Jo never believed in fate—until he saw the soulmate mark on Maki's wrist.

*****

"What did you do?"

"Nothing! I think?"

*****

Jo never cared much about the soulmate mark on his wrist.

A simple, swirling design—something abstract, yet oddly familiar. He had it since birth, just like everyone else, meant to match only one other person in the world.

But Jo wasn't the type to wait around for fate.

At least, that's what he told himself.

Until one day, he saw it.

The exact same mark.

On Maki's wrist.

And suddenly, everything he thought he knew changed.

The moment Jo saw it, he felt his brain short-circuit.

It happened during practice, Maki stretching beside him, his hoodie sleeves pushed up just enough for the mark to show. Jo didn't even realize he was staring until Maki raised an eyebrow.

"Something on my arm?" Maki asked.

Jo snapped his head away. "Nope. Nothing. Absolutely nothing."

Maki shrugged, oblivious, but Jo felt like he was losing it.

For years, he joked about soulmates, teased others when they searched desperately for their matches, claimed he wouldn't let some mystical tattoo dictate his life.

Now fate was laughing at him.

Because his soulmate was Maki.

His friend. His teammate. The same Maki who stole his snacks, clung to him whenever he was sleepy, and never ever let him win an argument.

This had to be a mistake.

Right?

So, Jo made a plan.

Step one: Ignore it.
Step two: Keep ignoring it.
Step three: Deny it even exists.

Flawless.

Except it wasn't.

Because now Jo noticed things.

Like how Maki always reached for him first during group huddles. Or how his laugh lingered in Jo's mind long after he left the room. Or how Jo's heart betrayed him every time Maki looked at him for just a second too long.

And worst of all—

Maki's mark.

Jo tried to not stare, but the universe was cruel.

Maki rolled his sleeves up? There it was.
Maki wiped sweat off his forehead? Right in his face.
Maki fell asleep on the couch, arm dangling over the edge? Jo had to physically leave the room.

"I think Jo's avoiding me," Maki finally said one day, arms crossed as he stared at K and Harua.

K blinked. "What did you do?"

"Nothing! I think?"

Harua hummed. "You do annoy him a lot."

Maki frowned. "Yeah, but he usually fights back. Now he just—runs."

Harua and K exchanged glances.

Maki narrowed his eyes. "What?"

K smirked. "You'll see."

It all came crashing down when Maki grabbed Jo's wrist.

It was supposed to be a harmless moment—Maki dragging Jo along because they were late for rehearsal.

But skin met skin.

And Jo froze.

Maki, confused, followed Jo's gaze.

To their wrists.

To the matching marks.

For a second, Maki just stared.

Then, his grip tightened.

"You knew," he said, voice quiet.

Jo swallowed hard. "I—"

"You knew and you didn't tell me?"

Jo stepped back, heart hammering. "I—It's not a big deal."

Maki scoffed. Scoffed. "Not a big deal? Jo, this is—" He ran a hand through his hair. "I've spent years wondering who it would be, and it was you this whole time?"

Jo clenched his fists. "I didn't want things to change."

Maki stilled.

Jo exhaled, shoulders dropping. "We're teammates. Friends. I didn't—I couldn't risk ruining that."

Maki was quiet for a long moment.

Then, he sighed, shaking his head with a small, disbelieving smile.

"Idiot."

Jo blinked. "Huh?"

Maki rolled his eyes before grabbing Jo's hand again. "You really think I'd let a little thing like fate mess this up?"

Jo opened his mouth. Closed it. Then, finally, laughed.

Because of course.

This was Maki. His stubborn, infuriating, amazing Maki.

And Jo had spent so long running when all he had to do was turn around.

"So," Maki smirked. "Wanna test this soulmate theory out?"

Jo raised an eyebrow. "And how do you suggest we do that?"

Maki grinned, lacing their fingers together.

"Let's start with dinner."