Part 13: Kibes problem
Chizuru held up a bowling ball and took a deep breath before looking down at the alley in front of her. She then threw it and looked as it reached the pins with a serious look on her face. She then smiled as the ball hit the pins and they all fell down.
"Yes," she said smiling.
"Nice going," Kazuya said smiling.
"Yeah nice shot," Kibe said looking impressed while Sumi just clapped. The four have them had come to a bowling alley so they could help Sumi get used to being in places with a large crowd. So far the only time she looked nervous was when they walked in.
"Alright looks like its my turn," Sumi said before picking up a ball and standing in front of the alley. She then took a deep breath before throwing, but the ball ended up going much slower then the one Chizuru threw.
It took down the middle pins but left a few standing on each side. Sumi sighed while looking down. "Hey don't worry about it, you said this is your first time bowling after all," Kibe said smiling trying to cheer up.
Sumi nodded while Chizuru smiled. She threw another one but only managed to take down all the pins on one side. "There you go," Chizuru said cheering.
"Yeah at least you didn't miss any," Kazuya said.
"Well you guys can take your turn while we go get some drinks," Chizuru said. Sumi nodded before the two of them headed to get the drinks while Kazuya and Kibe grabbed their bowling balls.
"Hey man I gotta ask," Kibe said looking at Kazuya who looked confused. "You seemed more happy then usual when I saw you walking next to Chizuru earlier," he said.
"Oh well," Kazuya said looking away while blushing. "Please don't notice," he thought.
"Well I guess congratulations are in order then," Kibe said smiling before throwing his ball while Kazuya sighed.
"Was I really that obvious," he said before throwing his own ball and managed to hit a few pins. Kibe looked annoyed because he was close to getting a strike.
"Well you'd be a bigger jerk if you just went up and told me," said Kibe as he grabbed another ball.
"No I couldn't do that," said Kazuya before throwing a ball and hitting down the rest of the pins. "It was both of our first times so I wouldn't want to ruin it," he said before sitting down as Kibe finished his turn.
"Hey I'm happy for you," Kibe said before sitting across from him. "I think I told you this before but you seem more happier with Chizuru then whenever I saw you with Mami," he said.
"Yeah just feels like shes the one," said Kazuya smiling as he remembered waking up next to her this morning.
"Oh no dude that's too soon," Kibe said making Kazuya look confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"It is way too soon to propose," Kibe said looking serious while Kazuya look surprised while blushing.
"What no way," he said. "Chizurus only after getting her fist big break with her acting and she seemed happy about the job you told me about," he said smiling.
"Oh so she got that part in the play, tell her to let me know when tickets are available," Kibe said smiling as he sat back.
"You sound a lot happier then when we talked on the phone this morning," Kazuya said calmly while Kibe looked surprised.
"Oh yeah," he said before sighing. "I messed up man," he said making Kazuya look confused.
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Yesterday when I was walking around I ran into Sumi when she was on date with a client," Kibe said. "We only said hello before I watched the two off them walk away,".
"I know how their allowed to hold hands, but when I saw them I suddenly felt really angry," he said before putting his face in his hand.
"Kibe, you," Kazuya said knowing what Kibe was about to say.
"Shes great Kazuya, I really thought her determination to get past her shyness was amazing," Kibe said smiling. "Shes made great progress and I don't think Ill ever forget the first time I saw her," he said.
"Shes also beautiful," Kibe said smiling. "Tell Chizuru I'm sorry later, but I cant to practice dates with Sumi anymore," he said. "Looks like I ended up falling for her," he said.
"Wait does this mean hes not going to see Sumi anymore after today," Kazuya thought looking worried for his friend.
Over by the snack bar Chizuru and Sumi were waiting to get their drinks. "So how did the audition go yesterday?" Sumi asked.
"Great, I got the female lead and were going to be doing rehearsals soon," Chizuru said smiling. "Me and Kazuya went out for dinner after," she said.
"That sounds nice," Sumi said. "You two did seem happy when I saw you walking over," she said smiling while Chizuru blushed while looking away.
"Yeah it was a great night out," she said. "If she noticed then theres no way Kibe didn't notice," she thought before looking back over at her boyfriend.
"No he wouldn't be the kind of person to bring it up," she thought. "But I also got another job coming up as well," she said making Sumi look confused.
"Kibe told Kazuya about someone whos working in a video game company and they're looking for voice actors," she said.
"Wow looks like Kazuya is really supporting you on your dream," Sumi said before looking down. "I wonder if ill ever find someone like that," she said.
"I know you will, but I recommenced you quit being a rental girlfriend first," Chizuru said as the line got smaller. "I fell for Kazuya when I was still working, but no matter what client I had the job didn't feel right after I fell for him," she said smiling.
She then noticed Sumi was standing a bit away and was still looking down. "Sumi," she said before noticing they were being called.
"Oh sorry," she said before walking up to the register and ordering her and Kibes drinks without any problem. Chizuru smiled before ordering her and Kazuyas drinks. They went back to bowling with Chizuru winning on her and Kazuyas side. Kibe just smiled when he won on his and Sumis side.
"You can always win next time," Chizuru said holding Kazuyas hand as they walked outside.
