Introduction (27 nov 2020)
Like chapter 12, this chapter also got somewhat delayed. Partially due to having a busy work schedule again. But also because I started working on a new "Rent a Girlfriend" (aka KanoKari) fanfiction story. It's called "Love Exists in Many Forms" and is based upon Ruka's backstory, showing her point of view on the events that took place before she met Kazuya. It's also available on this website, so maybe you would like to check it out, and read it as well. Currently it has only a single, short chapter, but I'll be adding more content to it in the future.
I hope you will enjoy reading this, and I'm definitely looking forward to hearing what you think of this chapter, as well as the other chapters in this story.
Note: If you want to comment on this story, or any of my other stories, you're welcome to leave a review, preferably as registered member, as this allows much more interaction between writer and reviewer. If there are parts you felt lacking, or disliked, please let me know this as well. Things can appear amazing in my perception, while others might think very differently. I'm eager to hear such feedback as well, since praise is always nice, and can confirm being on the right track, criticism is often what helps more to improve.
Chapter Prologue:
A few days have passed since Kazuya and Ruka visited his grandma, and he told her the truth about him, Ruka and Chizuru. Things have been pretty quiet, till suddenly his phone started ringing. It was Ruka, asking him to meet her near the station, because she had a big surprise for him…
The Surprise
"Kazuyaaaa!" Ruka yelled enthusiastically, as she came running across the street, meanwhile barely paying attention to the traffic.
"Hi Ruka…" Kazuya said, while being a bit annoyed about the careless way she had been crossing the road; "You know you really should be more careful. What if you get hit by a car?"
"I love it when you worry about me…" Ruka replied, "… and I promise I'll be more careful, ok? Now put on a happy face for me," she added, while giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, don't do that in public!" a startled Kazuya objected, although deep inside he did really like this small token of affection, and soon started to smile again.
"Much better!" Ruka said; "Now let's go, we've got a train to catch!"
"Huh? Sure," Kazuya responded, as he followed her into the station.
After a short ride on the subway, they got out at Ikebukuro Station. Kazuya had still absolutely no clue as to what Ruka had in mind. All she had told him over the phone earlier today, was that she had prepared a big surprise for him. 'After all that has happened the past few days, I should be the one treating her to something nice…' Kazuya had thought, but since Ruka had sounded so happy on the phone, he had instantly agreed to coming along.
"So, where are we going today?" Kazuya inquired.
"Oh, you'll see soon enough…" Ruka replied, teasingly, "… but first, close your eyes."
"Huh? Ok then…" Kazuya reluctantly agreed; "Wait, what are you doing!?"
Before he knew, Ruka had blindfolded Kazuya, and she started pulling him along. This did bring back memories. 'Is the "old Ruka" back again, with her crazy aggressive come-ons?' he wondered. 'I have been making her endure quite a lot lately, even after finally making it official. What if she…?'
"Ruka, stop! Where are we going!?" Kazuya started panicking a little; "You're not bringing us to that place again, are you?"
"Just relax. I told you a few times already that I wouldn't be aggressive…" Ruka started, "… I'm sure you will really like this surprise."
"Oh, ok… I guess I'll have to trust you for now…" Kazuya sighed.
The young couple walked across town, turning some heads and raising some eyebrows, as a beautiful girl pulling along a blind-folded guy wasn't something you would see every day. After a few minor hiccups, like Kazuya nearly tripping a few times over an uneven part of the sidewalk, they arrived at the spot Ruka had in mind.
"You can take off the blindfold now!" Ruka cheered.
"Finally…" Kazuya said, as he removed the piece of cloth that had been blocking his vision.
Kazuya's eyes needed a moment to adjust to suddenly seeing so much light, and he blinked a few times before the image became more clear again. 'Sunshine City' it read on the sign of the large building complex.
"Huh? Are we going shopping?" Kazuya thought out loud, feeling puzzled by all the secrecy, which was seemingly about nothing.
"I'm not telling ya…" Ruka further teased him.
Ruka guided him towards the escalator, which brought them to an area in the large complex, with lots of shops. But much to Kazuya's surprise, they just walked past all the stores, and then took the elevator to one of the top floors.
"Tadaaa!" Ruka cheered, as they stepped out of the elevator.
"Ah, the Sunshine Aquarium!" Kazuya said, with clear excitement in his voice.
"Yeah, you told me that in the past you've been here a couple of times, and about how pretty it was…" Ruka started explaining, "… and remember during my birthday date, over a year ago, how I said we should go to an aquarium together?"
'That was the first time I saw how Ruka could really be, if she wasn't constantly being preoccupied with "staying ahead" of Mizuhara…' Kazuya thought, as he remembered that day. 'Still, it wasn't enough for me back then…'
"So when I thought about where to go on our next date, this seemed like the perfect place," Ruka continued; "Do you like it?"
