[FIC] The Perils of Having a Routine (Tenimyu RPS; ShiroAi; PG)
Title: The Perils of Having a Routine
By: nikki hiiragizawa
Fandom: The Musical Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Shirota/Aiba
Genre: general
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Theirs, not mine.
Theme: #17. Obsession for 20_waka
Note: This is written for mienai_hoshi, who is still feeling down and sick. I hope you’ll feel alright soon :(♥
This is a new format I’m trying out. So far it looks interesting to me :).
A blue mountain
With drifting cloud,
How plainly
You do smile at me;
Let not others see!
- Lady Otomo of Sakanoue
four.
The door opened and a familiar face greeted you with a puzzled smile. “Ah, Shirota-san! What are you doing here?”
You blinked. “Uh, hi. Aiba-chan?” You looked far behind him and saw the familiar recesses of his apartment. “Um...”
Aiba’s brows were slightly curved in curiosity, his smile lopsided. “Why are you visiting too soon? I thought you still have to settle down in your apartment.” He held the door wide open while waiting for your reply.
“I, uh...” You scratched your temple. Why did you end up going here anyway? You were aware that you live far from here now, yet your body just moved of its own accord. Giving up on finding words to explain your presence, you sighed and shook your head. “Actually, even I don’t know why I’m standing here. I’m supposed to be going home.” You waited for Aiba’s taunting laugh or his scolding.
But neither came. Instead, on Aiba’s handsome face was the brightest smile you had ever seen, as if you had just complimented his worst cooking (which was rare, since Aiba rarely cooked and you never complimented him when he did).
“Would you like to come in?” Aiba asked you. “I bought some sushi today so...” his voice trailed off.
Grinning despite of your strange behavior today, you placed a hand on his shoulder and welcomed yourself in. “Okay, since I’m here anyway.”
Aiba smiled as he closed the door. “You’re one stranger creature, Shirota Yuu.”
three.
Minami-san was the coolest guy ever, you remembered Aiba said. That might not be the exact words, but in context they were the same.
You shook your head hastily. Aiba would not have meant anything of course. He was just too friendly. Yes, he was. You hurriedly inserted a coin in the ticket slot and watched your ticket slide out. The train would be arriving in about ten minutes, you reminded yourself before you were engulfed into a sea of commuters.
As you stepped into the platform, you immediately entered the train waiting for more passengers. The train was moderately full and you were glad you did not have to be squashed against the glass or worse, against another person. You decided to think about your work to pass the time.
After a few moments, though, your thoughts went back to Aiba. Was he mad when you announced that you need to move to an apartment far away from his? You were both used to being with each other all the time that the change was too drastic and surprising.
You were still worrying about Aiba’s thoughts when a familiar station name was announced. You stepped out of the train and walked away, wondering if Aiba would be mad enough to try being too much of a friend to the new Tezuka actor.
Nah, he wouldn’t do that right? He was always considerate and kind.
You smiled despite your previous worry. Of course, why did you need be afraid? Everything would be fine. All you needed to do was to settle yourself in your new place and visit Aiba when you had the time. They might be rare visits, but you will try your best.
You entered a building to the right and rode the elevator to the seventh floor. As you reached the floor, you went up to a room and knocked.
two.
Maybe moving to an apartment near your workplace was for the better, you thought, since you would be more focused on your work more than anything else. Instead of late night talking and eating and sometimes cuddling, you would be able to rest well or rehearse the lines in your script.
That was what you thought.
As you entered the train station, you wondered, did Aiba feel the same way about your moving? You paused before the ticket machines.
He would probably be okay, you thought. That guy was not much of a worrywart and he would adjust to the new routine soon. You nodded as if trying to convince yourself of your own decision.
Maybe Aiba would invite friends over, yes he probably will. You suddenly remembered how he talked about the new cast. He was pretty close to everyone, you recalled.
There was even one time you had a little quarrel because he slept in the new Oishi actor’s house without telling you. You spent the whole night ringing his phone then, worried like crazy. It was a good thing the e-mailing system was invented or you would have ran around Tokyo and back.
Then there was also that time when you asked him about the new Tezuka. You teasingly asked him if he was already lonely without you in the rehearsal hall. But he was not. Instead, he smiled and told you that Minami-san was one of the kindest and coolest persons in the whole word. At least that was your interpretation.
