"Ah, there you are. Sorry, do you have a moment?"
"Huh...?"
Yugo turned toward the voice that was clearly addressing him, only to find a male student he didn't recognize standing there.
He didn't want to be rude, but the boy had an aura where being completely unremarkable was his most defining trait. As Yugo and his friends stared, the boy offered a slightly awkward introduction.
"Ah... nice to meet you, I guess? I'm Avad. I'm a first-year like you, and I'm your neighbor—I live in the room right next to the one you just moved into."
"Oh, is that so! Well, it's good to meet you! I look forward to living next door."
"And? Did you come all this way just to offer a greeting?"
"Ah, no, it’s not just that. While I was talking with some of the other residents, it somehow got decided that I’d be the one to show you around the Fifth Dormitory. I was hoping to just give you a quick run-through of the main facilities right now. Do you have time?"
"Right now? Sorry, but I’m right in the middle of the dishes, and I've got friends over. Could we maybe do it later?"
"Don't say that! I’m actually pretty busy myself, so it's hard to find a window. I'll make it really fast! Please? Pretty please!?"
"U-uh...?"
Yugo felt a flicker of unease. There was something a bit forced about Avad’s behavior—he seemed almost desperate to get Yugo to follow him.
Marcos and the others must have sensed it too, but seeing that the boy wasn't going to back down easily, Marcos let out a sigh and spoke up.
"It cannot be helped. Yugo, Fee and I will handle the rest of the dishes. You go with him and get your tour of the dormitory."
"Wait, really? Are you sure?"
"It is merely a brief walk-through, so it shouldn't take long. I will explain the situation to the others in the room. Just go and get it over with."
"Alright, I hear you. Thanks, Marcos. Sorry about this."
"Thank you! That’s a huge help for me, too!"
For some reason, Avad seemed more relieved than anyone that Yugo’s schedule had cleared up thanks to Marcos's intervention.
Yugo still thought the whole thing was strange, but he figured it would be poor form to harbor suspicions toward someone going out of their way to show him the ropes. Avad gave him a bright smile.
"Then follow me. Seriously, it'll be over in a flash, so don't be so tense."
"Yeah, I'm counting on you."
Waving goodbye to Marcos and Fee, Yugo stepped out of the Shared Kitchen.
Walking a step behind Avad, he set off on his guided tour of the Fifth Dormitory.
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The tour was as brief as promised. Just as Avad had said, it didn't look like it was going to take much time at all.
Since the Fifth Dormitory was far from luxurious, there weren't many places to see in the first place, allowing the two of them to move through the building at a brisk pace.
They visited the Common Space where students gathered to chat, the Shared Toilets separate from those in the private rooms, the Laundry Space with its magic-powered washers and dryers, and the Study Room stocked with dictionaries. They had just about finished the circuit when a minor accident occurred while they were inspecting the Dining Hall.
"This is the Dining Hall. They serve breakfast and dinner here, so check the schedule and make sure you don't miss it."
"Got it. A life with three meals a day...! Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes!!"
For Yugo, who had been scraping by on cafeteria food or whatever he could get his hands on, life in the dorm was nothing short of paradise.
He was lost in a moment of deep gratitude, reflecting on how lucky he was to have a roof, walls, and someone to handle the cooking, when something cold suddenly splashed across his back.
"Whoa!? C-cold!? What the—!?"
"Wah! I-I'm so sorry! My hand slipped...!!"
He had been so lost in his thoughts that he hadn't noticed anyone behind him, but it seemed a student in the Dining Hall had accidentally dumped a drink all over him.
Yugo winced as the cold liquid soaked through his uniform jacket and into the shirt beneath. As he stood there dripping, Avad and the boy who had spilled the drink crowded around him.
"This is terrible! You have to get those clothes off and wash them right away!"
"It's my fault, so I'll go wash them for you! The machines should be empty right now, so it won't take long at all!"
"Well then, why don't you take a bath while you wait, Yugo? I was going to show you the Large Public Bath next anyway."
"Eh? N-no, I appreciate it, but I have friends waiting back at the room. I can just change my clothes, I don't really need to take a full bath—"
"It's fine, it's fine! Come on, here we are!"
"Wait, hang on! Hey, listen to me! Seriously!?"
Ignoring the protests of Yugo, who had zero intention of bathing at this hour, Avad worked with the other student to practically haul him toward the Large Public Bath.
After stripping him of his soaked clothes and ushering him into the water, Avad stripped down himself and hopped in right after him. Sitting side-by-side with Yugo, he began to enjoy a very early, very unexpected bath time.