( either laced or strangled with the red string )

[outplays]

[ If Akashi particularly cared for it, he would probably have stated for the record that he had not, in fact, taken a complete look through Rakuzan's basketball roster before deciding to attend the school. He hadn't particularly felt a need to — seeing the team and school culture, as well as the facilities, had been enough for him to make a decision. He knows that some people try and seek out their destined soulmates by looking through attendance lists and whatnot (he'd caught Midorima attempting to deny he was doing such a thing when they'd still been in the process of deciding what high schools to go off to), but he's always figured that things will happen when they happen.

— and so they did, when he found the next shadow player and his soulmate in one fell swoop. Still, he has priorities, basketball comes first and soulmates come second. His first business is to persuade Mayuzumi to join the basketball team, and then, well. Whatever happens, happens, he supposes.

He's always been careful to conceal the name on his right wrist carefully, to avoid drawing eyes and preventing any unwanted speculation or attention. Today is no different; he's got a wristband on and the sleeves of his school uniform pulled down: less to hide the name underneath, more because it's beginning to get chilly and he wears his uniform properly to begin with. And he doesn't particularly feel sentimental when he climbs up the stairway to the rooftop, he's as relaxed and confident as ever. Without dawdling or engaging in any other last-minute hesitation, he opens the door leading to the rooftop and walks over to where Mayuzumi's sitting, careful to keep a pace or so between them, a comfortable enough distance. ]

Mayuzumi Chihiro... right?

[ Well, put it down in the record books for the most perfunctory first words ever spoken to your soulmate. ]