Imperfect match // Daiki Aomine (Kuroko no Basuke)

13. Proposition

As they eat breakfast, it all becomes silent and once done, she's about to stand up to take the dishes away when he stops her holding her wrist.

"What is it?" She asks confused.

He hesitates.

"I... don't think it's safe for you to live here."

"What? Why do you say that?"

"Last night, your neighbours were having a party."

"Yeah that happens a lot, until pretty late but I'm used to it."

"It's not just that. I caught them picking your lock. They could have come in while you were passed out and... I can see you have a baseball bat next to the door so I know you don't feel safe. Am I right?" She looks down, feeling embarrassed. "It's not your fault!" He hurries seeing her uneasy. "I just think you should look for another place."

"I tried to move when I realised it wasn't safe but semester has started so there is nothing in my price range. Nothing has happened yet so I'll just have to stay here for a while." She says feeling a little scared.

"How about you move in with a friend?"

"They all live in tiny apartments or already share a house with too many roommates and I don't want to impose myself." Silence settles again and she takes this as an opportunity to take the dishes to the sink. "More coffee?"

"No thanks." He says deep in thoughts.

Should he just go? She's just an acquaintance after all. But she could be in danger and it doesn't fit with his personality to leave someone in distress, although she's absolutely fine now.

"Aomine? Are you okay?"

"Yeah why?"

"I don't know your expression. You look... annoyed."

"I'm fine. I should go." He says standing.

"Of course, thanks again for saving me!" She smiles shyly walking him to the door.

Why does she have to be so cute! That smile of hers, the one that seems oblivious to the hardships, seems to have been perfected.

He can't resist. She's gonna make him give up on his principles and he's not happy.

"I have a spare bedroom."

"Pardon?"

"I live a little further away from campus than you do but the room is available and if we split the rent, it should be affordable for you... while you look for somewhere more suitable or at least until the end of semester."

Her face is stunned. Living with a man?

"Are you sure?"

"My roommate suddenly decided to go travel abroad because he couldn't cope with his course so the room is free. And it will help me out with managing the rent. It's in a nice area and the building is secure. I rarely see or hear my neighbours."

She doesn't know him after all, why would she move in with him?

But he has been a real gentleman, looking after her on a few occasions without asking for anything in return. She doesn't know how to explain it but, even though she knows nothing about him, she feels that she can trust him, because he comes across as someone you can count on, with high moral values.

"Okay."

"Okay?!?" He asks surprised about how quickly she agreed to it.

"Yes. Thank you for offering. I really appreciate you looking after me." She says bowing, making him feel embarrassed as he rubs the back of his neck, not knowing how to react.

"It's okay. So when do you want to move?"

"As soon as possible. Knowing they've now tried to break in, I don't want to spend another night here. I'll start packing if that's okay and I'll come to yours later tonight? Can you give me your address?"

"I'll help you move that's fine."

"You've done so much already, you don't need to carry my stuff."

"I really don't mind. I've got nothing planned today, except for a match with a few friends early afternoon."

"Okay, I can call you when I'm ready to move my things?"

"Okay."

Checking his phone he makes mine ring as I remember giving him my digits last night.

"Thanks. I'll see you later then."

"Yeah."

Leaving her apartment, he suddenly realises what he has done. He's going to live with a girl... a woman. He can't go back on his word.

At the same time, she feels the same and wonders if it was a mistake. Did he just say that to be nice and wasn't expecting her to agree? People shouldn't say things, like offering their help, if they don't mean it.

So she spends the rest of the day packing, mostly clothes, toiletries, duvet, kitchenware. There's too much for two people to carry.

She's about to call Akiko when she thinks about her reaction. She will go nuts if she finds out. No. She'll manage it in a couple of trips maybe.

Calling her landlord and cancelling the lease is straight forward. It is the end of the month and, thankfully, he already has someone to take the apartment so he won't hold her to the required month notice.

It's about 5pm when she calls Aomine to let him know that she's ready to come over but will need a couple of trips to get everything.

Showing up at the bottom of her building with a cart attached to a bike, it looks like she will only need one trip.

"Where does that come from?" She asks, pointing at the bike.

"I borrowed it from a friend."

"That's perfect! Let me bring all my stuff down."

After loading the cart, they walk to his place which is only ten minutes away. He was right, the area is nice, the houses much bigger and the apartment blocks much more modern.

"That's us." He says pointing at a nice building with the outside well looked after.

Once her things are unloaded in the lobby, they take her suitcases up to his... to their apartment.

It is bright and much more spacious than her studio, a kitchen on the right opened to the living room with a large tv straight on.

Taking her through the corridor, he stops in front of the door on the left.

"That's you. Opposite is the bathroom and my room is just next to it."

The room is simple with a double bed, a built in wardrobe with a mirror and a desk in the corner.

"Thanks, that's perfect."

After bringing the remainder of her things upstairs, she starts to settle in her room. It all feels surreal and she anxiously thinks about going into the main room but is not sure about how this will all turn out.

When she comes out, he's in the kitchen making dinner.

"Hey. Do you need a hand?"

"I'm good thanks. Are you hungry?"

"Yes."

Over dinner they talk about the practical stuff, sharing chores, finances and after cleaning up, they sit in front of the TV for a while before going to sleep.

Both in their bedrooms, reflecting on what just happened this weekend, they decide to take it as it is, but both agree, without consulting each other, not to mention it to their friends.

For him, she's just a new roommate. Or so he's trying to convince himself.

For her, he's her saviour. Without him, she'd still be in that hell hole. Living with a man might have its challenges but she has a feeling that she it will be so much better for her.