Chapter Text
The rhythmic clatter of suitcase wheels gradually faded as the towering silhouette of the Nijisanji University Dorm came into view. A warm breeze rustled through the trees, tugging at clothes and hair alike as two figures approached the entrance, their luggage in tow.
"Uki, what room are you in?" asked Shu Yamino, adjusting his sunglasses with a casual flick of his fingers. His raven-black hair shimmered under the sun, the signature yellow ahoge dancing wildly in the wind.
"305." Uki Violeta replied, one hand securing his wide-brimmed summer hat over his glossy lavender hair, eyes narrowing slightly against the sunlight. "You?"
Shu's mouth curled into a small pout. "306. Awh... I was hoping we'd be roommates."
Uki chuckled softly, the sound light and teasing. "At least we're neighbors. Close enough to bother each other whenever."
"You say that like I'm the annoying one," Shu muttered with a grin, but there was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.
With a playful flick of his wrist, Uki began tugging his sleek, purple luggage toward the entrance. Shu stood for a moment, watching him — the way Uki's calm presence seemed to settle the buzzing summer heat. Then, with a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips, he followed close behind, the sound of their rolling suitcases blending once more as they stepped inside their dorm building.
By the time they reached the third floor, Uki dropped his suitcase with a soft thud and sank onto the cool tiled floor, chest rising and falling with every breath. Beads of sweat clung to his temples, and he used the sleeve of his shirt to wipe them away, muttering under his breath.
"They charge us a fortune for the tuition, but they can't afford an elevator?" he grumbled, glancing at the stairwell like it had personally wronged him.
Behind him, Shu was still dragging his luggage up the last few steps, face flushed and sunglasses slightly askew.
"I want to file a complaint," Shu wheezed, practically collapsing beside Uki the moment he reached the top.
Uki snorted, offering a halfhearted pat on Shu's back. "Welcome to Nijisanji University. We suffer in style."
"At this rate, I'll have abs before midterms," Shu groaned, flopping back dramatically and letting his ahoge fall across his forehead like a defeated flag.
"Silver lining, I guess," Uki murmured with a sly smirk, eyes glinting. "Abs might help distract the professors from our actual grades."
That earned a weak laugh from Shu, who peeked up at Uki with a crooked smile. "I knew room 306 was too far from the first floor. Should've bribed the admin."
"You could barely bribe your suitcase to roll straight." Uki stood up and tugged at the handle of his luggage. "Come on, neighbor. Let's see if the rooms are at least worth the pain."
With synchronized groans, the two friends headed down the corridor—bruised in pride, but still laughing.
"Let's meet at the cafeteria in an hour, yeah?" Shu said, already stepping backward toward his door.
Uki nodded. "Oke."
With a soft click, Uki closed the door to Room 305 behind him and turned—only to pause at the sight of a blonde-haired guy stacking boxes on one of the beds. The guy looked up, caught mid-motion, as if he hadn't expected someone else just yet.
"Oh—hello. I'm Uki," he said, flashing a polite smile. "Marketing major. It's nice to meet you... roommate."
The blonde blinked, then gave a curt nod before offering a hand. "Nice to meet you too. I'm Sonny Brisko. Criminology major."
He set the last box down on his bed with practiced care—quiet, composed. Uki tilted his head as he took his first real look at his roommate. Sonny looked sharp, like someone who took things seriously—maybe too seriously.
"Guess roommates aren't matched by major, huh?" Uki mused with a small chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Apparently not." Sonny replied, eyes trailing after Uki as he moved across the room.
Uki pulled his purple luggage near the other bed and plopped down, letting out a soft sigh. He glanced at Sonny, who had now taken a seat on his own bed, facing him. There was something in Sonny's gaze—curious, almost gentle. Uki could feel it, even if the other didn't say much.
"Do you know anyone here already?" Uki asked, meeting his eyes.
Sonny hesitated, not because he didn't have an answer, but because he wasn't used to being asked questions like that. He looked at Uki, who had this light, open energy—so different from most people he met.
"Yeah. Just one. Met him during enrollment. They gave us a tour before the semester started."
Uki's face lit up. "Perfect! Then... would you mind giving me a quick tour?" he asked eagerly.
Sonny raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be unpacking first?" he gestured toward the untouched suitcase beside Uki's bed.
Uki waved dismissively. "That can wait until dinner. I didn't get a chance to explore before. My part-time job kept me busy."
Sonny studied him for a moment. There was something disarming about Uki—the way he spoke, the way he smiled without expecting anything back. It piqued Sonny's interest more than he cared to admit.
