meant to be. (KiriBaku/Bakushima Soulmate AU)

1

The idea of soulmates was awesome. It was kinda cool, how everyone had some form of a perfect partner. Kirishima loved it. Having a soulmate was awesome! He'd save everything for his soulmate. First kiss, first date, first anything. The only thing he wanted his soulmate to take his last? His last name. So yeah, Kirishima had everything planned.

And then school had to ruin everything, as it always does. That day, his middle school had decided to teach them about soulmates. Which was weird, considering... it was basically sex education. But anyway, that happened.

"I'm sure you all think the concept of soulmates are cool and awesome. But unfortunately, that idea's been romanticised," his teacher explained. "Honestly, I told the other teachers that you guys probably shouldn't be learning this so early into your lives, but apparently it's all for your own good. So, this idea of soulmates. What do you like about it?"

"I like how we can have matching tattoos with our soulmates without even planning them! Mine's a rainbow," a girl exclaimed, proudly showing off her coloured rainbow on her forearm.

The teacher chuckled. "Not exactly a tattoo, Akane. That is your SIM, Soulmate-Identifying Mark. It would be disrespectful to see it as a tattoo."

Someone else rose his hand. "Isn't just a birthmark that happens to be the exact same shape and size and place your soulmate has as well?"

"Actually, it is. But saying it like that implies that you don't believe in the concept that humans took years and years to come up with an answer that yes, there are soulmates." The teacher gave the boy who asked a question a sticker.

"Won't there come a time when there's literally no more shapes for the SIM?" someone asked.

The teacher cleared his throat. "Anyway, this concept is actually very painful to some—which is the reason why I didn't want to break the news to you. These markings you have helps you figure out who your rightful significant other is. This is difficult for those who are just unlucky enough to have your soulmate be in another country, or some other place you cannot reach. You have enough knowledge for your soulmate: same age, same SIM." The teacher returned to his seat. "I know some people who have given up on finding their soulmate and have spiraled into denial or depression. We don't want that. Never give up on your soulmate."

Some kids at the back of Kirishima's class started singing "Never Gonna Give You Up", so the teacher smiled at them before going back to the discussion. Kirishima was too busy looking at his red dragon on the side of his arm, memorising every part of it so he could identify his soulmate at first glance. "If your soulmate dies, your SIM fades. Some people have permanently tattooed a fake SIM under it in case their soulmate dies for memories. Feel free to do that—only if you've met your soulmate. So, here comes the real question. What happens if my soulmate does not love me back?"

When Kirishima heard those words, his heart dropped. He hadn't thought about that. But that couldn't be possible. Right? Soulmates were meant to be together. Soulmates were forever. If he never finds his soulmate or his soulmate never loves him... will he ever give up? Would he never have his first kiss? Was that what mattered?

"Usually, that's quite rare. However, if that happens, don't blame your soulmate. Love is a chemical in the body that cannot be prevented unless through medical means. Don't fault your soulmates for their feelings. Don't even fault yourself for not being that person your soulmate likes. So this rule applies: Never Give Up On Your Soulmate. Don't change for your soulmate, and don't change someone for your soulmate. Just believe, alright? It'll be fine," his teacher said. "Other than the SIMs, your quirks also help with your hunt for your soulmate. Your quirks will be compatible. As in, your quirks will make sense together. So don't worry about hurting your soulmate. Usually, your quirk can fight off the other one."

Kirishima rose his hand. "Soulmates always end up together eventually, right?"

The teacher shrugged. "Soulmates ending up together are very common. But if you both don't want that, you can decide not to. It's not the law."

Kirishima thought about it. No matter what, he was gonna try his hardest to get together with his soulmate. No matter what.

"And now for the actual learning stuff I approved off. Just slightly, though. Don't tell anyone I didn't think you were ready for this conversation. Second big question: what if my soulmate is the same gender? Honestly, it doesn't matter. Soulmates are soulmates, do what you want. If you're troubled by it, then don't get together. If you're not, then get together. It all goes back to what you want," his teacher said. "The whole actual conversation about this is in high school, during Biology, so don't worry about... having babies."

The whole class made a resounding ew.

"Lastly, third big question: Can I get together with someone that is not my soulmate?" the teacher said. He sighed, looking at the class. "I'm sure you all know this one. The answer is yes, you can. You won't feel complete, but yes, you can. However, for the sake of the future, usually it's better to get together with your soulmate. It's better for the economy and stuff. In fact, most of the heroes these days are those whose parents are soulmates! Having a baby with your soulmate will allow the baby to be stronger and more advanced in things such as intelligence or quirk control."

Kirishima's baby was gonna be the strongest! He saw this post that said that the more love your soulmate as for you, the stronger the baby. So yeah, their baby is definitely gonna be the most manliest or womanliest thing ever.

"Okay, class dismissed. Those with questions can come to me," the teacher finished. "Don't forget to finish the homework!" The students dashed out, Kirishima following after.

***

Bakugou's teacher was talking about soulmates again. Honestly, when the hell were the teachers gonna realise that who you marry isn't important? As long as you became famous or rich or—in Bakugou's case—the Number One Hero, you'd be set. There was no point trying to find some person who has the same SIM as you because human kind didn't have a problem with it before!

So yeah, that was Bakugou's excuse for sleeping in class.

"Bakugou, what about you? What's your SIM?" the teacher asked, obviously trying to make the class entertaining.

You're trying to hard, dipshit. Learn how to be better. "It's a dragon shaped thing, spitting fire."

"Oh! Where?"

"None of your business," Bakugou snapped. He was never gonna find his soulmate anyway. He heard that soulmates may never meet, so why waste time on it? If the outcome was the same, why bother the troublesome part of looking? He would be better off working his ass off to get something that seemed more probable—being Number One—than his fucking soulmate.

He was sure he never wanted to meet whoever they were, anyway. Relationships take an unnecessary amount of time and commitment, so if he actually got with his soulmate he couldn't train. Stupid flawed system thinking they got everyone fantasising and becoming less aware of real world problems. His soulmate was probably one of those brain dead idiots.

In fact, Bakugou took measures to make sure his soulmate couldn't identify him. His mark was around the same place as his collarbone, just on his right shoulder. That means it was easy for him to hide it. He just made an extra effort to wear shirts with sleeves long enough to cover the mark.

That didn't stop him from wishing, though. The concept was already romanticised, what the fuck was he gonna do to stop his mind from wandering? He really hoped his soulmate was fucking amazing. They'd better be. If not Bakugou would be pissed. His soulmate had to deserve him first, no matter what. Some stupid person wouldn't cut it.

He hoped his soulmate would get into Shinketsu—the hero school that could rival UA—so Bakugou would know he wasn't useless. Bakugou had better not see his soulmate in UA. If not he was gonna blast him in the face.

***

A/N:

Yep, this is just a long fic about Soulmate AU: Kirishima/Bakugou. Also, I'll be skipping all the school days (unless important to the plot), but it's around the same as what usually happens during regular school in the anime (Bakugou shouting, Deku crying, Kirishima smashing his fists together/working out, Iida screaming, etc.).