Chapter Text
“If you’re putting away the eggs, here’s the milk too.”
“Thanks, Momose.”
“And the cheese … butter … mhm, I think that’s all for the fridge.”
“I see … Momose, why did we- oh.”
He looked up from the shopping bag, seeing Shirosaki standing next to the open fridge door with two packs of butter on the top shelf.
“Oh.”
“Seems like we did the thing again,” Shirosaki smiled, handing back his things.
“Boss, I’m really sorry! I keep getting distracted …”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t notice we both came back to my apartment either … until I saw the butter that I didn’t need.”
“Maybe if I set a timer on my phone next time … ah, but we live so close, it probably wouldn’t beep early enough, would it … I’m really sorry.”
“It’s okay. It’s just a habit, isn’t it …”
“Mhm.”
“Thought so.”
“... so, I guess I’ll-”
“Since you’re already here, wanna stay a bit? I wanted to make tea, would you like some?“
“If it wouldn’t be too much of a bother …”
“It wouldn’t. Ah, but we should put your groceries in the fridge anyway then. Do you mind?”
“No, it’s … fine.”
Momose sat on the couch, watching Shirosaki put the same things back into the fridge. They were all placed together on the same shelf this time: separate from the rest. If only life were more like a fridge with easily distinguished compartments to sort things in … well, but it’s only been three days. Maybe he was being too harsh on himself … habits were hard to break after all.
But they took three trips to the supermarket together in those three days, and Momose ended up back in Shirosaki’s apartment afterwards on all three occasions.
The first time, they only noticed after dinner when Momose walked into his old room only to find the closet empty and the bed without sheets. The second time was a bit better, with Momose realizing he took out the wrong key at the front door: he wanted to return it now that he no longer needed it, but … Shirosaki said he should keep it, just in case if Hakuto needed something. And the third time … well, he was aimlessly staring at the ceiling while tea was being prepared for him, so the third time wasn’t any better at all.
He was happy to find an apartment so close. He really was. And maybe it was too early for the excitement to be wearing off like this, but … he couldn’t help but wonder what it was that he was really happy about. It was nice to have an apartment right across the street … if the alternative was six hours of walking away in the opposite direction, at least. Mhm. He was happy about not being far away, happy about not losing their daily commute, happy about seeing each other from their balconies, but …
“Momose, here. I think I didn’t let any extra sugar cubes slip past this time.”
… the view of Shirosaki sitting across the table from him was something that Momose’s new apartment didn’t offer.
And he’d be hard pressed to say he didn’t miss that feature.
“Thanks, boss.”
“So? How’s the apartment?”
“Same as it was when you asked me that this morning, and yesterday morning,” Momose chuckled.
“Oh. I apologize, I forgot.”
“It’s okay. I guess we’ve both been forgetful lately …”
“Mhm. Work’s always busy at the end of the year. Did you get your reports in yet?”
“No. I’ll try to have them tomorrow!”
“I finished mine today. If you need any help, let me know.”
“I will. Thank you!”
“You’re welcome.”
“Will you take the day off before New Year’s?”
“I considered it. Will you?”
“I wanted to, but I doubt I’ll get all the work in before that,” Momose laughed. “But it’s alright. I can take time off after New Year’s.”
“I’ll do the same then. Would you like to go somewhere?”
“Don’t know … it’d be nice if it snowed,” Momose sighed, staring at his own reflection in the tea.
“Hokkaido’s a bit far for a day trip, isn’t it …”
“Eh? Hokkaido?”
“You said you wanted snow … I thought you meant you wanted to visit back home?” Shirosaki asked, carefully mixing his tea with a spoon even though whatever sugar was in there must have been long dissolved by now.
“Ah … no, I didn’t mean that.”
“I see. I apologize for misunderstanding.”
It was fine … Momose wouldn’t hold it against him. After all, he didn’t quite understand it himself either. He just thought about walking through a park together … snow creaking beneath their feet … the very long scarf that Shirosaki gifted him keeping him warm … that kinda thing.
It felt like something he’d want to do on a day off in the winter.
“How about New Year’s then? Do you have any plans?”
“Kinjou-kun invited me to a party,” Momose awkwardly smiled, unceremoniously stumbling out of his thoughts and back to their conversation. “Chief Aoyama is apparently also going, but … I heard there’s gonna be a lot of people, so I said I’d rather stay at home.”
“Dragging the chief out of his shell like that … Kinjou-kun’s very social, isn’t he?”
“Mhm. Maybe I should learn from him, haha … but seventy people really is a lot, isn’t it!?”
“How about two?”
“Two?”
“A-and a cat,” Shirosaki nervously added, glancing at Hakuto who was napping under his cat tree. “Two people and a cat is not a lot of people, is it?”
“It’s not,” Momose nodded.
“Then … would you like to have a New Year’s party together at our- I mean, my place?”
“I’d love that!”
“I’ll make dinner then.”
“I’ll do the dishes!”
“We should go get the ingredients the day before … I didn’t see if the supermarket was closed during the holidays, did you?”
“Uhh, there was a notice, I think, but I didn’t read it.”
“I’ll look it up online. Will you remind me so I don’t forget?”
“I will!”
It didn’t sound particularly festive … or special … or anything like a normal party for that matter. It would be just the two of them anyway … and Hakuto, of course. It wasn’t really a proper holiday gathering, just … spending some time together.
Good thing they lived so close to each other that it was easy to spend time together: even when it wasn’t on purpose, and even when it took several cups of tea before Shirosaki eventually said goodbye to Momose, closed the door behind him and headed to bed.
Momose had always been a very quiet and considerate roommate. Shirosaki felt it would be unfair to say that the apartment felt quieter without him, but … it kinda did. He set his alarm as usual, plugged his phone to charge on his night stand as usual, left space for Hakuto on his bed as usual, and closed his eyes knowing that tomorrow, he’d … well, he’d see Momose on the way to the station. Not as usual, but … that would be their new-
Beep. Beep. Bee-
“Hello? Shirosaki speaking.”
“Hello … eh, it’s me … did I wake you up?”
“Oh, Momose .. is something wrong?”
“No, just … boss, I’m really sorry, but … do you think you could bring my groceries with you tomorrow morning? I forgot to take them home with me tonight.”
“Ah, I see. I’ll put a note with my alarm, it’s no problem.”
“Thank you so much! I’m sorry for the inconvenience.”
“It’s okay. I wasn’t asleep yet … just got to bed, actually.”
“Is Hakuto there too?”
“Not yet, though- ah, I just felt him jump on the bed now. Mhm, he’s here now.”
“Please pet him for me!”
“I will. Here, Hakuto … this one’s from me, and this one’s from Momose … good boy.”
“Cute … goodnight, boss.”
“Goodnight, Momose.”