zero | sakuraba ryota

01

Ever since he could remember, there was a countdown timer on his wrist; and he was told since, that wherever he is, when he and another person both have their timers on zero, that person would be their soulmate. 

And growing up, he didn't bother with it as much as most of his friends and family members did. But at eighteen years old, as he had noticed that his timer was nearly hitting zero, he'd be lying if he wasn't nervous about it. 

"Oh, so there's a possibility you'll meet your soulmate tomorrow, huh Ryo?" Kensuke said, looking at his friend who had an annoyed look on his face. "C'mon, don't look at me like that. I was just saying." He chuckled sheepishly as Ryota sighed as he drank the tea he had ordered.

"So?" Kensuke said after a while, "Excited?"

"Not really--"

"Where will you be tomorrow? How will you know that they're actually your soulmate?" Kensuke interrupted him by bombarding him with questions. "Ah! Do you think they'll like you--"

"Ken!" Ryota stopped his friend, making the other apologize sheepishly, "You ask as if it's your first time hearing about the soulmate timer."

"Not like I can experience it anytime soon, unlike you." He shrugged as he showed his wrist, indicating that he has still has a year till he meets his.

The white haired boy sighed, "I thought of staying home and study--"

"--What?!" Kensuke yelled as he jumped up at his seat. Ryota glared at him and glanced at the other customers, "Ah... Sorry." He apologized to the other customers before meekly sitting back down on his seat. "You've got to be kidding."

He raised an eyebrow, "Does it look like I'm joking?" his friend sighed and shrugged at his helpless friend.

"Well, wherever you will be, you'll end up meeting them anyways~" Kensuke said as Ryota frowned, "But since you have plans..." Kensuke took out a ticket and waved it in front of Ryota, "Guess you won't need this."

Red eyes widened, "Are those--"

"Yep." Kensuke's eyes gleamed, "Tickets to the theater play you wanted to watch."

"How'd you get them?!"

"A friend initially had them but had to cancel due to some family matters. So... I asked for them. Want it?"

"Of course."

"Even if you have plans?"

"Yeah."

"Even if you'll probably meet you soulmate?"

Ryota flinched and for a moment, he was relunctant in taking the ticket. But he always wanted to watch the play, so he nodded. 

Kensuke grinned, "Great." he handed one of the tickets to Ryota, "Let's meet outside the theater house?"

"Okay." Ryota took the ticket. "Oh. Gotta tell Kou that you'll meet your soulmate soon." Kensuke suddenly said. 

"Ken." Ryota sent a glare, as Kensuke merely grinned innocently, ignoring his friend's glare as he asked for a refill for his tea. "Hey. You'll never know... Meeting your soulmate tomorrow won't be too bad."

Ryota sighed at his friend's carefree attitude, "I know..." he looked outside the cafe window and watched the wind blow the cherry blossom trees. He sighed once more at the thought of meeting his soulmate. Kensuke noticed this and looked up to ask, "Nervous?"

Ryota glanced at his blue haired friend before releasing a small sigh.

"I won't bother you about your soulmate anymore after, but... Are you?" the blue haired boy said.

Light pink eyes quietly looked at the cup of coffee, "More than nervous... I just sometimes think of the possibility of not being in the same social class." he smiled wryly, "I don't think my mother would mind whoever will become my soulmate but..."

"Ahhhh..." Kensuke nodded, understanding his friend's feelings. "You still want the best for your family." he said, "--What you think is best." he reiterated.

Ryota sighed, "It's not just that but... People from two social classes," he shrugged, "Isn't that a fairy tale scenario?" he scoffed, remembering the many fictional books and other theater plays he watched as a child with his mother. And being born into the Taisho era, he grew up with the arts that were steadily being introduced into the country. 

"Yet you enjoyed those same fairy tales growing up." Kensuke muttered. 

Ryota sighed, "I know that... But this is reality. Even with the timer, I just don't..." he solemnly looked at his empty cup and he added quietly, "I don't want to end up hurting them just cause of the social classes..." 

His friend smiled, "You really are a good person, huh Ryo?"

Ryo blushed in embarassment, "Shut up." 

Kensuke chuckled, "That is true and what you say is completely valid and you can say all that but... In the end. You are bound by fate."

Remembering the truth in his friend's words, Ryota sighed as he looked at the cherry blossoms once more, "...I know."

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a/n:

hello!!!! im back. with a ryo fic. hehe

this will be set in the taisho period! PLUS. soulmate au. So ye. Heh