The afternoon fell slowly, painting the apartment walls in lights orange. Mark sat on the couch, arms crossed, looking at the three people in front of him as if he were about to deliver an important speech. Misty, after finally letting go of Hasui, stretched out on the sofa with her usual smile, while Maribel, stiff at the dining table, stayed attentive only out of obligation. Hasui, for his part, was getting up, still a bit sore from Misty’s hold.

Mark
(looks at the girls)
—We need to talk. You’re going to learn how to live together. The truth is… you’re very different. Maribel, you’re… organized, methodical, everything calculated. Misty, on the other hand… you’re chaos with legs.

Misty
(smiled wider, as if it were a compliment)
—Thanks, Mark. Always so charming.

Maribel narrowed her eyes, already sensing where this was going.

Mark
—But differences aren’t bad. You just have to adapt. I think if everyone gives a little, you can get along.

Hasui
(awkwardly raised a hand)
—Uh… I don’t live here, so I guess I don’t count…

Mark
(looked at Hasui as if the universe had just enlightened him)
—That’s it! That’s the solution.

Everyone stared at him.

Mark
(gets closer to Hasui)
—Hasui is going to live here too.

The silence lasted barely two seconds.

Maribel
(in shock, now realizing she’d have to live with two strangers)
—What?

Mark
(uncomfortably close to Hasui, closing the distance)
—It’s practical. You can split the expenses, chores… and he won’t be hanging around aimlessly.

Hasui
(pulls back slightly from Mark)
—I… don’t know if that’s a good idea…

Mark
(leans in to whisper in Hasui’s ear)
—Listen, you’re going to live with two pretty girls. Close. Every day.

Hasui
(stopped resisting instantly, speaking in a clumsy tone)
—…Well, that could work. I can live here and help out, ha ha… ha ha…

Maribel
(looks at Mark, more annoyed and confused)
—This is ridiculous. I don’t need an extra tenant, especially one this clumsy that I don’t even know.

Misty
(lets out a short, mocking laugh)
—I approve. Less expense, and he could be useful.

Hasui
(sighed, slightly blushing)
—…Alright.

Maribel
(still irritated at Mark)
—Mark, this is absurd.

Mark
—Come on, Maribel, you’ll be good friends. Besides, you already know Hasui.

Maribel
—Know him? From where?

Mark
(turns to Maribel)
—When you used to do… some kind of fighting, you faced Hasui. You beat him up.

Maribel
—Taekwondo… it was for a short time.

Mark
—That’s it! Yeah… well, I’ll talk to you about that later.

Maribel looked tired; it had been a long day. Misty was already teasing Hasui while they figured out where everyone would sleep. The arrangement was quick: Maribel in her room, Misty in the spare bedroom. That left only a closet and the bathroom, so Hasui would have to sleep on the couch, “just to keep watch in case of a robbery” — something that instantly put the boy on alert.

Mark said his goodbyes, leaving them unsure when he’d next visit… or bother them. In any case, they were now three strangers living in one apartment, each with a personality completely different from the others. What kind of things would it take for these three pale-skinned people to actually get along?