Rent a Girlfriend: What comes After (Short Story) Part 1

Characters:

Kazuya Kinoshita

Chizuru Mizuhara

Mami Nanami

Ruka Sarashina

Sumi Sakurasawa

Nagomi Kinoshita

Yoshiaki Kibe

Shun Kuribayashi

Sayuri Ichinose

Plot:

At the Hospital, Chizuru had left to replace the Water in the Vase and now stood outside the Door to her Grandmother's Room. She at first was going to just go right in until she heard her Grandmother talking to Kazuya. Then begged him to be there for her. That was the moment she heard something that made her weak in the knees and made her heart beat hard within her chest. Kazuya was in love with her. Kazuya had said that he loved her with all of his heart and promised her Grandmother that he would be there for her forever.

Shock to the System:

Unable to even do anything, Chizuru leaned heavily against the wall and tried to get herself to calm down. Mainly her heart. "He...He said that he is in love with me. That he loves me. Why...Why would he...Say that?" She mumbled and again felt her knees begin to shake. "I have no choice...I need to block him from renting me. I warned him that if he ever...Fell for me then...He cannot rent me anymore." She said softly taking out her Cellphone to do just that. With her finger hovering over the BLOCK feature on his account name. She just could not make herself do it. "Come on Girl...I cannot have...Him Rent me anymore. I...I do not...I cannot feel the same...It is impossible." Still she could not bring herself to block him. Closing her eyes she lowered her Cellphone and put it back into her Skirt Pocket. "He loves me." She whispered and then smiled. Completely unsure why she now felt so happy.

Walking home with Kazuya, Chizuru hide the fact that she had overheard what he had said in her Grandmother's Hospital Room. To cover this she asked him what he and her Grandmother talked about and then recanted to really throw him off. The entire trip what he had said was all she could really think of. Having no clue on what to do about this and already knowing she could not simply block him from renting her. She did not want him to stop renting her. For she would not openly admit it like he did. But she knew her own mind and heart. "I am in love with him too." Flashed within her mind and she instantly tried to deny it. But she couldn't. Not really because she knew she was. At the Apartments, she pretended that she had lost her key just so that she could spend a little more time with him. This time of course once more in his Apartment while waiting for the Apartment Manager to come and open her door. What she wanted was for him to finally admit to her that he was in love with her. But of course again she noticed that he lost his nerve and the arrival of Mami sort of prevented it as well. Due to they had to hide until the other Girl was gone. Feeling a tinge of jealousy on why Mami had come to his Apartment.

Before that when Kazuya accidentally laid on top of her, Chizuru knew he was about to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes and for a brief moment she wanted him to. it took all of her will power not to let him. To not only let him but to instead kiss him. She knew it was not the time or moment. She wanted the perfect moment. A moment that would allow her to express her feelings and to have him express his. This was not it. So she asked him to get off her and as he did. She was filled with regret. Even up to the point she went down to get the Apartment Manager to unlock her door for her.

Tragedy and Discovery:

It had been a few years that she had used fireworks and here Chizuru was with Kazuya doing just that. Her mind was not really on the Date. Though she really loved being out with him. She began to think about her Grandmother. On her last visit at the Hospital, she had seen it. Her Grandmother was not doing well and it worried her. "Maybe...Maybe if I have Kazuya come with me...It might cheer her up some. Make her feel better." She thought as she set off a sparkler. Finding it funny how much her Grandmother Sayuri loved it when she brought Kazuya to visit. How it made her Grandmother so happy to see him with her. Being her Boyfriend. Just before she could ask him, her Cellphone Chimed and when she answered it. The World came crashing down upon her.

Wailing and crying in utter despair, Chizuru pressed herself against the one person that she knew without a doubt would be there for her. Give her the comfort and consoling that she needed at that moment. She felt Kazuya's arms wrap around her as she cried uncontrollably. 'My Grandma...My Grandma..." She stammered out as she cried and Kazuya held her tighter which she needed and wanted. It took her some time to be able to even bring herself to a level of control and all that time to her relief Kazuya held her. She looked up at his face and through blurring eyes could see that he too had tears running down his cheeks.

"I am so...so sorry Chizuru...Maybe...I should...If you had not come out with me...You could have been there." Kazuya said feeling as though he was too blame for her not being able to be at the Hospital. In a way it was true, but Chizuru knew that it was not his fault at all and she had no intention of blaming him at all. The Doctors had told her that her Grandmother was living on borrowed time and at some point this could happen. But she never thought it would this soon.

