity of your soulmate, you both knew.
There were many testimonies about the feeling you get when you find your soulmate. Sugimoto had read about a duo who described a profoundly comforting warmth spreading throughout their bodies, akin to drinking a cup of hot cocoa. Another had reported a zap of electricity that zooms through your heart, the bolts lighting up every single cell, but the sensation always varies from couple to couple.
Whatever his telltale feeling was going to be, Sugimoto couldn't wait and knew that it was going to be perfect. There wasn't a certain age at which people started dreaming of their soulmates. For some, it happened when they were quite young; for others, it wasn't until they had accumulated many life experiences. Sugimoto hoped his meeting would come sooner rather than later; every passing day felt like torture.
Thankfully, though, Sugimoto only had to wait until one fateful rainy evening, during the early prime of his life.
His dreams started a few weeks ago. A deep and velvety voice, jet black hair styled in an undercut, charcoal eyes, matching suture lines along his jaw, and a mischievous smirk. Those were the only details provided to Sugimoto. He craved more, but knowing it wouldn't be much longer before he had the full picture kept Sugimoto's hunger at bay. Constantly keeping his eyes peeled tested his patience, but it proved more than worth it when the momentous interaction occurred.
The teasing images would often leave Sugimoto staring at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep after getting the sign of being so close to what he oh-so-coveted. He started imagining the man beside him in bed, smiling seductively and coaxing Sugimoto towards him. Sugimoto would be lying if those thoughts hadn't led him to take matters into his own hands a time or two.
And then, Sugimoto's agonizing wait was over. It was a Friday night, and Sugimoto was spending the end of a long week unwinding with a few friends and a few beers. The bar was crowded, but not overly so, just enough that Sugimoto was able to keep an eye out for all the people milling about. His attention had definitely been split since his first dream, and that didn't go unnoticed by his friends.
“Earth to Sugimoto!”
Sugimoto whipped his head towards Shiraishi, who wore a long-suffering look, while both Tanigaki and Vasily sported mirthful expressions. He took off his baseball cap and bashfully scrubbed the back of his head, feeling slightly embarrassed over getting caught.
“Uh, what's up?”
“If you're going to spend the entire night looking for your soulmate, why don't you head to the bar and get us all fresh drinks?”
An unusually generous allowance from Shiraishi, who had taken to unrelenting teasing whenever Sugimoto got “that look” in his eye. Apparently, Sugimoto got a starry-eyed gaze whenever he had the opportunity to people-watch, and that didn't go unnoticed by his best friend. Sugimoto put up the cursory protests that he was here to spend time with them first and foremost, but was promptly shooed away by the trio. He still couldn’t help but feel grateful for their understanding.
As soon as Sugimoto stood up, he could feel a magnetism drawing him towards the bar as he weaved his way through the throngs of people. Excitement was bubbling in his gut as he strode towards his destination. Once there, Sugimoto found an open place at the counter, in a position for him to catch the eye of the bartender. He turned to signal, and that's when Sugimoto saw him.
The man from Sugimoto's dreams sat on a stool, sipping an amber liquid from a highball glass. He was smirking, just as he always was when his image appeared before Sugimoto, and his obsidian eyes had a challenging edge. He was the most beautiful thing that Sugimoto had ever seen, and he found himself breathless as the enormity of the occasion expanded before him.
Sugimoto was standing behind the guy that his soulmate was talking to, the man partially obscuring Sugimoto's presence and making it easier for him to keep staring while his soulmate remained unaware. Sugimoto felt a tingling sensation run up his spine, the electricity spurring him to take the few steps towards the object of his desire. There were no thoughts in his head other than amazement, blissfully succumbing to his urge to be as close to his soulmate as possible.
He had been awaiting this day for so long, and it was finally here; his forever was just there for the taking, and Sugimoto was going to take full advantage of it. Before Sugimoto knew it, he was standing in the gorgeous man's personal space, and his hands were on the man's jaw, tilting it up and meshing their lips together.
A brief moment of ecstasy enveloped Sugimoto as he kissed his other half, the circuit finally being completed. Their mouths fit together perfectly, just two pieces of a puzzle. Sugimoto couldn't believe their first kiss was this perfect; their lips glided together effortlessly, and Sugimoto felt a giddy rush as if this was his first kiss all over again. He didn't want it to stop, but everyone eventually needed to breathe, so he stepped back and aimed a delighted grin at the rest of his life.
What Sugimoto received in return was a sharp pain blooming in his jaw as a result of the man’s fist making contact with Sugimoto's face. The impact caused Sugimoto to stutter-step back, but the impact wasn’t enough to knock him over. He re-directed his gaze to meet a menacing glare. Still, he wasn't given much time to consider the confounding judgment before his friends were surrounding him, all asking variations of if he was okay. Once assuring everyone that he was, the group parted, allowing him to meet the profound ire of the man who had just punched him.
The guy accompanying Sugimoto’s soulmate was the first to break the tension.
