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ninoexchange2020-06-24 05:56 am
nino_mod) wrote in ninoexchange2020-06-24 05:56 am
Entry tags:
fic for phrenk!
For: phrenk
From: :3.
Title: Evicted
Pairing/Focus: Tokai Seishiro/Nekota Mari (Neko)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~4k
Warnings: Brief mentions of surgery but nothing descriptive.
Summary: Tokai gets booted from the hospital dormitory after a risk review.
Notes: Dear Phrenk, happy NinoEx! I hope that you enjoy this little slice of Black Pean <3 And much love as always to our lovely Mod-san. It’s been a while since I watched the show, so any inaccuracies are strictly my own.
“Wake up, Tokai-sensei.”
Rolling on to his side, Tokai flings one arm up over his face as the lights are switched on.
“Is there an emergency? Get Takashina to do it, I’ve only just got to bed,” Tokai grumbles, pulling his blanket up over his head.
“It’s not an emergency. Well, not a medical one, anyway,” the speaker replies, tugging the blanket back down. Tokai doesn’t recognise the voice. He unwillingly sits up, scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
“This had better be good,” he says, folding his arms and glaring up at the man who has interrupted his sleep.
“It’s important to you,” the man says, pulling a pad of Post-It notes from his pocket and scribbling on it. Tokai squints at the other man’s ID badge, which names him as Sakurai Sho, Risk and Compliance Director, then lets out an undignified yelp.
Sakurai presses the Post-It firmly to Tokai’s forehead, steps back and put his hands on his hips. Yanking the scrap of paper from his face, Tokai stares at the single word written on it.
“Evicted?” Tokai asks, disbelief evident in his voice.
“That’s right,” Sakurai says, gesturing at the blankets and bags of rice and other bits and pieces that makes up Tokai’s living space in the surgeon’s dormitory.
“What the hell? You can’t --”
Sakurai folds his arms and his mouth thins. “I can, and I am. This area is a massive health and safety risk, and your contract does not permit on-site living. You have 48 hours to move your things and find another location to reside in.”
Tokai just gapes at Sakurai. Evicted? He didn’t think it was possible. “But surely Saeki --” he starts to say, but Sakurai cuts him off.
“Saeki-sensei has no say in this, as do any other members of the surgical staff. This dormitory is strictly for short rests and temporary overnight accommodation in emergencies. You have been living here for months.”
“But 48 hours isn’t enough time!” Tokai argues, feeling a slight sense of panic rising in his chest. Sarcastic remarks about surgical technique aren’t going to work on this hospital bureaucrat.
“You’ve had three weeks, actually, but clearly you didn’t open your mail.” Sakurai gestures to the piles of unopened letters and bits of paper on the small table that Tokai had liberated from one of the lunchrooms to use as a desk. “Or your emails, for that matter. You’ve been warned multiple times, Tokai-sensei. You’re out of here in 48 hours.”
Sakurai turns on his heel and stalks out of the dormitory, almost bumping into Sera, who stammers a quick apology.
“Tokai-sensei, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but Takashina-sensei wanted your opinion on this report on patient outcomes as soon as possible,” Sera says from the doorway, holding out a thick sheaf of paper. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tokai gets up, takes the report, and drops it among the scattered papers on his desk. He shoves his hands in his pockets and walks out of the dormitory, Sera close on his heels.
“I’ll get to it, Sera, but first I have to figure out how to get Sakurai fired so I don’t have to move,” he says gloomily. Sera covers his mouth with his hand, hiding a smile.
“Maybe you could put your stuff in storage for a while and stay in a capsule hotel or something until you find a place?” Sera suggests. Tokai frowns, and shakes his head.
“Can’t cook rice in a capsule hotel. I’m going to skin that Sakurai, I swear,” Tokai says. Another surgeon snickers as she passes. “Good luck with that,” Yoshitaka-sensei says, pausing on her way to the operating theatre. “Sakurai’s a hard-ass, and he’s got the ear of the hospital executive. Better get your boxes ready, Tokai.”
Tokai just groans.
“Sera -- you’re due in surgery in ten minutes, get going.” That comment comes from Nekota, stopping to give Sera a stern look as she walks into the surgical unit.
“Uh, yes, yes, sorry, Nekota-san,” Sera replies. “Tokai-sensei, I’m sure it’ll all work out. Speak to you later!” He dashes off, white coat flapping behind him.
Nekota looks at Tokai, raising an eyebrow.
“You being kicked out of the dorm?” she asks.
Tokai nods. “I have less than two days to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with my stuff and find somewhere to live. The idiot Risk and Compliance Director, I swear, I’m going to…” Tokai trails off as Neko rolls her eyes. “What?”
“Here,” she says, walking over to one of the desks and writing something on a notepad. She hands him the torn-off sheet of paper, which has a roughly-scrawled address for an apartment building not too far from the hospital, and a six digit code.
“I have a spare room in my apartment. The code is for the entryway, I’ll let you in if you get there before 9pm.”
Tokai blinks.
“Unless you’ve got a better offer?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.
“Uh, no. No. Thanks, Neko,” Tokai says, putting the paper in his pocket. “I really appreciate it. Can I send my stuff over as well? There’s not too much.”
A quick smile flashes across her face. Tokai notes that Neko has a very sweet smile. When she’s not happily eviscerating the other nurses (or occasionally, the more easily overwhelmed doctors).
“You may. I finish my shift after this operation, and it should be a short one, so you can tell the delivery service to drop it off. I’ll see you later, I’ve got to get scrubbed and prepare for Takashina’s next procedure.”
Neko flicks her fingers in a goodbye gesture, and follows Yoshitaka and Sera to the operating theatres.
Feeling slightly dazed, Tokai heads over to administration team to cajole some courier labels and a few cardboard boxes out of them (he does this by being friendly and pleasant to them; this behaviour from Tokai is enough of a novelty in the surgical department that the head administrator, Aiba, hands over a dozen labels without even questioning him). It doesn’t take long to throw his meagre belongings into the boxes and Hanabusa, Sera’s nurse friend, offers to help carry them down to the loading dock where the courier will pick them up.
