dictionarysays

Title: Out of Convenience
Author:

dictionarysays
Genre: AU, Romance, and Humour
Length: Multi-chaptered
Chapter: 1.1 (because apparently this chapter is too long to post without splitting it into parts)
Pairing(s): Ohmiya, Sakuraiba, and (mentioned) Matsumiya
Rating: PG-13 generally, sometimes R
Disclaimer: I don't own Arashi at this point in time, I merely fawn over them from afar. 10, 482.26 kilometres to be exact.
Summary: It's not every day that your stupid roommate (see: Aiba Masaki) forgets to pay the rent.
A/N: This is my first time dabbling in the fanfiction world that is Arashi. I'm a little weary. And yes, I realize Ohno-kun may be a little (little she says) OoC this chapter, but can you blame the guy? Hahah. Feedback is ridiculously appreciated. :)

“Oh-chan!”

“Hi, Aiba... what are you doing here... ?” As you can probably tell, Aiba doesn’t usually come around to my workplace. Granted, it’s only a convenience store but we don’t live close enough for him to pop in all the time, which, truthfully, keeps me sane.

I get an unhealthy dose of Aiba Masaki every day as it is.

Considering we’re roommates and all.

He rushes over to the counter, nearly running over the young woman I had just finished serving, who, of course, ends up flashing me the death glare instead of Aiba. I merely sigh under my breath, frowning sheepishly at the woman as she struts out the store defiantly. I have a feeling I won’t be seeing her anymore. Before I can think more on it, though, Aiba reaches me, panting and grasping onto the counter’s edge for dear life.

I quirk an eyebrow in response.

“There’s big trouble. Ano... we might have to be moved out in two days—”

“What? What do you mean moved out? Explain. Now.” I cut him off quickly, immediately caught off guard and barely having enough time to notice how much my voice has raised.

Keep in mind, I don’t usually get this mad. Actually, I never get mad, which makes this situation even more serious. And, I mean, what? Moving out? Since when? Can I just say we always pay the rent, we’re good tenants, the landlord’s never complained about us. Aiba’s explanation better be good.

“Um... I might not have paid last month’s or... this month’s rent.... kind of... ” Somehow, Aiba has the gall to look embarrassed, looking down and away from me, his hands fidgeting against the wood of the countertop now. My eyes widen and I begin to use every ounce of my will to withhold any and all urges I have of leaning over and grabbing Aiba by the scruff of his neck.

“But I gave you my part. You were supposed to give it to the landlord and everything—”

“And I was! I really was! But, um, on my way home—to pay the rent by the way—I might’ve run into a certain someone... ”

Don’t tell me...

“Lemme’ guess. Sakurai-kun.”

“Ehehehe... and, um, we might’ve had lunch together and I may have... offered to pay...”

“With our rent money?!”

“I have morals, yanno! And anyways, it was the polite thing to do.”

Completely exasperated, I sigh heavily, covering my hands with my face and rubbing it sorrowfully. There’s something to say about a roommate who has no consideration for your shelter and/or well-being. Just because he has a thing for Sakurai Sho doesn’t mean I have to suffer! Does it? No, I didn’t think so. And to those who may have said yes? You’re just as bad as he is. I know if you were in my shoes right now, there’s no way in your right mind you’d be thinking the same way. Unless you’re cut from the same fabric Aiba was made from. In that case? Do not room with anyone. People like you need to come with warning labels.

I finally muster the energy to remove my hands from my face and all I can do is stare blankly at the sheepish-looking culprit. In any other situation, I might’ve forgiven him and even given him a hug. Right now I can’t be bothered.

“The polite thing to do would’ve been to pay our rent.” I say softly now.

“Okay, yah, th—”

“Wait. What happened this month then?” It suddenly hits me that he hadn’t paid twice. What exactly is the meaning of this?

“... yeah, about that... remember Sho-chan’s birthday party I went to... ?

Oh god... this is not looking pretty. Am I going to be gravely disappointed by the end of his explanation?

“Yeah... what about it.... ?”

“... let’s just say... I gave him the most expensive present that night.... ”

“You spent all that money on a gift? What did you even buy?” My voice rises in confusion, and shock, frowning out of astonishment and taking in a much needed deep breath. I stuff my hands in the pockets of my apron, wanting to restrain myself. I stare into Aiba’s eyes, looking for any trace of sanity in all of this, and all I can see is the regret reflecting in his brown eyes, with the help of the convenience store’s fluorescent lighting. “Wait, no—I don’t wanna know, I don’t even care. All I know is you have to pay the landlord right now and I don’t care how. After that, you have to stop being friends with Sakurai-kun—”

“What? No! Never!” The inexplicable terror I now see in his eyes as he yells breathlessly makes me work hard in stifling a small grin. When this Sho character will ever get a hint, I’ll never know. But that’s not what matters right now.

“And anyway, isn’t the landlord supposed to give us notice? He can’t just evict us like that. This is illegal.” I cross my arms, feeling a little smug at the emergence of this loophole. Yeah, that’s right folks, I’m smart. Get over it. I’m sure if the landlord tries going through with this without the appropriate paperwork and means of doing so, this is completely illegitimate, and thus, we can sue! Meaning, whatever we win in the lawsuit can go towards our rent. See where I’m heading with this?

“He did... ”

There he goes again... popping my bubble.

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