Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“This can’t be happening!” Boruto shouted, the reality of this situation still not sinking in enough for him to think straight. 

It can't be happening to him!

Boruto did a lot of things while he had his fun. At first, nothing looked out of the ordinary.  Going out to grab a burger with his friends, falling asleep, waking up again, the usual way his days were going.

That is until today has happened, and he found himself here. 

The tragedy of this day wasn’t over! A part of his hair went missing! In a hurry, he grabbed the small mirror placed on the floor. A room that wasn't kept clean. You could find socks, books, trash and packets of cigarettes thrown around everywhere on it too.

It was the first hint he wasn't where he's supposed to be — at home helping Himawari with waking up dad and preparing breakfast. 

“This can’t be happening to me!” he shouted again. 

What's the meaning of this?! 

Even Sarada's reading tastes weren't able to send a shiver down his spine when he managed to see his face. Noticing a pitch of his voice got slightly deeper was unnerving. The nasty coughing didn’t help to put him at ease. 

Boruto wasn't in his body. Somehow he found himself occupying the body of his worst school enemy, Kawaki. They hated each other, and Boruto was far from being thrilled to go like that to school. Kawaki, in the past, bullied his younger sister, Himawari. There's no way he can trust him to not pull something terrible, at least if he's in his body.

Is Kawaki even alive?

Maybe he died, and now his soul is inside of him to correct past mistakes? That sucks!  Fixing someone's else mistakes wasn't his way of living.  

Trying to find their school uniform in this mess, while getting used to being taller, Boruto being in Kawaki’s body, needed to find out what had happened to his own. His reputation, friendships, life — everything he worked hard on would be destroyed! Especially if Kawaki was the one residing in his real body. 

Running out of Kawaki's house and heading towards the school was the only thing Boruto could think of. He cannot allow Kawaki to do anything weird in his body.

If he's alive. 

In the worst-case scenario, he was stuck in Kawaki's body forever. In the best case, he can escape this nightmare. 

Someone, anyone, please wake him up!

Meanwhile, Kawaki in Boruto's body was enjoying the situation to its fullest. He even tried to act like Boruto during this morning. It was fun to see his impressions of the guy being overdramatic was right. 

At first, he was confused why his room was so clean to the point of overkilling it. Isn't Boruto a teenager just like him? Where's the mess?  Anyway, he guessed the guy didn't like him, most of his friends didn't adore him. They were the definition of killjoys, too uptight, too righteous and had the stick up in their asses. The only thing they had going on was being hot, and that included Boruto too.

Kawaki admitted he enjoyed viewing Boruto's abs during the morning shower. Yes, he wasn't in his body, life's too short without enjoying what it gives to you.That included weird body-swaps thrown in the mix.

What's the harm in seeing what the midget looks like underneath his cool-too-school attitude? Kawaki wasn't in a hurry to get to school. The fun of being in Boruto's shoes outweighed any potential protests he could have.

Besides, unlike Boruto, he knows why they swapped bodies. His memories of that event remained and didn't fail to make him laugh in amuesment.  

Kawaki recalled what happened yesterday while taking his sweet time to go to school. Teasing Boruto to the point where the other was losing his sanity was Kawaki's favourite past-time, after all. 

Chapter Text

On his way to school, Kawaki tried to sort out what led to the body swap between him and Boruto. 

All of it started yesterday...

When he was giving a lesson to a bunch of pussies, Boruto interfered, thinking he bullied them.

Kawaki snorted at the memory. Ain't this midget a funny one? Creating the commotion in front of the soul swapping statue that looked like an abandoned dog. He wasn’t sure if the rumours about this misshaped rock were even true to begin with. Their high school was filled with mundane gospel that was utterly false.

"Stop right there, Kawaki! You won't get away with this," said Boruto, trying to play the hero. The midget shan't interrupt his fun. This group was pathetic in every possible way. Pathetically weak, stupid and troublesome. 

