Chapter Text
It's Makishima that suggests it at first, a joke because hah, why on earth would they even do something like renting a place together to save money. Not like he didn't have money, but he's pretty sure they'd all end up killing each other. Or killing him.
Namely, Tadokoro and Kinjou killing him either by fighting with each other or being stubborn idiots about something important (like, for example, a serious injury.)
The other two pause however, staring at him for a long moment. Tadokoro reacts first, readily agreeing and causing Makishima to splutter and turn to Kinjou, who is still staring at him with a thoughtful expression on his face.
It's at that point Makishima knows he's lost and he should have just kept his trap shut in the first place.
~
Tadokoro, oddly enough, find the apartment first. It’s in a decent looking building, not too far from a station (important) and not as expensive as anything else they’ve seen so far (also important, considering Kinjou’s research position doesn’t pay all that well just yet and Tadokoro’s just started earning enough to find his own place.)
The apartment is five floors up and to the left, one of the bigger apartments meant for sharing or small families. Three small bedrooms, a decent kitchen, bathroom, living room and even a small balcony; enough for a washing line, or (as Makishima suggests) servicing at least two bicycles.
They sign the papers that afternoon (because Tadokoro is one for making quick decisions) and resolve to move as soon as they are able to.
Makishima’s just thankful none of them see ‘Makishima Family Trust’ on the lease papers.
~
Makishima's the only one who moves into the apartment with actual furniture. Bed, shelves, bike racks all done up in his little bedroom by the end of the second day. Tadokoro brings his cooking utensils. Kinjou brings his books and his sewing machine (Neither of them are surprised). And of course, all three of them bring their bikes.
Apart from Makishima's room, the rest of the apartment is pretty bare. So of course, tadokoro suggests they all go shop for furniture together.
If the other two notice how oddly excited he seems, they're polite enough not to mention it.
~
That weekend sees them at the department store, browsing through The furniture, crockery and linens (by Kinjou insistence) and having the more than occasional argument over, well, everything.
By noon, Makishima was thoroughly sick of running damage control between the other two, and left them to their own devices.
When they meet up again, they pour over the selections they’ve made. Kinjou and Tadokoro are not surprised to find Makishima had selected somewhat gaudy, bright (and moreover, expensive) items. They appreciate the effort, but gently remind him that they did plan to split the common items three ways, and even if he didn’t mind paying for it, they minded. (After all, the first time they found out he had a platinum credit card, they realised they never really knew just how rich the other was.)
Makishima shrugs, because he gets it, kind of.
The three of them had managed to get the basics down by closing; a cheap couch, bed frames, may dresses, a set of pots, plates and a number of other things that would see them fine for a long while.
~
But of course, the delivery came Monday afternoon when Kinjou and Makishima were still away and Tadokoro had just returned from his shift. Things were still laying around the apartment after the weekend and his neglect to tidy (despite the fact Kinjou reminded him last night to sort his things out), so he merely kicked things out of the way to allow the movers to shift the heavier items into the apartment.
As soon as the movers were done and the papers were signed though, he promptly ripped the plastic off the cheap couch and fell sleep.
Which is how the other two found him when they returned. Kinjou gently throws a blanket over him, but not before Makishima takes a number of photos, claiming them to be future blackmail material.
If Kinjou knows better, he doesn’t say anything.