Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was his Saturday off. And Mori Katsuyuki gets to enjoy the best two things in his life:beer and watching sport. Sure, it's already his job as a sports journalist to write countless articles on the field, but this is his day off. Which means he gets to enjoy a nice cold beer in his hand and suffer little consequences in his cozy apartment. 

Sprawled across his sagging couch and clad in a faded jersey that is so wore down that is shows a 39 as on the back instead of a 88.  Mori clutched a half-empty bottle on one hand. The other is placed in a bowl of popcorn that Mori throws in his mouth lazily, not minding if it falls pass his mouth and to the floor. 

The roar of a crowd erupted from the screen as a batter swung and hit. Mori took a sip and mumbled about keeping the fire up for 8 more innings.

“Mori!!!” A voice from outside screamed.

Mori groans knowing that voice anywhere.

“I keep telling the door is unlock Tsuyopon,” he yelled while barely moving a muscle.

The door slammed open, and Kusanagi Tsuyoshi stepped inside, his sharp eyes narrowing at his friend. Tsuyoshi has been best friends with Mori for almost their entire lives. They even lived together for a few years until Tsuyoshi moved out recently to be with his boyfriend. 

Tsuyoshi makes a loud judgement sigh, loud and deliberate for Mori to hear. Mori rolls his eyes and glances at Tsuyoshi like an annoyed child. 

“Mori,” Tsuyoshi said, crossing his arms, “Can you explain to me why you look like Oscar the Grouch’s cousin?”

Mori went back to look at the TV screen. Until Tsuyoshi moved in front to get his attention.

“Tsuyopon, you’re blocking the screen. Move.”

Tsuyoshi didn’t budge. Instead, he toppled a stack of pizza boxes on the coffee table with the tip of his shoe, sending them crashing to the floor. 

“This is worse than I thought. Ever since I moved out, you have been worse!” Tsuyoshi exclaims.. “Pizza boxes unrecycled, clothes everywhere like a dumpster. You’re a mess, Katsu.”

Mori scoffed and took a defiant swig, the bottle glinting in the dim light. “And I am 26 Tsuyopon. Got a stable job, good friends, and family not able to nag me. What's there to change? I always been like this?”

“My problem is that this is not sloppy Mori. This is a hoarder alcoholic Mori!” Tsuyoshi shot back. He stepped closer.

 “Listen, I am your best friend and  I am worried about you. You’re turning this place into a garbage zone? If you keep doing this? You might as well say goodbye to finding a girlfriend.”

Mori groaned, dragging a hand through his messy hair. “Lay off the romance. I’m fine being single. I’ve got my teams, my friends, hell, I’ve got you and Shingo to be lovey dovey so I don’t have to.. I don’t need some company to be happy”

Tsuyoshi’s mouth frowned but his eyes spelled concern. Mori’s last major relationship was college and even then was brief. He figured Mori is just not interested at the moment. Though Tsuyoshi has thought possibly other reasons he can't say out loud for now.

“Maybe you don’t need love.” He sighed. “But you do need to stop being so sloppy. You’re gonna end up on the streets, lonely, broke, and yelling at a TV that doesn’t even work anymore! You can barely pay rent as it is since I left. Landlord has been cutting you slack, but that won’t last forever.”

Mori slumped deeper into the couch, the fight draining out of him as the truth of Tsuyoshi’s words sank in. He hated admitting it, but the rent notices piling up on the coffee table. Which are buried under a week’s worth of convenience store receipts. Which are buried under the newspapers that feature his articles. All of these letters demanding money were getting harder to ignore. 

“Fine,” Mori muttered with defeat. “I’ll get a roommate. Just so I can keep the rent off this place. Happy now?”

Tsuyoshi’s expression lightened, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “Very. But you’re not off the hook yet. Get off your lazy butt and start cleaning up now. I’ve already got someone in mind, someone perfect.”

Mori squinted up at him looking suspicious. “Oh, hell no. It better not be some fussy neat freak that nags me to put a coaster. I’d rather live with a raccoon.”

Tsuyoshi grinned, a bit mischievous. “Nope. It's someone way better. But I’m not saying a word until you clean this pigsty. Deal?”

“Ugh whatever,” Mori groaned, tipping his head back against the couch. “Just let me finish this inning… or maybe the next one…”

Tsuyoshi rolled his eyes, stepping over a crumpled jersey and took a seat. Still disgusted that this once spotless chair he read his books in is now covered in crumbs. 

“You know I’m not leaving until you throw out those pizza boxes.” 

Mori groans as he stands up and picks up the boxes. “Why do you annoy me Tsuyoshi?” he asks on the way.”

“Its because your my best friend,” Tsuyoshi smirked. “And you owe me for all the times I took care of you drunk.” He takes the pile of cardboard outside to the recycle shoot, the cheers from the television fading into background noise as his thoughts drift. A roommate. Someone new in his presence, messing with his routine.messing with his way of life 

He didn’t know who this mystery person was but one thing Mori knows. Is that he has to get his life together before the landlord kicks him out. From either the rent or the total mess Mori lowkey acknowledges but doesn’t want to admit out loud.

Meanwhile, in another part of the city. Inagaki Goro sat hunched on the edge of the leather sofa, his fingers tracing the rim of the glass dully with the deep red wine inside untouched. 

His usually tidied appearance—tailored shirts, ironed trousers, a neatly combed hair—had given way to a rumpled hoodie and dark bags under his eyes that spoke of sleepless nights. It had been three days since the betrayal. Three days since he’d found the text messages on his ex’s phone. The ones that confirmed the whispers he’d tried so hard to ignore. His boyfriend, his roommate, his quiet little world of happiness, instantly shattered in a single, gut-busting moment.

Kimura Takuya sprawled across an armchair opposite him, looking at his friend for many years with great concern. Feeling both sadness and anger for Goro’s situation. Goro had always been a bit insecure when it came to relationships, and when Goro finally found a guy who made him happy. Takuya’s blood boil remembering the frustration and satisfaction of decking that bastard in the face before escorting Goro out.