He almost regretted trampling on Boruto's sister feelings in the past. Now, this annoying pipsqueak doesn't let him beat up others in peace. 

"You ain't stopping me at all to kick these losers." Kawaki sighed. He didn't want to deal with the most lively person, radiating an aura of bothersome annoyance that haunts you for your whole life.

"You're the biggest loser here!" Boruto clenched his fist, clearly wanting to fight with him instead.

The group of failures Kawaki wanted to beat up ran away somewhere at the start of his little spat with the midget.  

"Says a petty meddler that ain't letting go of the past," his patience was slowly running out. Ain't any mousie telling him what to do!

"How dare you! I bet you wouldn't be able to live my life better than me!" 

Ahh, Boruto destroyed his fun. He had the urge to get back at him for interfering before he beat someone up.

"Wanna bet? Loser gonna pay a hefty ol' price. Ain't you too full of yourself, pipsqueak," Kawaki smirked with overall smugness. "You'd die living in my body," he added on to his provocation.

"Ha?! I'm fine being a coward, totally fine with it! There's no way we'll switch bodies anyway." 

Kawaki was sure they were jinxed at this moment.  

The next day their souls and the bodies were swapped in reality, facing consequences of them being idiots. When Kawaki found himself in Boruto's body, he decided to use this weird situation against him. 

It was the best time in his life! Kawaki had his mini-revenge on Boruto for annoying him so much yesterday.

Taking still his sweet time to arrive at school, he started to whistle and jump in excitement. 

Considering he was in Boruto's body, he didn't care how ridiculous his jumping or walking skills were seen by the other students. Destroying the reputation Uzumaki has of being 'too-cool-for-school' was just the beginning of him being entertained.

Boruto wanted to know what mistake he made in life, just for it to go so downhill. He didn't trust Kawaki being in his body at all! Catching him before he does something stupid while destroying his reputation is the only option. His hard work, connections, grades! And other precious to him things were on the line here.

That's why he let out a gasp of disbelief, seeing himself jumping and whistling like a total moron— correction, seeing Kawaki in his body doing it.

Boruto made one of the gravest decisions in his life. He ambushed himself, no Kawaki in his body and hid with him in the nearby bushes. Luckily, he was in Kawaki's body. That also meant he was now physically stronger.

"No way I'm letting you jump like that in my body at school!" Boruto whispered, crouching, in order not to draw attention to their hiding spot. 

"Chill a little, geez. Have some fun with our situation!" 

Just like he thought, Kawaki cannot be trusted  to be in his body with this kind of attitude!

"Where you go, I go. I'm not leaving you unsupervised," declared Boruto.

"What if I want to go to the toilet?" questioned Kawaki. Boruto was almost ready to punch him in response. The only thing stopping him was that he'd harm himself. Recovering from injury he caused, especially after finding a way to return things to normal, wasn't on his to-do list to handle this predicament.

Boruto groaned. Seeing his own face smack talking to him was bizarre enough. He'd prefer to swap bodies with Sarada. She'd be more pleasant to deal with compared to this whistling hooligan.

"I'll go there too. We need to keep tabs on each other until everything goes back to normal."

"Talk about overkill."

He swore to find out why this nightmare is happening while keeping a close eye on Kawaki. This day cannot get worse, right?

He was wrong. This day turned into lit-up nightmare fuel. 

Chapter Text

This day got worse. 

Boruto had a hard time keeping an eye out for Kawaki, who was currently in his body. He prevented anything utterly disastrous from happening, sure. Was it mentally exhausting? Yes.

By the time they had P. E, Boruto suffered the drawbacks of Kawaki’s daily life. The teachers were giving him pep-talks about improving his grades. His friends glared at him in a way that made him feel alienated, and Sarada’s watchful gaze every time he talked with Kawaki was hard to shake off. Worst of all, people were challenging him to fight during a lunch break.

