Chapter Text
Aoba swears he’s not obsessed, he knows he isn’t.
The timing from when he turns on the porch light is intentional.
The way he’s memorized the stride of his neighbors footsteps isn’t strange.
And Aoba just so happened to look out the window the exact time his neighbor passed by.
Really, he isn’t obsessed.
—
The house had been quieter than expected— much different from the crowds and chatter of his hometown. The cicadas and wind being the only noticeable sounds now.
Koujaku and Mizuki had helped him unload his things and furniture, but once they left it was just himself, his brother, his talking dog, and the all too quiet kitchen (one he would have to learn to use).
Light filtered onto the floor through a big window, one you could look outside as you did the dishes. It was homey, but nothing like home at the same time.
“Aoba,” he turned his attention to his feet, Ren scratching at his leg. “You should finish packing up before dark. I know you’ve had an eventful day, but the sooner—“
“Yeah, yeah.” Aoba smiled, leaning down to scratch Rens ear. “Youre such a nag. You’re supposed to be keeping an eye on Sei!”
“I’m fine!” A voice called from the other room, Sei peeked his head into the kitchen, a smile. “I was just unpacking my things.”
Aoba frowned, “don’t push yourself so much, I can do it. You should be resting.”
He pat Aobas head and turned around, limping back to his room, Aoba following suit. “I know you’re worried but have a little more faith in me to do something this simple, k?” He shot a sad smile back at Aoba.
Aoba stopped in his tracks and watched as Sei disappeared into his room. He ignored the urge to open the door, set all of the machines Sei needs up and to tuck him into bed like a baby, even if Sei was older than him.
It was hard not to see his brother as something fragile when you’ve seen him break one too many times.
Aoba ignored the ringing in his ears and headed back to the kitchen. Ren waiting in the same place he left him.
“You should focus on the task at hand, Aoba. Excessive worrying can cause— ”
Aoba crouched down and scratched Rens ears, successfully stopping the dog from continuing. Aoba smiled, it didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s fine, Ren. Everything’s under control.”
—
Soon enough, a week had past and the inside of the house was better than upon arrival. Yet now that Aoba got a closer look at the exterior, he realized why the lease had been so cheap. Damn. He should have listened to Granny when she said not to buy it.
But she’s as stubborn as a mule, and she passed that onto him.
“Stupid, stupid piece of shit.” Aoba grumbled as he put his hands on the wobbly railing. It rocked back and forth, popping in and out of its place. The paint was peeling and chipping aswell, who had the grand idea of painting wood?
A loud, slow and steady buzz snapped Aoba out of his reverie. Aoba knew he shouldn’t linger, he’d already woken up late and would surely be chewed out by his boss— but he couldn’t take his eyes off the man across the street.
The purposeful motions of his hands as he sliced through wood, slow and deliberate as if he’d done this for years.
His mahogany hair was covering his face, but Aoba saw a peek of a strong jaw and curved nose. ‘He looks like a sexy lumberjack.’ Aoba thought absentmindedly.
Putting more weight on the railing, he’d leaned out to try and catch more of a view. Digging his fingers into the wood and lifting himself, as though forgetting these weren’t the strong, metal railings of Midirojima — a loud crack ringing out as his weight became too much for it to handle.
The wooden railing gave way under his weight and fell forward, Aoba falling down with it. He landed with a loud thud onto his side— knocking the air out of him— and knocking him into the grass with an array of splinters.
Aobas mind lagged behind him, he could only close his eyes and try to catch his breath. The splinters poked at him as he lay in a puddle of his own humiliation, his face a bright red. Maybe he will actually have an excuse not to go to work now..
“Excuse me.” A voice came to his attention, how had he not noticed the sound of footsteps approaching? The crunch of the fall leaves certainly would have given them away..
Aoba slowly opened his eyes, blinking, trying to grow accustomed to the beating light once more. And— ah. Aoba is so fucked.
Sexy lumberjack didn’t give the man in-front of him enough justice. He might have even created a new category.
His skin was smooth yet aged, crows feet and all. His cheekbones defined, nose arched like a bow. He looked like he was straight out of a fall edition sexy magazine.
Aoba simply just laid there, mouth hung open like a fish, eyes not being able to hide his curiosity.
