Rent a Girlfriend Fanfic: Stepping Out of the Shadows

Chapter 2:

Kazuya smiled up at her, grateful for her assistance. "Thanks. I'm not sure what happened. I believed I could handle this weight."

"It happens to the best of us," Akane said. "Are you new here?".

Kazuya shrugged, embarrassed. "This is my first visit to the gym, I'm Kinoshita Kazuya, but you can call me by my first name."

"Don't worry about it. We all start somewhere Kazuya-kun. You can call me Akane." Akane said, offering him a hand up.

Kazuya rose from his seat on the bench, accepting her hand and took a good look at Enomoto Akane. He couldn't help but notice her beauty. Her long, flowing silver/white ponytail cascaded down her back, and her ocean blue eyes radiated mystery and intrigue.

He couldn't deny that she was stunning, and as he gazed at her, he couldn't help but think that she was on a par with Mizuhara Chizuru. He shook his head, attempting to clear his mind.

"I'm in love with Chizuru, and no one can take her place."

However, something about Akane drew him in. He couldn't put his finger on it, but he felt compelled to get to know her. He inhaled deeply, attempting to calm his racing thoughts.

"All right, Kazuya. Just unwind. She is just another member of the gym. Just keep your cool and speak to her as you would to anyone else."

Akane asked him with much interest, "Why did you begin with 60 kg? For a beginner, that's a lot of weight."

Kazuya raised his head, surprised. "60 kg? I assumed it was only 40 kg."

Akane laughed. "The bar also weights 20 kg."

Kazuya's face flushed from embarrassment. "Oh my goodness, I had no idea. I'm still getting used to it all."

"Don't worry about it," Akane assured him, smiling. "Just remember that the bar also weights 20 kg next time."

Kazuya nodded, grateful for Akane's assistance. He couldn't believe how fortunate he was to have met her because she was so knowledgeable and patient.

"If you want to do this exercise, start with the bar alone to get a good form," she advised.

Kazuya looked at her, perplexed. "Just the bar? However, that is only 20 kg. I believe I can do more than this."

Akane made a shaky motion with her head. "It is not a matter of how much weight you can lift. It's all about performing the exercise correctly. If you begin with too much weight, you will lose form and risk injuring yourself."

After a brief moment of reflection, Kazuya realized that Akane was correct. He'd been so focused on lifting as much weight as possible that he'd overlooked the significance of proper form.

"All right, I'll start with the bar," he said, grateful for Akane's advice.

Kazuya noticed a difference in his form as he lifted the bar alone. It was much easier to lift the weight properly without the added weight, and he knew that focusing on his form first would allow him to progress much faster.

"Thank you for your advice, Akane-san," he said, smiling. "I would never have thought of that."

Akane returned his smile. "No worries. You can ask me anything. We all have to start somewhere, and it's essential to take your time.".

Akane asked him. "Did you just start your workout?".

Kazuya nodded. "Yes, this is the first thing I have done here."

Akane asked him with a smile. "I just arrived too. Do you want to work out together? I can help you out if you need it."

Kazuya's face lit up. He had been looking for someone to work out with and couldn't believe his good fortune. "Really? That would be incredible. I could definitely use some assistance."

With a serious tone, she stated, "Don't forget to warm up before you begin lifting, Kazuya-kun. It is critical to warm up your muscles for the workout."

Kazuya looked at her, realizing he'd completely forgotten to warm up. "That's right. Thank you for the reminder. I guess I was too excited to begin lifting."

Akane laughed. "I understand how you feel. But believe me when I say it's worth your time to warm up. It will aid in injury prevention and make your workout more effective."

Kazuya nodded, thankful for Akane's advice. He and Akane stretched and did some light cardio for a few minutes, and he could already feel his muscles loosening up.

The two of them instantly clicked after that. They assisted each other with their workouts, encouraging one another to do better. Between the breaks they talked about their life and interests. They made the experience more enjoyable by laughing and joking together.

Kazuya couldn't believe how much better he felt after they finished their workout. He was achy and tired, but he had never felt more alive. Working out with Akane had been an amazing experience and he knew he can talk to someone in the gym.

Kazuya and Akane couldn't help but smile as they walked out of the gym. They'd just finished an incredible workout together, and they were both happy and energized.

"So, where are you going now?" Akane asked Kazuya.

Kazuya responded, "I'm thinking about going home. It's nearly dinnertime, and I'm getting hungry. So, how about you?"

Akane agreed with a nod. "The same here. I had intended to prepare something for dinner tonight. Do you live nearby?"

Kazuya thought for a moment before realizing that his apartment was actually closer to the gym than Akane's. "Actually, I live just a few blocks away. We could walk together if you'd like?"

Akane smiled. "That sounds great. I could use the company."

As they walked towards Kazuya's apartment, they chatted about their workout and their plans for the evening.


Chizuru Mizuhara sat huddled in a foetal position on the floor of her small apartment, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was shallow and ragged. The weight of her emotions felt heavy on her chest, making it hard for her to catch her breath.