This post has been lying on my drafts since Chapter 3 came out, so for around 2 years!!! To make sure it was entirely canon-compliant, I was waiting for tri. to finish so I could finally publish it. I'm delighted to say I didn't have to change anything major, because tri. aligned so well with my headcanons.
Since several people have asked me about this, I decided it was a good time to finally share it with everyone!
So, here it is...
My personal (but canon-compliant) timeline for Sora and Yamato's relationship (plus related headcanons)
- Yamato is demisexual; Sora, not so much. But they both have pretty heavy bagages when it comes to love / romance / marriage / family, so things took a lot of time.
- Yamato locks eyes on Sora in Adventure when he’s 11 years old, and tells himself, “I don’t believe in love or marriage, but if did, I’d only marry her”.
- Things aren’t as linear for Sora. For a while, during her tweens, she’s confused about her feelings for Taichi. He's her best friend, she likes him and spending time with him, and he gets on his nerves sometimes... surely this is what people call "a crush"? Taichi is kind of cute, but he's so immature and annoying sometimes! And he doesn't even see her as a "girl"! Sora is confused for a while, but ends up realising that she sees him more like a brother than anything else, and isn't exactly into the idea of him as a "boyfriend".
- Then, by middle school, Yamato starts his band and grows his hair and she’s like, “Oh, HELLO” 😍 Now this is a different, new feeling.
- Still, they’re just really, really good friends and really, far too young for anything else. It isn't as if Yamato is much better than Taichi when it comes to being boyfriend material! And, anyway, with so many other girls after him, it isn't as if she had a chance! Why would he look at Sora *that way*? He just sees her as a friend, probably doesn't even remember she's a girl. "It's better to get over this. Yamato is a bit of an idiot, anyway." Sora makes an effort to ignore her budding feelings and her attraction.
- Meanwhile, Yamato has plenty of girls who are interested in him, but, by 02, he only cares about his music and his slightly flabbergasted by all this female attention. He still thinks Sora is his ideal girl (and she's so become damn pretty, he thinks!) But it isn't as if she would want to be with him. After all, unlike his fans, Sora knows him all to well. Anyway, like almost everyone, Yamato assumes she prefers Taichi. Because who wouldn't?
- A weird experience with a fan happens in early 2002 (see: the Tobira DOOR Drama CD), and for the first time ever Yamato gets really close to that dangerous mix of "emotional attachment + nice girl + opening up his heart", but nothing really comes of it.
- Christmas 2002: Sora finally admits to herself her feelings for Yamato are romantic and she wouldn't really mind being more than friends, and it's getting hard to keep it a secret. After she opens up with Piyomon, she decides to finally tell him. She bakes him a Christmas cake, but her confession is interrupted by Jun and other shenanigans. After the concert is invaded, Yamato saves her life in a grand romantic gesture and Sora's certainties become stronger.
- Sora and Yamato walk home together after the battle and she finally confesses.
- Yamato is floored when he realises Sora really likes him, and feels bad that her cake was crushed by a Tyrannomon, so he asks her out on a date. (He actually mumbles something and Sora sets up a rendez-vous over Christmas.)
- I suppose they're technically dating at this point, though the last week of 2002 coincides with an epic battle for the fate of humanity, so they really don't have a lot of time to be a proper couple. This might explain why things advance so fast at this point. Life's too short!
- Sora and Yamato go on a few dates and actually hold hands and he touches her shoulder and *stuff*! Puppy love at its finest. Yamato’s heads over heals and can't quite believe his luck. Sora's swooning over the prospect of being Yamato's official girlfriend.
- However, after talking to her mum Sora starts feeling some doubts. This is all looking a bit too good to be true. She's only 13/14. There’s about a 99% chance a relationship right now won’t end well. Because middle school romances don't last, do they?
- The first time they have an argument (it's probably about Yamato spending more time with the band than with Sora), Sora decides she won’t risk her friendship with Yamato over "teenage love". She tells him it’s better they’re just friends... and he reluctanty agrees, because he doesn't want to lose her. They decide to be "just friends" and nothing else.
- (Yes. Taichi watches this from afar and HAS NO IDEA WHAT’S GOING ON. He tries to ask, and gets nothing but sharp looks and silence. He gives up.)
- If Yamato had sought Takeru's advice at this point, things could have worked out differently... alas, it takes Yamato a while to learn that lesson!
- Yamato is heartbroken, writes some depressing songs and swears off relationships forever. It was all his fault, and Sora deserves better. At least she still hangs out with him and they're good friends.
- Sora is sad too, but she finds consolation in the fact that they continue to be buddies and their relationship is actually closer than ever. Sometimes she regrets it, and is confused about het feelings, but keeps her emotions in check. No need to ruin things with pesky romance!
- Years go by... high school: There are obviously lingering feelings there, which neither one will admit, as they remain great friends who actually spend time together and rely on each other more and more. But Sora’s too embarassed to try again after chickening out last time, and Yamato genuinely things she moved on, so neither one takes the first step.
- College - both study in different cities, and so there is a gradual distancing. Sora has suitors and dates, but never goes seriously attached because by that time she’s worshiping at the altar of “The One That Got Away”. Meanwhile, Yamato’s busy going to space and shit.
- Sometime by their 20s, they start meeting more reguarly at weddings and reunions, among the last members of the group who aren't in a serious, comitted relationship.
- At some point in the late 2010s, there’s one moment when they just look at each other and go, “Fuck it. We should be together.”
- (Yes, Takeru plays an important role in this.)
- This is when Sora and Yamato get back together become an official couple.
- Everyone around is getting married and popping kids. They start placing bets about when Sora and Yamato get hitched. However, they’re both scared and are happy to enjoy the GF/BF life they missed during their younger days. Also, they’re both super devoted to their demanding careers. So, even tough they're a couple now, they spend lots of time apart and are both very independent. For now they just want to be alone with each other, travel together, and make up for lost time.
- Basically, the pattern is Yamato doesn’t believe in marriage but craves children like crazy, while Sora’s a traditional girl but is terrified of motherhood. And because they're both bad at communicating, neither admits what they truly want for a long time. They don't want to rush, but maybe they avoid thinking long-term for a while.
- However, after a while they reach a compromise. They decide to get married “for tax reasons” 😂 and elope, because Yamato hates weddings but knows signing the paper and living together is important to Sora. He decides he wants to be with her and be a family, even if she doesn't want kids.
- This happens around 2020. In around 2021/22/23 they have their daughter because Sora finally feels ready and secure. They're the last members of the group to have a child. (Alternative scenario: they marry after an ooops pregnancy, because it forces their hand.)
- Their son is born 3 years later.
- Post-epilogue: They definitely have a third kid in their 40s. Maybe twins 😋
💙 and they lived happily ever after ❤
(I hope you enjoyed it!)