“You’ve got to stop this, Goro,” he said, his voice cutting through the haze. “There are other fish in the sea. And your fish cheated on you..”

Goro’s lips twitched, as he darts a gaze. “But I thought he was my fish, Takuya. The one I’d be with forever. I’m such a idiot, right?”

Takuya leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, giving way to blunt honesty. “No, because that asshole cheated on you, Goro. And beforehand treated you like total crap”. 

“Takuya!” Goro yells as if he was denying it.”

“It’s true Goro,” Takuya says with honesty. “How many times has this guy insulted you for no reason? Making you feel down just because of a little argument? You should be popping that champagne that he’s gone, not drowning that some jerk dumped you.”

Goro let out a soft, bitter laugh before frowning. 

“This is not cheap wine.” He paused, his shoulders slumping. “But… you’re right. I know you’re right. As much as I want to deny it. He was awful to me, even though he made me so happy at times.”

Goro looked down and wiped his eyes.  Takuya sighs, running a hand through his hair. “Look Goro…I know this is difficult. But you need to move on. Keeping thinking about this bastard is just going to make things worse. You need to bounce back out and prove that you are more than this relationship. Get a new roommate and start fresh.”

Goro’s gaze drifted to the floor, his voice barely above a murmur. “I’ve got ridiculously high standards for a roommate though. Let's be real Takuya, no one’s going to put up with me. If my boyfriend thought I annoyed him too much on my cleaning, what about some random stranger.”

Takuya smiles reassuringly before putting his arm around Goro. “Oh, come on man. You're not that bad. Anyone would be lucky to have you. Besides, I’ve already got something lined up—an apartment you can check out. Trust me, it’s perfect.”

Goro’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping in. “Perfect, huh? I swear, Takuya, if it’s one your loud and straight friends who yells at a TV all day, I’m out. I’d rather sleep on the street.”

Takuya’s chuckle faltered, a nervous edge to it as he rubbed the back of his neck. Mori’s face flashed in his mind, alongside the countless beer cans, yelling and ppur mess through the years he known him. Goro had just described his future roommate with almost accurate precision.

 “Nah, you’ll get along fine,” he lied, flashing a grin that is a little too tight in his jaw. “This guy is totally perfect for you. Promise.”

Goro raised an eyebrow but didn’t press, too tired to argue on. Takuya, meanwhile, leaned back, his mind racing. He’d never introduced Goro to Mori for years, ever since he and Mori first met and shared a dorm room as roommates. Takuya had always figured their polar-opposite personalities, Goro’s quiet sophistication and Mori’s brash sloppiness, would clash like oil and water. Scratch, that. Takuya swore those two would strangle each other.

But now, a plan was brewing, one he’d hatched with his other friend Tsuyoshi over a late-night phone call. Now, watching Goro sip his wine with a resigned sigh, Takuya felt small hope beneath his uncertainty. 

Goro deserved better than this heartbreak he was nursing, and Mori…Mori needed someone to drag him out being a total slob. Takuya just hopes this works. Because he will be stuck with two even more miserable friends than he began with.

Chapter Text

The apartment building was not bad.

Okay, Goro admits he could get used to living in a place like this one. Good parking? A lobby that has a mini library? Stairs that don’t creak when stepped on? Goro is actually impressed that Takuya found a place that was more than decent. 

Takuya takes Goro to the fifth floor of the building. At this point, Goro is skeptical as to who of Takuya’s friends could live in such a nice area? He knows that his best friend has a completely different friend group away from him that he barely interacts with. Goro never minded since he acknowledged that he and Takuya have very different hobbies despite their long and tight friendship. But he had heard stories how they like to go drinking and do other midnight shenanigans. Goro, who prefers more of a sophisticated way of socializing, dreads if his future roommate could be a “beer” guy.

“Here we are, #5691,” Takuya presented the door like he was a salesperson. 

Goro eyed the door label and raised a brow. “What’s with the big numbers? I thought this had about 60 tenants?” 

“Landlord says it's better for security purposes or something,” Takuya shrugged. He casually opens the door without a key in sight.

Goro opened his mouth but a word was unable to come out. Takuya notices Goro and rubs his neck with a laugh.

“He forgets to lock the door sometimes…” Takuya explains. Goro shakes his head not wanting to build assumptions on a guy he has not met yet. 

“Just let me see the place before someone thinks were burglars.”

Takuya leads Goro into the potential apartment. Goro looks around his space with a judging gaze. Immediately he feels a modest atmosphere that he finds comfortable. To his right is a nice kitchen.  though Goro does not want to question the stacked papers all over the dining room on his left. Straight ahead was a living room with a couch and tv, and lighting from windows Goro finds a liking too. He could already envision his wine rack on the corner and his books on that huge shelf on the wall already accompanied with several books.

Goro smiles, thinking maybe his roommate likes books just like him. His worries about this unknown person disappears…until they reach a long hallway where the bedrooms possibly are.

“What is that smell?” Goro’s nose scrunch with disgust. “Is that…beer?”

Takuya’s eyes widen and ends up laughing. A little way too loudly. “Oh…erm…its probably the neighbor! Yeah! Vents are pretty big y’know.”

Goro gave Takuya a suspicious look but didn’t press further. He wandered down the hallway to find an empty bedroom wide open. 

“Hmm…this place isn’t actually so bad,” Goro tilted his head, imagining his stuff in this room. 

“I got to hand it to you Taku, whoever this friend is got good-”

“Takuya, did you break in again?!” A deep voice rang. Goro turns around and sees Takuya has already left to confront this friend in the living room.

“Well, sorry Mister always leave it open,” Takuya replied with sarcasm. “How many times Tsuyopon warned you about getting robbed?”

“Security is really tight here!” the unfamiliar voice defended. 

