Not So Perfect Strangers
Chapter 3
A few days had passed since Kuroko had his meeting at the apartment with Sakurai and Imayoshi and he packed what he knew he was going to need and threw it all into duffle bags and suitcases that he would normally use for trips to make sure that he had the beginnings of what he was going to need for his new life in the apartment with the yet to be seen roommate. The only thing that Kuroko hoped was that the person was a respectful young man that understood rules and would follow them to the letter.
At the Ryota Residence
Kise had just finished packing what he knew he could bring to the apartment. Despite knowing about the space he was going to have he made sure that he brought only what he thought he would need for the home and that was about 2 suitcases of clothes (nightclothes, outerwear and business suits), toiletries and some skin care stuff. He knew that if he needed anything else it would be in his room at the house because he didn't want to seem like the superior. If they had to split the rent then he was going to be as mindful as possible. That was what he wanted to show his new roommate.
As the two left their respective homes and kissed their parents goodbye the thought had finally sunk in on both of them. No longer were they just going to be Kuroko the author and Kise the model but now they were going to be two individuals living with someone whom they never met so learning what they like and don't is definitely going to be a good challenge for them and something they both welcomed with open arms.
Kise got to the complex first and waited for his new roommate to arrive. He had thought about taking his stuff up first but he figured if his roomie was having any trouble he would be sure to be as helpful as possible. While he waited he spotted Sakurai and decided to see what he could find out about the new roommate.
"The gentleman that you are going to be living with is actually a pretty well-known author in the neighborhood. He works for a company that Hyuga a friend of ours works at and that is who referred him to this place. I know that Kasamatsu referred you here and we have had a few of his models stay here before. Almost all were respectful of the rules so that is why we agreed to let you come here." Sakurai explained and Kise just nodded. So he was going to be living with an author hmm? He wondered if Imayoshi could tell him any more while he waited.
"He is a good friend of mine and Sakurai's which was one of the reasons we actually wanted him to come here. We knew of the situation with the rent, so when we told him about the roommate he was apprehensive at first but I think you two will get along just fine. Just don't do anything stupid Kise!" Shoichi exclaimed and Kise knew that was an order and not a request!
30 minutes later
The bus arrived with Kuroko and the teal-haired young man got off the bus with his bags via the assistance of the bus driver whom could surprisingly see him. Most of the time if he had to get things off of the bus he had to do it on his own!
Anyways…
As Kuroko got his things to the entrance of the complex he noted Imayoshi and Sakurai who gladly helped him with his things as well as Kise. What Kuroko DIDN'T know yet was there was a reason for Kise helping him!
"Good and packed I see Kuroko-san" Imayoshi noted and Kuroko just nodded. He took noted of the two young men as he knew them from before but he was still curious as to who the gentleman was that was standing in front of him that also helped him.
"Kuroko" Ryo began "meet Kise Ryota. He is a model for an agency that another friend of ours helps run. He was looking for a place just like you and he is going to be your new roommate. I hope that's alright with you?" Sakurai asked and Kuroko just nodded. He had heard of the eccentric model before (he had to do an article on a fashion show once) and the only thing he could hope for was that "Model Kise" and "Civilian Kise" could be two different people. He didn't mind a little craziness but he sort of knew how people in that industry could be.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Kise-kun. My name is Tetsuya Kuroko and I hope that we can live in this apartment together without any issues. I trust that you'll be on your best behavior?" Kuroko asked as he extended his hand and Kise smiled and nodded before taking Kuroko's hand and shaking it firmly before speaking.
"I'm glad we finally get to meet Kurokocchi. My name is Kise Ryota and its an honor to get to meet you finally. I've actually heard a bit about you and read some of your articles in the past. I think we'll get along fine and I promise that I will do my best to show you the respect that you deserve." Kise explained to Kuroko and that made him feel a little better. He knew that Kise wasn't going to be a perfect angel and that was fine. What worried him was that the kind of people Kise might bring home with him but he'd worry about that if it came to it.
As the two new roommates took the elevator up to their apartment there was no doubt worry on at least one of their minds. Kise was calmly waiting for them to get to the floor while Kuroko no doubt was shaking a little bit. He needed to find a way to squelch the doubt in his mind but how? Kuroko is the first to admit that he isn't the most sociable person on the planet and even when he did interviews for the websites or magazines all the questions were wrote on cards for him. If he tried to "interview" Kise without the aid of cards how would THAT turn out?
The elevator doors opened and the two walked out with their things that they could fit into the elevator. Imayoshi and Sakurai promised to bring up the rest of the belongings later on but for the two to get settled in and get to know each other the best that they could. Kise knew that Kuroko probably had a lot of questions and he would be willing to answer anything that his new roommate wanted to know.
The question was: What would Kuroko ask if given the chance?