By the time that’s all done, as well as reading and commenting on Takashina’s paper, Tokai realises that Neko will have finished her shift and probably be on her way home. He heads down to the hospital entrance and calls a cab -- there’s a bus, but he’s still bone-tired after only a few hours of sleep before Sakurai rudely upended his life, so taxi it is.
Staring out the window of the cab, streetlights flickering by, Tokai wonders what it’s going to be like living with Nekota. They’ve been close work colleagues for years, of course -- they both respect each other’s expertise, and Tokai’s certain she’s the best perioperative nurse he’s ever worked with -- but they’ve rarely socialised outside the hospital environment, and now that he’s on his way to her apartment, Tokai is deeply curious about it.
Nekota’s apartment building is in a quiet residential area, and looks fresh and modern. There’s a park across the street, and the bus that goes directly to the hospital stops just a few metres away. Tokai checks the scrap of paper Nekota gave him for the address, and starts to key in the code.
“Oh, I’ve got a key, I’ll let us in,” a voice says, and Tokai turns to step aside. The stranger grins, his face tanned under his baseball cap. He’s carrying a fishing rod and a tackle bag, and is dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals despite the chilly evening weather.
“Uh, thanks,” Tokai says, bowing slightly as the other man holds the door open for him.
“You’re welcome. Say hi to Neko-chan for me.”
“Eh, how did you know?” Tokai asks, frowning. Is this guy some kind of weird psychic?
“Your ID card is for the same hospital she works at, so I just assumed. I’m Ohno Satoshi, I live on the floor below,” Ohno says with a vague wave in the direction of the lift.
“Tokai Seishiro. Thanks for letting me in,” Tokai replies as they enter the lift, Ohno pressing the button for the fifth and sixth floors respectively.
“See you later,” Ohno says when the doors open at his floor, and waves briefly.
Tokai reaches the sixth floor and walks down the hall, knocking softly on the door of apartment 606. He hears a soft meow, and Neko’s voice. “Just a moment, Tokai.”
He steps back as the door opens and Nekota smiles at him. She’s wearing a pair of loose blue pyjamas and is holding a fluffy, purring grey cat.
“Come on in. This is Momo-chan, I hope you’re not allergic to cats. I forgot to mention her.”
“No, I’m fine, thanks. Hello Momo-chan,” Tokai says, feeling a little awkward. He reaches out to scritch her behind the ears and she bumps her head against his fingers.
“Oh, she likes you! That’s unusual, she’s pretty standoffish normally. Okay, down you get, Momo-chan,” Nekota says, bending to let Momo jump down to the floor. The cat meows, and trots out of the entryway. Tokai stoops to toe off his shoes.
“There are house slippers in the cupboard on the left, feel free to put your shoes in there too if you want,” Neko says. “I’ll show you the rest of the apartment, then I’m going to bed, I’m wrecked. Yoshitaka’s last case was a bit dramatic.”
Tokai blinks as he follows her into the combined living and kitchen area. It’s small, but not cluttered. The walls are painted cream with lots of photos and posters tacked up, a compact but comfortable-looking sofa, a glass coffee table with a vase of cut flowers, and large television and stereo system. Momo watches him, perched on the top level of a cat tree next to the television.
Neko points out the rooms. “The bathroom and toilet are behind the kitchen, your room is this one, my room is at the end.”
She slides open the door of the spare room and brushes past him to tug at the switch hanging from the light in the ceiling. There’s a folded futon and blankets, a low bookshelf filled with manga, several bags of cat litter -- “Sorry, I just got those delivered, I’ll move them tomorrow”, and Tokai’s few boxes of belongings.
“Thank you so much, Neko, I really do appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it,” she says, flapping a hand at his deep bow. “This room isn’t exactly the Ritz, but it’s more comfortable than a capsule hotel, I bet.”
Momo appears in the door, meowing, and she laughs. “Momo is telling me to go to sleep, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night, Tokai.”
“Good night, Neko.”
Tokai surveys his new living quarters after Neko slides the door closed behind him. There’s a clothes rack in one corner that has a thick down coat hanging at one end and a few spare coathangers, but is otherwise empty, so Tokai hangs up his work clothes, unrolls the futon, strips down to his underwear and crawls under the covers. It’s been a whirlwind of a day, he’s exhausted, and is asleep almost as soon his head hits the pillow.
***
He’s woken by the strange feeling of a paw pressing gently on his cheek, and a soft chirrup from Momo.
“Urgh,” Tokai mumbles to himself, yawning. He sits up and looks at Momo, who blinks back at him and twitches her tail.
“How did you get in here?” Tokai asks. He squints in the early morning light, and realises that the lightweight sliding door to this room could easily be nudged open by a tenacious cat.
“Lucky for you I don’t mind cats,” Tokai says and Momo meows as if in agreement.
Tokai checks the time. It’s just after 6am, and he’s due at the hospital by 8am for morning rounds with Sera. He yawns again and shrugs on a t-shirt and pyjama pants and follows Momo out to the living room.
The apartment is silent, and Tokai realises Neko must have already left for work. He bends to pet Momo as she twines around his legs, and notices a scrap of paper pinned to the refrigerator.
Tokai -- hope you slept okay and Momo didn’t bother you (she sometimes sleeps in that room). I’m on an early shift, so I’ll be home around 3pm.
I’ve made some space in the kitchen cabinet next to the fridge for your rice. The Wi-Fi details are:
Account name: Nekota’s Operating Theatre
Password: M0m0ch@n!
Please lock the door behind you. I’ll see you at work.
-Nekota
Tokai snickers at the account details for the Wi-Fi, and goes back into his room to unpack the rest of his boxes and move his rice to cupboard Neko’s set aside for him, then takes a bath. Nekota’s bathroom is small but functional, and Tokai hesitates before shrugging and putting his toothbrush in the holder next to Nekota’s, and hangs his towel next to hers.
As he’s getting dressed, Tokai checks the bus schedule on his phone, then grabs his backpack and shoves a clean pair of scrubs in it, before giving Momo a pat and heading out.
***
“I see you’ve managed to relocate yourself.”
Tokai whips his head around and glares at Sakurai Sho, who is standing next to him at the lift.