Curiosity tugged at Goro, as he head back toward the living room . He peeked around the corner, cautiously, and his breath caught for a fleeting moment. Standing near the couch was a tall man with broad shoulders, tousled brownish hair, and striking deep brown eyes that glinted annoyance and amusement as he argued with Takuya. He might’ve been handsome, probably Goro’s type even. If it wasn’t for that poorly tied tie, his crumpled shirt and hair that is sticking up in some places. Attractive, maybe, in a rough-around-the-edges way, but messy. Too messy for Goro’s liking 

Takuya stopped his bantering as he noticed Goro standing there. He lets out a cough before introducing Goro to the man.

“Oh Goro. Meet your new roommate, Mori Katsuyuki!” Takuya introduced me with an excited grin. “Mori, this is Inagaki Goro.You might remember some stories about him before”

Goro’s eyes widened, a jolt of recognition hitting him. 

Mori. That Mori. 

Takuya’s college roommate, the loud, sloppy sports enthusiast he’d heard endless stories about over the years. Goro never met Mori personally, but he can still remember all the times Takuya told him about Mori losing his key in laundry piles. To see this guy in the flesh and not in pictures seems almost…weird.

Mori frowns and sizes Goro up with a squint before barking out a laugh. 

“Wait, this guy? The nerd you grew up with, Taku?” Mori grins widely with amusement. “I remember him now. This is the guy that cleaned our whole damn dorm while I was away one time. I couldn’t find my baseball cards for weeks!”

Goro stiffened, his jaw tightening. “Excuse me?”

Takuya’s fake laugh erupted, high and strained, as he waved his hands like he could dispel the tension. “Hahaha! Good times, right? Its so great you two are finally meeting after all these years!”

Mori smirked, crossing his arms. “What’s with the fancy getup, huh? It's Thursday afternoon, not dinner with the Emperor.”

Goro’s gaze sharpened, his voice came but laced with spite. “And you look like a tornado hit you. Does that explain the piles of papers over there?!”

Takuya stepped between them, arms outstretched, his grin faltering. “Okay, okay, let’s all just… breathe! You guys are gonna be great together!”

He shot Mori a look that screamed behave , then glanced at Goro with a pleading tilt of his head. “Right?”

The tension in the apartment hung thick as a fog, settling over the trio. Goro crossed his arms, his voice clipped. “There’s no way I’m sharing a space with “Mr. Sports” over here. It’ll be a dumpster in a week.”

“Whatever dude,” Mori kicks off his shoes and sat on the couch. Goro cringed when Mori put his feet up on the coffee table that was still filled with papers. 

“I’m not bunking with someone who color codes his cleaning products.” He yawned, not caring as some papers get knocked off the table.

Goro’s glare snapped to Takuya, sharp enough to cut glass. “Explain this. Now.”

Takuya raised his hands, a sheepish grin tugging at his lips. “Okay, okay, hear me out,” He sweats as Mori and Goro both stare daggers into him.

“So, Tsuyoshi and I were talking worrying, ok really worrying, about you too. Tsuyoshi pointed out Mori is drowning in beer cans, while I noticed Goro’s busy moping at wine bottles. So when me and Tsuyopon shared our stories at work, we thought, why not pair you up? Roommates with a purpose.”

Goro’s brow furrowed, disbelief is shown on his face. “A purpose? Takuya, we have nothing in common. How is this supposed to work?”

Mori leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Yeah, man, I’ve known you damn near a decade, and you never once introduced us. What’s that about?”

Takuya sighed, running a hand through his hair “I guess that’s true. Back in college, I figured putting you two in a room would end in bloodshed. One of you’d strangle the other with a tie or a sweaty jersey. But lately, I realized something while hearing both of your situations. You guys need each other.”

Mori arched an eyebrow, skepticism etching from his voice. “Need each other? Dude, I’m straight. What’re you getting at?”

Goro flinched inwardly, the words stinging more than he’d let on. His sexuality was still a locked box, one he guarded fiercely, and Mori’s casual dismissal, however unintentional, pricked badly. He shot Takuya with a look of anxiety.

Takuya panics and starts to wave his hands frantically. “Not like that, you idiot! I mean, Goro’s got skills in cleaning, class, the whole high society thing. He could drag you out of your alcohol cave and into something resembling a decent life.”

He then moves his hands over to Mori. “ And Mori is all about letting loose. He could teach you what fun actually looks like.”

“I’m fun.” Goro pouted defensively.

“I love you Goro but, staring at a glass of wine you don’t even drink doesn’t count, buddy.” Takuya bluntly states.

Goro’s shoulders slumped, a reluctant sigh escaped him. “Fine. You’re… not wrong. And this is a nice apartment...”

Mori then smiled a bit as he leaned forward.. “You know, it could be fun having a cleaner around again after all. Tsuyopon used to nag me into shape. maybe you’ll be less annoying about it.”

Takuya clapped his hands, his grin widening as the tension eased, if only slightly. “See? I was freaking out this wouldn’t work, but look at you two, already hashing it out! Welcome aboard, roomies!”

Goro groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I might regret this…but when can I move in?”

Mori shrugged, scratching the back of his neck. “I got to clean the place first. It’s a work in progress.”

Goro’s gaze swept the room—crumpled cans, dusty shelves, a faint stickiness underfoot—and he suppressed a shudder. “At this rate, I’ll never move in. I’ll bring my stuff Saturday. If it’s still a mess, I’ll help you clean. Deal?”

Mori’s smile widened, easy and unguarded, and before Goro could react, he slung an arm around Goro’s shoulders, pulling him in “Deal! Welcome to have you Broomie!”

“Broomie?!” Goro pulled back a little.

“A combination of bro and roommate.” Mori smirked, “Maybe I can teach you how to play foosball! I always wanted to get one. But Tsuyopon thought I used it as a dining table…”

Goro’s eyes twitched, a flicker of alarm shooting toward Takuya—a silent this better work or I’ll kill you . 

