Chapter Text
“What do you mean,” Daichi began, his tone slightly annoyed. “That you only have a 2 bedroom apartment left? There isn’t anything else?”
“I’m sorry,” the landlord shrugged. “The apartments around here fill up extremely quickly, and that’s the only one we have left. You’re a student, though, so I can give you the discount.”
“The rent is still way too high for me to pay all by myself, though,” Daichi ran a hand through his hair.
“Look,” the landlord held his hands up. “I don’t normally do this, but I’ll give you three weeks to find other roommates, and until then, I’ll only charge you for a single bedroom.”
“Really?” Daichi raised his eyebrows. “That would be… wow, that’d be great. I’ll find others quickly, thank you very much, Himura-san.”
“Three weeks, Sawamura-kun,” Himura handed over a key to the first-year college student. “Have them check in with me if they accept.”
“I will, thank you very much,” Daichi bowed politely and exited the small office. The apartment complex was relatively nice, and there were tons of students bustling around the lobby. Daichi looked at the key: 433. That meant fourth floor, and then he would find the room from there.
Daichi got onto the elevator, going through his mind of who was at University of Tokyo. Asahi had gone to the International University of Japan, while Suga had made a bold decision to go to America for college. Daichi looked down, missing his friends, but took a deep breath and stood straighter, knowing this is what he got for accepting to play volleyball in college.
University of Tokyo had a good volleyball program and, after they had gone to the Spring Tournament, Daichi had been bombarded with emails from college recruiters. Rather than regret not doing it, Daichi accepted playing as a pin-hitter and defensive specialist at UT (University of Tokyo), and was supported by the whole of Karasuno.
He got to his room and, sticking the key in the door, opened it up easily. There was a large dining table with chairs around it, and a kitchen to the right of it with a fridge, oven, microwave, dishwasher, and more. Behind the “food” area was the living room. There was a decent-sized TV against the wall and, for some odd reason, only one large couch, and after messing around with it, realized it was a pull-out.
There were two hallways on opposite sides of the living room, leading to a room each (that both had to share a bathroom). The rooms were actually decent-sized and had two beds each in it, and the bathroom were functional enough. Daichi put his stuff in one of the bedrooms and got out his computer, immediately making a flyer.
Looking to stay off of campus? Contact Sawamura Daichi at [email protected] or visit Room 433.
2 bedroom
2 bath
Kitchen area, dining area, and living room
24,000 yen per month (per person)
He finished it quickly and printed out a few in the lobby of the apartment, running down and hanging one up on the main floor and then spending around an hour hanging them up around campus.
He had gotten there two weeks before schools started and one week before volleyball practices started because he was pretty nervous and wanted to get into a routine. He and his parents had talked out and he decided to stay in an apartment because it was a 5 minute walk from the apartment complexes to get to the Education-major buildings than if he stayed in the first-year dorms (a 30 minute walk every day).
Daichi couldn’t help but wonder in the back of his mind if he had made the right choice, though.
A few days had gone by with no emails or visits to the apartment room, and Daichi was starting to get anxious. He was convinced he could, but what if he couldn’t find other roommates? He would have to try to pay a 120,000 yen rent per month. Or live in the crappy dorms, which wasn't all too appealing.
He was in his room, finally organizing the last of his belongings. He had gotten accustomed to the lonely apartment, and even though he would’ve loved to live by himself in the giant space, it just wasn’t financially possible for a jobless college student.
Daichi was putting his toiletries in some cabinets when a loud knock sounded from the door. Excitement built up in chest as he walked over to the door, opening it with a smile. Even though he didn’t mean for it, Daichi’s smile disappeared in a second and the young man’s jaw dropped when he saw the habitant of the room.
“Oi… Oikawa?” Daichi stuttered.
“Sawamura! I didn’t know you were coming to this university,” Oikawa’s face twisted with confusion. “Let alone that I would be coming to ask for details about rooming. I didn’t look at the name on the sign.”
“Yeah, um, I did not expect this,” Daichi chuckled. “If you want to room here, though, I wouldn’t mind.”
“Great! Because I can’t find a goddamn apartment and the dorms are shit,” Oikawa grinned. “When can I move in?”
