Roommates Wanted!
fem!reader x o. aiku x s. ryusei x i. sae
fic series
summary: a group of unique personalities come together to be roommates. chaos, comfort, and romance? maybe.
tags and themes: no soccer exists here, crack, fluff, angst, roommates au, very ooc, usage of nicknames (princess, babe, sweetheart), itoshi rin exists here, applications of headcannons (shidou's origin hc), aiku being a teacher (eb), shidou as an mma instructor (hc), sae as an editor (author's choice), reader is a front desk officer
tags and themes: nsfw, car fun, jealous sex, penetration, fem!reader, Itoshi Sae is his own trigger warning, Leonardo Luna mentioned
author's note: because of the poll, I now know that when Shidou is put in a popularity contest against Sae, Sae wins. in another poll with Shidou and Aiku, Shidou wins. it's interesting. anyway, if you have listened to Doja Cat's jealous type, that song inspired this. this is prolly the last one i'll write for my boys.
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When you look at Itoshi Sae, what comes to mind first?
Fame? Talent? Wealth? Beauty?
He is all of those things. But once he opens his mouth, he’s also rude, cold, and blunt.
And a sweet talker.
No one knows that part but you. You, who spend your time with him behind closed doors and drawn curtains. You, who drive with him around Madrid in cars with tinted windows. You, who sleep in his bed only to wake alone with a note reminding you to be discreet when you leave.
He says he doesn’t do love. But the way his hands hold you, the way his eyes linger, tells you otherwise. He claims he doesn’t need you, yet he expects you to show up after every away game. He swears this is nothing, but his lips whisper words that keep you tied to him.
Itoshi Sae says nothing, yet says everything.
And in your mind, that makes him cruel.
That’s why you’re here, isn’t it? At Re Al’s victory party, another championship you’ve stopped keeping track of. You’re here only because Sae invited you, yet, as always, he’s nowhere near your side.
Typical. Why would you expect any different?
And as it’s happened before, your eyes catch someone else’s. This time, a blonde with emerald eyes approaches you while you’re fending for yourself at the bar.
“I’ve seen you at a few of these parties,” he says, voice smooth as silk.
You smile, honest. “I wasn’t really supposed to be anywhere near Re Al.”
“Then why grace us with your beauty if you weren’t?”
You laugh. He’s good.
The conversation flows easily. Names are exchanged, followed by laughter, and then stories. He’s easy, lighter than Sae, brighter than Sae. Maybe even better than—
Your phone buzzes on the bar. You glance down. The number. Him.
Without a second thought, you silence it and flip the phone face down. “You’re not going to answer that?” Leonardo asks, curiosity glittering in his eyes. “It’s not important,” you shrug.
The conversation continues smoothly, but before long, a suited security guard approaches. “Miss, you are requested to be escorted outside.”
You blink. “What?”
He leans in, whispers something you already know. Leonardo tilts his head in question. You smile faintly. “I’m being summoned,” you say, excusing yourself.
The car door shuts, locks click, and tinted windows seal you off. Sae grabs your arm immediately, pulling you close.
“Why were you talking to him?” His voice is steady, quiet, but the ragged pull of his breath betrays him.
“Sae,” you sigh. “You invited me here and disappeared. What was I supposed to do? Just stand there?”
“No,” he says flatly, “but I don’t expect you to talk to anyone.”
"Jealousy? Is that what this is?" You ask him aloud, and instead of answering, he kisses you, rough and demanding. His hands push your dress up in one swift motion.
“You’re mine,” Sae murmurs against your lips. “You’re mine. No one else’s.”
“You keep saying that,” you push back, voice trembling, “but it’s not true. I’m tired of this, Sae. I don’t want this anymore.”
The next moment, your back hits the leather seat, panties pushed aside, and he’s inside you, fucking into you like a man starved.
Missionary. Something he’s never done before. Sae always took you from behind, detached and distant. But now his eyes are locked on yours, desperate, burning...
“I know you’re trying to cut me off,” he grunts, hips snapping into yours, “but don’t. Just… don’t.”
You cry out, nails digging into his shoulders. “I can’t keep doing this, Sae! Ahh~! I don’t want to be here just whenever you need me!”
“I know.” His forehead presses to yours, sweat dripping, breath hot and unsteady. “I know. But please… just stay.”
His thrusts grow frantic and punishing. Every push hits deep, dragging you higher until you’re choking on his name, cumming hard around him.
“Good girl,” he groans, chasing his own release. “One more. Give me one more.”
He drives you into the seat until you unravel again, screaming as he follows, spilling inside you with a hoarse, broken curse.
When it’s over, you’re both panting, bodies slick with sweat. Sae slumps against you, arms caging you in like he’s afraid you’ll slip away.
You wipe his damp forehead with shaky fingers. “Sae… answer me honestly. Were you jealous?”
Itoshi Sae is not a jealous man.
“…Yes.” His voice cracks, quiet but raw. “Yes. I was.”
Roommates Wanted!
fem!reader x o. aiku x s. ryusei x i. sae
souvenir
summary: in many ways, the boys have shown you their adoration and affection. this time around, it's much deeper.
tags and themes: roommates au, polyamory route, MDNI!!, smut, p in v, soft dom aiku, slow lover sae, rough shidou, oral (receiving and giving), loud sex, spitting, size bragging, hair pulling, orgasms, mating press, doggy, missionary
author's note: we are definitely dipping our toes into this forbidden ocean, and I enjoy every moment writing this, even if it's obv my poor attempt at writing smut (I rwrite fluff more hehe). I did not add my usual tag list since I am aware most of the people in the list are minors. again, interact with awareness. READ THE TAGS AND THEMES. as always, likes, comments, and reblogs are much appreciated!
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The time will come when you finally try to explore your sexual life with your roommates-slash-boyfriends. You’re sure the boys have already thought about it, and you only circled around the idea one sleepless night. But the way it all happened was… exactly how you imagined it would.
Shidou didn’t go to the gym that day. He rarely took time off since he spent at least five hours a day teaching MMA classes. You, on the other hand, had finally been granted three days off (thanks to your supervisor approving your filed vacation leaves. It felt like a miracle).
So, spending the whole day with Shidou, and Shidou alone, was something you looked forward to after the others left.
He was lying on the couch with his head on your lap, watching whatever video popped up on his For You page while you played with his flat, blonde hair. “You look more handsome like this,” you teased as you started to braid a tiny section of it.
“Nah,” he said, pink eyes looking up at you. “I like it spiked up.”
“Ever tried tying it up?” you asked, fingers moving from the braid to massage his scalp.
The moment your fingers made contact, his eyes practically rolled back and his breath hitched. “Fuuuuuuck, baby…” Shidou drawled.
For a moment, you felt yourself grow hot at the sound. You wanted to hear it again. So, you continued, slowly pressing your fingers into his hair and working your way down his nape. “Y/N, what are you doing?” he moaned softly, eyes closing in pure bliss. “Didn’t know I needed a head massage until you did it.”
“Well,” you said quietly, watching his face and listening to the sounds he made, “you know who to go to when you need one.”
He hummed, smiling.
Then his smile dropped when he felt you shift your legs.
When he opened his eyes, he was met with your hungry eyes.
“Are you fucking horny?” he teased, a sly grin forming on his lips.
Your once-dilated pupils shrank when you realized you’d been caught. You stuttered out a weak, “No.”
He sat up and properly faced you. “No need to get shy, sweetheart. It’s totally normal… but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to take action on it.”
You stared at him, realizing this was really going to happen.
He leaned in, sliding his hand up your neck before settling at your nape, sending heat straight between your legs. “Shidou,” you breathed. His face hovered inches from yours, and before closing the gap, he murmured, “I’ve dreamed of this for a long time, Y/N. You have no idea.” Your lips crashed together, and what followed was a dance of heat and desire.
Shidou quickly scooped you from the couch onto his lap, arms locking around your waist. Your fingers found their way back into his blonde hair, tugging gently. He groaned into the kiss before pulling away. “At least be rough with me, sweetheart,” he teased. You answered by jerking his head back and dragging your tongue along his neck. His fingers dug into your shirt.
“Rougher than that,” he chuckled.
“How about you show me?” you teased, releasing his hair.
