Chapter Text
Your thumb hovered over the green Call icon, unsure whether you should press it or toss your phone to the other edge of your bed you were sprawled across. Sousuke had last texted you saying that he was hanging out with the guys from Samezuka and Iwatobi. Of course, neither of you were in high school or even college anymore, but an impromptu reunion had popped up; Sousuke decided that he should attend.
He’d finished his shift at work five hours ago and had been with the guys since then.
You had texted him a couple of times to ask if things were going well and had only received a one word reply at the end of it all: yh. You didn’t respond further, worried that you’d come off as pushy. Besides, Sousuke could take care of himself, now. He was a grown man.
The guy was a great friend of yours but you knew that you weren’t his only friend. The same went for you and you were sure you’d appreciate it if your room mate didn’t bother you while you were trying to catch up with your high school buddies. So, for the rest of the evening you decided not to text him at all.
It proved to be difficult, however. If you looked through your history on your phone, you’d see that you and Sousuke had texted each other at all times during the day. From 1am ‘till 1pm, you’d sent or received a message. Whether it was asking about groceries or the meaning of your minute existence in this universe, you two had discussed all.
You were roommates. Of course you two kept in touch.
When you were fresh out of uni and had very little in the way of money – too aware of the debt that loomed over your head - Sousuke hadn't minded lowering the rent until you had pulled your game together and gotten a steady job that gave you steady pay.
That had taken eight months and three weeks.
Even through those near nine months, Sousuke had been courteous and supportive of your efforts and searches for a job that implemented your new degree. You didn't want those four years of all-nighters and tears of stress to go to waste but you knew you couldn't be too picky. The market was tough to break into and you had to work your way up.
However, you’d persevered through each and every interview and rejected offer. You’d taken part-time jobs to try and add some support to the income of the apartment because you couldn't just lie around while Sousuke let you stay for nearly half of the promised rent.
When you’d got the job, however, you’d nearly screamed the place down. Your work and Sousuke’s support had paid off, finally! You could finally pay full price of the rent and then the sum you owed.
“[F/N], you really don’t have to do this,” Sousuke insisted as you tried to push the envelope of cash into his clenched fist. You’d been getting this response for fifteen minutes.
“Sousuke, please, just take the damn money. If anything, do it for my pride. I haven't been paying the actual rent money for nearly nine months. That's almost a year. You have to take this. At least as a peace offering for the days I probably made you want to tear your own hair out.”
This seemed to amuse Sousuke, who breathed out of his nose (it was something between a laugh and a sigh, you guessed) and took the envelope from your hand.
“It wasn't your fault that you had a tough time looking for a job. Besides,” Sousuke turned around, placed the envelope on the coffee table and dropped to the couch, “I don’t remember you giving a date for when you’d leave. You have plenty of time to pay me back if you wanted.”
You raised your eyebrows at this. “Hey, you can’t tell me what to do with my money. I’ll pay you back how I want when I want. Besides,” you mimicked, “who said I was leaving? What if I kicked you out? Or you mysteriously went missing and the place was left to me?”
At this, you got a raised eyebrow and a slow shake of his head. Sousuke watched as you settled opposite him on your favourite armchair. “You’d never be able to hide my body. I’m too large and heavy to be hauled around. How would you hide me without somebody noticing? Also, it’s not like I have your name next to the apartment in my will. I don’t even have a will.”
You nodded thoughtfully at his snarky reply. “I could always just burn the place down.”
“I like your thinking.”
You hummed approvingly.
Some days you had spent hours in the town centre or at a friend’s house while Sousuke had company over. You never asked questions about who he was hanging out with and what they were doing because he had his own life and you had yours. Just because you shared a roof didn’t mean you two shared secrets. Although, there had been a handful of occasions where he had shared more than he probably meant to.
He let slip some names – ‘Rin’, ‘Haruka’ and a couple others you couldn’t recall now. You could only guess that these were the people he was spending the day with. He’d talked of the days where he’d dreamt of being the best swimmer Japan had to offer.
“It was an ambitious dream,” Sousuke sighed, “nothing more.”
You’d been living with him for nearly two years, but only found out two months ago about his shoulder.
“Is it recurring? Like, does it bother you anymore?”
“No. Not since I actually took the doctor’s advice and rested it nice and well for nearly a year. Occasional massage therapy does the trick, also.”
You were quiet for a moment, wondering whether you should ask further.
“Left or right?”
“Left.”
“Okay. That’s - we don’t have to discuss this any longer if you don’t want.”
You hadn't realised Sousuke had his fists balled until he slowly unfurled them and his hand ran through his short hair.
“Thanks.”
You decided you should start getting ready to go to bed. It was ten minutes past ten and you’d had a long evening of doing absolutely nothing which, funnily enough, had tired you out. It was probably the universe’s way of punishing you for being an unproductive git when you had so much to do the next day.
Half an hour later, your eyes fluttered close and you dreamt of nothing but floating up towards a cloudless teal sky.