He’d do anything to get his old life back. What did he do to deserve this?!

The only silver lining was that Kawaki seemed to struggle in his body the longer the whole situation went on, too. Boruto didn’t like how often he was snapping at people that cared for him, but at least he held back quite a lot while they were stuck in this predicament. 

Anyway, he made sure he and Kawaki paired up together during their gym class. It made monitoring him easier. He’d not leave a guy who hurt Hima alone with his friends.

The actual problem? 

Because he was inside of Kawaki’s body, it was harder than usual to convince his friends he didn’t have any bad intentions. Boruto felt touched by their concern for him. He really did. However, convincing them he’d not harm himself was one of the weirdest experiences in his life. 

Tempting as it was, hitting Kawaki would harm his body, so Boruto was constantly holding back the urge. He hoped that decision would be beneficial in the long run once things turn back to normal.  

Everyone went on ahead to change after their gym class. Only he and Kawaki stayed to talk.

“Kawaki, I want things to go back to normal. Do you have any ideas?” Boruto asked in a desperate attempt.

“If I have, why would I have to share them with you?” Kawaki rolled his eyes.

“That’s it. I don’t care if you’re in my body anymore!” He clenched his fist and was ready to swing it straight into his own handsome face. Just another strange sensation when someone else occupied your body. 

Click.

“Hey, pipsqueak. What was that sound?” Kawaki interrupted a few moments before Boruto’s fist could connect with his face. 

“How should I know?” He shrugged, annoyed he almost injured his own body. Punching himself would be more beneficial in the long run, especially once they solve this current problem. 

Kawaki ignored him and walked towards the door that led to the locker room. “It’s locked.”

“What?!” Boruto screamed in response.

“Ya heard me loud and clear. We’re locked inside.” Kawaki replied, evidently in a grumpy mood. 

This day couldn’t get worse? Boruto was naïve. Now, he found himself trapped inside of a school gym with his sworn enemy! Great, just great. What he was supposed to do now?

At first it was fun to be in Boruto’s body. Kawaki had enjoyed it to the fullest. Now, locked inside a school gym with the original body owner, Kawaki’s fun ended. 

It was frustrating. 

Boruto’s friends, being nice to him, felt fake. Maybe because they didn’t direct their warm gestures at him as a person. They directed all of their care towards the guy whose soul was in his body. 

Jealousy over what Boruto had taken over him. Then after it exploded, Kawaki felt empty. 

He didn’t understand why that dog statue swapped their bodies. The only thing Kawaki learned from this was that he never found something to fill the void spreading throughout his heart. 

These thoughts ran through his head, while Boruto was frantically running around hoping someone would notice they’re locked here.

Like a bird wanting to fly in the sky away from the cage. Kawaki knew that feeling.

What a waste of time. 

Even after he was free, he was still a prisoner of his mind. Removing the shackles didn’t mean satisfaction.

After all, he never felt satisfied with desperate attempts to fill this feeling of emptiness, either.  

“Stop making a fuss. Not like anyone’s here at this hour,” he sighed. 

“Shut up. It’s not like you have any better ideas,” Boruto said, his impatience getting the better of him. Was that how his face looked when he was done with people’s bullshit? 

“I ain’t having better ideas, but at least I don’t waste my energy like you do,” Kawaki’s words sounded hollow even to him.

“Are you sure it’s not because you already gave up from the start?” Boruto’s question was like a small needle piercing the armour of his skin.

“Who said I did? I simply don’t wanna run around like an injured wild animal in a panic,” he retorted, crossing his arms. 

Boruto snorted. “Yeah, right. Like you’re not running around like a wild animal when picking fights already with innocent bystanders.”

“You’ve gotta be kidding. Not all of them are innocent.” Kawaki could count many instances where it was the others bothering him for a challenge first. 