Your hands traveled from his neck down his chest and finally to the hem of his shirt. You pulled it over his head, leaving him bare. You watched as his chest rose and fell with each breath, your eyes tracing every line of his sculpted torso. All those hours at the gym hadn’t gone to waste.
Wordlessly, Shidou removed your top.
When he saw you bare, braless, his mouth watered.
“Do you have any idea how perfect you are?” he said lowly. “We should do nude painting sessions next time I get you all to myself.”
“You flatter me,” you replied, leaning in to kiss him again.
The more you explored each other, the more clothes scattered across the floor.
Now fully naked on the couch, Shidou found himself in bliss as he went down on you, his tongue tasting, teasing, and pressing into you. You tried hard not to be too loud. Knowing yourself in moments like this, you were always vocal.
“Don’t hold back,” Shidou said as he lifted himself up.
Slowly, agonizingly, he slipped three fingers into you, something you didn’t expect. In your past experience, it usually started with one, then two, then three. You yelped, and you swore you saw him grin.
“Let them hear you. Fuck a noise complaint. I just wanna fuck you.”
One thing about Shidou: he never really bragged about his size. He bragged about his strength, sure, but never his dick. The others didn’t either. You were all mature enough for that.
So when he lined himself up at your entrance, the words slipped out anyway.
“Bet I’m the biggest you’ve ever had,” he said. “Did the others compare to this?”
If you weren’t so high and heated, you might’ve been shy. But something about Shidou made you honest, no matter how dirty.
“No, you’re bigger,” you mewled as his tip teased you. “Fuck, Shidou, just put it in.”
He pushed into you easily, though the stretch still made you gasp. “Shidou,” you moaned, reaching for him. He caught your hands and pinned them above your head against the armrest. With a quick kiss, he started to move.
Out. In. Out. Gentle at first. Careful. Then faster.
You kept your eyes on him. He looked frenzied, the same look he wore in the ring.
“So fucking hot,” he groaned.
“Faster, baby,” you whined, trying to claw at his grip.
“As you wish.”
The whole unit filled with your sounds, uncaring of the neighbors. Shidou’s pace was relentless, driving deep with every thrust. Sweat dripped from his chin into your open mouth, and you licked your lips. “Nasty girl,” he huffed. “Keep it open for me.”
You did, and he spat, warmth spreading across your lips and cheek. “You could’ve told me you liked this,” he grunted.
“I didn’t want to spoil the surprise,” you mewled.
Next thing you knew, Shidou lifted you onto his lap. “Your turn,” he slurred as you sank down on him. It felt hotter this way. The angle, the way he looked up at you, fiery eyes now begging for movement.
And you did.
Up and down. Again, and again.
“Fuck, Y/N,” he groaned.
Getting impatient, he pulled you against his chest, then took over, pounding until you were both a breathless, sweaty mess. “Gonna cum, gonna cum,” he chanted, pulling you off just in time, spilling across your stomach and his.
Catching his breath, Shidou kissed the base of your neck. “You good up there?” he murmured. You looked down at the mess between you and laughed softly. “Good enough to go for a couple more,” you teased, kissing him again.
It was no surprise when Aiku later held up a noise complaint from the mailbox downstairs, clear evidence of what had happened in their absence.
“Where’d you get the chain?”
Aiku paused and looked at you. You giggled and pointed at the shiny silver chain resting against his neck. “It looks hot on you,” you added.
He chuckled and handed you the last plate he’d been rinsing. “My older sister gave it to me as a gift. It was out of nowhere, but I’m glad you like it.”
As you dried the plate, you gave him a proper look.
Nine P.M. in this household meant slowing down. It meant finishing the last chores with Aiku if you weren’t in a hurry. Tonight, he was still in his work clothes, sleeves rolled up to his forearms until they hugged his skin. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing the chain. His tie was loose, ready to be taken off.
It was always a hot treat to see him like this at the end of the day. Every day.
“Checking me out like that is dangerous, Blue,” he teased.
“Well,” you replied, sliding the plate into the cabinet and closing it. You hung the towel neatly to dry. “What if I want some danger?”
He laughed. “How hungry are you? Wasn’t the stunt you and Shidou pulled enough?”
“I can’t say it wasn’t enough,” you said, walking up to him. You undid his loose tie and placed it on the counter behind him. Then you reached up and fiddled with his chain. “But this chain made me think of things we could do.”
“You sure you wanna do this right now?” His voice dropped, concern still there.
You nodded and tugged gently on his necklace. “I can be quiet, Aiku…”
“Sure you can,” he replied dryly.
You felt his hands roam up your waist and down the curve of your back.
“Can’t say I want to fuck you quietly, though,” Aiku added.
He leaned in, and you met him halfway. His kisses were refined and practiced, like he knew exactly what movements made a woman unravel. Aiku lifted you onto the counter and parted your legs.
“Would you care if I rip your uniform off?” he breathed, leaving wet kisses on your neck before latching onto a sensitive spot. “You’ll have to pay for a new one,” you mewled.
You tugged at his hair and he groaned softly. “Fuck, Blue… I guess I’ll let you take it off.” He lifted you from the counter and carried you into his room. His foot kicked the door closed and he lowered you to the floor.
“Now, strip for me,” he said quietly.
You stepped back and unzipped your uniform from the back, letting it slip from your shoulders and puddle around your ankles. You stood there in your underwear and stockings.
When you reached for the stockings, Aiku stopped you. “Leave it, baby,” he murmured, kissing you again.
His hands unclasped your bra and pushed you onto his bed, the frame creaking beneath your weight. As he climbed over you, his hands found your breasts, massaging and pinching your nipples. You breathed heavily and bit his lip. He moaned.
“Feisty,” he commented.
He pulled away after a quick peck. “Keep your eyes on me.”
And you did.
Slowly, he unbuttoned his shirt and shrugged it off his shoulders. Out of the three, Aiku was visibly the biggest. His arms were thick enough to lock you in place. Even Shidou once admitted he struggled with Aiku during MMA sessions.
The chain glinted faintly in the dim light as he unbuckled his belt. In one swift motion, he pushed down his slacks and briefs, leaving himself bare before you.
“Oh my God,” you breathed, reaching for him. Your mouth watered at the sight. He looked like a god.
Aiku stepped closer, took your jaw in his hand, and tilted your face up. He stroked himself once, twice, then squeezed your cheeks gently. An unspoken command.
You opened your mouth and took him in. The salt and musk of his day filled your senses.
“Your tongue, baby,” he groaned. “Use it.”
You swirled your tongue along his length and tip, earning a hiss. He was so thick your jaw began to ache. His hand cradled your head, fingers massaging your scalp as you worked him. Then he pulled you away with a soft pop.
“All fours, Blue. I wanna see you.”
You obeyed, getting on all fours on his bed, your body waiting for him.
“What a view,” he murmured.
You heard the slick sound as he stroked himself again, his free hand trailing from your ass up your back. Then came the sound of thin fabric tearing.
“Aiku!”
“I’ll buy you five more tomorrow. Don’t worry.”
Your stockings were ripped open at your core. His fingers brushed over your underwear, feeling how wet you were. He hummed in approval and slid your panties aside. Without warning, he flattened his tongue against you from behind. You bit down on a whimper as he ate you like he’d been starving, sucking and pulling at your clit until you nearly cried from need.
Then he pulled away.
“Think this is ready?” he asked, his tip resting between your cheeks.
“Aiku… please… I’m ready,” you whispered, glancing back at him. The sight alone nearly pushed you over the edge.
He gathered your hair in his hand. “Tell me when it’s too much.”
Then he entered you, deep, deeper, until he completely filled you.
Big. That was all your mind could think. So big!
“Aiku!” you gasped as he tugged your hair back, shushing you softly. Somehow, that only made it worse in the best way. He drove into you from behind, forcing your back to arch. Your thoughts dissolved into want and heat, selfish enough to beg for more.
Aiku moved like he knew exactly what he was doing to you.
When he released your hair and climbed over you, keeping his pace steady, you felt yourself break.
“Feels good, Blue?” he murmured into your ear.
