Home
Title: Home
Rating: PG
Pairing: implied sakuraiba, ohmiya
Summary: Jun's studying for exams and contemplating whether moving was really a good idea or not. Takes place in the same universe as AC and Sho v. Cockroach.
Jun had begun renting at this place because the landlady had promised him that it would be quiet here. His last place, although located far enough away from a station to be more residential than city, had been filled with noisy tenants that thought playing loud music at all hours of the morning was acceptable. It wasn't. Plus, this place was, although slightly farther away, on a direct line to his university so not only were the mornings easier but he actually saved a thousand yen a month on his commuter pass. All in all, it had seemed like a nice change, especially when he remembered the creepy lady at the end of the hall that used to whistle at him when he left for school in the morning.
Okay, so maybe Konseki House wasn't the dream come true that Jun was trying to paint it. It was true that he hadn't quite escaped the noise; he'd found that his new neighbors were more than happy to supply a little background music at any given time, whether it was Aiba's distinctive laugh echoing from next door (sometimes accompanied by Sho's attempts at quieting him or laughing himself), or it was faint strains of Nino's guitar floating in from whatever room he had decided to stay for the night. And all right, the walk to the station in the morning was kind of annoying. His old place was only a few blocks away but from here, it took a good twenty minutes, something that was fine in the nice weather but looking increasingly worrisome with the upcoming rain and cold. But that was why his parents had sent money so Jun could furnish his room with a kotatsu for the coming months, something Aiba had already discovered and invited himself over to share the very instant Jun had set it up.
Midterm exams were coming up soon. Most departments didn't have them but apparently, all of Jun's professors this term had decided that it would be a great idea to go against tradition and hold them this year, pinning Jun to a life of constant study and research for the past few weeks. It wasn't that he was particularly worried for any of them (he was an excellent student, after all) but there was a certain amount of preparation Jun had always had to take put in if he felt he would really understand anything in his classes and it was starting to get on his nerves. There were some students in his major that could just read something once and understand it, like that Toma kid. People like that were annoying because it never seemed like they had to work for their grades. Then there were people like Taguchi who did so much work to the point where he had almost become a permanent fixture in the library and yet never seemed to do well when the actual test came. No, Jun fell somewhere in the middle of that spectrum and while it wasn't bad or anything, it was certainly annoying, especially when he had to go to campus even on his days off to research.
"Aw, how cute. Squirt's off to learn," a teasingly affectionate voice rang in the hallway. Jun finished locking his door before he looked up to see Nino exiting a room that was patently not his own to take the two foot walk of shame to his door. Not that the ritual's typical name applied considering Nino didn't really feel any shame in the act. To him, it was simply morning.
"Don't call me Squirt," Jun frowned, annoyed. "You're only two months older than me." A fact that surprised Jun every time he remembered it. While it was true that Nino was only roughly 60 days older than him, it seemed like a lifetime of difference. Jun was still firmly entrenched in school, a year or so away from graduation and still not sure what he wanted to do once he got there. Sure, he would have a degree in International Relations and that was all well and good but what did one do with that?
Nino was already out in the world, having dropped out of high school during his second year in order to become a musician. He'd started off by singing on street corners with nothing but his guitar to keep him company. It'd taken him two years before his agent had found him, singing in a park around Ikebukuro, and decided that there was something more there. She'd cleaned him up, helped him record a demo tape and due to some lucky breaks and smooth talking, Nino's debut cd was coming out in a few months. Nino had informed them, when he had broken the news, that he was now that much closer to being rich and famous and no, they were not getting any portion of his spoils, except for perhaps Ohno.
And while the levels of success and schooling did cast a shadow over the age similarity between Jun and Nino, there was a difference in maturity level that was equally off-putting. For while Nino was successful and talented, he was also kind of a brat, keen to always have his way and even reluctant to share Ohno at times, regardless of the fact that he had no real claim over the older man. Jun knew that he could lose his temper every once in awhile and he was perhaps not the most lenient person but there was no way that his tendencies could stack up against Nino's. He honestly didn't know how Ohno could stand him sometimes.