“Do you count Himawari innocent or guilty with your logic, then? As far as I can tell, that doesn’t excuse what you did to her.” Boruto’s eyes had a murderous glint that unnerved him. Would he be able to make the same expression when he’s back in his body? 

Kawaki doubted it. Even fighting others didn’t make him furious. “I already apologised to her.”

“One half-assed apology doesn’t make all the damage you caused disappear!” Boruto shouted and Kawaki winced. 

“What do you want me to do, then? Throw her a party after I promised to leave her alone?” He asked, getting up from the spot he was lying down on. 

“No! What I want is—“

Kawaki didn’t know what exactly pushed him to do it. The overwhelming irritation? Guilt, anger, jealousy? Or maybe the thought of wanting to come back to his normal life without Boruto’s constant whining. He just sprang to action, pulled Boruto’s head down, and kissed him. 

The kiss was quick, but it was enough to shut up Boruto, so to speak. He distanced himself from him, trying to minimise how strange and pleasurable it felt. “You’re wasting your time being nervous. The school janitor should come here soon and we’ll sort everything out later.”

Boruto was silent, but it was obvious he wanted to kill him and bury his body somewhere. “Fine! But don’t count on this tactic of yours working again!”

“I ain’t doing that again. Next time I’ll just beat you up,” Kawaki stated, holding back a laugh. 

“That would be preferable over whatever the hell that was!” Boruto fumed, and Kawaki shrugged. 

Boruto might be angry now, but Kawaki’s soul was in his body, so physically he knew that the other party enjoyed that kiss.

Now, his goal should be to bring things back to normal and kiss Boruto again.

This prior thought appeared when the janitor freed them from being stuck in the gym, but the shackles tying him to Boruto weren’t physical ones. He couldn’t be free unless everything goes back to normal. 

Oh, how wrong he was. Little did he know he only exchanged his shackles for a shiny new pair. 

Chapter Text

After the heated kiss, it took a few minutes to explain to the janitor, who rescued them, what had happened. Kawaki couldn’t care less, but was considerate of Boruto’s feelings. As considerate as one can be to the one that constantly bothers them.

“Kawaki, you live alone, right?” Boruto’s question came out of nowhere.

Him living alone wasn’t a secret. Besides, Boruto woke up in his body. Shouldn’t he already know the answer? “Why are you even asking? You already know the answer.”

“To suggest we go to your place until we sort out the body swap issue,” he answered.

“Ain’t happening. That’s what I’d normally say, but I got bored pretending to be you.” 

Boruto rolled his eyes, scoffing at him. “Your acting skills are awful. I don’t act like you did today at all!”

“Obviously. That’s how you act from my perspective,” Kawaki snickered, while Boruto was still riled up. Messing with him was too easy. 

“Whatever, just give me my phone. There’s no way you know how I usually message my mom,” he said, stretching out his hand to grab the phone Kawaki had in Boruto’s school bag.

Right. Kawaki forgot the body swap meant they had each other’s belongings. Without kicking up the fuss, he unzipped the cool black backpack with pink accents and gave the phone to the blond.

Boruto sent a message to his parents and after that was dealt with, Kawaki thought it was a good idea to tell the midget about the potential lead that would bring them back to their own bodies. 

“Oi, listen carefully,” Kawaki said, hoping Boruto wouldn’t blow up at him like usual once he passes onto him the information he knew from the statue. “I’ve a lead about how to bring things back to normal.”

“What?!“ Boruto screamed. Kawaki winced and swore that if he came back to his own body, he’d not scream at all. It was grating even to his ears. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“To mess with you,” he shrugged in response. That was the truth at the start. Now he wished to be free from this situation as fast as possible.

“Great. So we could go back to normal much faster if you didn’t keep it from me.” Boruto’s eye twitched. 

“Ain’t time to be cursing, I kept it to myself. Want the info or not?” he asked him.

It seemed his words considerably made Boruto calmer. Less angry? Despite his initial disbelief, he remained composed and showed a willingness to hear what Kawaki had to say. “Yeah.”

