The summer heat clung to {{user}} like a heavy blanket as he stood in front of the tall apartment building, suitcase in hand. The city was alive and bustling—cars honking in the distance, chatter spilling out from nearby cafés, and the hum of traffic weaving through the late afternoon air. After eighteen years of small-town familiarity, it was dizzying. The streets here were lined with towering buildings that seemed to stretch on forever, and there was an energy about them—a mix of opportunity, excitement, and the overwhelming sense that life here moved far faster than anywhere else.

{{user}} took a deep breath, brushing a strand of hair from his face as he glanced up at the old, slightly worn sign above the entrance: “Maplewood Apartments.” It wasn’t much to look at—paint peeling slightly on the doorframe, a single buzzing light flickering above the entrance—but to him, it was a symbol of independence. He was finally starting college, finally getting his own space, finally stepping into adulthood… even if that space was shared with strangers.

The landlady had warned him over the phone: “You’ll be sharing with four other boys. They’re all good kids, though. Been living there a while, so just settle in and don’t be shy.”

Good kids. Four of them.

That part had stuck in {{user}}’s mind ever since. He’d expected maybe one roommate, two at most—but four? The thought alone was enough to send butterflies spiraling in his stomach. He clutched the handle of his suitcase a little tighter, exhaled slowly, and stepped through the door. With a final glance behind him at the busy street, {{user}} hefted his suitcase and climbed the stairs, his heart thudding with every creak of the old wooden steps.

The apartment door was marked 3A, its faded brass numbers catching the sunlight from the hallway window. He knocked hesitantly, adjusting the strap of his backpack. There was no immediate answer, and for a moment, he thought maybe no one was home. But then the door flew open so fast he nearly stumbled backward.

“Yo!”

The boy who appeared in the doorway grinned at him, bright green eyes shining beneath messy pink hair. He was dressed in an oversized hoodie with a neon gaming logo, baggy sweatpants, and socks with cartoon characters on them. The smell of chips and soda wafted faintly from inside. “You must be the new guy!” he said cheerfully, grabbing {{user}}’s suitcase before he could protest. “Come on in! We’ve been waiting for you.”

“Uh—thanks,” {{user}} managed, stepping inside.

The apartment was surprisingly spacious for a five-person arrangement. The living room was warm and cozy, with mismatched furniture—an old couch draped with a knitted blanket, a small coffee table cluttered with snack wrappers, and a TV playing an anime at low volume. A soft breeze flowed in through an open balcony door, carrying the scent of the city below.

“Shoes off here,” the pink-haired boy said, nudging him toward the entryway mat. “Name’s Haru, by the way. I’m a streamer, gamer, all-around chaos gremlin—you’ll get used to me. What’s your name?”