Chapter Text
Kiyoomi groans as he silences his alarm for the second time. He really needs to get up if he doesn't want to be late for class since he’d already be on a tight schedule if he managed to get up by the first alarm. If getting up early for an 8 a.m. just wouldn't be so horrible.
As he peels his eyes open, he makes out the outlines of his room in the dim light streaming in through the blinds. Directly to his right is his bedside table, where his alarm starts blaring again. Kiyoomi groans again and finally sits up in bed. He rubs his palms over his eyes to get rid of any dry clumps that formed in the corners of his eyes overnight and then finally turns off his alarm for good. He stretches and his spine pops a few times before he heaves himself out of bed to walk over to the opposite side of the room, where his closet is. There he gets his exercise mat. He stops for a second to look at the pictures scattered around the walls. They mostly show him and his cousin or his best friend in varying stages of childhood and remind him that he should text them both soon. Filing that thought away for later, he walks into the living room, since there is no way he would be able to lay it out his mat in his room.
He pushes the coffee table against the wall and gets to it. Fridays are stretching days because of his early start. This way, he gets his stretches in but doesn't have to overexert himself with muscle strengthening exercises. He would very much like to sleep half an hour longer, but Kiyoomi learned early on that not moving his body regularly wasn't worth the aftermath. So, he pushes himself through half an hour of gently moving his body, sanitises his mat after and then heads to the bathroom.
When he's all clean and slipped into fresh clothes, he packs his book bag for the day, which is placed under a small desk next to his bed. He takes some books from the low bookshelf that sits under the window between his desk and closet and heads to the small kitchen area to fix himself some breakfast. His roommate was nice enough to already get the rice cooker going, so all Kiyoomi has to do is get some of the leftovers from yesterday out of the fridge and heat them up. He also makes some tamagoyaki and then sets their tiny dining table for two. He's sure that he won't be alone for much longer and true to his suspicions, the door to the flat opens just as he starts eating.
"Oh! Good Morning, Sakusa-san! Thanks for setting the table for me. I'll just hop into the shower real quick!" Hinata chirps at him as soon as he spots Kiyoomi at the table. Kiyoomi just lets out a grunt that barely resembles a greeting, but Hinata knows him well enough by now to not take it personally. Kiyoomi just really isn't a morning person and he has barely had half of his coffee. How Hinata can be so chipper in the morning, especially after a morning run, Kiyoomi doesn't know. Maybe it has to do with his sunshine incarnate personality.
While continuing to eat, Kiyoomi fishes his phone out of the pocket of his sweatpants to scroll through the news. What he spots first though, is an email notification he has been waiting for for a few days now. It's from the book store he applied to last week. Now that he sees the notification sitting there, he's nervous. He really needs that job. He cannot get another rejection. Not again.
So, ignoring the sinking feeling in his gut, he taps the screen and his email program pops open.
'Dear Sakusa-san,
we are sad to inform you….'
Kiyoomi doesn't even continue reading, before he groans in frustration and lets the phone clatter to the table. Not fucking again! How many damn times does he have to do this? He just wants a damn job to pay for the bills his parents won't be paying anymore after the end of this month.
"Is everything alright, Sakusa-san?" Kiyoomi jumps at Hinata's voice close behind him. He turns around and sure enough. He must be on his way to the bathroom but now there's concern clearly written over his face.
"I got another rejection. By now I really don't know where else I could apply to."
Hinata's eyebrows draw together and he looks at him like he wants to give Kiyoomi consoling headpats, but luckily refrains from doing so. He hasn't showered, after all.
"Oh man, I'm really sorry. If you want I can still ask at the gym?" Kiyoomi can't help the small grimace that appears on his face. As much as he appreciates Hinata's generous offer to get him a job at his own workplace, Kiyoomi would really rather die than work at a place where there are this many sweaty people with questionable hygiene regimens. But he might not have another choice if this continues like that.
"Thanks, Hinata-kun. I'll … I'll try one more time and if it doesn't work out I'll … come back to you." Just saying it makes an uncomfortable feeling curl in his gut.