"Alright. I'll show you around." Sonny finally said, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
Uki perked up. "You're the best, roommate."
Sonny stood up, grabbing his dorm key. "I know"
But Uki just laughed as he hopped off the bed to follow him.
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The hallway buzzed faintly with the sound of other students settling into their dorms, but Uki barely noticed. He walked alongside Sonny, with a quiet energy, while the other held a calm, even pace beside him—like fire and still water sharing the same path.
They stepped into the main courtyard, the sun filtering through the trees casting soft shadows across the stone paths. Students lounged on benches, chatted beneath archways, or darted from building to building with maps in hand.
"This is the central courtyard," Sonny said, gesturing loosely with his hand. "Most of the important buildings are within walking distance from here. The cafeteria's over there. Admin office is that way. And the library's just behind that statue."
Uki twirled around to take it all in, his eyes wide with appreciation. "It's a lot bigger than I thought. And... wow, the vibe is kinda magical."
Sonny glanced at him. "You're pretty easy to impress."
"Hey, I've been living off vending machine coffee and plastic chairs at my part-time job for months," Uki teased with a grin. "This feels like a dream."
Sonny found himself smiling faintly again—not just at the words, but at Uki's energy. It was refreshing. Honest.
They strolled down a cobblestone path toward a large, glass-paneled building.
"This is the library." Sonny paused in front of it. "Three floors. The top one's quiet study, bottom has lounges. Good place if you want to disappear for a few hours."
"Noted, escape room number one." Uki whispered playfully, then stepped closer to look at the art etched onto the library doors. "Have you disappeared in here before?"
Sonny shrugged, hands in his pockets. "Just once during the tour. I like the quiet. People tend to leave you alone."
Uki looked over his shoulder at him. "You say that like it's a good thing."
Sonny paused, caught off guard by how softly that landed. Most people never bothered to read between his words—much less question them. But Uki had, and it was... strange.
"Sometimes, it is." Sonny said quietly.
Uki didn't press. Instead, he just nodded, as if saying: I get it. You don't have to say more.
After a short silence, Uki smiled again. "Alright, what's next? Got any secret rooftops or hidden gardens to show me?"
Sonny let out a low chuckle. "Actually... yeah. There's one. Students don't really go there. Come on."
He led Uki around the back of the music building, through a rarely-used stairwell. They climbed two flights until they reached a heavy metal door. Sonny pushed it open, and a quiet breeze greeted them.
Outside was a small rooftop terrace, barely furnished with two benches and a few potted plants that looked like they'd been forgotten by time. But from up there, the whole campus stretched out below them—bathed in gold by the afternoon sun.
"Whoa." Uki stepped forward, completely taken. "How does no one come up here? This is amazing."
"People don't usually take the back stairwell. It's not on the map." Sonny said, watching him.
Uki turned, the wind catching his hair and his smile radiant. "Thanks for sharing this."
"Yeah." Sonny replied, his voice quieter now. "You looked like the kind of person who'd appreciate it."
They stood there for a moment, the breeze passing between them. No more words needed.
For a guy who preferred silence, Sonny found himself oddly glad that Uki had asked for a tour.
And Uki—he wasn't sure what kind of roommate Sonny Brisko would be yet. But maybe... just maybe, this was the start of something worthwhile.
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The cafeteria buzzed with midday energy—lines winding around food counters, chairs scraping against tile, and the clatter of trays blending with bursts of laughter. A soft pop song played overhead, barely audible beneath the rising tide of first-week excitement.
Shu sat alone in a corner booth by the window, lazily stirring his milk tea. His tray sat half-finished—a few fries, some steamed dumplings, and a lonely pork cutlet. He glanced at his phone for what felt like the tenth time, thumb hovering over his chat with Uki.
"Where is he?" Shu mumbled under his breath, frowning as he took another sip.
Just then, a shadow loomed behind him, and a familiar voice rang out.
"Shu! Sorry I'm late!" Uki appeared, breathless but smiling as he slid into the seat across from him.
Shu shot him a flat look. "Our agreement was one hour. You're thirty minutes late."
Uki scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I know, I know—I got caught up touring around with my roommate."
At that, a second presence quietly took the seat beside Uki—a tall, composed blonde with striking eyes and an unreadable expression.
"Oh. Hello." the guy said politely. "I'm Sonny Brisko, Criminology major."
Shu blinked, mildly surprised, then offered a smile and extended a hand across the table. "Nice to meet you. I'm Shu Yamino, IT major." He gave Uki a look. "And his best friend. Since forever."
Sonny gave a small nod as he shook Shu's hand. "Roommate here. It's nice to meet you too."
