. . . ? HEY, PRETTY STRANGER

                                        

                                              



🜸 ̽₊


Soulmates were just the norm in this world.
It was pretty simple. You're born with your surroundings drained of life and color. Lackluster in every sense of the word — and exactly why people yearn to meet their other half.
Children as young as two years old meet their match right away. Or just one glance at the boy in the same local playground, and your world will burst with shades you never realized were missing before. Some get theirs when they're middle-aged in the middle of a traffic rush, and a few meet theirs even when they have gray hairs and pruned fingers.
Enter Yashiro Nene — 15, born with radish legs, self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, dubbed hopeless case, and still very much glaringly color blind.
"Nene-chan," Aoi said worriedly, in response to her depressing monologue. "We're 15. You've got your whole life ahead of you to meet your soulmate." 
She did not give a damn that she was 15 and had her whole life ahead of her to meet her soulmate.
"Aoi-chan, you can't be the one to say that to me. You've already met yours!" Nene wailed, repeatedly slamming her head against her desk. She garnered some attention from their classmates, but got over it when they realized it was just Yashiro Nene being all weird again.
Nene continued, "I'm way behind. You know Shijima-san from the other class? She just met hers! And we just formed a bond yesterday over this stupid curse. I had an ally. This is a clear sign — I'm going to be the first to die without one."
"Nene-chan, that's not true!" Aoi insisted. "There are already existing cases of people having lived without meeting their soulmate!"
"...I'm going to die sad and lonely," Nene lamented.
Aoi wilted, reaching out to clasp Nene's hands to her face. "Nene-chan, don't lose hope, okay? I'm sorry that I'm not the right person to talk to you about this, but I'm your best friend and I know that you deserve only the best for your soulmate."
"Aoi-chan," Nene sniffled, touched.
"That's why you have to be patient, Nene-chan. The world still spins even without color, okay?"
Nene could understand what Aoi's point was. But Aoi didn't really get it — Nene really just wanted a boyfriend.
"Ao-chan!" a shrill voice shrieked.
Nene sighed, preparing herself for the whirlwind of a mess that is Aoi's childhood friend and most notable admirer, Aoi Akane.
"Akane-kun," Aoi greeted politely, smiling.
Akane clutched at his chest like he was shot. "I've been looking all over for you."
"I was worried about Nene-chan," Aoi said, a frown tugging at her pretty face that instantly got Akane right into action.
Akane regarded Nene briefly. "Number Neighbor," he said in lieu of a greeting.
"Number Neighbor," Nene replied dully. "Hello, Akane-kun."
"What's going on now?" he asked, which offended Nene rather greatly. It wasn't as if she was acting like she was in a soap opera every day. Just a lot of times, don't get it wrong. "Didn't find a soulmate again today?"
"Don't be a jerk," Nene huffed. He said it like it was on the same level as losing a shoe.
"Just make eye contact with a lot of people," Akane said. "You'll get 'em eventually."
What a prick.
"Just because you're childhood friends doesn't make it as easy for the rest of us," Nene sighed.