[Next Door] Chapter 1: The New Boy Next Door
Title: Next Door
Author: numonorean
Rating: T for safety
Classification: AU
Spoilers: Do not apply
Warnings: May contain angst in future chapters
Summary: We are creatures of discontent. Always in search for something to satisfy us. For the most part, he was only searching for a place to live in. She was searching for the opportunity to prove her worth. They never realized they'd find something far better halfway in between.
Disclaimer: I do not own Matsumoto Jun, Inoue Mao or any other name that is going to be mentioned hereon. I may know them, but they don't know me. This entire thing is a work of pure fiction, a figment of my imagination. I don't, won't earn anything from this. So, there isn't any royalty to sue for.
A/N: I posted this in LSS last year. Dunno why I never got around to posting it here.
The place has a fantastic kitchen. Truth be told, he'd have signed the lease just for the kitchen. It was exactly the kind of kitchen he wanted, but never actively looked for. Not that it looked straight out of a designer magazine. In fact, the one-bedroom loft did not look like it was inspired by Architectural Digest. It looked more like an outcome of a home project with just the right amount of architectural design. Definitely charming, but still someone’s residence. The fact that it was situated fifteen minutes from where he works, and in an upscale residential area did not hurt either.
The kitchen, though, was spacious enough to cover half of the entire floor. It would allow him to move around while he cooked. And cooking was one thing that Matsumoto Jun liked doing. It was a way for him to unwind. While some people go to spas or workout to relax, he cooks.
"I knew you would like the kitchen," Ichimura Masachika said, grinning.
"I do," he replied, smiling at the retired diplomat, "Ryo told me about it, but I never imagined it would be like this."
Ichimura-san nodded at the mention of his son's name, "He knew you would not be able to say no to a kitchen like this. It was a little sly of him, but you have to admit, it did get you here."
Jun smiled. He had known the Ichimuras in college. He had studied in London and shared a dorm room with his son, Ryo, while Ichimura-san was serving as an ambassador there. It was natural to somehow gravitate towards people of the same race. Japanese holidays in London were spent in the embassy. Having the Ichimuras made it easier for him to get through the homesickness.
"I can't believe no one's renting this space," Jun said as he moved around the loft.
“There are two lofts in this house,” Ichimura-san explained. “They occupy the entire second floor of the house, but have a separate garage and stairway. This will allow you privacy. We built them for our children to stay in when we get back to Japan,” he explained, “but both have decided to marry and pursue careers overseas.” The elder man shook his head, as if saying that they built the lofts for naught. "Mariko did no want to rent the spaces out for some time. She said she didn't want strangers living with us."
“It must have been difficult for you when Ryo decided to live in the US,” Jun said, knowing that his old roommate had chosen to permanently move to the US a few years after college.
“To be honest, I was not surprised,” Ichimura-san said. “Living in different places while growing up had not given them the roots I would have liked for them to have. My wife was just wishful thinking that they would decide to settle here when we retire. I did not have the heart to tell her otherwise.”
He also understood what Ichimura-san meant when he said his children did not have the roots he would have liked them to have. While he was completely fascinated with everything regarding his culture while in a foreign country, Ryo had not exhibited the same fascination. He was far more interested in the local scene.
“Ryo had always been more interested with the rest of the world,” he commented.
Ichimura-san smiled, “Yes. I’m afraid he got that from me.” He looked around the loft, “I was surprised when he called and told me you were looking for an apartment in the area. He remembered this loft, and offered it.”
“I’m sorry if he imposed,” Jun said.
“Oh, no,” the old man responded with a shake of his head. “We decided these rooms are better used than left on their own. My wife and I are just a little picky with our tenants.”
Jun nodded, understanding how difficult it was to rent out the rooms they intended for their children to strangers.
“In fact, the other loft is already rented out to our daughter’s friend,” he paused for a bit. “Interestingly, she was also Natsuki’s roommate in college.”
He tried to remember Natsuki, Ryo's sister. She was younger by a few years, if he was not mistaken. He remembered very little of her since she was studying in Paris then, and would only appear during holidays. He learned from Ryo that she ended up marrying a Frenchman and settling there. He tried to remember if he has ever met her with friends, but nothing came to mind.
“I hope it wouldn’t be a problem for her to share the floor now,” he commented walking up the stairs leading to the bedroom. The entire place was filled with wooden furnishing, in the right shade of finish, too. Not too dark wood, and not too light material either. It was the kind of apartment he had always wanted.
“It won’t be a problem,” Ichimura-san said. “You both have your own lofts, the only thing you really share is the stairs and the balcony since it stretches the length of both lofts.”
Jun nodded. He liked that. He liked the privacy the place offered. The first floor of the house was where the Ichimuras live. The entire second floor was his and the other tenant’s. His rooms were spacious enough to allow them to live without having to share too much space. How many other places in the city can offer that?
“And the garden,” Ichimura-san added moving towards the glass panel that opened towards the balcony. The balcony was a wide wooden expanse that stretched the entire length of the building. It also faced a zen garden with a koi pond and a porch swing on one side. The view was really charming.
“Arf! Arf!”
Jun turned to see a little Boston terrier bounding down the wooden platform. He kneeled down to pet the animal and asked it, “You also live here?”
“That’s Hug-chan,” his future landlord offered, “Mao-chan owns him. He’s very friendly and isn’t really a bother. I hope you don’t mind having pets around.”
Jun smiled at the dog that’s now lying on its back enjoying Jun’s hand scratching his belly, “No. I think having a pet around would make the entire place more domestic.”
“Yes, it does,” Ichimura-san agreed, “We sometimes take him in on the first floor when Mao-chan’s at work or if she’s out of town travelling. He’s delightful to have around.”
