Chapter 1 - Vending Machine

He reached into his pocket for money hoping that he had enough for the vending machine. There's no way he walked fifteen minutes just to get nothing. He felt one paper bill and some coins and pulled out the single bill from his pocket. He slipped it right into the vendo and pressed the button for the carbonated yogurt milk. He opened the can and started gulping straight away. As he was drinking he thought to himself how he should be working instead of wasting his time just on carbonated yogurt milk. Ryu is twenty-three now. His parents sent him away to college when he was twenty years old by himself. His parents were not rich but they provided everything that Ryu needs. His parents were expecting him to graduate within a year from now but it seems that won't happen any time soon or ever.

After Ryu was sent away to college to take Arts majoring in music, he straight away dropped out of college after just one semester. He was living in a two-bedroom apartment with his classmate Nato. Nato was his only friend. They were classmates in college but after Ryu decided to drop out and Nato shifted his course to business, they both decided to be roommates for financial practicality.

After finishing his drink, Ryu crumpled and threw out the can. He was thinking of smoking when suddenly his phone rang. It was Nato, he answered the phone. "What's up?" Ryu asked as he slipped his cigarette back into his pocket. "Where are you at?" Nato asked. "Vending machine." He replied. Although there were a lot of vending machines in the area Nato learned that Ryu would always just go to one vendo that offers the carbonated yogurt drink that he would always go out to buy and drink. "Are you going to the practice? Everyone is waiting for you?" Nato asked. "Oh shit! I forgot. What day is it?". Ryu starts rubbing the back of his head in frustration. "Tuesday. Thought you wanted to practice today. You okay man?" Nato asked being concerned. "Yeah, I'm good. I just lost track of time. I was working for a few days on a song and just took a nap. I didn't realize it was already the next day. Anyway, I'm heading there, I just need to grab some things from the apartment." He explained. "No worries. We'll continue practicing the chords that you sent me last night while waiting. It will give us a head start before you arrive." Nato replied with relief that they had more time to practice before Ryu arrives. "Thanks." He said as he dropped the call. Ryu immediately walked back to his apartment and changed clothes and grabbed his wallet and his guitar.

There are four of them in the band. Ryu was the vocalist, together with Nato, Tomo, and Ishi. They went straight right into practice after Ryu arrived. The four of them would usually practice in the studio owned by Tomo's family who let them practice for free as long as no one was booked on that night. All of them had to study or work in the morning, that's why they only get to practice every evening. After the practice, Tomo and Ishi went straight back to their respective dorms closer to the campus since they still have their marketing exam tomorrow. Ishi and Tomo are both majoring in marketing which is how Nato met them and was introduced to Ryu after learning that the two were involved in music during their high school. Ryu was the only one who was not in college and has no backup plan other than pursuing music as his career.

After saying their goodbyes, Ryu and Nato went straight to a small restaurant that they would always go to near the music studio. The restaurant was owned by Mr.Tako who was a very nice man in his fifties. The food was great there and the beer was pretty cheap compared to the other restaurants, plus Mr.Tako being nice made the two of them feel cozy and relaxed after an exhausting day.

"Welcome boys!" Mr. Tako greeted Ryu and Nato as they entered the restaurant. "Good evening Mr. Tako." Both of them replied with big smiles on their faces. "How was the practice?" Mr. Tako asked. "It was great. We are almost done with one of the songs that Ryu has written." Nato replied as both of them settled into their seats in the corner. "Someday I'll have to get your autographs before you guys become famous." Mr. Tako said smiling as he wiped the beer mugs on the counter. Both of them smiled in reply. It felt encouraging and heartwarming every time Mr.Tako would try to simply encourage them when things are confusing or things are not turning out good for them. "Of course, Mr.Tako. We'll even promote your business once we become famous." Nato replied smiling. "I'll look forward to that. The usual?" Mr. Tako asked with a smile. "Yes. Please." Ryu replied. Mr. Tako went to serve them beer and nuts first before starting to prepare their food. Both of them would always order ramen and beer.

"So how are you coping up alone in the apartment?" Nato asked and took a sip from his mug. "It's okay. It's not like I get to see you in the apartment when you were still there." Ryu replied. Although the two of them were roommates and friends, they would barely see each other in the apartment because of their different schedules. Ryu would be up all night making music and asleep in the morning while Nato will be out to school and to his part-time job until the evening. Recently Nato had to move out since he is already in his senior year in college. Nato had to work as an intern for a company in a different city. It was too much for Nato to commute back and forth and it was not like he had a choice. Nato tried applying for twenty marketing companies within the city. Six of them rejected him and fourteen didn't even bother to give him a reply.