Takuya responded with a nervous thumbs-up, his mind racing. The arm around Goro, the grudging agreement. It was a start. A messy and uncertain start. Still, as he watched Mori casually suggesting extreme ideas to do with Goro, who looks rigid and irritated, Takuya couldn’t shake the nagging question.

Was this the best thing he and Tsuyoshi could come up with? Or is a murder about to happen?

Chapter Text

Saturday came by fast, as Goro finds himself moving into Apartment 5691 almost instantly. 

He signed the papers, gathered his still packed items from both Takuya’s and a storage shed, and headed on over with a truck one of Takuya’s cousins owned. 

As expected, the apartment was still a mess when he got there. Mori insists he made an effort by throwing out his cans and paper. Which meant everything still on the floor and furniture were actual items owed by Mori.

So after hours of cleaning, moving his things inside, and rolling his eyes when Mori distracts Takuya by talking about some baseball game, Goro can fully call this apartment home.

An hour after Takuya left to do his own errands, Goro exits his new bedroom with a new set of clothes that replace his dirtied ones from move-in. He immediately frowns. Not 30 minutes in and Mori was already on the couch watching tv. The table Goro spent waxing to spotless perfection was already covered by a spilled bag of chips and Mori’s feet.

Goro sighs, knowing this is going to be a recurring issue. He marches to the front of the living room and turns off the tv.

“Hey! Its only the 3rd inning!” Mori sat up, looking very annoyed. 

Goro takes a deep breath before he stares Mori in the eyes.

“We need to talk about rules.”

Mori blinks before groaning as he leaned back into the couch.  

“Booooooooooring,” He dragged out dramatically. “Tsuyopon just told me things and that worked fine. Can’t we just do that?”

Goro clenched his jaw. This is a 26 year old man for crying out loud! Has Mori really just depended on roommates to watch over him?!

“Listen here,” Goro tensed. “I refuse to live in a sports shop. If we are going to be roommates then we need to work together to not drive each other insane. Takuya and Tsuyoshi paired us up for a reason and I don’t want to disappoint them.”

Mori’s relaxed face stiffened when he heard the word disappointment. He straightened up his posture quickly. 

“You make a good point…” Mori admits reluctantly. “You’re my first roommate that isn’t Tsuyoshi since Takuya back in college. I guess I have to make you comfortable too, right?”

Goro is surprised at Mori’s sudden change of compliance. Judging by the latter’s apologetic face, Goro assumes Mori has more depth than just a slob.

“Um…yeah. So here’s what I planned…” Goro kneeled to the carpet and grabbed a pen and paper from under the coffee table. He made sure to write in the area that wasn’t covered by chi[s. Or where Mori’s feet were either.

“Rule 1: No items anywhere. That includes clothes, food, or random sports merch. Got it?”

“Yes boss,” Mori salutes lazily.

Goro then continues listing down rules as Mori carefully listens.

“Rule 2: Take out trash and actually use the recycling bin.”

“Rule 3: Wash your own dishes. Clean the drain strainer too.”

“Rule 18: Let the other know when they are bringing guests.”

“Rule 38: Use glass cleaner for the windows. The other product stains…”

“Rule 55: Please use freshener that smells like flowers. I don’t really like the citrus ones. Or the fruit…”

“Rule 78: Sort your shoes on the rack. I call the top row because I can tell your sneakers get dirty. By the way, can you also wipe…”

“Rule 94: Do not let Takuya take off his shirt here. Does he do that with you? He sometimes leaves without it…”

“And finally Rule 120: My wine cabinet is off limits.” Goro finished with a smile. “So, did you get all that. Mori?”

Goro finally looks up to Mori. Who was completely asleep. 

“MORI!”

“ESCAPEFROMYLOVE!!!” Mori jolted awake. He then stared at Goro and the packet of paper on the table.

“Sorry you lost me on rule 35, can you repeat everything I missed?”

Goro’s eye twitched. “You know. I’m just going to leave this here.” He stood up and headed to his bedroom.

“Wait, where are you going?” Mori shouted. 

Goro turned around with tired eyes. “To read a book in my room?”

Mori sat up a little. “Why don’t you read your book here. You can get to know yours truly?.”

“But I'm not really big on sports…” Goro replied shyly.

“I know. Takuya had told me that same line a gazillion times.” Mori recounted. “But this is your place now too. So just relax and spend time with your broomie.

Goro cringes at the word but finds himself smiling nonetheless. 

“Sure, I’ll just get my book.”

A few minutes later, Goro was reading his book next to Mori who was back to watching baseball. Both of them did their own activities until, Mori stood up out of nowhere. 

“HOMERUUUUN!” He yelled as chips flew everywhere. 

“Mori!” Goro yelped as chips flew into his hair and all over the couch. Mori widens his eyes and blushes with embarrassment.

“Sorry, man,” he rubbed his neck sheepishly. “I’ll clean that up for you. 

Mori awkwardly dusts the chips off Goro’s head as he begins to clean the area. Goro just stood there, just watching Mori focus on cleaning his mess. Not even paying attention to the tv announce another run. 

"Hey, can you pick up your napkin?"

"Are always this nitpicky Goro? Pick it up yourself! Man, why did I even let you move in with me? All you do is whine!"

When Mori finished and went back on the couch, Goro couldn't help but stare at his roommate.

“What? Surprised I can tidy up?” Mori raises a brow.

Goro feels warmth inside him. A feeling he cannot describe but is enjoying at the moment. Its been a while since he had felt this feeling. Not since he moved in with his ex, before it all went downhill. He moves closer to Mori as he looks him with a spark in his eyes. 

“No. I think I am just looking forward to living here.” Goro smiles.

Chapter Text

As their first evening as roommates has already started, dinner is on both of their minds.