“No thanks to you,” Tokai replies, folding his arms and feeling cross all over again. Neko’s apartment is nice, but it’s certainly not as convenient as the hospital dormitory.
“Nevertheless, you clearly aren’t homeless. Thank you for your cooperation,” Sakurai says with a sickly sweet smile. “Don’t forget to tell HR your new address.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tokai mutters as the lift doors open at the administration floor and Sakurai steps out. He turns and bows at Tokai, who rolls his eyes in response and follows him out.
“HR is at the far end of the east corridor,” Sakurai says, pointing.
“Got it.” Tokai stalks off, ignoring Sakurai’s amused smile.
Hands shoved deep in his pockets, Tokai walks quickly down the hall, past the hospital administrators and the executive suite, then left to the east corridor. He manages to locate the group of desks with the sign “Human Resources and Payroll” hanging from the ceiling; only one is occupied. Said occupant is wearing a pair of large wireless headphones and typing very fast, but he notices Tokai and pulls the headphones down around his neck.
“I’m looking for HR,” Tokai says.
The man yawns. “Whaddya need?” he asks, spinning in his chair to face Tokai. The nameplate on his desk reads ‘Matsumoto Jun, Senior HR Consultant’.
“Gotta update my address, I’ve moved.”
“Oh, are you Tokai-sensei? Sakura-sani mentioned you’d probably be stopping by.”
Tokai resists the urge to grind his teeth. “Yes, that’s me.”
Matsumoto nods, and pulls a sheet of paper from the trays on his desk. “Fill this out. Old address -- actually, don’t worry about that, since it’s the hospital -- new address, stamp and date.”
Tokai does as instructed, Matsumoto puts his own stamp on the form and drops it in the in-tray of the desk next to his. “I’ll get this organised today for you, Tokai-sensei.”
“Thanks.” Tokai inclines his head and Matsumoto returns the gesture, then puts his headphones back on and returns to typing.
***
Rounds that morning with Sera are straightforward; they meet with several cardiac patients and confirm upcoming surgeries.
“Did you figure out somewhere to live?” Sera asks as they walk from the cardiac ward back to the surgical area.
“I did, not that it’s your business. Unless you’ve decided to give me money for a housewarming gift?” Tokai replies coolly.
Sera takes the hint and says something bland about the weather.
Saeki just laughs when Tokai sticks his head in the senior surgeon’s office to tell him he’s been evicted. “I’ve had that Sakurai calling and emailing me for weeks about it, I thought if ignored him he’d give up, but I guess not,” Saeki says with a snort. “Sorry Tokai, are you going to be okay? We can get you a hotel for a few days if you need it.”
Tokai shakes his head. “No, I’m fine. Ne-- a colleague’s found me somewhere to stay for a while,” he replies, cutting off that it’s Neko he’ll be staying with. He doesn’t want her to be the subject of curious gossip, although generally his area is fairly down-to-earth and the senior nurses and doctors run a reasonably tight ship.
After he’s out of surgery, Tokai opens his locker to change clothes and a small envelope with his name scribbled on it in Neko’s handwriting has been slipped through the crack. He opens it, and a key falls into his palm.
Tokai -- this key will get you in the apartment door as well as the lobby if you don’t want to use the pinpad.
-Nekota
Neko is already home when Tokai unlocks the door, and tentatively calls out “I’m back.”
“Welcome back! I’m in the kitchen,” Neko’s voice floats through from beyond the entrance.
Her back is to him as Tokai walks in, bent over the cooktop and stirring something that smells amazing. Her hair caught up in a loose topknot and she’s wearing the same blue pyjamas as yesterday.
“Thank you for the key, Neko,” Tokai says, scratching the back of his head. Neko turns and smiles at him. There’s a smear of flour on her cheek, and Tokai feels a weird swoop in his stomach, and a sudden urge to touch her face and wipe it off.
“You’re welcome. I’m cooking cream stew tonight, if you’re hungry, but after this you either cook for yourself, or we can take turns.” Her voice is firm, the same way she speaks to the other nurses or the more hapless surgeons, and Tokai finds himself standing up straighter in response.
“Oh, yes. Uh, I’m not a brilliant cook--”
“Neither am I,” Neko says, gesturing to the pre-made cream stew mix.
“But I’m happy to try, or to pay for delivery when I fail,” Tokai finishes. Neko giggles.
“That’s fine with me,” she says, returning to the stove and stirring again. “This’ll be ready in about fifteen minutes. Can you move those bags of litter in your room to the bathroom cupboard?”
***
After Tokai’s been living with Neko for a week or two, he’s started to get to know her little idiosyncrasies. They communicate well without speaking, like in the operating theatre, but Neko clearly expects Tokai to rise to her level and pull his weight around the apartment, not just in cooking, but cleaning too. Tokai is happy enough to assist -- she’s not asked him to pay any rent or bills yet, so scooping Momo’s litter or dusting the lampshades that Neko can’t reach is an easy compromise.
It’s also been strangely nice to get to know Neko better outside of the work context. While she’s still as sharp and smart-mouthed at home as she is at work, Tokai enjoys seeing her smile when teasing Momo, or laughing out loud at a silly variety show.
His mental catalogue of things Neko likes includes: miso ramen, old Hollywood screwball comedies (“His Girl Friday” is her favourite), playing with Momo, shoujo manga (the shelf in Tokai’s room is mostly of that genre), fresh flowers (especially daisies), the taiyaki from the store around the corner from her apartment.
Conversely, things he’s learned that Neko doesn't like: changing the cat litter (“I know it’s a necessary evil, but I still hate doing it,” she says), mushrooms, the Sailor Moon Crystal anime, silence (she almost always has music playing or the television on when she’s home, although with Tokai around she sometimes leaves it off), green peppers.
One evening, about a month after Tokai moved in, they’ve both finished work and have ordered in ramen because it’s Tokai’s turn to cook and he can’t be bothered. They're slouched on the sofa, Tokai flipping channels and finally settling on an episode of a medical drama so he can laugh at the inaccuracies, while Neko plays a game on her phone. Momo purrs from her perch in the cat tower.
There's a distinct gap between Tokai and Neko, and she shuffles to try and get comfortable without impinging on Tokai’s space.
