Tsubomi has various options for residence for its students; due to the fact that by the nature of their presence in Tsubomi, they often lack the ability to go home to their families. Options such as rooming with a teacher or other trustworthy adult or obtaining an apartment for later grades are very possible, though by far the most common form of residence in the city is the dormitory. It is also possible to buy a home in Tsubomi, though this requires the consent of the city and permission to permanently stay. For those working within the city or those students who have grown up in the city, however, this is an attractive option.
Dormitories tend to be geared toward each level of education, closer to the school when the students are younger and more distance being permissible as the students age and grow able to transport themselves. Very rarely is a dormitory outside of walking distance. Dormitories are generally split by gender, with two students to a doom, except in the case of Nekovalkyrja younglings who sleep in areas with a number of nests. They tend to be close both to public parks and their respective institutions, and serve as centers of the community. Elements of recreation centers are built into the lower floors of these dormitories, and several youth groups and other extracurricular activities use these dormitories as meeting places for their members as well. Of course, the ceilings of these areas are soundproofed so as not to disturb the students above. There are also cafeterias and lounges built into most dormitories, which serve breakfast and dinner to students without charge – though students may opt to eat out with their own funds.
These dormitories start out built into the school or are in an adjacent building in Nursery School, often connected by a covered or enclosed walkway. In Elementary they are in the same few city blocks. In Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary dormitories, the only requirement is that the dorm must be within a kilometer of the school.
Dormitories can vary in their content, but most have soundproofing, two beds, a pair of computer terminals for schoolwork, dressers or closets, a large desk, shelving, and a single volumetric window which can serve as a window to the outside or as a large television screen. Many dorms have both a volumetric window and a normal window. Some windows can be opened, though windows in Nursery and Elementary Dormitories are limited in how far they can open for the safety of the students. It should be noted that the volumetric windows can, if a record exists, play a pre-recorded lesson of what they had learned in class to aid them should they need it. It is not unusual for students who have called in sick (rare in the Yamataian and Neko population) to watch their lessons in this way and turn their homework in upon returning to class. Most have communal showers and restrooms on each floor, though exceptions exist for those who have sustained injuries or psychological problems in whatever situation required their placement at Tsubomi.
Most dormitories have an adult or even a staff of adults who live and work at the dormitory full time, including a Dorm Mistress/Master, the same gender as the students. It is also fairly common for some of the most responsible students to serve as Dorm Officers, handling disputes and generally helping to manage things that do not require the Dorm Mistress/Master’s involvement. Sometimes a Dorm Officer may even be a live-in from a higher tier of education, in which case it is considered an extracurricular activity as well.
It should be noted that no pets are permitted in the dorm rooms, though some dormitories may have a single or a small number of animals obtained by staff to cater to this need. It is not uncommon to see a doghouse outside a dormitory building, or to see some gerbils or a hamster in a cage in a lounge. Aquariums are also quite common.
Most Nursery School Dormitories are a neighboring series of buildings connected by enclosed walkways to the Nursery School. These structures are often multiple floors, but have gently sloping ramps rather than stairways to prevent the students from harming themselves. These dormitories tend to be brightly colored with murals as well as places in the hallway to display artwork done by the students. Macaroni art and scribbles on pieces of paper are very common.
There are several kinds of rooms within this dormitory, the first of which are nurseries. These nurseries may hold up to four children between the ages of zero and two, but never much more than this. The walls are always soundproofed to prevent one child’s cries from upsetting the rest of the floor, and a staff member often sleeps in the room or in an adjacent room to tend to the needs of the babies. Food and cleaning supplies are always well-stocked, and these staff members live their lives completely for these children, being live-in professionals who serve as the earliest parental analogues.
From the age of three on up, the students find themselves matched two to a room, with a large number of staff caring for their needs and performing the earliest level of care and parenting. It is not uncommon for staff to sleep in a Sleeping Bag with troubled children at this point, but an earnest effort is made to make the children able to sleep soundly on their own. Volunteers from various grades who have shown great responsibility may assist as well in caring for students this age as an extracurricular activity, though to what extent they can do so is limited by their own health and studies.
Dorms for Elementary students tend to be larger complexes due to the fact that Elementary consists of twice as many years as Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary. It is not unusual to have students grouped in a dozen smaller buildings by individual grades and genders, the grades assigned to each rotating yearly so that students can spend all six years in the same dorm. These structures often comprise several city blocks, have walkways over intersections, and are separated by parks and playgrounds with paths through them. It is not unusual to hear an Elementary school and its dormitories be referred to as a campus.
Again, the interiors of these dormitories tend to be brightly colored and have places for art, though it has a slightly more home-like feel than in nursey school. It is often referred to as “less baby-ish” by students. Close friends may elect to room together if they submit the request ahead of time and have a good record of behavior, but they must be in the same grade. Visitors are generally not welcome in these dormitories; with the exception of family members, teachers, doctors, or participants in a Senpai/Kohai program. Often these visits must be pre-scheduled with the Dorm Master/Mistress, unless the visitor is a family member who visits routinely.