"Sure, Sakusa-san! Just say the word! I'mma head into the shower now. Have fun in class!"
Kiyoomi just nods and gets back to breakfast. When he's finished, he takes his bowls and cutlery and moves to the sink where he quickly cleans them and sets them aside on the drying rack. He then gets his backpack from his room and slips on his sneakers in the genkan to finally head out to class. On his way he shoots off two separate texts to his cousin and his best friend about the new rejection. This is going to be a long day.
🍃🍃🍃
By the time all his classes are out in the early afternoon and Kiyoomi is headed home, both his cousin and his best friend have answered his text. He stops at a coffee cart near the science building and opens Motoya's message first while waiting in line.
Toya
ah shit
that sucks
sorry, Kiyo!
i wish i could help but i know jackshit about Osaka
Me
It's fine. I'll just have to try again.
He steps up to the cart and orders a caramel latte before stepping aside and answering the rest of his messages while he waits for his coffee.
Keiji-kun
I'm really sorry to hear that.
I was sure this was going to be the one.
But
I might have an idea, though it's a bit…
unconventional.
Kiyoomi lights up a little as he takes his coffee and takes a long sip, just barely managing to not burn off his tongue.
Me
I'm more than willing to try unconventional.
I nearly took up Hinata-kun on his offer
To work at a gym.
Keiji-kun
I can imagine how much that pained you.
You see, Bokuto-san has this friend.
And said friend is looking for a babysitter.
From what I know it would mostly be during the weekend but would entail overnight stays.
He said the pay is more than decent.
At first Kiyoomi rolls his eyes at his friend's antics. As if he doesn't know that he usually calls Bokuto-san by his given name. But as his eyes take in the rest of the messages, Kiyoomi's eyebrows shoot up to his hairline and he nearly chokes on his coffee when trying to swallow. He has to stop on the sidewalk and coughs into his elbow a few times, getting rid of the liquid trying to slide down his windpipe. Warn a guy, geez.
Me
Are you serious?
Babysitting? Me?
I don't even have any credentials, Keiji-kun.
My only experience entails taking care of Motoya's little sister with him when his parents went on business trips.
Keiji-kun
Well, hear me out.
First of all, he's a little desperate right now.
Me
Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence.
Keiji-kun
Oh, shut up and let me finish!
He needs to find someone by the end of the month. Just like you need a job by then.
I know for a fact that the kids are great.
And I think he really doesn't care about credentials. He cares more about whether or not you would take good care of his children.
Which I'm sure you would.
Me
I'm not sure.
And wait … kids?
Plural?
Keiji-kun
Just … how about this.
You let me set up a meeting and just see how it goes?
If you think you're not suited for the job then fine. Then you can go work in a grimy gym.
But if it goes well, you'll be able to avoid that.
Kiyoomi chews on his bottom lip as he stares at his phone in front of his flat. His key is still in his pocket, so he just stands there, looking at what Akaashi sent, weighing it around in his head. It's not like he hates kids. Sure, they have the tendency to get dirty but that's just because they don't know any better. He actually gets along really well with his baby cousin (well, she's not really a baby anymore but who cares) and Kiyoomi knows he's responsible. On paper, he could probably do this. But in reality? He guesses he'll just have to see. Damn Keiji and his reasonable arguments.
Me
Fine. I'll at least meet with them and see from there.
Keiji-kun
Great!
I'll text you the details as soon as I know.
And Kiyoomi-kun?
I'm really sorry your parents are being like that.
Kiyoomi thanks his best friend and finally opens the door to his flat to get inside. He takes off his shoes in the small genkan and puts them on the shoe rack in exchange for his house slippers. After that, he washes his hands and changes into his inside clothes – which are really just another pair of sweatpants and a loose shirt – because there is no way he'll sit on his bed in the clothes he wore outside all day.
When he's done with everything, Akaashi has already asked him if tomorrow afternoon works for him. It's sooner than he expected but Kiyoomi only has to write up a lab report, so the time won't be a problem. He tells Akaashi as much and gets an address and a name in return. Looks like he'll find out who this 'Miya-san' is tomorrow.