Suddenly, your hand stopped from inserting a coin into one of the ticket machines. What could Aiba have meant by that statement back then?
one.
You were still contemplating on Aiba’s previous statement when he looked up from his food and smiled. “You know, Shirota-san?”
“Hm?” You said, your attention fixed on him. You felt his foot nudging your shin under the table, and you playfully knocked his knee with yours. As he gave an embarrassed grin, you ask once more. “What is it?”
“I just remembered. Tomorrow would mark the first week that we won’t be seeing each other.” He thoughtfully mixed his ice cream with a straw.
You froze as you remembered. Tomorrow, Sunday, you would be moving to an apartment near Shibuya, where most of your workplaces were located. You just finished packing up and leaving the old apartment you lived in, which was in the same street as Aiba’s.
“Oh, yeah,” you said. “But, we’ll still be seeing each other every two weeks, Aiba-chan,” you assured him as you took out all the wafer sticks on your ice cream and placed them on Aiba’s parfait.
“Yeah, but going to each other’s apartment had been our routine already for almost a year, Shirota-san. And then there’s this change.” Aiba must have felt your slight worrying frown that he immediately changed his tone. “But that’s alright. It’s for our work.”
You nodded as you watched his mouth curl to a little pout as he mixed his pasta absently. “Aiba-chan...”
“It’s just that somehow,” he continued without looking at you, “It’s kind of sad,” he said with a sad slow smile, and you felt a guilty tug somewhere in you.
“We just have to get used to it,” you quietly replied and eventually, he nodded and smiled, trying to change the topic to other subjects which were uninteresting for you.
zero.
Aiba’s eyes were following the waitress, but you know it was the ice cream tray, not the waitress, that he was after. “So,” you said, trying to bring him back from his ice cream dream. “You never told me anything about the new Tezuka. Was he good? Are you regretting it isn’t me?” You let out a cheery laugh.
Aiba turned back to you with a lopsided grin. “Hn? Oh no, Minami-san is a great leader and he’s a good person.”
Your smile disappeared. “You mean he’s cooler and better than me?”
“I didn’t say that,” Aiba absently said as he stared at the parfaits being placed on your table.
.end.
Thank you for reading :)v.
By: nikki hiiragizawa
Fandom: The Musical Prince of Tennis
Pairing: Shirota/Aiba
Genre: general
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Theirs, not mine.
Theme: #17. Obsession for 20_waka
Note: This is written for mienai_hoshi, who is still feeling down and sick. I hope you’ll feel alright soon :(♥
This is a new format I’m trying out. So far it looks interesting to me :).
A blue mountain
With drifting cloud,
How plainly
You do smile at me;
Let not others see!
- Lady Otomo of Sakanoue
four.
The door opened and a familiar face greeted you with a puzzled smile. “Ah, Shirota-san! What are you doing here?”
You blinked. “Uh, hi. Aiba-chan?” You looked far behind him and saw the familiar recesses of his apartment. “Um...”
Aiba’s brows were slightly curved in curiosity, his smile lopsided. “Why are you visiting too soon? I thought you still have to settle down in your apartment.” He held the door wide open while waiting for your reply.
“I, uh...” You scratched your temple. Why did you end up going here anyway? You were aware that you live far from here now, yet your body just moved of its own accord. Giving up on finding words to explain your presence, you sighed and shook your head. “Actually, even I don’t know why I’m standing here. I’m supposed to be going home.” You waited for Aiba’s taunting laugh or his scolding.
But neither came. Instead, on Aiba’s handsome face was the brightest smile you had ever seen, as if you had just complimented his worst cooking (which was rare, since Aiba rarely cooked and you never complimented him when he did).
“Would you like to come in?” Aiba asked you. “I bought some sushi today so...” his voice trailed off.
Grinning despite of your strange behavior today, you placed a hand on his shoulder and welcomed yourself in. “Okay, since I’m here anyway.”
Aiba smiled as he closed the door. “You’re one stranger creature, Shirota Yuu.”
three.
Minami-san was the coolest guy ever, you remembered Aiba said. That might not be the exact words, but in context they were the same.
You shook your head hastily. Aiba would not have meant anything of course. He was just too friendly. Yes, he was. You hurriedly inserted a coin in the ticket slot and watched your ticket slide out. The train would be arriving in about ten minutes, you reminded yourself before you were engulfed into a sea of commuters.