Tokai, though, wants her in his space. He has done for a long time, if he’s willing to admit it to himself, but especially in the last few weeks where their forced domesticity has lead to a deepening of their relationship, Tokai thinks. He hopes, anyway. He feels like he’s back at the hospital again, navigating a delicate procedure where with one wrong move, one misplaced suture and the whole thing will collapse.
He takes a deep breath.
"C'mere," Tokai says finally, reaching out and tugging Neko's arm to tuck her against his side.
She freezes for a moment, then slowly relaxes, settling into Tokai's hold. His hand comes up to touch her hair, and she leans her head on his shoulder.
They sit like this for a while, quietly. Tokai stays perfectly still, half-watching the tv but also acutely aware of Neko’s warm weight against his side. She’s still tapping away at her phone, but there’s a distinct blush on Neko’s cheeks too.
"Can I kiss you?" Tokai asks, his mouth stumbling over the words.
Neko looks up at him, narrowing her eyes, and Tokai feels like he’s being picked apart under gaze as she assesses him. But then Neko gives him that little half-smile, like he’s passed a test, and just nods.
When Tokai leans down, and Neko tilts her face up, even after they bump noses and Neko giggles, it’s still perfect (even better than finishing a difficult surgery successfully).
"I suppose if you're going to stay, you better start contributing to the rent," says Neko, elbowing Tokai in the ribs. Momo leaps down from the cat tree and meows, butting her head against Tokai’s leg.
“Well, if Momo is happy to let me stay, I guess I could,” Tokai replies, reaching down to pat her.
Momo chooses this moment to jump up on to Tokai’s lap, purring as she settles herself.
“Well, I can’t ignore the signs,” Neko says. “Momo is definitely the best judge of character.”
This time it’s Neko who leans forward, tugging Tokai’s head down to hers for another kiss. Momo tolerates this for a minute, then meows indignantly. After finding she’s being ignored by her humans, who are busy with other activities right now, Momo gives up and jumps down to the floor.
It’s not perfect sunshine and rainbows from then on, of course. They’re both exacting perfectionists working high-pressure jobs, and Tokai particularly has long hours to contend with. They fight sometimes, mainly over little things like whose turn it is to change the cat litter, or whether to order delivery or try to cook something. But working for so long as a team together in the workplace, especially in operating theatres where clear communication is absolutely crucial, Tokai and Neko find themselves in a pretty good position to start navigating a relationship.
They manage to fly under the radar at the hospital for several months. Tokai is as sarcastic and Neko as sharp to everyone around them as they’ve always been, they’re not affectionate around colleagues or even at the hospital at all, and no one but the HR department actually knows Tokai’s new address.
It’s Hanabusa who finally figures it out. She’s the circulating nurse in a complex surgical procedure while Neko is the scrub nurse and Tokai is operating. Watching them work together is like watching a beautifully choreographed dance -- Neko anticipates Tokai’s every request, almost as soon as he calls for an instrument, it’s in her hand to give to him. Sometimes, under the mask, it even seems like Tokai might be smiling. When the procedure is complete and and Neko’s finished the instrument count, she whispers something to Tokai, who lets out a bark of laughter.
Once the patient has been wheeled into recovery and the operating theatre cleared, Hanabusa lags a little way behind Tokai and Neko as they walk down the corridor back to the surgical wing. They’re talking quietly, but Hanabusa strains to catch the conversation.
“No, no ... next week. Tomorrow night … yes. Ramen?” Tokai’s voice is soft.
Neko nods, and Hanabusa grins. She doesn’t say anything as she speeds up to walk past them, but does catch Tokai’s eye and give him a wink.
Their secret is safe with her.
~end~
Medical notes, for those interested: I’ve assumed that Nekota is a perioperative nurse who is usually the sterile or scrub nurse, mainly because in the show we see her handing instruments directly to Tokai and gowning/gloving him for surgery. The circulating or scout nurse is unsterile and plays a different role in the operating theatre, which is where I put Hanabusa. Most perioperative nurses can do both roles (though naturally not at the same time).
phrenkFrom: :3.
Title: Evicted
Pairing/Focus: Tokai Seishiro/Nekota Mari (Neko)
Rating: PG-13
Word count: ~4k
Warnings: Brief mentions of surgery but nothing descriptive.
Summary: Tokai gets booted from the hospital dormitory after a risk review.
Notes: Dear Phrenk, happy NinoEx! I hope that you enjoy this little slice of Black Pean <3 And much love as always to our lovely Mod-san. It’s been a while since I watched the show, so any inaccuracies are strictly my own.
“Wake up, Tokai-sensei.”
Rolling on to his side, Tokai flings one arm up over his face as the lights are switched on.
“Is there an emergency? Get Takashina to do it, I’ve only just got to bed,” Tokai grumbles, pulling his blanket up over his head.
“It’s not an emergency. Well, not a medical one, anyway,” the speaker replies, tugging the blanket back down. Tokai doesn’t recognise the voice. He unwillingly sits up, scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hand.
“This had better be good,” he says, folding his arms and glaring up at the man who has interrupted his sleep.
“It’s important to you,” the man says, pulling a pad of Post-It notes from his pocket and scribbling on it. Tokai squints at the other man’s ID badge, which names him as Sakurai Sho, Risk and Compliance Director, then lets out an undignified yelp.
Sakurai presses the Post-It firmly to Tokai’s forehead, steps back and put his hands on his hips. Yanking the scrap of paper from his face, Tokai stares at the single word written on it.
“Evicted?” Tokai asks, disbelief evident in his voice.
“That’s right,” Sakurai says, gesturing at the blankets and bags of rice and other bits and pieces that makes up Tokai’s living space in the surgeon’s dormitory.
“What the hell? You can’t --”
Sakurai folds his arms and his mouth thins. “I can, and I am. This area is a massive health and safety risk, and your contract does not permit on-site living. You have 48 hours to move your things and find another location to reside in.”
Tokai just gapes at Sakurai. Evicted? He didn’t think it was possible. “But surely Saeki --” he starts to say, but Sakurai cuts him off.
