Rent a Girlfriend: Chizuru's Discovery (Short Story) Part 1
Characters:
Kazuya Kinoshita
Chizuru Mizuhara
Mami Nanami
Ruka Sarashina
Sumi Sakurasawa
Nagomi Kinoshita
Yoshiaki Kibe
Shun Kuribayashi
Sayuri Ichinose
Choices We Make:
Making her way to her Grandmother's, Chizuru Mizuhara was feeling a little tired. Today had been a busier day then normal. Starting with a midmorning Booked Rental Date with one of her Regulars and ending a few hours ago in a Dress Rehearsal of the Play she was in. She had reduced the number of Booked Rental Dates down to about half of what she had done before two weeks ago when she had told Kazuya about landing the Role in the Play and soon she knew she would have to cut that number of Booked Dates down again. Though she would still see Kazuya, even though he only rented her once a week and only for a couple of hours. Today's visit would be different then the others for she had devised an idea on how she and Kazuya could end their make believe relationship. In a way she actually did not want to. In fact she was conflicted. Part of her wanted it to continue and part of her didn't. All in all the whole situation with him was confusing and that was something she did not need right now. The start of her idea was to tell her Grandmother that she and Kazuya were considering breaking up so she could focus on her Dreams of becoming an accomplished Actress. That she really did not have the time to devote to a Boyfriend right now. Having the blame for their eventual break-up squarely upon her. Nearing her destination, she was greeted by her Grandmother.
"Chizuru Dear...It is so nice to see you." Sayuri her Grandmother said as she hugged her. Chizuru hugged her back and her Grandmother looked beyond her. "Aw...I was hoping Kazuya would have come with you. Where is he?" Her Grandmother asked as she led her into the small Apartment. Chizuru smiled and shrugged.
"He could not make it...He had to work...Maybe next time." Chizuru replied feeling a little guilty that once more she had lied to her Grandmother. Every time she was expected to bring Kazuya, she had come up with an excuse not to have him come. That he had to Work. Or he had to Study. Or some other reason why he could not visit. She knew if she asked he would come without hesitation. But she did not want to burden him with also lying to her Grandmother like he had to with his.
"I hope you two are still together and still a couple. It does my heart good that you have him in your life." Sayuri said as they both sat and Chizuru braced herself. Deciding it was a good time to start her idea.
"Well Grandma...We are...I am just so busy with my Part in that Play. I really do not have time to go out with Kazuya or even be with him on a regular basis. So we have been discussing about breaking up." Chizuru said and her Grandmother exhaled with a deep sigh.
"That is disappointing Dear. You know I was extremely happy and...Well relieved when you and he became your Boyfriend." Sayuri said sorrowfully and Chizuru gave her a puzzled look.
"Relieved?" Chizuru asked wondering why her Grandmother would say that.
"Yes Relieved Dear. I was worried that there would be no one there for you if...I am not going to be around forever and I really wanted you to be with someone special. To be there for you. When you and Kazuya got together...I was relieved." Sayuri said and then held up her right hand. "Now I know it is really important to you to follow your Dreams of becoming an Actress and I cannot be prouder of you. But...fulfilling a Dream is better when you have someone to share it with. Someone to be there during good times and bad. To be there when you need them. To listen to your problems and to share in your times of joy. So when and Kazuya became a couple. I knew that you would have someone to be there for you. He is there when you need him isn't he?" The Elder Woman asked and Chizuru smiled.
"Yes Grandma...He is there...Even when I do not need him. He is there." Chizuru remarked thinking about how he was her Neighbor at the Apartment Complex. Then she had to admit. He was there and if she did need him. He was there and she knew she could count on him if she did need him. Just like when he had jumped off the Ferry to save her life. She knew none of her other Clients would do that. He did it without hesitation and it almost cost him his own life. That was when she started to actually feel something for him. Even though she really did not want to feel anything for any of the Men that Rented her. He was different and in a really good way. Others had seen it and experienced it. Ruka had noticed it and then later Sumi had.
"I know it is your and his decision. Think about it for awhile and then please do not rush into ending such a wonderful relationship you two have together." Sayuri said and Chizuru exhaled softly.