“I really wouldn’t mind having him around. It’s rare for dogs to like me,” Jun chuckled, “but this one seems to.”
“Ah, well,” Ichimura grinned, “he likes everyone. That dog likes being spoiled.”
The object of their discussion finally rolled on his belly and having seemed to have enough of being pampered walked towards the edge of the balcony to plop down as a sleeping heap.
Jun and Ichimura-san laughed.
"So, what do you think?" Ichimura asked, "You think you'd like living here?"
Jun bit his lower lip trying not to smile too widely and failing, "I think I would."
---
Inoue Mao bounded up the stairs to her apartment and was welcomed by Hug-chan’s barking.
“Hello, darling,” she picked up the mutt and cuddled it, “how was your day?”
She knew the dog was not going to answer her with a rundown of what he did that day, but it was a habit she couldn’t break. He seemed to have enjoyed the day as he looked perky and well-rested.
“You must have spent the entire day lazing around, huh?” She grinned, knowing that her terrier had the tendency to do just that.
She moved towards the living room still carrying Hug-chan, dropping her bag on the couch and automatically turning her music player on. It was another habit she couldn’t break. She somehow could not stand long periods of silence. It was a good thing her landlords do not mind her turning up the volume of her music every now and then. Mariko-san told her once it let’s them know she was home and safe.
Mao loved the darling couple who owned the house. They were her college best friend’s parents, and she knew that they missed their daughter very much. When Natsuki married Jean right out of college, she knew she was not going back to Japan. She remembered her friend telling her to visit her parents for her. It seemed natural for her to eventually rent the loft they had built for Natsuki. It was in fact Natsuki who suggested she rent out the rooms when she found out she was going to live on her own.
She has enjoyed living with the Ichimuras since. They were a generous couple who treated Mao as if she was their own daughter.
She heard a knock on the door frame as she put down Hug-chan serving him a bowl of dog food. She smiled to herself. She has lived here for a year and the Ichimuras still knocked on her door everytime.
“Okaeri, Mao-chan,” Mariko-san greeted her. “How was your day?”
“Tadaima,” she replied. “It was great! Something really great happened at work today.” She grinned.
“That’s wonderful!” Mariko replied, “I prepared food tonight, why don’t you join us for dinner and tell us all about it?”
“Sure,” she replied to the elderly woman, “I didn’t get the chance to get dinner after work and I was thinking of have something delivered tonight.”
“All that delivery is just a waste of money. You should learn how to cook," Mariko looked at Mao's rarely used kitchen with a hint of regret.
Mao didn't miss the look. She smiled as she took Mariko's arm, "I'm afraid I'm not very domesticated."
Mariko smiled as she shook her head at her, "Just come down when you’ve changed, then,” Mariko invited, “we’d also like to tell you something.”
Mao stopped, “Is it something serious?”
“No,” Mariko laughed, “it’s a little bit of a surprise.”
-
Mao entered the Ichimuras’ dining room, with Hug-chan trailing behind her. She had wondered what Mariko-san meant when she said they had a surprise. The elderly couple were charming, but she couldn’t think of any kind of surprise they might have for her.
She loved this couple for being so nice to her. They would never fail to ask her about her day and make her feel at home. She has somehow found secondary parents in them. It made living away from her family a little easier.
Mao was particularly fond of Mariko-san, because her own mother passed away when she was young. She imagined her mother would be as lovely as her. Masachika-san, on the otherhand, reminded her a little of her grandfather.
Masachika-san was already seated at the head of the table when she came in, and he summoned her over.
“Ogenki desu ka, Masachika-san,” she greeted.
“Ogenki desu,” he replied. “Take a seat, Mao-chan. Mariko is just getting the food. How was your day?”
“It was great,” she answered. “I found out today that I have the chance to take on a huge project that I’m really excited about.”
“That’s great,” the elderly said, sipping his drink. “That shows how much faith your manager has on you.”
Mariko-san entered the dining room aided by their help just then, carrying plates of dishes. As the woman placed the meal on the table, Mao exclaimed over the food.
“This looks amazing, Mariko-san!” Mao picked up her chopsticks and tried a piece of gyoza. “Oishi!”
“I’m glad you liked it," Mariko said as she sat down.
"What was this surprise you two were talking about anyway?" she asked.
"Oh that," Mariko looked at her husband and waited for him to nod. She turned to Mao and said, "We wanted to let you know that the other loft is going to have a tenant soon."
"Ryo told us that his best friend from college is looking for a place in the area, and we asked him if he'd like to take a look at this place," Masachiko explained. "He was here earlier today and he decided to rent out the other loft."
"We were hoping you wouldn't mind sharing that floor with someone else," Mariko added. "We knew that boy while we were in London and he's very nice and well-mannered. I'm sure he won't be a bother."
"That's great!" Mao answered, "I just don't understand why you look so worried about it."
"We didn't really want to confirm with him until you agreed," Mariko said. "We weren't sure if you'd be comfortable with another tenant."
Mao felt so blessed around this couple, "You don't have to get my permission, Mariko-san, " she smiled at the woman and her husband. "This is your house. You can do whatever you want with it."
"Well, that settles it then," Masachiko said, "I can call him later and tell him he can sign the contract. He had wanted to do it today, but we deferred."
"You didn't have to do that," Mao said with a shake of her head.
"We wanted to make sure it would be okay with you," Mariko explained.
"Particularly since he wanted to move immediately," her husband added.
"Arf! Arf!"
The three people at the table turned to the dog who seemed to be barking his approval.
"I hope he doesn't mind having a dog around," Mao said as she grinned at Hug-chan's wagging tail.
A/N: I'm probably going to spam the next two chapters and post a character list.