Goro wanted to make a nice candle lit dinner for his first night. Only to discover that Mori’s fridge is only filled with beer, some fruit, that protein shake he keeps seeing in commercials, and creamer for coffee. 

“What? I still like to be healthy,” Mori shrugged when Goro gave him an annoyed glare.

Because he refused to eat cupped noodles, Goro reluctantly tells Mori to call for takeout. Mori is thrilled and reveals a drawer full of crumpled menus from time’s past.

After an hour of arguing what to eat, the two roommates decided on some classic Chinese takeout. And then another hour passed debating on which restaurant to order from. 

As the two take in their dinner, Goro keeps glancing to his roommate across the table. Of course Mori was a sloppy eater. Why wouldn’t he be? Rice was everywhere on the table. The droplets of sauce from the beef stained Goro’s wonderful placemats. And Mori…Goro had seen animals eat more properly than him. 

“Okay calm down Goro, do not judge your new roommate or you’re going to be judging him for years to come,” Goro thought to himself. “Just get to know him…wait…what do I ask first…um…”

“So Goro what do you do for a living?” Mori asks out of the blue, looking directly at Goro.

Thank goodness. “I work as a physical therapist at a rehab center,” Goro states while dabbing his chin with a napkin. 

“PT huh? Very rewarding job. You must help a lot of people.” Mori says with a tinge of admiration.

“I do what I can,” Goro smiles lightly. “And you?”

“Sports journalist at Atarashi Sports,” Mori replies while eating through his beef. “I cover mainly both baseball and track. Dab a bit in other sports to get that cred for bigger sections.”

“Journalist?” Goro tilts his head. “So you write?”

“Well that's what journalists do. What, don’t think I look like a reporter to you?” Mori asks with a look of irritation. 

Crap. I didn't mean to piss him off. “I mean…um…”

Mori laughs. “Relax dude I was just messing with you,” He chuckled a bit. “I get that a lot. But I do look like one when I’m working. Trust me.”

Goro sighs with relief. He did not want to get on the wrong foot with this guy. Mori is also Takuya’s friend after all. And Goro would feel tremendously guilty if he ends up disappointing his best friend by not giving Mori a chance. Maybe I should be less blunt…

“Got a girlfriend?” Mori asks out of the blue.

Shit. Goro forgot he never told Mori about his homosexuality. He is technically partially out of the closet, only telling his family and close friends, advising to not let anyone else know. Goro just doesn’t feel fully comfortable being out with people talking to others behind his back on the subject. 

“Um…no, just single,” Goro shifts in his seat awkwardly. “I just got out of a serious relationship, so I don’t think I want to date for a while.”

“Really? Thats a bummer man. Sorry to hear that.” Mori says sympathetically. “If it makes you feel better, I don’t really go on dates either. The last big one I had was just out of college.”

Goro is surprised to hear Mori’s answers. Mori seemed like the straight guy that would charm any girl if he had a chance. If Mori hasn't gone on a date since after college, that means…

“You haven’t dated in 5 years?” 

Mori shrugs. “Just never interested I guess. I always preferred friends over keeping a girlfriend.”

“But don’t you want to have that connection with someone?” Goro asks. “A person that makes you happy?”

“I’m happy where my life is now.” Mori answers nonchalantly. “If a person comes along, then sure. But I believe it's better to just flow and bump into the right person instead of trying to make something that might not work. After all, isn’t love supposed to be someone who loves you for you?”

Goro is speechless. He never expected a person like Mori, a guy who can’t pick up simple wrappers, to have this deep belief in romance. Perhaps Mori isn’t as sleazy as Goro initially thought he would be.

“Anyway…” Mori grins as he casually throws his chopsticks to the sink without standing up. Goro winces seeing one of them hit the counter instead. “Are you up for some dessert? I usually get a beer now.  But I am trying to lose weight.” 

Mori pulls up his shirt, revealing a toned-flat stomach. Goro instantly turns red. 

“Are those abs?!” Goro screamed in his head.  

“Tsuyopon warned me I might get a beer belly soon from skipping so much lately, so ice cream and at-home exercise instead! ” Mori smiles as he touches his stomach. 

Goro gulps. That's supposed to be out of shape?! Wait, he actually works out in the first place?!  

“Yeah…Let's get ice cream…” Goro chuckles looking away.

Mori grins as he stands from his seat and heads to get his coat on the rack. He pats Goro’s back on the way. 

“Since you’re a physical therapist we can definitely go running together sometime. Probably after this ice cream.” Mori jokes as Goro laughs with a sweat. 

“Ok, roommate might be a little hot. But he’s still a total slob.” Goro convinced himself in his mind, his flusteredness cooling a bit. “ He didn’t even wash his own plate! And is that chopstick stained with rice-” 

“I’m waiting Inagaki !” Mori steps impatiently. 

Goro shakes his thoughts aside, realizing Mori is waiting for him by the door. He gets up, forcing himself to leave those dishes for now, and follows Mori out the door. Before he leaves Goro quickly grabs both his and Mori’s keys on the way out. Something tells Goro he is going to do that a lot. 

As they walk down the stairs, Mori, curious, asks Goro a question.

“Do you prefer the cup or the cone. I love the cone, but its a drag to wash the stains all the time.”

“Why don’t you just use a napkin?” Goro retorted.

“Because I use them to clean my face.” Mori states factually.

Goro just sighs. Total slob. Not his type at all.  

“Anyway I’ll do the dishes when we get back.” Mori continued. “I could see your eyes bulging after my epic throw.”

Goro, surprised, raises a brow. “Really you will do that? Even the new ones I brought in?”

Mori turns around to face Goro, just as they reach the lobby.

“I can’t upset my broomie on his first night, right?” Mori smirks before it softens a bit. “Plus you paid for the take out when you clearly wanted italian. I want to make it up to you.”