“As soon as you talk to the landlord, Himura-san,” Daichi responded. “Just explain to him that you’re one of the people I found for a roommate. But, are you... sure?”
“Sounds great! And of course I'm sure, it'll be fun!” Oikawa threw up peace signs and was gone as quickly as he showed up, leaving Daichi by himself and perplexed. While he didn't really know Oikawa as a person, how would it not be awkward to room with one of his high school rivals?
Well, Daichi thought, turning around. I guess I'll find out.
Daichi found out at the nice, early hour of 5:00 in the morning, the following day, when he was woken up by the sound of singing and loud thumping. Groggily, he walked out of his room to see Oikawa dragging his numerous suitcases and other things Daichi was too tired to process.
“How much sh… stuff do you have?” Daichi asked, rubbing his eyes as he interrupted Oikawa’s awful singing.
“Oh, this is the second-to-last load,” Oikawa replied with a grin. Daichi groaned and walked out into the hallway, dragging in the remaining belongings to make things go by faster.
“And why are you doing this at... 5:04?”
“The early bird gets the worm! You should know that.” Oikawa, with the turn of his head, picked up where he left off in the song and hoisted all his belongings to the other bedroom. With a sigh, Daichi returned to his room and fell onto the bed, falling back asleep fairly quickly.
Daichi was woken up again at 10:30ish, bickering coming from the main area. Who could be bickering in his private apartment? Oh, well, Oikawa, but who was the other person?
Getting up and attempting to pat his hair down, he walked into the main room to see Oikawa arguing with a very tall person.
“No! Absolutely not-“
“Oh, there is Sawamura,” the deep voice said, and the figure walked past Oikawa, who had his hands on his hips and a scowl on his face. Daichi almost smacked his forehead when he saw who it was. Ushijima Wakatoshi.
“Well, this is just becoming a volleyball reunion, isn’t it now?” Daichi joked. “I’m assuming you want to room here?”
“Yes,” Ushijima nodded his head.
"Absolutely not!"
“Okay, I just woke up let’s not flip a sh… let’s not over-exaggerate now,” Daichi tried to settle the two down. “Well, aren’t you both playing here anyways?” Ushijima simply nodded his head, while Oikawa went for the overdramatic jaw-drop and wide eyes.
“I didn’t even think about you when I got accepted,” Oikawa snorted.
“I thought you might be attending this school as well when I made my decision," Ushijima said.
"Wait a minute, you-"
“Alright, alright!” Daichi snapped, the two looking at him. “Well I am too, and frankly, I’m surprised that you two are playing here as well. Honestly, I shouldn't be. But we’ll be in the gym in a few days or so anyways, so we might as well learn how to get along now.”
“Daichi-san, you’re playing here?” Oikawa gasped.
“Don’t act so surprised, I’ll be passing balls to you just fine,” Daichi smirked, more bold than usual. Oikawa's eyes glimmered at the sass in his tone, while Ushijima just blinked.
“Well, I guess if you’re going to be setting to the ace, we must learn how to get along,” Ushijima shrugged.
“What?!” Oikawa screeched.
“Okay, okay!” Daichi raised his hands. “Ushijima, are you going to room here?”
“If that is alright with you.”
“Okay, you’ll have to go talk to the landlord,” Daichi explained. “So I suggest heading down there.”
“Alright. Thank you,” Ushijima waved at the two, walking out of the apartment. As soon as the door closed, Oikawa’s head snapped over to face Daichi.
“You’re going to let him room with us?!”
“You want to pay a 60,000 yen rent?” Daichi countered, walking over to the kitchen and grabbing a bowl and some cereal.
“Of course not – “
“Then we’ll let him room with us,” Daichi poured the cereal, spilling a few flakes on the counter. “And he’s going to be our teammate anyways, so you’ll have to suck it up.”
“But he’s annoying, and stubborn, and so arrogant-“
“You’re not?”
“That’s not nice! You sound just like Iwa-chan!” Oikawa complained as Daichi shook his head, wandering over to the dining table to eat his breakfast.
Later in the day, Ushijima returned, with a few suitcases and a giant duffel bag. Daichi welcomed him into the apartment, whilst Oikawa sat on the couch, pouting, as he skyped Iwaizumi, whom was also attending International University of Japan. Daichi had asked him to do it in his room, but Oikawa made up 10 excuses and Daichi just walked away.