"But I do miss your cooked meals." Ryu said trying to light up the mood. "I knew it. I knew that you liked those dishes that I cooked." Nato said smiling and they both laughed remembering how the taste of each dish was based on luck. "By the way, about that-." Nato suddenly changed the tone of his voice. "Hmm?" Ryu replied confused waiting for Nato to continue. "I know you don't like any roommates but I do know a person that is looking for an apartment." Nato said. "Don't even think about it. It's not going to work for me." Ryu replied. "I know you don't really like associating with other people but this is just a roommate. They will literally just use the apartment to bathe and sleep." Nato explained. "You know I can manage myself right?" Ryu asked confused why Nato was even bothering to bring this up to him when he knew he would say no. "I know. Of course, I know that." Nato said clearing things. "But this roommate will be only staying for less than a year because of work. Plus you haven't told your parents yet that you dropped out of college. It has been three years now and you only have one year left to figure things out before your parents find out. And I thought instead of using your savings for the rent, it would be better for you to save it and start your music production." Nato explained now being more serious and concerned. Ryu took a sip from his mug. "I don't know about that." Ryu replied but with the tone of his voice, he knew that Nato was right and that a year wouldn't be so bad if he really wanted to start producing his own music. "You work all the time. You don't even go out. So, you won't even see each other. Plus I know this person very well, I'll take responsibility if anything bad happens." Nato said. Ryu knew that Nato wouldn't even dare to say that to him if he wasn't one hundred percent sure of that roommate not being a problem. "Let me think about it-" Ryu wasn't even finished with his sentence when Nato interrupted him. "So that's a yes then! Okay, okay. I'll just head outside for a minute to call someone." Nato said as he stood up and walked away with excitement before Ryu could even stop him and say something. "Geez.." The only word that came out from Ryu before gulping the whole beer.

Mr. Tako served the ramen right before Nato got back from his call. "So--." Nato started saying with excitement while looking at Ryu for his reaction. Ryu looked at him confused, waiting for Nato to continue what he is about to say. "I already informed your new roommate and arranged everything that needs to be done." Ryu could only give Nato a look of disagreement but he knew he couldn't argue with Nato at this point since he was really trying to save up money before telling his parents about him being a dropped out for years now. "Your new roommate will be moving within the next few days." Nato said as he slurp his ramen. "Don't worry about it. I told her all the rules and the things that you hate." He continued. "Wait, did you just say her?" Ryu dropped his chopsticks and stared straight at Nato hoping he just misheard things. "Yeah. I did say her. What are you sexist or something?" Nato acted like he didn't know that Ryu will definitely not agree to it if he knew that his new roommate was a girl. "No." Ryu answered certainly and confused if Nato was joking. "But you should have mentioned that in the first place. Having a roommate is already difficult for me. And us being the opposite gender would just make it impossible for me." Ryu said in frustration. "I'm sorry that I forgot to tell you that, I thought it wouldn't be a big deal. You had girlfriends before and it's not like you have one right now. Besides, you barely get out of your room." Nato said. "Why, are you concerned that a girl will distract you?". Nato asked teasing Ryu. "Of course not. But won't it be weird for opposite genders to live together? Not for me, at least for her." Ryu explained. He never thought of living together with anyone and not even his ex-girlfriend. "Who cares? Yuka doesn't care." Nato answered. So her name is Yuka, Ryu thought. "Besides with the current world that we are living in, whoever thinks that co-living is weird, is the one who is weird." Ryu can't even process what Nato has gotten him into. "It will be just for a year or even less. It will be good for you to start producing your music." Nato said. "Jeez. I can't even process what you're saying right now." Ryu said rubbing his temple. Nato stretched out his arm and reached for Ryu's shoulder. "Don't overthink it. I'll take full responsibility. Let's just enjoy the night. I have been waiting to go drink with you. My internship has been hell the whole week. I am a corporate slave at this point." Nato said trying to change the topic. Ryu wasn't sure what he was getting into but decided to let things go since it's already pointless to even argue at this point and thought that the girl would probably be older than him. Maybe in her mid-thirties since Nato said that the reason why she needs a place is because of work, if that's the case then she will be like an older sister to him.