"Okay Grandma we will." Chizuru at that moment knew her idea was a bad one and did consider it could have gone this way. She had hoped to lay the groundwork for her and Kazuya to end their fake relationship. Then after what her Grandmother had said, she just could not do it. An hour or so later Chizuru hugged her Grandmother again and then left for home. With the promise to the older woman that on the next visit she would bring Kazuya with her. Though on the way, she stopped to sit on a Bench that overlooked the River. She had a lot to think about and wanted a few moments alone to think. Unfortunately after a few minutes someone stepped up in front of her. She was used to being hit on and usually her not responding gave the hint that she was not interested. Most of the time that was the way it was. Sometimes there was those that did not take the hint and she was forced to vocally deny them.
"Hey there...You are really cute. There is a really great Cafe right over there. How about I buy you a coffee?" The Man asked and Chizuru exhaled with a sigh and shook her head.
"No thanks. I do not think my Boyfriend would like that." Chizuru said evenly and to her dismay she knew this idiot would not let it go. She had dealt with these types and actually she knew one personally. Umi had asked her out so many times that she had lost count and each time she declined. Still Umi continued to ask whenever he got the chance. She already suspected like Umi this one only wanted to go out with her in the hope of getting in between her legs. Sex was all those like this Man and Umi thought about and to them she looked like a very good lay. "So could you go away and leave me alone." She told the Man who sneered at her.
"Yeah Right...Well I do not believe you have a Boyfriend. You are way too hot to actually have a Boyfriend. So what's his name? Mine is Shoto." The Man who Chizuru now knew called himself Shoto. Though she actually doubted that was his real name. She had come across those types as well. They would give a fake name and when she looked at his left hand, she knew this one was that type. Mainly due to that she could plainly see where there once a few minutes ago. Was a wedding band on his left ring finger.
"His name is Kazuya...Kazuya Kino...Never mind you do not need to know his last name. All you need to know is that he is my Boyfriend and I...I love him." Chizuru chuckled and then gasped. "Did I really just say I...I love him. Where did that come from?" She thought and she laughed realizing that she meant what she had said. "I love him. I! LOVE! HIM! I am in love with Kazuya." She laughed louder as she shook her head in disbelief and the Man looked at her oddly.
"Uhm...Well...I got to go. Sorry for bothering you." The Man said quickly and made a hasty retreat. He looked back briefly at her. "Man why are the really gorgeous ones completely nuts?" He whispered as he continued on and subtly slipping his Wedding Band back onto his finger. Chizuru sat there and continued to laugh. Drawing some attention. An older woman stopped briefly touching her shoulder.
"Are you alright?" The Woman in a business suit asked and Chizuru looked up at her. Smiling broadly.
"Yes I am fine. It is just...I am in love with Kazuya. I am in love with Kazuya and he is my Boyfriend." Chizuru said and still could not believe she had actually said that out loud. The Woman chuckled.
"Well that is nice." With that the Woman walked away still smiling. "Ah young love...It is so...remarkable." She said and thought back to when she felt that way about her Husband. Finding she liked that memory a lot. Standing Chizuru shook her head.
"So...I actually have fallen in love with that adorable dork. When did that happen and more importantly how did that happen?" Chizuru said softly and with a small spring in her step made her way home. She already knew the answers to when and how. It just took her this long to figure it out and let herself admit it. Now though she was unsure what to do with this newly found discovery.
The Threat and The Revelation:
Sitting once more at the TEA HUTT, Chizuru stared at Sumi Sakurasawa in a mild daze and it took her a few moments to recover. "Uhm...Sumi could you repeat that?" She said and Sumi squirmed nervously in her seat. Staring shyly down at the table in between them.
"I...I would like to go out with Kazuya again." Sumi said softly and Chizuru looked at her curiously.
"Why? I mean...Well why?" Chizuru asked somewhat stunned. But she suspected this could happen. After all Sumi had been over the moon about the Practice Date. "Great! Another one! First it is Ruka and now Sumi. All it seems A girl needs to do is meet him and they are able to see how...how special he is. Then they want to take him away from me". Sumi smiled at her.