Uki leaned back slightly, observing the exchange with a smile that wavered between amused and nervous. "You two are so formal. Relax—it's lunch, not a job interview."
Shu raised an eyebrow. "You introduced us late. There's a formality timer. You missed it."
Sonny cracked the faintest hint of a smile, while Uki let out a dramatic sigh and reached for his drink. "You're both hopeless. I need fries to survive this."
"Take mine. I lost my appetite waiting for someone." Shu teased, nudging his tray forward.
Uki happily swiped a few fries. "Forgiveness tastes like grease."
As the three of them settled into an easy rhythm, something unspoken flickered between the quiet Sonny and the ever-expressive Uki—an early, tentative thread of something forming. Shu noticed it, of course, though he said nothing.
Not yet.
Between bites of fries and sips of milk tea, the conversation eased into a comfortable rhythm. Shu leaned back in his seat, watching the two across from him with a playful smirk tugging at his lips.
"You two have any plans this afternoon?" he asked, twirling his straw.
"Unpacking," Uki and Sonny answered in unison.
They paused.
Uki blinked, then turned to Sonny with a surprised laugh. "Jinx."
Sonny arched a brow, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Great minds think alike."
"Or we're both just very behind." Uki added, poking at a dumpling with his fork.
Shu chuckled. "Well, I guess that tour cost you an hour of organization. Worth it?"
Uki gave a dramatic sigh. "Absolutely. I'll just live out of my suitcase for another day. Priorities."
Sonny glanced at Uki, then nodded. "It was a good call. The campus is more interesting than I expected."
Shu gave them both a knowing look. "Interesting, huh? I see."
Uki rolled his eyes but smiled. "Don't start."
"Didn't say anything." Shu grinned innocently, but the gleam in his eyes said otherwise.
As the lunch crowd began to thin out, the three of them sat in that small pocket of warmth and new beginnings—full plates, new friendships, and the faint sense that this was the beginning of something unexpected.
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The afternoon sun filtered through the narrow dorm hallway windows as Uki and Sonny returned to Room 305, the click of their door unlocking echoing faintly behind them.
As soon as they stepped inside, the calm silence of their shared space wrapped around them like a soft blanket—a contrast to the buzz of the cafeteria.
"Back to reality," Uki said with a groan, dragging his purple luggage toward his side of the room.
Sonny nodded, setting down a box by his bed. "Time to see how much of my life fits into one drawer."
Uki chuckled as he unzipped his suitcase. "I'm more concerned about how I packed four outfits and twelve candles."
"Twelve?" Sonny raised an eyebrow as he pulled a folded set of dark T-shirts from his box.
"Mood regulation, energy balancing, spiritual alignment... ambiance." Uki counted on his fingers. "Totally justified."
"You forgot 'fire hazard.'"
Uki threw a pillow at him. Sonny caught it mid-air with a smirk and set it gently on Uki's bed.
They fell into a rhythm—unpacking in comfortable silence, save for the rustle of clothes and the occasional clunk of a book hitting a shelf. Sonny's side was minimal and methodical: neatly folded clothes, a lined-up row of crime novels, a small framed photo of what looked like his family.
Uki's side, by contrast, was a soft mess of lavender sheets, mismatched trinkets, a jar of glitter, and an old stuffed jellyfish he immediately placed on his pillow like it belonged on a throne.
Sonny glanced at it. "Childhood memory?"
"Mm. Gift from my brother before he moved out." Uki said, not looking up. "He said he'd protect me from nightmares. I think he mostly judges my life choices now."
"Does he approve of me so far?" Sonny asked with surprising softness.
Uki looked at him for a moment, eyes flicking with amusement. "Hard to tell. But he hasn't fallen over yet, so you're probably safe."
Sonny gave a small, quiet laugh. It was rare—the kind that sounded like it surprised even him. Uki heard it and smiled to himself, continuing to fold a shirt that hadn't seen the sun in weeks.
A pause settled between them, not uncomfortable—just thoughtful.
"You don't talk much, do you?" Uki said, glancing over.
Sonny paused midway through arranging his notebooks. "I guess I don't. Not unless there's something worth saying."
Uki nodded slowly, then returned to his task. "I get that. I talk too much for the both of us anyway."
Sonny looked at him, that faint smile returning. "I don't mind it."
Uki froze for a heartbeat—just a blink of surprise—then quietly went back to folding, the corners of his lips tugging upward.
For a first day with a stranger, it didn't feel like a stranger at all.
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Shu Yamino returned to his dorm room, still sipping the last of his milk tea. He unlocked the door with a quiet click and stepped inside—only to freeze at the sight before him.
