This Soulmate AU takes a lighthearted, natural approach to fate—two strangers thrown together by destiny and learning what it means in real time. ☕💫

*****

"This is ridiculous. We meet by spilling coffee on each other?"

 "Not exactly the magical moment I pictured."

*****

Yuma had always imagined meeting his soulmate would be dramatic.

Maybe he'd lock eyes with them across a crowded street. Maybe he'd reach for something at the same time as them, their hands brushing in slow motion. Maybe fate would shove them together in some ridiculous way—like a sudden downpour where they'd have to share an umbrella.

What he hadn't expected was to meet them in a half-empty café on a Tuesday afternoon.

And he definitely hadn't expected to find them because of a spilled latte.

"Oh, crap—"

Yuma had barely taken a step into the café before bumping into someone.

The next few seconds were a blur. Warm liquid splashed across his wrist, staining his sleeve, and a sharp gasp followed from the person in front of him.

"Oh no, oh no, I'm so sorry—"

Yuma blinked rapidly, shaking droplets of coffee from his hand. "Uh—it's fine?"

The person he had crashed into—**a guy with messy blond hair and wide, horrified eyes—**was frantically reaching for napkins.

"I swear I wasn't being careless, I just—" The guy exhaled sharply, shoving a handful of napkins toward Yuma. "Here, take these before I die of guilt."

Yuma took them, amused. "Are you always this dramatic, or is today special?"

The guy paused.

Then, slowly—as if realizing something for the first time—his gaze flickered downward.

Yuma followed his stare and—

Oh.

Right there, on his wrist, visible beneath the coffee-stained sleeve, was his soulmate mark.

A crescent moon and a single star.

And when Yuma's eyes snapped back up to the guy in front of him—

He saw the exact same mark inked on his skin.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

The café bustled around them—coffee machines whirred, conversations hummed, the door chimed as more customers walked in.

But Yuma didn't hear any of it.

All he could hear was the rush of blood in his ears.

His soulmate.

He had literally crashed into his soulmate.

The blond guy—his soulmate—was staring at him, eyes flicking rapidly between their identical tattoos.

Then, in a breathless whisper, he muttered, "No way."

Yuma let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah. No way."

The guy blinked, like he was still processing, then suddenly—

He burst out laughing.

Yuma stared. "What?"

"I just—" The guy clutched his sides, doubling over as if the whole thing was the funniest thing in the world. "This is ridiculous. We meet by spilling coffee on each other?"

Yuma huffed, but a smile tugged at his lips. "Not exactly the magical moment I pictured."

The guy straightened, wiping at his eyes. "Right? Where's the dramatic music? Where's the slow-motion eye contact?"

Yuma chuckled. "Guess we got robbed."

The guy grinned, sticking out a hand. "I'm Taki, by the way."

Yuma hesitated for half a second before taking it. "Yuma."

Their hands stayed clasped a beat longer than necessary.

And for the first time, Yuma felt it.

The connection. The pull.

Like something inside him had finally clicked into place.

They ended up sitting together.

(Which, honestly, was kind of inevitable. What were they going to do? Say "nice to meet you" and walk away?)

Taki stirred his new coffee absentmindedly, eyes flicking between Yuma and their matching tattoos.

"So," he started. "What now?"

Yuma exhaled. "No idea."

Taki smirked. "Wanna get married?"

Yuma choked on his drink. "Excuse me?"

Taki snickered. "I mean, that's what soulmates do, right?"

Yuma shot him a look. "I just met you ten minutes ago."

Taki grinned. "Which means we're already late."

Yuma shook his head, but he was laughing now.

Somehow, Taki wasn't what he had expected.

But that wasn't a bad thing.

Not at all.

"So, do you believe in this whole soulmate thing?" Yuma asked, leaning back in his chair.

Taki shrugged. "I dunno. I mean... I wanted to."

Yuma raised an eyebrow. "And now?"

Taki tilted his head slightly, studying Yuma like he was searching for something.

Then, slowly, he smiled.

"...I think I do."

Yuma's heart stuttered.

He didn't know what the future held. Didn't know where this connection would take them.

But right now, sitting across from Taki—he wanted to find out.