For the first time, the Dorm Officer appears to help manage disputes and maintain order, though they are effectively supervised hall monitors at this point. Their responsibilities are limited to both prevent them from being unable to handle the job and to keep them humble. It is not uncommon for someone from a higher grade to room in a lower grade’s dormitory as a Dorm Officer, serving as a more capable alternative. Though they have to follow more strict rules, make sure they get themselves to school in a timely manner, sometimes go out and retrieve students breaking curfew, and other more involved tasks. They often get the reward of their own private dorm room, or the option of living with a younger sibling.
The dormitories for these students are no more than a kilometer from their school. There can be as few as two and as many as six buildings each for this purpose, the former if only split by gender and the latter if split by both grade and gender. It is common for students to have the same dorm room for all three years of Lower Secondary, and another for all three years of Upper Secondary.
Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary dormitories tend to be homelike, with students being able to add pre-approved decorations and reversible modifications, as well as obtaining approval for specific instances. The rooms are a bit larger as well, and have more shelving space. It should be noted that Upper Secondary dormitories also have far larger parking lots, to accommodate the larger number of personal vehicles due to their occupants being licensed drivers. It is also possible, at this point, for visitors from outside the dormitory and of the same gender to visit – though they must be in the company of their hosts or have a temporary or permanent pass from the Dorm Master/Mistress.
It should be noted that if the elder/eldest of two or three siblings enters a Lower Secondary dormitory; the younger siblings may join the elder and share their dorm as long as they are at least halfway through Elementary, of the same gender, and can obtain the consent of their former Dorm Master/Mistress. It is also possible for younger siblings in Lower Secondary to join a sibling of the same gender in Upper Secondary in their dorm the same way. Often these students prepare for this measure ahead of time, and obtain first pick of the dorms to be made available – particularly if more than two will occupy the same dorm room. In exchange for this benefit, the eldest student is responsible for securing transport for their younger siblings to their school due to the change in location. Close friends may also elect to room together if they submit the request ahead of time and have good behavior records, but they must be in the same grade.
Dorm Officers have more responsibility than before, and must follow more rules as well. Dorm Officers may find themselves ordered to contact or even sent out to check up on students who have stayed out past curfew. While they have more authority, they also have harsher penalties imposed upon themselves for violations of rules or abuses of authority. Some Lower Secondary students may instead become Dorm Officers at an Elementary dormitory, and Upper Secondary students Dorm Officers at a Lower Secondary or Elementary dormitory, which count as an extracurricular activity. This is particularly common when an older sibling has a younger sibling of the same gender in the other dorm, but circumstances prevent them from living together in the older sibling’s dorm.
At these levels, some students may find themselves enrolled in an “elite” school, which generally comes with its own dormitories. While normal dormitories are in no way lacking, the dorms for these special schools may be of a yet better design with more room and more conveniences. These dorms often contain their own restrooms, are roomier, have more elaborate decorations, sometimes contain mini fridges and microwaves, can at times have doors that open out onto balconies, and are a generally higher quality approaching a small and well-furnished apartment. This is an added incentive for the students to do well and maintain their high standing.
While not truly standardized, most University dormitories are much like small apartments. They are still split by gender and can hold one or two people, and students will still recognize the arrangement from their previous years of dorm life. A key difference is that the students must pay for a dorm room, though the price is generally lower than a full-sized apartment. Aside from these elements and the lack of a curfew, these dorms are quite similar to those for Upper Secondary students.
One of the key changes from the dorm system thus far is that there is no system for siblings living together, unless they are attending the same institution and would thus both live in the dormitory anyway.
Neko Academy Dormitories are a separate institution from other dormitories. Due to the students being at the dorm for only a fraction of the time of their counterparts, a maximum of a year, there are various differences which give it the appearance of a hybridization of the other kinds of dormitories. Due to the small size of the smallest younglings, no pets whatsoever are permitted.
There is no gender separation since male Neko do not exist, and there is not as much separation between the younglings by age or education level. Often the same building caters to the youngling population, with the youngest of the younglings on the ground floor and being moved to higher floors when they are a bit older. The buildings have the same sloped ramps replacing stairs as in Nursery School Dormitories due to the size of the younglings making stairs difficult to manage.
The ground floor has a large number of rooms with Nekovalkryja nests, where the Neko spent the first month of their lives. Then they are assigned a dorm upstairs, much like a Lower/Upper Secondary School dorm. The windows are prevented from opening too widely like in an Elementary dorm. Often the Neko will room with two or sometimes four other Neko of the same age. After two months of age, free visitation is allowed, and it is often during this time that friends of the Neko of any gender from Elementary, Lower Secondary, and Upper Secondary may visit. A Neko may find themselves friends with a vide variety of age groups due to their fast aging rate.