"I...I have not been able to stop thinking about that Practice Date. He was so...so Wonderful and...and I just want to go out with him again...Maybe on a real date." Sumi said nervously and Chizuru unintentionally held her breath. Trying to calm herself. "I was wondering if you...If you could maybe give me his...Phone Number...So I could ask him?" Again Chizuru tried to remain calm and almost lost it.
"I think it would be best that I give him your Phone Number and he can call you. That is if he is interested in going out with you again. I will ask him for you." Chizuru quickly suggested gripping the table leg under the table in an attempt to control herself. "I wonder if he is going to be interested. Sumi is...Well she is really cute and I am betting that Kazuya probably does like her." She thought inwardly panicking while Sumi did ask her some advise about one of her Clients. Something about the Client wanting to take her to the Beach. Chizuru told her that would not be wise, since it would be inappropriate. Returning back at her Apartment, she lightly knocked on Kazuya's door. He was at first shocked when he opened the door to find her standing there.
"Is there something wrong Miz...Chizuru?" Kazuya asked wondering if he had done something wrong. Generally she only came to his door when he had made a mistake. Usually she wanted to meet him on the Back Balcony where there was a wall dividing them. Chizuru shook her head and tried to smile.
"Can I...Can I come in?" Chizuru asked sheepishly and Kazuya slowly nodded. Once inside she felt a bit anxious and at first did not want to even tell him about Sumi's request. "Sumi has asked me...She wants to go out with you again." She stated and he looked at her oddly then slowly nodded with understanding.
"Oh she wants to go on another practice date?" Kazuya asked her and Chizuru shook her head.
"No...She wants to go on a real date with you." Chizuru did not really want to tell him that in fear that he might actually go on a real date with Sumi and she would lose him to the other girl. But she had told Sumi she would. So that did make her a bit anxious and worried. He exhaled with a deep sigh.
"I...I would...Do you think she would be upset if I...Declined?" Kazuya asked nervously and Chizuru looked at him completely confused. "Uhm...Ruka sort of...I am sorry but you Rentals are sort of scary." Chizuru scowled at him menacingly feeling a offended.
"What do you mean that we are scary?" Chizuru demanded sternly and Kazuya winced and fought the urge to use her as an example. He may be somewhat naïve with understanding Women, but he was not stupid enough to even hint how scary Chizuru was right now or the number of times he had been on the receiving end of her displeasure. Thankfully she realized it before he could come up with some type of passable response. "Oh...Well it comes down to that we have to be. But still...You know Sumi is not like that." He shifted anxiously.
"Yeah well Ruka has...She has got me a little leery about...I do not think I can handle having another one being like her...Sumi is nice and all. But still I already have one overly obsessed Girl trying to drive me insane. I do not think I can handle having another. No matter how sweet and nice she is." Kazuya said hoping that it sounded like a reasonable explanation. "Besides you are the one I want. You are the one I have fallen for." He thought as he looked at Chizuru fondly. As he tried to hide how much he was in love with her. But Chizuru knew that look he gave her. She had seen it many times and knew exactly what it meant. That he was in love with her.
"You still will have to call her. Tell her something so it does not upset her." Chizuru suggested feeling relieved and Kazuya slowly nodded. Then the two brainstormed on how he could turn Sumi down without hurting her feelings. Maybe suggest that at most they could be friends.
The Second Step:
A week had passed since Chizuru had made her discovery and in that time she had gone on her weekly date with Kazuya on Wednesday. She also overheard his conversation with Sumi over the Phone where he told the other girl he liked her. Suggesting that they be friends and thankfully Sumi was amendable to that. Now as She walked with him holding his hand on their Weekly Wednesday Date Chizuru found that even having to pretend to be his Girlfriend was enough to make her extremely happy. "Okay I am completely in love with him." She whispered inaudibly. What annoyed her the most that she had once in a moment of stupidity. That was what she considered it was. Told him if she discovered that he had indeed fallen in love with her. She would not let him rent her anymore. "That was extremely stupid." She whispered as she shook her head. "Though I probably would have ended it because...because I am an idiot and believed I did not want to have a relationship with anyone. I am such an idiot." She whispered this time barely audibly and Kazuya looked over at her.