“Are you alright?” The man tried again, his face more stern than before. Ah, Aoba should probably respond.
“I.. I’m fine!” Aoba choked out, his ribs making it feel as though every word was stabbing at him.
He stared at Aoba for a moment before turning his gaze to the house, as though he were a detective assessing a crime scene.
‘A sexy detective..’ Aoba thought, letting his eyes fall down once more.
He felt a tap of pressure to his abdomen, as if someone poked him with their foot.
“Agh! What are you doing!” Aoba huffed, immediately sitting up to swat at the offending foot, yet by then the man had already taken a step out of Aobas reach.
“Are you planning to lay there all day?”
“Well, I— no!” Aoba sputters as he scrambled to his feet, still light headed.
Now that he was leveled with his porch again, he cringed at the splinters of wood on the ground. He could still feel the chips poking him through his sweater.
Aoba dusted himself off quickly before turning to the other in a frenzy, blushing that he caught him so vulnerable.
Aoba cleared his throat and spoke, “Thanks for coming to check on me man but im fine, really.”
The man— hey, what even is his name?— simply just shrugs and turns around, and starts to walk away. What the hell! Does this guy not know any basic etiquette?! Not even a ‘just making sure. Have a good day.’ What a loon!
“Hey!” Aoba yelled, jogging to catch up to the man to stand infront of him, hands on his hips. “You can’t just walk away from a conversation!”
“We’re done talking, right? And you don’t seem to need any medical attention.” The other responded with such nonchalance that it made Aoba feel a little embarrassed to be so riled up— but he would stand his ground!
“Well— yeah! But thats not how you end a conversation, you can’t just walk away!”
“Well,” the man narrowed his eyes, looking to the side. “How would you have ended it?”
“I—well— not like that, that’s for sure!” Aoba flusters, poking a finger out. “You at least introduce yourself, since this is the first time us neighbors meet face to face!”
“I didn’t know this new generation was so cordial.” The man muttered under his breath, it made Aoba really wanna punch him, with his fist— or his lips.. he’ll decide later.
He cleared his throat, having snapped Aobas gaze from his lips. “Fine. I’m Mink.” He added post haste; “And you are?”
“Ah?” Aoba blinked before shaking his head rapidly, as if to remind himself where he is. “I’m Aoba Seragaki!” He cringed inwardly at the small voice crack.. get your head in the game, man!
“I’ll see you around then, Seragaki.” And damn, even just the older man calling him by his family name had him turning to mush.
He let Mink walk away, watching his back as he walked back across the street then inside his house— leaving his work equipment unattended to.
He just stood there in his thoughts, staring in a daze at the place where Mink once was. What was that?
Real question, who the hell talks like that?!
‘The nerve of that guy!’ Aoba pouted, wanting to stomp around.
He’d met socially inept people, sure, but this was a whole other kind of category! Forget sexy lumberjack, this was sexy emotionally constipated man! Yet, Aoba really can’t classify him as an asshole.. the way he was short with his words, quick to the chase and eager to leave.. he was so mysterious!
It made his heart pound.
The front door opened once more, a bundle of fur in his brother’s arms as he stared down at Aoba thoughtfully from the porch.
“I heard a crash and some voices.. is everything okay?” Sei asked, a worried smile on his lips.
Aoba was quick to ease his worries. “No, no— everything’s fine! Totally! The railing broke, I fell, the neighbor heard and came to check on me.. no biggie!” Yeah, it would be no biggie if the neighbor wouldn’t be the main star in his wet dreams now.
Sei sighed with endearment. “Oh Aoba, you’ve always been such a clutz.” He let Ren down so he could scurry to Aobas side. “Maybe it was fate, you almost forgot ren. If that hadn’t happened you’d have left without him and been totally lost.”
“I wouldn’t have gotten lost!” Aoba argues. Even if this is a new place, he doesn’t always have to rely on Ren!
The idea of it being fate though…
“Maybe you’re not too far off..” Aoba whispered, playing with the ends of his hair.
Ren scurried to the back of Aoba, his puppy eyes eyeing the damage of his companion. “Aoba, it seems as though your backside has several blades of grass, wood, and debris on it—“
“Ren!” Seriously, what a start to his day.