"Well, you know how crazy I am about fish, so yeah!" Kazuya replied, while grinning.
"Yay! I'm so happy to hear that! Let's go inside then!" Ruka said, with a big smile on her face.
After paying for the tickets, the two youngsters walked through the corridor, which led to the indoor fish section. Ruka reached for Kazuya's hand, and found it. Soon they were surrounded by all sorts of different and colorful fish.
"Can you wait here?" Ruka suddenly asked; "I have to go somewhere, but I promise I'll be back soon so you won't start feeling lonely."
"Eh, sure. I'm not going anywhere," Kazuya replied.
'Hmmm, Ruka probably has to go to the bathroom or so. That's fine, I can be here the entire day, and still not get bored. There's just so much to see here…' Kazuya walked up to the glass, to be able to get a closer look of what was inside this section of the aquarium. He briefly looked around him. 'Not that many people visiting today, it seems like I'm here all alone… oh wait, there is someone else…'
Kazuya noticed a girl standing in a corner, also observing the fish. 'Funny, that girl actually looks a lot like Mizuhara…' he thought. 'Those first dates with her… I sure got really mad at Mizuhara when the next visit to the aquarium, she had been very busy studying the names of the fish, but I felt it was all so fake that she would all of a sudden be so interested in this. When all she was trying to do, was just to improve her acting, as well as trying to give me, as her client, the best possible experience. I was so silly back then…' A faint smile appeared on his face, while he was reminiscing.
Kazuya walked around a little, then stopping by another window, to look. Suddenly the girl that was standing in the corner, turned around…
"M-Mizuhara?" he stuttered.
"Hey…?" was Chizuru's short reply, as she was just as surprised as he.
"A-Are you here on a date?" Kazuya asked, after having recovered somewhat from the initial shock of seeing her here.
"No, I'm here by myself…" Chizuru replied, "… I just wanted to go here one more time, before…"
"Before… what?" Kazuya wondered.
"Well, I've received an offer for attending a professional acting workshop, all expenses paid," Chizuru explained. She bowed down her head and continued; "I've been meaning to tell you this sooner, but then something else came between it, the past few days…"
"S-Sounds really good," Kazuya stuttered, still surprised by this unexpected revelation.
"Yeah, this really is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I just had to accept it," Chizuru said, as she looked at Kazuya again; "And since this is the place where it all began, where I first met the devoted producer of the movie that meant so much to me, and that jump started my acting career, it felt like I just had to go here once more."
"I see…" Kazuya said, as Chizuru's words slowly started sinking in.
"So, how did it go at your parents' place? How did they take the news?" Chizuru quickly changed the subject; "Do you think they would still be mad at me for leading them on for so long?"
"It was… interesting…" Kazuya replied, as he rubbed a spot on his head that was still a little sore from being hit by his grandma's backscratcher. "Actually, if they would get mad, I think it would be mostly at me. I'm the one who started it all by introducing you as my girlfriend, remember?"
"True, but I went along with it," Chizuru said; "But if you say they are not angry at me, then I'll believe you. Btw, I've got something for you…"
Chizuru reached into her purse and took out a small box. Kazuya instantly recognized it, it was the wedding proposal ring that his grandma had given to Chizuru, when they were celebrating her and his birthday at the same time!
"I actually intended to give it to you when I would get back home again," Chizuru started; "So I really don't know why I brought it with me today, I sure wasn't expecting to meet you here. And I do know your grandmother said I should hang onto it, even if I were to never become part of your family, but I feel you should have it," Chizuru explained, as she handed over the box to Kazuya.
"Mizuhara… a-are you sure about this?" Kazuya said; "You know my grandmother said you could always sell it if you would ever need the money. Maybe you should keep it to further support your acting career…"
"No! You've done so much for me already…" Chizuru further explained, "… like helping me out with making the movie, and spending all that money on renting me, to support me. It just wouldn't feel right to hang onto this ring. It belongs with you and your family. And maybe you can put it to good use someday," she added, winking.
"I guess…" Kazuya said, while blushing, as he put the ring away in his pocket.
They looked into each other's eyes, then Kazuya suddenly put his arms around Chizuru, and as she did the same, for a moment they shared a warm embrace.
"You take good care of yourself, ok?" Kazuya added, as he slowly let go off Chizuru again.
"Right on, Mr. producer," Chizuru replied; "So, are you here by yourself too?"
"Eh, no, actually I'm here with…" Kazuya started, before hearing some footsteps behind him, and turning around, "… Ruka?"
"May I ask what exactly it is you two are doing here!?" the dark-haired girl asked, with an angry expression on her face.
"R-Ruka… look, i-it's not w-what you think…" Kazuya stuttered, "… I c-can explain everything."
'What am I saying? I can't explain this at all! As if Ruka is going to believe that first I accidentally ran into Mizuhara here, and for some odd reason ended up hugging her. Heck, I almost don't believe it myself…' Kazuya thought.
