Leo stepped off the plane, stretching his legs and scanning the bustling airport. Japan. Slice-of-life Japan, not the flashy, action-packed anime world people dreamt about, but normal streets, signs, and quiet everyday life. He sighed, adjusting the strap of his backpack. His second year of high school was about to begin, and with it came the final push toward college.
He booked a taxi to his new school dorm, observing the streets as they passed. Neon signs flickered faintly in the late afternoon sun, but not as exaggerated as the shows he loved. He snapped a quick picture of Tokyo, saving it for later. A buzz on his phone made him check: a Twitch notification. One of his fans was asking why he hadn't streamed yet. He smirked lightly, typing a brief reply: "Just moved to Japan to start my second year." Another fan asked if he'd stream today; Leo shrugged internally. Not a big deal.
Predicting scenarios in his head, he considered the dorm and roommate situations. Most people arrived a month early, but he came late. Fine. He would pick a two-person room — more space for himself — and if he ended up with a roommate, he'd mostly ignore him. Simple. Easy.
---
The dorm building loomed ahead, a mix of beige brick and modern glass. Students passed by, glancing curiously at the newcomer. Leo ignored them, noting their expressions with detached interest. He entered the lobby, the smell of fresh paint and polished floors greeting him. The guide handed him the room list.
"Two-person rooms are available," the guide said. "Do you have a preference?"
Leo scanned the options. A larger two-person room caught his eye. Perfect. "I'll take this one," he said calmly. The guide hesitated, explaining that someone had been assigned to it, but Leo outlined his plan — predicting objections, calmly presenting his reasoning. Within minutes, he had the staff convinced.
As he was led to the room, he thought about the roommate. Probably a guy. He dismissed any ideas of a girl being assigned here — though secretly, a girl might be easier to deal with.
---
Leo pushed the door open and froze for a fraction of a second. Lina. Silver hair falling over her shoulders, blue eyes wide as she lounged on the couch like a lazy cat. The sight of her made him notice her shorts and slightly revealing shirt, but he trained himself not to stare.
"Oh! You're here!" she jumped up quickly, startled. "I'm Lina, 16, from Russia. Nice to meet you. Who are you?"
"Leo," he said flatly. "Half England, half Thailand. 16, almost 17."
She tilted her head, curious. "Why did you arrive last week? Most people come a month early to settle in."
Leo explained casually: his heavier stuff — PC, desk, training gear — was still being delivered and would arrive in an hour or two; his mom didn't want to leave him alone, and his dad insisted on training and practicing Muay Thai daily. Lina nodded, intrigued but silent.
He unpacked only the light things he brought in his backpack: clothes, phone, and a few small personal items. Without another word, he set his bed in the right corner and organized his backpack. Lina watched, impressed by his calm efficiency.
"You're… fast," she murmured.
"Efficiency matters," Leo said flatly.
She invited him to the couch to watch TV while the rest of his things arrived. He followed, noting how she sprawled lazily like a cat again. "Do you like anime?" she asked.
He nodded. "Action and drama. Favorite is comedy, though. Romance is okay too. Historical, isekai, war, mecha, mystery… slice-of-life is fine."
"Same here," Lina said, smiling. "I love comedy and romance. Don't like shoujo stuff though."
Leo raised an eyebrow. "Dandadan?"
"Yeah," she said. "You okay with it?"
"Fine," he said, cutting her off mid-teasing remark about fan service scenes. Lina laughed, smug. "And ecchi? Hentai? Surely you watch that stuff, don't lie."
"I've watched ecchi before. Hentai? No. Plot's dumb, disgusting," he replied. Lina smirked, clearly enjoying trying to get him flustered.
---
About an hour later, his PC, desk, and training gear arrived. Leo spent the next fifteen minutes setting everything up efficiently — the room now looked fully functional: desk with PC, neatly arranged training gear, and everything in its place. Lina's jaw dropped slightly, impressed.
"You're a very interesting person," she said instinctively.
Leo looked at her, eyes calm. "I'd say the same about you."
---
He turned on his PC and started streaming. Lina sat nearby, watching quietly. The first fan question popped up: "Yo Leo, any new stuff?"
"Nuh," he replied. "Just moved to Japan to start my second year."
Another: "What do you think of Japan?"
"Meh. Normal. Not flashy like anime, but similar," he said flatly.
Lina noticed his tendency to avoid people and teased him lightly before leaving the room — though she stayed close enough to hear his interactions.
"Have you found a girlfriend yet?"
Leo laughed lightly. "I don't think one would like a crazy, messed-up person like me."
"Are you preparing for the future?"
He quieted, bluntly: "I don't need one. And sure I won't get one."
Fans continued to comment on his gameplay, but when he died in-game, he barely reacted. "If you shut up, I wouldn't have died," he muttered, earning a few laughs from chat.
---
Dinner time. Leo asked Lina if she cooked. She shyly admitted she couldn't.
"What do you eat then?" he asked.
"I usually order," she said.
Leo checked the fridge — snacks, juice, soda, but no groceries — and sighed. "Be right back." Ten minutes later, he returned with groceries and cooked a simple, non-Japanese meal. Lina tasted it and nodded approvingly. He ate quietly while she yapped on about random things.
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