"Marked for you." (KuroTsuki)

Marked for you. 1-2

"How can someone be so majestic?" 

It's a question on everyone's lips whenever they walk past Tsukishima Kei. Standing at six-foot-three, with a lean, graceful build, pale blonde hair that fell just the right way, and a pair of sharp, calculating golden eyes behind thin-rimmed glasses, Tsukishima didn't blend into the background the way he sometimes wished he could. His presence alone commanded attention, even when he wasn't trying. It wasn't uncommon for random strangers to offer compliments on his appearance, whether it be during casual outings or while simply walking to class.

"You're so handsome!" one stranger would say.

"Your skin is flawless, what do you use?" someone else would ask.

Tsukishima hated being the center of attention, but he'd learned to appreciate the kindness behind the compliments. He'd offer a quiet "Thanks," then quickly remove himself from the situation, trying not to draw any more attention than necessary.

It wasn't that he didn't like people. He just didn't feel the need to be adored by strangers for something as trivial as looks. His beauty wasn't something he'd earned; it was just there, like his height or his volleyball skills. He was proud of his athleticism, sure, but he'd worked for that. His appearance? It was just luck.

Yet, despite all the fawning and praise, Tsukishima always felt alone.

Today was no different as he sat on a bench in front of the school, idly scrolling through his phone. His best friend, Yamaguchi Tadashi, was running late, as usual. Tsukishima had grown accustomed to waiting for him, using these small pockets of time to relax before volleyball practice. As he waited, he absently rubbed his thumb across the inside of his left wrist, where a small, almost imperceptible symbol was etched.

He remembered the day it had appeared. His sixteenth birthday had started like any other day. His family had wished him a quick "Happy birthday" before heading off to work, and Tsukishima hadn't thought much of it. He didn't expect a big celebration or anything like that. But then, as the day went on, he started to feel a strange tingling in his wrist.

It wasn't until that night, while he was getting ready for bed, that he saw it.

A mark. A small, intricate symbol had appeared, nestled next to the letters "T.K." just beneath the surface of his skin.

His heart had skipped a beat.

The mark signified something far more important than a birthday or any random compliment from strangers. It was his soulmate mark. Everyone received one on their sixteenth birthday, always alongside the initials of the person destined to be their soulmate. It was a universal truth, something deeply embedded in society's understanding of love and connection.

It was supposed to be comforting, knowing that there was someone out there meant for you. But for Tsukishima, it was anything but.

Because, while everyone else seemed excited about their marks—eager to meet their soulmate and live out their happy ending—Tsukishima felt nothing but dread.

"T.K.?" he muttered under his breath the night the mark appeared. He had no idea who it was. No one with those initials immediately came to mind. His heart had raced, and for the first time in a long while, Tsukishima felt something unfamiliar stir in him: vulnerability.

---

Several months had passed since then, and Tsukishima had all but given up trying to figure out who "T.K." could be. It wasn't like he was actively looking for a soulmate, anyway. He was more focused on volleyball, school, and surviving high school without drawing too much unnecessary attention to himself.