Goro stared at Mori for a few seconds silently. He just let Mori had Chinese because he didn’t want to upset Mori too much. He was even planning on doing the dishes too. Yet Mori, who left his empty plate on the table and a chopstick on the counter, was thinking about him too?

Hey, I was thinking since you chose our last date, there is this play I want to watch with you on Friday.

A play? Goro you have got to be kidding. We went to the movies because its actually exciting. Plays are going to make me sleep.

Okay…I’m sorry…I’ll think of something better…

“Goro, are you alright man?” Mori frowned with concern. Goro blinked out of his thoughts before he found Mori still looking at him.

“Cup.”

“Huh?”

“I was answering your question.” Goro smiled shyly. “I like to use a spoon, licking ice cream is way too messy.”

Mori widens his eyes before he laughs. 

“Really that’s your reason?” He giggled as they started to walk again. “What are you going to tell me next? You don’t put sprinkles on because they could fall?”

Goro rolls his eyes but can’t help but chuckle as well. Because Mori is telling the complete truth. As the two of them walk out of their building, side by side, Goro continues to debate with Mori on ice cream “etiquette”, which causes Mori to wheeze at this point. 

Total slob, but bad roommate? Goro is starting to think otherwise.

Chapter Text

Mondays. The dreaded day of the average human being. 

For Mori, it is a day of reckoning.

After a weekend of watching sports, and playing videogames on his special couch, Monday is the bitter reminder that Mori has to actually work and contribute to the outside world. Waking up extra early to cram into a train with dozens of others just to arrive at his work was already the bane of Mori’s existence. But to also arrive and face the high risk of getting critiques from his editor over his articles that get rushed to meet a tight deadline? Mori regrets not choosing to work from home. 

For Goro? 

Well you can say it goes like any other day for him.

Goro was up even before the sun was at 6 AM. As a man who takes his job as a physical therapist seriously, Goro always made sure to stick to his morning routine, believing one minute late could delay a patient’s progress for months. 

After taking several minutes making his bed, Goro enters the living room with a big stretch. He glances over to Mori’s door and sees that it’s still closed. Light snoring can be heard from behind. Goro can’t help but snort before he begins his usual routine. Hoping that a new apartment won’t need to adjust his time frames. 

One hour later, a loud alarm rings throughout Mori’s bedroom. Mori groans as he tries to reach for his phone on the nightstand, before realizing it was under his pillow. Mori squints as he reads the time and sighs. 7 AM. Which means he forgot to set his 6 AM alarm again. And probably would forget by tomorrow.

Mori forces himself to get up and drag himself to his opened closet. He pulled out a random dress shirt from a clump and a pair of slacks that were washed with his belt. Mori then grabs his towel draped on his chair and marches over to the shower across the hall. Several seconds later, he comes back to his room, annoyed that he forgot his underwear.

Goro was straightening his tie in front of the living room mirror, when Mori finally stepped into the living room. Mori was at least dressed, but looked like he came out of a horror movie instead of a bedroom.

“Morning Mori!” Goro greeted while still fixing his tie. “Ready to start the week well?”

Mori’s glare hits the mirror for Goro to see. “I’m ready for it to end.”

With a slump in his tall frame, Mori heads to the kitchen and pulls out a cereal box. He grabs a bowl and just lets the cereal spill without properly aiming it. Goro turns around with a look of disturbance.

“Yeah, yeah I know, I’ll clean it later.” Mori says in between bites. 

“Do you even see yourself Mori?!” Goro exclaims to Mori with his hands. “How are you supposed to step into work looking like…that?!”

“I fix myself on the train, duh. What else do I do for 30 minutes? Stare at some old guy’s bald spot?”

Goro pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to scream. This is just his roommate. There is nothing wrong with him. This is just his roommate.

“All done!” Mori annonces before tossing his bowl into the sink. Goro winced at the sound. At least it was the plastic. 

“Ok. Let's just go before another mess is made.” Goro breathes out. Mori smirks as he ties his sneakers near the doorway. Goro makes his way over to the coat rack nearby, annoyingly grabbing his coat that is stuck under Mori’s that was thrown on the hook. 

“Here,” Goro hands the jacket to Mori on the floor. 

“Thanks broomie,” Mori smiles. Goro rolls his eyes but can’t help but smile back. The two of them head out for the station. After locking the door, Goro eyes Mori’s pocket carefully to see that the latter has his keys for once.

The stroll down the road was painfully quiet for both of them. Their station is only a short walk from their building after all. But Mori felt Goro was too quiet. No comment on the weather or anything. Just a man looking straight ahead. 

“Soooo,” Mori breaks the silence. “You get off at the station after me right?”

Goro gives Mori a look of confusion. “Um…yeah? I told you that last night?”

“Huh, must have forgotten,” Mori shrugged. Total lie. He may have tuned out his convo with Goro last night from texting his friends about the game.

“Anyway, we both end around the same time. Wanna stay on the train later for a bite out?” Mori casually offered. “I can show you around this place.”

“Mori. I have lived in Edogawa since graduation.” Goro says flatly.

“Oh come on! You think you have explored every point in this town?!” Mori puts his arm around Goro. “I’m going to show you the real Edogawa, Goro. Not just the wine cellars and department stores.”

“What do you think I am? I can have fun!” Goro pouts at Mori before they head down the stairs to the station. Mori can’t help but snicker knowing that Goro is staring behind him intensely while they walk through the tunnel. 

“Then why don’t I see you with Takuya?  Mori turned to give a teasing eyebrow. “I hang out with the guy every week.”

“I don’t like bars or anything that is “wild”. Takuya respects that. Which is why we’ve been friends for so long.” Goro explains. Their conversation temporarily pauses as they move past the ticket scanner. After a few seconds of Mori holding up the line to find his phone(which is in his pocket full of receipts that he pulled out and proceeds to pick up from the ground so he does not litter), The roommates carefully maneuvered through the crowd before reaching their track. 

