Soulmates

Tsukishima never really bothered about those silly soulmates finding that everyone is obsessed about it. What's so cool about it?

He looked down on his right hand the dark ink was barely there, the small looking fingers that just barely runs through his skin. He figured that it would be accidental, like walking on the street and a stranger's hand would barely touch his as he walked, he wouldn't even notice it and honestly, he wouldn't really care.

Even so, he would purposefully tuck his hands in his pockets whenever he walked out on the street or was careful of taking anything from anybody, papers or files, or books, he would make sure to avoid anyone touching his right hand. Maybe that's the reason why he is ambidextrous, purposely using his left hand for years might have been the cause.

-

It was the start of high school and he had just gotten in the Volleyball team of Karasuno. As he looked around the room, the first thing he noted down were the people he may have to touch with, it wasn't any of the other first years or the captain since he had already checked during the trial. He lowered it down to 1 person Shimizu.

He felt his heart race when the senior held out a towel to him, he could tell she was pretty, but he would rather beg God for her not to be his soulmate. Slowly but surely he grabbed it, their hands barely touching. His whole body relaxed when the black mark hadn't reacted. He was glad, but then now he was more careful, it means he still has not seen or touched his soulmates yet.

He had research about it many many times, he will try his very best to avoid anyone who can potentially be his soulmate. Many of the articles and stories about soulmate finding were during in highschool. He had to be more cautious, only limiting himself to his Volleyball members and teachers. Anyone else was a warning hazard to him.

Until the one fateful day when Yachi Hitoka met his eyes. She was small, a bit intimidated by them. She had an unsure and uneasy aura around her during the practice. She was going to be their new manager. Tsukishima's heart raced as the many possibilities ran through his mind.

He checked her face, arms, legs for any marks and there weren't any. So during a short break, he walked a bit nearer to her to check her hands. His eyes widened, He only caught a glimpse, he could barely make it out on where exactly on her hand, but she had it. He avoided her that practice... and the next, and the next. He would not risk anything even if he has to act cold towards her(which many of his teammates disagreed on.)

-

It was a normal day, or rather normal after practice. Tsukishima walking home with Yamaguchi.

He never expected it, no, he let his guard down.

When the familiar orange head begged him to be his tutor. He was going to decline, well he did. But he decided that the Tangerine and the King is actually essential to their team, so he agreed after Kageyama had asked for help too.

It was a sudden surprise, he didn't even know she was going. Her tiny figure opened the classroom door and her small, dainty hands were so close to his. She had a mark right on her right hand, it almost looks like his but she is probablythe one who will accidentally touch her soulmate as her fingers were black, like their hand was much bigger than hers.

He placed his hands under the desk or folded his arms to avoid any contact. But it didn't help while his mind ran through many possible encounters with the girl. She was their manager, once Shimizu is gone he would have to get his bottles and towels from her. She was teaching Hinata and Kageyama with him, what if she accidentally touch his hand while grabbing something?

He wondered if gloves would save him? Maybe it wouldn't work if there was a thick layer around his skin. But that was stupid, he had already seen it in stories on the internet about a guy accidentally touching his soulmates breast during their college year, she clearly wore a bra and at the very least, clothes, clothing will never work!

He grumbled and kept his hands under the desk. She would have no idea what he has.

"So, Yachi-san! Have you met your soulmate?" Hinata asked, Tsukishima wanted to hit the orange head right then and there.

"Uh... Not yet. I don't really care about the whole thing though, I would rather focus on other things right now!" Yachi stated, her smile never wavering and she was serious about it. Tsukishima's shoulders finally relaxed. Even if he was correct about her being his soulmate, she wouldn't mind too. "How about you guys? I know Hinata and Kageyama are soulmates, but I've never seen any clear black marks."

That question hit his soul. He coughed awkwardly and shook his head. "I don't really want to meet them." He muttered. Yamaguchi laughed it off.

"Tsukki has been avoiding it! He has a mark on-"

"Shut up Yamaguchi!" Tsukishima stopped his friend from revealing his mark. He grumbled, pouting.

"See? He wants to avoid it!" Yamaguchi said, immune to his friend's grumpiness. Yachi chuckled and nodded. They carried on with their work.

Tsukishima bit his inner cheek and carefully looked at his hand, the streaks small fingers dragging softly on his skin, he noticed that his soulmate had small hands, sometimes he would run his fingers over them, noticing the difference in size. He shook his head and told himself to forget about it.