"Yeah, yeah. You're always claiming that," Nino smiled, turning his key into his own door's lock. "Have a good day at school. Oh, and come by when you get home. I think Aiba mentioned something about his parent's restaurant getting an extra shipment of something last week so sounds like we're getting free food tonight." Nino was grinning mischievously and Jun couldn't help but smile back. There was something infectious in that grin. Maybe he could kind of see what Ohno saw in him. Kind of.
"I'll send you a mail when I'm headed home so you better save me something," Jun implored the other man as he made his way out down the hallway and towards the outside. "If I find out that I came home hungry and Aiba and Ohno managed to eat everything, I won't be happy."
"Don't worry," Nino laughed, "they won't. And if they do? Then you can't blame me."
-------
Research wasn't going so well. Jun had been in the library for five hours, pouring over book after book that had looked promising but had given up no real information that he could use for his paper. The plan had been to get the paper written in the next two days so that he could focus on studying for the tests that were coming next week but the damn thing wasn't cooperating. And why did the library computer make it sound like all these tomes would actually be useful when in fact, they had nothing of value in them? It was frustrating as all.
Perhaps he was just annoyed because he had run into Toma leaving when he'd arrived. The other boy had given Jun a smile and a wave, telling him how he had just finished his paper and it was a lot of work and he couldn't believe it had taken him four hours to write! Thank heavens it was over and now he could go relax. He thought he would call Maki and see if she wanted to go to karaoke. Jun wanted to punch him.
Okay, so maybe it wasn't Toma's fault that he was just magically good at everything Jun had to put work in on. It wasn't Toma's fault that books seemed to mystically fall into place, giving him just the right quotes for his paper. It wasn't Toma's fault that he could weave whatever he had to work with into a somewhat intelligible paper, even though half of what he was saying was bullshit. Those were all just enviable skills that Jun wished he had. And he hated Toma for it.
But grumbling wasn't going to get him anywhere or at least, nowhere useful. This paper wasn't going to write itself and it certainly wasn't going to throw quotes and facts at him. Jun glanced back down at the book in front of him. If he could skim through this, do the same with the next book in the pile and come up with at least three usable quotes, he could go home in the next two hours. That would be nice. With the new goal in mind, Jun returned to flipping through the tome.
It was about two minutes into this new momentum when Jun felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He frowned, determined to ignore it, at least until he got to the end of the chapter. He read a paragraph, another. The phone was burning a hole in his pocket, though; curiosity making sure that, although he was reading words, all that ran through his mind were questions of who was mailing him. Maybe Nino, trying to annoy him. Toma, asking if he was done yet and wanted to come to karaoke. Sho, informing him that there was something good for his report on television. So many possibilities, all of them vaguely annoying.
Realizing that there was no way he'd be able to concentrate if he kept wondering while he read, he reached down and grabbed the contraption, flipping open the screen to read it. Much to his surprise, it was simply a picture of a crate. It looked like any other crate that Jun had seen in his life. Before he could check the address it came from, another message came in, taking the first one's place. It read "Come home soon!" with a picture of the crate again and Aiba's hand giving a piece sign in front of it. The crate must be the extra shipment. On closer inspection, it was obviously resting in Aiba's room, Sho's stacks of newspapers piled up in the back right of the picture.
Jun smiled, putting the phone back in his pocket. If that was waiting for him at home, he better finish this book.
-------
It had decided to rain while he had been underground Jun discovered as he exited the station. Great. Just great. Luckily, there was a Lawsons next door and a quick jog and five hundred yen got him a brand new, completely cheap plastic umbrella. Giving the clerk a long suffering grimace, Jun opened the umbrella and made his way back onto the street.
The rain was pouring down around him but at least the fact that the umbrella was new and thus, actually waterproof and the idea of food waiting for him at home was keeping his spirits if not high, then at least out of the gutter. Passing the bento shop and Mos Burger, Jun sent up a quick prayer that the gluttons that were some of the friends he had hadn't eaten all the food in the twentyish minutes it was going to take him to get home.