You cried out into the mattress as you came, body shaking around him. He chuckled softly, amazed at how a whisper could undo you. He let you finish before moving faster, harder, until the bed creaked beneath you. “Aiku, Aiku, Aiku,” you chanted. “S-sensitive!”
“That makes it better.”
He felt himself reaching his climax as pulled out and held your hips as he finished, spilling over your back with a groan.
You stayed there, breathless, stunned at how intense it had been.
Aiku gave your ass a light slap before grabbing a towel and cleaning you carefully. “We should do this again, Blue,” he said quietly. “Maybe when it’s just us in the apartment.”
You laughed softly and nodded. “Yeah…”
Sae looked up from his reading at the dinner table as you walked out of your room. Disheveled from sleep, you padded toward the fridge for some cold water. You sensed him there, you always did.
“Thinking of something?” you asked.
You brought your glass to the table and sat across from him, squinting at the warm glow of the light. Sae looked at you and removed his reading glasses shortly after.
“Come here,” he said softly, pushing his chair back to make space.
You followed and approached without a word. You sat on his lap and curled against him. He huffed a quiet laugh and gathered your legs closer. “Have you been sleeping well?” he asked in a whisper. “You’ve been acting a little off lately.”
You sighed and buried your face in the crook of his neck. “I keep thinking of you.” You felt his hand rub over your bare leg, making you curl in closer. “If it helps, I’ve been thinking about you too,” he said, kissing your shoulder. “I’ve been busy, haven’t I?”
You let out a soft laugh. “Yeah. You’ve been neglecting me.”
He hummed. “You know, I’ve thought about the future… about what this arrangement would look like,” he said. “If anything, I think there’s been some improvement in how I see it now.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I suppose I can see why you chose all of us instead of just one. Before, I always wished you’d picked me alone.”
“Sae,” you said, sitting up.
“Listen to me,” he begged softly. “I liked you enough to think about marriage, Y/N. But that’s another discussion for all of us. Right now, I’m happy that we’re giving you different kinds of love.
“From Aiku, you’ve gained stability and predictability. I can see how routine has grounded you both. I enjoy seeing you bond that way. From Shidou, you’ve gained adventure. I see how much you open up to his whims, how much harder you laugh. It’s beautiful.”
“Sae,” you said again, cupping his cheek. “I adore you. You know that, right?”
“Of course I know,” he replied. “You open up deeply when you’re with me. You enjoy the quiet I bring, even when it’s deafening. You’re patient and kind… and that’s how I know you...”
You noticed his hesitation. “Not ready to say it yet?” you teased.
“I wanted it to be the right time. I can show you how much I feel, if you’d prefer it that way.”
You leaned in and met him in a kiss, slow and present. Sae had always been the one who wanted to feel the moment rather than be carried away by it. He deepened the kiss by opening his mouth, and you followed. His tongue slipped into yours, drawing a moan from you.
“We don’t want to be too loud,” he whispered, pulling away.
“Sae, please.”
“I know. But patience,” he said.
He hooked an arm under your legs and, in one smooth motion, stood up with you in his arms.
“My room?” you asked as he walked down the hallway.
He nodded and turned toward your room instead. He nudged the door close and locked it before gently setting you down on the bed, your legs dangling off the edge. “Let’s take this slow,” he said as he knelt before you. He hooked his fingers into the waistband of your shorts, surprise flickering across his face.
“No underwear?” he asked as he tugged them down, confirming his suspicion.
“It’s… healthier not to wear panties at night,” you replied, face flushed.
A hint of a smirk curved his lips as he slid your shorts off your ankles, leaving you bare and open. He gently pried your legs apart and knelt between them. “I’m going to eat you, okay?”
You chuckled softly. “No need to tell me, Sae. Just do it.”
“I know,” he said, “but I want to let you know.”
He started with kitten licks to your clit, your body fluttering at the sensation. His lips wrapped around it easily, more naturally than any of your previous lovers. You sighed as electricity traveled through your nerves. His tongue traced your clit and then your slit, flat and slow, slick and eager. You writhed beneath him, impatience building. You grabbed his hair and pushed his face deeper into you.
“Sae, please.”
He chuckled and pulled away. “You’re not very fond of slow sex,” he commented, rising from his knees. You sighed and turned your face away, propping yourself up on your elbows. “I’m sorry,” you said softly, embarrassed. “Don’t be.” Sae slipped off his shirt, and you watched. His muscles shifted with every movement, his skin glowing in the soft light of your room. He removed his shorts next, standing bare before you.
Your body heated at the sight of him.
He climbed onto the bed and hooked his arms under yours, pulling you higher up the mattress. You gasped, finding it impossibly hot how easily he handled you like that.
Sae was gentle, from the way he removed your top, to the way he lifted your legs against your chest as he entered you slowly and carefully. He watched your face for any sign of discomfort, but all he saw was your flushed expression and parted lips.
You were immediately addicted to the way he moved inside you, measured and deliberate, yet always reaching that place that needed him. “Feels good, babe?” he exhaled, pushing deeper. His hands tightened around the backs of your thighs, his control slowly unraveling as he listened to your whimpers. “Answer me.”
Fuck him and his voice. You could feel yourself getting closer.
“Yes… yes,” you moaned.
He picked up his pace, thrusting harder and faster, groaning as he kept his eyes on you. “Keep looking at me,” he whispered. “Please… keep your eyes on me.”
You did. You never dared to close them. The more you watched his desperate, flushed face, the faster you unraveled.
You climaxed with his name on your lips, shaking beneath him. He followed soon after, pulling out and spilling over your stomach and chest with a low groan.
Breathing hard, he took your hands and kissed them gently.
“You did so good, babe,” he murmured.
“Can we… can we go again?” you asked, biting your bottom lip.
He chuckled and nodded. “As many times as you want.”
Dialing his number on your old flip phone, you pressed call and listened to it ring.
You and Sae had been tense for the past few years. With him off the field permanently since your second child was born, making him a stay-at-home dad most of the time, and you being one of the most in-demand graphic designers in your company, your days had become a blur of projects, deadlines, and meetings. Time between you two had grown scarce. Sae didn’t say much. He wasn’t bitter, not exactly, but you could feel it. The distance that lingered between words, the quiet that lasted a little too long.
Now, with him away on a trip with your girls, something you’d both planned as a family trip, you were left behind, surrounded by unfinished work and unopened drafts.
Rummaging through your old college boxes, you found your flip phone. You charged it, watched the screen flicker to life, and scrolled through memories: messages from classmates, friends… and him. Sae, your boyfriend back then, now your husband. Sometimes, you still couldn’t believe it.
When the receiver picked up, his voice rang through the speaker.
“Hello, Y/N?”
“Hi,” you breathed. “How’s the trip going? How are the girls?”
“I don’t... What are you talking about? Why are you calling me? You realized how much you messed up?”
You frowned, taking the phone off speaker and holding it to your ear. “Sae, I know you’re upset that I didn’t come, and I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you once the projects are done.”
“and girls?” he repeated, confusion cutting through his tone. “Are you talking about fans? Is this why you’re calling? You’re picking a fight again? After we just fought last night? You said we’re taking a break.”
A break? When did you ever say that?
“Sae, I don’t understand.”
“Don’t talk to me right now.” You could hear cheering in the background, loud and distant.
“Sae-chan! Get off the phone! We just won the World Cup!”
That voice... Was that Shidou? Shidou and Sae hadn’t spoken in years, not since Sae retired. And… the World Cup? That was...
“I have to go, Y/N,” Sae cut in, his tone softer now, but still cold. “I don’t want to talk. Maybe later. But not now. Not after that fight.”
The line clicked off.
You stared at the phone, the old interface glowing faintly in the dark.
And then it hit you.
That wasn’t Sae, your husband.
That was Sae, your boyfriend.
Eight years ago.
If you have read Landline by Rainbow Rowell, you'll know... I only read the first chapter though hahahaha
Roommates Wanted!
mom!fem!reader x dad!o. aiku x papa!s. ryusei x daddy!i. sae
brand new life
summary: two bundles of joy changed your lives for the better. but underneath the illusion, the lingering ugly truth of your family was threatening to explode.
tags and themes: polyamory route, babies! two of em!, family trouble and arguments, rebel kid, swearing, angst with comfort, reconciliation
author's note: it's Children's Day in Japan! i really wanted this to be dedicated to the children of your little family. tho, like every family, we have our troubles. i hope you love this chapter like i did. i loved this far more than the previous and the next one that's coming. as always, likes, comments, and reblogs are much appreciated.
also, this story is ending with just one chapter left.