Kise wouldn't have to wait long for that answer…
The blond model opened the door to the apartment and helped Kuroko with the suitcases he brought. He knew how heavy those must have been for the young man and wanted to be as helpful as he could with the belongings. You see…while Kise might have lived at home a lot of the time he would pretty much be living in his suitcase when he did things for the agency so he was pretty well equipped to handle heavy suitcases and the like. Because Kuroko didn't really travel as much he was a bit more…"lean/fragile" we'll say and so he wasn't used to lugging those suitcases all the time. Despite this Kuroko politely declined the help of the blond model and drug the suitcase in behind him. Kise still got the remaining suitcase for Kuroko to make sure that he didn't hurt himself bringing his things in. Last thing he wanted on the first day was to have his roommate to get injured…heck he hated seeing ANYONE get hurt physically or emotionally! That's just how Kise was and he would make sure to prove that if the moment presented itself.
As the two got their stuff situated into their bedrooms and organized the first thing that came into the mind of Kise was they were probably going to need a television in the living room. He didn't really know how big he wanted it to be since it was just him and Kuroko living there so he decided to ask the teal-haired man when he finished with his sorting.
In the other bedroom Kuroko was having similar thoughts but his revolved around how they wanted to go about getting the furniture for the place. He had a TV which would be big enough for the two of them and he had someone bringing his bed tomorrow so that was taken care of but the big thing was going to be getting the living room done. As mentioned already the TV was taken care of since he could get it from his house or have someone deliver it but it was the rest of the furnishings since well…the apartment was kind of empty!
Oh and there was one other BIG thing
*grumble*
Yeah…Kuroko forgot to eat breakfast before getting packed to go so he was a little hungry. He knew where he liked to eat but wondered where the model liked to go.
"Kise-kun" Kuroko began "when you get done in there do you want to go get something to eat?" He asked the model who stuck his head out of his room before answering
"Sounds good Kurokocchi. Where do you want to go?" Kise asked and Kuroko knew where he wanted to go but he also was mindful of the model and his diet too.
"Doesn't matter to me Kise" Kuroko started "I just want to make sure that where we go won't interfere with you and your diet for the shoots." He said as he finished his reply and Kise actually smiled! This was the first that he actually got to really hear Kuroko talk more than a sentence before going mute the rest of the time. Any other time he saw him the young man was just really quiet and he wondered if the teal could be social at all. This was definitely a good start.
The two agreed to go to place where they could get some take-out and then head back home. Kise knew a restaurant that did that and was really good especially with the milkshakes (which he found out ahead of time that Kuroko liked) and they had some pretty wicked salads too! Kuroko never told anyone (and Kise didn't know) but Kuro was a fan of a simple garden salad with oil and vinegar which is what he got. Kise was hoping for a little more but it was a start and he wasn't going to pressure Kuroko in the least.
The two went to the restaurant and got their food before heading back. On the way back Kise decided this would be a good time to try and get his new roommate to open up a little bit.
"So how long have you been working for the publishing company?" Kise asked and Kuroko had to think for a minute
"A year give or take. I really just started working for them more exclusively now when this opportunity came but I have been writing for a lot of different magazines and digests before that." Kuroko explained and Kise was satisfied with the answer but now it was his turn "How about you? When did you decide to start going into modeling?" Kuroko asked and Kise had to stop and think for a second. Its not that he didn't know but there were numerous companies he worked for and there were some things he rather not disclose…yet so he had to figure out how to tell the truth without telling THE TRUTH!
"Two to three years. I started actually after I got of school and while I was trying to juggle that along with college I knew I couldn't do it so I went and stayed on as a full-time model for the agency that I'm at now. Don't get me wrong I know that school is important but with everything that I have going on right now I couldn't really keep up with the schedule." Kise explained and, while that answer troubled Kuro a little bit, he was happy to know that Kise was doing something that he loved but also hoped that someday he would get his degree in something that could help him.
As the two headed back into the complex and the elevator Kise asked the next question to Kuroko
"Have you thought about what life for you would be like if you could not have to worry about deadlines or anything like that? I imagine with what you do it can be very stressful and tense right?" Kise asked and Kuroko nodded before answering
"When I've been doing my freelance work for different publications and whatnot I have thought about if it really was for me to be honest. The idea that I have to make sure I meet my deadlines and that the article suits me editor's taste was always something that I would go a little crazy over sure but when I submit it and know that its going to be on the website or published for everyone to read as the latest story always thrills me. I may not be the best at showing excitement but when I see something good happen for me or anyone that I know and care about deeply that always makes me happy." Kuroko explained to Kise who decided to answer his own question for Kuroko.
"I understand that Kuroko. I think the reason I asked that is because when I have done work for my agency it gets really stressful and hectic sometimes. I always have days when I'm being sent to an interview or to do some shoot which, don't get me wrong it pays the bills, but when you have people pushing you and pulling you in so many directions it sometimes makes me wish I COULD do something different or somehow find an escape for a little while. I think that's kind of why my mother wanted me to actually move out because she knew that what I was doing could harm me more than help me at some point." Kise explained and Kuroko understood him somewhat. As they walked back into the apartment and set the food down on the floor to eat Kuroko thought immediately about a new project that he was going to start:
Rehabbing Kise Ryota!