“Saeki-sensei has no say in this, as do any other members of the surgical staff. This dormitory is strictly for short rests and temporary overnight accommodation in emergencies. You have been living here for months.”
“But 48 hours isn’t enough time!” Tokai argues, feeling a slight sense of panic rising in his chest. Sarcastic remarks about surgical technique aren’t going to work on this hospital bureaucrat.
“You’ve had three weeks, actually, but clearly you didn’t open your mail.” Sakurai gestures to the piles of unopened letters and bits of paper on the small table that Tokai had liberated from one of the lunchrooms to use as a desk. “Or your emails, for that matter. You’ve been warned multiple times, Tokai-sensei. You’re out of here in 48 hours.”
Sakurai turns on his heel and stalks out of the dormitory, almost bumping into Sera, who stammers a quick apology.
“Tokai-sensei, I’m sorry to interrupt you, but Takashina-sensei wanted your opinion on this report on patient outcomes as soon as possible,” Sera says from the doorway, holding out a thick sheaf of paper. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Tokai gets up, takes the report, and drops it among the scattered papers on his desk. He shoves his hands in his pockets and walks out of the dormitory, Sera close on his heels.
“I’ll get to it, Sera, but first I have to figure out how to get Sakurai fired so I don’t have to move,” he says gloomily. Sera covers his mouth with his hand, hiding a smile.
“Maybe you could put your stuff in storage for a while and stay in a capsule hotel or something until you find a place?” Sera suggests. Tokai frowns, and shakes his head.
“Can’t cook rice in a capsule hotel. I’m going to skin that Sakurai, I swear,” Tokai says. Another surgeon snickers as she passes. “Good luck with that,” Yoshitaka-sensei says, pausing on her way to the operating theatre. “Sakurai’s a hard-ass, and he’s got the ear of the hospital executive. Better get your boxes ready, Tokai.”
Tokai just groans.
“Sera -- you’re due in surgery in ten minutes, get going.” That comment comes from Nekota, stopping to give Sera a stern look as she walks into the surgical unit.
“Uh, yes, yes, sorry, Nekota-san,” Sera replies. “Tokai-sensei, I’m sure it’ll all work out. Speak to you later!” He dashes off, white coat flapping behind him.
Nekota looks at Tokai, raising an eyebrow.
“You being kicked out of the dorm?” she asks.
Tokai nods. “I have less than two days to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with my stuff and find somewhere to live. The idiot Risk and Compliance Director, I swear, I’m going to…” Tokai trails off as Neko rolls her eyes. “What?”
“Here,” she says, walking over to one of the desks and writing something on a notepad. She hands him the torn-off sheet of paper, which has a roughly-scrawled address for an apartment building not too far from the hospital, and a six digit code.
“I have a spare room in my apartment. The code is for the entryway, I’ll let you in if you get there before 9pm.”
Tokai blinks.
“Unless you’ve got a better offer?” she asks, narrowing her eyes.
“Uh, no. No. Thanks, Neko,” Tokai says, putting the paper in his pocket. “I really appreciate it. Can I send my stuff over as well? There’s not too much.”
A quick smile flashes across her face. Tokai notes that Neko has a very sweet smile. When she’s not happily eviscerating the other nurses (or occasionally, the more easily overwhelmed doctors).
“You may. I finish my shift after this operation, and it should be a short one, so you can tell the delivery service to drop it off. I’ll see you later, I’ve got to get scrubbed and prepare for Takashina’s next procedure.”
Neko flicks her fingers in a goodbye gesture, and follows Yoshitaka and Sera to the operating theatres.
Feeling slightly dazed, Tokai heads over to administration team to cajole some courier labels and a few cardboard boxes out of them (he does this by being friendly and pleasant to them; this behaviour from Tokai is enough of a novelty in the surgical department that the head administrator, Aiba, hands over a dozen labels without even questioning him). It doesn’t take long to throw his meagre belongings into the boxes and Hanabusa, Sera’s nurse friend, offers to help carry them down to the loading dock where the courier will pick them up.
By the time that’s all done, as well as reading and commenting on Takashina’s paper, Tokai realises that Neko will have finished her shift and probably be on her way home. He heads down to the hospital entrance and calls a cab -- there’s a bus, but he’s still bone-tired after only a few hours of sleep before Sakurai rudely upended his life, so taxi it is.
Staring out the window of the cab, streetlights flickering by, Tokai wonders what it’s going to be like living with Nekota. They’ve been close work colleagues for years, of course -- they both respect each other’s expertise, and Tokai’s certain she’s the best perioperative nurse he’s ever worked with -- but they’ve rarely socialised outside the hospital environment, and now that he’s on his way to her apartment, Tokai is deeply curious about it.
Nekota’s apartment building is in a quiet residential area, and looks fresh and modern. There’s a park across the street, and the bus that goes directly to the hospital stops just a few metres away. Tokai checks the scrap of paper Nekota gave him for the address, and starts to key in the code.
“Oh, I’ve got a key, I’ll let us in,” a voice says, and Tokai turns to step aside. The stranger grins, his face tanned under his baseball cap. He’s carrying a fishing rod and a tackle bag, and is dressed in a t-shirt, shorts and sandals despite the chilly evening weather.
“Uh, thanks,” Tokai says, bowing slightly as the other man holds the door open for him.
“You’re welcome. Say hi to Neko-chan for me.”
“Eh, how did you know?” Tokai asks, frowning. Is this guy some kind of weird psychic?
“Your ID card is for the same hospital she works at, so I just assumed. I’m Ohno Satoshi, I live on the floor below,” Ohno says with a vague wave in the direction of the lift.
“Tokai Seishiro. Thanks for letting me in,” Tokai replies as they enter the lift, Ohno pressing the button for the fifth and sixth floors respectively.
“See you later,” Ohno says when the doors open at his floor, and waves briefly.
Tokai reaches the sixth floor and walks down the hall, knocking softly on the door of apartment 606. He hears a soft meow, and Neko’s voice. “Just a moment, Tokai.”
He steps back as the door opens and Nekota smiles at him. She’s wearing a pair of loose blue pyjamas and is holding a fluffy, purring grey cat.
