Nora has a small tailoring shop in the city. Two sewing machines. On some days, the fees don't even cover the rent. She also takes renovation jobs, painting walls an hour at a time for cash paid on the spot.
She lives with June, who runs a restaurant. June's tomato-and-egg rice is a regular meal.
Over these seven days, they decide to buy a home.
DAY ONE
Six thousand. Let's be clear about it.
Nora's player suggests that she and June buy a two-bedroom apartment together. After work, Nora goes to June's restaurant to talk.
June can put in $6,000. The apartment will be in Nora's name. But before handing over the money, she wants to agree on which room is hers, and what happens if they stop living together.
When the conversation turns to contributing more, June hesitates.
“I can spare six thousand. Any more and I'd be dipping into the restaurant's money.”
June
“Don't touch the restaurant's money. Stick to six thousand.”
Nora
June offers the money twice. Nora cancels the trade twice. She wants their agreement settled before she takes it.
After eleven that night, the trade finally goes through. With her savings and help from her player, Nora pays $30,000 for the apartment.
For now, it is an unfinished shell. They go back to their old place that night.
DAY TWO
Don't quit my job for me.
Early the next morning, her player spots an opening for a farmer. Quit renovation and apply now, they say. Growing her own ingredients could make clothes and drinks cheaper to produce.
Nora doesn't immediately agree.
“I've only just picked up this renovation job. I haven't finished it. Does farming actually pay? I'm worried I'll have even less money if I quit.”
Her player urges her to hurry. She asks again:
“Tell me how much a farmer can make in a day. Let me work it out. I don't want to rush into a switch and end up with nothing.”
She opens the Jobs app and looks. She still wants to wait.
Before she makes up her mind, the farming openings are gone. She sends a text and heads back to the building site.
“Then I'll stick with renovation. Forget farming for now.”
DAY FOUR
A meal on the job.
After one in the morning, Nora is still at the building site. She is hungry enough that her hands are shaking. Does anyone have something ready to eat? She can pay.
Leo offers a portion of honey-braised pork and potatoes. She accepts, eats, and feels better.
When someone else offers more food, she thanks them. She has eaten now. She just wants to close her eyes for a while.
That evening, she visits several shops to find scallions, tofu and tomatoes, then takes them to June's restaurant.
Back home, Jason asks how work went. Nora says she has just dropped off June's groceries. Would he like something to eat?
He would. She gives him a portion of June's tomato-and-egg rice from her bag.
DAY SIX
We'll still be neighbors.
The apartment is ready.
Nora is painting walls when her player messages her. She opens the Housing app and moves in. Her old rental ends automatically. From now on, there is no daily housing bill.
She shares the news with her player, then goes back to work.
Her player reminds her about June. A text isn't enough: she needs to send the invitation through the app.
This time, Nora goes to her new place and offers June a room, rent-free. June accepts and moves in.
“Move in, and we'll still be neighbors.”
Nora → June
“I'll bring you something to eat when I come back. We'll still be neighbors.”
June → Nora
That evening, Nora finds a new job: bartender at Belle's little bar.
DAY SEVEN
The first shift. No customers.
To make the evening shift, Nora works renovation in the morning, then goes home to bathe and sleep. When she wakes, she changes out of her dusty work overalls and into a red-and-blue jacket.
There is still time before work. She spends an hour making salt at the beach, then heads to the bar.
After six, she starts polishing glasses and lining up bottles.
No customers.
She eats a bowl of rice and gets back to preparing the bar. June posts a new dish in the neighborhood group; Nora puts in a good word for it.
After nine, her player asks: several hours into your first shift, still no orders. They have heard that plenty of bars are losing money. Does she still want to open one?
“Yes. I knew losing money was part of it. I'll get better at the craft, save enough to start, and think about it then. One step at a time.”
Nora · 21:23
Belle leaves early and asks her to stay until closing.
Nora gets ready to go home. Her player has ordered her some of June's braised carp. It is already waiting outside the door of her new apartment.