I packed my luggage and looked at my parents who were smiling proudly at me for making it into my dream university. I gave them one last hug and took one last picture with them before leaving to head to the airport and catch my flight to Japan.
I made it to my flight and got on. I took my seat and sighed softly. I looked at my phone and smiled at my phone. I was starting my new life in a country I dreamed of going to since I was 13. I'm now 20 and finally getting the opportunity to go to a famous university there.
I looked out the window and watched the clouds as we flew to Japan. Now I wasn't expecting to be some super awesome protagonist nor am I a big otaku, but I've always dreamed of coming here because of the history, food, and aesthetics as well as getting anime and games earlier than most countries. I will admit, I am a huge anime and manga fan so that also plays a huge role in coming here.
A few hours go by and the plane landed. I got off the plane and went into the airport to obtain my luggage. After I grabbed my luggage, I was supposed to meet up with the Dean of the university I was planning to attend. I looked around and noticed a man in a business suit. I walked over to him.
"Hey, are you Mr. Yoshino?" I asked.
The man looked at me. "Ahh, you must be Archer Gray." He looked at his phone that had a picture of me.
"Yes sir, that's me." I smiled.
"The picture does match the description. Alright, since you're here let's talk at a nearby restaurant. I know you're hungry and I'm quite hungry myself as well." The dean chuckled.
I nodded and followed him while towing my luggage behind me. We walked to his vehicle and he allowed me to put my luggage in the trunk. He drove off to a restaurant to discuss the living situation and how things were going to go around the university.
We made it to the restaurant and we both got out. We headed inside then got our table and sat down. We ordered our food and drink then our conversation started.
"Alright, so what made you choose Akechi Blossom University?" The dean asked.
"Well it was said to be one of the greatest universities here plus things were affordable and the living situations were also free! How could I not choose this college?" I answered.
"I see, I see. Well certainly you made a great choice. Our college is free and already paid for all students, old and new. The only thing you have to pay for is your own personal items." The dean smiled.
This was an amazing deal to me! A free university where I didn't have to pay a dime for anything! Looks like everything seems to be lining up correctly! "Wow okay! Well since that's the case, I'm more than ready to start the semester off!"
"Good, now about the living situation...So all of our houses only carry eight people and there is one house that only has seven. If you'd like you can stay there, but if not I can find you another home! Maybe like an apartment or something?" The dean said.
"I have no problem being the eighth member of the home, sir. I'm ready to meet my new friends!" I said, excitedly.
"Mmph...alright. I'll drop you off after we eat and everything." The dean said.
I nodded and we continued to chat, getting to know each other and him asking why I chose move to Japan and if I was able to speak Japanese. I spent a year learning Basic and Advanced Japanese so I could at least hold my own around Japan just in case I was alone.
After eating, he paid for the check and we got up then left the restaurant. We got back in his car and he drove off to where the share houses were. He dropped me off at the house and I grabbed my luggage.
"Before you go up there and knock on the door...I have to tell you this. This share house is a girls only share house, but it was the only house available! I'll give you the option again before I drive off." Mr. Yoshino said.
"Wait...I'm gonna be the only male in the house?!" I asked, perplexed by the situation. Mr. Yoshino nodded. I looked at the house. On one hand, I didn't mind because it was free housing and I was used to living with only women aside from my dad. On the other hand, these are women I don't even know so it's not gonna sit well with some of them or all of them that a boy is coming to live in a girl's only share house.
"So do you want me to just find you an apartment? I don't mind doing that." Mr. Yoshino spoke, wanting to give me a choice.
"The process of getting an apartment takes a while. Listen I'm gonna cut my losses and tough it out. What's the worst that could happen?" I said.
"Alright, but if you need anything you can just give me a call." He said and gave me a key and a document saying I was a new resident of the share house. He drove off and I watched his car trail down the road.
I walked over to the house and took a deep breath then exhaled. "Hopefully, I won't get viewed as a pervert around here...that's the last thing I need...Here goes nothing."