"Can...Can you just...Take me home Kazuya." Chizuru stammered out and Kazuya simply nodded. Leaning heavily upon his right arm, he guided her back to the Apartment Building and home. At first he walked with her to her Apartment, but she just could not bring herself to be alone. Not with the pictures on her wall of her Grandmother. She could not bare it. Not now. "I...I do not want to be alone right now. Too many reminders of...Can we go to your Apartment?" She asked him and he nodded again. Then sullenly took her to his. While she sat at his table, he brought her a cup of tea. Teary eyed she gazed up at him. "I..I..Want you to know...What you said...It is not your fault...I wanted to go out with you...I needed to go out with you...And...And I was glad that you...That you were there for me...When...When...I needed you." She began to cry again and he sat down in front of her. She lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him as she buried her face once more into his chest. Crying again. He held her again and he stroked her back gently and soothingly.

"Let it out Chizuru...I am here for you." Kazuya told her and after a few more moments and with a shuddering exhale. She looked up at him. Once more seeing tears welling up in his eyes. With their faces only a few inches apart, she slowly breathed in and out. Then just as slowly, she drew herself closer and kissed him. At first he responded and kissed her back and then he stiffened. Pulling away. "Wait...Chizuru...This is wrong...You are in...I cannot take advantage of you...You are hurting and...And in a fragile state right now...So...I do not..." She shook her head and placed her right hand over his mouth.

"Shut up Kazuya...I am not...I need this and I need you. I need to know that I am not alone...I need...Your...Love." With that Chizuru kissed a stunned and confused Kazuya again. Pushing him backwards onto his Futon. Within seconds what clothes they had on, were thrown about.

Late in the Evening, Chizuru awoke and found something missing and it felt lonely to her. Opening her tired eyes, she looked about and then found what was missing or rather who was missing sitting on the end of the Futon with his back towards her. "Kazuya? What is wrong?" Without looking back at her, he slumped.

"I am pure scum! You have to hate me so much now. What I...What I did to you in your time of grief. I am nothing but...Scum." Kazuya said and Chizuru crawled over behind him. Putting her arms around him from behind and placing her chin on his left shoulder.

"No you are not...Kazuya...Like I said...I needed you...I needed what we did. I...I needed and wanted what we did. I needed...I needed your Love." Chizuru exhaled softly and tightened her hold onto him. "You do love me...Don't you?" She asked him and he nodded.

"Of course I do...I love you so much...But still...I took advantage of you. How can you...Not hate me for that?" Kazuya asked her and Chizuru lightly smiled. Though she was still hurting inside. But it had reduced immensely just being with him.

"Kazuya...You didn't take advantage of me...I...Kazuya I love you...I love you so much too...So I cannot hate you." Chizuru moved slightly and using her right hand brought his face towards her gently and then kissed him. Parting she grimaced. "I know this is...This will cause you a lot of problems...me being in love with you. But I do not care anymore. I do not care if Ruka hates me for...For taking you away from her. I do not care if...If Mami throws a hissy fit. The only thing I...The only thing I can bring myself to care about right now...Is that...That you are in love with me." She told him and pulled him back once more to lie down on the Futon. Moving where she had her head nicely pillowed on the left side of his chest. With her right arm over him. He had his own arms comfortably around her and after a few moments they both drifted off to sleep.

The Morning:

Sending Kazuya with her Key to her Apartment to get some of her Clothes due to she just could not bring herself to get them herself. Or even go into her Apartment yet. So Chizuru waited in his Apartment wearing only a Towel. While he gathered what she needed. She had taken a Shower in his Bathroom. When he returned he was holding a bundle of her clothes, underwear and some other items in one arm as he talked on his Cellphone with his right hand. "Yes...Grans...I am. I am...being there for her. Wait...Okay I will tell her. See you then." With that Kazuya hung up and exhaled with a deep sigh. "My Grans...Mom and Dad are coming...Grans wants...She is coming to make sure you are doing okay and she wants to...be here for you." He told her and Chizuru felt tears begin to well up within her eyes. She now knew she definitely was not alone. She not only had a Loving Boyfriend now. But she also had his family.

The two elder Kinoshita Women hugged Chizuru almost non-stop the moment that they had entered. Continually providing her with as much emotional support as she could have. When she finally was let go. "My dear...If you need to...You can come stay with us as long as you need to." Harumi offered and before Chizuru could reply.

"Or you can come stay with me." Nagami offered and Chizuru shook her head.

"No...I am alright...I am actually...I am actually staying here with Kazuya for right now." Chizuru said then blushed heavily as the elder Kinoshita's all looked at her wide eyed. Fully understanding perhaps what that implied.