As he turned the corner and neared the apartment complex, Jun noticed a solitary figure out front. Judging from the size of his umbrella, it could only be Sho. Sho hated to be wet and it was a well known fact so one day a few weeks ago, Nino had presented Sho with a "just because" present. Sho had been apprehensive, knowing Nino never spent money unless he had to, and opened the gift with caution. Inside he found perhaps the largest umbrella Jun had ever seen, complete with a Hello Kitty adorning every angle. Sho had yelled at Nino, the younger man chuckling and hiding behind Ohno but sure enough, a few days later, Sho had gone to work, Kitty-chan tucked underneath his arm. When questioned, Sho had said it made sure his briefcase hadn't gotten wet, important papers and all. Everyone knew the truth.
"Welcome home," Sho greeted him when he finally managed to make the front gate. Sho had been getting the mail, although there didn't seem to be any. He motioned Jun to follow him. "Food's in our room. I hope you're hungry."
Jun just smiled gratefully, happy that after a long day, his friends had saved something for him. It probably wasn't going to be a lot, knowing how Aiba liked to scarf down his food and realize how much he had actually eaten later but it was better than having to run back out into the rain to grab something at Origin.
Sho slowed his pace as he reached the fourth floor, taking his sweet time to walk the fifteenish feet it was going to take them to get to Sho's room. Even more strange was how loud Sho had felt the need to say "Have a good day at school, Jun?", as if Jun were fifty yards away rather than right next to him. Jun had just nodded, giving Sho a sideways look. Hopefully the man was feeling all right. It'd be awful if the food turned out to be off or something.
The key turned in the lock and as Sho opened the door, Jun noticed that the lights were off. Was Aiba not home? That was strange. He was positive Aiba had been home when he'd sent those text messages earlier. Maybe he'd run to the store to grab drinks or something.
All of the sudden, Sho flicked the lights on, illuminating the room and everyone's faces as they yelled out "Surprise!" Nino, Ohno, and Aiba all stood around the table, wearing party hats that looked jarring and out of place on everyone but Aiba. There was a banner strung across the balcony doors that read "Good Luck, Jun!" and on the table sat a cake bearing the same message. Jun was speechless.
"Surprise," Sho smiled, realizing that Jun wasn't going to be speaking anytime soon. He reached over to the counter for the two remaining party hats, handing one to Jun before putting one on himself.
"We know you were working hard at school and we know exams aren't until next week," Aiba began, grabbing Jun's hand and pulling him towards the table, "but we felt you needed to take a break and relax. Look, we even got cake!"
"Oh-chan made the banner," Nino grinned from his position on Ohno's arm. Jun looked back at the banner one more time and noticed that, apart from the words that ran from side to side, there were more drawings in the margins. Doodles of books, school buildings, the apartment complex and even a little drawing of Jun in the corner, headband around his forehead, looking victorious.
"It's to wish you luck," Ohno smiled. Everyone was looking at him expectantly, smiles on their faces. Jun tried to find the right words to say.
"Thanks," was all that came out but it seemed to be enough. Nino sank down, pulling Ohno with him, beginning to distribute plates. Aiba waved at Sho that somehow must have communicated "get something to cut the cake" as Sho ran over to the kitchen area and found a knife. Before too long, Nino glanced up at Jun, who was still standing in front of the table.
"What are you doing, Squirt? Are you going to eat this cake or aren't you?" Nino shoved a cake plate into Jun's hand, pulling him down to the ground with the other. Each of them sat around the table, eating cake and laughing as Aiba began telling the story of how he got the cake in the first place, a ridiculous debacle that only Aiba could have gotten himself into.
Looking around the room, Jun thought about his move from his last apartment. Sure, it wasn't quiet and it didn't quite let him stay dry on the commute to and from school. But if there was one thing Konseki had given him, it was this. It was a family. It was a home.
~
This was the product of my not wanting to do homework last night or this afternoon. A little apartment verse fic focused on Jun for once. I don't know if you picked up on it but everyone is slightly younger in this universe than they are in real life. Nino and Jun are around twenty and then adjust everyone else's age accordingly. So yes, apartment!Jun is closer to awkwardteenage!Jun than to Domyouji!Jun. I don't know if that changes how you view this but it's definitely what I had in mind while I wrote. I hope you like it and don't worry, another chapter of CoKoi should be on schedule for next weekend~
Rating: PG
Pairing: implied sakuraiba, ohmiya
Summary: Jun's studying for exams and contemplating whether moving was really a good idea or not. Takes place in the same universe as AC and Sho v. Cockroach.
