Yuta stepped into his room on the second floor of the newly assigned government housing. As the door shut behind him with a soft click, he looked around—neat bed, a wooden study desk, a small wardrobe, and most importantly, no surveillance cameras.
He paused for a moment, absorbing the odd freedom.
"So they really weren't kidding…" he mumbled to himself.It was exactly as the announcement had stated: there would be no cameras in personal areas—no bedrooms, no bathrooms. The government had intentionally removed all such surveillance in certain zones of the house to encourage deeper bonds among the youth. Privacy, trust, and closeness were no longer just side effects—they were goals of this bizarre yet revolutionary plan.
"So… the idea is to let boys and girls interact more naturally… even in private?"Yuta scratched the back of his head."Tch… this government's really on some next-level matchmaking strategy."
After organizing his bags, he stepped out and moved downstairs. Though he stayed on the second floor, it was shared with Erika, which he tried not to overthink. The notice had clearly mentioned:
"Boys' room floors will rotate monthly to encourage interaction and remove bias."
As he reached the living room, he found the others already waiting.
Izumi and Amane were slouched on the main couch, casually joking with each other like always.
On the opposite sofa sat the three girls—Mai, Erika, and Yuki. Their relaxed but graceful posture showed they had already claimed their territory.
As Yuta approached, Mai's eyes lit up and she waved cheerfully.
"Yuta~ Come sit! We're starting the first house meeting!"
He gave a quick nod and walked toward the boys' side of the room, settling down between Amane and Izumi.
"Let's see what this whole 'living together' thing really means…" he thought, as the atmosphere started to change with everyone gathered in one place.
The room was now comfortably filled with the buzz of anticipation.
Erika clapped her hands once and stood up confidently.
"Alright everyone, since we're housemates now, let's start with something important!" she said, flashing her signature cheerful smile. "We need to divide up the chores. No one wants to live in a disaster zone, right?"
Yuta glanced at her with mild surprise.
She really knows how to take charge… he thought.No wonder she's a model on Instagram. She's always cheerful, confident, and bubbly… but if I remember right, she kind of sucks at studying. Still, her presence has that charm of a natural leader.
Mai groaned and rolled her eyes dramatically.
"Ehh~ We have to do work too? That's so boring!"
Yuta chuckled to himself while observing her.
Mai's a bundle of energy. Always laughing, always joking… she acts like a little kid sometimes, but there's something really adorable about her playfulness. Her innocence is her charm.
Yuki adjusted her glasses and spoke in a calm, soft tone.
"If we want to live together peacefully, we should divide the work based on who's best suited for it. That way, things stay balanced."
Yuta turned his eyes toward her, his expression a little softer.
Yuki… she doesn't speak much, but when she does, it's always meaningful. She's mature and logical—completely opposite of Mai. And honestly… she's ridiculously hot when she's serious like this. Plus, she's a total ace in academics.
"Yeah," Yuta said, nodding in agreement. "Yuki's right. We need to plan this well."
Amane leaned forward. "Okay then, what should each of us do?"
Izumi raised his hand, looking a bit smug.
"I can handle laundry. My parents own a laundromat, so I have plenty of experience."
He paused for a second and thought to himself with a grin,
...And maybe I get to peek at girls' innerwear too. Heh.
Erika pointed at herself confidently.
"I'll take care of cleaning the house!"
Yuki nodded approvingly. "Good. Then let's have Mai help Izumi with laundry. And Amane, you can assist Erika with cleaning."
Mai sighed but nodded. "Okay, okay~ I guess that's fine."
"But there's still the biggest task left," Yuki added seriously. "Cooking. Breakfast, lunch, dinner… someone has to handle all of it."
Everyone turned silent for a moment.
Then, Yuta raised his hand. "I'll do it."
Amane perked up. "Oh hell yeah! Yuta's an awesome chef!"
Izumi nodded excitedly. "He even won a school-wide cooking competition back in middle school."
Erika blinked and blushed. "Yuta… you're husband material~!"
Mai giggled. "Then I guess Yuta is paired with me~"
Erika frowned teasingly. "Correction—Yuta's paired with me for this month, remember?"