I unlocked the door with the key the dean gave me and walked into the share house. The first thing I was met with was the view of a beautiful kitchen and the living room.
"Wait, did someone just come into the house?" A woman asked.
"Yeah, someone definitely walked into the house." Another woman said.
I walked ahead and noticed seven women sitting on the couch together. They were on high alert. They all looked at me and I looked back at them.
"Who are you?" One of them asked.
"I...I am the the new member of the share house." I said.
"And who decided that shit huh? Huh?!" The girl with pink hair asked and glared at me.
"T-The dean of the university did." I answered.
"Mr. Yoshino?" Another one of the women asked.
"Yes." I nodded.
They all looked at each other and looked back at me. At first, I thought they all understood me until one of them stood up.
"Well if you're gonna be living here, you're gonna sleep outside!" The pink haired girl yelled and began pushing me out of the house.
"Yo! What's up with that?! Outside?!" I asked as she pushed me out the house.
"Suki, hold on!" Another girl got up and the pink haired girl stopped pushing me.
"We can't leave him on the streets. The dean did say he was allowed to stay here so who are we to disregard what the dean said?" The woman said.
"But Rena! He's a boy! He's gonna start hatching a bunch of bright ideas and it's gonna be weird!" Suki said.
"Come on! Is that really how you think guys are? We have brains too you know!" I rolled my eyes after hearing Suki's statement.
"He can stay in the smallest room we have. The storage. At least he has somewhere to sleep. We set up ground rules for him. If those rules are broken, he gets kicked out. Three strikes and he's out." Rena said. She seemed to be the most logical one out of the bunch.
"Fine, but don't expect me to become friends with this guy!" Suki walked off.
I sighed in relief. I turned around and looked at Rena. "Thank you."
Rena nodded and led me to the living room. "Let's all introduce ourselves to the new member alright? I'll start. My name is Rena Kudo."
"Rena." I nodded.
"Ugh...my name is Suki Yanagisawa." Suki scoffed and rolled her eyes.
The girl with blonde hair spoke up. "My name is Sayaki Mitsui."
"Okay, Sayaki.." I nodded at her.
"Aki Karasu is my name." The woman with long black hair and light brown eyes said.
"Aki." I said.
"It's nice to meet you. My name is Momoko Kudou." The woman with long brown hair said with a slight smile.
"Momoko." I nodded.
"H-Hello, I'm Mitsuki Taira." The shy woman with red hair spoke.
"Mitsuki." I nodded at her.
"I'm Orime Yashima." The last woman said.
"Now that you know all of our names, who are you exactly?" Rena asked.
"My name is Archer Gray." I said.
"Okay, all who thinks Archer can stay and won't be a problem, raise your hand." Rena said.
Momoko and Mitsuki rose their hands.
"Yikes.." I said to myself.
"Majority rules! Now kick him out before you regret it!" Suki said.
"I was only seeing who he'd get along with. He is new here so it wouldn't be right to just leave him on the streets." Rena said. "Alright Archer here are the ground rules, you can't eat at the same time as us, you have to wait at least an hour to use the bathroom, you must knock before entering any one of our rooms, you can't walk to school with us, and finally you must buy your own groceries. You will get striked if you do anything that we deem is too much. Three strikes and you're out of the house."
"You set these rules as if I'm a wanted criminal. What's up with these rules and regulations? Just because I'm a guy doesn't mean I'm a dog." I said.
"Until proven otherwise, these rules stick for however long they need to." Rena said. "I'm the leader of the house so I have to do things that'll have all of us happy. Sorry it has to be this way, but this is how it goes."
"Ugh fine." I said then stuck my hands in my pocket.
The new door to my new life has been opened and it's already seeming like a dream too good to be true, but I've always toughed out any challenge. I wasn't gonna let this set me back! I was going to live my best life in Japan regardless so let's get this started!
To be continued....