Residence

Rolo hesitated, then pulled his outstretched hand back when passing cars ignored him. He realized the method of hailing a cab might have changed since he last knew. Just as he considered walking, a black shadow descended from above, so quickly that he couldn't avoid it.

Rolo glared at the black car in front of him, taking a deep breath. He hadn't seen a traffic light, but the reckless or perhaps crazed driving nearly ran him over! Furious, he stormed toward the car, planning to demand compensation for the scare.

The car's side door silently slid open, revealing a young woman in formal attire, her sweet face smiling at him. She batted her eyes and asked, "Where are you heading?"

It was hard to stay mad at someone who smiled so nicely, especially a woman. Rolo swallowed the retort he was about to make, controlling his temper as best he could. "Uh, I was going to the mall and trying to get a cab. But I must say, your driving—"

The young woman glanced back into the car, made a graceful gesture, and said, "Get in, I'll take you there."

Rolo hesitated. Sure, he was charming, but getting into a stranger's car was risky, especially since Josha would definitely point a gun at his head if he knew! "Sorry, but I think I'll just—"

Before he could finish, the girl pulled him into the car with surprising strength. Embarrassed, Rolo realized he'd misunderstood the situation. Inside, the car was unexpectedly spacious, and several handsome young men lounged around, exuding a natural air of aristocracy.

All eyes turned to Rolo, making him uncomfortable. Thoughts of robbery, kidnapping, and worse flashed through his mind, though he quickly dismissed the most extreme. He cautiously stepped back, trying to blend into the background.

A young man with striking green eyes sat in the center, studying Rolo with interest before smiling politely. "What are you going to the mall for?"

"To buy things, of course," Rolo replied, puzzled. What else would he go for? Since he couldn't return to his own time, he had to settle down and take care of his basic needs.

The group chuckled, and the green-eyed man, still looking curious, said, "Driver, take him to the mall."

Rolo relaxed slightly. It seemed he wasn't in immediate danger. He had a nagging feeling these people knew his current body, but no one seemed overly friendly. After the brief exchange, they ignored him, leaving him to sit quietly in a corner and observe the world outside through the car window.

The group chatted and laughed, occasionally glancing at him with odd expressions. When the car stopped at the mall, Rolo quickly got out after thanking them.

Inside the car, one of the young men asked the green-eyed youth, "Ethan, isn't that your master's new toy? Why did you bring him along?"

Ethan blinked his clear green eyes, correcting, "An abandoned toy. I just wanted to see his reaction."

The only woman among them leaned closer to Ethan, snuggling up as she sneered, "Boring. He didn't react at all. But wow, his clothes and manners are so out of date."

Others chimed in, "Yeah, what a bumpkin. Who still goes to the mall in person?"

Ethan watched Rolo disappear into the distance, said nothing, and nodded to the driver. The car sped away.

Rolo stood in the vast mall, noticing how few people were around. The displays in the glass cases were dazzling, showcasing exquisite items.

"Hello, esteemed guest. Welcome to the Star River Mall. I'm your attendant. This is the largest mall on the Ansai planet, with ninety-nine branches. We offer a wide range of high-quality goods and services. If you need anything, just let me know," a sweet-looking woman greeted Rolo.

He hesitated, pulling out a card from his pocket. "Hi, um, can you tell me where I can check the balance on this card?"

The attendant was momentarily surprised, then smiled, "That's very simple. Just swipe the card over your wrist communicator."

Rolo looked down at the silver device on his wrist. He had noticed it before but thought it was just a watch. Apparently, the phone he had been searching for was right there.

The attendant pressed a button on his wrist communicator and slid the card through a slot. A screen popped up, displaying a number. Rolo counted the zeros—100,000. Not much, but considering his relationship with the Luo family, it wasn't too little either. Unsure of the cost of living, he asked the attendant, "What are the current housing prices like? Or maybe you could just tell me about the rental market."