On the day of Kodomo no Hi, a happy baby boy was born.
A healthy wail echoed through the delivery room as Aiku accompanied you inside, holding your hand while the nurses cleaned your son. “I wish Shidou and Sae were here to witness this,” you cried softly, leaning your head against Aiku. He kissed your forehead, long and gentle. “They’ll see Kaito soon.”
Oliver Kaito had your hair and Sae’s eyes, which Shidou was a little bummed about.
He cooed quietly as your husbands surrounded the little bassinet the nurses had rolled in. Having been talked to every day while you were pregnant, Kaito already recognized their voices. His bright teal eyes looked up toward whoever was speaking.
Shidou filled the air with promises of fun days and wild adventures. Aiku spoke of knowledge and manners. Sae offered silence and warmth. But whenever it was you who spoke, Kaito calmed immediately, his tiny hand curling around your pinky.
You knew then that your lives had changed once more.
The days blurred together after his birth. Sleepless nights, soft cries, and quiet laughter in between. Before you knew it, his toddler years were chaotic.
Being Sae’s son, he turned out very different from his father.
Kaito loved being with Shidou, especially during the months when he was home from training and matches. Shidou made sure Kaito stayed strong and active, slowly introducing him to different sports and exercising with him almost every day. Whenever Shidou flexed his arms, Kaito would follow suit. He became Shidou’s little shadow, something Shidou loved holding over Sae’s head, though Sae never really minded.
Aiku taught him manners from a young age.
How to be polite, courteous, kind, fair, when to say please and thank you. And most of all, how to treat his mommy with the utmost respect. Whenever Kaito spent time with Aiku, he would bring you little gifts from the garden or from their walks together. It was always flowers he had picked, pretty rocks from the park, or sticks he thought were cool and that you might like. Slowly, he grew into a sensitive and appreciative child.
With Sae, he learned the value of quiet.
Most of the time, when Kaito was inside Sae’s room, he would sit beside him with a book, his small voice floating through the air while Sae worked.
“Daddy, what’s this word?” Kaito would ask.
“It’s ‘meticulous,’ Kaito.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means very careful.”
“Ooooh.”
Safe to say, by the time Kaito was old enough for kindergarten, he was one of the fastest readers and writers in his class, something his teacher never failed to praise you for.
Kaito was a lovely child. Helpful around the house whenever you needed an extra pair of hands. He made you and his dads proud, and in return, Kaito was proud of you as his parents.
He always told his classmates that he had three dads.
Whenever he was praised for winning a game during sports day, he credited Papa Ryu. His intelligence always came from Daddy Sae. And his charm and good character, from his Dad.
But Kaito’s school life was never easy.
Everyone knew about his family. Some called him a freak. Others said he was odd. “It’s not normal to have three dads and just one mom. That’s questionable,” a classmate once told him. Kaito shrugged and replied, “Well, there are families with two moms or two dads. What’s wrong with those?”
Seriously, what was wrong with his family?
He understood now, as he learned more about the world, that his family was unusual. But was that even important?
Kaito adored his three dads. They had shaped him into the student he was.
He dealt with the bullying better once he finally asked about the history between you and his dads… along with the amazing comebacks Shidou gave him, which worked every time. “If shit hits the pan,” Shidou had said, “always use your fists.”
Thankfully, it never got to that point.
In your heart, as Kaito’s mother, you always knew that moment would come. You knew he would question you. Question your choices. You feared he might one day curse you for being his mother. But like you, he had a big heart, one that understood far more than someone his age should.
Kaito adored you. Out of everyone, you were his favorite. To him, you were the rest he needed after a tiring day at school. You were more patient with him, while his dads were the ones who disciplined him. Sometimes Sae would tell you that you were spoiling Kaito. But the moment he was born, he had already been spoiled by four souls who felt blessed just to have him.
In the middle of winter, when Kaito was four years old, your little ray of hope was born.
Oliver Koharu had your hair and, this time, Aiku’s green eyes. Aiku was a little saddened that she didn’t inherit his heterochromia, but green worked. “It isn’t far from Kaito’s eyes, so they won’t be questioned by my folks when we visit,” he told you as you cradled your little girl.
She was so small. Smaller than when Kaito was born.
Kaito fell completely in love with his sister. He always wanted to hold her, to stay by her side while she slept. Sometimes he would even beg not to go to school so he could be there when she woke from her naps. He swore to protect his sister from everything, promises to be his knight. It was endearing to see him act mature for his age.
As Koharu grew, she was met with gentleness by her dads.
Shidou taught her creativity. He let her make a mess with his paints and markers and was often scolded by you for letting Koharu draw on her new pajamas. Aiku made sure she understood how she should be treated. He spoiled Koharu with kisses, hugs, and gifts from work, and Koharu adored him for it. But with Sae, it was no surprise that she found him a little scary. Sae initially felt disheartened by the idea that his little girl feared him.
“Should I soften my voice?” he asked you once while the two of you lounged in the garden. “Our son mentioned that maybe it’s my voice that scares her.”
“You believe our rascal’s words?” you teased.
Sae scoffed softly. “He speaks the truth. He’s a kid.”
“Your voice is fine, Sae,” you replied. “Let Koharu warm up a little. She likes you.”
And soon enough, Koharu was sitting beside Sae with a book just like Kaito once had, asking her small, curious questions.
Oliver Kaito was ready to leave for college. Oliver Koharu was in her last year of junior high.
Eventually, she became the only child left in the nest.
When she started high school, the change was drastic. She became quieter, almost as if she wasn’t in the house at all. She made sure she left no trace of herself whenever she came downstairs.
Aiku grew worried first.
Koharu used to be the one who beat you to the door whenever Aiku came home, greeting him the moment he stepped inside.
“Something is wrong,” Aiku said one night during dinner. Koharu had skipped the meal again, though Aiku still made sure a plate was saved for her. Sae hummed in response.
“Koharu. Since her brother moved out, she’s been acting strange.”
“Maybe she’s jealous,” Sae replied flatly. Aiku scoffed and raised a brow at him. “Jealous of wh- Oh…”
Both of their gazes landed on you.
At first, you were confused. Then you caught on. “Itoshi Sae, since when did you learn to joke?”
“Shidou finally rubbed off on me,” Sae replied. “But I agree. She’s quieter. I assume she’s learning how to be independent now that Kaito’s away. She relied on her brother a lot.”
“They are best friends, after all,” you said, smiling to yourself. “I’m pleased to see them grow so close. It’s been hard for everyone since Kaito made that decision. I’m sure she’ll come around.”
When Shidou came home, he noticed it immediately.
The same explanation was given to him, that Koharu missed Kaito more than anyone in the house. Shidou immediately planned to call Kaito and ask him to visit. They would hold a small sunflower-themed dinner, Koharu’s favorite flower, to cheer her up. Kaito agreed, and a train ticket home was quickly bought for the weekend.
You and Aiku made sure to prepare all her favorites from when she was younger, both meals and desserts. You worked together in the kitchen, carefully preparing everything. When Kaito finally arrived, the house erupted into a huge hug fest. And soon enough, he joined the two of you in the kitchen to help.
“Surprise!”
Koharu stood frozen in confusion, schoolbag in hand, as she looked around the dining area, decorated in yellow and sunflowers.
Kaito ran up to her and pulled her into a hug. “I missed you,” he said, holding her by the shoulders. “You’re home.”
“Yeah,” Kaito continued. “Papa thought it would be a good idea to cheer you up. We made all your favorites, 'Haru!”
Koharu let herself be pulled along by Kaito, but deep inside, she wanted to leave. She didn’t ask for this, for this room filled with things she didn’t even like anymore. She tried her best, she really did, to smile when her dads handed her sunflowers. But the moment she turned toward you and saw you smiling at her, something inside her… flipped.
Dinner was full of stories.
Most came from Kaito, talking about his experiences in college so far. Others came from Shidou and his training, with Kaito admiring his Papa even more. Sae and Aiku shared their own stories, and you added a few here and there.