“Ok, but not even his birthdays. Or that one time he hosted New Years?” Mori continued suddenly as they waited for their train. 

“I attended all of those events…” Goro thought aloud. “Strange…you think we would have met by now. Why didn’t Takuya introduce us before.”

Mori widened his eyes in realization as a memory in his mind played.

You let your nerd friend stay over for the one weekend I was gone and now I can’t find my lucky jersey.

Calm down dude. Goro just put it in the laundry. He just did you a favor.

Well Takuya. Tell Goro to leave his hands off my stuff! 

Mori! You left this place a mess when Goro arrived. I told you he hates mess.

I don’t care! He shouldn’t be touching my things! Especially when he's definitely-

“Mori?”

Mori blinks and he notices Goro staring at him with concern.

“You looked like you were spacing out there.”

“Yeah…I guess I was,” Mori chuckled nervously. “Takuya probably didn’t think we would get along before. That's the reason. definitely.”

“Alright then…” Goro says with confusion. “But it's just weird because we might have saw each other and-”

“Oh, look at the time, the train is here!” Mori points to the train heading their way. 

Goro scratches his head, wondering what is up with Mori? Takuya had regularly talked about Mori for years but Goro never met him until the whole roommate debacle started. Yeah, Takuya pointed out they would have murdered each other if they did meet before, but not even a “Hey this was my messy college roommate Mori” at one of his parties? 

As the train stopped and opened its door, Mori and Goro stepped in and luckily were able to find an open seat. As soon as they sit down, the train was up and moving. Goro is still thinking that Mori is acting weird, noticing Mori is quieter, as if he is pondering to say something to him. Goro was about to ask Mori about Takuya until Mori suddenly closes in on his ear.

“Are you still up to sight see?” He whispers very slowly. Goro looks at him, feeling strange just by Mori’s wide eyes. 

Goro sighs. “Well if you are up for it later.”

Mori grins and was about to cheer, before realizing he is on a train. He quickly returns to his chair looking a bit embarrassed. Goro can’t help but be amused. There's the Mori he knows.

“So where are you taking me?” Goro says quietly. “I can handle a bar. Just use a coaster of course.”

Mori smirks mischievously, which makes Goro feel his stomach tighten.

“Oh, I know you can handle the “bar” part.”

“AAAAAAAAH,” Goro screams as he tries to hold on to the mechanical bull that is rocking violently back and forth.

“You’re doing great Goro!” Mori yells from the side while holding a beer bottle in his hand. This spaghetti western bar is not one he usually goes to(that's the sports bar near his work of course), but a memorable video of Tsuyoshi screaming his ass off on this thing made Mori think of the possibilities.

“MORI! YOU ARE SO CLEANING THE TOILEEEET!” Goro yells in between chucks. 

Mori is surprisingly impressed that Goro is holding on for so long. Then again, this is a physical therapist who is on that cow.

Finally, Goro rolls off the bull from total exhaustion. Mori goes to him up, to which Goro gives him a much deserved glare.

“Come on, Inagaki. You didn’t think that was fun?” Mori teased. 

Goro, trying to catch his breath, scowls. “Oh it was. But don’t think you are getting away this easily.” 

Mori is about to respond when Goro all of a sudden pushes Mori toward the ride. 

“If you want to be even then,” Mori says with a smile as he gets on the ride. “I’m just letting you 

know that I also ride motorbikes, so good luck getting me-”

The bull ride throws Mori into a haystack nearby. Goro couldn’t stop laughing. Maybe Takuya had a reason for not letting them meet in the past. Yet, he is sure enjoying his present with Mori. 

“Goro can you please get me out of here…” Mori whines, his head still stuck in the hay. “I see now why Tsuyoshi vomited in a haystack like this one…” 

“Um…they do replace those things here…right?’

“...fuck.”

Chapter Text

A week of work(and a free Thursday spent at Takuya's begging for his help) has led Goro to perhaps one of the most momentous occasion of his life. In front of him was the greatest gift his parents ever gave to him:

The ever famous Inagaki Wine Cabinet.

An antique that has stored five generations of bottles of wine collected around the world. Goro had inherited the cabinet as a graduation gift, but his past apartment spaces have led to the prized possession in a storage garage for a few years. 

Now, with Mori's apartment having a free corner space, formerly occupied by some unwashed jersey on the wall, the legendary cabinet can finally see the light…When Mori finally pays this month’s electric bill. 

Goro is grinning with anticipation while staring at the cabinet. Takuya helped him all morning to get this up the stairs. And while he owes his friend a full meal, and possibly a month of back therapy, Goro is grateful for Takuya’s help. With five full boxes of wine bottles delicately bubbled wrapped with styrofoam, Goro gleefully begins what he waited years for:

Sorting every wine bottle by country alphabetically! But just before Goro can place the first bottle in the top left corner, the door slammed wide open. 

“Yo Goro I’m here!” Mori yells as he enters the room. Goro’s grip tightens on the bottle. He gently lets it go before turning sharply to Mori who is already laying on the couch.

“Aren’t you supposed to spend time with Tsuyoshi today?” Goro crossed his arms. It’s not that he wanted Mori to be here while sorting. Scratch that, he did not want Mori to be here right now. Mori helped him move his mug collection when he first moved in and three of them slipped out of Mori’s hand. Mori blamed butter fingers from popcorn, but Goro could see Mori held 5 mugs at a time.  

“Tsuyopon, kicked me out.” Mori said while facing the tv. “His boyfriend had some hair dye emergency or whatever. So I’m here until that's over.”

“Well,I’m sorting my wine cabinet. So no disturbances please” Goro states bluntly. 

Mori turns around with a look of full offense. “Excuse me? What do you think I am going to do? Throw your wine out the window?!”

“No. I am certain it's going to break as long as that tv is on.” 

“Oh come on Goro.” Mori stands up. “It was three mugs! I am not going to shatter one using my voice!”

