She... stays, I guess

Yumi caught the metro, hoping to get to the airport as fast as possible. The whole ride she kept thinking about just one thing: how on earth was she supposed to approach this girl and explain that whatever she imagined was… not realistic at all.

When she finally arrived, she realized she had no idea how to recognize her.

“She’s a foreigner,” she thought.

“But this place is full of foreigners!”

Then she remembered, Cassie told her to call when she arrived.

She took out her phone.

“Hey, I’m here.”

“I know, hehe. I see you.”

Yumi felt a light tap on her shoulder. She turned around and saw a beautiful, smiling foreign girl.

“Yumi, right?”

“That’s me… nice to meet you.” She gave a small polite bow. “And you’re Cassie?”

“Exactly! Your new roomieeee!”

Cassie hugged her and kissed her on both cheeks. Yumi pulled back instantly, shocked. This was not normal for her.

“Listen, about this whole situation...”

“Let’s go grab a drink first, then we’ll talk,” Cassie suggested.

“…Okay. Sure.”

Twenty minutes later they were sitting in the garden of some cute café, with cats wandering between the tables.

“So,” Cassie began, “I know this is weird for you and you have no idea what’s going on, but just hear me out..”

“You’re right. It is weird and I don’t get anything,” Yumi snapped.

“Okay, okay. Let me start from the beginning. My full name is Cassiopeia, but please don’t use that. Just Cassie. I’m from Italy. My family is… kind of well-known there. And in Europe.” She sighed. “I have an older brother, he’s the heir, super popular in the media and on socials. He pretends to be this badass guy, and for some reason it works. Girls go insane over him. I had friends who only wanted to hang out with me so they could maybe see him in person. I hate that.

I only have one social media account and it’s the one for gamers. I’ve been a hardcore gamer since elementary school.”

“A gamer? You?” Yumi raised an eyebrow. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look so fancy and elegant I never would’ve guessed you even know what gaming is.”

Cassie laughed. “Yeah, this is just the outside. I have to keep the family image alive. But once I’m in my room? I barricade myself with all my tech.”

“Interesting… but let’s get to the important part. What is going on? Why do I have to host you just to get into college?”

“Hehehe… well… actually… that’s my doing.”

Yumi shot up. “Explain. Now.”

“Okay, okay, relax! You weren’t chosen randomly. I chose you. And I contacted the university, telling them my condition.”

“But why?! Who even are you?!”

“Look, we don’t know each other, and honestly, I don’t really care about that. I met a guy back in high school, in a game, and we’ve been talking ever since. He goes to your university. I saw this as my chance to finally meet him because we’re basically burning with love for each other! And, well… I kinda ran away from home to come study here.”

Yumi stared at her, horrified.

“You’re… not normal. But what does any of this have to do with me?!”

“Well… he lives in your building! He told me there’s this poor girl in the basement apartment who wants to attend his college but has no chance, so I thought...”

“You’ve GOT to be kidding me. Someone in my building… wait… don’t tell me… Kon?!”

“Yesss! That’s his name! My Kon-kun ❤️” Cassie answered dreamily.

“How does he even go to college? He’s a freaking hikikomori! His parents hired my mom to clean his apartment once a week. She got scared to death the first time she entered, so she dragged me with her. He’s… weird. He lives buried in trash, never sees daylight, and basically fused himself to his PC and consoles. He even moved the toilet into his room!”

“Your mom cleans for him? So you’re really… that poor?” Cassie asked bluntly.

“Yes, we are! And knowing that, how can you expect to live with us? We rent a tiny studio! My dad works at the hotel and is barely home, my mom’s gone all day and only sleeps there at night...”

“So basically, they’re never there, which means there’s space for me. Perfect!”

“That is absolutely not what I meant…”

“Look, let’s make a deal. You talk to your parents and let me stay, and in return I’ll pay your rent and keep your fridge full. That way your family can finally save a little.”

Yumi froze. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Pay their rent? Stock their fridge? Was she really willing to go that far?

This was insane… but if it was true, it would help them a lot.

“I… need to talk to my parents.”

“Great! We’re going together! Easier if they meet me right away!”

Yumi wanted to protest, but she could see there was no stopping Cassie. And honestly, the girl seemed determined to help.

What could possibly go wrong? It was only for a year, after all…

---

She found out her parents are both at the hotel. They talked, and after the initial shock, they agreed. Cassie would stay with them for a year. Her father would continue living at work, like always.

As they were leaving the hotel, a voice called after them.

“Excuse me! Excuse me!”

Yumi and Cassie turned around. A man was running toward them, the hotel manager, Mr. Murasakitora. The whole hotel was named after him. The Murasakitora menu; Murasakitora sushi; Murasakitora fried chicken; Murasakitora Floor No. 1…

He stopped, out of breath.

“So… sorry… let me… catch my breath… Are you Miss Caracalla? From the Caracalla family?” he asked excitedly.

“No. That’s not me. You’re mistaken. Yumi, let’s go.”

“Excuse me!” He stepped in front of them. “But I was told you are. Our security guard informed us!”

Cassie glanced at Yumi awkwardly.

“He was wrong.”

“Miss, we would be honored to host you! Please let us show you our hospitality!”

“No, thank you. I’m not interested. Yumi, let’s go.”

She grabbed Yumi’s hand and dragged her outside. Yumi was confused by Cassie’s reaction. She wanted to ask about it. If the manager recognized her, that meant she wasn’t lying about her identity.

As they walked back to the apartment, Yumi finally asked:

“That man… he recognized you?”

“Looks like my family is known even in Japan… I ran away because I don’t want them to find out where I am…”

“You… ran away from home?!” Yumi nearly jumped.

“Yes! I went to the end of the world so they wouldn’t find me. But even here I have to be careful,” Cassie said nervously.

“Your family is powerful, huh? What do they even do?”

“Uhh… everything. Each branch of the family runs something different: real estate, construction, shopping centers, production studios… but at the end of each month, all branches gather to compare profits and improvements. Super tight-knit and super strict. My branch makes luxury materials for architecture and interior design: supplying palaces, museums, hotels all over the world. My brother is the heir now since my dad retired. He’s ambitious and completely insane. He started his own brand recently , ‘Cassius’ Lady.’ It’s a fashion and cosmetics house. And now he even launched the ‘Cassius’ Lady Contest.’ You know, like beauty pageants? He wants to make it global. Basically he picks the most beautiful girls to model for him , and to date him. Total playboy.

Luckily he’s busy 24/7, so he never pays attention to me. That’s why I managed to escape.”

“Wow. Your life is… intense.”

“Everyone’s life is interesting in its own way. Honestly? I’d switch with you in a heartbeat. I don’t want any of this. I want love and video games. I want a small apartment with the guy I love and to play games together all day.”

Yumi laughed. “Well, you are ambitious, brave, and totally insane, I’ll give you that.”

“It runs in the family!” Cassie laughed.

They both started laughing, slowly becoming real friends.

---

Two weeks later, something happened. Cassie came running, panicked.

“Yumi! Yumiii!”

“What happened?! Why are you freaking out?!”

“That guy Murasakitora, the one from your dad’s hotel, he’s hosting a special event tonight! And he invited some members of my family… and me! I CANNOT go! First of all, I ran away from home, and second: Kon and I have a tournament tonight! I can’t miss it!”

“So don’t go. Problem solved.”

“It is NOT solved! He said if I don’t show up, he’ll call my brother! And that cannot happen! The other branches don’t even know who I am, but if he comes...”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Me? Nothing. You are.”

“…What do you mean me?”

“You’re going to go… pretending to be me!”