Chapter Text
Sakura had no idea Momijikawa was looking for a roommate, and clearly Momijikawa had no idea about Sakura’s current predicament.
He had not called Momijikawa at any moment, in fact, before Nirei came with the not so marry news, he had already received a taunting message from Momijikawa, telling him that he better apear to dinner with all the legal papers of his allowance. He knew better than to try and hide.
That’s basically why he’s sitting in Momijikawas living room, staring at his hands— You —he called, his voice heavy in the small apartment—. When were you going to tell me you are about to go homeless???
He shrunk on is place— You never told me you were looking for a roommate —he accused, but he couldn't even pretend to be mad, his voice was small and his eyes were looking anywhere but at where they should..
His stare grew worse— Haruka.
—Don’t “Haruka” me! You know it’s not easy for me!
—Yeah, clearly using your fucking brain is hard for you —he groaned. His hand pinched the bridge of his nose, tired.
A bunch of papers was scattered across the table, and Sakura felt stripped of any dignity left. Admitting that he was living of his father’s pocket was one thing, after many days and weeks talking about it with Kiryu he was almost happy the old man had to spend his stupid money on him. Now, showing someone the actual papers and the conditions settled back when he was forced out of the childcare system was a completely different thing— It’s not like I can pay half of this pace anyway, even if you offer…
He felt his whole body shivering, talking about his living condition is even worse than talking about his feelings, somehow— Haruka —he called. His eyes were still stuck on his hands, fighting the pout forming on his lips—. Haruka, look at me.
He looked up, his face burning up in actual shame— What?
More than anyone else, finding once and once again that he doesn’t look like him like a cockroach is surprising for Sakura, his gaze is always neutral, and he is the first to level up once the argument is done— It's not going to be here, I'm moving a little further away, and renting out this place —he explained softly. It had been told before, that the apartment was originally his grandparents property, they bought it to live closer to them, but Sakae moved in with his grandma after his parents passed away—. I'm sure it will work out for both of us.
—You… are moving? Too?
—Technically, we are moving —he explained—. And we are not going to split things in half.
Sakura felt red once again— No, you can't-!
—No, you will listen.
It's hard to talk over Momijikawa, Sakura realized very early on, he has a kind of presence really hard to ignore. He cleared the papers and took a notebook— I have an inheritance, I'm using it so I can finish high school without working, but I want to add the rent to save for college —he explained—. Between those two, I make more than you do.
Sakura frowned, looking at the paper where he was making some numbers— My income represents a seventy percent of the house income, so I should apport seventy percent of rent and expenses —he explained—. That's how my parents did it,at least.
Just by saying that, Sakura found it hard to complain. He couldn't shout against it, but he wasn't comfortable either— But, it's not like I'm going to use the stuff any less! It's not fair for you!
He sighed— It's not about fairness, Haruka, it's about stability —he said, looking down the papers and making some more horrible maths—. I have more, I give more, you would do the same for me.
—Sakae!
Said bastard looked up upon being called, and Haruka could see the second he showed an amused smirk— Heh.
If he wasn't burning before, he was now, and he could feel it— Fuck you!
For someone who played tough more often than not, Sakae smile was awfully easy to bloom out, and it was infuriating— Its's not my fault I can't- I don't know-
He laid back on his chair, crossing his arms and looking away. Sakae’s smile softened slowly, to finally look down— I know.
Besides Kotoha, Haruka has never called anyone by his first name, and no one has ever used his first name at all.
After a lifetime being “Sakura", the freak who killed his mother, being “Haruka" was a fully new experience. He wasn't sure what being Haruka implied for him, but it felt nice, being something aside from his father's burden.
—So, want to sleep here today? I had plans to check in a couple apartments tomorrow —he said—. The owners should meet you too, since you're moving with me.
—I, are you really sure? So suddenly, I don't… I don't want you to get botched because of me…
Sakae looked up from his notebook— Haruka, I'm moving to the east side of town —he commented.
…East side is where the orphanage is.
And Haruka is embarrassed to admit the amount of time he spends with the kids, even when he doesn't even live on the institution, nor wants anything to do with it— How do you know that?
—I’ve seen you around while looking for apartments —he said—. So, are you staying?
With his dignity already discarded, he pouted— I need a shirt for tomorrow.
—Can be fixed —he nodded—. I'll make dinner, ok? You can wait for a bit.