They had a few more group studies after that, he still avoided anything to do with her hands touching his. He would rather be safe than sorry. Even so, he got along with her quite nicely. It wasn't like she was something horrible that should be avoided, right?

-

It happened on a normal day. He didn't even know it was too late until it was too late.

He might beat himself up over it, but he was too shocked to even register it.

It was a normal day, their practice in the gym. Hinata and Kageyama were fighting as usual. Their seniors nagging at everyone, well mostly at the duo and the second years. They had training and a bit of a game before taking a break.

He had drunk from his bottle, thinking about block patterns and things to improve on, he lowered his guard. He turned to walk away but came face to face with Yachi, who held a towel for him. He thought it was nothing. He thought he could just avoid her hands. What he though was so wrong.

"Here's a towel for you, Tsukishima-kun." The girl said happily, looking up at him with a smile plastered on her face. he carefully took it, trying not to touch her. Her mark was so close- it couldn't possibly-

"HINATA BOKE!" Yachi flinched in surprise.

In an instant, her mark ran across his. Her fingers gently running along with his own ones, changing the colour along the way. His eyes widened. She looked at her fingers in shock. They stared at each other, not knowing what to do.

He had so many scenes he calculated, he had so many ideas of how his fingers would touch his soulmate. But it was all because of her flinching at Kageyama screaming. Many years of just lowering his chances of finding his soulmate were all down the drain on a very normal day.

"T-Tsukishima-kun. I-I'm so sorry!" Yachi said, holding her hands away from him. She gave a frustrated pout. "I know you wanted to avoid your soulmate- I didn't even expect it to be me! A-and now I ruined it." She ran her dainty little fingers on her mark, the dark black mark had now turned red. He looked at his own. He sighed.

"It's fine. At least it's you Yachi-san." Tsukishima said, giving a small smile. Yachi bit her lip and nodded. Her small hands were pretty. Although he had avoided knowing who his soulmate was, he would always try to figure out their hands. Her small fingers ran perfectly on his. He guessed it wasn't that bad knowing her.

"D-do I start avoiding you? I don't really want a boyfriend right now- not that I'm saying Soulmates should be together! Just... so sudden! And even you wanted to avoid your spulmate... which is me but-" Yachi panicked. He could see their different personalities, which was ironic. He grabbed her hands to stop her, she yelped at the sudden action. Her hands were soft and warm.

"Calm down. let's just not bother about it, it's enough to know your soulmate right?" He gave a warm smile at her. Yachi stopped her ramblings and looked up at him, amazed. She nodded.

"Yeah, let's just start with being friends" Yachi smiled brightly. He agreed.

They didn't tell anyone, they thought it was too much if they did. They kept it to themselves.

Their brief touches and small smiles during practice. Small talks in-between breaks. Even walking home together one time. No one knew until Hinata pointed it one day.

"Wah! Yachi-san! You met your soulmate?" Hinata asked during the end of their practice when Yachi was standing beside the couch. She blushed but nodded.

"Wow! Who is it!?" Nishinoya called out excitedly.

"Uh, it was quite a while ago, b-besides I would rather not say!" Yachi stammered. But They were all bummed out about it.

"If she doesn't wanna tell you, then don't force her," Tsukishima said, shooing away Hinata. Yamaguchi glanced at Tsukishima's hands and noticed the red mark.

"Tsukki, you found your soulmate too!" He called out, Tsukishima flinched. Everyone just stared at the two, before Tanaka shouting.

"YOU GUYS ARE SOULMATES!?" Tsukishima cursed under his breath. Everyone went ballistic. Yachi tried to calm them down as they were asking questions all at the same time, surrounding her. Tsukishima clicked his tongue and walked to her, pulling her away from the noisy teammates.

"Hey. Don't bother her." He glared at them with a menacing aura, making them flinch.

"A-At least we know Yachi-san won't get hurt by anyone, anytime soon. her soulmate is the embodiment of the salty ocean." Daichi whispered, they all nodded. Tsukishima clicked his tongue and shooed away his teammates. They all have scattered by now.

"Thanks, Tsukishima-kun!" Yachi said in relief, Tsukishima could only nod. He looked down on his hand still gripping onto hers, it was so small and tiny, but a little flame lit up as his eyes glanced back up at the girl.

It's a nice thought to know who your soulmate is. Why had Tsukishima obsessed over not finding his? Yachi isn't that bad, correction, Yachi is not bad. She is his soulmate after all.