"Okay...As long as he is...He is taking care of you...He is...Right?" Nagami asked then looked over at Kazuya who nodded. Chizuru tried to smile, but she was still hurting a lot inside.

"Yes. Yes he is. He is being as supportive and...And comforting...And...And Loving. As much as I need right now." Chizuru said and after another series of hugs from the Elder women they all sat down. Kazuya's Father Kazuo led Kazuya into the Kitchenette and they started making Tea.

"Is there anything we can help you with Dear?" Harumi asked and Chizuru bit her bottom lip anxiously.

"Actually...I have no idea what to do? I...I know I need to contact a Funeral Home and...And make arrangements for...for a Funeral. But I have no idea how or...I do not know what to do." Chizuru said hopelessly thinking about all of the details that needed to be done and it hit home again that her Grandmother was gone. If it was not for Kazuya right now. She would be utterly alone. She gazed over at her now real Boyfriend and she immediately felt better.

"Do not fret dear...We will help you as much as we can." Nagami offered. "Now knowing Sayuri...She probably had this all prepared. So tomorrow...I would suggest contacting her Lawyer. You can also find out about her Will then as well." Chizuru nodded and looked towards her Apartment. In one of her Nightstands was a Letter her Grandmother had given her just in case this happened. She bet in the letter was just about everything she would need to know. So she decided later she would send Kazuya over to get it for her.

00000

Six weeks after the Funeral, Chizuru awoke and opened her eyes to see and feel Kazuya still sleeping on her Futon. She smiled and then frowned thinking about what had been occurring the past week. He had started to act distant towards her and it concerned her. Her worry and what she was afraid of was that he was going to break up with her. That was the only reason she could think of why he was acting so differently then he had before now. Each time he would start to tell her something and then instantly tell her never mind. As if that was acceptable. So now she was so concerned that her imagination had gone into overdrive. Imagining that he was going to break up with her so that he could date Ruka or Mami or even Sumi. Rising she reached for her Bathrobe and made her way to the Bathroom. As she did, she noticed Kazuya had awoken as well. To her it appeared he was about to say something and then shook his head. Which made her even more worried. Once in the Bathroom she gazed at herself in the mirror and she felt tears begin to flow down her cheeks. "He is...Was he about to tell me...Tell me that he does not want to...be together anymore. That he plans on...being with someone else?" She whispered in anguish, worried that perhaps that was what he was about to say to her was exactly what she feared. "I...I can't lose him...I can't...I can't." She said sobbing as she slumped to the floor and began to cry. By the time she came out, Kazuya had departed leaving a text on her Cellphone stating that he would see her later.

Outside Chizuru's Apartment, Kazuya thumped his head against his own door several times. "Idiot...Idiot...Idiot." He said each time he hit his head against the hard door. He was annoyed at himself for not doing what he had tried to say to Chizuru for the past week and again this morning when he had woke up and planned to tell her. He lost his nerve just before he was going to tell her what he wanted to tell her. With a deep sigh, he went inside his Apartment and got ready for Class.

Unable to cope, Chizuru sought out her Friends Shinbo and Kawanaka in hopes that they might offer her some advise. But before she could ask them, she had broken down and started to cry. "What is wrong Chizuru?" Shinbo asked and she just continued to cry uncontrollably.

"I...I think...I think...Kazuya is going to...Break up with me." Chizuru said crying as she spoke and both of her friends hugged her. Trying to console her as she cried. After some time she told them the reasons she believed he was going to leave her.

An hour later elsewhere on Campus, Kazuya stood in front of his two friends. Kibe and Kuri. "Guys...I need some advise. It is about Chizuru." Kazuya said and Kibe clenched his fists. Ready to hit Kazuya to knock some sense into him.

"Kuri just got a text from Shinbo...Tell me that you are not going to break up with Chizuru." Kibe growled and Kazuya gasped with his mouth wide open.

"What are you talking about? I am not going to break up with Chizuru...I love her. Wait is she thinking about breaking up with me?" Kazuya asked in sheer panic and Kuri shook his head.

"No According to my Girlfriend Shinbo. You have been acting differently when you are with her. So she thinks you are going to break up with her." Kuri told him and Kazuya shook his head vigorously. Part of him was still somewhat amazed that Kuri had a real Girlfriend now. His friend had in a moment of insanity actually asked Shinbo out and for some unknown reason she actually went out with him. It still perplexed him and Kibe that Kuri had a real life Girlfriend. Instead of trying to figure out how that happened he refocused upon his own dilemma.