A mountain of boxes was toppled across the floor, and somewhere beneath them, a limb twitched.
"Umm... are you okay?" Shu asked cautiously, taking a step forward and peering over the mess.
From beneath the avalanche, a blonde head popped up, hair tousled, and cheeks slightly flushed. The guy looked up at him with a sheepish grin of pure relief.
"Roommate! Please help me~" he whined dramatically, arms flailing just enough to send a smaller box rolling toward Shu's foot.
Shu sighed but walked over and began lifting the boxes off one by one. "Did you try to carry all of this at the same time?"
"Yeah..." the guy mumbled, clearly embarrassed. "It was a dumb idea. Thought I could do it in one trip. Y'know—efficiency."
"Efficiency and gravity rarely go well together." Shu muttered as he stacked the boxes neatly beside the bed. "But hey, now you've learned your lesson."
The guy let out a breathy laugh as he sat up, brushing dust from his pants and running a hand through his hair.
"I'm Luca, by the way. Luca Kaneshiro. Business major." He beamed, like nothing had just collapsed on top of him.
Shu cracked a small smile. "Shu Yamino. IT major. And apparently your new emergency contact."
Luca laughed again, brighter this time. "Nice! I can already tell we're gonna make a great team."
Shu quirked an eyebrow. "We'll see. Just don't bring down the ceiling next time you try to decorate."
Luca grinned wider. "No promises."
Shu chuckled as he finally closed the door behind him. It looked like move-in day just got a little more... chaotic.
Boxes were finally off the floor, but Room 306 still looked like a small tornado had recently passed through.
"Alright! Let's get organized!" Luca declared, planting his hands on his hips, eyes scanning the chaos with determination.
Shu, already halfway through unpacking his neatly labeled containers, glanced over. "You have a plan?"
"Of course!" Luca grinned and popped open a box labeled 'Clothes/Maybe Kitchen Stuff??'
Shu blinked. "Why the question marks?"
"Because I packed fast, okay? Priorities."
Luca began pulling things out at random—a handful of mismatched socks, a rice cooker lid, a neon green mug with '#CEOEnergy' written on it, and what appeared to be a half-deflated beach ball.
He held up the mug like it was a prized artifact. "Boom. Business major core."
Shu raised an eyebrow. "That belongs in a drawer, not a boardroom."
"You lack vision, roommate."
With a laugh, Luca tossed the mug onto his desk and began shoving clothes into the bottom drawer of his closet—until he realized the drawer was already full... with snacks. He'd apparently used it as emergency food storage and forgotten.
"Oh crap. That's where I put my ramen."
Shu, now sitting calmly on his bed with his laptop, looked up. "You mixed your instant noodles with your socks?"
"Don't worry, they're still sealed." Luca said defensively.
"That's not the problem."
Across the room, Shu's half of the space was already immaculately arranged—books alphabetized, cables coiled, LED lights subtly set behind his desk. Meanwhile, Luca had built what looked like a lopsided fortress of snacks, sweaters, and an electric kettle still in its box.
"You know, I'm starting to think this whole organizing thing is harder than I thought." Luca admitted as he tried to hang a jacket and knocked over three boxes in the process.
Shu sighed, stood up, and walked over. Without a word, he caught a box before it hit the floor, plucked the jacket from Luca's hand, and calmly began hanging things in the closet—shirts first, color-coded by default.
Luca watched him, mildly in awe. "Wow, you're like a dorm dad."
"Dorm dad?" Shu echoed dryly.
"Yeah. All responsible and cool and organized. I'm like the chaotic younger sibling. You fix everything after I mess it up."
Shu paused, then smirked faintly. "Sounds exhausting."
"But you're already doing it!" Luca said brightly, giving him a playful elbow.
Shu rolled his eyes but didn't argue.
By the time the sun began to dip, Luca's side of the room was at least livable. His shelves weren't perfect, and one drawer still jingled suspiciously with coins and chewing gum, but with Shu's quiet help, they made it work.
As Luca flopped back onto his bed, arms stretched, he let out a content sigh. "You're alright, Shu. Glad you're my roommate."
Shu, now back at his laptop, paused only a second before replying.
"Yeah... same."
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The morning sun spilled through the dorm windows, casting golden streaks across the shared room of 306. Birds chirped somewhere in the distance, annoyingly cheerful for such an early hour.
Shu was already awake, dressed, and brushing his teeth with mechanical efficiency. His laptop bag was packed, his schedule printed and folded neatly in his pocket. He checked the time on his phone: 7:08 AM.