Jun had begun renting at this place because the landlady had promised him that it would be quiet here. His last place, although located far enough away from a station to be more residential than city, had been filled with noisy tenants that thought playing loud music at all hours of the morning was acceptable. It wasn't. Plus, this place was, although slightly farther away, on a direct line to his university so not only were the mornings easier but he actually saved a thousand yen a month on his commuter pass. All in all, it had seemed like a nice change, especially when he remembered the creepy lady at the end of the hall that used to whistle at him when he left for school in the morning.
Okay, so maybe Konseki House wasn't the dream come true that Jun was trying to paint it. It was true that he hadn't quite escaped the noise; he'd found that his new neighbors were more than happy to supply a little background music at any given time, whether it was Aiba's distinctive laugh echoing from next door (sometimes accompanied by Sho's attempts at quieting him or laughing himself), or it was faint strains of Nino's guitar floating in from whatever room he had decided to stay for the night. And all right, the walk to the station in the morning was kind of annoying. His old place was only a few blocks away but from here, it took a good twenty minutes, something that was fine in the nice weather but looking increasingly worrisome with the upcoming rain and cold. But that was why his parents had sent money so Jun could furnish his room with a kotatsu for the coming months, something Aiba had already discovered and invited himself over to share the very instant Jun had set it up.
Midterm exams were coming up soon. Most departments didn't have them but apparently, all of Jun's professors this term had decided that it would be a great idea to go against tradition and hold them this year, pinning Jun to a life of constant study and research for the past few weeks. It wasn't that he was particularly worried for any of them (he was an excellent student, after all) but there was a certain amount of preparation Jun had always had to take put in if he felt he would really understand anything in his classes and it was starting to get on his nerves. There were some students in his major that could just read something once and understand it, like that Toma kid. People like that were annoying because it never seemed like they had to work for their grades. Then there were people like Taguchi who did so much work to the point where he had almost become a permanent fixture in the library and yet never seemed to do well when the actual test came. No, Jun fell somewhere in the middle of that spectrum and while it wasn't bad or anything, it was certainly annoying, especially when he had to go to campus even on his days off to research.
"Aw, how cute. Squirt's off to learn," a teasingly affectionate voice rang in the hallway. Jun finished locking his door before he looked up to see Nino exiting a room that was patently not his own to take the two foot walk of shame to his door. Not that the ritual's typical name applied considering Nino didn't really feel any shame in the act. To him, it was simply morning.
"Don't call me Squirt," Jun frowned, annoyed. "You're only two months older than me." A fact that surprised Jun every time he remembered it. While it was true that Nino was only roughly 60 days older than him, it seemed like a lifetime of difference. Jun was still firmly entrenched in school, a year or so away from graduation and still not sure what he wanted to do once he got there. Sure, he would have a degree in International Relations and that was all well and good but what did one do with that?
Nino was already out in the world, having dropped out of high school during his second year in order to become a musician. He'd started off by singing on street corners with nothing but his guitar to keep him company. It'd taken him two years before his agent had found him, singing in a park around Ikebukuro, and decided that there was something more there. She'd cleaned him up, helped him record a demo tape and due to some lucky breaks and smooth talking, Nino's debut cd was coming out in a few months. Nino had informed them, when he had broken the news, that he was now that much closer to being rich and famous and no, they were not getting any portion of his spoils, except for perhaps Ohno.
And while the levels of success and schooling did cast a shadow over the age similarity between Jun and Nino, there was a difference in maturity level that was equally off-putting. For while Nino was successful and talented, he was also kind of a brat, keen to always have his way and even reluctant to share Ohno at times, regardless of the fact that he had no real claim over the older man. Jun knew that he could lose his temper every once in awhile and he was perhaps not the most lenient person but there was no way that his tendencies could stack up against Nino's. He honestly didn't know how Ohno could stand him sometimes.
