YOUR TEXT. . .

"hey, pretty stranger

I think you look cute.

- your text : sundial

- - -

Yashiro couldn't really tell the difference between morning and evening. It always looked the same: black, dull, and lifeless.

Ever since Yashiro was born into the world, she had never been able to see colors. There was a curse humans were born with — soulmates, as they called it — and, by default, you aren't able to see colors until you meet the eyes of your soulmate.

Yashiro hated it, because she saw almost all of her classmates already knowing how beautiful the rainbow is with color, and hang out with their soulmates as they act all lovey-dovey with each other.

But Yashiro doesn't care anymore, because her online best friend made her feel something similar— even if he's not real, even if he's just a stranger, and Yashiro knows he could be someone pretending to be a teenager.

He bloomed her world into a rose-colored fantasy. Everytime she talks (or in this case, texts) to him, she feels her chest getting warmer, and her surroundings suddenly brighten. Even if it's black and white.

It was break time. Her phone buzzed.

Yashiro picked it up and swiped it open with a silly smile.

ToiletBoy-Hanako: afternoon yashiro!! (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞

Daikon: good afternoon

Daikon: hanako-kun. . .did u change my nickname again????

ToiletBoy-Hanako: (͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) guess

Daikon: (ง'̀-'́)ง it has to do something with my ankles!?!

Daikon: you haven't even seen me irl!!!

Daikon: >:((

ToiletBoy-Hanako: (╥﹏╥)  yeah sadly

ToiletBoy-Hanako: oh c'monn!!! I didn't change the name you put on mine!!

Daikon: hanako-kun, the nickname u put for urself is way worse

ToiletBoy-Hanako: is nooot!!!

Daikon: is toooo!!

Daikon: who puts their nickname as Toilet Ghost Hanako-san 👻 >:) !?!?

ToiletBoy-Hanako: uh yours truly

ToiletBoy-Hanako: m e

Daikon: gross

ToiletBoy-Hanako: r u d e !

ToiletBoy-Hanako set his nickname as Hanako-san²

Hanako-san² set Yashiro_Nene's nickname as MeanDaikon

MeanDaikon: ಠ_ಠ

MeanDaikon: i don't evejksjbsbsKjMms

"Nene-chan! Nene-chan!"

Yashiro, who is also known as Nene-chan, barely even had time to react nor prepare herself, because when Aoi came barreling in the half-empty classroom, she tackled Yashiro down on the ground.

Yashiro almost dropped her phone in the process, but she made sure to keep it close to her chest - mostly in fear of cracking her phone and not being able to talk to her online friend anymore.

Yashiro grunted softly, clutching her head as Aoi frantically apologized. "Ah, no, it's okay, Aoi! That just took me by surprise, that's all!" She put her phone away, ignoring the continuous vibrations coming from it.

Aoi still looked guilty, but when Yashiro asked what's all the ruckus about, it's like Aoi forgot it even happened, because she began rambling.

Yashiro spaced out. She didn't mean to, really. But seeing Aoi after thinking deeply about soulmates made her heart ache.

Aoi already found her soulmate.

Back when she was little, too.

Yashiro didn't want to get envious of her luck, but it's not like she can help it either.

". . .and Akane-kun is bringing someone over here!" Aoi giggled a bit, clearly excited, if it wasn't obvious enough that she was shaking with joy. "Cool, right?"

Aoi's words snapped Yashiro out of her daze. Panicked, Yashiro replied, "oh, uh, yeah! Who's he bringing?"

Aoi pursued her lips. "Didn't I already say? I don't know. It's a surprise, he told me."

Yashiro blushed in embarrassment. "Ah, yeah. Sorry."

Aoi just smiled. "It's okay, Nene-chan! Anyway, Akane-kun is probably on his way right now, so how about we all meet up by the school hall outside?"

Yashiro nodded. "Good idea."

Aoi led Yashiro outside of the classroom, humming a song under her breath. Yashiro, grew annoyed by the ringing of her phone and decided to finally answer.

Hanako-san²: i dONT KNOW WHERE HES TAKING ME

Hanako-san²: IM SCARE

Hanako-san²: I lost a bet with him but I didn't know he was going to murder me or something in an empty forest 💀

Hanako-san²: or wORSE A HAUNTED HOUSE

MeanDaikon: You're more scared of a haunted house than getting m u r der e d??

Hanako-san²: i have standards unlike some people

MeanDaikon: i told u abt my failed confession oNE TIMe

MeanDaikon: your standards sucks

Hanako-san²: are you saying that I made a bad decision to lower my standards for you?

