Chapter Text
Chapter 1
There were a number of things Miko forgot to consider when she decided to move across the country to this new city, and one of them was making sure that her neighbors were bearable. In her defence, these types of things were quite situational and they were also never included in the "starting a new life" check list— if there was even one.
The thing is, the apartment she managed to rent was quite a catch, with a forgiving rent and a decent view. The location was amazing as well, near the city square, yet lying on a side road, shielded from the traffic, but close enough to most basic amenities.
"Okay." She told herself, once she stepped into the building's reception. "The apartment is good. The building looks neat." She went on. "What could go wrong?"
And this was how a young woman managed to jinx all her life.
..
Taking in account how broke she was, she naturally had roommates. Her roommates were two other women, that she never asked the landlord about.
One of them was a police officer, her name was Sara. She had a short cut hairstyle, and looked very unapproachable, which was understandable considering that's the facade she needed to keep up all day.
Sara was sitting in the living room when Miko arrived, she just nodded at her —that might have been her own way of saying hello?
Miko, being the friendly adult she was, smiled at the other woman, to which she didn't receive any reply, considering how Sara went straight back to reading her book after her slight nod, so she didn't even get to see the bright smile Miko shoot her way.
Thankfully, nobody else was in there to witness Miko's embarrassment, so she made her way towards the rooms. The landlord had mentioned that there should be three bedrooms, so it should have been easy figuratively to guess which room belonged to her.
...
Except it wasn't.
The woman has checked all three rooms, to her surprise only two of them were bedrooms, the third one was a uh—shrine? Mediation room?
She didn't even know what this was.
Inside the room, there stood a Sakura tree, that touched the ceiling. She wasn't really sure how whoever got the tree managed to hide it from the other neighbors or the landlord— considering how grumpy her landlord was, the woman would never agree to have this tree inside.
Next to the tree, there was a small shrine. That had a picture of a fox inside. She had to admit that the fox looked adorable, though, she wouldn't mind petting it if it were real— assuming that this fox was civilized enough to not bite off the hands of whoever pet it.
"Oh, I see you found Ei's shrine." A voice spoke behind her. Miko was so confused about the whole room, that her own confusion apparently blinded her senses to the point of failing to hear the opening of the door right behind her back.
She looked behind her, at the owner of the voice who was surprisingly Sara—but not shockingly. "Yes." She replied, trying to keep her voice as calm as she could. "I was searching for the third bedroom. I didn't mean to interlude or anything."
"You didn't." The woman stepped inside the room. "There is something you should know though."
"Yes?"
"There is no third bedroom. We have two only." Sara said. "Which means you will be sharing with either Ei or I."
Oh.
"I don't like sharing my room, considering how unpredictable my work hours are." She went on. "And since this whole problem is Ei's fault, you will be staying in her room."
And with that, Sara left.
...
Finding Ei's room was not a difficult thing. It was ,in fact, pretty obvious.
Miko took a long expatriated breath, from where she stood in front of a huge portrait of a Sakura tree.
She honestly couldn't wait to meet this Ei.
That was a sarcastic thought, by the way.
....