"Yeah, yeah. You're always claiming that," Nino smiled, turning his key into his own door's lock. "Have a good day at school. Oh, and come by when you get home. I think Aiba mentioned something about his parent's restaurant getting an extra shipment of something last week so sounds like we're getting free food tonight." Nino was grinning mischievously and Jun couldn't help but smile back. There was something infectious in that grin. Maybe he could kind of see what Ohno saw in him. Kind of.
"I'll send you a mail when I'm headed home so you better save me something," Jun implored the other man as he made his way out down the hallway and towards the outside. "If I find out that I came home hungry and Aiba and Ohno managed to eat everything, I won't be happy."
"Don't worry," Nino laughed, "they won't. And if they do? Then you can't blame me."
-------
Research wasn't going so well. Jun had been in the library for five hours, pouring over book after book that had looked promising but had given up no real information that he could use for his paper. The plan had been to get the paper written in the next two days so that he could focus on studying for the tests that were coming next week but the damn thing wasn't cooperating. And why did the library computer make it sound like all these tomes would actually be useful when in fact, they had nothing of value in them? It was frustrating as all.
Perhaps he was just annoyed because he had run into Toma leaving when he'd arrived. The other boy had given Jun a smile and a wave, telling him how he had just finished his paper and it was a lot of work and he couldn't believe it had taken him four hours to write! Thank heavens it was over and now he could go relax. He thought he would call Maki and see if she wanted to go to karaoke. Jun wanted to punch him.
Okay, so maybe it wasn't Toma's fault that he was just magically good at everything Jun had to put work in on. It wasn't Toma's fault that books seemed to mystically fall into place, giving him just the right quotes for his paper. It wasn't Toma's fault that he could weave whatever he had to work with into a somewhat intelligible paper, even though half of what he was saying was bullshit. Those were all just enviable skills that Jun wished he had. And he hated Toma for it.
But grumbling wasn't going to get him anywhere or at least, nowhere useful. This paper wasn't going to write itself and it certainly wasn't going to throw quotes and facts at him. Jun glanced back down at the book in front of him. If he could skim through this, do the same with the next book in the pile and come up with at least three usable quotes, he could go home in the next two hours. That would be nice. With the new goal in mind, Jun returned to flipping through the tome.
It was about two minutes into this new momentum when Jun felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He frowned, determined to ignore it, at least until he got to the end of the chapter. He read a paragraph, another. The phone was burning a hole in his pocket, though; curiosity making sure that, although he was reading words, all that ran through his mind were questions of who was mailing him. Maybe Nino, trying to annoy him. Toma, asking if he was done yet and wanted to come to karaoke. Sho, informing him that there was something good for his report on television. So many possibilities, all of them vaguely annoying.
Realizing that there was no way he'd be able to concentrate if he kept wondering while he read, he reached down and grabbed the contraption, flipping open the screen to read it. Much to his surprise, it was simply a picture of a crate. It looked like any other crate that Jun had seen in his life. Before he could check the address it came from, another message came in, taking the first one's place. It read "Come home soon!" with a picture of the crate again and Aiba's hand giving a piece sign in front of it. The crate must be the extra shipment. On closer inspection, it was obviously resting in Aiba's room, Sho's stacks of newspapers piled up in the back right of the picture.
Jun smiled, putting the phone back in his pocket. If that was waiting for him at home, he better finish this book.
-------
It had decided to rain while he had been underground Jun discovered as he exited the station. Great. Just great. Luckily, there was a Lawsons next door and a quick jog and five hundred yen got him a brand new, completely cheap plastic umbrella. Giving the clerk a long suffering grimace, Jun opened the umbrella and made his way back onto the street.
The rain was pouring down around him but at least the fact that the umbrella was new and thus, actually waterproof and the idea of food waiting for him at home was keeping his spirits if not high, then at least out of the gutter. Passing the bento shop and Mos Burger, Jun sent up a quick prayer that the gluttons that were some of the friends he had hadn't eaten all the food in the twentyish minutes it was going to take him to get home.