For a moment, everything felt like it used to. The lively home that once existed.
Koharu didn’t mean to, but she sighed loud enough that the conversation slowly died down. “Is there something wrong, dear?” you asked gently.
Great. Now all the attention was on her.
Koharu looked up just enough to avoid meeting your eyes. “Nothing,” she murmured. “Is it the food? Did we make it too salty for your taste?” Aiku asked, lowering his chopsticks.
Koharu shook her head.
“Something on your mind?” Sae asked.
She hated this guessing game.
“Yeah,” Koharu said, lowering her own utensils. “This.”
“Too much yellow, right?” Shidou scoffed. “I told you guys it was too much.”
“I’m not joking, Papa,” Koharu snapped, her voice rising and silencing the table again.
“Koharu,” you said softly. “What’s going on?”
“Have you ever realized how weird our family is?” Koharu said, wearing a smile that felt almost insulting. “Three dads and one mom? Seriously? How did that even work? Like… were you all that selfish to keep Mom to yourselves? Or was Mom too selfish to choose just one?”
“Koharu,” Aiku said sharply, a warning in his voice.
“Do you know what they call you at school, Mom?” Koharu continued.
She saw the confusion and fear in your eyes. Not disappointment. Never disappointment. Koharu knew you would never be disappointed in her or Kaito.
“They call you a slut,” she said flatly. “And because I defend you, I get beaten up for it. But I guess they’re right.”
“Koharu, watch your mouth,” Shidou boomed, rising from his seat. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, come on, Papa,” Koharu shot back. “Stop acting like you don’t know what I’m talking about!” She turned toward all of them now.
“How did you guys even conceive us?” she demanded. “Did you all go at once at Mom? That’s fucking disgusting! This is weird! I wish I wasn’t born into this family!”
“Koharu,” Sae said, his voice final.
“You have no right to speak to our wife like that. She may be your mother, but you will face consequences for how you treat her.”
Koharu stared at him. Then at everyone else.
At Kaito, who was looking at her in disbelief.
And finally, at you. Her own mother. The person she had sworn she would never hurt. The look in your eyes was unbearable.
“Go to your room.”
Koharu left the table in a hurry, the slam of her bedroom door echoing down the hallway.
The dining table fell silent.
In that silence, it felt as if every illusion you had about your family had shattered. “I’ll talk to her, Mom,” Kaito said quietly, excusing himself from the table. You sighed heavily, sinking deeper into your seat. Shidou was quick to move beside you, taking your hand. “You okay, Mama?” he murmured, pressing a kiss to your temple.
“I always knew this day would come,” you said, your voice shaking. “I’m so sorry.”
“What the hell was that?”
Koharu flinched the moment Kaito slammed the door shut behind him.
“What was that show you just put on in front of our parents? Calling Mom a-”
Kaito exhaled deeply, cutting himself off as he turned away from his sister.
“They were calling her that,” Koharu murmured.
“And you have the guts to tell her that?”
“You wouldn’t understand, niisan.”
“Tell me how I wouldn’t, Koharu,” Kaito snapped. “Tell me how I didn’t go through all the shit you went through while we were growing up, dealing with bullies and people talking behind our backs. I defended Mom most of all, because despite all the judgment, what matters is the truth of this family.”
Kaito sighed sharply and dragged a hand down his face in frustration.
“Koharu, are the whispers more important than the love these people gave us? They provided the best of everything for us. Sure, we’re an odd family. Who even has three dads and just one mom? It’s just us. But that doesn’t give you permission to judge your own family for the choices they made for themselves. The choices that we are a part of now.”
Koharu kept her head lowered, ashamed of herself, and too ashamed to meet her brother’s eyes. But the moment Kaito moved to grab his bag and pillow, she snapped her head up.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to sleep with Mom,” he said bluntly. “You think about what you’ve done.”
Before he left the room, he turned back once more.
“If you have so many questions about this family, any confusion, all you had to do was ask any of them. They would’ve told you the truth. I know they did when I asked.”
That Sunday, Kaito left for university.
The house grew quiet again.
You all recognized that something in your bond had been damaged now. Even if you tried to talk to Koharu, she might not listen… maybe. Your husbands did their best to keep you from worrying. You appreciated them, you truly did, but as a mother, all you wanted was for your daughter to be okay.
Koharu left her room for school on Monday when she heard everyone else leave.
There were no noises from Papa Ryu. No songs from you playing in the background. It was awfully and painfully quiet. She knew it was because of her. She could say sorry. But not now.
As she passed the kitchen, she noticed her lunch bag sitting on the counter, ready for her to take. Koharu opened it. She had a habit of checking for the little notes you usually left on top of her bento.
This time, there was none.
“Papa.”
Shidou looked up from where he sat on the patio floor, surrounded by his materials spread around him. Koharu couldn’t help but think about how her Papa never really changed. He still painted the same way he did when she was younger. “Finally out of your cave,” Shidou said flatly, patting the space beside him. Koharu sat down, leaving a few inches of space between them. “How are you doing?” Shidou asked, already returning to his work, the electric pink marker scratching softly against the paper. “Okay,” she murmured, pulling her knees up to her chest. “I just… it’s quiet.”
Shidou hummed. “It is.”
Silence stretched between them.
Koharu watched as Shidou capped one marker and uncapped another.
“You know,” Shidou said eventually, his voice low, “your Mom loved being drawn.”
“She’d ask me to draw her every time, even back when we were just friends. So out of habit, even when she’s not around, I draw her in every style I can think of. And every time, she either keeps them or has them framed.”
“Yeah, I saw.”
All of her Papa’s works hung on her Mom’s walls, always somewhere she could see first thing in the morning.
“Koharu, I want you to understand that whatever choices we made… they were made out of love.”
Shidou’s pink irises met Koharu’s green ones. There was no disappointment there. She realized then that even her dads could never truly be disappointed in her. But there was sadness in her Papa’s eyes.
“You’re right,” Shidou continued. “We were selfish enough to keep your Mom, to have her in our lives. Maybe you could say she was selfish enough not to let us go. But you don’t need to fully understand your Mom or her emotions when she was younger, especially when she found love in all of us.”
“But wasn’t it difficult?” Koharu asked quietly.
“It was very difficult,” Shidou scoffed with a small laugh. “There were times when your dads and I had private meetings whenever one of us felt jealous or thought something was unfair. Your Daddy Sae felt it the most. You might see him as stable, cold… but when it comes to your Mom, he gets all soft. Not to mention the whole in-laws stuff. You probably noticed that only a few members of our own families truly really know about this.
“Your Dad Aiku was the MVP of this whole setup. He knew how to keep us in check, reminding us that we weren’t sharing. We were just loving your Mom in our own ways.”
“Didn’t you think about the effects of this relationship when Niisan and I were born?” Koharu asked.
Shidou shrugged.
“At that time, we were just so happy to have you two in our lives. Two proofs of this… weird love we had. Two people we could pour our hearts into. We made sure you and Kaito felt that every single day. Did you?”
“Yeah.”
“Good.”
They sat in silence again until Shidou spoke.
“You should talk to your other two fathers, too. And say sorry to your Mom.”
“I’m working on it, Papa.”
“Good.”
Aiku was about to put Koharu’s plate in the fridge with a note when she appeared. Out of the three, Aiku had never been subtle with his emotions. “Hi, Dad,” Koharu said softly, giving him an awkward little wave. Aiku didn’t say anything, but the relief on his face was obvious. Instead, he moved to reheat her plate in the microwave.
Koharu climbed onto the bar stool by the counter, watching her dad move around the kitchen. “Do you hate me?” she asked. Aiku stopped what he was doing and turned to face her. His blood. Right there, sitting and watching him the same way she did when she was little. “I should be asking you that, princess.”
“Dad,” she whined, a small smile tugging at her lips.
Aiku chuckled and stepped closer, stopping across the counter from her. “No, I don’t,” he said. “Neither does your Daddy Sae, your Papa Ryu, or your Mom. We were just… sad about what you thought of us.”
“I’m sorry,” she murmured. Aiku smiled and ruffled her hair. “Kaito handled it better when he was in primary school,” he said lightly. “Asked every question he had about us. Why there were three of us. Why this, why that.”