Ushijima walked into Daichi’s formerly private room before raising his eyebrows. “Oh, I can room with Oikawa if you’d like.”
“No, it’s fine,” Daichi waved his hand. “Oikawa would probably make up a billion complaints or something anyways.”
“What do you think of him?” Ushijima asked as he knelt down to unpack his things.
“He’s definitely a great setter, but his personality is… interesting,” Daichi laughed his deep, hearty laugh.
“I agree. His skill is much better than his personality.” the left-handed player nodded his head. “He should’ve gone to Shiratorizawa.”
“I heard that!” Oikawa’s voice yelled from the living room, and the two others responded with more laughter. “Oh, Iwa-chan, I have to go. I’m getting a phone call. Talk to you later!” Daichi asked Ushijima some more questions about his summer and the later half of his third year, only receiving short answers. Oikawa suddenly burst into the room, interrupting their limited conversation. “Yeah, he’s right here!”
“Who is it?” Daichi asked as Oikawa tossed his phone. Daichi managed to catch the projectile, and Ushijima muttered, ‘good reflexes.'
“Bokuto Koutarou! He needs a place to stay for a while,” Oikawa replied.
“Hello?” Daichi responded, before suddenly lifting the phone away from his face as the former Fukurodani player yelled through the phone.
“Hey, hey, hey! How are you, crow-captain?” Bokuto greeted.
“I’m good, how are you?” Daichi sat down on his bed.
“I’m just great,” Bokuto replied. “So I heard that you have an apartment, and you’re looking for roommates?”
“That is... correct.”
“Now, I don’t know if it’s permanent, but would you be willing to let yours truly stay for a while?” Bokuto requested.
“If you pay the monthly rent for as long you’ll stay for,” Daichi responded.
“Great!” Bokuto cheered, nearly bursting Daichi’s eardrum. “So who do I meet with?”
“Meet with the landlord of the apartment and talk to him and stuff,” Daichi explained the process for the third time.
“Alright, sounds great. I’ll probably be there around 6, if you don’t mind,” Daichi looked at the clock, as it was already 4:35. I doubt it…
“That’s fine,” Sawamura said. The two hung up and Daichi tossed Oikawa’s phone back to him. “At least we have enough people, now.”
“Like one big happy family!” Oikawa beamed, before turning to Ushijima. “Except for you.”
“Oikawa!” Daichi scolded before the two others began to bicker. He left the two, in his and Ushijima’s bedroom, and walked to the kitchen to order takeout.
At the nice, late hour of 12:41, Bokuto Koutarou walked into the living room area of the apartment, waking up everyone because he couldn’t be quiet to save his life. He yelled loudly, jolting Daichi awake from his sleep. Ushijima was sitting up too, his hazel-green hair messy from sleep. Daichi, rolling his eyes even though they weren’t visible in the darkness, got up and walked into the living room. He had to shield his eyes from the bright light, literally every single light being turned on.
“Hey, hey!” Bokuto greeted loudly, grabbing a 2-liter of soda from the fridge and bringing it to his lips. Daichi exhaled and closed his eyes, not even a little bit surprised at Bokuto’s manners - or lack thereof.
“Hey, Bokuto,” Daichi rubbed his eyes. “We are all going to bed, so… yeah. You’ll be with Oikawa, in that room.” The tired captain pointed to the opposite room, where Oikawa was peeking out, his hair ruffled and a sharp contrast from his perfectly brushed locks.
“Good morning, Oikawa,” Bokuto greeted after he drank his fill. Like an animal, he screwed the cap back on and placed the drink back in the fridge, grabbing too many half-open boxes and suitcases. Daichi shook his head and returned to the bedroom.
“Bokuto, I thought you were supposed to be here at 6?” Oikawa’s voice was muffled from the other room.
“I was, because I met with the landlord at 5, but a friend invited me to hang out,” Bokuto’s loud voice boomed through the walls. “We drank a bit, so I’m a little tipsy!”
"Did you drive here... 'a little bit tipsy?'" Daichi asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Maybe?"
"No more of that!"