“Hyakunosuke, did you seriously just deck that guy?”
“Drunken idiot just kissed me out of nowhere, what the hell was I supposed to do?” The statement was accompanied by his hand smoothly combing through his hair.
Vasily arched an eyebrow at Sugimoto. “You didn't really kiss that guy, did you?”
“C'mon, Vasily.” Shiraishi chimed in. “Sugimoto might be excited to meet his soulmate, but he's not stupid enough to just plant one on an unsuspecting stranger.”
Sugimoto felt no interest in acknowledging Shiraishi’s statement. He felt his jaw start to throb, so he reached for it and massaged the area instead of answering the question. His soulmate’s friend turned around and aimed a delighted grin at Shiraishi.
“Did I hear you say soulmate?” He then shifted his gaze towards Sugimoto, giving him a quick once-over before making Sugimoto the target of his now sparkling appraisal. As he spoke, it was clear that his words were meant for dark eyes. “Wow, Hyakunosuke. You landed yourself a real hunk here.”
Dark eyes, or Hyakunosuke, crossed his arms. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
The words were erupting from Sugimoto before he even realized. “Haven't you been dreaming of me?”
A nearly unintelligible gasp and wide eyes, gone almost as soon as they appeared, betrayed him, but then the irritated countenance was back, holding more animus than ever.
“Why the hell would I be dreaming about you?”
The pointed question had to be feigned ignorance; even if his reaction hadn’t given him away, Sugimoto’s own dreams and the physical pull he was still feeling were all proof that could not be denied. Sugimoto frowned, confusion clouding his mind as to why someone would refuse the connection that was right before him. Maybe his counterpart’s dreams weren’t as clear as Sugimoto’s were? That seemed to be the only possible reason for the lack of recognition.
“Oh, uh, I probably should have explained this to you before I uh-”
“-Before you quite rudely assaulted me-”
“But I’ve been having dreams of my soulmate, and you’re the man that I saw, I’m sure of it. Plus, my body started feeling like it was one fire as soon as I got close to you, don’t you feel it too?”
His soulmate’s friend rolled his eyes. “What do you say, Hyakunosuke? Does your body feel like it’s on fire?”
“No.”
Sugimoto bit his lip. He knew that he hadn’t put his best foot forward, but he figured that their link could explain the reason behind his behavior. Deciding a restart would be his best option, Sugimoto reached out his hand in greeting.
“My name is Sugimoto Saichi, what’s yours?”
The proffered olive branch was, unfortunately, not accepted. Instead, his friend joyously offered up the information for him, proclaiming that Sugimoto’s soulmate’s name was Ogata Hyakunosuke, the words immediately met by the most displeased scowl Sugimoto had ever seen.
“Ogata Hyakunosuke, that’s a lovely name”, Sugimoto uttered before realizing how sappy that sounded and promptly facepalmed.
Ogata’s friend giggled, turning to address Sugimoto’s circle. “We should give these two some privacy; I’m sure they have much to discuss.” He then switched to speaking to Ogata, proclaiming that he would be waiting outside before leisurely strolling towards the exit.
Before departing, Shiraishi looked to Sugimoto for confirmation, and Tanigaki and Vasily looked at him with raised eyebrows. Sugimoto nodded his assent, and then he was alone with Ogata.
Suddenly, the temperature in the bar skyrocketed, the heat stifling and almost making Sugimoto choke. He pulled at the collar of his shirt, unsure of what to do, since this was not going anywhere near as he had expected. Grasping at straws, Sugimoto sat down on a vacant stool next to where Ogata had been sitting, desperate to prolong their conversation and get on a more friendly track.
“Can I buy you a drink?”
Ogata was giving Sugimoto a dead-eyed look, not a single ounce of readable emotion on his face. He scoffed before giving his devastating retort.
“Not a chance.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t believe in soulmates.”
And at that, Ogata turned on his heel and strutted toward the exit, leaving Sugimoto sitting with his mouth hanging wide open. Sugimoto let his head fall into his hands, all of his energy having left with Ogata, and now having to contend with a disappointment that he never saw coming. Today was supposed to be the best day of his life, the beginning of his future, and now Sugimoto just wanted to climb into a stiff drink of his own.
Apparently lurking nearby, Sugimoto’s friends all rejoined him. Tanigaki put a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Shiraishi was a snotty, sniffly mess, battling tears like he was just the one who got his heart ripped out, with Vasily flagging down a bartender, apparently having read Sugimoto’s mind. Four shot glasses were placed on the counter. Sugimoto downed each one before anyone else could lay claim.
“Easy there, buddy.” Tanigaki
“Let the man let loose, Genjiro-chan.” Shiraishi then turned towards Sugimoto. “You drink as much as you want, it’s on, well, not me.”