“Why is that, though?”
Aiku sighed and met his daughter’s gaze. “Because it just is,” he said simply. “Your mother… she was the glue that held us together. She made sure we were seen and heard. Did you know we started as roommates?”
“I think Niisan told me that before,” Koharu replied.
“We were tight-knit,” Aiku continued. “We lived in a four-bedroom apartment, the biggest unit in the building, and we just… clicked. All four of us.
“When we moved into this house, we kept a few things the same. Four separate bedrooms. And whenever we wanted to sleep together or hang out, we’d drag our mattresses into the living room.”
“We didn’t really plan for any of it to happen,” Aiku admitted. “We all confessed. And your mother, the one with the biggest heart and more love than she knew what to do with, she couldn’t choose one of us over the others. She was afraid she’d lose all of us if she did.”
Koharu listened quietly. She had never seen her dad like this. So open and so honest.
“Even when she married me,” Aiku added with a soft laugh, “she was afraid she’d lose everyone.”
He gestured lightly around them.
“Look where we are now.”
The microwave beeped. Aiku quickly took the plate out and set it gently on the counter in front of her, along with her utensils.
“We understand that all of this affects you, Koharu,” he said, leaning forward on the counter, elbows resting against it. “We understand it’s hard dealing with the weirdness every time you go out there. But always remember this: this home is filled with love they’ll never understand.”
Sae got home late again. But it surprised him to see Koharu still awake on a school night. Seeing her sitting in the living room reminded him of you in every way. “Still up,” Sae said as he approached.
“I was waiting for you, Dad.”
Sae hummed and sat beside her. Koharu immediately leaned against his shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly. “I already talked to Papa and Daddy Aiku.”
“So, you decided I’d be the last one you talk to?” Sae replied, wrapping an arm around her. “No,” Koharu said softly. “Mom will be the last one.”
Sae hummed again and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “Just remember that we love you, Koharu. That’s all that matters. Talk to us. Really talk to us. Don’t shut us out again.”
She caught you in your most quiet moment. In your room, listening to the song you used at your children's lullaby. Koharu entered the room quietly, a folded paper behind her back. "Mom."
You turned to face her, your daughter, the hope that shined through the winter. "Koharu," you said softly. She stepped inside, closing the door her like she didn't want the rest of the house to hear.
Koharu stood there, her other hand fidgeting as she looked at the floor, at the wall behind you, at the framed artworks of her Papa Ryu. Anywhere but at you. "I, uh..." she started, then stopped. Her grip tightened around the paper behind her back.
You waited for her to continue. You didn't rush her. At this moment, all you can see is the 6-year-old Koharu, struggling to find the right words for her big emotions. "I'm sorry," she said finally. "I shouldn't have said those things. I shouldn't have said it like that, or at all." Koharu's voice wavered near the end, and she pressed her lips together, trying to hold the rest in.
"I didn't mean it," she added quickly. "Well, I did... but not like that. I was just..." Koharu exhaled sharply as she felt frustration bubbling inside her. "I was angry."
You watched her as she spoke, never judging, but seeing how much she has grown. The little Koharu isn't so little anymore. She's grown to have feelings as complex as this.
"My classmates," Koharu continued, her voice quieter. "They say things about you. About us. I tried to ignore it. I did, but it just kept piling up, and I didn't know what with it anymore." Her fingers loosened slightly around the paper.
"So, I said it here... Where I shouldn't have." Koharu's regretful eyes met yours as the silence settled for a little. "I hurt you."
You nodded. "You did."
"I'm sorry," she said again, softer this time. "I know," you replied. Her brows furrowed slightly. "You know?"
"I know you didn't mean to hurt me," you said gently. "But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt." Koharu's eyes dropped again, then you continued. "I don't regret you. Or your brother or this family. I chose this, and if given the chance, I'd choose it over and over again."
"I know," Koharu murmured. "I just didn't know how to defend you anymore." You sighed as you stood up slowly and walked toward her. Koharu stiffened a little, then relaxed when you stopped in front of her. "Koharu, you don't have to fight every battle for me," you said, reaching out to fix a stray strand of her hair. "You're my daughter."
"I wanted to be strong like Kaito," she admitted, her lips trembling. "But you are," you said immediately. Koharu was quick to shake her head. "I said those things to you."
"Yet you came back to apologize."
For a moment, Koharu stared at you. You, her mother, the person she loves the most. Her shoulders dropped as she felt the weight of her guilt falling off. Slowly, she brought the paper from behind her back and handed it to you. "I didn't know how to say it properly," she murmured. Upon unfolding it, you were surprised by a wonderful yet slightly crumpled artwork of all of you. You smiled, thinking how much Shidou has influenced Koharu in the arts.
Before you could overthink it, you pulled her for a hug. Koharu froze for a second, then fully melted into your embrace. God knows she needed it most. "I'm really sorry, Mom," she mumbled against your shoulder. "Oh, sweetie, I know."
"I love you."
"I love you more."
The house didn't go back to normal right away. It couldn't. There was still a kind of carefulness in the way everyone moved around each other. But they were healing.
Koharu began coming out of her room more often. She'd sit at the counter while Aiku cooked, realizing she missed it as much as her dad did. She'd linger around Shidou and started opening up to him more. She'd sit beside Sae again in the living room, reading together, yet still cautious. She started to stay close to you, helping you with chores or watching TV shows you loved watching, just like when she was little, asking a million questions of what's happening on screen.
But there was one evening where it finally felt natural again. You were moving around the kitchen with Aiku with such familiar rhythm. Shidou and Sae, with his laptop, were on the couch, conversing among themselves. Koharu walked in from her room, and asked, "Do you need help?"
For a second, you felt you heart leap at the sight of the old Koharu, a much calmer Koharu, the one who felt comfortable in her home. "Yes," you replied with a smile. "Can you grab the plates?"
With a nod, Koharu moved.
Dinner that night was lighter. There was laughter again. The flow of the conversations was how it always was, and Koharu was laughing. It was real the way she was laughing at Shidou and Sae's back and forth, and Aiku correcting Shidou each time. It was obvious that everyone at the table felt the change but didn't say anything because they didn't want to break the moment.
"I told someone about us today," Koharu spoke when the laughter died down. Shidou smiled and immediately gave his attention to his daughter. "Yeah?"
Koharu nodded. "She asked why I didn't just like and say I had a normal family."
"And what did you say?" You asked. Koharu was quiet for a moment, her eyes meeting her dads, then yours. "I said this is my normal," Koharu finally said. Shidou let out a quiet breath. "That's right, kiddo." Aiku smiled, small yet proud. Sae nodded. "Good answer."
"I was still scared," Koharu added quietly. "But... I wasn't ashamed." You reached out to pat Koharu's hand. "I'm proud of you," you said.
"Hey," Shidou said after a while, his voice lighter now. "If anyone gives you shit again, you tell me."
"Papa."
"I'm serious," Shidou grinned. "I've got a whole new list of insults ready."
"Papa, I don't need your insults anymore."
"You needed them before."
"Yeah... and they worked."
"Exactly."
"Let's not encourage violence," Aiku said, shaking his head yet amused.
"It's not violence, it's defense," Shidou argued.
"That's not better," Sae sighed.
As the night fell silent, you sat by Koharu's bed as she laid there, holding your hand as she slowly falls asleep. But before she did, she spoke one last time. "Mom?"
"Hmm?"
"I'm glad I was born in this family."
That was enough to break you. You didn't trust your voice right away, so you lift her hand to kiss it, your lips lingered longer that it should. When you finally spoke, your voice was barely a whisper.
Roommates Wanted!
fem!reader x o. aiku x s. ryusei x i. sae
introduction
summary: a front desk officer, a professor, an MMA instructor, and an editor walked into a room... what do you get?
tags and themes: roommates au, first meetings, slight crack, very ooc, soccer doesn't exist here
author's note: just a little peek of my take on the roommate au. Also, shoutout to @cheralith for inspiring me with her own fic series - apartment 345. Check that out, it's a fucking masterpiece!!
Check out the Masterlist!!