The attendant, holding back laughter, said, "To learn about housing prices and rentals, please follow me to the eleventh floor. However, I personally suggest you buy a house. This amount can get you a nice place."

Rolo was shocked to learn the mall included real estate transactions. And even more thrilled when he saw he could afford it! Ignoring the prime locations, he found that a one-bedroom apartment in an ordinary area cost only 50,000 federal credits. The future seemed promising with such reasonable prices.

Flushed with excitement, Rolo felt he was about to become a homeowner! He could cut years off his struggles—thinking in terms of his old life's logic.

As he marveled at this, the attendant added, "Given your age, you must be a recently independent student. You could choose a temporary residence near your school."

A student? Oh, right. Mrs. Luo had mentioned arranging a school for him. Rolo tried to calm down and pulled out the school enrollment papers from his pocket.

Before he could figure out the school's location, the attendant suddenly squealed with excitement. "Saint Miro Academy! That Milo flower emblem—it must be Saint Miro Academy! Oh my god, the most prestigious school on Ansai, and it's a military academy with a federal ranking!"

The attendant, blushing with excitement, grasped Rolo's hands, exclaiming, "If it weren't for work, I'd ask for a photo with you. The mecha department at Saint Miro Academy has produced several generals. Students from that renowned institution are the pride of Ansai!"

Rolo felt the pressure mount, recalling the unfamiliar terms in the enrollment papers. He discreetly withdrew his hands and cleared his throat, saying, "In that case, please help me choose a suitable area."

The attendant, trying to contain her excitement, led him back to a projector, pointing to the location of Saint Miro Academy. "You can choose based on your preferences. However, due to its reputation, the area around the school is quite expensive, as many students prefer not to live on campus for convenience." She smiled, winking at him.

Rolo looked at the exorbitant prices, comparable to those in upscale neighborhoods, and reluctantly searched farther out. Finally, he found an inconspicuous community among the luxurious residential areas, with much lower prices.

"Oh, this place? Home Community was established years ago, and its management and facilities aren't as good as the newer garden communities nearby, which is why the prices are lower. Most residents are retired, childless seniors; students and young people generally don't choose to live there."

"I'll take it," Rolo said happily. He didn't have money to waste, and with no guaranteed income, he couldn't risk spending more. Living among retirees was a small price to pay for affordability.

"If you don't mind, of course. And it's on sale this month because it hasn't sold in a long time."

In the end, Rolo contentedly bought a three-bedroom apartment for 60,000 credits. He didn't need such a large place, but his old mindset equated property with security and wealth, so he couldn't resist.

"Here are your keys. I've synced your wrist communicator with the door system. You can use your communicator, fingerprint, or iris scan to access your home. Congratulations, the fully furnished three-bedroom apartment is now yours," the attendant said after processing the payment. She handed him a set of keys that seemed to appear out of nowhere.

"So convenient," Rolo muttered, staring at the screen displaying his new home, complete with appliances, furniture, and even a computer in the study.

"Is all this included?" he asked, surprised.

The attendant smiled, "These are basic amenities. If you want to upgrade, you can add a little extra cost and order online. Our mall offers home delivery for convenience."

Now Rolo understood the odd looks he'd gotten earlier when he said he was shopping in person. It seemed people rarely did that anymore.

"Is there anything else I can assist you with, Mr. Rolo?" the attendant asked.

"Yes, I need to buy some textbooks from elementary to high school levels. And some food," Rolo replied, calculating in his head. With school starting soon, he needed to brush up on his knowledge.

With the helpful attendant's guidance, he quickly purchased the books. However, when they reached the food section, Rolo was stunned.

"A hundred credits for a potato? It's big, but still... And a hundred and ten for an egg?! This must be a joke," Rolo said, checking the price tag again to make sure he wasn't mistaken.

The attendant blushed, stammering, "Of course, natural crops are very rare and challenging to grow, often in dangerous places. That's why prices are so high. We don't raise prices arbitrarily."

"Do meals really cost this much now?" Rolo asked, horrified.