Vasily rolled his eyes, but ordered another round, making sure that Sugimoto was well served. The group migrated towards a high-top table not far from the bar; Sugimoto took a seat and slumped over, just sitting up straight enough to sip from the straw of his very fruity mixed drink. He drained half of it in one go and then lay his head down on the table, groaning once he did so. The alcohol was already doing its job of dulling his senses. If only it could turn back time as well.
Sugimoto could feel three sets of eyes peering at him, but he didn’t quite feel ready to bring voice to what had just happened. He closed his eyes, rewinding the previous event to see if there were any mistakes that he could have avoided, aside from the obvious lead-off blunder. From the way Ogata had acted, he could have just been extremely put off by Sugimoto’s kiss. Although from the few words he spoke, he seemed like he might just be a cranky guy.
It occurred to Sugimoto that he had no reference for what happens when your soulmate turns their back on you. Would Sugimoto ever see him again? And if so, would he start having dreams once they were about to re-enter each other’s lives? Or maybe that was it, and Sugimoto had just irreparably screwed up his life. That thought was far too painful, though, so he opted to drain the rest of his glass rather than consider it further.
“So, that was a straight-up disaster.”
While definitely true, Sugimoto had zero interest in hearing any criticism. He gave his friend his dirtiest side-eye.
“Thanks, Shiraishi. You always know just the right thing to say when I’m down in the dumps.”
“He was an asshole,” Vasily added.
“Thank you! He was, wasn’t he?” Sugimoto could always count on Vasily to be the voice of reason.
“Kind of hot though.”
“Nobody asked you, Vasily.”
“In all seriousness, Sugimoto. You may not have made the greatest initial impression, but he didn’t exactly seem too thrilled to see you once you cleared everything up. Is he really the guy that you want to spend the rest of your life with?”
Tanigaki made a good point. Your soulmate was supposed to be your perfect complement, someone who brought out the best in you. Just from their limited interaction, Ogata seemed quite aloof, completely at odds with Sugimoto’s preference for letting his emotions lead him. He gave brief consideration as to how having a relationship with a man like Ogata might work before shaking his head to clear his mind, electing to focus on the people who were still by his side.
“Look, you guys. Instead of focusing on all the ways that tonight went terribly wrong, let’s just get drunk.”
“Hear, hear!”
Everyone clinked their glasses together.
By the time Sugimoto stumbled out of the bar, he felt slightly less like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, thanks to his friends having done their damnedest to cheer him up. He glanced upward at the cloudless sky, enjoying the sparkling stars and the full moon shining down on him, and the soothing aura emanating from it.
Sure, there was no plan in place for how he could see Ogata again, but he did hope that it would somehow happen sooner rather than later. This city wasn’t that huge, so maybe, just maybe, fate would be on his side. One could never be sure of what the universe had in store. Sugimoto figured that if they really were soulmates, there was a good chance there was a bigger plan in place for them.
But all of that could wait until after Sugimoto had a good night’s sleep.
~
There was quite the ruckus coming from the apartment next door to Sugimoto’s; the noise roused him at an ungodly early hour the next morning. He sat up and groggily cleared the sleep out of his eyes, confused as to why someone had picked this time to complete whatever unnecessarily loud tasks were on their to-do list. His interest was piqued, though, and he had hope to return to his slumber to hopefully do away with his hangover, so he threw on a pair of sweatpants and a threadbare t-shirt before padding to his front entrance and opening the door.
The hallway was lined with boxes, suggesting the noise was coming from someone moving into the building. Sugimoto wanted to meet the person who would be his neighbor, but also to gently remind them that it was just after 8:00 am on the weekend and that some people were still trying to sleep.
At first, Sugimoto didn’t see anyone in the corridor. Whoever this person was, they had quite a collection of items to transport. It was almost as if he were standing in a fort; the cartons were haphazardly stacked, and the only thing missing was a sheet to enclose them and a cozy blanket to lie on. Sugimoto had to gracefully steer himself around the towers to find the door to the apartment, but when he did, he found that it was wide open. A combination of curiosity and nosiness led him to peek inside.
What greeted Sugimoto was the sight of some seemingly very angry dude with a hammer in his hand, pounding away at what looked like a fairly ornate wooden dresser. Sugimoto didn’t want to enter someone else’s space without their permission, but the end of the hammering did not seem to be in sight, so he took a few tentative steps over the threshold and cleared his throat, making sure to have his most charming smile in place.
He was sure that any reasonable person would understand his request for quiet, and then maybe Sugimoto could properly welcome them into the building when he was ready to start his day. Sugimoto thought that it might be nice to have a new friend so close by, but he was immediately eating his words when the stranger turned towards him with an annoyed sigh.
“Have you finished bringing the boxes inside?”
Sugimoto blamed his drowsiness for being unable to stop his eyes from bugging out of his head. The person could have been absolutely anyone, but the guy standing before him was none other than the man Sugimoto had met last night: Ogata Hyakunosuke, his soulmate.
Under his breath, Sugimoto let his amazement out into the open.
“I can’t believe it…”