"Well I am not! No! Not at all! Shit! I...I didn't realize...I just could not...You two just do not understand." Kazuya said and to his two friends he was not making any sense.

"Then what the fuck is going on? If you blow it with Chizuru...You know I will have to beat the living crap out of you. Then tell Nagami so she can beat the crap out of you." Kibe stated firmly and Kazuya shook his head again.

"I am not going to break up with her...No. I have been trying to...for the past week...I have been trying to...I have been trying to...do this!" Kazuya pulled out a small box out of his shirt pocket and showed the contents to his friends who both gasped and stared at what was within the box with wide eyes. "I need to...I have an idea and I just hope I have the courage to do it finally." With that he put the box back into his pocket and pulled out his Cellphone. Sending a text asking Chizuru to meet him at the Aquarium. The same Aquarium that they had their first date. Even though it was a Rental Date.

Later that Day and at the Aquarium Chizuru stood with her back to Kazuya. Making it look like she was looking at a Yellow Striped Fish within one of the Medium Sized Tanks. Though instead she felt tears begin to well up within her eyes. "This is where...This is where he is going to...Break up with me. There are so many people here and he knows I won't make a huge scene in front of so many strangers." She thought as she stood there, feeling her entire World come crashing down on her. First she had lost her Grandmother and now she was about to loose Kazuya.

"Chizuru." Kazuya said finally after several moments of silence. He felt ill and he felt like he was about to vomit. But he had to do this now. Or he would loose his nerve.

"Go ahead and...And say it! Say...Just tell me...Tell me you want...You are going to break up with me...Right?" Chizuru said partially crying as she asked that.

"I...I am not...Chizuru I love you and...and I am sorry I have been...I just can't...Or couldn't...I was...Scared that because we have only been really together for maybe six weeks now." Kazuya knew he was babbling but that was all he could do right now.

"What are you trying to tell me?" Chizuru asked relieved that he was not going to break up with her. Still she felt the tears running down her cheeks. He paled immensely and almost came close to hyperventilating.

"That I love you, So I...I have been trying to say this...Ask you this so many times this past week that I...I...I...Will you...Chizuru will you marry me?" Kazuya blurted out those last five words in desperation. Chizuru spun around and stared at him mystified.

"WHAT?" Chizuru said loudly and saw Kazuya standing there holding out a Diamond Ring in his right hand towards her.

"I love you and I know this kind of sudden and I know like I said we have not really been officially together for only about six weeks. But I...I...I want to be with you forever. So will you?" Kazuya asked again stammering a lot. She stared at the Ring and then with a hysterical laugh, grabbed the Ring out of his hand clutching it tightly in her right hand. Then lunged at him, pushing him back against the nearby wall. Kissing him so roughly that their teeth ground together. All the while she cried with huge tears running down her cheeks. Parting he smiled slightly. "Is that a...No?" He asked with a smirk and she smirked back at him.

"Took you long enough to ask me. Yes Kazuya...I will marry you." Chizuru said and then as she was about to kiss him again. The other patrons and some of the Aquarium staff clapped and loudly congratulated the newly engaged couple.

Later that day the Director had contacted her with a job offer to be a Voice Actor for one of his Anime Series. Which she found out that could lead to other roles and other Voice Actor Series. So she had other good news to tell everyone when they saw them to announce their engagement.

No Choice at All:

At first Chizuru was not going to go, but Umi had since she had met him had been a really good friend. Though since the Play ended, he had asked her out on a date several times and each time she declined. She worried perhaps this was another vain attempt to get her to go out with him. The last time he had asked her out, he tried using reason. That being that they both were attractive and attractive people should be together. Along with that if they were a couple there would be possible parts that involved couples. Again though she declined. Not about to tell him then seven weeks ago that the reason was that she had conflicting feelings towards Kazuya. Instead she simply said no. That she rather just be friends. Not even surprised when he suggested friends with benefits. Now as she waited for him to arrive, she idly looked down at her engagement ring and smiled. "How is it even possible that...I love him this much?" She whispered mostly to herself as she continued to gaze at her ring. Right up to when Umi arrived.

"Hiya Chizuru...I...I heard about your Grandmother...I am so sorry for your loss." Umi said as he sat down. Chizuru noticed when he came in that he drew some attention from the Waitresses and a couple patrons. Though she also drew attention when she came in from several men. But that was normal.

"Thanks Umi. So...So what did you want to see me about? I hope you are not going to ask me out again. Because like I said before...We can only be friends and no not friends with benefits." Chizuru said plainly. Umi shrugged and chuckled.

"I am not the type to give up...I still think we would make an amazing couple." Umi said and then Chizuru brought her left hand into view.