One thing he learned after many dinners and impromptu sleepover is that, first, Sakae is a great cooker, and second, he likes to cook alone. Every time he tried to help, Sakae was more anxious about Haruka not cutting himself than what he was doing, which ended up in cuts on his fingers and burned food.
So, Haruka's way of helping is setting the table and doing the dishes once they are done. He also does whatever Sakae needs him to, usually some errands or taking out the trash.
Over the years in one orphanage or another, Haruka has learned that if you do the tedious chores, people will mostly leave you alone. Now, he knows Sakae is not like the asshole teachers from there, it's just… he's used to it now. And he is anxious whenever he sees something dirty.
He swept the floor quietly before throwing everything into the trash and moving to clean the table with a rag.
Once he was done, he went to fix his futon on Sakae's bedroom. After the first summer storm, where he has got trapped into the apartment because the wind was actually trying to blow out the windows, he soon learned where Sakae left both the futon and the linen. Sakae gave up on trying to give him a pillow on the third sleepover, because Haruka genuinely hates having anything under his head.
Now, no more than half an hour later, he was sitting at the table, waiting for the food to be done.
…He was moving in with Sakae. It was an strange feeling, willingly living with someone after so long, and with Sakae of all people. The guy who behaved like a royal asshole the second they met, just to get along the second after beating each others asses.
Haruka might have been the one standing at the end, but given that he got sick the very next morning, he was not so sure he won that fight.
They were seeing apartments tomorrow, too.
It was… surreal.
Sakae served the food, and they talked some more over dinner. Sakae can't cook with anyone and Haruka can't cook for shit. Haruka is horribly particular about his clothes, and Sakae can't say he's that good washing stains out of textiles.
It looked like it could work out, surprisingly.
They were laying in bed not so long after, and the nightstand was the only thing lighting the room. Haruka looked at his soon to be flatmate, and couldn't help but say— …You are not moving because of the money.
Knowing how good he was with numbers, Sakae could commit tax fraud and no one would ever notice, he doesn't need the ordeal of getting the apartment rented out and paying somewhere else— …And what do you want me to do?
He had nothing to say about that.
The options, if he actually needed money, was renting out his grandmother's former bedroom, or moving into said bedroom and renting out his former bedroom. Both implied using her bedroom, and Haruka was no ignorant about how Sakae felt about that space.
It was the room his grandma used when she was healthy, back to when he, at least, had her to rely on.
Then she moved to a stretcher on the small living room, and died shortly after.
—You don't need to lie to me, you know? —Haruka said—. I would chew my leg away before going back to my childhood home.
Haruka knows his father didn't marry again, nor had any other children. Because he never got ride of Haruka’s curse, his sole existence dooming his own. So, unless he decided to donate all he has for charity before dying, unlikely knowing how he was, chances are Haruka is inheriting both that house and whatever his father left in it.
He would sell everything without thinking twice.
…
Well, maybe he should burn down that shed first-
Sakae's breathing ragged, Haruka could only imagine what was he thinking about.
Unlike Haruka, who would never go inside his childhood home out of pure, unaltered hatred, Sakae wouldn't enter that room because of the deep respect and love he shared with his family. He doesn't know what happened to his family home, not that he will ever ask such thing to Sakae, but he can't imagine him selling it… he couldn't imagine him living in there either.
He stud up slowly, sitting in Sakae's bed and laying down on top of the blankets— I'm fine —he complained.
—Stop fussing —he said, pretending he wasn’t boiling like a lobster—. Just… It’s ok, you don’t need to lie.
Laying in that bed, back to back, Haruka could at least assure that. He was in Makochi now, after so many years of being a chronically outsider, a paria that belonged nowhere… Sakae was alone, scared and sad, he could tell, but he also knew that he was going to be alright someday. He might never feel the same kind of happiness, but he was going to be happy again.
He felt Sakae’s weight rested more firmly over his back, he could hear his soft cries, the light trembles and the useless attempts to calm himself.
Haruka was not used to crying, not anymore, but if Sakae needed that, he was no one to say otherwise.
Not knowing what to do, Haruka turned around, his forehead resting against his back— It’s ok…
It’s not like he can take away the pain and make it disappear, it’s nothing he can take care of either.
—I promise it’s going to be ok.
Still, Haruka figured he can stay.