“Remember our school trip and argument in front of a dog statue? That’s what caused the body swap.”

Boruto nodded after hearing his explanation. “What are we waiting for?! Let’s go there this instant. It’s not that far away!”

Kawaki should expect that Uzumaki wouldn’t be able to sit still and go to the source without a proper plan in place. 

“Fine, let’s go,” he sighed, accepting he’d need to account for Boruto’s recklessness and think of a plan on their way to the statue that messed with their lives.

When Boruto knew the source of something that caused him trouble, he’d not hesitate one minute to come up with a solution. That’s why he ran ahead of Kawaki, towards the bus stop leading to the place of their school trip. 

If his childhood friend Sarada was here, she’d say he was an idiot for rushing in without a plan. Boruto called it a plan on the go. Only by going to the source of the problem, then you can solve it and who cares about the way you do as long it’s dealt with? He was good at improvising and adapting to any situation because of it.

“Wait, you idiot!” Kawaki called out behind him. “Don’t rush.”

Boruto sighed. The person occupying his body definitely wasn’t like Sarada, but called him an idiot, anyway. Not like Boruto cared at all. Or was thinking about his first kiss being with Kawaki and which happened when he wasn’t even in his own body! 

Dammit, it was another reason to hate the guy outside of what he did to Hima. He stole his youth!

Soon, they arrived and, just like the day they argued, were in front of the dog statue. This time Boruto paid attention to the written epigraph on it. 

Only true soulmates can switch their souls and turn back when reconciling the differences between them.

Oh, hell no. Did that mean Kawaki was his soulmate? Was that the only solution for him to come back to his body? Resolving any bad blood he and Kawaki had with one another.

Boruto groaned. Amazing. That’s what he exactly needed! 

When Kawaki caught up with him, Boruto said in defeat, “read the writing on the statue.”

It was Kawaki’s turn to grimace and going through a crisis Boruto himself did about the solution. “Guess we have no choice.”

“That stupid statue thinks we belong together! It’s frustrating.” Just because Boruto's plans to reconcile to get back into his own body didn’t mean he’d not sulk at the knowledge his soulmate was Kawaki out of all people.

“Didn’t see you complain after we kissed,” Kawaki mentioned and Boruto held himself back from exploding further. His outbursts at Kawaki resulted in things that were adding additional complications.

“Be happy all the complaints I’ve had are in my mind. How do we convince the statue we reconciled?” Boruto questioned, resigned to the fate he was fighting all this time. It was nighttime, and he was too tired after everything that occurred.

“Let’s light it on fire. Maybe destroying it would work,” Kawaki suggested, and it was one of those things they agreed on.

“That’s a great idea. Do we have any matches or lighters?” 

“Should be in my bag you’re holding,” Kawaki answered.

As if on cue, a whitish light enveloped them when Boruto was in the middle of taking out the matches from Kawaki’s bag and his body suddenly didn’t carry out this action.

Boruto blinked. They were back in their own bodies. But why? They didn’t reconcile or anything, unless the dog statue idea of reconciliation was watered down.

At least, it was nice being properly back in his own body. Who knew the solution was just trying to burn this thing?

“Hey, let’s go out of here,” he said, not knowing his life would intersect with Kawaki a lot more after today’s events.

Chapter Text

A month passed since Boruto came back to his normal life after swapping bodies with Kawaki. The problem? They bumped into each other everywhere, to where the truce between them was needed.

Boruto had a feeling this was caused by that goddamn dog statue they hadn’t in the end lit on fire. 

Sighing, he accepted he’d be bumping into Kawaki, then roped in the most ridiculous rom-com level scenarios with a guy who he didn’t even like one bit!

Not even a little. It’s not like they kissed outside of that one time being locked in a gym. Frankly, because of what Kawaki did to Hima, Boruto hated him! 