As he turned the corner and neared the apartment complex, Jun noticed a solitary figure out front. Judging from the size of his umbrella, it could only be Sho. Sho hated to be wet and it was a well known fact so one day a few weeks ago, Nino had presented Sho with a "just because" present. Sho had been apprehensive, knowing Nino never spent money unless he had to, and opened the gift with caution. Inside he found perhaps the largest umbrella Jun had ever seen, complete with a Hello Kitty adorning every angle. Sho had yelled at Nino, the younger man chuckling and hiding behind Ohno but sure enough, a few days later, Sho had gone to work, Kitty-chan tucked underneath his arm. When questioned, Sho had said it made sure his briefcase hadn't gotten wet, important papers and all. Everyone knew the truth.
"Welcome home," Sho greeted him when he finally managed to make the front gate. Sho had been getting the mail, although there didn't seem to be any. He motioned Jun to follow him. "Food's in our room. I hope you're hungry."
Jun just smiled gratefully, happy that after a long day, his friends had saved something for him. It probably wasn't going to be a lot, knowing how Aiba liked to scarf down his food and realize how much he had actually eaten later but it was better than having to run back out into the rain to grab something at Origin.
Sho slowed his pace as he reached the fourth floor, taking his sweet time to walk the fifteenish feet it was going to take them to get to Sho's room. Even more strange was how loud Sho had felt the need to say "Have a good day at school, Jun?", as if Jun were fifty yards away rather than right next to him. Jun had just nodded, giving Sho a sideways look. Hopefully the man was feeling all right. It'd be awful if the food turned out to be off or something.
The key turned in the lock and as Sho opened the door, Jun noticed that the lights were off. Was Aiba not home? That was strange. He was positive Aiba had been home when he'd sent those text messages earlier. Maybe he'd run to the store to grab drinks or something.
All of the sudden, Sho flicked the lights on, illuminating the room and everyone's faces as they yelled out "Surprise!" Nino, Ohno, and Aiba all stood around the table, wearing party hats that looked jarring and out of place on everyone but Aiba. There was a banner strung across the balcony doors that read "Good Luck, Jun!" and on the table sat a cake bearing the same message. Jun was speechless.
"Surprise," Sho smiled, realizing that Jun wasn't going to be speaking anytime soon. He reached over to the counter for the two remaining party hats, handing one to Jun before putting one on himself.
"We know you were working hard at school and we know exams aren't until next week," Aiba began, grabbing Jun's hand and pulling him towards the table, "but we felt you needed to take a break and relax. Look, we even got cake!"
"Oh-chan made the banner," Nino grinned from his position on Ohno's arm. Jun looked back at the banner one more time and noticed that, apart from the words that ran from side to side, there were more drawings in the margins. Doodles of books, school buildings, the apartment complex and even a little drawing of Jun in the corner, headband around his forehead, looking victorious.
"It's to wish you luck," Ohno smiled. Everyone was looking at him expectantly, smiles on their faces. Jun tried to find the right words to say.
"Thanks," was all that came out but it seemed to be enough. Nino sank down, pulling Ohno with him, beginning to distribute plates. Aiba waved at Sho that somehow must have communicated "get something to cut the cake" as Sho ran over to the kitchen area and found a knife. Before too long, Nino glanced up at Jun, who was still standing in front of the table.
"What are you doing, Squirt? Are you going to eat this cake or aren't you?" Nino shoved a cake plate into Jun's hand, pulling him down to the ground with the other. Each of them sat around the table, eating cake and laughing as Aiba began telling the story of how he got the cake in the first place, a ridiculous debacle that only Aiba could have gotten himself into.
Looking around the room, Jun thought about his move from his last apartment. Sure, it wasn't quiet and it didn't quite let him stay dry on the commute to and from school. But if there was one thing Konseki had given him, it was this. It was a family. It was a home.
~
This was the product of my not wanting to do homework last night or this afternoon. A little apartment verse fic focused on Jun for once. I don't know if you picked up on it but everyone is slightly younger in this universe than they are in real life. Nino and Jun are around twenty and then adjust everyone else's age accordingly. So yes, apartment!Jun is closer to awkwardteenage!Jun than to Domyouji!Jun. I don't know if that changes how you view this but it's definitely what I had in mind while I wrote. I hope you like it and don't worry, another chapter of CoKoi should be on schedule for next weekend~