Curate, connect, and discover
Thinking about how Soukoku’s physical intimacy must have played out over the years.
Soukoku at 15, two teenagers who have hardly felt a gentle touch in their lives. Both unknowing how to initiate things, and at first making up for the touch starvation by picking fights with one another. A punch becomes more reassuring then a gentle hand ever could.
But slowly, the lines stop mattering. Touches linger, distance shortens, and physical closeness becomes more grounding than aggression ever had.
By the time they are 17, they have no concept of a line. They are close freely, albeit in unconventional ways: literally butting heads, practically lounging on top of each other on couches and beds, and helping one another with first aid.
The relationship they have confuses those around them, but for the two of them, labels never mattered. They are simply partners. Two forces that work in tandem.
Following the Dragon’s Head Conflict, they begin to drift. Then when Dazai leaves, it all ends.
There are no more quiet moments of just basking in each other’s presence. No more lingering touches. Not even any more fighting.
I wish I could say that when they work together again at 22 years old, they resume everything like they used to, but I think it takes more time for them to fall back into things again.
By that point their relationship is completely different; they’d have to find new ways to navigate things.
But I think they could get there eventually.