Mai pouted. "Oops! My bad. I'm with Izumi then. He's… also a good guy." Her cheeks turned slightly red as she glanced at Izumi.
Izumi, flustered, looked away quickly. "H-Hey…"
Yuki remained composed. "Then it's settled. Yuta and I will take care of the meals for everyone. Other tasks can be handled as needed when someone notices they're piling up."
Yuta added with a responsible tone, "The government gives us a fixed allowance every month for living and food expenses. But it's limited, so we should avoid overspending. Budgeting is key."
Amane nodded. "Since we're sharing this space, we should also contribute evenly to things like groceries."
Erika clapped. "Wow, Amane! That was surprisingly smart of you~!"
Amane's ears turned a little red. "Tch. I have my moments."
Erika smiled. "Then let's finalize it—personal expenses will be shared between each room pair, and for shared meals and items like dinner, we all chip in equally. Sound good?"
Everyone nodded in agreement.
The household had just taken its first step toward balance.
As the discussion settled, Erika suddenly jumped up with excitement.
"Alright then—let's do it!!" she shouted.
She extended both hands outward, and one by one, everyone placed their hands on top of hers.
Their joined hands rose into the air together, a symbol of unity and the beginning of something unforgettable.
Yuta smiled slightly and looked at the time.
"Alright… I should head to the market to get some vegetables for dinner."
Before he could even move, Yuki adjusted her glasses and stood up.
"Let's go together. Since we're making dinner together… it only makes sense."
Yuta blinked in surprise but nodded, hiding the faint pink that brushed across his cheeks.
At the Market
The streets were a little crowded as students and locals bustled about. While selecting fresh produce, Yuki leaned closer to look at something—and a sudden shove from the crowd pushed her off balance.
She stumbled straight into Yuta's chest.
"S-Sorry…" she murmured, her voice barely audible."It's really crowded. Stay close."
Yuta froze for a moment, his heart skipping a beat.
W-What was that just now…?
Back Home – Evening
Yuta tied an apron around his waist over his fitted t-shirt and got to work in the kitchen. His movements were sharp, precise, and filled with quiet intensity as he chopped, stirred, and balanced flavors like a professional.
Yuki, watching from the side, couldn't take her eyes off him.
He looks… so cool when he's focused.Why am I staring at him so much…?
Her cheeks suddenly flushed bright red.
"I-I need to use the washroom!" she blurted and rushed out of the kitchen.
Yuta, left behind, was also pink in the ears.
That moment at the market… her warmth. Her voice.Is something… happening?
Dinner Time
The table was filled with delicious dishes. Fragrant steam, colorful plating, and warm lighting gave it a homey feel.
Everyone gathered around.
Erika took the first bite and gasped dramatically.
"This is amazing, Yuta!! Are you secretly a husband already?!"
Mai nodded excitedly, her mouth full.
"Sooo good! Marry me, Chef-kun!"
There was a moment of stunned silence.
Izumi almost choked on his food, coughing in surprise.Amane blinked twice, looking between Mai and Yuta with wide eyes.Erika raised an eyebrow and smirked playfully.Yuki paused with her spoon mid-air, her expression unreadable—but her ears turned slightly red.Yuta froze, his hand still holding a ladle, as a bead of sweat formed on his temple.
Mai giggled, waving her hand.
"I'm just joking~! Hehe!"
Everyone let out a breath—some disappointed, some relieved, some... confused.
Izumi laughed nervously.
"Geez, Mai, don't drop bombs like that during dinner…"
Amane muttered,
"My heart almost exploded…"
Erika winked at Yuta.
"Still… not a bad idea."
Yuki resumed eating silently, but a faint smile tugged at the edge of her lips.
Yuta, now red up to his ears, scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"T-Thanks, I guess…"
The laughter returned, louder this time. The warmth of the meal wasn't just in the food—it was in the growing bond between them.
To Be Continued…
❓But with so many smiles and rising tension... whose heart will begin to beat first? Let us know in the comments—who do you ship Yuta with right now?