Well, he was trying to hate him. It was hard when, after talking with Hima, Boruto learned Kawaki told him the truth and apologised to his sister. Hima herself forgave him and was on good terms with the bastard.

But Boruto wasn’t as good natured as his sister. He was a scorned older brother who’d not forgiven Kawaki that easily. 

Kawaki himself didn’t like the ridiculous rom-com scenarios they got themselves into. Just like the one right now when one of them didn’t have an umbrella and in any other show their soulmate would offer you one.

Instead, Boruto on purpose ran ahead to get drenched in the rain, while Kawaki just used his umbrella to go back home.

Mom was mad that he was careless enough to put himself in a position that could cause him to be sick. But everything was better than grasping the knowledge Kawaki was his soulmate.

Boruto grudgingly accepted that the guy wasn’t that bad because of their forced proximity and interactions. He still had the urge to burn the statue, who threw his life upside down by forcing him to see Kawaki’s good points.

“You spend a lot of time with Kawaki lately,” said Mitsuki, one of his friends at school the next day. “I’m jealous.”

“Don’t be. We don’t like each other at all!” Boruto clarified. 

“Doesn’t look like that to me,” Mitsuki smiled widely. “It looks like you’re on better terms with him. I wonder why?”

“That doesn’t matter, ya know,” Boruto sulked. Now even Mitsuki, who’s one of his most observant friends, was pointing out that he and Kawaki got closer. The universe was really against him.

As if the universe wanted to confirm it indeed was against him, Kawaki snorted and overheard them. “Ain’t no way we’re closer? Someone’s in denial.”

Right. Boruto forgot Kawaki played into the universe hands and stopped putting as much of a fight after one month of them constantly getting into ridiculous rom-com situations. Only Boruto did that nowadays, and that’s why he was running away from the guy.

After all, a scorned older brother was one hell of an enemy to make.

Kawaki sighed. He wanted to kiss Boruto again, but how the hell could he do it? The guy was running away from the inevitable. After a month of getting into ridiculous situations, he accepted the new slate in their relationship. Boruto didn’t seem to come to terms with the things Kawaki did. 

Terms that everything between them changed. Like usual, Kawaki felt trapped. Not because he was empty. It was because his shackles to the void were replaced by the unbreakable pull towards Boruto. That was another kind of prison in itself. 

An unbreakable bond that the person tied to him vehemently denied.

Kawaki knew he wore a brand new pair of shackles. They were just more shiny and tempting. Being tied to Boruto reminded him of his past choices and the consequences that followed. There was no way Boruto would accept things as they currently were. Uzumaki was incredibly stubborn in holding a grudge against him. His younger sister was easier to get along with.

He spotted Boruto sulking in the school courtyard and sighed when approaching him. Might as well get over it. “Oi, let’s talk.”

“I’m busy,” Boruto said, petulant. The guy was just sitting alone on a bench! 

“You look free to me,” Kawaki pointed out, crossing his arms. 

“I’m not!” he protested, then suddenly stood up. “I’ve got a lot of things going on right now.”

“This will be a brief talk,” Kawaki said, then added. “At least hear me out.”

That stopped Boruto from completely moving away from him. “Fine, get it over with!”

Kawaki didn’t know whether he should be happy or scared that Boruto agreed to hear him out. “I came here to apologise.”

“For what?” Boruto raised his eyebrows.”

“For everything,” Kawaki sighed, then averted his gaze. “I already sorted out things with Hima, but it’s obviously you I’ve things to resolve with. You ain’t that bad.”

“And you mean it?” Boruto asked and Kawaki wasn’t surprised he doubted his sincerity.

“Yeah,” he answered. “I mean it.”

“Okay, it became a hassle to avoid you, you know? I believe in you turning over a new leaf. Let’s start with a clean slate.” Boruto reached out for an introductory handshake. “I’m Boruto Uzumaki. Nice to meet you.”