"Did you say something Mizuhara?" Kazuya asked from besides her as they held hands and walked.
"No just thinking out loud. Hey what did I tell you? Call me Chizuru." Chizuru said with a frown and then smiled at him.
"Sorry I forgot again. So you said something earlier about this Saturday." Kazuya said hoping to change the subject from his small blunder. Chizuru had told him two weeks ago to stop calling her Mizuhara and to call her Chizuru. He tried to remember, but kept forgetting. She smiled and shook her head at the obvious subject change.
"My Grandma wants you to come on my next visit this Saturday. I know it is...short notice and I would not be charging you of course. Can you come?" Chizuru asked and Kazuya smiled at her.
"Of course." Kazuya replied without hesitation.
"Thank you. I will knock on your door at noon and...On the way I will buy you lunch as a thank you." Chizuru said and then smiled even more. She knew he would say yes before she even asked. "So...we better get to your Grandma's before she starts sending you threatening TEXTS." She suggested gesturing down the street towards his Grandmothers and Kazuya chuckled. Remembering the last time they were delayed from visiting. His Grandmother threatened to disown him if he did not get Chizuru there in the next ten minutes.
When Saturday finally came, Chizuru was almost a basket case. She stood in front of her Mirror impatiently waiting for when she could go knock on his door. That was her major problem she was having recently and it stemmed from not being able to see him as much as she wanted to. To subsidize her needing to see him, she would during the day on Campus. Observe him in her Ichinose persona. Making sure he never really noticed that she was watching him. It was the only remedy she had discovered to stop herself from being too impatient and not waiting until it was the right moment to ask him to tell her the truth. "No not asking. Demanding he tell the truth." She said to her reflection with conviction. "Mami had been right...It is time to stop playing these games. It is time we both admit it to each other."
Upon reaching her Grandmother's Apartment, they were both greeted by the older Woman who smiled happily at them. "Oh...There is the happy couple. I am so happy to see you two...Together." Sayuri said and Chizuru could see just how happy her Grandmother was. Kazuya bowed slightly to her while still holding her hand.
"It is nice to see you again Miss Say..." Kazuya was cut off by Sayuri who frowned slightly.
"None of that...You call me Grandma or like you call Nagomi...Grans or if you have to Grandma." Sayuri said and then smiled again at him.
"Okay...Grans." Kazuya said tentatively while glancing subtly at Chizuru expecting to get one of those looks that told him that she was not pleased with the situation. When he did not see that look, he relaxed and then smiled back at Sayuri.
"Come in...Come in and sit down." Sayuri said and Chizuru was amazed on how more full of life her Grandmother was being.
"Maybe Grandma is right...Maybe I do need someone like Kazuya in my life. Well that makes it easy...Since I finally let myself admit that I am in love with him." Chizuru thought as she sat down still holding Kazuya's hand as he sat next to her.
"So Dear...Have you...About what you told me about last week? Are you...?" Sayuri asked and Chizuru smiled at her Grandmother.
"I have decided to take your advice...I am not going to...After all...He is my Boyfriend and I...I...Love him." Chizuru said the last three words looking over at Kazuya fondly and then inwardly chuckled at his expression. He stared at her wide eyed and from what she could tell he was in shock.
"Whaaa...What?" Kazuya stammered out unsure if what Chizuru had said was part of an act or was it real. But when he looked into her eyes, he did not see where she was in her Rental Girlfriend mode. "It has to be an act...It is an act...there is no way...Wait she did not give me that usual look...Does she really. I think I feel faint." Those thoughts whirled through his mind as he sat their completely dumbfounded.
"You see because I am so busy with the Play...I told Grandma about the fact that we were thinking of breaking up. But she convinced me that would be a bad idea." Chizuru said and Sayuri clapped her hands.