“This is a delicate process Mori!”, Goro exclaims. “Every bottle has to be place in the exact position, five cm apart from each other, label forward, or else a simple tremble will cause a crack!”

Mori closed his mouth. Goro took a step back as Mori walked towards him. “Mori…what are you doing?”

Mori picked up a bottle from the box and placed it on the top shelf. Goro gasped and clutched his chest dramatically.

“I am going to help, and prove to you I am not breaker-prone!” Mori declared. Before he could grab another, Goro sways his hand. 

“Wait wait wait wait.” Goro panics. “Can you at least place them alphabetically by country?”

Mori stared at the box and tilted his head sideways. “Aren’t half of these from Japan?”

“Then we go by brand, then year it was made.” Goro lectures. “But promise me you will be careful with this?”

“Of course I will, I am happy to help my broomie after all.” Mori grins. 

Goro ends up relenting and decides to take Mori’s help. Definitely not because of that stupid charming smile. It was because he thought the process would teach Mori to be more gentle. Yeah thats it. Not because he wants to spend time with him.

“So do I need to wear gloves, my excellency?” Mori says in a sarcastic tone.

“Well if you need to-”

“No I was just kidding!” Mori huffed. “Alright, let's get this started. Delicate Mori is go!”

“Seriously, Delicate?” Goro can’t help but snicker.”

“Just tell me where this first bottle goes.” Mori sways the bottle he is holding like a accessory. Goro carefully grabbed it and gave Mori a threatening glare. Mori chuckled nervously as he goes to grab the second bottle, this time, using both his hands.

Goro placed the bottle in the middle shelf with extra precision. The silence and careful placing even got Mori’s heart racing. Once Goro’s trembling hands left the shelf were both men able to finally exhale.

“Holy crap. How many bottles do we have left?” Mori handed Goro the next wine more anxiously.

“57.” Goro says casually. Once again he carefully positioned the wine bottle in its place. Mori thought Goro was defusing a bomb at this rate.

Mori, sweating, handed Goro another bottle. “Can we please put on music for this Goro? I need to not feel like I’m a spy.”

“Fine. Put on anything you want.” Goro offered. Mori smiles and fishes out his phone, instantly playing one of his favorite songs. When a familiar note played, Goro nearly toppled his hand. 

“Wait, you like Perfume?!” Goro says with surprise. Mori flusters and darts his eyes away.

“I-I like the choreo ok.” Mori said defensively. “But I’m not like one of those wotas or whatever you call them. I just buy the cds. And maybe see them in concert-”

“Mori chill.” Goro chuckles. “I like Perfume too. I’m not going to judge you for great taste.”

Mori laughs with relief. “Ok. Thank Goodness. I thought you were going to see me way differently.”

“Why? It’s just music dude.” Goro says as he continues his bottle placing. An uncomfortable feeling panged inside him. Did Mori fear Goro was going to assume he was gay just because of his music? Goro found that strange since Mori is really open minded with Tsuyoshi. Maybe he was overthinking again…

“Goro?”

Goro glances to his side to see Mori awkwardly holding another bottle.

“You were staring at that Greek one for a while,” Mori smiled faintly. 

“Sorry about that,” Goro coughed as he took the bottle from his hands. “55 to go. Enough time to get to Macaroni.”

“That's one of my favorites too…” Mori quietly admitted. Goro gave him a simple nod of approval as their production line continued on. 

The two were able to get into a nice discussion of music during their sorting. Mori surprisingly is fan of a lot of EDM music. The revelation actually made a lot of sense in Goro’s perspective. The few times he saw Mori go out for a jog the past week, Goro can hear the faint synthesizers play from Mori’s headphones. 

Mori on the other hand is surprised with Goro liking rock bands. Goro thought that was strange fact for Mori to be surprised with, especially since he would go with Takuya to many concerts and festivals. He had to pause his task, to show Mori proof.

“This is a photo of me and Takuya watching ALFEE last Summer,” Goro showed Mori a picture of Takuya with his tongue out and Goro smiling in front of Yokohama Arena. 

“Oh, it's that picture.” Mori says with familiarity. “I was more distracted by Takuya’s tongue to recognize that you are next to him.”

Goro thought that was fair. Seriously, why does Takuya like to stick his tongue out randomly?

“Annnnnd…..Zesty Westy is in,” Goro exhales as he places the final bottle in its spot. Mori collapses to the couch with relief. 

“Wow…that was more stressful than I thought!” Mori chuckled. “We made a good time right Goro-”

“Sssssshhhh! I am admiring my cabinet,” Goro stares at his wine display with complete awe. Mori rolled his eyes with a smile as he leaned back into his pillow. 

He’s got to admit, Goro staring at wine is rather adorable from a side glance. Mori couldn’t help but be proud as well. They sorted those bottles together, taking the entirety of Perfume’s best of album to finish. And now all that hard work is displayed in their living room. Organizing for once was kind of fun. 

“Now to carefully lock the cabinet, and step away…” Goro carefully states as he grips the handles of the doors.

“Hey Mori!” Tsuyoshi, covered in dye, bursts into the apartment with a grin. “Shingo finally is blonde so we can go watch Kamen-gah!”

Tsuyoshi, not looking, trips on a stray box and crashes onto the creaking floor boards. The sight caused Goro to swat his hand back in panic, and accidentally topple a wine bottle to the ground.

Time seemed to stand still as the sound of shattered glass hit the room. Mori’s jaw dropped, as he stared at Goro, whose nice khakis were covered in wine. 

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO” 

Goro fell to his knees as he dramatically mourned the loss of his fallen bottle. Mori could only stand next to Goro and rub his back in comfort, still in shock of what just occured.

 “...does anyone have first aid? I think my nose is broken…” Tsuyoshi groaned from the floor.

 “...guys?”

Tsuyoshi left the apartment an hour later, still shuddering with fear. Takuya was right. 

Do not break Goro's stuff. Ever.