Kawaki reciprocated and reached out to Boruto. “I’m Kawaki.”

He didn’t intend to waste a second chance that was given to him and use it to the fullest.

Chapter Text

Time had passed since Kawaki apologised to Boruto. Considering their souls were connected, it wasn’t a surprise during that time they learned they had a lot of things in common.

For example, both of them visited arcades or collected rare cards. In the end, the pipsqueak stopped being one and now was just Boruto inside of Kawaki’s head.

There was only one thing Kawaki needed to check. He desired to kiss Boruto again, this time in his own body. However, he didn’t want to break things into pieces again with his actions like before.

Currently, he and Boruto were hanging out during a school break. 

“Did you get the card I wanted, Kawaki?!” Boruto was waving his hands in every direction and Kawaki blinked.

It’d take a lot of time to get used to this amount of excitement. Boruto was one of the most energetic people Kawaki got to know, so he was afraid to know if someone equally energetic as him existed. 

“Calm down. I’ve the card.” He took it out of his backpack and showed it to him.

“Oh! It looks so cool!” Boruto screamed, piercing Kawaki’s eardrums. Maybe he made a mistake by becoming his friend. Was it his punishment for his past misdeeds?! “I knew it’d look good, but it’s practically a masterpiece!”

Kawaki didn’t understand why that dog statue deemed them soulmates. Then again, who was he to question it? “Looks like a normal card to me.”

“It totally isn’t! Don’t you think art is cool?!” Boruto flipped the card and put it close to Kawaki’s face. “Don’t you?!”

On the card was a lonesome-looking ninja with a cloak and a sword. Kawaki put some distance between himself and the card. He collected cards; he was less enthusiastic about art on them. Boruto had enough enthusiasm in the subject for them both.

“The art ain’t bad,” Kawaki conceded. “Why don’t we go eat somewhere?”

“That’s a good idea. Let’s eat at the Thunder Burger! I’ve had enough ramen after dad brought back an entire supply of cups home,” Boruto said, putting the card he got into his deck. 

“Sounds good,” Kawaki answered. Just like he hoped, the mention of food distracted Boruto from going on an hour long rant about how cool the art on the card was.

If replacing his emptiness was the shackles that tied him to Boruto, so be it. Not all ties made you miserable, and it shaped to be a connection that made him happy.

Maybe that dog statue was onto something by making them soulmates. 

Spending time with Kawaki was fun. More fun than Boruto expected it’d be. He still had mixed feelings about the guy, but they were fleeting away. 

After all, Kawaki agreed to go to Thunder Burger without insisting on visiting Ichiraku like his dad! Involuntarily, Boruto frowned at the thought. He knew that wasn’t the real reason he got closer to the guy. 

His actual feelings towards Kawaki were… Whatever, he should just enjoy something that’s not ramen for a change of pace. 

Entering the Thunder Burger, Boruto greeted the nice saleswoman with his usual question. “Auntie, what’s today special?”

“A Katsu burger with wasabi ketchup and a strawberry milkshake!” she replied, while Boruto was busy with taking his wallet out. There were no other words needed between them, since he was a regular customer here.

Handing her the cash, Boruto sheepishly turned towards Kawaki. “Sorry, I forgot I dragged you here with me! Do you want anything? I’ll pay!”

“I ain’t hungry,” he said, and Boruto raised his eyebrow. Wasn’t it Kawaki’s suggestion to go for a meal? Sure, Boruto enthusiastically agreed, but he’d not think about food during a card trade otherwise.

“If you say so…” Something was up and it made him contemplate. How did he feel about Kawaki? 

Did he hate him? That wasn’t it. Boruto wouldn’t waste his time spending it with someone he hated. 

Was Kawaki his friend? That’s not it either. The whole body-swap business muddled Boruto’s feelings on the matter. There was an unaddressed kiss between them that happened when they were locked in a school gym. As far as Boruto was concerned, ‘ just friends’ didn’t kiss each other on the lips.