Behind him, a loud snore broke the peaceful silence.
Shu turned toward Luca's bed, where the blonde was buried under a mountain of blankets, one leg dangling off the edge, the other hooked around his pillow like he was wrestling it in his sleep. His alarm buzzed faintly from somewhere in the mess, muffled under a hoodie.
Shu walked over, leaned down, and gave the mattress a firm shake.
"Luca."
Nothing.
Another shake. "Luca, you'll be late."
A groan.
"Your class starts at 8. It's already past 7."
"Mmmfff... capitalism can wait... five more minutes..."
Shu sighed, then reached under the blankets, fished out the phone, and turned the alarm up to full volume.
Luca jolted upright like he'd been shot. "AH—WHO'S DYING?!—Oh. Morning." He blinked, then looked around in panic. "Wait. Morning?! Is it Monday?!"
"It's literally the first day of classes." Shu deadpanned, already slinging his bag over his shoulder. "Move faster than a sloth this time."
Luca scrambled out of bed, grabbing whatever clothes were closest—one sock mismatched, tie on backward, and shoes untied.
"You're not seriously wearing a 'CEO-in-training' pin to class." Shu pointed out as Luca jabbed it into his lapel.
"Branding, roommate. Branding." Luca winked.
Meanwhile, across the hall in Room 305...
Uki Violeta sat at his desk, adjusting the collar of his sharp blazer. He wore a crisp, tailored outfit with soft violet accents, his nails clean and glossy, his laptop bag perfectly packed. Everything about him said presentation matters.
Across the room, Sonny stood near the window, flipping through a small notebook of handwritten case notes. His criminology textbooks were already sorted by subject and weight in his satchel.
"You ready?" Sonny asked, looking over his shoulder.
Uki glanced up from applying a final dab of perfume to his wrist. "As ready as someone about to dominate every group project this semester."
Sonny blinked. "You're not worried about the first class?"
"Please. Marketing's all about perception. You walk in like you know what you're doing—everyone believes you do." Uki smirked. "Besides, I came from a part-time job in retail. This is luxury in comparison."
Sonny gave the faintest smile. "Fair point."
They stepped out of the dorm just in time to nearly collide with Shu and a disheveled Luca, who was still wrestling with the zipper on his bag while adjusting his tie.
Luca waved as he tried to tuck his shirt in while walking. "Morning, neighbors! Shu didn't tell me you were all this fashionable. You guys look like you walked out of a magazine."
Uki blinked, amused. "And you look like you walked out of a laundry basket."
"I call it organized chaos." Luca winked.
Uki gave him a once-over, unimpressed but amused. "You look like you were attacked by your closet."
Luca gasped dramatically. "It was mutual combat, thank you."
"Ignore him, he called instant noodles a 'time-saving breakfast.'" Shu muttered as they started walking toward the campus quad.
"Efficiency is key when you're a future CEO." Luca declared proudly, adjusting the shiny #CEOEnergy pin on his lapel like it was a badge of honor.
Uki gave him a slow side-eye and let out a sharp snort. "I'm in Marketing. Trust me—you're the exact kind of guy I'd rebrand immediately."
Luca gasped. "Rude. This is called signature charm."
He turned dramatically to Sonny, eyes pleading. "Hey, at least I made it out the door, right? That's progress. Tell them. Tell them I'm improving."
Sonny didn't even glance at him. "Barely."
"You're supposed to be on my side," Luca whined, clutching his heart like he'd just been stabbed. "What kind of best friend are you? I'm being bullied before breakfast!"
Sonny gave a tired sigh. "The kind that keeps you from flunking out or setting off fire alarms. Pick your battles."
Shu glanced between them with a raised brow. "You two know each other?"
"Yeah, I met him during enrollment," Sonny replied, adjusting the strap of his bag. "And right then, he decided we're best friends."
"Destiny," Luca said with a proud grin, as if Sonny had just confirmed a life-long vow. "I saw him standing there, all mysterious and broody, and I just knew."
"That he needed chaos in his life?" Uki deadpanned.
"Exactly!" Luca pointed at him triumphantly.
Sonny didn't deny it—he just sighed again, quieter this time, as if he'd already accepted his fate.
Shu chuckled under his breath. "Well, at least you're self-aware. That's one step closer to surviving freshman year."
The four of them continued walking down the pathway as the campus buildings came into full view—modern, towering, and humming with the nervous energy of hundreds of new students.
They had no idea how much their lives would collide from here on out.
But in this moment, as laughter and banter echoed between them, it didn't matter. For now, it was just four strangers on the edge of something bigger than any of them realized.
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TO BE CONTINUED