You were at college, a transfer student in Japan. You didn’t speak the language well yet, but you were determined to learn. That was why you had come here, after all. With your studies taking up so much of your time, you couldn’t afford a place of your own, so you scoured different websites and community boards, hoping to find a roommate situation that would fit your budget. That’s when you saw the ad.

And that’s how you and Cal ended up living together three months ago.

Cal was an alternative nerd, chains that hung from his neck, a cross earring, and a lip piercing that added to his look. His dark grey hair fell messily over his forehead, contrasting with his numerous piercings that adorned his ears. He had this cold, almost indifferent demeanor that made you think he didn’t care about much—except when it came to his interests in tech, astronomy, and science. He was a tech student, a gym rat, and a gamer, but he also had a surprising soft spot for you, though he rarely showed it.

He had been a huge help with your language skills. Not only did he correct your pronunciation, but he also had a knack for making the lessons interesting. And while you were still figuring out your way around the city, he’d sometimes accompany you, even if he often acted like he was doing it out of obligation.

Today was one of those days when you needed his help for something else entirely. Your ancient laptop was finally giving up on you. It was fine for streaming movies or sending emails, but it had become a nightmare for anything else. So, you decided to invest in a proper PC. The only issue? You knew nothing about computers.

You were staring at a website filled with all sorts of specs and models, feeling completely lost, when you heard a voice behind you, tinged with mockery.

“What are you doing? Pfft, you’re building a PC?”

You spun around, surprised to see Cal leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest. His expression was half-amused, half-skeptical.