Suddenly, Boruto felt self-conscious in Kawaki’s presence. What if Kawaki had a different view from Boruto for stuff like this? 

His hunger dissipated. 

“Hey, Kawaki…” Boruto averted his gaze, unsure whether it was good to have a definite answer. Maybe not addressing it was better overall? “There’s something I need to ask.”

“What is it?” Kawaki replied curtly as they were walking over to sit at their table and wait for Boruto’s order to arrive.

“Want to kiss again?” Seated in his chair, even Boruto was surprised by his own question. That wasn’t what he wanted to say at all! 

Kawaki coughed awkwardly. “What?”

“I said, want to kiss again?” It was too late to take it back, so Boruto doubled down persistently, awaiting the answer. His ears were tinted pink. Was he too forward?

“I don’t mind, but why?” Kawaki shot back, a glint of amusement in his eyes. “I thought you hated me.”

“Hate is too strong of a word,” Boruto pouted. “Fine, I admit I’m curious whether we’re really soulmates in a platonic or romantic way.”

What a flimsy excuse. Boruto knew Kawaki didn’t buy it either, but just shrugged it off. “Sure, why not? I have nothing to lose.”

His heart was pounding. Was this happening for real?! In a trance, he mechanically got closer to Kawaki. Unlike their kiss at the gym, Boruto was prepared, and his movements were intentional. There was no excuse for being surprised like last time. He was the one that asked them to kiss.

What the hell was he doing?! 

That was the only thing screaming inside his mind while Kawaki was inching closer to his lips and he adjusted himself accordingly. Lips touching, their second kiss was longer and deliberate in a way the first wasn’t. Boruto’s chest filled with a warmth that was missing for the first time. He pulled away and barely could breathe.

Kawaki himself seemed dazed, but Boruto didn’t have it in him to check his reaction, too preoccupied with what the kiss meant for him. Before this, he could deny he was attracted to Kawaki. Now, there was no way he’d be able to do this. 

Was it love? He didn’t know. However, there wasn’t any chance he’d let go of that feeling after having a taste of it.

“That was…” Boruto took a deep breath. “Something.”

“Yeah,” Kawaki answered, pointing his gaze at the Thunder Burger server. “Your order is coming.”

In all this commotion, Boruto forgot he ordered his burger. He was blushing furiously at the reminder he kissed Kawaki in public. “I know!”

After his milkshake and burger arrived, there was only one thing on Boruto’s mind. “Hey, are we dating now or what?” he asked.

“Beats me,” Kawaki shrugged, putting his hands inside the pockets of his jacket. “I’m fine with whatever you decide. I wasn’t the one denying we were soulmates this whole time.”

Boruto took a bite of his burger. “Well, that’s a problem for a future Boruto to figure out! For now, let’s have fun!” 

His deflection was temporary and perhaps cowardly, but hearing Kawaki snicker made Boruto feel less guilty. Ugh, that guy was messing with him as usual and probably knew Boruto was having feelings for him!

Quoting his friend’s Sarada’s words, Kawaki was quite annoying.

However, it was fine. Maybe not burning that statue meant he and Kawaki’s fates were bonded together no matter what happened. Boruto might appear calm on the surface, although his thoughts were always burning inside of his mind like an untamed wildfire. 

Eventually he’d not be able to hold back his feelings for Kawaki, even if it meant burning their souls itself. 

That’s why he opted to hold back today. He was self-aware enough to know the longer it goes on he’d not be able to restrain the burning fire in his soul that was on the same wavelength as Kawaki’s.

If they were really soulmates, Kawaki’s soul would be on fire too. 

Boruto Uzumaki loved someone he despised at first and left it for the future version of him to deal with. 

Whether his love will light up the passionate fire or extinguish the match in his heart was something only the time would tell.

For now, that was enough.

Fin.