“Come on in. This is Momo-chan, I hope you’re not allergic to cats. I forgot to mention her.”
“No, I’m fine, thanks. Hello Momo-chan,” Tokai says, feeling a little awkward. He reaches out to scritch her behind the ears and she bumps her head against his fingers.
“Oh, she likes you! That’s unusual, she’s pretty standoffish normally. Okay, down you get, Momo-chan,” Nekota says, bending to let Momo jump down to the floor. The cat meows, and trots out of the entryway. Tokai stoops to toe off his shoes.
“There are house slippers in the cupboard on the left, feel free to put your shoes in there too if you want,” Neko says. “I’ll show you the rest of the apartment, then I’m going to bed, I’m wrecked. Yoshitaka’s last case was a bit dramatic.”
Tokai blinks as he follows her into the combined living and kitchen area. It’s small, but not cluttered. The walls are painted cream with lots of photos and posters tacked up, a compact but comfortable-looking sofa, a glass coffee table with a vase of cut flowers, and large television and stereo system. Momo watches him, perched on the top level of a cat tree next to the television.
Neko points out the rooms. “The bathroom and toilet are behind the kitchen, your room is this one, my room is at the end.”
She slides open the door of the spare room and brushes past him to tug at the switch hanging from the light in the ceiling. There’s a folded futon and blankets, a low bookshelf filled with manga, several bags of cat litter -- “Sorry, I just got those delivered, I’ll move them tomorrow”, and Tokai’s few boxes of belongings.
“Thank you so much, Neko, I really do appreciate it.”
“Don’t mention it,” she says, flapping a hand at his deep bow. “This room isn’t exactly the Ritz, but it’s more comfortable than a capsule hotel, I bet.”
Momo appears in the door, meowing, and she laughs. “Momo is telling me to go to sleep, so I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night, Tokai.”
“Good night, Neko.”
Tokai surveys his new living quarters after Neko slides the door closed behind him. There’s a clothes rack in one corner that has a thick down coat hanging at one end and a few spare coathangers, but is otherwise empty, so Tokai hangs up his work clothes, unrolls the futon, strips down to his underwear and crawls under the covers. It’s been a whirlwind of a day, he’s exhausted, and is asleep almost as soon his head hits the pillow.
***
He’s woken by the strange feeling of a paw pressing gently on his cheek, and a soft chirrup from Momo.
“Urgh,” Tokai mumbles to himself, yawning. He sits up and looks at Momo, who blinks back at him and twitches her tail.
“How did you get in here?” Tokai asks. He squints in the early morning light, and realises that the lightweight sliding door to this room could easily be nudged open by a tenacious cat.
“Lucky for you I don’t mind cats,” Tokai says and Momo meows as if in agreement.
Tokai checks the time. It’s just after 6am, and he’s due at the hospital by 8am for morning rounds with Sera. He yawns again and shrugs on a t-shirt and pyjama pants and follows Momo out to the living room.
The apartment is silent, and Tokai realises Neko must have already left for work. He bends to pet Momo as she twines around his legs, and notices a scrap of paper pinned to the refrigerator.
Tokai -- hope you slept okay and Momo didn’t bother you (she sometimes sleeps in that room). I’m on an early shift, so I’ll be home around 3pm.
I’ve made some space in the kitchen cabinet next to the fridge for your rice. The Wi-Fi details are:
Account name: Nekota’s Operating Theatre
Password: M0m0ch@n!
Please lock the door behind you. I’ll see you at work.
-Nekota
Tokai snickers at the account details for the Wi-Fi, and goes back into his room to unpack the rest of his boxes and move his rice to cupboard Neko’s set aside for him, then takes a bath. Nekota’s bathroom is small but functional, and Tokai hesitates before shrugging and putting his toothbrush in the holder next to Nekota’s, and hangs his towel next to hers.
As he’s getting dressed, Tokai checks the bus schedule on his phone, then grabs his backpack and shoves a clean pair of scrubs in it, before giving Momo a pat and heading out.
***
“I see you’ve managed to relocate yourself.”
Tokai whips his head around and glares at Sakurai Sho, who is standing next to him at the lift.
“No thanks to you,” Tokai replies, folding his arms and feeling cross all over again. Neko’s apartment is nice, but it’s certainly not as convenient as the hospital dormitory.
“Nevertheless, you clearly aren’t homeless. Thank you for your cooperation,” Sakurai says with a sickly sweet smile. “Don’t forget to tell HR your new address.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Tokai mutters as the lift doors open at the administration floor and Sakurai steps out. He turns and bows at Tokai, who rolls his eyes in response and follows him out.
“HR is at the far end of the east corridor,” Sakurai says, pointing.
“Got it.” Tokai stalks off, ignoring Sakurai’s amused smile.
Hands shoved deep in his pockets, Tokai walks quickly down the hall, past the hospital administrators and the executive suite, then left to the east corridor. He manages to locate the group of desks with the sign “Human Resources and Payroll” hanging from the ceiling; only one is occupied. Said occupant is wearing a pair of large wireless headphones and typing very fast, but he notices Tokai and pulls the headphones down around his neck.
“I’m looking for HR,” Tokai says.
The man yawns. “Whaddya need?” he asks, spinning in his chair to face Tokai. The nameplate on his desk reads ‘Matsumoto Jun, Senior HR Consultant’.
“Gotta update my address, I’ve moved.”
“Oh, are you Tokai-sensei? Sakura-sani mentioned you’d probably be stopping by.”
Tokai resists the urge to grind his teeth. “Yes, that’s me.”
Matsumoto nods, and pulls a sheet of paper from the trays on his desk. “Fill this out. Old address -- actually, don’t worry about that, since it’s the hospital -- new address, stamp and date.”
Tokai does as instructed, Matsumoto puts his own stamp on the form and drops it in the in-tray of the desk next to his. “I’ll get this organised today for you, Tokai-sensei.”
“Thanks.” Tokai inclines his head and Matsumoto returns the gesture, then puts his headphones back on and returns to typing.
***
Rounds that morning with Sera are straightforward; they meet with several cardiac patients and confirm upcoming surgeries.
“Did you figure out somewhere to live?” Sera asks as they walk from the cardiac ward back to the surgical area.