"Uhm...Umi...I am...I am engaged. So no matter how persistent you are...It has to be no. I am not interested." Chizuru watched as he stared at her left hand and he shook his head.

"That is not a ploy is it? Where you use that to discourage guys from hitting on you." Umi asked and Chizuru shook her head negatively. She smiled.

"Nope...It is real. After he and I graduate...We are getting Married. Sooner if I get that Part in that Comedy Series that starts in three months." Chizuru told him and Umi frowned. Though Chizuru could tell that he was not about to give up. Not since Kyoka. His long term Girlfriend broke up with him a month ago for someone else. So she knew he was not about to give up on trying to go out with her. No matter what she said.

"So who is he?" Umi asked and Chizuru continued to smile.

"His name is Kazuya...Kazuya Kinoshita. Actually you met him once...he was that guy that I needed your help in getting a good Christmas Gift for. The Cellphone Case. Remember?" Chizuru told him and Umi groaned audibly.

"THAT LOSER! YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! YOU PICK HIM OVER ME! THAT IS RIDICULOUS! YOU ARE WAY TOO ATTRACTIVE FOR A LOSER LIKE HIM!" Umi said loudly in protest and Chizuru stopped smiling.

"Do not and I mean Do not...Ever call him a Loser again!" Chizuru growled angrily and glared at him. "I mean it Umi...If you ever call him a loser again and we are done! We will no longer be friends at all." She stood. "I better go before I...I do something that I might regret. By the way...There is no choice between him and you...It will always be him. Always." With that she left and Umi watched her leave.

"Crap! I really blew it. Guess I'll wait a couple of days and then apologize." Umi said mostly to himself. Along with thinking that he was not about to give up on Chizuru. He couldn't. He believed that they were meant to be. That is until two weeks later when he met a girl named Ruka Sarashina. He met her due to that Chizuru and Kazuya set him up on a blind date. At that time he no longer had any interest in Chizuru at all. Because of that blind date he believed he found someone that made his heart pound heavily in his chest.

Wedding Day: One Year Later

With only the next two weeks off from her Comedy TV Series that she was the Lead Actor in. This was the only opportunity they had to do this until next year. So here they were and as she knelt in front of a Toilet in the Bathroom of the Church, Chizuru finished vomiting. She was unsure whether it was nerves, anxiety or pre-wedding day chitters. But for the past three days. She had to throw up every morning. On the nearby sink sat a certain item that she had earlier peed on and now after being sick for over fifteen minutes she had about another fifteen minutes before the results would show. Outside the Bathroom in the Bridal Dressing room was Kazuya's Mother and Grandmother. Along with her maids of honor. Ruka, Shinbo, Kawanaka and Sumi. All waiting for her to finish doing what she was doing in the bathroom. Readjusting her hair, she glanced down at her Cellphone timer and with a deep inhaled breath. Picked up the small plastic strip with a small amount of toilet paper. With a sudden shock she gasped audibly at the results. "Oh...Oh Boy...Guess it is a good thing I am getting married today. Otherwise...Oh boy would that be a disaster." Stepping out of the Bathroom she saw the others all waiting somewhat impatiently for her.

"Are you alright dear?" Nagami asked as the others also looked at her with concern and Chizuru gave a soft chuckle.

"Sort of...Uhm...How am I going to tell you this? I guess this would be the best way." Chizuru held up the small plastic strip that she was holding within some toilet paper. Clearly showing the positive results to them. All six women there gasped loudly and Nagami and Harumi began to laugh hysterically.

"You...You...You are...Pregnant?" Ruka asked a little too loudly and Chizuru shushed her.

"No so loud. If Kazuya heard you...He already fainted once today...If he heard that I...That I am...Pregnant. He probably would faint again." Chizuru said with a huge smile. As Nagami and Harumi engulfed her within their arms. Hugging her as they both started to cry as they also seemed to be laughing. She then looked at the others and noticed that they too were crying and smiling at the same time.

With the Ceremony done, Chizuru and Kazuya stood together before everyone that had attended. In truth the Ceremony was not really needed due to that morning they had already filled out, stamped and sealed a Marriage License. But they knew that their family and friends would want to see them get Married in a Church. Chizuru looked over at who was now her Mother in Law and her Grandmother in Law and could easily see that the two could barely contain themselves for much longer, so she leaned closer to her husband and told him the good news that she was pregnant and of course he immediately fainted. With the help of Kibe, Kuri and Umi. The three carried Kazuya to a nearby couch so when he awoke, She could tell him again and hope he didn't faint again.

The End?