The autumn chill had settled in. Even with my jacket, the cold nipped at me as I strolled down the street.
Since Miyamura Dojo was only a twenty-minute walk from home, I'd jog there in the mornings, then leisurely walk back after dinner, letting the day's training settle.
As I mulled over when I'd have time to try practicing Eighteen Crushing Falls, my phone suddenly buzzed. "Hello?"
"Hey, Luke, it's Vicky." The voice on the other end was my buddy, Vicky.
This guy was a true slacker, even worse than me, notorious for skipping class and then desperately begging for help in our group chat at the last minute. "Haven't seen you in two weeks—what've you been up to?"
"Heh, you know, just spending quality time with my girl," Vicky's voice held a smug undertone, laced with something distinctly sleazy.
"Oh, spare me the boasting. You wouldn't call just to gloat, so what's up?"
"Why don't you hurry up and get yourself a girlfriend? Anyway, are you out right now? Where are you? I'll pick you up—got something I want to discuss."
I was taken aback. When someone like Vicky wants a serious talk, there's always something fishy. I agreed anyway. "Alright, I'll bite. It's rare to get a free meal out of Young Master Vicky. I'm in the East Commercial District."
"Great! Be there in five."
—
A few minutes later, I was sitting in a nearby café with Vicky, who'd picked me up in his Volkswagen.
Vicky is about 1.8 meters tall, lean and lanky, with slicked-back hair and rimless glasses. It gave him that scholarly, disreputable air. I settled into my chair, watching as he seemed almost embarrassed to speak. "Come on then, what's so pressing that it dragged you out of your cozy little love nest?"
He scratched his head and chuckled. "Uh, you know I officially started dating Jenny over the summer, right? Well, I finally convinced her to move in with me last month."
I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "Get to the point."
"Alright, alright. So, you know last year I was sharing a place with Diego. This year, he moved in with his girlfriend, but my parents still think I'm at that old place."
"When did you move out then?"
Vicky flashed me a mischievous grin. "As soon as things got serious with Jenny, I found a new place. One-bedroom, one-living room."
Suddenly, I understood. "Oh, I see. You sly dog. You really went all out, huh?"
He laughed. "I knew you'd get it. But it's not just about sneaking her in. Jenny values privacy, and I thought it'd be nice for us to have our own little world. A two-bedroom place was too extravagant, but with just one bed… well, eventually, she agreed." He grinned, his face full of pride.
"Unbelievable. The universe is truly unfair to us single folk," I muttered, a chill running down my spine in the warm café. "Just get to the main point already."
"Right, right—so, did you see the news about BeNest Apartments?"
I nodded, remembering the recent scandal. Vicky looked a bit sheepish as he continued, "My cousin, just graduated two years ago, works in that district. She rented a place at BeNest, and now with all this drama, her landlord's been pressuring her to leave. My parents thought I still lived at my old place and wanted me to share it with her."
I frowned. "And now you're asking me to help, huh?"
Vicky sighed, recounting his cousin's hardships: she'd found a job right after graduating, only to be laid off a few months later due to the pandemic. Her savings had been drained just trying to make ends meet.
"Now every night, she's fending off calls from the landlord. The other tenants have mostly moved out, and it's just a matter of time for her."
"She's broke, stressed, and I'm genuinely worried she'll lose hope. Most places are either full or monopolized by rental groups. She won't stay in a place like that again, and honestly, I don't blame her. Brother, she's in a rough spot, and I'm out of options."
I felt a pang of sympathy. We were all just young people trying to get by, and her situation was honestly heartbreaking.
After some thought, I asked, "What's she like? How's the rent going to work, and how long does she plan to stay?"
Seeing I was starting to come around, Vicky immediately began praising her: "She's an absolute gem—polite, educated, a Coastal University graduate. She's thoughtful, hardworking, and a great cook too…"
"Alright, alright, I get it," I said, cutting him off. "I'll give her a friendly rate—two thousand a month. Not unreasonable, right? But I'll need to meet her first."
Before I'd even finished, Vicky leaped up and hugged me. "You're the best, Lucas. A true brother and saint."
I pushed him away, rolling my eyes. "Hold up, don't get too excited. Nothing's set until I meet her and we go over the plan. Got her info? Maybe I should add her on WeChat or something, since I don't even know her name."
"No need for that—I'll bring her over right now. She's not far. You order whatever you want on me; I'll be back in ten minutes." Before I could even protest, he bolted out the door.
'This guy… can I really rely on him? Whatever, a free meal's a free meal.' I flagged down the server and ordered a tea and a few sandwiches.
About ten minutes later, Vicky returned with a young woman in tow.
My first impression was striking—a stark contrast of black and white. She wore no makeup, her skin almost ghostly pale, her jet-black hair parted unevenly. Dressed in a black hoodie, she looked fragile, almost sickly. She was pretty, no doubt, but her almond eyes were dull and lifeless. The moment our eyes met, she looked away.
Once they were seated, Vicky made the introductions. "Luke, this is my cousin, Ava Adams. Cousin, this is my good friend Lucas."
"He lives nearby in a two-bedroom place, and he's willing to let you stay for two thousand a month. I've known him for almost four years; he's trustworthy."
Ava gave a small nod and, after a pause, asked, "Nice to meet you. Would it be alright if I pay the rent monthly? I'm a bit tight on funds right now."
"No problem at all," I replied. "I know things are tough right now. You'll be moving into a fully furnished space with all utilities set up, so you can just bring your things and settle in. I can't help much with moving since I'm a bit tied up, but I can give you the keys tomorrow."
Ava managed a faint smile. "Thank you. If that's the case, I'll trust Vicky's judgment. When can I move in?"
"Do you have class tomorrow?" I asked.
"Of course not," Vicky scoffed. "I'll swing by around nine-thirty to grab the keys, and I'll help her move in myself."
I waved my hand at him. "Alright, alright, let's just make sure everything's in order. I'll leave a lease agreement for you guys to go over."
"Six months initially, then we'll see from there. If she finds something else or if things don't work out, she can move anytime."
With that Ava bade us goodbye and a few chitchat's later Vicky and we parted.
The rest of the day went as usual, training after training.
———
Early the next morning, Vicky showed up.
"Here's the key, and the contract's on the table. Six-month term, but if things don't work out, she can leave anytime."
Vicky grabbed my hand, overly dramatic. "Luke, I owe you big time. This is what brotherhood's all about. Any time you're in need, I'm there."
"Yeah, yeah," I chuckled, shaking him off. "It's no big deal; young people helping each other out. If she's happy, she can stay long-term."
With an exaggerated wink, Vicky slung an arm over my shoulder. "You've seen her now, right? Isn't she great? Educated, responsible, pretty—just had some bad luck recently. I introduced her to you for a reason, brother. Don't waste this chance."
I shot him a look. "She's been through enough without you setting me up. I'm a man of virtue, thank you very much."
This time, it was his turn to scoff. We exchanged a few more jabs as we headed out.
Vicky told me he'd be free around three or four in the afternoon, though he had plans that night, so the meal would have to wait. I shrugged, then took off at a jog toward the dojo.