Divider from @uzmacchiato
For Rent
4-Bedroom Apartment, 1 Bath
Please Call: xxxx-xxxx-xx
Address: XXXXXX
You look at the posting on your phone as you stand at the apartment building in front of you. You have always wanted to rent out an apartment, anyway. And to have roommates? That’s something you’ve always wanted to experience. Living alone in a sad hotel room for 2 years has stunted your ability to see the sun and socialize. So this is a good option.
Upon entering, you were greeted by a small lobby. Well, it wasn’t much of a lobby anyway. There was a small desk manned by a teenage boy, around 17, you assumed. You smiled at him and asked him about the posting. “Ah, you’re here for it too?” He asked, smiling widely. “That makes two of you, then.”
“Two?” you asked, and he gestured to a gentleman sitting on the plush bench across the room. He waved at you, and you waved back, a little shy. “You can sign here first.” The boy handed you a logbook, and you signed your name and your purpose of visit. “My aunt will be here in a while. Have a seat.” And sit, you did. You gave a few inches of space between you and the shaggy-haired man, and you started to look around the interior of the small lobby. “Here for the posting?” He asked, his voice deep and smooth. “Yeah,” you replied, your eyes falling to meet his… his heterochromic ones. Wow, you thought. It was the first time you saw eyes like this up close. He must’ve noticed because a lazy grin graced his lips. “You work in a hotel… Y/N?”
“What?” you asked, confused as to how he guessed your name right. He then gestured to the name plate on the left side of your chest, with the hotel’s logo and your name engraved on it. You scoffed lightly and moved to remove it, something you usually do when you leave work. “Ah, yeah,” you laughed awkwardly. “You?”
“Middle school teacher,” He replied with an air of coolness in his demeanor. No wonder he felt like someone you could easily approach. “Wanna guess what subject?”
“Uh,” you bit your bottom lip as you read him. You pride yourself at being pretty good at this. “Science.” The man chuckled, eyes crinkling at the sides. “No, no. But kinda close. I teach Health and Sex Ed.” You raised your brows at him, and before you could ask, he spoke again. “It’s an interesting subject. And I want to be the one to teach young minds about their bodies and how they work before anyone gives them the wrong idea.”
You nodded, understanding. Pretty passionate, you thought. Just then, footsteps can be heard descending the stairs, and a lady, probably around her 50s, approached you and the man. “Oh, our applicants,” she chimed. “Come, you two. Let me give you a tour of the room.”
The room was on the fourth floor, and by the time you reached the top, your legs were jelly. Stiletto heels and stairs aren’t a good combination, and add the fact that you had a hard shift that day. The lady unlocked the room, and you and the man entered. It was bare for now, but what really made your heart feel at home was the amount of sunlight that streamed through the windows. Airflow was wonderful too. The man moved further into the room and found himself in the kitchen. You heard him hum as he looked around the cupboards, as if thinking about what items to put in them. “The four bedrooms are down the hall, all facing each other. You can check the rooms,” the lady said, prompting you to go further.
You and the man took turns checking the rooms, and you had already decided which one would be yours. “So?” The man asked. “Already decided?”
“What?”
“I’m clearly liking the place, Y/N.”
“You… want to rent this place with me?”
“Yeah,” he shrugged. “Roommates.”
You looked at him for a moment and hummed. “Yeah, sure. That could work. All we have to do is look for the last two to rent the rooms.”
In the end, the apartment was officially yours and…
“What’s your name, by the way?” You asked the man as you walked out of the apartment building. “You already know mine, so I should at least know yours now that we’re going to be roommates.” The man smiled at you and showed you his ID instead.
Oliver Aiku.
You moved in immediately since your time is quite limited. Aiku moved that weekend. You also made sure to discuss the boundaries and rules that the apartment should have with Aiku, and he understood. You put him in charge of looking for roommates, as you sent him the design you made on a whim to attract applicants.
“Didn’t know you were a graphic designer too,” he joked, sitting at the dinner table with you. You sat across him, and you kicked his leg under the table. He let out an “ow” as you laughed. “I did my best, professor,” you replied. “You know how busy we get at the hotel.” You heard him laugh softly as he examined the design you made, zooming in on it on his phone. “No need to remind me, babe.”
You had it posted on your social media accounts and online forums, hoping someone would pick it up.
For a while, no calls came in. And it was just Aiku and you. You didn’t mind. Aiku was a warm presence in the apartment, always so mindful of you, especially during the days when you’d come home at 2 in the morning. He’d always save you a plate of dinner, waiting in the fridge for you to reheat and eat.
Eventually, that peace will be disrupted.
It was a cool Saturday morning, and you just left for your afternoon shift. Aiku had already finished grading his students’ essay papers last night, and he had all the free time that day, so he decided to visit the gym nearby. He read somewhere that this gym was pretty popular and offered one-on-one classes for MMA fighting and Judo. Upon arriving, he asked the front desk if the classes accept walk-ins. Lucky for him, it did, and it just happened that the MMA schedule for that hour was open.
Aiku approached the instructor and was amused by his appearance. Tanned skin, lean muscles, blonde hair with pink tips, styled up and spikey. Aiku wondered if the eyeliner on his eyes was just no-budge eyeliner that he applied every day or tattoos, because they still looked clean on his face.
“Yo,” the blonde called out. “You here for the class?” Aiku nodded, dropping his gym bag on the nearby bench. “Yeah. Figured I'd try this out for once.”
“So, a beginner? That should be easy. Name’s Shidou.”
“Aiku, man. Nice to meet ya.”
Shidou was professional, handling Aiku in every drill they did. Shidou was surprised Aiku was able to hold up after the drills, even when he decided to “take it up a notch”, which Aiku was okay with. “Damn, you’re the only one I had today that was able to keep up. Do you usually work out?” Shidou asked as he attempted to tackle Aiku. “Nah,” Aiku grunted. “I don’t have the time sometimes. I’d say it’s the genes.” Shidou barked a laugh as he finally took Aiku down.
As the two were cooling down, Aiku spoke up. “Hey, man. I know this is gonna be weird, but do you know anyone who’s looking for a place to rent?” Shidou frowned at him, confused. “Huh?”
Aiku chuckled as he breathed out. “My roommate and I are looking for two more people to rent out the empty rooms in our apartment. Would be nice to have more people in there.” Shidou groaned, cracking his neck. “Yeah? Where’s it located?” Aiku was quick to grab his phone and show the posting. “Hm, interesting,” Shidou murmured. “Can you send this to me?”
“Yeah, sure.”
That night, at around 10:30 PM, there was a knock on the door. Aiku was alone at the apartment, and he knew it wasn’t you. He knows you have a key of your own, so a visitor at this time was odd for him. He quickly dried his hands before he opened the door to see…
“Shidou?” He asked. “Hey, man.”
They clapped hands, and Shidou grinned at him, baring. “I’m here for the room.”
“You… You’ll rent out one of the rooms?” Aiku asked, a little dumbfounded. Shidou shrugged and replied, “Been looking for a place anyway. You came with an offer, and I’m here to check it out.”
“Alright.” Aiku stepped aside and let Shidou walk inside the apartment unit. He watched as Shidou’s magenta eyes scanned the living room, dining area, and kitchen. “Good place you got here,” he whistled low. Aiku laughed softly, nodding. “Well, the princess and I did all we could to make it homey.”
“Princess? You got a girl for a roommate?” Shidou asked, brow raised. Aiku walked towards him and slung an arm around the blonde’s shoulder. “Yeah. Kinda strict, but she does her best. She should be home in a few.”
Aiku led Shidou to the empty rooms for him to choose which room he’d want, and he chose the one beside yours. Aiku asked him again if he was sure, and Shidou said that he was deadass. So, Aiku quickly briefed him on the boundaries and rules you had laid out, and Shidou was cool with it. Just before Shidou could leave, the doorknob jiggled and the door opened. “I’m home,” you sighed, your head lowered as you kicked your stilettos off. “Fucking hard shift, again.” You dropped your keys on the bowl near the door, and when you raised your eyes to meet Aiku’s, you were instead met with electric pink eyes. You straightened and smiled at him, the way you do when you’re at work. “Oh, hi!” you chimed. “Friend of yours, Aiku?”