As you stepped into the platform, you immediately entered the train waiting for more passengers. The train was moderately full and you were glad you did not have to be squashed against the glass or worse, against another person. You decided to think about your work to pass the time.
After a few moments, though, your thoughts went back to Aiba. Was he mad when you announced that you need to move to an apartment far away from his? You were both used to being with each other all the time that the change was too drastic and surprising.
You were still worrying about Aiba’s thoughts when a familiar station name was announced. You stepped out of the train and walked away, wondering if Aiba would be mad enough to try being too much of a friend to the new Tezuka actor.
Nah, he wouldn’t do that right? He was always considerate and kind.
You smiled despite your previous worry. Of course, why did you need be afraid? Everything would be fine. All you needed to do was to settle yourself in your new place and visit Aiba when you had the time. They might be rare visits, but you will try your best.
You entered a building to the right and rode the elevator to the seventh floor. As you reached the floor, you went up to a room and knocked.
two.
Maybe moving to an apartment near your workplace was for the better, you thought, since you would be more focused on your work more than anything else. Instead of late night talking and eating and sometimes cuddling, you would be able to rest well or rehearse the lines in your script.
That was what you thought.
As you entered the train station, you wondered, did Aiba feel the same way about your moving? You paused before the ticket machines.
He would probably be okay, you thought. That guy was not much of a worrywart and he would adjust to the new routine soon. You nodded as if trying to convince yourself of your own decision.
Maybe Aiba would invite friends over, yes he probably will. You suddenly remembered how he talked about the new cast. He was pretty close to everyone, you recalled.
There was even one time you had a little quarrel because he slept in the new Oishi actor’s house without telling you. You spent the whole night ringing his phone then, worried like crazy. It was a good thing the e-mailing system was invented or you would have ran around Tokyo and back.
Then there was also that time when you asked him about the new Tezuka. You teasingly asked him if he was already lonely without you in the rehearsal hall. But he was not. Instead, he smiled and told you that Minami-san was one of the kindest and coolest persons in the whole word. At least that was your interpretation.
Suddenly, your hand stopped from inserting a coin into one of the ticket machines. What could Aiba have meant by that statement back then?
one.
You were still contemplating on Aiba’s previous statement when he looked up from his food and smiled. “You know, Shirota-san?”
“Hm?” You said, your attention fixed on him. You felt his foot nudging your shin under the table, and you playfully knocked his knee with yours. As he gave an embarrassed grin, you ask once more. “What is it?”
“I just remembered. Tomorrow would mark the first week that we won’t be seeing each other.” He thoughtfully mixed his ice cream with a straw.
You froze as you remembered. Tomorrow, Sunday, you would be moving to an apartment near Shibuya, where most of your workplaces were located. You just finished packing up and leaving the old apartment you lived in, which was in the same street as Aiba’s.
“Oh, yeah,” you said. “But, we’ll still be seeing each other every two weeks, Aiba-chan,” you assured him as you took out all the wafer sticks on your ice cream and placed them on Aiba’s parfait.
“Yeah, but going to each other’s apartment had been our routine already for almost a year, Shirota-san. And then there’s this change.” Aiba must have felt your slight worrying frown that he immediately changed his tone. “But that’s alright. It’s for our work.”
You nodded as you watched his mouth curl to a little pout as he mixed his pasta absently. “Aiba-chan...”
“It’s just that somehow,” he continued without looking at you, “It’s kind of sad,” he said with a sad slow smile, and you felt a guilty tug somewhere in you.
“We just have to get used to it,” you quietly replied and eventually, he nodded and smiled, trying to change the topic to other subjects which were uninteresting for you.
zero.
Aiba’s eyes were following the waitress, but you know it was the ice cream tray, not the waitress, that he was after. “So,” you said, trying to bring him back from his ice cream dream. “You never told me anything about the new Tezuka. Was he good? Are you regretting it isn’t me?” You let out a cheery laugh.
Aiba turned back to you with a lopsided grin. “Hn? Oh no, Minami-san is a great leader and he’s a good person.”
Your smile disappeared. “You mean he’s cooler and better than me?”
“I didn’t say that,” Aiba absently said as he stared at the parfaits being placed on your table.
.end.
Thank you for reading :)v.