Poolside Chaos

  I let out a long sigh as I flopped back onto the luxurious couch, staring at the endless space around me. My parents' gift—a ten-story apartment complex—felt more like a curse than a blessing. Luxurious? Sure. But it was like living in an empty, overpriced museum. The silence was suffocating.

  Chester had been on my case for days, reminding me that I had to "act like a responsible ndlord." He wasn’t wrong, though. It felt irresponsible to leave this entire building sitting vacant. My parents had given me this pce, but what good was it if I didn’t do something with it? I couldn’t even say I was living in a home. More like a high-css tomb.

  "You’re going to end up drowning in your own ziness," Chester’s voice echoed in my head. Ugh, that guy. I could almost hear him sighing in disappointment, even though he wasn’t here.

  I shifted on the couch, mentally preparing myself. It was time to at least pretend to be a functional adult. I pulled out my ptop and started typing.

  I needed to post an ad. This was the "responsible" thing to do, right? I wasn’t really interested in making money from this pce, but if I had to at least pretend to be the ndlord, I might as well try something that would get attention.

  I typed up the ad with a deadpan expression, the words flowing without much thought.

  LIVE IN LUXURY FOR DIRT CHEAP

  Super fancy apartment for rent. High ceilings. Heated floors. Sparkling water fountain in the lobby. Pool on the roof. Bidet sings.

  No rent increase. No ndlords bothering you (I’m zy). Just don’t be weird.

  1,000 yen/month. Yes, you read that right.

  First come, first served.

  Please be normal.

  (I’m serious.)

  –M

  I hit "post" and leaned back in my chair, staring at the screen for a few seconds. The ad was... ridiculous. But hey, at least it was something.

  Sighing, I closed my ptop and rubbed my temples. Yeah, I’m technically being a ndlord now, I guess. I didn’t even know what I was doing half the time. I guess all we have to do now is to hit the sack and wait.

  xXx

  The morning sun was barely up when I cracked open the heavy doors of the tower and immediately regretted existing.

  Waiting right outside like overzealous bodyguards were Chester, Zach, and Randy—suited up, standing at full attention, and looking way too serious for this hour.

  "Good morning, Little Mistress," Chester said, bowing slightly. His silver hair caught the light like something out of a drama. "We shall escort you to school."

  "I can carry your bag!" Zach added, puffing out his chest like a proud goril.

  "I brought the umbrel in case of sunlight," Randy said, holding up what was clearly a golf umbrel. "Also pepper spray."

  I blinked.Pepper spray.To protect me.On the ten-minute walk to school.

  "...I'm walking. Alone," I said ftly, adjusting my bag strap.

  "But Little Mistress," Chester protested, his voice tight with professional horror. "It's dangerous out there."

  "Very dangerous," Zach nodded gravely. "There could be... unsavory types."

  "I can tase them for you," Randy offered brightly, pulling out a suspicious-looking device from his pocket.

  I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. "You guys realize I'm literally going to a normal high school, right? Not walking into a warzone?"

  They stared at me like I'd just decred I was going skydiving without a parachute.

  "I'm fine," I said, walking past them.

  "But—!" Zach sputtered.

  "Nope," I said without looking back. "Go back inside before you embarrass yourselves."

  Their defeated sighs echoed behind me as I made my way down the street, finally enjoying a rare, peaceful morning....Or at least, as peaceful as it could get when you lived with three grown men who thought you were made of gss.

  xXx

  By the time I got to school, my face hurt from all the fake smiling at nosy neighbors.Yes, I live alone.Yes, I'm rich.No, I'm not running away from home.(Though honestly, living with Chester's nagging probably counted as a reason.)

  Sliding into my seat, I spotted Reina already at her desk, hunched over her phone like she was hiding state secrets.

  I narrowed my eyes.It had been two days since I caught her doing... whatever that spell was behind the greenhouse.She was still acting too normal.Which, honestly, made her even less normal.

  "Morning," I said, dropping my bag with a thud.

  She jumped like she'd been caught watching something illegal, then turned to me with an overly bright grin. "Morning, Mio~!"

  Too bright.Too chipper.Definitely guilty.

  I leaned in slightly, lowering my voice. "Sleep well? No... mysterious hobbies tely?"

  Her smile twitched at the edges. "Nope! Super normal sleep! Super normal dreams! Just... totally human things! Haha!"

  Even her ugh was suspicious.

  I rested my chin on my hand, staring at her. "Human things, huh."

  "Yup! Homework. Netflix. Cramming for tests. You know, normal teen stuff." She waved her hand dismissively, but her fingers were fidgeting with her sleeve.

  I didn’t buy it for a second.

  "Cool," I said, still deadpan. "So if, hypothetically, someone happened to witness magic being cast behind the greenhouse... that wouldn't be you, right?"

  Her face paled for half a second before she burst into a new fit of awkward ughter. "M-Me?! Cast spells?! Haha, what a crazy idea! Wow, you have such an imagination, Mio!"

  Yeah. Totally not suspicious at all.

  I decided to back off for now. Watching her squirm was fun, and besides... it was only a matter of time before she slipped up.People like Reina couldn’t hide their weirdness forever.

  xXx

  After school, I climbed the stairs up to the rooftop pool with a towel slung over my shoulder.

  The city was starting to glow with that soft sunset light, the pool water reflecting it like gss.No guards.No Chester lectures.Just me, a stupid cat video on TikTok, and blessed, perfect silence.

  I dropped into a lounge chair, wrapped my towel around myself like a cocoon, and scrolled.

  One video showed a cat trying to jump into a cardboard box—and absolutely eating it.I actually snorted.Honestly, same.Maybe I was the cat. Maybe the box was "basic human responsibilities."And maybe gravity was just life, personally kicking me in the face.

  Deep.

  I was just starting to rex when—

  SPLASH.

  Water exploded upward like a geyser, soaking me head to toe.

  I bolted upright, dripping, eyes wide.

  There, filing in the pool like a golden retriever on Red Bull, was a girl.Silver hair, wolf ears, and—oh good, wolf tail waving in panic behind her.

  "What," I said ftly, water dripping down my nose, "the actual hell."

  The girl spshed toward the edge, clinging to the side with wide, panicked eyes. "S-Sorry! I didn’t mean to crash nd! I was just—uh—falling! Very fast! For...reasons!"

  I blinked at her.She blinked back.A tail accidentally spped the water, spshing me again.

  "...You're real," I muttered, staring at the ears twitching on top of her head. "I'm not hallucinating. Great. Super."

  The girl beamed, soaking wet but completely unbothered. "Hi! I’m Lunaria! Nice to meet you! Your pool is very soft!"

  "It’s water," I said.

  "Exactly!"

  I wanted to scream.Instead, I just sagged back into my lounge chair, towel ruined, soul leaking out of my body.

  Why.Why was my life like this.