While there is a parking lot, like at an Upper Secondary Dormitory, it is kept on a different city block from the dormitory and is fenced in. Intersections also have enclosed walkways over the streets. This is due to prevent accidents with younglings and to protect their small and light bodies from being blown into intersections by sudden winds respectively.
Family Dormitories are a special kind of dormitory geared toward students with siblings or cousins. They are the only dormitories which are accepting of both genders, but the occupants must be blood relatives. This option is used to maintain family ties in a city which has very little of such, and are thus very important options in Tsubomi’s residential system. The requirements for living in a family dormitory are that the students must be in Elementary or higher, have a good behavioral record, and be otherwise unable to live together stably within the normal dormitory system. This is often the case when like-gendered siblings are too separated in age to share a dorm in the normal system, or when the siblings are of different genders.
These dormitories are much like apartments, and even have the appearance of them, though they possess a standard dormitory staff consisting of a Dorm Master/Mistress and Dorm Officers. These Dormitories can often be found near a bus stop, and sometimes have their own buses in an attached garage as well as a parking lot. The reason for this is that they cater to students from Elementary, Lower and Upper Secondary, and University levels; and are exempt from distance requirements, so thus must offer transport for their residents to their schools and back every day.
While these dormitories do not contain facilities for Nursery School-aged children, they are often located close to the nursery schools to allow older students to visit and spend critical time with their siblings. It is not uncommon for a particularly responsible student to pick up their sibling from Nursery School after finishing their homework for the day, spending time with the sibling at their dorm, and returning them to the Nursery School dormitory before their curfew. This allows both students to attend school, to get the sleep they need, and still spend critical time together. It also allows the older students to easily get to the Nursery School and attached dormitory to volunteer their time.
Unlike normal dormitories, these dorms are much more like apartments with separate rooms. Separate bedrooms are required for those of different genders, and different restrooms and living rooms are ideal to prevent excessive mixing of young and older students. Decoration restrictions exist but are significantly lighter, and visitation is not as strict but is still guarded to a degree. Another reason for the apartment-like setup is to add a feel of home to the dorm, and to acclimate the students to the concept – most students move out of the dormitory once the oldest sibling or two are able to secure an apartment or house, though they may wait until all siblings have completed Nursery School to do so depending on their specific situation.
Homestays allow students to live with responsible and pre-approved adults and families both inside and outside of Tsubomi. This is intended to give the child a taste of a more normal life, and the students live for a set amount of time with the family at their residence while still being a protected ward of the Empire. The students have an academic responsibility to meet or exceed the requirements of the Yamatai Department of Education and the local requirements of the school system in which they live, though they may also continue accessing Tsubomi's programs through online classes and telepresence. They also have a responsibility to treat their hosts with respect and courtesy, while the hosts are required to provide access to schooling meeting the requirements of the Yamatai Department of Education and the locality and prefecture on Yamatai (Planet) in which they live, adequate food, water, medical care, a psychologically and emotionally healthy environment, and various other considerations to ensure the safety and health of the student. Due to this, many homestays are much like a family unit, and some homestays are extended or even lead to outright adoption.
Most often, only children over six can participate in homestays, but there are cases where greatly trusted adults in Tsubomi will take care of nursery school students as a form of foster care.
Starting in Upper Secondary, students with driver's licenses can use their allowances to obtain apartments if they wish, leaving dorm life behind. Often these students are employed or have family to send them money, or perhaps an inheritance. These students are more exposed to the world and must be more independent, and are usually watched closely by the school and counselors for their own well being. They have a food allowance and a discount on their water and utilities which can completely remove these costs if they live with sufficient frugality. If younger siblings also live at the dorm, their combined discounts stack. It is not uncommon for a student in Upper Secondary or University to obtain an apartment and have siblings from Elementary and up live with them instead of in the dorms. Siblings in an apartment need not be the same gender. It should be noted that while they are not a Dorm Master/Mistress, Landlords/Landladies must have some training and certification to cater to the young properly and help enforce curfews.
For those in Upper Secondary, rooming with someone of the opposite gender is still forbidden unless they are a blood relative, though curfews are now a suggestion rather than a requirement. These elements are usually lifted entirely upon entry into University, though the rule against co-ed non-related roommates can remain if Upper Secondary or younger siblings still live with the University student. Non-students such as workers and staff may also obtain apartments with the consent of Tsubomi, though gender rules do not apply.
Actual housing can be obtained instead of apartments, particularly in the suburbs. Rather than a student obtaining rented apartments, a person or family may only take permanent residence in a home with the permission of the city due to the fact it indicates staying after the education period has ended and that their curfew is being removed. A house may be purchased as early as Upper Secondary if finances permit, but is less common than with University or later. A person owning a house has far fewer limitations on who lives there or pets, as long as the city allows the residents to live in the city limits and any children there are healthy.
Often, these people are encouraged to participate in the community and with the students; and tend to own businesses, be staff or volunteers at a school, are a homestay or adopting family, help maintain the city, or other roles. They tend to have personal vehicles, and generally live their lives as if in a normal city.