MeanDaikon: i am this 👌close to blocking you

Hanako-san²: no wait im sorry

Hanako-san²: OH WE'RE IN FRONT OF A SCHOOL

"Nene-chan, that's Akane-kun and his friend by the gate!" Aoi gushed.

Yashiro laughed a bit. "Ao-chan, why are you so excited? You saw Akane-kun earlier, you see Akane-kun everyday."

Aoi's cheeks flushed. "It's not about that! Of course I'm always happy to see Akane-kun, but this is the first time he's introducing us to a friend he made long ago."

Yashiro still had a sly smirk on her face, but also just nodded in understanding.

Even from afar, Akane furiously waved his arms around to catch Aoi's attention, even though the said girl's attention is all on him. They waved at each other.

Yashiro, though, her attention was on the boy beside Akane, who was typing on his phone like there was no tomorrow.

Akane flicked the boy on the ear, causing the poor boy to yelp and fumble with his phone. The two boys then turned to the two girls, but the boy with choppy black hair had his eyes on the ground.

"Ao-chan!" Akane greeted with a huge smile.

Aoi laughed at his silly antics. "Akane-kun." Both her and Yashiro turned to the flustered boy. "This is your friend?"

Akane nodded. "Yeah. Introduce yourself, please."

The boy rose a brow at him, before he turned back at the girls. "Ah, hi. I'm Yugi Amane. You can call me Amane."

Aoi beamed. "For how long have you been friend with Akane-kun?"

"About a year, I guess?" Amane shrugged.

Yashiro stood silent, gulping when Amane's eyes trailed on her legs, fixated on her ankles. She suddenly felt shy and insecure about it.

"My name is Aoi! Just call me Aoi, please. It might get confusing if you also call me Akane." Aoi laughed, Akane and him joining along.

Akane's phone rung, and he groaned when he read the text. Akane nudged his friend with his elbow. "I forgot something. Mind if I leave you a bit?" He asked. "It will take, like, a minute or two."

Amane smiled at him. "It's fine. I wanted to look around a bit, I guess."

Aoi raised her hand. "Akane-kun! Can I come with?"

"Sure!"

And they walked away.

Leaving the two. Together.

Alone.

Yashiro still avoided eye contact.

Amane cleared his throat. "You. . .kind of remind me of my friend," he said out of the blue.

Yashiro crossed her arms, but still didn't look at him. "Why's that?"

"You remind me of a radish." He looked away sheepishly.

Yashiro gaped at him. "Because of my ankles?! It's because of my ankles, right?"

Amane chuckled. "You must get that a lot." He picked up his phone and began typing.

Yashiro felt a buzz on her phone.

Hanako-san²: lololol you're spreading your genes, huh?

MeanDaikon: what are u talking about?

Hanako-san²: i saw a girl with fat ankles

Hanako-san²: she's cute though

MeanDaikon: i swear hanako-kun when i see you face-to-face I'm going to give you the most painful uppercut

Hanako-san²: with your ankles?

MeanDaikon: JshjJJJJDJSKSJDJEIDJDN

Amane barked out a laugh, startling Yashiro a bit. It was then she realized he existed, and was also talking to someone. He began typing again.

Yashiro felt her phone vibrate.

Hanako-san²: lmao you okay?

Yashiro cautiously typed something in her phone, all the while watching Amane curiously.

MeanDaikon: im never okay when i talk to u

And her suspicions were confirmed when Amane snickered. She began marching over to Amane, each step getting harsher and harsher. Amane looked up and they met each other's eyes.

Yashiro felt like her whole world stop when her heart skipped a beat.

Amane's breath seem to have been caught in his throat, as he stared at Yashiro with wide eyes. He couldn't utter a single word.

Behind Amane, the sun finished setting, and it became a bit dark. Amane's eyes though, they were glowing. It was bright, a huge contrast to their surroundings.

And suddenly Yashiro felt like she knew the difference between morning and evening just by looking at Amane's eyes.

It was all romantic and breathtaking.

Until Yashiro gave Amane an uppercut.

"Wh— ow!" Amane whined, holding his chin. He stared at Yashiro with disbelief.

"Your name is not even Hanako!"

"What do you— how did you—" Amane uttered out, losing ability to form a coherent sentence with how bewildered he is.

"My name is Yashiro Nene, your online friend and soulmate!"

- - -

I tried to mix two AUs 😳😳

I'm already making Swap Au part three, though! Sorry if u thought it was this.

Thanks for reading!!