“I did, not that it’s your business. Unless you’ve decided to give me money for a housewarming gift?” Tokai replies coolly.
Sera takes the hint and says something bland about the weather.
Saeki just laughs when Tokai sticks his head in the senior surgeon’s office to tell him he’s been evicted. “I’ve had that Sakurai calling and emailing me for weeks about it, I thought if ignored him he’d give up, but I guess not,” Saeki says with a snort. “Sorry Tokai, are you going to be okay? We can get you a hotel for a few days if you need it.”
Tokai shakes his head. “No, I’m fine. Ne-- a colleague’s found me somewhere to stay for a while,” he replies, cutting off that it’s Neko he’ll be staying with. He doesn’t want her to be the subject of curious gossip, although generally his area is fairly down-to-earth and the senior nurses and doctors run a reasonably tight ship.
After he’s out of surgery, Tokai opens his locker to change clothes and a small envelope with his name scribbled on it in Neko’s handwriting has been slipped through the crack. He opens it, and a key falls into his palm.
Tokai -- this key will get you in the apartment door as well as the lobby if you don’t want to use the pinpad.
-Nekota
Neko is already home when Tokai unlocks the door, and tentatively calls out “I’m back.”
“Welcome back! I’m in the kitchen,” Neko’s voice floats through from beyond the entrance.
Her back is to him as Tokai walks in, bent over the cooktop and stirring something that smells amazing. Her hair caught up in a loose topknot and she’s wearing the same blue pyjamas as yesterday.
“Thank you for the key, Neko,” Tokai says, scratching the back of his head. Neko turns and smiles at him. There’s a smear of flour on her cheek, and Tokai feels a weird swoop in his stomach, and a sudden urge to touch her face and wipe it off.
“You’re welcome. I’m cooking cream stew tonight, if you’re hungry, but after this you either cook for yourself, or we can take turns.” Her voice is firm, the same way she speaks to the other nurses or the more hapless surgeons, and Tokai finds himself standing up straighter in response.
“Oh, yes. Uh, I’m not a brilliant cook--”
“Neither am I,” Neko says, gesturing to the pre-made cream stew mix.
“But I’m happy to try, or to pay for delivery when I fail,” Tokai finishes. Neko giggles.
“That’s fine with me,” she says, returning to the stove and stirring again. “This’ll be ready in about fifteen minutes. Can you move those bags of litter in your room to the bathroom cupboard?”
***
After Tokai’s been living with Neko for a week or two, he’s started to get to know her little idiosyncrasies. They communicate well without speaking, like in the operating theatre, but Neko clearly expects Tokai to rise to her level and pull his weight around the apartment, not just in cooking, but cleaning too. Tokai is happy enough to assist -- she’s not asked him to pay any rent or bills yet, so scooping Momo’s litter or dusting the lampshades that Neko can’t reach is an easy compromise.
It’s also been strangely nice to get to know Neko better outside of the work context. While she’s still as sharp and smart-mouthed at home as she is at work, Tokai enjoys seeing her smile when teasing Momo, or laughing out loud at a silly variety show.
His mental catalogue of things Neko likes includes: miso ramen, old Hollywood screwball comedies (“His Girl Friday” is her favourite), playing with Momo, shoujo manga (the shelf in Tokai’s room is mostly of that genre), fresh flowers (especially daisies), the taiyaki from the store around the corner from her apartment.
Conversely, things he’s learned that Neko doesn't like: changing the cat litter (“I know it’s a necessary evil, but I still hate doing it,” she says), mushrooms, the Sailor Moon Crystal anime, silence (she almost always has music playing or the television on when she’s home, although with Tokai around she sometimes leaves it off), green peppers.
One evening, about a month after Tokai moved in, they’ve both finished work and have ordered in ramen because it’s Tokai’s turn to cook and he can’t be bothered. They're slouched on the sofa, Tokai flipping channels and finally settling on an episode of a medical drama so he can laugh at the inaccuracies, while Neko plays a game on her phone. Momo purrs from her perch in the cat tower.
There's a distinct gap between Tokai and Neko, and she shuffles to try and get comfortable without impinging on Tokai’s space.
Tokai, though, wants her in his space. He has done for a long time, if he’s willing to admit it to himself, but especially in the last few weeks where their forced domesticity has lead to a deepening of their relationship, Tokai thinks. He hopes, anyway. He feels like he’s back at the hospital again, navigating a delicate procedure where with one wrong move, one misplaced suture and the whole thing will collapse.
He takes a deep breath.
"C'mere," Tokai says finally, reaching out and tugging Neko's arm to tuck her against his side.
She freezes for a moment, then slowly relaxes, settling into Tokai's hold. His hand comes up to touch her hair, and she leans her head on his shoulder.
They sit like this for a while, quietly. Tokai stays perfectly still, half-watching the tv but also acutely aware of Neko’s warm weight against his side. She’s still tapping away at her phone, but there’s a distinct blush on Neko’s cheeks too.
"Can I kiss you?" Tokai asks, his mouth stumbling over the words.
Neko looks up at him, narrowing her eyes, and Tokai feels like he’s being picked apart under gaze as she assesses him. But then Neko gives him that little half-smile, like he’s passed a test, and just nods.
When Tokai leans down, and Neko tilts her face up, even after they bump noses and Neko giggles, it’s still perfect (even better than finishing a difficult surgery successfully).
"I suppose if you're going to stay, you better start contributing to the rent," says Neko, elbowing Tokai in the ribs. Momo leaps down from the cat tree and meows, butting her head against Tokai’s leg.
“Well, if Momo is happy to let me stay, I guess I could,” Tokai replies, reaching down to pat her.
Momo chooses this moment to jump up on to Tokai’s lap, purring as she settles herself.
“Well, I can’t ignore the signs,” Neko says. “Momo is definitely the best judge of character.”
This time it’s Neko who leans forward, tugging Tokai’s head down to hers for another kiss. Momo tolerates this for a minute, then meows indignantly. After finding she’s being ignored by her humans, who are busy with other activities right now, Momo gives up and jumps down to the floor.