"Oh, no, not necessarily. For a cheaper option, there's artificial food over there," the attendant said, pointing to a section displaying various flavors and forms of artificial food, including tubes, bars, and pills.

Rolo picked up a tube labeled "Bland," considering whether he could adapt to this new way of eating. The price was much more reasonable, but he hesitated. In the end, he bought a variety of flavors and sizes to try them all. Although he'd lost interest in food, this was still an adventure he had to navigate.

"Thank you for shopping with us. Have a great day, Mr. Rolo," the attendant said as he left.

Rolo sat in his new apartment, feeling both excited and anxious. Everything was ready, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he was an outsider here. He needed to learn more about this world and find his place in it.

Exhausted from the day's events, Rolo decided to take a nap. He lay down on the comfortable bed, staring at the ceiling, and slowly drifted off to sleep. In his dream, he saw the vast universe stretching out before him, full of stars and possibilities. He was no longer bound by the limits of his old life; here, he could be anything, anyone.

But as the stars began to blur and fade, Rolo heard a voice calling his name. He turned, searching for the source, but saw only darkness. The voice grew louder, more urgent, and Rolo felt a cold dread settle in his chest.

He woke up with a start, sitting up in bed and gasping for breath. His wrist communicator beeped, and Rolo rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the lingering fear from his dream.

A message notification flashed on the screen. Rolo opened it, and his heart skipped a beat. It was an invitation to the orientation ceremony at Saint Miro Academy, scheduled for the next day. The message also included a list of items he needed to bring and instructions on how to get to the academy.

Rolo took a deep breath, reminding himself that this was his new life now. He had a chance to start over, to become someone new. The dream was just that—a dream.

As he prepared for the next day, Rolo felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness. He had no idea what awaited him at Saint Miro Academy, but he was determined to make the most of it.

The next morning, Rolo stood in front of the mirror, dressed in his new school uniform. The fabric was smooth and comfortable, the cut modern and stylish. He felt a pang of nostalgia for his old life but quickly pushed it aside. He couldn't afford to dwell on the past.

As he stepped out of his apartment, Rolo took one last look around, feeling a strange mix of emotions. This was his new home now, and he was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

The journey to Saint Miro Academy was uneventful, and Rolo arrived early. The campus was vast and beautiful, with lush gardens and impressive buildings. He felt a sense of awe as he walked through the gates, surrounded by other students, all wearing the same uniform.

Rolo found his way to the main hall, where the orientation ceremony was being held. The hall was filled with students, all chatting excitedly. Rolo found a seat near the back, feeling a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of people.

As the ceremony began, the headmaster stepped up to the podium. He was a tall, imposing figure, with sharp features and piercing eyes. His voice echoed through the hall as he welcomed the new students and outlined the expectations and rules of the academy.

Rolo listened attentively, trying to absorb as much information as possible. He felt a little out of his depth, but he was determined to keep up. The headmaster's speech was inspiring, and Rolo felt a renewed sense of determination.

After the ceremony, the students were divided into groups for a tour of the campus. Rolo followed his group, led by a senior student who explained the layout of the academy and pointed out important locations.

As they toured the campus, Rolo couldn't help but notice the looks he was getting from some of the other students. Some seemed curious, others indifferent, and a few even hostile. He wasn't sure why, but he decided to keep a low profile and focus on his studies.

The tour ended at the dormitories, where Rolo was assigned a room. He was relieved to find that he would have a room to himself, at least for the time being. It was small but cozy, with a bed, a desk, and a wardrobe.

As he unpacked his things, Rolo felt a sense of calm wash over him. This was his space, his sanctuary. He could do this. He could build a new life here.

That evening, Rolo lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. The events of the day played over in his mind, and he felt a strange mix of emotions. He was excited, nervous, and a little scared. But most of all, he felt hopeful.

This was a new beginning, a chance to start over. He didn't know what the future held, but he was ready to face it. As he closed his eyes, Rolo felt a sense of peace. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.