"Ruka-chan, please listen…," Chizuru started, "… I know this must look very suspicious to you, but I can assure you that Kazuya-kun didn't know I was going to be here. And if I had known that you two would be coming here today, I would have picked a different moment to say goodbye."
"Actually, it's good that you are here now…" Ruka responded, "… as there are a few things that I've been meaning to say to you!"
"Hold on, Ruka…" Kazuya tried to interrupt his temperamental girlfriend.
"No, I have to do this!" Ruka cut short Kazuya's attempt to silence her; "Chizuru-san, I guess I wanna say 'thank you' for all that you've done!"
"Eeeh!?" both Kazuya and Chizuru said at the same time.
"Well, it's quite simple…" Ruka started explaining, "… without you, Chizuru-san, it's likely that I would have never met Kazuya in the first place."
'Welp, Ruka is probably right. If I hadn't been bragging to Kuri about Mizuhara being my girlfriend, he would never have asked us to go on a double date, and that is when Ruka came into view…' Kazuya remembered.
"Sure, it would have been easier if you would have just left through the back door as soon as I started to fall in love with Kazuya," Ruka continued, as she briefly closed her eyes; "But despite this I don't hate you, even though we've butted heads over Kazuya more than a few times."
"I see?" Chizuru said, as she was still processing Ruka's words.
"During our 'battle' I've had some new experiences that made me realize I loved Kazuya enough to be willing to fight for him," Ruka added, as she straightened her ribbon.
"I suppose that's one way you can see this," Chizuru agreed; "Anyway, it seems like Kazuya-kun has made his choice."
"Would you two stop talking about me as if I'm not even here?" Kayuza muttered.
"And being so caught up in the making of the movie, and really enjoying it, perhaps I might even consider becoming an actress too, instead of a nurse," Ruka finished her 'speech'.
"Well, you definitely have a talent for acting…" Chizuru stated, "… at times you sure could be a real drama queen," she added, while laughing.
Ruka's face instantly changed, showing an almost intimidating glare, after hearing Chizuru's remark. 'Oh no, I think Mizuhara went just a little too far this time…' Kazuya thought. 'Should I step in before things get out of hand?'
"Oh, is that so, Chizuru-san!?" Ruka yelled, as she stepped forward.
"Ruka, I'm sure Mizuhara didn't mean to…" Kazuya started, trying to defuse the situation, but before he could finish his sentence, Ruka began to laugh out loud.
"Huh?" both Kazuya and Chizuru uttered, baffled by Ruka's seemingly erratic behavior.
"I sure fooled you two, didn't I?" Ruka said, while still smiling.
"Why you… I'll get you for that when we get back home again!" Kazuya growled.
"Oh, I'm looking forward to that…" Ruka responded, while winking at him.
"Eh… wait, t-that is n-not what I meant…" Kazuya quickly said, suddenly blushing heavily.
"Oh, is it that late already?" Chizuru said, as she checked the time on her phone; "I still have some packing to do, before I leave so I really should be going right now. You two have fun together!"
Ruka and Kazuya waved Chizuru goodbye. Part of him felt sad to think about Chizuru leaving, but they had promised to stay in touch. Surprisingly even Ruka had agreed with that. 'You go follow that dream!' Kazuya thought, as Chizuru disappeared around the corner.
"By the way, it took you quite some time to get back here, even though you said you wouldn't be long. Is everything ok?" Kazuya wondered.
"Oh yes, I'm fine," Ruka reassured him; "That was all part of the big surprise I was talking about. I've called the aquarium earlier today, and explained how passionate you are about fish. Then I asked if it would be possible for you to take a look 'behind the scenes' of the aquarium. And they agreed."
"Wait, are you serious!? That's something I've been wanting to do for ages!" Kazuya cheered; "You're the best!"
"I know…" Ruka said, while laughing, "… but for now we have to hurry. I told that aquarium person that we would be there in a few minutes and it's been a while already. So we should now really get moving. You can thank me later."
"Well then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Kazuya said, with even more enthusiasm.
"Ok, follow me," Ruka replied, while thoroughly enjoying seeing him so happy.
(To be continued…)
Epilogue (5 dec 2020)
Now with a visit to the place where it all began, has this story come full circle? Should I leave it there or continue adding more chapters? I wonder what you, the reader, has to say about this. You can let me know in a review or by sending a personal message. Looking forward to hearing what you think.
Please let me know what you think of this story and leave some feedback in the form of a review. If you are logged in on this fanfiction website, and post a review as registered member, I can even reply to your comments. I'd be happy to have some more interaction with the people who read my stories!
Btw, since I am not a native speaker, there will likely be some silly mistakes in this story. And in punctuation, maybe I made the same mistakes as in previous stories, or even made new mistakes. Hope you can bear with me and see through that. Helpful tips and suggestions are welcome.
Stay safe, and maybe until soon!