616 Arcaea Boulevard

Wait, That's My Room?

"Are you Miss Rekka?" A young lady asked a slumped-over girl with various suitcases coloured silver.

The girl promptly awoke, and upon realising that she fell asleep on extremely hot concrete with black shorts on the pavement, screamed in absolute pain.

"OH MY GOD, HOT HOT HOT HOT!" Miss Rekka yelled to the sky, or rather, the pale blue of the hotel's entrance cover.

Waiting for the young lady to get her bearings, the other lady in the same colours lightly coughed. "Are you Akanami Rekka?  You are moving here today?"

Akanami stared at the other lady. "Umm, yes.  This is-"

"616 Arcaea Boulevard.  I'm the owner's sister, Alice Liddell.  My brother's busy at the moment, so it's my obligation to greet new residents, like yourself." Alice was dressed in a light blue dress in the style of the Victorian era and a white hat decorated with a black ribbon and a white rabbit.  In other words, she looked like she was about to be baked since the temperature was a sweet tepid 36°C.

Akanami was dressed more sensibly in a white outfit that left her bare legs exposed to the simmering concrete and reflected the sun's rays, except for her long white sleeves which covered most of her arms.  Therefore, she dashed inside past Alice.

"Hey!  Come back!" Alice shouted, gloves waving at Akanami. "I need to talk about some things!"

After Akanami collapsed on the hotel sofa from the cool breeze of the air conditioner, she was more receptive to Alice's pleas.

"Aren't you hot?" She asked the other girl.

"Well, yes, but I like wearing this.  Besides, I am my own woman, who can make my own tea and write what I want," Alice replied.  Somehow, Akanami thought that the last part wasn't about her.

"So, do I have to do anything?  Also, call me Nami." Nami's arms flopped down as she basked in the air conditioning.

"Yes, you signed the papers to move in already?"

"Yup, they're in---Wait where are my suitcases?"

A service elevator was being loaded with Nami's suitcases, boxes, trophies, pictures, and other odd knickknacks.  Alice was directing them and grabbing a small card from behind the wooden desk.  Most of the cards are missing.

"Ah here, I'm glad you picked the personalized apartment option.  Now, the rent is monthly and will cost $20 000-"

"I'm sorry what?!" Nami shot up to her feet. "That's extortion!  That's more than twice my bank account!" Actually, her bank account added up to a measly $25 after an ill-advised gambling trip to Las Vegas.

"Yes, we try to provide hotel-level quality service at 616 Arcaea Boulevard.  This was supposed to be a hotel in fact." Alice clasped Nami's hand. "Here, this is your keycard.  It will only open to your room.  Do you want me to show you the floor?  You will need a guide."

Nami was slightly touched at Alice's hospitality, but still reeling from the price of the rent. "I'm alright, thank you though." She stopped when she noticed Alice's pinched and sweaty face.

"You will need a guide," Alice stated with steadfast assuredness.

Both girls found the elevator, facing towards the lobby.  Nami could spy on everyone coming and going, from an old couple leaving to young boys heading home after cooling off.

"...so you can use the keycard for the elevator and access to the pool, there's a gym on the sixth floor, perfect for you, and the second floor's reserved for me, Cedric, and any other Liddell family members." Alice turned towards Nami. "You understood everything?"