"That is so wonderful. You know what I would really like to see...You two kiss." Sayuri said with delight smiling broadly. Kazuya was inwardly panicking. He began to sweat and tried to think how they would get out of this. Before he could voice something, he looked over nervously at Chizuru. She had that same look that she had when Ruka had told them to kiss. Half expecting the same thing where they faked it, he was not fully ready for Chizuru to actually kiss him. As her soft lips touched his, he stiffened and could not believe that this was happening. Chizuru was kissing him. Really kissing him and as she parted he had to focus his willpower not to faint. Though his heart was pounding so hard in his chest he thought he was having a heart attack.
"It is an Act. An Act...An Act. But she just kissed me...For real. Not a fake one like before. Wait she isn't supposed to kiss me...That is against the Rental Girlfriend Rules. But she did kiss me. Was that an Act?" Kazuya thought as he sat there unable to even say anything.
"That was so sweet." The elder woman then chuckled. "Does he always react like that when you kiss him Dear?" Chizuru giggled and smiled at him.
"Yes Grandma...He is so in love with me that when I kiss him...He looks like he is about to collapse." Chizuru said as Kazuya stared at her wide eyed. Still in utter shock that Chizuru actually kissed him and had told her Grandmother that she was in love with him. If this was a dream he never wanted to wake up. "It will be a while before he able to actually comprehend anything." She gently squeezed his hand and then smiled over at her Grandmother. "So...How are you doing Grandma?" It took Kazuya a good half hour to come out of the shocked daze he was in and then he could only give short answers to any inquiries.
The Walk and the Confrontation:
Almost dragging Kazuya along because he was still in a daze and stumbled a couple of times. Chizuru stopped and faced him. Snapping her fingers in front of his face. "Is this how you are going to be after I actually say that I...I love you? Or is this how you are going to be like after I kiss you?" She asked him hoping that he would finally come out of whatever he was in. Finally he spoke.
"Both of that...It was an Act. Wasn't it?" Kazuya asked back and Chizuru smirked at him. Then shook her head.
"No it wasn't. I meant what I said and did. I have...I have fallen in love with you Kazuya and because of that...I wanted to kiss you." Chizuru softly said and Kazuya once more stared at her in a daze. He moved his right hand upwards and placed his index finger into his right ear. Twisting it a couple of times and leaned closer.
"Maybe I am still kind of out of it. Did you just...Did you just say you have fallen in love with me?" Kazuya asked utterly stunned and Chizuru giggled.
"Yes I did. I am in love with you Kazuya and want to be your Real Girlfriend. That is...Do you love me Kazuya?" Chizuru asked already knowing he was. She knew from way back when she asked him if he had fallen for her. Of course he lied then. But she knew the truth and at the time considered ending it right there. She just could not do it. Because ever since he jumped in to save her when she fell off the Ferry. She began to have real feelings for him. "Well are you?" He nodded vigorously and she suspected that he had once again lost the power of speech.
"Yes...I am...I Love you." Kazuya stuttered out and Chizuru smiled. To her it was a really wonderful moment and as she was about to lean closer to conduct some PDA. They both heard a familiar voice interrupt them.
"Well look it is the fake couple. I cannot believe that you are still Renting her Kazuya. Talk about pathetic." Mami said with a small sneer and Chizuru turned her head to see Kazuya's EX standing off to one side shaking her head.
"Uhm...Mami..." Kazuya paled and had no idea what to say. Before he could Chizuru laughed shortly, turned and moved to stand in front of Mami. While still holding his right hand. She looked down at the shorter blonde Girl.
"Listen because I am only going to say this once. One...Me and Kazuya are not a fake couple anymore. We are a real one. Two...And this is extremely important..." Chizuru leaned closer and glared into the other girls eyes. "If you ever and I mean ever...Try to hurt my Kazuya again...You and me are going to have some serious problems. I am not a violent person...But I can tell you that..." She smirked and shook her head. "I will make you suffer worse then how you made him suffer. Do you understand?" She asked evenly and Mami nodded. "Good. Okay...I owe you lunch Kazuya and I really want to spend some time with my Boyfriend. So if you will excuse us." She then smiled politely at Mami as she then led a bewildered Kazuya off towards a nearby Cafe. Leaving Mami standing there wide eyed and a bit shaken.
The Beginning of Something Else: