“I want my own space.”
He thought Jiang Jian Yue saw him as a well-behaved child from a harmonious family, so he tried to find an excuse.
“I’m already 16.”
Soon to be 17.
It’s time to move out.
Yuki Asahi took a deep breath.
“I want a place where I can… I can freely invite you.”
Jiang Jian Yue’s little heart skipped a beat in a completely uncooperative way.
Damn it!
Her mind was once again filled with strange thoughts!
“There was some money left from the Hokkaido trip… Just enough to rent a place.”
He said, pulling his phone from his pocket and opening a Notebook.
Inside, it was filled with notes about renting: area, budget, things to watch out for, and even a few Real Estate Company phone numbers.
“Yue.”
Yuki Asahi put down his phone, looking at her with those serious, even slightly burning golden eyes.
“You need a place to stay now.”
“I… also want to move out.”
“So…”
He paused, as if searching for words, his cheeks turning red with nervousness and excitement.
“Let’s… let’s live together!”
“Ha—?”
Although she had already anticipated that he would suggest this, Jiang Jian Yue still pretended to be a little surprised to keep her composure.
“Think about it, renting alone is expensive and unsafe! If I rent alone, I can only afford a small single room. But… but if it’s the two of us, we can rent something better, like a 2LDK! With… with two bedrooms!”
“Two bedrooms!”
He emphasized, afraid Jiang Jian Yue would misunderstand.
“This way… we can split the rent, both afford it, and… and it’s safer. I… I can also… protect you!”
By the end, the boy’s voice grew quieter, but his gaze remained firm.
Jiang Jian Yue looked at him.
Her mind spun rapidly.
Internet cafes definitely weren’t a long-term solution.
Eventually, she would have to rent, but… together with Yuki Asahi?
Uncontrollably, scenes from certain doujin, AV, and eroge played in her mind.
Sorry, most of the knowledge base was occupied by that garbage.
“Cough!”
Jiang Jian Yue felt her cheeks heat up again and quickly tried to calm herself.
“You… keep your voice down!”
She lowered her voice, glaring at him fiercely.
“S-Sorry.”
Yuki Asahi immediately shrank his neck, subconsciously breaking the ‘no apologies’ rule.
“Do you have enough money?”
Jiang Jian Yue asked the most practical question.
She didn’t know how much Yuki Asahi had left.
In Japan, renting is no simple matter.
The procedures are complicated, and the fees are numerous: deposit, key money, guarantor fee, management fee, cleaning fee…
For an apartment with a monthly rent of 100,000 yen, the first month might cost 600,000 yen!
If needed, she could pay a bit more.
“I—I checked! This 2LDK…”
Yuki Asahi quickly turned the Notebook to show her.
“Not bad, right… I should have enough money!”
So you checked 2LDKs in advance—this was your plan all along?
Money wasn’t a problem. If necessary, Jiang Jian Yue could sell the P320, and consider selling her camera afterward.
“The main point is—”
She didn’t look at the room’s preview, but stared at Yuki Asahi.
“Have you really… thought it through?”
“I know!”
Yuki Asahi sensed Jiang Jian Yue was wavering and nodded earnestly.
“I’ll follow the rules! I won’t randomly enter your room, Yue!”
Doubtful.
But it wasn’t like she really cared about such things.
They sat in silence for a while, until the food finally arrived.
Jiang Jian Yue had ordered quite a bit.
Near the end of the meal, Yuki Asahi suddenly remembered something and asked quietly,
“Then, food…”
“Food?”
“I mean, housework, and cooking…”
“Housework is fifty-fifty.”
Jiang Jian Yue pursed her lips, troubled.
“Cooking… I can’t.”
Letting her cook was truly a death sentence.
“Leave it to me.”
Yuki Asahi seemed a bit confident in his cooking.
Jiang Jian Yue nodded. She wasn’t someone who prized gourmet food or high culinary skills—Yuki Asahi’s cooking was already enough to satisfy her appetite.
“…That’s also housework. If you cook, I’ll… do more of the other chores.”
She added, not wanting to owe him anything.
“Okay!”
Yuki Asahi nodded vigorously, a bright smile spreading across his face.
“Then it’s settled?”
Jiang Jian Yue looked at his silly smile, and felt a bit lighter herself.
Being ‘homeless’ in ‘Social Reality’…
Wasn’t so scary after all.
***
Half an hour later, at a Real Estate Company near Ikebukuro Station.
A female Agent in a suit greeted the pair politely.
A teenage boy, looking like a typical high schooler, with excitement and nerves on his face.
A girl, stunningly beautiful with a cold aura, dressed simply yet stylishly, exuding an ‘unapproachable’ vibe that made her seem much more mature than the boy beside her.
Another young couple looking to rent?
“Welcome! Are you here to view on behalf of your family?”
The Agent asked politely.
“No.”
Yuki Asahi took a deep breath, trying to appear reliable.
“We’re renting together.”
“And you are…?”
“Classmates!”
Yuki Asahi spoke before Jiang Jian Yue could.
“We want to rent a 2LDK. Is the one you posted on INS still available?”
The Agent checked and regretfully informed them it had already been rented.
She then introduced them to another apartment.
But the price… was a bit higher.
The monthly rent was only about 400,000 yen more!
“Can we view it in person?”
Yuki Asahi asked cautiously.
“N-Now?”
The Agent checked the time—it was almost six.
It wasn’t too late, but…
Did these two young people really have the money for such an expensive place?
Would she be wasting her time?
“Yes.”
“No problem. I’ll get the keys and arrange a car.”
Though she doubted their ability to rent, her professionalism prevailed.
Within five minutes, Jiang Jian Yue and Yuki Asahi were in a car with the Real Estate Company logo, heading to the location.
Yuki Asahi sat in the car, feeling dazed.
He looked at the passing cityscape, then at Jiang Jian Yue’s profile by the window, illuminated by the Neon Lights—so unreal.
In just one afternoon, the ‘senpai’ who had kicked him out had become his ‘quasi-roommate’.
And now they were going to see a luxury apartment with a monthly rent of over 600,000 yen.
“Is… is this a dream?”
He couldn’t help but mutter.
Jiang Jian Yue glanced at him.
“Get a grip.”
“Will we… decide tonight?”
Yuki Asahi asked nervously.
“If it’s suitable, we’ll apply.”
“Yeah!”
Yuki Asahi nodded hard.
“I… I’ll do my best too!”
Do your best at what?
Making money?
Then look forward to more Devourers showing up!
Jiang Jian Yue didn’t speak, turning to look at the dazzling city outside.
Only she knew that her own heartbeat was a little chaotic too.
Co-renting… cohabitation…
These words had appeared countless times in web novels of her previous life.
There was always a shield/guardian living with the school beauty.
But when it happened to her—especially with someone she liked, a younger, pure (probably) boy—the feeling was…
Way too much like a third-rate light novel!
***
“We’re here.”
The Agent’s voice broke her thoughts.
The car smoothly entered a brightly lit underground garage.
After getting out, they followed her into the elevator.
“We’re looking at unit 2103. It’s one of the best view units in the building.”
“Ding—”
The elevator doors opened onto a quiet, carpeted corridor.
The Agent stopped in front of 2103, using an electronic card to unlock the heavy door.
“Please come in.”
Yuki Asahi entered the Shinkai first, eyes wide.
The Shinkai was spacious enough for two shoe cabinets, with a large built-in storage area on one side.
“This is the living room.”
The Agent guided them inside.
Past the corridor, the view opened up.
What greeted them was a floor-to-ceiling glass wall.
Outside was the nightscape of Tokyo.
Dazzling lights formed a river of stars, Tokyo Tower glowing red in the distance, countless cars forming flowing bands of light.
The Living, Dining, Kitchen (LDK) was an open space.
Modern minimalist style, high-grade gray fabric sofas, a marble island kitchen.
“All kitchen equipment is imported from Germany: IH stovetop, built-in dishwasher, and here—”
The Agent opened an embedded cabinet door.
“A combined oven and microwave.”
Yuki Asahi’s eyes were drawn to the gleaming kitchen.
He subconsciously imagined himself cooking here… preparing breakfast, dinner for Yue…
His face instantly flushed.
Jiang Jian Yue walked to the window, looking down at the city.
She had to admit, the fifth floor of Jiang Jian Yue’s apartment was too low; this was a rare sight for her.
“Let’s look at the bedrooms.”
The Agent said at the right moment.
“This is a 2LDK, with two separate bedrooms.”
She opened the door closest to the living room.
“This is the master bedroom, sixteen tatami (about 26 square meters), with a Walk-In Closet.”
“The other room is here.”
The Agent opened the door at the end of the hall.
“This one’s a bit smaller, ten tatami (do your own math), but it’s well-lit and has a standard closet.”
The two rooms were separated by a hallway, providing excellent privacy.
Yuki Asahi nervously glanced at Jiang Jian Yue.
“Yue… which one do you like?”
Jiang Jian Yue glanced at him—her look said, ‘Do you even need to ask?’
“The one with the Cloakroom.”
She answered matter-of-factly.
“Oh! Okay!”
Yuki Asahi nodded immediately. He didn’t care which room he got—so long as he had a place.
“Now, the bathroom—it’s a fully separated ‘three-section’ design.”
The bathroom was behind the innermost door.
The Bathtub wasn’t the cramped Japanese type, but spacious enough to stretch your legs—maybe even fit two people.
“How is it? Are you satisfied with the place?”
The Agent maintained a professional smile.
Yuki Asahi was completely conquered by this ‘luxury apartment’ and could only nervously look at Jiang Jian Yue.
Although Jiang Jian Yue’s own apartment was more luxurious, living in someone else’s place felt completely different.
Jiang Jian Yue looked around and spoke slowly.
“What’s the total initial cost?”
“I’ll calculate it.”
The Agent pulled out a tablet and showed the breakdown.
A long string of numbers—3.3 million yen!
“…………….”
Ki…ki…what?