The Water Runs Deep

The pipes in Ritsu's apartment burst at precisely seven AM. Ritsu had been dreading the morning light, still laying in bed with his arm over his eyes. It wasn't until the whooshing sound of water pouring from his walls and ceiling got to him that he realized something was wrong.

"Shit!" He jumped from bed and ran for it. Part of him was thankful that he had bothered to clear off his bed and sleep in it that night; if he had just passed out on the floor like he was prone to do lately, he'd probably be soaking. The other part, however, told the first part to shove it and run so he could save the storyboards that Saitou-sensei had faxed to him last night.

As he ran through the puddles of water towards his coffee table, he could hear doors opening and shutting around him. After the water had managed to push through the walls, it must've been loud enough for his neighbors to hear. And he had managed to keep such a low profile before that.

"Onodera!" And there was Takano. Knowing Ritsu's luck, Takano was ready for work and would make fun of him for still being in his pajamas at that hour. "What's going on in there?"

"I've got it all under control!" Ritsu yelled, but just like that, he slipped in a puddle and hit the floor, face-first. He groaned in defeat just as Takano opened the door, water splashing out into the hallway. "Go away."

Takano just rolled his eyes and closed the door behind him, ignoring the curious looks from Ritsu's other neighbors. He took both his shoes and his socks off before proceeding. "You look like a drowned rat," he said, staring down at Ritsu. He was still laying there in that puddle of his, holding the storyboards out in an attempt to save them. Takano plucked the papers from Ritsu's hands. "And you should probably call the landlord."

"I told you, I'm fine," Ritsu said, and he finally got up. His shirt was soaking wet, and so was his face, which included his bangs. "Just get to work. I'll be at the office later."

Takano eyed the puddles around the apartment, and the still-dripping walls. The flow had stopped, at least, probably after one of Ritsu's neighbors called facilities and they shut off his water.

"Fine," Takano said, and Ritsu couldn't help but think how easy that was.

Ritsu was in the Emerald office by nine, trudging in like it was the very end of Hell Week. Kisa glanced up from his laptop and watched as Ritsu fell down into his seat with a distinct note of despair. "What's the matter, Ricchan?"

"My apartment flooded." Ritsu leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling, rubbing his stomach. "The landlord can't get someone in to look at the pipes until tomorrow, but I can't very well live there while the water's shut off." He muttered something about a stomachache.

"You could always stay with me," Takano said, not taking his eyes off the paperwork he'd been glaring at since he got there. When he saw Ritsu's incredulous look, he shrugged. "I'm right next door."

"I already called my parents," Ritsu said.

"You'd rather stay with your parents than me?"

"Like that's a question."

Takano just smiled and went about his business.