It’s not perfect sunshine and rainbows from then on, of course. They’re both exacting perfectionists working high-pressure jobs, and Tokai particularly has long hours to contend with. They fight sometimes, mainly over little things like whose turn it is to change the cat litter, or whether to order delivery or try to cook something. But working for so long as a team together in the workplace, especially in operating theatres where clear communication is absolutely crucial, Tokai and Neko find themselves in a pretty good position to start navigating a relationship.
They manage to fly under the radar at the hospital for several months. Tokai is as sarcastic and Neko as sharp to everyone around them as they’ve always been, they’re not affectionate around colleagues or even at the hospital at all, and no one but the HR department actually knows Tokai’s new address.
It’s Hanabusa who finally figures it out. She’s the circulating nurse in a complex surgical procedure while Neko is the scrub nurse and Tokai is operating. Watching them work together is like watching a beautifully choreographed dance -- Neko anticipates Tokai’s every request, almost as soon as he calls for an instrument, it’s in her hand to give to him. Sometimes, under the mask, it even seems like Tokai might be smiling. When the procedure is complete and and Neko’s finished the instrument count, she whispers something to Tokai, who lets out a bark of laughter.
Once the patient has been wheeled into recovery and the operating theatre cleared, Hanabusa lags a little way behind Tokai and Neko as they walk down the corridor back to the surgical wing. They’re talking quietly, but Hanabusa strains to catch the conversation.
“No, no ... next week. Tomorrow night … yes. Ramen?” Tokai’s voice is soft.
Neko nods, and Hanabusa grins. She doesn’t say anything as she speeds up to walk past them, but does catch Tokai’s eye and give him a wink.
Their secret is safe with her.
~end~
Medical notes, for those interested: I’ve assumed that Nekota is a perioperative nurse who is usually the sterile or scrub nurse, mainly because in the show we see her handing instruments directly to Tokai and gowning/gloving him for surgery. The circulating or scout nurse is unsterile and plays a different role in the operating theatre, which is where I put Hanabusa. Most perioperative nurses can do both roles (though naturally not at the same time).
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TOKAI/NEKOTA!!!
I love that we start in the nap room because Tokai in the nap room, glorious (only exceeded by TOKAI AT NEKOTA'S APARTMENT, SO). And then Sakurai Sho, risk and compliance director omg that is so fun, and he is clearly so done with Tokai's shit, lol, I love it. Obligatory mention of Tokai's bags of rice: GOOD.
the small table that Tokai had liberated from one of the lunchrooms to use as a desk
GOOD!
Nekota, stopping to give Sera a stern look
NEKOOOOOOOOOO I LOVE HER SO MUCH.
It is so great that it takes Nekota about ten seconds to decide Tokai can stay with her. I love that she doesn't even say something like 'until you find something else,' it's just like hello I have a spare room here is the code fjdlsaflksj GOOD.
Neko's sweet smile: LOVE. Neko eviscerating people: LOVE. Also she is so straightforward in this fic and I LOVE HER.
omg head administrator Aiba I love this fic
Hanabusa~~ She is one of my favorites. ♥
as well as reading and commenting on Takashina’s paper
It is shocking that he actually did this--Takashina better be appreciative!!
they both respect each other’s expertise, and Tokai’s certain she’s the best perioperative nurse he’s ever worked with
SWOONS
ohnooooooooo good now I can imagine that there are neighbor shenanigans with Ohno and Neko/Tokai. Maybe a dinner party! Maybe Ohno has a significant other and--ANYWAY.
Neko and Momo, so cute! I love that Momo likes Tokai. <3
I’ll show you the rest of the apartment, then I’m going to bed, I’m wrecked
Again, so straightforward! I really really enjoy how you're writing Neko here. <3
THE BAGS OF CAT LITTER IN HIS ROOM, SHE IS GREAT. All of the signs in general that this is her space and she hasn't had much time to prepare for another person being there are excellent.
Tokai waking up to Momo's paw on his face is the best image. Nekota made space in the cabinet for his rice and gave him the wifi details!! A good beginning to their cohabitation for sure.
his toothbrush in the holder next to Nekota’s, and hangs his towel next to hers
aieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
omg the crankiness between Tokai and Sho is DELIGHTFUL. Ahhhhh and now senior HR consultant Matsumoto Jun, this fic is TOO GOOD TO ME.
Sera takes the hint and says something bland about the weather.
lololol poor Sera, always
He doesn’t want her to be the subject of curious gossip
I like that Tokai is being considerate~
after this you either cook for yourself, or we can take turns
I loooooooooooove her. And then Neko-giggles!! Good job, Tokai. <3
While she’s still as sharp and smart-mouthed at home as she is at work, Tokai enjoys seeing her smile when teasing Momo, or laughing out loud at a silly variety show
oh my gosh my heart just imagining all of this
Tokai, though, wants her in his space
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
She freezes for a moment, then slowly relaxes, settling into Tokai's hold. His hand comes up to touch her hair, and she leans her head on his shoulder.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OH MY GOODNESS, YES GOOD omg and then kissing THIS FIC IS THE BEST
I suppose if you're going to stay, you better start contributing to the rent
omg he's gonna staaaaaaaaaaaay they're gonna live together from now on eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
But working for so long as a team together in the workplace, especially in operating theatres where clear communication is absolutely crucial, Tokai and Neko find themselves in a pretty good position to start navigating a relationship
swooooooooooooooon
she whispers something to Tokai, who lets out a bark of laughter
I LOVE THEM SO MUCH. THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY. THIS FIC IS A GIFT.
I love that Hanabusa is the one to figure it out!! Sera is obviously too oblivious but Hanabusa's got good eyes for noticing things~~~ AND she won't make a big deal out of it: I love it.
I love this WHOLE FIC, if it isn't clear. Just that you made it exist AT ALL already won my heart, but then to have it be so delightful was the most wonderful bonus!! Thank you so much for writing me this story. ♥♥♥♥♥
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(Anonymous) 2020-06-24 04:25 pm (UTC)(link)Neko is really a good match for Tokai. She is the only one who can handle him. I love how their relationship progressed.
Thank you for writing this, anon!
- icecreamsuki
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Thank you so much for writing this!
It’s so sweet and warm.
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