Chapter Text
Restless and nervous, Shuichi paced about his dark room. The early summer heat was near unbearable and the smell of sweat and dirty clothes permeated the air. Shuichi paused in front his window, to open it and let in a breeze, before resuming his pacing. He was clenching a piece of paper in his fist and muttering under his breath.
The bedroom itself was especially messy. Shuichi wasn't a particularly a disorganised person, let alone such a slob as the room suggested. In fact, he found it difficult to concentrate in messy environments. However, the source of the clutter was more a combination of piling stress and an impending job interview.
Stacks of paper sat on the small desk, work waiting to be done; unwashed clothes were draped over any and all furniture; old water bottles and dirty paper plates littered the floor around the nightstand and waste paper basket. Shuichi had been too preoccupied studying, fretting about his interview or being dragged out by his friends to find time to do something so superfluous as cleaning for at least two weeks.
He’d just passed the window for the umpteenth time when a strong gust of wind flew through the window, scattering a large, unweighted tower of paper all across the opposite end of the room. Paper fluttered up and across the walls and between the furniture.
Muttering under his breath, Shuichi rushed to pick up the paper, but not before pulling the thin curtains shut to stifle any more wind.
It was when Shuichi was on his knees, hand stuck far down the tight crevice between his badly put together wardrobe and the damp paint peeling off of the wall, that he heard the thump.
Confused and apprehensive, Shuichi looked over his shoulder to see a short figure slip from underneath the curtain having hopped in through the open window.
Of course, like any sane person, Shuichi did nothing but gently clear his throat.
The intruder’s head whipped around to look at him.
While he couldn’t see much in the darkness, Shuichi could tell that they were wearing a dark mask obscuring the top half of their face. He could just see the mask moving as the intruder’s eye’s widened before they planted their hands on their hips, arms akimbo.
“Huh… must have got the wrong window.” The screaming of sirens was growing louder through the still open window. “Ah well, guess I’m stuck here for a while.”
With a shrug, they settled themselves on Shuichi’s bed, dropping a bulging sack onto the floor by their feet.
A suitable reaction now quite coming to him, Shuichi settled for retrieving the piece of paper in the meantime. He shook his arm of paint chips and placed the paper the stack, weighting it down, not wanting a repeat of earlier. He stared down at the unassuming glass and realised that he still hadn’t come up with a plan of action.
With little other option, he turned to face the intruder, who was kicking their legs back and forth, looking around the room with mild interest.
“Um…” Shuichi began, the other’s attention being diverted from his possessions. “Could you perhaps… leave?” For a moment he stared at the intruder, who he vaguely registered as a young man, before tacking a ‘Please?’ on the end.
The other only laughed and didn’t move. “Not really.” And said nothing more on the subject. “It’s a bit dark; you should turn the lights on.”
“N-no. Get out of my apartment.”
“I don’t want to.” His short, messy ponytail bobbed as he grinned cheekily and bounced on the bed. “In fact, I think I like it here. I might just stay forever.”
Shuichi stared at him a second before blinking and shaking his head. “What?”
“That was a lie. This place is gross, I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have to be.”
The sirens had already faded back into the distance, merging back into the general hubbub of the city. Shuichi continued to stare until the other spoke again.
“That was a lie too. I’d probably have left already if this place were empty.” He leant back on his hands, fingers scrunching into the dirty bedsheets.
At a loss for what to do, Shuichi did the only thing that had been suggested to him and took a few apprehensive steps to turn on his bedside lamp.
“That’s better! What did I say; all the better to see your stinky room with. I’ll help you clean up if you want, I have nothing better to do.”
Shuichi continued to stare.
The intruder giggled. “You catch on quick. I’m impressed.”
“You don’t look it.”
“Yeah… an impulsive liar like me isn’t too difficult to figure out.” Shuichi raised an eyebrow. “Guess I can’t fool you for long.”
Without warning, the young man swiped his bag up from the floor and stood.
“So, you’re leaving now?”
“Yes, I’m afraid this is where we part, my darling.” Shuichi spluttered at that but the intruder payed no attention. “But I pray our fates shall cross paths again. Until then,” He bowed very low, arm sweeping in front of him and hand brushing the carpet. “I bid you adieu.” Shooting Shuichi a bright grin, he leapt back out of the window into the night.
Shuichi woke up the following morning believing he had dreamt the whole thing in some kind of stress induced nightmare. He would have brushed it off as such too had he not stepped on something sharp in his socks upon getting out of bed. Lying on his bedroom floor he found a large, beautifully cut pale pink gemstone attached to a chain. It looked like it was worth an awful lot.
Torn between being scared that he was now harbouring stolen goods and letting the idea that none of that had been a dream sink in, Shuichi ignored both and stuffed it into his desk draw.
He didn’t need any more stress right then.
He hurried to get ready for his interview and had let it fly from his mind once he was out of the front door.