Aiku opened his mouth to reply, but Shidou cut him off. “I’m your new roommate. Shidou, by the way,” he said smugly, holding out his hand for you to shake. You reluctantly did, and he gripped your hand a little tighter. “Can’t wait to move in here next week. Thanks Aiku and…” His eyes narrowed, and he grinned. “Y/N.”
Your brows furrowed, and you looked down at your chest. There, your nameplate, still attached to your uniform. “Sure, sure.. See you, Shidou.”
Once Shidou left and the door was locked, you were quick to slap Aiku’s arm. He laughed it off as he rubbed his skin. “Aiku! He’s loud!” You whisper-yelled, and Aiku laughed even more. “Oh, come on. We need the noise. And he’s gonna pay rent and contribute, like you said in the agreement.” You sighed and pinched the bridge of your nose and stared at Aiku like he adopted a puppy without asking. “What does he do, anyway?”
“A trainer at the gym. A damn good one, too. I met him there today because I took his class.”
“Okay, no more people from the gym. Please.”
Days now become louder with Shidou around. He greets everyone with a good morning way too loudly, sometimes waking you up way too early for work. Aiku had to scold Shidou a few times before Shidou learned when to be loud and not (just in days when you had to deal with your graveyard shifts at the hotel). As time went on, you learned how to appreciate Shidou’s personality as it added a few more colors to the comfortable home you and Aiku started to build first. He was a nice addition to the apartment.
The next month, there was another knock on the door. “You gonna get that?” Shidou said as he drank his protein shake. Aiku, busy with the meal prep for the day, shrugged. “You sure it’s not yours?” He asked Shidou. The blonde quickly shook his head. “Come on, when did I bring someone here? Or invite someone over?” Aiku laughed. “Alright, you gremlin.”
Aiku dried his hands before he opened the door. Standing outside was the most polished man they had seen so far. Suit pressed, neat and plain necktie, and a briefcase in his hand. His eyes were ocean blue, cold and still. His hair, auburn and styled neatly… kind of. “Uh, can I help you?” Aiku asked. He leaned on the doorframe as he watched the man fish for his phone in his pocket. “I’m here for this,” he spoke, his voice calm and cool. He showed Aiku the posting for the room, and Aiku was taken aback. “Really?”
The man nodded and sighed. “Look, I’m just interested in this posting and what the room looks like. It also sounded promising.”
Aiku stepped aside and let the man in, closing the door behind. Shidou grinned and approached him. “Shidou Ryusei,” he said. “Sae.”
“No last name?” Shidou teased, to which Sae sighed. “I have my reasons for not sharing my last name, Shidou.” The blonde raised his hands as he feigned surrender. “Alright, no need to be cold.”
Aiku gave Shidou the look, and he just shrugged. “I’m Oliver Aiku, by the way. Just call me Aiku.” Sae nodded and looked around. Aiku was glad he was able to convince Shidou to clean up, otherwise, the unexpected guest would turn his heels and out the door. Sae ran his hand on the couch that you and Aiku bought second-hand, his eyes scanning the living room. He hummed, as if he was satisfied with it. They watched Sae slowly navigate the dining area as Shidou walked to Aiku, just to whisper, “I bet pretty boy will have a lot of demands.” Aiku nudged his chest as Shidou huffed in pain. Just when Sae found himself in the kitchen area, eyeing the meal Aiku was preparing, a bedroom door opened. “Morning,” you grumbled, rubbing your eyes. Sae focused on you for a moment, a small smile appearing on his face. He was a little relieved that the third person was a girl.
“Y/N,” Aiku called out, “We have a visitor.”
You were met by this polished man, way too polished. You knew immediately he was here for the last spare room, so you fixed yourself quickly, the way that you always do. “Hi,” you chimed, your service industry voice floating. You saw the man’s brows shoot up as yours shot up in return. “Are you here for the room?” Sae nodded, and you were quick to lead him to the said room, the boys watching you be you. “She always does this,” Shidou murmured, “always so polite.”
“Well, that’s her. It’s actually cute. Just let her work her magic,” Aiku said.
When you and Sae stepped out of the room, the boys had a feeling that their little group of four was finally complete. You discussed the boundaries and rules with Sae, and Sae agreed to all. “I’ll move in next week,” he said calmly before he stepped out of the apartment. “Great!” you chimed, your voice reaching a pitch the others never heard. “We’ll see you soon… uhm… Sorry, I didn’t catch your name the whole time.”
“It’s okay. It’s Sae. Itoshi Sae.”
As soon as the door closed, the three of you looked at each other. “So?” You asked the boys. Shidou shrugged and grinned. “He looks like he’s out of place, Y/N. Gotta be honest with you.” You broke your posture and sighed, knowing Shidou was correct. “But he’s so neat. I like him.” Aiku pouted and leaned on you. “But babe, we’re also neat.”
“Yeah, when I ask you guys to clean up.”
“Well, I guess we’re already complete. You think Sae’s gonna work well with us here? He looks like a real quiet guy,” Aiku said.
“You mean judgmental. I don’t like the way his eyes scanned over me like I’m a freak.”
You laughed and patted Shidou’s arm. “Well, you’re our freak.”
“You mean that, sweetheart?”
“Shut up,” you laughed.
“Did you catch his last name? Itoshi… Wait a damn minute.”
On that same day, you three discovered that your fourth roommate was rich enough to buy you, your careers, and the whole damn apartment building if he wanted to.
He sets a mug (well, an insulated coffee cup) on your desk as you idly scroll through the tasks on your screen. He plants a quick kiss on the top of your head, and you look up at him.
“You could say that.” There’s a hint of exasperation in your voice.
“Nothing’s wrong,” you reply, sighing. “I just feel unmotivated today. Actually, I’ve felt this way since last week. I haven’t touched any of my projects. I just played The Sims until I got hungry, then slept through the whole weekend.”
Your explanation makes Sae’s expression soften. He knows how you are. He knows there are days when you just want to curl up in bed and hold him hostage until he reminds you he actually has to go to practice. He knows there are moments when you’d rather not be disturbed because you’re locked into your focus. He likes how your flow state always kicks in on Mondays. He knows how you get all giddy over random things, how he always ends up indulging you, helpless against your teasing and the affectionate kisses that follow when you get too riled up.
Right now, though, he knows you’re down.
But like the seasons, he knows you’ll come back around.
He wheels your chair away from the desk, turning you to face him. His hands find your arms before gently pulling you up and into his embrace. You melt against him, letting out a quiet hum. “You’ll be fine,” he murmurs. “Next week, you’ll be yourself again. Just let yourself feel this for now.”
“Thank you, Sae.”
“Hm. Don’t mention it.”
For all my unmotivated girlies rn, we'll get through this slump together 😩
Sae perked up from his spot on the bed, putting his book down. "What is?" He asked. You heard the sheets being pulled back and then his slippers padding toward you. "My acne. I've already lived past my teens, yet they're still flaring like a bitch!" Sae removed your (clean) fingers off your face and turned you around, breaking your pitiful gaze on the mirror. "I told you to stop touching your face when you work," He said, his voice flat and annoyed. It's true, you have a habit of running your fingers over your cheeks and chin whenever work was stressing you for the day. "I know, but-"
"And I bought you the same stuff that I use on my skin," He cut you off. "Those were chosen specifically for your skin type. Have you been using them?"
"Not yet," You murmured, looking away. "I still have a few creams and toner that I still need to finish. It would be a waste to just throw them away." Sae sighed. He tilted your face up, his teal eyes examining your skin. "Your acne isn't as bad as it was when you were nearing your period. They've calmed down. Just use the skin care products I got you. You'll be fine." You nodded and it was your turn to sigh. "It's just so exhausting to see myself like this. I was prettier back when we first met. Do you remember that?"
"Yes," He said. "If you want my honesty, i liked your clearer skin back then. But you're still you."
"You're just saying that," You said, your insecurity bubblibg up again. "You know I don't lie. With acne or without, you're still the same person I fell in love with. So stop whining and just use the-"
"Yes, yes, yes, i will... Starting tomorrow."
"Good." Sae raised his hand to pat your head. "Now let's head to bed. You have work tomorrow."
My acne is a bitch. Here's for all my acne prone girlies.