"Tell you what how about we all face each other next time," Kibe said. "Then will see whos the real winner," he said smiling.
"Your on," Chizuru said smiling.
"Thank you," Sumi said getting their attention. "Thanks for your help today, I really appreciate everything you do for me," she said smiling.
"Hey its no problem," Kazuya said smiling.
"Yeah your our friend after all," Chizuru said before noticing Kibe looked right at Sumi.
"We've been on plenty of practice dates by now," he said sounding calm. "You did really well today, so it looks like you wont be needing me any longer," he said making Sumi look shocked.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"You did well in a crowd today and our last few practices in public you had no trouble," he said. "You looked like you were having no trouble at all with that guy yesterday," he said.
"Kibe," Kazuya thought looking worried.
"What Im trying to say is we don't need to do this anymore," Kibe said turning around shutting his eyes. "Good luck Sumi," he said about to walk away when he felt someone grab his hand.
He looked surprised to see it was Sumi and she was looking down. "Sumi," Chizuru said looking confused.
"Please don't go," Sumi said as her shoulders began to shake. "When Chizuru told me about how she left when she fell for Kazuya, I realized ive been feeling like that recently too," she said.
"What," Kibe said looking surprised.
"I haven't felt right when I went out with the last two clients," she said now looking right at him. "But I was so happy when I saw you yesterday," she said.
"I know this was just for practice, but I like you Kibe," she said before she was quickly hugged by him.
"I like you too," he said making her look surprised. "I felt so mad when I saw you with that guy, I know he was just your client but I couldn't help it," he said before looking at her.
"Ill help you however I can, but Sumi will you go out with me," he said.
Sumi then smiled before she hugged him. "Yes, I'd love to," she said before Kibe smiled and hugged her back.
"Congratulations Sumi," Chizuru said as she held Kazuyas hand. Kazuya smiled as well.
"Good for you Kibe," he thought before realizing something. "Hey Sumi," he said getting the new couples attention.
"Yes," she said.
"If your looking for a new job after quitting I know a way that might help," he said. The four of them decided to go to a nearby café where Kazuya explained his plan.
"A karaoke bar," Sumi said.
"Yeah I get it," Chziuru said. "Theres to be one job offer since ill be leaving to focus on my acting," she said.
"It would help you adjust to working with other people," Kibe said and Sumi smiled.
"Alright, ill come by soon and ask," she said.
"Looks like I have a good reason to stop by the karaoke bar more often," Kibe said smiling while Sumi looked embarrassed.
"Well that's just great," Kazuya said before they all laughed. It then had been a few days since Kibe and Sumi officially became a couple. Sumi had gotten the job after Chziuru left and she was about to start the voice acting soon.
Rehearsals for the play were starting the week before Christmas. Kazuya, Chizuru and Kibe were walking out of college when Sumi ran up to them.
"Hey you made it," Kibe said smiling before she held his hand.
"Yeah," she said. "I hope you guys weren't waiting too long for me," she said looking nervous.
"Nope, we only got out of classes a few minutes ago," Chizuru said smiling. "So lets get our first official double date started," she said.
"Sounds good, I'm getting Hungry," Kazuya said before a familiar male voice spoke up in front of them. "Kazuya, Kibe," he said.
Kazuya and Kibe looked surprised to see Kuri. They hadn't talked to him since the incident with Ruka but Kibe would send him texts. Kazuya would even sometimes try to call him.
"Hey man you okay?" Kibe asked. "We've been trying to contact you for a while," he said.
"Yeah I just needed to figure some things out," Kuri said looking down. "I didn't want to talk to you guys after you found out I rented a girlfriend," he said.
"Kuri we don't think of you differently," said Kazuya when Chizuru spoke up.
"Yes what Ruka did was wrong," Chizuru said. "You were lonely and I understand why you felt that way when you saw when me and Kazuya started dating," she said.
"Thanks Chizuru but whos the girl with you," he said nodding his head at Sumi.
"I'm Sumi, I'm Kibes girlfriend," she said smiling nervously.
"What," Kuri said looking shocked while looking at Kibe who was rubbing the back of his head. He was blushing. "Oh that's great, I'm happy for you Kibe," he said beginning to turn away.
"Wait Kuri hang on," Kibe said walking over to him. "If me and Kazuya can find someone then you can too," he said.
"Thanks for your support," he said.
"How about we all hang out together on Christmas," said Sumi as they all looked at her. "It could be fun for all of us," she said smiling.
"I think that's a good idea," said Chizuru before looking at Kazuya. "I think its time we give Kibe his thank you gift," she said making Kibe and Sumi look confused.
"Oh right," Kazuya said before taking a piece of paper out of his bag. He then handed it to Kibe who looked surprised.
"A coupon for the karaoke place," he said looking at Kazuya.
"It was to thank you for helping out Sumi," he said rubbing the back of his head.
"Cmon Kuri we cant let this go to waste," Kibe said smiling holding up the coupon. Kuri then sighed.
"Alright ill see you guys at Christmas," he said before walking away.
"Well after that I think we could all use some lunch," Kibe said as he put the coupon away.
"Sounds good to me," Kazuya said smiling as they all started leaving. While they were walking Chizuru had a serious look on her face as she thought of something. What was she going to get her boyfriend for their first Christmas together.