Rating: PG
Pairing: YuuTari
Disclaimer: not mine, cool? cool.
Halfway through their second year of college, Yagyuu asked Oshitari if he wanted to share an apartment. "It's really a matter of economic practicality." Yagyuu was an economics major, and he knew how to calculate things like that. It made sense to Oshitari though - Yagyuu was living in the dorms, which were both uncomfortable and pricey. He was living at home, which was tough on his commute and just plain annoying.
He told himself that was why he'd agreed to it, but now, as they were looking at apartments and trying to figure out which one would be the most practical, Oshitari wasn't so sure it was a good idea anymore. He hadn't considered that while some things may be easier, other things would be more difficult. They'd have to cook, for instance. They'd also have to get furniture and all that good stuff, and Oshitari just wasn't sure he wanted to start doing that with his boyfriend just then. Any other roommate or friend would've been just fine, but it was awkward since Yagyuu wouldn't be "just" a roommate. Oshitari wasn't even sure if Yagyuu wanted to stay in the same room or different rooms, but he was certain it'd be awkward either way.
In any case, they'd spent their spare time together the past several weeks looking at ads and asking friends for suggestions. They were currently standing in a two bedroom, one bathroom apartment with the agent, looking at the facilities and discussing the rental price.
"Would you mind leaving us alone for a bit?" Oshitari was surprised at hearing the words coming out of his own mouth. It was a nice apartment though, perfect for if they were going to live together - no, "be roommates." There was a line between "living together" and "being roommates" that Oshitari didn't want to cross just yet.
"Certainly. Take your time; I'll be waiting in the hallway." The agent, a pleasant woman in her mid-forties, stepped out of the apartment and pulled the door closed behind her. It was just the two of them standing in the empty room now, and Oshitari wasn't sure exactly how to start the conversation.
"I like it." Yagyuu's statement was very matter-of-fact. His soft tone was the only thing indicative of the fact that he was talking to his boyfriend, not just a roommate-to-be. Oshitari felt somewhat relieved by this.
"Yea, me too - it's close to campus, clean, and affordable." Usually, Oshitari waited until he was completely certain before doing anything - even Ohtori's patience and intelligence hadn't yet beaten him at chess. He liked thinking down every branch of possibilities to a large action before making it, figuring out if the move was worth it and what follow-up moves were necessary to achieve the best results. For some reason though, today, he felt more adventurous and ready to jump without first thinking through every possible consequence. Oshitari looked around the room again, eyes resting on the small balcony outside the living room.
"Shall we start the paperwork, then?" Yagyuu was smart. He put the final decision on Oshitari.
Oshitari paused, wondering what to say. It would be nice to be on his own - he was a second year at Tokyo University, after all. It was strange to think that he still relied on his parents for the roof over his head. The commute really would be a lot shorter, too. Yagyuu pressed two fingers lightly against Oshitari's chin, turning his head until they were looking directly at each other. Oshitari could see certainty in Yagyuu's eyes. Yagyuu knew what he wanted, and he was clearly just waiting for Oshitari. There was security in his face, also - a guarantee that everything would be OK, no matter what Oshitari's answer was. "Yea. Sounds good." Oshitari could feel the corners of his mouth turning upwards. Yagyuu smiled back at him, and he knew it'd all be OK.
When they told the agent that they would take it, she beamed at them. "Great! I know you'll love it. Come this way, and we'll get started with the paperwork, OK?" She started walking towards the staircase. Oshitari slipped a hand into Yagyuu's before following.
A month later, Oshitari finished moving in the last of his boxes. His father rose from where he was resting on the new (used) couch - they'd spent the entire day moving things from the house to the apartment, and it had taken its toll on the older man. "Well, Yuushi, I guess I'll be going now." In the dying sun, his father looked older, more refined, with more silver hairs sprinkled in among the blue. It was appropriate that Oshitari be moving out of the house - he wasn't a kid anymore.
He nodded, and stuck his hand out awkwardly. "Thanks, Dad." His father took his hand, shaking it firmly. Oshitari noted how his hand didn't seem as large as it used to, back when he was hanging tightly onto merely two of his dad's fingers because he couldn't wrap his hand around his father's entire palm.
"You're welcome home anytime, son. We're just a bus ride away." Releasing Oshitari's hand, his father walked out the door, just in time to meet Yagyuu coming in with some groceries. Yagyuu had finished moving his stuff from his dorm the previous day, and so had gone to buy some of the things they'd need to start living on their own.
"Oshitari-san." Yagyuu nodded at Oshitari's dad, hands too full to shake his hand. Oshitari's dad just smiled at the boy, unable to say anything, before walking away. Yagyuu kicked the door closed behind him, dropping off the groceries on the kitchen counter. He walked over to where Oshitari was just standing in the living room, staring blankly at the boxes piled on the floor. Yagyuu put an arm around Oshitari's waist. "You OK?"
"Yea, yea, fine." Oshitari shook his head and blinked, as if to dispel whatever thoughts had been floating before his eyes. "Shall we start with dinner?"
Yagyuu smiled as he nodded. Oshitari knew everything would work out, as Yagyuu leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
--The End--
Comments/critiques/just let me know you've read it even if you hate it - am happy that it's complete, despite the fact that the ending didn't quite turn out precisely how I'd envisioned it
Ho hum.
Sure beats me how apartments and the like work in Japan; this is based
on ... my imagination, really. .; I live in a dorm. Sorry if it's
inaccurate. /